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VOICE OF ASIA Over 26 years of dedicated service to the community
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
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earn About Alternative Ways To Fund Long Term Care Needs. Read on Page 15 Or Call: 713-771-2900.
Vol. 27 No. 28 Friday, July 11, 2014 Published Weekly from Houston 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
Houston Rath-Yatra – brings Voice of Asia Interviewed on communities together! local TV, Fox 26 Houston Over 4,000 people attend at VPSS on 29th June
by Chetana Samal
I
t was 10:30 pm on a Sunday night. The Lords, the devotees and the ambience were all in unison – no one seemed to be in a hurry, a rare happening in cosmopolitan Houston. The seventh Houston Rath-yatra, the annual journey by Lord Jagannath with his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra, was organized by Orissa Culture Center in association with Sita Ram Foundation and was celebrated on June 29th, 2014 with a huge participation by Houstonians in large number, irrespective of faith and belief. Every year, this signature
Talk about the publication and the growing need for it here in Houston.
event of OCC is divided into two segments. One is celebration of a more than thousand year’s old symbolic yatra by Lords and two, celebrating our rich cultural legacy. Houstonians had a rare treat this year to listen to none other than Anuradha Paudwal, the queen of devotional music. Her closeness to her audience was beyond words and her affable, easy-to-reach aura made an indelible mark in our hearts. Earlier in the evening, keeping with OCC’s open air tradition, thousands joined Lords on their annual yatra to their aunt’s Continued on page 8 Anuradha Paudwal is an acclaimed singer of devotional songs.
L-R: Moani Thomas, Koshy Thomas, Publisher of “Voice of Asia and Shobana Muratee, Editor-in-Chief with host Megan Bowie, Fox 26 Houston, Community Affairs- Asian Connection at the studio on July 1, 2014. ” talk about the publication and the growing need for it here in Houston. Photo from Fox 26 Houston’s post in Timeline Photos. by Staff Reporter
H
OUSTON - Local TV Channel Fox 26 Houston interviewed Voice of Asia Publisher Koshy Thomas, wife Moani Thomas and Shobana Muratee, Editor-in-Chief recently. Host Megan Bowie focused on the importance of the publication Voice of Asia to the community. The interview was part of the Asian Connection segment of Fox 26 Houston. Ladies cradle the Goddess and carry it to the chariot for the Rtah Yatra.
Mr. Thomas explained how when they came to Houston in 1978 he saw the Asian community growing and felt it was the right time to start a newspaper. Voice of Asia was started in 1987 and has grown to be the largest Asian (English) community newsweekly in Texas. Ms. Muratee talked about the VoiceofAsiaOnline, a website of the Voice of Asia Group which keeps the Asian community informed and connected to current happenings, and also
It was an opportune time for Voice of Asia to inform its readers and viewers of its expansion, which includes networking with media giants like Star TV and India.com (a subsidiary of Zee TV that have millions of viewers). The video of the interview is posted on www.voiceofasiaonline.com
Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra at Durga Bari
Dieties that were taken out on the chariot.
Devotees tug at the rope to pull the chariot, an act that is considered very auspicious.
provides its viewers timely reports on global, national, South Asian and community news.
W
ith much pomp and ceremony, Rath Yatra was celebrated at Durgabari on June 29th. Well attended by more than 1000
people, this year marks the 3rd year in a row and it’s fast becoming a tradition at Durga Bari. People flocked to the temple early morning that day and waited patiently as Mahamahopadhyay Dr. Bishnupada Goswami of Durga Bari, Sri Srikiran Narayanam from India Cultural Center and Temple, Memphis and Dr. Amrit Achari from Durga Bari conducted the Puja. After the Puja, Pahandi Bije started, in which the deities were brought from the temple on to the Rath. Continued on page 8
OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
VOICE OF ASIA 2
by Chandra K. Mittal, Ph.D.
T
o an American of Indian origin who recently visited India, recent parliamentary election and installation (i.e. coronation) of Mr. Narendra Modi as India’s new Prime Minister and his governing proclamations reminded of an old 1980s movie Back to the Future, a Hollywood production. It seems that India is about to relive the experience of the 1980 US Presidential election that marked the induction of the 40th American president Mr. Ronald Reagan who led the most recent revival of political conservatism in the United States.
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
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Although United States and India are several oceans apart and their political histories and cultures are widely different, the philosophical similarities between Modi and Reagan could not be more striking when it comes to their public persona and perceptions, domestic conservative agenda, their approach for economic revival, dealing with foreign adversaries, focus on national defense, global recognition, etc. Needless to say both have impeccable conservative credential relevant to their respective countries. Both are committed patriots in love with their countries, nostalgic about the glorious past, and promise of the lands of their births. Both Modi and Reagan were elected to the higher ofďŹ ce by an overwhelming majority and mandate for a change by the disgruntled electorate following an extended period of public discontentment and outrage, though for different social and political reasons. The period preceding the election of both leaders was marked by high ination, high unemployment and high budget deďŹ cits resulting in economic malaise with diminished economic growth in the private sector. In India, it also included political scandals, bribery, and policy paralysis by the coalition government.
VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Online Editor:
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: ads@ voiceofasiagroup.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
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During the 1980 US presidential election, Mr. Reagan had invented a new election slogan - “the misery index� (by adding the three negatives) to characterize and criticize the presidency of the incumbent President Jimmy Carter, and promised a robust economic growth through his new progressive economic policies and vision if he was elected. American voters bought Reagan’s vision and put him in the chief executive’s chair despite earlier public perceptions to the contrary, that a person of Reagan’s conservative credentials could ever be elected president
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 conďŹ rmation 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
Is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ronald Reagan Of India? An Indo-American Perspective of the United States. Similarly, Mr. Modi was not much heard of and was not a popular national leader in the last national election cycle. But in this 2014 election cycle Mr. Modi became a popular leader and face of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). He conducted his campaign by directly attacking the policies, practices and actions of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition government and promised the Indian electorate - a better future with his pro-growth economic policies. In both cases, it was vote against the incumbent governments. Mr. Modi’s election slogan was “Achhe Din Aayengeâ€? (Good days will come) for India with his electoral victory. He got elected to the Indian parliament with an overwhelming majority of his party. As regards his conservative economic vision, Mr. Modi is broadly known to favor reduction in income tax rates (though marginally), low ination rates, and reduction in ďŹ scal deďŹ cit as percentage of GDP. He also supports trimming of subsidies and public welfare programs as is now becoming apparent with the upcoming budget proposals for 2014-2015. This he would like to couple with enhanced private investment to boost employment – the center pieces of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Mr. Modi is proposing both increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in several economic sectors as well as dilution of State’s equity in some public enterprises. But India is no United States and all this may not be easy for Mr. Modi. India has a relatively large public sector compared to US. In India people living under the poverty line are far higher as percent of total population than in the US. Also, given India’s cultural history, socialistic democratic value system and per capita Purchase Power Parity (PPP) of approximately Dollar 4000 compared to US’s Dollar 53,000, how much Mr. Modi is really able to deliver on the his economic vision is anybody’s guess. People have already begun to ask “Achhe Din Kab Aayenge (when will good days come) as food prices, railway fares, etc. have risen signiďŹ cantly since his taking over the higher ofďŹ ce. But for now he certainly appears to have borrowed pro-growth ideas from
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Reagan’s playbook and would like to transform India’s economy through his conservative vision and approach. Mr. Modi’s proclamations (perhaps rooted in his own philosophical convictions) “small government but smart government, new beginning, transparent governmentâ€? etc. are all again quite reminiscent of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Indeed, the theme of Mr. Reagan’s ďŹ rst presidential inaugural in January 1981 was to reduce the size of the government and boost private sector, which he termed “New Beginningâ€?. Mr. Reagan implemented his economic vision of “New Beginningâ€? by massive income tax cuts along with welfare cut which led to a long-term growth of the US economy. As a conservative, size of the Government was always uppermost in Reagan’s mind, who ďŹ rmly believed that Government has to live within its means. There is a popular quote from Mr. Reagan “Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problemâ€?. Though Mr. Modi has not made such a statement as it would be too radical for India, but his conservative mindset certainly resonates with this philosophy since he too wants “small governmentâ€? as reected by his actions. The size of Mr. Modi’s ministerial cabinet is about half to that of his predecessor. He has also consolidated multiple related-departmental entities into fewer administrative units to save costs and boost efďŹ ciency. There are also some similarities between Mr. Modi and Mr. Reagan when it comes to dealing with foreign adversaries. First, both leaders have an image of “no nonsenseâ€? tough guys who would go to any extent to defend their national honor and interest. That includes exercising even the military option if need be. There were some in the United States at the time, who derogatorily called such instincts as being “trigger-happyâ€? or “war mongeringâ€? and erroneously associated Mr. Reagan with them. But that compelled the adversaries to be always on guard and cautious rather than reckless in dealing with the US. This is best exempliďŹ ed by Iran releasing American hostages on January 20th, 1981, after 444 days of captivity. It was
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Mr. Modi, who has won the recent national election almost exclusively on the economic platform, is applying Reagan tools to revive Indian economy. But Mr. Modi has more challenges than did Mr. Reagan since the two countries have vastly different culture, economies and politics. This ride is not likely to be smooth for Mr. Modi but he can achieve the objective of higher economic growth rate if he can create conditions conducive for more private investment (both foreign and domestic), increased employment, easy access to capital for small-scale manufacturing industries, improve labor laws, business-friendly regulatory environment, and curb bribery culture – a tall order indeed. Chandra K. Mittal, M.S., Ph.D., FCP is a Professor of Biotechnology, Houston Community College-Northeast
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Political leaders and their actions are always judged by the history rather than by contemporary times. Mr. Reagan’s economic vision and policies, while unpopular in some quarters at the time, ultimately led to a long-term economic recovery and expansion in the United States with signiďŹ cantly improved Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of his term. They also set the stage for future economic expansion.
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The situation with Mr. Modi and India is somewhat similar when it comes to dealing with Pakistan, a hostile neighbor who has waged three wars against India since its creation in 1947 and continues to harbor and support anti-India terrorists within its borders. Mr. Modi made history and set a record by inviting Mr. Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan to his inauguration in New Delhi. As per media reports, Mr. Modi dealt with the issue of 2008 Mumbai terrorist blast head on and discussed with Mr. Sharif speedy trials of the responsible individuals as the ďŹ rst order of business between the two countries to be followed by trade relations and border disputes. Mr. Modi is likely to be more effective in this arena because of his personal image as a resolute leader with full support of his conservative political party with absolute majority.
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VOICE OF ASIA 3
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
Second Front Page
Friday, July 11, 2014
Page 3
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
Training teachers for a fulfilling Chinmaya Bala Vihar
Acarya Darshanaben
by Padmashree Rao hinmaya Bala Vihar teachers from several centers in North America assembled enthusiastically on the morning of June 28, 2014, at the Sarasvati Nilayam in Chinmaya Prabha, Houston. The occasion was the much- anticipated, comprehensive curriculum training program by Acarya Darshana Nanavaty of Chinmaya Mission Houston. After dedicating the day to Gurudev with a prayer, Acarya Darshanaben conducted an intensely thought-provoking training to a rapt audience for several hours. Over a hundred and fifty people – teachers with many years of experience, new entrants, and other volunteers interested in serving through Bala Vihar, became eager students delighting in the expansive vision that unfolded in the presentation. The audience included teachers from other Hindu organizations, who came to learn about effective teaching methods. As she began, Acarya Dar-
C
Acarya Darshanaben conducting the teacher training program. Photos by Jayesh Mistry
shanaben invited everyone to join her in thinking about the main focus of Bala Vihar. Just as every aspect of Nature finds fulfillment in a picturesque whole, so too will Bala Vihar be a path to fulfillment of both the teachers and the children, she explained. Drawing attention to the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual personalities embedded in each person, the Acarya emphasized, “Integrate your personality.” Through ‘mindful’ integration, the whole would certainly exceed the mere sum of its parts. Acarya Darshanaben pointed out Bala Vihar as that
special place where children learned through ‘integration.’ She called Bala Vihar as a “gym for the young minds.” It would be the happy responsibility of every teacher to help tone the muscles of the mind and intellect while connecting with each child through love and understanding. Decades of experience in designing the worldwide Bala Vihar curriculum and bringing out the teachers’ handbooks for all grades made Acarya Darshanaben’s training valuable to every listener. Reminding all about Gurudev’s vision to “Tell, Never Teach,” she outlined how to inspire
children to reflect as they grow and make knowledge their own. Even as Acarya Darshanaben provided an insightful overview of the scripturesbased curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade, she demonstrated some key instruction techniques to the audience using teachers from the Houston team. Entertaining and engaging with ideas for games and activities, she clarified how learning should be interactive and appealing to children of all grade levels. Throughout the training,
Acarya Darshanaben described how the Bala Vihar books were structured around Benjamin Bloom’s taxonomy, the theory of educational psychology used in schools countrywide. Every aspect of each book aimed to make the children remember, understand, apply, and analyze all scriptural concepts as they grow. Finally, the children would evaluate how far they have imbibed the knowledge and create their own integrated, wholesome lives. Everyone who attended the training then toured the classrooms in Chinmaya Amrta Balamandira where the child-friendly board displays brought alive what Acarya Darshanaben talked about. The Acarya also addressed the challenges that Bala Vihar teachers had to overcome. She said that teachers should first be good students of the scriptures and worthy role models who lived what they taught. Only then would the Bala Vihar classes everywhere continue to grow in strength and spirit. The visiting teachers attended Bala Vihar in Houston on Sunday, June 29th, after Acarya Darshanaben completed the final session of training on Sunday morning. Her main message was that every Bala Vihar teacher must aspire to “be His instrument,” with the conviction that each of them can pass the scriptural wisdom to eternity. When the teachers bowed in grati-
Tel: 713-774-5140 tude before Gurudev, they received a sweetly significant yajna prasada – a key ring holding together the sixteen steps of a puja (puja vidhi). It was a gentle reminder to invoke and worship Knowledge through every step of Bala Vihar seva. Then, Acarya Gaurangbhai Nanavaty reinforced the greatness of teacher in a satsanga where he spoke about Sage Vyasa. He led a meditation session to demonstrate the importance of memory and reflection for spiritual progress. The weekend of training in Houston was the culmination of deeply caring efforts that began many months before. Acarya Darshanaben acknowledged the help of many teachers who had been instrumental in assisting her with the acclaimed Bala Vihar books and the training preparations. She thanked everyone, from the room parents and the kitchen team who fed the attendees of the training to every volunteer who served Gurudev’s mission in Houston. Everyone who attended the weekend training was filled with gratitude for Acarya Darshana Nanavaty’s untiring and loving guidance. The lessons from this training will go far and beyond, to hold high Pujya Gurudeva Swami Chinmayananda’s vision for Chinmaya Bala Vihar. Hari Om! For more information on Chinmaya Mission Houston and its activities visit www. chinmayahouston.org or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-9330233.
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VOICE OF ASIA 4
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
“Mapping Your Future” Talk by Latha Ramchand
Dean Latha Ramchand (right) with IACCGH Board Member and Event Chair Joya Shukla.
D
ean Latha Ramchand of the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston conducted a follow up session for her talk “Mapping Your Future” originally delivered on November 13, 2013 at the Hess Club. The Chamber also opened it up to women who had missed the previous session and wanted to be part of this “ mentoring circle” event sponsored by Shell. The Dean’s talk centered on the topic of taking a strategic approach to planning your career. She emphasized the following points: Follow your heart: While
things change and plans must be flexible, we must start by allowing our strengths to inform our career choices. A personal SWOT analysis provides a good starting point. Our passions must ultimately speak to our ‘jobs’. The power of strategic networks: Networks are critical and rather than letting the event in our life dictate our networks, we must cultivate networks based on our passions and goals. List your challenges: Finally we must be clear about our challenges and tackle them head on, whether they are personal habits we need to get rid of, or education and credentials we need to acquire so we
IACCGH President, Exe Director and Directors with the guest Speaker.
achieve our goals.
attendees
Track your progress: Like the way we depend on GPS systems anymore to track our destinations and road maps, we must think about career goals in an analytical manner and map out steps to get there, recognizing that there might be traffic jams not to mention ‘detour’ signs we may have to allow for.
On June 18th, 2014 I got the opportunity to attend a “IACCGH Women’s Leadership Series” event on the topic “Mapping your future” led by Dr. Latha Ramchand, Dean of the C.T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston. The event started with dinner followed by the session where Dr. Ramachand introduced us to the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis. She asked us to take few minutes and write a few points on our strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats based on our individual understanding. She emphasized that writing these down would help us to use
IACCGH President Sanjay Ramabhadran welcomed the guests and the men left the room before the session began. Board member Joya Shukla chaired the event and can be contacted at joya.shukla@ shell.com for more information on future events. The perspective of one of the
our strengths and work on our weaknesses so that we can utilize the available opportunities without being threatened by our perceived threats. This led to small discussion where participants discussed and shared their personal stories. She also emphasized the fact that it is very important to know both our short and long term goals and write them in such a way that they are visible to us every day and hence, help us to be on track. We may break them down into small goals on a daily basis which lead us towards reaching our long term goals. When we see those goals being achieved, our brain releases the hormone Dopamine which keeps up happy
and more motivated about achieving our goals. She also suggested that one should ponder upon the tactics they need to use to develop expertise and attain their career goals. It may be through education, training, conferences and books. She stressed that one should strategize networking and must work towards creating/ expanding network that will help them towards reaching their professional/personal goals. Overall, it was a great workshop which pushed me to think about my goals and strategize them properly in order to achieve them. It familiarized me with various tactics that I can use to improve myself on a regular basis. I will look forward to attend more similar events in future.
Parents/Community Invited to Free Substance Abuse Awareness Event The event takes place July 15, 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the Student Services Building Lecture Hall at University of Houston-Clear Lake.
H
OUSTON (July 8, 2014) - Memorial Hermann Prevention and Recovery Center (PaRC), in partnership with University of Houston-Clear Lake Counseling Services, will hold a free special event featuring a well-known expert in the field of substance abuse in teens and adults. PaRC Program Director Stacie Allphin will speak about the warning signs and symptoms of drug use, practical ways to address the use, determining when to seek help, and an overview of the various levels of treatment offered for individuals in Houston. The presentation will also highlight trends in teen drug abuse and practical ways to help teenagers grow up substance-free. The event takes place on Tuesday, July 15, 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the Student Services Building Lecture Hall at University of Houston-Clear Lake located on 2700 Bay Area Blvd. Parents, health care providers, and community members are invited. According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, by the time they are seniors, almost 70 per-
cent of high school students will have tried alcohol, half will have taken an illegal drug, and more than 20 percent will have used a prescription drug for a nonmedical purpose. In today’s world, parents must also understand the dangers of designer drugs, which are most popular among high school age kids and young adults. Recently, five young people in Montgomery County overdosed on a synthetic hallucinogen sometimes called N-bomb that can cause violent behavior, increased heart rate, nausea, seizures, and even death. The Harris County Police Department will be on hand with samples of what popular illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia look like and to answer questions. “Substance use is a widespread issue and it’s affecting people from various age groups and backgrounds,” said Allphin. “We’ve found many people don’t know when to seek help or the options available to them. Houston is recognized for its wide variety of substance abuse
programs; we want families to have a better grasp on what to do and where to turn when a loved one is facing addiction.” 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. 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. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend this free event to learn more about detecting and responding to substance abuse issues. For more information, email Amanda.Wyble@memorialhermann. org.
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VOICE OF ASIA 5
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
Aani Thirumanjanam Puja Ekal Vidyalaya For Lord Nataraja At Foundation Raising Sri Meenakshi Temple Record $5 Million for 2014 by Prakash Waghmare, “Ekal” PR-Media Affairs Nat’l Committee Member hen the Hon. Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi in his first maiden speech to the Indian Parliament talked about ‘issue-centric focused activities like Education to eradicate poverty’, it was as if he was referring “Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation” (‘EVF’) mission. For past 25 years, “Ekal-USA” has been dispensing Literacy, Health care, and Integral development in rural & tribal areas of India uplifting countless neglected isolated masses. “Ekal” recently concluded its annual fund-raising campaign through a series of concerts, all across USA. ‘Ekal’ hosted 69 concerts through its satellite Chapters, where its pool of over one thousand dedicated volunteers insured their grand success. Last year, Ekal had raised over $4.50 Million, most of it through concerts. This year according to ‘EVF’ President, Vinod Jhunjhunwala, it is on its way to raise at least $5 Million. “Ekal” as you know, is the largest grass-root NGO movement of its kind undertaken by Indians and NRIs, globally This year ‘Ekal’ had invited two groups of artistes to headline its events. One group of artistes was headed by renowned Kathak dancer Aditi Bhagwat and another was headed by Gujarat’s Nightingale “Vibhavari Yadav”. Both the artistes pulled record crowds this year wherever they performed. Aditi Bhagwat’s concert theme “Avartan” proved to be a mesmerizing composition of ‘Taal, Saaz Aur Awaaz through Kathak fusion Dances & Bollywood melodies’. It was a uniquely produced audio-video music spectacle of five different disciplines such as Dance, Tabla, Vocal, Drums & Sarangi. Vibhavari
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Nishka Ayyar’s Arangetaram performance in Campbell, CA for Ekal Vidyalaya
Yadav’s concerts were devoted to old nostalgic Bollywood melodies which have eternally captivated our hearts. Each concert was coupled with a power-point & DVD presentations on Ekal’s activities, its ecliptic progress, and various innovative projects that empower the village masses. In the ‘Ekal’ movement, its youth-wing has always played a key role. Students and young adults around the country are gravitating towards the Ekal cause and coming up with creative fundraising and awareness events. Adeet Phanse, Ashwin Sethi and their friends in NJ raised funds for Ekal by entertaining the Senior Citizens in Nursing Homes and at Indian festivities. Sai Khisty at Rutgers University in NJ and Somil Sanghvi a highschooler in MA organized basketball tournaments to benefit ‘Ekal’. Sahana Srinivasan, a 11th grader at Lexington High School, Lexington, MA organized a fun-night called ‘Rangeela’, not only, to create awareness about ‘Ekal’,
but also, to raise thousands of Dollars for it. On March 8, Nishka Ayyar in Campbell, CA made Ekal the centerpiece of her ‘Arangetaram’ gifts. Three young men, Kunal, Vimal, and Amit who founded ‘Weekend Casual’ in CA, an outlet for Men’s fashion, have resolved to donate a part of their earnings to ‘Ekal’ and are also promoting Ekal-cause through their company’s website. In such individual efforts, Stephen Hinlick has proved to be the trail-blazer. A young entrepreneur from Tampa Bay area, Stephen has embarked on a solo walkathon from Tampa, FL to Seattle, WA to meet 100,000 people along the way to raise $100,000 for ‘Ekal’. This ‘Walk- AcrossUSA’ episode by a person who knew nothing about the country and the culture he desperately wanted to help reflects how Ekal has caught people’s imagination to eradicate illiteracy from the face of our developing nation. For details about ‘Ekal’, one can visit its web www.ekal.org.
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he word “Thirumanjanam” means Holy bath. Aani (Tamil month spanning mid June -mid July) Thirumanjanam is a special day (Uthiram Nakshtram) when an Abhishekam is performed for Lord Nataraja. At Sri Meenakshi Temple, Pearland Aani Thirumanjanam was celebrated on July 4th with the traditional Abhishekam which was witnessed by devotees on a slightly drizzling evening as the dusk set-in at the Sannadhi of Lord Nataraja (Lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer). The Lord’s form demonstrates his five-fold functions: creation (with a rattle – Udukkai in his right hand), preservation (raised right hand with open palm), destruction left hand holding fire), concealment (firmly placed foot) and salvation (his slightly lifted other leg). Following the Abhishekam conduct-
Abhishekam being conducted to Lord Nataraja.
Toshani Viswanathan, VHS student performed the Bharatanatyam dance in front of the deities.
ed by Sri Mannicka Sundaram Bhattar, the tradition is to offer the Prayers to Lord Nataraja, in the form of dance. At Meenakshi temple, one of VHS students, Toshani Viswanathan performed the beautiful classical Bharatanatyam dance
in front of the deity, as the devotees offered their prayers. The evening concluded with Aarthi and Prasadam was distributed. The devotees were thankful to Religious Activities Committee, represented
by its chair S. Narayanan for bringing this traditional Puja and celebration which is followed to this day in such exalted holy places (sthala) such as Chidambaram for the benefit of devotees right here in Houston.
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COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 6
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FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
Hindus of Greater Houston To Celebrate Exciting Silver Jubilee ‘Janmashtami’
he year 2014 marks the 25th anniversary celebrations of Janmashtami (birthday of Lord Krishna) in Houston by the Hindus of Greater Houston (HGH). This communitywide event will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, August 23, 2014 in a bigger hall with 135000 square feet of space, which can accommodate over 10 thousand people. The event free and open to all; and presents a perfect opportunity to invite your neighbors and colleagues to showcase our rich Hindu culture. HGH, who strives to bring all the Hindus together, has planned special programs for all ages to make this event a grand success. HGH has invited a very special guest, Sri Saurabh Raj Jain, an extremely popular television actor of India and who plays the role of Lord Krishna in the TV serial “Mahabharat”, one of the great-
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nvironmental activists pressing battery maker Rayovac on their recycling policies have announced plans to travel to Wisconsin—the company’s home—for demonstrations later this month, and they will be raising money to support the RayovACTION Road Trip for Better Battery Recycling through an online crowdsourced fundraising effort. The fundraiser, launched this week by Texas Campaign for the Environment, had already raised more than 25% of their $6500 goal, and the group is busy recruiting local and regional allies to ensure a successful protest against Rayovac, who they describe as a “laggard” on battery recycling. “Batteries do not belong in landfills or incinerators, but Rayovac is still telling consumers to throw their batteries in the trash,” Robin Schneider, Executive Director for Texas Campaign for the Environment said. “While their competitors have been front and center in efforts to pass state level battery recycling legislation around the country, Rayovac can’t be bothered to show any leadership on this vital issue. Consumers from Texas to Wisconsin and in every other corner of this country need solutions for battery recycling; we are pressing Rayovac to make a public commitment to help them.” Rayovac is owned by Middleton, Wisconsin based Spectrum Brands, and activists have been building coalitions with environmentalists in the Madison area in order to make their upcoming demonstrations a success. “Rayovac has a history of environmental problems here in Wisconsin, but they have made pledges to change. We want to hold them accountable to those pledges and make sure these words are backed up with action,” Maria Powell, President of the Midwest Environmental Justice Organization (MEJO), a supporter of the upcoming demonstrations said. “Yes, we want Spectrum to own up to its toxic legacy in Madison, and its longterm effects on Yahara lakes and fish, but we also want the company to help consumers across the country prevent future environmental problems. Moving off the fence when it comes to battery recycling and telling consumers to keep their batteries out of the trash is an important first step.” Rayovac is one of the four largest battery makers. They were the only major battery company to decline participation in the nonprofit Corporation for Battery Recycling as it pushed for manufacturer-led battery recycling legislation. Environmental advocates want Rayovac to actively support recycling legislation and join their competitors in leading the way towards marketbased solutions for household batteries. “We want Rayovac to stop telling consumers in this country to throw batteries in the trash. They tell consumers overseas to recycle their batteries because throwing them away is bad for the environment,” Schneider said. “We want them to support legislation which sets strong goals for collections and which makes sure that batteries are actually being recycled. These resources don’t belong buried in a landfill where they can threaten our land and water, and Rayovac can help us keep them from ending up there.” Texas Campaign for the Environment is a grassroots group
est epics on earth. It will be a lifetime opportunity to meet such a great personality The live garba / dandia singing group is specially being flown in from India which includes the famous Sajda sisters lead singer Anita Pandit, who shot to fame in the X Factor talent program on Indian Television. To add to the diversity, the well known Kirtan (congregational chanting of sacred mantras accompanied by music) singing group, “the Mayapuris”, will also perform at the event. A traditional welcome will include breathtaking Rangoli (decoration) with ice depicting Lord Krishna, his beloved cow and a lotus flower. This will be a perfect picture spot for all friends and families to make the event memorable for years to come. Saurabh Raj Jain, TV actor from the popular series ‘Mahabharat’ will be the special guest at the Janmashtami celebrations. in Houston.
HGH is also working on a few other specials for this event
Recycling Advocates Plan Demonstrations Against Rayovac in Wisconsin Later This Month founded in 1991 with offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin and over 40,000 members statewide. They are one of the only groups in Texas with members in all 181
state legislative districts, and they were successful in pressing the Texas legislature into passing electronics recycling legislation in 2007, 2009 and 2011. Past
direct action demonstrations in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Tennessee and elsewhere have garnered national and even international press attention.
“We aren’t afraid to confront businesses who are doing the wrong thing on recycling, and we are always happy to celebrate those who are doing
and will announce them as they are finalized. Other items such as children’s costume contest, booths by various organizations, beautiful decorations, delicious and ample Indian snack foods, and more will make for a special evening. HGH will also release a special 25th anniversary souvenir with interesting articles about Houston Hindus. For advertisements and article submissions, please contact Ravi Sharma 303-589-0053. Please visit www.hindusofhouston.org for more information. OR contact Chairperson Partha Krishnaswamy (713962-8523) for event details, Sharad Amin (713-854-0633) for sponsorship / donation opportunities, Richa Dixit (832-451-7206) for volunteer opportunities, Sheetal Rathi (281-597-8794) for costume contest, or Charlie Patel (832423-7979) for booth information. right,” Schneider said. “We have turned old targets into longtime allies, and we look forward to doing the same with Rayovac. They control their own destiny here, and we are ready to travel across the country to be a voice for thousands of Americans who have already told Rayovac to take batteries back for recycling.”
DIASPORA
VOICE OF ASIA 7
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
4 Indian-Americans honoured Singapore to double riot police after Little India riot in US on Independence day
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INGAPORE, (PTI) Singapore will double the size of its frontline anti-riot forces and step up surveillance after the country witnessed its worst street violence in 40 years during the Little India riot last year. Talking about the December 8 riot and a report from an official probe into the incident, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said in Parliament yesterday that 300 more officers will be added to the Special Operations Command (SOC), doubling its current strength of deployable frontline troopers trained in riot control. “We will commence the build-up immediately, and progressively build up its capabilities over the next two to three years,” Teo was quoted as saying by the Straits Times. “Given the riot, police must re-assess the likelihood of having to deal with large scale public order incidents and strengthen the ability of its forces to do so,” Teo said.
The riot force beefing is a change in policy from the past when police shifted its focus to crime prevention and community policing following a sharp drop in public disorders from the mid-1970s, he said.
round-the-clock stand-by duty will increase from eight to 12, he said.
Teo, who is also Home Affairs Minister, set out these measures in a ministerial statement while responding to the report by the state-appointed Committee of Inquiry into the December 8 riot in Singapore’s Little India.
The number of officers in each troop will also be raised from 35 to 44, and the officers will be provided with “additional equipment to improve their sense-making and operational capabilities,” enabling each to deal more effectively with a wider range of situations and crowd size, he said.
The riot left 54 police and defence officers injured and 23 emergency vehicles damaged on the night of December 8, when an Indian national died in an accident linked to a private bus in the Little India precinct. The COI conducted a month-long probe and presented the report on June 30, with eight recommendations, including the need to beef up police force. Teo said the government has accepted the COI recommendations. The Police Tactical Troops from the SOC, which are on
The additional troops will be “configured for rapid deployment on lighter and more mobile platforms”.
Besides increasing manpower, police has also been using improved deployment strategies and invested in technology as a “force multiplier”, the minister said. The technology included installation of police cameras. “This combination of better operational deployments and technology have contributed significantly to keeping crime low and solving cases,” said Teo.
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UBAI: A leading UAEbased Indian businessman has offered jobs to 46 Indian nurses who returned to their homeland after being stranded for about a month in the militants-held region in Iraq.
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UBAI: The number of Indians working in Oman has witnessed the biggest drop over the last two months as the Gulf nation started implementing its nationalisation programme, new visa regulations and job bans.
The nurses lost their jobs and livelihood in the violence-hit Iraq.
Of the 46 nurses, 45 hail from
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ASHINGTON: Four Indian-Americans were among 40 people who were honoured for their contributions to the US in the annual Great Immigrants tribute in New York on the country’s independence day.
were honoured along with 36 others, the Wall Street Journal reported. Hyderabad-born Nadella created quite a stir recently by becoming one of the most powerful leaders in technology after taking over as head of the Microsoft Corp. He studied electronics and communication engineering before heading to the US in the 1980s. Mumbai-born Mandvi first moved to England before migrating to the US when he was
He served as director of the National Science Foundation from 2010 to 2013. Appointed by US President Barack Obama, he led the federal science agency in its mission to advance the fields of science and engineering research. Sethna was born in India in 1948 and served as the sixth president of the University of West Georgia - the first IndianAmerican to lead a university in the US. The July 4 event was sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation, a foundation started by a Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie who spearheaded the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and was himself one of the most well-known philanthropists of his time.
Drop in number of Indians working in Oman
NMC Healthcare Group CEO Dr B R Shetty has made the offer to nurses, assuring them he would find place for them in the UAE, an NMC official said.
After about a month’s long ordeal in the strife-torn Iraq, the nurses returned to their homeland yesterday with most of them vowing not to go back risking their lives.
Nadella created quite a stir recently by becoming one of the most powerful leaders in technology after taking over as head of the Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft Corp chief executive Satya Nadella, Comedian and actor Aasif Mandvi, Carnegie Mellon University president Subra Suresh and former president of the University of West Georgia, Beheruz Sethna
UAE-based Indian businessman offers jobs to 46 Indian nurses
Shetty, who owns and runs hospitals in the UAE, Egypt and India, has conveyed his offer to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the official said.
16. He became famous as a correspondent on “The Daily Show,” where he was known for his satire on issues such as Islam, the Middle East and South Asia. Suresh, who is an engineer and scientist, was born in Chennai and moved to the US to work on a postgraduate science degree, graduating in 1979. He is the ninth president of the Carnegie Mellon University.
NMC Healthcare Group CEO Dr B R Shetty has made the offer to nurses, assuring them he would find place for them in the UAE, an NMC official said. various districts of Kerala and one belongs to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. Al-Qaeda splinter group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has carved out a large fiefdom along the Iraqi-Syrian
border and declared an Islamic caliphate across the stretch of territory it controls, posing a threat to Baghdad. The nurses were stranded in Tikrit, a city captured by the militants early last month.
The NCSI data shows that there was a dip of 0.1 per cent in the number of Indian workers in January this year when compared to December 2013. While 599,473 Indians were working in Oman in December
A dip of 0.1 per cent was also witnessed for Indian workers in December when compared with the data of November 2013. According to the report, in November 2013, the number of Indian workers was 600,349, but it fell down to 599,473 in December. “Since the first month of this year, the Ministry of Manpower imposed a temporary ban on different job categories for expatriates. In addition to this, new regulations have been imposed for visa status. These might have been reasons for the dip in the number of expatriates, mainly Indians,” Deepa
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“The government’s decision to reserve certain jobs only for Omanis as part of the Omanization process might have led to this situation. Changes in the visa status might also be an additional reason,” ShajiSebastin, a Muscat-based social worker, told the newspaper. (PTI).
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It was reported last month that the ministry was committed to reducing the number of expatriates working in the private sector from the current level of 39 per cent to 33 per cent, which would see the number of expatriate workers ultimately dropping from 692,867 to 586,272.
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There has also been a drop in Pakistani and Ethiopian numbers, the Times of Oman report said quoting latest data issued by the country’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
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COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 8
Houston Rath-Yatra – brings communities together! Continued from Page 1
annath by sweeping his chariot. Standing on the chariot, I was inspired to see the hundreds of attendees displaying their passion and devotion. I (am) looking forward to next year to be able to be part of the procession once again.”
house on a 24-feet high, newly built chariot, decorated with applique works on haldi and kumkum colored fabric. It’s amazing, how natives of Houston, could work for months to replicate the same experience as of historic town of Puri, thousands miles away. In the early morning, many devotees attended the havan, which was led by Dr. Debananda Pati himself. Soon morning rituals followed which included a traditional offering of ‘Chhapan Bhog’, the 56-varieties of food which is said to constitute Lords’ palate on any given day! It is said and believed that Lord Vishnu takes His bath at Rameswaram, meditates at Badrinath, dines at Puri and retires at Dwarika! The volunteers have undertaken a massive task of preserving these age old recipes of Chhapan Bhog by researching and learning as well as preparing them for deities as well as for the devotees. It’s amazing how this event has grown and brought communities together in last seven years. For the last two years, OCC members have taken this initiative to guide people on importance of healthy living. Through organized Free Health Fair, the patients were checked for Blood pressure, BMI for obesity screening, blood sugar and cholesterol. Each patient received a limited physical examination and advice for healthy living by a physician. The spectacular royal procession is called Pahandi Bije when devotees carry their lords from interiors of temple to the chariot in a wavered motion. A very emotional indeed and it was very hard on devotees to control the tears rolling down, such was the beautiful expe-
Kalasudha Devi Dasi was the Emcee. rience of finding the Lord at such proximity. Though this year, even in Puri, the decision by Temple administration as well as Sri Sankaracharya was taken to prohibit people in climbing and holding the Lords on Chariot, here in Houston, people look forward to serve the Lords in whatever way they can and that is how this event is being possible to be in large scale with the help of many organization coming forward to spread the message of universal love and brotherhood. Another important ritual is ‘Chhera Pahanra’ when the symbolic King would sweep chariot and the path with sandal wood paste and holy water. This year Dr.Shanti Bansal graced the occasion with the poise of King and related his experience in his words, “As the king of the Rath-yatra Festival, I had the honor of serving and praying tribute to Lord Jag-
This year the incredible Emcee was none other than Kalasudha Devi Dasi. The dignified and simple ways of Kalasudhaji brings complex scriptures to common parlance – a very rare gift! This was her second time for the role and she was equally magnanimous in her explanation of Jagannatha katha.
After morning rituals and with the chanting of Geeta path and Vishnu Sahasra Nama, the Lords had taken rest only to wake up to the beautiful Odissi Dances as well as the bhajans of Anuradha ji. Malina Maharana, a Memorial high school Senior and a student of Guru Smt. Supradipta Datta, performed ‘Durga Stuti’ to the thunderous clapping of audience. Anuradha Paudwal took the whole stage on her stride by melodious bhajans in many Indian languages. She obliged many requests from audience and the impromptu Garba was a lovely gesture to get the audience connects to the bhajans. She participated in Pahandi Bije as well as led the devotees for Arati with Jai Jagadisha Hare…with nice breeze flowing, and with deities blessing from chariot, she continued her repertoire supported by her team of talented musicians
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FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
Minnu Augustine Awarded Certificate for Science Project
n May 28th Minnu Augustine has been awarded the certificate of achievement by Prof. Simon Bott, Head of the Chemistry Department, University of Houston at a dinner hosted by American Chemical Society and UOH at Hotel Hilton UOH. Minnu received this certificate for her prize winning project for the 9th grade category in the 55th Annual Science and Engineering Fair of Houston 2014 organized by American Chemical Society – Greater Houston Section and University of Houston conducted at George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston during February 2014. She has competed in the Chemistry section with her project on a homemade Polari-meter. There were twenty seven students competing in her category from all Houston Region. The judging panel commended and the viewers appreciated her about the project. She has been selected by the Hightower High School to represent in the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston 2014. Minnu is a freshman of the Medical Academy of Fort Bend ISD at Hightower High School, Missouri city, Texas. She is also a talented singer and a member of the varsity choir of her school. She also participates in the St. Joseph’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church choir. She is an active member of Red Cross, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and including her son Aditya Paudwal on a decked up stage next to chariot. Many prominent leaders as well as priests from various religious organizations joined
Minnu Augustine seen receiving the Certificate
Minnu Augustine with her Certificate. Generation Youth Volunteer. She also dedicates time for her community ORUMA (Our River stone United Malayalee Association). She is the second daughter of Rosamma and
Augustine Kanjiramattom, resident of River stone, Sugar Land in Texas. Her elder sister Annette is also attending the Medical Academy and she is a senior now.
together in the Maha- Arati for three lords – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Samuhik prayer with all love and dedication, was sure a step forward in world peace.
With all diyas lighted, the divine smell of incense, the sound of cymbal, kirtans , bhajans and spontaneity of dancing and humming by audience was sure a moment captured in history.
Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra at Durga Bari Continued from Page 1
This was completed with the help of several eager devotees who were delighted having the chance to hold the deities. After all the deities including Nrushingha and Lord Ganesh were situated properly on the Rath, a ceremonial King Indradyumna, Dr. Raghu Dass performed the Chhera Panhara (brooming) ceremony to cleanse the path of progress for the Rath. Kirtan, led by Sripad BV Tirtha Maharaj from Sri Govindji Gaudiya Matha, Chants of Maha Mantra and Jai Jagannatha filled the air as devotees started pulling the Rath. With great enthusiasm, the devotees pulled the Rath three times
Priest and elders of the community who led the festivities.
within the temple premises to symbolize the journey of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra to their aunt’s house (Gundicha Temple). Once the Rath pulling was complete, devotees made a bee line to climb onto the Rath to see their beloved Lord and have a chance to touch them and do pradakshina around the singhasana of the deities. After that it was time for the devotees to get to Kala Bhavan to get lunch Prasadam, which was prepared so lovingly by Durga Bari volunteers. Then on July 5th, Bahuda Yatra or Return Rath Yatra was celebrated. Bahuda Yatra is the return journey of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra
and Devi Subhadra from their Aunt’s house to the main temple. It is significant in the sense that it completes Rath Yatra. This is the only day in the year when Rasgulla is offered to the Lord. As per the rituals in Puri, Rasgulla is offered by Lord Jagannatha to Goddess Laxmi to enter into the temple. Char Dham Hindu temple and Houston Durga Bari Society are truly grateful to all the devotees and volunteers for participating in the festivities and making it a grand success. For more information please visit, http://greaterhoustonrathyatra.org or http:// skaifoundation.org
SOUTH ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 9
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
I-T notice in National Herald Pakistan condemns Israeli case a political witch-hunt: aggression in Palestine: FO Sonia Gandhi I SLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam on Wednesday said that Pakistan condemns Israeli aggression and supports the international community’s efforts in bringing about a cessation of unilateral Israeli strikes killing Palestinians, including women and children.
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ew Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday confirmed that her party has been served notices by the Income Tax department in a case that alleges she and other party leaders misappropriated funds of a company that used to publish the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.
“Pakistan is deeply concerned over the recent escalation of violence and loss of lives in Gaza and has consistently supported the Palestinian cause, especially the two-state solution which paves the way for a viable, geographically contiguous Palestinian state, created on the basis
Talking to a news channel, Gandhi cited political vindictiveness as the reason behind the notices. “This kind of political witchhunt will only help us and help us to come back faster,” Gandhi told the channel. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, on whose complaint the summon was issued, said, “The BJP is not in the picture and there is no vindictiveness”. “This is a private complaint. Maybe, I should educate Sonia Gandhi about law,” added Swamy. The BJP, however, denied Sonia Gandhi’s charge. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the BJP is not into vindictive politics or else Congress would have no place to hide. At the AICC briefing, party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi confirmed that the AICC has received notice yesterday. “This notice and earlier procedures are going to be given vigorous, robust and comprehensive reply. A befitting reply”, he said. The spokesman said the Congress was not in the habit of sharing with the media in advance the reply but alleged that it was an absolutely vendetta politics shows the fear and insecurity of the new elected government. Singhvi remarked that history of politics showed how vendetta and pettiness boomeranged. “This is cheap poli-
“This witch-hunt will help Congress come back to power,” Sonia said. tics and history shows what happens when one resorts to vendetta.” Replying to questions, he said what has happened was politically motivated and has been initiated by the leader in the BJP despite the fact that it has “none of the ingredients of an offence”. Despite this, Singhvi remarked, it was being “flaunted” before the media and made sensational. “We have much to say to the appropriate forum,” he added. Last month, a court here had issued summons to Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi in the case. In response to a private complaint filed by Swamy, Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha had said: “I have found prima facie evidence against all the accused.” The court had directed them to appear before it on August 07. The summons were also served on Young India. The Congress called it “a motivated complaint”. “The allegations are baseless,” said
party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi. A party statement added: “All the people named in the National Herald matter will seek legal advice and do the needful.” Apart from the Gandhis, the court had also summoned Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda, who was an advisor to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, and former journalist Suman Dubey, who is close to the Gandhi family. The complaint alleged that the Gandhis formed a company, Young India, in 2010 with 38 percent share each to take control of Rs 2,000 crore worth of assets of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), which published the National Herald. The National Herald was started in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru. Over the decades, it lost circulation and ran into major financial losses, leading to its closure in 2008. Young India thus acquired the complete ownership of AJL real estate assets of at least Rs 2,000 crore, including a multistoreyed building in a prime location in Delhi.(Zee Media Bureau).
of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” she added.
ond rounds of elections on April 5 and June 14 respectively.
The FO spokeswoman also said that Pakistan supports a peaceful democratic transition of power in Afghanistan.
The spokeswoman said Pakistan has also constantly emphasised that it would respect the democratic choice of the Afghan people.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Aslam said Pakistan extended all possible support for holding peaceful presidential elections in the neighbouring country.
Aslam expressed the hope that all issues relating to preliminary results would be resolved through dialogue within the framework of Afghanistan’s Constitution and laws.
Aslam said Pakistan took several measures to enhance vigilance and security along the border during the first and sec-
She said a peaceful, stable, unified and prosperous Afghanistan is vital for regional peace and stability.
Ravi Venkatesan Joins The Rockefeller Foundation’s Board of Trustees
N
EW YORK—The Rockefeller Foundation, now in its second century of advancing the well-being of humanity, today announced the appointment of Ravi Venkatesan to its Board of Trustees. Mr. Venkatesan is the former Chairman of Microsoft India and currently Founder and Chairman of Social Venture Partners India, a network of philanthropists addressing social problems. He is also a Venture Partner at impact investor Unitus Seed Fund. “With our commitment to catalyze new ideas and innovations at The Rockefeller Foundation, I am delighted to welcome Ravi Venkatesan, a proven leader with strong business and technology backgrounds,” said Board Chair David Rockefeller, Jr. “His experience will be invaluable in advancing the Foundation’s commitment to scaling innovations that expand opportunity, realize shared prosperity, and create jobs for more people globally.” “Our century of investment in Asia has focused on addressing our dual goals of promoting more inclusive economies and building greater resilience against shocks and stresses,” said Dr. Judith Rodin, President
of The Rockefeller Foundation. “Ravi, with his commitment to philanthropy along with his eye for solutions and relentless drive for innovation, will provide essential guidance to our work in the years ahead.” “I am thrilled and honored to be joining The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees,” Mr. Venkatesan said. “The Rockefeller Foundation’s history of supporting the ingenuity of innovators who have transformed and improved billions of lives of poor or vulnerable people is unparalleled, and I very much look forward to contributing to its legacy.” As Chairman of Microsoft India between 2004 and 2011, Mr. Venkatesan helped build India into Microsoft’s second-largest presence in the world and one of its fastest growing markets. He was instrumental in creating Microsoft India’s Project Shiksha, a computer literacy program which has so far trained over 40 million school children in India. Prior to Microsoft, Mr. Ventakesan was the Chairman of Cummins India, a leader of power solutions and engines. He is also the author of an acclaimed book “Conquering the Chaos: Win in India, Win Ev-
Ravi Venkatesan erywhere,” published by Harvard Business Review. About The Rockefeller Foundation For more than 100 years, The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission has been to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today, The Rockefeller Foundation pursues this mission through dual goals: advancing inclusive economies that expand opportunities for more broadly shared prosperity, and building resilience by helping people, communities and institutions prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses.
VOICE OF ASIA 10
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
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VOICE OF ASIA 11
LIFESTYLE
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com
Vol. 27
No. 28
Friday, July 11, 2014 Section 2
Page 11
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140
Pune’s Parsi Heritage Is Irreplacable Mehar Road still proudly boasts of many Parsi homes and restaurants and Zoroastrian Fire Temples that have prospered over the centuries and have stood the test of times but with a fast dwindling Parsi Zoroastrian community with low birth rate and many young Zoroastrians moving to west for better life and greener pastures. One of the other main contentions is the rent act where many of the older homes are occupied by tenants and the owners get meagre rents. It will be a challenge for Sharbatwala Chowk to preserve and sustain the architecture and way of life. Already older heritage structures are fasting vanishing from the landscape cottages made of wood are being replaced by modern construction and concrete edifices and with urban construction there is also scarcity of land and such prime locations are under constant attention of land sharks and construction mafia. The neighbouring alleys which have peculiar names like Booty Street and Taboot Street have by now already lost much of their heritage. Land-
Quaint old buildings that are trade mark of Parsi, Iranian Architecture.
by Sameer Khan
P
une is undoubtedly the cultural capital of Maharashtra that can boast of many historical monuments, revolutionaries and reformers but there is also another side of the city that is Pune camp which has stood the test of time and has its own tale and that too a glorious one.
Pune Camp is a world in its itself and for me growing up in Camp— MG Road was a unmatched experience. It’s such a melting pot of many cultures and ethnicities. Situated near the army cantonment, Camp was created as a main business and shopping centre during the British rule. It hosted eateries, schools, shops, markets and cinema halls even a century ago. Its inhabitants included Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Parsis, Jews, Anglo Indians and all ethnic identities but even within MG Road the most notable landmark remained Sharbatwala Chowk which is an enclave of Zoroastrians and Iranians. It was just another place for every citizen of Pune and nothing exceptional about it for the locals
but when some years ago when I was reading the Short Stories collection of Pune born and now England based author Farukh Dhondi called “Poona Company” based on his memories of growing up as a Parsi child in 1950’s I realized the beauty and uniqueness Sharbatwala Chowk. Lovely wooden quaint houses belonging to 19th century of wonderful colours and potpourri of various cultures Dastur Meher Road stands out proud with its quaint old buildings that are trade mark of Parsi, Iranian Architecture. Sharbatwala Chowk and M.G.Road over the years have sustained its landmarks like Kayani Bakery that’s well known for its Shrewsbury biscuits, Café Yezdan for its Tea and bun maska (butter bread) and Dorabjee restaurant for its Biryani, Dhansak and other authentic Parsi cuisine and behind it stands Jimmy lodge a host to hundreds of race goers that would visit Pune for its racing season in yesteryears. Sharbatwala Chowk and Dastur
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marks like Kayani and Naaz Hotel have made way for new buildings and have already faded into history. Ideal solution would be that the city authorities declare entire M.G. Road and Sharbatwala Chowk as a heritage zone that would surely go a long way to preserve the charm of quaint architecture and a way of life that has enriched Pune for many generations but with the current trend of expansion, population explosion, hunger for more space and migration of Parsis, one wonders how long will this unique lifestyle manage to sustain itself. Yet for all those who love the Architecture and heritage of Camp and Sharbatwala Chowk there is still time to have a bun maska jam breakfast in Café Yezdan, fresh shrewsbury biscuits at Kayani bakery and a sumptuous Parsi meal at Dorabjee or merely amble through and get the feel of picturesque Dastur Mehar Road that remains the last bastion of a wonderful way of life. (DNA). Sameer Khan is Playwright, Author and an Independent Writer.
Young Life
VOICE OF ASIA 12
Friday, July 11, 2014
Section 2
Page 12
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
The Hard Part
to sit at home and grade papers for 18 hours straight. She was awesome, but she left teaching, because doing triage broke her heart. So if you show up at my door saying, “Here’s a box from Pearson. Open it up, hand out the materials, read the script, and stick to the daily schedule. Do that, and your classroom will work perfectly,� I will look you in your beady eyes and ask, “Are you high? Are you stupid?� Because you have to be one of those. Maybe both. Getty Images/Score RF
by Peter Greene, Teacher, writer, blogger at curmudgucation. (HiffPost Education)
T
hey never tell you in teacher school, and it’s rarely discussed elsewhere. It is never, ever portrayed in movies and tv shows about teaching. Teachers rarely bring it up around non-teachers for fear it will make us look weak or inadequate. Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post once put together a series of quotes to answer the question “How hard is teaching?â€? and asked for more in the comments section. My rant didn’t entirely ďŹ t there, so I’m putting it here, because it is on the list of Top Ten Things They Never Tell You in Teacher School. The hard part of teaching is coming to grips with this: There is never enough. There is never enough time. There are never enough resources. There is never enough you. As a teacher, you can see what a perfect job in your classroom would look like. You know all the assignments you should be giving. You know all the feedback you should be providing your students. You
know all the individual crafting that should provide for each individual’s instruction. You know all the material you should be covering. You know all the ways in which, when the teachable moment emerges (unannounced as always), you can greet it with a smile and drop everything to make it grow and blossom. You know all this, but you can also do the math. 110 papers about the view of death in American Romantic writing times 15 minutes to respond with thoughtful written comments equals -- wait! what?! That CAN’T be right! Plus quizzes to assess where we are in the grammar unit in order to design a new remedial unit before we craft the ďŹ nal test on that unit (ďŹ ve minutes each to grade). And that was before Chris made that comment about Poe that offered us a perfect chance to talk about the gothic inuences, and then Alex and Pat started a great discussion of gothic inuences today. And I know that if my students are really going to get good at writing, they should be composing something at least once a week. And if I am going to prepare my students for life in the real world, I need to have one of my own to be credible.
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
If you are going to take any control of your professional life, you have to make some hard, conscious decisions. What is it that I know I should be doing that I am not going to do? Every year you get better. You get faster, you learn tricks, you learn which corners can more safely be cut, you get better at predicting where the student-based bumps in the road will appear. A good administrative team can provide a great deal of help. But every day is still educational triage. You will pick and choose your battles, and you will always be at best bothered, at worst haunted, by the things you know you should have done but didn’t. Show me a teacher who thinks she’s got everything all under control and doesn’t need to ďŹ x a thing for next year, and I will show you a lousy teacher. The best teachers I’ve ever known can give you a list of exactly what they don’t do well enough yet. Not everybody can deal with this. I had a colleague years ago who was a great classroom teacher. But she gave every assignment that she knew she should, and so once a grading period, she took a personal day
Here’s your metaphor for the day. Teaching is like painting a huge Victorian mansion. And you don’t actually have enough paint. And when you get to some sections of the house it turns out the wood is a little rotten or not ready for the paint. And about every hour some supervisor comes around and asks you to get down off the ladder and explain why you
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aren’t making faster progress. And some days the weather is terrible. So it takes all your art and skill and experience to do a job where the house still ends up looking good.
have it (high school teachers on television only ever teach one class a day). And teachers hate to bring it up because we know it just sounds like whiny complaining.
Where are school reformy folks in this metaphor? They’re the ones who show up and tell you that having a ladder is making you lazy, and you should work without. They’re the ones who take a cup of your paint every day to paint test strips on scrap wood, just to make sure the paint is okay (but now you have less of it). They’re the ones who show up after the work is done and tell passersby, “See that one good-looking part? That turned out good because the painters followed my instructions.� And they’re most especially the ones who turn up after the job is complete to say, “Hey, you missed a spot right there on that one board under the eaves.�
But all the other hard parts of teaching -- the technical issues of instruction and planning and individualization and being our own “administrative assistants� and acquiring materials and designing unit plans and assessment -- all of those issues rest solidly on the foundation of Not Enough.
There isn’t much discussion of the not-enough problem. Movie and tv teachers never
Trust us. We will suck it up. We will make do. We will Find A Way. We will even do that when the state and federal people tasked with helping us do all that instead try to make it harder. Even though we can’t get to perfect, we can steer toward it. But if you ask me what the hard part of teaching is, hands down, this wins. There’s not enough. Originally posted at Curmudgucation.
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VOICE OF ASIA 13
Friday, July 11, 2014
BOLLYWOOD MASALA Section 2
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FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
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Alia Bhatt says ‘pressure, competition exists but I want to stand out with my roles’
Freida Pinto does not want to work with Dev Patel again
Pic Courtesy: -. Zee Media Bureau/Ritika Handoo New Delhi: Freida Pinto . Photo credit:RNA Research & Archives
‘
Slumdog Millionaire’ star Freida Pinto has no intention of starring opposite her boyfriend Dev Patel in future and wants to save the ‘magic’ for their personal lives. The 29-year-old Indian beauty and the 24-year-old British actor fell in love on the set of their 2008 movie, ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ but aren’t interested in appearing on screen together ever again because they’re worried that it might affect their relationship, reported Contactmusic. “I think we created all the magic
that was needed for one film. We’re leaving the rest of the magic for our personal lives,” she said. However, the duo love teaming up together in the kitchen. “I don’t want to say we like cooking because we’re both not good. We argue through the food prep, but it’s fun. I wish I could cook Indian food because I could start a restaurant and have an alternative career. There aren’t any good Indian places in LA,” she said. (PTI).
‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ goes to America line. “Thrilled to announce that we’ve picked up Kashyap’s epic crime saga Gangs of Wasseypur!” the distributor said on Twitter.
Gangs of Wasseypur poster
A
nurag Kahsyap’s twopart mafia drama ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ is now set for a release in North America and Los Angeles. An art house distributor, Cinelicious Pics, will release the film that tracks 70 violent years in the lives of two mafia families battling to control over the coal mining town of Wasseypur, reported The Dead-
The movie, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, will be presented stateside by ‘The Grey’ producer Adi Shankar. ‘Gangs…’ was released in two parts in India, owing to its fiveand-a half hour duration. Similarly, the film will be launched in a platform release in New York and Los Angeles with Part I and Part II hitting theatres a week apart. The theatres will also have the option to screen both parts as a single film.
After proving herself as an actor in ‘Highway’, Alia Bhatt wants her future film choices to be equally brave and varied. Alia, who is the daughter of Mahesh Bhatt, had a tailor-made entry into Bollywood with Karan Johar’s hit ‘Student of the Year’. The 21-year-old actor, however, impressed critics in her subsequent outings in ‘Highway’ and ‘Two States’. In her fourth film, Alia plays a gusty heroine, who is a woman of today. “Kavya (her character) is very fiery and lively girl. She wears her heart on her sleeves. Coming from a small place, she holds her values dear but she is a woman of today. She has a strong opinion. This is why she is the one who is carrying the hero in the film’s posters,” Alia told PTI in an interview. The actress admits that the pressure has increased now that she has three
films behind her but that would not influence her film choices.
was not scared to take on the popular number.
“The pressure is always there. But I know that I want to do good films. I want to stand out with all my characters and I want to give the audience as much variety as possible,” she says. She has reteamed with her ‘Student of the Year’ co-star Varun Dhawan for a second time for ‘Humpty Sharma’. Alia says their chemistry will look good because they were more comfortable with camera this time.
“I was not scared because I am not a professional singer. I knew that if I mess up I would not get as much flak. I love to sing. It gives me a certain sense of peace. I am not singing to impress anybody and I am very proud and happy that I got an opportunity to sing this song,” she says.
“The chemistry is good because of the characters we are playing. Also, I think we were not as nervous and as confused about what we were supposed to do in front of the camera. It became very organic,” she says. After crooning for ‘Sooha Saha’ in Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Highway’, Alia took to mic again to sing Rahet Fateh Ali-rendered ‘Samjhawan’ in an unplugged version. The self-confessed bathroom singer
Ask her whether she would like to take it beyond, Alia says she wants to explore her singing side further. “Definitely, I want to explore it. I was advised by A R Rahman to take my singing seriously and I am thinking about it.” The film has been directed by debutant Shashank Khaitan and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’, slated to release this Friday, also marks the debut of TV actor Siddharth Shukla of ‘Balika Vadhu’ fame.
Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Ugly’ opens fifth Jagran Film Festival
A
nurag Kashyap’s ‘Ugly’, which is scheduled to hit the theaters in September, opened the fifth edition of the Jagran Film Festival here at Siri Fort Auditorium on Saturday. ‘Udaan’ helmer Vikramaditya Motwane and Rahul Bhat, who stars in ‘Ugly’, were present at the venue, along with film directors Subhash Ghai, Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha and National award winning director Hansal Mehta. Model turned actor Bhat, who stars in the movie, explained to the viewers, “The beautiful thing about this movie is that it is made how it was supposed to be made as it is based on a true incident.” The movie, also starring Ronit Roy in the lead, is a psychological thriller, written and directed by Anurag Kashyap which will hit the screens later this year on September 19. The film was also screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It also opened the 2014 New York Indian Film Festival. Basant Rathore, Vice President, Jagran Group said, “This year, the fifth edition of the Jagran Film Festival presents a special section ‘Cinema and Uprising’ with a clutch of seven
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Ulgy Poster very special films. Freedom of human spirit has been a subject close to ‘The Jagran Philosophy’ always and when we were
deciding on the festival content, we chose this subject and the films made around this theme.” The Jagran Film Festival will
travel to 14 cities across the country including Lucknow, Ranchi, Kanpur, Bhopal, Agra and will conclude in Mumbai.
VOICE OF ASIA 14
ENTERTAINMENT
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
Batman celebrates 75th birthday in Hollywood style
A Batman costume is put on display at Batman Exhibit during the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour on June 26, 2014 in Burbank, California. – Photo by AFP LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Kerpow! Batman is celebrating his 75th birthday this month with a series of comic-book, videogame and other events putting Gotham’s famed Caped Crusader firmly back in the spotlight. July 23 is officially Batman Day, and to mark the occasion in Hollywood, Warner Bros has organized a VIP studio tour including Batmobiles, masks, capes and other souvenirs of the Dark Knight.
Shahid Kapoor is dark and deadly in Haider’s first trailer
A
fter creating much hype with the posters of Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Haider’, the makers have now given us a glimpse of good-boy-gone-bad Shahid Kapoor. Set against the unrest and snowy landscape of tumultuous Kashmir, the trailer is both dark and chilling with Shahid Kapoor playing the titular character of ‘Haider’. Having revealed that this is the most challenging role of his career, Shahid Kapoor has not only changed his physical appearance for the film but also said that he had to undergo immense emotional surrender to get into the skin Shahid Kapoor goes bald and deadly for ‘Haider’. of the character.
“The world has no heroes... Batman gives you some hope and some faith,” actor Danny DeVito, who played the caped one’s nemesis the Penguin in the 1992 movie “Batman Returns,” told AFP in an interview. Batman was born in May 1939, the creation of artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, who were tasked by DC Comics with creating a new superhero in the wake of the success of Superman. Unlike Superman, the new hero was given a dark side, and rapidly became a global pop culture icon, decades before the latest generation of super-
heroes like Captain America, Spiderman or Iron Man took to the big screen. While Superman represents the archetypal hero with super-human powers, a brightly colored costume and appears in daylight, Bruce Wayne is a wealthy tycoon who changes into a mask and dark cape to bring justice to Gotham City. DeVito said Batman’s success stems from the lack of faith in the political and business class. “We look around at us, our leaders and the young people we are supposed to look to. “There’s really nobody you can have faith in,” he said. Bruce Wayne has remained popular through the decades thanks to the varied formats, from the 1960s TV series “Batman” with Adam West and Burt Ward, the success of which rekindled sales of the original comic books. “The passion of fans is very, very high, it’s a way of life,” said Jim Lee, artist and co-editor of DC Entertainment, the parent company of DC Comics, at the presentation of the Warner Bros exhibition.
“People tattoo images of Batman all over the body. It’s amazing to see how Batman has become a huge part of pop culture, he has really captivated the imagination of the entire world,” he said. Batman very much alive Film versions have kept the Batman brand alive, including the “Dark Knight” trilogy by Christopher Nolan in 2005, 2008 and 2012, with Briton Christian Bale in the brooding title role. Overall the seven Batman films (including the first four in 1989, 1992, 1995 and 1997) have made $3.7 billion around the world, according to the boxofficemojo.com website. In terms of merchandise, apart from the usual T-shirts, baseball caps and posters, Batman video games are apparently all the rage. At the recent E3 video games conference in Los Angeles, studio Rocksteady tempted fans with their new game “Batman: Arkham Knight,” in which the hero has an ultra-light Bat-mobile which can transform into an armored tank.
HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH
VOICE OF ASIA 15
Friday, July 11, 2014
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Tel: 713-774-5140
AAPI Organizes 3rd Annual Free Ways To Fund Long Community Health Fair in San Antonio Term Care Needs: Reverse Mortgage
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AN ANTONIO, TX (July 8th, 2014) Continuing with the tradition of offering free medical services to the local population, where the annual Convention is being held every year, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) organized its annual Community Health Fair in San Antonio, TX on Sunday, June 29th, 2014, even as the 32nd annual convention, attended by nearly 2,000 delegates from across the nation concluded here. Hundreds of homeless people lined up bright and early on Sunday morning to avail themselves of a unique opportunity for free medical checkup offered by Medical Missions and Community Service Committee of AAPI at their door steps. During the third annual Health Fair organized at “Haven for Hope,” a Homeless Shelter in San Antonio Downtown. Participants filled out the history questionnaire and signed the Liability Waiver before going for medical services provided by several dedicated AAPI members. “We offered vital signs measurement, Blood tests for total cholesterol, HDL, Sugar and Noninvasive Hemoglobin and consultation with primary care and various available specialists including internist, pediatrician, pulmonologist and critical care, urologist, obstetrician and gynecologist, anesthesiologist and pathologist,” Dr. Nitin Shah, an organizer of the Clinic here and a pioneering AAPI leader said. “Having more specialists could have benefited several patients as there was a need for many more medical and surgical specialists like general surgeon, gastroenterologist, ophthalomologists,” he added. “Once again, these AAPI members have showed their dedication by conducting the free Community Health Fair, so well organized by the host city of San Antonio,” Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, President of AAPI, while praising the efforts of AAPI members in reaching out to the local community during the Convention, said. Describing them to “role models in selfless service for the younger AAPI generation,” Dr. Jahagirdar wished “them continued success.”.
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reverse mortgage is a special type of home equity loan that allows you to receive cash against the value of your home without selling it. For most reverse mortgages: You can choose to receive a lump-sum payment, a monthly payment, or a line of credit. There are no restrictions on how you use the remainder of the money You continue to live in the home and you retain title and ownership of it You are also still responsible for taxes, hazard insurance, and home repairs However, you do not have to repay the loan as long as you continue to live in the home. Dr. Jaishree Jagirdar with her volunteer team doing blood tests at the HealthFair
muffins, and fruits etc. for the participants. “There was no charge for AAPI to use the facility. Their help was invaluable!” Dr. Shah said.
To qualify for a reverse mortgage:
Dr. Sudhir Gogu, Dr. Nick Shroff, Dr. Nitin Shah, his wife Mrs. Kinna Gandhi and the Jagirdar family, including Dr. Jaishree Jagirdar, her husband Sudhir and daughter Sima were present for during the entire half day, helping at various stages of the Clinic. The AAPI delegates provided these services free of cost helping out at every level of the clinic. Dr. Nitin Shah and Dr. Nick Shroff even helped local volunteers with registration of participants as they needed help due to overwhelming response from the patients. Dr. Kinjal Shah, Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Dr. Vijay Patel and Dr. Choudhary offered much required medical help to the patients, while Jaishreeben’s volunteer team, Hansa Venka-
You must be age 62 and older Unlike a traditional mortgage, you do not have to provide an income or credit history to get the loan The home must be your primary residence. How to apply: You must meet with an approved reverse mortgage counselor before you can start the loan process. These counselors can help you decide whether a reverse mortgage is right for you. Important considerations:
Drs. Rakesh Gupta, Madhu Agarwal and Vijay Patel seeing patients
You must use the funds you receive to pay off any existing mortgages or other debt against your home and to make required home repairs. As long as you spend the payments you receive in the month that you receive them, the money is not taxable and does not count towards income or affect Social Security or Medicare benefits. Does not count as income for Medicaid eligibility. Once you have a reverse mortgage, it is very difficult to borrow any more against your home. But you can refinance a reverse mortgage if the house increases signifi-
Lauding the initiative of the AAPI delegates, inspired by AAPI’s mission, Dr. Jayesh Shah, immediate past-President of AAPI, stated, “AAPI is built on Core Value of Service.” And he commended “Medical Student, Resident and Fellow Section and Community Service Committee for continuing this tradition of service by bringing health care to needy and poor and the homeless patients of San Antonio.” Dr. Nitin Shah praised the volunteers of Haven for Hope, led by Luke and Annette, who did a stellar job, coordinating all the arrangements. They also secured donation of Blankets, undergarments, socks,
Instead, the amount you owe, based on loan payouts and interest on the loan, becomes due when you or the last borrower, usually the last remaining spouse, dies, sells, or permanently moves out of the home
Shroff, chairman of AAPI’s Charitable Foundation said. “We heartily congratulate all those who could help, I am sure they all, like me and my wife, left the place very satisfied of doing a very noble humanitarian work,” Dr. Nitin Shah added. Dr. Kinjal Shah measuring Hemoglobin noninvasively
tram, Hansa Bhulla and Rama Julukuntula did a phemomenal job with the blood tests employing finger prick method.
Dr. Sudhir Gogu commented next day “I feel so satisfied we could bring basic healthcare to the homeless and poor people at the healthfair”. “It was an
amazing priceless experience to serve these many real needy people in a short period of time with limited resources and manpower,” Dr. Nick
“We thank AAPI, MSRF of AAPI, AAPI Charitable Foundation and our other sponsors Dr. Jasvant and Dr. Mira Modi of Southern California, Dr. Kishan and Dr. Madhu Agarwal, and Mr. and Dr. Jagirdar for their financial
Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com cantly in value. If your heirs want to keep your home, they can repay the reverse mortgage. They can also keep the difference if the home’s sale price is greater than the reverse mortgage loan balance when they repay the loan. Most people get reverse mortgages through a mortgage lender. Some credit unions and banks, with state and local housing agencies, may offer these loans as well. Generally, there are three types of reverse mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers HECMs and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures them. HECMs are the most popular reverse mortgages, representing about 90 percent of the market. The federal government regulates most upfront costs for HECM loans. There are limits on the total fees and interest rates that you must pay Fannie Mae Home Keeper Loan The loan limits for Fannie Mae Home Keeper Loan is higher than for HECMs. Therefore, you may receive more cash from these loans than with a HECM Financial Freedom Cash Account Loans Financial Freedom Cash Account Loans are designed for seniors who own expensive homes. To Be Continued. For valuable Health and Wealth Planning contact 713-771-2900.
support. The credit for the job extremely well done should go to Dr. Jaishree Jagirdar, she with her family served AAPI’s 3rd Annual Free Community Health Fair with “Tan, Man, and Dhan” DR. Shah added. “We hope AAPI will choose to continue this tradition of helping underserved community in at least this small way in years to come!” Dr. Nitin Shah hopes. Report by Ajay Ghosh Adjunct Faculty, Fordham University & University of Bridgeport.
Should You Limit Your Salt and Sodium Intake?
Kesavan Shan, MD. Cardiologist.
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t is now widely accepted that excessive sodium consumption will increase your risk of cardiovascular death. High sodium consumption is associated with high blood pressure— which greatly increases the risks of strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure. Over 60% of all strokes are linked to high blood pressure.
Conversely, reducing sodium consumption appears to decrease blood pressure in many adults. Although the ideal range for healthy sodium consumption remains debatable, the federal government’s current Dietary Guidelines set a limit of 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Furthermore, a limit of 1,500 mg of sodium per day is recommended for higher risk individuals, such as people over 51 years old; those with diabetes, hypertension or chronic kidney disease; and African Americans. The principal source of salt in the U.S. is processed food. A simple way to lower
sodium consumption is to choose low sodium foods. Read food labels. Low sodium is defined as 140 mg of sodium per serving, while 400 mg or more per serving is considered high. Eat more home-cooked meals, which usually contain less than most canned or instant food. Reduce the amount of salt in cooking by seasoning food with spices and herbs instead of extra salt. Dr. Kesavan Shan is a cardiologist with Methodist Diagnostic Cardiology of Houston. To schedule an appointment, call 281.275.0330.
VOICE OF ASIA 16
HEALTH, TECH & SCIENCE
More expectant moms turning to ‘Dr Google’ for advice Dr Google. Photo: Twitter
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ASHINGTON, (PTI), July, 8, 2014) - First time moms are turning to ‘Dr Google’ and social media to seek answers to their medical questions more often than they would like, scientists say. “We found that first-time moms were upset that their first prenatal visit did not occur until eight weeks into pregnancy,” said Jennifer L Kraschnewski, assistant professor of medicine and public health sciences, Penn State College of Medicine. “These women reported using Google and other search engines because they had a lot of questions at the beginning of pregnancy, before their first doctor’s appointment,” said Kraschnewski. Following the women’s first visit to the obstetrician, many of them still turned to the Internet - in the form of both search engines and social media - to find answers to their questions, because they felt the literature the doctor’s office gave them was insufficient. Kraschnewski and colleagues set out to gather information to develop a smartphone app for women to use during pregnancy, and incidentally discovered that many women were unsatisfied with the structure of their prenatal care. The researchers conducted four focus groups, totalling 17 pregnant women - all of whom were over 18 and owned a
smartphone. Most of the mothers-to-be agreed that the structure of prenatal visits are not responsive to their individual needs, so they turned to technology to fill their knowledge gaps, Kraschnewski and colleagues wrote in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. However, the women were unsatisfied by the questionable accuracy of the information they found online. Many of the participants found the pamphlets and flyers that their doctors gave them, as well as the once popular book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” outdated and preferred receiving information in different formats. They would rather watch videos and use social media and pregnancy-tracking apps and websites. “This research is important because we don’t have a very good handle on what tools pregnant women are using and how they engage with technology,” said Kraschnewski. “We have found that there is a real disconnect between what we’re providing in the office and what the patient wants,” said Kraschnewski. She pointed out that regulation of medical information on the Internet is rare, which could be problematic and lead to alarming patients unnecessarily.
Etiquette gets reboot for digital age
by Rob Lever ASHINGTON, (AFP) - The digital age has created a host of new etiquette dilemmas. What should you do when your boss sends a Facebook friend request? Is it OK to take and share smartphone pictures at a friend’s wedding? When should you take off Google Glass, rather than just turn it off? Etiquette mavens say the book on manners must be rewritten, literally, to take into account new technologies and social media. “Technology is such an area of anxiety for people,” says Steven Petrow, an author of etiquette books who last month began a digital manners column for USA Today. In recent columns, Petrow addressed the question of mass emails that reveal the names of all recipients (not OK, he says), and how to deal with wedding guests who want to share smartphone pictures before the official photos are available (he urges the couple to make their wishes clear in the invitation). “Fundamentally, I come back to my core values, which are about respect, kindness and civility,” Petrow told AFP. Social media such as Facebook pose particular etiquette problems: if users post news about a death, birth or engagement before relatives are notified, that creates tensions among family members. “On Facebook, even if you have privacy protection, someone else can grab your message and send it along,” said Emily Yoffe, who pens the “Dear Prudence” column on Slate.
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Study exposes dangers of Chobani yogurt mold outbreak by Kerry SHERIDAN
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ASHINGTON, July 8, 2014 (AFP) - A mold outbreak last year in some US containers of Chobani yogurt may have been more dangerous than the company initially acknowledged, according to a scientific study out Tuesday. The yogurt company issued a voluntary recall of certain products with “best by” dates between September and October 2013 from its Idaho plant. More than 300 consumers reported bloating, diarrhea and vomiting. The company said at the time “this type of mold is unlikely to have ill health effects,” but agreed to the voluntary recall after customer complaints.
Researchers at Duke University reported in the journal mBio that the mold was actually a type that has been shown to be potentially fatal in people, and when injected into mice it killed some of them and sickened others. “When we heard about the Chobani recall after reports of people becoming sick from yogurt contaminated with Mucor circinelloides, we thought the M. circinelloides strain could cause more serious problems than one might think,” said study author Soo Chan Lee. Lee obtained a partially eaten container of Chobani from a Texas couple that had been sickened after eating it. “One of them experienced repeated vomiting and diarrhea for two entire days with two days of
missed work; the other was severely nauseated with diarrhea for a few days without vomiting,” said the study. The product expired September 30, 2013, which was in the date range of the recall, and carried the ID number designated for the recall, 16-012. Lab analysis showed that the strain was Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides (Mcc). “Unlike other strains of the fungus, that particular subspecies is commonly associated with human infections,” said the study. “Whole-genome sequence analysis of the yogurt isolate confirmed it as being closely related to Mcc and also revealed the possibility that this fungus could produce harmful metabolites that were previously unknown in this species.”
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Etiquette mavens say the book on manners must be rewritten, literally, to take into account new technologies and social media (AFP Photo/Ed Jones) digital age
“Once you post it, you don’t control that information anymore,” said Yoffe, advising people to treat all social media posts as public. Petrow sees other quandaries -- for example, whether it is appropriate to “like” a Facebook post about sad news. “I believe that liking means you acknowledge it,” he said. “So you can like something sad but you should add a note to say what you mean.” Social media is also used to break off, or to announce a new relationship, which can be a surprise to the other person. “It’s always best to take your time, to discuss this with the other person,” Petrow said. As for the boss’s friend request, Petrow advised managers to steer clear of this to avoid potential conflicts. Employees should not ignore the request, but offer instead to connect on the professional network LinkedIn, he said. - Emily Post for digital era Digital technology has forced a reboot at the Emily Post Institute, which grew out of the work of the noted etiquette author. Her great-great-grandson Daniel Post Senning released a book last year on digital etiquette after realizing the topic merited more than just a chapter in the updated Emily Post book. “New technology is changing every major aspect of people’s lives for which they would come to Emily Post looking for advice,” Senning said.
A longstanding digital etiquette issue is when people should turn off or silence their smartphones. “The biggest challenge is that these devices take our attention from the people we’re with,” Senning told AFP. While smartphones are enormously useful tools, “If you’re with other people, your attention should be there,” Senning said. “Most people know that intuitively.” Social networks are great places for sharing, but sometimes people go overboard. A 2012 survey by Intel found that in several countries, a majority said they were put off by “oversharing” of pictures and personal information. Senning sad the Post Institute often follows what is accepted by the public but that sometimes it takes the opposite view “if it’s a question of our fundamental principles of consideration, respect and honesty.” - Think before you tweet On Twitter, the ability to post messages quickly has led to some embarrassing moments or worse, experts say. “Some people lose their jobs because of an ill-advised tweet,” Yoffe said. “In the heat of the moment, people think they are having a one-on-one conversation, but this is totally public.” Twitter gaffes can turn into public relations nightmares for companies using social media to boost their image. Dutch airline KLM, of the Air France-KLM Group, found this out when it tweeted “Adios Amigos” after the Netherlands’ dramatic win
over Mexico in football’s World Cup. The airline apologized and deleted the tweet, but not before thousands of enraged Mexicans tweeted their displeasure. “We encourage companies to be conversational and engaging. But they have to understand they are speaking on behalf of a brand,” said Jeanette Gibson of Hootsuite, which provides a social media dashboard, and offers training on using different platforms. Gibson said social media marketing can be useful in building brand identity, “but you don’t want to come across as spamming your audience.” - Trouble with ‘Glassholes’ Etiquette may see more changes with devices such as the Internet-connected eyewear Google Glass. Google has preemptively offered tips to avoid becoming a “Glasshole,” such as turning off the eyewear in many situations. Wearable electronics like Google Glass create fears about being spied on. “I don’t think turning it off will be sufficient to quell those concerns,” Petrow said. “Every new device seems to spawn its own chapter of etiquette dilemmas.” From a historical perspective, “every generation perceives the state of manners in decline,” said Senning of the Post Institute. “People thought that when the telephone moved to the home it would destroy home life, and it didn’t.”
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China’s Wanda to build $900 million complex in Chicago
Wang Jianlin, head of conglomerate Wanda Group, attends a press conference in Beijing on December 12, 2012. AFP Photo by Str.
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EIJING, July 9, 2014 (AFP) - China’s Wanda Group, controlled by the country’s richest man Wang Jianlin, says it will invest $900 million in a five-star hotel and apartment complex in Chicago, as it acquires more assets in the US. The project, to be located near the intersection of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, will be the city’s third tallest building with a height of 350 metres (1,148 feet), the company said in a statement. It will be a mixed-use development consisting of a 240room “super five-star” hotel, residential units and commercial space, and heralds greater expansion into the US, according to the statement posted Tuesday. “The Chicago project is just the first step of Wanda’s property investment in the United States,” Wang said in the statement, adding the company would invest in five-star hotels in major US cities including New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco “within a year”. Wanda has made a series of big-ticket purchases of Western assets in recent years as it seeks to spread itself internationally. Last month Spain’s biggest bank Santander announced that it had sold a historic skyscraper
BUSINESS
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
in Madrid to a Wanda subsidiary for 265 million euros ($360 million). The deal followed the Chinese conglomerate’s acquisition last year of British yacht maker Sunseeker for 320 million pounds (now $548 million) and its $2.6 billion takeover in 2012 of US cinema chain AMC Entertainment.
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Fed leans to ending bond purchases in October by Paul Davidson, USA Today he Federal Reserve is leaning toward ending its extraordinary economic stimulus in October, minutes of the Fed’s June 1718 meeting show. Citing an improving labor market and economy, Fed policymakers have tapered their government bond purchases in $10 billion increments at each meeting since December, cutting them to $35 billion a month from $85 billion. At that pace, the Fed would be buying $15 billion in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities by its October meeting. Economists have debated whether the Fed would continue to trim the purchases by $10 billion at the October meeting — leaving it buying $5 billion in bonds until the December meeting — or cut the purchases by $15 billion to zero in October.
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At last month’s meeting, Fed policymakers said they regard the choice as a “technical issue with no substantive macroeconomic consequences” and no impact on when the Fed will raise its benchmark short-term interest rate. That rate is now near zero, and the first increase is expected sometime next year. Yet while Fed officials have clearly said the bond buying would be halted this year, closing out the program would carry symbolic significance. The purchases have held down long-term interest rates for several years, spurring purchases of homes and factory equipment. The most recent phase of the bond-buying program began in September 2012, but the Fed has bought well over $3 trillion in bonds since the 2008 financial crisis. Fed policymakers “generally agreed” that “it would be appropriate to complete asset purchases with a $15 billion
reduction … in order to avoid having a small remaining level of purchases receive undue focus among investors,” according to the minutes. Fed officials last month also indicated they’re in no hurry to raise the central bank’s benchmark short-term interest rate even though inflation has picked up recently. “Some” policymakers continued to voice concern about annual inflation that remains below the Fed’s 2% target. “A couple” suggested the Fed “may need to allow the unemployment rate to move below its longerrun normal level for a time in order to keep inflation expectations anchored and return inflation to its 2% target,” the minutes show. Fed policymakers’ individual forecasts from June indicate many see the first rate hike coming around mid-2015, but after a recent spate of encouraging economic news, some
economists speculate it could happen in March. They have cited an unemployment rate that has fallen faster than the Fed expected, dipping to 6.1% from 6.3% last month. The minutes, however, reflect that some Fed officials are still inclined to keep interest rates low for an extended period. “Some others,” however, expected a faster pickup in inflation or saw upside risks to inflation and inflation expectations,” the minutes say. Fed policymakers last month also agreed to communicate to the public later this year about how it plans to return to normal interest rates. With the banking system flush with so much Fed cash, raising its benchmark rate may not be enough to boost market interest rates. The Fed has discussed other ways to increase market rates, such as paying banks a higher interest rate to park money at the Fed.
It is also spending 700 million pounds on London’s tallest residential towers. Construction on the Chicago property project is expected to start this year and it is scheduled to open in 2018, Wanda said. A Wanda arm listed in Hong Kong said in a stock exchange statement Tuesday that it and another Wanda subsidiary will have combined “capital commitments” of no more than HK$1.75 billion ($226 million) in the Chicago project. Executives at Wanda were not immediately available to explain the discrepancy between the figures when contacted by AFP on Wednesday. Wang, formerly a senior member of the ruling Communist Party, was ranked the richest man in China and 26th wealthiest in the world, business magazine Forbes reported in February, with his personal worth estimated at $14 billion.
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HOROSCOPE
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FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
Your Horoscope for the Week of July 11, 2014 by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950
READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM
Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct
Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April Working situations could seem very stressful. Others may try to give you more than your share of the load. Learn to say no, especially if you’re tired and need rest. You may need to get extra rest to keep nervous reactions under control. Try not to get upset over misunderstandings. Others may tend to think out loud & cause you to lose your temper. You may need to blow off some steam. Utilize your natural sense of humor to help yourself to see things from a different perspective. Look for humor everywhere, especially in those who are closest to you.
It’s better, need to get a better perspective on things. Make the effort to understand what is going on by having sensitive discussions. You need to get ready to accept all the good things that are coming your way, because this is a perfect time for new starts and there are indications of fabulous financial conditions. Your mate could seem unpredictable to you. You might be tempted to let go of the relationship for all the wrong reasons. Look deeper in order to understand motivations. Start projects that bring more beauty into your home and lifestyle.
Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May
Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov
Get ready for changes even though you want your life could stay exactly the same. After all, that makes you feel safe and secure. Change doesn’t have to be frightening, in fact, major changes taking place in your creative life, could awaken you to new talents and abilities. Remember that there is always another step to take and that things may not actually be as they seem. Don’t resist these changes. You are developing new levels of consciousness, and these changes are part of that development. You’ll enjoy work projects that relate to the communications field.
Something or someone that tends to get under your skin. If you are resentful toward friends or associates, you may have to struggle with those feelings. You may find it difficult to keep a smile on your face when you see funds slipping through your fingers. A partner or your mate may appear to take the easy way out and ignore your struggle to balance everything that’s going on around you. Don’t let stress tempt you to play games or plan ways to get even. Do yourself and others a big favor by investing in some background checks & research.
Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec
Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Friends and associates that could prove to be very unreliable. New responsibilities could seem burdensome now. You need to make an effort to adjust to the demands of you. If you’re under too much pressure, your health could suffer. You need to be needed and you may have to carefully structure your time to accommodate everything you want to do. With some patience and understanding on your part, however, you’ll realize what could occur in the lives of others to cause them to have to completely re-adjust their routines.
Strong emotional & physical ties. You may be so high on life that you forget to look at the reality of some things. Be especially careful with financial matters, because you could be overconfident of your success. You may be very vulnerable and sensitive, especially when it comes to your own creativity and your need for self-expression. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. Show your leadership and avoid overly aggressive behavior.
Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan
Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July You need to get yourself organized. You need to prepare for changes in your personal life as well as in public or professional situations. Your social consciousness could lead you to situations that might help resolve some global problems. You may feel as if you are plugged into a source of very high energy. Considering the opportunities that await you, you have good reason to be excited. Pay attention to gut instincts that tell you where the treasures of the world are buried.
Uncertainty in your career. You may want to bury your head in the sand. Your awareness of something that is not fair or just at your job could make you want to walk away from some career situations. Be sure you don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. If some associates behave like traumatized children, treat them that way. Give people the attention they require. Then you’re free to go on your way, unfettered and clear of resentments. You should have good luck selling or purchasing property.
Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb
Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Your ability to collect additional income that is owed to you. Financial matters demand your careful attention. To avoid going down the garden path of unfulfilled dreams, take care of all practical matters. Keep your eye on your goals, but take precautions. Secure the situation with practical measures. Partnership projects could seem uncertain. If someone you depend on lets you down or acts in an unpredictable manner, you may need to discuss the situation more thoroughly.
Let your natural enthusiasm take you into uncharted territory. Explore the waters of new partnership activity as well. Life may be more abundant than you could have ever imagined. Don’t put on the blinders just yet. Sensitivity can be a positive and valuable commodity but when those feelings are close to the surface, they can turn into feelings of insecurity. Your sensitivity may come in handy when it comes to an appeal to others for aid. You may be called to distant shores.
Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March
Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Rude awakening to situations around you. Your partners may paint a rosy picture but if matters don’t work out the way you expect, you could be very upset. Take a look at the truth of any situation, no matter what anyone else might say. Try not to go overboard with promotional efforts or the additional expenses. Be sure you don’t let flattery lead you down the wrong road. You may be counting on unreliable sources of income now. If you trust that checks will arrive on time, hedge your bets and make sure they were mailed as promised.
QR
Questions about areas of your life that come under fire. You may be unwilling to confront the cost of an entertainment project until it’s too late. If you are disappointed as a result, you may blame yourself and may even become ill over it. Anything that is related to partnership activities or your home life could be a source of uncertainty. You may be uncertain whether you should take the next step toward a more exciting life or maintain the status quo. Some situations could be very beneficial to you, but you may be tempted to zig when you should zag.
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• High School Math Teacher (FBISD) with 25+ years of experience. We offer MATH classes during summer and regular school hours. Call Jose Uthirakulathu 832-233-1480 (cell)
Education
Phoenix School of Holistic Health and Massage • Get a Texas License in Therapeutic Massage (LMT) • Quality Education in the Healing Arts. • Study Holistic Healing Techniques. • Call: 713.974.5976 • www.themassageschool.com
IDEAL BOUTIQUE
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Restaurants 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
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713-774-5140
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Heating & Cooling
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SAJ Heating & Cooling
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281-242-1928 & 832-605-3031
Residential & Commercial Free estimates on Residential Repairs & New Equipment replacement Call Saji Mathew Ph: 832.633.4347
713-774-5140
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Motel Manager Wanted Experienced Live In Motel Manager Wanted. Salary & Accommodation provided Call Ash: 347-610-1213
FRIDAY, July 11, 2014
HINDI PRARTHANA
When you find some time, READ!
Do you need PRAYER? Do you need a MIRACLE in your life? Can we pray for the CHILDLESS couple?
Contact Us 832-773-4457 today!
Weekend workers needed for Demo marketing (6-8 weekends) in Houston & Dallas and several more cities in USA. Young women & men Must be personable, well-mannered and able to work on their own. Demonstrate top Indian brands ranging from instant tea to cookies. Ex-
Office Assistant Needed
Assistant must be able to perform a wide range of administrative and office support activities in Southwest Houston area . Applicant must have the following abilities: People skills, Administrative assistance, detail oriented , honest, reliable, strong office skills (software knowledge, great organizational skills, phone etiquette) interpersonal skills, have a friendly disposition, a polished and professional look, and the ability to handle client inquires in a timely manner. Call: 832-282-3914 Email Resume immediately to:
buenavillahouston@gmail.com
READ DAILY!
cellent ‘in-your-face opportunity with customers’ to learn and earn. Must have own transport. Call 917-331-4924 - Hiring immediately.
15 - 30 minutes of reading daily helps your brain focus better. Grab a novel! A Community message from Voice of Asia Group
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The value of money is taught early! Earn Smart! Spend Wisely! A community message from Voice of Asia Group
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