Friday, April 25 2014 | Vol. 33, No. 17
$1
Indo American erican News
www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX
7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 713.789.NEWS (6397) • Fax: 713.789.6399 • indoamericannews@yahoo.com
Partnered & Syndicated with Times of India, Sulekha.com, Google, Yahoo & Bing
Fast, Fun, Festive
Vaisakhi
P5 & Collage Pg14&15
P3
IACAN Celebrates Life
Movie Review
MITRA / CAMDEN TRAVEL Consolidators for Turkish Airlines and Asiana Airlines
We have completed 20 successful years 12375 Bissonnet, Ste. B Houston, TX 77099
We have special low fares on Emirates Indo-American News © 2014
WHOLESALER FOR S MAJOR AIR CARRIER • Emirates • Gulf Airways • Kingfisher • Singapore Airlines • Jet Airways • Sahara Airlines • Indian Airlines • Eva Airlines • Asiana Airlines • Qatar Airways • PIA • Air India • Royal Jordanian • China Airlines
P25
281-530-3000, 1-888-811-LESS Please call us to get these special fares
WHOLESALE CONSOLIDATOR OF QATAR & EMIRATES AIRLINES Call us for competitive and confirmed seats on all major cities in Texas to any city in India.Call us for Summer and December seats now
Last minute fares to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore,
Calcutta and many more...
For December fares please call us now.
Special Student and Teacher discounts www.faregurus.com/ camdentravel@aol.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
2
April 25, 2014
Indo Ameri News 10x13_0408 OL.pdf
1
4/8/14
2:45 PM
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
April 25, 2014
3
IACAN Gala Celebrates Life and Offers Hope to Patients and Survivors
Padmini Chari performing special dance entitled ‘The Dancing
Keynote speaker Gabe Canales of Blue Care with IACAN President Kanchan Kabad. Photos: Bijay Dixit
Chief guest, Dr. Hardeep Singh
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: With cancer survivors lined up behind her, Kumud Nilekani stood onstage and sang a touching song celebrating Life, the theme of the Gala that the Indo American Cancer Awareness Network held this past Saturday, April 19 at the Westchase Marriott Hotel. But, just as much as the Gala was a celebration, what the IACN offers to so many Indo Americans is hope and companionship – essentially the vision of the organization – which came through in the speech that President Kanchan Kabad (who happens to be Nilekani’s daughter) delivered later in the evening. “We have received so many calls from people asking how they can get a second opinion and who they should call”, said Kabad as she explained the work that IACAN does. “So far we have answered 37 of such calls and provided guidance and support and connected them to the proper resource”, she added. She explained the vision of IACAN was that ‘no Indian American will undertake the cancer journey alone’ and the mission was to be a resource network providing education and support. Kabad outlined the history of the non-profit since it started five years and the successful programs it has held, especially in the past two years which has seen a surge in the attendance by the local community to events like the use of alternative coping therapies like Tai Chi, acupuncture and laughter to mitigate the discomfort and pain of the disease and the powerful medicines used to fight it. She also mentioned the Bone
Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine said that there was a high chance of a physician misdiagnosing missing signs of the cancer and urged people to ask questions from their doctors. The keynote speaker Gabe Canales is a prostate cancer survivor himself and he described how he had found out about his cancer by sheer accident when he was in his mid-thirties. He founded Blue Care, a non-profit group of which
Marrow Registry that has been ongoing for over a decade within the Indo American community. Gayathri Rao, a bone marrow donor, spoke about her experience on behalf of five other donors - Abhilash Katta, Riddhi Patel, Harsh Kapoor and A Jayakumar. – adding that it was very satisfying to know that her donation could save someone else’s life. Kabad also reported on the preliminary results of the SAHNA project – the South Asian Health Needs Assessment – that will provide a better understanding of the needs of South Asians. It is a project done in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center with a goal to collect self-reported health data from at least 1500 Asian Indians living in Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston counties using a survey of 100 questions that had been tailored to the local Asian Indian community and provided in English and Hindi. IACAN has attended many community functions and its volunteers have been encouraging people to take the survey and only a few more people are needed to meet the target. According to the preliminary results of 400 responses, the average age of the responders was 43, with 88 per cent feeling they were in good or better health; 88 per cent were insured; 88 per cent had family members who had experienced cancer and 20 per cent did not know where to go to get information on cancer. The chief guest, Dr. Hardeep Singh, Chief of Health Policy, Quality & Informatics at the Houston Veterans Affairs Center and an
Feat’ is the President which educates men, young and old, about prostate cancer and chronic disease prevention. He urged everyone to minimize the chemicals they have in their food, water and air. He said that almost 70 percent of cancers are preventable; nine of ten cancers are environmentally triggered and only one of ten is from your genetic makeup. Canales is well respected for his work at Blue Care and is a frequent The Huffington Post, the Houston Chronicle, is a speaker, writer and patient-advocate. The event featured a special dance entitled ‘The Dancing Feat’ performed by students of the teacher Padmini Chari, which told the story of Asha who is diagnosed
with cancer and is filled with pain, fear and anger till one day she is comforted by a loving hand and a voice expressing love and companionship. The Gala was emceed by Dr. Snehal Desai and Dr. Latha Ramchand, Dean of the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. A special pledge drive featured the purchase of balloons of seven different colors for increasing denominations, which, when popped held gift certificates for prizes from area merchants and other vendors. An estimated $85,000 was raised at the Gala for the IACAN’s activities. Dinner for the event was catered by Bombay Brasserie.
American Society of Indian Engineers Invites You To Its May Luncheon Meeting Mr. Daniel W. Krueger, P.E.
Speaker:
Director, Public Works & Engineering, City of Houston
Time & Venue:
Thursday, May 8th, 2014, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM The HESS Club, 5430 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
The Proceeds from this event will help fund the ASIE Scholarship Program Sponsorship Levels: Platinum : $1000 [Seating for 8 @ Reserved Table] Gold: $500 [Seating for 5] Silver: $300 [Seating for 3] All Sponsors will be recognized at the event, on the ASIE Website and ASIE Newsletters Individual Tickets: Members and Government employees : $35 Non-members : $50
For Registration & Payment, please CLICK HERE Event Payment For More Details Contact: Sekhar Ambadapudi Showri Nandagiri
281.235.9202 713.294.3944
sambadapudi@kitprofs.com showrinandagiri@hotmail.com
ASIE is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of engineers, architects, designers, and engineering technicians of Indian origin in the Greater Houston area. Please visit www.asiehouston.org for more details
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
4
April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
April 25, 2014
5
PSH’s Vaisakhi Program Makes You Want to Get Up and Dance!
Jasmeeta Singh
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: Midway through the first half of the six-hour long Punjabi Society of Houston’s Vaisakhi program, the first of the bhangra competition dance groups came onstage and invigorated the crowd with their energetic and rapid paced dance steps and it really made you want to get up and dance. The group was the Chowl Bhangra group from Rice University and they started the competition between the five groups that came on stage this past Saturday night, April 19 at the Cullen Auditorium of the University of Houston.
But that was only part of the whole entertainment package that was planned for the annual Vaisakhi celebration by the event chair Jasmeeta Singh who was also the choreographer and a performer, in addition to be a Director of the PSH. A persistent back pain prevented her from planning the event last year, as a result of which it was not held. The remainder of the program featured bhangra and gidha dances of one variety or the other by many groups from the Sikh and Punjabi community, ranging in age from the very young to college age. The evening also included a few
songs by J. S. Paras, a relative newcomer to the local scene from India, who came onstage first in a shiny silver salwar kurta and a long black sherwani while his 18 year-old son pranced as a backup singer in appriately hip torn jeans. The crowd nearly filled the 1,500 seat Cullen Auditorium, with many spilling outside – as many as a hundred or more - the entrance to partake of the snacks, free juice and water that was being given out. Sim Bullar, the IndoCanadian 7 foot 4 inch tall basketball player from the University of New Mexico who is waiting to be drafted, attended also (as he had the Sports Day program the weekend before0 and towered over the other people. Of the two dozen items that were performed, the five bhangra teams revved up the audience with their unique moves. First place winners were Nishani Bhangra, from the University of Houston, choreographed by Gurbir Singh, winning $1,500. Hurricane Bhangra from Miami, Florida, choreopgraphed by Ravin Sanjani danced away with the second prize of $1,200 and Texas Bhangra from the University of Texas, choreographed by Anish Nagar won the $1,000 third place prize. The last team that competed was the Hopkins Hareepa from Johns Hopkins University. The competition was judged Tarnjot (Ricky Kahlon), Gurbinder Singh (Gary Khera) and Rupi Sandhu. There were three fashion shows this year – one featuring the Gajda Wajda Punjab Kids choreopgraphed by Amarpreet Kaur, Rimple, Manisha and Sehajpreet Kaur and included young kids four and above who went through their paces very precisely and in colorful attire. Another fashion show featured young men and women CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 PHOTO COLLAGE PAGE 14-15
PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Jasmeeta Singh- Event Chair, PSH Director, Organizer, Choreographer and performer. Jagtar Thatty- Director- Sponsors video Akash Singh- Director- Audio Video for all the teams and made intro video Gurmit Kindra- Director- In all areas Sukhpreet Kaur- Director- Ticket Management Amar Singh- Fundraiser Gumit Bhatia- Director- Web site designer, Jus Punjabi coordinator Hardeep Kaur- Director-Printing Bobby kaur- Director- Booth and helper in Fashion show Jasleen Kaur-Photography and registration Rupy Kindra- Web site programmer Mani Soodan- Arranging the Bhangra teams Gurpreet Bhusri- Registration OTHER DIRECTORS
Pritpal Singh, Manohar Singh Mann, Aman Singh Sidhu SPONSORS
Grand Sponsor - Sarabjit Singh & Amarpreet Kaur, Frequency Car Audio. Diamond Sponsors – Anup Singh of Wingate Hotel; Gurminder Padda & family and the Rai family of Ishpal Investments Platinum Sponsor – Bawa Jewellers Gold Sponsors - Surjit Singh & Sandeep Singh; Pritam Singh Toor and Church’s Chicken (S&J Food LLC) 1.Silver Sponsor – a.Collision Plus b.Mass Mutual Insurance – Lalit & Jai Jallan c.Inderjit Kaur, Bobby & Jasmeeta Singh, Harindar Singh & Jasleen Kaur d.Bombay Sweets – Mukhtar Singh & Sukhdev Singh 2.Other Sponsors – a.Dr. Tarsem Singh Dhesi & Manjit Kaur Dhesi b.Harjit Singh & Seema Galhotra of Galson Auto c.Prithpal & Manmeet Likhari d.Mr. & Mrs. Mangat, President of Guru Tegh Bhadur Gurduwara & Owners of Hotel Preet for use of his facility for practice sesions. Grand media Sponsor -- Hum Tum Radio 1480AM Rehan Sidiqqi Media Sponsor -- Music Masala Radio 1090AM 1.Jus Punjabi TV Channel – Kabul, Mani Singh, M Mirza, Tarique 2.TV Asia – Manisha & Gautam
Incredible Services Providers for this event are Lightning Designer – Mahesh Mahbobani Audio, Sound System – Krishna Sound by Darshak Thakkar Event Photography – Murali Sundaram Deep Foods – Complimentary jucie Vasda Punjab – Complimentary water & airport services Aisha Mansood – Complimentary Mehndi
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, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
6
April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
April 25, 2014
T:10”
7
ACT NOW. LIMITE DOFFERTIME .
