Friday, March 18, 2016 • Vol. 35, No. 12
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The Great Night of Lord Shiva
Mahasivaratri celebrations at Chinmaya Prabha & Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya ( page 5 ) and Sri Meenakshi Temple ( page 9)
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March 18, 2016
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Record Attendance at Tiger Ball 2016:
Asia Society Texas Center’s Major Fundraiser brings in more than $1 Million HOUSTON:
Houston’s global community, including the crème de la crème of the bayou city’s business, political and society circles, gathered Wednesday evening (March 9) for Asia Society Texas Center’s Tiger Ball 2016, celebrating contemporary Korea. A record crowd of more than 700 guests strolled into the grand Chevron Gala Pavilion, named for the event’s presenting corporate sponsor. Reception hosts, Kathy and Glen Gondo, welcomed the throng of guests into the grand tent with tantalizing sushi, provided by Sushic, the Sushi Company. While Taiko drummers with Memorial Jumbo Group performed, guests flowed from a magnificent tent into
About Asia Society Texas Center
Alexander and Lou Ann Chae, Bonna Kol, Nancy C. Allen, Edward R. Allen III and Chinhui Juhn, Susan and Michael Jhin
With 12 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States.
Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.
Tiger Ball Guests (left), Dr. Durga and Sushila Agrawal (right)
the world-class Yoshio Taniguchidesigned building, where volunteers modeling Jasmine Shinhyo Park’s stunning traditional gowns greeted them as they entered the Fayez Sarofim Grand Hall to enjoy the Yeesookyung exhibition. Then, it was on to a lavish dinner catered by City Kitchen. Patrons finished the evening with dancing and an auction in which they bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences including throwing out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game to sparkling diamond earrings and luxurious travel and dining packages. Gala Co-Chairs, Lou Ann and Alexander C. Chae and Susan and Michael K. Jhin, and guests honored Asia Society Texas Center’s
Board Chairman Edward “Eddie” R. Allen III and wife Chinhui Juhn. Asia Society’s Executive Director Bonna Kol and Joni Baird of Chevron presented the honorees, Eddie and Chinhui, with the Tiger Ball 2016 award for their continued support of Asia Society. Among the supporters in attend nce were Anne and Albert Chao, Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron, Andrea and Bill White, Isla and Thomas Reckling, Claudia and Roberto Contreras, Lily and Charles Foster, Margeret Alkek Williams, Joanne Herring, Phoebe Tudor, and Asia Society’s grand patron Nancy C. Allen. The $1.2 million raised by Tiger Ball 2016 benefits exhibitions
Renu and Suresh Khator
and programs, which promotes mutual understanding between the U.S. and Asia and strengthens the partnerships of all of Houston’s diverse communities. Next year, Tiger Ball 2017 celebrates the magnificence of
India, honoring long-time supporters Sushila and Durga Agrawal, who were also in attendance. To inquire about 2017 sponsorships, please contact Sadhavi Chauhan at Schauhan@AsiaSociety.org.
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A Unique and Symbolic Mahasivaratri at Chinmaya Prabha BY VINOD SHARMA & PADMASHREE RAO
HOUSTON: Lord Siva, the ideal of
auspiciousness, was invoked at Chinmaya Prabha and Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya in a weeklong Mahasivaratri celebration that began on March 6 and culminated on March 13. Befitting the holiest time of worship of the great three-eyed Lord, the celebrations were highlighted by three events – a unique Rudra puja performed exclusively by over 700 Bala Vihar children; a sacred and traditional Sivaratri when thousands participated in Ksirabhisekam, ritualistic worship, and Vedic chanting; and a reverential Maha Mrtyunjaya Homam offered by a multitude of devotees for the health and spiritual prosperity of the world at large. On March 6, the many adorably sincere children of Chinmaya Bala Vihar were the unforgettable leaders who flagged off this year’s Sivaratri celebration. The enthusiastic and eager young devotees from kindergarten through 12th grade individually performed the intricately nuanced rituals of the Rudram Puja following flawlessly the seemingly complex Sanskrit Vedic chants that were described in a concise narrative. The students were guided step by step in offering the symbolic sixteen-step pujas for Lord Ganesa and Lord Siva with Shobha Ravishankar giving appropriate references to the meaning behind each action. A thoughtfully designed Power Point presentation creatively interwove the ancient and majestic verses and conveyed to impressionable minds the powerful purpose of puja. Sri Ganeshji, the priest of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya, then continued to energize the elaborate puja with his powerful chanting of the ancient Rudram. Immersed in the sacred vibrations of the Rudram, parents and adults witnessed children perform abhisekam to beautifully majestic Sivalingas made with great love and devotion by sincere teachers, room parents, and many Chinmaya mission volunteers. As each class of children sat around their special Sivalingas and made garlands and wrote “Om Namah Sivaya” on the bilva leaves in revered silence, it was an entrancing sight to behold. When all those hundreds of young voices chanted “Om Namah Sivaya” 108 times at the end of the Rudra puja, it was as though the entire Chinmaya Prabha was up-
The priest, Sri Ganesh, Sri Radhuram, Sri Harish and Sri Chandrasekhar performed the abhisekam in complete harmony with his chanting of the Rudram.
