Friday, September 04, 2015 • Vol. 34, No. 36
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Friday, September 04 2015 | Vol. 34, No. 36
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Enter Era a Renewed India P6
Subramanian Swamy (3rd from left) with the Arts of India Foundation Board and supports, from left, Achalesh Amar, Prasad Gujrala, Pradip Parikh, Dharminder Dargan and Subash and Sarojini Gupta.
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An Inspiration to Others, IAPAC Honors Trailblazer Trehan Patel
Flanked by Judge Maggie Jaramillo, Judge Trehan Patel was surrounded by her family, the Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and the IAPAC Board members after the reception. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON:Although she didn’t set out to play that role, after she was appointed and sworn in on July 27 to become Fort Bend County’s youngest and first South Asian Associate District Judge for the 204th and 400th Districts (see IAN dated August 14, 2015), Stuti Trehan Patel had become a role model for others from her community. When she was felicitated by the Indo American Political Action Committee this past Sunday, August 30 at a reception at India House, Judge Trehan Patel kept her speech brief and focused on thanking the people in her family (both sides of which were fully in attendance in support), the organizers and the faith that had been placed in her ability by her peers. She especially thanked Judge Maggie Jaramillo who had given her the oath and attended the mid-afternoon event along with her husband Juan, a former Marine and currently a Sargent in the Houston Police Department. IAPAC President Karun Sreerama was ecstatic about Trehan Patel’s achievement and the role she would play in local commu-
nity affairs. “You are an inspiration to us and to the generation ahead of you,” he said. Indian Consul General Parvathaneni Harish who is a huge supporter of IAPAC said that the mission of the group was “very, very important to the next generation”, adding “India and the US are great democracies. Everytime an Indian gets appointed or elected, you become a trailblazer.” IAPAC Board Director Abraham Joseph read a brief biography of hers by way of introducing her to the 100 or so people who came to the event. Another Board Director and former President, Gitesh Desai, himself appointed on the City of Houston Building Code General Appeals Board (see IAN dated December 15, 2014), congratulated Trehan Patel for “going into public service.” Thrust reluctantly into the limelight, Trehan Patel was soft spoken about her achievement, yet confident in her ability to fulfill the role in an area of expertise that that she had been working in as an Assistant District Attorney in Fort Bend County District Attorney John Haley’s office for the past 15 years. “I loved being a prosecutor, but when the opportunity came along, I applied for it,” said Trehan Patel, “and now I have loved every minute of the past month at the new position.”
other four District Court Judges for their faith in her ability. One of them is Judge Jaramillo from the 400th District Court which listens to felony cases and civil matters, who was appointed to the bench by then Gov. Rick Perry in October 2014 and wasted no time in testifying to Trehan Patel’s hardwork and dedication, “which means no worries for me,” she
joked. Herself a naturalized US citizen after she came to the country when she was 9 years-old, Jaramillo emphasized her support for keeping your heritage alive and work with charities. “However, if there’s one thing I have learnt,” she lamented about her loss of First Amendment rights, “it is that I can have an opinion but cannot express it since I have to stay neutral.”
Newly appointed Judge Stuti Trehan Patel appreciated the community’s outpouring of support at the IAPAC reception in her honor at India House on Sunday, August 30.
What she was most excited about was that she was a hometown girl and could play a part in Ft. Bend County where she grew up. She also spoke about her work with two local charities, Daya which deals with domestic abuse victims and Hope Endowment which provides funds for orphaned children in India. She kidded that “perhaps I take my job a little too seriously”, and added her thanks to the
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Seva Begins in Your Heart and AIMS Brings Hope to a Rural Child BY SUMA MUDAN
STAFFORD: For the fourth year in a row, AIM for Seva (AIMS) brought in a top-notch classical dance drama to the Bayou City. This year it is was Sundara Kaandam, a visual treat and also a treat for the ears and heart, based on Valmiki’s Ramayan, but more specifically it was the story of the Lord of the Monkeys, Hanuman’s devotion to Lord Rama, in Kishkindha Kandam. The dance drama was choreographed and directed by the renowned Bharat Natyam teacher, Anitha Guha, with music composed by the well-known musician, Neyveli Santhanagopalan. The artistes were recruited from various parts of India, and came together to present the glorious story of how Hanuman bridges the gap between Lord Rama and his consort Sita, by giving the signet of hope (ring) to Sita, after traversing the oceans from Bharat to Sri Lanka. The program was held at the New Stafford Civic Centre on Cash Road on Friday, August 28 and started with an enthralling rendering of the AIMS theme song, Bharata Desa Ahithaya, by about 60 kids dressed in white. The drama was a mix of Lakshman’s devotion to Lord Rama, the power struggle between Vali and Sugreeva, and the demonic intentions of Ravana towards Sita. The ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu was deftly presented by Vali (Thiruchelwam) and Sugreeva (Yogesh) and the audience could feel the power and fire of their fight. The artiste who played Hanuman was very mesmerizing and showed the whole gamut of emotions that were required for the part. The lead roles of Lord Rama and Sita were very well portrayed by Mithun Shyam and Lakshita. Pavitra Bhatt managed to show both the divine and demon by playing the roles of Lakshman as well as Ravana. AIMS Houston is able to present these wonderful programs year after year due to the ardent devotion and hard work of a handful of volunteers which is what it takes to put together an outstanding program and get accolades. Of special mention is the purposeful devotion of Chandrasekhar Raghu and his wife, Hemalatha. Inspite of being full time employees, they not only play a major role in AIM for Seva activities, but also opened their homes and hearts every weekend
for students of Samskritam and Gita. Narayan Prasad, the President of the Houston Chapter, and event manager Prasanna Bhatt did an outstanding job managing the event. AIMS is so important to all these volunteers that they put their lives on hold for a few months ev-
ery year, to work on the fund raising program. The program ended with a buffet dinner for all the audience in the adjoining hall. AIM for Seva was founded in
2001 by the global spiritual leader, Swami Dayananda Saraswati with the main purpose of making education available to the underprivileged rural and tribal children of India. He came up with the concept of Chatralayas or Free Student Homes (FSH) where kids can go and stay during the school year and all their needs are taken care of. These FSH are typically built close to existing schools in order to utilize the existing infrastructure. Donors from Australia, Canada, India, Singapore and United States (and a few other countries) impact the success of these FSH. In 2015, AIMS has more than 106 FSH throughout India, from Andhra Pradesh to Uttarakhand. There is a significant decrease in school dropouts because of the personal nurturing these kids get in the FSH and their graduation rate in School Board exams is a very impressive 90%. The movement - to make every child a contributing member of the society - has impacted 1,682
villages in India but a lot more villages need to be reached. Houstonians have helped in this cause by adopting 4 FSH and a total of 133 students. Through the generosity of Houston donors, AIMS is able to sustain the needs of these children as well as help with the required infrastructure. This year AIMS Houston had a target to raise $135,000 and managed to raise an incredible amount of $115,000. It is important for Indian diaspora in the United States to contribute to a remote cause like AIMS. Many Indians have benefited from the next-to-nothing cost of earning our primary degrees before we came to the United States where we made a name for ourselves, and shine as an affluent part of society. It is the foundation of support which made it happen for most of us and so, it’s only fair that we give back a small fraction of our wealth to the country that gave us the first steps towards our enormous success.
