Saathee Magazine February 2012 Raleigh by Shukla Entertainment

Shiva Temple, Murudeshwar, Karnataka

February 2012

In this issue: National Popular Vote Battle for the Buddha

Hello Readers! One of the most confounding and dangerous borders in the world is the long border between India and Bangladesh. Read about the people living along the border whose lives are affected on a daily basis in a story on pg. 08. As India and China both flex their soft power muscle around Asia, India's neighboring countries are affected. Read about Sri Lanka on pg. 14 and about Nepal on pg. 32. This month we launch our new monthly column simply titled "Politics." We wil follow the 2012 election season and present observations, news, views, and analysis. This month we feature the activist movement of National Popular Vote, which seeks to select the U.S. President based on the popular vote. Read the piece on pg. 38. This month's personal finance column visits the informative topic “Succession Considerations and Asset Protection for Business Owners.” Go to pg. 60 for the article. 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 regularly updated website: saathee.com.

A features magazine for the South Asian Community of the Carolinas

Quote: “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” - Mother Teresa

February 2012 – Issue # 166 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, Swami Satyanand, Dr. Maha Gingrich, Amanda Sodhi, Krutika Chheda, Anjana Agarwal, Ritu Bhat, Anita Kulkarni, Jay Cohen, Sumeet P. Shah, Jai Rangapp, and Jalendu Vaidya.

In This Issue

All contents © 2012 Shukla Entertainment, Inc. India Bangladesh Border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 08 Is Growth Enough? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 12 Tending to a Bruised Knee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .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 The Battle for Buddha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 32 Sri Lanka, India China Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 36 Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 38 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 40 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 42 Children’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 44 Mastering Meaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46 Astride three Continents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 48 Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .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 Rice, tiny grain, giant footprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .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

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: Shiva Temple, Murudeshwara

Murudeshwara is a town located in the state of Karnataka, India. "Murudeshwara" is another name of the Hindu god Shiva. Famous for the world's second-tallest Shiva statue, Murudeshwara beach town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwara Temple. Photo: Dreamstime

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) February 2012

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February 2012

Life at the India-Bangladesh border is hostile and strange, and often deadly

and his daughter across insisted however that everything was fine, and the two began to climb up the ladder that had been arranged for them. Nurul Islam made it over successfully. Moments later, as Felani reached the top of the 2.5m high fence, Indian border guards who had spotted them came running out and shot her dead from close range. “[The BSF shot] without any warning. I don’t understand why they didn’t shout anything,” remembers Nurul Islam, who has been relocated with the rest of his family to the Bangladeshi village of Ramkhana, near where his daughter died. “I wish they’d said ‘stop.’ If they’d just said ‘stop’ she would’ve been saved.” Felani’s lifeless body hung from the fence for five hours, in full view of Bangladeshi and Indian farmers living nearby. Eventually, the BSF slung her hands and feet onto a bamboo pole and took her away. It was over 30 hours before her body was handed over to Bangladeshi authorities and returned to her father. “They took her jewelry,” Nurul Islam said, sardonically. A photo, first published in Indian newspaper Anandabazaar, of Felani’s corpse hanging from the fence sparked a huge uproar in Bangladeshi media. The Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced during a visit to Dhaka in July that the BSF would use non-lethal weapons, and that they would no longer shoot at civilians under any circumstances.

By Maher Sattar - GlobalPost.com RANGPUR, Bangladesh — “If they see me talking to you, they’re going to give me a lot of trouble,” says Abdul Rahim. Standing at the very edge of his property on the BangladeshIndia border, the 48-year-old Indian farmer is half a step away from illegally crossing into the Bangladeshi village of Chander Haat. But it’s not the possibility of getting caught trespassing by Bangladeshi border guards that worries him. Behind Rahim, a couple hundred meters into the Indian side of the border, is the world’s longest — and bloodiest — barbed wire fence. Dubbed the “wall of death” by locals, the 4,000 km barrier spans the length of the fifth-longest border in the world, and is manned by India’s Border Security Force (BSF), whose guards kill both Bangladeshis and Indians with impunity. Rahim claims the BSF routinely harasses him and has occasionally beaten him on suspicion of aiding or sheltering illegal Bangladeshi migrants and smugglers. It’s a tense border. Despite India helping Bangladesh gain independence in 1971, relations between the two countries have remained strained since the 1947 partition of India, when the subcontinent was split along religious lines, creating East Pakistan where present-day Bangladesh is. Partition resulted in a bloodbath, with over 1 million killed in the space of a few months and more than 10 million Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs displaced in one of the largest mass migrations in human history. Little progress has been made over decades between the two countries on hot-button issues like smuggling, supplying arms and refuge to Indian insurgents, and control of the numerous rivers that flow through both countries.

Stemming the cattle trade Six months later the deaths on the border continue to pile up. Except now they come about in more creative ways. Shootings are rarer, but Bangladeshi border guards report recent incidents of fatal beatings, strangling, stoning, and poisonous injections. Human rights group Odhikar accuses the BSF of killing over 1,000 Bangladeshis in the past decade. The BSF themselves admit responsibility for the deaths of 364 Bangladeshis and 164 Indians since 2006. That was when their government began constructing the fence, inspired by Israel’s West Bank barrier. But neither the barbed wire nor the extrajudicial murders have been successful in stopping a lucrative, illicit trade in cattle. Cows in Bangladesh sell for three to four times what they fetch in India, and resourceful traffickers have devised new, brutal ways to get around the obstacle. Rahim, the Indian farmer who witnesses this happen almost nightly, describes the procedure: “They use ramps to get the cows up to the middle part of the wire fence. The wires here are a little bit further apart than the rest of the fence. They loosen the wires a little bit more, and then they bind the legs and the mouth of the cow, haul it up the ramp and pass it through to the other side.” “It takes 10 minutes to get 50 cows through,” says Rahim, “But it’s not easy to get 10 minutes. The smugglers always follow the BSF, keeping an eye on them, waiting for an opportunity.”

Targeting undocumented migrants But the standout crisis dominating Indian discourse is undocumented migrants. Official estimates are that there are 2 million undocumented Bangladeshi migrants in India. A number frequently reported in India media is 20 million. Like Mexican undocumented migrants in the United States, their Bangladeshi counterparts are the favored scapegoats of the Indian right — blamed for unemployment, crime, terrorism, “low-key Talibanization,” and “disturbing our Indian sex-ratio statistics.” This has created a situation where many say India’s border guards are trigger-happy. On Jan. 7, 2011, Felani Khatun and her father arrived at the barbed wire a little after the early morning call to prayer had rung out from a nearby mosque. Dressed up in traditional bridal wear and wedding jewelry, the drowsy 15 year old had fallen asleep several times during their overnight journey to the border and could barely keep her eyes open. Felani, born in India to parents who were undocumented migrants there, was returning to Bangladesh to get married. But it was daylight now, and Felani’s father Nurul Islam was afraid. The local smugglers he had paid Rs 3000 ($70) to help him Saathee.com

continued on page 78 8

February 2012

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GROWTH Enough? By Jason Overdorf GlobalPost.com For the past two decades, policymakers have been banking on rapid economic growth to lift millions of Indians out of poverty. But even as the boom has made it easier for the country’s poorest people to afford refrigerators, televisions and mobile phones, the spending power of the rich has grown many times faster. Now, the widening gulf between those at the top and those at the bottom is steadily increasing the pressure on the many fissures in this highly fractured society — and a looming slowdown could hit the poor harder than anybody. “We have to see this in the context of a country that already bears a huge burden of stratification, but also caste and gender and all these things compounding each other,” said development economist Jean Dreze, who played a key role in designing and implementing India’s largest social welfare scheme. “The fact that there’s a new, rising dimension of inequality, that is income inequality, reinforces something that’s already a big issue for Indian society and the Indian economy,” Dreze said. Despite boasting the world’s second-fastest economic growth, India has made little progress in eradicating poverty since it began liberalizing its economy in 1991, according to a new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Instead, the gap between the incomes of the rich and poor has doubled, so the top 10 percent of workers now earn 12 times the amount earned by the bottom 10 India's economic percent — while 42 percent of the country’s 1.21 billion boom has widened the people survive on less than a gap between rich and dollar a day. poor – and now it's Consider 36-year-old Indu Devi. Only semi-employed, slowing down. she works from home sewing dupattas — the scarf-like complement to a woman’s salwar kameez, or loose pajama-like trousers — for a local factory. In a good month, she earns $30; in a bad one, only $10. In the past 10 years, she’s acquired luxuries like a television and a mobile phone —partly because she “owns” her tiny room in an illegal structure in one of New Delhi’s many “unauthorized colonies.” Devi shares a space the size of an American bathroom with a man and four children. There’s no bathroom or sink. Water comes from a hand pump outside, shared with the neighborhood. The stove is a burner attached to a gas cylinder, and everything the family owns is hanging from half-a-dozen hooks on the wall: two sets of clothes for the adults, one to wash and one to wear; four sets for the kids, along with their school uniforms. Her thoughts about India’s economic boom? Saathee.com

“Sometimes I feel frustrated, as I cannot meet the demands of my kids all the time.” Nobody will be surprised to hear that India’s new wealth has been slow to trickle down. But as debate rages over government programs designed to provide more equal opportunities to the poor — or simply to ease their suffering — the bald facts beg the question: Is growth enough? Many economists point out that an increase in inequality is inevitable with rapid economic growth — though the OECD found this was not the case for Argentina, Brazil or Indonesia over the past decade or so. In those three countries, the economists found, income growth of the bottom and middle groups outpaced that of the highest earners. And at least in Brazil — where inequality remains much higher than in India in absolute terms — higher taxes and a new focus on social programs seems to have been a factor in making the difference. Some argue, as well, that rising inequality is not an evil in itself, so long as life also improves for the country’s poor. The real problem is absolute, not relative poverty, they say. And the best way to address that is to make the pie larger, not to change the way you slice it up — especially where government programs are hampered by corruption and inefficiency. “This is inequality in outcomes, either in terms of consumption expenditure or in terms of income,” said economist Bibek Debroy, a professor at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research. “If you are talking about inequality in terms of access to health services, education, financial products, technology, the law and order system, then I’m prepared to buy the argument that we should be concerned. But that’s not what this inequality is about.” It’s not that the benefits of economic growth don’t trickle down at all. Debroy believes, for instance, that the biggest reason for the increase in inequality is geography, not class or caste. While the trickle has missed some parts of India altogether, he would argue, poor people like Indu Devi have seen marked improvements in their lives over the past 20 years. The trouble is that rapid growth and runaway consumption by the burgeoning middle class has simultaneously increased the aspirations of the poor and driven up prices. “If I perceive that inequality is increasing, but I also perceive that over a period of time the prospects of my standard of living improving are getting enhanced, then I think I’m less concerned about inequality,” said Debroy. “But if I perceive that inequality is increasing, but my standard of living is not improving, then I tend to be more concerned.” Right or wrong, many of those at the bottom see the glass as half empty. Despite a shortage of skilled labor, for instance, 25-year-old machinist Rajesh Kumar, who lives a few houses away from Devi, earns only about $150 a month. Based on India’s erstwhile economic forecasts, he should be poised for great changes. Yet he’s pessimistic about his prospects. “Even if the number of companies are rising, unemployment is also on the rise,” Kumar said. “If the country progresses, the poor will only become poorer, as things will get more expensive. We can never progress.” Now, India’s booming economy is slowing down, perhaps dramatically. With inflation hovering around 10 percent, the central bank has raised interest rates 13 times since March 2010. But today India Inc. faces a drop in foreign investment and skyrocketing fuel costs resulting from a 20 percent plunge in the value of the rupee. As a result, a manufacturing sector that had only just begun to continued on page 80

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February 2012

By Samir Shukla The age of amorality Amoral: not involving questions of right or wrong; without moral quality; neither moral nor immoral. The recent controversy over SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) brings to mind bigger questions about humanity’s ethical leanings. SOPA was supported by content producers and opposed by popular internet gatekeepers (Google, WikiPedia, and myriad others). Hollywood and the music industry want to protect their copyrighted content (intellectual property), and while Google and others support fighting piracy, they felt that SOPA was overbearing and would adversely affect how the internet works and disseminates information in ways that would have an impact on freedom of speech and privacy issues. Yes, freedom of speech is essential, for the internet and otherwise. And SOPA, in its current frame, is audaciously overreaching in creating controls over the internet. But while protecting the glorious freedoms, creativity, and global connectivity of the internet is very important, so is protecting intellectual property, which includes movies, music, books, software, photographs, and video games. We live in a land of laws and laws protecting copyrights and intellectual property are generally sensible. Both supporters and opponents of SOPA have valid points. But along with the good aspects of the internet, with its cheap or almost free connectivity and an unlimited access to information and content, comes the mindset that anything is up for grabs. Most of us would never steal and yet almost everyone has illegally copied or downloaded software on their computers. Movies and music are routinely pirated and downloaded. It’s one thing to share a favorite song with a friend; it’s another to actively participate in the greater criminal enterprise of piracy, either knowingly or by simply not thinking about it. Content producers – musicians, filmmakers, writers, photographers, designers, artists – create their content for either personal consumption or mass consumption. It is then their choice to either give away their content or copyright it and preserve their right and access for commercial gain. If stealing intellectual property, either over the internet or in hard copy versions, was a benign problem, we wouldn’t need heavy-handed government legislation or laws. If copying, downloading, and illegally disseminating copyrighted content, which is in essence piracy, wasn’t so rampant no one would be talking about SOPA. The basic nature of the internet, its global connectivity, makes it easy, almost justifiable to steal content. Because to most people content is intangible and invisible; it doesn’t seem solid and real. Most people would not shoplift a CD or DVD from a store, but the same folks have no compunction downloading unlicensed music, film, video games, or software. The assumed “no one is looking over my shoulder” aspect of the internet makes this easier. Internet gatekeepers, providers, and websites have an absolute right to free speech and seamless global connectivity, but we also need reasonable and non-intrusive ways to combat piracy. If musicians or filmmakers want to give away their content, it’s very easy to do. In fact many bands and filmmakers do just that. They may give away content digitally or in hard copy versions because they want people to hear or view their content. But that’s a Saathee.com

personal choice. Free speech and an untethered internet are essential. But stealing, also known as illegally downloading or swapping content, is, well, stealing. Most people consider stealing wrong. No amount of self-serving justification makes it right. Enter the age of amorality, where the satisfaction of getting something for nothing is very powerful. If there was a pervasive conscience that illegally downloading or copying and distributing movies, music, or software is wrong, there would be no need for SOPA. Most people I know wouldn’t go to a restaurant, eat a meal (download a meal), and wait till the server maybe busy or distracted and walk out without paying for it. But the internet provides a comfortable, almost invisible access to content, to downloading, where grey areas prevail and black and white laws are essentially ignored. So, until we evolve a world where free content is the norm, financed by other means, we are all, in a sense, participatory thieves. We are amoral participants. That’s the main discussion here, not the legal fights for the protection of intellectual property. If a sense of wrongness bothers a person when knowingly stealing content, then that person will conscientiously become a fighter of piracy, because he or she will desist from stealing. If the majority of people feel this sense of wrongness, then amorality is diminished, and a natural sense of rightness, which is innate in most humans, blossoms. If the majority of humans live in rightness, then we wouldn’t need overbearing laws. When illegal downloading and swapping sites such as megaupload.com are taken down by the government, the response of many, which of course includes hackers, is to go on the attack. They assail against the oppressors, the government. They hack, they attack, rather than acknowledge that right is right and wrong is wrong. This is because amorality is easy. It’s a blanket to throw over and douse the fires of rightness. Amorality is damn convenient. Statistics reveal that 98 percent of the world’ people consider themselves religious, or proclaim a belief in some god or dogmatic system. If that is the case why is corruption such a problem throughout the world? This is because amid all the selfproclaimed faith and morality, most people simply fall into the comfortable arms of amorality, suppressing personal morals while joining the gang. Getting something for nothing is empowering. It feeds the gang of amorality. Amorality has become requisite in the world of finance, stock markets, banking, and real estate. The way our financial systems, taxation and accounting methods have evolved, everyone involved in the enterprise is forced to become amoral. There’s no way out. To simply survive, ethics work, to thrive, amorality has become essential. Global financial systems wouldn’t function without amorality. We are all participants. This is not to say people are not good or honest. Most people have a naturally evolved sense of right and wrong. No matter what religious dogma they follow, their goodness is an instinctive thing. Just look at any bright-eyed child. Almost all kids are naturally, innocently honest. They feel guilt. They show guilt. Their eyes show guilt when they’ve been naughty. As they grow, their surroundings, their environment, family structures, religious dogma, media exposure, all play a part in their development of rightness and wrongness. Alas, most of them discover amorality, adopt its comforts and become a part of the gang. Welcome to the age of amorality. Samir Shukla is the editor of Saathee magazine. contact - saatheemag@hotmail.com

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Top Five Movies - Feb 2012

(Bollywood films slated to be released in the next 4-6 weeks) 1. Agneepath Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Rishi Kapoor, and Katrina Kaif

Life’s Good (Director: Anant Mahadevan) Cast: Jackie Shroff, Rajit Kapoor, Mohan Kapoor, Ankita Shrivastava, Sunita Sen Gupta, Sania Anklesaria, and Ananya Vij

2. Players Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Bipasha Basu, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and Omi Vaidya

Staying Alive (Director: Anant Mahadevan) Cast: Anant Mahadevan, Saurabh Shukla, Chandan Sanyal, Sanjay Swaraj, Navni Parihar, and Ranjana Sasa

3. Don 2 Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Boman Irani, Om Puri, Kunal Kapoor, and Nawab Shah

Married 2 America (Director: Dilip Shankar) Cast: Jackie Shroff, Archana Joglekar, Shweta Tiwari, Raghuveer Yadav, Chetan Pandit & Ashok Samart

4. Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Mugdha Godse, Annu Kapoor & Satish Kaushik 5. The Dirty Picture Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor, and Imran Hasnee

Love You To Death (Director: Rafeeq Elias) Cast: Yuki Ellias, Carl Sequeira, Leonid Kudryavtsev, Sheeba Chaddha, Suhasini Mulay, Sohrab Ardeshir & Chetan Sashital

Top Five Songs - Feb 2012 1. Ek Deewana Tha “Hosanna” Music: A.R. Rahman Singers: Leaon D Souza & Suzanne D Mello

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (Director: Shakun Batra) Cast: Imran Khan, Kareena, Sonia Mehra, Ram Kapoor, Boman Irani & Randhir Kapoor

2. Agneepath “O Saiyyan” Music: Ajay-Atul Singer: Roopkumar Rathod

Kuch Spice To Make It Meetha? (Director: Adeeb Rais) Cast: Purab Kohli, Nauheed Cyrusi, Mansheel Gujral, Mustafa Hussain & Sanjeev Kapoor Ekk Deewana Tha (Director: Gautham Menon) Cast: Prateik Babbar, Amy Jackson, Manu Rishi, Sachin Khedekar, Ramesh Sippy, & Samantha Ruth Prabhu

3. Gali Gali Chor Hai Music: Anu Malik Singer: Kailash Kher 4. Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu “Kar Chalna Shuru Tu” Music: Amit Trivedi Singers: Vishal Dadlani & Shilpa Rao

London Paris New York (Dir: Anu Menon) Cast: Ali Zafar and Aditi Rao Hydari Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya (Director: Mandeep Kumar) Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Dsouza, Om Puri, Tinu Anand, Smita Jaykar, and Veena Malik

5. Players “Dil Ye Bekarar Kyun Hai” Music: Pritam Chakraborty Singers: Mohit Chauhan & Shreya Ghoshal (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

February 2012

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Upcoming Movie releases continued (Bollywood films slated to be released in the next 4-6 weeks) Jodi Breakers (Director: Ashwini Chaudhary) Cast: R Madhavan, Bipasha Basu, Omi Vaidya, Dipannita Sharma, Mrinalini Sharma & Milind Soman

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Life Reboot Nahi Hoti (Director: Avinash Nanda) Cast: Rajat Barmecha, Meiyang Chang, Jennifer Winget, Maanvi Gagroo, and Pawan Malhotra Shudra the Rising (Director: Sanjeev Jaiswal) Cast: Gauri Shankar, Shaji Chaudhary, Ganesh Pandit, Vijay Shukla, Kirran Sharad, and Shridhar Dubey Kahaani (Director: Sujoy Ghosh) Cast: Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui Chaar Din Ki Chandni (Director: Samir Karnik) Cast: Tusshar Kapoor, Kulraj Randhawa, Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Mukul Dev, Johny Lever, and Anita Raaj Blood Money (Director: Vishal Mahadkar) Cast: Kunal Khemu, Amrita Puri, Manish Choudhary, and Shekher Shukla

(Movie release dates subject to change)

Saathee.com

February 2012

Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day!

Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in Priyadarshan’s Next Project

Film Clips

The prolific Priyadarshan has directed 83 films in his 30-year career. Surprisingly, he has no releases in 2011. That’s about to change with the new year as he is planning on no less than four films for 2012. He is especially fond of the family comedy Asthavinayak, which is slated to star Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone. Priyadarshan wanted to launch Padukone’s career five years ago, but she chose to work with Farah Khan in the hit film Om Shanti Om. Now the actress and director have seemed to patched-up their differences and will work together. It’s a double delight for Priyadarshan since he has never worked with Deepika or Abhishek. “Abhishek and I have been planning projects together for the longest time. We were supposed to do a bio-pic on Chandrashekhar Azad. But who watches historicals anymore? I’ve finally zeroed in on the perfect project for Abhishek. We start shooting in July,” the director told Bollywood Hungama.

Ek Deewana Tha Ready for Release

Ek Deewana Tha, featuring music by A.R. Rahman, will be released worldwide on February 17, 2012. The film is directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon and features Prateik and Amy Jackson. Prateik plays Sachin, a 22-year-old engineering graduate from a middle class family in Mumbai who is in love with the world of cinema. He struggles in his life as he waits to make it into mainstream cinema. One day, when he sees Jessie, portrayed by Amy Jackson, it is love at first sight. Jessie is beautiful, elegant, smart and classy. But the dilemma is that Jessie belongs to an orthodox Malayali Christian family where watching movies, partying or falling in love are completely taboo. While Sachin battles with the idea of someone like Jessie and her family living in 21st century modern Mumbai, he finds himself increasingly drawn to her. Jessie, for her part, tries to forge a friendship between them believing that cloaking their feelings under the umbrella of friendship would save them heartache, tears and a full blown family drama. The music, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, was officially launched this past December against the backdrop of the Taj Mahal.

Nana Patekar to Direct Ab Tak Chappan Sequel A while ago, Ram Gopal Varma had announced plans of making a sequel to his cult film Ab Tak Chappan. The film, which released in 2004, starred Nana Patekar as an eccentric encounter cop and was directed by Shimit Amin. Now Varma has tapped Nana Patekar himself to direct the sequel. Patekar directed a film called Prahaar in the early 90’s. The maverick actor-director will try to create magic with this sequel. person to direct the film would be actor Nana Patekar himself. It may be recalled that Nana has directed a film called Prahaar way back in the early 90s. It will be interesting to see if the maverick actor-director is able to re-create the magic once again with the sequel of Ab Tak Chappan.

Tandon to Play Character Based on Shobhaa De

Sanjay Dutt and Raj Kundra launch Super Fight League

In Sudipto Chattopadhyay’s next film Shobhana 7 Nights, Raveena Tandon is all set to play a role modeled on famous Indian author and socialite Shobhaa De. The filmmakers, though, insist that the only similarity between Tandon’s character and Shobhaa De is that she is a beautiful and glamorous novelist, the rest of the premise is very different. The film will also showcase De’s long-term professional relationship with the publisher of her novels David Davidhar of Penguin India. Anupam Kher has been cast to play the role based on Davidhar. In the film Tandon portrays a married novelist who is in a relationship with a younger man, played by model-actor Amit Purohit. The film also stars Rohit Roy as Raveena’s philandering husband. The film begins shooting next month.

Sanjay Dutt and Raj Kundra, through their company Super Fight Promotions Pvt. Ltd., have launched India’s first professionally organized Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting league, Super Fight League (SFL). MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and is a multibillion dollar industry in the west. Through SFL, the duo plan to find and launch the best fighters in the world. They launch with SFL 1, which place in Mumbai on March 11, 2012 where six of India’s best fighters in all weights will take on six International MMA fighters followed by the main event, the Super Heavy Weight Fight between James Thomson and Bob Sapp. The fight night will also feature performers and DJ’s.

Veteran Actress Kalpana Mohan Dies

Bollywood’s Biggest Moneymakers (so far)

Actress Kalpana Mohan, who starred in movies such as Professor and Teen Deviyaan, died in Pune on January 4, 2012. She had been battling cancer for almost five years. The 65-year-old actress was undergoing treatment at the Poona Hospital and Research Centre for a while. The actress had worked with legendary actors Shammi Kapoor and Dev Anand during the 60’s and 70’s. She was also a dancer and her other films include Saheli, Tasveer, and Nawab Sirajuddaula. Saathee.com

One Crore is ten million Rupees. The Top 10 moneymaking films in India ((Rs. 100 Crore Club): 3 Idiots (202 Crore), Bodyguard (148 Crore), Dabangg (143 Crore), Ready (122 Crore), RA.ONE* (118 Crore), Ghajini (115 Crore), Golmaal 3 (108 Crore), Don 2* (108 Crore), and Singham (102 Crore). (* denotes combination of Hindi + Tamil + Telugu versions). 22

February 2012

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By Kirit Shukla Song: Udana khatole pe ud jāun... Film: Anmol Ghadi Year: 1946 Music: Naushād Singers: Zohrā Bāi Ambālewāli, (Zo); Shamshād Begum (Sha) Lyric: Tanveer Naqvi Based on Indian Classical Rāgā: Mishra Khamāj Tāl/Rhythm: Kaharavā Starring: Noorjahān, Suraiyā, Surinder, Murād

Zohrā Bāi Ambālewāli (1918– 1990) Zohrā Bāi Ambālewāli, born in 1918, was a legendary playback singer who was active during the 1930s and thru the 1950s and was a frontrunner to Shamshad Begum in vocal singing. She made her debut at the age of 13. Naushad, the famous music composer, was highly impressed by the tantalizing quality of her voice. He and Hafiz Ali Khan used her voice for the first time in their films. Naushad used her style of singing in the most candid way in his songs in 1940s and Udana khatole pe ud jāun 1950s. She achieved big success when several of her songs were Lyrics in English:(Zo) : Udana khatole pe ud jāun, tere hātha nā recorded by Naushad for the film Rattan (1944), which created āunHān ān ān, tere hātha nā āun(Sha) : Udana khatolepe ud new records at the box office. Rattan established the careers of jāun, tere hātha nā āunHān ān ān, tere hātha nā āunDura-dura its director Sadiq, music director Naushad and Zohra Bai as a se karun ishāre, aur tujhako tarasāun Chandā ki khidaki se singer. She did not sing too many songs but she was clearly jhākun, jhākun aur chhipa jāun(Duet) : Udana khatolepe ud focused on quality rather than quantity. As a result, popularity jāun, tere hātha nā āunHān ān ān, tere hātha nā āun(Zo) : Ho o, and critical acclaim came to her quickly. The Gramophone āyen, āyen aur guzarati jāyenLambi-unchi-nichi rāhen, galiyān Company HMV (His Master’s Voice) recorded her songs and aur bazaarHān ān ān, galiyān aur bazaar Merā paiyā, merā marketed them throughout India. The songs were so palatable paiyā aise bhāge jaise motor car, that she made fans across the country. She began rising up in (Duet) : Bhāge sab sansāra –2(Sha): Suraj bhāge chandā bhāge, the popularity scale with each passing day. She was a gift and andhiyārā ujiyārā bhāgeDharati daude pichhe ko, main āge an inspiration for the Hindi music industry for future singers. badhati jāun(Zo) : Terā hātha pakad ke tujhako, dura kahin le She left a superb platform that inspired many and made jāun(Sha) : Main phir bhi hātha na āun , phir bhi hātha na significant contributions in refining Indian film music. Even the āun(Duet) : Udana khatolepe ud jāun, tere hātha nā āunHān ān legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, in her tribute, ān, tere hātha nā āun. spoke sweet words about the quality of her songs and the skill Meaning (Summary): I will ﬂy away in the ﬂying chariot, but I used to make the songs into chartbusters. Zohra Bai died in will not get caught in your hands. I will give you signals from a 1990 at the age of 72. far away place and make you desire for me; I will look at you from the window of the Moon and then hide away from you; but Some of her famous songs: (Film: Song) I will not get caught in your hands. I will run away like a wheel Belā: Bhigi bhigi palake, Mohe bānkā balam. of a car, through up and down the roads, streets and bazaar. The Caravan: Ānkhon mein intezār Sun, the Moon, the Earth, day and night are running behind me Chandralekha: Merā husna lutāke but I will move ahead of them. I will hold your hand and take Geet: Sāqi sāqi Hamārā sansār: Kaun jivan me mere you far away, but I will not get caught in your hands. Hum Ek Hain: sapano me āne wāle, Meri āyi hai Kashmir: Agar kisise mohobbat nā ki Mahal: Chun chun ghungharvā, Yeh rāt fir na āyegi Melā: Fir āha dil se nikali Nateejā: Ho mori bāli umariā, Unhe bhi rājhe ulfat ki Rattan: Āyi Diwali āyi Diwali One of her classic song’s lyrics: “Udana khatole pe ud jāun...” is given on this page. (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 February. Visit saathee.com for Nazar Television local listings. Saathee.com

February 2012

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February 2012

Jugalbandi By Anita Kulkarni

Evolution of Carnatic music - a series By Smitha K. Prasad Dear readers, in this month’s column, we will look at the role of women in Carnatic music and how that role has undergone a transformation as a result of societal changes. Women, both composers and performers alike, have played a very important role in the history of Carnatic music. Prominent women composers include Aandal, Meerabai, Akka Mahadevi and more recently Ambujam Krishna and Andavan Pichhai. Aandal (also known as Godai) is regarded as the earliest woman composer (around 8th century). She is said to have been discovered by Vishnuchitta under a tulsi (Basil) plant in the temple garden of the town Srivilliputtur. As Godai grew up, her love and devotion toward Lord Krishna continued to increase and she decided that she was going to marry only the Lord. There is a famous legend attributed to Godai- she used to make the garlands that Vishnuchitta delivered to the temple. Unbeknownst to Vishnuchitta, Godai used to wear the flower garlands before they were offered to the Lord, a serious infraction since the scriptures teach that what has been worn by a human being cannot be offered to the Lord. When Vishnuchitta caught Godai in this act, he was extremely upset and ordered her to make a fresh garland which he then took to the temple. Legend has it that the Lord appeared in Vishnuchitta’s dream and told him that He preferred the garlands which had been worn by Aandal rather than the fresh garlands. Aandal is said to have merged with the Lord in Srirangam at the age of fifteen. Aandal’s most famous work is the Thiruppavai, a collection of 30 Tamil verses in which she assumes the role of a gopi (cowherd girl) and describes how she would serve the Lord for all eternity. These verses describe in detail the ambience of her village, the gathering of her friends to collect flowers, the visit to the temple and conclude by asking that in all of their births they should be in the service of the Lord. Highly devotional in nature, these verses or pashurams are recited in Vaishnava temples and households during the Margazhi month which is mid-December to mid-January. Perhaps the most famous musical rendition of Aandal’s Thiruppavai is by the musician Smt. M.L. Vasanthakumari. Thiruppavai renditions by other musicians are also available; however MLV’s rendition is considered the gold-standard for Thiruppavai. Till we meet next time, do listen to the Thiruppavai rendition by Smt. M.L. Vasanthakumari – you can easily find her rendition on the Internet.

The tradition of Jugalbandi in the Carnatic and Hindustani styles of music is an age old one, where two skilled musicians perform together. This duet could be either instrumental or vocal. Partnership in vocal or instrumental music has been in vogue since the day of Dhrupad. Scribes at Emperor Akbar’s court and the historian Faqirullah at Emperor Aurangzeb’s court have written that Baiju defeated Tansen in a singing competition at the court of Akbar. That Jubalbandi performance is legendary in Indian classical music. Khayal is usually sung as a solo, but there have also been numerous cases of male duo singers, usually family members who learned music together. Even when two soloists perform together, they divide the improvisation between them so that there is still only one vocal part. Their music making is cooperative, not competitive and it takes considerable skill and intimacy to create a performance to which each contributes equally. What defines Jugalbandi is that the performance of two instrumentalists or vocalist be on an equal level of skill. While any Indian music performance may feature two musicians, whether vocalists or instrumentalists, a performance can only be deemed a Jugalbandi if neither is clearly the soloist and neither clearly an accompanist. In Jugalbandi, both musicians act as lead players, and a playful competition often ensues between the two performers. It is common knowledge that the popularity of Jugalbandi concerts owes much to virtuosos Pt Ravi Shankar and the late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Indian concert stages, which had been dominated by only soloists, assumed a new dimension around the sixties when the great musical pairs started playing Jugalbandi. However, this form was very much in existence in the decades preceding the sixties. Jugalbandi performances can be viewed online on YouTube and other sites and include classic pairings such as Pt Bhimsen Joshi and Dr Balmurali Krishnan, Smt Kishori Amonkar and Dr Balmurali Krishnan, Zakir Hussain and Alla Rakha Tabla Jugalbandi, Mridangam/Tabla Jugalbandhi and many others.

Anita Kulkarni Email:info@anitakulkarni.com

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performed by men, like the Kuchipudi dance style in the past. The most fascinating part of this dance style to me is the ability of dancers to make quick consecutive circles in mid-air while dancing. These dances come under unique and exotic dances of India, as they are not so common or practiced by all dancers in India. If you ever visit this part of India, I strongly suggest you to attend one of the live performances. It will be an unforgettable experience.

By Dr. Maha Gingrich Yakshagana Dance-Drama

For questions or comments contact Dr. Maha Gingrich via e-mail at: msgingrich@juno.com

I went to India last December and had a wonderful time with the family. I also met some hard working dance teachers. One of them is our friend Dr. R. Sudhakar. He works at the Telugu University in Hyderabad. He did extensive research in Yakshagana. Yakshagana or Bayalata is from the State of Karnataka, in South India. Yakshagana was primarily a form of ballad and the players were called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yakshas.â&#x20AC;? A Ballad is a music literature, a song or a poem, especially in a traditional style, telling a story in a number of short regular stanzas. This was presented originally in only the music form and it was around the 16th century that musical plays were written by famous composers. The themes enacted were from the Bhagavatham, and the emphasis was on the childhood days of Lord Krishna and his brother Balarama. Like in Kuchipudi dance-dramas, the Sutradhara (storyteller) introduces the dancers as young Krishna and his brother Balarama. Then the singers and the dancers took over the show. Later on as years passed; other stories of epics from Ramayana and Mahabharatha were included in these dancedramas. Linked deeply with religious fervor, the Sutradhara (storyteller) continues to amuse the audience by keeping up a running commentary throughout the play. The dramas usually have scenes of flights and the stories have an originality of their own. Interwoven through the main text are philosophical extracts from the epics. I will feature this dance style on Nazar TV shortly. It will be hard to miss when you see the grand and colorful costumes used by these dancers. It almost looks like Kathakali dance style from the state of Kerala in South India. The costumes and make-up indicate the characteristics of each individual, hero or the villain. For example: the kings wear crowns, and the other characters wear turbans of a particular style, differing in size and color with each actor. Evil characters make up their faces in bizarre designs and are easily recognized by the shape and size of their head-dress, the color of their clothes and the shape of their ornaments. Just like in other South Indian classical dance styles, they also start their dances with a prayer to Lord Ganesh (The Elephant Head God), the remover of obstacles. They also end their dance with a traditional Mangalam, concluding the dances. This style is musically of extreme interest as many ragas or tunes that they use are rare in Carnatic music. The rhythmic beats accompanying each character as he enters the stage, known as Voddolage are recited musically. This dance is Saathee.com

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February 2012

showing equal attention to Buddhism outside the country,” Jayaveda Ranade, formerly additional secretary for East Asia with the Indian government, said of a Chinese proposal for the development of Lumbini. Yadav, Nepal’s president, made no mention of China before the crowd gathered at Buddha’s birthplace, though in Kathmandu Wen pledged more than $140 million in aid for the building of infrastructure and other projects. Wen also agreed to consider Nepal’s request to extend the 1,200 mile QinghaiTibet railway onward to Kathmandu and Lumbini. “Both sides started worrying about this once the Dalai Lama started giving intimations of mortality, shall we say,” said Jabin Jacob, assistant director of the New Delhi-based Institute of Chinese Studies, an independent think tank. “If the Dalai Lama is disappearing from the scene or he is going to be stepping back from the political scene, as he already has, then there is this huge resource lying out there untapped,” he said. India and China: their claims to Buddhism Born Prince Gautama Siddhartha in what is today Nepal, the Buddha achieved enlightenment, gained his spiritual following, and died (or achieved final nirvana) in India. As a result, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar, located in the north Indian state of Bihar, remain major pilgrimage centers for believers from around the world. But in India Buddhism was subsumed by Hinduism, and New Delhi has done little to spread the wealth from tourism to Lumbini — which most view as less significant than the three pilgrimage sites in India. So as Nepal’s tourism ministry seeks to lure 500,000 visitors to Lumbini in 2012, expectations of Indian support are not too high — though India claims to be “more than happy” to contribute. “Most of the inter-governmental bodies are dysfunctional,” said Aditya Baral, director of the publicity department of the Nepal Tourism Board. At the same time, even though China is notorious for its suppression of Tibetan Buddhism, and India is home to the exiled Dalai Lama, in its other forms Buddhism is reportedly the fastest-growing religion in China and accounts for only a tiny, neglected minority in the land where it originated. And China’s largesse, at least on paper, or in rumor, appears to know no bounds. “Nearly 40 percent of Chinese believe in Buddhism. Several of the Chinese leaders themselves are practicing Buddhists, despite being members of the Communist Party,” said Shrikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. “So from that point of view it’s quite natural for China to be interested in Buddhist projects,” he said. According to Ranade, China held its first World Buddhist Forum in 2006 in an effort to project its handpicked candidate, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the legitimate Panchen Lama, after secret police allegedly kidnapped and spirited away the boy chosen by the Tibetans in 1995. A second conference in 2009, for which the concluding ceremony was held in Taiwan, was aimed at convincing neighboring Buddhist nations that China had embraced the religion, despite its continued opposition to the Dalai Lama.

The Battle for

BuDDHa China and India seek to leverage their ties to Buddhism for soft power in the region. By Jason Overdorf - GlobalPost.com LUMBINI, Nepal — For a few short hours, as dancers imported from Kathmandu leapt and twirled for the bemused president of this tiny Himalayan republic, the sleepy, provincial town of Lumbini, in western Nepal, became the focus of the great chess game underway between India and China. After a sudden, unannounced, and brief visit from Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in Kathmandu, Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav had flown in to take the stage here — at the birthplace of Buddha — to inaugurate “Visit Lumbini Year 2012” on behalf of Nepal tourism. But as he set fire to a symbolic, Olympic-style “peace flame,” more than a few observers were wondering about the fortuitous timing of the event, which coincided, like the flourish of a magician’s cape, with the preventive detention of hundreds of Nepalese Tibetans in the capital. The detention of Tibetans is nothing new, of course. And Nepal is always rife with rumors and conspiracy theories. But for the past several months a curious mystery has unfolded around Lumbini — the latest beachhead in the quiet battle for Buddha underway between China and India.