Acarya Gaurang Nanavaty performing the Ksirabhiseka to the Utsava Linga. All the devotees had an opportunity to offer abhisekam with milk to the Utsava Linga.
lifted to a realm beyond words. Watching the young generation involve themselves with such sincere purity in the puja that spanned over an hour, it felt as if the hundreds of Balavihar students had been magically transported to a gurukula in ancient India to perform the sacred rituals in their presence of their gurus and elders. With the support of Acarya Gaurang Nanavaty, Acarya Darshana Nanavaty’s love, care and vision for her Balavihar students was actualized by her inspired team of dedicated teachers and sevakas who used artistry and technology to inspire spirituality. With that spirited beginning, an endless and steady stream of devotees began arriving at the Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya temple to celebrate Mahasivaratri on March 7. Visitors numbered in the thousands from the rich and diverse mosaic of the Indian American community in Houston as evidenced by the array of Indian languages heard in the soft conversations that wafted in the evening breeze. Arriving families were respectfully ushered into the temple courtyard where they formed long lines. As the evening advanced, the lines grew longer and the skies grew darker with storm clouds. From a distance, the canopies installed outside the temple with their peaks looked like the distant Himalayan ranges on a stormy night. The stronger the wind gusts got, the more vibrantly the row of orange flags fluttered. Ensconced within this scene, the Sivalaya stood out like the veritable Kailas, resplendent Photos: Rajesh Thatte, Jayesh Mistry and Nilesh Shah
The enthusiastic and eager young devotees from kindergarten through 12th grade individually performed the intricately nuanced rituals of the Rudram Puja.
Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $40 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 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, TX 77036 INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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March 18, 2016
Ek Disha Foundation Presents Premiere of Petals in the Dust
HOUSTON: March is Women’s History
Month and March 8, marks the 105th International Women’s Day (IWD). Worldwide, women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement. And although there is much to celebrate, progress towards gender parity, the 2016 IWD theme, has slowed in many places due to cultural and social biases. To accelerate progress toward parity and achieve substan-
tial economic benefits will require action not just on gender inequality in the world of work, but in society as a whole and on attitudes and beliefs about the role of women. Gender equality at work is not achievable without gender equality in society and a shift in attitudes. In places like India, some biases are so severe that many girls still face numerous setbacks towards even obtaining an educa-
COMMUNITY
tion, much less economic opportunities, due to horrific problems such as child marriage, trafficking, abuse, etc. A patriarchal mindset, a preference for sons and a deep-seated intolerance has led to the murder of 50 million girls and women in India in the last century. To shed light on these issues and to commemorate Women’s History Month, the Ek Disha Foundation will be premiering in Houston, the award winning documentary,
Petals in the Dust on March 30 at 7:00pm at the Studio Movie Grill in CityCentre. The film explores the cultural origins of these vast genocidal crimes and includes the voices of activists and gender experts. By profiling the unimaginable stories of brave survivors, viewers enter the chilling realities girls and women are currently enduring, NOW, providing a sense of urgency in helping to change status quo. Screening Date: March 30, 2016 Screening Time: 7:00 pm Screening Location: Studio Movie Grill at CityCentre, 822 Town and Country Blvd., Houston, TX 77024 Ticket Price: $20 Purchase Tickets: https://petalsinthedustinhouston.eventbrite.com Due to mature subject matter, children under 14 will not be admitted. For more information, please visit http:// ekdisha.org/events.html The Ek Disha Foundation, which supports, funds, and mentors high impact, sustainable projects in the areas of health, education, and enterprise, remains committed to helping girls and women achieve their ambitions by supporting projects such as Prajwala (anti trafficking), AYZH (maternal health), Embrace (reduce infant mortality), Goonj (sanitary hygiene), and Wello (access to clean water). Globally, with individuals pledging to move from talk to purposeful action - and with men and women joining forces - we can collectively help girls and women advance and realize the limitless potential they offer. Proceeds from the screening will go towards Ek Disha Foundation’s projects. Screening of the film was generously underwritten by Munday Architects.
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COMMUNITY Grand Mahasivarathri Celebrations at MTS
BY M.K.SRIRAM & ANU MAHESH
PEARLAND: It was a Grand Ma-
hasivarathri Day celebration at Sri Meenakshi Temple on Monday, March 7. Devotees started streaming in soon after the doors opened in the morning and swelled to a large gathering when the puja started at twilight. The weather was beautiful and more than 1,000 devotees thronged the temple. The Honorable Indian Consul General P. Harish and his wife Nandita Harish were present among devotees. The decorations were stunningly beautiful, especially the heavenly “Kailas” mountain that was created by the very talented temple artisans. The puja started with the traditional Ganesh puja, followed by Punyahavachanam (purification), invocation of the 108 conches, then by a Homam (offering to Agni) to the chant of the most divine Vedic mantra Sri Rudram. It was followed by the offering of Purnahuthi and Abhishekam, when Lord Sundareswara in the form of the sacred Siva Lingam was bathed in milk, honey, fruit juice, yogurt and many other ingredients, and finally with the sanctified water from the 108 conches. The Lord then was adorned with Alankaram and when the sanctum doors opened, there was a spontaneous and collective cry by the devotees - “Om Nama Shivaya”. A special Archana was performed with gold Bilva leaves with the devotees repeated the sacred mantras led by the priests, The evening puja concluded with the Maha Aarthi and Athma Lingam puja where all devotees lined up to perform their