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, SEPTEMBER 04, 2015 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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COMMUNITY
Out with the Old! In With the New Age of a Renewed India!!
Subramanian Swamy addresses the audience. Photos: Jawahar Malhotra
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA STAFFORD: Listening to Dr. Subramanium Swamy is like getting a history lesson from one who has researched the topics and even lived through some of backdrop and isn’t afraid to relate what he knows. Like the response to a question at the tail end of his lecture he gave a week ago in Houston when he was asked what happened to the Indian Nationalist leader of Indian Independence, Subhas Chandra Bose. The official version is that his plane crashed in the
Japanese-occupied island of Formosa and he died of third-degree burns. Swamy dismissed that theory and explained how declassified documents laid out the long trail that led to Bose being brought to Russia and being shot in a Gulag there. Swamy, 76, is an Indian politician from the state of Tamil Nadu who is also an economist, author, professor and until 2013 was the President of the Janata Party when it merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has been a member of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and held Minister portfolios of Law and recently of Justice and Commerce and Industry. He has considerable influence as an advisor in the current Government. Yet, he has also taught economics in summer sessions at Harvard University, as well as at the IIT-Delhi and is Chairman of the School of Communications and Management Studies in Kochi. With his wide range of influence, education, teaching and political involvement, Swamy has been much sought out for speaking engagements wherever he goes, and he has already been through Houston in 2012 and 2013 to address audiences (see IAN dated August 16, 2012 and June 20, 2013). Last week, on Tuesday, August 26, Swamy was back in Houston at the invitation of the Arts of India Foundation at the VPSS auditorium off West Bellfort to address an audience of around 250 people after a buffet dinner. This stop was part of his US tour which took him to Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Austin, Dallas and ended in the Hindu Unity Day in New York on August 30. AOIF
Board members Pradip Parikh, Prasad Gujrala, Achalesh Amar and Dharminder Dargan were on hand, and Dargan even went on with Swamy for the speaking engagements in Austin and Dallas. Swamy’s message to the Houston audience focused on the new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he immediately cautioned people not to expect swift changes even with a majority party in power, after years of corrupt rule by the opposition Congress Party. Time and again in his speech, he returned to the theme of that he would make sure that the “mother and son” – referring to Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul - who ruled before would become state guests in Tihar Jail in Delhi. He said the Modi government came to power due to his skill in governing Gujarat; the discrediting of the Congress government as the most corrupt since Independence and the ability to influence voters, especially Hindus, to overlook differences and vote as one block. He believed that India could once again become a developed country that would be the envy of the world and gave examples of how it had been a much admired place centuries ago. Swamy stated that while many other civilizations in history have disappeared, the Hindus have survived, inspite of the rise of Islam and Christianity. He gave a brief history of the administration system under the British that is said to be the basis of the current Indian system and added that the tilt by the first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru
towards the Soviet model held India back for decades. He praised the 3.5% to 8% GDP India has achieved over the recent past due to the revoking of all licenses, adding that India has a sound financial system that protected it from the recent global financial crisis. In his worldview of the future, Swamy believes that India will overtake China shortly and become the second largest economy. All that was needed, he said, was a new “cando” mindset. Indians, he believes, have all the traits to get there: the high value on philosophy, spiritual values, knowledge and sacrifice for future generations. Even the ancient language of Sanskrit will replace English in the future Swamy envisions, as witnessed by NASA making it a compulsory language. The future belonged to innovations and since India has the largest reserves of Thorium in the world, Swamy believes it will be the key to Indian energy independence and global leadership. He ended, as he started, by insisting that he will make sure that all the Black money that is secreted away in foreign bank accounts is repatriated to India, using both legal maneuvers and placing pressure on the institutions to disclose the names of account holders. He said that the people have to be patient for the good things to come, joking that these happen in the last year of the administration so that people remember what has been done. He concluded by saying that he would not rest till he saw Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Chidabaran sent off to jail.
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Spectacular Janmashtami Celebrations by the Hindus of Greater Houston
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HOUSTON: Hindus of Greater Houston celebrates Krishna Janmashtami (birthday of Lord Krishna) at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 6pm till midnight. It is the largest community-wide gathering celebrating a Hindu festival in the United States. The event is free and open to all; and presents a perfect opportunity to invite neighbors and colleagues to showcase our rich Hindu culture. HGH, which strives to bring all area Hindus together, has planned special programs for all ages to make this event a grand success and enjoyable for everyone. This year also marks the 50 years since Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder of the world -renowned International Society of Krishna Consciousness- ISKCON Founda-
tion. Hindus of Greater Houston will be celebrating this milestone this year. A unique eye-catching “Rangoli” – the sacred welcoming designs of art will be displayed at the entrance. The hall will be adorned with specially decorated booths, temples and special exhibition on Swami Srila Prabhupada. The evening will commence with costume contest for children in which about 70 kids participate every year. This will be followed by a cultural program presented by many different Indian dance schools. The theme for this year is “Lord Krishna’s birthday celebration in different parts of India”. Houstonians will be delighted to have in our midst Alfred Ford, the great grandson of Henry Ford, who will be the keynote speaker at the festival. He is known by his Hindu name Ambarish Prabhu, well revered for his philanthropy and accomplishing his mentor’s dream of building the Temple of Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, India. His presence will be a great inspiration to all, especially the young professionals. The Garba and Dandiya Raas is the everpopular traditional folk dance that opens the floor to all to participate. This is an extremely popular group dance with the young and old alike dancing to the beat of a live band. This will commence after Akhil Chopra Award ceremony for recognition of the unsung heroes and presentation of Lifetime Achievement awards to those for their invaluable CONTINUED ON PAGE
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AMBARISH DAS
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Ambarish Das or Alfred Brush Ford, great-grandson of the legendary Henry Ford—founder of the Ford Motor Company, first met A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the Hare Krishna movement in Dallas in 1974 and soon became his initiated disciple. He has been involved in several ISKCON projects
worldwide, including the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center in Detroit, the Oxford Center for Hindu Studies at Oxford University & the Srila Prabhupada Pushpa Samadhi Mandir in Mayapur, India. Ambarish sits on the boards of several businesses, charitable institutions and foundations . He has received awards from around the world for his charitable works and support of Vedic culture. In recent years Ambarish has donated $25 million dollars for the “Temple of the Vedic Planetarium” and has been traveling around the world to fundraise for the project, whose completion is planned for 2022. Ambarish, now lives in Alachua, Florida, with his Indian wife. Svaha Ford, PhD, and their two children.
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September 04, 2015
IACCGH Encourages Members to Leverage New Online Web Directory on Chamber Website
Siva Yenneti, Director at ITVibes addressing the gathering.
Photos: Bijay Dixit
For advertising Call: Siva Yenneti
BY MANU SHAH HOUSTON: With an emphasis on driving innovation, IACCGH launched their new website designed to enhance its members’ web presence by allowing them to create, modify and update their business information on the Chamber website. Siva Yenneti, Director at ITVibes, a Houston Web Design Company responsible for revamping the website, addressed IACCGH members and guests at their Small Business Outreach Program at the HCC Campus on August 26th and stressed the importance of online branding. He stated that today’s consumers are millennials who believe in learning about a service or a product by “comparing and evaluating the competition online.” The IACCGH website has been revamped and streamlined to make the information more accessible and to create “a dynamic interactive experience for visitors.” It also serves as a membership directory and can help IACCGH members and resource partners conduct business with other members. A huge advantage of listing your business on the Chamber website, he said, is that Chamber websites have a high ranking on Google. Siva Yenneti walked the gathering through the new website explaining
the different categories under which one can list their business information. Access is available to everybody but the listing is for members only. The gathering had several questions which Siva not only answered but offered to come to members’ offices if they would like a one on one session to help upload their business information on the Chamber website. IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia encouraged the members to leverage the resources the Chamber offers its members “as information on a Chamber website is validation for your businesses.” IACCGH President Ashok Garg thanked HCC for supporting the event and Rajiv Bhavsar from Wallis State Bank for underwriting the event which allows the Chamber to “educate the community on best business practices.” He also encouraged the gathering to reserve their seats for the IACCGH 16th Annual Gala which would feature the US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma as the Keynote Speaker and is a historic first for the Chamber. The Gala is on September 19th at the Hilton Americas. For more information, visit www.iaccgh.com.
Vanshika Vipin 713.789. NEWS
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Radha Madhav Dham Welcomes Dr. Subramanian Swamy to Austin
India’s Recovery - How to Balance Material Progress with Spiritual Values
Speaking on India’s recovery
Lecture by Dr Swamy
Luncheon with Dr Swamy
AUSTIN, TX: Radha Madhav Dham hosted Dr. Subramanian Swamy for a luncheon and public address during his first trip to Austin, Texas on Wed August 26. Leaders and members of Austin Hindu community took time out of their busy Wednesday and had an invaluable opportunity to hear to Dr. Swamy share his views on the topic of “India’s Recovery” and interact with him during wonderfully organized luncheon, lecture and Q&A sessions. A renowned authority on economics, Dr Swamy received his doctorate in 1965 from Harvard University. Upon returning to India he taught as a full professor of Mathematical Economics at IIT in Delhi. In addition to a long and illustrious career in politics, Dr. Swamy has been a strong advocate of Hindu spiritual values. He is known throughout India for his tireless efforts to improve the quality of education and economic prosperity for each and every citizen. In his presentation, Dr. Swamy covered a comprehensive range of topics, including the Indian government’s vision for eco-
nomic growth, India’s place in the international business world and the importance of integrating the ancient Hindu culture with the current technologically interconnected world of the 21st century. He called for a new Indian paradigm for current and future generations by stating with profundity, “One of the most important things for a nation, our nation of India, is to have citizens who posses a mindset which is structured for the greatness of the country.” Dr. Swamy shared that India as a country has experienced an unparalleled history of giving shelter to people of all religions and ethnicities while remaining firmly established in the ancient Vedic-Hindu spiritual values. India has not only survived countless foreign invasions, he says, but has integrated those influences resulting in a modern nation which is both diverse and at the same time united as a majority Hindu society. This resilience and greatness of India can further be strengthened through knowledge that reflects the true history of India without the historical and philosophical distortions originating from the time of 18th century British colonial governance. “Over-
coming the long lasting negative psychological influences from that time in the consciousness of the young generation is imperative for India’s continued success” says Dr. Swamy. In addition to understanding India’s true history and religion, Dr. Swamy stated that it is imperative to introduce the study of Sanskrit language nationwide - the ancient Vedic language that has found a new importance in computer science due to its perfect linguistic architecture and made it the most “computer friendly” language known. This structure lends its usefulness in the nascent field of A.I., artificial intelligence. In addition to propagating the correct understanding of Indian history along with the study of Sanskrit, Dr. Swamy explained that it is vital to balance material progress with spiritual values. It is important for India’s future to develop a different attitude of prosperity from the West. He states that conquering poverty is, without doubt, a prime objective for people throughout India yet having a one-dimensional attachment to material objects is not an authentic Indian value. A balance properly struck will make India truly great among the developed countries of the world. “Going forward we are focused on selfi m p ro v e m e n t , not necessarily as a spiritual person but as a citizen of the new India with a huge legacy of which everyone should be proud.” One of the largest Hindu temples in the U.S., Radha Madhav Dham established in Austin, strives to make a difference everyday to the Hindu communities it serves through its spiritual, educational and community service initiatives. It also supports projects in India through its massive charitable activities, to improve the quality of life for the poor and underprivileged living in rural villages of India.
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Oh! To Know! To Share! To Enjoy! The Connoisseurs Creed BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA KATY:One of the most un-club like clubs among the pantheon of organizations that make up the pan-South Asian diaspora’s support structure in the Bayou City, the Connoisseurs Club – named after the French word meaning “a person who knows a lot about something” – held its quarterly meeting in the house of one of its members, Surender Talwar, this past weekend to share, this time the meaning of subtleties in classical Indian music. Held actually at Talwar’s son Sameer’s house, the musical interlude and education was imparted by sitar maestro Srinivas Koumounduri, who has played since he was a child in India, learning at the feet of his father; accompanied on the table by a relative newcomer to the instrument, Justin Lasiewicz, who has learnt from his guru, David Courtney. The two played a raga for 30 minutes before showing what certain chords
At the Connoisseurs Club quarterly meeting held in Katy, the members (two who brought along their parents) got together to learn about Indian Classical music.
and movements meant. The Connoisseurs creed is to share the wealth of information that each member has with others – whether in travel, watches, fountain pens, musical instruments or other entertainment and recreational pursuits – on a rotational basis, with no formal requirements of dues, organizing events or the like. It originally started in 2012 (see IAN dated August 17, 2012) as the Whisky Enthusiasts Club with the intention to share exceptional bottles of Scotch from across the world, but has morphed into the CC to herald the finer things in life. Members can be invited in, and over the past 18 months the list has grown, besides the founding members. The meeting this past weekend did indeed include samples from some of the fine whiskies and spirits that each member couple brought to sip from and a catered meal from Signature restaurant, courtesy of the host, another of the few requirement of the Club. They all participated in good wishes to all the members who had one, near and far in time with a “Happy Birthday, Everyone” sung in full throttle! One of the few organizational items that was suggested was a Gala in December, by the man who came up with the Clubs moniker, Atul Vir and wholeheartedly seconded by the 20 people who were there, “but not a fundraiser !” he added. Vir played the sitar during dinner, well enough to the surprise of all, and was later presented with the sitar he played on by Srinivas to replace the one Vir had lost in a flood in his house this summer.
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contribution and dedication in serving the Hindu community. There will also be an art contest and rides for children and popular Matki Phod. The most spectacular special feature of the evening is Vrindavan Style “Phoolon ki Holi” which will be played with more than a million rose petals. These flowers will be specially flown into Houston and will be used in place of traditional powder colors. The organizers are also planning to add aroma to this by adding jasmine flowers! Playing with flowers will positively bring smiles in the face of the visitors and relax them after the fast dancing. The shower of flowers will be another great picture of the evening to make it memorable. There will be food booths serving mouthwatering Indian vegetarian food. This celebration is brought to you by Hindus of Greater Houston whose mission is to bring Hindus and the whole community together. Please visit www.hindusofhouston.org for more information.
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STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI
September 04, 2015
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Boycott against Prince of Wales Visit, Programs
The story thus far…During the latter part of 1920 Gandhi advocated a triple boycott. He wanted an absolute boycott of the Government and all government institutions, including schools, colleges, and courts. If the people were free of these they could easily have their own schools, colleges, and courts, and the power of the British would collapse at once. There was much laughter and ridicule from the moderates and the supporters of British rule. But Gandhi paid no attention. Gandhi’s activities made the British government nervous and panicky. They issued a warning that anyone who overstepped the bounds of law would be arrested and imprisoned. Gandhi thought that this warning was a victory for the campaign. He issued instructions, which the people were to follow if he were arrested. On December 26, the Congress session was held in Nagpur.Though there were signs of opposition to Gandhi’s policies, his resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority. The adoption of the new program at Nagpur was the signal to start the mass movement. Gandhi felt that the complete boycott of all government organizations would give a chance to the Congress to set up a parallel organization, a State within a Statewhich would lead India to Swaraj. The Duke of Connaught was sent to India in 1921 to try to pacify the Indians. He came to open the four legislatures in the country which had been introduced as a result of the reforms announced by the King. His coming and going passed off without any material change in the attitude of Indians towards Britain. Gandhi traveled far and wide, propagating the ideals of nonviolence and noncooperation. Day by day the Indians were getting more and more excited over carrying out Gandhi’s program. Many students left their institutions, many officers resigned their posts. The boycott movement gained momentum. As the people’s morale grew, the morale of the government went down. Repression started. Gandhi advised the people to have patience, and he insisted on nonviolence. He saw the weaknesses of Indians and he urged them to improve. He wanted social reforms and constructive work to be intensively followed. It was announced that the Prince of Wales was to visit India. Functions were arranged at many places to enable him to meet his loyal subjects. Gandhi was indignant when he read the announcement in the newspapers. “Do the British think we are children?” he said. “Do they believe that parades for the Prince will make us forget atrocities in the Punjab or the perpetual delay in granting us
Great Summer Project For children! EnterMahatmaGandhi Week 2015 Essay, I-Tribute, Poster and Speech contests. Visit gandhilibrary.orgforregistration and more information. All school going children can participate! Thesecontestsarebeingorganized to create higher awareness of the inspiring life and work of Mahatma Gandhi to promote universal values of Truth, NonViolence, Love and Service.
Home Rule?” On Gandhi’s advice the Congress declared that all parades, receptions, and celebrations in honor of the Prince were to be strictly boycotted. “We have no grudge against His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” said Gandhi, “but our ideas are against him as a symbol of oppression. We can show the world that such noncooperation is just the reverse of the European doctrine of the sword. Let us act in accordance with the holy prophets of old. Noncooperation without violence is the battle of the brave.” Fearing that there would be disorder when the Prince of Wales visited various places, the government began severe acts of suppression. Thousands of people were arrested. The Indian people were so agitated that in city after city bonfires burned and the bonfires were made with foreign cloth, especially British cloth. On November 17, 1921, the Prince of Wales landed in Bombay. Loyal stooges of Britain went to greet the royal visitor. Those who were observing nonviolent noncooperation did not stop them. However, religious and political hatreds fanned the flames. Riots started, many were killed, much property was destroyed. There was panic in the city. Gandhi was in Bombay, and he rushed to the scene of disorder to stop the rioting. Order was finally restored. “Every man has the right to his religion and his own political opinion. Satyagraha will never succeed until man understands that,” Gandhi announced bitterly. In other cities the boycott of the Prince’s visit was peaceful. As the unfortunate Prince of Wales visited city after city, he- was greeted with empty streets. Not a shop was open. The people remained behind closed doors and drawn curtains. This infuriated the British and they called upon the government of India to act. Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal, and other leaders were arrested and
sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Yet the determined courage of the people did not abate. They were ready to suffer any penalty for the cause of Home Rule. Demands had been made to Gandhi that he should start a mass movement for the attainment of Swaraj. Gandhi decided to act. Preparations were made to start satyagraha in Bardoli. But Gandhi had to stop the campaign suddenly because of what had happened ill Bombay and other places. In Chauri Chaura, near Gorakhpur in U.P., some policemen fired on a crowd which was holding a demonstration against the government. This annoyed the demonstrators so much that they became very violent. They chased the police. The police took refuge in the city hall. The angry mob surrounded the hall and set it on fire. Some policemen were burned to death. Others, trying to escape, were killed by the furious mob outside. Gandhi was very upset. He thought that it was clear that the people were still not prepared for satyagraha. He stopped the intended satyagraha at Bardoli. His co-workers did not agree with him, but he was adamant. He wanted his followers to start constructive programs. Many Indians were sorry for Gandhi’s action. They thought that Swaraj was now within their reach and the movement should therefore continue. The Government was playing a waiting game. Instead of thanking Gandhi for stopping the mass movement, they arrested him on charges of inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch and sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment. He was removed to Yeravda Central Jail in Poona. In prison Gandhi settled down to a regime of spinning, writing, and meditation. The people were disappointed and the government tightened its hold. Almost all the leaders were put in jail. Then, in 1924, Gandhi fell ill. He was suffering from appendicitis and was in great pain. The government was alarmed. What would happen if Gandhi died in prison? An urgent operation was arranged, and Gandhi agreed. The operation was successful, but his recovery was very slow.The government thought it best to release him, so he was set free. He went to Juhu, near Bombay, to recover. — To be continued
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18 September 04, 2015 Rethink on Emerging Markets Till recently, no analyst would have hesitated to conclude that the epicentre of the world’s economic activity was shifting to somewhere between India and China: One is the world’s factory, the other the global back-office. The two neighbours, housing nearly 40% of the world’s people, are also the hottest growth economies. If China sizzled at 10.16 % economic growth between 2001 and 2012, India grew at 7.13% since 2000. Together with Brazil and Russia, the Asian neighbours formed the BRIC grouping with the quartet of nations predicted to form the core of what has come to be described as ‘emerging’ markets. Yet, the fast piling rubble after the devaluation of the Chinese yuan has forced a rethink on the emerging world’s promise as the engine of global growth. The rupee, which is flirting with 67 to a dollar, is mirroring trends in other emerging market currencies. This has triggered fears of similar moves by other countries that may prefer to lower their currency’s value, lest their exports are edged out by cheaper Chinese goods. A widespread sell-off in the Chinese bourses have caused more than a 1,600-point collapse in India’s benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex on Monday. The Shanghai share index’s 8.5% plunge has made investors and foreign fund houses appear to have interpreted this as a ‘danger-ahead’ kind of a signal. The persistent plunge in Chinese equities could be signs that the world’s second largest economy is more vulnerable than what was earlier believed. As a result foreign funds are moving out of China and other emerging markets such as India to safer locations closer home to cut losses. That brings us to the question: How far is the rupee from reaching its bottom? More than the number, it’s the markets’ sharp slide that is causing unease. A volatile and falling stock market could, for instance, upset the Indian government’s plans to sell shares in stateowned companies. A choppy market isn’t the ideal situation for meeting an ambitious Rs 69,000 crore disinvestment target for 2015-16. To prop up the rupee, India should be able to bring in more dollars and remain attractive enough for investors. This could prompt the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep interest rates high to maintain India’s attractiveness as a market that offers high returns. High interest rates could help bring in dollars and partially help in arresting the rupee’s slide. The flip side, however, is that it could mean that loan rates will remain high. For the government and the RBI the situation isn’t a happy one to be in ahead of the festival season. Eventually, the ability to attract investment will be largely determined by the economy’s fundamentals, and the pace of reforms. India can ill-afford to delay critical reforms any longer, if the country were to remain in the race for being an island of stable global growth. Hindustan Times
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
Caste Conversion: How Do I Become a Patel? BY JUG SURAIYA Even as the issue of mass religious conversions seems to be dying down, the possibility of mass caste conversions looms on the horizon. Today, everybody wants to belong to an OBC (Other Backward Caste) and thus be entitled to a package of social and economic privileges, including reserved quotas in sarkari jobs and in educational institutions. The latest lot to jump onto the OBC bandwagon are the Patels of Gujarat. The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), under the leadership of 22-year-old Hardik Patel, is making national waves after it held a rally in Ahmedabad which was attended by a reported 5 lakh supporters. There has been widespread violence and cases of arson in Gujarat as PAAS members have gone on the rampage. Hardik Patel has issued an ‘ultimatum’ to Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel that unless the Patidar demand of immediate OBC status is met, the powerful Patel vote bank will withdraw its traditional support to the BJP, with catastrophic consequences for the lotus party. What makes the Patels’ campaign to get included in the OBC category significant is that the community is both socially, politically and economically far from being backward. Of Gujarat’s 187 MLAs, 44 are Patels. The community boasts three cabinet ministers and four ministers of state. Patels own 70% of Surat’s 4,000odd diamond cutting and polishing units. The Patel brand extends far beyond Gujarat. Over 17% of NRIs in the US are Patels, whose dominance of the American motel business has led to the coinage of the term ‘Potel’, to denote a Patel-owned establishment. The Patel demand for OBC status shows that such ‘backwardness’ has become a social and economic cachet in India, thanks to the assorted freebies like quotas and reservations which come with the OBC tag. This being the case, not only will more and more castes and sub-castes raise similar demands, but people of so-called ‘high’ castes, like brahmins, might resort to subterfuge or legal loopholes to get themselves
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel leading a rally for reservation in Ahmedabad. Photo: PTI.
‘demoted’ to OBC status. It could be argued that if the Constitution guarantees the rights of individuals to elect to belong to any religion or faith system of their choosing, shouldn’t the right be extended to include the choice of caste as well? The right of free association – such as the forming of trade or labour unions – is also enshrined in the Indian polity. Many sociologists say that the origins of the caste system are based on the division of labour, and as such castes are the precursors of labour unions. By this reasoning, people should be allowed to choose which caste they want to belong to. So, how do I become a Patel? ToI
Reader Feedback
Reservations based on financial backwardness wont work in india where many people project themselves as poor to avail govt schemes meant for poor and to avoid paying tax..and how do you classify someone as socially backward? Raja I think Hardik Patel is doing right thing( (whether he belongs to any political party or not). His full demand is either give reservation to patels or remove caste based reservation completly and start economic level based reservation if needed. Some time back, in Delhi anti reservation agitation was started but it was not
higlighted as no political party was there to support it (due to fear of losing vote bank). but this time, Patels are not directly asking for cancellation of reservation, instead asking for reservation for themselves or cancelation of the reservation policy. In the current scenario, many already rich people are using the quotas. On the other hand, poor general class people are not getting anything. One thing that is not right in this agitation is loss of lives and public property. Aman It is the creation of our politicians since independence by appeasing the castes and religions to their own advantage for sustainability of their upkeeping the position. These professional politicians (two forward castes since pre- independence) of country made the poor of this country as professionals for bestowing freebies to them with new schemes by ruling parties as opium for not growing that segment to reach their level and also no threat to their families for ruling forever. The politicians are enjoying the wealth of this country since pre-independence to date. For eradicating further rise of backward castes, the politicians are grooming the agriculture based communities to seek the BC category for making conflicts for their nefarious advantage. This is the game in our country with no end to it. V. Ravikanth
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STAFFORD: Bollywood Shake will be hosting its 3rd Annual Bollywood Pageant USA 2015 on Sept 6 at 7:30PM at Stafford Performing Arts Theatre (10505 Cash Rd, Stafford TX). This year’s show will be bigger and more glamorous with the contest now open to contestants all over the United States. Bollywood Shake conducted its auditions and extensive search for the last 6 months all over the US to find the best ladies to compete for this year’s crown! Thirty Five ladies are ready to set the stage on fire in the Teen, Miss & Mrs. Bollywood categories! Contestants are coming down from New York, Chicago, California, Louisiana and Austin for the pageant, making this year’s competition hotter and tougher!! In addition to running a very successful Bollywood dance school and hosting their own radio show (Bollywood Shake Radio which airs weekdays Monday-Friday 4-7pm on 106.1 FM and 102.1 FM HD3), Bollywood Shake has always promoted local talent through its events! From
Miss Bollywood 2014 pageant with Preity Zinta and Mrs. Bollywood 2014 pageant with Raveena Tandon to Mandira Bedi’s saree collection fashion show to Naach Meri Jaan Reality Dance Competition with Naved Jaffri, Bollywood Shake has always given a platform to locals from Houston and surrounding areas to showcase their talent! And this event is no different! Ruchika Dias, Founder & CEO of Bollywood Shake, has successfully organized the Bollywood Pageants for the past 2 years. This year’s show will be kicked up a notch at the state-
of-the-art venue - Stafford Performing Arts Theatre. Comedian Dan Nainan will be the guest performer for the evening. Performer Grady Long will also sing some Bollywood songs in his unique style.Arif Memon and DMMS Productions are taking the production of the show to another level. Raza Hasan will choreograph all the fashion show sequences this year too. The entire Bollywood Shake team and volunteers are working hard to put on an incredible show! Ruchika’s vision has always been to bring Bollywood to mainstream America. ABC 13 and Fox 26 recently featured the Bollywood Pageant including interviews with Ruchika, Nina Desai (current Mrs. Bollywood 2014) and some of this year’s contestants. This year’s show is sponsored by Zee TV putting its visibility on the national map! This event promises to be one of the most fashionable, glamorous and entertaining pageants in America! Tickets are available on Sulekha.com. There is also a shopping exhibition of clothing, jewelry and art before the pageant from 12-8pm at the Stafford Centre. FREE entry for all to the exhibition and some lucky shoppers will get complimentary tickets to the pageant. Special thanks to our sponsors Zee TV, Anand Kumar Chauhan and Dr. Ashima Chauhan, String & Thread Boutique, Bawarchi Indian Cuisine, Red Berries Bake shop, TG's Cravings, Teacake Factory, Realtor Shaneel Mitha, Deep Foods, Harsh M Photography, Aaina Salon and Dr. & Mrs. Aditya Reddy.
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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Sarson ka Saag (Mashed Mustard Greens) Come the Fall, acres of fields in the Punjab will turn yellow as the seeds on the mustard greens sway in the breeze.Along with the seeds, mustard greens are commonly harvested in the winter months and cooked into a saag (mash), commonly eaten with a thick makki di roti (corn flour bread) with a dollop of butter on it. This is not the same as the saag-paneer (mashed spinach and cheese) - which is actually made with spinach - that you find in most Indian restaurants. I remember when I was a girl in Lyallpur that farmers would squeeze fresh mustard seed oil in a kohlu (a grindstone turned by a tethered bull) and people would come to buy it for an 5 old rupees (about 0.25 new cents) for a 10-liter can. The compressed, left over khali (residue), just as atta di chaan (wheat husks), would then be fed back to the livestock. Back then in 1945, you could buy a whole bag of atta (wheat flour) for 2.5 old rupees (less than 0.0125 new cents)! Mustard seeds and their oil are used in Indian cooking for the aroma and taste they impart. They contain an enzyme called Myrosinase and a glucosinolate called Sinigrin which give it a pungent smell, and high levels of alpha-linolenic acid and erucic acid which are believed to have a protective effect on the heart. In India, the oil has been used for decades for skin and scalp massages to help promote growth and vitality and it is also thought to help cut sugar in diabetics. Sarson ka saag is a rustic throwback to the rural Punjab, and this recipe gives another way to take out the normally bitter taste without adding sugar. Remember, to add some body and consistency, it is important to add a little flour or besan (chickpea flour). Ingredients :
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2 large bunches of sarson (mustard greens) 1 large bunch saag (spinach) 1 medium spear of broccoli 2 cups pani (water) 2 tbsp gyon ka atta (wheat flour) 1 medium piyaaz (onion) – peeled and finely chopped 1 medium adrak (ginger root) – peeled and finely chopped 3 mirchen (green chillies) – stems removed and finely chopped 1 cup tael (olive oil or sunflower seed oil)
this will make turn the ingredients into a puree. Return the mashed saag to a pot and place over medium-heat.
Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper)
Directions: 1. Cut the mustard green leaves finely and then place in a sieve and was thoroughly to since these are generally full of loose dirt. Wash twice to ensure that all the dirt has been rinsed out. 2. Do the same with the spinach. 3. Wash and clean the brocolli and cut into small pieces, along with the tender part of the stalk. 4. Place the cut mustard greens, spinach and brocolli in a large pot with 2 cups of cold water and place in a pressure cooker over medium heat. Do not use high heat otherwise the water will quickly evaporate. Let the cooker sound four or five whistles to make sure the vegetables are very tender. 5. Open the cooker and test the leaves to make sure they are soft. Then drain over a sieve and collect the water for use later. 6. Mash the leaves and broccoli well with a hand masher or with a hand mixee. Do not use a blender as
7. Now mix in 2 tbsp of wheat flour or besan into a ½ cup of the saved water and add to the saag, stirring well all the time. Let the saag come to a slight boil but keep stirring so that it does not stick to the pot and start to burn. 8. Keep stirring till you no longer see the water and saag is separate, then remove from the heat and keep to the side. 9. In a small frying pan, warm up the oil and throw in the onions, ginger and chillies till they are brown. Throw them into the saag and mix well. Add salt and red pepper to taste. Some people like to add a tablespoon or two of butter for taste. 10. This dish is best served with makki di roti (corn flour chappatis) in a typical Punjabi fashion. Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.
MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEEK USE SARSON KA TAEL (MUSTARD SEED OIL) FOR MOSQUITO BITES If you live in the South as I do, you know how bad the mosquitoes can be in the great outdoors. You can’t go outdoors or work in the yard or garden without being bitten a few times, and the bites do itch! Generally we will run for a mosquito repellant to spray or rub on. But there is a natural repellant for the pesky mosquitoes. Just rub on some mustard seed oil before you go out and the mosquitoes won’t come near you. And, in case you do get a bite, rub the mustard seed oil on the area and the itch will go away or at least get more bearable.
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25
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to ShowHer ‘Jazbaa’ at ZEE’s Biggest Ganesh Celebrations in America
NEWYORK: ZEE TV, along with 1947 media is bringing the biggest Ganesh celebration in America, spanning for 5 days, with over 150,000 people in attendance from all over North America. This will be the second year for the spectacular festival. In its first year, the event was a huge success, attracting nearly 97,000 people. Held on 10 acres of open ground in Edison New Jersey, also known as little India, last year’s event attracted one of the most diverse crowds, with 25% Gujarati, 25% Telugu, 25% Punjabi, 10% Marathi, 5% Tamil, 5% Bengali, and 5% of various other backgrounds. Apart from New York, New Jersey, Penn-
sylvania, and Connecticut, attendees traveled all the way from Canada, Washington D.C., Virginia, Illinois, and even New England States. The celebration this year will begin on September 17, which is the day of Ganesh Chaturthi (Sthapana), and will take place until September 21, which will be the visarjan. This is North America’s very first and biggest Sarvajanik (Community) Ganesh Utsav. The idea is for people to experience the same celebrations, as they would in India. A few highlights in store for Ganesh Utsav will include; all day performances by contestants from DID North America, DID Su-
per Moms, SRGMP winners, and appearances by some of the biggest TV stars. To top it all, we are proud to welcome the lead star cast of one of the most anticipated Bollywood films, Jazbaa, with the one and only Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in attendance! Not only will she be present at the event to interact with fans, but to also seek blessings! Sameer Targe, GM ofAsia TV USA says, “When we decided to enter the events space, we saw an obvious need to fill gaps towards events that are fun, and have something in store for everyone. Ganesh Utsav is a celebration that connects our community. Most importantly, we want for all Indians, especially 2nd and 3rd generation Indian Americans to experience what a Lal Bagh ka Raja feels like. We want them to experience how the Ganpati festival is celebrated in India, which is what we are bringing here, right in America!” Piraan Erachshaw, President of 1947 Production and Entertainment says, “In partnership with ZEE TV, we are proud to successfully bring one of India’s favorite festivals to life for the very first time in the USA. The entire South Asian community will be able to experience the event in person instead of just viewing it digitally or on TV”
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26 September 04, 2015
India vs. SL 3rd Test: Persisten India Complete Rare Series Win BY SIDHARTH MONGA
COLOMBO (ESPN Cricinfo): India 312 (Pujara 145*, Mishra 59, Prasad 4-100) and 274 (Ashwin 58, Rohit 50, Pradeep 4-62, Prasad 4-69) beat Sri Lanka 201 (Perera 55, Herath 49, Ishant 5-54) and 268 (Mathews 110, Perera 70, Ashwin 4-69, Ishant 3-32) by 117 runs You spend hours planning for outside edges and lbws, pegging away just outside off and breaking backs bowling bouncers, sweating, despairing, hoping for slip fielders to take the catches, praying the umpires agree with your lbw appeals, debating over DRS and no-balls, and then a Test turns on a reverse-sweep. Coming together at five down with 78 overs to survive, captain Angelo Mathews and debutant Kusal Perera kept India at bay for 38.1 overs and 135 runs, giving them an outside chance at an improbable win - still 144 away with 40 overs to go - but Perera fell to a reverse-sweep four overs before new ball and tea. India’s dying spirits - they were no doubt reminded of Johannesburg, Wellington and Galle over the last 20 months - found just the resuscitation they needed. With the first over with the new ball, Ishant Sharma, the much-maligned fast bowler, the hero of two of India’s last three Test wins, and in the spotlight for his behaviour, removed Mathews for a valiant 110 to register his 200th Test wicket and pave the way for India’s first away series win in four years and their first in Sri Lanka in 22 years. That he did so on cue and with a really full ball, two feats he has notoriously found difficult to muster over his career, will make the lbw sweeter. There were important lessons in there. Ishant’s eighth no-ball of the match, bowled in his first over of the day, had Mathews caught on 25 but India heard the heart-breaking call of no-ball even before they could go up in appeal. Later in the day, with nothing going for India and the sun beating down on their heads, Amit Mishra had Mathews plumb lbw on 93, except that umpire Nigel Llong thought the sound
The victorious India team poses with the trophy, 3rd Test, SSC, Colombo, 5th day, Sept.1.
from the bat hitting the ground was an inside edge. Umpires are human, they make mistakes, which is why we have DRS in Test cricket. In Test cricket not involving India, that is. Had India opted even for an abridged DRS without relying on the predictive tracking technology, they would have won the series 3-0. It was not all umpiring decisions that denied India the clean sweep. Dinesh Chandimal’s counterattack in Galle played a big part in that grand comeback. One of the features of that comeback, which put India off their plans, was the reverse-sweep, a shot that Perera who followed in Chandimal’s footsteps to become only the second wicketkeeper to debut with twin fifties - played and will have people crucifying him for it. Perception of risk, though, has changed in modern cricket. Perera is predominantly a righthander, and used to bat righthanded until he decided to emulate Sanath Jayasuriya when he was around 10. He plays the reversesweep well, and Sri Lanka had got this far in the fourth innings by not letting India bowl the lines they wanted, by keeping the scoreboard moving. Just when, five overs before the new ball, India started to bowl at the pads of the batsmen with predominantly leg-side fields, Perera looked to keep the pressure on by exploiting the field. He made a sweet connection too, but found to perfection the man accustomed to getting out minutes before intervals, Rohit Sharma, at point.
It was until then a testing toil for India, who didn’t do much wrong but found themselves helpless against a slowing-down pitch and resolute defence from Mathews and Perera. A mark of how well India bowled was in the first session when they got just two wickets, but always looked close to taking a wicket. For the first 90 minutes the quicks operated. Umesh Yadav got rid of Kaushal Silva, yet again with a bouncer, and even though he didn’t take a wicket Ishant kept testing the batsmen and conceded just nine runs in six overs. The introduction of spin brought no relief, and Lahiru Thirimanne, who had batted for 16.5 overs with Mathews, fell in R Ashwin’s first over to an extraordinary catch. His slip catching still far from perfect, KL Rahul was a different fielder under the helmet. Thirimanne saw a length ball on the pads, closed the face, and bobbed a leading edge up above silly point. Rahul rose with the ball, stuck his right hand up, and took the rebound. He was to nearly manufacture another wicket later in the day. Before that, though, Mathews and Perera reduced India to hoping for extraordinary events. In testing heat and on the final day of a long and disappointing home season, Mathews and Perera concentrated superbly, but also made sure bad balls didn’t go unpunished and in-and-out fields yielded singles. While Mathews is temperamentally suited for such innings, Perera went against his natural game, striking at 66 runs per 100
balls, well short of his 87 in all first-class cricket. The moment of the partnership perhaps was when Perera left alone a ball from Mishra that pitched on off stump just to show the bowler he had picked the wrong’un, a delivery Perera’s team-mates have struggled to pick against both Mishra and Yasir Shah. For Mathews, who had come in for criticism for not having bowled his fair share of overs as the third seamer on a seaming pitch and in oppressive humidity, this century was so nearly redemption. His reluctance to bowl might have allowed India to run away with it on the fourth day, but the highest run-getter of the series pitched his tent and hardly made mistakes. There was one when he poked at that Ishant no-ball, but he began to leave really well, and whenever he defended he did so off the middle of the bat. When, on 67, he flicked Mishra away, looking for an easy single, only to see Rahul field it at short leg; Mathews’ full-length lunge back into the crease summed up his determination. With a history of inclement weather and poor light in the final session, this was getting too close for comfort for India. They were left needing something similarly extraordinary towards the end of the second session, and found it through the Perera reverse-sweep. The jury will forever remain out on that shot. Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
SPORTS
India Women Hockey Team Qualifies for Rio NEW DELHI: Indian women hockey team on Saturday booked their tickets to the 2016 Rio Games, only their second qualifications ever for the Olympics. India’s only previous qualification for the Games was in 1980, where they finished a commendable fourth. The fifth-place finish at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in July was enough for India to clinch the historic berth as a place opened up after Netherlands and England reached the final of the Euro Hockey Championships in London. The Indian women’s team was waiting for the confirmation since July as they needed two of the already-qualified teams to reach the final of the European Championships for their qualification. “India qualified after England defeated Spain in the semi-finals of the Unibet EuroHockey Championships in London, which ensured that the only teams who can now win the event have already qualified for Rio through the Hockey World League SemiFinals - Netherlands and England (as Great Britain),” the FIH said on its website. “The winner of the EuroHockey Championships will qualify for the 2016 Olympics as European continental champions, opening up a further qualification spot which India secure as the team who ranked highest at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals not already qualified,” it added. India became the 10th team to qualify for the Rio Games after South Korea, Argentina, Great Britain, China, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and USA.
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Space: Securing India’s Final Frontier BY W.P.S. SIDHU Even as the country was agog with a salacious society murder and an indefensible regional protest over reservations, which hogged headlines, an event of strategic import crucial to secure India’s space frontier was relegated to a footnote. The launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)–D6 powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine is a game-changer. Coupled with a military payload—a satellite, which will enhance secure communications among strategic forces and other key users—the event is critical for many reasons. First, this launch validates the new Indian GSLV design and Indianmade cryogenic engine, which was successfully tested in January 2014 and, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) officials, proves that this second successful launch was no fluke. Indeed, the growing confidence in the capabilities of this GSLV Mark II version will prove crucial for Isro’s development of the GSLV Mark III version capable of putting satellites up to 5,000kg in geosynchronous transfer orbit. Second, at an estimated cost of around $36 million per launch, this GSLV is much cheaper than other options that India has used. For instance, the Ariane 5, which was used to launch GSAT-7—India’s first advanced multi-band communication satellite dedicated for military use— costs approximately $60 million per launch. While India will continue to use foreign launch services given Isro’s limited capacity, the GSLV option is clearly more economical. Third, as a corollary, India is also on the path of becoming a competitive global space actor. It has already become a significant market player in launching satellites between 1,425kg and 1,750kg to geosynchronous and
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Help Wanted geostationary orbits and sun-synchronous polar orbits respectively through its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Until now, the PSLV has launched over 40 satellites for 19 countries.GSLV-D6 marks a crucial turning point in India’s credentials as a significant space power and the desire of its military to use space to enhance India’s security. Over the past five years, India launched an average of four-five satellites per year. Over the next few years, this number is expected to go up to an average of seven-eight per year. In recognition of this increasing demand, Isro plans to build a third launch pad and a second vehicle assembly building to enhance launch turnaround. India’s impressive space credentials notwithstanding, they pale in comparison to China, which is likely to be India’s commercial and military competitor in space. According to the US department of defence (DoD)Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments involving the People’s Republic of China 2015, China is already placing an average of “17-25 satellites on orbit each year”—three-five times India’s average. Moreover, these spacecraft have expanded China’s strategic
satellite communication and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Additionally, China has also completed construction of its fourth space launch centre—its biggest—on Hainan island. While building up its own spacebased assets, China is also developing the capabilities to disrupt the spacebased assets of adversaries through directed-energy weapons and satellite jammers. This, according to the DoD report, is in line with the assertion by China’s military to “blind and deafen the enemy” by “destroying, damaging and interfering with the enemy’s…satellites”.India, which is only just starting to use space-based assets for military purposes, needs to address these challenge through a mix of diplomacy and offensive and defensive space capabilities, which will allow it to protect its own assets from attack while also developing the capability to take action against other assets, if necessary. This is imperative for India to secure its final frontier. W.P.S. Sidhu is senior fellow for foreign policy at Brookings India and a senior fellow at the Center on International Cooperation, New York University. He writes on strategic affairs every fortnight. -livemint.com
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Wrap-3
September 04, 2015
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