Watch top Indian channels in HD. HINDI ELITE PACK
$34 99 mo
3 MONTHS FREE FOR
T:6.5”
Requires 24-month commitment, credit qualification, and subscription to qualifying American programming. Receive $34.99/mo. credit for 3 months. Select channels available in HD.
ORDER NOW!
1-888-352-9185 Important Terms and Conditions: Hindi 3 Months Free: Valid for activation and installation of qualifying DISH service between 3/13/14 and 7/13/14. Requires subscription to a qualifying American or DishLATINO package in addition to qualifying Hindi package. You will receive a monthly credit of $34.99 for the first 3 months. You will be responsible for any monthly or upfront costs beyond the value of the credit. After 3 months, then-current everyday monthly price will apply unless you downgrade. Promotional Offers: Requires activation of new qualifying DISH service. All prices, fees, charges, packages, programming, features, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. ETF: If you cancel service during first 24 months, early termination fee of $20 for each month remaining applies. Activation fee may apply. Additional Requirements: HD Free for 24 Months: Additional $10/mo HD fee waived for first 24 months. Requires continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. After promotional period, then-current everyday monthly price applies and is subject to change. Installation/Equipment Requirements: Free Standard Professional Installation only. Certain equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Upfront and additional monthly fees may apply. Recording hours vary; 2000 hours based on SD programming. Equipment comparison based on equipment available from major TV providers as of 1/17/14. Watching live and recorded TV anywhere requires an Internet-connected, Sling-enabled DVR and compatible mobile device. Miscellaneous: Offers available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. State reimbursement charges may apply. Additional restrictions and taxes may apply. Offers end 6/12/14. 9185-Q2R2-3FreeMo-month.April
© 2014 DISH Network L.L.C. All rights reserved.
2014Q2PRINT_Hindi_Indo_American_News_10x6.5ƒ.indd Saved at 4-8-2014 2:52 PM
by bng
from MAC-GRAPH-bn
Printed at: None
PATH: Pennstation:Volumes:Pennstation:DISH Network:14-DISH-0169_2014Q2PRINT_Hindi_Half_page:GRAPHIC_PRODUCTION:LIVE:2014Q2PRINT_Hindi_Ad_Half_ Page:2014Q2PRINT_Hindi_Indo_American_News_10x6.5ƒ.indd
Client Job
DISH NETWORK 14-DISH-0169
Pubs Media Type Live Trim Bleed
Indo American News Print AD 9.5” x 6” 10” x 6.5” None
Proof#
Final
Inks: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Fonts: Akzidenz-Grotesk Pro (Bold, Regular, Light, Super, Regular Condensed) Art: 10x6.5_NP.psd (CMYK; 300 ppi; 100%), Plus India HD.PSD (CMYK; 982 ppi; 76.32%), zee_tv_hd.psd (CMYK; 2248 ppi;
13.34%), SONY SET HD logo blackhd.ai (9.21%), WillowGreyHD.psd (CMYK; 3301 ppi; 2.18%), Life OK final Logo.psd (CMYK; 460 ppi; 15.65%), Aapka_Colors_NEW_Logo.jpg (CMYK; 2883 ppi; 5.2%), TV ASIA HD LOGO 4 PRINT_SWOP.psd (CMYK; 4637 ppi; 6.47%), SAHARA ONE LOGO red hi res_SWOP.psd (CMYK; 2089 ppi; 14.36%)
Notes: 4/10 release
Approvals AD CW PR PD QC AE
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
8
COMMUNITY
April 25, 2014
PSH’s Vaisakhi Program Makes You Want to Get Up and Dance! CONTINUED FROM PAGE
LAW OFFICES OF ZAINAB K. RIZVI DEDICATED DEPENDABLE & PERSONAL ATTENTION IMMIGRATION LAW Non Immigration and Immigrant Visa, Family & Employment Immigration. Citizenship/Naturalization, Asylum,VAWA
5
who came out in couples, dressed in fashions provided by Ahnas Tejani Couture and Sari Sapne, with jewelry from the Highness Collection by Fatima. Rather than walk the typical catwalk, the models went through their routines doing dance steps to Bollywood music and eventually performing a routine that was culminated by an exciting dance routine by Jasmeeta Singh. The final Virsa fashion show was choreopgraphed by Preet Kaur. Another exciting dance number was the Majajanan Gidha choreopgraphed by Preet Kaur and featured a dozen young women who danced to several Punjabi folksongs, recreating the rural dances that are still popular in the Punjab..
Midway through the evening, the program paused to allow for awards to be given to volunteers and for the event’s sponsors to be recognized for their contributions. The Counsul general of India Parvathaneni Harish and his wife Nandita wre welcomed onstage to be felicitated with a plaque and a bouquet of flowers. Harish applauded the Sikh and Punjabi communities for putting together such a wonderful program that celebrated their cultural heritage. “The Punjabi community is very active worldwide”, he said, “and especially in Houston”.Also felicitated was the only South Asian District Court Judge, Ravi Sandill who also was warmly welcomed.
WILLS/TRUSTS
Power of Attorney, Estate Planning
BUSINESS FORMATION Partnerships, LLC, LLP
WE ALSO SPEAK URDU & HINDI CALL TODAY FOR FREE CONSULTATION
713-297-9131 www.zkrlaw.com
2425 WEST LOOP SOUTH SUITE 200, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77027 Principal office located in Houston, Texas
Help Wanted Full Time Sales Girl
for Jewelry Store. Must speak Hindi & Announcement be good in Math. Please Call: 713-789-7575
13100 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
www.testmasters.com
281-564-7700
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
April 25, 2014
9
Navin Nikam – Jamie Miller Wedding University of South Carolina. His father, Nik is a well-known cardiologist in Houston and his mom works for Worley Parsons, a multinational engineering and construction company. Navin has an elder sister Anita and another sister Shobna who lives in New York. The bride, Jamie Miller, 28, is a Registered Nurse working in the ER department of a hospital in Charlotte, South Carolina. The couple met while at school in Texas Tech. Jamie’s mother Peri Copeland Keefner attended the wedding with her husband Bobby. The reception was held at the Crystal Ballroom and another one will be held on Friday, April 25 at Madras Pavilion in Sugar Land. The couple
Jamie and Navin.
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: One of the celebrated physicians in our community – and certainly a man around town who loves to share his point of view, whether on the radio, in books, in small talks on health and in electronic media – Dr. Nik Nikam had a large bit of celebrating of his own to do this past weekend when his son got married on Saturday, April 19. While the proud father watched from one side and the groom’s mother Sandhya Rao from the
other, their son, Navin Nikam, placed the jayamala over the head of his chosen bride, Jamie Miller at an outdoor mandap. The wedding was held at The Gallery in the southwest, just west of Chimney Rock and north of Richmond. The groom rode in on the decorated white mare Peggy and came to the font gate behind his baratis. The wedding ceremony was conducted by Priest Ganesh from the Chinmaya Mission. The groom Navin, 34, went to the University of Texas in Austin be-
fore going to medical school in Texas Tech in Lubbock. He is finishing his Fellowship in Cardiology at the
Experienced Threaders
Wanted
Seva Beauty is the nation’s fastest growing Spa Company and we are looking for talented threaders to join our Dallas & McKinney, TX team. Competitive pay, & service discounts available.
Call 317-205-0000 ext 801 or Apply online at sevabeauty.com/careers Advanced training in eyelash extensions, threading, and brow tinting available on sevaacademy.com.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
honeymooned in St. Martins in the Caribbean and will make their home in Charlotte, at least until Navin finishes his Fellowship by next year.
10 April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
April 25, 2014
11
Fitness Day at Meenakshi Temple
5-K Walkathon and the Inaugural Basketball Tournament
MTS 5-K Walkathon
MTS Walkathon, April 20.
