Voice of Asia Jan 24 2014

VOICE OF ASIA 1

10,000 copies every week

VOICE OF ASIA Commemorating 25 years of dedicated service to the community

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Avoid The Penalty By Promptly Enrolling In Health Insurance Plan Call 713-771-2900.

Vol. 27 No. 4 Friday, January 24, 2014 Published Weekly from Houston 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

TiE Hosts Annual Charter Member Dinner, Presents 2014 Initiatives on Entrepreneurship

by Shobana Muratee HOUSTON - On Friday, January 17th TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Houston hosted its annual Charter Member Dinner at the elegant Sullivan’s Steak House, where nearly 100 guests - including its sponsors and general members - attended. Incoming president Aruna Viswanathan, the first woman president of TiE Houston, welcomed the guests and charter members.

She thanked the members and the volunteers for helping out with the events held Aruna Viswanathan, TiE, Houston President. Photos over the year 2013, by Shobana Muratee, VOA. giving an insight into companies that were funded.” She TiE’s primary activities and focus. Every year TiE chooses also mentioned that one company had 16+ companies and then mentors them closed a 500K round, and was looking on various aspects of entrepreneurship for additional money. through workshops and seminars held She especially thanked the Houston by experts. “Last year we had three Continued on Page 5

TiE Houston Charter Members, Partners and Sponsors at the event held on January 17th , 2014.

Pongal and Thaipoosam Celebrations at Sri Meenakshi Temple

by Ponni Sivaraman

P

EARLAND - It was a weekend of twin celebrations at Sri Meenakshi temple in Pearland as the devotees welcomed the auspicious month of Thai (signifying the northerly movement of Sun) by celebrating Pongal/Makara Sankaranti and Thai Poosam.

The Indian Harvest festival known as Pongal or Makara Sankaranthi was celebrated on January 18th. Keeping up with the tradition in Indian villages, the devotees dressed in traditional South Indian attire prepared the sweet Pongal in brass pots on earthen stove using wood as fuel; the event was coordinated by Nach Vaduganathan, Meera Srikanth and Bargavi Golla. While the ladies were making the Pongal it was refreshing to see young kids of Meenakshi Sheka (Hindu Swayam Sevak) do Surya Namaskar. Bharathi Kalai Manram (Houston Tamil association) had their Pongal Cultural Program at MTS that afternoon while Makara Sankranti was celebrated by Telugu Cultural Association the following day.

Thaipoosam, a Hindu festival in honor of the Hindu God Karthikeya (Lord Muruga) was celebrated with much grandeur on January 19. This festival commemorates the occasion of Goddess Parvathy, giving her son Lord Muruga, the “Sakthi Vel” (Spear) to vanquish the demon army of Asura, Soorapadman. Thus it signifies victory over evil and is celebrated at all Murugan temples around the world.

Thaipoosam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February), on the day of the star “Poosam” and around the full moon. The devotees generally observe fasting prior to this celebration and after an early morning Continued on Page 3

Devotees carrying Pal Kudams and Kaavadis in a sea of procession for the Abhishekam

OP-ED/OPINIONS/COMMENTARY

by R. K. RAGHAVAN

A

ll the compassion that we would like to show Shashi Tharoor may not dilute the need to invoke the law of the land with the greatest possible seriousness

Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Print & Media Marketing: Marketing: Production: Office Manager:

Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Jacob David Susan Pothanikat AR Vadlamani Priyan Mathew

The only occasion I have seen Shashi Tharoor was at a Madras Book Club meeting many years ago. If I remember right, he was late for the meeting.

Voice of Asia TV News Online Editor:

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Truth is the best defence

Shobana Muratee

All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher.

Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-7745143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: advertisingvoa@aol.com

LETTERS

Sunanda’s death

Sections of the press have reported that Sunanda Pushkar claimed to have been suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. And the autopsy has it that she was taking an anti-anxiety drug. Could she have been subject to delusions about an imagined affair between her husband and a Pakistani journalist? As a doctor who regularly sees Lupus patients, I know the ailment to be unpredictable. Her case must be examined with this in mind, and Dr. Shashi Tharoor must be left out of the mess.

Dr. P. Madan Mohan, Thrissur The untimely and unnatural death of Sunanda Pushkar comes as an inevitable consequence of high tensions among the affluent, who are part of diverse circles with complex equations. While Dr. Tharoor is entitled to enjoy wealth and stature in society, he should not hold a high-level government post. A person of his extravagant way of life cannot be vested with the right to enforce austerity on the common man whilst enjoying five-star accommodation while his home is being fumigated.

Subhash Chandra Agarwal, Delhi ERRATUM: In our last issue dt 01-17-2014 in the Publisher’s Note on the third line it should read as ‘migrated from India’ and NOT ‘to India’. We regret the mistake that was due to an oversight.

Editor, Voice of Asia

Get your Community Stories & Features visit our website: www. voiceofasiaonline.com Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $30 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074 It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints.

- The Publisher

He was not to fault, because he was held up in traffic. He was profusely apologetic, and later went on to charm the audience with his customary remarks.

Shashi’s greatest asset is his pleasant and debonair visage.

In all his television appearances, he comes across as a calm and composed individual who speaks with clarity, never raising his voice to prove his point.

He never gives the impression of being arrogant or egoistic. This is why my heart goes out to him and his stepson for having to live through this tragedy. This is the time he needs extra consideration and sympathy, not the witchhunt that is slowly emerging.

It is easy to trample over Shashi because he is down. It is equally easy to inject politics into a personal misfortune.

This is a test of civilised behaviour for all those who did not approve of Shashi’s peccadilloes and indiscretions.

There is no doubt he has been grossly indiscreet and callous, not once, but many times.

Compassion and legality A certain disdain for the law is possibly built into him. We will never know whether this was due to the fact that he was far too long under the comfortable shelter of the United Nations. That is no reason however why we should go after him now.

He has to explain himself over what transpired between him and Sunanda Pushkar, to the extent that the law demands. But for this, he needs to have the assurance that he will be judged by facts and not perceptions. All the compassion that we would like to show may not dilute the need to invoke the law of the land with the greatest possible seriousness.

With eyes brimming with tears, Shashi Tharoor carries the bier. ence of outsiders, including one on a flight last week.

A Union Minister was said to be privy to this as a co-passenger. I am concerned also over reported injuries on Sunanda’s person. How serious they were, and whether they had any link at all to the eventual death of Sunanda, is anybody’s guess.

The findings of the postmortem examination and expert opinion thereon are crucial.

High profile The happening has all the ingredients of a drama. A highprofile couple is involved.

Shashi is a serving Union Minister. Whether or not he should continue in office is a call that the Prime Minister should take. I personally feel that the Opposition should not meddle in this.

Shashi’s relationship with a Pakistani journalist is being touted as one reason he should be thoroughly investigated.

The IB and RAW could possibly provide some inputs on the background of that journalist to decide whether this matter needs to be pursued at all.

risdiction of the Delhi Police.

I have no doubt it has the professional elan to do a thorough job. But then, there is a popular perception that like any other force, the Delhi Police is subject to political pressure.

This is unfortunate but true.

The fact that Shashi will be the focus for ferreting out the truth behind the incident highlights the imperative of a credible investigation. Nothing else will satisfy the public and women’s rights activists who may see the death as one driven by spouse harassment.

I am sure Shashi himself will want a credible investigation.

He cannot live for too long in the shadow of suspicion, in addition to bearing the burden of a huge tragedy.

It is too soon to predict whether the results of forensic tests will prove any crime perpetrated on a hapless Sunanda, who was as charming as her husband. There is credible evidence only to show that the couple had a widely known spat, possibly over an alleged romantic relationship Shashi had with a Pakistani journalist.

Shashi is said to have claimed it was innocent and Platonic and we would like to believe so.

Possibly Sunanda did not, and her Tweets and conversations with a few friends revealed that she was greatly exercised about it.

You cannot blame Sunanda for this quintessential response of a spouse. There is also evidence of verbal exchanges between the couple in the pres-

Accomodations will be provided Contact: 615-771-9105 bombaybistrotn@gmail.com

Super Tech Construction Co.

WE BUILD • Custom Homes • Hotels • Motels • Shopping Plazas • Gas Stations TEL: 281-235-4870 www.stctexas.com 2700 Lake Olympia Pkwy Suite 102 Missouri City Texas 77459

INCOME TAX, IRS PROBLEMS?

• Free Efile • Maximize your Itemized deductions • Self-Employed, Contractors • 1040 EZ File • Free Tax Estimate & Initial consultation

Do you owe the IRS or Have Unfiled Previous Years Taxes?

Avoid seizure of your Assets! • Affordable payment plan!

• ITIN (Taxpayer No. for those who cannot get a social security no.)

Max Saleem,

EA (Enrolled to Practice before the IRS) 281-933-3004 or Text your scenario to 832-419-2786

$22.99/s.ft Installed

Free Stainless Steel Sink

(with 50 sq.ft installation minimum required)

Bathroom and Kitchen Countertops, Quality Granite, Installation Included.

Call George (Shaji): 1-979-997-8514 281-975-8318 • tvsgranite@yahoo.com

proof

Where Excellence is the Norm, not the Exception

The best place for Learning, Tutoring and Test Prep in Sugar Land www.iq-learning.com • Ph: 832-387-6250 • Email: contact@iq-learning.com

Programs Now Open for Grades 4 through 12

Regular tutoring available throughout the year. IQ Learning is open 7 days a week.

• • • • •

Our Credentials:

• Enroll for: • Math, ELA, Science, GT program prep (Elementary and Middle school) • SAT/ACT Prep • All Pre-AP and AP-level Science and Math subjects (High school) • Our Advancement courses prepare students for the coming year (www.iq-learning.com)

More than 95% of the enrolled school students improved their scores by more than a letter grade within a few weeks at IQ. 90% of the students have shown a 300 point minimum increase over their last scores in actual SAT tests.

Students scoring B- in Math have become toppers in Calculus AP courses after only a few weeks at IQ Learning.

Students who took the Physics Advancement Course at IQ Learning have represented their school in district level Physics tournaments.

Most of the enrolled Elementary and Middle School students are now placed in their school GT programs after attending IQ Learning.

Address: 3685 Hwy 6 S (@Settlers Way, next to Krogers), Sugar Land, TX 77478

(The writer is a former CBI Director.)

for a Fine Dining Indian Restaurant in Franklin, TN

GRANITE TVS SPECIAL: Granite Countertops

IQ LEARNING Sugar Land

Let all the facts come out, so that political prejudice does not unjustly halt the career of an otherwise eminently likeable, well-meaning and genial individual. (Courtesy: The Hindu)

TANDOOR CHEFS, LINE CHEFS KITCHEN HELP

The investigation of a case registered under Section 174 Cr.P.C. is strictly within the ju-

Shashi may or may not survive the rigours of the cold application of law.

This is why I would advocate a court-monitored CBI investigation. The Home Ministry can suo motu get the case transferred to the CBI, or someone else can move the Delhi HC demanding this.

Those in authority, who are Shashi’s well-wishers, may think otherwise. They will be doing him the greatest disservice by shielding him from an objective and clinical investigation.

NOW HIRING

Political pressure

1040 EZ $30

VOICE OF ASIA 2

Read what our students say in the testimonial section of our website!

COMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 3

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, January 24, 2014

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Pongal and Thaipoosam Celebrations at Sri...

Continued from Page 1 ritual of bathing and prayer, visit the Temple with offerings of fruits and yellow/orange flowers (said to be Lord Muruga’s favorite color).

The festivities began at the Ganesh Temple with a Sankalpam and Pooja for all the Pal Kudams (a pot of milk with a coconut on top and covered with a yellow ornate cloth and Kaavadis (a semi-circular decorated cano-

the Abishekam).

ambiance.

Chanting “Muruganukku Arohara” and reciting devotional songs in praise of the Lord, the devotees then carried the 150Pal Kudams on their heads and 92 Kaavadis on their shoulders from the Ganesh Temple to the Kalyana Mandapam. There, a grand Abishekham was performed by priests Sri Manickasundaram Bhattar and Sri Kalyana Sundaram and the exquisite Alankaram and Aarti that followed

The urchava Murthi along with his consorts Deivanai and Valli was then taken out on a procession on the silver chariot or “Ratham” to the main sannadhi for the final aarti. Prasadam was provided by the temple to all those that attended.

Nasir Malik running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2

This event was coordinated by Mrs. Meena and Mr. Vairavan Subramanian and helped by Dr. Dorairajan and many volunteers

Nasir “Harris” Malik

by Crystal Simmons

K

LEIN, TX - Klein resident Nasir “Harris” Malik has built custom homes and custom burgers; now he’s running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2 in Humble.

Malik announced his candidacy on June 25 after Tom Lawrence, Justice of the Peace for the past 32 years, said he was retiring.

While the announcement came suddenly, Malik said he has been planning to run for the position for the past three years after his friends in the political arena encouraged him to broaden his passion for helping youth and the community.

Beautifully arranged Pal Kudam and Kaavadi in new Ganesh temple py made out of bamboo or wood with a wooden rod that holds together 2 small pots of brown sugar on either ends. This milk and Brown sugar is later used for

rendered the gathering of about 700 devotees speechless. Devotees recited the Kanda Shasti Kavacham and sang other devotional songs creating a divine

who put in countless number of hours performing various tasks.

Enthusiasm and effort of the devotees’ made this year’s Thaipoosam celebration a great success.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Although Malik does not have legal experience, he said his history as a businessman will help him make the courts run more efficiently.

“I will apply my common sense business approach to the JP Court to increase court revenues, reduce court expenses, and work closely

with our first responders to ensure our safety with all of Precinct 4,” he said.

Poe as a role model, Malik said he was inspired by the former judge known for his colorful, but fair punishments.

Malik, a licensed Real Estate Broker and a Graduate Master Builder, is well known in the Klein community for his 15-year career selling real estate and building custom homes. Currently, as the owner of Sunrise Custom Homes, Malik provides 50-100 local jobs. He has also owned and operated several businesses, convenience stores, dry cleaning stores and shopping centers. In 2011 when the recession hit his business hard, Malik even opened his own restaurant, Just Burgers, briefly until his custom-home building business picked up.

“I want to find better ways to help juvenile offenders,” he said.

“Once a child ends up in juvenile detention center, we have failed that child.”

One of his top priorities is evening out the caseloads between courts. Malik estimates that the Humble courtroom does less than 45,000 and Spring is doing close to 130,000. Since Precinct 4 residents can go to any court, he said he will focus on getting the word out that the Humble court is seeking more business.

As part of his platform, Malik also promises to work with area law enforcement to establish an open door policy, allowing officers to communicate key public safety concerns.

But his true passion lies with helping area youth and advocating for at-risk children. If elected, Malik said he hopes to inspire juvenile offenders to turn their lives around. Listing Congressman Ted

A regular volunteer for local school districts, Malik has mentored students, been the “Principal for the day” in a Humble ISD school and volunteered to read books to children in Klein ISD schools. That experience is spilling over into his campaign. “Our continued goal is to visit every school once a week to develop a trust relationship where they can come and talk to us about the issues that they have in the classroom or in the school. I feel it is necessary for an open door policy for both the parents and children, so they will have direct access to me as their Justice of peace.”

As part of his platform, Malik wants to continue working with area schools and youth organizations to find better ways to deal with juveniles facing action, and directing them into more positive environments so that they can learn and grow. He also said he will expand programs implemented by Judge Russ Ridgeway, who is also a business man and JP, Precinct 5 Place 1 office.

An active Republican, Malik is a member the Northwest Houston and Tomball Chambers of Commerce, Justice and Peace Constable Association, Cherry Tree Republicans, Kingwood Area Republican Women, the Pachyderm Club of Tomball and the Texas Tea Party.

Politically, Malik is a fiscal Conservative, Pro-Life, Pro-Family, and supporter of traditional marriage.

Looking For a Career???

We are Hiring!!!

• Excellent Training • Comprehensive Benefits • Paid Training Abha Dwivedi, LUTCF,FSS 281-650-3229 abha.dwivedi@agla.com

Shirin B. Mawani, LUTC 832-620-0786 shirin.bhanvadia@agla.com

www.myagla.com/abha

Call us for Quote on Life Insurance you don’t have to die to use!

2727 A Allen Parkway, suite 200, Houston TX 77019 © American International Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Geeta Patel, LUTCF,FSS 281-615-2319 geeta.patel@agla.com

Anju Chugh, LUTCF 713-367-5352 agla.anju@gmail.com

The underwriting risks, financial and contractual obligations and support functions associated with products issued by American General Life Insurance Company are its responsibility.

American General Life Insurance Company does not solicit business in the state of New York.

Home Mortgage Consultant

Home Loans ~ the Easy Way! • Niche Products • Competitive Rates • $350 off Closing costs*

FARIBA KHOSRAVI, MBA

Proof

Learning Stages, Inc. Since 1992

www.learningstages.com

Enrolling for Summer Camp and 2014-15 School Year Summer Camp Programs

• Interactive and educational activities • In-house Field Trips

• Special Events • CHOOSY KIDS…be choosy, be healthy

12780 South Kirkwood, (Between Hwy 59 and Hwy 90)

281-240-0480

e Sp

a ci

e om H l

g! cin n a Fin

*Good till March 31, 2014

NMLS ID # 532056 832-803-4888 Faribak6@yahoo.com

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 4

The People’s Lawyer

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Dr. Dronamraju to deliver Keynote Address at the International Conference on Genomics in Chicago

www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Don’t be scammed into a debt payoff plan Q. I was told by a friend that there are ways to discharge a loan without paying the full amount owed and without filing for bankruptcy. If fact, he said that the way it worked allows me to pay just a few cents on the dollar to settle the debt. I did some Internet research and found several companies that, for a fee, will teach me their debt erasing tricks. Are these legit?

A. I am glad you contacted me before you threw away your money. One of the current scams to separate you from your hard earned cash involves the sale of payoff plans that say they allow you to discharge a loan by paying much less than you owe. Scammers charge large fees for “discharge of debt plans” that involve things like “payment in full” checks, “EFT only,” processing, or even different colored inks to use. The scammer tells you to send everything certified and encourages you to use technical sounding things like a “notary certificate of service.” This all sounds impressive, but none of it works. You cannot discharge an obligation on a loan unless you pay it in full, get the creditor to agree to take less than the full amount in full satisfaction, or file bankruptcy. In fact, even bankruptcy usually won’t work if the debt is a student loan.

Q. Can a landlord tell you that you have 30 days to vacate due to him wanting to move into the house he rented to you? I’ve never heard of such thing. The lease has three more months left, all rent has been paid in full and on time, no damages to the house, good resident with zero complaints or problems. What good is a lease if you can still be evicted?

A. The simple answer is that you cannot be evicted before the end of the lease term, unless the lease says so. First, carefully read your lease. Unless it says the landlord has the right to terminate the lese with 30 days notice, he does not. If you don’t see it in the lease, ask the landlord to show you where the lease allows him to evict you before the end of the term. If the landlord can’t point to a provision in the lease, let him know you intend to abide by the lease for the next three months, and you assume he will as well.

Q. About five years ago I moved in with someone. We agreed that although we were not married, we would act as if we were and that if the relationship ended, I would be entitled to half of what we accumulated. We recently broke up and he won’t give me anywhere near a fair share of his assets. Can I sue for what I think I should be entitled to?

A. The claim you want to bring is commonly referred to as “palimony.” This is the name given to suits brought by a person against another with whom he or she has a non-marital, co-habitation relationship.

In most cases, such suits are based on a contractual agreement between the parties. In your case, the contract is to share assets if the relationship ends.

Such contracts, however, are enforceable in Texas only if there is a written agreement or memorandum signed by the person to be charged. This means you must produce some writing signed by the other person indicating that the promise was made. In the absence of such writing, your lawsuit probably will be dismissed.

Do you want to know more about your legal rights? Check out my website, www.peopleslawyer.net

IMMIGRATION Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Attorney at Law For Your Free Consultation,

CALL US Today at: 713-623-8088

Relative Petitions: $200* Citizenship: $400* Green Card: $800* *Subject to restrictions Other types of cases such as Removal of Condition, L, E, H-1B, O, P visas, PERM Labor, Appeals, Waivers etc, all Reasonably Priced.

www.richardsimmigration.com

4151 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 600, Houston, Texas 77027 Our business is rated A+ by the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

Member Greater Houston Builders Assoc.

Attention New Home Buyers in Texas Get 2% Contribution on your New Home Closing Cost

RON AGA REALTOR Showcase Properties of Texas 1708 Washington Ave. Ste B. Houston TX 77007

832 423-6973

www.RonSellsHouston.com Over 23 Years of Real Estate Experience Email: RonRealtor1@gmail.com

Dr. Krishna Dronamraju (far rt) with Dr. James Watson and Mrs. Watson and artist Dorothy Thomas. Dr. Watson received the Nobel Prize for discovering the DNA molecule, Watson-Crick Model.

HOUSTON - Dr. Krishna Dronamraju will be delivering the Keynote Address at the 2nd International Conference on Genomics to be held in April 2014 in Chicago. He is the President of the Foundation for Genetic Research in Houston, (Website: www.geneticresearchfounda-

tion.com) and Visiting Professor of University of Paris.

The Conference will focus attention on the use of Genomics in Drug development and Pharmaceuticals.l Research.

The Conference will be in April. The photo was taken last year. The other lady is artist

Dorothy Thomas. I do not know if Dr. Watson will be there but his name is closely tied to Genomics. I have multiple roles.

I have been invited to deliver the Keynote Address, function as a member of the Organizing Committee, and chair a Plenary Session.

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER Answers to your Immigration Questions

by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer: email at srichardslaw@aol.com

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT AH-1B VISA Q: What is an H-1B Visa?

A: The H-1B Visa is a visa for foreign skilled professionals to work in the US on a temporary basis in a ‘specialty ocSharlene Sharmila cupation’. A specialty occupation requires theoretical and practiRichards cal application of a body of specialized knowledge along with at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. As such, the foreign national must have at least a US bachelor’s degree or a foreign equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, work experience may be used as a substitute for the required bachelor’s degree.

Q: Where can I find additional information about specialty occupations?

A: It is generally understood that professions such as engineers, IT specialists, lawyers, architects, accountants and the like are specialty occupations as these professions clearly require a bachelor’s degree. However, there are some professions that appear to be not so straightforward at first glance. You can check the Occupation Outlook Handbook published by the Department of Labor to properly understand if your intended occupation qualifies as a specialty occupation.

Q: How long can I work if I have the H-1B Visa?

A: This visa is typically granted for an initial period of three years up to a maximum of six years.

Q: I have a Bachelor’s Degree from India. Will this be sufficient to apply for H-1B visa?

A: All foreign degrees have to be first evaluated to determine whether it is equivalent to the undergraduate degree offered by an accredited university or institution of higher learning in the United States.

This degree evaluation is typically done by a third party credential evaluation service. In addition to that, the Bachelor’s degree you possess must be in the field related to your intended H-1B occupation. So, for example, if you are looking at employment in the engineering related field, it will be helpful if your degree was in engineering or some other closely related field.

Q: I do not have any kind of degree qualification but I have worked in a related professional position in India for 20 years. A company in the US wishes to hire me on the H-1B visa. Is this possible?

A: Any related professional work experience may be substituted for years of education. The general rule is three years of professional work experience is equivalent to one year of the required bachelor’s degree. As such, a minimum of twelve years work experience will generally equate to a 4 year bachelor’s degree. An evaluation of your professional experience is needed to determine if your work experience will be a sufficient equivalent to the bachelor’s degree required to work in the intended occupation. It is advisable to contact an immigration attorney to assist you in the matter and to obtain the necessary credential evaluation for your professional work experience.

Q: What is the H-1B visa cap? How will it affect me if I am currently a student and I want to apply for the H-1B visa?

A: The H-1B cap refers to the yearly numerical limitation set by Congress for the number of workers that can be granted H-1B visas. For each fiscal year, the quota for H-1B visas has been set at 65,000. Another 20,000 visas are set aside for foreign nationals who possess an advanced degree which includes a US Masters degree or higher. If you are applying for the H-1B visa for the first time, you will be subject to this cap. In your case, you will be subject to this numerical limitation of 65,000 visas unless you come within the advanced degree exemption or your petitioning employer is a cap exempt organization.

Q: What employers are exempt from the annual 65,000 H-1B visa cap?

A: If you already have the H-1B non-immigrant visa and you are just applying to extend the period of validity for the visa, you are exempt from the quota. Institutions of higher education or those that are related or affiliated nonprofit entities as well as nonprofit research organizations or governmental research organizations are all cap exempt.

Disclaimer: Any advice provided in this article is general in nature and not intended to constitute legal advice for any specific case. Please consult with an immigration lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case.

Sharlene Sharmila Richards is a licensed Immigration Lawyer practicing in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is a member of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the US Supreme Court. If you require advice or assistance, you may contact her at telephone number 713-623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. Also you can visit www.houstonimmigrationattorney.com

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 5

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

TiE Hosts Annual Charter Member Dinner, Presents 2014 Initiatives on Entrepreneurship Continued from Page 1 Angel Network which provides 50% or more of the angel investors that attend the events. Ms. Viswanathan explained how TiE was different from other organizations; “What we did is to provide sources to companies that would have never had a chance to present, pick them up three months earlier and mentor them to a point that they could present,’ she said. “And that’s the difference, because every other organization would start by taking a company that would have already proven,” she added.

Then, outgoing President Shri Iyer outlined last year’s events and achievements through a PowerPoint presentation. He recognized the sponsors, mentioning that Green Bank had been the Platinum Sponsor for a number of years. He also thanked Jackson Walker LLP, who came on a couple of years

ing and education. Every single event, activity or interaction held was about fostering entrepreneurship, so we put the filter on,” he said speaking to this reporter. On planning and organizing events Mr. Iyer said, “We would ask, ‘Does that help our member and does our extended network address their knowledge on entrepreneurship?’ ” He also added that TiE focused a lot on helping small companies last year.

Some other charter members also touched on other events that TiE embarked upon in 2013.

TiE’s Funding Forum Event is one of its most resourceful and promising events. Last year saw the TiE Texas Entrepreneurs Forum 2013 where out of 50 Applicants, 16 were chosen to present about their company.

“We helped them pair with experts who advised them how to

Competition was held where TiE (the world’s largest entrepreneur network spanning 18 countries) organized feeder competitions in Asia and Europe where over 300 teams from 12 countries participated.

The winners gained automatic entry into the Rice Business Plan Competition.

TiE is actively assisting in coaching these teams in a unique way. Expressing what he would like for TiE to accomplish, Mr. Iyer said, “My personal wish is that we assemble groups of people actively to start funding companies. Right now it is an adhoc, a one-onone thing. We would like it to be still more organized so that we can actively help more and more companies,” he said.

TiE’s mentoring sessions are getting increasingly popular with sold out events last year.

Another popular event “Lemon-

TiE’ s lady members who attended the event

Outgoing President Shri Iyer

A section of the guests

Young entrepreneur at the Lemonade Day event ago. Mr. Iyer also recognized partners: The Houston Angel Network, Rice Alliance, Houston Technology Center, Texas Entrepreneurial Network, and START. Earlier highlighting his 2013 events, Mr. Iyer said, “The main thing we did last three years was to focus on entrepreneurship: mentoring, network-

run the company. Workshops were sold out on how to pitch to investors. We received feedback that no organizations does what we do, which is a very informal way of helping and expecting nothing in return – no equity in return,” Mr. Iyer pointed out.

The Rice Alliance plays a major role in such a Forum.

In April 2013, The Rice BP

Teams that represented the Rice BP Competition seen with TiE members who who mentored them. ade Day’ was started in 2007 and has since grown to 150,000 kids participating in 36 cities across America and Canada. Last year it was held on is the May 5th to great success. Charter members also had their retreat in Athens, Greece last year.

This year TiE is looking to acquire more volunteers, more

Consulate General of India Houston

REPUBLIC DAY FLAG HOISTING

Flag Hoisting ceremony on India’s 65th Republic Day will be held on Sunday, 26 January, 2014 at 10.00 AM at Consul General’s Residence

(5634

Briar

Drive,

Houston,

TX

77056).

Consul General Parvathaneni Harish will read President of India’s Address on this occasion. Refreshments will be served.

Indian nationals and friends of India and their families along with children are cordially invited to the function. Participants are requested to assemble at Consul General’s Residence by 9:45 AM. Kindly bring a photo ID.

commitment of their mentors and to increase and sustain the Interest and participation of investors.

TiE also needs help in refer-

ring new General Members and identifying new Charter Members.

comes with her experience with Cole Chemical and Asia Society Texas Center.

They have a new Executive Director, Sehar Javed who

TiE has listed more Webinar and workshops for 2014!

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Indian Americans at the 2014 Press Conference on Houston Marathon Comprehensive Immigration Reforms held on January 13

Lost Creek Park Half Marathon group with bibs ready to start the race: Left to Right – Nachiappan, Neeta Balsaver, Pankaj Desai, Shibani Balsaver, Vimal Kothari, Kanchan Kabad, Riddhi Desai and Sesh Bala

I

t was a beautiful day, clear and crisp, temperature about 50 degree at 7 AM at start of the Houston Marathon. A determined group of Indo Americans made their presence felt at this the 42nd anniversary of the Houston Marathon on Sunday, Jan 19, 2014.

The Chevron Houston Marathon is a world-class event right at our doorsteps and attracts athletes from around the globe.

This year there were 13,000 in Full Marathon (26.2 miles) and 12,000 in Half Marathon (13.1 miles) runners registered. The 5K race was held the previous day for better crowd control and management. There were thousands of volunteers and over 250,000 spectators. The Marathon starts and ends at the George R. Brown convention center in downtown Houston.

Each year the organizers do a better and better job, and this year was no exception. This year the route was quite different and included stretches on S. Shepherd, San Felipe, Up-

per Kirby, Bissonnet and the museum district. The organizers received high praise for the selection of the route.

The feeling and excitement when you complete a marathon is unparalleled. You do not remember the pain or the weather but always cherish how thrilling it was completing the course, the timing, the adventure, in all a very exhilarating experience. Besides, you have earned bragging rights!

A casual scanning and observation suggested the participation from the Indian American community at marathons is steadily growing but can be more. There definitely should be a greater participation not only in running and walking, but in volunteering and being spectators.

The Houston Marathon is very popular but has limits on how many can sign up. There is a lottery system in place for the last 4 years. Chances of getting selected are better if you enter as a group of 10

rather than as individuals. As a group, everyone is in or everyone is out! The Lost Creek Park Group of Indo Americans was lucky to get selected for the half marathon, third year in a row now. The Lost Creek Park group that ran included Nachiappan, Neeta Balsaver, Pankaj Desai, Shibani Balsaver, Vimal Kothari, Kanchan Kabad, Riddhi Desai and Sesh Bala. For Sesh Bala, this year was the 12th consecutive Half Marathon, and for Pankaj Desai his 7th. The veteran marathoner Mallikarjun Shintri skipped this year but is looking forward to 2015. All completed the half marathon successfully.

Founded on the principle ‘Service to the poor and needy is service to God’ Sankara Nethralaya was established 35 years ago. Nethralaya, India’s premier not-for-profit charitable hospital under Padmabhushan Dr. Badrinath’s leadership embarked upon

a relentless journey on September 6,1978 to provide worldclass tertiary eye care in India - to provide the same world class single standard of care for all, rich or poor, by utilizing surplus revenues (from treating paying patients) and donations to serve

Looking for a Dentist ?