With competing conferences, organizations, and cultural tours, both China and India have sought to leverage their historical ties with Buddhism for so-called soft power in the region. India seeks to use its common cultural heritage to overcome China’s ethnic ties to the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, and China seeks to limit the damage from its repression of religious freedom in Tibet and its incessant sparring with the Dalai Lama. “This is part of China’s effort to use Buddhism to gain an entry into Nepal, [and] to show to their Buddhists that they’re Saathee.com

continued on page 82 32

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February 2012

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SRi LaNka: New Test of India’s Global Influence If India blinks, the political role of human rights could fall victim to China’s rise. By Jason Overdorf - GlobalPost.com NEW DELHI, India — The Sri Lankan government’s efforts to erase from history the final months of its 25-year-long war against Tamil separatists hit a snag this week, as humanitarian organizations blasted the report of an internal probe into alleged human rights violations and possible war crimes as a whitewash. Now, the fight for clarity, if not justice, may well depend on India. The Sri Lankan government’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) posted its report on the last months of the civil war Dec. 16. But despite the government’s hopes that the internal assessment would end calls for an international investigation, Human Rights Watch identified “serious shortcomings” in the 388-page report. Most troubling, the LLRC largely exonerated government forces for alleged violations of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said. “The way the war was ended in Sri Lanka must not be made into a positive example that other governments are encouraged to pursue or allowed to pursue,” said Alan Keenan, Sri Lanka Project Director for the International Crisis Group. “One of the major advantages of an international investigation would be to lay out in a credible way just how destructive that approach was.” Whether that happens, however, could well depend on New Delhi’s new willingness to stand up against bullying from Beijing — which has blocked multilateral actions on human rights. The LLRC assessment is unlikely to satisfy either the US or India, which had demanded a clear roadmap for establishing accountability for human rights violations committed during the war. “They haven’t called for any specific prosecutions,” Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a telephone interview. “They haven’t dealt with indiscriminate shelling. They haven’t suggested that anybody senior has any

responsibilities. It’s actually much less than we expected. We thought that they’d try to do more to try to keep the possibility of an international investigation at bay.” The United Nations Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts concluded in April that both government forces and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) conducted military operations “with flagrant disregard for the protection, rights, welfare and lives of civilians and failed to respect the norms of international law.” Yet while the LLRC did rubbish previous government claims that the military killed no civilians at all, it downplayed or failed to investigate incidents involving the shelling of civilians with heavy artillery, sexual violence and the executions of rebels who attempted to surrender. The apparent whitewash was, of course, not wholly surprising. Both before and after the military push to end the civil war — in which the UN report alleged tens of thousands of civilians may have been killed — the repressive atmosphere in Sri Lanka has made it dangerous to speak out against the government, according to the International Crisis Group. Yet predictable or no, the LLRC report’s many failings have highlighted the need for the international probe called for by the UN panel of experts, humanitarian groups said. “The challenge is for the United States, and, particularly, India to find the political courage to address these atrocities,” said Human Rights Watch’s Adams. Indeed, it’s an important test case for a new era of foreign policy in which China increasingly vies with the US for influence. Already, China’s growing military and economic might has begun to hamper multilateral actions on human rights — largely driven by the United States and Europe. In the last month’s of the civil war, China’s continued support for the government hamstrung a Western bid to use withholding arms as a way to influence the tactics of the Sri Lankan military. And after the conflict ended, Beijing, along with Moscow, has stymied efforts to push for an international investigation in the UN Security Council. “What [China’s new involvement has] meant is that governments who otherwise might have been willing to push harder on the Sri Lankan government on issues of accountablity but also on other related governance issues like human rights violations and the decline of democratic standards in Sri Lanka have been more reluctant to do so.” Engaged in projects to build a massive port, a highway, a coal-fired power plant and an international airport on the island, China has emerged as Sri Lanka’s largest donor of bilateral aid — committing $1.5 billion to the country’s $6 billion reconstruction plan in June. Beijing’s generosity has made talking tough difficult for the traditional regional powers like the US and Japan — which was previously Sri Lanka’s principal donor. But India’s concerns are more immediate. New Delhi sees Beijing’s move into the Indian Ocean as part of a so-called “string of pearls” strategy to encircle the country with potential naval and military supply hubs. And taking a tough stance on human rights could well alienate Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse — likely to remain the country’s leader for a long time — and propel him into the arms of Beijing. “The Chinese penetration of Sri Lanka has made things very difficult for India in recent years,” said Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research, an independent think tank. “Without a larger continued on page 78

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The 2012 election season is in full swing. Well, if you’re a Republican contender for the Presidential nomination, the fight has been going on for months. This month we launch our “Politics” column, which will deal with observations, trends, news, analysis, and activism concerning everything that affects this election cycle as well as future ones. We welcome your comments and suggestions for this page. National Popular Vote Ever since the 2000 presidential vote count absurdity (Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the election to George W. Bush because Bush won the electoral votes), there has been a movement by activists to modernize the electoral voting system. The movement seeks to elect as President the person who wins the most popular vote. Read the press release below for a movement that is seeking to enact the “National Popular Vote” Bill.

from the enacting states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes — that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). The National Popular Vote bill preserves the Electoral College and state control of elections. The bill has been endorsed by New York Times, Sacramento Bee, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Los Angeles Times, Fayetteville Observer, Tennessean, and Miami Herald. The bill has been endorsed by League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and FairVote. State polls are favorable: AK-70%, AR-80%, AZ–67%, CA70%, CO-68%, CT-74%, DC-76%, DE-75%, FL-78%, ID-77%, IA75%, KY-80%, ME-77%, MA-73%, MI-73%, MS-77%, MO-70%, MT–72%, NH-69%, NE-74%, NV-72%, NM-76%, NY-79%, NC74%, OH-70%, OK-81%, OR-76%, PA-78%, RI-74%, SC–71%, SD-75%, TN–83%, UT-70%, VT-75%, VA-74%, WA-77%, WI71%, WV-81%, and WY–69%. Our National Advisory Board includes former Senators Jake Garn (R–UT), Birch Bayh (D–IN), and David Durenberger (R– MN) and former congressmen John Anderson (R–IL, I), John Buchanan (R–AL), Tom Campbell (R–CA), and Tom Downey (D–NY). Former Senator Fred Thompson (R–TN) and Governors Bob Edgar (R–IL) and Chet Culver (D-IA) are champions. Additional information is available in the book Every Vote Equal: A State-Based Plan for Electing the President by National Popular Vote and at www.NationalPopularVote.com.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the entire United States. The bill ensures that every vote, in every state, will matter in every presidential election. The bill has been enacted by nine jurisdictions possessing 132 electoral votes — 49 percent of the 270 necessary to activate it Upcoming Republican Presidential Primaries and Caucuses (VT, MD, WA, IL, NJ, DC, MA, CA, HI). The bill has passed 31 legislative chambers in 21 jurisdictions • Feb. 4 Maine Caucuses (24 delegates) (AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, NV, NJ, • Feb. 4 Nevada Caucuses (28 delegates) NM, NY, NC, OR, RI, VT, WA). In the recent 47–13 vote in the • Feb. 7 Colorado Caucuses (36 delegates) Republican-controlled New York Senate, Republicans • Feb. 7 Minnesota Caucuses (40 delegates ) supported the bill 21–11, and Democrats supported it 26–2. The • Feb. 28 Arizona Primary (29 delegates) bill has been endorsed by 2,124 state legislators. The shortcomings of the current system stem from state • Feb. 28 Michigan Primary (30 delegates) winner-take-all statutes (that award all of a state’s electoral • March 3 Washington Caucuses (43 delegates) votes to the candidate receiving the most popular votes in each • March 6 (super Tuesday) state). Alaska Caucuses (27 delegates) The winner-take-all rule has permitted candidates to win the Georgia Primary (76 delegates) Presidency without winning the most popular votes Idaho Caucuses (32 delegates) nationwide in 4 of our 56 elections — 1 in 14 times. A shift of Massachusetts Primary (41 delegates) 60,000 votes in Ohio in 2004 would have elected Kerry despite North Dakota Caucuses (28 delegates) Bush’s nationwide lead of 3,000,000. Ohio Primary (66 delegates) Another shortcoming of the winner-take-all rule is that Oklahoma Primary (43 delegates) presidential candidates have no reason to pay attention to the Tennessee Primary (58 delegates) concerns of voters in states where they are comfortably ahead Vermont Primary (17 delegates) or hopelessly behind. In 2004 and 2008, candidates Virginia Primary (49 delegates) concentrated two-thirds of their visits and ad money in the Wyoming Caucuses (29 delegates) post-convention campaign in just six closely divided • March 10 Guam Caucuses (9 delegates) “battleground” states— with 98% going to just 15 states. Two • March 10 Kansas Caucuses (40 delegates) thirds of the states were ignored. • March 10 Virgin Islands Caucuses (9 delegates) Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution gives the states • March 13 Alabama Primary (50 delegates) exclusive control over the manner of awarding their electoral • March 13 American Samoa Caucuses (9 delegates) votes: “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the • March 13 Hawaii Caucuses (20 delegates ) Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors….” The • March 13 Mississippi Primary (40 delegates) winner-take-all rule is not in the Constitution. It was used by • March 17 Missouri Caucuses (52 delegates) only three states in our nation’s first election in 1789. Maine and Nebraska’s awarding of electoral votes by district is a • March 18 Puerto Rico Caucuses (23 delegates) reminder that states control the process. • March 20 Illinois Primary (69 delegates) Under the National Popular Vote bill, all the electoral votes • March 24 Louisiana Primary (46 delegates) Saathee.com

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Unsaid Author: Neil Abramson (Center Street)

By Swapna Krishna A Million Suns Author: Beth Revis (Razorbill) After the horrible events that led to the death of Eldest and the incapacitation of Orion, Elder has now assumed leadership of the Godspeed. But since taking the inhabitants of the ship off the drug that has kept them obedient, Elder’s leadership position is in jeopardy. What’s more, Amy is still having trouble fitting in aboard Godspeed, and her situation has become dangerous with the growing unrest. When Elder and Amy discover that there are yet more secrets to uncover about the Godspeed, her mission, and the “Plague”, they race to find this knowledge before it’s too late. This book left me torn. The first half of it is frustrating, to say the least. Amy continued to drive me batty, as she did in “Across the Universe,” but this time, Elder joined in as well. I had sympathy for him – he was trying to do the right thing by his people and to be a true leader – yet he shows his very tender age through his actions. He is incredibly naïve when it comes to leadership; though he has given the Godspeed’s inhabitants the gift of choice by taking them off Phydus, he still expects to automatically be their leader. He can’t understand why some of them aren’t happy with the situation. Again and again, he makes the wrong decisions, and while he is in a very difficult position, it’s clear he has no idea what he’s doing. What’s more, one of my favorite things about “Across the Universe” – the fact that the romantic storyline was toned down – isn’t the case in “A Million Suns.” Elder struggles with his feelings for Amy while also trying to lead the ship. While I won’t say it’s annoying (thankfully, Revis still handles it well) it does turn up the teen angst quotient on the novel. That said, I still enjoyed “A Million Suns” overall. Why? Because, about halfway through the book, the plot takes a huge leap with a revelation about the Godspeed, and it sprints towards the explosive and surprising ending. I was breathlessly reading through the twists and turns Revis threw at me, unable to predict where she would go next. The ending of the novel was not something I could have foreseen in a million years, and I absolutely loved that it ended up in a place so different than where it started. What’s more, Elder really comes into his own as a leader in the second half of the novel, and makes some incredibly difficult, but very mature, choices. Despite my initial misgivings about “A Million Suns,” I’m happy I gave it a chance and didn’t just put it down out of frustration. Amy continues to be a source of annoyance, especially towards the end of the novel, but I really appreciate how the character of Elder has evolved. Additionally, Revis’ plot is really great, and I love the way she isn’t afraid to take risks with the storyline. She’s also a wonderful worldbuilder. While “A Million Suns” likely won’t be my favorite installment in this trilogy, I am still eagerly anticipating the final novel. Saathee.com

Though Helena has died, she is finding trouble letting go of the world she knew so well. As a veterinarian, she knew and loved many animals, but she can’t help but feel that her life was completely meaningless. As Helena follows her bereft husband, David, he must learn to live without his beloved wife, struggling with the legacy she left behind. Though I’m not necessarily an animal person (I do love dogs, but also am not sure I want the responsibility of owning one right now), “Unsaid” was a book that appealed to me immediately. I first heard about it at the SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance) Conference in 2011, when Abramson was on a panel. He mentioned that he wrote “Unsaid” for his wife, who is a veterinarian. She is haunted by the thought that, when she passes, she will have to face all the animals she kept alive too long because of a family’s need for them as well as the animals she put down too quickly. There was not a dry eye in the room as Abramson was speaking, and it convinced me I had to read this novel. “Unsaid” is an impressive debut novel. The book revolves around David; his sense of grief and loss is palpable throughout the novel. His sadness at his wife’s death permeates the entire book. It’s clear that he has no idea what to do with himself now that Helena is gone. Abramson spends time patiently developing David’s character, making sure the reader gets to know him, and it pays off. The reader really comes to care about David and wants him to find a place of happiness now that Helena is gone. The entire book is really a tribute to the power of animals, and how wonderful sharing your life with an animal (or multiple animals) can be. It’s here that I was afraid that “Unsaid” would be a bit cheesy or over-the-top, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Abramson beautifully displays the unconditional love of animals and how much it really can change a person. Time and time again, I found myself holding back tears because of the real love displayed in this novel. I can’t really describe it without sounding like a bit of a fool, but trust me, it is amazing. Towards the end, the novel changes from a quiet, contemplative read to a courtroom drama. I’ll admit, I didn’t love this transformation after it first happened, but as it progressed, I found myself engrossed in this new turn of events. Abramson’s pacing is excellent and he doesn’t resort to the clichés of the genre. It’s also gratifying to see how far David has come as a character in these scenes. “Unsaid” was really a remarkable novel. I feel like I’m not even scratching the surface with this review. It’s difficult to do continued on page 86 Swapna Krishna Read more book reviews on her blog at www.skrishnasbooks.com

February 2012

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“Kathagaan” (3.55) incorporates an interesting selection of instruments including the banjo, guiro, triangle, and other folk percussions. Memories of “Show Me Your Jalwa” do come to mind initially. “Kathagaan,” is a really upbeat, lively composition, the lyrics telling a story. There are lots of references to mystery and illusions—“jaadugarni hai ya maaya…chhaliyaa ho…saudaagar.” The phrase “meethe meethe bol lagge jaise barfi” is really cute! There are vocal percussions towards the end of the composition, too. “Babbaji“ (5.01) is a softer composition, initially sung almost like a lullaby. Initially, on the Kailasa Rangeele Website, Kher mentioned the song is a dedication to his son. The lyrics are full of rich imagery—“ek achambha gaaon, main mann ke that sunaaoon, jab kabhi kabhi mere babaji nihaarein aasmaan se.” 40 seconds into the song the composition picks up pace and takes a louder, more intense twist 1.38 into the track. “Hudkaan Maan Bitti” (2.56) is a really clever, masti-filled song with funny, satirical lyrics. Kher modulates his voice in many styles and his two-year-old son Kabir also lends his cute vocals here. “Dharti Pe Jannat (2.07) conjures up a semi-qawwali feel with the use of the harmonium, ghungroos and clapping. In addition to Kailash Kher, Amitabh Bachchan also offers his vocal presence in this song. There are several interesting lines here including, “majmaa umeedo ka lagaa hai, khwaabo ke par lag gaye, bola zehen ne socha dil ne, soye asar jag gaye. dharti pe jannat ka nazaara chalo jee chalo ghoom aaye hum.” “Ujaale Baant Lo” (5.06) has a very somber feel to it, with the sitar, flute, harp, and traditional folk percussion instruments used. Kher’s vocals are full of emotions. The song is about trying to find hope when it’s on the verge of being lost. “Mausamo ne rooth ke jahaan se keh diya, bujh na jaaye roshan haan umeedon ka diya. Toote toote taaron ne nazaaron se kakhaan, karni ko tumhaari humne hans ke sahaa…Andherein kahin jamm naa jaayein ujaale baant lo.” It’s great to hear more of Kailasa after so long! Since most of 2011 was a musical disaster, its nice 2012 is beginning on a melodious note. Check out Rangeele, especially for “Tu Kya Jaane,” “Daaro Na Rang,” and “Babbaji.”

By Amanda Sodhi Kailasa Rangeele The talented group Kailasa (Kailash Kher, Naresh Kamath, Paresh Kamath) is back with their sixth album, Rangeele. They have many memorable compositions to their credit from previous albums including Aawargi, Kailasa, Jhoomo Re, Chaandan Mein, and Yatra. Their last album Chaandan Mein was released in 2009, and now, in 2012, fans can finally hear the magic of Kailasa again. Rangeele consists of eleven compositions. Here’s diving right into the music! “Rangeele” (5.16) is a nice start to the album—the acoustic guitar, saxophone, flute, triangle, steady drumming and Kailash Kher’s wonderful vocals all come together very well. Naresh and Paresh provide good backing vocals, as well. All of the lyrics in Rangeele are by Kailash Kher, and the title track is rich with positive imagery, too, as usual—“uchlaa toh ambar ki koli bhar ke chipkaa…bhar bhar ghoont hosh ke toh pee le.” “Tu Kya Jaane” (5.10) is a more serious, meaningful composition with a gorgeous melody. The strings, piano, acoustic guitar are used among several interesting percussion instrument choices including the ghungroos. Naresh and Paresh’s choral vocals blend in amazingly well, adding more liveliness to the composition. Kher’s lyrics are very thoughtful, revolving around a patthar-dil aashiq—“tu bin dil bin jazbaat, Allah jaane, mere dil ki baat tu kya jaane?...Un ki aadat hi hai woh toh khelte hain khel ke phir todd dete hain, Ya toh tum hi mere dil ko patthar kar do jee.” “Albeliya” (4.47) has a mellow feel with a folk touch to it. The piano and acoustic guitar stand out as well as the percussion arrangements. Once more, lyrics really stand out, especially the lines—“main toh aazaadi mein bhi qaid ho gayi.” The song is an ode to one’s beloved and the beauty of destroying oneself in love—“haaye lutnaa mei kitna mazaa hai kaise bataaoon?” “Yadaan Teriyaan” (3.54) is a somber, angst-filled composition about being haunted by the memories of one’s beloved. “Koi dil waala mere sajjan nu modd le aao…Maddat karo koi birhaa agan bujhaao.” The arrangement of an electric guitar, piano, strings, and drums all helps add to the melancholic feel of the composition. The Acoustic (3.40) version of the song is even more haunting than the original. “Daaro Na Rang” (3.28) is one of the strongest compositions in the album after “Tu Kya Jaane,” and “Babbaji.” The vocals maintain a classical feel, as there is disciplined restraint. The harmonium, piano, banjo, harmonica, drums, shakers all sound catchy and maintain a more rustic feel. The lyrics use color in a symbolic way. A bit confused why the protagonist is asking to not be colored at all, I asked Kailash about the context of the song and he explained the protagonist, even though she is shyly asking to not be teased with colors is actually conveying the exact opposite and wants her “beloved to paint her senses in the passionate colors of love.” Saathee.com

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

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February 2012

I see him, but he does not see me. A Mirror. The white lady who sheds tears all the time. A candle.

Word World

Why did the potato dress up? Because it was FRYday.

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Make words using 4 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. Use all letters for the subject word. 21 + words = Excellent; 16 to 20 words = Good; 15 or less needs to improve. (Solution at bottom of page)

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Dadaji’s Story # 10 There was a boy who was very fond of sweet food like candy, cookies, ice cream and so on. His mother usually gave him a few sweet things every day. The boy always wanted more. He always asked his mother: “Mummy, can I have some more?” But his mother always replied: “Eating too many sweet foods is not good, my son. If you eat too much at a time you will get cavities in your teeth and you may even lose your teeth. You may also get stomach pain. And remember, God is everywhere and sees everything you do even if you are home alone.” One day his mother had gone to buy groceries and no one was at home except the boy. He went to the kitchen pantry and took out the candy jar. He thought: “Well, God is watching if I eat candies, but He is not going to tell my mom!” So, he ate all the candies from the jar. Even after that, he got into a habit of eating sweet things when no one was home. After a few months, he got a stomach pain and a tooth ache. His mom took him to a dentist. The dentist examined his teeth and found that there were cavities and the cavities needed to be filled up or else the bad teeth may have to be pulled out. The treatment was expensive and painful. When his mother asked the boy, how this had happened, the boy told the truth. He also told her that he will never eat sweets again. Question: Is it OK not to obey his mother? Why? Moral: The parents and elders are our well wishers. Obey them.