BY DR. AL ALAGAPPAN PEARLAND: The saying “Healthy body is important for a Healthy Mind� is often heard; this theme was the background to Sri Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) Fitness day held on Aprill 20th. The day started with the second annual 5-K Walkathon event with around 200 people (adults and children) participated and this year it provided fund raising event to benefit the main temple renovation project (MTRP). The entire walking track was prepared within the MTS premises with the help of temple staff and few dedicated volunteers. Despite the April showers few days ago, the ground was mostly dry on the day and the organizers did a tremendous job getting the walking track prepared. It was a feast to the eyes to see the cheerful participants starting to gather from 7 am on a Sunday morning with their active sporting gear and walking shoes. The weather was perfect
for the walk with a little bit of mist and fog in the beginning with the sun coming up at the right time. The event started off with a brief warm up and followed by Mrs. Hasitha’s demonstration of Sun salutation, then the aarthi inside the Ganesh temple performed by the temple priest, Parameshwaran Bhattar. The MTS Chairman, Dr. Vaduganathan and Nacha Vaduganathan kicked off the event with the ribbon cutting ceremony. The kids ranging from 2-15 years participated in a shorter version of 3-K walk, and were thrilled to find several Easter eggs along the way. The youngest lot also participated in the coloring contest. All the adult participants completed the full 5-K which comprised of three full rounds on the track, while some over enthusiastic participants completed five rounds. It was a serene atmosphere at the temple with the morning ragas playing in the back ground which made the walk even more enjoyable. Sev-
eral volunteers distributed water, fruit juices and bananas to the participants. Free hats for the children and T shirts were sponsored by the event coordinators, Dr. Alagappan and Saro Alagappan. The chief guest for the event was kept as a secret till the end while everyone was guessing. The long time devotee as well as one of the generous donors of the previous MTS events and projects including the GTRP (Ganesh temple renovation project) Dr. Appan was duly recognized by the MTS Chairman. Dr. Appan distributed the door prizes as well the prizes for the oldest male and female participant which was given to Anantha and Dhanam Thiagarajan, and to the youngest participant boy, Anirudh (3 1/2 years) and the youngest girl (2 1/2 years) Anisha from Katy. The event concluded with a hot sumptuous free breakfast provided by Food coordinator Jeyam Thiagarajan and Staff Sri Meenakshi temple. The fund raiser was a huge success, thanks to the corporate and individual sponsors who supported this event. Looking at the over whelming enthusiasm among the participants, a permanent walking track at the MTS may soon become a reality to benefit the devotees.
MTS Inaugural Basketball Tournament
MTS Basketball tournament.
BY MAHESH IYER PEARLAND: When the first MTS Spring Basketball tournament got off to an on-time start of 11:00 AM, it was simply a prelude to the precise execution of a well thought out event. Chairman Dr. Vadagunathan kicked off the event with a short speech which concluded thus: “may the best team win�. There were 38 contestants spread over the greater Houston area, divided into 4 teams. Krishnan Swaminathan, the lead coordinator for the event, left no stone un-turned as far as managing every step of the month long planning and execution process.
The nail biting finish between “A-Team� and “Alley-Oops�, kept the 100+ spectators on the edge of their seats. True sportsmanship prevailed when Kotesh Rao and Venkat Ramanathan, who respectively coached these two teams, shook hands and encouraged each other’s teams. All the team members exhibited remarkable competitive spirit in the true sense of accomplished sportsmen. In the end, all the spectators concluded that the unforgettable sparkle in the eyes of the finalists was totally worth the month long preparation leading up to the day long competition.
Needless to say, the other two teams “Jay Hawks� and “Clearlake Cobras� did put on a massive fight. All games did end up being too close to call till the last few seconds. This kept the referees and scorekeepers on high alert throughout the games. It was indeed a welcome sight to see community wide participation for all aspects of the game. A long overdue tournament, well worth the efforts of keeping young adults within the temple going community, and what an awesome spirit. It was indeed an Amazing day at the Meenakshi Temple.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
12 April 25, 2014 Classical Arts Society Takes Music Lovers to a World of Melody, Harmony and Melharmony
COMMUNITY
ed and helped appreciation of the vast scope of music which originated and developed in distinct civilizations. The event opened with a traditional Carnatic recital before a packed audience. Sri Meenakshi Temple Society being a partner of Classical Arts Society, the opening concert took place at MTS Kalyana Mandapam, the traditional venue for conducting the Tyagaraja Festival. Rest of the performances was held at Asia Society Texas Center.
Raju veDale (Thodi), Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s Vazhimaraikuthe. (Natakurinji), and Purandara Dasa’s Daya Mado (Riti Gowla). The much detailed Ranjani-mala Ragam Thanam Pallavi was the highlight of the evening and the credit goes equally to Ranjani, Gayathri, violinist Sri H.N. Bhaskar and the mridangist Sri Manoj Siva. The accompanists deserve much credit for the success of this concert. Sri. H. N. Bhaskar’s sophisticated, relaxed, and creative style enhanced every moment of the concert. The exuberant professionalism shown by Sri Manoj Siva throughout the concert, especially in the thani was commendable. A brief but fascinating demonstration of
Ranjani- Gayathri, H.N. Bhaskar, Manoj Siva and Kruthi at start of the concert
BY CHITTOOR RAMACHANDRAN HOUSTON: Classical Arts Society presented its second part of the annual Tyagaraja festival as a two-day event on April 11 and 12. At its 37th year milestone, some of the ingenious changes made in the society’s course have been applauded by the music lovers of Greater Houston. The festival once again reassured the rasikas that Classical Arts Society continues to remain as a strong patron of Carnatic music in Greater Houston as it always has been during the past three decades. To the delight of the music connoisseurs, two major reputed art organizations of Houston- the Asia Society Texas and the Houston Grand Opera joined hands with Classical Arts Society. This was a welcome initiative which made the event enjoyable to a wider circle. The artistic director Sri. Chitravina N.Ravikiran creatively planned and featured several unique presentations to
bring out some of the distinct elements common to or different from Carnatic music, opening the festival henceforth into a new arena. Participation of several distinguished music experts internationally well known in their respective niche of music enlightened the audience and elevated the scholastic aspect of the event. Some of the presenters included Dr. Robert Morris ( Eastman College of Music, University of Rochester), Dr. Mena Mark Hanna (Asst. Artistic Director of Houston Grand Opera), Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran (Director, American School of Indian Art, Cincinnati, OH), and the artistic director of the event Sangeet Samrat Chitravina N. Ravikiran. In a panel discussion, key characteristics of Western and Eastern classical music were discussed and demonstrated. Melody in Indian classical music system and harmony in Western classical music system was the primary focus of discussion. Such fascinating topics captivat-
Ranjani-Gayathri with Classical Arts Board members
An enthralling concert by the most celebrated vocalist sisters Ranjani and Gayathri opened the curtain of the festival. The three hours of rendition was splendid and of superb quality. The artistes maintained perfection in every raga they delivered evoking the mood of each composition. Some of the major krithis they elaborated were Tyagaraja’s
operatic music by Houston Grand opera was presented by excellent performing artistes Alisa Magallon (Soprano), Alejandro Magallon (Tenor) and Teruhiko Toda (piano). These artistes are associated with Houston Grand Opera and are well sought CONTINUED ON PAGE
TRANSCENDENT D E I T I E S of I N D I
A
THE EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE of THE DIVINE
ON VIEW
MAY 2
–
SEPTEMBER 14
in the Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery at Asia Society Texas Center 1370 Southmore Boulevard in Houston’s Museum District OPENING RECEPTION
FRIDAY, MAY 2
•
6 – 8 PM
Enjoy food trucks; cash bar available.
More information at asiasociety.org/texas or 713.496.9901 THE EXHIBITION IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE.
Vishnu-Garud Wahan, Ravi Varma Press, Karla-Lonavla, Paper, ink, fabric, metallic thread, Courtesy of Ramchander Nath Foundation, New Delhi
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Indo-American News Ad size is 10 w x 6.5 h
16
April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
13
14 April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
15
16 April 25, 2014
COMMUNITY
Ashirwad Celebrates to Appreciate Happy Day 6 HOUSTON: Ashirwad A Blessing Temple celebrated Happy Day 6 on Saturday, April 19, in Cinco Ranch High School, Katy. Happy Day is Ashirwad’s end of the year graduation and appreciation dinner. Highlights of the evening were Chief Teacher’s Commitment Award, Sloka-Thon, SlokaBet, Vedic Fair 3 Appreciation, “Karma”, Play by Ashirwad Students, Annual Sloka Recital and Graduation Ceremony. Happy Day 6 was invoked in traditional way by lighting of diyas by Ashirwad’s Chief Teacher and team. Geetha Ravula, every year recognizes one Ashirwad Family by awarding them Chief Teacher’s commitment award for their consistent commitment to heritage. For 2014 it was awarded to Saanika Halpeti, Manisha Halapeti, Mahesh Halapeti, Siya Halapeti. Sloka-Thon 2014 was the signature event of the evening. The top 3 finalists competed live on stage by reciting in 3 minutes pre-
From right, Geetha Ravula, Srinidhi Srikalyani (2nd Runner Up), Saanika Halapeti {Slokathon Winner}, Rhea Bhat(1st Runner up), Rithika Ravishankar (Sloka-Bet Joint Winner), Divena Donthi (Sloka-Bet Joint Winner) and Priya Muralidharan.
cisely as many Vishnu Saharanamam slokas as they can. Saanika Halapeti was the
winner by reciting 48 slokas. 1st runner up was Rhea Bhat who was the winner in 2013
and 2nd runner up was Srinidhi Srikalyani. These year Ashirwad introduced Sloka-Bet on Bhagwad Githa for their senior students. Divena Donthi and Rithika Ravishankar the joint winners recited flawlessly the slokas and explained the meaning of the slokas randomly drawn by the judges. Ashirwad recognized Vedic Fair 3 supporters Radha Sharma, Sachin Sharma, Sukhi Kohli of IACHF, How 2 Workshop experts Sangita Bhutada, Ravi Sethuraman, Praveena Kadakia, India Exhibit Presentation Competition below 10 winner Ruthvik Jonna, runner up Vishnu Nataraja, above 10 winner Divena Donthi, runner up Anika Ravishankar and cooking competition winner Manjari Guturu and runner up Renu Ahuja. Ashirwad students under the guidance of Geetha Ravula and Ashirwad team put together the highlight of the evening “Karma” a play in english depicting what is Karma. Students not only acted, but they were very enthusiastic to be involved in the play script, props, back stage logistics and DJ. Audience gave Karma, two thumbs up. Happy Day concluded on a happy note, for every kid present received their graduation trophy which they will cherish for a long time to come. Geetha and Sri Ravula of Ashirwad A Blessing Temple want to thank Ashirwad Team comprising of Ravi Sethuraman, Sivapriya Ravishankar, Priya Muralidharan, Deepika Maharaj, Srimathi Kumar, Laxmi Hegde, Shagun Ahuja, Mahima Bhat, Manisha Halapeti, Mahesh Halapeti, Vivek Bhonsley, Bindu Rao, Sailesh Kaparaju, Suresh Arumilli, Vinod Conikee, Ashutosh Sapru, Sonali Sapru, Hari Nemmara.