own milk abhishekam to the Siva Lingam. Devotees cherish it as a moment when they are closest to God who is invoked in their own hearts and souls. A wonderful cultural program organized by Mala Gopal started with a welcome speech by Chairman Narayanan followed by Adhi Gopal, a Vedic Heritage Society (VHS) student singing a prayer and beautifully explaining the significance of Maha Sivarathri with a short story of Lord Shiva. “Aangikam bhuvanam yasya, vachikam sarva vaangmayam Aahaaryam chandra thaaraadi, tam namah saathwikam Shivamâ” (To whom the whole world is the movement of His body, all sound His speech, the Moon and the Stars His ornaments, Him the Almighty being Shiva, the embodiments of divine serenity, I salute Natya Shashtra.) The 2 hour long program constituted performances by many of Houston’s dance schools including Anjali Center for Performing Arts, Silambam, Sreepadam School of Dance, Abhinaya School of Dance and Sunanda Nair’s School of Dance. All the dances were beautifully choreographed and revolved around the theme of Lord Shiva and His Cosmic dance. What is a better place than Meenakshi Temple, on Sivarathri, for a classical dancer to converse with the Lord of Dance, for dance itself is their language of communication! More than a 100 devotees
stayed up all night chanting the Sivanama for Chatur Kala Pujas (Abhishekam & puja with Vedic chanting and bhajans) at mid night, 1:30AM, 3:00AM and 4:30AM. The temple provided light refreshments which was supplemented by prasadams from devotees. The priests performed the abhishekams and pujas with utmost sincerity and dedication, filling the entire temple with bhakti and spirituality. Overall, it was a very blissful and fulfilling Sivarathri at MTS. More than a thousand devotees came to the temple on this most auspicious day and night even though it was on a weekday, showing the very uniqueness and authenticity of the temple. The Mahasivarathri function went very well thanks to all the hard work and dedication of the priests, volunteers, board and council members, coordinators Sheila Sriram, Dr. Vadugunathan, RAC members, Chair Narayanan and Vice Chair Padmini Nathan, temple staff, and most importantly due to the bhakti of the devotees. It was coordinated by Sheila Sriram
March 18, 2016
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COMMUNITY
SET Asia HD & SET MAX to Launch on Flow in Trinidad NEW YORK: Sony Pictures Networks,
North America is pleased to announce that since March 1, 2016- SET Asia HD, its flagship General Entertainment Channel, will be available to all subscribers of Flow in Trinidad in the Basic Digital Package -Channel# 87 and Advance Video Service package (AVS)-Channel# 209. Until the launch of SET Asia HD on 1st April 2016, Flow subscribers can watch SET Asia SD on Basic Digital PackageChannel# 87 and Advance Video Service package (AVS)-Channel# 209. Viewers can enjoy their favorite SET Asia programming such as Mahabali Hanuman, Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do, Power Couple, CID, Crime Patrol, Ek Duje Ke Vaaste, Suryaputra Karn, the biggest World Television Premiere blockbuster movies and more.
SET MAX, India’s premier Hindi Movies channel- will launch on Basic Digital and Advance Video Service (AVS) packages of Flow Trinidad on March 1, 2016. MAX is synonymous with the biggest and best of Hindi Movies on television. The channel houses one of the largest libraries of the best old and new Hindi blockbusters and presents many exclusive film related programs. Jaideep Janakiram, SVP International Business – Head of North America, said “Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) always strives to provide high quality and varied content that the entire family can enjoy. Launching SET Asia HD & SONY MAX on Basic Digital and AVS packages is a big step in providing premium content to all Flow-Trinidad subscribers. SPN will continue to keep its’ viewers in the entertainment forefront.” Cindy Ann Gatt, Director of Marketing for Flow Trinidad expressed her delight in being able to launch the two channels and stated, “We are very pleased that we can offer even more Indian programming to our customers who continue to demand more and better quality content. This agreement with Sony Pictures Network helps us to expand our offerings as we continue to work to provide the best in entertainment to our customers”. Flow customers have access to more than 300 video and audio channels‚ by far the most comprehensive television service in Trinidad. Flow offers a robust digital TV product that includes video on demand, the largest offering of HD channels, Cloud video recorders and digital music services in addition to economical digital landline telephony service. In addition, Flow offers residential broadband internet packages ranging from an entry-level service of 3 Mbps up to a blazing 240 Mbps. 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, SEN also has four other leading channels, as part of its bouquet: 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. www.setasia.tv
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
March 18, 2016
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Akshaya Patra USA’S Youth Ambassador Program Seeks Compassionate High Achievers
Akshaya Patra USA Chairman, Desh Deshpande
dle and high school students to build leadership, networking, and public presentation skills while improving the lives of children in India. Youth Ambassadors are also given the opportunity to participate in an India Service Trip to volunteer with Akshaya Patra’s school meal program. Akshaya Patra runs the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programs and serves children in 11,600 schools across India. Akshaya Patra’s meals have contributed to increased enrollment, lower attrition rates, and better student health and academic performance in the schools it serves. Cost-effective technology in food preparation and partnerships with the state and federal governments
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Youth Ambassadors Meghana and Rishika Prakash (far right) visiting beneficiaries of our school meal program with their mother Mamatha Prakash (far
left).