Word World (Solution): EROS, HERO, HOOSE, HOOT, HOOTER, HORSE, HOSE, HOST, ROOT, ROSE, SHOE, SHOOT, SHOOTER, SHORE, SHORT, SHOT, SOOTHE, SORE, SORT, STORE, TOES, TORE, TORSO

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e. Proves that something else is really true f. Give a tour, show people around a place g. Doing something to attract attention h. An event organized to get people’s support or persuade them to buy something i. Reveals his thoughts or beliefs j. An extremely good part of the performance k. Lead a guest graciously to the exit l. The one in charge m. Made it clear that he must leave n. The results of one’s efforts o. Get started

Mastering Meaning By Judith L. Bergman M.A. CCC Every reader who has ever had a child in preschool or kindergarten in this country learns to plan for “Show and Tell!” A distinctive feature of Early Childhood Education, “Show and Tell” gives your child the opportunity to bring in something from home with some special meaning. At the appointed time in the class schedule, he or she sits in a circle of classmates, takes the object out of its bag (where it must remain until then) talks about it and passes it around. It is often wise to “prepare” in advance at home to avoid this kind of a conversation with your four-year-old: Child: “I want to bring in Mommy’s sparkling new earrings and bracelet to “Show and Tell” tomorrow!” Dad: Looking at Mom in alarm, “Oh, no! They’re not for ‘Show and Tell!’ Maybe Mommy can wear them to a teacher conference some time.” (Mom now looks alarmed.) Mom: (Skillfully redirecting.) “Bring in your toy dolphin and the dolphin book we bought you at Sea World! Remember, you told us you would bring them to school and tell your friends all about the dolphins you saw!” Show and tell are two familiar words used in quite a number of less familiar idioms. The expression itself can be used figuratively to describe an “adult” activity. “It was another lecture with a lot of show and tell (demonstration).” Match the idioms that contain the word, show, with the meanings below. 1 1. The panel discussion on financial management and buffet lunch is a dog and pony show the university puts on for its major donors every year. _____ 2. Being a no show makes a very bad impression. ____ 3. They worked very hard to keep the business going but all they had to show for it was a lot of debt. ____ 4. That just goes to show that you can’t believe everything you read! _____ 5. Who’s running this show? ____ 6. It’s getting late! Let’s get this show on the road. _____ 7. We have guides to show visitors around the campus. ____ 8. After your HR orientation, John will show you the ropes in the shop. ____ 9. I’m sure she showed good faith when she signed that agreement. _____ 10. My little girl is always showing off with her gymnastics tricks. ____ 11. He’s very secretive. He never shows his true colors. ____ 12. His son’s speech in the school play was a real show stopper. ____ 13. She is having a one-man show at the city center art gallery. 14. After a lovely tea, she politely showed me to the door. ____ 15. He was so obnoxious I showed him the door. ____

Now test your skill in matching idioms and meanings containing tell.2 1. Don’t tell tales out of school because people won’t know when to believe you. ____ 2. We visited the “haunted house” for Halloween and lived to tell the tale. ___ 3. Some people who work for celebrities will tell all for a fee! 4. Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies. ____ 5. I’ll tell it like it is! Being a teacher can be very frustrating. ____ 6. He takes too many risks just like his father. Blood will tell. ____ 7. He asked to borrow money again so I got angry and told him where to get off! ___ a. Tell everything, even secrets b. People usually turn out to be like their ancestors. (Old proverb) c. Spread rumors or false information d. I really can’t tell you the truth, so don’t even ask. e. Be very frank and honest f. Survived a frightening or dangerous experience (usually used humorously) g, To refuse someone in an angry and rude way Suggested strategies to increase your mastery of meaning this month: Select articles from the Entertainment section of a newspaper or magazine and underline all the idiomatic uses of show. Then find news articles discussing current politics and underline all the idiomatic uses of tell. References: 1, 2 http://www.idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ Answers: Show: 1-h, 2-c, 3-n, 4-e, 5-l, 6-o, 7-f, 8-b, 9-d, 10-g, 11-i, 12-j, 13a, 14-k, 15-m. Tell: 1-c, 2-f, 3-a, 4-d, 5-3, 6-b, 7-g. 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

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February 2012

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By Chanden Sen Three Types of Knowledge Self-knowledge, world-knowledge and God-knowledge constitute the three types of knowledge. Knowing yourself means becoming aware of yourself, your strengths, weaknesses, what you can and can’t do, and what you know, have experienced, and are capable of doing. It means being aware of your own likes and dislikes, preferences and proclivities. World knowledge means knowing how the world works. This includes other people, nature and things. You might know, for example, what the chances are of getting a job once you apply for it. It means being experienced in the ways of the world either from books, or through personal experience, or from other people. A child is born with very little knowledge – perhaps with only the knowledge of breathing, eating and sleeping. Then, as the child grows to adulthood, it learns a myriad of things about the world and of itself. For example, it learns how to use a combine-harvester, used in farming. Lastly, we come to God-knowledge. Some people are privileged to be born in families where God-knowledge is encouraged. Others come to God through friends, or through books, or personal experience. Many people are not fully aware of how God works, if they believe in a higher power at all. Yet it is said that not reading the scriptures is the worst thing that you can do. So next time you sit to plan the rest of your life, or just the next day, please be aware of these three types of knowledge, for they will help you to survive, prosper and grow. If your values and beliefs are good, your life will be good too. Here’s a quote from the Bhagavad Gita: Listen to the exhortation of the Dawn: Look well to this day, for it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence, The bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty. For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness And every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day. Reconstruction from First Principles Sen Babu got up at 6 am in his house in Kolkata and switched on his Hitachi room air-conditioner. It was stifling hot and the power had just come on after a 5 hour “load shedding.” The Hitachi did a fine job of cooling the room – when power was available, that is. As global warming has caused temperatures in the built-up areas of Kolkata to soar, more and more people were going in for air-conditioners and the less effective air-coolers. Sen Babu reflected on the woes of the common man in Kolkata. Without wishing to apportion blame to anyone in particular, he recalled that West Bengal’s troubles started in 1947 with the infamous partition of Bengal. Huge multitudes of people had crossed over from what is now Bangladesh to (West) Bengal. These people, even if they originated in the suburbs of Dacca or hailed from even remoter areas, yet – out of necessity – chose to settle down in the city areas of Kolkata, Howrah, and nearby localities. Saathee.com

This put a huge strain on the city services, and the population density of the Kolkata region is one of the highest in the country. Sen Babu thought of how peaceful and organized the city and surroundings of Bangalore and Chennai were, in comparison. There had been no large-scale human migrations there. Well, he sighed to himself, we are all children of history, in a manner of speaking, and we should count our blessings – a port to be proud of, the Himalayas around Darjeeling, a fertile soil, and the vibrant, mercurial Bengali people! Meanwhile, Sen Babu’s son in America was peering uncertainly at an email he’d just received from his erstwhile teacher, Professor D. N. Bose, recently retired from IIT, Kharagpur, as Dean of Engineering and Science. Here is the gist of Prof. Bose’s email: One of Mamata’s (Banerjee) pet projects is helicopter service to Haldia, Murshidabad, Bankura etc. Who is going to pay a one-way fare of rupees five thousand for such a trip? Already the daily air flight to Cooch Behar has fallen through due to lack of passengers. (The) West Bengal government, which is bankrupt, was to subsidize it by paying for four fares each way daily, ie, rupees 80,000/day. When will she learn that Kolkata is not Mumbai, Hyderabad or Bangalore, which has business traffic to cities like Baroda, Surat, Bhavnagar and small towns like Shimoga, Gulbarga etc. She should first improve road conditions especially the NorthSouth link with a 4-lane highway to Jalpaiguri. It distressed Sen Babu’s son to hear of the lack of funds. He immediately went to the website of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, otherwise known as the World Bank. He zeroed in on the active projects in India, then on ongoing projects in West Bengal. Surprisingly, there was only one such – a minor irrigation project worth USD 300 million. He emailed Prof. Bose about his findings, and wondered if Mamata and or Dr. Manmohan Singh had explored the possibilities of further such loans. The World Bank loans – about which Prof. Yunus had serious reservations – are given to creditworthy nations. Sen Babu’s son suggested that reconstruction and development has to proceed on many fronts simultaneously. He further suggested, and I believe that this is a novel idea, that firstly there should be free food kitchens and / or meal packets so that people are reassured of their primary concern, “food first.”An army, they say, marches on its stomach, and only if there is a safety net will all other things become possible. Ubiquitous Connectivity and India Vanu Bose, a network technology entrepreneur, describes India as an exciting marketplace teeming with new “Anywhere” customers, ie customers who are aggressively embracing mobile connectivity. While 70 percent of India’s population is rural and 80 percent of that group is illiterate, Vanu says that “They have the same basic demands and desires for information and entertainment as anyone else does.” In earlier days of mobile network rollouts, these customers were not considered ready, willing or able potential customers, so there was no SMS, or simple messaging service, on offer in continued on page 118

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February 2012

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Thus, the respiratory process is unique: although it is an involuntary process, it can be consciously brought under partial or even total control. This fact forms the basis of precept of Pranayam. Pranayam gradually removes mental and physical defects as it purifies the gross and subtle channels of the body. As a result, this Yogic technique establishes the introversion of mind required for the higher practices of Yoga. When the techniques of pranayam are introduced to the respiratory process, yogic breathing is performed more slowly and the exhalations become longer than the inhalations. This gradual process causes the vital life force known as prana to come into play, which energizes and intensifies the practice of Yoga. The yogi’s goal is to control the body’s nervous system through the scientific regulation of the respiratory system. This process of breath-control has far-reaching effects on both the body and the mind. It bestows a feeling of lightness and wards off evil. It purifies the body and enhances the psychological efficiency of the mind. It increases gastric fire and bestows suppleness and brightness upon the practitioner. But ultimately the most prized goal of Pranayam is the internalization of consciousness that makes super-conscious perceptions possible. Breath is life. Each creature on this earth—be it human, animal, insect, or plant— begins its existence with the act of breathing. Life itself is sustained by continuous respiration. When the breath stops, all other life processes also come to standstill. Prana is a great blessing to mankind for it energizes the primary components of the microcosm: body, mind, ego and intellect. In the Shiva Svarodaya it is said: “Pran is a great friend, companion, and brother to all human beings in this world, because everything can be achieved with its help.” Vedanta philosophy says, “Prana is Brahman, or Absolute Reality.” Finally, in the Yoga Chudamani Upanishad it is said, “So long as Prana is restrained in the body, the soul will not leave the body: then there is no fear of death. Hence, one should practice the regulation, or control, of prana.” The five major vayus (pran, apan, udan. Saman. Vyan) are collectively described as “samanya-karan vrutti”, or “balancing the activities within.” This indicates that the five vayus also control and harmonize the subtle activities of the antahkaran, or the internal cognitive faculty composed of consciousness, intellect, ego, and mind. This instrument of cognition governs the activities of knowing, feeling, and willing. The ancient sage Yagnavalkya says: “Breaths eats up the body.” This means that the continuous process of respiration gradually exhausts life. When the breath is exhausted, respiration ceases and the activity of the life force (prana) no longer functions in the body. As a natural consequence, the body ceases to live. The life span of each living being is fixed by destiny and determined by a specific number of breaths. The respiratory rounds available to each creature will vary according to species and individual; accordingly, the person who breaths slowly will actually extend his life-span. The mere act of breathing will not produce a long and healthy life unless some rhythm and regulation are consciously introduced to the breathing process.

Pran and Pranayam By Swami Satyanand In the ancient Sanskrit texts, as well as the literature of Yoga, the nature and function of Prana is conveyed in variety of meanings depending on the context. Sometimes Prana signifies the life-principle, or vital life force. At other times it indicates all of the autonomic reflexes that preserve life. Yet again, in other contexts Prana is described as the force behind nerve conduction and the motor impulses that guide the physical activity of the body. But most often Prana is identified with respiration, or the breath. The concept of Prana may be understood at two levels, the universal and the individual. Universal Pran is the creative energy that arises from the Universal Spirit. Similarly, individual Pran springs forth from the individual Spirit. At the individual level Pran manifests as physical activities on the material level, and as mental activities on the subtle level. Thus Pran puts both the body and the mind in motion, and serves as a link between the physical and subtle bodies. Pran may be viewed as the spiritual energy out of which matter evolves. The entire atmosphere of Universe is filled with imperceptible energy. It takes but a subtle impulse of the Universal Spirit to spontaneously transform these vibrations into energy (Pran), which in turn manifests as matter in the form of Nature (Prakriti). Pran vibrates and manifests according to Divine Will. This process is also described by Einstein, who says that matter is nothing but energy reduced to the point of invisibility. When Prana is regulated and properly directed, it can energize the various parts of the body, purifying and rejuvenating them. Ultimately, when one gains control over Prana, spiritual powers known as Siddhis are attained. But without control of Pran significant spiritual growth is not possible. Thus, the first step in the Spiritual path is the recognition of Pran and the understanding of its role in the body, while the final step is taken when the Yogi gains complete control of Pran. The Role of Pranayam Pranayam is the most important of the eight limbs of Ashtang Yoga. Prana means life-force and “ayam” means regulation or control. Thus Pranayam means the regulation or control of the vital life-force known as Pran. Mastery of Pran, and the ability to control its movements, is an essential requirement for the advanced stages of Yoga. Pranayam, or the practice of Yogic breathing, helps to remove impurities from the gross and subtle bodies. Initially, the practitioner understands prana only in the form of the physical breath, and his experiences with it are restricted to the material plane. Eventually, he realizes that Prana’s field of operation includes the currents of vital air that flow through the subtle channels of subtle body. Finally, the practitioner experiences prana as the spiritual energy that purifies the mind and the intellect. Saathee.com

February 2012

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Sleep Apnea - More than just a snore: Snoring is usually a minor problem, except for those who have to listen to it. But heavy snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, thought to affect mostly men. Sleep apnea can keep you from getting a restful sleep. You may stop breathing for anywhere from ten seconds to a minute, then large sound erupts as you struggle to recover, this pattern may be repeated hundred of times during your sleep. Sleep apnea can cause fatigue, drowsiness and headaches. Sleep apnea has also been linked to heart attacks, strokes, hypertension, diabetes and depression. If you think you have sleep apnea, get professional help. Your doctor may refer to you to a specialist for sleep disorders center, the most reliable place to have sleep apnea diagnosed. Being overweight is not only a risk factor for sleep apnea, but also makes you more susceptible to develop many other medical problems. You need to take practical steps to lose weight (refer to previous articles in Healthwise Section of Saathee Magazine) or see a registered dietitian for weight management. Limiting alcohol intake and exercising 30- 45 minutes a day most of the days are also beneficial to ward off many medical conditions. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for sleep apnea, losing weight definitely helps, or you may be fitted for an air pump, called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which is attached to a nasal tube or mask and can maintain flow of air while you sleep. Make sure you are evaluated by a board certified doctor in sleep-medicine. The website www.sleepcenter.org can help locate a nearby accredited center.

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Mobilink (which is a unit of Egypt-based Orascom Telecom),Telenor (which is based in Norway), Warid Telecom (a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Group and SingTel Group), Zong (China Mobile Communication Cooperation) and Ufone (which is owned by Emirates Telecommunication Corporation Group, Etisalat). The U.S. Markets had a relatively positive start to 2012 during mid-January 2012, the Dow was trading in the 12,400s, the NASDAQ Composite was trading in the 2,700s and the S&P 500 was slightly below 1,300. The economy did show some positive job creation towards the end of CY2011 and the unemployment rate did drop down to 8.5 percent in December 2011, which is a significant improvement from the 9 percent+ readings that were seen for much of 2009, 2010 and a good part of 2011. There are still concerns about the vast number of those who are unemployed, underemployed and “discouraged workers” who have stopped seeking work. If those categories were factored in, the unemployment rate would be much higher. The housing market continues to be weak, and the European situation continues to be in the spotlight: if Europe were to slip back into recession, chances are that it would drag the U.S. back into recession as well. China’s GDP growth slipped to a 2 1/2 year low during 4Q2011 and therefore, there are concerns about the strength of the Asian tigers as well. The US Dollar did gain some ground due to the European stresses – during mid-January 2012, €1 equaled $1.28-$1.29 which is down from $1.32-$1.33 a few months ago. In addition, £1 equaled $1.54-$1.55 which was down from $1.57-$1.58 a few months ago. The US$ was barely even-exchange with the Canadian Dollar and remained below par against the Australian Dollar and the Swiss Franc. Google (NASDAQ-GOOG) reported its 4Q2011 financials on 1/19/2012 and the results were not up to par with analysts’ expectations, and the stock dropped 8 percent the following trading day. The 131-year old Eastman Kodak company, which used to trade on the Big Board under the symbol “EK”, filed for bankruptcy protection on 1/19/2012. The stock had been telegraphing this likelihood in recent months and in bankruptcy, several divisions (including photography) will be sold off and Kodak will focus on the manufacture of high-quality printers with superior ink quality. Crude Oil hovered around $100 per barrel and energy prices have increased recently due to tensions with Iran, which was threatening to block a key shipping route. In addition, increased demand from China and U.S. during the upcoming spring driving season is expected to put more upward pressures on Crude. During mid-January 2012, Gold was hovering around $1,650 per ounce and Silver was trading around $30 per ounce. The remaining meetings of the Federal Reserve Board planned for 2012: March 13, April 24-25, June 19-20, July 31, September 12, October 23-24, and December 11. From the comments released by the Fed subsequent to the meetings, it appears that interest rates will be held at the current historical low levels for some time to come, most likely until mid-2013 due to the continued challenging economic conditions.

By Rajesh T. Ganatra Unfortunately, the Sensex was one of the worst performing markets in Asia during 2011, falling nearly 20 percent. Since March 2010, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised interest rates 13 times to counter severely high inflation, which has been extremely difficult to contain. Meanwhile, the series of rate hikes has taken a toll on economic growth and the series of rate hikes hit financial stocks very hard. Industrial growth and capital goods output declined significantly during the second half of 2011 and the Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, indicated that the 9 percent desired rate of economic growth during the upcoming 2012-2017 “five year plan” will not materialize, instead the economy will struggle to even attain a growth rate of 7 percent. The Indian Rupee came under substantial pressure as well – it hit a historical low of 54.30 to the US$ on 12/15/2011 before RBI intervention assisted the currency somewhat. The Rupee recovered significant ground within a few weeks and it was trading at approximately 50.25 Rupees to the US$ on 1/20/2012. The Sensex also recovered some lost ground and traded into the 16,700s by the third week of January 2012 due to optimism about India’s long term prospects and hints by the RBI that interest rate reductions may be in the cards if inflation moderates. American Airlines filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy recently and the airline is discontinuing its nonstop New DelhiChicago service, which has been in operation since November 2005. The airline’s last flight to India will take off from Chicago O’Hare on 2/28/2012 and the last flight out of India will leave Delhi on 3/1/2012. Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ-INFY) reported its quarterly results on 1/12/2012 and the financials were in-line with expectations, however, the company offered softer guidance for the quarter ending 3/31/2012 and therefore, the stock shed nearly 9 percent that day as it fell from $56.87 down to $51.85. The Karachi KSE-100 lost approximately 8% during CY2011 and settled out at 11,347.66. The index softened during early January 2012 and broke below 11,000, however, the KSE-100 managed to reclaim that key level shortly after breaking below it and subsequently made aggressive strides into the 11,700s. The Pakistani Rupee traded at historical levels against the US$ during early January 2012, reaching PKR 90.70 to the US$. Pakistan received US $386.6 million in foreign investments during July 2011 - December 2011, which represents a decline of 64 percent over the same previous year period, when the country had garnered $1.06 in foreign investments. During 4Q2011, Pakistan had approximately 111 million mobile phone users, which represents nearly 65 percent of the population. The country is going to hold auctions for licenses for 3G mobile telecom services on 3/29/12 and there are expected to be approximately 10-15 potential investors that will participate in the initial bidding process. The base price of the license auction shall be in the vicinity of US $210 million and the initial “deposit” to indicate a serious bid would be at a threshold of US $31.5 million. The license terms would range from 8-15 years and existing operators could start offering 3G services immediately upon securing a license, whereas new operators would have to wait until March 2013 to commence 3G services. Some of Pakistan’s major mobile operators are 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

February 2012

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or bonus plan for key employees or associates. There are very few events that can severely affect the value of a small business such as a key employee or associate leaving the business and starting a similar business, an employee departing with trade secrets, confidential information or even customer lists. All business owners should require their employees to sign noncompete and confidentiality agreements to prevent an event like this from occurring. If the terms of such an agreement are considered reasonable under state law, the agreement should be valid and enforceable. A buy-sell agreement accompanied by proper planning should provide the exiting owner a fair value for his or her ownership interest while providing the remaining owner a means to purchase the exiting owner’s interest without depleting the business of cash flow and its value. It is crucial that planning be done to ensure there are sufficient funds available to implement the buy-sell provisions when triggered. Funding at an owner’s death with life insurance may be the easy part. More problematic may be how to buy-out a departing owner’s interest in the event of disability, retirement or voluntary termination, especially if a portion of the business’ cash flow must be devoted to that purpose. Further, once in place, a buy-sell agreement should periodically be updated to reflect changes in the business value and the owners’ objectives. Finally, business owners should consider putting into place a deferred compensation or bonus plan designed to reward key employees or associates who meet certain performance targets. This in turn serves as a valuable tool for asset protection. A well-planned deferred compensation arrangement can serve two purposes. First, the plan can be designed so that employees are rewarded for achieving benchmarks that not only protect but increase the business value. Second, such agreements, for example through gradual vesting schedules, can place so called “golden handcuffs” on valuable employees or associates by making it extremely difficult for them to leave the business without forfeiting very important benefits. As important as it is for a business owner to develop their business and increase their bottom line, succession planning and asset protection are also very important considerations in protecting your business value. Consult a business attorney to help you plan for the future of your business and your family.

Succession Considerations and Asset Protection for Business Owners By Sumeet P. Shah Business owners devote much of their time building their business and improving their profitability; however, they often neglect to devote time to protecting their business by addressing succession considerations and asset protection. Business owners should consider the following: 1) Preparing for business succession in the event of death, and, 2) How to implement business agreements designed to protect and enhance business value while providing for seamless succession in the event of incapacity, retirement or departure from the business. Succession Considerations: If you co-own a business with others, such as a partnership, LLC or corporation, you will want to sign a buy-sell agreement, or buyout agreement, with your co-owners that will control what happens to your ownership interest when you die. Some owners agree that the business should have the opportunity to buy your share of the business back from whoever inherits it. A buyout agreement can even call for the company to purchase life insurance on the owners so that it can be used to fund the purchase of a deceased owner’s interest, turning the buyout agreement into a business continuation plan. Other business owners want to keep the business in the family and in that case the buyout agreement can be turned into a succession plan. Business owners should also consider preparing a will or trust to dictate what happens to their business interests in the event of a death. Through a will, business owners can state their wishes about who they want to inherit the business, and dividing the business assets however they see fit. If you don’t leave a will with directions about who you want to own the business, state law does it for you and usually close family members will receive everything. The rules vary from state to state, but generally surviving spouses and children share the estate. If you’re not married and don’t have offspring, assets will go to your parents or siblings. Writing a will gives you the chance to name someone to serve as executor, to carry out the terms of your will. That person will be in charge of gathering your assets, paying debts, filing tax returns, and eventually distributing your property in the way you directed. That can be a big job, particularly if you leave a business behind. Although a will is a great start for anyone who’s decided it’s time to do some business succession planning, a trust can also be a very effective succession tool. A trust lets your family avoid lengthy and expensive probate court proceedings after your death. Assets in a trust can be transferred quickly to the people who inherit them, a big advantage if you want a business to keep running smoothly.

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.

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Will you Finally Write Your Book This Year?