Classical Arts Society CONTINUED FROM PAGE
12
after in our city. Their superb performance elicited ardent interest in the audience and was very informative. A group of young performing artistes ( The String Quintet : Sandy Nagarajan, Jacob Miller, Jessie DeArman, Nicholas Perkyns & Anna Howard) from High School of Performing& Visual Arts presented a brief and lovely demonstration to highlight Melharmony, a musical form (derived from Melody and Harmony) invented by Sri. Ravikiran. In this confluence of Western and Eastern music, this brief presentation was an experience that was truly unique and beautiful. A grand jugalbandi concert by Sri. Ravikiran (chitravina) and Sri. Snehasish Mozumder (mandolin) with accompaniment by Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy (mridangam) and Sri. Gouri Shankar Karmarkar (tabla) was the finale of the event. The two eminent artistes in Carnatic and Hindustani styles displayed their impeccable prowess in their disciplines and won the hearts of the audience in their opening independent pieces. The percussionists also exhibited their competence in their art to explore the vast scope of improvisation. The impromptu moments kept many in the audience at the edge of their seats. Overall, the performance concluded with general appreciation from the audience. One should greatly appreciate the organizers for their thoughtful initiative to feature distinct disciplines in an event like this festival. We can be sure that the partnership of this kind will remain beneficial in this land where the world cultures merge. INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
2014_Convo3_Financial Planning Refresh_AI_FP_Hou_IAN_Final.indd 1
17
2/25/14 3:16 PM
18 April 25, 2014 Mind Your Head
Common sense has finally prevailed in Delhi, where women riding two-wheelers will soon be required by law to wear helmets, the same as men. It is a step up from the retrograde argument the Sheila Dixit government had accepted, that Sikh women transgressed their faith by donning helmets. While there is a strong argument for making helmets compulsory for men, women need them even more. In India, women who ride pillion vastly outnumber women who drive, and pillion riders are far more likely to suffer serious injury than those driving. Sadly, Indians have proven to be numbskulls on the helmet question. Despite over two decades of advocacy, the motorcycle helmet is still not seen as a safety device. It is not insurance against a broken head, but merely insurance against a traffic fine. Avoidance is wind-in-the-hair bravado, an expression of libertarian individualism. Also, an expression of extreme idiocy since, if the libertarian unexpectedly collides with another vehicle, its driver would probably be looking at a case of death due to negligent driving. With a helmet on, the libertarian’s survival would be much likelier. Riding without a helmet is being recognised as a panIndian pandemic and state after state is instituting public education drives, if not legal curbs. But in prominent states like Tamil Nadu, it is still common to see whole families including grandparents and babies lurching about on twowheelers, daring fate bare-headed. And it was ironic that Delhi had only managed to impose legal curbs on male riders. Because the story of two-wheeler safety began here in the early 1990s, with the pioneering work of Professor Dinesh Mohan at IIT Delhi, who subjected Indian helmets to crash testing and found almost all brands on the market wanting. The fact that the advocacy of decades has failed to urge the need for helmets speaks volumes for our intelligence. Until our skulls become more permeable, perhaps we do need legal protection from ourselves. Indian Express
EDITORIAL
Mere Paas Space Hain BY SHEKHAR GUPTA That could be Mumbai’s tagline, punchline and faultline. For, nothing drives or drags, unites or divides voters in this great city as the endless struggle for space. You see it in Milind Deora’s campaign as he peddles his premium product — himself. And in Medha Patkar’s anger as she talks of inequality in a slum under a forest of branded airconditioners. It’s been a decade since Kolkata ceded to Mumbai its pre-eminence in globalising popular culture and serious literature. From Suketu Mehta (Maximum City) to Katherine Boo (Behind the Beautiful Forevers) through Gregory David Roberts’s Shantaram and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Mumbai is our most studied, psychoanalysed, romanticised and feared city. Interludes of scams (Adarsh) and terror (26/11, besides the many serial bombings) haven’t helped. Yet, for all the literature that you could borrow wisdom from, and all the movies for stereotypes to lean on, Mumbai is a political journalist’s nightmare. Particularly when in the throes of its most intensely fought election ever. Send me out to read the writings on the wall in the Hindi heartland, and I promise you a quick turnaround and a head full of stories. You think that cowbelt politics is complex. But it has its short-cuts and set algebra, geometry and patterns. “Brahmin, Thakur, Bhumihar, eastern UP-western Bihar, and throw in some Scheduled Castes and Muslims,” said a teachers’ union leader at Banaras Hindu University, where I had gone to cover a strike in 1983, and got, instead, a tutorial in UP-Bihar politics, delivered at the speed of today’s FM radio jockeys. Try applying any of that to Mumbai at election time. You can add the Marathi Manoos, the south Indians, even the Parsis for diversity. But any conventional political calculus won’t work here. Because it defies every set convention, even for complex cities. I shout at Milind Deora, trying to
Caste, religion, ethnicity, ideology do not paint the political walls in Mumbai. It is the struggle for space. catch his attention on top of his campaign truck as it travels from Geeta Nagar to Ganesh Murti Nagar, in the sprawling slum abutting the mangroves on the Cuffe Parade seafront on one side, a naval residential colony — high walls, barbed wire fences, watch-towers, armed guards — on the other, and overlooked by the most infamous abandoned building in India’s recent history: Adarsh. “What is the voter mix here,” I want to know. “How many Muslims, bhaiyyas (as UP-Bihar wallahs are called) and Maharashtrians?” Impossible to tell,” he says, “Mumbai cannot be understood like that.” He says he is appealing to no category of voters in particular. “These are smart voters,” he says, “they will vote for the best product on offer… they are not like voters in other places, uncle.” Which gives me the excuse to bring out of the closet an old story shared between his family and mine. I have said for years that I can never figure out his father, Murli, because my son addressed him by his first name when he first met him as a 9-year-old, and my chairman (Viveck Goenka) calls him uncle. Young Milind has never suffered from any such confusion at his end. The “product” he puts on offer is himself as a double-incumbent MP. In Maharashtra, as in Delhi or Haryana, this isn’t an election where Congress people seek votes for their party’s achievements. Milind knows that he is the party’s
Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS & PRODUCTION MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN GRAPHIC DESIGN: AMITHA DEVIKRUPA CORRESPONDENTS
HOUSTON: MALAY VYAS, MANU SHAH CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR, INDIA: RAJ KANWAR ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
most winnable candidate in Mumbai, particularly with the BJP having conceded the seat to the Shiv Sena, which means that there is also an MNS candidate to divide those against him. Besides, he has to contend with the AAP’s Meera Sanyal. But even his rivals acknowledge that he offers a good product. He has worked hard in the undercity of his constituency and his parents’ old network of goodwill, friendship and IOUs have left the South Mumbai upper crust in a dilemma: they so desperately want Narendrabhai as prime minister but cannot bear the thought of voting against Milind beta. “Milind wasn’t entirely honest in declaring his assets,” said one prominent corporate leader, illustrating his own dharamsankat. “He did not mention the number and names of influential South Mumbai notables his father counts among his bridge partners.” Caste, religion, ethnicity, ideology do not paint the political walls in Mumbai. None of these determines its politics, voter choices, ambitions, fears and prejudices. Or maybe this is too sweeping. Each one of these factors does play a role. But none of them, not even all of them together, decides what drives or drags, unites or divides, angers or pleases, fulfils or frustrates this great city and persuades its voters to choose their six representatives to the Lok Sabha. Nor is that determinant purely economic, even though it is tempting to steal Katherine Boo’s brilliant idea of a megapolis divided between an overcity and an undercity. Because the two are not clearly demarcated in any sense. They overlap and coexist organically, and symbiotically. But I do find a very helpful clue from her description of Annawadi slum, far in northern, suburban Mumbai. It is miserable, stinky, sub-human, Danny Boyleish, and yet its inhabitants, she says, would not qualify to be poor people according to India’s norms. It is a cruel thing to admit, but she is right. Shekhar Gupta is editor of the Indian Express.
COMMUNITY
Clinton Backer Sant Chatwal of Bombay Palace Pleads Guilty
April 25, 2014
19
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) Championing the Global Preservation of Hinduism 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, Texas 75035, USA; Phone: 601-‐918-‐7111 www.savetemples.org • contact@savetemples.org
Discussions on Hinduism & Dharma in Houston by
HH Sri Paripoornananda Swamiji
Sant Singh Chatwal, left, and Bill Clint
Peethadhipathi, Sree Peetham, Kakinada, India NEWYORK: Sant Singh Chatwal, an IndianAmerican hotel and restaurant owner, whose relationship with the former President Bill Friday, May 2nd -‐7pm Clinton and potential 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clintons dated back years pleaded guilty in Federal District Court in Brooklyn on Thursday, April 17, 2014 to 17130 McLean Rd Pearland, TX 77584 skirting federal campaign contribution laws and witness tampering. (281) 489-‐0358 www.emeenakshi.org Sant Singh Chatwal, 70 years old, was reDiscourse in English leased on a $750,000 bail bond and didn’t respond to questions as he left Brooklyn federal court. He admitted to funneling approximately $188,000 to three candidates - identified by a Saturday, May 3rd – 7pm person with knowledge of the investigation as Mrs. Clinton, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Representative Kendrick B. Meek of Florida - from 2007 to 2011, prosecu10098 Synott Rd., Sugar Land TX 77498 tors said. Now, Chatwal, 70, faces up to 25 (281) 498-‐2344 www.ashtalakshmi.org years in prison Chatwal is chairman of the $1.5 billion luxury Discourse in Telugu Hampshire Hotels & Resorts empire, which owns and operates hotels around the world, including the Time and Dream hotels in New York and the Bombay Palace restaurant chain, Sunday, May 4th – 3.30pm which owned a location in the Galleria Area in Houston till a few years ago when it was sold. Chatwal and his family have given more than 7601 S Forestgate Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382 $350,000 to candidates for federal office since the 1990s and have raised hundreds of thou(832) 585-‐0001 www.woodlandshindutemple.org sands more. In April 2007, he formed “Indian Americans for Hillary 2008” and pledged to Discourse in English raise $5 million for her presidential campaign. The US Election Act prohibits making a campaign contribution in the name of another Young Hindu – Future Hindu generations -‐ Discourses on Hinduism, person, including giving funds to a “straw do Cultural Values and Power of Youth (English) Social and nor,” or a conduit, for the purpose of having the straw donor pass the funds to a federal candidate How to b e a Practicing Hindu in Modern Society (English) as the straw donor’s own contribution. Mother-‐ Maatru Devo Bhava (English) Chatwal has long been shadowed by financial and legal problems in both the United States and India, filing for bankruptcy twice, facing Dharma Vs Adharma – Impact on Modern Society (Telugu) allegations of bank fraud and owing millions in back taxes. Spirituality vs Dharma (Telugu) Chatwal filed for bankruptcy protection in 1995 and in 1997 was sued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for his role in For more information, contact: Srinivas Valluripalli – 510-‐681-‐8497 Shoba Valluripalli – 281-‐261-‐6526 a failed New York bank. A naturalized United Bhaskar Mutyala – 512-‐564-‐0440 Padma Golla – 713-‐377-‐0419 States citizen, he was charged in 2000 with Kumar Paruchuri – 832-‐419-‐1576 Vijay Pallod 713-‐562-‐1920 bank fraud in India, but was eventually dropped Rajendher Reddy – 281-‐773-‐9595 Prasad Gurjala 281-‐818-‐7824 from the case. Kishore Dannapaneni – 832-‐515-‐0050
Sri Meenakshi Temple
Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple
Hindu Temple of The Woodlands
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
20 April 25, 2014
COMMUNITY
Welcome Back Reception for Nina Magon after Completing NBC TV Show
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA HOUSTON: Surrounded by a crowd of guests who came to welcome her back, Nina Magon expressed her appreciation for the outpouring of support. “I’ve been gone for five months while we taped all the episodes of the show in LosAngeles”, she said as she stood besides the displayed furniture in the Internum Design showroom on Kirby Drive near Richmond on Thursday, April 17. “I just couldn’t have done it without the support of my entire staff and especially my husband Karun who took care of our two kids while I was away”, she added. Magon is one of the twelve contestants chosen from a nationwide search for the new one-hour reality television show, American Home Builders, which premiered on NBC on Sunday, March 23. The show breaks down the contestants into two teams which pit against each other to renovate homes, with emphasis on the interiors. Their final results
Nina Magon with her parents on her left, Vinni and Arun Verma and her husband Karun on her right, with his parents Krishan and Suneeta Magon at the reception.
Nina Magon (fourth from left) with members of the cast of American Home Builders and other guests at the reception thrown in her honor at Internum Design on Kirby Drive on Thursday, April 17.
ALEXANDER P. MATHEWS, CPA For Services In:
INDIVIDUAL & BUSINESS TAXES • BUSINESS TAX CONSULTATION INCORPORATION, FORMATION OF LLC CERTIFIED QUICK BOOK ADVISOR AVAILABLE
25 Years in Public Accounting 11104 West Airport, Ste 114, Stafford, TX 77477
(281) 564-9500
are rated by three judges – host Nate Berkus, Eddie George and Monica Pedersen – with one of the contestants eliminated every week. In this past Sunday’s episode, Magon was the Project Manager of the winning team. So far four contestants have been eliminated. Magon has her own firm, Contour Interior Design, which made its debut with the design and construction of a speculative house in West University which sold for close to a million dollars. She received a Bachelor in Science in Economics & Finance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and post-graduate studies in architecture and design at The Art Institute of Houston. She has won several awards for interior design from groups in Houston and also dedicates time to non-profit organiza-
Houston area and as of last Sunday’s episode, she was still in the running in the contest. The finale will pit the reaming two designers against each other as they renovate two impressive Southern California homes.
tions in the Bayou City. It was Magon’s growing reputation as a homebuilder and interior designer that caught the eye of the producers of NBC Universal as they scouted around the nation for contes-
The reception at Internum was partially sponsored by local firms in support of Dec My Room, a local charity that seeks to enhance the lives of children who have been hospitalized for a prolonged period of time, and was promoted by NBC Universal. Apart from Magon, five other cast members of the TV show were on hand to add glamour to the reception which packed the showroom and toured its unique blend of furniture, accessories and artwork. Cordua Catering provided the hors d’oeuvres for the evening. Magon is the daughter of longtime local Indo-Americans Dr. Arun and Vinni Verma who have a real-estate business and have been prominent in bringing to the Metroplex the hugely successful Ram Leela and Dussehra Mela, held for the past two years in Skeeters Stadium in Sugar Land. They were on hand for the reception,
Nina Magon with the staff of her company Contour Interior Design. Her husband Karun is on the extreme left.
tants in their newly envisioned television show. She was the sole candidate left after an extensive search in the
as were Magon’s in-laws, Krishan and Suneeta Magon.
Read us online at www.indoamerican-news.com INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
HOUSTON: Nepalese Association of Houston (NAH) organized a social and cultural evening to celebrate 4th Nepal Day in Houston and the arrival of Nepali New Year 2071 on April 11, in Houston. During the Non-resident Nepali Conference 2010 held in Houston, Mayor of Houston Honorable Annise Parker had recognized to celebrate Nepal Day in Houston every year. Since then, NAH has been organizing various events and programs in Houston City to celebrate the tradition, culture, heritage and identity of Nepali Diasporas in Houston. ”Over the past ten years, Houston has become home to over 4,000 Nepalese now. With another 4000 Bhutanese of Nepali-origin, the number of people living in greater Houston area that are of Nepali culture and heritage has become significant to the cultural diversity of greater Houston area. “It is a matter of our pride and pleasure to be able to celebrate our national culture in the great city of Houston every year”, said Madhukar Amatya who serves as the President of the Nepalese society. This year’s theme of the Nepal Day was “Birth place of Lord Buddha – peace zone Nepal”. According to the general secretary of the NAH, Dr. Rupak Rauniar “Many do not know that although Lord Buddha attained the Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, India, he was born as a prince to the Shakya King of Lumbini
21
April 25, 2014
Nepali New Year Celebrated
Nepal Day soccer tournament was held in March that was participated by four local teams. Druk Houston defended their Nepal Day Soccer Championship title by defeating Dead Runner 4-1 in the finals played in Sugarland. Soccer is the most popular sports in Nepal and neighboring region. The organizing sports committee of NAH includes some of the national level soccer players of Nepal including Min Bikram Recognizing community members for their Shah, Dinker Amatya, Paban Shrestha, and Bijay Bokhim. services To mark the celebration of in Nepal”. Dr. Rauniar stressed that given poor Nepal Day, a blood donation drive was orgaeconomic conditions in Nepal along with the nized in association with Gulf Coast Blood on unstable political and government system, the April 5 at NAH office located in the Hillcroft country had been experiencing chaos, poverty, area. Over 40 people donated blood during the increased crimes and at times violence. “Thus event. Jyoti Ghimire, the coordinator of the emphasizing Lord Buddha’s message of peace event underscored the importance of blood and purity in the world as the theme and slogan drive, “blood is fundamental to human life and for celebrating the Nepal Day 2014 is timely for one of the easiest way to help to save lives”. On the eve of Nepali New Year 2071, the 4th NAH” added Dr. Rauniar.
Nepal Day celebration was marked by children art competition, cultural program, and dj night at Taj Hall located in the Hillcroft area. Anita Adhikar, a renowned children book author from Michigan read two of her newly published books to the children. The program began with reading of congratulatory note for the Nepali community by the Mayor Annise Parker. The cultural program hosted several Nepali folk dances and recital of national songs from Nepal. Over 250 people celebrated the night in a familybased environment and welcomed the arrival of new year 2071 Bikram Sambat. As the Nepalese community in Houston continues to grow in the Houston area, events and functions like this helps to preserve the rich South Asian culture in the city.
Nepal Day Blood Donation
Central Bancorp Shareholders Approve Merger with Hanmi Financial Corporation LOS ANGELES: Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: HAFC) (“Hanmi”), the holding company for Hanmi Bank, announced that shareholders of Central Bancorp, Inc. (“CBI”), parent of Texas-based United Central Bank, overwhelmingly approved the merger with Hanmi. Of Central Bancorp’s eligible voting shares, 88% were represented at CBI’s special meeting of shareholders and 100% of those
shareholders voted in favor of the merger. “We are very pleased that CBI shareholders have voted to join Hanmi,” said C. G. Kum, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hanmi. “We believe the combination of our banks will create a strong franchise that will become one of the premier community banks serving not only Korean Americans, but also many other ethnic communities as well.”