Youth Ambassadors Rohan and Rhea Bansal
Car Wash we hosted in partnership with the Hindu Society of Northeast Florida Ripples Youth Committee, and the Eat2Feed event held during the Hindu festival of Navratri. The Car wash was a thorough success, with over 35 youth and 7 adult volunteers. We danced, sang, and laughed for over 4 hours… Somewhere along the way we washed around 60 cars and raised over $1300! For the Eat2Feed event, we worked with our father and his friends to make and sell Indian fast food at the Hindu Temple. Between the food cooked by volunteers and food donated by a local restaurant, we raised $450. Read more youth ambassador profiles at: https://www.foodforeducation.org/ambassador-achievements “Akshaya Patra is very fortunate to have so many enthusiastic young supporters who are passionate about spreading awareness of the school meal program and helping 1.5 million children in India realize their dreams through education”, Desh Deshpande, Chairman of Akshaya Patra’s Board of Directors remarked. The Youth Ambassadors Program supports Akshaya Patra USA fundraising and awareness efforts and offers a unique opportunity for mid-
STONEHAM, MA: In 2014,
Akshaya Patra USA launched the Youth Ambassador Program, an elite social justice engagement program for students in the US. Today, Akshaya Patra USA has over 100 youth activists in the Ambassador Program. Akshaya Patra USA is the US branch of a charitable organization in India that provides nutritious school meals to more than 1.5 million children in India’s government schools daily. Akshaya Patra’s Youth Ambassador Program is actively recruiting compassionate and ambitious young people from across the US to act as representatives for the organization in their communities. Admission to the Youth Ambassador Program is on an ongoing rolling basis. The program has been expanded and admission is open to middle school, as well as high school students. Rhea and Rohan Bansal, from Jacksonville, Florida, are two of these 100 young caring high achievers who exemplify the fiery and generous spirit of Akshaya Patra Youth Ambassadors. According to Rhea and Rohan: “two highlight events of this school year have been the
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of India, allow Akshaya Patra to support one child with meals at school each day for a year for just $15. Akshaya Patra USA provides vital funding and helps to create greater awareness of the organization’s work in India. To learn more about and sign up to become a learn more about the Youth Ambassadors Program, please visit http://www. foodforeducation.org/youthambassadorsprogram or contact Krista McCarthy, Krista@apusa.org or 781-438-3090 x 7. For more information about Akshaya Patra USA, please visit http://www.foodf o re d u c a t i o n . org.
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A Unique and Symbolic Mahasivaratri at Chinmaya Prabha CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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with lights that outlined the temple and illuminated by the flood lights that surrounded the courtyard and temple. The continuous melodious chanting of ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ instilled a contemplative hue on the premises. When devotees reached the Tapovan room, they performed ksirabisekam (milk offering) to the Sivalinga kept there, bowed to portrait of Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, and prayed to the pratima of Lord Ganesa. Thus, with minds purified, devotees made their way up the steps to Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya for darsana of the meditative Lord Siva. There, Sri Ganeshji and a team of other priests led the Ekadasa Rudrabhisekams, chanting the sacred Hindu verses in a spiritual symphony and immersing the entire environs in the holy glow of spirituality. With the dedicated efforts of a sincere team of volunteers, it was as if the Sri Saumyakasi temple and all present were transported in time and space into a Mahasivaratri puja in ancient India. The auspicious abhisekams were followed by melodious bhajanas that concluded with an arati. As the midnight hour approached, all became quiet for an hour of meditation. The lights were turned down, and deep silence permeated
Maha Mrtyunjaya Homam offered by a multitude of devotees for the health and spiritual prosperity of the world at large.
the surroundings like the stillness of calm waters. It was time for all thoughts to cease, for stillness and peace to connect the soul to Siva in that matchless experience in the Sivalaya on Mahasivaratri. To extend Sivaratri worship into a heartfelt prayer for the maximum happiness for all, the culminating event of Mahamrtyunjaya Homam was performed in the Chinmaya Smrti hall of Chinmaya Prabha on March 13. Once again, hundreds of devotees congregated to pray for the well-being of the world, chanting
the great Mahamrtyunjaya mantra a significant 108 times during the ceremony. The selfless prayer sanctified the atmosphere; as this year’s Sivaratri celebrations concluded, it felt like everyone was encircled in the great graceful presence of Lord Siva. For more information on Chinmaya Mission Houston, Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya and its activities visit www.chinmayahouston.org, www.saumyakasi.org or call temple 281 568 1690 or Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059 or Bharati Sutaria 281-933-0233
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
March 18, 2016
15
Hindu Youth Awards 2016
HOUSTON:
The Hindus of Greater Houston (HGH), an organization that brings Houston Hindus together, is proud to announce the 6th Annual Hindu Youth Awards and Gala on April 9, at Sri Meenakshi Temple Society, Pearland, Texas. With HGH’s strong belief in promoting youth activities and involvement in our community, Hindu Youth awards set a milestone in celebration of youth and their achievements. Hindus of Greater Houston’s focus is not only to unite and bring Hindus together but our key interest is to encourage Youth who are the future Hindu leaders of the society. The highlights of the evening would include listening to the inspiring stories of the youth awardees and recognizing the donors and organizations for their commitment and support of the important cause and enjoy a cultural program. Bharat Pallod an award recipient in the 2015 Hindu Youth Awards says “Our generation is given incentive to succeed in every field, from the sciences to the arts. One area this is lacking is giving back to their religion and heritage. I think the Hindu Youth Award is a huge step in that direction and something the recipients and community should be very proud of”. We are honored to have as keynote speaker Joseph Emmett, Director of Vedanta Institute San Francisco, a non-profit foundation in association with Vedanta World, is the son of Harris County Judge Honorable Ed Emmett. Joseph has been a student of Swami Parthasarathy, a philosopher and exponent of Vedanta. The study of Vedanta presents eternal principles of life and living,
Keynote speaker: Joseph Emmett
Guest speaker: Vinay Mahadevan
equips one with the strength of intellect to meet challenges. As the Director of Vedanta Institute San Francisco, Joseph conducts free weekly classes for the community on the philosophy of Vedanta, offers Vedanta based management programs to the business community. We also have a guest speaker, Vinay Mahadevan who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 2005 with a B.S. in Applied Math and International Relations. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Corps of Engineers. His unit deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom from
2006 to 2007 conducting counter-IED patrols in the areas around Samarra, Tikrit and Bayji. Vinay relates to the values of Hindu scriptures especially the Bhagawad Gita that teaches how to meet the challenges of everyday life struggle in the most odd situations that applies to daily life’s questions, struggles, and triumphs. To quote the President of Hindus of Greater Houston, Partha Krishnaswamy “It would be an honor, if you could attend the Hindu Youth Awards 2016, to witness the young budding volunteers speak about their remarkable contribution towards Sanatana Dharma principles through their own
organizations/temples. I am sure you will enjoy this event with your family and frien ds.” For details and more information HYA 2016 please contact Tupil Narasiman 281-804-4339 Please save the date on Saturday, September 10, 2016 for Janmashtami, a signature event that Hindus of Greater Houston has been celebrating for the past twenty-six years. We support a variety of events on an ongoing basis, with the generous help of donors and patrons in the community. You can donate online at www.hindusofhouston.org.
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16 March 18, 2016
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DIASPORA
March 18, 2016
17
I Have More Sikhs in Cabinet than Modi: Canada PM Justin Trudeau
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (2nd from right) takes part in a news conference with defence minister Harjit Sajjan (L), in Ottawa, Canada. (Reuters File Photo)
OTTAWA, CANADA: Canadi-
an Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, known for his witty repartees, told an American audience in Washington that he has more Sikhs in his Cabinet than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The quip came when Trudeau was taking 10 questions from students at theAmerican University in northwest Washington during his state visit to the US. During the half-an-hour session at the university on Friday, a student named Jahan from the Punjab province of Pakistan told Trudeau that it was really great to see so many Punjabis in his cabinet. “I have more Sikhs in my cabi-
net than Modi does,” Trudeau was quoted as saying by the Canadian daily ‘The Star’. 44-year-old Trudeau, who assumed office in November last year, surprised one and all by including four Sikh-Canadians in his Cabinet. The four Sikh Canadians inducted into Trudeau’s Cabinet include defence minister Harjit Sajjan, a combat veteran who did three tours in Afghanistan as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. The other three Sikh ministers are -- infrastructure minister Amarjeet Sohi, small business minister Bardish Chagger and innovation minister Navdeep Singh Bains, the Canadian daily The Globe and Mail had re-
ported at the time. There were also 17 Sikh MPs elected in the Canadian election in October last year -- 16 from the Liberal Party of Canada and one Conservative -- the highest number of Sikhs ever elected. In contrast, there are two Sikh Cabinet ministers in the Modi government -- Maneka Gandhi, who is a Sikh by birth, and Harsimrat Kaur Badal -- the food processing minister. Trudeau, in the past, has been spotted doing bhangra moves and visiting Gurdwaras several times. He has participated in Diwali celebrations, a ‘Gurbani’ recital and even helped out women in preparing meals in a langar. -hindustantimes.com
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18 March 18, 2016 Politics Divides, Sports Unites
If the Pakistan cricket team, now in India for the T20 World
Cup, browses through this morning’s newspapers, they will find a major surprise awaiting them: Pakistani and Indian national flags being waved together at the “World Cultural Festival” that was organized by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whom most nationalists call the Indian “spiritual guru”. In the context of what is happening in India today, where any support for Pakistan is seen as seditious and anti-national, should this act of camaraderie, without drawing the ire of “patriotic” Indians, be seen as a sudden change of heart or a genuine desire of many not to mix politics with cultural events, that should include sports as well? Cultural events, in any case, challenge the boundaries of nationalism, but flag waving at the sports arenas is a phenomenon unparalleled in its display of nationalism. The Indian cricket fan the world over is recognized for his astonishing display of lung power and flag waving to support his team. The Tricolor must be the most recognised Indian product in cricket playing nations and in places like England it overshadows the Union Jack as well. This “Indian” crowd, most of them second or third-generation British Indians, holding British passports and for all practical purposes nationals of that country, don’t think that this act could be construed as “anti-national” in the country of their adoption. That they are allowed to do so without falling foul with the “law” is obviously a sign of the British being a tolerant nation that does not see in this harmless act signs of “treason”. The same holds true for the British Pakistani youth, who fill the ground with a sea of green flags and taunt the English on the cricket ground. What is very surprising though is that majority of these flagwaving fans condemn such acts if they take place in the country of their roots. In many interactions with them, I have realised that what they consider their fundamental right in the country they live in, is a right they would want to deny an Indian or Pakistani citizen, if he does that in his own country. An Indian waving a Pakistani flag or a Pakistani waving an Indian flag will be seen as a traitor. Is it that partition, religious strife, terrorism and the two countries’ constant war posturing, have scarred their psyche beyond repair? The one-and-a-half decade of the 21st century has seen the epochal 2004 Indian tour of Pakistan where “we” the Indians realised “they” the Pakistanis are people just like us and similarly the Pakistanis who came here subsequently, felt the same. If politics divides, sports can bind, as has been the experience of the people of the two nations. When Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi said in Kolkata, “I have got more love in India than in Pakistan,” believe him to be true, as I know most of us who visited Pakistan on cricket tours have felt the same. Let us get on with the game. Pradeep Magazine in Hindustan Times.
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY No Country for Islamaphobia
BY ABDUL SHABAN
A leisurely walk on Chicago’s
Magnificent Mile and interactions with the Indian diaspora were experiences to remember. One could feel palpable apprehensions about Islam and rising Islamophobia in the West. But who had a relatively higher fear factor — the people on the street or Muslims dreading a backlash due to terrorist incidents? Notwithstanding the deepening of communal politics in India in recent years, particularly since the ascent of the BJP, questions arise on Islamophobia and communal violence in India, especially comparisons between the situation in India and the West. Such questions are difficult to answer. Some articulate that the presence of Islam has impacted Indian Hindus, which is reflected in rising communal incidents and exclusionary and discriminatory practices against Muslims, especially in public spaces, including government jobs and positions of national importance. For academics and analysts, the situation is complex, embedded in the socio-economic history and syncretic culture of India. Our clearheaded response: Islamophobia has no relevance to India. Is Islamophobia — “a fear of Islam” — emerging from contemporary politics or is it the manifestation of a sociological and cultural game plan? If the “fear of the unknown” or “unknown power” defines a phobia, then how can this fear be present in India, where Islam has been an integral part of society, politics and everyday life for at least a millennium? Although the crusadic encounters are well-documented, the presence of Islam in the West is recent and based on selective migration. The dominant Western culture and politics is mixed up with selective and sporadic suspicions that bubble up due to some rare but spectacular violent episodes. The Indian ethos is one of assimilation of Islam or Islamophilia, and love and respect for the
For academics and analysts, the situation is complex, embedded in the socio-economic history and syncretic culture of India. Our clearheaded response: Islamophobia has no relevance to India. other’s religion. Indeed, religious assimilation is so conspicuous across India that it is easy to miss it altogether. It would be appropriate to highlight that the Sufi saints of the subcontinent are revered both by Muslims and Hindus. Assimilation is so strong that Hindu parents let imams at local mosques serve as traditional healers for their children, with dua or Islamic prayer. In many parts of India, Muslim marriages are solemnised by the groom tying an amulet to his bride that is known as a tali among Hindus. One could find it surprising that Mirji of Lahore, a Muslim, laid the foundation of the Golden Temple. Shirdi Sai Baba, a Muslim by birth, is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu middle class. Premchand wrote about how on hearing the cry of a distraught woman, Syed Salar Masud Ghazi got up from his wedding to save cows. Similarly, at the Cheluvanarayana temple, devotees worship Bibi Nachiyar, the Muslim consort of Lord Vishnu. There are countless such examples across India, even in Gujarat and Maharashtra, notorious for communalism in the recent past. If, therefore, one finds no Islamophobia, how can one explain the rising violence and discrimination against Muslims in India? The answer requires an understanding of
India’s social structure and postcolonial politics. Brahminical ideology is not rooted in phobias but pollution and purity. Historically, in India, Dalits have been discriminated against not due to phobias but “pollution”. One is allowed to live at the periphery of the caste system and religious order in peace as long as one accepts the hegemony of the core. Contemporary violence against Muslims in India can be explained through the purity-pollution framework. Muslim interests were sidelined in postcolonial caste and communal politics. In fact, they were compromised by some upper caste Muslims who denied the presence of caste among Muslims during the Constituent Assembly debates and important policy-design negotiations, when affirmative action and constitutional protections were being based on caste. The best example of this is the exclusion of Muslims from Article 341 and the presidential order of 1950. With rising political competition, some parties employ hate — rather than fear — narratives as tools to mobilise votes. We subsume the attempt to generate demographic fears about Muslims in this category. It would be fair to point out that what we find in India is Hindutva-phobia. However, to say that there is no attempt to create a fear of Islam in India would not be correct. One sees such attempts everyday. They employ political technologies and terminologies from the West. However, this is still largely confined to some TV channels, newspapers and social media. The Islamophilia of India constructed through syncretic practices has kept the Islamophobic narrative at bay from the masses. For Indians, it is not Islam that is scary but militant Muslims, as are militant Hindutva ideologues and practitioners. Indian Express Shaban is deputy director, TISS, Tuljapur, and honorary fellow, USIndia Policy Institute, Washington, DC. Shariff is executive director, US-India Policy Institute.
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ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS
Teraa Surroor
O
n paper, Teraa Surroor sounds like an edge-of-the-seat action thriller. However, the execution is far from it. Instead of mounting tension, which is crucial for this genre, the film is inundated with umpteen songs and romantic flashbacks that eventually kill the pace and continuity. The use and abuse of infinite Slowmo sequences is another issue. Also, one expects Himesh to entertain - be it intentionally or unintentionally. He gives brooding looks and poses, mouths dialogues in a
robotic way instead. His Katrina Kaif like co-star Farah Karimaee is decent but equally drab as far as her onscreen presence is concerned. But it’s not just them. The story and direction are weak and the dialogues are repetitive. “Ireland ka lock down period bees minute hai” is harped for 20 times. Songs are probably the film’s only asset. We wish there were more originals and less recreated ones though. The cinematography and background score compliment the
21
story. However, the unfolding of events take a tad too long, which lets down the initial build up. The climax could have been crisper. While the lead actors barely act, the bad guys over-act. Naseeruddin Shah as always is effective in his small but significant role. Monica Dogra and Kabir Bedi stand out, while Shekhar Kapur makes an interesting cameo. Only if the rest wasn’t so forgettable and monotonous. The patriotism bit too seems forced and out of place. -indiatimes.com
Now Alia Bhatt wants Ticket to Hollywood
W
ith actresses like Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone going to Hollywood for work, Alia Bhatt has also expressed her desire to go to the West. “In terms of offers, nothing interesting has come my way so far. But there is a want, a thought of going to the West. Right now I want to focus on my work here (Bollywood) and make a mark for myself. Then I do have thoughts of going ahead,” Alia told PTI. Alia, the 22-year-old daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, made her Bollywood debut with Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year’. She later went on to give acclaimed performances in films like ‘Highway’, ‘2 States’ and ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’. The actress has now become confident about her craft of acting.”I am genuinely confident, but I am not over -confident. I believe a lit-
tle bit of nervousness and unsurety should be there, as that is how you go a long way,” she said. Though Alia has gained popularity through her work, the actress’s family keeps her grounded. “I think as long as you have a good support system that keeps you grounded, it is good. You may be famous and people want your autograph, take selfies with you, but you are a normal human being to your family. “If you are surrounded by people who keep telling you that you are great, then you will go crazy. If my family and friends don’t like anything about my work, they tell me. It is important to have honest opinion around yourself,” she said. But one does tend to lose earnestness after entering the world of glitz and glamour. “...I used to be very unaware...Now I know things. This can be good or bad also
in some ways,” she said. “I have to take my words seriously, I can’t be an irresponsible speaker. I have to see how much good role model I am. At the same time I should be able to make mistakes, feel bad and cry,” she said.Alia will next be seen in Karan Johar’s production “Kapoor & Sons”. Apart from this she is working with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Gauri Shinde’s next and will also be seen in Shahid KapoorKareena Kapoor Khan starrer ‘Udta Punjab’.
Rani Mukherjee March 21, 1978
Emraan Hashmi March 24, 1979
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Kangana Ranaut March 21, 1987
22 March 18, 2016
SPORTS
World T20: Kiwi Spin Trio Routs India on Raging Turner
India Women’s 163 Too Much for Bangla
B
BY ALAGAPPAN MUTHU
P
AGPUR (ESPN Cricinfo): New Zealand 126 for 7 (Anderson 34, Bumrah 1-15, Raina 1-16) beat India 79 (Dhoni 30, Santner 4-11, Sodhi 3-18) by 47 runs For a long time, this New Zealand team was under the charge of a man who loved a gamble or two. But would even Brendon McCullum have been funky enough to go up to his two best bowlers, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, on the team’s opening match of a World T20 and say, ‘Pick up the bibs, lads. You’re out.’? Kane Williamson did. He saw a dry Nagpur pitch, heard how the ball had turned during the qualifier games at the venue and asked Nathan McCullum, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi to clock in for duty. The first of those three spinners is in the twilight of his career, the other two had played only five T20Is each. And India had no answers against them. No one expected it to go down like this. MS Dhoni and his men came into the tournament on a seven-match winning streak. They were back home now, just as New Zealand were in alien territory. They had not played in the subcontinent for two years, and their batting had all the symptoms of it to put up only 126 for 7. An early wicket was vital and New Zealand looked to a McCullum for the magic touch. Nathan, who will join his little brother in retirement after this tournament, trapped Shikhar Dhawan lbw fifth ball. Minutes later, Rohit Sharma was undone by a superb delivery, this time from Santner. The batsman had trotted down the pitch but made the mistake of closing the face. Normally it wouldn’t have been a fatal one, considering Santner specialises in non-turning darts. But on this pitch he was given all the help he could ask for. The ball turned square, and bounced so much that the wicketkeeper couldn’t collect it cleanly. But Rohit had lunged so far outside his crease that Luke Ronchi had enough time to recover.
Rohit Sharma was stumped for 5, India v New Zealand, World T20 2016, Group 2, Nagpur, March 15, 2016.
Virat Kohli was the reason why the hosts held hope. For much of his 27 balls, he looked in control of the situation because he was in control of himself. On a track that was turning square, batsmen needed to play close to the body and trust in proper cricketing shots. He managed it for 26 balls before Ish Sodhi broke down his discipline. A beautiful legspinner was pitched up for the drive, Kohli went after it and feathered an edge to the wicketkeeper. India were 39 for 5, and definitely nervous now. Not long after, they were 79 all out and rather red-faced. “We lacked a bit of adaptability,” Dhoni admitted. New Zealand couldn’t cope with the ball not coming onto the bat either. They tried to smash their way to supremacy - Martin Guptill hit the first ball of the Super 10s for a straight six and Colin Munro began with a jaw-dropping switch hit - but got through to the end of the Powerplay with 22 dots and 33 runs on the board. Corey Anderson was their topscorer with 34 runs, but his 42-ball innings encapsulated New Zealand’s struggle. Should we hit out? Should we hunker down? They
No one expected it to go down like this. MS Dhoni and his men came into the tournament on a sevenmatch winning streak. They were back home now, just as New Zealand were in alien territory. did something in between and it wasn’t pretty. Only hindsight proved it was effective. And the fact that Santner, Sodhi and McCullum kept pitching the ball at the stumps and allowed a rank turner to do the rest. After all, only when a batsmen is pushed to play can he give his wicket away. After the first innings, it looked like India should have had plenty of match-winners. R Ashwin struck in the first over of the match. Jasprit Bumrah, who excels at the death, came away with 1 for 15. Suresh Raina instigated a superb run-out to dismiss Ross Taylor for 10 and had Williamson stumped for 8. That’s New Zealand’s backbone sent packing by the 12th over with the score only on 61.
But as willing as Raina the bowler was, Raina the batsman could not handle the fight. He strode in during the third over, offered a tame catch to midwicket and was back in the dressing room before the over was done. Soon after, Yuvraj Singh popped a return catch to McCullum and four of the India’s top five were gone for singledigits.’ Meanwhile, Santner was bowling like a dream and despite him finishing as the highest-wicket taker on the night, it was Sodhi who extracted the most turn. His legspinners ripped past the outside edge regularly and his control had never looked so good. He finished with 3 for 18 - all of which were characterised by defeating the batsman in flight. Kohli was caught behind, Jadeja closed the face too early after coming forward and Ashwin was dragged out of his crease to be stumped. New Zealand trusted in a set of bowlers capable of exploiting a raging turner. Santner, McCullum and Sodhi delivered them a win against the tournament favourites. Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo.