By Gail Z. Martin

Is 2012 the year to make your dreams come true? Many New Year’s resolutions were made last month, but what progress toward your dreams did you make in 2011? Sometimes, it’s difficult to give yourself credit for progress made. Here are some ways you might have taken steps toward your dreams this year: - Learning new skills through books, classes or self-study programs - Taking a risk to add staff, new products, new marketing techniques, or new distribution channels/multiple streams of income - Stepping out of your comfort zone to ask for help through coaching, delegating workload, finding a mentor. - Investing in yourself and your business through memberships, classes, resources, technology and equipment. - Spending time on your vision and plans to chart a course for the future. - Team building with your employees, contractors and vendors Getting out of the office to network and strengthen relationships. - Joining a new organization, taking on a community leadership role, and giving back to causes that matter to you. Celebrate your successes by making a list of the steps you’ve taken, big or small, to get closer to your dream. (I’d love to help you celebrate—please post one or more of your successes to my Facebook page or tweet to me on Twitter!) Write down every success, big and small, and every step you’ve taken to get closer to your dream. Now take a few moments and read over your list, and let yourself feel well-deserved credit for all that you’ve done this year to pave the way toward attaining your goals next year. Next, it’s dreaming time. What is your vision for the new year? I’m not talking about resolutions, things like losing weight or exercising more often. I mean for your business— what vision do you have to blaze new trails, extend your horizons, and step fully into your dreams? Write down your vision and the specific progress you want to achieve next year. Do you want to write a book? Become a professional speaker? Conquer social media? Get over your fear of technology? Re-launch your web site? Create a new product? Move into a new office? Hire more help and delegate more tasks? Whatever it is, write it down! (And then share some of your vision with me on Facebook or Twitter, because there’s something powerful about telling your vision to someone else.) You’re not done yet! Take a few moments to look over your new vision list. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with what has to happen to make those visions into reality. Instead, imagine each item has already come true. Imagine that it’s this time next year, and these are your accomplishments. Try each one on for size. How does it feel? Capture that feeling and hang onto it; you’ll need it when the going gets tough as you work to bring your vision to life. Take the time to celebrate and dream, and sow the seeds for prosperity. Saathee.com

So many people tell me that they intend to write a book “someday.” Some of these books are fiction, some are nonfiction, but they have one thing in common: they haven’t happened yet. Isn’t it time you finally finished the book you’ve been dreaming about writing? I write both fiction and non-fiction books, and I can tell you that completing a book is not only a sense of accomplishment; it’s also a real rush of joy. I get so excited knowing that my book will touch the lives of people I may never meet, either to give them hours of escape and enjoyment, or to share practical tips to help them accomplish their business goals. Books are a lasting way for me to make an impact on the world around me. So what about your book? I know, you’re busy. So am I. But it’s amazing what you can get done when doing something is a priority. As you know, I’m a huge believer in seeing what you can accomplish in just five minutes, just one hour, just 30 days. So here’s one challenge: How can you set aside just two hours a week to work on your book this month? (Hint: Weekend mornings.) What would happen if you planned to spend eight hours this month writing your book? Can you set a 30 day goal for yourself? It doesn’t matter how many pages you decide to write for your goal; all that matters is that you create a goal and make an honest effort to reach it. Now suppose you’ve thought about writing a book, but aren’t sure whether or not it’s worth it. Here are some good reasons to go ahead and write your book: Completing your book is a milestone of personal growth, and it will give you a real sense of control and accomplishment. Writing can help to relieve stress and provide a creative outlet. As you write, you may find answers to questions that have been bothering you. Writing is a great way to tap into the wisdom of your subconscious mind! Writing non-fiction enables you to go from providing your knowledge on a one-to-one basis to a one-to-many basis, expanding the number of people you can help. A non-fiction book also helps to establish your credibility as an expert, and can be a powerful tool for attracting new business. Books and related products can create a new stream of revenue for you. Writing a book is newsworthy, which is a great way to get noticed by the media. As you write your book, start thinking about how you will promote it to the people who need/want to read it. Don’t wait until the book is ready to go before you plan for promotion! As you market your book, you’re also marketing yourself, and building a brand so readers will remember you for future books. Gail Z. Martin owns DreamSpinner Communications. Contact her at dreamspinnercommunications@earthlink.net

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Picking the Right Tax Program for your Tax Situation Having short listed tax programs based on the above criteria, Saathee.com

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Not heard by very many American citizens sadly. Idea of the black military Pilot, absurd to so many, Said Army report in 1925, Little hope for black to fly.

Saathee Readers Forum

President Roosevelt did relent To Civil rights group eventually, To train black men with talent, To be pilots, fly in US military.

I love you Kripa By Ritu Bhat It seems just like yesterday, when she came into my world, I knew that very moment; she was more than just my baby girl. Her face so perfect, she was so sweet, so soft and was so pure, All wrapped in pink, my little girl, looked like an angel for sure!

Many blacks were trained finally By “Chief” Anderson, black pilot At the Air Institute in Tuskegee, After a ‘ride’ by Eleanor Roosevelt, As S. Service relented eventually.

She is now five, a happy five… her face is always lit so bright, She gives greatest hugs to me, be it morning, evening or night. Sometimes she is willful and sometimes demure and sometimes she is so coy, She wants to do all that she can, to give me so much joy!!!

Working hard, black men many In planes day and night did fly, Did learn an air combat strategy, Flight controls and meteorology.

She makes me feel the love of God, and that he has his grace on me… Her twinkling eyes, her naughty smile, her face is flawless as can be! She is so gentle and so kind…to everyone she knows, And as the time just goes by, she grows and grows and grows!

Organized as a 332nd Fighter Group, Under Col. Benjamin O. Davis, troop, Did train all pilot airmen of Tuskegee Enter air combat in Africa, Germany. Fighting Luftwaffe air force of Nazi.

The next few years will go so quick, that feeling makes my heart so sick. I’ll miss these moments of laughter and joy, mixed with a few tears to cry. The nightly rituals, the bedtime stories, will remain forever in my head The giggles, the laughs, the piggy-back ride, on her way to the bed!

Later they were ordered to base, Italy To protect US Bombers on missions And protect them as they flew slowly, Skilled pilots fought with old lessons. Slow Bombers, big targets for enemy, 332nd saved them in close company, Painted bright red their airplane tails, Courage nicknamed “Red Tail Angels “.

And then I think, when she is big, she would want to fly free, And I shall always pray to God…that let her stay some more with me! All I know she would always be... my little baby girl, With a sweetness that shall never end, I would always be her closest friend!

Soon White Bomber pilots gave respect For Tuskegee Pilots courage and combat, Many White pilots who initially did object Did request the protection and soulful pat.

Tuskegee Airmen By Jai Rangappa (Bowie, MD)

Completed 1500 sorties, black airmen Did destroy 260 aircraft of an enemy, Sank a destroyer, demolish installation, With no loss of their planes you see.

All Airmen of Tuskegee, Band of Negro fraternity, Fought in air so bravely, Did not lose planes any, In WW II, old Germany.

The skilled Airmen Pilots of Tuskegee Made proud American black community, And all the American citizens generally, Show racist leaders in the Big Military.

First black pilots to be, In US Air Corps Army, Defeated German Nazi, Stood America proudly.

Awarded were they for combat bravery, By many governments, other military, Humble and skilled pilots of Tuskegee Were all disbanded after WW II finally. USA should be grateful in perpetuity.

Trained in a Tuskegee AL airfield patriotically, Challenged ultimately, Racists of the country.

Distinguished Flying Crosses, Silver Star, Legions of Merit & Yugoslavian Red Star, Purple Hearts and French Croix de Guerre, Congressional Gold Medal, 62 years later Given by President G. Bush to pilots dare!

The US patriotic legacy, Of the Airman Tuskegee, Saathee.com

February 2012

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Dr. Ron A. Virmani seeks justice from Presbyterian Hospital Charlotte. I used to deliver pretty babies! Not anymore. Why not? On September 1, 1995, Presbyterian hospital revoked my ob-gyn privileges based on a “peer review” of my 102 charts, labeling 24 of them “problematic”. Never had I been given a chance to defend any of those charts. An NC medical board appointed ob-gyn reviewer from Charlotte found my “24 cases” to be within the standard of care. In 1997, the hospital hired two outside medical experts to review my cases, but then suppressed their findings. I spent the next 11 years and a huge amount of money in the arcane court system unsuccessfully trying to get justice. In 2010, Charlotte Medical Society (CMS) wrote to the hospital - “We hope that Presbyterian hospital does not wish to create a legacy of injustice towards any member… We call upon the Hospital’s sense of fairness to make amends and provide Dr. Virmani the justice and dignity deserved by all physicians.” North Carolina Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (NCAPI) and Hindu Center of Charlotte wrote similar letters to the hospital. The Hospital met with representatives of CMS and NCAPI (without me) to discuss my case in 2010. Upon their recommendation, I met up with Dr. Zweng, senior VP of medical affairs, in April 2011. He listened to my story with keenness and passion but offered no resolution. On June 1, 2011, Mr. Mark Billings, CEO of Presbyterian hospital listened to me with empathy and asked me to give him a concrete proposal to settle my case. I did just that but, I have not had a response from the hospital. When I protested in front of the hospital recently, I was intimidated and driven away, by Presbyterian security guards. American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) also wrote the hospital strongly supporting Dr. Virmani's case in December 2011, the hospital has not responded. Born in India, I went to medical school in NJ, then finished my obg residency in Phila. I am a US citizen. My family and I have suffered immensely for 16 years. Recently, a petition signed by 209 prominent citizens and physicians of the local community as well as the U.S. and the world, was submitted to the hospital. “Give Dr. Ron Virmani a fair and impartial external peer-review. If the reviewers find his patient charts meeting the standard of care, then rehabilitate and compensate him for 16 years of suffering.” You too may sign this petition on - http://signon.org/sign/presbyterian-hospital This is my challenge to the hospital! Ron Virmani, M.D. rvbaby1@yahoo.com Paid for by Nonit Nanda

Here is a list of players with the most catches in TEST play (tabulated as of 1/18/2012) - Chart below

By Rajesh T. Ganatra Hello cricket fans. Cricket is already hopping all over the world as we settle into the new year. Below find some current and upcoming action and a couple of interesting charts. Pakistan vs. England (at United Arab Emirates) 1st Test - January 17-21, 2012 @ Dubai Result: PAK won by ten [10] wickets. 1st Inn - ENG 192/all out, 72.3 overs 1st Inn - PAK 338/all out, 119.5 overs 2nd Inn - ENG 160/all out, 57.5 overs 2nd Inn - PAK 15/no loss, 3.4 overs 2nd Test - January 25-29, 2012 @ Abu Dhabi 3rd Test - February 3-7, 2012 @ Dubai 1st ODI - February 13, 2012 @ Abu Dhabi 2nd ODI - February 15, 2012 @ Abu Dhabi 3rd ODI - February 18, 2012 @ Dubai 4th ODI - February 21, 2012 @ Dubai 1st 20-over - February 23, 2012 @ Dubai 2nd 20-over - February 25, 2012 @ Dubai 3rd 20-over - February 27, 2012 @ Abu Dhabi South Africa visits New Zealand 1st 20 over match: February 17, 2012 @ Wellington 2nd 20 over match: February 19, 2012 @ Hamilton 3rd 20 over match: February 22, 2012 @ Auckland 1st ODI: February 25, 2012 @ Wellington 2nd ODI: February 29, 2012 @ Napier 3rd ODI: March 3, 2012 @ Auckland 1st Test: March 7-11, 2012 @ Dunedin 2nd Test: March 15-19, 2012 @ Hamilton 3rd Test: March 23-27, 2012 @ Wellington

Here is a list of players with the most catches in ODI play (tabulated as of 1/18/2012) - Chart below:

Zimbabwe visits New Zealand Only Test: January 26-30, 2012 @ Napier 1st ODI: February 3, 2012 @ Dunedin 2nd ODI: February 6, 2012 @ Whangarei 3rd ODI: February 9, 2012 @ Napier 1st 20-over match: February 11, 2012 @ Auckland 2nd 20-over match: February 14, 2012 @ Hamilton Australia visits West Indies 1st ODI - March 16, 2012 @ Kingston, St. Vincent 2nd ODI - March 18, 2012 @ Kingston, St. Vincent 3rd ODI - March 20, 2012 @ Kingston, St. Vincent 4th ODI - March 23, 2012 @ Gros Islet, St. Lucia 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 Saathee.com

February 2012

sure to hit the spot. You can also try honey, jellies and jams, slices of fruit and berries, or candied nuts. For these Real California Cheese recipes and more, check out RealCaliforniaMilk.com. With the CMAB’s simple tips, you are ready to impress family and friends with tasty flavors and pairings for any occasion. Just look for the Real California Cheese seal to Five ways to enhance entertaining with guarantee you’re getting products made with 100 percent a California cheese course California milk. Below find a couple of interesting recipes that make cheese a Whether it’s preparing for a holiday gathering, watching the key ingredient: big game or planning a dinner party with friends and family, it can be difficult to decide what food to serve. A cheese course is California White Cheddar with apple and walnut conserve a simple, elegant solution that also saves much-needed kitchen prep time. The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) is offering party hosts, families, and cheese lovers alike an introductory lesson on putting together a first-class cheese course. Variety matters. California has more than 50 cow’s milk cheesemakers making more than 250 different varieties and styles of cheese, so it’s easy to make your course innovative. There are five different categories to keep in mind when selecting cheeses to serve; Fresh, Soft, Semi-Hard, Hard/Aged, and Flavored. A traditional cheese course should always contain a bloomy rind soft-ripened cheese like a Brie or Camembert. Add a soft or washed rind cheese, such as Crescenza or Teleme (a California original) for a cheese your guests may not have tried. Ingredients: A semi-firm hard cheese is a great addition because you can 2/3 cup diced red apple (1 medium apple) include favorites such as Gouda or St. George. Very hard aged 2/3 cup diced green apple (1 medium apple) cheeses like a Dry Jack (another Golden State creation) 1/2 cup brown sugar compliment the other softer cheeses and provide intense flavor. 1/3 cup golden raisins And of course, finish it off with a strong, flavorful cheese, such 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, plus 4 walnut halves as Blue or Schloss. 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar Less is more. Only feature three to five different types of 8 slices rectangular slices sharp Real California White Cheddar, cheeses so guest can savor rather than be overwhelmed by the about 2 1/2 (about 1/2 ounce per slice) flavors you’ve chosen. The beauty of a cheese course is that you only need to provide about 1 ounce of cheese per person if you Method: In a small saucepan combine all ingredients except the are enjoying before or after a meal. If your cheese course is the cheese. Cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring main attraction, 3 ounces for each guest will do the trick. occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool. For each serving, Avoid the cold shoulder. In order to bring out the full flavor, plate cheese. Top with 1/4 of the conserve mixture. Partially cheeses should not be served cold. It typically takes an hour or overlap with another slice of cheese. Garnish with walnut two at room temperature for a large piece to fully develop. halves. However, do not slice cheese until you are ready because you may risk drying the cheese out, and take special care with fresh Cheese and Onion Soup cheeses, which need to be treated like fresh milk. Ingredients: Make it a party. Everyone knows cheese pairs well with wine, 4 tablespoons butter or margarine but did you know cheese also pairs perfectly with beer? 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Whether your group likes chardonnay, pinot noir or cabernet, 6 cups sliced onions or ales, wheat beers, pilsners and porters, you don’t need to 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour worry about complimenting your cheese course. Download the 6 cups veggie broth free Pair Savvy smartphone application for an easy guide to 2 tablespoons white vinegar pairing Real California Cheeses with wine, beer and even 1/2 teaspoon salt chocolates. 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper Enhance with company. Cheese loves the spotlight but a simple co-star can really enhance a course. If your cheese course Method: Melt butter in a heavy pot; sauté onions over mediumis kicking off the party, plan on a savory accompaniment like low heat until light brown, stirring occasionally (about 10 fresh Mozzarella with roasted tomatoes to fuel the fun and minutes). Sprinkle flour over onions. Stir in broth, vinegar, salt, conversation. Cured meats like salami or prosciutto, olives, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer dried fruit, marinated or grilled peppers, tomatoes and uncovered for 10 minutes. Ladle soup into serving bowls, mushrooms can also really brighten the flavors of selected sprinkle the cheddar cheese and some crusty French bread on cheeses. If your cheese course is ending on a sweet note, a the side. Serves six. California White Cheddar with apple and walnut conserve is --Courtesy of ARAContent Saathee.com

February 2012

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Samoa, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Vanuatu. In addition to the 53 countries currently on the list, the following five countries were designated for the first time this year: Haiti, Iceland, Montenegro, Spain and Switzerland. This new list does not immediately affect the status of beneficiaries who are currently in the United States in H-2A or H-2B status, unless they apply to change or extend their status.

USCIS Announces Changes to Stand-Alone I-130 Filing Locations On January 1, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) changed the filing locations for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Domestic petitioners will now mail their stand-alone I-130 applications to either the Chicago Lockbox or the Phoenix Lockbox, depending on their residence in the United States. Updated filing addresses are available at this link: Form I-130 Direct Filing Locations. This effort will balance workloads between the two locations and provide more efficient and effective processing of Form I-130. There will be no change in filing locations when submitting Form I-130 along with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Individuals filing these forms together will continue to mail them to the Chicago Lockbox facility. Petitioners filing from overseas addresses in countries without USCIS offices will also continue to file at the Chicago Lockbox facility. Petitioners residing in a country with a USCIS office may send their I-130 forms to the Chicago Lockbox, or they may file their Forms I-130 at the international USCIS office having jurisdiction over the area where they live. Customers should ensure they are filing at the proper location. Individuals who submit their Form I-130 packages to the incorrect Lockbox location may experience a delay in processing. Questions or concerns regarding where to file your application should be directed to the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

USCIS Redesigns Employment Authorization Document and Certificate of Citizenship to Enhance Security and Combat Fraud U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas recently announced the launch of an enhanced Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a redesigned Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560) with new features to strengthen security and deter fraud. As part of USCIS’s ongoing efforts to enhance the integrity of the immigration system, the state-of-the-art technology incorporated into the new documents will deter counterfeiting, obstruct tampering, and facilitate quick and accurate authentication. USCIS began issuing the new EADs late last year and also began using the redesigned certificates. The agency anticipates that more than 1 million people will receive the new documents over the next year. “These enhanced documents are more secure than ever,” said Director Mayorkas. “They advance our efforts to safeguard

USCIS Announces 58 Countries Whose Nationals are Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Participation U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) last month announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State, has identified 58 countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs for the coming year. The notice listing eligible countries will publish in the Federal Register. Each country’s designation is valid for one year from the date of publication. The H-2A and H-2B programs allow U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs and temporary nonagricultural jobs, respectively. USCIS generally may only approve H-2A and H2B petitions for nationals of countries the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs. USCIS may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries not on the list if it is determined to be in the interest of the United States. Effective Jan. 18, 2012, nationals of the following 58 countries are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs: Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nauru, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saathee.com

continued on page 80

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India Bangladesh Border continued from page 8

The BSF guards aren’t cartoon villains, and Rahim is aware that they are doing a dangerous job. “The smugglers are reckless people,” he says, “they don’t hesitate to attack the BSF. They are armed with sickles, knives, and they threaten the BSF. They say ‘leave us alone if you fear for your life, we’re here to die anyway’.” Though the anti-smuggling and anti-immigration efficacy of South Asia’s Berlin Wall is debatable, its impact on those living nearby is not. Bangladeshis have predictably bristled at the prospect of being corralled in by their giant neighbor, which surrounds them on the west, north, and east, and which they have always been a little bit paranoid about. With a growing population of 150 million packed into an area smaller than Iowa, the fence is also making many Bangladeshis claustrophobic. “A barbed wire fence is a psychological expression of hegemony. They have surrounded the people of Bangladesh on three sides with barbed wire,” said Adilur Rahman, the general secretary of Dhaka based rights group Odhikar, “High powered floodlights, barb wire… it looks like a World War II concentration camp.” The floodlights beam directly into the home of 9-year-old Anis Ahmed, who complains that they are so bright he has trouble sleeping at night. Hostilities run deep Anis works on his family’s farm every day on the Bangladesh side of the border near the northern village of Amgaon. Their land goes right up to the border, where lush green rows of rice plants imperceptibly switch from Bangladeshi to Indian. According to international regulations, the fence cannot be closer than 150 meters to the actual border, so the actual fence falls behind rows of Indian crops. There are no clearly visible signs demarcating the exact point where Bangladeshi soil becomes Indian. Locals are simply expected to know where the line is. Most of them do, and they stay away. But the precocious Anis and his 11-year-old cousin Shohir Jamal often walk across it to examine what lies beyond the fence. “We go up to see the barbed wire fence,” says Anis, “When we go up to it they [the BSF guards] mock us, scold us. They say ‘Ei Bengali admi, bhago giya, bhago giya [hey Bengali, go away].’ They swear a lot at us, but things we don’t understand really.” The children here are growing up surrounded by an atmosphere of hostility and suspicion. Everyone in their village is viewed as a potential smuggler or an accomplice of smugglers. Many are. People here are very poor, and supplementary income is precious. Manik, the local schoolteacher, was recently arrested and given three years detention by the BSF during his first foray into cattle smuggling. Akbar Ali, an elected member of the local government here, has just returned having completed his own three-year term for trafficking cows. Suspicions run deep. During the day Anis and Shohir work side by side with the Indian farmers like Rahim, whose crops fall between the border with Bangladesh and the barbed wire fence. The proximity, however, does not imply interaction.

Saathee.com

“They don’t talk to us. The BSF don’t want them to have a good relationship with Bangladeshis,” says Anis, “They [the BSF] worry that they’ll end up helping people cross the border.” Rahim regrets this new distance with once close neighbors. “When we were children we used to play together every day,” he recalls. “We used to eat at each others’ houses. I went to school in Bangladesh.” Because the fence had to be built 150 meters within Indian territory, Rahim and more than 100,000 other Indians have found themselves on the wrong side of the barbed wire. Rahim is cut off from the rest of his country, trapped within a slice of land about as wide as an airport runway. The gates at the fence open only for three hours: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., noon to 1:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These are the only times when Rahim and his family can move back and forth to visit relatives, go shopping, or send their kids to school. Children frequently miss school because they arrive after the gate has been closed. Rahim’s daughter lives with a relative 40 kilometers behind the wire. He estimates that he sees her only once in five months or so. “If we go to shop at 4:00 p.m., we have to make sure we’re back by 5:00 p.m., otherwise we’re locked out for the night,” he complains. As he speaks, a woman comes wading through a stream on the Bangladeshi side of the border. She is carrying multiple cell phones in her hands. “There’s no electricity in our houses,” explains Rahim, “We’re cut off from the electrical grid. So we have to sneak over to Bangladesh when the guards aren’t looking to charge our phones.” “The wire fence makes us feel like prisoners,” he said. One day, when he has saved enough, Rahim says he plans to move to the other side of the fence. His expectations aren’t high for what may be in storete, but at least he will have ended his status as collateral damage of a stalemate between nation-states.

Sri Lanka

continued from page 36

international push, it’s not possible for India to act on its own.” So far, those concerns have prevented India from acting as strongly as humanitarian organizations believe is necessary. Though in bilateral talks New Delhi has expressed its displeasure with Rajapakse’s progress in rehabilitating Tamils displaced by the war, for example, its public statements have been carefully measured to avoid causing too much offense. Moreover, India has not supported multilateral efforts to push for action against past and present human rights violations at the UN. That silence has been nearly as large an impediment as the outright opposition from China and Russia, according to ICG’s Keenan. To overcome the resistance, an international investigation will need the support not only of the US and Europe, but also of Japan and India. A strong statement from India would clear the path for other, smaller countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America to follow suit. And New Delhi’s current reluctance resonates just as loudly. “There’s every indication that Western governments are quite willing to do something to have the human rights council take some action on Sri Lanka,” said Keenan. “It’s really India that has not yet sent the signal that it’s willing to join that coalition.” 78

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see India moving toward more extensive welfare provisions and reconstructing the health-care system,” said Dreze. “You could also see the schooling system being privatized. take off is gearing down — as signaled by a 5 percent drop in There’s a huge lobby of insurance companies that would like to industrial output for October, the last month for which data is see the health-care system go in the direction of health insurance. available. And, at least in private, investors and entrepreneurs are Nothing can be taken for granted.” beginning to think the unthinkable: That GDP growth might just dip below 6 percent. Inequality problem solved, you might be tempted to say. But it looks like the poor will likely bear the brunt of the slowdown, too. Immigration Matters continued from page 76 They lack savings to carry them through bad times, of course, and they fight for work where competition is the toughest. But the downturn has also resulted in new criticism for the against fraud and protect the integrity of the immigration current government’s social welfare programs, such as a planned system.” The new features of the EAD will better equip workers, expansion of the distribution of subsidized grain to cover twoemployers and law enforcement officials to recognize the card thirds of the population. “If I am able-bodied and in the working age group, I am not as definitive proof of authorization to work in the United States. USCIS worked closely with the Immigration and Customs voluntarily poor,” said Debroy. “I am poor because I don’t have access to the roads, I don’t have access to health [care], I don’t Enforcement Forensic Document Laboratory to incorporate have access to education. So the right public policy intervention technology and tactile features in order to deter fraud and facilitate card authentication. to me is the provision of those goods and services.” Additionally, USCIS employs a new and more secure In terms of access, too, however, the vast gulf between India’s rich and poor appears to be acting as a multiplier, worsening the printing process for its redesigned Certificate of Citizenship country’s long-standing problems while preventing action from that renders the certificate more tamper-proof. Although the look and feel of the documents is new, the being taken against them. The rapid growth of high-quality, private hospitals in India’s manner in which an applicant applies for and receives them cities means that the most vocal and influential citizens no longer will not change. USCIS will replace EADs already in circulation complain about public facilities. All but the poorest Indians have as individuals apply for their renewal or replacement. All abandoned the government’s free schools, even as the current previously issued EADs remain valid until the expiration date printed on the card. Previously issued Certificates of administration strives to make education a basic right. And though wealthy and middle-class Indians carp about Citizenship remain valid indefinitely. These improvements demonstrate USCIS’s ongoing efforts to “leakages” in the welfare system that distributes subsidized grain produce more secure documentation. In 2010, USCIS issued the to the destitute, they do so primarily to argue against spending increases, without taking much interest in fixing the problem — new Permanent Resident Card, which added security features to the physical card and integrated technology improvements even amid Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption fervor. in the card production process. Additionally, USCIS launched This vast difference in perspective, incidentally, may also the redesigned Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) explain why none of the many Indian papers that reported on the OECD study mentioned its conclusion about the main reason for featuring the naturalization candidate’s digitized photo and the dramatic increase in income inequality over the past 20 years: signature embedded into the document. USCIS will continue A widening gap between the regular, salaried workers protected to enhance document security features as technology improves. by the country’s labor laws and the so-called “contract workers” For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit outside the system. So, too, that difference in outlook may explain the silence on www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the OECD’s recommended course of action: more flexible labor the USCIS blog The Beacon. policies and higher spending on education and social welfare — funded by progressive taxes. “There’s a pervasive problem in public policy of lack of attention to the underprivileged and insensitivity to their needs, which is not necessarily out of hostility to them,” said Dreze. “It’s just that the people who run the show don’t relate very closely to these people.” The result of India’s gross inequity, therefore, is a vicious cycle. India spends less on social programs than the world’s other large emerging economies, according to the OECD study. CHeCk out tHe sAAtHee ClAssiFieds! Page 122 Brazil and Russia spend nearly three-fourths as much on social programs, as a percentage of GDP, as OECD member countries saathee Classifieds. they Work For You! like the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, for instance. An inexpensive way to reach thousands of India spends only a fourth as much as the OECD average. South Asians throughout the Carolinas. The biggest reason for the discrepancy is that it has virtually no safety net for the aged or unemployed, apart from the recently created National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, a program that is often criticized locally as expensive and corrupt, 704-527-7570 or e-mail: saatheemag@hotmail.com and yet one that the OECD recommends expanding. Classifieds also available at www.saathee.com “It could go either way. Depending on the politics, you could

Is Growth Enough? continued from page 12

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The Battle for Buddha continued from page 32

Similarly, Beijing has undertaken other cultural initiatives, such as the displaying of tooth and hair relics of the Buddha in a traveling exhibition in Myanmar. “All of this is to keep the Dalai Lama in his place,” said Jacob. “It’s to ensure that they have a handle on his succession, an influence on his succession, and that they will be seen as legitimately intervening in that succession.” At the same time, India has sought to build on the goodwill it receives naturally as home to the exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhism and reach out to other sects. In 2007, for instance, the loan of an extensive collection of Buddhist art and artifacts from India’s National Museum subtly reinforced the message that the religion traveled from India to China and beyond in conjunction with an East Asia Summit where Beijing had sought to shoulder out New Delhi. Together with representatives from Singapore, China, Japan and Thailand, India has undertaken a $1 billion project to develop a modern university in the ancient Buddhist learning center of Nalanda, in modern day Bihar, under the leadership of Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen. Beginning this summer, however, the struggle for soft power has begun to seem as though it were scripted by John Le Carré. The plot thickens in Lumbini For Lumbini, the story begins in July, when China’s state-run People’s Daily reported that a peculiar Hong Kong-based outfit called the Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation (APECF) had signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to create a “special cultural zone” in Lumbini. Touting a planned investment of $3 billion, APECF claimed to have the full support of the Nepal government for its scheme to build roads, telecommunications networks and tourist facilities in the area. The dusty, one-horse town of Lumbini could certainly use the money. But at nearly one-tenth of Nepal’s entire gross domestic product, $3 billion was a stupendous sum — and, some suspect, a wholly fictional one: a carnival barker’s cry, crude propaganda, or a “trial balloon” to gauge how Nepal might react. The answer was swift. Soon afterward UNIDO and Nepal, by turns, disavowed the project. It surfaced that both Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Maoist leader popularly known as Prachanda, or “Fearless,” and the controversial Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Nepal’s former crown prince, held positions on APECF’s board of directors. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) blasted APECF’s scheme as a threat to Lumbini’s status as a World Heritage site. And Culture Secretary Modraj Dotel resigned in protest over alleged pressure to approve the project. “What to me was worrying was the wheeling and dealing through which they had managed to get both Prince Paras and Prachanda, an unholy alliance from opposite ends of the spectrum,” said Kul Chandra Gautam, a former assistant secretary general of the UN who has publicly criticized the project. “All kinds of shady deals happen in Nepal, and for our most influential political leader to be made part of this venture to me sounded very fishy.” (Prince Paras is no longer listed as a board member by APECF’s website). Saathee.com

For Indian foreign policy think tanks, APECF — nominally a non-governmental organization (NGO) — was an obvious clandestine arm of the Chinese government. Its Lumbini project was a transparent attempt to leverage Buddhism to station platoons of People’s Liberation Army engineers within a stone’s throw of the Indian border. And the bizarre snafu of the fake agreement with UNIDO was simply another example, apparently, of the inscrutability of Chinese espionage. So, too, it goes in New Delhi. This week, Beijing’s special representative Dai Bingguo is in New Delhi hoping to flag off a “golden period” for India-China relations. But it’s lucky he made it at all, in the wake of the latest Indian salvo in the battle for Buddha. In November, Beijing scrapped Dai’s planned visit to discuss an outstanding dispute over China’s borders with Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir in protest over an Indian rival to its own World Buddhism Conference. Organized by the Asoka Mission, another NGO that receives government funding, the meeting brought Buddhist leaders from around the world together with the Dalai Lama the same week that Dai was to arrive for talks. “Clubbed with the South China Sea dispute, clubbed with the Yellow Sea incident where the Chinese opposed the USS George Washington into that region and a host of other problems that China had with the US and their neighbors, including even with India, it did cost [Beijing] some soft power,” said professor Kondapalli. “The convention decided to set up an international Buddhist institution somewhere in India, to codify the Buddhist scriptures and so forth,” he said. Coincidence? Representatives of the Indian government say so. But just as in Lumbini, there are plenty of people ready to concoct a master plan behind the chaos.

Tax Matters

continued from page 66

business corporations, net operating losses, home office and other special deductions, active trading with mark-to-market accounting, H1 and other temporary work visa taxes, individuals with income in multiple states, ITIN applications and US tax resident tests for immigrant workers require special tax knowledge and are not suitable for online tax programs. Most of the tax programs will let you try for free before filing the actual return. This tax season try out some of the online tax programs and see if it works for your tax situation. And finally for those of us that prefer the comfort of human presence and discuss tax saving ideas, there will always be tax professionals that can be counted upon. 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 Attorney familiar with your case.

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Events of Note

Dinner available at a nominal price. Tickets for the show are $10, $25, $50 (extra $5 on Feb 25). For Further Details: ekalrtp.info@gmail.com / Ragini: 919-724-7300; Amod: 919-4604305; or Venu: 919-324-2958. - Sunday, February 26, 2012, in Columbia, SC. Tea and snacks from 4 - 4:30pm, concert begins at 4:30 pm and dinner at 8pm. Venue is the White Knoll High School Auditorium. Tickets: $25 (general admission), $15 (students & children under 12), VIP: $45. For Further Details: Janak Dalal 803-665-4050. Ekal Vidyalaya works to bring literacy to rural children all over India. For info on Ekal visit www.ekal.org.

Kishore Eechambadi to Speak at the Magellan Society The Magellan Society (Young Professionals of the WACC) and co-host the World Affairs Council of Charlotte will present a lecture by Kishore Eechambadi, American India Foundation William J. Clinton Fellow and the Co-founder, The Coupon Doc. The lecture will take place on Monday, February 13, 2012 at the UNC Charlotte Center City Building - Room 1102 located at 320 E. 9th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. The event will be during 6:30 - 8 pm and the cost is $5 (TMS and WACC members); $10 (non-members). Eechambadi is a humanitarian entrepreneur and co-founder of The Coupon Doc, a healthcare startup he launched in July of 2011. Prior to launching The Coupon Doc, he was selected as one of 24 individuals to receive the American India Foundation William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service, an annual fellowship designed to affect positive social and economic change in India and to increase connectivity between American professionals and Indian NGOs. As an AIF Clinton Fellow, he worked with village entrepreneurs in India to build up successful microenterprises and promote strengthening the livelihood of rural villagers in the state of Rajasthan through grassroots microenterprises. This project involved employing tribal villagers to operate a soyprocessing machine, with the dual goals of providing employment and tackling the problem of malnourishment. In addition, Eechambadi conducted extensive risk analysis on microfinance in the region to determine if microfinance was in danger of borrower defaults or MFI abuse. For further details call 704.687.7762 visit www.worldaffairscharlotte.org.

Virsa Punjab Da 2012 Virsa Punjab Da 2012 will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2012 in the Fletcher Hall in the Carolina Theatre, 309 West Morgan St., Durham, NC. Virsa Punjab Da was conceived for the primary purpose of the celebration of the important contribution by the people and the region of Punjab to South Asian culture, as well as the opportunity to provide humanitarian aid in order to alleviate the dire conditions of the poor and needy of South Asia. Both the Sikh Student Association and the Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Iota Fraternity, Inc. share a vision of uniting the diverse segments of South Asian society around the rich song and dance of Bhangra. As profits will be donated to Nishkam Seva Charity, Virsa Punjab Da is far more than just a dance competition. “Virsa Punjab Da” literally means the Heritage of Punjab, emphasizing the centrality of Punjab culture, traditions and values in the vision behind the competition. Punjab, meaning “land of five rivers”, currently cradles both modern day India and Pakistan. In addition to its cultural endeavors, Punjab was the birthplace of Sikhism, making it a distinct location for the ideological and theological fusion of Sikhism, Hinduism, and Islam. The Punjabi dance of Bhangra dates back centuries in celebrations of the holiday of Vaisakhi, it has served throughout the times to cut through religious, class, and gender divisions. Today Bhangra has served to unite all sections of South Asian society both in Punjab and throughout its Diasporas. The 2012 Official Team line up is: First Class Bhangra-Pittsburgh, PA; Joshiley JawanRichmond, VA; Virsa-Our Tradition-Queens, NY; UNC Bhangra Elite-Chapel Hill, NC; F*A*U*J Bhangra- Boston, MA; Furteelay Shokeen-Detroit, MI; East Side Alliance-East Coast; Carnegie Mellon University Bhangra; VCU Bhangra-Virginia Commonwealth University; and Gajjdi Jawani- North Carolina. For further details visit www.vpdncsu.com.

Ekal Grand Musical Evening

Ekal presents a grand musical evening with band leader Samir Date and Deepali Somaiya (Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2009 winner). There are three shows lined-up in the Carolinas for the month of February. The details for each show are below: - Friday, Feb 24, 2012 in Charlotte, McKnight Hall @ UNCC, Cone Center, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte NC 28233. Conducted in association with Hindu YUVA at UNCC. Tickets (including dinner) are VIP $50; General Admission $25; Students $10; Children under 12 admitted free. Dinner will be from 6 – 7 pm and the show begins at 7 pm. For Further Details: Neena: 704-962-4367, Yesha: 704-274-9204, Shail: 704-814-0234, Kamesh: 704-726-3852, Gaurav: 312-285-7658, Ramesh: 704-9699613. - Saturday, Feb 25, 2012, Saturday in Raleigh, HSNC Main Hall, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville NC. Concert starts at 7 pm. Saathee.com

India Fest 2012 The annual “India Fest - Your Gateway to India” will be held at the Dorton Arena, Raleigh from Saturday, March 24 Sunday, March 25. Stage performance, vendor booths, advertising, and volunteer registration for India Fest 2012 are

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now open. The annual festival is organized by Nuv Yug to help Books preserve and promote Indian cultural arts by producing continued from page 40 programs of high artistic merit that entertain and educate. The Hindi phrase “Nuv Yug” means “new era” or “new justice to its beauty and elegance. It’s a simple book with a generation.” Since 2003, Nuv Yug’s flagship event India Fest lovely message - whether animal or human, we have a Your Gateway to India has been organized with support from responsibility to those in our lives whom we love. City of Raleigh Arts Commission and many other organizations and individuals. India Fest attracts over 1,000 stage performers, The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story who present over 100 dance and music items during the Author: Theodora Goss festival. During the weekend, traditional crafts vendors from (Quirk Books) New York, Chicago and Florida in addition to many local vendors showcase crafts from India. And, area’s top restaurants Evelyn Morgan is visiting offer famous Indian delicacies to visitors. For further details Cornwall when she meets Brendan visit www.nuvyug.net. Thorne in a small village bookstore. They immediately forge a connection that spans many years Community News and different continents in this unexpected love story. “The Thorn and the Blossom” is Atlanta dancer Chosen for “Dance India Dance” an incredibly unique book - it’s Shivani Gandhi, based in Atlanta, was actually a two-sided novel. It comes chosen as the only dancer from USA to in a beautiful case, and when you dance in the popular ZEE TV show “Dance slip it out, it has a front and back India Dance.” She was chosen for Season 3 cover like any other book. However, of the show in late December. The show is India’s largest dance-reality based TV show the binding is what makes this book so different. It’s an on Zee TV. The show is choreographed by accordion format, with Evelyn’s story printed on one side and some of the most popular Indian Brendan’s printed on the other. Readers can choose whose tale choreographers, such as Terence Lewis, to start with, as each narrative is a version of the same story. I Remo D’Souza and Geeta Kapoor. Bollywood actor Mithun love thoughtfully constructed books, so this was a real treat for Chakraborty is the grandmaster of the show. The show gathers me. Admittedly the book isn’t the easiest to hold, but it’s not a talent from all over India, North America, South America, long read, so it works well. The plot of “The Thorn and the Blossom” is a bit thin, but it Australia, and England. Gandhi was chosen as the only US was a treat for me. Evelyn and Brendan are both medieval contestant pre-selected by Zee TV from over 100 US contestants scholars studying “The Book of the Green Knight,” a variation and more than 5000 Indian contestants. on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which I recently read. I loved this perfect timing. While it’s not necessary to be familiar with the Green Knight legend prior to reading this book, it gives Community Reports the book an added depth and dimension for those who are. It’s a short book, so it will definitely keep your attention, but an Lakshmi Challa Receives Award for Pro Bono Work intricate, plot-driven read it is not. Instead, it’s a simple and Attorney Lakshmi Challa received the sweet novel. Richmond Bar Association’s John C. Overall “The Thorn and the Blossom” was something Kenny Pro Bono Award at the Bar’s different than the traditional books one usually reads. It’s not January luncheon. The award is given a book I’d choose to read electronically, as the charm of the book annually to an individual, law firm or is in its unique construction. Without that, I think readers organization that demonstrates a would be left wanting. With it, it’s a great choice for a gift for dedication to furthering the delivery of the book lover in your life. pro bono legal services to the poor and underserved in the Richmond metro area. In 2009, working with the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Challa established the immigrant Victims Dance Classes with Kriti Bhatia of Domestic Violence Project. This project provides pro bono legal assistance to undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic or sexual violence in obtaining legal status in the Earn Diploma in Kathak U.S. without reliance on their abusers. Since the clinic’s Learn Bollywood & Fusion Dances inception, Lakshmi Challa and the Challa Law Offices have Get Fit with Dance Workout dedicated over 1,000 hours to the success of this program and Group & Individual Lessons have helped over fifty women remain in the United States, Book Our Team for Live Shows work legally, and provide for their families and their children. Studio central to Cary, Challa also recruited the University of Richmond -School of Apex & Morrisville Law as a partner in this project, utilizing law students to assist Call Kriti at 919-656-5410 on a pro bono basis. email: naachmasala@gmail.com website: www.naachmasala.com

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Anti-corruption Crusade Far From Over India’s anti-corruption bill passed the lower house, but exposes the limitations of street protest politics By Jason Overdorf – GlobalPost.com The Indian government pushed a bill designed to fight corruption through the lower house of the parliament late last year, in a move that has exposed the limitations of street-protest politics. Demonstrators can demand that a law be passed and vow to vote out politicians who oppose it. But they still cannot draft bills themselves. The government’s so-called Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill would set up a powerful ombudsman to investigate and prosecute government officials for corruption, as the anti-corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare has been demanding since he first launched a hunger strike last summer. But the proposed law does not allow the ombudsman to initiate investigations independent of a complaint. It does not put low-level officers of the bureaucracy under the ombudsman’s direct supervision, and it does not grant the office control over the Central Bureau of Investigation, India’s chief law enforcement agency, or allow it to constitute its own investigation wing. Moreover, the law gives the ruling government significant control over the selection of the members of the ombudsman’s office. All these supposed shortcomings — which Hazare’s team has called “non-negotiable” — prompted the activist to embark on yet another a hunger strike, this one three days long, in protest. Team Hazare is hoping for a repeat of the massive, nationwide agitation that shook India’s politicians out of complacency last August. At that time, tens of thousands of protesters — disgusted by corruption scandals surrounding the Commonwealth Games and the distribution of 2G telecom spectrum licenses — took to the streets in support of the activist’s hunger strike. But at least some experts argue that the government’s anticorruption law could have a salutary effect. “We have to see how it plays out,” said M.R. Madhavan, a researcher at PRS Legislative Research. “A lot of it will depend on the personalities involved in the first few years. Many institutions at the end of the day are shaped by the people running them.” “The Election Commission had largely been a somnolent body which was basically going through the motions of holding elections,” said Sumit Ganguly, a professor of political science at Indiana University. “But under a man called T. N. Seshan in the late 1980s, early 1990s it became a much more formidable body, and a body that decided to take the statutory powers it possessed and genuinely implement them to make elections fair, open, honest and transparent.” The niceties of the law notwithstanding, the Lokpal could accomplish the same transformation. “I genuinely think that if you get a group of individuals in the Lokpal who are serious about this endeavor ... the Lokpal could become a similar institution,” Ganguly said, citing similar successes achieved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). “A number of institutions in India do work, and do carry out the tasks they’re expected to perform,” he said. Before its proposal becomes a law, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will also need to get the Lokpal bill through the upper house of the parliament — where the coalition does not have a majority. Saathee.com

Debate is underway there as this article goes to press, but there are only several possible outcomes. With the tacit support of two opposition parties that abstained from voting in the lower house, the bill could go through unchanged. It might be amended and returned to the lower house for reconsideration. It might be voted down, then later approved by a vote by the combined houses. Or it might be rejected and put off indefinitely, like a bill to set up a quota for women in the legislature that has theoretically been pending since it was passed by the upper house in March 2010. Whether its Lokpal bill works or not, however, the government’s success in pushing it through the lower house — where Singh’s UPA enjoys a slim majority — has stolen much of Hazare’s thunder. It’s easy to mobilize people who are angry because nothing is being done about all-pervasive corruption. It’s far more difficult to rally the masses around a difference of opinion about the finer points of a piece of legislation — just imagine if the Occupy Wall Street movement hinged on the nuances of banking reforms. Perhaps that’s why, according to some estimates, only around 4,000 people showed up for the hunger striker’s Mumbai demonstration Tuesday — compared with a daily turnout of 30,000 to 40,000 people in Delhi this summer. But confusion and protest fatigue aren’t Team Hazare’s only problems. At the beginning of the anti-corruption movement, Hazare succeeded in mobilizing people against an amorphous lot of dirty politicians he portrayed as opposing the Lokpal bill. Now, his team is attempting to shift that anger onto the government and, more particularly, the Congress party — announcing that he will campaign against the Congress during state elections in Uttar Pradesh this February. Hazare and company maintain that the anti-corruption movement can no longer stand outside and above electoral politics. But now that Hazare has joined the fray, what will he argue? And, more importantly, who will he campaign for? Even if the Congress-led UPA has failed to meet all Team Hazare’s demands for the Lokpal bill, it can hardly be said that the Congress has taken no action against corruption — though belatedly, perhaps. Along with its version of the ombudsman law, the government on Tuesday pushed through the lower house a law to protect whistleblowers and on Wednesday it also introduced a judicial accountability bill designed to set up a credible mechanism for investigating corruption complaints against judges. Moreover, only some of Team Hazare’s objections to the Lokpal bill, such as the decision not to grant it control over the Central Bureau of Investigation can be traced to the Congress. Other dilutions, such as the rejection of a proposed amendment to grant the Lokpal constitutional authority and a decision not to compel the individual states to create their own anticorruption watchdogs, were concessions to the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Singh’s allies in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Trinamool Congress. And both of the Congress party’s main rivals in Uttar Pradesh — the caste-affiliated Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party — abstained from voting on the Lokpal bill at all. Two things are certain. The war against corruption is far from over. And street protests will have limited usefulness in the next stage of the battle. “At the end of the day you cannot get at something as nuanced as this with a few hundred people screaming,” said Madhavan. “The nuances have to be discussed in a civilized place, with people listening to each other. It doesn’t always happen, but in some sense, parliament is supposed to do that.”

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Rajan Mathew (704.756.4969), Jose Varughese (704.453.6177), Varughese K. Thomas (803.322.9549).

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 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

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 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.

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 Christian Fellowship The group meets the third Saturday of every month at 6:30 pm for Bible Study, Prayer and Fellowship. The group invites everyone to join the fellowship along with family and friends. For Further Details: Hema at 704.841.7060 hadhopper@hotmail.com. 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: 11:45 - 1:15 pm. Sunday Service Location: Fort Mill Church of God, Student Life Center Building, 216 Academy St., Rm 102. Fort Mill, SC 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: Abhay Khanore, terasahara2000@yahoo.com, 803.554.1234 Manish Khot, manish.khot@gmail.com, 215.380.8722 Sangeeta Korde, sangeet_k@yahoo.com, 704.421.4279

Charlotte Kriya Yoga Group The 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. The 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),

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February 2012

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 Stree and Hawthorne Lane). 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

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 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

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 children 10 years and over). The hours are from 6.30pm to 10:00pm every Wednesday in the

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 Classical Music Association of Charlotte (CMAC) CMAC sponsors many classical concerts during the year in Charlotte. Membership forms are available at concerts. Sun Apr 1 - Flute Concert by Shashank at CPCC Sun May 6 - Vocal Concert by Ranjani Gayatri at CPCC For Further Details: 704.541.3361 (Rama Rachakonda), 704.814.9355 (Lakshmi Muthukrishnan) lakshmi7778@yahoo.com cmacmusic@yahoo.com www.onlinecmac.com 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 Saathee.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

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: Mon Feb 20-Tue Feb 21: Maha Shivratri celebrations Wed Mar 7: Holi Sun Mar 11: Dhuleti For Further Details: www.hcclt.org 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. IAMC-Charlotte, 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, InterCommunity understanding in the United States with particular focus on Indian Diaspora and to build alliances and relationships with individuals and groups who share our basic values. The IAMC-Charlotte chapter is supported by donations from its members. For Further Details: Ashfaq Mehdi 704.904.5778 Afzal Syed 704.770.1103 iamc-charlotte@yahoogroups.com

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 http://www.kiraninc.org

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. The annual Festival of India will be held on the weekend of September 22-23, 2012 in uptown Charlotte. For Further Details: Toni Sawhney 704-604-2133 Lal Vishin 704-545-3727 www.indiafestival.net

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

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, Mar 31, 2012 - Vocal Recital by Jayteerth Mevundi Sat, Apr 28, 2012 - Violin Recital by Dr. N. Rajam, Dr. Sangeeta Shankar, Nandini and Ragini Shankar (three generations) For Further Details: Sarla Kumar 704.846.4423 Chaula Jain 704.364.0984 contact@ipaac.org www.ipaac.org Saathee.com

Pratham - Charlotte Area Pratham is India’s largest non-profit organization with grass roots programs in the area of primary education. Pratham has 94

February 2012

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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

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 704-9424798). www.prathamusa.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

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

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 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

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 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

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)

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 provides 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 email: info@sangamithra.org; twitter: @sangamithraUSA.

Greensboro

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 Saathee.com

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 96

February 2012

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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: Feb 17 - 20, 2012: Maha Shivratri April 6 - 8, 2012: Karma Gyan Bhakti Yoga Shibir May 26 - 28, 2012: Health Retreat For Further Details: 336.421.0690 lifemissionusa@gmail.com www.lifemissionusa.com

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 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.

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 - 12:15 pm For Further Details: Swami Rajendran 908-875-6964 Dr. Varatharajah 336-851-9150

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

Temple of the Holy Name Prabhupada Village is a rural Hare Krishna community situated in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Every Sunday at 3 pm: Join everyone with chanting, dancing, feasting and philosophy. Temple is located at 1283 Prabhupada Rd, Sandy Ridge, NC 27046 For Further Details: 336.593.9888 www.prabhupadavillage.com

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. Hindi Language classes are being taught by Mrs. Punjabi. For Further Details: Krishna Balu - 336.292.9462 www.iatnc.org

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

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

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 the mission to address any challenges of the community. For further details: info@nctncc.org / www.nctncc.org/portal/home.html

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 Saathee.com

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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 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 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/ 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 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 Saathee.com

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 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 Feb 11, at which Valentine’s Day and Maha Shivratri will be celebrated - there will be “Rudra Abhishekam” performed by Shri Prabodhbhai Thakar (919.363.9843). Those who are interested in the Abhishekam, please bring a “Shivling” and “Panchamrut”. Members are requested to provide their current/correct address details to a member of the current Officer group to ensure that they receive all of the communiques from the organization. For Further Details: Mulchand Patel (President) 252.446.7891, Raojibhai Patel 252.336.4391 (Vice President & Treasurer), Jayantibhai Lad (Secretary) 919.463.5180. Carolina Rajasthani Association Visit the organization’s website for upcoming events. 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 100

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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 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 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 Saathee.com

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, 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. The RTP 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. 102

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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: 919.367.0461 (Sonali Luniya) 919.851.5959 (Poonam Gupta) contactus@humsub.net 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 2year 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 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. Sat Mar 10 @ 11:00 am: local talent show. Venue: Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC. Sun Apr 1 @ 2:00 pm: A soothing flute concert by Shantala Subramanyam. Accompanied by Avaneeswaram Vinu on Violin and Melakkaveri Balaji on Mridangam. Venue: TBD. 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 Saathee.com

commitment today to build a better tomorrow. For Further Details: 919.461.0001 (Dr. Vinnie Goel, Chairman) 919.467.0598 (Dr. Shri Kulkarni, 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 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 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 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 104

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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 Classes. The classes are offered each Wed from 6 - 8 pm, and each Saturday from 11 am - 1 pm. For Further Details: 336.421.0690 lifemisionusa@gmail.com www.lifemissionusa.org 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 Pakistani American Association The Pakistani-American Association (NCPAA) is a nonpolitical, 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 of 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, 919-380-9569; Sudha Rathie, 919-481-4451. For Further Details: www.prathamusa.org Saathee.com

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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/ 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 February session will be on Friday 3 February 2012 from 7:30 - 11:30 pm at Zayka Indian Cuisine in the Brier Creek area of North Raleigh-phone 919.361.5370. We will dedicate our February session to Valentine’s Day and our sangeet is full of romantic songs, so come prepared to serenade by choosing 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. For Further Details: 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. 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 February 2012

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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. The organization welcomes participants. For Further Details: www.vedantanc.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 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 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 Saathee.com

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 Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina The Sikh Gurudwara of North Carolina welcomes visitors of all backgrounds regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender. All peoples, regardless of their origin or orientation, are welcome to attend our 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 study circles. Members of the Sangat (congregation) regularly participate in community service projects in the Triangle area. The Sikh Gurdwara at North Carolina is located at 3214 Banner Street in Durham, NC 27704. For Further Details: Main number: 919.220.9917 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: 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 ShirdiIndia. 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 108

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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

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 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)

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 organised on Guru Purnima and Rang Jayanti and on the occasion of Pujya Sri Prem Avdhoot Bapji’s annual visit to the US. For Further Details: 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. Sat Feb 25 - Potluck and Music Night at Carman Chasteen’s residence. 847 Buck Branch Road, Pittsboro, NC. 919.542.1970. For Further Details: barman@cs.unc.edu www.trianglevegsociety.org

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 populations’ 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) TGA’ 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

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Two Cents of Hope (TCH) TCH 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. For Further Details: 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

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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

Regional Barsana Dham satsang [Greenville, NC] For Further Details: Madhu Sharma 336.404.7047 email: madhu0sharma@yahoo.com www.barsanadham.org

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. It is located at 95 Mount Soma Blvd., Clyde, NC 28721 For details visit: www.srisomesvara.org.

South Carolina

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 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) 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 nonprofit organization. Ceremonies and events take place regularly. Temple Address: 907 Cedar Creek Road, Fayetteville, NC 28302. Upcoming Events: May 19 – 21: Annual Brahmotsav For further details: 910.485.4626 910.484.8956 hindubhavan@yahoo.com www.hindubhavan.org Hindu Society Of Eastern NC (Greenville, NC) Upcoming Events for February Sunday 19: Maha Shivarathri Pooja 11 am to 12:30 Noon Saathee.com

Sundays 5: Bhajan by Devotees 11 am to 12 Noon Sundays 5, 12, 26: Balagokulam 10 am to 11 am Sundays 8, 15: Balavihar 11 am to 12 Noon Sundays 12, 26: Geeta Study 10.30 am to 12 Noon For Further Details: B.S. Srivatsa 508.654.0360 Hindutemplenc@gmail.com

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American South Asian Cultural Association of Columbia, SC The group’s goal is to increase cultural awareness and develop 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. For Further Details: 864.599.7048 February 2012

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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

6 – 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)

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

Sirigannada Sirigannada, the Kannada Association of South Carolina, a nonprofit organization was created on July 18, 2004 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

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

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

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

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

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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 Wisconsin. 6. The way a person appears; View. 11. Foes. 13. To declare to be true; Affirm. 14. Jump. 15. A satellite of Saturn. 17. Do not pay attention. 20. An adherent of Islam. 22. A performer in plays or movies. 24. Einsteinium. (*) (A symbol of a Chemical Element). 25. Unwilling; Reluctant. 27. Station. (*) 28. The back part of human foot, under the ankle. 30. Second person present tense verb form of “Have.” 32. The South American sloth with a greenish coat. 33. Stun; To make numb, as with fear. 35. A hole filled with water; A small lake that fills a cirque. 37. Railroad. (*) 38. A region in NW France, on the English channel. 40. An advertisement. (*) 42. Spacious; Having plenty of space. 43. February 14 is a celebration of “____ Day.” 46. Iowa. (*) 47. Raised; Set in an upright position. 48. The entire military sea force of a nation, including vessels, officers, men, yards, etc.

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1. To light up again. 2. Being a single thing or unit. 3. The edible, smooth, kidney-shaped seeds of a pea plant. 4. A thing that drives, as the rotor of a water pump. 5. Nickel. (*) (A symbol of a Chemical Element). 6. A region of SW Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea. 7. A sudden hysterical fear. 8. Important happenings or occurrences. 9. Civil Engineer. (*) 10. To make an effort at. 12. A swelling due to accumulation of fluid in the cells. 16. A big city in E Nebraska, on the Mississippi river. 18. A fiddle. 19. A foolish and doddering old person. 21. An official doorkeeper. 23. A possible future time of difficulty or need. 26. Of the principal cartilage of the larynx, forming the Adam’s apple; the gland that regulates the body growth. 29. Extra Terrestrial. (*) 31. A pollen bearing organ of a flower, a filament and a sac. 33. To establish as true; Demonstrate to be a fact. 34. The strongest part of the blade of a sword. 36. Of considerable size or extent; Every. 39. A member of a people living in Myanmar E of Yangon. 40. A fermented drink made from malt, hops and yeast. 41. December. (*) 44. Arkansas. (*) 45. Nose Tackle. (*) (Football) 46. Intravenous. (*) (Puzzle solutions are on page 124. NO peeking!)

Hee Hee Mafatlal (at bus depot): “Give me a ticket to Charlottesville.” Ticket booking clerk: “Which Charlottesville? SC or WV?” Mafatlal: ” Well, give me the one that is cheaper of the two.” •••••••••••••• A magazine editor was drowning and a writer saved him. Editor thanked him and said: “You saved my life, so I would be glad to do something for you. What do you want?” Writer: “Please print my articles in your magazine.” Editor: “Bring your articles to me in my oﬃce tomorrow.” Next day the editor read his articles and said: “Sorry. You can throw me back in the water.” •••••••••••••• A poet started reading his poetry in a “Kavi Sammelan” (A gathering of poets and people to recite their poetries.) Poet: “The title of my poem is: Let it rain…” Booddhoo started leaving the hall. Poet: “Why are you leaving?” Booddhoo: “To get an umbrella.” 116

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

EZ-BZ BALANCE BHARATNATYAM CIRCLE CYMBALS DHOL DRESS EXPRESSIONS FOLKDANCE GARBA GHUNGHARU GURU KATHAK

KATHAKALI KUCHIPUDI LAVANI LIGHTS MANIPURI MRUDANGAM MUJRA MUSIC RAS RHYTHM SOUND SWING

The unused 10 letters spell means “Debut and graduation on stage performance by a Bharat Natyam student.”

TEST YOUR OWN IQ The common letters are “OO” - Fill in the blanks 1. The thick-walled, resting reproductive germs, seeds or cells produced by fertilization. OO _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. The conclusive evidence. _ _ OO _ 3. A small rubber bag inﬂated for use as a toy. _ _ _ _ OO _ 4. A long-necked waterfowl like a large duck. _ OO _ _ 5. A portable weapon of metal tube for aiming and launching armor-piercing rockets. _ _ _ OO _ _ 6. A large, haploid cell produced at the second meiotic division, that quickly becomes an egg cell. OO _ _ _ 7. A religion of Haiti noted for charms. _ OO _ OO 8. A single seat with four legs & no back or arms. _ _ OO _ 9. An area of shallow salt water separated from the sea by the sand dunes. _ _ _ OO _ 10. Inadequate; Lacking abundance. _ OO _ 11. A humorous drawing with a caption. _ _ _ _ OO _ 12. To leak out slowly thru a small hole; Seep. OO _ _ 13. An uneducated, crudely materialistic person. _ _ _ OO 14. Free to go wherever one likes. _ OO _ _ OO _ _ 15. Interjection used to express surprise. OO _ 16. The track cut in a phonograph record. _ _ OO _ _ 17. A soft mahogany that grows from the bay region of SE Mexico to south America. _ _ _ _ OO _ 18. Stupid (Hindi); A character of Hee Hee. _ OO _ _ _ OO 19. A dark, fermented, dried tea from China. OO _ _ _ _ 20. A large pin with clasp for neck ornament. _ _ OO _ _ 21. A female reproductive organ in algae. OO_ _ _ _ _ _ 22. A large, ﬁerce Old World monkey. _ _ _ OO _ 23. A place where wild animals are kept for viewing. _ OO 24. A large room for dancing. _ _ _ _ _ OO _ 25. A celestial body that revolves around the Earth. _ OO _ (Puzzle solutions are on page 124. NO peeking!) Kirit Shukla Contact him at kiritsshukla@hotmail.com

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Astride

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February 2012 Feb. 2 - Groundhog Day Feb. 3 - Jayā Ekādasi Feb. 5 - Eid-e-milād Feb. 5 - Desert Festival Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) Feb. 5 - Vishvakarmā Jayanti Feb. 5 - Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 7 - Māghi Purnimā (Full Moon) Feb. 12 - Lincoln Birthday Feb. 14 - Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 - Shri Nāthaji Pātotsava Feb. 17 - Vijayā Ekādasi Feb. 19 - Shivāji Jayanti Feb. 20 - Mahāshivarātri Feb. 20 - Presidents Day/Washington Birthday Feb. 21 - Darsha Amās (No Moon) Feb. 21 - Mardi Gras Festival (New Orleans) Feb. 23 - Shri Rāmkrishna Jayanti March 2012 Mar. 4 - Āmalaki Ekādasi Mar. 7 - Holi (Full Moon) Mar. 8 - Dhuleti Mar. 11 - Daylight Saving Time Starts Mar. 12 - Rang Panchami Mar. 17 - St. Patrick’s Day Mar. 18 - Pāpamochini Ekādasi Mar. 22 - Darsh Amās (No Moon) Mar. 23 - Gudi Padwo (Shālivāhan Shaka—1934 Starts) Mar. 24 - Chetichand April - May 2012 Apr. 1 - Rām Navami/ Swāminārāyan Jayanti Apr. 1 - April fool Day Apr. 3 - Kāmadā Ekādasi Apr. 5 - Mahāvir Jayanti Apr. 6 - Hanumān Jayanti (full moon) Apr. 6 - Good Friday 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 May 1 - Mahā Gujarat/ Maharastra Day May 6 - Buddha Purnimā (Full Moon) May 13 - Mothers Day May 28 - Memorial Day Saathee.com

less urban areas. But with the advent of mobile data services, these same consumers now download Bollywood film clips and highlights from cricket matches at phenomenal rates, more often in some cases than their urban counterparts. Emily Nagle Green, President and CEO of YankeeGroup, a leading global connectivity firm, quotes Nicholas Negroponte in this story: “In Cambodia in 2001, I took a photo of the first kids we equipped with laptops, all holding them up proudly for the camera. Eight years later, every single one of those kids was still in school. I always say, I’m not in the PC business – I’m in the hope business.” The ubiquitous connectivity revolution is about the advent of portable, connected devices turning us into a new kind of customer, gradually expecting to take all of our experiences with us everywhere. On the way, we expect constant connectivity in our activity with business – as customers, workers and partners. The story is told of a fictitious Indian teenager, Habib, living with his four siblings in the heart of Mumbai. Habib’s father, like his grandfather before him, is a street vendor of samosas. Habib, though only 15, works alongside his father. He has recently finished school and has many ideas for the business. Habib, when at school, learnt a lot about the world. The school had wireless internet access for students both in the computer labs and in the library. Students could get online whenever they wanted during lunch break; Habib and his friends spent a lot of time chatting with other kids their age around the world via Webcam. Habib and his siblings were given netbooks to take home. They played games and did their schoolwork on their computers; they even taught their father to read. Habib learned a lot about the value of connectivity by interacting with his friends. It makes life easier and that is why he wants to incorporate it in his work. He’d like to see the business run on autopilot some of the time, because his father is getting older and it just makes sense. Although, unfortunately, Habib’s father has different ideas, Habib wants to open a netbook first thing in the morning. The netbook was given to him by the store chain Subhishka, for the points he earned for repeat food orders. Habib updates his inventory online based on what was used up since last time, and places orders for whatever goods he and his father need. When he pedals past the nearest Shubishka shop on his way to their favorite spot – on his cart – his order is waiting for him. His account is directly linked to the store, so the debits are processed automatically whenever he orders food. Habib picks up free Wi-fi at his cart from a nearby hotel. To improve foot traffic, he offers mobile coupons; anytime someone walks within 100 feet of his cart, that person gets an advertisement on his or her handset for a free drink with the purchase of two samosas. To make life simple for his tourist clientele, Habib takes mobile payments. Many tourists have not yet converted their cash by the time they stop by for their first street snack on the way to the Gateway of India, but it doesn’t matter. All they have to do is swipe their mobile handset next to his payment receiver from mobile operator Bharti Airtel, and they’re charged through their mobile bill. It also puts a stop to the petty thieves who used to hang around his father’s cart, eyeing the cash and looking for the right chance to run off with it. The above story opens up a whole host of possibilities. Profits can come in across the board – new products, new services to existing customers, and new customers in current and future regions. Ubiquitous connectivity has come of age. 118

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forward to rescue you. If involved in legal battle, you may enjoy good result. Avoid short distance travel, but time is very good for a long distance journey. Take some rest during last week of the month. LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 23) This can be a very positive period for your finances and love life. A rise in income is clearly indicated. Love may turn into social relations this month. Though don’t count on family support. Major changes in personal life and social status may force you to make quick decisions. Your siblings could prove to be very good help during this month. Enjoy good health and react intelligently during constantly changing circumstances.

General Predictions for February 2012 ARIES (Mar 20- Apr 20) You may experience some kind of blockage during this month. Unexpected, minor problems may stall your progress; this may lead to experimenting on various options. Conflicts with your partner may make it worse. Your spouse may not co-operate with you. Unnecessary travel may raise your expenses. Avoid struggling and try to pass the time with routine work. You should be able to maintain a steady flow of income.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 22) Mistakes at workplace may lead you to a miserable condition. Try to slow down at work and focus. Short cuts or smart ideas may end up in disaster. Ask for support from your family, particularly your child to solve problems. Spouse’s health could be another issue during second half of the month. It is advisable to get involved in physical activities. Avoid legal issues.

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 21) Even though you want to go slow, the situation may push you in a direction to making quick moves and working hard. Dispute with spouse and serious health issue may keep bothering you. It may not permit you to perform your duty. Worries about your child’s performance may force you to take harsh actions. Last days of the month may bring some good news about your income and career. Don’t lose your confidence.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Enjoy good income this month but you may come across some major spending and there may not be any savings left. Therefore, avoid taking any kind of financial risks. Expenses may lead you towards problems with family and friends during last week of the month. The time is very positive for students. Good health and active life may make you feel comfortable until you reach the last week.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 21) Time is going to fly for you this month. You may enjoy success in your new activities. Income should go up, too. You may feel very satisfied and confident due to your achievements. Last week of the month may force you to take a break and spend some time for spiritual activities. Your child could prove to be a great support for you. But don’t put too much workload on your child. Watch your health second half of the month.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 20) It is very important that you make quick decisions and reach a stable situation before the last week of the month. It could be your career or personal life; stars may stop favoring you in the last week. You may get a good opportunity to spend great time with your loved ones. You may also enjoy good health and make some quick money this month. Try to be flexible the latter part of the month. Drive carefully to avoid accidents.

CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22) Your friends and associates may not stand to their promise this month. Don’t count on them. It is important that you focus on your creative activities and try to earn more money. Destiny should support you for that. Focus on your close family and avoid wasting time with other people. You may get stressed due to heavy work load, but rewards should delight you later on. Avoid changes this month.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 19) You may experience major ups and downs during this month. Situation may force you to spend more time with your family. You may take major financial steps during first half of the month. Avoid taking instant decisions or making aggressive moves. Try to move slowly at your workplace. Your spouse may come back with major problems. Change in source of income is possible middle of the month. Try to take it easy.

LEO (Jul 22 - Aug 23) You may waste your energy on useless pursuits this month. It may be because of change in your assistant. Try to control your temper to avoid major dispute with your superiors. Focus on your religious beliefs and on progress of current projects. Stress may adversely affect your health during last week of the month. It may be very difficult for you to control yourself; read or write something to feel good.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20) You may enjoy financial gain through your partner this month. Happy love life and fun romance may lead you to feeling differently. However, you need to keep constant watch on your health. If you reside in a cold region, avoid snow removal by yourself. Very happy family life and rise in investment value should make you more relaxed and comfortable. Increase in family size is also possible now. You may not be able to keep up with your moral standards this month.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 23) Avoid taking any debt during this month. Your expenses are going to go up very fast for no reason. Don’t count on your friends or partner for any help, however, a senior person in the family may come Saathee.com

By Jalendu Vaidya Contact: 908-638-6388 / hindusvision.com 120

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

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. Email resumes to abcone@abcinns.com OR call ( 704-649-6833 m-f , 9:00 am- 5:00pm)

Front Desk Clerk Wanted: Franchise hotel in Durham, NC. Must be legal. Single or Couple with good computer BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: skills & good English. Call Ken Patel at Commercial Property w/ Laundromat 919-452-3131. and Retail Space: 5200 Sq. ft. space in Help Wanted full time convenience Gastonia, NC. Includes full laundromat store/gas station in Danville, VA 1 hour plus two retail spaces. $2,000 in from Greensboro and Durham NC. Gas Station Help Wanted: Looking for a monthly rent for both retail spaces; Call Single or couple. Contact: 704-724-1337 Couple or single. Full-Time for convenience store / gas station / restaurant 919-749-5810. or 704-724-8356. near Charlotte, NC. Accommodations Gas station for sale / lease in Lake Looking for Dynamic Sales oriented Provided! 704-701-9975 Waccamaw, N.C. Call Anee 347-433-7615. dedicated store manager for wellestablished Furniture retail store in Refulgent Technologies Inc.: IT staffing Convenience store / gas station with Asheville, NC area. Good company is currently recruiting Java, .Net, property and five acres land for quick communication & leadership skills SQL Server and QA candidates. We also sale in SC. Asking $300,000. For details required. Excellent pay, plus sales do Training & Placement. Please contact call 704.649.5138 or 704.246.9897 incentive. Offer Health & Dental Anu: e-mail: recruiter @refulgent-tech.com Citgo Gas Station for Sale in benefits. Email resume to or 704-405-4238 Charlotte. Great location. For Details pareshdesai@carolinafurnitureconcepts.com Store Attendant: Raleigh area call Mr. Song at 704.806.0425. Live-in Housekeeper / Nanny: experience req'd, must be trainable, Business For Sale: Boost Mobile Responsibilities include cleaning, reliable, good communicator. Email Phone store in Charlotte, NC. Open 2 laundry, some cooking and a little resume kargo_corp@yahoo.com or call years, good business. Call for more childcare. West Durham. Good Pay, Kay 919-454-1474.

Classifieds

information 704-494-9244. C-Stores: Monroe, $100K + Inv., GR $1.5M; Charlotte, NC, $550K + Inv., GR $1.7M; Hudson, NC, $309K + Inv., GR $338K; Leland, NC, $369K + Inv., GR $7.2M; Bessemer City, NC, $70K+Inv.,GR $1.6M; 704-814-9435 www.countysouth.biz Businesses For Sale: Café, restaurants, deli, coin laundry, dry cleaners, and more plus residential listings. Call for the best discounts when you buy or sell. Guaranteed Excellent Service! 704-6499095. Broker. High Volume Gas Station/Conv Store: On very busy intersection in Augusta, GA for lease. Very populated neighborhood with highway traffic. Call Manpreet 864554-4846. Call between 9am-5pm. Gas Station / Conv. Store For Lease: Gas station/conv. store for lease in S.C. Rent $2500 p.m. only. Call 678-326-6564 for more details. Business For Sale with Property: Convenience/Gas & Liquor Store. Good running business, BP Brand, college next door, owner moving. Serious inquiries only. Call Gordon 864-923-4213

plus room & board, and a car available. Nanny Needed: Part-time in Matthews, Please call Kathryn at 813-767-9214. NC. Pick-up kids from school, cooking, Housekeeper wanted to occasionally must have transportation, and prefer clean a careerist’s home. Duties include: English speaking. 3 hours Mondaylaundry, load/unload dishwasher, Friday. Please call 704-222-4501. change bed linens, & other basic Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in household chores. References & Raleigh, NC need couple for transportation required. Please Housekeeping. Must have Legal status. communicate in English. Call Accommodation will be provided. 704.615.4702 Please Call: 919-208-3514 Motel Help Needed: Looking for Nanny Available: Experienced nanny couples to clean rooms in Franchise hotel available in Charlotte area (university), in Roanoke, VA and single person for w/ experience from 1 month old through laundry. Should be legal to work in USA. 6 years. Fluent in Hindi and Gujarati, Good pay and free accommodation. Call beginner in English. Contact 704-816-8177 Ssunny Shah 540-537-0618. Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in Help Wanted: Full Time Employee for CRaleigh, NC needs couple for front desk. STORE / GAS STATION near Wadesboro, Must have Legal status. Must Speak NC. Accommodations provided, call: English, Accommodation will be 704-695-7553 or 704-465-8089. provided. Please Call: 919-208-3513 Need full time nanny (8 am - 5:30 pm) for 10 month old baby in Matthews. Cooking Need a Full Time Nanny: Charlotte area & light housework required. Call 704-351- to take care of our four month old Contact: 952.334.3666 or svamsi@hotmail.com 8813. Nanny Needed: Looking for a Nanny Help Wanted: Energetic male or female for our 3 month old baby immediately needed for retail clothing stores in South in Charlotte (near Arboretum area). Carolina. Must speak fluent English. Please contact Ph: 952-334-7648 or CONTACT 706-877-0314 or email resume @ PAMSUM70@gmail.com email: nanny_clt_nc@yahoo.com

Shell Gas Station for Sale or Lease: On HWY 211 in Red Springs N.C. Contact Waiter or waitress needed for restaurant in South Charlotte. Part or any time at 910-843-5950 full time. Long term. Ideal for college Store with Gas Station For Sale: student, housewife, young person or Includes property. Located in Hiddenite, NC 28636. Please call anyone who is looking for job. Must Dinesh for more information at 828-632- speak English and be a hard worker. 704.724.5555. 2759 or 646-549-4097. Saathee.com

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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. February 2012

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: continued Looking for a Live in/ Live Out Nanny: For School going kids 4 and 6 yo, who can do light household work and cook as well. Please contact 919-264-4095 or 919-5358144 if interested. Household Help needed in University City Area Charlotte. Mon-Fri for 3 hours in evening with cooking, laundry, ironing, and light cleaning. Must have own transportation. Call 704-971-2004. Threading job in Winston Salem. Hair Threading female position open for IMMEDIATE HIRE. Full-time or PartTime, for long term. Call 980-622-4386. Gas Station Help: Looking for full-time or part-time help for a gas station in Mooresville, NC (Charlotte Area). Experience preferred but not needed. Call 704-222-8998 or leave a message. Nanny Needed: Looking for a nanny (live in/live out) in Durham (near Southpoint Mall), NC for a 3 year and a 1 year old. Cooking and light housework expected. Call 919-572-2492 Household Help Wanted: Charlotte Area. Cooking and light cleaning. Part-time & good pay. Please call: 704-992-5775 Housekeeping help wanted for franchise motel near Raleigh, NC. couple preferred. Accommodations provided. Call 919-389-5750. Threading Practitioners Wanted: Full or Part-Time. In Charlotte, Raleigh, & Richmond areas. Experience & good English skills needed. Please call 980322-1110 MATRIMONIAL: Gujarati Vaishnav Parents: Looking for well qualified US based Vaishnav boy for Vadodara based vaishnav girl - 27 / 5-5/115 BE Computer engineer(having US Visa). contact : US :507-469-2021 email: shah_rutvik@yahoo.com Seeking A Hindu Indian Female: For a divorced male age 37 for marriage, working in NC on h1b. For info call: 704-957-9005 Hindu Male seeking Hindu Female age 25-30. Must be family friendly. He is IT professional in NC. 31 years old. Loves to travel. Caste no bar. e-mail to receive bio-data. rakavid@aol.com. Seeking A Hindu Indian Female: For a never married Indian male age 32 for marriage. For information call: 828-7819828 or email gremopatel@gmail.com Saathee.com

PRODUCTS FOR SALE: Why pay $80 for Smart Lotta. Get similiar product for half the price. Special Introductory offer for Hand Held Shower and Eco-Bidet for $50 plus S/H of $10. Call 281-345-4037 . or www.eco-bidet.us PROPERTY FOR SALE OR RENT: Condo for rent in RTP. Very convenient location to Duke, UNC, 15/501, close to bus line. Fully furnished, W/D included in unit. Call Avani Parekh Bhatt 704-608-2511. 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: Software Testing (QA) and Business System Analysis: Training Classes and Placement Assistance in Charlotte. Please Contact 704-806-8907 for details. Tax Returns: Federal & State Tax Preparation with e-filing, Accounting and Bookkeeping Services for Individuals, Self-employed, Partnerships & Scorporations. Call Mahesh Patel, EA (704) 799-6377, e-mail: masupatel4@yahoo.com Priest Available for the following services: Shree Satya narayan katha, Shanti hawan, Vastu shant, Weddings, Baby shower, Bhumi pujan, Mata ki chowki pujan, Funeral, All types of karmakand. Please call Viral Bhatt 704-438-6334. Foreign Accent Modification: Your speech is your "vocal resume." Speak English clearly and with confidence. Individual tutorials with certified speech specialists at Triangle Speech Services. www.trianglespeech.com. Catering Services: We take orders for Roti and Vegetarian Food. Please call us at 980-225-0727. 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. Email: 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 Expert Math/Physics/Engineering Tutoring: Ph.D. in Mathematics-NCSU, Taught at university level, 12 years of tutoring experience; go to https://sites.google.com/site/mathphdtut oring or 919-749-5810. 123

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 EMail: krsnapriyad@hotmail.com For All Your Threading Needs: Call 704-844-0562 or email: ila_gemini66@yahoo.co.in Located in Pineville @the junction of Ballantyne commons Parkway and Rea Road. Tuition Available: Experienced Math, Physics, Chemistry tutor for middle, high school, IB, AP courses (including AP Statistics). Cary, Raleigh, Durham area. Call 704-497-2639 Computer Consulting: Assistance with software installation, set-up, formatting, back-up, troubleshooting and more. Very reasonable rates. 704-619-2358 Looking For a Part-Time Housekeeper in Charlotte, NC : Job duties will include house cleaning, basic laundry and dicing/cutting/peeling vegetables. Can pay hourly or can negotiate a monthly salary. Please call Priya/Sreeram @ (704) 916 9386. Pari Beauty In Matthews, NC: Threading, Waxing, Facials, Bleaching & Much More! 20 years of experience with 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 online 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 February 2012

Index of Advertisers

Palika Bazaar & Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Patel Brothers (Cary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Patel, Shailesh DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Poplai, Deepak (White Insurance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Prashant Video Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Prime Internal Medicine (E.N. Reddy, M.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Pulte Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Punjabi Unlimited (Baishaki Mela) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Raj D Batra (Kamera Art Photo & Video) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Rajbhog Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Rajdeep Mandap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Rajdeep Video & Photography (Ramesh Panjabi) . . . . . . . . .101 Rajesh Jyotishi (Shalin Financial Services Inc.) . . . . . . . . . . .113 Ramji Entertainment LLC (Salim-Sulaiman Concert) . . . . . . . .3 Real Triangle Properties (Joe Mathews) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Roopkala Sarees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Royal India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 S&S Accounting & Tax Services, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Saathee Subscription Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Saathee.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Sai Krishna Bhavan (Restaurant) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Sangam Mart (Indian Groceries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Sarvaga Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Shah, Kirti (CPA - Sepa Consulting) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Shah, Mihir (NY Life) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Singh CPA PLLC (Accounting & Tax Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sir Pizza (Morrisville) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Sitar Indian Cuisine (Durham) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Skynet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Sleep Inn (Charlotte) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Smart Properties (Real Estate - Smruti Patel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Sri Somesvara Temple (Calender of Events) . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Sur-Sumiran School Of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Suvidha Indo-Pak Groceries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Swift Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Taxforless (Baijoo P. Thomas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 The Montessori School of Raleigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Tower Restauant (Morrisville) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Travel Universe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Travelinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 Triangle Family Eye Care (Dr. Hiten Prajapati) . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Triangle Hearing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Triangle Indian Market (Cary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Triangle Women's Center (Haritha Nadendla, MD FACOG)105 Ttravel Guru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 UroGender Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Usha Decor (Wedding Planning & Decor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Virmani, Dr. Ron A. (Petition) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Virsa Panjab Da (NCSU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Vonage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Vyas Travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Wake OB/Gyn (Dr. Nanda Shah) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 West Cary Medicine (Dr. Kareem M.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 White Horse Weddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Worldwide travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Zayka Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

A & V Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Abbi, Chitra (Real Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Access Realty & Funding (Chandravadan Shah) . . . . . . . . .125 AKM Realty (Arvind Mahajan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Anil Bedi & Associates PC (CPA & Consultants) . . . . . . . . . .69 Apna Bazaar (Morrisville) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Apna Travels (Morrisville) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Around The World Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Art Of Living Course Raleigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Ashton Woods Homes (Glenlake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Bashyam & Spiro LLP (Immigration Law) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Bhindi Jewellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Bipin & Smita Parekh (Real Estate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Blooming Buds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Bombay Grille Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Care First Physical Therapy & Rehab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Cary Cardiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Cary Internal Medicine & The Diabetes Center, PA . . . . . . . .54 Cary Medical Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Cary Photo & Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 Carymed Primary Care (Bindit Patel, MD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Chai Pani (Restaurant - Ashville, NC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Challa Law Offices, PLC (Immigration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 Chandni's Beauty Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Chawpaty Food (Catering) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Choksi, Viral (Northwestern Mutual) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Concha, David - Immigration Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Cornerstone Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . .83 County South Realty & Business Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Crescent Dental (Dr. Kavita Ghai) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Cricket Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Dances of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Darji, Iyer, Joshi & Patel (Accounting & Tax Services) . . . . . . .9 Dave & Dave Inc. (Accounting) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Desai Desai Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 DJ Hangama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 DJ Kenz (Kenz Desai) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 DJ Desi (Amit Vasi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 DJ Don (David Pandoria) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 DJ Lalit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 DJ Ravi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Elegant Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Eshaan Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Evershine Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Eye Care Center (Apex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 Fairview Home Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Friends Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Goels Plaza - Banquet & Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Grand India Mart (Groceries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Greater Triangle Realty (Thomas John) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Henna By Niki & Vaida's Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Hotbreads Cafe (Nick Foods) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Huntington Learning Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 iFuturistics Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Inchin's Bamboo Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 India Super Travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Indian Food & Spices (Fayetteville) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Indu Conv. Store Greensboro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 International Comm Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Jaipriya Senthilkumar (Cosmetologist) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 K.B. Zaveree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Kadhambam Spices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Kalashri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Kaya Designs Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 KD Photographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Khanna & Sons Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Law Office of Rashmi Shah (Immigration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Legacy Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Lucky Salon & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Maadhurya Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Mahabazar.com Travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 Malani Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 Maruthi Pediatrics (Dr. Badriprasad R. Donthi) . . . . . . . . . . .58 Mongolian Grill (Iron Grill & Pizza) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Montessori Children's House of Durham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Montessori Children's House of Durham (Summer Camp) .91 MyTripFare (Travel agent) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Naach Masala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Nagpal, Sunil (MetLife Financial Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Nationwide Ins. (Maqsood Khan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 NC Dermatology Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Oxford Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Oza, Rishi (Immigration Legal Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Saathee.com

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599 375 299 250 199 179 149 130 99 80 49 39 20 10 10 39 25

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Challa Law offices, PLC 5040 sadler Place ste 200 GLeN ALLeN, VA 23060 (804.360.8482) 4445 Corporation Lane, suite 291 ViRGiNiA BeACH, VA 23462 Call Toll Free Phone: 800-913-4122