Friday, March 25, 2016 • Vol. 35, No. 13
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March 25, 2016
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Friday, March 25 2016 | Vol. 35, No. 13
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P5 Houston organizations sponsor farewell dinner for Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and wife Nandita Parvathaneni.
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March 25, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
March 25, 2016
IMS Opens 2016 Concert Series BY SUNIL PANGARKAR
HOUSTON: On Saturday, March 19, at
the Jones Hall of University of St. Thomas, the connoisseurs of Indian classical music became part of a most divine experience. An experience in which the audience was rendered speechless. This was indeed The Concert of concerts by a Musician’s Musician. The featured artist was Padmashree Pt. Ulhas Kashalkarji – a highly sought after musician and Guru in India and abroad. Accompanying him were Pt. Shantilal Shah on the tabla and Dr. Kedar Naphade on the harmonium. From 50’s to 80’s, in my opinion, Hindustani music saw a high point when there were a number of artists from various gharanas (styles) of music who maintained the tradition, excellence and tempo ideally suited to this genre of music. Concerts were long and deliberate, a destination rather than a milestone of the day. Substance rather than form dominated the ethos of concerts. Well, all I can say is than Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar proved that this still exists and still has the ability to move the audience – in fact more so, since it is a novelty. He began the concert with Raag Shree and developed the Raag in a Vilambit bandish (slow tempo in Tilwada Taal) followed by a Drut bandish in Ektaal. After an hour of Raag Shree, one felt content. Each development was an exploration rather than a show of prowess. The beauty of Panditji’s performance is that melodic intricacy and force is used to delicately enhance the mood of the Raag and not overpower it. The audience is kept alert and interested and not pummeled to submission by technical wizardry. The next two presentations (Raag Barwa and Raag Jait Kalyan) were meant for connoisseurs. In fact, Jait Kalyan was a FarCONTINUED ON PAGE
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March 25, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
March 25, 2016 COMMUNITY Fond Farewell for a Favorite H Consul General
the podium. “We realized the magnitude of the Houston assignment when we greeted almost 300 guests at the Independence Day function. We felt so encouraged by the warmth and friendship that each one of you showed to us that day.” The Republic Day function also provided CG Harish an indication of the problems at the Consulate. “At the reception, one of the guests asked me to look at the access to the Consulate and the lack of toilets for Consular applicants. This comment made me wonder how this could be an important issue. But it did turn out to be a significant issue. We addressed it within a day.” In addition, CG Harish addressed a whole array of small and big issues to make the Consular experience a pleasant one, and provide immediate access to applicants of dire need such as having to transport mortal remains back to India. Culture was another issue that CG and Mrs. Harish addressed. “In the early days, we had attended a classical dance performance by a decorated artist from India. In a large auditorium of 500, there were only 50 people. A week later, 20,000 people attended a performance by a Bollywood personality. Hence, we made it a point, at a great personal cost of time to us, to attend just about every performance of classical music and dance to encourage our young
BY PRAMOD KULKARNI
OUSTON: Since 1995, Houston has experienced its Indian Consulate administered by six different Consul Generals. Each had a unique personality and imprinted a different impression on the local Indo-American community. Judging by the farewell reception sponsored by 22 community organizations, Parvathaneni Harish and his wife Nandita were certainly one of the favorites. The Indo-American communitywide farewell reception was held Saturday, March 19 at the O.P. Jindal Center of India House. CG P. Harish has been promoted to the post of Indian ambassador to Vietnam. He is expected to report to duty in Hanoi sometime in April 2016. A highlight of the evening was a video tribute recorded by the organizations, including the singing of “For he’s a jolly good fellow” recorded by India Culture Center board members. The all-vegetarian hors d’oeuvres and dinner were catered by Madras Pavilion. The Ambassador-level sponsors were Indo-American Chamber of Greater Houston (IACCGH), IndoAmerican Political Action Committee of Greater Houston (IAPAC), India Culture Center (ICC) and India House Houston. For Consular-level sponsorships, Arya Samaj of Greater Houston was joined by Foundation for India Studies, Indo-American Cancer Network (IACAN), IIT Alumni of Greater Houston (IITAGH), Indian Muslim Association of Greater Houston (IMAGH), Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF), Pratham USA, Sri Meenakshi Temple Society and Shri Sita Ram Foundation. Supporting organizations were American Society of Indian Engineers and Architects, Bharathi Kalai Manram, Gujarati Samaj of Houston, Hindus of Greater Houston, International Hindi Association, Indian Senior Citizens Association, Mahatma Gandhi Library, JVB Preksha Meditation Center and the Tagore Society of Houston. “All it took was one email and the response from the organizations was tremendous,” explained Jagdip Ahluwalia, IACCGH Executive Director in his introductory remarks. “It is a testament to the popularity of the Consul General and a reflection of the outstanding consular services he and his consulate are providing for our community. Let’s face it – if the visa doesn’t come, nothing else matters. It all points to leadership and CG Harish has set a high benchmark.” India House Trustee Dr. Virendra Mathur welcomed the gathering. Dr.
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Photos from top: Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and Nandita Parvathaneni with Organization leaders, ICC members, India House members, Houston Media. Photos: Bijay Dixit
Mathur recalled that the very birth of India House was crystallized as a result of biweekly meetings held by the first CG, Swashpavan Singh. Addressing CG Harish, Dr. Mathur continued, “You and your predecessors have helped immensely in the birth and growth of this community center and our community will always be grateful.” “When we came to Houston in July 2012, we didn’t know what to expect,” began CG Harish at
generation to preserve their cultural inheritance.” CG Harish also highlighted his attendance at the International Yoga Day and show his affiliation with the Indian form of secularism by attending religious functions throughout the community. Nandita Harish also expressed her appreciation to the Houston community. “I came to Houston to set up one house, but I find that have a home in all your hearts.”
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 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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March 25, 2016
HOUSTON: It’s never too early to start
preparing for the SATs. The comprehensive assessment test is one of the key academic measurements college recruiters look at when determining if they should admit a student. This year, The College Board, the private nonprofit corporation responsible for creating the SAT, redesigned the test to include longer and more complex reading and math problems. The new test is uncharted territory for both students and educators, but an early jump on studying and preparation can be the best way to tackle it. Thankfully, Best in Class has developed several ways to prepare for the new test. Take Multiple Practice Tests and Analyze The SAT requires critical thinking that students may not be used to. The best way to prepare your student is to take a practice SAT. Best in Class offers SAT prep classes with a series of practice tests to train the brain for this new type of thinking. However, taking these tests is only half the battle.
COMMUNITY
Five Tips to Help Take the SAT
“Students must spend about as much time, if not more time, analyzing those tests and learning from them,” said Laura Leddusire, Vice President of Operations for Best in Class. “Students will uncover their strengths and weaknesses by taking practice tests. In addition, taking full length tests will also help students build their testing stamina.” Start with a Section You’re Most Familiar With Taking the SATs will last a few hours, so it’s important for your student to find a good rhythm. Right out of the gate, students should consider starting with a section they feel most comfortable with. If your student is a good critical thinker, then they should start with the reading comprehension section. Or if their strength is in math, tackle the multiple choice math questions first. Beginning with an easier section can help boost your confidence and allow for extra time to tackle more difficult subjects at a comfortable speed. Look for Key Themes in the Reading Section One of the revamped sections of the SAT is the reading section. Gone are the “finish the sentence” vocabulary tests, and in their place are more reading comprehension tests. Students are going to be challenged to improve their reading skills and understand the main themes conveyed in the passages. To help save time and allow students to get through questions they have a good shot at getting correct, it’s recommended to skip difficult passages and read the easiest passages first. Also, students are encouraged to answer everything. The new SATs don’t penalize for wrong answers, so even if a student runs out of time, bubble in answers anyway. Wrong answers won’t hurt you. Keep Up Your Other Studies While allotting a good amount of time to study for the SATs is important, students shouldn’t let other studies falter. Colleges look not only at SATs, but grades and outside school activities, as well. Creating a schedule at the beginning of the week, and carving out enough time for regular school homework and SAT prep is the best way to divide time equally. To help your student exceed his or her academics goals, a local resource, Best in Class, offers a variety of customized, supplemental enrichment courses and tutoring options to ensure your students are equipped with the tools they need this school year. For more information about Best in Class services for your student, or about current franchising opportunities, visit www.bestinclasseducation.com or call toll free at 1.888.683.8108. Best in Class is targeting the addition of 20 more units in 2016. The state of Texas has been identified as a key state for growth. The current team behind Best in Class is looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join this premier franchise family and ensure our youth will excel academically.
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March 25, 2016
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COMMUNITY
March 25, 2016
HMM Celebrates Holi
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After the sudden demise of Bramhasri Udayakumar Gullapalli, Pandit Sridharkumar Ramayanam, as his torch bearer will take the responsibility of serving the Houston community for any kind of Vedic/Hindu Poojas at your door step or in the temple. Contact for Gruhapravesham, Sathyanarayana Vratham, Namakaram, Upanayanam, Marriage, All kinds of Homas, New Business or Shop Openings, Shradha Karmas
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BY MEGHA OZARKER
HOUSTON:
On March 20, Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM) celebrated Holi/Rangapanchmi at Bear Creek Park in Houston. HMM Committee Members greeted guests by applying dry herbal colors on their faces and wishing them “Happy Holi”. The weather was just picture perfect and sunny for adults and kids to enjoy the Holi event using dry colors and water. Attendees participated in exciting games and dances. Attendees danced on popular Bollywood and Marathi songs while children were busy playing with water. Puran Poli, prepared by HMM Member Sonali Kulkarni was offered to all attendees along with tasty thali from HMM Platinum Sponsor Maharaja Bhog. Some attendees from Pune, India commented
that they were returning back to India the next day but decided to attend HMM Holi Event. They said that HMM Holi was better organized than Holi events they have seen in India which was a great compliment for the team for the 20 hardworking and enthusiastic committee members/volunteers. HMM would like to thank all attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and committee members who made this event so successful. On the auspicious day of Gudi Padwa, April 9, 2016 (i.e. first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year and the actual date of Gudi Padwa) HMM Committee has planned an exciting and first musical event of 2016! Apan Hyanna Aikalat Ka? introduces new talented vocalists whom you have never heard sing before. For more information about HMM, please visit www.hmmhouston.org.
WRITERS ... TAKE NOTICE Writers are requested to limit their words to 500. The deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Tuesday of each week. For more information, call 713.789.NEWS (6397) or email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
March 25, 2016
Find Out How Colors Influence Your Actions
HOUSTON: According to Vastu,
the world of colors is unique in its own way and influences each and every action of our lives. While some colors make you want to get out of your chair and do something, others make you lethargic and want you to nestle down and relax. Some colors are so vibrant and articulate that they speak to you, while some are very quiet and peaceful. There are also colors which motivate, inspire or influence you in a positive way, whereas, there are others that create negative feelings in you. There are also some colors that emanate the desire for closeness, intimacy and love. As we all know that Holi celebrations begin with a Holika bonfire on the night before Holi, when people gather, sing and dance. The next morning is a free-for-all carnival of colors, where participants play, chase and color each other with dry powder and colored water. Holi, also known as the festival of colors, fun, frolic and love, is celebrated in the Spring season. The festival date varies every year, as per the Hindu calendar, on the Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon), and generally falls in the month of March. Today, it has become popular even among the non-Hindus in many parts of India and Asia. However, did you know that this festival of colors could also be celebrated in the Vastu way? Each individual has a unique taste and chooses colors according to his/ her personal preferences. There are no absolutes in the world of colors. However, there are some universal principles that apply to all colors. Just as everything in this world is made up of the five basic elements of Nature, or Panchtattva, i.e., the Fire, Earth, Water, Air and Space, all colors are primarily the shades of colors of these basic five elements. This fact has been proven by Vastu Shastra and also established in the modern stream of color psychology. For example, shades of green and yellow create a sense of being at peace and well-being, and if you are playing Holi with these colors, especially in the South-West Vastu Zone, (the Zone of Relationships and Skills) they foster interesting and open conversations between family and friends, and can dispel loneliness and depression. Therefore, shades of green and yellow are also called Nurturing Colors, and are recommended during Holi, as per Vastu. According to the documented research on Vastu Shastra in the world’s largest book of Vastu, MahaVastu Handbook, there are colors with a sense of sharpness, wittiness, uniqueness and intelligence, which are the inherent qualities of an intellectual. Therefore, these are called Intellectual Colors. Use of these colors in the right Vastu direction/zone can command respect without being overbearing. These colors are also recommended for creative studies, libraries and art galleries. Grey, shades/tones of blue
and a few lighter shades of red fall in this category, as they facilitate the optimal performance from a relaxed mind. In addition to the above, there are also colors that are romantic in nature, such as red, which according to Vastu is the color of Love. So, if you play Holi with these colors in the North-North-
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SHIBU PHILIP, MTax, CPA TAX & ACCOUNTING West Vastu Zone, or facing towards the North-North-West Zone, an intense relationship develops between you and others. Pink, purple and light orange colors also fall in the category of Romantic colors. Actually, according to Vastu Shastra, these colors also suggest purity and innocence. There are colors that impart a very refreshing and rejuvenating feeling in oneself. These colors include all the different shades of green, brown and other shades of warm earth colors. When applied in the North-North-East Zone, (the Vastu Zone of Healing), these colors facilitate better healing and immunity. So, all those, who love to play Holi with these colors should prefer playing it in the North-NorthEast Vastu Zone of their homes or offices. Therefore, to conclude, try celebrating and enjoying Holi, this year in the Vastu way to bring home more Love, Money, Happiness and Prosperity, as well as learn both the positive and negative effects of each color in your life through the various
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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
10 March 25, 2016 HOUSTON:
Celebrate Indo-American Heritage Day
The Foundation for India Studies (FIS) in partnership with the Houston Public Library (HPL) and Houston Community College (HCC) invites the community to an exciting celebration for Indo-American Heritage Day, Our Roots, Our voices, Our Heritage, Our Contributions. The Indo-American Heritage Day celebration will take place on Saturday, March 26, from 1 PM to 4 PM in the Library’s historic Julia Ideson Building, 550 McKinney, 77002. This event is free and open to the public. Please email your RSVP to foundationforindiastudies@gmail.com. This year’s Indo-American Heritage Day celebration will highlight the Indo-American Oral History Project with the completion of 50 video interviews. This legacy project has been achieved in partnership with HPL and HCC. The event will also celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Foundation for India Studies. For event details, please contact Krishna Vavilala at 713-795-5169 or Dr. Ponnada
Narayana at 281-804-4912. For sponsorship information, please visit: www.foundationforindiastudies.org. Free parking will be available for the Indo-American Heritage Day celebration at the Central Library’s underground parking garage, entrance ramp is located on the Lamar St. side of the building. The Central Library is located at 500 McKinney St., 77002. Free parking is also available in the streets. FIS Founder and Chairman Krishna Vavilala said, “The preservation and promulgation of a community’s history are important aspects of a civilization. Through a decade long service to the community, the Foundation for India Studies (FIS) has accomplished a remarkable series of projects to enrich the understanding of India’s contributions to the world as well as to the understanding of the role of the Indo-American community in Houston that’s a part of the city’s multicultural tapestry.” The Indo-American Heritage Day celebra-
COMMUNITY
tion will include distinguished speakers: •Key Note Speaker: Dr. Stephen Klineberg, “The Changing Face of Houston” Founding Director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research •Parvathaneni Harish, Indian Consul General in Houston •Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Congresswoman •Al Green, U.S. Congressman •Dr. Jimmy Adams, Houston Community College (HCC) Director of Center for Excellence in Media Arts and Technology •Aric Nitzberg, Chair of the Center for Excellence, Media Arts and Technology
About the Indo-American Oral History Project The Houston Indo-American Oral History Project is an initiative of the Foundation for India Studies (FIS), which engages the Indo-American community living in Houston to record their life stories and experiences. Interviewees are from the first generation of Indian immigrants that have lived in Houston for more than 25 years. Even though Indo-Americans make up a small percent of Houston’s population they have made significant contributions to Houston’s economy and quality of life through professional, scientific, technical, religious, artistic, and political involvement. “The project aims to video record and preserve the histories of the first generation Indian immigrants who migrated from various parts of India and settled in Houston. Their stories are a testament to the significant contributions they have made to Houston’s economy and quality of life. The project will provide a wealth of primary material to historian, sociologist, researchers, educationist, and students. The Oral History Project will also enable our future Indo-American generations to trace back to their roots in India,” said FIS Founding Chairman Krishna Vavilala. The Indo-American Oral History collection is now archived at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center administered by the Houston Public Library. FIS Celebrates Ten Years of Contributions to the City of Houston In the past ten years, FIS has successfully initiated the establishment of India Studies at the University of Houston. In 2015, FIS received the Martin Luther King Grand Marshal Award from Charles Stamps, CEO of the MLK Grande Parade, the organization’s highest award for demonstrating the doctrines and principles of Gandhi and King through their daily activities and life styles. In 2011, FIS launched its signature project called “The Indo-American Oral History Project” to collect and archive the life stories of the first generation immigrants from India. This project which was inaugurated by Mayor Annise Parker and has now completed 50 interviews in partnership with the Houston Public Library and the Houston Community College. FIS has conducted its Distinguished Lecture Series. These lectures cover a wide range of topics that emphasize the diversity in India to foster the creation of distinct cultural connections. Through these lectures FIS provides a connection to Houston with some of India’s most productive minds. Some of the past prominent speakers included: Padma Vibhushan, Prof George Sudarshan, a nominee for Physics Nobel prize; Indian Ambassador to UN TP Sreenivasan; Indian Consul General S.M. Gavai; Houston Mayor Bill White; India’s former Union Law Minister and Bar Council Chairman Ram Jethmalani; former Senior Vice Chancellor and Provost of the University of Houston John Antel; University of Houston Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Studies Jerald W. Strickland; University of Houston Dean of College of Liberal Arts Dr. John Roberts; Delhi University Professor Bharat Gupt; and Indian Painter OM Soorya. FIS has brought together the Indian and American universities exchange program for students and faculty by facilitating Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between the universities. An example of such an endeavor was the successful MOU signed between the Central University of Hyderabad and the University of Houston.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
March 25, 2016
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Empowering Local Employment
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For Any Ceremony Contact Pradip Pandya 832 466 9868 Email: pradippandya2000@yahoo.com
IT Serve,Houston Chapter: Company Executives/CEOs and Partners. hosted Rahul Reddy & Emily Photos : Damodhara Jammli (DJ) Neumann of Reddy & Neumann
Key Note Speaker, Tom Nunn, President of Tom Nunn Consulting
BY DAMODHARA JAMMLI
HOUSTON:
ITServe Alliance hosted key speakers during March 2016 monthly meet. ITServe Alliance is a largest association of IT Services organizations. The alliance is the voice of all prestigious IT companies functioning with similar interests across United States. Through the years ITServe has evolved as a resourceful and respected platform to collaborate (STARTUPS / PROJECTS / JOB BOARD / HOTLIST) and initiate measures in the direction of protecting common interests and ensuring collective success. The esteemed speaker of the
month was Tom Nunn (President – Tom Nunn Consulting) Tom Nunn Consulting works with dedicated, smart business owners, entrepreneurs and CEOs who want to make their vision of success a reality, and position their companies for substantial growth. Speaking on this occasion, Ravi Varre, President of IT Serve Alliance Houston Chapter - said, “IT Serve’s focus has been to bring industry and business thought leaders to provide strategic insights to all its members. This meet up today is in line with our vision to strengthen our relationship with business luminaries. The session by Tom will be very helpful for small and growing companies to manage their P& L”. ITServe Houston Chapter also
PC, who provided immigration updates on the OPT Rule, H1B Filings & 140 Dates. Satish Nannapaneni, President Elect ,National ITServ explained that It was a dinner event attended by all the key executives/CEO of Houston and was an opportunity to get detailed insights on P& L, Immigration, Insurance, Banking & Collection related issues. ITServe Alliance with chapters spread across United States, conduct monthly meetings to network collaborate and exchange ideas for mutually beneficial relationship. Houston ITServe Executive Team: President: Ravi Varre Executive Committee: Badruddin Pitter, Naren Mondalreddy, Sumith Arigapudi,Sai Golla, Damodhara Jammli(DJ) To become member of ITServe and for further details visit http://www. itserve.org Or E-mail: info@ itserve.org
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IT Serve Houston Chapter Team: from left: Sumith Arigapudi, Badruddin Pitter, Sridhar Patibandla, Ravi Varre (Houston Chapter President), Naren Mondalreddy, Rahul Reddy, Damodhara Reddy (DJ). INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Contact: Gopal Aggarwal
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12 March 25, 2016
COMMUNITY
Classical Arts Plans Centenary Tribute to MS. Subbulakshmi for its Annual Spring Festival HOUSTON: Classical Arts Soci-
ety of Houston will be presenting its annual spring festival for 2016 on April 2 and 3. The venue for the April 2 is the Kalyana Mantapam
of Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland and April 3 is the Stafford Civic Center in Stafford. These events on both dates are free and open to the public.
This year is the centenary of the legendary singer late Srimathi.M.S. Subbulakshmi (MSS) who was well known across India and beyond for her classical music drenched in devotion (bhakti), characterized by a remarkable fidelity to the pitch (shruthi suddam) and emotive appeal (bhava). Her appeal was pan Indian and she was awarded the Bharath Ratna, the highest civilian honor from the Government of India. MSS and her husband, late Sri Sadasivam were also notable philanthropists and had generously donated much of the concert proceeds to charity in the truest spirit of altruism and community welfare. This festival has been conceived and curated by the renowned music critic and playwright Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan in her capacity as the Artistic Director of 2016 Houston Spring Festival of Classical Arts Society. Gowri is the grandniece of MSS and had the privilege of accompanying her in music concerts. Gowri has worked with the board members of Classical Arts Society and the local music teachers in developing the event plans. The first day of the festival on April 2 at Meenakshi temple in
Pearland will feature groups of children singing Shlokams and Bhajans popularized by MSS like Ganesha Pancharatnam, and Venkatesha Suprabhatham among others. Then, it will be the turn of local music groups led by renowned teachers like Anuradha Subramanian, Rajarajeshwary Bhat, Chandrakantha Courtney, Chitra Dharmarajan, Manjula Rao, and Sridevi Joysula. These groups will cover classical composers like Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshithar, Syama Sastri, Purandaradasa, Annam Acharya, Arunagiri Nathar, Vallalar, P. Thooran, Ramaswamy Pillai, Swati Tirunal, Mirabai and Kabirdas. This will be followed by a Venu-Veena concert by Shanthala Subramanyam (Venu - Flute), Vishal Sapuram (Chitraveena), Melakaveri Balaji (Mridangam), and Sukanya Ramgopal (Ghatam). The second day of the festival, Apr 3 at Stafford civic center features a concert by V. Sankaranarayanan (Vocal), B.V. Raghavendra Rao (Violin), Tanjore Murugaboopathy (Mridangam), and Shree Sundar Kumar (Kanjira). This will be followed by a Children’s Tableau with audience in-
teraction. Then it is time for the grand finale event titled Born to sing, on the life of Smt. MS Subbulakshmi. This is a concept presented and narrated by Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan and will feature Aditya Prakash and Shushma Somasekharan (Vocals),Shreya Devnath( Violin), R. Thiagarajan( Flute), and Ramesh Babu( Mridangam). The Classical Arts Society of Houston invites one and all for these great musical events. For details please check the website www.ClassicalArtsHouston.org.
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COMMUNITY
MADRAS N PAVILIO T & DAAWA CATERING
IMS Opens 2016 Concert Series with an Unforgettable Concert by Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar INDIA Rao’s Satish CA FE UDIPI
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maish from the audience. Needless to say, the Raag and the audience were both given due importance and justice. There was not a moment of hurriedness. This honesty to the art form could not escape the audience. In the second half, Panditji sang Raag Basant in a Madhya Laya composition , aDrut composition and a Tarana. I thought that the three compositions were chosen as if to show the myriad colors of Basant (spring). The Madhya laya bandish was of yearning, the drut was romantic complaint and the Tarana was ebullient. He planned to end the concert with a composition in Raag Khamaj, but the audience just would just not leave. They wanted to hear him sing Bhairavi and he graciously obliged – once again he was unhurried and smiling. It is said that one should judge a person based on the way he deals with others, in Panditjis case the way he dealt with accompanying musicians, organizers and members of the audience. Shamik Bose who had brought the tanpura and was accompanying Panditji was asked to give vocal support. Panditji did not know Shamik or his
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capabilities, but the way he was giving him an opportunity was like his own student. I heard him say to Shamik that “you have a good voice”. How encouraging is that when Panditji says that!! As accompanist, Pt. Shantilal Shah had to keep a very tight and musical “theka” which is extremely hard in densely decorated compositions with the complexity of layakari that Panditji easily incorporates. For the harmonium to keep pace, support and enhance such music is an equally difficult task. For Kedarji and Shantilalji , Panditji’s presence and his music
was such that as accompanying musician they were on constant alert, and in anticipation . They naturally complemented Ulhas ji via their performances. He complimented both at the end of the concert. Panditji’s acknowledging smile for his audience and for his able accompanists was like real diamonds and not costume jewelry. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma had rightly said that Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar’s genuineness, humility despite his brilliance shows through in his music. IMS was honored to host an artist like him!!
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HEALTH
March 25, 2016
17
TEXAS ONCOLOGY CANCER PREVENTION SERIES
Treating Cancer with Transplants
Traditionally.
the term leukemia has been a very scary one for most people. Over the years, there has been a great deal of publicity around bone marrow transplants. This exciting treatment has evolved and now there are many versions of transplants. The technique has become much safer and has been critical in our ability to treat several different types of cancers in addition to leukemia. In this month’s article, Dr. Sanjay Sethi discusses transplants and also talks about the need for people of our ethnic background to register with the national marrow database. - Vivek S. Kavadi, M.D. BY DR. SANJAY SETHI Cancer is an equal opportunity offender. It can strike anyone at any time. It can also occur just about anywhere on your body, including your blood stream. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, an estimated 1,185,053 people in the U.S. are either living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Adults have about five quarts of blood circulating in their bodies, which is made of red blood cells that help carry oxygen through the body and white blood cells that help fight off infection. Your body continually replenishes its blood supply by growing new red and white blood cells and plasma cells
from stem cells in adult bone marrow. There are three primary forms of blood cancers. Leukemia is caused when your body produces abnormal white blood cells. It starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside the bone, where blood cells develop. Lymphoma is a blood cancer of the immune system and can be found in the blood or lymph nodes. Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in the plasma cells of the body. When we treat cancer, we most commonly use surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Our goal is to shrink or eliminate the cancer, and we often use these tools in combination to give patients the best outcomes. Unfortunately, when a blood cancer develops, it cannot be surgically removed. Oncologists must focus on the source of the cancerous blood cells—cells that could be anywhere in a patient’s blood stream, lymph nodes, or bone marrow. Blood and marrow transplants give patients another option for treating these cancers. Healthy blood stem cells are collected from either the patient or a donor, whose genetic makeup closely matches the patient. The patient then receives high dosages of chemotherapy, which kills the cancer-producing cells throughout the body. The healthy
blood stem cells are then injected into the patient, where they begin to grow and reproduce to replenish healthy cells. This treatment was first developed in 1968, but advances have made it far easier for donors to donate marrow to patients and for patients to supply their own healthy adult stem cells. There have also been advances to make it easier for patients to recover from the transplant, and, most importantly, increase the patient’s chances of living cancer-free. Several decades ago, “blood and marrow transplants” conjured up thoughts of pain for the donor and a month or more of recovery in isolation in a specialized hospital unit for the patient. However, techniques have substantially improved. While the transplants are still completed in specialized hospital units, the recovery period is often outpatient. “Mini transplants” have reduced recovery time and made the experience less taxing for many patients. The donor experience has become far more convenient with less discomfort. There is a nationwide shortage of blood and marrow donors, and ethnic minorities are significantly underrepresented in donor registries. Registering to be a donor is easy—visit www.BeTheMatch.org to get a mail-in packet to register or attend a donor drive in your area. With a simple cheek swab, you can enter a national registry of potential donors. You may never be called to be a donor, but by registering, you give patients another opportunity for hope. If you’re interested in learning more, visit www.TexasOncology.com.
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Dr. Sanjay Sethi is a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Sugar Land, 1350 First Colony Blvd. in Sugar Land, Texas. INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
18 March 25, 2016 Beyond Life and Death
The Tamil Nadu government has stoked a fresh controversy
by writing to the Union home secretary seeking the latter’s opinion on the release of the seven persons convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The political implications of this move beg to be analysed in detail but it is the legal fallout that may have serious repercussions for the nation going forward. On February 19, 2014, Jayalalithaa had announced in the assembly that “whether the Centre responds to our recommendation or not, we will invoke the powers vested with the government and release them”. This was a day after the death sentences of the convicts were commuted to life by the Supreme Court in Sriharan vs Union. This triggered a chain of events starting with the Union government seeking the court’s clarification on the correct interpretation of remission law. Subsequently, the matter was referred to a constitution bench and the release of seven convicts stayed. Out of a total of seven issues brought before the bench, two were of immense significance to this case — whether the state must get the Centre’s concurrence in remission cases involving conviction under a Central act or prosecution by a Central agency; and whether imprisonment for life meant the “rest of one’s life” without any right to claim remission. The constitution bench pronounced its judgment on December 2, 2015 and answered the first question in the affirmative and unanimously that the state shall obtain the Centre’s concurrence in such cases. With regard to the second question, the bench delivered two judgments with the majority supporting the view that court can award “punishment of imprisonment for life” and “put that category beyond application of remission”. The prison manual of Tamil Nadu says that the “theory of reformation and rehabilitation” is followed in dealing with the offenders in the state. All over the civilised world, such measures are being preferred over the theories of “retribution and deterrence”. In a landmark case Shatrugan Chouhan vs Union, the Supreme Court liberally interpreted the right to life to commute death sentences on account of delay in deciding mercy petitions in a number of cases. As a society, we must evolve towards a penalogical system, which is more humane. It is only logical that those who speak against the barbarism of death penalty also realise the dehumanising effect of “imprisonment without remission”. Apart from the case of seven Rajiv Gandhi convicts, all life sentence prisoners who have completed the minimum mandatory sentence must be periodically assessed by a prison board. Such a measure would invariably assist the reformation process and help re-integrate offenders back in to society. Ultimately, the true test of society lies in providing a mechanism which will ensure that offenders are sent to prison for correction, not condemnation. Manuraj Shunmugasundaram in Indian Express.
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Educational Solutions to Conflicts
BY KARAN SINGH
Gandhi, the father of our nation,
once said, “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” This quote is particularly relevant in the modern era, when violent extremism has led to widespread displacement of massive populations around the globe, and has contributed to a climate of distrust and fear. Perhaps the most telling effect of extremism is the disruption of education, from primary to college level – something that affects not only our present, but also our future. A recent report released by the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace, where I am chairman of the board, reminds us that India faces numerous challenges within our borders. Entitled ‘India’s youth speak out about higher education’, it consolidates the opinions of over 6,000 students from all over the country. Although the report’s authors intended to focus on the 22 themes in the higher education portion of the National Education Policy consultation process, currently underway at the HRD ministry, rather than conflict areas, it was an issue that was clearly on students’ minds. Students from conflict affected regions frequently brought up early experiences that affected their ability to succeed in – or even get admitted to – college. These students said they had not been able to attend primary school for years at a time, leaving them unprepared for the rigours of higher education. This trend was borne out by our survey. Approximately 12.4% of survey respondents attributed their lack of enrolment in higher education to “social unrest at their native place”. Youth suggested the adoption of a policy detailing best practices for providing education in emergencies. Ideally, such a policy would outline a way for students to continue studying, perhaps through distance learning courses, even while their communities are in turmoil.
Said one student from a porous border region studying in Delhi, “You study history, but there is no history of northeast. It’s about kings and queens of other Indian subcontinents. All these factors, the insurgents are using these weaknesses as a tool to brainwash the people.” While many of the students in the study wanted more relevant, skill-based courses in their colleges and universities, the need was especially urgent among those living in conflictaffected areas. Take, for example, the case of a young woman from Mizoram, who, in a focus group discussion, talked about the dire consequences of not gaining adequate skills in higher education. She told us, “Most of the people in our place, since we cannot earn a living going to offices or something like that, join militant forces, go underground and become militants.
In order to avoid that there should be skill development so that we earn a living and not join the group.” This student echoed the voices of many of her peers, who said that one of the key tools for fighting extremism is providing economic and educational opportunities. Youth across the country agreed that having viable life choices is the key to preventing their peers from making violent choices. In addition to wanting more practical coursework, students in conflict zones expressed a desire to see themselves and their realities reflected in their school curricula, starting from ayoung age and continuing into higher education. Students said that a lack of representation in textbooks made people from conflict zones feel that their lack of development and exposure to violence were inevitable. Said one student from a porous border region studying in Delhi, “You study history, but there is no history of northeast. It’s about kings and queens of other Indian subcontinents. All these factors, the insurgents are using these weaknesses as a tool to brainwash the people.” As this student rightly points out, having a curriculum that is inclusive and fosters critical thinking allows young people to imagine a different, more peaceful future for themselves. Therefore more efforts should be made to improve curricula starting at the primary level. India’s diversity is its greatest strength. Let us ensure that our democracy gives young minds the space to be free, rather than imprisoning them within a lack of opportunities, resources and stability. As the youth in this report so rightly point out, we cannot continue to advance peacefully as a nation, unless we support education in every corner of the country – including those most affected by conflict. It is essential that the New Education Policy takes these recommendations into account. The writer is Congress MP in Rajya Sabha.
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20 March 25, 2016
HOLI celebration takes place with
lot of joy and verve. The enthusiasm of the people reaches its peak and matches with the nature which is in full bounty at the time of Holi. Holi is being celebrated in Indian since time immemorial but the popularity of Holi celebrations seems to be rising with every passing year and so is the level of hoo-ha. As no other festival gives so much liberty to the people to let their hair loose and enjoy their hidden crazy self. Differences of any sort are drowned in the coloured waters of
Holi and people just enjoy being a play animal. To further enhance the festive spirit of Holi celebrations we have a social sanction to get a kick with the tradition of bhang. Then there is total wildness as people dance to the rhythm of dholak and sing traditional folk songs in loudest possible pitch. Children particularly enjoy the festival as they throw water filled balloons at passersby...and if anybody stares..they have ready answer,
‘Bura na mano Holi hai..’ and evoke a smile on the irritated face. Besides, they have their water missiles, called pichkaris to drench the person from far and escape further drenching. In the midst of these colouring games are savoured the mouth watering holi specialities like gujiya, malpuas, mathri, puran poli, dahi badas etc and downed with glasses full of thandai. In some states there is also a tradition of breaking the pot full of but-
late in the night. Holi celebrations that starts with the burning of Holika on the eve of Holi thus culminates with the lot of funfilled activity and bonhomie. However, at some places specially Mathura and Barsana Holi celebrations continue for a week as each major temple organise a Holi bash on different day. Lovers of the festival enjoy every moment to the hilt. www.holifestival.org
termilk which is hung high on the streets. A group of boys form a human pyramid and one of them break the pot. All this while womenfolk throw buckets of colour water on them and sing folk songs. And after a wild and eventful day, evenings are celebrated in a dignified manner by visiting friends and relatives. People exchange sweets and hug each other conveying the warm wishes for Holi. These days there people also participate and organise Holi Meets and enjoy the festival till
Holi Recipe: Thandai First Ever
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Ingredients: 15 almonds 2 tsp aniseed 2 tsp poppy seeds 8 cardamom pods 12 tsp sugar 2 tsp peppercorns 2 tsp cumin seeds Send Recipes300ml water 400ml milk 4 tsp crushed ice Method: Grind all the spices, with the almonds separate. Blend together in a large bowl, and add water and milk. Strain through cheesecloth until liquid is smooth. Serve cold. Serves 4-5 www.holifestival.org
March 25, 2016
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22 March 25, 2016
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COMMUNITY
March 25, 2016
23
Director Arun Chidambaram’s ‘KANAVU VARIYAM’ Wins Prestigious REMI Award in Worldfest to Chennai, India to pursue his dream and passion in Cinema. Arun has also won personal accolades from the former President of India Dr.APJ.Abdul Kalam. Arun, is the son of ‘Aanazhagan’ Dr.A.Chidambaram, an Indian Sportsman, US trained Physical Culturist and a pioneer in the
HOUSTON: Arun Chidambaram’s ‘Kanavu
Variyam (Dream Factory)’ wins the Prestigious Remi Award. This award will be given in the 49th WorldFest Houston International Film Festival scheduled from April 8-17. WorldFest is the oldest Independent Film & Video Festival in the World. They discovered Spielberg (Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List), Ridley Scott (Gladiator, The Martian), George Lucas (Star Wars), Ang Lee (Hulk, Life of Pi), Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, Saving Mr.Banks) and others top directors with their early Premieres. Of over thousands entries, from over 43 movieproducing nations worldwide, only a few are chosen for screening. They concentrate on only the very best, selecting new American & Foreign Independent films that truly deserve a premiere at WorldFest. ‘Kanavu Variyam’s World premiere will be at WorldFest-Houston on April 9, at 7 PM in AMC Studio 30, 2949 Dunvale Road, Houston, TX 77063. Tickets can be bought at www.kanavuvariyam.com. Arun is the first Tamil director to win this prestigious recognition. In addition to playing the lead role and directing the movie, Arun has written the Story, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics for ‘Kanavu Variyam’. The recognition for ‘Kanavu Variyam (Dream
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the field of Physical Culture in Southern India for more than 4 decades. He has been the personal Health Adviser for several VIPs in Tamil Nadu including Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR. Kanavu Variyam is produced by Dr.A.Chidambaram and Karthik Chidambaram in the banner of DCKAP Cinemas.
Factory)’, doesn’t end here. ‘Kalla Manna’ (‘Stone Or Sand’) a song Featuring in ‘Kanavu Variyam’has won international recognition too. It has been ACCEPTED to be screened and nominated for the ‘Best Youth Focus Music Video’ and ‘Best Foreign Language Music Video’ by the ‘Bare Bones International Film & Muisc Video Festival (17th Annual)’ scheduled from Apr 19 to 24 in Oklahoma, USA. ‘Kalla Manna’, is an eye opener for young and old of all the indoor / outdoor games children can play (instead of being couch potatoes in front of video games and television). This music video chronicles (lyrically and visually), 51 traditional games played in Indian villages. In addition to these prestigious International recognitions, ‘Kanavu Variyam’ has also won the Special Jury award from the National Science Film Festival held on Feb 9-13, 2016, organized by the Government of India. Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner and ace director Shyam Benegal has widely appreciated ‘Kanavu Variyam’ quoting “A fictional narrative celebrating the spirit of innovation in a young man”. Arun Chidambaram, Writer and Director of the movie ‘Kanavu Variyam,’ completed his Masters in USA and worked for JP Morgan Chase in Chicago. Arun quit his lucrative job and cozy life in the United States and returned
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER TRAINEE
KTRK-TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, TX is accepting applications for an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER TRAINEE. This is a one-year training position. The AP Trainee will gain valuable experience in writing, graphic development and other aspects of producing a television newscast. Candidates must be willing to work overnights and weekends. College degree preferred. Preference will be given to those with previous television news experience and those with a strong desire to pursue a career as a television newscast producer. Being a journalist is not just a job, it is a way of life. Only serious candidates should apply. This is a one year training position. There is no guarantee that the trainee will be promoted to a full time staff position at the end of the training program. For consideration all interested applicants must apply on-line at: www.disneycareers. com. Applicants must upload cover letter, resume and references. In addition, please send writing samples to: Robin Freese, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. Please Reference Job ID: 351367BR on ALL materials submitted. No Telephone Calls Please KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
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Part-Time Graphic Artist
ABC-13/KTRK-TV, the ABC/Disney owned television station in Houston, TX, has a part-time position for an experienced Graphic Artist for both broadcast and digital. The ideal candidate will have a degree in graphic design and professional experience using design applications, such as Adobe Creative Suite, to create content and graphics for television, web pages and social media. Qualified candidate would also be willing to assist with the station’s live studio or remote productions. We offer a collaborative and creative work environment. To be considered for the position you must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job #351368BR Please upload a cover letter, resume, link to online portfolio, and list of references. No Telephone Calls Please
KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
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Kapoor & Sons : Family Drama at its Best T
BY ROHIT VATS
here’s a strong Karan Johar impression on Kapoor & Sons, but that was expected. After all, he is the producer of the film. But what we didn’t expect was the finesse with which director Shakun Batra has narrated a predictable story. You may find Kapoor & Sons a rehash of some Dharma Productions’ films, but the treatment makes it an engaging 140-minute film. Rahul (Fawad Khan) and Arjun Kapoor (Sidharth Malhotra) are brothers living entirely different lives in London and New Jersey.
While Rahul is established as a successful writer, Arjun is still struggling to find his true calling. Back home in Coonoor, their family has three more members: Daddu (Rishi Kapoor), father Harsh (Rajat Kapoor) and mother Sunita (Ratna Pathak Shah). A call about 90-year-old Daddu brings both brothers home. It’s a dysfunctional family which doesn’t think twice before yelling or throwing an angry cookie jar at each other. And no, they don’t do it in jest. In all seriousness, the Kapoor family is sitting on a ticking time bomb. And then enters Tia (Alia Bhatt), the potential trigger. But, are we not looking at a typical Bollywood family film here? Well, here begins the director’s meticulous planning. The writers of the film, Shakun Batra and Ayesha Devitre
Dhillon, have done a fabulous job in providing every major character a chance to flourish. Rahul’s character grows, so does Arjun’s. Tia takes center-stage, but without cutting into someone else’s breathing space. The screenplay keeps gaining momentum. There are times when Batra eases out pressure, but only to keep the safety valve from blowing up. When you meet Rishi Kapoor’s character, you immediately realise his love for theatrics, but you also see a method in his madness. His irrepressible desire to watch porn can’t conceal his longing for a family photo. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm for life isn’t contagious as Harsh and Sunita are struggling hard to save their marriage. But, it’s something based on trust and breach of that may result in permanent damage. Similarly,noteverything is right between the brothers, especially when the younger one has grown up in the shadow of a perfect, successful big brother. The heated exchange we witness at the dinner table is deep rooted in their psyche and began
years ago, before they realised the monster that was approaching their lives. And now the elephant is in the middle of the drawing room but no one knows how to deal with it. Just when the audience begins to laugh at the absurdity of a plumber trapped in the middle of a family fight, it becomes so emotionally violent that they start recognising the familiarity of the proceedings. This is entirely Batra’s success who has given the characters a reason to hate each other, unlike most Bollywood films where conflict meets resolution without much hassle. The language Fawad, Alia and Sidharth speak in the film is true to their character graphs: Very urban in nature yet restrained and suitable for a place like Coonoor. The kissing scene between Fawad Khan and Alia Bhatt has such a good build-up that it doesn’t look dramatic even a bit. Their sexual connotation laden conversation is so apt that you can fit any two young faces there. Ratna Pathak as a jealous and tired housewife is a treat to watch. The emotions float on her face yet you can see the real person behind it. She, along with Fawad Khan, is the pick of the actors. Fawad Khan is like a dormant volcano, simmering from the inside. After a while, you expect him to go for controlled eruption, but he surprises you by going all out. His capabilities
as an actor are on a full display in Kapoor & Sons. Alia Bhatt is that piece of cheese that makes the sandwich lustworthy. There is a scene between Alia and Sidharth Malhotra where she narrates a past incident and that completely chaffs out the innocent chirpiness we associate with her from her character. Needless to say that she has done justice to her role. Sidharth Malhotra has also understood the required nuances. Fawad, Alia and Sidharth have a lovable chemistry which will make you sit and notice, but from an objective distance. For the want of a better term, Kapoor & Sons is an emotional roller coaster. It’s a tear jerker for sure, but also features the intricacies of a middle class life. No dark secrets here, but the shock value is definitely there. You’ll love it for being spontaneous, precise, fast paced and well...lovable. A fantastic family drama after a long time. -hindustantimes.com
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Happy Birthday Akshay Khanna March 28, 1975
Chitrangada Singh March 28, 1976
26 March 25, 2016
SPORTS
World T20: Kohli Special Steers India Home on a Turner
“Not Good Enough” Waqar on Pak Team
M
BY ALAGAPAN MUTHU
K
OLKOTA (ESPN Cricinfo): India 119 for 4 (Kohli 55*) beat Pakistan 118 for 5 (Malik 26) by six wickets There was rain, but the Eden Gardens was not submerged. There was a pitch that made spinners seem like grenade launchers. There were 61337 people including certifiable legends of the game from Sachin Tendulkar to Imran Khan. All of it added to the spectacle of India-Pakistan cricket, but Virat Kohli rose one step above with an innings of gumption and class. India needed to win tonight to stay in control of their fate at the World T20. A few tactical errors left them with a competitive 119 to chase. When the ball grips into the deck, slows down and simultaneously turns, a batsman’s judgment becomes of great importance. Hitting on the up carries risk. Playing too far away carries risk. Finding a run a ball can be troublesome. Kohli found 55 of them in only 37 balls to beat Pakistan for an 11th time in a World Cup match. Kohli’s thirst to compete was apparent when he said a cricketer needs tough pitches. He had the 18 overs that Pakistan had to bat to assess the one in Kolkata. There were a few shots that he needed to avoid, and a few things he needed to exploit - like his speed between the wickets. He fed his innings with 19 singles and a two, playing his shots as late as he could, and every time he played one, it was with the intent to get some runs. Kohli allowed only nine dots in his innings. Perhaps Pakistan made the task slightly easier by not bowling out Mohammad Amir. The loss to New Zealand had “hurt” Kohli. “We don’t perform like that at home,” he said in the post-match presentation. The shots that he hit tonight as he neared his half-century - two scorching cover drives when the bat barely strayed away from his body - typified exactly how one should play on such pitches. The longer he was at the crease, the weaker Pakistan became and the night eventually
Virat Kohli celebrates after taking India home, India v Pakistan, World T20 2016, Group 2, Kolkata, March 19, 2016.
ended with the man who Kohli bowed to upon reaching his fifty Tendulkar - waving the India flag aloft. It wasn’t a flawless day for the hosts though. They had a chance to be chasing far less. India did not bowl R Ashwin out on a surface made for him and their fast bowlers bowled length balls and full tosses in the death when the offcutter seemed the logical choice. Pakistan’s lower order, marshaled by Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal, swung into the leg side with glee and ransacked 51 runs off the last five overs. Even after such a rich return in the death, Pakistan’s total remained in the competitive range. And that was because of the control India had in the early going. Bats these days have a lot of wood in their middle. The ball and the Kolkata pitch colluded never to find it. The leading edge was allowed a peek. The outside edge tried to pipe up, but it was always beaten. On-and-off rain since 5 pm had shortened the game to 18overs a side, but the pitch was dry enough that all anyone had to do
was roll their fingers over the ball to be menacing. Ashwin turned it square in the second over. Ravindra Jadeja could not bowl his wicket-to-wicket line because he could not believe how much the ball was deviating. Considering that, it seemed Pakistan had stabbed themselves by dropping a spinner, and a handy batsman, in Imad Wasim to add Mohammad Sami to their XI. However, Pakistan being Pakistan and Sami being Sami turned a liability into a strength. Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina - two men who seem to struggle badly in a touch situation - chopped onto their stumps and Sami was on the cusp of a hat-trick in every form of cricket. Yuvraj Singh soaked in that pressure and contributed 24 runs to a match-winning 61-run partnership with Kohli. Pakistan’s batsmen, who were heavily maligned leading into the tournament, acquitted themselves quite well when the ball was darting around. Ahmed Shehzad laid a solid foundation with his 25 off 28 balls. They eased past the first 10
overs with only two wickets lost. Ashwin had only one left in his quota and Jadeja had two. Dhoni did not think about Yuvraj at any point in the game, and kept at it with his seamers. Pandya gave away 15 runs in 14th over and Bumrah 13 in the very next. At that point, it seemed Pakistan had the edge. Then Kohli came out and took it away from them. India are now in a position to take advantage of Bangladesh who need to win their remaining matches and rely on other results going their way. Kohli has been the key to India’s batting, but they would like to see consistency from Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina. Rohit Sharma, too, needs to step up, having made only 25 in his last three innings, including 10 against South Africa in a warm-up match. India, however, will be buoyed by Yuvraj’s resurgence in the middle order. The bowling, led by R Ashwin, looks in good shape, with Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja giving support. Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
OHALI: Four - the number of times a visibly angry Waqar Younis called Pakistan “not good enough” in his eight-minute press conference. It was preceded variously by “simply”, “once again” and “just”. In particular the targets of Waqar’s ire seemed to be - he did not name them, but it was easy to join the dots - young batsmen Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal, whose partnership of 17 runs in four overs, stalled the momentum that Sharjeel Khan’s explosive start gave Pakistan. The two couldn’t pick the singles, tried the big shots, failed, and by the time the partnership broke, the asking rate had risen to 11 from eight when Sharjeel got out. Akmal has reportedly made public comments that he is not getting to bat at his desired positions, higher up in the order. In both of Pakistan’s earlier matches in the tournament, Akmal got to bat after Shahid Afridi. This time he got to bat with time in hand, but managed only 24 off 26 balls with no boundaries. “You have to be able to adjust in T20, you have to be adaptable,” Waqar said. “Still, those who were shouting about not getting to bat in the position they want, this was their perfect opportunity. We were just not good enough. You can cry all you want, you can talk all you want, we are just not good enough. People will have to take a hard look at themselves.” Shehzad was not spared either, and the rebuke came as Waqar tried to explain Afridi’s promotion to No. 5. “I thought logic was right,” Waqar said. “If you see, we didn’t move at all from the eighth to the 15th over. Two of our so-called youngsters, upcoming cricketers, they both batted for a good chunk of time in the middle where we thought we would take the game away. We were always in the hope.” Waqar also asked the selectors to look at this performance. “Of course it hurts,” Waqar said. “I can’t say what injection we need, but the selectors will have to pay attention to this performance.”
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
March 25, 2016
Patanjali will Overtake Colgate and Unilever
BY SUNEERA TANDON & PREETI ZACHARIAH
B
ENGALURU: Foreign consumer goods companies in India will soon have to do a headstand, said yoga guru Baba Ramdev at a press meet in Bengaluru on Friday, commenting on the impact of Patanjali’s success on Indian arms of foreign consumer goods and food companies. “Colgate will be below Patanjali by this year, and in three years, we will overtake Unilever,” said Ramdev, whose Rs.2,000 crore company that makes everything from biscuits to soaps has been denting the market share of large multinational corporations in India. “Dant Kanti, Patanjali’s neembased toothpaste will overtake Colgate by end of the year,” said Ramdev, promoting his stable of brands. Ramdev’s confidence in Patanjali’s success comes at a time when sales of biscuits, creams and gooseberry (amla) juices have swelled over the past two years. The yoga guru anticipated Patanjali’s revenue to more than double to Rs.5,000 crore this year. “In three years, Unilever’s lever will go flat,” he quipped. In December, Patanjali had outlined plans to invest Rs.1,000 crore in expanding capacity, building an online sales channel and selling Ayurvedic products in overseas markets.
Bollywood celebrities and entrepreneur Kishore Biyani have endorsed Patanjali products that have started
Ramdev confirmed the proposed opening of food plants in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, adding that more locations are being considered. Photo: Hemant Mishra/ Mint
eating into the market shares of Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Dabur Ltd, Colgate and ITC Foods Ltd. Ramdev confirmed the proposed opening of food plants in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, adding that more locations are being considered. The yoga guru is expanding his brand of yoga to education institutes. “We will also open universities offering Vedic and modern sciences,” said Ramdev. Top analysts and brokerage firms have made rough estimates, pegging Patanjali’s revenues to further swell to Rs.20,000 crore by 2020 according to a report by financial services company India Infoline Ltd, or IIFL, suggesting a 16-fold jump in revenue in six years. India’s spiritual leaders are increasing gaining clout among households in the country to launch a portfolio of consumer products, as millions of Indians, who already follow their sermons and teachings either through television or mass gatherings. The market for Ayurveda has seen a spike in demand. “This is only going to get bigger,” said Ramdev. -livemint.com
27
Digitization can Help India Leapfrog Others: John Chambers BY MOULISHREE SRIVASTAVA & PRIYANKA SAHAY & SHINE JACOB
NEW DELHI: Digitization pres-
ents India with a chance to leapfrog other nations to become the global technology leader, John Chambers, executive chairman of Cisco Systems Inc., said on Friday. “For India, which has been a slow follower (in technology adoption), this is a chance to leapfrog and become a technologically advanced country,” said Chambers while addressing the EmTech India event organized by MIT Technology Review and Mint in New Delhi. Digitization is revolutionary but brutal, said Chambers, who is also the chairman of US-India Business Council. “Majority of the companies going forward will become digital. But 40% of existing companies today will not survive the next 5 to 10 years,” he said. “Only those who can reinvent themselves in the process will be able to survive,” he said, adding that in order to increase longevity, every company in the world has to become digital. “Digital is basically the capability to get innovation done faster,” Chambers said. “Digitization is how you innovate and how you change business processes. It is how you will disrupt the existing systems.” According to Chambers, the digital economy will be worth $19 trillion (around Rs.6,000 trillion today) in the next 10 years and digitization is the biggest change ever, which will have 10 times greater impact than that of the Internet. “From the outside, you see what is going on in every country. India has a young population with an average
The digital economy will be worth $19 trillion (around Rs.6,000 trillion today) in the next 10 years and digitization is the biggest change ever, which will have 10 times greater impact than that of the Internet, says Chambers. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint
age of 26-27,” he said, indicating that there is a lot of scope for innovation in the country. “Then there is broadband connectivity of more than 10 Mbps being rolled out,” he said. “But most importantly, it has a leader who gets it.” Mbps, short for megabits per second, is a measure of data transfer speed. “The transition on digitization is the biggest thing happening. India is a country whose leader is truly a visionary. (Narendra) Modi is the man with a mission and he is extremely intelligent,” said Chambers. “When he talks about digital India, he understands the complex problems we will have to face. He breaks the complex problems into smaller ones and takes action on those.” India, the world’s largest democracy, has the courage to make that change, he added. The other important growth engine, according to Chambers, is the start-up ecosystem. “If you want to do a start-up, this is the right time, the inflection point
has just happened in India,” said Chambers. “Even though India (start-up ecosystem) still has a long way to go when you compare it with US (Silicon Valley) in the ’90s, India is going to see a generation of start-ups coming up who will set up examples for the world,” he added. However, one of the major challenges that the start-up environment faces, said Chambers, is the need to change the culture. “If a start-up fails in the Valley, it starts again. But if a start-up fails in India, it gets a bad market, which makes it unable to start over again,” he said. Still, Chambers remains excited and bullish about India. “Going ahead, every country has to be digital and need to change their organizational structure accordingly,” he said. “Five years from now, India will be the fastest growing country in the world.” livemint.com
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
28 March 25, 2016
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March 25, 2016
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Wrap-3
March 25, 2016
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