ANGALORE: India Women 163 for 5 (Raj 42, Harmanpreet 40) beat Bangladesh Women 91 for 5 (Sultana 27*, Patil 2-16, Poonam 2-17) by 72 runs India Women had played more T20Is in the last three months than Bangladesh Women had managed to play across formats since their World T20 debut in 2014. The end result was a lopsided contest as Bangladesh’s lack of experience on the big stage stood brutally exposed. A target of 164 became a gap too far to bridge as India won by 72 runs to get their campaign off to an emphatic start. A ‘no-holds barred’ approach was the hallmark of India’s batting effort as they blasted their way to 163 for 5, comfortably surpassing their previous T20I best of 151, also against Bangladesh at the 2014 edition. Mithali Raj and Vellaswamy Vanitha did the early running, Harmanpreet Kaur gave impetus in the middle, while Veda Krishnamurthy sustained the surge at the death. In comparison, only Nigar Sultana stood still amid the rubble for Bangladesh to make 27 not out in an otherwise disappointing batting show. Where Raj was all grace and timing, her younger colleague Vanitha was pure muscle; her strength coming to the fore on the face of some slow, loopy spin as India raised their 50 in the sixth over.
Mithali Raj top-scored for India with 42 off 35 balls.
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March 18, 2016
Jewellers’ Strike: Minister Assures to Talk to PM
In Bad Debt Cloud, Silver Lining for Banks BY ANIL SASI
AMID serious concerns over bad
debts across corporate and SME (small and medium enterprises) segments, there is one bright spot for banks — the retail consumer. The retail segment, comprising individual consumers, witnessed a reduction in gross NPA (non performing asset) rates for the country’s scheduled commercial banks over the last 18 months — from 5.3 per cent in March 2014 to 4.7 per cent in September 2015, a period when all the other segments saw their NPA levels soar, according to CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau India Ltd) data. The lower NPAs has meant that there has been a 25 per cent surge in banks’ exposure to the retail segment during this period (calculated on a compounded annual growth rate basis). This dip has also played a role in counterbalancing the surge in bad loans for banks across other segments and keeping their overall NPA rate in check. The gross NPA rate for a scheduled commercial bank is defined as the gross NPA exposure divided by total exposure. Retail banking, also known as consumer banking, refers to the services offered by a bank to individual consumers and includes savings and transactional accounts, mortgages, personal loans, debit cards, and credit cards. The NPA trends reflected in the CIBIL data is in line with the broader NPA trends reported by Reserve Bank of India (RBI). As per the CIBIL data, which has been submitted to the Parliamentary standing committee on finance, the dip in the retail NPAs ensured that the overall (commercial plus retail) gross NPA rate increased to 5.7 per cent in September 2015 from 5 per cent in March 2014. Officials involved in the exercise said had it not been for retail consum-
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Officials involved in the exercise said had it not been for retail consumers, the increase in the gross NPA rate would have been higher.
ers, the increase in the gross NPA rate would have been higher. The biggest surge in NPA rates has been contributed by mid-sized corporate (9.7 per cent in September 2015 from 6.4 per cent in March 2014) and the SME segment (9.9 per cent in September 2015 as against 7.2 per cent in March 2014). Self Help Groups, which contributed just 0.4 per cent of aggregate credit exposure as of September 2015, have also seen a deterioration in NPA rate (6.6 per cent in September 2015 from 5.4 per cent in March 2014). The gross NPA rate of large corporates, which accounted for 27.4 per cent of overall exposure of banks (as of September 30, 2015), has shown a marginal uptick (2.9 per cent in September 2015 against 2.4 per cent in March 2014). “The capabilities required to contain bad debt in retail are substantially different from commercial credit. The number of accounts in the retail segment is large, the amounts are small, and rapid action is very critical and action steps have to be industrialised,” according to a report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and FICCI. The RBI’s Financial Stability Report published in June noted that
gross NPAs in the system had risen from 3.4 per cent in March 2013 to 4.6 per cent in March 2015. Overall stressed advances were 11.1 per cent of the total this March, from 9.2 per cent in March 2013. However, what’s still worrying is that the percentage recovered against the write-off done by PSBs has declined from 24.5 per cent in 2012-13 to 20.59 per cent during 2013-14 and further to 15.23 per cent during 2014-15. Last November, rating agency ICRA had lowered its projection of gross non-performing assets (NPAs) for 2015-16 in the banking system and said banks could be masking the stress on their balance sheets by restructuring long-term loans as allowed by the RBI. The scheme in question, popularly known as ‘5/25’, allows banks to spread a project’s repayment obligation to a longer period, matching the cash flow of the project, resetting the refinancing scheme every five or seven years. ICRA estimates roughly Rs 35,000 crore of loans have been restructured under the scheme. Many such projects would have otherwise shown up as NPAs. -indian express.com
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HMEDABAD: Gujarat MP and Union minister Mohan Kundariya on Sunday said he will take up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the excise duty issue raised by striking jewellers in an effort to resolve the matter. The Lok Sabha MP from Rajkot said he will take along other MPs from Gujarat, a major gems and jewellery hub, for a meeting with Modi. Kundariya met the agitating jewellers in Rajkot, around 200 km from here. Jewellers across Gujarat and other parts of the country are on an indefinite strike since the last ten
days to protest the proposed 1 per cent excise duty on gold and diamond jewellery and also mandatory PAN card clause for purchases of Rs 2 lakh and above. After meeting the jewellers, Kundariya told reporters that both BJP as well as the Center is trying hard to resolve the issue. “Being the MP of Rajkot, I met these jewellers today to know their problems. Jewellers across India are agitating against the proposed excise duty. I have told them that both BJP as well as the Central government are trying their best to find a solution.” “In the coming days, all the MPs from Gujarat will meet the PM and make a representation about this issue. We will see this issue is resolved,” said Kundariya, the minister of state for agriculture. Jewellers are demanding a rollback of the proposed excise duty (made in Union Budget) and also the decision to make mandatory the PAN card clause. -indiatimes.com
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
24 March 18, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
March 18, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Wrap-3
March 18, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM