Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
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Friday, August 27 2010 | Vol. 29, No. 35
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This Week inside
Swami Vidyadhishananda Presents Discourses for Self Enquiry Fellowship Nostalgic Ponnonam Raises Fond Memories & Funds Story on Pg 5
Barsana Dham Joins in a National Yogathon Indus River Flooding Devastates Large Areas of Sind Province in Pakistan.
BANGALORE (IANS): Pranav Mistry, the recipient of Popular Science 2009 Invention Award, who earlier hit the headlines for his invention Sixth Sense, has now invented an invisible mouse which will be priced at $20. The invisible computer mouse has been named as ‘mouseless’. MIT Fluid Interfaces Group headed by Pranav Mistry created
Story on Pg 8
Indian Arrested with Jihadi Literature in Houston
Comedy Time!
Story on Pg 21
Story on Pg 25
Sightline Health Expands to the Westside India Tries Using Cash Bonuses to Slow Birthrates Story on Pg 31
Endhiran is Costliest Indian Film to Date
Story on Pg 34
Take a walk down memory lane of the golden era of Hindi Cinema, 1948-1965, this Saturday, August 28, 8 pm at Wortham Center, a presentation of Indo American Association.
Pranav mistry Invents An Blazing campaign trails, Invisible ‘mouseless’ mouse dressed in High Fashion
Story on Pg 3
Story on Pg 7
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Hilarious Play Krishan Vs Kanhaiya Sep. 3, 9pm New Stafford Civic Center
Read more on page 18
Mouseless. This invisible mouse provides the familiarity of interaction of a physical mouse without actually needing a real hardware mouse, hence removes the requirement of having a physical mouse altogether but still provides the intuitive interaction of a physical mouse that everyone is familiar with. Mouseless consists of an Infrared (IR) laser beam and an Infrared camera, both of which are embedded in the computer itself. The laser beam module is modified with a line cap and placed such that it creates a plane of IR laser just above the surface the computer sits on. The user cups their hand, as if a physical mouse was present underneath, and the laser beam lights up the hand which is in contact with the surface.
NEW YORK: Reshma Saujani has a lot to say about her bid to challenge Representative Carolyn B. Maloney in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary. Saujani, a 34-year-old lawyer, described some of her passions — a public-private partnership to finance start-up costs for worthy entrepreneurs, the passage of the Dream Act for talented illegal immigrants aspiring to college. After hours of walking, Saujani, a former hedge-fund general coun-
sel and a successful political fundraiser, seemed as calmly cheerful as she did at the outset of the day. Saujani, whose boyfriend is a tech entrepreneur, has the support of a Twitter co-founder, Jack Dorsey, and a Facebook marketing executive, Randi Zuckerberg. She did say, however, that she had $80,000 in student loans from Yale Law School and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. There was something distinctly next-generation about the sight of Saujani, in a red dress just above the knee, legs bare atop her threeinch wedges. Saujani’s comfort level with fashion, with showing off her own good looks, could be considered progress — the latest evolution for female candidates, who first wore versions of male drag, then graduated to the salmon or aqua skirt suits that seemed sold out of a catalog distributed exclusively to female members of Congress. Maloney has tried to draw a contrast between her own track record in Congress and Saujani’s lack of experience in an elected position.
Anil Agarwal set to out-rich mukesh Ambani
BANGALORE (PTI): The proposed takeover of Cairn Energy’s India business could see NRI billionaire Anil Agarwal emerging as the richest promoter of a corporate house ahead of Mukesh Ambani, who has ruled the list for long. After the acquisition of Cairn India and a proposed IPO of group firm Sterlite Energy, Anil Agarwal, as head of the promoter family, would command an estimated networth of close to Rs. 1,67,000 crore, ($36.3bn) ahead of Mukesh Ambani at Rs. 1,45,275 crore, ($39.1bn) a comparison of promoter family holding valuations for leading groups reveals. However, Mukesh-led RIL is a wealthier group than Agarwal’s Vedanta, although both are behind the Tatas, whose market capitalisation in terms of listed entities is over Rs. 3,70,000 crore ($78.3bn). However, in terms of promoters’ wealth, Tata group chief Ratan Tata hardly compares to either Mukesh
or Agarwal. In their own respective fields of business, Agarwal is a global leader in the metals and mining, while Mukesh is among the top-ranked international players in the fields of petrochemicals and largest private sector oil group in India. Agarwal is now entering oil business through the Cairn India acquisition and his capacity to
play to the size could now make competition intense in oil sector. At the same time, the acquisition would give the Agarwal family double the size of Anil Ambani group (whose promoter wealth currently stands at less than Rs 80,000 crore) ($17.41 bn). The $9.6 billion takeover of Cairn India has already pushed Vedanta group head Agarwal to the second position after Mukesh Ambani in terms of family net worth. Add to this, the value of shares he holds in aluminium major Balco and IPO-bound group firm Sterlite Energy, the promoter family wealth of Agarwal group could rise to nearly Rs. 1,66,938 crore ($36.5 bn). In comparison, the family wealth of Mukesh Ambani group currently stands at Rs. 1,45,276 crore ($39.1 bn), based on the value of holdings in group firms Reliance Industries and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure.
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swami Vidyadhishananda Presents discourses for self enquiry Fellowship Kalarashmi cultural event
HOUSTON: This Friday, August 27, the nonprofit Self Enquiry Life Fellowship hosts an evening honouring Vedic heritage. A combined Classical Dance & Spiritual Banquet program, named as Kalarashmi, will be held at the Old Stafford Civic Center from 6pm to 10:30pm. KalaRashmi is a banquet-style program that brings a classical Indic tradition to a cherished American stage. For such an offering to the community, the Nonprofit selects exceptionally gifted artists who have made great sacrifices for the cause of preserving and continuing classical lineages of performing arts. A spiritual banquet is a tradition where spiritual masters often deliver inspirational messages and confer blessings on the seekers and lovers of precious traditions. The KalaRashmi program begins at 6:00pm with seating and appetizers followed by a classical BharataNatyam dance performance by Mythili Kumar and Rasika Kumar of San Jose, CA who will be accompanied by their troupe of professional musicians. A healthful vegetarian meal will be served during the banquet and His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda will close the evening with a spiritual message. In addition two special slideshows will be featured during the evening which will showcase the preservation of Sanskrit and Sanskruti. Self Enquiry Life Fellowship provides a forum for cultural transmission of the Sanskritic tradition by hosting exquisite
performances representing ancient Vedic fine arts, performing arts and music. The Nonprofit strives to collect, protect and promote: rare meditative arts and their ethos; historicity and correlation of the painting themes with Sanskrit literature; interpretation of the divine theme of temple sculptures; musical lore and techniques related to Sama Veda and its lineages of classical musicians; and classical dance techniques that use yoga-vinyasa-krama postures. Self Enquiry Life Fellowship is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit established to preserve and disseminate indigenous knowledge from the ancient Sanskrit heritage, including esoteric Himalayan yoga and meditation practices of unbroken lineages. The Nonprofit aims to make accessible through its educational publishing projects, the spiritual philosophy passed down by the monastic lineages of Himalayan masters and intonated Sanskrit hymns meant for sublime recitation. Under the spiritual leadership of an ordained monk trained in the Himalaya , His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda, the Nonprofit offers public lectures, workshops, retreats, initiations into meditation practices, and special fellowships including authentic Vedic fire ceremonies. For individual tickets to the event or details about table sponsorship, please contact self. houston@gmail.com or call 832524-4707 or 713-249-8395.
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On Sunday, August 22, Swami Vidyadhishananda presented a lecture on the scientific insights into Vedic fire ceremonies at India House.
By Pramod KulKarni K Karni HOUSTON: Swami Vidyadhishananda, the ordained spiritual master and head monk of the Self Equiry Life Fellowship, is in the midst of presenting a series of discourses on a variety of Vedic topics in Houston. Swami Vidyadhishananda is a Kriya Yogi, scholar and monk, trained in the Himalayan mountains. Before his ordination, Swami Vidyadhishananda had completed an engineering degree at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Under the Swami’s tutelage, the Santa Barbara-based Self Equiry Life Fellowship offers public lectures, workshops, retreats, initiations into meditation practices
and special fellowships, including authentic Vedic fire ceremonies. The fellowship is also involved in the preservation and transmission of various Sanskritic traditions by hosting performances representing ancient Vedic fine arts, performing arts and music. Swami Vidyadhishananda’s first lecture was at India House was on scientific insights into Vedic fire ceremonies. The Swami said the Vedic ceremonies are based on principles of environmental sustainability. He said the yagna involves the combining of positive and negative ions as the fire consumes the ghee, cow’s milk and offerings. When the yagna is performed by an ordained kriya yogi, with cow’s milk that has A2
protein found only in certain herds in India and with the right chanting of mantras, vast volumes of oxygen are released and divine blessings given to the entire community. Indo-American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly on every Friday (for a subscription price of $30 per year) by Indo-American News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036, Tel: 713-789-6397, Fax: 713-789-6399, Email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo-American News, 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. If you receive your paper more than 4 days after the Dateline, please file a complaint with your post office or call the USPS Consumer Affairs Office at 713-226-3442
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KHS Nostalgic Ponnonam Raises Fond Memories and Funds HOUSTON: Kerala Hindu Society celebrated this year’s Onam with a royal welcome to mythical king Mahabali.of Malayala Desam. In an elegantly decorated hall at Stafford, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate Kerala’s most important festival. This year’s event was a fundraising effort to support Sri Guruvayurappan Temple, Houston. In the opening ceremony of the festival, the chief guest Sri Kanipayur Krishnan Nambuthiripad underscored the spirit of Onam as a positive energy that reminds everyone to stand together and face new challenges in life. Emphasizing the importance of holding high moral value and peaceful coexistence, Sri Anil Aranmula promulgated the the relevance of the message of Onam in our lives.. The legend has that onam is the celebration of the yearly arrival of the king Mahabali to visit his subjects . The celebration is the expression of the love and respect towards Mahabali by the descenedents of his subjects. Mahabali was pushed to the nether world by Vamana , one of the incarnations of Lord Mahavishnu, in a planned plot.. This action of God , is justified as a deed to preserve the reign of power with the righteous people. Mahabali, despite being an extremely popular and pious person, belonged to a class of Asuras , the rogue race. Mahabali got the most coveted blessings
Sri Kanipayur Krishnan Nambuthiri lighting the lamp
from the Lord by getting to touch his foot. This blessed king receieved a boon to rule his world and the fortune of respect from his subjects for generations. As a tradition, people of Kerala preapare to celebrate ten days of festival just prior to the arrival day of Mahabali . Floral patterns of fragrant flowers are made outside every house. The people would wear new clothes and Onam becomes a veritable food festival of the region. The Onam festival of Houston on august 15 presented a spectacular show of music
Enactment of Mahabali’s arrival and honor
and Kearla’s traditional folk dances of joy. The women presented the elegant dance Thiruvathirakali known for its graceful movement. Equally impressive was a folk dances Onakali with unique and masculine movements. In a well organized variety entertainment program, many young talents rendered a series of popular and rare ethnic songs of the past. Several hundreds of people who attended the program rejoiced the day. The enactment of the handsome Mahabali’s royal red carpet welcome with thalapoli, chendamelam was just mesmoriz-
ing. The highest point of the festival was a grand traditional feast ( onasadya) served on green plantain leaves. The 11-course luncheon was prepared by the volunteers with great passion. It was one of the biggest parties I have attended in recent years. Whatever be the cutltural or religious origin of onam, the spirit of onam is imbedded in the minds of each malayalee. For them, even after living in far away land for many decades, Omnam is just not another festival of India.
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
VISIT THE HOUSTON ZOO THIS WEEK
society Purchase Discount Zoo Tickets at any of the 33 Fiesta Mart stores. Visit the courtesy booth of Any Fiesta Mart to purchase an adult zoo admission for $9 and a child zoo admission for $6. - IA News
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Hindus of g greater Houston Awards Announced The following awards were given by the of her earnings to VPPS as a strong follower Hindus of Greater Houston organization to of Shri Nathji individuals recognizing their contributions HGH is pleased to recognize Martha Olto society. The awards and recipients were: vera as a special devotee for her strong Akhil Chopra family values, memorial serher excellent vice award work ethic, Jaykumar Amtrustworthimangudi for his ness, and her services in prolove of Sri moting “shanti Nathji. She 2010 – Journey truly sets a of Peace good example Lifetime for other Hinachievement dus to follow. service award Akhil chopra to Devinder and touched the Sushma Malives of hunhajan for their dreds of housdedication in tonians with promoting vedic his cherubic dharma, com- Devinder and Sushma Mahajan receive a lifetime ser- smile, cheerful munity service vice award for their community service toward chari- demeanor and and charitable table causes ever-helpful causes personality. Selfless service award to A talented media-person, Martha Olvera for her self selfakhil dedicated his life to less service, devotion and spreading goodwill and dedicated work Special interfaith harmony. Akhil Service Award at V.P.S.S. chopra was actively inHindus of Greater Housvolved in serving several ton (HGH) is also presentIndian-American coming a special award to Mrs. munity. He was also taken Martha Olvera at its August the lead role in organizing 28 celebration. the Houston Janmashtami Martha has been employed festival. Akhil was fatally by Vallabh Priti Seva Samaj shot by an unidentified (VPSS) since 1992. Mainly robber around noon on her duties have been in august 11th, 2005 while housekeeping. In every oche was meditating in a casion and every event as Jaykumar Amangudi receives Houston park. well as her daily work, she the Akhil Chopra Memorial ser- In the year 2006, the does her work cheerfully vice award Janmashtami committee and without reminders. In has instituted an annual addition to service her work, award in she also the name volunteers of Akhil at the temChopra, ple. to honor Martha is his legknown for acy of her absoselfless lute trustservice worthiness to the and dedicahumantion. She ity. The is a proud award wife and Martha Olvera gets the Selfless Service award for her dedi- is being mother. She cated work to the community given to is helping the perher five children to get college educations son, who demonstrated selfless service to even though her own education is limited. the community and make significant impact As a devotee of Sri Nathji she works only on other’s life. for VPSS and has volunteered to give 10%
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Barsana Dham Joins in a National Yogathon Free yoga classes across America on Sunday, August 29
AUSTIN: Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United States, crossing the many lines of race, culture and religion. In the spirit of President Obama’s “Active Lifestyle Challenge”, the Vedic community, spearheaded by ‘Hindu American Seva Charities’ has organized a nationally coordinated open house event on Sunday, Aug. 29th. The open house will include an introduction of the temples to the community; explanation of yoga and its connection with philosophy and tradition, with a workshop on yog-asanas for youth and adults. This Yogathon will be a part of the United We Serve – Let’s Read, Let’s Move campaign and will be featured on the serve.gov site The Yogathon will offer free introductory yoga workshops with help from temples across America and many other partners in-
cluding the Points of Light Institute, the Institute for Faith & Service and trained yoga teachers from Art of Living, Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yoga Peeth and others. We welcome more yoga teachers to sign up to offer services through faith based centers. All temples across the country are invited to participate and register through http://www.hinduamericanseva.org/yogathon. Host temples confirmed to date include the Hindu Temple of Greater Wichita, Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, Amma MA Centers (national), Hindu Temple of Minnesota, Hindu Temple Society of New York, Barsana Dham Hindu Temple, Austin, ISKCON (national) and Anoopam Mission amongst others. By making Yoga available to all, HASC is achieving its goal of fostering and promoting interfaith communication and collaboration and improving faith-based civic engagement.
Bollywood Blast 2010: Life is a Movie
HOSTON: Bollywood Blast, now in its fifth year, has premiered more than 500 incredible local entertainers since 2005 and this year is no exception. After months of rehearsals, this entertaining evening for the entire family at the Miller Outdoor Theatre, presented by Samskriti-Society for Indian Performing Arts, is upon us. Artistic director Rathna Kumar conceived the idea of creating a show about film making that Mahesh Mahbubani, the director, conceptualized and developed into a musical based on the premise, Life is a Movie. The characters and plot from the original musical (created by Anjali Center for Performing Arts), Life is a Movie, will come to life before your eyes in this dazzling, musical stage spectacular where you will be treated to a unique view of the “reel” fairytale of happily ever after. The stage show will feature larger-than-life set designs, Bollywood songs, vivid projected backgrounds, and elaborate costumes all depicting the Indian wedding rituals. The 2-hour musical will preserve the humor and heart of happily ever after and will explore the true meaning of love jealous adversaries to best friends with an unbreakable bond. The musical is a mega entertainer with over 75 dazzling dancers that include all emotions of human life in
larger than life renditions of dramatic song and dance scenes. Dr Subodh Bhuchar returns this year as the narrator with a special appearance by Dr Vinod Bhuchar. Bollywood Blast 2010 is on Sunday, September 5 at 8pm – admission and parking is FREE. A variety of Indian food will be available for purchase at this event from such restaurant as Udipi Cafe and Indian Ocean Restaurant. Samskriti Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to making the traditional performing arts of India, primarily classical music and dance, more accessible to the community, presenting them in superior quality performances and imparting the education required to practice, appreciate and experience them. The artistic direction for this show is given by Rathna Kumar and the choreographers were Mahesh Mahbubani from Mumbai, India and Jamy Abraham. Life is a Movie: Bollywood Blast 2010 is just the latest announcement of a line-up of Indian cultural shows coming to the Houston area. For more information about Indian dance classes – classical and Bollywood, contact Anjali Center for Performing Arts at 281 265 ARTS or anjalicenter.org and for more information about SamskritiSociety for Indian Performing Arts visit www.samskritihouston.org
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devastating Floods in Pakistan
An aerial view shows an area affected by the floods in Kharo Chan village.
A flood affected resident shifts his belongings from submerged homes in Toree Band,
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A man escorts his wife out of their flooded village in Sukkur, located in the Sindh province. By iqBal Khwaja THATTA (Dawn): The surging Indus flowing at 916,000 cusecs downstream Kotri on Wednesday developed leakages in four protective dykes — Old Surjani, Budhka, Wasi Malook Shah and Saangh Miani — prompting hasty evacuation of people from the areas. The leakages were plugged manually in a few hours. The swelling Indus inundated a vast kutcha area from Pathan Colony along its right bank to Damdamo on the left. Erosion of Aghimani and Faqir jo Goth dykes, about four kilometers from Thatta town, was also reported. At least 56 villages have been inundated along with crops of banana, sugarcane, paddy, watermelon, sunflower and cotton over hundreds o acres and the newly rehabilitated Panhwar forest and other small forests. At least three brick kilns were also under water. A large number of vans, bullock carts, donkey
carts and camels loaded with people and household items were seen moving from the flooded areas towards safe places. Alarming reports about the Old Surjani dyke, one of the most vulnerable, has led to migration of a majority of families from Sujawal, Daro, Mirpur Bathoro to Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi and other areas. A team of journalists saw a makeshift village near Surjani where displaced people, most of them in tattered clothes, were sitting on cots, surrounded by their cattle, watching a TV run by a battery and discussing local politics. Belo, a town of over 15,000 people along the left bank of the Indus, was deserted. An irrigation official said the water level at Kotri was gradually becoming ‘stable’. Mohammad Hussain Khan adds from Hyderabad: A flow of 938,438 cusecs was recorded at the barrage on Wednesday night and the authorities may declare the
end of the peak level of floods in 24 hours. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited the Kotri barrage on Wednesday and was briefed about the situation by Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman and chief engineer Manzoor Sheikh. Erosion and seepage were reported at some embankments. Water level at the Dadu-Moro bridge continued to drop. “It is 131.7RL, down from its highest level of 132.3RL during the past few days,” Mr Sheikh said. He said the sea was slowly accepting river waters. “If there is high tide for six hours, it is low over the next six hours,” he said. The Asian Development Bank and World Bank agreed on Wednesday to carry out a ‘Damage and Needs Assessment (DNA)’ of floods in the country in accordance with a request of the government. If there is no fresh wave of flooding, the assessment is expected to be completed by mid-October.
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w Known Indian Personalities Join well Akshaya Patra’s us usA Advisory Board BOSTON: The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA announced today the formation of an Advisory Board to help the organization achieve its next goal of feeding freshly prepared nutritious midday meals daily to 5 million deserving school children by 2020. Akshaya Patra reached its first milestone of serving one million children daily in 2009, ahead of schedule. Luminaries Deepak Chopra, founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, N. R. Narayana Murthy, Founder-Chairman of Infosys Technologies, Nitin Nohria, Dean of Harvard Business School and Fareed Zakaria, author, journalist and host of CNN’s GPS are the first four to join the Advisory Board. With their global reputations and unique insights, they will be valuable resource as Akshaya Patra strengthens and expands its operations and becomes a “Global Model” that is a catalyst for innovation. “Magic happens when accomplished leaders come together and challenge each other to raise the aspirations of the organization,” said Desh Deshpande, chairman of the Akshaya Patra Board. The members of this newly created Advisory Board will provide strategic input, endorse the approach, and attract distinguished leaders to be a part of the organization and take it to the next level. “Akshaya Patra is a perfect example of what happens when creativity and compassion come together,” said Deepak Chopra. A public-private partnership, Akshaya Patra simultaneously addresses two of the most pressing challenges –hunger and access to education for children in India. One of the world’s largest NGO run midday meal programs, it has scaled its operations exponentially in the last ten years and expanded its reach from 1,500 children in 5 schools to 1.2 million children DAILY in over 7000 schools from 19 kitchens in eight states. These meals serve as an incentive for children to come to school, stay in school and provide them with
Deepak Chopra
Narayan Murthy
Nitin Nohria
the necessary nutrients to focus on learning. “Akshaya Patra is a success story of hope, fairness, justice and opportunity for all children. A healthy and educated populace is the real strength of any country,” said Narayana Murthy Akshaya Patra , one of the largest NGO run mid day meal program is a public-private partnership. Launched modestly in Bangalore in 2000 feeding 1500 children, it has scaled its operations by designing the most innovative centralized kitchens that beckon imagination, combine good management with smart engineering, forge collaborations with government, corporations and individuals, and have brought together all those who share its vision – no child shall be deprived of education because of hunger. Technology and supply chains are leveraged with maximum efficiency to deliver freshly prepared nutritious meals to children at a fraction of the cost of other similar programs worldwide. With government support, $23 feeds two children for an entire school year. “Akshaya Patra is a success
story of scale, efficiency and ef effectiveness,” said Nitin Nohria. “The debilitating effects of lack of schooling and illiteracy need to be addressed immediately. I applaud this public-private partnership that is aggressively addressing this important challenge facing India. ” The meals provide an incentive for children to come to school, stay in school and provide them with the necessary nutrients they need to develop cognitive abilities and focus on learning. Akshaya Patra is a groundbreaking model that exemplifies how outstanding results can be achieved when the public sector, private sector and civil society work collaboratively. “Akshay Patra model is a global solution to reverse child hunger trends worldwide,” said Fareed Zakaria. Madhu Sridhar, President and CEO of Akshaya Patra USA noted, “We will continue to add members with a stellar record of accomplishments as well as the compassion to help those who are marginalized in the world.” For more information, visit www.foodforeducation.org.
Hindu memorial m day o observed at India House
HOUSTON: The Hindu Mahasabha of America observed “Hindu Memorial Day” at the India House on August 14th. Hindu Memorial Day remembers the millions and millions of lives lost during the various partitions of India. The event began with a presentation by Brian Howell, Chief Docent of the Houston Holocaust Museum. He spoke about the harsh experiences faced by the Jewish community. This was followed by Prof. Sabyasachi Ghosh-Dastidar’s presentation on his organization, Probini (probini. org) helping in West Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh with orphanages, schools and temples. Professor Ghosh-Dastidar also talked about his experiences with
the political process in America as the first Hindu ever elected to public office in New York. Shri Tapan Ghosh who moved the audience to tears with personal tales of the difficulties facing young women and girls in the border districts of Bengal and Assam. In a matter of less than three years, Tapan Ghosh has created a volunteer organization of 15,000 persons under the banner of Hindu Samhati. The testimonies from survivors of the 1947 partition of India were particularly moving and brought many to tears. It was a cathartic experience for them to tell their stories and an important part of preserving the Diaspora’s heritage. The Hindu refugees from Bhutan also related their tales on
living in refugee camps before migrating to the US. There were scholarships awarded to high school and college students for the essays. Sugoto Chakravarty awarded the scholarships totaling $1750 and certificates. Dr. Shefali Ghosh-Dastidar gave an account of the work she was doing amongst the women and children in Bengal. The President of Hindu Mahasabha of America, Dilip Mehta spoke and commended the participants for their work and service. A two minute silence was observed in the memory of millions of lives lost due to religious violence.
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An Indian Orthodox Church’s Colorful Tribute to St. Mary
By Paul Vitello WEST SAYVILLE, New York (NYT): Without doubt, many more people line the sidewalks to see the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan than to watch the St. Mary Malankara Indian Orthodox Church’s annual Assumption Day Parade, which began here on Sunday with the usual blowing of the kumbu horn and the dancing of the koladi by the congregation’s teenage girls, dressed in saris and banging sticks. But the Indians’ parade has its longtime devotees: neighborhood residents, mostly, who say they look forward to the procession because it is practically the only time when the people of the congregation venture outside, not counting getting in and out of their cars. None of St. Mary’s 100 or so parishioners live in West Sayville, a predominantly white, middleclass community on Long Island’s South Shore where in the last few decades a surfeit of empty church buildings has attracted various religious communities on wheels. The Indian congregants drive in from Queens, Brooklyn, western Nassau County and even New Jersey and Staten Island, to worship in a former Dutch Reformed Church building they bought in 1992. Inside, they speak Malayalam, the language of the Indian province where most have their roots, and they worship according to an Orthodox Christian liturgy that traces its origins to the teachings of the apostle Thomas. At an hour or more, their road time is longer than the average trip to church, but national surveys show that most Americans travel farther to religious services than they used to, just as they journey farther to work. Except for Orthodox Jews, who are required to do so, hardly anyone walks to a house of worship anymore — a shift in the landscape that may be best illustrated by the now-unimaginable tableau of Norman Rockwell’s 1953 work “Walking to Church.” In West Sayville, the congregation and its parade have assumed a mysterious, almost mythical status, despite the procession’s official permit and the three Suffolk County police cars assigned to
hymns was greatly amplified from a loudspeaker on the vehicle’s roof. “Usually, they’re very quiet people,” said Kathy Ahern, a neighbor, shouting to be heard over the din. “I mean, this is the only day we hear anything from them at all.” She laughed. Across the street, some people sat on their porches, glancing occasionally over the tops of their newspapers at the passing parade. Members of St. Mary Malankara Indian Orthodox Church participate in their annual Malankara ChrisAssumption Day Parade. tians trace their
Women in the procession keep time with little brass cymbals called Ilathalam.
traffic control. “If you didn’t actually see this with your own eyes, and some people around here haven’t, you might think I was making it up,” said Christopher Bodkin, a local historian and a former town councilman. “I mean it is so rococo, wonderful, Hindu-esque, with the flower petals, the girls holding the decorative parasols — everything but the elephants.” On Sunday, people watched with a mixture of fascination and neighborly nonchalance as the procession made its way around the block, marking the annual observance of Mary’s ascent into
heaven. At the front was a float with posters of Mary and Thomas and other saints perched on cottony white clouds. Then came the men playing the Indian kumbu horn and chenda drums, the women keeping time with little brass cymbals called Ilathalam, then the littlest girls in angel wings and then the teenagers dancing. The congregation’s women followed behind, pastel-colored saris billowing in the breeze as they flung paper flowers of red and blue. Bringing up the rear was a car carrying the Rev. Paulose Adai, the parish priest, whose plaintive singing of the devotional
Sounding the kumbu horns at Day Parade.
origins to the first century A.D., when St. Thomas is said to have taken the heavily traveled trade route from the eastern Mediterranean to Kerala, a province on the southwest coast of India where today about 20 percent of the population is Christian. They have had churches in the United States since the early 20th century, but have grown significantly since the 1970s, when immigration policy opened the doors to many nurses trained in the Christian hospitals of Kerala. Nationwide there are about 100 parishes. Though the churches hew closely to Orthodox Christian liturgy, members also sustain many Indian cultural traditions. Worshipers re-
move their shoes before entering the church. Men and women sit separately. And as is still customary in large segments of Indian society, young people accept the notion that their parents will be deeply involved in their selection of a mate. “It’s not, like, ‘arranged marriage.’ But your parents have to approve of him, and have a meeting with his parents, and you probably wouldn’t marry anyone outside your religion,” said Judy Geevarghese, 30, who is married to Christopher Geevarghese, 28, whom she met at a cousin’s wedding in another St. Mary Malankara parish. They have a daughter, Arianna, 19 months old. Varghese Poulos, one of the congregation’s founders, said church members originally met in a rented basement in Astoria, Queens. Every Sunday, it had to be completely furnished from the portable altar to the folding chairs. Finding out that there was an empty church for sale, even an hour’s drive away, was “like a miracle to us,” he said. Bodkin, the former councilman, sugthe Assumption gested there was an oddity in the move: The Indian Orthodox congregation, with its bells and drums, had taken over what was once an outpost of the strictest Calvinist worship. There is no Dutch Reformed Church in the United States anymore. It has splintered into several new churches. But Jim Stasny, a former pastor of one of those offspring churches in West Sayville, who now lives in Washington, D.C., said he was pleased that someone was putting the building to good use. “It would be better, perhaps, if they weren’t honoring saints, of course, we don’t believe in saints, you know,” he said. “But hey, things have changed. We wish those folks well.”
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
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india
Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
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Like Miss India’s Peacock Dress? NEW DELHI (HT): A deep shade of blue, expansive peacock wings and frothy blue fabric forming a train. Sounds like a fancy dress costume? Actually, it’s the gown that Ms India, Ushoshi Sengupta, wore for the National Costume round of the Ms Universe pageant, in Las Vegas, US, on Monday. Designed by Kolkata-based designer duo Dev R Nil, the dress, which seemed to lack structured tailoring, looked like a gown gone horribly wrong, say Indian designers. It was also a deviation from the ethnic lehenga choli that Indian contestants have been wearing at the pageant for years. The fashion frat is not reacting too kindly to the ‘fusion dress’. Designer Shaina NC says, “The ideal option for this round would have been an innova- Peacock is India’s national bird. But tively draped sari, as that per- does the design work? fectly sums up Indian style sensibility.” Designer Mandira Wirk Dutta who won the national costume says, “The designers took the theme round in 2000, and you can decide of peacock too literally. There is no for yourself.” Defending the outlandish attire, Nil subtle femininity in the outfit.” Desays, “The brief given to us was that signer Nida Mahmood says, “The colours on the gown came it should be inspired by the national out a bit strong.” Ritu Kumar, who bird, peacock. We chose this dress has been designing national costumes as it’s contemporary. It may look for Miss Universe contestants for like a gown but it’s inspired by the the past many years, said, “I would traditional sari. The peacock feathers not criticise anybody’s designs. But make up the pallu that spreads open look at the outfit I designed for Lara when she does the Namaste.
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
Spiritual Attachment
The South Asian community in Houston is rich in spiritual activity. We have hundred or more temples, gurudwaras, mosques and churches. We also serve as hosts for spiritual leaders and sages who presebt discourses and bless the devotees. It is gratifying to see many people in our community become profoundly affected by these sages and join the spiritual organizations to spread their guru’s message(s). There are multiple reasons for such an attachment to a guru. It could be a family tradition. Or it could be result of a crisis that requires divine intervention. Hindu scriptures do suggest guidance from a guru. Whatever the reason, the spiritual attachment can be a source of peace and serenity. Pramod Kulkarni
Old Sourpuss
To be labelled a racist, a misogynist and an Islamophobe might be enough to send lesser mortals running for cover. But for celebrated author Sir Vidia Naipaul, such epithets are badges of honor. Nothing seems to get him going quite as much as getting the knife into those whom he considers are outside the pale of the pale-skinned in whose club he has been a paid up member ever since he escaped the barracoons of the Caribbean. And to give him his due, he never fails to get us natives all hot under the collar with his well-aimed barbs. And to top it all, he is an equal opportunities discriminator. From his acerbic remarks about the squalor of India to the feline and canine eating habits of Africans, old Vidia lays about us lesser mortals with gusto. If, say, Ian McEwan had dared to call us coolies and wogs and commented on our less than salubrious surroundings, he’d probably be cooling his heels at the International Court of Justice. But Naipaul being one of us on account of his skin colour can take a whack at the natives and live to insult another day. We have got so used to his bilious outbursts that even the trigger-happy jihadis did nothing more than mutter oaths and imprecations under their breath when he took a shot or two at Islam. There are advantages to being King Coon, after all. The winning thing about Naipaul is that when he runs out of steam, he has a back-up in the form of his wife Nadira the Nasty. She managed to create a bit of a kerfuffle when she let the world know that Winnie Mandela didn’t think that Nelson was quite the cat’s whiskers. But we admire his spirit. At an age when most men would be sitting around dandling the grandchildren on their knees, Naipaul can still get our dander up. And so we leave you with a question which if you answer correctly will entitle you to a personal insult from the Tyrant of Trinidad. What is brown on the outside, white on the inside and acidic all over? Hindustan Times
editorial
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Curiosities of Ground Zero Mosque By Ashok Malik The so-called Ground Zero Mosque has become a focus of debate in America and elsewhere. It has posited the right of a community to acquire property and build a religious-cum-cultural shrine in a free society against the phenomenon of ‘national identity’. What happens when an otherwise legitimate and legal right comes into conflict with mass opinion in a democracy? As India knows only too well, there are no easy answers. While these issues have been commented upon, insufficient space has been devoted to the selected name for the mosque and cultural centre proposed to be built two blocks from the site of the World Trade Centre. Being promoted by a Muslim group called the Cordoba Initiative, the building was initially given the working title of Cordoba House. It was subsequently clarified that the larger campus would be known as Park51, and Cordoba House would instead be the flagship “centre for multi-faith dialogue and engagement” within Park51. What is the significance of the name? Cordoba is a city in southern Spain. Between the 8th and 11th centuries, it was the capital of Al Andalus, as the Arabs knew the Iberian Peninsula, and seat of the strongest Moorish kingdom in Spain. The Moorish colonisation of Spain lasted seven centuries. It had its benefits, including a transmission of Arab science to a Europe just recovering from the Dark Ages. This became a stimulus for the Renaissance. The success of Cordoba led to the label ‘convivencia’, or living together, a Spanish idea of multiculturalism. Was Cordoba’s ‘convivencia’myth or reality? Indeed, can it be called an act of enlightened design, Andrew Wheatcroft wrote in an otherwise sympathetic account in his book Infidels: The Conflict Between Christendom and Islam 638-2002, “To talk of convivencia as a fixed and settled entity… is a mistake. It was a structure of concession in which there was a dramatic imbalance of power between the majority and the minorities. When that balance
What happens when a legitimate and legal right comes into conflict with mass opinion in a democracy? As India knows only too well, there are no easy answers. changed, then the former basis for coexistence vanished… Non-Muslims were second-class citizens within Islamic society… In practice many of the more rigorous restrictions on Jews and Christians were not enforced, but the sense of inferiority, whether enforced by law or not, did not disappear.” Jews and Christians paid a poll tax. The Great Mosque of Cordoba was an architectural marvel, but constructed on the ruins of an ancient church. Each of Cordoba’s three communities considered the other two unclean. In the ninth century occurred the episode of the Martyrs of Cordoba, one of the foundational reference points of the future Catholic Spain. Over a nine-year period, 48 Christians deliberately mocked the Prophet and invited death under blasphemy laws. Eulogius, Bishop of Cordoba, was beheaded and his body thrown to the dogs. Today, he is remembered as a Christian saint. Cordoba’s history has multiple narratives. At its height, it dazzled visitors. In the 13th century it was recaptured by Christians and its Moorish past was denounced as repression. In the 19th century, Reinhart Dozy,
among Europe’s earliest scholars of Arab culture, wrote in praise of Cordoba’s “golden age”. Interestingly, 19th century Jewish intellectuals too produced glowing accounts of Cordoba and contrasted its treatment of Jews with that of Christian kingdoms. This was an attempt by the incipient movement for a Jewish homeland to embarrass European governments. In turn, 20th century Arab writers have drawn from such Jewish accounts. Historian Bernard Lewis has a more nuanced view, pointing out Cordoba’s minorities were not equal citizens. They had ‘some rights’, which was better than ‘no rights’ but not quite ‘all rights’. What has all this got to with New York 2010? Frankly, that is the puzzling question. To laypeople in the West, the Moorish rule of Spain was simply occupation and colonisation by an alien people. That may not be the entirety of the story but it is certainly the popular one. As such which or whose Cordoba is the Cordoba Initiative invoking? To use such a contested expression as a tool for PR and outreach to a wider Western population is rather strange. It is like naming a British Cultural Centre in Mumbai after Warren Hastings and pretending to be surprised that not everybody looks upon Hastings’ administration of India — and the man had his achievements — as an unmixed blessing. There is one other disquieting note. The re-conquest of Al Andalus is one of the stated goals of al-Qaeda and among the reasons it says it executed the 9/11 attacks. For both an Islamist terror group and an Islam-West peace mission to claim inspiration from the same medieval symbol of Islamic triumphalism is decidedly curious. It doesn’t help perceptions of contemporary Islamic (or Arab) religio-political leaderships being over-obsessed with the past and unmindful of 21st century concerns. It is one thing to be insensitive; it is quite another to not even realise you are being insensitive. HT Ashok Malik is a Delhi-based political commentator. The views expressed by the author are personal
IndoAmerican News Founder: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Business Manager: Jawahar Malhotra Marketing Manager: Krishna Giri Community Reporter: Kalyani Giri Community Editor: Manasi Gokhale Administrative Manager: Vanshika Vipin Marketing & Food Reporter: Jacob David Production Manager: Hussain Mandviwala correspondents Chicago: Nand Kapoor ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
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health
Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
Cancer Among Children
By Sunil Krishnan, M.D & Sewa Legha, M.D. The likelihood of developing cancer increases as we age. Unfortunately, cancer does not spare any age group completely. It is estimated that about 12,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer in the US this year; one in 300 children under the age of 20 will develop cancer. Cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among children. Cancer in children is quite different in many ways from that in adults. First, significant advances in treatment and supportive care have resulted in improved survival of these children – more than 80% of children survive 5 years or more from diagnosis compared to 65% among adults. Second, the types of cancers seen in children are different from those seen in adults. The most common childhood cancers are leukemias (cancers of the blood-forming cells), brain and other nervous system tumors, kidney tumors, lymphomas (cancers arising in the lymph tissues like the tonsils, lymph nodes and thymus), soft tissue tumors (sarcomas), and bone tumors. Cancers more common among adolescents are lymphomas, testicular and some ovarian cancers, sarcomas (including those arising from the bone), and brain tumors. Third, as a broad generalization, children tend to respond better to chemotherapy treatment than adults; they also tolerate chemotherapy better. Fourth, childhood cancers are less likely to be influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption or unhealthy diets. They are more likely to be due to genetic defects that occurred early in life more so than inherited from parents. Fifth, childhood cancer has a profound impact on the individual, his/her siblings, the family and the community. Each member is thrust into a situation that they are entirely unprepared for. Even as they cope with the anxiety and trauma of a normal life that is turned upside down, they have to struggle with financial stress, emotional upheaval, maintaining work and school performance, and managing social relationships. Lastly, given the increasing survival of these patients, long-term sideeffects of treatment are a major concern for the treating team. The charge and the challenge for the treating team is to orchestrate this improvement in survival without significant
risk of growth retardation, decline in intellectual and school performance, reduced fertility, worsening cardiac function and development of second malignancies. Childhood cancers in India differ from those in the US in that they often present at a later stage, are often treated with suboptimal treatment regimens, and treatments are often abandoned prematurely. In addition, the pattern and incidence of cancers is also different - leukemia is closely followed by lymphoma, especially Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a specific type of lymphoma. A cancer of the eye called retinoblastoma is also more common in India than in the US. Although precise numbers are lacking, treatment outcomes for childhood cancers in India are considerably poorer than those of childhood cancers in the US. As with all diseases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Unfortunately, in the absence of a clear indication that specific lifestyle or environmental factors contribute to the development of childhood cancer, there are no established guidelines or recommendations for prevention of childhood cancer. A logical question that comes to mind next is whether these cancers can be detected early so that treatment can be started early and the likelihood of cure increased. Indeed, this is a reasonable way to look at the problem, and the American Cancer Society has assembled a list of telltale warning signs or red flags to look out for. These include detection of an unusual lump or swelling, development of unexplained paleness and loss of energy, easy bruising, persistence of pain in one area of the body, limping, an unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away, frequent headaches, often with vomiting, sudden eye or vision changes, and sudden unexplained weight loss. Once a cancer is diagnosed, the child and the parents are confronted with the daunting task of seeking appropriate medical care. Given the rarity of these cancers and the significant advances in treatment of these cancers, it is generally advisable to go to a dedicated children’s cancer center for all treatment. Before initiating treatment, seeking a second opinion is not unreasonable. Enrollment in a clinical trial is also worth exploring.
While juggling all of these medical decision-making priorities, the parents are often grappling with extreme emotions ranging from shock, fear, denial, guilt, depression, and anger. Coping with these emotions is often easier with the assistance of an extended family of well-wishers, community support groups including religious organizations, and healthcare professionals such as social workers, nutritionists, nurses, and doctors. As an Indian American community organization, Indian American Cancer Network (IACAN) is committed to increasing awareness of the existence of these cancers in our community and helping children and their loved ones cope with the substantial increase in stress that accompanies the diagnosis. Our network of community volunteers and professionals assists by addressing the distinct psychological, linguistic, social and practical needs of Indian American families. For more information visit www. iacannetwork.org or call 713-3703489
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society
Soil Mechanics Prof. Anand Puppala Receives UT System’s Regents Best Teaching Award The UT System Regents awards only recognizes my current teaching to produce well-qualified, energetic program was established by the Board contributions, but also reminds me of engineers who will design and build of Regents in August 2008 as the lat- my future responsibilities to maintain the country’s infrastructure. est in a series of UT System-spon- the same standards. I want to thank Puppala’s research focuses on soil sored activities aimed at fostering in- my students and colleagues as well mechanics and foundation engineer engineernovative approaches ing. He has secured more than to teaching, research $7.5 million in external research and commercializagrants for UT Arlington, includtion endeavors at all ing funds from the National Sci15 UT System instience Foundation, the U.S. Army tutions. The Board Corps of Engineers, Texas Deof Regents gave 72 partment of Transportation, Fedawards to faculty eral Highway Administration, from 15 institutes Transportation Research Board this year to faculty. and several others. Puppala was Civil Engineering inducted into the UT ArlingProfessor Anand ton Academy of Distinguished Puppala was among Teachers in 2009 and has twice seven University of won his department’s award for Texas at Arlington outstanding civil engineering (UTA) faculty meminstructor, an award made by bers honored with students. Dr. Puppala published Outstanding Teachwell over 200 papers and sucing Awards by the cessfully guided 13 doctoral UT System Board students and 33 master students. of Regents for 2009He is also an editorial board 10. The prestigious member of four prestigious civil award recognizes engineering journals and delivfaculty who deliver ered several keynote and invited the highest quality lectures across the World. of undergraduate in- Dr. Anand Puppala, researches on soil mechanics “It gives an immense pleasure struction through a and foundation engineering gets the outstanding to the local Indian American demonstrated com- teaching award by the UT System Board of Regents community especially Telugu mitment to teaching for 2009 - 10 community to know that Dr. and who exhibit a Anand Puppala received this promising future of excellence in as my family for their support and coveted award out of thousands of all aspects of instruction. “I am truly encouragement in this journey so faculty in the entire UT System.” said happy to receive this prestigious far.” Anand Puppala says the driving Prasad Thotakura, TANA Executive award,” said Dr. Puppala. “It not force behind his teaching is a desire Vice-President.
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Krishan vs. Kanhaiya - Hilarious Play
Award winning actor and comedian Paresh Rawal is returning to North America with his hilariously entertaining and sensationally shocking Hindi play Krishan vs Kanhaiya. This Hindi play is based on the super-hit comedy Gujarati play Kanji virrudh Kanji currently rocking Mumbai theaters. Paresh Rawal loved this Gujarati play so much that he decided to take a break from Bollywood and return to his original passion and do this play in Hindi for his fans worldwide. Krishan vs Kanhaiya is about an atheist’sbattlewith God. Krishan is an atheist who incurs huge losses when his antique shop was destroyed by an earthquake. The insurance company refuses his claim because the destruction happened due to act of God. At this point Krishan decides to fight the almighty God “Kanhaiya”. The story theme created and written by Bhavesh Mandalia, directed by Umesh Shukla, music by Sachin Sanghvi and amazing lights effect by Santosh Zaveri. Along with the ever-versatile Paresh Rawal is his team of talented TV and stage artists including Dharmender Gohil, Sirdhar
Vatsar, Vaibhav Biniwala, Khusboo Brhmbhatt, Chirag Vora, Ankit and others. The month long tour has already started with the first show in South Jersey with an almost packed auditorium on Friday, August 20th, 2010. The audience reviewed the play with glorious statements such as, “do not miss the hilarious comedy play”, “Bollywood star Paresh Rawal is the King of comedy acts on stage”, “Those who could not see this play, will repenting”. Afterhisfirstperfor performance, Paresh Rawal thanked his audience and stated, “I am producing and acting in a play after almost 5 years because theater needs lots of time and commitment. I can do justice to it only when I am not shooting for any film. He also said, “I love to perform in the United States of America and now I have the chance to make you non stop laugh. But remember, it’s not mindless comedy.” Namaskaar Entertainment is proud to bring this play to Houston on Friday, September 3, 9 pm at New Stafford Center. The prime sponsors for this show in Houston are Tara Energy, Kohinoor Diamonds and Parivar Grocers. Consul General of Houston, Sanjeev Arora will attend the show.
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society
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
“Naumkeag” Last Clincher Champion’s Word at the 2010 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee, Anvita Mishra
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Job Posting National Sales Assistant KTRK-TV, an ABC owned TV station located in Houston, TX is seeking a team player ready to help our sales team reach their goals. Candidate must be detail-oriented, professional and able to work on multiple projects under tight deadlines. Candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Prefer candidate with strong computer skills, college degree, and experience as a television sales assistant. A positive attitude and willingness to learn is essential to the success of this candidate. Candidate should enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. This position will include data entry, customer service, clerical and telephone support to the Sales Department. If you believe you have the people skills to handle this position apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file. Please Reference Job ID: 259561 on all materials submitted. No phone calls please. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.
(L to R) MetLife brand ambassador Snoopy with Al Devji, Financial Planner with Devji Wealth Planning, an office of MetLife; the 2010 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee National Champ Anvita Mishra posing with Rahul Walia, Founder of the South Asian Spelling Bee
LINCOLN: Anvita Mishra of Lincoln, CA, correctly spelled the word ‘naumkeag’ during the 2010 South Asian Spelling Bee Finals to clinch the title of National Champion. Dur During the event on August 14, which was taped live for broadcast on Sony Entertainment Television, Anvita Mishra along with 17 other finalists competed for the title. Sukanya Roy from South Abington, PA was the first runner-up and Sriram Hathwar from Painted Post, NY was the second runner-up. Eighteen top spellers from the 9 regional centers gathered at North Brunswick High School Auditorium to battle it out for the title of champion and a $10,000 prize. It took a total of 17 grueling rounds of spelling words like gebrauchsmusik, hygrodeik and sdrucciola for the winner to emerge. The event was organized by leading South Asian advertising firm, Touchdown Media Inc. and sponsored by MetLife, insurance, employee benefits and financial services. This year the Bee also welcomed Yatra.com, a leading travel company from India, as the Associate Sponsor for the event. Sony Entertainment Television is the exclusive rights holder and will be broadcasting the event across the globe in over 150 countries. “We are very pleased with the event this year and congratulate Anvita Mishra for becoming the best South Asian speller across the coun-
try. I am excited to see a girl bagging the title this year and congratulate all the finalists on an amazing job” says Rahul Walia, CEO, Touchdown Media Inc. and founder of the South Asian Spelling Bee. He also adds “This is a great platform that helps children showcase their talent, hone their skill and inculcate a sense of discipline that will help in their overall development. I urge parents to take advantage of this unique contest next year.” The Finals were co-hosted by 2009 champ, Akshat Shekhar and special guest Annamika Veeramani, Scripps 2010 Champion, who provided commentary throughout the contest. The champion received a $10,000 grand prize from MetLife along with the South Asian Spelling Bee trophy. “We congratulate all of the families who participated in the 2010 South Asian Spelling Bee,” says Laurel Daring, assistant vice president of Marketing at MetLife. “As the title sponsor for the second consecutive year, we were excited to see hundreds of families come together once again for this fun, educational event, and to learn how to start planning for the rising costs of education.” The event was open to children up to 14 years of age and was held in 9 regional centers across the United States. These areas included, New Jersey, DC Metro area, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, New York, Boston,
Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The contest was conducted in written and oral format at the regional levels which served as the elimination as well as selection process for the finalists. Jaideep Janakiram, Head – North America, SET Asia commented, “Over the past three years, the South Asian Spelling Bee has been making an impact amongst the youth across the US. Sony Entertainment Television Asia is pleased to have been a part of it from the beginning and to be able to broadcast this event to audiences around the globe.” After registering their child online at www.southasianspellingbee.com, parents brought them to the designated center and a 25 word written test was administered. Children had to spell 15 or more words correctly to qualify for the afternoon oral round and from there the top three were awarded prize money and the top two qualified for the Finals. From each of these centers, the finalists along with a parent were invited on an all expenses paid trip to the finals in NJ. Overall about 500 children registered to spell amongst all the centers. The contest will be conducted annually in the June and July months and the 2011 schedule will be announced in October this year. For more information and to keep abreast with the upcoming events, log onto www.southasianspellingbee.com.
Job Posting
Videotape Editor / Producer The Programming Department of KTRK-TV, an ABC owned TV station located in Houston , TX has an immediate opening for an extremely creative and highly advanced VIDEOTAPE EDITOR / PRODUCER to work on a variety of station projects. The ideal candidate must have the talent and experience to consistently generate a top notch creative product. Candidates must be highly motivated self-starters with a minimum of 3 years broadcast television non-linear editing/producing experience. TV photography skills a plus. Ability to work flexible hours and shifts is required . This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class station and live in a fun and affordable city. Candidates must apply on-line at www. disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file. Please Reference Job 10: 259641 on all materials submitted. Send non-returnable DVD or VHS resume tape to the attention of Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet; Houston, TX 77005 and include the job reference ID. No phone calls please. Equal Opportunity Employer M/FN/D.
i am charity’s Friend riend 22nd Annual Gala - Magic of Passion
Fri, October 1, 7pm, Stafford Civic Centre
Bobby SIngh President
Manisha Mehta Director
“Our partnership with IACF has strengthened our ability to provide services and support to women and children affected by family violence and sexual assault.” - DAYA
Nighat Ahmed President, Daya
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Mani Subramaniam Former President, IACF
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society
Indian Arrested with Jihadi Literature in Houston HOUSTON (TOI & CHRON): The situation escalated, Irvine An activist documentary film-maker said, after screeners thought they Vijay Kumar traveling in America saw a possible handgun in a scan of to expose Islamic “terrorism” ran Kumar’s baggage and an explosives into trouble with American airport residue test showed a false positive authorities on Friday after they found for Kumar’s baggage. jihadist literature and brass knuckles Investigators found the brass in his baggage. Authorities at Houston’s George Bush International Airport detained the film maker after his ‘suspicious behaviour” led them to search his bags. While he was able to explain that the jiHouston Intercontinental airport hadist material and a manual for a handgun in his bags were part of ‘edu- knuckles, a manual for a handgun cational tools” he used for a lecture and Islamic literature in Kumar’s at a Hindu organisation on Islamic checked luggage. fundamentalism, he was at a loss Scheiner said Kumar carries the to account for the brass knuckles, a brass knuckles for protection in prohibited item. India. He was here in Houston to lecture On Monday, after Kumar spent the a Hindu organization about Islamic weekend in custody, a State District fundamentalism and the books Judge David Mendoza lowered Kupacked in his checked luggage were mar’s bail from $50,000 to $5,000 on educational tools, authorities and hearing that prosecutors were willing his lawyer said. to drop other charges and let him Prosecutor Mary Irvine said in plead to time served for unlawfully court that Kumar was detained at carrying a weapon in an airport. George Bush Intercontinental on Kumar’s attorney Roger Jain told Friday after “acting suspicious.” TOI that the brass-knuckles were in
his checked-in baggage and Kumar carried them because he was apprehensive about being attacked by fundamentalists. The whole episode was based on a misunderstanding and everything was expected to be cleared by Friday when Kumar will appear in court again after he was released on bail on Monday. “I think that everybody realized that he is not a threat. He’s a peaceful man,” Jain’s associate Grant Scheiner told the local Houston Chronicle. “He was here to visit the Hindu Congress of America, to deliver a lecture. It was about an interfaith discussion between Hindus and Muslims about the harms of terrorism.” “A lot of times we tend to blame the government for not connecting the dots. In cases like this, when it appears that they overreacted, they were just being thorough and doing their job,” Schiener added. However Scheiner did not blame investigators. He said Kumar’s Friday arrest and weekend behind bars was frightening because he speaks very little English.
Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
At this ‘ Swayamvar’, Audience Poll Selected Choice of Reality TV Groom AHMEDABAD: It was a huge dilemma for the bride, decked in gold and silver jewellery, as she walked down the aisle. She had to choose her husband from three probable grooms. She finally settled for an astrologer from Patan, three years her junior, after an audience poll! On Sunday, Ahmedabad hosted a unique swayamvar which could well have given tough competition to the Rakhi Sawants and Rahul Mahajans of the world. After much drama, 55year-old Bhanumati Vyas selected
Rajendra Rawal as her husband at the event organised by Vina Mulye Amulya Sewa (VMAS), an organisation that helps the elderly find life partners. Vyas was a widow after her second husband died about two years ago and had been living in an old people’s home in Patan. “My past experiences with men had made me sceptical,” Vyas said, adding, “Rawal’s name was at the forefront of my mind, so when the audience voted for him, I took it as divine intervention.”
BizarreNews
Raipur Man Kills Son for Refusing to Beg RAIPUR, Aug 23 (IANS) A man killed his 11-year-old son and buried him in his house after the boy refused to join his father as a beggar in a Chhattisgarh village. The man was arrested Monday, police said. Ashok Nishad, 50, smothered his son Bhola Nishad to death Friday at
Thethwarpara village in Dongargarh, some 125 km from here. Ashok was an alcoholic. “Nishad was forcing his son for a few months to join him for begging so that he could get more cash daily for liquor,” Vishwas Chandrakar, police station chief at Dongargarh,
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told IANS. Bhola, who was studying in Class 4, was the only son of Ashok Nishad. “Nishad has confessed to his crime. He is regretful. He said his son was lovable but he murdered him under the influence of alcohol,” Chandrakar said.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
Did you know? The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is recognized as a religious mark. Its form and colour vary according to one’s caste, religious sect or the form of the Lord worshipped. In earlier times, the four castes (based on varna or colour) - Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra - applied marks differently. The brahmin applied a white chandan mark signifying purity, as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The kshatriya applied a red kumkum mark signifying valour as he belonged to warrior races. The vaishya wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark signifying prosperity as he was a busi-
religion
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Why Do Hindus Wear Marks (Tilak, Pottu and the Like) on the Forehead? nessman or trader devoted to creation of wealth. The sudra applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as he supported the work of the other three divisions. Also Vishnu worshippers apply a chandan tilak of the shape of “U,” Shiva worshippers a tripundra of bhasma, Devi worshippers a red dot of kumkum and so on). The tilak cover the spot between the eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the Aajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer - “May I remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my activities. May I be righteous in my deeds.”
Even when we temporarily forget this prayerful attitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is thus a blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces. The entire body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves - the forehead and the subtle spot between the eyebrows especially so. That is why worry generates heat and causes a headache. The tilak and pottu cools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy loss. Sometimes the entire forehead is covered with chandan or bhasma. Using plastic reusable “stick bindis” is not very beneficial, even though it serves the purpose of decoration.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2010• ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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Indo American News • Friday, August 27 , 2010
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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2010 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM