OP-ED/OPIONS/VIEWS
VOICE OF ASIA 2
Publisher: Associate Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Austin Correspondent: Marketing: Production: Office Manager:
Koshy Thomas Sherly Philip Shobana Muratee Sherine Thomas Jacob David AR Vadlamani Priyan Mathew
Voice of Asia TV News Online Editor:
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR An Indian Obsession It was a proud moment for all Indo American when a young lady from our community Miss Nina Divuluri was crowned Miss USA 2013. There were some prejudiced comments but overall the response from the general public was very positive. I thought this may be a good time for some introspection from our own part regarding our obsession with “fair skin”. Any media in India is flooded with advertisement for “whitening” creams and lotions. Our movie stars look more white than Indian of course with a lot of make up. There are always advertisements in matrimony columns for fair skinned brides but never even one for a dusky damsel. An average girl with fair skin is considered attractive while her darker sister with chiseled features is ignored. Why this fixation with fair skin? A vestige of the slavery under fair skinned masters? Recently there was an interesting discussion in NDTV channel on the Indian obsession with fair skin anchored by the well known actress Nadita Das. It was clear that to succeed in Bollywood, fair complexion is a lot more helpful, than your acting abilities. I am so happy that a beautiful dusky girl who really looks Indian won against all other entrants including blue eyed blondes. Hope this will help our complexion prejudiced eyes to appreciate real human beauty. Jay K Raman MD HOUSTON, TX 713 461 7776 jaykraman@yahoo.com
Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $30 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074 It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or confirmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. - The Publisher
W
hen Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America earlier this week, racists in the United States gave free vent to their prejudice on social media networks like Twitter. Their comments ranged from gardenvariety hate against foreigners to deeply Islamophobic bilge. Some called her Miss Al Qaeda, others Miss Terrorist, and still others made offensive remarks about the colour of her skin.
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Pigment of our imagination
Back in India, where few things are more celebrated than an Indian’s success in the United States, whether that’s in San Jose, the spelling bee or a beauty pageant, people are shaking with outrage that Americans should react in this manner to the achievement of a Person of Indian Origin. But before rushing to denounce American attitudes, it would be pertinent to ask if Ms Davuluri would have ever made it past the qualifying rounds of a beauty contest in India. In a country where a multicrore rupee cosmetic industry thrives on promises of lightening a woman’s skin colour in 10, 20 or 30 days, it is fair to say that the dark complexioned 24-year-old would not have stood a chance. At least multiculturalism is held up enough in the U.S. for the jury to have given her the title, and full marks to America for that. Had she been in India, far from entering a beauty contest, it is more likely that Ms Davuluri would have grown up hearing mostly disparaging remarks
A 2013 ILO report shows that the Asia-Pacific region has the maximum prevalence of domestic labour, about 41 per cent.
T
he entry into force of the landmark global convention that legally recognises domestic work as economically productive activity makes it even harder to countenance the long official neglect of this sector in India. This new standard adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) mandates states to promote the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining between domestic workers and their employers, and the effective abolition of child labour in this sector. But the task of mobilising domestic workers to assert their rights to fair terms of employment is most formidable. The workplace is an extremely amorphous term in this particular context, as it typically connotes more than one household. The isolated and unprotected nature of the activity exposes workers, more than 80 per cent of whom are women, to greater vulnerability. A high rate of attrition is also a factor, as migrant groups constitute the mainstay of domestic labour. Not surprisingly, barely 10 per
Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America 2013 about the colour of her skin; she would have been — going by the storyline of most “fairness” cream advertisements — a person with low self-esteem and few friends. If this sounds like an exaggeration, think back on when was the last time anyone with Ms Davuluri’s skin tone won a beauty crown in India; or the last time anyone saw a matrimonial advertisement seeking “a dark girl” for a handsome
boy. Rather, Indians have felt the need to create a new word, ‘wheatish’, to euphemistically describe the melanin in their skin, and this word litters the rows of matrimonial columns apologetically. In the film industry, which also goes by the same beauty standard, the number of dark actors, female or male, can be counted on two hands with fingers to spare. If anything, the situation is getting worse, with the fairness fascists
Ratify this convention cent of domestic workers around the world are covered by general labour legislation in comparison with those in other sectors. A 2013 ILO report shows that the Asia-Pacific region has the maximum prevalence of domestic labour, about 41 per cent. But it is the weakest in terms of legal protection — only three per cent of workers are entitled to a weekly day off as compared to the global average of 50 per cent. Just one per cent of the AsiaPacific domestic workforce is entitled to stipulated maximum hours of work a week. Rights to minimum wages and maternity benefits that are norms in Latin
America are a far-cry in Asia. In India, which has eight per cent of the world’s domestic workers, attempts to extend legal protection to this sector date back to a private member’s bill in Parliament in the 1950s. But the closest any legislature has moved to realise the objective is the recent inclusion of this category in the Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Act, besides legally guaranteed minimum wages in Kerala and Karnataka. Entitlements to a weekly day off, paid leave and other long term benefits are no less legitimate demands and are important steps
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expanding their territory to include men who, like the women victims of such advertising, are promised promotions, social success, and more, as soon as their skin tone becomes a few degrees lighter. Depressing though this may sound, the truth is that the Indian idea of beauty is not very different from the imagined ideal of ‘Ms America’ that those racist hatetweeters in the U.S hold dear: white or nothing. (Courtesy: The Hindu)
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to augment their social status as workers. The demand for domestic workers is said to be on the increase given the changing profile of the Indian family, the ageing process and urbanisation. The ratification of the ILO convention will be an important step in improving the lot of the millions employed in this sector. But it will also need enabling domestic legislation. As a first, Parliament should consider acting expeditiously on the 2008 draft bill proposed by the National Commission for Women that seeks to regulate working conditions for domestic workers. (The Hindu)
VOICE OF ASIA 3
COMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Second Front Page
Friday, September 20, 2013
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Tel: 713-774-5140
Lavish laser show throws light on Swami Vivekananda by Sheshadri Kumar A pencil torch emitting laser light turned into a magic wand and the magic of light brought to life the ever green story of a world famous monk, known as Swami Vivekananda. The expectant audience, unfamiliar with the technique of laser show, was perhaps looking for a miracle and miracle, indeed, occurred as ships sailed, trains arrived, men and women walked and children played, all walks of life continued , bound and shaped by sheer light. The art of cartoon and animation reached its zenith in the hands of the reputed Laserist Manick Sorcar. The laser documentary on Swami Vivekananda is on a three-month tour across the U.S., after its phenomenal success in India last year. The U.S. tour premiered in Denver, Colorado on August 24, and ends in Portland, OR on November 24, 2013. “Swamiji,” the Laser Show, was staged at Stafford Center near Houston on Sept. 8 as a part of the SEWA International USA fundraiser, under the auspices of the Houston chapter. Stepping ahead of time, Sorcar has experimented with laser animation. His latest animations are created with cutting-edge laser technology, where he manipulates the strong, pencil-thin ray of light to race along a predetermined path to create a moving animated figure. Although called a laser show, “Swamiji” crosses the boundaries of a traditional laser show, combines three dimensional visuals effects, and stagecraft with a short interlude of real people. The well-researched 1.5 hour multimedia show dominated by laser light began with “Vandana,” a laser and live prayer dance dedicated to the Holy Trio of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Saradha Devi and Swami Vivekananda.
Acclaimed Laserist Manick Sorcar with his performers who presented the laser documentary on Swami Vivekananda. The documentary opened with a slide show of an old pictorial book displaying black and white original scenes of 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago and Swamiji at the Parliament of World’s Religions delivering his famous speech starting with “Sisters and brothers of America.” A gust of wind flips the pages to the beginning, when the old book and its pictures come to life with vibrant colors of laser animation and start the story on Swami Vivekananda from his birth. In the words Manick Sorcar, son of the famed magician P.C. Sorcar, the venture began thus: “The making of “Swamiji” spanned off and on over six years, starting from my visit to the Art Institute, Chicago in 2006, when I was inspired to make the laser documentary on the philosopher-monk and started doing research on the subject with the help of the Art Institute library, and the Govt. of State of Illinois.”
The dream came true when he received an invitation from the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India, to build a laser documentary on Swami Vivekananda to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the great monk. There was no looking back. He completed the storyboard and started on laser animation and 3-D special effects, which took another year to complete. In the show, he implemented a dozen of color lasers for graphics, animation and atmospherics synchronized with intelligent lighting, hazer machines, and surrounding sound system to present the mystical life story of the great monk of the nineteenth century in the state-of-the-art lighting of the 21st century. “Apart from the very impressive display of laser technique, what gladdened our hearts was the accuracy, authenticity & the appropriate nature of incidents, music, narration, etc....The Western audience would appreciate the show even
Members of the host organization Sewa International being recognized on the occasion.
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more because Swami Vivekananda’s message of harmony has been beautifully highlighted....” said Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, after the show. His love for animation started as a simple idea to make learning fun for his two little daughters. His laser animation includes Sorcarscope where laser animation is combined with live action on stage. Now, Sorcar is experimenting with laser to produce a full-length movie. At the Houston show, Rahul Pandit emceed the event. Amit Mishra, Manju Gupta, outgoing president of Sewa International, Houston chapter, and the president of Houston chapter, Sarojini Gupta, briefly spoke on the birth, growth and expansion of Sewa International. What began as a small, local voluntary group to help the victims of Hurricane Katirna, has evolved into an international organization, with 37 chapters in the U.S., Manju Gupta said.
Sarojini Gupta, President of Houston Chapter. Saroj Gupta traced the exponential growth of the organization in Houston and highlighted its current projects. Sewa International has worked towards setting programs through which the Bhutanese and low income communities of Houston can benefit . The Refugee Empowerment project aims to empower them with the skills necessary to live in the modern urban environment. Volunteers of the Sewa Houston chapter consists of college students and people hailing from various professions that regularly provide assistance to the refugees. Get Inspired Houston is a summer internship program offered by Sewa International’s Houston chapter which allows young adults to explore and innovate new ideas geared towards the welfare of refugee communities. Over the past 4 years GIH has provided a platform wherein young minds identify, create and implement projects which lead to social change in our community, all while working alongside a grassroots, non-profit organization. Under the new Family Services project, Sewa aims to provide physical and online aid and references for fellow community members during times of need such as illness, accident, injury, and bereavement. In the first five months of the program, Sewa has helped a dozen families, Gupta said. Through Sewa Local Events, over 120 volunteers have committed their time serving various local organizations including the Houston Food Bank, Texas Children’s Hospital, Star of Hope Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and the Houston Zoo. Sewa International Houston was conferred with the prestigious 2013 Youth Service Challenge Medallion for outstanding community service by Jefferson Awards in a ceremony held at City Hall in Houston recdntly. To get involved, please visit houston.sewausa. org or contact houston@sewausa.org or 281.909.SEWA.
COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 4
The People’s Lawyer
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
HH Yog Rishi Swami Ramdevji Visiting US from Sep. 26 to Oct 1
www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center
You can keep your car, even if you are sued
Q. I owe money to a credit card company. I have been paying all I can afford, but a debt collector says he wants more. He told me if I didn’t substantially increase my payments he would sue, and I would lose my car and my job. What can I do to stop this? A. You do not have to do anything to stop this; the Texas Legislature has already done it for you. Under Texas law, even if you are sued certain property is “exempt” and protected from your creditors. Among the property protected is your car. The only creditors who may take you car if you don’t pay are those to whom you expressly gave that right, for example, the lender that financed the car. I also should point out that the debt collector’s threats violate state and federal debt collection law. Under the law, it is unlawful to make threats of legal action that cannot be taken. I suggest you look at the debt collection section on my website, www.peopleslawyer.net, to learn your rights. Then, speak with the debt collector. My guess is that once the collector knows you know your rights you can work out an acceptable payment plan. Q. How much notice is an employee entitled to before she is fired? I showed up for work this morning and was fired. Am I entitled to two week’s notice? This doesn’t seem fair. A. As a legal matter, you are not entitled to any prior notice. Unless you have an employment contract or union agreement that says otherwise, you may be fired with no prior notice. Your employer may not have treated you fairly, but from a legal standpoint, it had the right to do what it did. Q. How long do I have to file a lemon law complaint? A. If you have purchased or leased a new motor vehicle and it develops a defect or condition that substantially impairs the motor vehicle’s use, market value or safety, you may be eligible for relief under the Texas Lemon Law. You are required to allow the manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to repair the defect(s) before you may file a complaint for lemon law relief. You may file a compliant within the shorter of the following time periods: 30 months after you bought the car; or, six months after the warranty on the car expires; or, six months after the car reaches 24,000 miles. Remember, the lemon law applies only to new cars. For more information about your rights under this law, call 800-622-8682, or visit, http://txdmv.gov/motorists/ consumer-protection/lemon-law. Q. Who decides where someone is buried? My mother died about 10 years ago, my father remarried and has since died. His new wife did not bury him in our family plot. Now she has remarried. What can I do to move my father to be buried next to my mother?
His Holiness Yog Rishi Swami Ramdevji His Holiness Yog Rishi Swami Ramdevji is visiting the US from Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, 2013 to take part in the 150th Birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago and New Jersey. He will also commemorate the 120th anniversary of the famous address by Swami Vivekananda at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago on Sept. 11, 1893.
have been planned in various cities across U.S., namely, Houston, Chicago, New Jersey, and Atlanta.
Swamiji last visited the U.S. in July 2010. Pujya Swamiji is looking forward to meeting all our Patanjali members and yog teachers. During this period, several programs: 2 one-day Free Yog Shivirs and multiple public addresses of Swamiji
Shekhar Agrawal, President - Patanjali Yogpeeth (USA) Trust extends invitation to all Patanjali members, teachers and supporters with family and friends to these events.
Each person desiring to attend the Free Yog Shivir is requested to register individually through our website www.pyptusa.org. We have very limited seats; register early to reserve your space.
1) Prasad (Dinner) served af-
ter the program. 2) Registration is recommended for reserving a space, click here Or visit www.pyptusa.org Or www.bharatswabhimanusa.org Contacts/Coordinators: Patajali Yogpeeth USA/Shekhar Agrawal - 832-607-3977 Sanjay Jain - sjaingm@gmail. com, 281-565-5246 Yog Teachers - Sanjeev Khanna, sanjeevkkhanna@yahoo.com, 469-556-5006 Patanjali Members – Indra Singhal, indrasinghal@yahoo. com, 832-607-3977
A. Under Texas law, there is a priority list of persons who control the remains of a family member. Here the first few, in order of priority: 1) The person designated in a written instrument signed by the decedent 2) The decedent’s surviving spouse 3) Any one of the decedent’s surviving adult children In your case, unless your father wrote and signed something stating that he wished to be buried in a particular location, the surviving wife (your step-mother) controls your father’s remains. I suggest you speak with her and see if she would be willing to agree to move him now that she has remarried. Want to know more about your legal rights? Visit my website, www.peopleslawyer.net
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VOICE OF ASIA 6
25th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Vaishali Crowned Miss India U.S.A
Partial reproduction of the article published in the August 15, 1988 issue of Voice of Asia as part of its 25th Anniversary.
O
nce again this year, two years in a row, Miss India Southwest has been crowned Miss India U.S.A., only proving the most beautiful Indian women are in Texas. “I never dreamed I would win,” said Vaishali Mathur, 20, a pre-med major at University of Houston-University Park. I was surprised,” she said. The beauty paegeant which started out as a fun thing to do has turned Vaishali into a celebrity. “I have received modeling contracts and screen tests,” she said. But she is not thinking about a career in modeling or movies. Her goal is to be a pediatric cardiologist. “I wouldn’t mind model-
ing, in fact I like what little I’ve done of it,” Vaishali said. She modeled at the JC Penney India Expedition Week and the Beauty Paegeant. The Miss India Southwest Beauty Pageant was held at the Westin Galleria, Houston on June 11. There were 14 contestants ranging in age from 17 to 22 and out of the five semi finalists Vaishali was crowned the Miss India Southwest by Lukmi Anantha, winner of the 1986 Miss India Southwest and 1987 Miss India U.S.A, in front of a crowd of 700. Vaishali received over 5,000 worth of prizes contributed by ICC and various community businesses. The show was not over yet for Vaishali, though. She still had to travel to New York for the Miss India U.S.A. Beauty Paegent which was held July 23. Vaishali won
again. “I never thought I would because I wasn’t feeling very well that weekend,” she said. The beauty paegent in New York, held at the Sheraton Center, Manhattan, was very similar to the one in Houston. There were 18 contestants from different states and Canada who were judged on the various activities performed on stage. One was the saree walk in which Vaishali was clad in a pink saree; for the traditional dress she wore a white sharara kurta made by her mother with all the traditional gold jewelry; for the evening gown walk she was seen in a navy blue gown with sequins; for the talent section she performed a Kathak dance wearing a bright blue dancer’s outfit. The main difference in New York was that Karan Kapoor, the desi handsome
blue eyes blonde, Shashi and Jennifer Kapoor’s son, crowned her in front of a crowd of 1,500. Another celebrity present there was Indian movie actor Mayur. Vaishali was presented with over $8,000 worth of prizes consisting of jewelry sets, a round trip to India, modeling contracts and screen tests.
“Why I was chosen I don’t know but yes I am very happy at the honor I’ve received,” she said. Vaishali has been invited August 20 to New York to take part in India’s Independence Day celebration parade. “I don’t know what else I am supposed to do except sit in a Roll Royce and wave to the people,” she said.
www.voiceofasiatvnews.com For latest on South Asia
Congratulations to VOICE OF ASIA GROUP on 25 Glorious Years and for your contribution to the enrichment of South Asians in the Houston Metropolis
From the Goradia Family Vijay, Marie, Sapphira, and Kevin
SOUTH ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 9
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Indian lawmakers face arrest Pakistani clerics suggest over deadly Hindu-Muslim riots amendment to blasphemy laws ISLAMABAD, September 18, 2013 (AFP) - Pakistan’s top religious clerics Wednesday suggested amendments to the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, proposing the death penalty for people convicted of making false accusations. Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97 percent of the population is Muslim, and insulting the Prophet Mohammed can be punished by death under the country’s penal code.
Indian soldiers patrol alongside a state police vehicle on a deserted street following communal riots between Muslims and Hindus in Muzaffarnagar, India’s Uttar Pradesh state, on September 8, 2013. (AFP/File). NEW DELHI, September 18, 2013 (AFP) - A court in northern India Wednesday ordered the arrest of dozens of suspects including politicians and community leaders for inciting violence during recent Hindu-Muslim clashes that left 49 people dead, police said. The state lawmakers, including those from the ruling Congress party and main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are among 69 people wanted by police over the riots in India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh. “The court in Muzaffarnagar today ordered their arrest after we registered cases against 69 people who include leaders from some political parties,” state police spokesman Manoj Jha told AFP by telephone. The unrest, during which mobs burned houses and a mosque forcing hundreds of people to flee, erupted this month in Muzaffarnagar, 105 kilometres (65 miles) northeast of capital New Delhi, before spreading to other villages.
Thousands of extra paramilitary personnel were rushed to affected areas of the state, which has a history of religion and caste-based violence in its 200million population. Uttar Pradesh witnessed riots in 1992 following the razing of a mosque by a Hindu mob. More than 2,000 people -- mostly Muslims -- were killed after the 16th-century structure in Ayodhya was demolished. The latest violence has triggered speculation that parties are seeking to polarise the politically pivotal state along religious lines ahead of general elections due next year. A federal opposition MP was among the politicians and community leaders wanted for questioning for allegedly making inflammatory speeches during the unrest, Jha told AFP by telephone from Muzaffarnagar. He did not say how many politicians and community leaders were being targeted, but the Press Trust of India, quoting unnamed police officials, put the
figure at 16. Some have already been arrested and charged with inciting violence, according to local media. Headlines Today television station said a state cabinet minister, Azam Khan, allegedly told police to go slow on controlling the riots. A police officer was caught on secretly recorded video saying they were under instructions from Khan, from the state’s governing Samajwadi Party, the TV station said. Khan denied the allegation, saying he was prepared to face the “harshest of punishment if proven guilty”. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday visited victims of the unrest, who have sought shelter in makeshift camps in Uttar Pradesh, and promised tough action for those responsible. The clashes erupted on September 7 after thousands of Hindu farmers held a meeting to demand justice over the killing of three Hindu men who had protested when a woman was allegedly harassed.
Even unproven allegations can provoke a violent public response, and critics say the law is often used to settle personal scores. The country’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) suggested
the government should bring in the death penalty for people convicted of making false accusations of blasphemy. “All the religious scholars agreed to put an end to the misuse of blasphemy laws,” scholar Allama Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi told AFP. “Keeping in view the suggestions of human rights activists and civil society members, the Council of Ideology has decided to fix the same penalty for the person who falsely accuses of blasphemy as the accused,” he added. Ashrafi said the proposed amendment would ensure that “nobody dares to use religion to settle personal scores”. “The amendment will also si-
lence critics of the blasphemy laws,” he added. In 2011, Punjab governor Salman Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti were assassinated for demanding that the blasphemy law be reformed. Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, remains in prison after being sentenced to death in November 2010 after another women claimed she had made derogatory remarks toward the Prophet Mohammed. The council also reversed an earlier decision about the use of DNA as evidence in rape cases, which it had refused to accept. “The council has now left the matter of DNA evidence for the courts,” Ashrafi said.
Five Pakistanis killed by Afghan forces in border firing ISLAMABAD, September 18, 2013 (AFP) - Pakistan accused Afghan forces of killing five Pakistanis on Wednesday in cross-border “indiscriminate firing” in its southwestern Baluchistan province. The Pakistan foreign ministry issued a statement saying that it had protested the killing of “five innocent people in firing by the Afghan border police”. “The Afghan Charge d’ Affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office and a strong protest was lodged over the indiscriminate firing today (Wednesday) by the Afghan Border Police, which resulted in the killing of five innocent Pakistanis,” the statement said.
Pakistani officials said that shots were fired near the village of Godwana, in the Zhob district of Baluchistan province, which also borders Iran. Afghan forces fired in the Pakistani area in the morning, Zulfiqar Durrani, a senior administration official in Zhob, told AFP. “Their soldiers entered Pakistani territory to launch indiscriminate fire,” he said. Pakistan asked the Afghan government to launch an inquiry into the incident, saying it had conveyed “serious concern”. It also asked Afghanistan to “adhere to the border coordination and cooperation mechanisms, and prevent the
recurrence of such incidents,” the statement said. The foreign ministry said that such incidents are “detrimental to the friendly relations and undermine goodwill between the two brotherly countries”. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a disputed, porous and unmarked 2,400-kilometre (1,500-mile) border, and have tricky diplomatic relations, accusing each other previously of cross border violations and sending gunmen to create unrest. Pakistan has been a frontline in the US-led war on terror in Afghanistan to eliminate AlQaeda and Taliban militants from the war-torn country.
LIFESTYLE
VOICE OF ASIA 13
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Vol. 26
No. 38
Friday, September 20, 2013
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Tel: 713-774-5140
Cashmere, Pashmina industries fading in Kashmir
by Sajjad Qayyum
capital of Indian-administered Kashmir.
G
RACE VALLEY - the beautiful Grace Valley in Kashmir, Hidayat Ullah weaves at a manual paddle loom. Asked how he learned the craft, he gestures to a frail, wizened old man coughing on a bed in the corner.
Pashmina goats are reared by nomads in the Changthang area of Indian Kashmir’s Ladakh, at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet where winter temperatures can plummet to minus 50 degrees Celsius. The finest Pashmina wool is hand-spun into shawls, usually by women. Artisans then embroider them with intricate designs for a finished product that can cost thousands of dollars in the West.
“I got this skill from my father, but now my son is not taking up this profession. He prefers to work in the fields and sometimes also works as a labourer -- it’s better money than the loom,” Hidayat Ullah told AFP.
Thousands of Indian Kashmiris are involved in the Pashmina trade, but scarce raw materials and an explosion in fakes worries artisans and traders, and many have quit the profession.
Weavers have produced exquisite shawls in Kashmir for centuries, but their craft risks dying out in the face of cheap foreign imports and a young generation uninterested in mastering the skill.
“The term Kashmir Pashmina is being misused by very many people around the world,” said M. S. Farooqi, who heads the Craft Development Institute in Srinagar.
Kashmir gave its name to the soft cashmere wool that commands huge prices in the West, but in Hidayat Ullah’s village there are now only 10 paddle looms, known as khadis, where once there were 100. Cashmere scarves and sweaters sell for hundreds of dollars in the developed world but Hidayat Ullah takes only 3,000 rupees -- $30 -- for the 15 days’ labour needed to make a single shawl. For centuries the people of Grace Valley in the Pakistani-administered part of the Himalayan territory lived off their livestock, taking their animals up to high pastures in summer and bringing them down in September to shear them and spin the wool.
“The craft of Pashmina making has such a historical context, exquisiteness and uniqueness that it is a coveted product worldwide... and GI will help bring it back to the people and the region it belongs to,” Farooqi said. Mohammad Sadiq Wani, who sells Kashmir handicraft products displays Pashmina shawl at his shop in Srinagar (AFP Photo/Tauseef Mustafa).
But the younger generation are abandoning Pashminas for jobs with the government or in the construction industry in Ladakh. Last winter some 25,000 Pashmina goats perished in Changthang in unusually cold weather when their fodder froze under a thick icy layer of snow and land routes to the area were cut off for weeks.
As snow blanketed the valley for the long months of winter, villagers confined indoors wove shawls, embroidering colourful patterns by hand before selling them in the spring as the emerald slopes returned to life.
Scientists at the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology or SKUAST in Kashmir last year succeeded in making a clone of the Pashmina goat, which was called Noori.
Now demand among locals is collapsing. “A hand-woven shawl costs 10,000 rupees ($100) while you can get the same kind of shawl in the markets for 2,000 to 3,000 rupees,” weaver Zeenat Bibi, 32, told AFP.
The aim is to increase productivity of the Pashmina yielding goats and to send male clones into the environment to breed naturally.
Bibi makes shawls with her father-inlaw but says no-one else in the family is interested in learning.
Experiments have shown that while the Pashmina goat can survive at lower altitudes in Kashmir, they do not produce the same quality of Pashmina wool.
“I have a 10-year-old daughter, who asks me why I waste my time doing this strange old job,” she said. In the past, the isolation of the area helped local craftsmen as it was difficult to bring in goods from outside. Now, as communications open up, things are changing. “These days second-hand clothes with new designs, good material and at cheaper prices are available, so they want to buy these and this old tradition is diminishing day by day,” said Fatima Yaqoob, a lecturer at the Arts and Cultural University of
“Kashmir Pashmina will now be branded as that and restored to the original creators of the craft.”
A woman spins Pashmina shawl on a traditional spinning wheel at the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology or SKUAST in Kashmir. (AFP Photo/Tauseef Mustafa). Azad Kashmir. Government help is needed to modernise the industry -- in particular to switch from manual to power looms -- and encourage more people to go into it, she said.
In India, the government has already stepped in to minimise the impact of similar problems affecting the traditional artisans who make beautiful shawls from special wool from the Pashmina
goat. It has secured a GI (Geographical Indication under WTO) mark for the fabric and the process of shawl making and set up a testing laboratory in Srinagar, the
“The Pashmina wool produced by the goat in its natural habitat is actually a biological response to the extreme cold weather conditions at high altitude,” said Sarfaraz Ahmed, a researcher at SKUAST. But it’s unclear if science can stop the market trends. “Most buyers find it difficult to distinguish between a fake and a genuine Pashmina shawl,” shrugged Mohammad Sadiq Wani, a trader and exporter of Kashmir handicrafts in Srinagar.
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VOICE OF ASIA 14
Friday, September 20, 2013
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Tel: 713-774-5140
International Student to Temporary Worker – Dealing With the Transition For those applying for an H-1B visa for the first time, the visa will usually have an effective start date of October 1st, which coincides with the beginning of the government’s fiscal year. While the visa begins in October, the filing window opens six months earlier, in April. The delay between the time of filing and the effective start date can create issues for a student wishing to travel, change jobs, get married, or otherwise deal with life in general. Emily Neumann by Emily Neumann, Attorney at law Emily@rnlawgroup. com
I
nternational students in the United States on F-1 visas often transition to an H-1B visa following graduation. A period of training called Optional Practical Training (OPT) available for up to 29 months after completion of the degree aids the student in obtaining real-world experience and helps with the timing of the H-1B visa application.
In the past, graduation timings lead to the inability of students to maintain status between April and October. This gap in status created by the H-1B filing cap is referred to as the Cap Gap. USCIS created a temporary fix for the problem by providing a Cap Gap extension of status for students with a pending or approved H-1B petition. This meant that a student whose OPT period expires between April and October would obtain an automatic extension of the OPT through September 30th if an H-1B petition was filed on their behalf
requesting a change of status. In addition, the creation of a 17-month extension of OPT for graduates with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM extension) provided additional relief from the H-1B cap. Here are some of the most common questions regarding the transition period between F-1 and H-1B status: Q: My employer filed an H-1B petition on my behalf, and it was approved as a change of status. Can I change employers before October 1st? A: Yes, but your new employer will need to file a new H-B petition requesting a change of status again. Because you were already counted in the H-1B cap when you obtained the earlier approval notice, you do not need to wait for the next filing window to open in April. Q. What if my H-1B petition is still pending, can I also change employers? A. This would not be recommended. If you change employ-
ers before the H-1B petition is approved, your pending H-1B could be withdrawn. In this situation, you would no longer be considered “counted” in the H-1B cap. Q. My H-1B petition is approved as a change of status, but my OPT is valid beyond October 1st. Can I continue on my OPT after October 1st? A. No, the H-1B automatically becomes effective on October 1st and the OPT is no longer valid. If you want to continue on OPT and are no longer interested in the H-1B status, you would need to request your employer to withdraw your approved H-1B before October 1st and inform you school. Q. My H-1B is pending, can I visit my home country for summer break? A. Technically yes, but this is not recommended. When you leave the country while a change of status is pending, your request to change status is considered to be abandoned. Even if your H-1B were to be approved later on, you would
need to wait until October 1st before you can return to the U.S. and must obtain the H-1B visa stamp. Q. What if my H-1B change of status is already approved, can I visit my home country and return to the U.S. before October 1st? A. If you have a valid F-1 visa stamp, an unexpired OPT card, and an I-20 endorsed for travel, you technically can leave and come back in F-1 status before October 1st without impacting your approved H-1B according to a 2004 advisory letter from USCIS. However, it is still best to avoid travel in this situation. The advisory letter is not binding on officers at the port of entry. Also, while you are out of the country, you may be considered to be unemployed for purposes of the OPT rules on unemployment. Finally, some students have faced heavy scrutiny at the port of entry upon their return and were refused admission back into the country. Q: Can I travel during the
Cap Gap extension using my expired OPT card? A: No. Although the Cap Gap allows you to remain in the U.S. and continue working after your OPT period expires, it does not allow you to travel. You would lose the Cap Gap protection by leaving the country and would need to remain outside the U.S. until October 1st. Q: I am on OPT with an approved H-1B. Can my spouse apply for an F-2 visa to join me? A: It is recommended for your spouse to apply for an H-4 visa and travel to the U.S. on or after October 1st. Emily Neumann has practiced immigration law in Texas since 2005, representing both employers and immigrants. Neumann writes a blog on immigration law (immigrationgirl.com) and shares updates on Twitter (@immigrationgirl) and her Facebook page to help her clients stay informed of the latest news. She is a partner in Reddy & Neumann, P.C. in Houston and Dallas.
APIASF Engages Wong Fu Pro- Participate in the Business Plan ductions To Produce FinanCompetition – IIT2013 Conference cial Literacy Video For Asian American College Students
M
was the perfect place for us to launch our new programmatic initiative. This event will help raise awareness of the needs of the students in the local community and provide APIASF with the opportunity to strengthen our ongoing partnerships with the nation’s AANAPISIs to increase the impact we have on student success,” Horikoshi said.
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W
ASHINGTON, D.C. (September 17, 2013) - The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) engaged Wong Fu Productions, primarily known for their YouTube channel to produce a financial literacy video for Asian American college students. Sponsored by Wells Fargo, the social media video “Save the Date” was shown as part of the Wells Fargo’s session on money management and financial literacy at the Jump Start College Tour at Georgia State University on September 14. Following the event, the video will be widely distributed through Wong Fu’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=XGkdUEHa7sI) and social media platform, which has over 1.8 million subscribers and 200 million viewers. “We’ve had a long standing partnership with APIASF that spans nearly 10 years,” said Nancy Wong, head of Wells Fargo Asian Segment Strategy. “Partnering with APIASF and Wong Fu on this fun and humorous social media video is one of the many ways we look to effectively reach AAPI millennials to underscore the importance of responsible money management and encourage them to the lever-
age the free financial tools and resources available to them.” “The Jump Start College Tour will help local high school and college students boost their leadership and professional skills and learn how to leverage resources such as APIASF to achieve their personal goals,” said Neil Horikoshi, APIASF president and executive director. “Wells Fargo’s program allows APIASF to provide direct service to high school and college students in some of America’s fastest growing AAPI communities.” The Jump Start College Tour series targets the nation’s Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), such as Georgia State University, that enroll more than 40 percent of all AAPI undergraduates nationally. Through this series, APIASF will be able to reach the largest AAPI student populations at the institutions they attend. Participants will learn how to identify the resources that can help support their pursuit of higher education, to anticipate career trends, strengthen their money management skills, leverage their personal networks, improve their professional communications skills and build their personal brand. “With the Asian-American population in Georgia growing by 83 percent from 2000 to 2010, Georgia State University
For details about APIASF’s work to strengthen communities and its scholarship programs, visit APIASF’s website at www. apiasf.org. For free money management resources visit handsonbanking.org and wellsfargo.com/ financial-education. Also, follow APIASF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/apiasf) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/apiasf).
ore than 1500 professionals, world class business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors will gather in Houston this December for the IIT 2013 global conference. True to its spirit of innovation, a business plan competition will be held at Hilton Americas on December 7th. Ten top class IIT alumni teams will get an op-
portunity to present their business cases in front of the judges and investors from venture funds like Mercury, Serge Accelerator and Clearspring Capital Group.
If you are up for the entrepreneurial challenge, get your business plan ready and participate in the IIT 2013 business plan competition. Not only can you win the grand cash prizes but also will get
an opportunity to network with the VCs and the business leaders. The competition is open to anyone affiliated to IIT alumni. Deadline for submissions is October 13th, 2013. If you are interested, please contact BPC@ iit2013.org. For registration and other rules, please visit http:// iit2013.org/business-plan-competition/
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VOICE OF ASIA 15
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
VOICE OF ASIA 16
BOLLYWOOD MASALA
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Tel: 713-774-5140
Indian-origin Miss America shows evolving US ideal
Nina Davuluri wins the 2014 Miss America Competition at Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, September 15, 2013. by Shaun TANDON
W
ASHINGTON, September 17, 2013 (AFP) - Shortly before she was crowned the first Miss America of Indian descent, Nina Davuluri was asked about a Chinese American celebrity who admitted undergoing surgery to reshape her eyes. In the interview before a national audience Sunday, 24-yearold Davuluri tactfully avoided criticizing television personality Julie Chen but made clear that she would do nothing similar. “I’ve always viewed Miss America as the girl next door. And the girl next door is evolving as the diversity in America evolves,� said Davuluri, who was born in Syracuse, New York,
to parents from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. “I wouldn’t want to change someone’s looks or appearance, but definitely be confident in who you are,� she said. Davuluri fully embraced her heritage at the competition, donning a ruby-hued choli that bared her midriff as she performed a Bollywood-infused Indian dance. But her victory triggered a spate racist postings on social media, with some Twitter users questioning if she was American and even falsely associating her with Islamic extremism. “The first Indian American winner is significant in that it further widens our conception of
female beauty and what it means to be an American,� said Blain Roberts, a historian at California State University at Fresno. While critics see Miss America as an antiquated contest that objectifies women, Roberts said that the pageant nonetheless viewed itself as an “embodiment of America.� Roberts, the author of a forthcoming book on the racial dynamics of beauty pageants, said that the 92-year-old Miss America contest initially excluded non-whites. White women from the former Confederacy -- the reputed “Southern Belles� -- dominated the contest starting in the 1950s just as the country’s attention was turning to racial discrimination, she said. The first African American Miss America was not until 1983 when Vanessa Williams won, although she was later stripped of the tiara in a scandal over nude pictures. US Representative Grace Meng of New York likened Davuluri’s victory to that of Bess Myerson, who was crowned the first Jewish Miss America in 1945 soon after the end of World War II. What is beautiful? One controversial issue is whether minorities in the United States, consciously or unconsciously, conform to white conceptions of beauty. As in other diverse nations such as Brazil and India, women with paler complexions have traditionally dominated advertisements and cinema. Chen, the host of reality show “Big Brother,� said she underwent eye surgery early in her ca-
Nina Davuluri performed a Bollywood-infused Indian dance for the Miss America contest. Photo courtesy nydailynews.com reer after pressure from a boss. Large numbers of African Americans historically have straightened their hair. But by some measures, change has come rapidly in the United States, which elected Barack Obama as its first African American president in 2008 and has two Indian American state governors. Non-Hispanic whites are expected to become a minority by the 2040s. A recent survey by research firm Mintel found that nearly three-quarters of African American women let their hair go natural, with sales of hair relaxers dropping by 26 percent since 2008.
A 2010 poll by the Pew Research Center found that virtually all Americans under age 30 accept interracial marriage, as opposed to only 36 percent of whites over 65. “Each succeeding generation gets more and more used to living in a diverse, multicultural society,� said C.N. Le, a sociologist at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Le said that Davuluri represented a “melding� of white conceptions of beauty and those of her own heritage. “She does sort of conform to white standards of beauty. She has a very symmetrical face, a very chiseled cheek line,� Le said.
“But having said that, she clearly represents her Indian heritage in a very positive way. She emphasizes her dark eyes, her skin tone is obviously darker, and she hasn’t, I presume, tried to lighten her skin,� he said. Lakshmi Gandhi, co-founder of The Aerogram, an online magazine that focuses on South Asian Americans, noticed an overwhelmingly positive response to Davuluri for highlighting her heritage. “To do a Bollywood dance without an English word at the Miss America pageant -- that’s a big deal,� Gandhi said. Gandhi criticized media organizations that highlighted racist comments.
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BUSINESS
VOICE OF ASIA 20
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Google promises new think- Sanjeev Kapoor ke Kitchen Khiladi ing for health company Premiering September 16, 8 pm ET Only on Sony Entertainment Television
Larry Page, Google co-founder and CEO speaks on May 15, 2013 in San Francisco, California (Getty Images/AFP, Justin Sullivan)
S
AN FRANCISCO, September 18, 2013 (AFP) - Google announced Wednesday it was launching a new company focused on health and well-being, and hinted at cooperation with longtime rival Apple in the venture. A Google statement said the company, Calico, would put a particular focus on “the challenge of aging and associated diseases.” Arthur Levinson, chairman and former chief executive of the biotech firm Genentech and chairman of Apple, will be Calico’s chief executive and a founding investor. Announcing the new investment, Google CEO Larry Page said: “Illness and aging affect all our families. With some longer term, moonshot thinking around healthcare and biotechnology, I believe we can improve millions of lives.” “It’s impossible to imagine anyone better than Art -- one of the leading scientists, entrepreneurs and CEOs of our generation -- to take this new venture forward,” he said. Levinson said in the same statement: “I’ve devoted much of my life to science and technology, with the goal of improving human health. Larry’s focus on outsized improvements has inspired me, and I’m tremendously excited about what’s next.” Levinson will remain chairman of Genentech and a director of Hoff-
Shahid Usmani, Sales Manager • 713-270-3900
mann-La Roche, as well as chairman of Apple, the statement noted. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was quoted in the Google statement as saying: “For too many of our friends and family, life has been cut short or the quality of their life is too often lacking. Art is one of the crazy ones who thinks it doesn’t have to be this way. There is no one better suited to lead this mission and I am excited to see the results.” Time magazine, which interviewed Page ahead of the announcement, said the details of the project were not yet clear but that it is likely to use its dataprocessing to shed new light on agerelated maladies. On Google+, Page acknowledged people may be surprised at the effort. “OK ... so you’re probably thinking wow! That’s a lot different from what Google does today,” he wrote. “And you’re right. But as we explained in our first letter to shareholders, there’s tremendous potential for technology more generally to improve people’s lives. So don’t be surprised if we invest in projects that seem strange or speculative compared with our existing Internet businesses. And please remember that new investments like this are very small by comparison to our core business.” He said that the venture is still in its “very early days so there’s not much more to share yet.”
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor
N
ew York, Sept 10, 2013: India’s most loved Chef Sanjeev Kapoor will tantalize your taste buds as Sony Entertainment Television presents a brand new cooking, reality show “Sanjeev Kapoor ke Kitchen Khiladi”. This delectable show, premiering on September 16 at 8pm ET will be a gastronomic delight for all food lovers. Get ready to celebrate food in a whole new way as we see a family take on a chef, in cooking up dishes, which are the families’ culinary pride. Sanjeev Kapoor ke Kitchen Khiladi will witness a cook-off between ordinary families and a professional chef. Both the chef and the families will cook and present the same dish to Sanjeev Kapoor (Chief Judge) for the final verdict. The show will not just entertain viewers with its competitive format but also give viewers an opportunity to learn interesting recipes as a part of the “Dish of the Day” in each episode. This culinary battle will feature families that have auditioned from all over the country, and the best amongst them will find their place in the show. The renowned chefs who will be pitted against the families are entertaining and energetic Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, experimentative Chef Ajay Chopra, Mexican food specialist Chef Vikas Seth, India’s Youngest TV Chef and Limca record holder Chef Saransh Goila and last but
not the least Continental food specialist Rahul Kulkarni. Speaking about the new culinary show, Jaideep Janakiram, SVP International Business-Head of North America said, ““Sony Entertainment Television has always introduced innovative and captivating programming for its’ viewers. As we launch ‘Sanjeev Kapoor ke Kitchen Khiladi’, we will introduce cooking with a dramatic new twist. The concept of the show is very fresh and we have the Badshah cook of India, Sanjeev Kapoor as the host and judge of the show. We are sure it is going to rekindle the audience’s love of cooking.” The charming host and Judge Sanjeev Kapoor said, “I always believed and thought that food is not niche. It is a specialty but it is mass. I wanted people to view it like that and I am glad that Sony Entertainment Television is supporting us in this endeavor by presenting this new culinary reality show. The concept of the show is very interesting. It will be fun to watch the difference between the cooking of professional chefs and a normal housewife’s ghar ka khana, and we will see who wins hands down.” The Chefs will be handicapped as they will have no advance knowledge of the dishes & no one to help them. It will be a gastronomic treat for the view-
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ers as they will feast their eyes and tease their palates on Punjabi, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Chinese, Fusion, Continental and various other cuisines. The families along with the Chefs will battle it out for the coveted title of the show ‘Swaad ke Sartaaj’. Get ready to watch the ultimate culinary battle in Sanjeev Kapoor ke Kitchen Khiladi; Mondays to Fridays at 8PM ET, only on Sony Entertainment Television Asia! About Sony Entertainment Television Asia: Since its launch on the Indian subcontinent in 1995, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has enjoyed rapid success, leading to the establishment of European, North American and African feeds known as SET Asia. SET and SET Asia are now available in over 150 countries. The channels offer their viewers a distinctive blend of entertainment programs twenty four hours a day, including, soap operas, dramas, sitcoms, concerts, movies, and game shows. Besides SET Asia, SET also has three other leading channels: MAX, India’s #1 premier movies and special events channel, SAB, the only dedicated comedy channel, MIX, the recently launched Hindi Film Music channel and Aath, the only dedicated Bengali Movie channel.
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VOICE OF ASIA 21
Confucius makes comeback at Chinese tables
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
Your Horoscope (For week beginning Friday, September 20, 2013)
Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950
As per Indian Vedic Astrology the Moon sign is considered, in which every Rashi has control over certain letters, which are initials of your name. Whereas in Western system of Sun Sign, all the people born in one month belong to the same sign. For example, every year approximately around 21 of March to 20th April, the Sun is moving in the Aries Constellation. So all the people born in that month belong to the Sign of Aries. If you were born in between those two dates then you are a Aries born.
Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April The bright expectations that may turn out not to be enough true information. You may have to look elsewhere for what you really require. Family and friends will invite you to join at gatherings. Take them up on invites and you’ll be able to find new way to share your ideas. Your insights are almost ‘scary’ this week, when they are powerful and when they are ‘useful’ and could save time, money and a lot of ‘grief/work’ for yourself and/or others. Celebrations, gifts and some vehicle expense may take a more serious bite out of your time/money budget this week.
Taurus(B,V,U)21 April to 20 May Need to value the instinctive powers that you possess. Sharing your enlightenment with younger people will help you to progress. Your positive energy will help you to meet tight deadlines. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish once you get started. A mistake could be costly IF you allow it to rob your focus and ‘rattle’ your cage. Remain calm, if discipline is required, make the time fit the crime and if it is a financial mistake, fix it and say nothing if a sibling, elder or partner is involved.
Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Experience the fact all roads you take this week will lead you to a sort of spiritual awakening. Use this time to refresh and rejuvenate your positive energy. Good relations with those you work with will enable you to spread your influence. Some interesting employment opportunities exist. Family members seem to ‘really need you’, even if you are a younger member who does not carry weight or ‘make the calls’ within the family. Step up to the plate and be there with a ‘loving and willing’ heart, especially for needy, vulnerable and/or elderly/older members.
“Confucius cuisine” by Carol HUANG
Q
UFU, September 11, 2013 (AFP) - Revered for centuries but reviled in recent decades, Confucius is making a comeback in China -- and on its dinner plates. “Confucius cuisine” is a finedining trend that reflects how the ruling Communist party -which long saw the sage as a reactionary force -- has drafted him into its modern campaign to boost what President Xi Jinping has called China’s “cultural soft power”. One of the few ancient Chinese names to have global recognition, the philosopher highlights bonds with overseas Chinese and other Asian nations, and his moniker has been adopted for more than 300 language-teaching “Confucius Institutes” in 90 countries. The authorities are “going back and finding certain elements that existed before the 20th century” and “exploiting Confucius as a brand”, says Thomas Wilson, a professor at Hamilton College in New York. Among restaurants in Qufu in the eastern province of Shandong -- where the philosopher known in Chinese as Kong Zi lived from 551 BC to 479 BC -the cuisine is an edible symbol of the way the writer has been reworked. “Book of Odes and Book of Rites Ginkos”, a dense, mildly sweet dessert named after two Confucius classics, is a yellow pea flour “book” topped with nuts and drizzled with honey. In another dish, radishes carved into exquisite trees reflect his saying that “food can never be too fine and cooking never too delicate”. The philosopher’s teachings of hierarchy, order and deference had deep resonance in the feudal societies of China and the region.
Tens of generations of his descendants lived at the sprawling Confucius Residence complex in Qufu, enjoying close ties with a succession of emperors, along with ever bigger land grants and hereditary titles. They regularly feted all manner of dignitaries with elaborate banquets, over time developing an exquisite cuisine, say the chefs promoting it today. But that privileged world disappeared in the 20th century, as Japan invaded the country and the Communists won the civil war. Many Confucius descendants -- then in the 77th generation -- abandoned Qufu and fled to Taiwan. After taking power the Communists savaged Confucianism, and during the tumultuous 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, Red Guard youths incited by Mao Zedong destroyed Confucian temples along with other symbols of the past, and targeted Confucian chefs for abuse. With trained chefs having fled mainland China or passed away, piecing together exactly what Confucius cuisine entailed has proved difficult. “The Cultural Revolution cut off nearly four generations,” laments Wang Xinglan, who was commissioned by the commerce ministry to rediscover Confucius cuisine in the 1980s and now heads the Shandong Cuisine Research Association. Today’s dishes supposedly draw from those developed over the centuries at the residence in Qufu, but that leaves plenty of room for interpretation among enterprising restaurateurs. “Some people want to use the label, but they simply don’t understand the dishes, the culture, the history -- so they can’t make the food,” says Wang. A couple running Confucian Home-Cooking -- one of many
hole-in-the-walls in Qufu advertising authentic traditional dishes -- serves Confucius Residence Tofu for 30 yuan ($4.60) and egg soup for five yuan. Their version of “Book of Odes and Book of Rites Ginkgos” amounts to a pile of the yellow nuts ringed by tomato slices, which the husband takes just a few minutes to whip up before sitting back down to stuff chopsticks into plastic sleeves. On the wall hangs a C rating from the sanitation bureau.
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Virgo(P) 23 August to 22 September
Your strong ties to your roots which will help you deal with a situation on a different perspective. You’ll see how one could be misunderstood. Some interesting news from far away may help you to understand recent events. Your research and investigations will find the reasons. Cooperation is NOT good early in the week and frustration levels rise with spending needs, especially for elders and any households with ‘educating youth’. Vehicle and transportation ‘needs’ may be a source of decisions and possibly even squabbles...!
The hotel’s Confucius Mansion’s Eight Treasures soup includes sea cucumber, abalone, fish maw and other delicacies. In another dish prawns are cocooned in hand-pulled fried vermicelli and plated like a modern sculpture. Professor Wilson points out that “the first motive for reviving any of these things is to make money. “The so-called Confucius cuisine is part of the opening up of the tourist industry in China,” he says. A Qufu resident surnamed Li, 45, passing by the lush hotel grounds, dismisses what she considers a ploy for free-spending tourists. “They take a carrot and carve it into something pretty. But it doesn’t taste good, it only looks good,” she says. “It’s for people with money.”
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Libra(R,T)23 Sept to 22 Oct
Scorpio(N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov The feeling that weight of your many responsibilities. Once you get your routine right, you will have much more flexibility with your time demands. Emotions are very high. You need to try hard to keep your temper under control. Once you understand the truth, cooler heads will prevail. Many demands, expenses and travel, vehicle or transportation needs may ‘gather’ to take an impressive bit out of your wallet/budget this week, especially IF you have educating youth in your household. Follow your gut feelings on discipline issues, especially as ‘an ounce of prevention’ may be worth a TON ‘of cure’.
Sagittarius(BH,F,DH,TH)22 Nov to 21 Dec Realize, your immediate plans may not be as simple as you thought. You will need to look a lot deeper to be able to see your future more clearly. You will start to feel better once you begin to be your fun loving self. Even though times have changed, you need to hold onto your past. Busy, happy and productive energies about early in the week but the later may provide a few ‘close calls’ with regard to ‘worrying about other members’ especially elders, vulnerable personalities. A ‘reasonable discussion’ may be required, especially if any health care decisions are involved, particularly if siblings attend.
Capricorn(KH,J)22 Dec to 20 Jan Discrepancies, which will be found within recent events. You will be worried about your future employment. Insist on receiving honest answers. Your future plans may not be envisioned by all. Others may look for fault, but you’ll appreciate the strong aspects that can help the most. Demands on your time appear to escalate dramatically while fatigue, minor illness/injury and other types of challenges may present some ‘juggling’ issues in a balancing act between ‘need and want’.
Aquarius(G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb Feeling like you have been working far too hard. You need to find ways to change your old routine. Take the time to smell the flowers. You may feel vulnerable to others criticism right now. Push those negative thoughts out of your mind. You will achieve all your desired goals. Vehicles, repairs, purchases, upgrades, travel/transportation, shipping, moving and ANY form of ‘distance’ expense is likely to be on the rise BIG time. News ‘for members’ tends to be good, especially in employment, income upgrades, prizes/awards and other forms of ‘bestowments’.
Pisces(D,CH,Z)20 Feb to 20 March
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Get ready for knowing your goals, which should be solid. All eyes will be on your recent accomplishments. Take advantage of this opportunity to blow your own horn a little. Your change in focus will prove that you did in fact learn an important lesson. Teamwork will help accomplish the tasks you require. Good news from members is likely and may focus around announcements, expansion, moves, upgrades, employment, benefits, awards or other types of ‘reasons to celebrate’.
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NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS IMMIGRANT VISAS
Leo(M) 23 July to 22 August
The fact that even though you do not always fit the normal mould, you definitely have your own style. Aspects of your personality will shine this week. You may have to show your true colors to those who doubt your loyalty. If your heart is true then you will have nothing to worry about. A busy and demanding week is likely and your focus, especially, seems to be that ‘everyone should just get along’ and ‘harmony and balance’ are what you are shooting for. This may not be easy IF you are dealing with elders, youth of educating age members who are ‘unhappy with some issue’.
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Good communications that will continue as long as you lead in the discussions. You will realize that you are very important to others plans. Whether you are preparing fine dining or simple comfort food, your past experience give you that little edge on your competition. Keep your word/promise to a member or risk a real ‘back lash’ later or as far out as the ‘upcoming holidays’. Focus on spending issues and the commitment of ‘future income/debt’ decisions with ‘a practical eye’ on ‘need vs. want’ especially if pleasing youth is involved.
Meanwhile down the street the luxury Shangri-La hotel -- where dishes run as high as 680 yuan -- boasts an artistic Confucius feast reimagining “Book of Odes and Book of Rites Ginkgos” as a snow pear carved with the word “poetry”.
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Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July
Personal health issues which may influence your attitude. Dwell on what you can do, not what you can’t. Strive hard to get past old restrictions. Big expectations may bring unexpected pressure. You’ll need to keep your composure. Show how well you can work with teammates. Travel, errands, multi tasking and several ‘acts of kindness’ may dominate and ‘getting the horse before the cart’ IS a threat for expense, timing and decision making processes. Long talks that address ‘old problems’ are likely with good results. A fun event warns you should ‘soft peddle’ your position, requests and even ‘presence’. Here we see FAST and somewhat impressive results likely, especially near when things ‘go down’ and ‘fall together’ swiftly.
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VOICE OF ASIA 22
FRIDAY, September 20, 2013
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES & ORGANIZATIONS OF HOUSTON - call Voice of Asia 713-774-5140 Indo-American Charity Foundation
Hindu Temple of The Woodlands
Ashirwad - A Blessing Temple
Prog: Silver Jubilee Celebrations at Hilton Americas on Sept. 21st, 2013. For more information, call Gala Chair Ramesh Cherivirala at 713-8754336.
Prog: Location: 7601 S. Forest Gate Drive at Woodlands Parkway, Spring, TX 77382. Contact: info@woodlandshindutemple.org, 832-585-0001 Website: www. woodlandshindutemple.org.
Prog: Regular prog :Sloka Classes for kids and teens. Location: Katy, Hwy 249 & Sugar Land. Contact: 281.995.0930/ 281.808.2159
Hare Krishna Dham (ISKCON) Prog: Everyday, 7 Aratis and bhoga offerings daily. Sunday Festival: 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Location: 1320 West 34th St, Houston, TX 77018. Contact:281-433-1635/E-mail harekrishnadham@gmail.com Website: www.iskconhouston. org
Shri Radha Krishna Temple
VSNA, Houston Prog: Monthly Mahamane event. Puja, Vachana Sahithya discourses, Aarthi and Prasad Contact: vsnahouston@gmail. com/832-545-1185 (Jyoti Biradar) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VSNA.HOUSTON Website: https://sites.google. com/site/bsusorg/home
BAPS
Prog: Location:11625 Beechnut, Houston, TX 77072 Phone: 281-933-8100 Website: www.SRKT.org.
India House Prog: Free Yoga classes every Tues, Thurs, & Sat Free Dance classes every Sun Free Computer classes every Mon, Wed, & Thurs Medical Clinic every Sat Cultural Library every Sun For info call 713-929-1900 Email: info@indiahouseinc.org Website: www.indiahouseinc. org
Chinmaya Mission Prog: Location:10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX77498. Phone: 832.541.0059. Website:www.chinmayahouston.org.
Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya
Temple Hrs: 9 am to noon and 5 to 9 pm. Sri Astalaksmi puja: 7 pm. Sri Laksmi Archana will be performed on request all day. Location:same as Chinmaya Mission. Website: www.saumyakasi.org;
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Prog: Location: 1150 Brand Rd. Stafford, TX. Contact: 281-765-2277 Web:
Sri Meenakshi Temple Prog: Location: 17130 McLean Road Pearland, TX 77584 Contact: (281) 489-0358
Arsha Vidya Bharati Prog.:Sanskrit classes and special worship sessions for all ages Location: 2918 Renoir, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Contact: 281-606-5607 or AVB. Houston@gmail.com Web-site: https://sites.google. com/site/avbtexas/classes
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baitus Samee Mosque Prog: Friday Prayer - 1:30 PM Children’s Classes | Interfaith meeting | Location: 1333 Spears Rd, Houston, TX 77067 Imam - Mohammed Zafarullah Contact : Work: 281-875-3400 | Cell: 713-874-4363 Zafarullah_Hanjra@hotmail.com www.Alislam.org
Vedanta Society of Greater Houston Prog: Vedanta teachings Sundays at 10:30 AM Location: at 14809 Lindita Dr. Houston, TX -77083. Website: www.vedantahouston. org
ISSO Prog: Darshan daily from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.; Aarti daily from 7.45 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Location: 10080 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281-530-2565 Web:
VPSS Houston Prog: Location VPSS Vallabh Hall, 11715 Belfort Village Dr. Houston 77031. Contact:713-530-2900 Website:www.vpsshaveli.org
Shri Satyanarayan Sai Puja Darshan Prog: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Every Thursday Abhishek Location: 16338 Kensington Dr, Ste 110, Sugar Land 77479. Phone: 713-933-8821 / 9359.
Gurdwara Sahib of SW Houston Prog: Sundays Dewan 10:00 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Langar Location:14811 Lindita Drive, Houston, TX 77083 Phone: 281-498-5200 Website: www.gurdwaraswh. com
Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple Prog: Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra Parayanam: daily 6.30 p.m. Location:10098 Synott Road. Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281- 498-2344
Website: www.ashtalakshmi.org
ton
Hindu Worship Society
Prog: Location: 3905 Arc St. Houston, TX 77063 Contact: 281-606-JAIN; Email: ecjsh@jain-houston.org Website:www.jain-houston.org
Prog: Open all days except Thursdays (by appt). Regular Puja and Prasad. Sunday Service 11:30 AM to 1:30 Location: 2223 Wirtcrest Lane Houston TX 77055.
Barsana Dham Houston Chapter Prog: Satsang every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: India House, 8888 West Belfort 77031 Phone: (713) 855-9818 for details Website: www.jkphouston.org Weekly Radio Program-1460 AM Saturdays 10-11 a.m.
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Prog: Location:3845 West Bellfort, St., Sugar Land, TX 77498 Website: www.babamandir.org
Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Prog: Every Friday Satsangh from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. Bhajans and Devi Puja, Discourses. Location: 12530 Ann Louise Road, Houston, 77086. Phone: Contact Vishnu at (832) 309- 7181.
JVB Preksha Meditation Center Prog: Annual Family Camp “Understanding Joy & Sorrow” on March 29 - 31, 2013 (Good Friday Weekend) Bellville, TX. Location: 14102 Schiller Road, Houston TX 77082 Phone: 281.596.9642 Website: www.jvbhouston.org
Patanjali Yogpeeth Center Prog: Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun from 8 am to 9:30 am Location: Arya Samaj @Schiller Road. Contact: 281-579-9433. Websites: www.pyptusa.org
Jain Center of Hous-
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Prog: Bhajans: Sat.7:00 -8:00 p.m.; Sundays 9:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.Location: 1620 Ormandy Street, Houston, TX 77035 Contact: 713-729-8994
Govindaji Gaudiya Math Prog:Satsang every Sunday evening from 5 - 7 p.m. Vedic heritage classes for kids 5-14. Location: 16628 Kieth Harrow blvd. Houston, TX 77084 Contact: 281-499-3347/281-4914114.
Sathya Sai Baba Centers Prog: Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at two locations Locations: Contact: (North) 832-418-3842 or (South) 281-788-4786. Website:www.saicenterofhouston.org
Telugu Christian Fellowship Prog; Every third Saturday 6:30 PM. Worship is in English Location: The Triumph Church, 10555 West Airport Boulevard, Stafford, TX 77477.
Bethesda Houston Tamil Church Prog: Prog: Sundays Tamil Worship: 5 – 7pm Sunday school : in English. Bethesda Family Fellowship: in English 10.30 am-12.30 pm Free Tutorial for all children Mondays & Wednesdays 5-6 pm. Ladies Bible Study: Thur 9 am. Location: 1092, Suite F&G, Stafford. Tex 77477 Tel:281317-7331 Contact: 281-317-7331 Website:bethesdahoustontamilc hurch.org
Prog: Sundays worship at 4:30 pm, Location: All Saints Lutheran Church 1211 West Belfort Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477. Contact: 281-686-4135 / Email: pastorvj@linchouston.org
Houston Tamil Church Houston Tamil Church meets every Sunday at 11 a.m. at 1323 Phyllis St., Rosharon, TX 77583 just minutes from FM521 on HWY 6 and HWY 288. Service in Tamil and English. Contact: 281 804 5930. Website www. houstontamilchurch.org
Trinity Mar Thoma Church Prog: Sundays Malyalam service at 9:45 a.m. Every alternate weeks in English at 10:30a.m. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. Location: 5810 Almeda Genoa Road. Contact: 713-9771-1557/ 281261-4603.
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Prog: Sundays Satsang, BalSanskar Shala, from 11am to 1pm. Location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite # 307, Houston, TX 77036. Website: http://www.gayatripariwarhouston.org/ “
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Prog: Sandhya Arati at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. Location: 13944 Schiller Road. Contact: 281-597-8100 Website:www.houstondurgabari. org
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