As of December 31, 2013, CBI had approximately $1.42 billion in assets, $0.64 billion in gross loans and $1.25 billion in deposits, and 23 branches across six states (Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and California). Under the terms of the agreement, the total merger consideration payable to CBI common stockholders is $50 million in cash, subject to potential purchase price adjustments. The trans-
action is expected to close in the second half of 2014. Excluding one-time merger expenses, the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to 2014 earnings and significantly accretive to 2015 earnings and beyond; and is expected to generate an internal rate of return in excess of 20% for Hanmi shareholders. SEE AD ON PG 2
SAMSKRITI presents
an EnActe Arts production
Playwright: Sanjiv Desai
Director: Vinita Sud Belani
A rib-tickling, rip-roaring contemporary comedy of life after kids.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
22 April 25, 2014 LEARN TO DRIVE TODAY!
Ganesh Anand Catering Services Pure Vegetarian South & North Indian Dishes. Chaat & Snacks Contact Babulbhai: 832-891-1421 13180 West Park Dr. @ Synott Houston, TX 77082
COMMUNITY
NATA Health Fair Held with Passion for Community Service
HOUSTON: North American Telugu Association (NATA) organized a mega health fair on April 12 in Navasota, Texas. This event was conducted with the help of various HSBV and BCS doctors to celebrate World Health Day. “The fair benefited hundreds of people in the Brazos Valley,” said organizers Prof. Samba Reddy, a professor of medicine and community service leader, and Dr. Venkata Raju, a respected pediatrician and neonatalogist. This fair demonstrated a new trend in preventive health services that can be delivered for less than two dollars per person. The ultimate impact of such services, delivered by a thematic array of inexpensive health education, examinations, and exhibitions, exceeds thousands in saved expenses and increased public health awareness. The Mega Health Fair, which featured free admission for all, was held in the local Omkaranth Temple and featured specialist doctor meetings, health education for all ages, glucose tests, BP screenings, BMI education, dental check-ups, nutrition instruction, and immunization updates. “More than 25 specialty doctors, 30 medical students, 20 local volunteers, 10 HSBV volunteers and 15 NATA volunteers provided services in this health fair. They contributed greatly to the success of this event. This is a true testament to their genuine passion and commitment for community service,” said organizers Prof. Reddy and Dr. Raju. Fair activities were focused on health screenings, consultations, and current health awareness through
NATA Health fair 2014 numerous exhibits and health talks featuring experts in medicine, yoga, art of living, life insurance, nutrition, and more. Specialists in pediatrics, rheumatology, oncology, orthopedics, psychiatry, and endocrinology also provided expert consultations to participants, while internists and dentists performed individual tests, including glucose screens and BP checkups. Medical students distributed free bike helmets to all children, who also received free vision screening and dental checkups. Health talks were the central focus of the fair. Endocrinologist Dr. Shanmugam spoke on preventing and coping with diabetes. Orthopedician Dr. Mukund Gundanna explained how to care for the neck and back, providing several tips for common back pain. Angelica described the benefits of the Indian-originated “laughter yoga.” Suprathik Kundu and Sriram Sarvotham spoke on the importance of the “art of living.” Ramana Reddy (NY Life) advised will and life insurance to protect one’s health and assets. Janani Jayakumar shared her experience distributing free mosquito nets in India to prevent vector-borne diseases such as encephalitis and malaria. Fair advisor Dr. Nalini Dave gave an enlightened presentation on nutrition. A healthy vegetarian lunch from Taz was served to all participants. “You don’t need much money to do community services; we did this entire fair with less than $1000. All you need is passion, committed volunteers, and dedicated organizers,” said Prof. Samba Reddy. “This great
success has been possible because of the volunteer efforts of the mega team and the inspiration of philanthropic NATA leaders Dr. Malla Reddy and Dr. Prem Reddy,” said the event organizers. NATA thanks all BCS doctors who participated in the fair: Drs. Nalini Dave (Internist), Mahesh Dave (Psychiatrist), Venkata Raju (Neonatologist), Thada Venkata Reddy (Internist), Selva Pollachi (Internist), Rohini Ragupathi (Internist), Kuppuswamy Ragupathi (Gastroenterologist), Anu Aparasu (Internist), Latha Ravichandran (Internist), Veena Anand (Pediatrician), Anup Amin (Pulmonologist), Ganesh Shanmugam (Allergist), Nitesh Banker (Radiologist), Rajpreet Singh (Rheumatologist), Usha Venkatraj (Oncologist), Karim Haji (Surgeon), Asha Haji (Family physician), Bobby Bains (Radiation Oncologist), Dr. Neha Karanjikar (Dentist), Ketan Sukkawala (Dentist), Jothi Sukkawala (Anesthesiologist), Mukund Gundanna (Orthopedician), and Savitha Reddy (pharmacist). NATA president Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy thanks the organizers, doctors, and volunteers for providing time and expertise into making this health fair a great success. The NATA Houston team comprising Manchi Reddy, Durga Prasad (RVP), Dr. Rajender Aparasu, Sanjeeva Reddy, Anil Shilpi, Siddeshwar Gubba, Ramakrishna, and many others helped in this event. NATA also thanks Dr. NK Anand and the HSBV team for their help, and appreciates Dr. NDR Sharma’s photography.
KP George for Fort Bend ISD Trustee Position #5 HOUSTON: KP George grew up in a tiny village in South India. He began his education learning the local language, walking barefoot to get to school. Even as he did his homework in his straw hut by the light of a kerosene lamp and helped his parents farm before and after school, KP dreamed of achieving his greatest goal: coming to the land of opportunity and living the American Dream. His hard work propelled him out of the poverty of his hometown. He arrived in the U.S. in 1993 to work for a financial firm, and has since earned multiple financial certifications and licenses. KP currently owns and manages an independent financial planning practice with 6 other advisors. Since 1999, KP and his wife Sheeba
KP George
(an educator in FBISD) have raised their three children in Sugar Land and
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
all of them attend FBISD schools. KP took the lead in establishing the Hightower High School Academies’ Booster Club in 2013, and currently serves as its president. He has also served local Indo-American groups at high levels, worked with the Sugar Land Rotary Club, and the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, and is also currently a member of the FBISD Parents Advisory Team and State Elections Policy & Affairs Team for TX Rep Rick Miller. KP George is very thankful that God has given him the opportunity to live The Dream. Now, he wants to ensure that our children have the necessary tools to achieve their DREAMS because they are our future.
COMMUNITY
April 25, 2014
23
Chitram: India’s Culture and History
HOUSTON: Would you like to enjoy a presentation showcasing India’s culture and history with a large cast of talented dancers and singers? Education Youth Service (EYS) an initiative of The Hindu Temple of The Woodlands - is honored to have the multi-talented Kanniks, bring CHITRAM, a powerful visual and musical multimedia production to the University of Houston’s Cullen
Performance Hall on Saturday, April 26. The hall is located on the University Campus at 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston TX 77004. Save the date to enjoy a most delightful evening with your family and friends. Kanniks is known for the concert “Shanti - A Journey of Peace” which was presented to two sold-out audiences in Houston three years ago. As he did for that production, Kanniks
has conceived, composed, and will direct the multimedia concert. Chitram has been performed by local groups throughout the US and Canada to audiences who have strongly praised the production. Scores of singers, dancers and narrators will participate in the high-energy program. CHITRAM tells the story of Indian culture through several styles of traditional dance and various other art forms, including Kanniks’ mesmerizing choral compositions. It will capture the interest of Americans and Indian-Americans alike, creating lasting memories which will continue to delight audience members. The performance will help to finance the new educational wing for Hindu Temple of The Woodlands. For tickets, contact Kiran Emi at kiran.emi@gmail.com or Prabharkar Centala at ckprabharkar@yahoo. com. Mention where you heard about this performance for a discounted price. For further information, contact Kiran Emi at 281-844-2340 or Prabhakar at 281-450-9227 See ad on Page 4
New Exhibition at Asia Society Texas Center Fascinating Depictions of Indian Gods and Goddesses
Manjari Sharma, Lord Vishnu, from the Darshan series, 2013, Chromogenic print, 60 x 48 in, Edition 1/2, Courtesy of Richard Levy Gallery and the artist. HOUSTON: Asia Society Texas Center will present a series of vibrant photographs by Brooklyn-based Indian contemporary artist Manjari Sharma and modern chromolithographs produced by the Raja Ravi Varma Press in an exhibition entitled Transcendent Deities of India: The Everyday Occurrence of the Divine, on view May 2 through September 14. This is the first time these artists’ works have been presented together in Texas. The exhibition of nearly 60 images will be on view in the Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery at the Texas Center and is funded in part by a grant from
Vishnu-Garud Wahan; Paper, ink, fabric, metallic thread; Ravi Varma Press, KarlaLonavla; Courtesy of the Ramchander Nath Foundation.
the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. “Transcendent Deities of India features Hindu gods and goddesses depicted in the less familiar formats of photography and chromolithography which demonstrates their ongoing relevance to more recent artists who utilized the technology of their eras,” said Bridget Bray, director of exhibitions, Asia Society Texas Center. “These modern and contemporary representations of the deities preserve the tangible connection between worshippers and the objects of their reverence, which has an important
religious function as well as making the works visually compelling to a broader audience.” Bray notes that religious pilgrims frequently make arduous journeys to see important depictions of deities in place at temples and other settings. “We are thrilled to bring this fascinating exhibition of Indian art to Houston,” said Bonna Kol, executive director, Asia Society Texas Center. “This is a unique opportunity to promote understanding between cultures by viewing aspects of religious art and practice in South Asia through a modern and contemporary lens.”
Read us online at www.indoamerican-news.com
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
24 April 25, 2014
PUZZLES/ RECIPE
SUDOKU
Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Send us the correct answer before April 30, 2014. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036. Send us your picture and we will publish it if you are a winner (for first three entrees only).
Solution Next Week
L��� W���’� SUDOKU S�������
Open 7 days a week
L��� W���’� SUDOKU W������ 1) Atul Saxena 2) Hemant Vaidya 3) Pratham Kumar
Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Chane di Daal di Parantha (Chana Daal Parantha)
In most Indian homes there are always plenty of left over vegetable dishes, and especially some daal because it usually made in large amounts in a saucepan. Cooked daal of all sorts is so easy to keep, even in warm weather as it can be left in a pot for a day or two. Also, daal has a tendency to get thicker when kept a day or two and tastes even better. But sometimes when you are tired of eating daal just by itself with roti, this little recipe using chana daal can add an unusual twist to it and provide a different taste. Try making a nice, crispy, hot Punjabi parantha coated with a dab of olive oil and notice the difference. This is a type of parantha that is rooted in the folk recipes of rural Punjab and is not normally made in most Punjabi homes in the city. Chana daal is also known as chickpea daal and is very special to Indian cuisine as it can be ground and used for many purposes. When the chickpeas (also known as garbanzos) are dried either on the stalk or roasted dry, they can be ground into a powder called besan or gram flour which is high in carbohydrates and has more protein than other flours. Chane are produced by removing the outer layer of the kala chana (black chickpea) and then splitting the kernel. When making chana daal paranthas, you have to be careful how you make the dough pudde (balls) and then how you roll the balls into a flat pancake. Be careful not to make the pancake too thin as it will hard to pick it up and also the flour will tear. Also, be careful when turning the parantha while cooking as the weight of the daal can cause the bread to rip open. This parantha goes well with plain yogurt, achaar (pickles) or if the daal is spicy enough, with a plain piece of raw onion, eaten the country-folk way! Ingredients: • 2 cups chana daal (split chickpea daal) • 4 cups pani (water) • 1 cup atta (unbleached wheat flour) • 2 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil – to make the parantha soft • Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), garam masala, dhania (coriander) powder
Pour a little dry flour on the counter and roll the ball in it to coat it. Now use a velna (rolling pin) to roll the ball into a nice round, flat pancake, about 1/8 inch thick.
Directions: 1.Wash the chana daal to remove any dirt. Place in a saucepan and pour in the 4 cups of water, adding 2 teaspoons of salt. Place the saucepan on high heat, cover and bring to a boil for about 30 minutes or until it is firm but cooked. 2.Pour the water out of the saucepan through a sieve and collect the water for use in making the dough. The water is also very tasty and nutritious as a thin soup or broth; just add some pepper and a little bit of oil and then drink it. Collect the daal and let it cool down for 20 minutes. 3.After the daal has cooled down, mix in the pepper, garam masala, and dhania (coriander) powder. Do not add any salt as this time will make the daal shed water and ruin making the parantha. 4.Pour the flour into the bowl, add the oil, salt and pepper, then slowly pour only enough of the water in while kneading the dough till it becomes a nice, round, tender firm ball. 5.Dab the surface of the dough ball with a little water to keep it moist, cover the bowl and set aside for 10 minutes. 6.Pinch off a portion of the dough and make into a 2 inch round ball.
8.Place a tava (flat plate or flat skillet) on the stove and heat on medium. Now carefully place the flattened dough on the tava and spread a dab of oil around the circumference on the tava. When small brown spots appear, turn the parantha over and let it cook and use the oil again. When brown spots appear on this side, turn over and repeat till the parantha is lightly brown. 9.Remove the parantha and serve while warm with yogurt or achaar. 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 KEEP THE AROMA IN CRUSHED ILACHI (CARDOMAN)
Ilachis (cardomans) are used all the time in Indian dishes, whether in masala tea, or plain ilachi tea but especially crushed and sprinkled over sweet dishes like custard, rabri, ras malai, sewian, khir and so many more. Many people usually crush a bunch of ilachis and keep them in a bottle for future use. But this is usually not helpful as I have discovered that the crushed ilachi have lost their aroma and taste. It is much better to crush them ilachi just before you are ready to use them.
BOMBAY SWEETS & Pure Vegetarian Restaurant Mouth watering Indian dishes & Chats Catering available for all occasions 100+ varities of sweets
7.Place some of the daal mixture in the center of the pancake. Gather the sides of the pancake and close off with your fingertips into a ball. Now roll the ball out again carefully into a pancake, making sure the dough does not tear.
Help Wanted for Cash Register The Only Branch in Houston
er Buffet n in D & h c n Lu eet items w S & ld o C , 31 Hot at All you can e k 7 days a wee
Dosas & Snacks PH:713-780-4453 Samosas & Chats 5827 Hillcroft, Houston Texas 77036
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
ENTERTAINMENT
April 25, 2014
FINALLY: Rani and Aditya Chopra Tie the Knot
Movie Review: 2 States
BY MEENA IYER For an audience that has been around from the '80s, debutant Abhishek Varman's '2 States' may seem like they are revisiting K Balachander's mega hit 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye' (1981), where the Tamil boy had to cross endless hurdles to patao the Punjabi girl. However, that movie had too much angst and a tragic end. 2 States is a happy film (with measured anguish). Romance in crosscultural or even cross-border situations isn't new to Bollywood. What makes 2 States work is the simple narrative told humorously. Adapted as it is, from one of author Chetan Bhagat's best-selling works, the film, just like the book before it, is light-
hearted. Chetan's funny one-liners and life-view are studiously borrowed by the director for his screen outing. And though there is a sense of deja-vu, for those who have read the book, the movie still manages to charm and surprise. Krish Malhotra (Arjun) and Ananya Swaminathan(Alia) meet on the IIM Ahmedabad campus. Sparks fly between economic coaching and food poaching. Their tender love, compulsive copulation and kissing chemistry (adeptly portrayed by the young screen lovers) make this couple reason that they could spend a lifetime together. But in India, where tradition and parents are nurtured, couples have to literally marry each
other's families. Incidentally, for those in an intercaste marriage, this movie could resonate like your own tale. The playful digs at each other's cultures, the self-deprecating remarks about one's family and community are all laughout-loud moments. Amrita-Ronit, Revathi-Shiv Subramaniam infuse life into their roles of the Punjabi and Tamil parents. The spitfire Alia and a sober Arjun are also lovable. If you are in a mood for a Bollywood family saga with measured melodrama and the right amount of naach-gaana, visit 2 States. -Times Of India
BY SHEFALI JHA Finally a good news for all those who were eagerly awaiting Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukerji’s wedding. The couple tied the knot in a secret ceremony in Italy on 21st April. Film critic Taran Adarsh tweeted, “Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukerji got married last night on 21st April in Italy. The wedding was a very small intimate affair.” Filmmaker Karan Johar who is close to both Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra was among the select few guests at the wedding a news report mentions. Karan later took to Twitter to congratulate the newly weds and said “And finally....Mr and Mrs Chopra....Love you both....”. While rumours of the couple having zeroed in on a date has been making the rounds for a while now, the duo has pleasantly surprised everyone with their secret wedding. Not only their fans but even Bollywood brigade was curious of their wedding plans. Rani Mukerji’s cousin Kajol too expressed her desire to know their final wedding date. During the rapid fire round on Koffee With Karan season 4, K Jo asked Kajol , “If you
Specializing in Small Business Commercial Loans
Commercial Real Estate Loans, Construction Loans, Equipment Loans, Working Capital Loans, International Trade Finance and more... Jack Kuo Lending Officer, V.P. 713-995-3201
Winston Nguyen Lending Officer, V.P. 713-995-3226
Sally Li Lending Officer, V.P. 713-272-5027
Catherine Liang Lending Officer, V.P. 713-995-3210
25
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
were to ask the following people one thing what would you ask?” When K Jo took Rani’s name, Kajol instantly asked “When are you getting married, even I would like to know.” Taran Adarsh also tweeted Rani Mukerji’s statement, “I would like to share the happiest day of my life with all my fans all over the world whose love and blessings have been part of my journey all these years. I know that all my well-wishers who have waited for this day will be really happy for me. It was a beautiful wedding in the Italian countryside with just a few of our close family and friends with us. The one person I missed terribly was Yash Uncle, but I know he was there with us in spirit and his love and blessings will always be with Adi and me. I have always believed in fairy-tales and with God’s grace my life has been exactly like one, and now as I enter the most important chapter of my life - the fairy-tale continues.” We wish the couple a very happy married life ahead! -Times Of India
26 April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
014 2011 Friday, June m 25, 210, April ws.co Friday an-ne c i r e m indoa www.
www.indoamerican-news.com
April 25, 2014
27
IndoAmerican News
Business IndoAmerican News
STOCKS • FINANCE • SOUTH ASIAN MARKETS • TECHNOLOGY
Best in Class Education Center Identifies the Major Changes and Adjusts Test Prep Curriculam
The SAT will undergo a major revision that will affect the PSAT as early as Fall 2015, and the SAT in Spring 2016. What will be different? Well, the scoring, the format, and the questions. Best in Class Education Center has dedicated time to dissecting the changes and determining how these changes will affect students preparing for the test. The new format of the test will require students to lean more heavily on long-term learning and skill building, rather than rote memorization. Previously, there has been a clear disconnect between what students learn in school and what they encounter on the test, especially with regard to vocabulary. The changes to the SAT are intended to more closely resemble what students are learning in school. With Common Core standards being adopted by 46 states, we will likely see more alignment with the Common Core standards. Best in Class Education has always advocated for life-long learning with a focus on development of critical thinking skills. Overall, the educators and leadership at Best in Class believe the changes to the SAT are positive and will allow us to predict college success more effectively. Beyond the release of the official sample format and new sample questions by the College Board in midApril, here’s a general breakdown of the changes: Current SAT 2400-point standard ¼-point penalty for incorrect answers Critical Reading and Writing sec-
tions are scored separately. Students are permitted to use a calculator for the math section. Students are required to complete sentences during writing section, using unfamiliar “SAT words”. Essay is mandatory and format is free-response only. Reading and Writing questions do not focus on evidence and analysis. New SAT 1600-point standard with a separate essay score No penalty for incorrect answers Evidence –Based Reading and Writing will be combined into one score. Use of a calculator will be prohibited on some portions of the math section and more math questions will be based on real-world scenarios. Sentence Completion questions will be eliminated and replaced with “real world” vocabulary in context questions. Essay is “optional” and students will have to analyze a given text in terms of the passage’s use of evidence, reasoning, and stylistic elements. Many schools will still require the essay portion. Reading questions will focus on evidence and analysis and some will require students to site passages in support of previous answers. For further 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 additional units in 2014. 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 in math and English.
Investment Bankers, Number-Crunchers Hit Campaign Trail BY GAURAV CHOUDHURY NEW DELHI: It is getting crowded out there. With the Lok Sabha elections entering the final lap and 311 seats at stake in the next four rounds, global investment bankers, fund managers and number-crunchers have hit the campaign trail. The global financial sector, through its Indian arms, is looking for headsup on the outcome of the high-octane elections to make sound investment decisions. And, boardroom crystalball gazing isn’t enough when billions of dollars are at stake. So, Religare, Nomura, Citibank, Morgan Stanley and Motilal Oswal, among others, have come out with detailed election reports, with some packing off analysts to the hinterland to get up to speed on the ground situation. Much is riding on these elections. If investors can get an early leads on the outcome -- or a clear estimation of the winning side -- they can take decisions based on what they think the party’s stance would be on a given sector, such as infrastructure. Projects worth more than Rs. 100,000 crore are stalled, awaiting regulatory and government approvals. Some of the analysts are roughing it out in Uttar Pradesh, a bellwether state that sends the largest number of members — 80 — to the Lok Sabha. Many are and would be touring highprofile constituencies such as Amethi and Varanasi, sending feedbacks and preparing reports for internal use and advisories to clients. Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the party’s campaign, is seeking re-election from Amethi while BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi is in the running from Varanasi. Number-crunchers have also visited Mahrashtra’s Vidharbha region plagued by repeated crop failures and farmers suicides.
