Voice of Asia Oct 10 2014 by VoiceOf Asia

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FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

edicare Enrollment Begins October 15. To choose right plan call 713-771-2900. Read on Page 18.

Vol. 27 No. 41 Friday, October 10, 2014 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 24 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com by Somdatta Gangopadhyay

s the saying goes, “third time’s a charm,” this year’s Dusheera and Diwali celebrations on Saturday, October 4th at the Skeeter’s Stadium in Sugar Land were bigger and brighter, filled to capacity, with over 8000 people. The Shri Sita Ram Foundation, a non-profit organization, has been organizing this event in Houston for three consecutive years now, each year taking it to a higher, more glorious level. They are joined by the Orissa Cultural Center in bringing this event. The day’s was forecasted as bright and sunny, as if Lord Ram Himself wished His Glory to be sung, demonstrated and displayed by all His devotees in Houston. The good omen was again evident when the huge 10 foot large form of Lord Ganpati from the Shiv Shakti temple was the first deity to enter Skeeter’s stadium five minutes after the main team of organizers entered the premises on Saturday. ‘The stadium was abuzz two days prior to the 4th Oct. to celebrate the largest Dussehra & Diwali event in Houston. Various crews for stage construction, light and sound started the work on the 2nd of the largest three tiered stages at Skeeter’s (60 ft.x 40 ft) to get the preparations right for the biggest Dussehra & Diwali celebrations to date,’ said Dr. Arun Verma, President, Shri Sita Ram Foundation.

Dussehra and Diwali Celebrations at Skeeter’s ‘Announces’ End of Evil Force

Dussehra at Skeeters ‘Announces’ End of Evil Force The Parade was the biggest attraction of the Dussehra & Diwali celebrations at the Skeeter’s Stadium that showcased ﬂoats representing various religious and non-proﬁt Indian American organizations in Houston. Also, Grand Sponsors of the event Well Fargo had their classic vintage coach on parade at the event on Oct. 4th, 2014.

The Ram Leela stage Play which was introduced by Abha Dwivedi and directed by Dr. Rathna Kumar formed the major attraction of the day as it left the audience spellbound. Ravan’s vadh (killing of Ravan) echoed the sky with cheers signalling the beginning of multi float parade which saw the march from various organizations and temples. ‘The organizers are thankful to the following organizations for participating in the Dussehra parade: Sri Meenakshi Temple, Sri Ashtalaxmi Temple, Govinda ji Gaudiya Matha, ISKCON, Shri Sita Ram Foundation, NAMCO Corporation, Vedic Temple of Katy, Guruvayurappan temple, University of Houston, Wells Fargo Bank, Shiv Shakti Mandir, Sai Baba temple, Hindu Swaymsevak Sangh, VPSS, Kannada Vrinda Association, Sri Lanka Association, Houston Baptist University, Ashirward a Blessing Temple, Ismaili Community of Houston, Hindus of Greater Houston, Namco Corporations and several school bands’, said Dr. Verma. The Tassa Drum players added beats to the air as Mata Durga on the Lion, Lord Shiva on Nandi, Lord Ganesh floated with the parade which unveiled the Hindu mythology through scenes from the scriptures of Krishna and Radha, Vishnu and Lakshmi in Sheer Sagar atop the Shesh Naag. The Color Guards with fluttering Continued on Page 3

Houston Community College Board Week long Durga Puja festivities con- of Trustees Chair honored as one of the top Influential Women of Houston clude at Houston Durga Bari

ouston, TX (October 6, 2014) – In a ballroom filled with family, friends and co-workers, Neeta Sane, Houston Community College Board of Trustees Chair, was honored as one of the “2014 Top 30 Influential Women of Houston” by Dmars marketing and communication firm.

“We are proud to have Trustee Sane as chairman of the board. Her role in the continuous growth of Houston Community College and her commitment to student success make her a perfect recipient of this award,” said Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor. Sane and the other women honored represent the ﬁnest in corporate, civic, philanthropy, education, entertainment and community leadership that their city has to offer. Under Sane’s leadership, the Board of Trustees recently selected the chancellor, commenced working on all 14 construction projects passed in the 2012 bond election, and announced the development of a RigOne lab at HCC Northeast College.

READ REPORT ON PAGE 6

“I am proud of the partnerships that Houston Community College has cultivated over the years. In fact, the name of our

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Celebrating Trustee Neeta Sane (in red) as one of the “Top 30 Most Inﬂuential Women of Houston 2014”

institution reinforces our critical mission – to serve and work with our community,” said Sane. Sane, an entrepreneur, wife and mother, grew up in India with tremendous respect for America. After she migrated here, she immersed herself in the community and public service to give back some of the blessings and opportunities this

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS by Nomaan Merchant, Associated Press

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

ALLAS (October 8, 2014)The death of the ﬁrst Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States renewed questions about his medical care and whether Thomas Eric Duncan’s life could have been extended or saved if the Texas hospital where he ﬁrst sought help had taken him in sooner. Duncan died in Dallas on Wednesday, a little more than a week after his illness exposed gaps in the nation’s defenses against the disease and set off a scramble to track down anyone exposed to him.

Columnists: Legal: Richard M. Alderman Legal: Sharlene Sharmila Richards Medical: Kesavan Shan, MD Research: Prof. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee Health Insurance: Sudhir Mathuria Astrology: Hardik Vyas

VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Editor: Online & Newsletter : 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 It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or conﬁrmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. Although paid advertisements may appear in Voice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, the Voice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement. - The Publisher

The 42-year-old Liberian man had been kept in isolation since Sept. 28 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, where a fevered Duncan ﬁrst showed up a couple of days earlier and told the staff he had been in West Africa. Doctors initially sent him home. He returned after his condition worsened. Dr. Phil Smith is the director of the biocontainment center at the Nebraska Medical Center, where an NBC News freelance cameraman is being treated for Ebola. He said getting early treatment is key to surviving Ebola. When a patient reaches the point of needing dialysis and respiratory help, as Duncan did this week, there may be little doctors can do. “At that point, any kind of intervention, whether it is an

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Ebola patient’s death renews questions about care

antiviral drug or convalescent plasma, is less likely to work,” said Smith, an infectious disease specialist.

for Disease Control and Prevention. “The earlier someone is diagnosed, the more likely they will be to survive.”

Duncan carried the deadly virus with him from his home in Liberia, though he showed no symptoms when he left for the United States. He arrived in Dallas on Sept. 20 and fell ill several days later.

Others in Dallas still are being monitored as health ofﬁcials try to contain the virus that has ravaged West Africa, with more than 3,400 people reported dead. The disease can be spread only through direct contact with the bodily ﬂuids of an already sick person.

Of the six Ebola patients treated so far in the U.S., Duncan was the only one not cared for in one of the special hospital units set up to deal with highly dangerous germs. That’s because health officials knew the others had Ebola at the time they decided where the patients should go, whereas Duncan sought care at the Texas hospital on his own. Health officials also have said that any hospital with isolation capabilities can treat Ebola patients, but Duncan’s death is sure to renew attention on the Texas hospital’s response. There is no way to know whether any specific treatment or step might have saved Duncan’s life. At the time of his death, he was taking an experimental antiviral drug. He died “despite maximal interventions,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers

Health officials have identified 10 people, including seven health workers, who had direct contact with Duncan while he was contagious. Another 38 people also may have come into contact with him. The four people living in the Dallas apartment where Duncan stayed were moved to another home and are in isolation. Officials have said everyone who had potential contact with Duncan is being monitored for 21 days, the maximum incubation period for the disease. Also Wednesday, emergency responders in suburban Dallas said a patient who claimed to have had contact with Duncan was “exhibiting signs and symptoms” of Ebola. But state health officials said there is no indication the person had any direct contact with the patient.

Duncan went to the emergency room of Texas Health Presbyterian in Dallas on Sept. 25, but was sent home. By Sept. 28, his condition had worsened and an ambulance took him back to the hospital. Duncan’s family visited the hospital earlier this week and glimpsed Duncan using a camera system, but said Tuesday they had declined to view him again because the ﬁrst time had been too upsetting. “What we saw was very painful. It didn’t look good,” Duncan’s nephew, Josephus Weeks, said Tuesday. The hospital has changed its explanation several times about when Duncan arrived and what he said about his travel history. The staff did not initially suspect Ebola, even though Duncan told them on his ﬁrst visit that that he came from West Africa. His body was to be cremated and his remains returned to the family, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that bodies of Ebola victims not be embalmed and instead suggests they be cremated or promptly buried in a hermetically sealed casket.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Down the Memory Lane - Random reﬂections

hen I had just returned from an overseas assignment,and was looking for a job in Houston, someone whom I had met in a Hillcroft store told about the American Society of Indian Engineers (ASIE). which met once a month in Mahatma Gandhi Community Center, owned by Gujarati Samaj, located at 6220 Elm Street, Houston, TX.77081. Mr. Kirti J. Sanghani was the second term President when I joined ASIE in 1996. ASIE was originally started as an offshoot of Gujarati Samaj, under the visionary leadership of Mr. Hasmukh Doshi, the ﬁrst President of ASIE who saw the need to create an identity for Indian Engineers as a group. ASIE membership originally comprised of mostly Gujaratis and I was probably the ﬁrst Telugu

speaking person to join the organization. I knew then that the membership base of ASIE was too small and had to be expanded to include engineers from all states of India. In the early days, ASIE was teased as an association of job seekers and did not enjoy due respect from employers. Engineers with full employment did not see much beneﬁt in joining the organization. However, during lay-offs and bad job market, ASIE membership often swelled. “No O.T. (Over Time)…No roti” used to be the joke in those days. Engineers who came to this country in the 60’s and 70’s with eight dollars in pocket looked for overtime earnings and worked late evening hours. After a long day’s brain strain-

ing work, they were reluctant to come and sit through a technical presentation. ASIE’s present practice of giving Professional Development Hour (PDH) Certiﬁcates at the end of each technical seminar is certainly motivating engineers to attend the ASIE meetings which would help keep their professional licenses current. In 1997, when I was elected the President of ASIE, I was determined to bring ASIE from the back street to the main street. India’s 50th Independence Anniversary in 1997 provided me an opportunity to do just that. To many Westerners, India was no more than a country of Maharajahs, magic carpets and snake charmers. It was a challenge to change that perception. The time was ripe to show case India as an emerging modern nation that was transforming itself into a technological and economic power house.

ASIE’s first Gala was held on September 6,1997 in a grand style at the South West Hilton Hotel. The uniqueness of the event was an all-day seminar highlighting India’s space technology. Mr. L.S. Satyamurty, Counselor for ISRO at the Indian Embassy, flew in from Washington, D.C. and made a presentation on India’s pioneering space program, INSAT-1C, etc. Professor John Lienhard was the key note speaker who spoke on India’s contribution to Science and Technology. India’s recent highly successful insertion of Mangalyaan satellite into Mars orbit coincided with ASIE’s 20th Anniversary Gala which brought back proud memories of ASIE’s salute to India’s space achievements in its very first Gala in 1997. What a coincidence indeed! Krishna Vavilala, Houston, TX

K. V. Doraiswamy Bhattar 281-489-0464 or 281-948-8368

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C OMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, October 10, 2014 • www.voiceofasiaonline.com • Page 3 • Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com • Tel: 713-774-5140

Dussehra and Diwali Celebrations at Skeeter’s ‘Announces’ End of Evil Force Continued from page 1 flags and drawn naked swords marching ahead of the horse drawn buggy of Lord Ram and his entourage was a sight to see, there were several marching groups from various organizations and temples, three marching bands with cheer leaders, Lord Jagannath’s majestic Rath in all its Glory, and Ismaili Bag Pipe Band at the finale, creating diversity. Two Ram Temples were set up at the stadium; one in the breezeways of the Stadium where the deities from Sri Rama Jaya Niketan temple of Katy were brought and attended to by Shri Hanuman Swami. Prasadam specially brought from Ayodhya was distributed along with sweets ordered from ISKCON temple for the festive occasion. This was followed by Chanting of Vedic Mantras (Mantra Pushpam) by Priests of Meenakshi temple. The Maha Aarti saw the several thousand people rising to their feet while singing ‘Om Jai Jagdish Hare’, while the priests conducted the Maha Aarti in mid field.

rector. The youngest members of the crowd were not forgotten either. “Special attention had been given to keep the hundreds of children of all ages engaged by having activities such as: petting Zoo, Fire engine provided by the City of Sugar Land, free face painting, free balloons, moon walks, merry go round, play zone etc. This was aimed at keeping them entertained while they soaked up our rich and ancient culture being presented to them, live,” said Dr. Verma.

De. Arun Verma, Founder of Shri Sita Ram Foundation seen recognizing the Individual sponsors in the Gold, Silver and Bronze and other categories at the Skeeter’s Stadium where the Grand Dusheera and Diwali celebrations were held.

Emcee Abha Dwivedi and Dr. Nik Nikam, Technical Director present the ﬂoats at the parade while Janet Allen, representing sponsor, Wells Fargo and an organizer look on.

A scene from the play Ram Leela 2014 enacted as part of the celebrations at the Skeeter’s Stadium in Sugar Land.

The efﬁgies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath atanding at an impressive height of 10ft each, were lit up in a bonﬁre accompanied by spectacular

ﬁreworks to the resounding shouts of Jai Shri Ram from the thousands in the stadium. ‘The burning of demons signiﬁes the triumph of good over evil. It

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also serves as a great learning lesson as how demons disturb our own personal lives and how we can get rid of them’, stated Dr. Nik Nikam, Technical Di-

No event can go without food, long queues were seen at the food booths ISKCON, Udipi, Madras Pavilion, Bawarchi, Rani’s World Food, Vishala, Maharaja Bhog, Tasty Bites and Mirch Masala, which catered to the thousand tongues with their mouthwatering delicacies. The event also had Grand Sponsors Well Fargo and other corporate sponsors: LMI Capital, Capital One Bank, Mandap Creations, Costco to list just a few. Nidhika and Prashant Mehta, Dr. Virender and Mrs. Nalini Mathur, Usha and Dr. Rahul Nath were some of the individual sponsors. The media sponsors included Sangeet Radio, 95.1 FM; All India Radio Houston; TV Asia and Voice of Asia. All Priests from different temples in attendance were humbly greeted and honored for their continuing role in advancing the Sanatan Dharma. A note of thanks was extended too to the hundreds of volunteers who worked hard for months at a stretch.

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Answers to your Immigration Questions by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer: email at srichardslaw@aol.com

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

A seller has a duty to disclose material information Q. Does a landlord have to disclose that a vicious murder occurred in an apartment? He fixed-up and cleaned the apartment so there was no evidence of the crime. I rented the unit and didn’t find out about the murder until a neighbor told me. There is no way I would have rented this unit if I knew its history. I want out. A. Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, a person selling or renting “goods or services” has a “duty to disclose.” The term “goods” includes real estate, such as an apartment. It is a violation of this law to fail to disclose, “information concerning goods or services which was known at the time of the transaction if such failure to disclose such information was intended to induce the consumer into a transaction into which the consumer would not have entered had the information been disclosed.” This means a seller or lessor must disclose any material fact that he knows will matter to the buyer or renter. If he intentionally does not disclose information to get the person to buy or rent, he violates this law. The buyer or renter would have the right to get out of the transaction and sue for up to three times his or her damages. Although it sometimes can be difficult to determine what information is material and would be important to a buyer or renter, my opinion is that any reasonable landlord knows that a tenant would care if there were a vicious murder in an apartment. The failure of a landlord to disclose this information violates the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. I suggest you let the landlord know you know about this law and try to resolve the problem. If you cannot, you should speak with a local consumer attorney. Q. My father moved in with a woman about half his age. At first, everyone in the family got along well with his new “girlfriend.” Now, we barely speak. We have been told that my father changed his will to leave everything to his girlfriend. I was told that you couldn’t disinherit a child in Texas. Is that true?

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT UPGRADING IMMIGRANT PREFERENCE CATEGORY EB3 TO EB2

Q: I am from India and the PERM and I-140 for EB3 for me was recently approved. I was told that I can upgrade to EB2. Is this correct? A: Yes, there is an option to upgrade the immigrant preference category from EB3 to EB2. However, it is advisable to review the possibility with an experienced immigration attorney as not every case is eligible for an upgrade. Several things to consider are the kind of degree you possess, if additional job experience which is required for an EB-2 position is needed and whether the new job offer itself is one that actually satisfies the EB-2 preference category. Q: I have a three year Bachelor of Arts from India and together with my numerous years of work experience, my PERM was filed under EB-3. The position is for an Electrical Engineer. My I-140 petition has also been approved and I am interested in upgrading to preference category EB-2 because of the slow movement in the priority date for India for EB-3. Do you think I can upgrade to EB-2? A: In order to upgrade to EB-2, you are required to have an advanced degree. Advanced degree means any US academic or professional degree or a foreign equivalent degree above that of baccalaureate. As such, the advanced degree should either at least be a Master’s Degree or a four year Bachelor’s Degree with 5 years work experience in the required or specific field. In addition to that, the degree must either be a US degree or a foreign equivalent of a US degree. In your situation, a three year Bachelor of Arts degree from India will not be sufficient as it is not a four year Bachelor’s Degree. Q: Can I combine my 3 year Bachelor’s Degree from India with my work experience to gain the equivalency of a 4 year degree so that I can upgrade to the EB-2 preference category? A: No, you are not going to be able to do that as the requirement for EB-2 is that the degree must be an advanced degree which means a four year bachelor’s degree and you cannot combine education and work experience to get the equivalent of a 4 year degree. Q: Since my EB-3 PERM and I-140 was already approved, if I upgrade to EB-2 immigrant preference category, what will be my new priority date? A: To upgrade from EB-3 to EB-2, a new Labor Certification will have to be filed and certified. After that, the new I-140 for EB-2 has to be filed and approved. Once that has been completed, you will then request to retain or keep your EB-3 priority date for the EB-2 case. Q:

I am worried that if I try to upgrade to EB-2 from EB-3, I risk harming my EB-3 case?

A. No, it is not true. In Texas, a person has the right to leave as much or as little as he or she wants to a child. Basically, the law says that as long as you are competent and not under any undue inﬂuence or duress, the decision of who inherits your property is entirely up to you. If a person wants to “disinherit” some or all of his children, he has a legal right to do so. The only question would be whether your father was competent when he signed the will, and what inﬂuence, if any, his girlfriend exercised over him.

A: It should not be a problem because the approval of the new labor certiﬁcation and the EB-2 I-140 petition will not affect the existing approvals for the prior EB-3 case. This is despite the fact that a request to retain the EB-3 priority date for the EB-2 has been made.

Q. I gave a debt collector a postdated check to get him to stop harassing me. He cashed it almost a month early. As a result, I bounced several other checks and had to pay over $200 in bank fees. How can the bank pay the check? Do I have any legal rights? A. You have legal rights, but not against the bank. Under the law, a bank generally may pay a postdated check before its date, unless you have given the bank notice that you postdated the check.

A: There are some requirements with regards to the minimum qualiﬁcations one has gained while working on the job with the present petitioning employer. If your present employer is to ﬁle your new PERM and the EB-2 petition, then the offered job duties must be more than 50 % different from the initial job for which you were employed and where you gained this qualifying experience. If you use a new employer who agrees to petition for you, it might be slightly easier. This is because since you do have the four year bachelor’s degree and the minimum 5 years of work experience, you can just accept the new job offer which requires the advanced degree.

The debt collector, however, has violated the law by depositing the check early. He should be liable for your loss as well as possible punitive damages. I suggest you send him a certiﬁed letter asking for the fees you paid, and consider small claims court if you are not reimbursed. In the future, don’t ever give a postdated check, unless you are prepared for it to be deposited early.

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

Remember, the next session of the People’s Law School will be held the morning of October 4th in Houston. This free program teaches short classes in fourteen different areas of law. Knowing the law can help avoid problems and resolve disputes. To learn more about the People’s Law School or register for the classes, go to www.peopleslawer.net

Q: I am thinking of having my EB3 upgraded to EB2. Do I need a new employer to do this? I have a four year bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years work experience, three of which are with my present employer who ﬁled the PERM and my EB-3 petition.

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

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FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Sewa Day 2014: International Day of Volunteering celebrated across USA

ewa International USA celebrated “Sewa Day 2014” at over 20 locations in the USA involving volunteers in the Indian, Indian-American, Hindu and other communities. The objective was to bring together a diverse group of volunteers representing professional bodies, associations, linguistic, temple, spiritual, social and cultural organizations for a day of community service. Hundreds of volunteers of different ages and backgrounds from Sewa International and partner organizations worked on a variety of projects at locations across the country to make a difference in their communities.

Sewa International USA is proud to a part of this worldwide initiative to give back to our communities, and we thank all our volunteers, sponsors and participating organizations. UK Prime Minister David Cameron is among many celebrities and dignitaries who endorsed Sewa Day. At the awards ceremony, he said: “I think Sewa Day is something really, really, special and valuable. As Prime Minister you see amazing things and get to meet amazing people but I think the thing that gives me greater pleasure than anything else I do is seeing these amazing examples of social action in our communities”. Vivek Oberoi, famous Bollywood star and brand ambassador for Sewa Day 2014 said, “I try to reach out and tell people that this (Sewa) is incredible. I think Sewa Day is a great platform and that it should be a celebration of humanity”.

In San Diego, California, about 80 volunteers sorted fresh produce, inspected, sorted, boxed, and labeled food donations; and assembled food packages at Feeding America. Volunteers in the Bay Area, California packaged 3600 lbs. of fresh fruit at the Second Harvest Food Bank that would be delivered to families and communities in need. Volunteers at Portland, Oregon cleaned and rebuilt trails at Scappoose Retreat owned by the Vedanta Society of Portland. Activities included cleaning weeds and ferns, shoveling, garbage disposal and a guided group meditation session. Volunteers in the Denver, Colorado area cleaned the Sanatan Mandir temple in Brighton. 45 volunteers from the Greater Houston area came together to celebrate Sewa Day 2014 by cleaning the Galveston Beach and making a difference to

About Sewa Day Sewa Day is a project of Sewa International. It is an international day of volunteering where thousands of goodhearted people across the world come together to perform service and experience the joy of giving. By participating in this collective endeavor, we hope that the seeds of Sewa (Sanskrit for ‘selﬂess service’) are watered so that acts of kindness and public service are performed more often.

Houston volunteers cleaning the Galveston Beach on Sewa Day 2014. Chicago. They also organized a free community workshop on self-healing, cleansing and meditation by a wellknown yogi. At Bloomington, Illinois, volunteers helped the local food bank by sorting and storing the food and loading their food truck. Volunteers in Atlanta, Georgia cleaned up and maintained a neighborhood road in Cobb County as part of the Adopt-A-Mile program.

Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi is the brand ambassador for Sewa Day 2014 the environment. Volunteers in the Dallas / Fort Worth area in Texas collected food and clothing, sorted, packed and distributed them to needy families.

ternational prepared or sponsored lunch for the volunteers and facility staff after the volunteer event.

In the Chicago area, volunteers arranged a bus trip for 55 Bhutanese refugee senior citizens to Downtown

Volunteers from Pennsylvania and Delaware prepared and distributed Indian Vegetarian meals at two homeless shelters: Safe Harbor of West Chester and Emmaus Homeless shelter in Ellsworth, Maine. And a health awareness camp was arranged for the Bhutanese refugee community in Philadelphia. Sewa volunteers in Cleveland, Ohio cleaned up a community vegetable garden at Oxcart Pantry in North Olmsted. In Akron, Ohio, Sewa volunteers

distributed boxes of warm clothing and accessories to a homeless shelter and to the Bhutanese refugee community. Among the many projects held in New Jersey this year, volunteers at New Brunswick prepared, bagged and delivered lunches for a local food shelter (Elijah’s Promise) that are distributed by the soup kitchen and by a community outreach team. Sewa volunteers at Boston, MA cooked dinner for 300 hungry people at the Cor Unam Meal Center in Lawrence. In Delaware, volunteers prepared and served food for a couple of homeless shelters. Sewa Day projects are scheduled at a few more locations such as in Pittsburgh where volunteers will serve at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Volunteers in the Seattle area will plant and remove invasive plants at the Martha Washington Park. At many of these locations, Sewa In-

Sewa Day (www.sewaday.org) is being celebrated in over 20 locations in the US, as well as in UK, Australia, India and many other countries. It is a day of pure service and no fund-raising is allowed to take place. We invite the community to join us again next year and be part of the movement! For more information, please contact us at sewaday@sewausa.org or 708-USA-SEWA. About Sewa International Sewa International (www.sewausa. org) is a 501 (c)(3) Hindu faith-based charitable nonproﬁt service organization that works in the areas of disaster relief/rehab and development (education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, child welfare, rural and tribal welfare, and refugee support). Sewa serves regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin. The Sewa movement works with communities in need, and is active in 20 countries including USA, Canada, India, and the UK.

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 6

by Sanchali Basu

t started with the Mahalaya celebration on Sunday, September 28 morning with the full re-rendition of the popular hour-and-a-half musical montage Mahishasur Mardini. It is synonymous with the ushering in of the Debipaksha lunar fortnight and the Durga Puja, when the goddess comes to visit her parents. This program which never loses its charm, brought back the memories of childhood growing up in Kolkata when we used to be woken up at daybreak to the sounds of Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s Chandipath resonating through the air waves. Ananda Mela, more so than the previous years brought in huge crowds who got a taste of phuchka to egg rolls to ﬁsh chop to mangsho bhaat-ghugni, patishapta and so on. The mouth watering delicacies cooked by the outstanding chefs in the Bengali community helped in raising funds for HDBS. The afternoon concluded with a niftily put together kids fashion show, Pujor shaaje, which ended up being a huge hit and so was Aampanna with Aparna a la Kofee with Karan where Aparna got to interview celebrity impersonators. From the next day onward, to coincide with the tithi (Bengali calendar) celebrations, Shashthi to Navami pujas were conducted with tremendous sincerity and dedication by head priest Dr. Bishnupada Goswami. Ashtami puja on Wednesday morning drew an unprecedented number of people considering it was a weekday morning. Sandhi Puja was carried out meticulously with 108 lotuses and 108 lamps. Thursday evening, the cultural program kick off was by Hindustani classical singer Rajyashree Ghosh accompanied by Samir Chatterjee on the tabla. They were successful in captivating the audience with their range of song selections from Aagomani to Tappa to Puratoni, Nazrul Geeti, Dadra, Thumri and Khayal. From Friday, the whole cycle started all over again with Maha Saptami for folks who cannot

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Week long Durga Puja festivities conclude at Houston Durga Bari

A sectional view of the devotees at the Houston Durga Bari. Pics: Courtesy Saurabh Sen Gupta. take time off during the week and yet do not want to miss the ﬂavor of the 5 day Puja. Chandipath, Balidaan, Pushpanjali, Aarati and Sandhyarati were part of the daily Puja and fruit prasad, lunch and dinner were served every day. Somchhanda Bhattacharya and Trijoy Deb wrapped up the evening with their karaoke medley of popular Bollywood numbers. Saturday is normally the day

when one can never be prepared for, since a large number of outof-towners drive in just for a day to join in the festivities as Durga Puja is the biggest yearly celebration for the Bengalis. In anticipation, the organizers were proactive and had arranged for satellite parking and shuttle bus services. Volunteers provided tremendous crowd control and let devotees into the temple in batches to offer puja and pushpanjali. The arati performed by

the three priests to the ringing of the ghanta, kansor ghanta, beat of the dhaak and the blowing of the shankh was a treat to watch. The temple got ﬁlled to capacity four times in a row and the balmy weather made it pleasant for devotees to stand in line for prasad. The stalls in the Kala Bhavan ranged from music, video, book, sari, jewelry, shoes to Metlife, bone marrow donation and Vedanta Society. The mood was festive and while some were busy reuniting with friends who they had lost touch with in the food tent, kids were treated to clowns and magic shows in the kids tent, ladies were busy shopping, volunteers were selling the Puja souvenir Sharod Arghya while the NABC registration booth was getting people to register for the upcoming North American Bengali Conference to be held in Houston July 10-12,

bandhan

by Nilo Presents

diwali Exhibition

2015. Kinjal Chatterjee, the evening’s performer with his versatile ﬂexibility in moving from Rabindra Sangeet to Sachin Dev-Rahul Dev Burman, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Manabendra, Bengali, Hindi, Suﬁ, Punjabi Kalaam and Ghazals was able to keep the audience till 2 in the morning. Everyone just loved him and his incredible voice quality and singing prowess. Sunday is always a bittersweet day when one thinks that the festivities are coming to an end with the Bisarjan of the Kala Bou in the adjacent lake and the Sindoor Khela of married women signifying the departure of the Goddess to her in laws abode. But with chants of Aashchhe bochhor aabar hobey (next year it shall be repeated), dancing to popular pujo songs and exchange of pranaam and kolakuli the sense of camaraderie uplifts the spirits. Yet again, entire credit goes to the organizers and volunteers with Jayati Banerjee at its lead in carrying out this monumental task very smoothly.

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Flower and fruit offerings by devotees to Maa Durga laid out.

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Club 65 Members Picnic At Port Lavaca masala, Naan, Raita, Salad with Gulab Jamun for dessert. Soft drinks were also served. Mr. Mujahid Kitabi of BBQ Village catered the food/drinks with Hot Tea and snacks in the afternoon. He is a big supporter of Club 65 and always takes personal interest in making sure that the seniors are taken care of. He, very kindly, took the time to drive the distance to Port Lavaca, as he had done for a prior picnic to San Antonio a year ago. Club 65 appreciates all his effort and support.

by Rahat Kalle and photos by Rosemin Premji.

n Sept. 28th 2014, Port Lavaca, Texas was the destination for the picnic of Club 65, a non-proﬁt organization under the umbrella of IMAGH (Indian Muslims of Greater Houston) and able guidance of the President, Mr. Latafath Hussain. Club 65 is proud to have over 110 members and growing stronger by the month. The picnic morning started at 8:30 a.m. with 61 enthusiastic members of Club 65 meeting at the Bayland Community Center in Houston. It was commendable to see all the excited seniors arriving early --- ready to have a good time. There were new faces—Rashida Abdullab-

Eager for a day away from the rush and din Club 65 member board the bus to Port Lavaca

After a slight delay in getting on the road from Houston, it was all fun and games with laughter and music. The volunteers interacted with the members for a short while then played the game of “Antakshari” till the bus made a stop in El Campo for a quick break. The next hour of the bus ride was a ‘social hour’ at the request of the members who wanted to chat and take time to know each other. The drive was pleasant and relaxing. The greenery of the sprawling Texas landscape was cooling to the eye and the cattle grazing under the big blue canopy/sky brought back old memories of the farms and countryside back home in India. Port Lavaca is a two hour bus drive from Houston located near the center point of the 275 mile Texas Gulf Coast. It is referred to as “the little jewel” nestled in the middle of the Gulf Coast offering visitors a variety of public parks and a tropical seaside environment with its own charm. The area also is a wintering ground for many species of birds including the Whooping Crane. Arriving at the picnic spot -700 Lighthouse Beach Road- there was a huge pavilion with picnic tables (enough to seat 200 people) where the members enjoyed a cool drink of “Chaas” (buttermilk) with” Kachoris” and relaxed to savor the view of the calm water of the gulf. The weather was pleasant all day with an exception of a midday heavy downpour for a short while. The rain came down hard on the metal roof of the pavilion making music of its own and again reminding the folks of the monsoons in India. The pouring rain kept the members huddled under the pavilion. It also provided the perfect time to play games! Game one was –Bean Bag Toss where the person has 4 chances to throw the bean bag into a hole on a board- 3 points scored for each bag in the hole and 1 point scored for each bag on the board. Everyone got a chance to play and had a good time. Game two was—Tossing the Ball into the Cup. This game is played with many cups lined on a table and the person has to toss the ball directly into the cup without bouncing it on the table. Amazingly, it requires some skill and the members had a lot of fun trying their best. The location was beautiful and very peaceful! There was a boardwalk along the water in front of the pavilion making it convenient for the seniors to stroll in small groups on the boardwalk along the water. There was an Observatory (Gazebo) located at one section of the boardwalk where people could observe the different spe-

cies of birds. Many of the members congregated in the Observatory and felt relaxed looking out into the horizon where the blue sky meets the majestic body of water! At the request of some members Kaka (Tyeb Shipchandler) our evergreen se-

By now the ﬂavorful aroma of tea was ﬂoating around the pavilion indicating that it was ready--- to be served along with some delicious Bhel. While members slowly sipped their tea the rhythm of the music playing had a few sporting members wanting to dance— which was a big enough hint for the volunteers and they jumped into action. They had the enthusiastic ones, the bashful ones and those who needed help--all on their feet dancing merrily. It was wonderful to see everyone having a good time. The sun was slowly setting. The evening sun was shining its cool rays on the water making it

Members line up in teams for some fun and games.

Women relax and enjoy thier picnic. hoy, Akbar Ali Ladhani-- who were eager to join after hearing from friends about Club 65. Due to the tremendous response for this event, Club 65 rented an extra bus to accommodate the members. The volunteers assisted the seniors with their assigned seating and distributed snack bags as the members boarded their respective buses.

After lunch, the seniors were ready for some more activity. Games and music were played in the pavilion while the tea was being prepared. Game number Three of the day was -Passing the Parcel. The game was simple but the rule was- a “Pen-

their past experiences. The game ended with a winner getting a prize.

nior member sang a couple of beautiful songs that were like music to the ears with the awesome acoustics of the gazebo. Soon after, it was time to head back to the pavilion for a sumptuous lunch after a fun ﬁlled

active morning. The food arrived a little later than expected –due to circumstances beyond our control—but it was hot and served right away. The picnic menu was a big spread consisting of---BBQ chicken, Kofta curry, Veg. Biryani, Bhindi

alty” if one was left holding the parcel when the music stopped. The “penalty” was to tell a joke, special anecdote, sing a song etc. This game turned out to be a lot of fun and informative since the members were relating stories and episodes from

glisten like glass. The day was ending and just as the saying goes—All Good Things Must Come to an End—it was time to leave. The volunteers cleaned the pavilion then helped the members settle into the buses for a quiet ride home.

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VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 9

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Ramleela 2014 – Ten years of celebrating victory of Good over Evil

without a strong team effort. Ms. Kusum Sharma congratulates and thanks all volunteers, participants, performers, technicians, workers who spent countless hours working round the clock, and patrons, temples and generous sponsors who continue to support and uphold this glorious tradition in Houston. Houstonians are already looking forward to next year’s Ram Leela 2015 by Shri Natraj School of Dance which will no doubt be treat to eyes, ears and the soul. For more details for this year and previous year Ramleela’s visit www.ramleelahouston.org

A scene from the play ‘Ramleela with lead performers Vipin Sharma (as Ram) and Kusum Sharma (as Sita). Photo by Gautam Jani.

he magnum saga ‘Ram Leela 2014’ presented by Shri Natraj School of Dance in association with Kalakriti Performing Arts, a non-proﬁt organization on Saturday, September 27th, 2014 at the VPSS Haveli was a great success based on the response of 1000 or so audience who were spell bound by the 2.5 hour play. A new location which was central to Indian community, a hall that was specially staged for this grand play , many new episodes and thrill added to celebrate the 10th year. Undoubtedly the audience was thrilled, and many repeat year audience showered praise to the organizer and 100+ performers for a top notch performance. Post program comments such as “Best Ramleela ever”, “Never seen Ramleela like this” appropriately captured the sentiments of the audience. Ramleela each year continues to increase the bar Ramleela 2014 was amongst the ﬁnest examples of theater, talent, team work, Indo-American cultural spirit, community bonding, and win of good over evil. An ambitious project involving more than 100 performers, countless volunteers, hundreds of bright costumes, spectacular special effects, and elaborate scenes were a sincere tribute to the epic story of Lord Rama and his conquests. The key characters of Ramleela were played by talented performers led by Vipin Sharma (as Ram), Kusum Sharma (as Sita), Prashant Agarwal as Lakshman), Dharminder Dargan (as Hanuman) and Hari Sriram (as Ravan). Kusum Sharma, executive

director of Shri Natraj School of dance started the tradition of Ramleela in Houston in 2005, for past five years since the first time it was staged in 2010 at the Cullen Hall at the University of Houston, the Ram Leela has set a tradition of ringing in the Dushera and Diwali festivities in Houston. With the passing of each year, newer elements have been added into the play, making it more spectacular. The Emcee of the program was charming Abha Dwivedi who introduced the grand sponsor Smt. Kamlesh Agarwal and Sh. Satish Agarwal, and also called the key sponsor’s on stage for invocation and the Diya ceremony. The special effects which are key attractions of Kusum Sharma’s Ramleela each year were again simply spectacular, most notably the silk dance sequence in which river Ganga descends to the earth, Hanuman ji’s antics during a super charged Hanuman Chalisa song, and UV light based Shiv Tandav. Ramleela 2014 like previous years, continued to amaze and dazzle the audience by beautiful costumes, sets (courtesy of Mandap Creations), props, and special effects. Many in audience felt as they were taken back to Treta Yugh and Ramayan was playing out in front of them when Hanuman flew in front of their eyes, Ravan fought with Jatayu who was flying using rigging special effects, Hanuman put the Lanka to fire using fire dance. No show of this size and caliber can be successful

Sri Hanuman, in a classic depiction of his loyalty to Sri Rama and Sri Lakshman in the play Ramleela. Photo by Gautam Jani.

WORLD/US/ASIA

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Obama picks Indian-American Richard Man dies of Ebola in Texas, Rahul Verma as new US envoy to India as world toll nears 3,900 Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of State from 2009 to 2011 and Partner at Steptoe and Johnson LLP from 2007 to 2009. He was Senior National Security Advisor, Counsel and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from 2002 to 2007, and an Associate at Steptoe & Johnson from 1998 to 2002.

Richard Rahul Verma. (Photo: You Tube) US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated IndianAmerican Richard Rahul Verma as the next US Ambassador to India, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington later this month.

sen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead,” Obama said in a statement.

If conﬁrmed by the US Senate, Verma, who earlier served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs and is now in the private sector, would be the ﬁrst IndianAmerican to serve as the top US diplomat in New Delhi, PTI reported.

The US Embassy in New Delhi is currently headed by a Charge d’affaires, Kathleen Stephens.

Obama announced his nomination along with several other key administration appointments. “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have cho-

Verma, 45, said to be a close conﬁdant of the President and also former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, currently serves as Senior Counselor at Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Albright Stonebridge Group. He is also a Senior National Security Fellow at the Center for American Progress. Previously, he was Assistant

Verma served on active duty in the US Air Force from 1994 to 1998 and received, among other decorations, the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. Earlier in his career, Verma was a Field Representative for the National Democratic Institute in Eastern Europe and worked in the House of Representatives for Congressman John P Murtha. He served on the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism in 2008 and has been a member of the Secretary of State’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board. Verma currently serves on the boards of Human Rights First, the Clinton Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute. He received a BS from Lehigh University, a JD from American University, and an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center.

Houstonian named VC of Pakistan’s top University

Dr. Javed Ashraf

OUSTON: An official announcement from Pakistan President’s House, Islamabad on October 3 reads: “President Mamnoon Hussain, on the advice of the Prime Minister has appointed Professor Javed Ashraf as Vice-Chancellor of Quaid-iAzam University.” Dr. Javed Ashraf has been a Houstonian since 2003. He has served as Dean of the Cameron School of Business at the University of St. Thomas. He has also held the Cullen Endowed Professorship of Economics at the University. Dr. Ashraf served as the Director of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi from 2000 to 2002. Under his directorship, IBA became the first publicsector institution in Pakistan to offer four-year bachelor’s program in the country. Subsequently, Dr. Ata-urRahman as Chairman of the Higher Education Commission ordered all universities in the country to adopt the four-year degree program. While at IBA, he received an award from President Pervez Musharraf for his contributions to education in Pakistan. Quaid-i-Azam University (formerly known as Islamabad University) is the country’s flagship university in the federal capital. It is ranked as Pakistan’s top university by the Higher Education Commission. Dr. Ashraf is leaving for Islamabad on October 9 to take the oath of office from President Mamnoon Hussain. Dr. Ashraf becomes the second Houstonian to wear the robes of a Vice-Chancellor in Pakistan. A few years ago, Dr. Ahmad Durrani left Houston to head the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

by Kerry SHERIDAN

ASHINGTON, October 8, 2014 (AFP) - A Liberian man who was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States died in a Texas hospital Wednesday, as deaths from West African epidemic neared 3,900. Washington stepped up airport screening against the often fatal virus, and the World Health Organization sought to contain concerns of a wider outbreak in Europe after a Spanish nurse was infected. The world’s largest outbreak of Ebola has killed 3,865 people out of 8,033 infected so far this year, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, according to the WHO’s latest count. The spillover of the virus -with the first diagnosis in United States and the first case of infection in Spain -- has raised fears of contagion in the West. WHO regional director Zsuzsanna Jakab said sporadic cases in Europe were “unavoidable” but the risk of a full outbreak was “extremely low.” Meanwhile, two people were hospitalized in Los Angeles and Dallas for possible exposure to Ebola. In the Los Angeles case, the person had no symptoms but did have a travel history to Liberia that led to the patient’s evacuation by ambulance from the airport, the Centinela Hospital said. Of the Dallas case, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Tom Frieden said “there is

someone who does not have either deﬁnite contact with Ebola or deﬁnite symptoms of Ebola who is being assessed.”

They include sending extra CDC staff to airports and taking the temperatures of people arriving from Ebola-hit nations.

Ebola is transmitted by close contact with the bodily ﬂuids of a person who is showing symptoms of infection such as fever, aches, vomiting and diarrhea, or who has recently died of the hemorrhagic virus, experts say.

The “vast majority of people” coming from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- the three countries hit hardest by the epidemic -- will be screened, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

- US death Thomas Eric Duncan became the first patient cared for in the United States to die of Ebola, said Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Duncan passed away 10 days after he was admitted and despite receiving an experimental drug to fight off the illness. “Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola. He fought courageously in this battle,” said a hospital statement. Duncan is believed to have been infected with Ebola before he left Liberia and boarded a plane to visit family in Texas. The CDC has said there was “zero risk” that he had infected any fellow travelers because he was not symptomatic until days after the flight. News of Duncan’s diagnosis led to a spike of suspected Ebola cases and forced governments to consider stronger methods of keeping the virus at bay. Hours after Duncan died, the White House announced that stricter airport screenings would be implemented at five major US airports beginning Saturday.

CDC chief Frieden said about 150 travelers come to the United States daily from the affected region, and described the screening measures as “manageable.” President Barack Obama described the screening as “just belt-and-suspenders -- it’s an added layer of protection on top of the procedures already in place.” - Spanish fears mount In Spain, ﬁve people were isolated and dozens more monitored after a nurse in Madrid apparently caught Ebola while treating two elderly missionaries who died of the disease. One of the doctors treating Teresa Romero, the ﬁrst person to contract Ebola outside West Africa, said she may have caught the deadly virus after touching her face with an infected glove. As Spain scrambled to identify people who came into contact with Romero, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for calm and promised “transparency.” Spain’s handling of the affair has come under question after it emerged that the nurse fell ill on September 30 while on leave after treating the missionaries, but she was not admitted to hospital until six days later.

VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

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VOICE OF ASIA 13

LIFESTYLE

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Vol. 27 No. 41 Friday, October 10, 2014 Section 2 Page 13

When the Nobel prize is a family affair

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140

Japan Nobel winner is salaryman who took on bosses

by Camille BAS-WOHLERT

TOCKHOLM - Since the creation of the Nobel prizes in 1901, six children have followed in the footsteps of their parents, becoming Nobel laureates themselves. A seventh won the award jointly with his father in 1915 at the tender age -- in Nobel terms -- of 25. The Curie family alone clocked up a grand total of five awards: two to Marie Curie, who first won the physics prize 1903 with her husband Pierre and Henri Becquerel, and then the chemistry distinction in 1911. Irene, her eldest child, was awarded the chemistry Nobel with her husband Pierre Joliot in 1935. For Ulrika Bjoerksten, director of science programmes at Swedish public radio, the appearance of Nobel families down through the decades “shows the importance of social inheritance”. - ‘Social heritage’ Some might argue that Irene Joliot-Curie, Aage Bohr and Roger Kornberg -- all prize winners with Nobel laureate parents -- had the advantage of finding it easier to gain recognition for their work and be nominated by their peers. But Nobel Museum curator Gustav Kaellstrand disagrees. “They all had a parent who succeeded in transmitting their interest,” said Nobel Museum senior curator Gustav Kaellstrand, adding that “having a well-known name doesn’t favour the candidates”. For the Nobel committees, which choose the winners and keep their deliberations secret for 50 years, being the child of an existing laureate is neither a handicap nor an advantage. “Having been nominated is a sign of competence,” Kaellstrand said, adding that growing up in a scientific environment makes people better at surrounding themselves with the right people.

Picture taken on December 10, 2010 shows the front of the Nobel medal awarded to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 2010, jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiabo. Nobel season opens on October 6, 2014 with speculation brewing over whether the medicine prize could go to research into chili, heat and pain, as well as US whistleblower Edward Snowden’s prospects for the peace prize. AFP

“Laureates know how to ﬁnd a creative setting that fosters (research). And their children, who grow up in that creative setting, know how to recognise them. Also, they have natural access to the research world,” he said. But they still have to prove themselves, he said, referring to Denmark’s Aage Bohr, who received the physics prize in 1975, 53 years after his father, Niels Bohr. “Aage Bohr didn’t win the Nobel because his father was called Niels Bohr, he had to do something extraordinary himself.” - Learn to think Marie Curie’s grandson Pierre Joliot told AFP that his prize-winning mother Irene Joliot-Curie “fell into the magic potion when she was a child, she most probably never asked herself if she wanted to be a researcher or not,” Joliot said. “She quickly became one of her mother’s main research colleagues, and she clearly was very much inﬂuenced by her.” US Nobel medicine laureate Arthur Kornberg, who won the award in 1959, never worked with his son Roger, who got the chemistry prize in 2006, but he said in an in-

terview with US broadcaster PBS that he used to take his children to his laboratory at weekends. His son was so marked by the experience that, aged eight or nine, he asked to spend a week among microscopes and test tubes as a Christmas present. Kaellstrand believes parents play a key role is shaping laureates. They all have “parents who taught them how to think... and stimulated their reﬂection.” But he added that another factor was perhaps even more important. “An American researcher showed in the 1970s -- and it’s still relevant today -- that very many laureates have had a Nobel prize winner as their research supervisor.” “The ones that succeed in getting the Nobel are the ones that succeed in surrounding themselves with other smart and open people.” This year, the laureates will be announced between October 6 and 13. According to some experts, Swedish researcher Svante Paeaebo, son of the 1982 medicine laureate Sune Bergstroem, could win an award for his work on the DNA of the Neanderthals.

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Scientist Shuji Nakamura, a Japanese-born American professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, demonstrates LED lights during a news conference, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, in Santa Barbara, Calif. Nakamura and two Japanese scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for inventing blue light-emitting diodes, a breakthrough that has spurred the development of LED technology to light up homes, computer screens and smartphones worldwide. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) TOKYO, October 8, 2014 (AFP) - Japan celebrated three more Nobel prizes Wednesday, including for a scientist remembered as the salaryman who stood up to a corporation -- and won.

Nichia appealed, but settled on a payment of 844 million yen in 2005, more than $8 million.

The outspoken scientist, who is now an American citizen, was recognised along with Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano.

Shuji Nakamura was one of a trio recognised for their pioneering work in the creation of the blue LED, a development that paved the way for energyefficient lighting.

The case was widely watched for its potential to set a precedent for how Japanese companies treat inventors on their payroll, who generally get a pittance in exchange for sometimes revolutionary and hugely profitable inventions.

Nakamura was employed at Nichia Corp. when he carried out the research that led to his invention of the blue LED in 1993, with the patent registered under the company name.

After the Nobel Prize was announced on Tuesday, Nakamura said he had been driven to great heights of scientific achievement by anger at the way he was always treated like an outsider.

His initial bonus from the company was only 20,000 yen (less than $200), despite the huge financial gains for the firm.

Nakamura, currently a professor at University of California, Santa Barbara, never lived in Tokyo and was not from an elite university or a giant well-known firm.

“I was stuck many times but I never gave up. I continued the experiments three times a day. It always failed but I got new ideas that pushed me to continue the experiments”.

He once said students looked down on him when he was studying in the United States -- where he had been sent by the company -- as he did not have a PhD.

Japanese media effusively welcomed news of the triple win, with newspapers issuing special editions and television stations flashing the news.

“My desire to get back at them led to the invention of the (blue) LED,” he earlier said, according to the Nikkei business daily.

Headlines ranged from “Miracle of Blue, Crystalisation of Passion” in the usually sober Nikkei to “Passion Invites Revolution” in the mass circulation Asahi daily.

Nakamura later sued his employer, demanding 20 billion yen, a record at that time in a Japanese patent trial. In a landmark ruling in 2004, the Tokyo District Court ordered the company to pay the sum demanded by Nakamura. “Engineers have long been ignored,” Nakamura said afterwards.

“It’s an honour getting a Nobel Prize, the greatest of all,” said Amano, who is currently in France at the Minatec research centre in the Alpine city of Grenoble. Describing the technology as “the greatest for energy saving”, he said he would like to continue the research. “I began the study in 1983 when I was a student. So I’ve started over 30 years ago,” he added.

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VOICE OF ASIA 14

Rare clean-shaven Christ unearthed in Spain LINARES, October 7, 2014 (AFP) - Archaeologists say they have found one of the earliest pictures ever of Jesus Christ, sporting an unusual clean-shaven, short-haired look, on an old glass plate unearthed in southern Spain.

than 80 percent of the plate, which measured 22 centimetres (about eight and a half inches) in diameter.

The team found numerous fragments of glass during a three-year dig in the ruined ancient city of Castulo and in July dug up some bigger bits with designs that caught their eye.

The leader of the dig, Marcelo Castro, hailed the finding as “an exceptional archaeological document”.

When pieced together, the shards formed a plate dating to the fourth century AD, with an engraving of Christ in a Romanstyle toga, neatly groomed. The researchers identified it as a paten, a plate for holding the bread for communion. They pieced together more

It went on display this month in a museum in the southeastern Spanish town of Linares.

Three haloed figures are engraved on it, with Christ himself in the middle, holding a cross and a Bible, flanked by two men thought to be the apostles Peter and Paul. Experts say Christ’s lack of beard and short curly hair in the engraving are very rare traits in historic depictions of him. Castro said it was a relic of a key early period in church

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Bangladeshi directors hope to step out of Bollywood’s shadow

history, just after the Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity. Previously Christians had worshipped in secret and produced few sacred images for fear of persecution under the Romans. The Roman style of the paten was “present in the first moments” of Christianity postConstantine but was “discarded later on in favour of other ways of depicting Christ”, Castro told AFP. The team of archaeologists believe the plate was made in the Ostia glasswork district of ancient Rome. Other rare examples of similar early Christian art are held in Paris’s Louvre Museum and the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, he said.

Hrithik Roshan Picks Up Broom And Takes Up The Clean India Challenge

A still image of a scene from Bangladeshi ﬁlm ‘Jalal’s Story’, directed by Abu Shahed Emon (AFP Photo/BIFF) by Mathew Scott

USAN - With his debut nominated for the top prize at Asia’s biggest film festival, Bangladeshi director Abu Shahed Emon is hopeful that his achievement will help spur on his compatriot filmmakers. “Jalal’s Story” is the firstever Bangladeshi film to vie for the New Currents award at the Busan International Film Festival -- the event’s main category that offers two prizes of $30,000 to first or second-time directors. The film follows a young orphaned boy as he faces the harsh realities of life on the fringes of rural Bangladeshi society. Emon said he was attempting to draw on personal experience to help create a distinctly Bangladeshi identity with his debut feature, which was shot over 55 days on a budget of $70,000 and stars mostly non-actors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for a ‘Swachh Bharat’ (clean India) has been heard far and wide. Modi appealed to people to dedicate 100 hours a year towards cleanliness, and as a part of which he also invited Baba Ramdev, Salman Khan, Shashi Tharoor, Priyanka Chopra, Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, Kamal Hassan, Anil Ambani, the entire cast of Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah and also Goa Governor Mridula Sinha. Even though Hrithik Roshan wasn’t directly nominated by the PM, we saw him pick up the broom and sweep the streets.

“Up until fairly recently Bangladeshi cinema has been basically like Bollywood copies,” said the 31-year-old director. “But a group of young ﬁlmmakers are trying to dream big. Being in this award will help as we try to establish something the world can recognize as ‘Bangladeshi cinema’ -- something people can recognize straight away.” “Jalal’s Story” faces stiff competition for the New Currents prize, including from Korean family drama “End of

Winter” by director Kim Daehwan and Li Xiaofeng’s bittersweet coming-of-age tale “Nezha”. Countries also represented include Iraq, Iran and Lebanon, entering for the first time. - ‘The society we see’ Emon has travelled to Korea, Australia and the United States for diploma courses to help further his film education as Bangladesh does not have an internationally recognised film school. He said the “Bollywood” style films dominating box offices in the country of 150 million usually revolve around a poor man longing for a beautiful and wealthy woman, offering little insight into the realities of Bangladeshi culture. This is something Emon and his contemporaries hope to change. “We want to portray the society we see around us,” he said. He has been joined in Busan by fellow Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, whose “Television” closed BIFF in 2012 -- the first ever Bangladeshi film to occupy that coveted festival spot. Farooki returns this year with “Ant Story”, a biting look at urban society in Dhaka. Both he and Emon refer to themselves as part of “the Chabail” -- which loosely translates as the “film hawker” community in Bangladesh. “Our inspiration comes from the stories that have surrounded

our lives,” said Emon. “That’s why I wanted to shoot my film in a setting that was very real, and with people who could make the characters seem very real.” - Driven by emotion Festival organizers say the breadth of the New Currents selection this year reflects the strength of independent cinema in the region. Other features include a black comedy set around the Iran-Iraq war (Shakhwan Idrees’ “The Face of the Ash”, from Iraq) and a tale about a young girl looking for the perfect pair of shoes (Milo Sogueco’s “Mariquina” from the Philippines). Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who won the Best Foreign Film Oscar in 2011 for “A Separation”, is leading the Busan jury. This year New Currents has attracted a field of 12 entries from 12 countries, and Farhadi said he had been impressed by the ability of Asian filmmakers such as Emon to channel their own emotions and experiences. “We all of us have emotions inside of us and these are very important when making a film,” said Farhadi. “You have to look inside yourself and work from that, from your emotional experience.” The New Currents award winners will be announced on the festival’s final day on Saturday.

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University Of Chicago 3 Must-Know Facts About Draws Up Plan To End Use For-Profit Colleges, Of Student Loans Student Debt by Susannah Snider

uition and fees at forproﬁt colleges averaged $15,130 in 20132014, according to the College Board.

Not all press is good press, especially when it comes to recent headlines about forproﬁt colleges.

University of Chicago

by Carla K. Johnson HICAGO -- As selective colleges try to increase economic diversity among their undergraduates, the University of Chicago announced Wednesday that it’s embarking on an unusual effort to enroll more low-income students, including the elimination of loans in its aid packages.

What’s more, the elite school will no longer expect financial-aid students to hold jobs during the school year and application fees will be waived for families seeking aid. The initiative includes scholarships, career guidance and a guarantee of paid summer internships, officials said as they announced the No Barriers program. The university will offer more than 100 workshops across the nation to demystify the admissions and financial aid process. “We want to ensure that students of high ability can aspire to join this community without financial worry, and with comprehensive support for their success both in the College and beyond graduation,” University of Chicago

President Robert Zimmer said in a statement. While other elite schools have tried the no-debt policy, the University of Chicago program is the most thorough effort of its kind, outside experts said. “This is as complete and comprehensive an approach as you’ll ever see,” said Terry Hartle of the American Council on Education, which represents college presidents. The percentage of lowincome students in selective universities hasn’t changed much in two decades. Higher education leaders recognize the growing wealth gap in the United States and are recommitting to enhancing economic opportunity, Hartle said. The University of Chicago’s economic diversity has lagged behind that of other institutions, with roughly 12 percent of freshmen coming from low-income families. Annual tuition, room and board tops $62,000. The university’s endowment, meanwhile, is $6.67 billion.

Last year, the University of Virginia ended its no-loan policy, citing rising costs. “After the University of Virginia disbanded its program, we were starting to become nervous that other elite institutions would follow,” said Michelle Asha Cooper of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, a nonprofit group working to increase access to higher education. “What needs to happen now is follow-through with sustained action,” Cooper said of the Chicago program. Sandy Baum, a higher education economist at the Urban Institute, applauded the Chicago effort, particularly the paid summer internships, which she said “can really improve the experience for low-income students.” But Baum cautioned that elite universities can only do so much. “They aren’t going to solve the problem” of lack of preparation for elite schooling among low-income students, Baum said. “We need to solve the problem earlier in these kids’ lives” with early childhood and K-12 education, she said. Courtesy: AP

Walk to School Day Encourages Students to Skip the Bus

International Walk to School Day is sponsored by Safe Routes.

By Sanjay Salomon, Boston. com hink of it as an accidental anniversary. One year ago, Boston bus drivers went on a one-day strike forcing parents to drive into the city to pick up their kids from school and causing a massive citywide gridlock in the process. Fast forward to 2014 and we’re looking at a national event aimed at producing the exact opposite effect. October 8 is International Walk to School Day so students are encouraged to walk or bike to school. The idea, according to the MassDOT blog, is to “encourage active and healthy transportation, learn about pedestrian safety, and decrease traffic congestion

and pollution.” International Walk to School Day has been a nationwide event since 1997. According to the website Walk + Bike to School, 239 schools around Massachusetts participated in last year’s International Walk to School Day. MassDOT expects more than 275 of the 1,934 public schools in Massachusetts to participate this year. For those participating in tomorrow’s event, it’s supposed to rain so plan ahead and bring an umbrella. If you’re a motorist, please anticipate more pedestrians than usual on the road and, as always, drive carefully. Walk + Bike to School also lists alternatives for families who want to participate but live too far

away to walk to school. If you didn’t realize this was happening, don’t worry. School buses will run as unusual tomorrow. International Walk to School Day is sponsored by Safe Routes, a safety advovacy program funded by the US Department of Transportation. Locally, the Massachusetts Safe Routes program is organized and partially funded by MassDOT. So will International Walk to School Day remove enough cars from the road to allow for a smoother commute on the Pike and other major roadways? It’s hard to anticipate, so we won’t bother. But after last year’s traffic nightmare, any help in reducing congestion is welcome.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made news when it recently sued forprofit Corinthian Colleges, which operates schools under the Everest name, among others, for predatory lending. And when Occupy Wall Street activists paid off $3.85 million in Corinthian College students’ private student loan debt, it got the media’s attention. We’re paying greater attention to for-profit colleges because investigations are turning up worrying borrowing levels, debt levels, default levels, and poor outcomes in general, including some cases of fraud, says Pauline Abernathy, vice president of the Institute for College Access & Success. But bad press aside, forprofit colleges have become increasingly popular. They account for 42 percent of postsecondary enrollment growth in the past decade, according to a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, offering everything from nursing certificates to bachelor’s degrees to primarily low-income and minority students. One one hand, for-profits appear to provide a chance at college for students who wouldn’t otherwise get a degree. On the other, they can look like predatory debt mills that favor a corporate bottom line over students’ success. Here’s what you should know about for-profit colleges and student debt. 1. For-profits are expensive. Tuition and fees at for-profit colleges averaged $15,130 in the 2013-2014 academic year, according to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing.

That’s compared with $3,264 at two-year public colleges for in-state students and $8,893 at four-year public colleges for in-staters. Out-of-state public students and private nonprofit students paid more, on average, than students at for-profits. One reason for-profits charge so much: It’s all in the name. “They are profit-making entities,” says Abernathy. Higher price tags mean high levels of borrowing. Nearly 90 percent of 2012 for-profit graduates had student loans, with the average debt among for-profit college graduates who borrowed reaching nearly $40,000, according to the Institute for College Access & Success. Those high costs can skyrocket for students who delay graduation, which just 31.5 percent of for-profit students manage to achieve within six years, according to federal data. That’s compared with about 57 percent at public institutions and about 66 percent at nonprofit private colleges. 2. For-profit graduates struggle to find employment. Studies suggest that applicants who list for-profit college credentials on their resumes don’t get called back by potential employers as frequently as graduates who hold other kinds of degrees. Applicants with business bachelor’s degrees from large online for-profit institutions are about 22 percent less likely to hear back from employers than applicants with similar degrees from nonselective public schools, says the study from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Another study found that applicants with certificates, associate’s degrees and other credentials from for-profit colleges fared no better in receiving callbacks from employers than those from much-cheaper community colleges. “Our findings suggest that employers don’t value forprofit credentials any more than public community col-

lege credentials,” says Cory Koedel, an associate professor at the University of Missouri and co-author on the study. “But for-profit credentials are quite a bit more expensive.” 3. For-profit borrowers default at higher rates. The likelihood of a student defaulting at a for-profit college is nearly four times higher than at a community college and more than three times higher than at a four-year public or nonprofit college, according to a news release from the Institute for College Access & Success. Default rates may stem from the combination of high loan balances and difficulty finding employment, says David Deming, an associate professor of education and economics of Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-author of the NBER study. “To the extent that you have trouble finding a job when you graduate, it affects your ability to pay student loans,” he says. But despite the worrying debt statistics, succeeding in a for-profit program is largely up to you, say experts. Approach for-profits as a savvy consumer, experts say. Make sure that you understand which schools offer what kinds of courses and what their prices are. Compare the costs of several schools on online net price calculators. “Shop around,” says Deming. Beware if the for-profit college representative you’re speaking with isn’t answering your question or giving you a sense of the cost of the degree. And don’t get rushed into signing up, says Abernathy, citing stories of recruiters hurrying prospective students by telling them that classes were filling up fast when, in reality, they weren’t. There is a huge range among for-profits, just like there is among any other kind of school, says Abernathy. It’s up to you to choose one that will get you graduated ontime and with a reasonable amount of debt. Courtesy: US NEWS

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Won’t do women-centric roles India’s Adajania weighs in just because everyone is doing over Bollywood cleavage row them: Kareena Kapoor

areena Kapoor Khan, who has done her share of female-centric dramas, says she wouldn’t accept a biopic or a womanoriented script just because it’s in vogue.

It won’t be saying wrong that this year is riding high on women-centric dramas. Be it Kangana Ranaut’s sleeper hit Queen, Alia Bhatt’s raod movie Highway, Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani or boxing champ Mary Kom’s biopic starring Priyanka Chopra in the title role — all conquered the box office. When asked about the same, Kareena said, “I have done female-centric film. I did Chameli at 22, then Jab We Met and then Heroine. So, I’d only do one if I really like the script and not just because everyone is doing it. That is not how I work,” the 34-year-old says.

Bollywood actress and model Deepika Padukone poses for photographers at the Happy New Year photo call in London on October 5, 2014 AFP News Photo By Justin Tallis Kareena Kapoor Khan

Kareena was recently seen in Rohit Shetty’s commercial

hit Singham Returns. Courtesy: By HT)

Bollywood heartthrob Roshan warns fans against obsession

ndian director Homi Adajania has thrown his support behind Bollywood star Deepika Padukone in her spat with a leading newspaper over remarks it made about her cleavage on social media. Last month the Times of India posted a link on Twitter to a year-old clip of Padukone which was shot from above, adding the caption “OMG! Deepika Padukone’s cleavage show.” The post sparked furious debate about media standards across traditionally conservative India, and Bollywood stars rushed to offer their support to the 28-year-old Padukone. “At some level you have to realise that your ‘star’ is a human being and needs to be given that respect,” said Adajania, speaking at the Busan International Film Festival on Sunday. “If a person like Deepika didn’t draw the line now, where will it go?” he added, describCruise, a movie Roshan says he “instinctively” felt was ripe for a Bollywood adaptation.

Bollywood actors Hrithik Roshan during a promotional event for the forthcoming Hindi ﬁlm ‘Bang Bang!’ in Mumbai on late October 1, 2014 (AFP Photo/STRDEL) by Udita Jhunjhunwala

ince he burst onto the big screen in 2000 with female viewers reportedly fainting at his presence, Hrithik Roshan has become one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars - and the fan mail hasn’t stopped ﬂowing. But ahead of his next big movie release, the earnest 40year-old seems more concerned than flattered by the attention. “I wish I could help them to understand that obsession and possession are not going to fill them up,” he tells AFP at his expansive home in the Juhu suburb of Mumbai, India’s entertainment capital.

“They have to find ways to be independent and make something of their lives... I can’t provide them that long-term happiness.” The heartthrob began life in the movies as an assistant to his father Rakesh Roshan, a former actor turned filmmaker, before his breakthrough debut as a leading man in “Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai” (Say It’s Love) 14 years ago. “Finally you have an actor who is also a star,” said the magazine India Today after the unexpected blockbuster came out. Young women literally went weak at the knees when Roshan came into the frame, with “near riots” breaking out among excited fans, author Suketu Mehta

wrote in his 2004 non-fiction book on Mumbai, “Maximum City”. His sex symbol status and various acting awards secured, Roshan went on to appear in crime movie “Fiza” (2000), family drama “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness, 2001) and as a superhero in “Krrish” in 2006.

- Being a superhero The movie demanded a high level of action, and it was during one such shoot in Thailand that Roshan is thought to have suffered a head injury that lead to a chronic subdural haematoma, for which he underwent surgery last year.

His next big role, which he says is the closest he has played to his real-life personality, is in thriller “Bang Bang!”, which opens across India on Friday.

“Life hits you hard. But it takes you three seconds to decide if you are a superhero or not. I am,” he said confidently at a press conference last year prior to the release of “Krrish 3”, in which he also played a superhero.

The film, also starring leading actress Katrina Kaif, is an official remake of Hollywood’s “Knight and Day” with Tom

He now says he is “fine” and suffering from nothing “that will ever stop me from doing the things I want to do”.

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ing such coverage as “totally ruthless”. Padukone has starred in blockbuster Bollywood hits such as “Om Shanti Om” (2007) and “Chennai Express”, as well as Adajania’s latest feature “Finding Fanny”. The Times of India post had brought an immediate response from the actress, who has 7.5 million followers on Twitter. She replied: “YES! I am a woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!??” India’s highly competitive media market has increasingly turned to lurid headlines and the use of social media to attract readership and revenue, but Adajania said it was an issue that had to be tackled in the country. “I think Deepika was totally right in standing up for what she stood up for, but if you get into mud-slinging, it dilutes the issue,” said the director. “I

The injury and his recuperation from surgery, followed by a separation from his wife, contributed to a delay in the production of “Bang Bang!”. But his Bollywood success shows no signs of waning, with a dabble in Hollywood also on the cards. “I have some five to six offers all the time but I have not yet found the right script that will ignite me,” he says. With his light eyes and bulging muscles, Roshan has already won the attention of one Hollywood A-lister, “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart, who has said she would “love” to work with Roshan. Roshan insists however there is “no good-looking face - there are only people who express beautifully and who look at the world in a beautiful way.” “As long as I continue to do that, I can guarantee that I continue to be good-looking.”

wish this was a topic that we just didn’t have to discuss and I hope that is one day the case again.” Adajania has brought his English-language road-trip comedy ‘Finding Fanny’ to Busan and the 42-year-old director said the film was directed towards an evolving audience for Indian films, both at home and abroad. “There is a change coming about,” he said. “You couldn’t have made a film like ‘Finding Fanny’ 10 years ago -- in English with a narrative that doesn’t follow Bollywood traditions. “You will always have a massive audience that wants films following the Bollywood tradition of singing and dancing and romance, but what we have found is there is an audience there who wants something different, as well.” The Busan festival runs until October 11.

Shah Rukh Khan, ‘King of Bollywood’ honored in UK

hah Rukh Khan has been presented with the Global Diversity Award at the State Room of Britain’s House of Commons in London on 4th October 2014. The Award was presented by the British Parliament by the 136th Leader of the ofﬁce of Speaker Rt Hon John Bercow MP. Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Home Affairs committee conducted the grand ceremony. Other members of the Parliament from both houses, Commons and Lords were also present on this occasion. SRK received the award for his work in cinema ahead of his Slam+ The Tour concert at The O2 Arena. Rainbow Foundation which coordinates with the Next Foundation each year, the award of the “Global Diversity Award” to an outstanding individual who has made a major contribution to Worldwide Diversity, is an international role model and icon.

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 18

Friday, October 10, 2014

f breast cancer is discovered early, you have more treatment options and a better chance for a cure. Screening is essential in finding breast cancer in this treatable stage, before symptoms are felt. Sometimes, there are no symptoms of breast cancer in its early stages. However, talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you notice anything unusual. Look for any lump, thickening, or swelling in the breast or armpit; clear or bloody discharge from the nipple; pain or persistent tenderness of the breast, nipple, or armpit; change in size or shape of the breast or nipple; inverted or flat nipple; and scaly, red, swollen, or dimpled skin around the breast or nipple. The American Cancer Society reports if breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent. So, they recommend the following screening tests for women at average risk for breast cancer. Women with a higher risk should talk with their doctor about when to begin screening, and which tests they should use. Breast cancer screenings include: • Mammograms – Annual mammograms are recommended beginning at age 40. A screening mammogram is a routine X-ray test of the

ASHINGTON, October 8, 2014 (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry issued an “urgent plea” Wednesday to all nations to boost their response to the ﬁght against Ebola, warning there was no time to waste. “More countries can and must step up,” Kerry told reporters after talks with his British counterpart Philip Hammond, warning there were “still not enough countries to be able to make a difference” as the world confronts the spread of the disease that has killed thousands in West Africa. “Ebola is an urgent global crisis that demands an urgent global response,” Kerry said, displaying a series of slides showing efforts by individual nations, and highlighting how small countries had in some ways done more than their larger counterparts. “There are additional needs that have to be met, in order

Section 2

Page 18

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

What Breast Cancer Screening is All About breast (mammary glands) used to screen for breast problems, such as a lump, while a diagnostic mammogram is used to evaluate abnormalities detected on a screening mammogram or because of special circumstances. • 3D Mammogram Breast tomosynthesis is an innovative, FDA-approved digital technology that helps physicians detect smaller tumors sooner-at the earliest stages of breast cancer. • Breast MRI - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic ﬁeld and pulses of radio waves to make pictures of the breast. MRI may show problems in the breast that cannot be seen on an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan. The MRI records pictures that show the breast’s structure, tissue damage, or disease, such as infection, inﬂammation, or a lump. In addition to a diagnostic mammogram, other diagnostic procedures help characterize breast abnormalities to either identify, or rule out, breast cancer. These include: • Breast Ultrasound - A breast ultrasound uses sound

waves to make a picture of the tissues inside the breast. The breast ultrasound can show all areas of the breast, including the area closest to the chest wall, which is hard to study with a mammogram. Breast ultrasound does not use X-rays or other types of radiation.

• Breast Ductogram – A Breast ductography is an imaging technique used to evaluate lesions causing nipple discharge. It helps in precisely locating the mass within breast tissue and gives useful information for surgical approach and planning.

• Needle-Guided Biopsy - A breast biopsy is usually done to check a lump found during a breast exam or a suspicious area found on a mammogram or ultrasound. The biopsy removes a sample of breast tissue that is examined by a pathologist under a microscope to check for breast cancer.

• Lymph Node Evaluations - A lymph node biopsy removes lymph node tissue to be examined under a microscope for signs of infection or a disease, such as cancer.

• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy - A stereotactic breast biopsy employs a precise technique that uses digital imaging and is less invasive than a needle-guided biopsy. • Needle Localization Biopsy - A breast biopsy is usually done to check a lump found during a breast exam or a suspicious area found on a mammogram or ultrasound. The biopsy removes a sample of breast tissue that is examined by a pathologist under a microscope to check for breast cancer.

With more than 15 locations offering mammograms in the greater Houston area, including nine luxury Breast Care Centers, Memorial Hermann is dedicated to providing the best technology available with skilled radiologists, surgeons, oncologists, and nurses, in a warm, healing environment to give you the best breast care experience available. From a routine mammogram to a biopsy, a range of breast services are available in one location and typically all in one day. To schedule a 3-D mammogram, call 877-40-MAMMO or schedule an appointment online.

Kerry urges all nations to boost Ebola fight for the global community to properly respond to this challenge and to make sure that we protect people in all of our countries.”

“If we get ahead of it, if we rise to the challenge, we can beat it,” Hammond said.

Kerry said there was a need

US Secretary of State John Kerry for Ebola treatment units, health care workers, medical evacuation abilities, as well as nonmedical support such as telecommunications, generators

and incinerators. “Now is the time for action, not words, and frankly there is no time to waste,” added Kerry.

Read more on Health Online www.voiceofasiaonline.com

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It’s Time for Medicare Open Enrollment

ou may be able to score a better deal on your Part D prescription-drug plan or Advantage plan. Falling leaves and pumpkins are a sign of autumn -- and, yes, of Medicare open enrollment, too. As the season’s chore list grows, you may be tempted to stick with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription-drug plan. But that plan may no longer be your best option. Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7 for 2015 plans. Even if you’ve been happy with your current plan, it’s important to review alternatives. Insurers are boosting premiums and other out-of-pocket costs. They’re also adding expensive drug-pricing tiers, charging extra if you don’t go to approved pharmacies, imposing new restrictions on drugs and dropping doctors from plans. As a result, your current plan’s coverage may change significantly next year. And it definitely makes sense to check out other options if you’ve been prescribed new drugs, your health has changed and your favorite doctors have left your Advantage plan. “People tend to pick a plan and stick with it,” says Tricia Neuman, senior vice-president of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “But if their needs have changed and they go through the process of comparing plans, they might find that they could achieve significant savings by switching plans. Find the Best Prescription-Drug Plan For seniors who take many expensive medications, here’s the good news about Part D: The “doughnut hole” continues to shrink. Those who enter the coverage gap in 2015 will get a 55% discount on brandname drugs and a 35% federal subsidy for generic drugs. The doughnut hole works like this: For 2015, after you pay a $320 deductible, the plan provides coverage until your drug expenses reach $2,960 (including both your share and the insurer’s share of the costs). Then the doughnut hole begins, and you pick up 45% of the cost of brand-name drugs and 65% of the cost of generic drugs. When your out-of-pocket costs reach $4,700, the government picks up most of the tab.

Hammond agreed, saying that the world could beat the Ebola crisis, which has killed some 3,439 people, according to the World Health Organization.

“We now need the wider international community to step up to the plate and deliver that resource, not just money but trained medical personnel on the ground... We all need to do more if we are to prevent a crisis becoming a global catastrophe.”

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Beware changing formularies. Insurers have been changing their formularies -- the list of drugs that are covered -- and adding more pricing tiers. Such moves can increase your out-of-pocket costs. You can’t assume that just because the drug was covered last year that it’s on the formulary again this year. A drug could cost “a lot more” because the Part D plan is placing it on a higher-cost pricing tier. Most plans have ﬁve pricing tiers, generally with preferred and non-

Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com preferred generics, preferred and non-preferred brand-name drugs, and specialty drugs. Some insurers that previously charged the same copayments for all brand-name drugs, for instance, have started charging more for certain brand-name medications by adding a non-preferred tier. Cost sharing for brand-name drugs has increased by about 50% since 2006. For drugs at the highest tier, which includes specialty drugs, insurers are charging patients from 25% to 50% of the full cost, potentially adding thousands of dollars to a beneﬁciary’s out-of-pocket tab for medications. Buy at preferred pharmacies. The number of plans with preferred pharmacies jumped to 72% from 7% over the past three years. While an insurer will pay a portion of the costs of drugs bought from pharmacies in its network, it pays a greater share at preferred pharmacies. It’s not enough to go to a network pharmacy. “You need to go to a preferred network pharmacy to get the lower cost sharing,” says Elaine Wong Eakin, executive director of California Health Advocates. (An insurer generally won’t cover drugs purchased from out-of-network pharmacies.) For example, the Humana Walmart Rx plan currently charges a co-payment of just $1 for Tier 1 preferred generics and $4 for Tier 2 non-preferred generics -- as long as the medications are bought at Walmart or Sam’s Club, which are preferred pharmacies. There’s $0 co-pay through the Right Source mail-order pharmacy. But you are charged $10 co-pay for Tier 1 and $33 co-pay for Tier 2 drugs at nonpreferred pharmacies in the plan’s network. You pay 39% of the cost for Tier 4 brand-name drugs at the preferred pharmacies, but 50% at non-preferred network pharmacies. To choose the right 2015 Medicare Plan for you, contact Sudhir Mathuria for your Health and Wealth Planning at 713-771-2900.

VOICE OF ASIA 19

HEALTH, SC & TECH

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Nobel shows importance of Hi-tech images point to location, location, location chinks in HIV’s armour became a mentor. In 2005, they discovered a new type of cell in an area of the brain next to the hippocampus called the entorhinal cortex. These cells ﬁred in an astonishing hexagonal pattern as the rat passed multiple locations enticed by chocolate treats, and the couple concluded that they functioned as a coordinate system for spatial navigation. Nobel Prize winner Professor John O’Keefe sits in his laboratory at University College London on October 6, 2014 in London, England. John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser share the award for physiology or medicine after their work on how the brain knows how to navigate and where we are. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) by Mariette LE ROUX

ARIS, October 6, 2014 (AFP) - Generations of scientists have pored over a seemingly basic but ultimately complex skill: how are humans able to find their way from one spot to another? Little by little, the fog of mystery is beginning to dissipate, thanks to work revealing the key areas in the brain that enable us to orientate ourselves and navigate. On Monday, the 2014 Nobel Prize for Medicine went to a trio of scientists who identified the brain cells essential to this task. In the early 1970s, John O’Keefe, a British-American neuroscientist, discovered “place” cells that are triggered when the brain perceives it is in a specific location. More than three decades later, a Norwegian couple, May-Britt and Edvard Moser, found “grid” cells, which like step-points on a map enable the mind to work out a path to a destination. Together, the two types of cells form inter-connected networks without which we would not know where we were or be able to find our way.

The research may one day help treat neurodegenerative conditions that leave people unable to manage even the most basic tasks. The breakthrough came in 1971, when O’Keefe observed that specific neurons in the hippocampus area, which is linked to memory, fired whenever a lab rat, with electrodes inserted in the brain, reached a particular spot in a room. When the rodent moved to another area, different cells lit up -- each cell was thus associated with a specific location. This pattern of cell activity, observed with the help of electrodes in the brain, created a sort of brain map of the environment, O’Keefe discovered. “I remember how great was the scoffing in the early 1970s when John first described ‘place cells’,” said John Stein, emeritus professor of Physiology at Oxford University. “’Bound to be an artifact’, ‘He clearly underestimates rats’ sense of smell’ were typical reactions. Now, like so many ideas that were at first highly controversial, people say: ‘Well that’s obvious’!” O’Keefe’s work in turn inspired the Moser husbandand-wife team, for whom he

“Place” and “grid” cells have since been found in mammals other than rats, and evidence points to them also existing in humans. Some early research suggests the “grid” system is fully established in infants by about three or four weeks after birth. If so, it would mean that babies are born with a very powerful, if primitive sense of where they are in space -- a sense that becomes fine-tuned as their minds adapt to the world. The work opens a door to advancing fundamental understanding of how the mind works, and may explain why memories of events often have associations with particular places. Another benefit could be a better understanding of what causes Alzheimer’s disease. One of its early symptoms is not recognising a familiar environment, and getting lost or wandering off. “When we understand how the (location and navigation) system works, we will understand why it doesn’t,” Laure Rondi-Reig of the neuroscience department at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research told AFP. “By asking the big questions in biology, we can continue to deliver insights into relevant and pressing issues such as those presented by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” added Mark Downs, chief executive of the London-based Society of Biology.

ARIS - In a boost for the long and frustrating quest for an AIDS vaccine, researchers on Wednesday unveiled molecular imaging of an elusive feature that helps HIV infect immune cells. In papers published in the journals Science and Nature, US specialists described the structure and actions of the “spike” on the human immunodeﬁciency virus (HIV) which enables it to penetrate CD4 cells. HIV is studded with these prongs, which fuse with a protein on the surface of the immune cell. After fusion, the viral core crosses into the cell and hijacks its machinery, forcing the cell to crank out copies of the virus. The baby viruses then burst out of the cell and into the blood stream, where they go on to infect other immune cells. As a result, the body’s defence against microbes and other intruders is sapped. Stopping the fusion process is a tempting target for vaccine designers -- but for three long decades, this goal has been

thwarted by the complex, shapeshifting nature of the spike itself. The new papers give the most detailed images yet of the gp120 and gp41 molecules that make up the surface, or envelope, of the spike. Using high-definition X-ray crystallography and adding fluorescent molecules to tag the envelope, the scientists observed the spikes and their surface molecules change shape. In its predominant form, the spike is “closed” and difficult for antibodies, the first responders of the immune system, to see. In the closed configuration, the surface molecules mutate rapidly to evade the immune system, with the exception of an elite force called broadly neutralising antibodies. This type of antibody, so far discovered in just a tiny number of people with HIV, is thus likely the best candidate for a vaccine, said the scientists. The new data can now be harnessed to fine-tune the working of drugs and antibodies.

“Making the movements of HIV visible so that we can follow, in real time, how surface proteins on the virus behave, will hopefully tell us what we need to know to prevent fusion with human cells,” said Scott Blanchard of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, who co-authored the Science paper. “If you can prevent viral entry of HIV into immune cells, you have won.” In a comment to AFP, Wayne Koff, chief scientist at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), which is searching for broadly neutralising antibodies, said the work gave the most comprehensive picture yet of the all-important spike. It could yield “important clues” for antibody vaccines, he said. More than 70 million people have been killed or infected by HIV. The virus can be controlled, but not cured, by drugs and many experts say only an effective vaccine will end the pandemic.

VOICE OF ASIA 20

ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

Friday, October 10, 2014

ANGALORE: Kris Gopalakrishnan, the last among its founders to leave Infosys, was Wednesday given a farewell at the company headquarters where co-founder N R Narayana Murthy said he had no regrets about his controversial second come back.

BUSINESS

Section 2

Page 20 Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Murthy returned to the over USD 8 billion firm for a second stint as Chairman in June last year after Infosys hit rough waters, falling behind peers like TCS and HCL Technologies. Murthy, who brought his son Rohan along in the second stint, quit in June following a spate of senior executives leaving the company. He and Gopalakrishnan stepped down as executive chairman and executive vice chairman, respectively, on June 14. They, however, continue on the board till October 10 as non- executive chairman and non-executive vice chairman. Murthy, who will be designated as Chairman Emeritus from October 11, said listing of Infosys on Nasdaq, the first by an Indian company, was high point of his career. S Gopalakrishnan, or Kris as he is fondly known, said he is not set out for politics. “In my case, at least at this point, no political ambitions at all. I don’t think I am set out for politics,” he said when asked if he too will join politics like his

Tel: 713-774-5140

Gopalakrishnan bids farewell to Infosys a large industry, both in products and services. “The Internet has connected the world. I have been fortunate to be part of this industry for the last 35 years of its 70 years. I was fortunate that my passion for computing became my profession, and that I was able to make an impact in this industry through Infosys, through the innovations we pioneered and the jobs we created,” he said.

“I have no regrets at all. Life is about doing certain things and not doing certain things. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of all this.... So I have no regrets,” said Murthy flanked by other founders including Nandan Nilekani who had a brief stint in politics and unsuccessfully contested last Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore. Seven co-founders, led by Murthy, set up the city-based firm in 1981. Murthy had the longest run of about 21 years as CEO before passing the baton to Nandan Nilekani and then Gopalakrishnan and S D Shibulal.

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Kris Gopalakrishnan. AP photo. former colleagues Nilekani and V Balakrishnan. He added that he is looking at pursuing two areas, research and entrepreneurship, in the days ahead.

Shibulal, Kris and N S Raghavan were present.

Reminiscing his stint at Infosys, Kris said computers have become ubiquitous and created

Speaking about the importance of connecting with customers for business success, Nilekani said building client relationships, based on intimacy and empathy, ranked among his top three priorities for business organisations.

knowing your client; it is also your ticket to mindshare. And anyone who has business experience will tell you that mindshare always precedes share of market, or of wallet. This is the reason why a number of CEOs at global organisations passionately voice their commitment to listening on the job?,” he said. Speaking about his last role as the head of Quality at Infosys, Dinesh said the firm has earned the sustained trust of stakeholders. Speaking at a media interaction, Murthy said: “To me this journey has been an experiment to assert my belief that the only way society can overcome Continued on page 21

“But intimacy is not only about

In August this year, Infosys appointed former SAP board member Vishal Sikka as its CEO and Managing Director. Sikka is the first outsider (and not part of the co-founder’s club) to lead the Bangalore-based firm. He took over from Shibulal. Talking about the transition, Shibulal said it is like any other transition at any other firm. “This is an organisation with very strong values and beliefs. It believes in speed and innovation and I hope they will continue to be preserved.” “We leave with the satisfaction of taking this company from a market value of Rs 28.5 crores on the day of listing in India in 1993 to Rs 2,00,000 crores today, a return of 6,50,000 per cent over 21 years ? a CAGR of 89 per cent,” Murthy said. At the farewell function held at the company’s headquarters, the founding team with Murthy, K Dinesh, Nandan Nilekani,

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VOICE OF ASIA 21

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

AT&T to pay $105 mn for un- The importance of creating a will authorized mobile charges get all of my assets.

WASHINGTON, October 8, 2014 (AFP) - AT&T will pay $105 million to settle investigations that it tacked on charges to mobile phone bills for unauthorized third-party services such as horoscopes and “fun facts,” ofﬁcials said Wednesday. The US mobile giant will settle probes by the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and the attorneys general for US states. FTC chairwoman Edith Ramirez said AT&T agreed to the ﬁne “to resolve allegations that it billed for monthly subscriptions that consumers never authorized and didn’t want.”

The settlement is the largest for so-called “cramming,” a practice that adds charges to mobile phone bills in a manner that deceives consumers. Ofﬁcials said some consumers discovered the charges after receiving text messages which offered the service, and ended up billing them after they deleted the messages. The services billed around $10 a month for things such as ringtones, love tips, horoscopes, and “fun facts.” AT&T kept at least 35 percent of those amounts, according to the FTC. Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell, who joined a news

Maybe, and maybe not. Any assets held jointly with right of survivorship automatically pass to the joint owner. And assets with a beneficiary designation, such as IRAs, life insurance, and annuities, pass as stated on the beneficiary form. What happens when your surviving spouse dies? What happens if your beneficiary form is outdated? Will your children receive their share at too early an age? Does your spouse have the financial skill to manage the family wealth?

conference on the case, said the settlement ends “an unfortunate scam on millions and billions of Americans.” The case is the seventh brought by the FTC on cramming, and follows a lawsuit filed by the consumer protection agency against T-Mobile. The settlement includes $80 million which will go the FTC for consumer refunds, a $5 million fine to the FCC and $20 million in penalties to the states. The telecom giant also agreed to charge its practices, and to require “express consent” before adding these kinds of premium service charges, officials said.

Amir Dodhiya, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company. A will is one of the most important documents you’ll ever create in your lifetime. Your will can clearly state who will be guardian of your minor children, who will inherit your assets, when they will inherit your assets, and any conditions that must be met for them to receive your assets. Yet, according to a legal services website RocketLawyer.com, almost 50% of Americans do not have a will.1 If you die without a valid will, the court does not have your instructions to follow, and it has no way of knowing how you may have wanted to distribute your assets. The state where you lived steps in and makes the decisions for you, according to the distribution schedule set forth in its intestacy statutes. The state’s decisions may or may not conform to your wishes, or do what is best for the people closest to you. And your loved ones will likely have to hire an attorney and incur delays to determine who will receive your assets. Common misconceptions. My assets are so small that a will is not necessary. You are generally worth more than you think. Even if some possessions do not hold great monetary value, they could hold an enormous amount of sentimental value—and that’s something you can’t put a price on. Failing to indicate who receives these treasures in your will can cause friction among family members that lasts for decades. When I die, my spouse will

I can create a will on my own and save the legal costs. “Do-it-yourself” wills often

Key Message: A will gives you control over how and when your assets are distributed after your death. do not contain all of the necessary components as required by state law. Anyone who might benefit from an invalidation of your will can contest it, and if the courts decide in his or her favor, your estate may have to pay for all legal costs. The few dollars you save now can cost your loved ones thousands of dollars later. I don’t want my final wishes to be set in stone. I’ll create a will later in my life. The terms of a will can change as often as needed. Legal experts agree that you should reexamine your will periodically to make sure it is up-to-date. A will should receive a “checkup” whenever there is a substantial change in your life. How to create a will. Drafting a will is difficult and is not an endeavor you want to tackle single-handedly. It’s important that you call on the services of an estate-planning lawyer. A lawyer might help you:

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US consumer giant seeks to smash India menstruation taboos by Abhaya SRIVASTAVA

EW DELHI - The latest commercial for Procter & Gamble’s top-selling brand of sanitary pads in India ticks all the usual boxes -- a young woman jogs happily in pristine white trousers, before effortlessly winning a tennis tournament. But unlike most adverts of its ilk, this 30-second clip seeks to dispel the myths surrounding women’s periods in a country where deep-rooted social taboos around menstruation still persist. It ends with the catchphrase “touch the pickle”, a reference to the widely held belief that a jar of pickle touched by a menstruating woman will spoil -- and an exhortation to young Indian women to reject such superstitions. Procter & Gamble, the US consumer goods giant behind some of the world’s biggest brands, said it was astonished to learn that such “primitive practices” remained prevalent in modernday India.

Responding to a question on any regret or second thought about returning to the company as it was much talked about, he said: “I have no moment of regret. I am a very quick decision maker...Therefore having considered things at that point in time I took that decision and I have absolutely no regrets

about it.” Speaking about his journey with other co-founders, Kris said: “We came from similar background of software, engineers, etc, but over the time we developed unique specialisation, we started focusing on different things and giving space for everybody else.” “It is really unique that the founding team has been together for so long, 35 years of my life I have known each one of these people, so lots and lots of moments of fun, joy, most

Encouraged by the response to the website, Gupta has launched a comic book to help people “overcome their own shame” and discuss menstruation openly.

“The myths get passed on from one generation to another without any questioning,” she LEFT: A worker packs cloth sanitary napkins made from cotton and semi-cotton donated clothes at non-proﬁt organization Goonj (Echo) in New Delhi on April 22. Photo: AFP

Life insurance and wills. How does life insurance fit into the picture? Life insurance is a vehicle you can use to help make sure your estate has the cash needed to pay expenses at your death, such as funeral costs, debts, and estate taxes. Without liquid assets, the estate may be forced to sell assets— securities may have to be sold in a down market and other assets may have to be liquidated at a discount. In most instances, life insurance proceeds are paid income tax-free to your beneficiaries. If desired, life insurance can be owned by a trust or a third party and also not be subject to estate taxes. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Creating a will forces each of us to come face-to-face with our own mortality—and dealing with death is difficult. But it will be much more difficult for your loved ones if you don’t have a will. To ensure that your will is legally viable, seek the services of a qualified attorney to draft and refine it. This educational third-party article is provided as a courtesy by Amiralli Dodhiya (Amir), Agent, New York Life Insurance Company. 13135 Dairy Ashford Rd, Ste 550, Sugar Land, TX 77478. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Amir Dodhiya at ph: 832-877-0177. Neither New York Life, nor its agents, provides tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professional before making any decisions.

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“Not touching a jar of pickle because your body is undergoing a natural biological process is nothing but laughable,” a company spokeswoman told AFP.

Aditi Gupta, who started a website called menstrupedia. com two years ago to provide young people with information, said such beliefs were pervasive throughout India.

• Take advantage of estate planning opportunities people often overlook

• Make the right decisions as to how your assets should pass

told AFP.

Other taboos include entering temples and watering plants like basil that are considered holy.

Save on estate taxes

• Determine what type of will you need

A survey by the company and market researcher IPSOS showed that 59 percent of urban women still follow their grandmothers’ advice not to touch the earthenware jar of pickles found in kitchens across India.

The practice stems from the belief -- still widely held in India -- that menstruating women are “impure”. In rural pockets, many are still made to sleep separately and eat from plates set aside especially for them during their periods.

•

1Yahoo! Finance, “Half of Americans with Kids Set to Die Without a Will,” May 6, 2012, Lisa Scherzer, The Exchange, http://ﬁnance.yahoo. com/blogs/the-exchange/halfamericans-set-die-without193140015.html.

Infosys...cont. poverty is through creation of jobs with good income; it was an experiment about my belief in compassionate capitalism, it was an experiment about my belief in differentiation through innovation.”

• Change the terms of an existing will, if appropriate

“It’s got nothing to do with how educated people are. There is an inherent shame which inhibits people from even talking about the taboos.”

Gupta said she was motivated by her own experiences of growing up and the challenges she faced as a teen. “Although I belonged to a very well-to-do family, we had to use discarded cloth during periods, which we had to wash and reuse,” she said. “It was not about affordability. It was because of the shame associated with buying sanitary napkins.” - Dispelling shame A. Muruganantham has made it his mission to dispel the shame surrounding menstruation in India. A school dropout from a poor family in southern India, he invented a simple machine to make cheap sanitary pads -- revolutionising menstrual health for rural women in the process. Muruganantham was inspired by the realisation that lack of

of the memories are pleasant,” he said. Nilekani said: “It was not just about creating a new company, it was about creating a new standard for the middle class people to become entrepreneurs, about creating a global brand, about sharing wealth with employees, practising global standards of corporate governance, creating a meritocracy.” He said the transition that is happening today stands for the ideals and values the founders believed in. PTI

access to affordable sanitary products meant his wife had to use dirty rags instead. He went to great lengths to test his invention, creating a fake uterus from a football bladder by punching a couple of holes in it and filling it with goat’s blood. In his course of his research, he came across some villages where menstruating women were confined in a small room with no lights. “While many of these restrictions are not followed now, the basic idea of a woman being impure is still deeply ingrained in the minds of people,” he told AFP. “Some 10-15 women are cramped together in a small room. Food is thrown at them from the door and they are forced to eat like dogs from one plate.” Both Gupta and Muruganantham believe the myths can only be shattered through better communication and awareness. “It sends shivers down the spine to think that some things have not changed in India despite the progress we have made otherwise,” said Muruganantham. “We have to bring the napkin out of the closet. We have to encourage women to speak out loud ‘yes I am having my periods, so what’?”

HOROSCOPE

VOICE OF ASIA 22

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014

Your Horoscope for the Week of October 10, 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 Gain valuable information. Try looking up in reference books or on the internet. Remind others of how inventive you can be when you have to be. Enjoy the learning and bring the light to those who share your ideas. Check security issues and viable solutions will come to you. Everything will seem to be going in the opposite direction from what you had anticipated. Instead of letting it get to you, look on the bright side and be dazzled by what you see. Quick thinking could save everything.

Your ability to accept others misgivings honestly. The attention you receive will be encouraging rather than distracting. Your judgments could play a big role in their lives. A high level of conﬁdence will announce to others that you’re ready to get down to business. Communicate your intentions clearly from the very beginning. The secret to your success will lie in ﬁnding a compatible partner to bounce off of. If you continue to argue on every point, then you may need to look elsewhere .

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

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov

Connect with a new network of learning. Once you do, you’ll feel more conﬁdent in who you are. Volunteer work looks good on your resume, which can not only help others, but yourself, as well. By removing money from the equation, you allow yourself new avenues of exploration and expression. New friends can lead you to new avenues of social & professional exposure. Be yourself & you’ll be accepted & loved by all. Encourage others to pursue their talents.

Transform information and data into a valuable opportunity. Take the time you need to streamline procedures and improve techniques. Once you do, you’ll be able to reap rewards beyond your expectations. Gather together with others who share your passion and want to succeed. Your ability to encourage them will pay off in many ways. Their gratitude will be overwhelming and surprising. Family members will try to bring you into their web. Be careful with whom you share personal secrets, as the consequences of your actions could tarnish your reputation.

Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Use your wit & wisdom to help make others feel comfortable with new ideas. Invite others to join you while you step into a new realm of learning. Stress your independence, creativity and style. Your personality will be bubbling. Take on the leadership role & make sure you listen your own words. Relax and make yourself feel at home. Be aware of the limits to which a business relationship can be stretched. Be open to new experiences, and remember to say thank you.

Schedule your ability to have discipline in your life. This is the way to achieve your immediate goals. Talk to a trusted friend about their experiences. If possible, try to get an extension on your deadline. Hasty actions could be worse for you than not acting at all. If you have more time, try to devote it to getting it right. Someone close to you will disappoint you. There’s no point in pretending to be objective, but at least you can be fair with your feelings. Partners in an intense friendship have many ways to communicate.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July You’ll be able to achieve your immediate goals if you learn to listen closely to others. Verify your information and obtain written reference material. There’s no reason to take everything quite so personally. Don’t jump to any conclusions right away, allow some time to soften your overall view of things. You’ll need the time to digest your thoughts & emotions. Patience will be required in order to understand others perspective. Reconnect with what excites you and rejoin the life that’s going on outside your door.

See some changes in your career objectives. Your skills are a valuable asset to any team on which you’re a player. Hold off on making your report ﬁnal until you have listened to others concerns. There will also be changes in your domestic affairs. A chance meeting will be the start of a fresh new relationship. Spend some quality time & realize how special you feel. Your entire outlook will be transformed. Gatherings may be heated, refuse to take sides in family disagreements. It’ll only cause you to make bad feelings.

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August

Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb

Put things into a better perspective. Accent is on using your personality to open new doors of opportunity. Your cycle is high. You need to be cautious about who you trust with your personal & ﬁnancial matters. Time is on your side, so don’t rush any big decisions. Remember that a relationship is as much about friendship as it is about obligation. If you and your partner aren’t having fun, it’s time to ask why. If the two of you were too much alike, there’d be no spark. Use your imagination & you’ll come up the winner.

Share your creative ideas. Everyone will be fascinated with your conversations. Your showmanship & flair may be questioned by those in authority. Exhibit the benefits of the new venture. Peers may try to question your motives, respond with positive financial data. Collect & study the facts, you may be tested to remember, later. Don’t be too ready to accuse someone without knowing the facts, but you probably shouldn’t trust everything you hear. If you are selling something, you are likely to close the deals and get top dollar.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September New beginnings and a reconnection to the past. You could ruin your chances by using your most effective ammunition too early in the week. Rude or impulsive behavior is not easily excused. Regrets have a way of softening the hard edges. An old wound may be slow to heal. No one ever said it was going to be easy, but you know it’ll be worth it. Open your eyes to the reality that exists not what you perceive through your rose colored glasses. Look deeper and you will be able to make needed changes. Family affairs will work out if you look at the situation through others eyes. Investigate all promising secondhand information for yourself.

There are opportunities for travel, romance & communications whether it is for business or for pleasure, take advantage of the situation before you. Set the standards, keep the ﬂow positive & don’t try to preach your morals to others. Keep your private life private and your social life social. Your excess energy might put you in danger of saying or doing something inappropriate. Others may not be in a mood to have their limitations challenged. Romance your opponent until they are ﬁrmly in your camp. The closer you get to someone, the less your differences matter.

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