H

OUSTON - On Monday, January 13, Honorable Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee conducted press conference for a Comprehensive Immigration Reforms at the Catholic Charities downtown Houston.

Several community leaders, heads of organizations and immigration activists were present at the occasion: Leading Immigration Attorney Gordon Quan, Mustafa Carroll, Director, CAIR-Texas (Council On American-Islamic Relations),

Mehmet Okamus President of the Turkish Center, and Rahman Moton President, Myanmar American Chamber of Commerce (MACC) to name a few. Many members representing Hispanic-American Organizations were also present.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committee, expressed her sentiments and dedication regarding the passing of the Immigration Reform Bill that concerns over 11 mil-

more than 500,000 free surgeries to the poor. In 2012 alone, your generous contributions from US has helped Nethralaya perform 3,517 surgeries on indigent patients. Providing eyesight to a poor not only gives the eyesight,

but also lifts the entire family out of poverty, since one can become a bread winner again for the family.

Even though we are making a visual difference, we have a very, very long way to go. Every 3rd visually challenged person in the world is an Indian and the number is expected to double by the year 2020. Your continued, generous and sustaining support is needed. Sankara Nethralaya OM Trust is an IRS recognized 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, so all your contributions will be tax deductible. We also participate in employer gift matching program, United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC No. 68803). Please forward your generous contributions to: Sankara Nethralaya OM Trust

Dr. Badrinath the poor and needy.

Nearly 50 % of all out-patients are treated free. In addition, 40 % of all surgeries are performed at no cost to the patients. Sankara Nethralaya has performed

lion undocumented immigrants in this country, as well as protecting the border, as envisaged in HR 1417.

On this occasion, Mr. Rahman Moton also expressed his opinion about Immigration Reform and appreciated the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee and her dedication, commitment for the community. Mr. Moton also congratulated her on her completion of 20 years in House of Representative as a Congresswoman serving the community.

Please look out for information on the 2015 Marathon at the site www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com and consider participating in it. Organizations like USA Fit and Fort Bend Fit will help you get trained for it.You can send an email to SeshBala@hotmail. com to learn more about Marathon participation.

Sankara Nethralaya ‘s Founder Padmabhushan Dr Badrinath receives Living Legend Award Given by NDTV December 14th at a ceremony held at Rastrapathi Bhavan New Delhi,

Rahman Moton (lt) seen cheering Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee at the press conference.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

History of Sareen Clinic, Harris Health System at O. P. Jindal Center, India House

by Virendra S. Mathur M.D.

I

ndian-Americans, mostly professionals started identifying in the early 70s, Houston, the energy capital of the world, as America’s city of the future and it was already the home of the largest Medical Center of the country with about 40 institutions in the huge campus. Two giants in the ďŹ eld of Medicine, Dr. DeBakey and Dr. Cooley were already attracting thousands of patients from all over the world to Houston. Many Indian families moved to our city and as the numbers increased, came community organizations and India Culture Center was born. The ďŹ rst priority was to establish a community center to allow interaction between the mainstream community and people speaking different Indian languages and belonging to different regions and religions.

The dream about a Community Center was born in the 70’s but it took 30 years to take shape and 40 years to become a reality, the India House, completed in 2008. An important mission was to serve the entire community to give back to those, who gave us, immigrants from India, so much in this great land of opportunity. In this community service center, many services like children’s education in the form of after school tutoring, summer school program, Senior citizen’s center, computer center, place for socialization, recreation, entertainment, ďŹ tness center with Yoga, meditation, dance, cultural programs, legal assistance were started. One of the most important was a Medical Clinic run by all volunteer physicians. This clinic provided service to the neighborhood communities, two-third of whom were minorities and almost half were at or near poverty level. Patients were not asked social security number, insurance information or charged physician fees and even tests were done at deeply discounted rates, below Medicaid rates.

We got some experience of a ‘Charity Mini-Clinic’, but we wanted to expand it to be able to provide full services to many more members of our neighborhood communities.

of Houston and another half a million from Houston Endowment to get us started. Soon thereafter we received a pledge of one million dollars from Jindal family and we were on our way. We got very good advice from many and pursued several possibilities. During this period we learnt about the possibility that Harris County, besides City of Houston, can also help us and in 2012, Dr. Durga Agrawal, our Founder president approached Judge Ed Emmett to seek his guidance. He directed us to Harris Health system (formerly Harris County Health District) and we met Senior ofďŹ cials of the County Health System as well as members of Board.

Dr. Agrawal and myself met Mr. George Masi, Senior Executive Vice-President

We have been very fortunate to have several generous friends of India House in our Indian-American community and Sareen Family (Rita and Bal), Yalaman-

apy (O.T.) which is available today at only one of many clinics run by Harris Health System. All the residents of Harris County, irrespective of being insured or not, will be eligible to use this clinic.

We are also planning to continue our ‘Volunteer Mini-Clinic’ which has been

our clinic and many of them like Drs. Sunil Sahai, Nitin Kapur, Sewa Legha, Luz Amar Dhindsa, Manoj Bhardwaj besides Manish Rungta and me have done a lot more than others. Now, with the General Medicine work being done through new Sareen Clinic, we are plan-

An inside view of the Sareen Clinic, Harris Health System at India House.

and C.O.O. of Harris Health, as well as Dr. Atul Varadhachary, chair of Strategic Planning Committee and both were very helpful and encouraged us to pursue our efforts. Eventually after several meetings, we learnt about a new Federal program, 1115 Medicaid waiver that ďŹ nances states’ innovative efforts to expand health care to those who need it but do not have enough resources. Mr. Masi was very kind and wondered if it would be possible to help India House Clinic and utilize this new resource to support it. He and his staff worked hard and ďŹ gured that there was a real possibility to have a unique public private partnership and Harris Health System can join hands with India House and establish a full edged Clinic. The process was very complex as the application had to go through multiple agencies

operating at India House for the last 4 years. The clinic got started with the support of 5 former Presidents of Indian Doctors Association, specially Dr. Mahesh Shetty, who convinced 12 Ob-Gyn specialists from Women’s Hospital of Texas to volunteer in our clinic to run our Well Women Clinic and it has been very popular and currently is run under the leadership of Dr. Devanshi Somaiya.

Our General Medicine clinic has been operational in parallel under the guidance of Dr. Manish Rungta and more than 12 physicians have been spending their Saturday mornings to volunteer for

chili Family (Chowdary and Angela) and Soni Family (Rajinder and Sandeep) came forward and with their donations, we modiďŹ ed India House facility to create an area which can house the greatly expanded clinic, from 800 to 7500 sq. feet area. This clinic will operate the whole week, including half day Saturday. It will be serviced by full time physicians, nurses, medical assistants and and administrative staff. On 2 days, it will open at 7.00 AM and on 2 other days it will close at 7.00 PM, thus helping those individuals who can come only early morning or late evening. One unique service in this clinic at India House will be Physical Therapy (P.T.) and Occupational Ther-

What’s your reason?

Give us a call and schedule your dental appointment today!

Dr. Rashmi Biyani

India House elevation

A new logo of the Sareen Clinic, Harris Health System displayed on outer wall of the India House center

Proof

We talked to several philanthropists, organizations, foundations, other NGO’s, hospitals, government agencies and elected ofďŹ cials to learn about the process of expanding our clinic. We were very fortunate to receive a grant of half a million dollars from the City

and Government bodies and only with their approval it could happen and the hard work, enthusiasm and determination of. Mr. Masi and his team made it possible. They also guided us very ably throughout the process. Harris Health ofďŹ cers specially Mr. Brian Pitre, Director, Facilities Management and Dr. Ericka Brown were very helpful at every step and our own Board and Executive Committee members, specially Mr. Jugal Malani, Mr. Kul Bhushan Uppal, Mr. Brij Agrawal and Mr. Paul Madan made it possible by supporting it enthusiastically.

281-988-8955

Neighborhood Dentist!

Patel

ning to modify our India House Clinic to provide consultation in different Medical Specialities, as we have several physicians practicing in these areas, who are willing to be volunteers and we cover all specialities. Our additional plans for future expansion are to add an eye clinic with the help of the famous College of Optometry, University of Houston and generous donation from Dr. Dennis Golden.

The ribbon cutting of Sareen Clinic is on Friday, January 24 and all of us are very eagerly and enthusiastically waiting for that day.

Travels

*Call for Specials!

See the Splendo r that is India!

www.starplusdental.com

11102 Highway 6 South # 104, Sugarland, TX 77498

Contact

SUNNY CHOWDHURY Ph: 718-353-8900 Fax: 718-353-8901 Toll Free:

1-877-354-8999 E-mail:

pateltravelinc @yahoo.com

. $699 . . i h l e y/D Bomba re ...... $749 o Bangal ..... $759 i Chenna ... $779 ..

Cochin ..... $759 bad Hydera ..... $769 a Kolkott ka ..... $749 i / Dha . $769 h c a r a K lore .... a g n a M

e!

Fly Saf fort! om Fly in C heap!

Fly C

849 $ . . . . bo . PL m o l o C OHL B #

t

POH CPVSOF ,

H O )P .FM BCJ t

Z F 4ZEO J t "CV %I 1BSJT %VCB -POEPO t

N B E S TUF t "N

* All Fares are based on 1/2 RT Fares. All above given fares are without taxes.

All Fares are valid with certain conditions. Fares subject to change without notice.

SOUTH ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Formula One: Force India Debate on Telangana Bill in unveil new look for 2014 Andhra Pradesh Assembly revolves around Nizam

H

yderabad: (PTI) - A large part of the debate on the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 in the State Assembly today centred around the erstwhile Nizam, ruler of Hyderabad state, with Seemandhra members criticising him and those from Telangana showering praise.

The issue saw a war of words between Telugu Desam, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, Congress and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislators.

Force India finished sixth in the constructors’ championship in 2013 and the British-based team has their sights on bettering that performance this campaign.

P

ARIS, (AFP) - Force India on Wednesday became the first Formula One team to reveal their new car for the 2014 season.

Or at least a partial glimpse, as the team backed by Vijay Mallya released a single photograph of the VJM07 on their official website.

The new car, which will be driven by Mexico’s Sergio Perez, dropped by McLaren after one season, and Nico Hulkenberg, is kitted out in traditional Indian colours of saffron, white and green on a black background.

“I’ve always believed our cars have been the most eyecatching, but adding black as a main colour gives us a fierce new look,” said Mallya.

“The VJM07 looks stunning and the new livery reflects

the way Sahara Force India is evolving,” added the boss of the Kingfisher brewery.

Force India, along with their rival teams (apart from Lotus), will start testing at Spain’s Jerez circuit next week.

Further internet glimpses of 2014 models are expected from McLaren, Ferrari and Sauber over the coming weekend.

Red Bull, Mercedes and Caterham are waiting until the start of testing on Tuesday to roll out their new models.

Force India finished sixth in the constructors’ championship in 2013 and the British-based team have their sights on bettering that performance this campaign.

Mallya told the BBC: “We’ve got to aim higher than last year.

It’s an ambitious goal, but I

believe it’s a realistic one because we have to look forward and take the fight to the teams ahead of us.

“We have the key elements in place to continue moving forward.”

On his team’s new driver pairing Mallya added in his BBC interview: “Nico has been with us before, so we understand him and know how quick he is.

It’s great to have him back.

“As for Sergio, he’s an exceptionally talented driver who I have watched carefully over the last three years. He’s clearly got incredible speed and at just 23 has great potential. As a combination, we thought they would make a strong pairing.”

The 2014 season, which ushers in a sweeping set of rule changes, begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.

TRS floor leader Etela Rajender said Nizam was a great ruler, though there was some oppression during his tenure.

“Nizam built the famous Arts College in Hyderabad and several other institutions. It’s true he also carried out some oppression against people of the region,” Rajender pointed out.

MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said it was only the Nizam who developed Hyderabad and the erstwhile Hyderabad state.

“No one else can claim to have developed Hyderabad,” he said, taking a dig at TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu who had been claiming to have developed Hyderabad into a world-class city during his tenure as Chief Minister between 1995 and 2004.

“We are proud of Nizam and the Nizam’s rule,” Akbaruddin said.

Hyderabad was a well-developed city for centuries and

it welcomed people not only from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema but also all other parts of the country.

“We will continue to welcome people from across the country even after the state is divided,” Akbaruddin said.

Earlier in the day, TDP legislator Payyavula Kesav resumed the debate on the draft Bill and dug out “historic facts” to press a case for a united state.

The minister took strong exception to Kesav’s reference to Sonia Gandhi and blamed the TDP for agreeing to the state’s bifurcation.

Sailajanath also found fault with the TRS for hailing Nizam’s rule.

Intervening, MIM leader Akbaruddin wondered what Nizam had to do with the state’s bifurcation now.

“The Nizam of Hyderabad mortgaged coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts to the British to raise a loan of Rs. 9 lakh. He made all his fortune by fleecing people of Seemandhra,” Kesav pointed out.

He said Nizam was a true secular ruler and a patriot.

The Nizam also unleashed a reign of oppression against the people, particularly in Telangana, who waged a war against the brutality, Kesav recalled.

He also made liberal donations to institutions like Benares Hindu University and many temples, Akbaruddin noted.

“All along, it was a struggle (by Telangana people) against the Nizam and not against Seemandhra as being projected.

But some leaders of Telangana are signing paeans of the Nizam,” Kesav lamented.

This remark drew an angry protest from the TRS members.

Kesav’s another remark, that an “Italian Gandhi” (an oblique reference to Sonia Gandhi) was seeking to split Andhra Pradesh, while the “Indian Gandhi” (a reference to Indira Gandhi) vehemently opposed the bifurcation, led to an angry rebuttal from Legislative Affairs Minister S Sailajanath.

“During India’s war with China in 1962, the Nizam donated two truckloads of gold coins to the Central government.

Akbar’s comments drew sharp reaction from Congress leaders from Seemandhra, after which the MIM members rushed into the Well of the House in protest.

Amidst the din, Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, the House saw an adjournment for halfan-hour as YSR Congress members trooped into the Well demanding voting on the draft Bill.

They staged a walk out after the House re-assembled, after which the debate continued.

Bite mark found on Sunanda Pushkar’s hand: Forensic report

by Supriya Jha

N

ew Delhi: The mystery over Sunanda Pushkar’s death deepened on Wednesday with the latest revelation hinting at a scuffle before her death.

In the latest details emerging out of Sunanda’s forensic report, a deep bite mark was found on her hand. Her upper extremity was dotted with over a dozen of injury marks on hand, an arm, chin, and neck and these were termed as ‘scuffle marks’, sources said.

The autopsy report of Sunanda has attributed her death to poisoning by drug overdose, while ruling out the ‘scuffle marks’ as

minor injuries.

However, the scuffle marks may impact the investigation as the Delhi Police has been directed by the sub-divisional magistrate to probe whether it was a suicide or a murder.

The police meanwhile urged the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to speed up on Sunanda’s viscera report, which might have clues to the mystery.

Reacting on the issue, NCP leader DP Tripathi said that Union Minister Shashi Tharoor must quit till the investigation is over.

Senior Pak cleric distances himself form Taliban peace talks

P

eshawar: A Pakistani cleric, known as the “Father of the Taliban”, today distanced himself from a government-brokered peace talks with the militants, expressing his dismay over air strikes that killed 50 terrorists in the restive North Waziristan tribal agency.

Maulana Samiul Haq, who heads the Difah-ePakistan Council, said he would not carry out the task of preparing ground for the talks with the militant group. In December, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had entrusted Haq of initiating the peace process with the Pakistani Taliban.

Haq said after his first meeting with Sharif, he had started work on his mission purely on humanitarian ground, for the protection to lives of innocent people and integrity of the country.

He claimed that he obtained a “very positive response” from the other side (Pakistani Taliban).

The Taliban has expressed its willingness to hold meaningful dialogues with the government side.

“I conveyed the same to the Prime Minister the same night and started wait-

ing for a mechanism and strategy from the government for holding talks...I was hoping that keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, the Prime Minister would inform me in a day or two but despite frequent approaches there was total silence on the other side,” he alleged.

Yesterday, Pakistani combat jets pounded militant bases in the lawless tribal region, including the home of Taliban commander Adnan Rashid, and killed 50 terrorists in retaliation for a string of attacks on security forces.

Haq described the air strikes as a “national tragedy”.

During such strikes “military personnel were being martyred while on the other side innocent civilian are killed. Military operation is no solution to the problem except table talks which must be given preference”, he said.

“Therefore, in this extremely dangerous situation, I want to detach myself from the talks process.

I had taken the responsibility for the sake of the country and the nation but I find no seriousness on the other side,” Haq said. (PTI).

However, the Congress has rejected any such remark, saying there was no question of resignation.

Congress spokesperson Randip Surjewala, at the AICC briefing, said, “Tharoor is in a responsible ministerial position.

He is also an inseparable part of Congress. There is no question

of his resignation”.

could have taken her life.”

Sunanda’s son from her second marriage, Shiv Menon had yesterday issued a statement, denying any possible role of Shashi Tharoor in his mother’s death.

“Do not believe that Shashi was capable of harming her let alone the speculation that he

“Shashi Tharoor would never physically abuse my mother.

Though there were differences between them they were deeply in love with each other,” he added. Shiv rubbished any foul play in her death attributing it to “an unfortunate combination of me-

dia stress, tensions and a wrong mix of different medications.”

Tharoor’s wife Sunanda was found dead in Hotel Leela Palace on Jan 17, just a couple of days after an open spat on Twitter that threw spotlight on the couple’s personal life and a Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar.

(Courtesy: Zee Media Bureau).

WORLD/US

VOICE OF ASIA 9

US vows stepped up support to oust Assad

British MP deemed ‘stupid’ for Nazi uniform stag party

L

ONDON: (AFP) - A British lawmaker had been “stupid and offensive” in organising a Nazithemed stag party in France, but is not a racist, a Conservative Party internal inquiry found.

MP Aidan Burley was sacked as parliamentary private secretary to Britain’s transport minister after newspapers published pictures of the boozy bash at a posh French ski resort.

The Conservative Party disciplinary investigation concluded two years ago but the verdict was only released after legal proceedings in France concluded Tuesday.

The groom, Mark Fournier, was prosecuted for wearing a Nazi uniform and insignia, which is outlawed in France.

US Secretary of State John Kerry gives a press conference closing the Geneva II peace talks dedicated to the ongoing conflict in Syria, on January 22, 2014, in Montreux (AFP, Fabrice Coffrini) MONTREUX: (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday led a fierce denunciation of the Syrian regime and vowed it would step up support for the opposition as it seeks to topple President Bashar al-Assad. The top US diplomat, John Kerry, set the tone when he stressed before 40 nations and international organisations gathered at a landmark peace conference in Switzerland that Assad could play no part in Syria’s future leadership.

“There is no way ? no way possible in the imagination? that the man who has led the brutal response to his own people could regain the legitimacy to govern,” Kerry insisted.

“One man and those who have supported him can no longer hold an entire nation and a region hostage,” said the US secretary of state, who has led efforts with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to launch the peace talks and end the three-year war.

At a later press conference in the Swiss city of Montreux, Kerry revealed that Washington and Moscow were also planning to work on other tracks to end the fighting which has left 130,000 people dead.

“There will be parallel efforts being made, even while the talks are going on, to find different pressure points and find a solution,” he told reporters from the world’s media, refusing to go into detail.

“I will just say to you that lots of different avenues will be pursued, including continued support, augmented support to the opposition.”

Washington has provided more than $1.3 billion in humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, and has been supplying non-lethal materiel such as body armour, communications equipment and nightvision googles to the armed rebels.

But so far it has refused to directly supply weapons and machinery to the opposition forces -- now fighting against both Assad and a wave of Al Qaeda extremist groups flooding into the chaos.

US military option still on the table It remained unclear from Kerry’s remarks whether the Obama administration was now prepared to review its weapons ban.

And he warned that even though President Barack Obama finally walked away from threatened military strikes against regime targets in September, the US leader “has never taken any option off the table”.

As the Syrian sides are set now to start direct negotiations under the aegis of the UN later in the week, Kerry said: “I can tell you this, what you see in the direct talks between the opposition and the Assad regime will not be the full measure of effort being expended in order to try to find a solution here.”

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem earlier dubbed the country’s opposition “traitors” and foreign “agents”.

He hit back at Kerry’s comments, saying only the Syrian people could decide their president, and offered assurances that progress had been made on allowing aid organisations access to stricken populations.

His comments were immediately dismissed by US officials.

“Instead of laying out a positive vision for the future of Syria that is diverse, inclusive and respectful of the rights of all, the Syrian regime chose inflammatory rhetoric,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

US officials said his claim of progress in humanitarian access was “laughable” and if Muallem was serious the regime should immediately open up safe corridors to aid convoys and lift restrictions for advance

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

A police tribunal in the French

Alps town of Albertville upheld the prosecutor’s demand for a maximum fine of 1,500 euros (USD 2,065).

The controversial party took place on December 3, 2011, in a restaurant in upmarket Val Thorens.

It also ordered Fournier to pay 1,000 euros in damages to the Association of Internal Deportees and Families, a civil complainant.

Fournier was photographed in full SS regalia whilst giving the Nazi salute.

The report by Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative party confirmed that “as best man, Mr Burley purchased the costume alongside the flights and other costs associated with the trip. “Mr Burley argued strongly that the choice of costume was inspired by the British comic association with aspects of the war,” it said. British stag parties, held before a man gets married, are typically jovial, alcohol-soaked nights out, often with the groom-to-be in embarrassing fancy dress.

The disciplinary investigation by Conservative peer Lord David Gold found there was “no political motivation whatsoever”, but said Burley’s “unacceptable and offensive actions” threw his judgement into question and he was right to lose his post. “Mr Burley is not a bad man, still less a racist or anti-Semite,” the report found. “However, his actions were stupid and offensive.”

Burley, who has visited Auschwitz on Gold’s recommendation, will face no further disciplinary action.

notice.

Psaki also used her Twitter account @StateDeptspox to hammer away at the Syrian regime, suggesting the Syrian coalition led by Ahmad Jarba better represented the people. “At #Geneva2 Muallem stays at his del seat. Immovable. SOC has rotated: from Jarba to a Sunni, woman, Druze, Kurd, from all over Syria,” Psaki tweeted.

“Which delegation represents Syrian society better?” she added.

Get latest on South Asia, World and US on our website:

www.voiceofasiaonline.com

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

LIFESTYLE

VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Vol. 27

No. 4 Friday, January 24, 2014

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Cricket:

Happiness is numbers game for Sharjah couple sight at Lord’s and other England grounds as was India’s Abdul Rehman in Calcutta.

Pakistan had a famous scorer Mohammad Riaz, who was also a bus conductor, while Andrew Samson is one of South Africa’s top scorers while Charlie Watts became famous for his books in Australia.

The late Mohammad Ali Jaffri was the most popular scorer in the Gulf region, completing 200 oneday matches in 2009 and it was Jaffri who inpsired Hakim.

“I learned scoring from Jaffri in the early 80s,” said Hakim.

“When one-day cricket was brought to Sharjah in the 1980s I was the deputy to Jaffri in most of the matches.

Hakim Jariwala and his wife Nafisa write down the scores in the third and final Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium in the Gulf emirate of Sharjah on January 16, 2014 (AFP, Ishara S. Kodikara)

by Shahid HASHMI SHARJAH, (AFP) - Hakim and Nafisa Jariwala may have discovered the secret to a happy marriage by scoring cricket matches in Sharjah and Dubai, home from home these days for Pakistan’s international programme.

Hakim has now racked up over 200 matches in Sharjah and Dubai, scoring for the world’s media at the press boxes at the two venues.

The couple, orginally from Mumbai, run their own garment and toy business in the UAE, but their shared passion is cricket and when Pakistan played Sri Lanka in a one-day match recently, it marked Hakim’s 225th game as a scorer.

He has since officiated at two more matches, concluding with the ongoing third and final Test between the two Asian nations.

As the game evolved with coloured clothing and white balls, scoring has been made easier through computers.

“We enjoy scoring together,” 52year-old Hakim told AFP.

In 1993, the cricinfo.com website was launched and over a period of 20 years has revolutionsed every aspect of scoring and statistics.

“It is our passion and a common interest and supplementing each other in scoring strengthens our love bond as well.”

Scoring, like umpiring, is an essential part of a cricket match and is as old as the game itself.

The scorers keep an account of the whole match, the runs scored, the balls bowled, wides, no-balls and the dismissals and then preserve the score sheets with the organisers.

But despite the march of technology, scoring books are still filled manually, using coloured pens for different entries in batting and bowling.

England’s Bill Frindall led the way for all the scorers, having a significant contribution in a career spanning over 30 years and 377 Test matches.

Wendy Wimbush was a common

1 order 6+ people - FREE s)* pc (6 Cheese Puff

pring EE 2 orders S 8+ people FR ff. * er Cheese Pu Roll and 1 ord

r dinner FREE Ice Cream fo (dine in only)

Party Room available

281-531-1122

owls DOUBLE Veggie B for vegetarian. items for dinner only! *Free

2150 HWY 6 S. Ste. 200, Houston, Texas 77077

WE HAVE HALAL MEAT

ASIANET

A-One Dish International

IS NOW EXCLUSIVE TO

281-493-1888

DISH

Sign up and

get $50 off! * Referal bonus * Other Restrictions Apply! Call store for details.

www.aonedishnetwork.com 10148 Hwy 6, South Sugar Land, TX 77498

“This could be two world records -- 225 one-dayers (at December 22) and a unique wife and husband combination as scorers.”

Compared to her husband, Nafisa is a newcomer who made her debut in Sharjah in the December 22 one-dayer.

“I have been scoring but made my entry at international level last week,” said the veil-clad Nafisa.

She claims they never fight, not even over her favourite player -Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi.

“I like Afridi as a player and Hakim doesn’t but even that never becomes an issue between us,” she says.

Life has been busy for the couple, but they always take time out for scoring in cricket matches.

“Just like cricket players do, I will carry on as long as I am fit,” said Hakim.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Integrated ricefish cultivation for East India

by P.S. Brahmanand & B.C. Ghosh

R

ice is the major staple food crop of India which is being cultivated in about 41 million hectares.

However, its productivity is poor in India when compared to several other nations like South Korea, China etc.

The scenario is more alarming in Eastern India where farmers end up with very low productivity of rice.

At the same time, the ecological situation of rice fields in Eastern India facilitates the inclusion of fish component especially in saucer shaped lands, lowlands and waterlogged ecosystems.

Huge potential There exists a huge potential for integrated rice-fish farming which can generate additional net returns to the farmers along with higher crop and water productivity.

Though there is a scope for implementing integrated rice-fish farming in about 23 million hectares, the existing area under this farming system is below 1 million hectares.

There is a need to analyse the reasons for low adoption of this technology and to formulate the management strategies. Integrated ricefish farming results in mutual benefit to both rice and fish.

Rice is benefited in the form

of additional nutrients which come from fish excreta.

In addition, the aquatic weeds of rice also get reduced due to fish presence.

In turn, fish gets benefit in the form of favourable micro climate due to presence of rice plants. However, rice requires a majority of nutrients in the form of inorganic fertilizers whereas fish needs nutrients in the form of organic form.

Optimum nutrient Hence, the optimum nutrient schedule of inorganic and organic components is required for obtaining maximum yield of rice and fish.

Such fertilizer combinations also help in maintaining a healthy soil and aquatic environment.

Field experiments conducted at Central research farm of Directorate of Water Management (ICAR), Bhubaneswar revealed that the average rice equivalent yield in rice-fish farming system was estimated as 6.57 tonnes per hectare. It can be concluded y that the productivity and income could be augmented by introducing fish in rice field.

(P.S. Brahmanand, Directorate of Water Management (ICAR), Bhubaneswar, email: psbanand@yahoo. com, phone: 09776207101 and B.C. Ghosh, Professor, Department of Agriculture and Food Engineering, Kharagpur, West Bengal, phone: 09434300242.)

VOICE OF ASIA 12

Friday, January 24, 2014

Young Life Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Youth attained life solutions from CHR Solutions

Tel: 713-774-5140

Adults, Teens Find Lasting Sobriety through Unique Program at Memorial Hermann Prevention & Recovery Center

by Prasant Kalidindi, YLDP Team Leader

H

OUSTON - On the 11th of January, shortly after the turn of the new year, my peers and I moseyed into the office of James Taylor and Arun Pasrija in their corporate venture, namely CHR Solutions.

PaRC partners with agencies to provide continuity of care unavailable elsewhere.

HOUSTON (Jan. 21, 2014) Memorial Hermann Prevention & Recovery Center (PaRC) is one of the few hospitals in the United States to partner with key community agencies to offer a transitional, substance abuse rehabilitation program tailored specifically for teens and young adults.

Firstly, the shear eloquence with which the speakers conveyed represented the ultimate goal of fundamental leadership in which my peers are trying to achieve through the guidance of the YLDP program. Because of the ideal leadership skills these speakers portrayed, automatically, they distinguished themselves as role models for each and every one of us.

In the session, my peers and I were given a cathartic conversational lecture by James Tay-

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

“A teenager who enters treatment at PaRC and then progresses through an alternative peer group, a sober high school, and a college support program potentially has eight years of direct sober support,” said Stacie Allphin, PaRC Adolescent Services director. “The success rate for these individuals is close to 90 percent; a huge difference from those who do not use the full continuum of care.”

Arun Pasrija and James Taylor of CHR Solutions

Incorporating the newest medical approaches along with proven treatment models and methodologies, PaRC is Houston’s premier drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for adults and teens. PaRC offers awardwinning experience and deep expertise towards alcohol and drug treatment. Services include detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, family services, aftercare, 12-step meetings, and an alumni association.

YLDP Students visit the office of CHR Solutions lor and Arun Pasrija over their individual experiences in getting to where they are now and what they plan to do in the future. After this vivid depiction of two men that “started from the bottom and now they’re here” (Aubrey Drake Graham), we were given an opportunity to tour the rest of the office and the rooms which give life to

the company. This tour showed us the complexity of the electronics and technology that function in their business; this complexity also symbolized the shear convolution that running a business in today’s industries presents. Because of these challenges today’s corporate world presents, each newcomer has to profitably distinguish him or

herself to make a living while being surrounded by a plethora of capable professionals.

James Taylor and Arun Pasrija successfully did this by portraying themselves as “authentic leaders” and truly following their passions despite much adversity seen in the fact that they attempted to start 4 different businesses before set-

tling down with their successful “CHR Solutions”. This experience not only informed me of what has to be done to be an “authentic leader” and come up in society but also dealt a necessary epiphany, or change in thinking that one must be ethical, take the right life path, and attain a locked in vision and stick by it.

“With PaRC as the foundation, the substance abuse treatment, care, and support proStephanie Lo. “Many educators have told us that being able to share ideas in a public forum is becoming an important 21st-century skill.”

Club members are encouraged to create their own TED-

grams available for teens and young adults in Houston are amazing and unlike what other cities have to offer,” said Allphin.

Treatment at PaRC is built on a foundation of program elements that address the needs of individual patients. Extensive education and counseling sessions help patients identify what drives their addiction and teaches them new habits that encourage sobriety and success in recovery.

To strengthen the continuum of care, PaRC emphasizes family involvement, positive peer connections, and on-going daily education and support. Patients leave PaRC and transition into alternative peer groups, sober high schools, and collegiate support groups offered by community partners such as Teen and Family Services, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Lifeway International, Archway Academy, Three Oaks Academy, and University of Houston Cougars in Recovery.

“Starting treatment and getting sober is just the beginning,” said Barbara Dwyer, founder of Cougars in Recovery at University of Houston. “My son went through Archway Academy, but relapsed in college. It’s important for young people in recovery to connect with Houston’s on-going sober-support networks.” style talks to be videotaped.

The chosen best are spotlighted at the TED-Ed website.

A growing TED-Ed video library features educational videos, many of them collaborations between teachers and animators.

Kids coached to pitch world-changing ideas

S

AN FRANCISCO, (AFP) - A program launched globally on Tuesday set out to inspire children to present their big ideas for changing the world.

TED-Ed Clubs is the latest education initiative from the nonprofit organization behind prestigious TED conferences known for for perspectiveshifting presentations by the brilliant and famous.

TED-Ed Clubs was piloted in more than 100 schools in 20 countries before being rolled out with the aim of promoting “presentation literacy” in students.

“In today’s world, a person’s ability to effectively and creatively communicate their ideas can be the difference between endless opportunities opened, and endless opportunities missed,” said TED-Ed di-

rector Logan Smalley.

“Right now, there are countless young minds forming the ideas that will define our future.”

School clubs formed by signing up at ed.ted.com are given frameworks and resources for students to learn how to give the kinds of concise, insightful and passionate presentations for which TED gatherings are

Obama lunches with young people, talks health care

famous.

The end goal is for members to deliver their own short, TED-style talks.

TED-Ed began its club pilot program in mid-2013.

“It’s exciting to hear that students who seemed hesitant to share or present in their classrooms have been interested in joining this program,” said TED-Ed programs director

Children play in their classroom on October 1, 2013 in San Diego, California (Getty/AFP/File, Robert Benson).

Youngest Astrologer of North America Astrologer, Vaastu & Gem Stone Consultant

The president dined with five young people who are trying to persuade others to enroll in health care market places.

“HARDIK VYAS” Astrologer Hardik Vyas, a famous young face in Vedic Astrology from India is available in Houston. Call for guidance on Health, Wealth, Education, Career, Business, Property, Love & Passion, Marriage & Compatibility, HoroscopeMaking, Child Problem, Luck & Fortune, Peace & Prosperity, Karma & Economical Sources.

Vaastushastra, the ancient science of land.

Fix and appointment for personal visit to your home, plot, business/office, shop, factory, and hotel. To gain peace of mind and prosperity, by doing little changes as per Vaastu Shastra. Simple, Easy, Scientific & Affordable solutions/remedies to overcome problems in your Horoscope and Vaastu.

6

5 7

President Obama went out Friday for a lunch that doubled as a photo opportunity for his new health care law. (Photo: JIM WATSON, AFP/Getty Images)

by David Jackson, “The President is having lunch with five young people at The Coupe restaurant in the Columbia Heights section of Washington, DC, who are spearheading creative outreach efforts to connect with and help enroll young consumers through the Marketplaces or are interested in getting more

involved with these efforts.

“The President wanted to hear directly from young people about their experiences spreading the word about the importance of signing up for quality, affordable health insurance and thank them for their efforts.

“Two of the individuals at today’s lunch also participated at the Youth Summit the White House hosted in early December that was designed to help mobilize young leaders and influencers interested in doing health care outreach and enrollment efforts in their communities.”

(Source:USA TODAY)

Shani

8

9R

4 Mn, Gu

3K 2 1

Su, Bu

10 Mang

12V Kindly Note: Astrology & VaastuShastra are 11

Science of Nature, not related with any religion, caste, or community. It is an Occult Science and gift of nature for the welfare of people to get proper advice.

We Speak in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi languages.

Listen to me live on Sound Asia 10.50AM Radio

E-mail: askfuture@hotmail.com • Ph: 832-298-9950

www.toaskfuture.com

BOLLYWOOD MASALA

VOICE OF ASIA 13

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Friday, January 24, 2014

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Hrithik Roshan on separa- Why Suchitra Sen became tion from Sussanne: One a recluse and other stories day I may have answers

`Suchitra Sen remains an enigma even now.

by Monideepa Banerjie

Hrithik Roshan

by Puja Talwar A month since the announcement of his separation from wife Sussanne Khan, Hrithik Roshan was in the mood to bare his soul, as he unveiled his new brand HRX on a Google Plus Hangout in Mumbai.

So how was the actor feeling?

“I am good,” came the answer.

Well, maybe not on top of the world but getting there, as he delved into the philosophy of his brand HRX, saying the X factor was the lengths to which he could go to empower himself and people around him.

The actor said that a lot had happened in his life lately - injuries, emotional upheaval.

“I take full responsibility about whatever is happening in my life, instead of blaming people and circumstances.

I have had to realize it’s about

me. Yes, there are times when the possibility of a good future seems impossible, but I realize one has to get I with it!

Empower yourself. Coax your mind into believing you can!

Give it your best shot. Today my weakness has become my biggest strength. When I connect the dots, it all makes sense.

No one gives a shit about what’s happening in your life. You have to overcome the challenges of the past what if something monstrous lies ahead I have to keep moving forward and that’s what my brand is about, living the best life you can. You owe it to yourself,” Hrithik said.

When asked about how the past year’s injuries and his divorce happened together and how he was holding up, Hrithik’s response was from the heart.

“What can I say, what can I do? When it happens to someone you can give advice, when

it happens to you, you got to face it. Someday, I will have answers. At the moment, there are just questions. I have lost sense of objectivity. But the worst you can do is blame yourself with the dreaded ‘why me?’ Never do that. Face the challenge,” was the actor’s response.

Saying he had a fabulous birthday with his sons on a yacht, the man who the Khans also fear as competition said, “I love competition. Yes, there are times when I don’t want to surface from bed but I tell the Almighty ‘Ok, bring it on. What do you want me to face today, what challenge is coming my way?’”

With his back on the mend, the actor said he was looking forward to the tough action scenes in Bang Bang and in life as well too.

Well, all we can say to this superhero is may the force be with you.

Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar remember Akkineni Nageshwara Rao

R

emembering him as a “wonderful human being”, megastar Amitabh Bachchan and melody queen Lata Mangeshkar on Wednesday mourned the death of Telugu movie icon Akkineni Nageshwara Rao. The 91-year-old actor, popularly known as ANR in the south film industry, passed away today morning after losing his battle with cancer.

“Another great iconic legend of cinema passes away this morning: Nageshwar Rao, of Telugu cinema, a most affable considerate human! Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, legend of Telugu cinema, formed the incredible duo with another legend NTR, leaves behind incredible legacy,” Bach-

S

uchitra Sen, the Greta Garbo of Bengal, became a recluse in 1978.

But if there is one journalist that she kept in touch with throughout her life, it is Gopal Krishna Roy, who used to work with the news agency UNI. Gopal Roy has written four books in Bengali on Suchitra Sen. But even he has only a clue about why she became a recluse. She never gave him a direct answer.

However, in 1978, Roy recalls that Suchitra Sen had starred in a film called Pranaye Pasha which flopped. She was deeply upset about it and went to Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ram Krishna Mission just outside in Kolkata. There she met Bharat Maharaj, one of the holy men there, and talked to him for a long time.

“I later heard she sat at his feet and wept and wept,” says Roy. “And Bharat Maharaj told her, ‘Ma, ghridho, lobh koro na, don’t be greedy. And that, I think, Mrs Sen translated into her own life by becoming a recluse.”

They headed home. Then, Roy recalls, “Mrs Sen took young Moon Moon on her lap and said, ‘Gopal do you know what the doctor told me? The doctor told me I am still...and then she paused. So I said anxiously, what? What? Mrs Sen laughed and said...the doctor said I am still a virgin.”

“She was very humorous,” says Roy, “but there is no humour left today.”

Two other little stories that Roy recalls that must be shared.

Once when Vasant Sathe was information minister, there was a huge controversy about whether kissing should be allowed on screen. So Roy decided to write an article on it. He sent to a 10point questionnaire to Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Soumitra Chatterjee and Suchitra Sen and several other luminaries. Most replied almost immediately but not Mrs Sen. When he insisted, she told him to come over to her house. He went.

“Mrs Sen smiled and said the truth is chumban ato shohojay dewa jaye na - it is not easy to

kiss anyone,” Roy recalls. And she did not want to be quoted.

So he told her, fine, he would leave her out of his story. He kept his word, except to add at the end, “Mrs Sen declined to comment.” The story was carried in all major dailies and Mrs Sen saw it and called Roy. “She said, ‘you had said you would leave me out of your story.’ I said I had. ‘But you have used my name in your last line’, she said. I thought she was upset but then she said, ‘ok, lets call a truce. Come and have tea with me one day’.”

Finally, many people thought Suchitra Sen was haughty and reserved. But not according to Gopal Roy who recounts that one evening during her walk on Ballygunge Circular road she was approached by a gentleman who asked for her autograph.

He didn’t have a pen or paper. “So Mrs. Sen suddenly bent down and picked up an empty cigarette packet from the road, tore it open and on its clean side, she gave her autograph,” recalls Roy.

But the Greta Garbo of Bengal had another side to her character, recalls Roy. “She was so humorous,” he remembers, and relates a series of stories about her.

chan, 71, tweeted.

84-year-old Mangeshkar remembered meeting Nageshwara Rao during an award show four years ago.

“The great Telegu artist Akkineni Nageshwara Rao today left for the heavenly abode and I am deeply saddened. He was not just a great artist but a wonderful human being. I had the opportunity to meet him four years Akkineni Nageshwara Rao. ago... I had received Actress Sridevi also paid triban award from him. May god ute to the actor, saying his passbless his soul and I pray for his ing away marked the end of an family,” Mangeshkar tweeted. era in Telugu cinema.

Proof

Once, Mrs Sen told Roy she wanted to see a doctor, an urologist. So Roy sent one of Kolkata’s best known urologists to her house. After he had seen her and left, Mrs Sen told Roy, “ Well, your doctor held my hand for 10 minutes at least !” Roy replied, “He must have been checking your pulse. But Mrs Sen burst out laughing and said, “Even I know how to see a pulse. He was not just checking my pulse.”

Another time, Suchitra Sen went with Roy to see a gynaecologist at the doctor’s chamber. She had covered her head but other patients there started recognizing her. So Roy went to the doctor and asked her to see Mrs Sen as quickly as possible. The doctor obliged.

First Colony Primary Care www.FirstColonyPrimaryCare.com

Dr.Chittaluru

We accept most insurance plans

(281) 494-3460

Mon - Sat

1111 Highway 6 South, Suite 130 (Imperial Medical Ctr) Sugar Land, Texas 77478

Sudha Chittaluru M.D Internal Medicine - Board Certified

Gourmet India

www.gourmetindiahouston.com

Every Saturday & Sunday Chaat Corner & Pav Bhaji with Lunch Buffet

281-493-5435 13155 Westheimer @ Synott, Houston, TX 77077

Reserve for Parties or Business Conference!

• 120 Dine-in Capacity. • Full Bar. • Full Line 21 Dishes Buffet - Daily new dishes.

• 10 People Wine Cellar Room Available.

• Weekend Chaat Corner (Sat & Sun) • Indo-Chinese Selection Available.

• Catering for all occasions.

• More varieties daily - Non-veg, Veg & Dessert • Fresh, Authentic taste.

Enjoy New Varieties 21 Dishes DAILY!

dine-in discount

Gourmet India

WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

• Annual Physicals • Well-woman exams Dr. Sudha • Hypertension and High Cholesterol Speaks • Diabetes and Thyroid Management English, • Arthritis and Osteoporosis Hindi and • Seasonal Allergies, common cold and flu Telugu • Obesity and other adult illnesses Open

15% Off Lunch & Dinner

For Catering call: Mintu Khan: 713-498-9719 Haque: 832-877-2810

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 14

Friday, January 24, 2014

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Cigarettes more dangerous than ever: US health report

by Kerry SHERIDAN

W

ASHINGTON, (AFP) - Smoking cigarettes can cause even more health problems than previously known, including liver and colon cancer, blindness, diabetes and erectile dysfunction, said a major US government report on Friday.

Top health officials gathered at the White House to announce the latest Surgeon General’s findings on smoking, five decades after the first landmark report of its kind alerted the public that cigarettes caused lung cancer.

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States, killing nearly half a million Americans a year.

“Amazingly, 50 years in we are still finding out new ways that tobacco maims and kills people,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Thomas Frieden.

“Tobacco is even worse than we knew it was.”

Active smoking is now known to be a cause of 13 different cancers, as well as diabetes and age-related macular degeneration, said the report.

in the United States have died from smoking-related diseases and illnesses caused by secondhand smoke.

“Enough is enough,” said Acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, warning that modern cigarettes are more potent and more dangerous than ever.

“Smokers today have a greater risk of developing lung cancer than they did when the first Surgeon General’s report was released in 1964, even though they smoke fewer cigarettes,” said Lushniak.

“How cigarettes are made and the chemicals they contain have changed over the years, and some of those changes may be a factor in higher lung cancer risks.”

The smoking rate is way down in the United States.

Eighteen percent of people here now smoke, compared to 42 percent five decades ago.

But if the rate does not drop further, one in 13 children alive today will be felled by a disease linked to smoking, the report added.

“We have made a lot of progress,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Smoking can also cause tuberculosis, erectile dysfunction, facial clefts in babies, ectopic pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, impaired immune function, and worsens the outlook for cancer patients and survivors.

“But we are still a country very much addicted to tobacco.”

Those who do not smoke but are exposed to second-hand smoke face an increased risk of stroke, said the report.

It blamed the ongoing smoking epidemic on the “aggressive strategies of the tobacco industry, which has deliberately misled the public on the risks of smoking cigarettes.”

Since the first report in 1964, more than 20 million people

The cost of smoking in America is more than $289 billion a year in direct medical care and other economic losses, the report said.

Friday’s report was the 32nd issued by the surgeon general, who serves as the United States’ top spokesman on public health issues.

Previous surgeon generals’ reports have found that nicotine is addictive, that smoking impacts nearly every organ of the body, and that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

US research released last week showed that despite a cut in the smoking rate globally, the number of smokers in the world has climbed from 721 million in 1980 to 967 million in 2012 due to population growth and the gaining popularity of cigarettes in the developing world.

“Across the world, tobacco kills six million of our fellow human beings every year,” said Sebelius.

“Those are more than just numbers. They are our parents, our colleagues, our friends, our neighbors, our global partners and our children.”

The report noted that new kinds of smoking are on the rise among youths, including flavored tiny cigars and battery-powered e-cigarettes that deliver nicotine without carbon monoxide or tar.

Cigarillos and e-cigarettes are not regulated as strictly as tobacco.

The report called for experts to monitor new tobacco products, but said there is not enough data to conclude that nicotine alone causes or contributes to cancer in humans.

Nicotine has, however, been shown to pose dangers for pregnant mothers and can harm a developing fetus.

Challenge rises to Pakistan’s breast cancer taboos

Obama speaks out on marijuana.

Why now?

O

bama calls marijuana a ‘bad habit and a vice,’ but no more dangerous than alcohol. With Americans increasingly favoring legalization, he could be positioning his party to reap political rewards.

President Obama spoke out on marijuana in an interview with the New Yorker released Sunday. He told David Remnick, the magazine’s editor, that pot is not any more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco in terms of its impact on individuals.

“As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life,” Mr. Obama said.

The president added that he was concerned that minorities and lower-income Americans are disproportionately likely to be arrested for marijuana offenses.

“Middle-class kids don’t get locked up for smoking pot, and poor kids do,” he said.

Obama said it was important for state experiments to go forward in Colorado and Washington on the legalization of recreational marijuana use. But he urged a cautious approach to such state-by-state change, and said that legal pot won’t solve many social issues and could present some difficult slipperyslope arguments, “If marijuana is fully legalized and at some point folks say, ‘Well, we can come up with a negotiated dose of cocaine that we can show is not any more harmful than vodka,’ are we open to that?” said Obama.

I

They had to use the euphemism “cancer of women” to discuss a disease often shrouded in social stigma in this majority Muslim nation.

One in nine women in Pakistan will face breast cancer during their life, with the country itself having the highest rate of the disease across Asia, according to the breast cancer awareness group PinkRibbon, oncologists and other aid groups.

Yet discussing it remains taboo in a conservative, Islamic culture where the word breast is associated with sexuality instead of health and many view it as immoral for women to go to the hospital for screenings or discuss it even within their family.

Now, women like breast cancer survivor and prominent Pakistani politician Fehmida Mirza and groups are trying to draw attention to the disease and break the silence surrounding it.

“There’s nothing to be shy about it,” Mirza told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “No woman, no woman should die of ignorance and negligence.”

No national database tracks breast cancer statistics but people who combat the disease say it kills nearly 40,000 women every year in Pakistan. That’s about the same number as in the U.S., though Pakistan only has 180 million residents to the U.S.’ 313 million.

With a health care system in shambles and more young women getting the disease, breast cancer rates only are expected to get worse. World Health Organization official Shahzad Aalam in Pakistan said it was difficult to determine the exact magnitude, but that the disease is rampant.

“It is the leading cancer killer among women,” Aalam said.

Among Pakistani women there is very little knowledge about the disease. A study done at Rawalpindi General Hospital about breast cancer awareness among 600 women found nearly 70 percent totally ignorant of the disease, while 88 percent did not know about breast selfexams and 68 percent did not understand the significance of

finding a lump in the breast.

“If women are being diagnosed with breast cancer, they don’t even share the news with their family members,” said Omar Aftab, who heads PinkRibbon in Pakistan, which put on the university presentation where organizers couldn’t even say “breast.”

“So, we’re trying to break these taboos,” he said.

Those cultural taboos have been one of the biggest issues preventing women from seeking treatment or even knowing about the disease. During an awareness event in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, female students attending a breast cancer lecture demanded the men leave.

“It will take very long for us to discuss these issues openly,” said one female student who requested anonymity because she feared her family wouldn’t like her speaking about the issue.

Another challenge is Pakistan’s abysmal health care sector that is starved for money, the latest technology and drugs.

Oncologist Saira Hasan at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad said most major hospitals lack a screening center or mammogram facility. Many patients

Sudhir Mathuria

Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com

And as a parent the president said he’s warned Sasha and Malia about the dangers of the drug.

“I’ve told my daughters I think it’s a bad idea, a waste of time,” said Obama.

Women in the developing world, like Pakistan, tend to die at greater rates than in more developed countries because the disease is generally detected later and health care options aren’t as good.

Students walk past a banner promoting awareness of breast cancer at a university in Islamabad, Pakistan . (AP Photo).

Tel: 713-774-5140

Are You Covered?

Do Not Miss Out On Obama Healthcare Insurance Enrollment.

For More Information or Prompt Enrollment Call Health Life 360 @ 713-771-2900

by Peter Grier (Christian Science Monitor)

first go to a traditional healer and by the time they visit a reputable doctor, the disease is often too far advanced to treat, Hasan said.

SLAMABAD (AP) — In Pakistan, a country where breast cancer kills more women than terrorist attacks, an awareness group couldn’t even say the word “breast” while talking at a university about mammograms and how to check for lumps.

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Hasan said several factors have contributed to the rise in the disease — above all the cultural taboos. Breast cancer survivor Sameera Raja, who owns an art gallery in southern Karachi and supports women facing breast cancer, says that it has to be changed.

“You’re surprised to hear how women actually sit on things,” Raja said. Recalling how a woman would feel too embarrassed to talk about it even with her husband, she said: “Don’t hide behind closed doors.”

Unlike in the U.S. where celebrities like singer Sheryl Crow or actress Christina Applegate have freely discussed

their fight with breast cancer, few such public figures have come forward in Pakistan.

That’s changed with Mirza, though she had to delay her treatment for three months after she was diagnosed in March 2012 to handle her work, which included how to rule on whether a criminal conviction against the serving prime minister should disqualify him from politics.

“There was lot of pressure on me, work pressure,” she said.

“Everybody (would) say it’s an excuse I’m using to run away.”

Mirza described her friends and family being shocked by the diagnosis, as the cancer is considered by many as a death sentence. But during her diagnosis and treatment, she attended international conferences, ruled on the then-prime minister’s case and later ran for re-election and won while undergoing chemotherapy.

She now uses her position in parliament to advocate for women’s health issues. She plans to propose a bill making it mandatory for women to

have breast cancer screenings and mammograms yearly, as well as to teach girls in schools to do breast exams themselves.

She also pushed the health ministry to explain why there is no national database on breast cancer deaths.

“I think the role models will have to come forward,” Mirza said. “That is one reason I had to.”

Associated Press writers Adil Jawad in Karachi, Pakistan, and Zaheer Babar in Lahore, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Read more health stories on our website: www. voiceofasiaonline .com

JNNJHSBUJPO t rnlawgroup.com H-1B, TN, L, E, Visas, PERM Labor, EB-2, I-140, Green Card, Appeals, F-1, OPT

Reddy & Neumann, P.C.

Since 1997 our team of attorneys has served countless clients by making complex immigration simple. Email us: info@rnlawgroup.com

713-953-7787

Houston Office: 11000 Richmond Ave., Ste: 300, Houston, TX 77042

Free Initial Consultation 214-281-8900

Dallas Office: 15950 N.Dallas Pkwy, Ste: 400, Dallas, TX 75248

VOICE OF ASIA 15

TECH & SCIENCE

Planting an antenna on network TV’s turf

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Encrypted Blackphone goes to war with snoopers

Leslie Kaufman, The New York Times

W

hen the case of American Broadcasting Cos. v. Aereo comes before the Supreme Court in April, it will feature two American archetypes in a battle that could upend the television industry.

In one corner will be broadcast networks like ABC, NBC and CBS, powerful companies that have been fixtures in American living rooms for decades, and the conduit for collective national experiences like presidential elections, walks on the moon and the Super Bowl.

In the other corner is Chet Kanojia, a 43-year old immigrant from India, who as an outsider saw a system that most took for granted and who knew he could build a better mousetrap, or at least a different one.

Aereo, Kanojia’s 2-year-old company, has figured out how to grab over-the-air television signals and stream them to subscribers on the Internet. It is an invention that could topple titans.

The titans know it. Intent on maintaining a system that provides billions in revenue annually, the networks have been fighting Aereo in court almost since its inception, claiming the service was stealing their content. This month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.

Its decision will have farreaching implications for a television industry already in upheaval, facing challenges from online streaming, Internet-enabled TVs, ad-skipping devices and, now, the tiny antennas that Aereo uses to capture broadcast signals.

The man at the centre of this movement is Kanojia, a selfdescribed “back bencher” in his youth, who spent too much time smoking and drinking and too little time studying in his hometown Bhopal. Now he has transformed himself into a longdistance runner and workaholic pursuing what he describes as a simple ambition: improving the world through technology.

He says he is positive the Supreme Court will rule in his favor.

“I can’t imagine they won’t be on the side of innovation,” he says, “cloud-based innovation in particular because it is so consumer-friendly.”

Kanojia does not fit the profile of a poor immigrant bootstrapper. He grew up in an upper-middle-class household in Bhopal where his parents were so conscious of his future that they largely spoke English instead of the native Urdu. After earning an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering in India, he came to the United States and earned a master’s in computer systems engineering from Northeastern University.

He counts among his favourite music Fleetwood Mac and “angsty indie pop from the 1980s” like the Cure, and has integrated so seamlessly into life here that his American-born wife jokes “you were never Indian.”

Yet he says that when it comes to embracing American values

Chet Kanojia, chief executive of Aereo, holds a tiny antenna designed to grab over-the-air television signals, at the company’s office in New York. like freedom of expression, he is perhaps “way more American than most Americans.”

His aspirations are idealistic and democratic, as well. Aereo, he says, is not so much about making money - after all he made plenty after he sold his first company, Navic Systems, which made software that helped cable companies interact with their customers, to Microsoft in 2008 for a reported $250 million.

“This is the first battle ground for the next 50 years of how copyright is going to extend or apply to the Internet and the cloud,” he said in a recent interview at Aereo’s cramped headquarters in New York.

The implication for consumers and for control of content has companies across Silicon Valley lining up to file amicus briefs for his side, he said.

Content companies have a decidedly different perspective, of course. For a monthly subscription that starts at $8, Aereo allows subscribers to watch or record broadcast television through the Internet on any device, small or large, no wires or cable boxes required.

It does this by assigning each consumer a remote antenna and a DVR. To entertainment companies, this is cheating. Copyright law lets individuals watch anything they pick up by antennas as long as it is for their private use, but the broadcasters say Aereo’s transmissions constitute a “public performance” that requires Aereo to pay for retransmitting them. Aereo, they claim, is violating copyright and stealing their content.

The networks’ concern goes beyond Aereo. If the streaming service wins in court, networks fear that the cable and satellite companies that currently pay them huge retransmission fees might follow Aereo’s lead, a situation broadcasters say would destroy their bottom line.

Kanojia says that threat is overblown. He says he thinks long-established retransmission fees will not disappear any time soon. After all, some 57 million Americans still get television by antennas, and that has not hurt the networks’ contracts with cable companies.

The big content providers will do just fine in the new world, he says; the casualties will be the hundreds of channels that are barely watched but which consumers still have to pay for in their bundle.

“When was the last time anyone watched VH1 Classic?”

Kanojia asked. “I can’t even watch them on JetBlue. Yet they get paid a fee every month.”

Kanojia does have a competitive side, which comes out when he discusses the initial idea for Aereo. His years at Navic revealed to him that cable companies were cutting to the bone budgets for technology research and development.

It left “a flank wide open,” he said.

He started Aereo with the help of some powerful backers, including the media mogul Barry Diller.

It is completely in character, his friends say, for Kanojia to play down his hand. Ask, for instance, about the Union Carbide chemical leak in 1984 that killed thousands in Bhopal, and he will casually mention that he was lucky to have lived upwind.

Press harder and it emerges that as a teenager living in the spill’s aftermath, he was responsible for changing oxygen tanks for the dying and would routinely discover dead bodies.

But if it left a dark impression, it does not show. Resilience is a trademark, friends say, as is willpower.

His wife and two children have remained at their home in Newton, Mass. He returns there on weekends to watch hockey games and supervise the engineering aspects of the company, which are still based there. But while in New York for the week, Kanojia sleeps only about four hours a night and rises at dawn to run along the West Side Highway to keep his weight down.

His friends are amused to hear how Kanojia refers to his lackadaisical youth.

“No one who has achieved as much as he has is a slacker,” said Shana Fisher, whose firm High Line Venture Partners was an early investor in Aereo. “He is tremendously understated.

That’s his comfort zone.”

They point to the turnaround in his lifestyle and commitment to work, especially Aereo, which he is attacking as if he were not already a millionaire from the first go around.

“He only sleeps two to four hours a night because he feels what’s happening so deeply,” Fisher said. “And he doesn’t ever release that. That is what it takes to build a company, and he has it.”

Google making sugar-sensing contact lens for diabetics

S

AN FRANCISCO, January 17, 2014 (AFP) The Google lab known for working on unusual projects like self-driving cars is crafting a contact lens that could help diabetics manage blood sugar levels.

They said prototypes have

by Rob Lever

W

ASHINGTON, January 19, 2014 (AFP) - It’s a fully encrypted smartphone which aims to foil snooping governments, industry rivals and hackers.

undergone clinical tests and talks were underway with the US Food and Drug Administration. The project was described

as being in its early days, and partners were being sought to make the lenses marketplace reality.

Silent Circle customers include major global corporations, human rights activists and even the Tibetan government in exile.

Because of its work, he said, “almost all of the major smartphone manufacturers came to us” to collaborate on a more secure smartphone.

The Blackphone is set to be released next month by the secure communications firm Silent Circle and the small Spanish-based manufacturer Geeksphone, amid a fever pitch of concern over revelations about vast US surveillance of data and telephony.

Janke said Silent Circle chose to form a joint venture for Blackphone with the small Spanish company which recently began making smartphones using the Firefox operating system.

But Silent Circle chief executive Mike Janke said his company was working on the handset even before last year’s revelations about the wide-ranging US National Security Agency programs, leaked by former contractor Edward Snowden.

“We did this because there was a problem that was not being solved: secure communications,” Janke told AFP in an interview in the Silent Circle offices overlooking the Potomac River just outside Washington.

Silent Circle was formed in 2011 and in 2013 launched apps and other services which allow smartphone and PC users to send encrypted messages and videos.

The Blackphone is an extension of that effort, says Janke, a former Navy SEAL who cofounded the firm with other exSEALs and Silicon Valley cryptographic experts.

“We offer completely encrypted, peer-to-peer communications. We have encrypted video, encrypted text and secure VoIP (Voice-over-Internet-Protocol) calls,” Janke said.

The founders include Phil Zimmermann, who created the widely used PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) standard, and former Apple cryptographic expert Jon Callas.

Last year, Silent Circle halted its encrypted email service to avoid becoming a target after the US government subpoenaed the records of a similar service called Lavabit.

“We destroyed all that data,”

“We wondered if miniaturized electronics -- think chips and sensors so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair -- might be the way to crack the mystery of tear glucose and measure it with greater accuracy.”

Prototype lenses being tested at Google X can generate glucose readings about once a second.

said Janke, while adding that the company never faced a subpoena.

It’s also a sleek, attractive device that fits in your pocket and can impress friends and colleagues, according to its makers.

“As you can imagine, tears are hard to collect and study,” the Google X lab team members said.

“We’re now testing a smart contact lens that’s built to measure glucose levels in tears,” project co-founders Brian Otis and Babak Parviz said Thursday in a blog post.

The lens works “using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material,” Otis and Parviz said.

Mike Janke, CEO & Co-Founder of Silent Circle, makers of encrypted technology for mobile and desktop devices and email, stands Jan. 16, 2014 at his national Harbor, Maryland office (AFP Photot)

Prototype lenses being tested at Google X can generate glucose readings about once a second. Researchers are looking into integrating tiny lights that would warn when blood sugar levels go above or below threshold levels, according to

The larger firms, said Janke, “want to own your soul. These companies are in the business of monetizing data.”

Silent Circle developed a modified or “forked” version of Android called PrivatOS for the phone, which is set to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 24.

‘It’s sexy, it’s thin’ The company declined to release detailed specifications or pricing ahead of the unveiling, but Janke said it will be sold around the world at prices lower than the iPhone 5S or Samsung Galaxy S4.

But he maintained it would be comparable in terms of performance to those flagship devices. It is designed as a userfriendly phone that could be carried by executives, government officials, activists or ordinary people.

“It’s sexy, it’s thin, it’s sleek, but it also solves a problem,” Janke said.

“You can still go to Google and browse the web, but Google doesn’t know who you are. It’s a high-end smartphone. The user doesn’t have to know how to use or how to spell encryption.”

As an added assurance to customers, the Blackphone venture is incorporated in Switzerland with a Swiss data center and has “minimal data retention.”

“All we have is the user name you give us and a 10-digit phone number,” he said.

Even if the company faced a court order in Switzerland, it the blog post.

“We’ve always said that we’d seek out projects that seem a bit speculative or strange,” Otis and Parviz said.

“At a time when the International Diabetes Federation is

could only hand over the user name. Authorities seeking more information would need to subpoena a separate payment processing firm “and try to match that to our users,” Janke said.

Janke said there is interest in the device worldwide, and that Blackphone has “verbal preorders” from four international telecom carriers and 30 enterprise customers.

Interest in Blackphone, Janke said, suggests “several million” will be sold within 12 months, and some 10 million total over the coming four years.

He did not disclose where the Blackphone would be made, but said there would be “neutral” partners making components and a tightly controlled assembly process to ensure no backdoors are inserted.

Janke said the US State Department wanted to buy some of the phones and distribute them to human rights groups but that the company refused, out of concern that the Blackphone would be associated with the US government.

“We decided to distribute this ourselves,” he said.

Customers worldwide are interested “because it’s not just the NSA -- there are 72 countries that have some NSA-like capabilities and they’re all spying on us and on each other. If you’re living in Kenya or Germany or Argentina, you have the same threats.”

Even though some reports suggest the NSA has found ways to intercept encrypted communications, Janke said his systems will be effective.

“We know that encryption works,” he said, adding that “brute force” attacks to break encryption are rare because they are time-consuming, and that spy agencies generally use other means like inserting viruses in emails or hardware that can intercept messages.

Because of this, Janke is careful not to promise too much.

He said Blackphone is not a “hardened” device like some designed for military use.

“There is no such thing as a completely secure phone,” he said. “Nothing is going to protect you from your own behavior. But out of the box, this phone does a lot of things to protect your privacy.” declaring that the world is ‘losing the battle’ against diabetes, we thought this project was worth a shot.”

Google cited figures indicating that diabetes affects one in every 19 people on the planet.

BE AHEAD OF THE GAME CALL US 713-774-5140 TO ADVERTISE ONLINE www.voiceofasiaonline.com

VOICE OF ASIA 16

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Friday, January 24, 2014

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Qatar Airways Expands Routes, Honors Top Performing Travel Agencies

Qatar Airways banners at the entrance of the Crowne Plaza, Houston where the event was held.

by Jacob David OUSTON – Qatar Airways held their event “Travel Agents Appreciation Dinner’ on January 15th at the Crowne Plaza, Houston, to honor top performing travel agencies while using the same occasion to announce expansion of their routes reaching more cities in USA. They plan to launch eight new routes. Lisa Markovic, Country Manager said in her opening speech that Qatar Airways has planned an aggressive expansion plan. Philadelphia is a new market Qatar Airways is launching for departures on 2nd April, 2014, followed

by Miami to be launched in June 10, 2014. Qatar Airways also plans to reach Latin America with connectivity flights. Dallas is launching in July 1, 2014. Qatar Airways plans to reach out to the Specialty markets by focusing on niche segments. Qatar Airways plans to push forward its five star service which focuses on excellent service to each customer.

Qatar Airways today has successfully completed 16 years of service.

It has won the Best in Business Class for 2013. It joined the One World Alliance on 30th October 2013 and now reaches 134 global destinations.

H

L-R: The Qatar Airways team Bob Peak, Susana Goffi, Boyd Bailey, Lisa Markovic, Lali Kumar and Aubrey Pinto at the event honoring top performing travel agencies. Photo by Jacob David, VOA

The top tier frequent fliers can have access to over 550 global airport lounges.

In the United States, Qatar Airways reaches four destinations – Houston, Chicago, New York and Washington. The new three locations being added will be Philadelphia with daily flights, Miami with four flights a week and Dallas with daily flights. Qatar Airways has increased its fleet by 13 additional aircraft totaling 128 aircraft from 115 last year.

It has placed an additional order of 240 aircraft with Airbus and Boeing companies.

Qatar Airways has upped it cuisine to meet exacting world class standards. It also carries vintage wines from the East and the West.

Ten thousand square feet of luxury lounge and dining areas for the first and business class passengers that was started in 2006 will be an added premium terminal to make the travel of passengers more comfortable. For the economy class passengers snacks on demand is a new added feature. In the B-777 economy series, the seat configuration is 3-3-3 compared to other airlines of 3-4-3. This amounts to a more comfortable travel for the economy class passengers too. Personal 10 inch LCD screens with over 1,000 on-demand entertainment options are available.

Opening in 2014 is the Hamad International Airport in Doha with 2 runways capable of handling 50 aircraft per hour, 42 contact gates and 22 remote gates. The Hamad airport is being built at a cost of US $15.5 billion and can accommodate 28 million passengers a year.

Presenting the awards for the Top Performing agents in the Southern Region for 2013, the top performing consolidator was Skybird Travel & Tours. The Top Performing Retail Agency was Riya Travel and Tours.

The Top Performing Premium Class Agency was Gateway Travel and Tours.

The event concluded with dinner for all present.

Top Performing Consolidator: Skybird Travel & Tours. Photos by Jacob David, VOA

Top Performing Retail Agency: Riya Travel & Tours.

Performing Premium Class Agency: Gateway Travel & Tours.

BITS Alumni Association Rings The NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Bell

B

ITS Alumni Association (BITSAA International), the alumni body of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani, India) - India’s top private university visited the NASDAQ Market Site in Times Square on the 23rd of December 2013. In honor of the occasion, Raju Reddy, Chairman of BITSAA International, rang the Opening Bell. Distinguished BITS graduates participating in this event include Raju Reddy, Chairman of BITSAA International and Advisor to Hitachi ITSC global business, SP Kothari, Deputy Dean and Gordon Y Billard Professor of Management at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Prem Jain, co-founder of Insieme Networks, Atul Bhatnagar, CEO of Cambium Networks, Preetish Nijhawan, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, Inc., Viggy Mokkarala, Executive Vice President, Envestnet, Inc., Nasir Memon, Professor and Department Chairman, Computer Sciences and Engineering, NYU, and Shashikant Khandelwal, co-founder and CTO of TheFind.com. Global alumni of BITS, the #1 private institute for engineering in India in the India Today magazine rankings for Indian engineering colleges for 2013, are assembling in the Hyderabad, India campus of BITS Pilani in January 2014 for the second BITS Global Meet to assess and find ways to accelerate their impact on society globally. (Source: www. nasdaqomx.com.)

“As a Trustee of the Global Alumni Board of my alma mater, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (BITS), I was invited to join in celebrating NASDAQ’s recognition of BITS, Pilani’s (and its alumni’s) contribution towards innovation, research, and job creation (via many entrepreneurs, several of whom listed their companies publicly via NASDAQ) in its 50th year of existence.

Ranked as the No.1 private university in the field of engineering and sciences in India, BITS, Pilani joined the ranks of Harvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge and a few other elite institutions worldwide in being accorded the honor of ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ. Needless to say, it was a great experience for me personally and a proud moment to be a part of this wonderful school, BITS Pilani,” said Rajesh Chelapurath, Founder and President of December 23, 2013 - BITS Alumni Association. Photo credit: © 2013, The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. Ceera Investments, LLC an investment advisory firm based in Houston, TX.

FEATURE

VOICE OF ASIA 17

Hybrid cars fail to ease Pakistan’s gas woes

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Your Horoscope (For week beginning Friday, January 24, 2014)

Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950

As per Indian Vedic Astrology the Moon sign is considered, in which every Rashi has control over certain letters, which are initials of your name. Whereas in Western system of Sun Sign, all the people born in one month belong to the same sign. For example, every year approximately around 21 of March to 20th April, the Sun is moving in the Aries Constellation. So all the people born in that month belong to the Sign of Aries. If you were born in between those two dates then you are a Aries born.

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April Make fresh, new things happen while affirming that which has always been. You’ll feel vital and in control. Leadership is a big plus for you. Your words may be quoted. Your actions may have an effect on others, but it doesn’t all go to your head. Study your opponent or objective from a distance. You may find you need an altogether different approach. Be cautious in how you use your resources, don’t be hasty. Your willingness to listen is enough for someone who wants your attention. It’s too easy to take sides during an overheard dispute.

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May

A customer checks a cut model of Prius plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) of Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor at the company’s showroom in Tokyo

by Masroor GILANI

I

SLAMABAD, Pakistan last year announced measures to boost the hybrid car market, hoping they might help wean the country off its costly addiction to imported fuels, but seven months on the plan looks to have stalled.

Hybrid vehicles, which use a combination of an electric motor and regular fuel combustion, are touted in many countries as the environmentally friendly future of motoring.

But in Pakistan, the government hoped they might also address a more immediate concern -- crushing winter gas shortages.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is widely used as fuel

by Pakistani motorists as a cheaper alternative to petrol, but demand far outstrips supply in winter.

The result is gas shortages that mean people cannot cook or heat their homes and which damage the economy by halting industrial work.

Last June, a month after winning the general election, the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said it would slash import duties on hybrids.

“Use of imported POL (petroleum, oils and lubricants) products as a major source of energy has not only led to high import bill(s), but has also created a negative environmental impact,” Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said in his budget speech in June.

“Therefore, use of alternate energy efficient Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) needs to be encouraged.”

Hybrids up to 1200 cc were to be exempted from all duties and taxes, while models up to 1800 cc would get 50 percent relief and up to 2500 cc, 25 percent.

But there has been little impact on sales, dealers say, and the queues at the CNG filling stations -- on the rare days the authorities allow them to open -- stretch for hundreds of metres.

Umar Bilal Sindhu, owner of Pak Japan Motors and leading Islamabad-based car importer and dealer, told AFP the customs duty change had had a “negligible impact”.

Running costs For Mujtaba Abbas, the government incentives made little difference, as he bought a Toy-

ota Prius second hand, but with fuel prices moving ever higher, he has been delighted with the car’s lower running costs.

“When it comes to fuel-saving, the Prius is great as it runs up to 24 kilometres (15 miles) on one litre of petrol, while I was getting up to 11 kilometres from a 1.3 litre hatchback,” the 24-year-old environmental engineer told AFP. But this efficiency comes at a cost, and observers such as Baber Kaleem Khan, editor of Pakistan’s largest auto-enthusiast website PakWheels.com, say forecourt prices are deterring potential buyers.

A new Toyota Prius, imported through the company’s Pakistan arm Indus Motors, costs around 4.5 million rupees ($45,000), while Honda’s CR-Z goes for $35,000.

“The same cars can be bought for 2-3 million rupees from the used imported car dealers,” he told AFP. “Hybrid cars in Pakistan were launched in a bid to win the fight against the energy crisis, more specifically to make people stop using CNG. Small, economical, and cheap cars were the right way ahead.”

UMA MANTRAVADI

Experienced, Honest & Aggressive Email: uma@mantralaw.com SAN ANTONIO: 6 8 51 C i t i z e n ’ s P k w y, S t e . 2 2 5 San Antonio, TX 78229 Te l # ( 2 81 ) 8 2 7 - 3 8 3 6

(713) 787-5297 NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS IMMIGRANT VISAS E-1 & E-2 Visas H-1B Visas H-1 Extensions L-1 Visas

Family Petitions Labor Certifications Naturalization Citizenship

BUSINESS CORP LAW

REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS OTHER CASES

Cancellation Bond Determination Voluntary Departure

REAL ESTATE LAW

Extensions RFE Appear for Interviews

FAMILY LAW

FREE CONSULTATIONS ON FRIDAYS BETWEEN 1PM & 3 PM BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

We speak Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam & Spanish Not Certified by Texas Board Of Legal Specialization

VOICE OF ASIA

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Stay focused during this eventful week. Communication is very important. With the preliminary steps taken, you’re ready to launch into something more complex. Your best partners are the people who always know what you mean. Bring your greatest asset to the forefront, your confidence. It’s time to make some choices. Reach out and draw someone new into your circle. A hint of strength is far better than an actual display. You’re sure to get people’s attention.

You’ll be the master of your own destiny, so take hold of your life and decide what will make you happy.

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Feeling of things getting back on track. Somehow, lately it has felt as if you’ve been wasting your time. You’re now ready to give everything that you have to get what you want. Potential is everything this week. Many people are making promises, reaffirming their faith in you. You’re ready to act in ultimately successful ways. You need to start enjoying life a little more. Although you’d rather hold the answer in your hands, envisioning it helps you find it more easily. You’d prefer not to cause problems, but you know the fallout is unavoidable.

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August You need to be good to yourself and those you love. The real world is strange enough without making things worse. Don’t trust anyone who won’t look you in the eye. You have to disconnect your emotions from a difficult situation. Once you do, your energy will increase. Use your resources to find new ways to complete your tasks. This is a time for accomplishment. You are a champion for those who need an advocate. You can make the impossible look easy. The services that you perform now are sure to earn you points.

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September You always have love for the arts, Whether it be music, literature or theater, you’ll be impressed with a new discovery and will want to tell the whole world. The energy you feel will help you to reach your goals. Express yourself with passion & you may discover new ways to impress your style. This is the time to turn on the charm and attract interest both professionally and personally. You will hold the attention of those with whom you come in contact. Set your goals high, push yourself to the limit, and you will surpass your wildest dreams.

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct Feel the changes in the order of things. You’ll remain unchanged, however the differences lie in how you present yourself to the world. Give a little, take a little. If someone else wants to run the show, don’t object to it. You could find yourself facing a choice when you least expect one. Talk to people who matter. Use a little creativity to show that you are dependable, stable and willing to do whatever you can to help. You’re a lively contributor and a giving individual who will gain respect and approval from those in authority.

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov

Attorney and Counselor at Law

HOUSTON LOCATION: 6200 Savoy Dr., Ste. 414 Houston, TX 77036

You need to let go of your inhibitions and feel free to experiment. Socializing will bring you in contact with romantic possibilities. Get out and have fun. Help spouse by taking care of his/her duties or problems, you’ll be glad you did. Romance will unfold through work-related events. Opportunities to advance are evident, but you must keep your emotions well hidden if you wish to accomplish your objectives. You can make progress at work by refraining from idle chatter or disagreeing with your boss. Focus on your own projects.

Subscription Renewal Form

Fax this form to: 713-774-5143 Scan and E-mail us: adsvoa@voiceofasiagroup.com

Name: __________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________ City: ______________ State:___________ Zip:___________ Ph: ______________ E-mail:_________________________ Credit Card No: ____________________________________

Come up with solutions to problems. Unexpected short trips may be necessary. Sit back and relax, close friends may shed some light on your situation. Your insightful, trend setting way of putting things together will be admired by others. Participation in family outings or social activities will bring you added popularity and respect. New friendships or romantic connections will be stimulating, even intense. You’ll be able to make travel arrangements by week’s end.

Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec Not to let everything get to you. You’ll be surprised by the differences that you see in strangers. You need to make your points but you also need to listen to other’s perspectives. Don’t overreact to criticism. Events push you into an activity that you like. You’re happy to work hard at something that you love. Settle down and work on your future goals. Look at yourself in the mirror and discover who you really are and how much you have to offer.

It’s time to believe in yourself and to raise your self-confidence.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan Recognize time, schedules and your ability to know when to stop working. You can make headway early in the week, if you put your mind to it. You will be offered an opportunity to work some magic. Problems that older relatives face will become part of your life. Try to do what you can to help, but allow others to lessen your load. You don’t have to let their troubles disrupt your personal life. By week’s end, your excitement will overtake your serious side. You’ll become a master at the art of change. Your focus should be on freeing yourself for making plans for the holidays.

Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb You need to tighten your belt and look for things to do that don’t cost so much. This is a good time to set new goals and break bad habits. Emotional difficulties are likely, control your reactions to incompetence. Choose conservative investments and forget about becoming an overnight millionaire. Consider attending lectures to broaden your awareness of your professional goals and direction. Travel will help you to understand those from different cultural backgrounds better.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March Use your ability to laugh at yourself when life throws you a curve. You can be compassionate when it comes to the way you feel about others. During these expensive times, your charge card feels like a magic wand. Resist the urge to overspend. Lovers don’t have to impress anyone. Your dedication and determination will help you master whatever you set out to do. It’s all about support. Whether you’re lending a receptive ear or turning to trusted friends for backup, all agree on what is important. Setbacks will only make you stronger. Once again, you’re on the winning end of some grand strategy. Diplomacy will benefit from your golden touch. As long as there are creative people involved, you’ll be ready to have fun & enjoy their conversation & company.

Name on the Card: _________________________________ CVV #: __________ Exp Date:___________ Amount: $______ Signature: __________________________ One Year $30 Two Years $55 Five Years $100 We will mail 52 issues to your home or office!

8303 SW Freeway, Suite 350, Houston, TX 77074

Best Value!!!

Read your detailed horoscope on www.VoiceofAsiaOnline.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS

VOICE OF ASIA 18

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES & ORGANIZATIONS OF HOUSTON - call Voice of Asia 713-774-5140 India House Prog: Friday, Jan. 24 6PM : Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of Rita & Bal Sareen Clinic.

Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 12:00 PM (instead of 10 AM) Flag Hoisting Ceremony to celebrate the Republic Day of India Location: 8888 West Bellfort, Houston, TX 77031

Republic Day Flag Hoisting at CG’s residence.

Flag Hoisting ceremony on India’s 65th Republic Day will be held on Sunday, 26 January, 2014 at 10.00 AM at Consul General’s Residence (5634 Briar Drive, Houston, TX 77056).

Consul General Parvathaneni Harish will read President of India’s Address on this occasion.

Refreshments will be served.

Participants are requested to assemble at Consul General’s Residence by 9:45 AM. Kindlybring a photo ID.

Sri Meenakshi Temple Prog: 37th annual Tyagaraja Aaradhana on Sat-Sun, Jan 2526, 2014 each day from 10 AM to about 7 PM. Feb 1st Saturday: 10:00 AM; Vasavi Agni Pravesam Feb 7th Friday: 7:00 PM; Thai Sukravara Deepa Pooja Feb 27th Thursday: 6:30 PM; Maha Sivarathri Location: 17130 McLean Road Pearland, TX 77584 Contact: (281) 489-0358 Web: www.meenakshi.org

Hare Krishna Dham (ISKCON) Prog: Everyday, 7 Aratis and bhoga offerings daily. Sunday

QR

Festival: 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Location: 1320 West 34th St, Houston, TX 77018.

Contact:281-433-1635/E-mail harekrishnadham@gmail.com Website: www.iskconhouston.org

Shri Radha Krishna Temple Prog: Location:11625 Beechnut, Houston, TX 77072 Phone: 281-933-8100 Website: www.SRKT.org.

Arsha Vidya Bharati Prog.:Sanskrit classes and special worship sessions for all ages Location: 2918 Renoir, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Contact: 281-606-5607 or AVB.Houston@gmail.com Web: https://sites.google.com/ site/avbtexas/classes

Arsha Vidya Satsanga Prog: Website: www.avshouston.org Contact: 713-412-2923 / Email: ArshaVidyaHou@gmail.com

Chinmaya Mission Prog: Location:10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX77498.

Phone: 832.541.0059.

Website:www.chinmayahouston. org.

Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya Temple Hrs: 9 am to noon and 5 to 9 pm.;Sri Astalaksmi puja: 7 pm. Sri Laksmi Archana will be performed on request all day.

Location:same as Chinmaya Mission.

Website: www.saumyakasi.org;

Hindu Temple of The Woodlands Location: 7601 S. Forest Gate Drive at Woodlands Parkway, Spring, TX 77382.

Contact: info@woodlandshindutemple.org, 832-585-0001 Website: www. woodlandshindutemple.org.

VPSS Houston Location VPSS Vallabh Hall, 11715 Belfort Village Dr. Houston 77031.

Contact:713-530-2900 Website:www.vpsshaveli.org

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baitus Samee Mosque Prog: Friday Prayer - 1:30 PM Children’s Classes | Interfaith meeting | Location: 1333 Spears Rd, Houston, TX 77067 Imam - Mohammed Zafarullah Contact : Work: 281-875-3400 | Cell: 713-874-4363 Zafarullah_Hanjra@hotmail.com www.Alislam.org

Dr. Ambedkar International Mission Inc. U.S.A Prog: Location: India House 8888 West Bellfort Avenue Houston, Texas 77031

Ashirwad - A Blessing Temple Prog: Regular prog :Sloka Classes for kids and teens.

Location: Katy, Hwy 249 & Sugar Land.

Contact: 281.995.0930/ 281.808.2159

Vedanta Society of Greater Houston

Prog: Vedanta teachings Sundays at 10:30 AM Location: at 14809 Lindita Dr. Houston, TX -77083.

Website: www.vedantahouston. org.

ISSO Prog: Darshan daily from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.; Aarti daily from 7.45 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Location: 10080 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281-530-2565 Web:

Shri Satyanarayan Sai Puja Darshan Prog: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Every Thursday Abhishek Location: 16338 Kensington Dr, Ste 110, Sugar Land 77479.

Phone: 713-933-8821 / 9359.

Gurdwara Sahib of SW Houston Prog: Sundays Dewan 10:00 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Langar Location:14811 Lindita Drive, Houston, TX 77083 Phone: 281-498-5200 Website: www.gurdwaraswh.com

Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple Prog: Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra Parayanam: daily 6.30 p.m. Location:10098 Synott Road. Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281- 498-2344 Website: www.ashtalakshmi.org

Hindu Worship Society Prog: Open all days except Thursdays (by appt). Regular Puja and Prasad. Sunday Service 11:30 AM to 1:30

QUICK REFERENCE SERVICES DIRECTORY

Accountants

Education

NARESH SETLUR, CPA

• TOEFL & GRE Preparation

Certified, Quickbooks Proadvisor

Accounting, Tax Returns, Cost Accounting, Peachtree, Sales Tax, Franchise Tax.

Visit our website www.karanika.net

Retail, Manufacturing, Construction, Franchise Accounting

(832) 620.4757 - Email: setlurn@gmail.com

BOOK-KEEPING INCOME TAX

• BUSINESS ENGLISH English Express: 713-337-3775 www.englexpress.com

Education

Become a Doctor

Personal and Business Tax Returns, Payroll

S. Ram and Associates

EasyMedSchool@gmail.com; www.EasyMedSchool.com

M.D. Associates LLP

Electrical Service

3 Locations to serve you

Superior One Electric

Tel: 832-877-9625 Free Consultation asu2020.com

A full service CPA firm

Houston 713-774-6533 Spring 281-251-2205 Dallas 214-722-7545

visit us at : www.mdassociatescpas.com

Bakery • BAKERY • CAKE SHOPPE • CAFE

5700A Hillcroft Ave. Houston, TX 77036

713-785-1212 www.houstonhotbreads.com

EGGLESS cakes Available

Business Services Lower Processing Credit Card rates & Fees 25% of the monthly agent commission Call 1-800-518-9776 Mon-Fri (9am-7pm EST) http://MatchRatePLUS.com/CashBack/ Use Promo Code: 34510

Barsana Dham Houston Chapter

209-830-8266; 248-419-0284

Commercial & Residential

KHOA TRINH, Electrical Technician Tel: 832-359-5447 Free Estimate TECL# 27099

Electrical Service

* Repair/ Remodeling * New Installation * Ceiling Fans * Light Fixtures * Electric Panel * Trouble Shooting * Services Upgrades

Electricity Service

No Deposit for Seniors 65+ or Commercial Service Provided by Ambit Energy LC Puct Rep 10117

www.qfactor.joinambit.com 866.202.1086 Mon-Sat 8am-8pm

You need this Space For more information

Call us today

713-774-5140

TX 77063 Contact: 281-606-JAIN; Email: ecjsh@jain-houston.org Website:www.jain-houston.org

Durga Bari Society

Prog: Satsang every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: India House, 8888 West Belfort 77031 Phone: (713) 855-9818 for details Website: www.jkphouston.org Weekly Radio Program-1460 AM Saturdays 10-11 a.m.

Divinity

Prog: Sandhya Arati at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Location: 13944 Schiller Road.

Contact: 281-597-8100 Website:www.houstondurgabari. org

Gayatri Pariwar of Houston Prog: Sundays Satsang, Bal-Sanskar Shala, from 11am to 1pm.

Location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite # 307, Houston, TX 77036.

Website: http://www.gayatripariwarhouston.org/ “

Website: www.godivinity.org

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Prog: Every Friday Satsangh from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. Bhajans and Devi Puja, Discourses.

Location: 12530 Ann Louise Road, Houston, 77086.

Phone: Contact Vishnu at (832) 309- 7181.

JVB Preksha Meditation Center Prog: Location: 14102 Schiller Road, Houston TX 77082 Phone: 281.596.9642 Website: www.jvbhouston.org

Patanjali Yogpeeth Center Prog: Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun from 8 am to 9:30 am Location: Arya Samaj @Schiller Road.

Contact: 281-579-9433.

Websites: www.pyptusa.org

Jain Center of Houston Location: 3905 Arc St. Houston,

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Prog: Bhajans: Sat.7:00 -8:00 p.m.; Sundays 9:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.Location: 1620 Ormandy Street, Houston, TX 77035 Contact: 713-729-8994

Govindaji Gaudiya Math Prog: Satsang every Sunday evening from 5 - 7 p.m. Vedic heritage classes for kids 5-14.

Location: 16628 Kieth Harrow blvd. Houston, TX 77084 Contact: 281-499-3347/281-4914114.

Sathya Sai Baba Centers Prog: Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at two locations Contact: (North) 832-418-3842 or (South) 281-788-4786.

Website:www.saicenterofhouston.org

VOICE OF ASIA GROUP To advertise, call:

Phone: 713-774-5140 E-mail: Adsvoa@yahoo.com Restaurants

English Classes

High School to Medical School - starts $45,000 for all 41/2 years - INDIA, EUROPE, Carib, China etc

Sales Tax, Income Tax Audits and Representations

Location: 2223 Wirtcrest Lane Houston TX 77055.

Bombay to Beijing 14025 Southwest Fwy. Sugarland.TX 77478 281-242-4242 www.bombaybeijing.com Indian Restaurant

Taste the difference! Cater your next event with us!

India’s Restaurant & Catering

for special parties and corporate events. Preferred Wine list, Authentic vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes, finest Indian cuisine with chef’s special dishes

Restaurants

Ph: 713-266-0131/ 0805

We cater from 10 people to 800 people for all occasions.

We deliver to your venue.

Madhuram Mirch Masala 10758 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070 281.955.9878 216.338.3940 (cell)

Shiva Indian Restaurant & Catering specializing in North Indian cuisine, Office and Corporate catering.

• 2514 Times Blvd. Rice Village, Ph: 713-523-4753 • 2130 Lone Star Dr. Sugar Land, Ph: 281-494-2981

Call VOA 713-774-5140

Roofing 522),1* VEEDONE CONSTRUCTION, LLC. - ROOFING Roofing, Siding, Gutters and Fence WIND & HAIL INSURANCE CLAIMS SPECIALIST

(281) 701-7760 www.VeeDone.com

Visit Us www.VoiceofAsiaOnline.com You need this Space For more information

Call us today

713-774-5140

Music & Entertainment DJ Bollywood & Sound

Call for Weddings, Birthdays & Parties Experience professional, high quality sound, including live singing shows on demand. Decoration & Catering services available.

Riaz Sanu 24 hr. hotline 832-883-6986 Anywhere in Texas

Video TK Video

HD Video, Live Stream, Editing, Dubbing, Titles Call for Weddings, Anniversary, Baptism, Graduation

Call Tony Kalladanthyil at 281-799-4518

CLASSIFIEDS

VOICE OF ASIA 19

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014

Have you been ABUSED, ATTACKED or INJURED?

Financial Controller Sugarland, TX based multi-brand, multi-unit Quick Service Restaurant operating company is seeking a Financial Controller to join their growing team! The position has overall management responsibility for AR, AP, Payroll, Various GL Account Reconciliations, Financial Reporting, and Risk/Insurance management.

Have you experienced a traumatic event such as:

• Rape • Physical Assault • Child Abuse • A severe car accident • War • Natural distaster Does this continue to affect you with: • Upsetting memories • Irritability • Bad dreams or difficulty sleeping • Trouble concentrating • Lack of Interest in activities.

Requirements: CPA is required. 5 years’ experience in similar role and initiative to take next step and become controller of growing company. Competitive salary and benefits package offered.

mood@bcm.edu

If you are a woman between the ages of 18 and 65, you may be eligible to participate in a study of an investigational medication for PTSD conducted by the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and the Mood and Anxiety Program at the Baylor College of Medicine. There is no cost for participation.

Email resume to hr@vkcgrp.com

Seeking Bride Friends matrimonial invite for Gujarati Vaishnav Young Man age 37, height 5’4” UT Grad, successfully self-employed, born and raised US Citizen. Strong family values, well cultured, understanding, good social skills, generous, kind, pleasant personality and a positive outlook on life. Seeking a kindhearted young lady from the San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston areas, ONLY. Send bio and photo to: GreatMatrimony37@gmail.com Or call: (713) 204-8116 or (713) 204-8110

Read Voice of Asia for Community News

CALL 1-877-96-BCM-MOOD (226-6663), Visit www.bcm.edu/psychiatry/mood, or email us at mood@bcm.edu if you are interested in participating.

HINDI PRARTHANA

Beauty Supply Stores for Sale

Contact Us 832-773-4457 today!

2 locations. 7000 sqft. & 3200 sqft.

Great opportunity to get into Exclusive Hair Extension and Wig business.

Direct accounts with Major Hair Companies with Zero Debt. Serious inquires only.

Owner wants to retire and spend more time with kids.

Email: sujeong95@hotmail.com

Do you need PRAYER? Do you need a MIRACLE in your life?

Can we pray for the CHILDLESS couple?

Reliable Caretaker Needed

Household Help Wanted in Houston

A family needs a reliable Caretaker full time to take care of home, cook meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner, do some light house work, weekdays and weekends. Timings are: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM daily, flexible some evenings. Must be able to cook South and North Indian dishes. Please have a few references.

Long term employment preferred.

Full or part time; for light

$450,000.

housekeeping and caring for small children.

Call 281-948-0404

For details, call: 832-419-7537

E N I NL

O

• POST FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS ONLINE DIRECTLY!

IN

We are happy that VOICE OF ASIA gives us SO MANY CHOICES! It makes our daily life easier!!!

Thank you VOICE OF ASIA!

• POST JOBS, OTHER CLASSIFIEDS, @ $30 WEEKLY!

• CARS FOR SALE CLASSIFIEDS!

• HOME FOR SALE CLASSIFIEDS $60 / 2 WKS. (3.47” X 4”)

• HOME FOR SALE CLASSIFIEDS! • BUSINESS ADS BANNERS & BOX

• E-blast Feature!

NT

• POST $5/WK COMMUNITY EVENTS IN PRINT FOR 52 WEEKS!

• POST JOB, OTHER CLASSIFIEDS WEEKLY!

• IT SOFTWARE TRAINING ADS

PRI

O E D I V 0•N feature your business, restaurant • feature yourself in an interview!

• video ads for your business!

• unlimited views for content.

• low cost for video ads!

*One time production cost, applies on all video content and ads made by Voice of Asia. Our costs are reasonable and our advertising rates are highly competitive online and in print. Our minimum requirements must be met. Call us for more details! © 2013 This is an advertisement, not a real endorsement. Photo copyright, author exclusive.

• CARS FOR SALE CLASSIFIEDS @ $30 WEEKLY! (3.47” X 2”) • QR BUSINESS DIRECTORY $10/WK

0 l 4 l 1 ca 774-5 3 1 7

VOICE OF ASIA 20

FRIDAY, January 24, 2014