“We see a 75% probability that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will secure a solid enough plurality to pull together a majority coalition under the leadership of Narendra Modi,” said Nomura, a Japan-based brokerage and research firm, in an April 8 report -- India’s Defining Moment. HT has reviewed in-house election notes by Citibank, Motilal Oswal, Morgan Stanley as well. Besides field reports, these firms have been talking to political analysts as well to get a better understanding of what have been described as the most-crucial Lok Sabha polls to date. During a two-day conference — Indian Politics & Beyond 2014: Unearthing the Election & Social Trends for the World’s Largest Democracy -- hosted by Citibank, analysts such as Sunjoy Joshi, director at Delhibased think-tank Observer Research Foundation, and columnist and journalist Swapan Dasgupta briefed the gathering. “A stable government post-election and a continued push to resolving execution bottlenecks remain key to reviving capital expenditure. We believe private new project announcements will pick up six-nine months post elections,” the bank said in a
127
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
report. In its Mandate 2014, brokerage and research firm Motilal Oswal said Indians wanted a central government that could bring back the era of high economic growth. “The recent state elections have shown the decisiveness of Indian electorate to vote for a change, to vote for development and governance, and to vote against corruption,” the report said. High turnouts have been noted with interest. Typically, they reinforce the notion of an anti-incumbency vote but investment decisions need firm foresight, not mere speculation. “Higher turnout may not necessarily be an anti-incumbency vote always. Theoretically, it could even be that more traditional voters of the Congress have come out, sensing a defeat of their party,” said Praveen Rai, a scholar with Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. -Hindustan Times
For advertising Call 713-789-6397
28 April 25, 2014 Pepsi IPL 2014: No Stopping Maxwell and Kings XI BY SIDDHARTH RAVINDRAN SHARJAH (ESPN Cricinfo): Kings XI Punjab 193 for 6 (Maxwell 95, Bhuvneshwar 3-19) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 121 (Balaji 4-13) by 72 runs Last season, Glenn Maxwell was the punchline to tons of millionaire jokes. He warmed the Mumbai Indians bench for much of the campaign, and was a peripheral figure in the three matches he did play. This time, the season is only a week old, and he’s not just played three matches, he’s been the Man of the Match in each. The people laughing now will be Kings XI Punjab’s owners who will view the million dollars they sunk on Maxwell as a bargain given the three impressive wins he has orchestrated at the start of the season. If the previous two victories had been thrilling encounters in which Kings XI hunted down massive scores, this was a forgettably one-sided affair after Maxwell put on a show again to lead the side to 193. Especially after L Balaji removed David Warner and Aaron Finch in the fifth over. Sunrisers Hyderabad have a dangerous top order - any of Shikhar Dhawan, Warner or Finch can single-handedly transform a match but they also have a dangerously unbalanced batting line-up. After the big three, the batting is alarmingly thin - KL Rahul is still finding his way at this level, Venugopal Rao isn’t someone teams are going to worry about too much, Irfan Pathan is a spot too high at No. 6 and Darren Sammy is great at providing the finishing touches but less proficient at building the base. Once Mitchell Johnson accounted for Dhawan and Balaji made his double breakthrough, it was a hour-long dirge for Sunrisers’ fans before it ended in a crushing 72-run defeat, leaving them with plenty of questions over the composition of the team. Warner won’t just be disappointed with his low score, but also with his botched catch that reprieved Maxwell on 11. With Wriddhiman Saha slotted for No. 6, Kings XI don’t have too much depth in their batting, something
Glenn Maxwell steps out for a big hit (left) and L Balaji delivered a double blow in the fifth over, Kings XI Punjab v Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2014, Sharjah.
Sunrisers could have capitalised on had Warner held on to a fairly straightforward chance at long-off in the 10th over. Instead, the chance went went down and Maxwell went on to pillage 95 off 43, including nine sixes. The highlight of the onslaught was the 13th over when Maxwell effortlessly cleared midwicket off the first three deliveries before launching one towards the sightscreen to take 25 runs off Amit Mishra. This innings had fewer of the switch-hits and reverse-sweeps and was more about clean hitting down the ground and, especially, over midwicket. It was the prefect setting for Maxwell as the openers Cheteshwar Pujara and Virender Sehwag had provided a fast start from which he could build. He had plenty of luck as well - besides the Warner reprieve, he was caught off a no-ball, a skier was in the air for ages but evaded everyone when it landed at midwicket. Sunrisers also didn’t bring on their main weapon, Dale Steyn, when Maxwell was in the midst of his carnage. Till he was 72 off 29, Maxwell faced neither Steyn nor Bhuvneshwar Kumar - both of whom combined to limit the damage at the end of the innings. Still, though Kings XI didn’t reach the 200 that they looked
nailed on for, they reached a total which proved far too much for Sunrisers. Siddarth Ravindran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
BY ABHISHEK PUROHIT ABU DHABI: Chennai Super Kings 177 for 7 (Raina 56, Dhoni 32, Unadkat 3-32) beat Delhi Daredevils 84 (Ashwin 2-3, Jadeja 2-18, I Pandey 2-23) by 93 runs Suresh Raina made his 20th 50plus score in the IPL, Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2014, Abu Dhabi. Chennai Super Kings crushed Delhi Daredevils by 93 runs in a thoroughly one-sided game in Abu Dhabi. Super Kings started steadily after choosing to bat, but Suresh Raina’s busy fifty in the middle and a late surge catapulted them to 177. Their quicks tied Daredevils down with accurate swing bowling, and electric catching from Raina and Faf du Plessis made it harder. The middle order sank without a fight, and by the halfway stage of the chase, the match was as good as over. By the 16th over, Super Kings had wrapped up their biggest win in terms of runs. Brendon McCullum had said that with such a powerful line-up, Super Kings would go hard right from the start. But they stuck to their tested approach of starting
steady, keeping wickets in hand and exploding at the death. Super Kings were 34 for 1 after the end of the Powerplay and 65 for 1 after ten overs. They took 58 off the last four overs with swift contributions from MS Dhoni, du Plessis and Mithun Manhas. Daredevils lost the services of Nathan Coulter-Nile three deliveries into the match, the fast bowler hobbling off after hurting his leg while sliding to stop the ball. To his credit, Dinesh Karthik still managed to keep Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Shami for the final four without suffering too much damage in the middle overs but led by Dhoni, Super Kings had too much firepower in store. Dhoni blitzed 32 off 15, almost smacking Unadkat flush on the head before the bowler somehow scrambled to avoid a fearsome straight hit. Raina ensured Super Kings did not stall before the late assault. He did not rely too much on the boundaries but when the chance came, he did hit a few, taking the part-time offspin of M Vijay for three fours in an over. Raina was also to start Daredevils’ downfall. Ishwar Pandey and Ben Hilfenhaus were probing with their outswingers, and when Mayank Agarwal tried to break free with an attempted chip over cover, Raina made ground to snap up the mishit. With Pandey bowling a disciplined full spell on the trot and Mohit Sharma providing no release, Vijay and Manoj Tiwary stuck to Agarwal’s approach. Both fell to spectacular, running takes by du Plessis at mid-off. Daredevils were 17 for 3 in the fifth over, and were going nowhere from there. Everything that Super Kings tried worked even as Karthik hung around in vain. At 50 for 5 in the tenth over and Coulter-Nile unavailable, Daredevils needed a miracle from the last batting pair of Karthik and Jimmy Neesham. Instead, R Ashwin hit his Tamil Nadu teammate’s middle stump with his first ball in the 13th over, and along with Ravindra Jadeja, ran through whatever remained of the Daredevils line-up.
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
SPORTS
India Women’s Hockey: Beat Ireland in Test Series DUBLIN, Ireland: The series already in their pocket, Indian eves round off their Ireland tour with a 2-2 draw against the home team in the third and final hockey Test in Dublin. India had earlier defeated Ireland 3-1 and 2-1 in the first two Tests of the tour, organised as part of the team’s preparation for the FIH Champions Challenge 1 beginning April 27 in Glasgow, Scotland. While India’s Chan Chan Devi scored both the goals for India, Anna O’Flanagan found the back of the net twice for the hosts. The third and final Test of the series started on a pacy note with both the teams adopting an attacking approach. It was Ireland who broke the deadlock in the seventh minute through O’Flanagan. India drew in the 31st minute through Chan Chan Devi to go into the breather locked at 1-1. After the crossover, both the teams pressed hard in search of goals and it was India who eventually succeeded when Chan Chan Devi converted a penalty corner to score her second goal of the day. Ireland, however, equalised just six minutes from the final hooter through O’Flanagan (64th minute), who pounced on a rebound after the initial shot was saved by India goalkeeper Savita. Earlier, Indian women’s hockey team registered a come-from-behind victory by getting the better of Ireland 3-1 in their first Test match played at Dublin, Ireland on Wednesday. India rode on goals from Poonam Rani (37th min), Ritu Rani (61st) and Sunita Lakra (68th) to post a comfortable win, while Megan Frazer (4th) scored the lone goal for Ireland. The Indian team had a tough time in the first half as it was the hosts who enjoyed the early share of exchanges and also managed to score a goal, which came through Frazer in the 4th minute of the match when she successfully converted a penalty corner. At half-time, Ireland were leading 1-0. But after the change of ends, Ireland failed to find the back of the India net even once.
Stay tuned every Sunday,
HIREN JOSHI
to from 2.30pm to 3.30pm
832-646-2116
hjoshi7@hotmail.com
www.shobajoshi.com
SHOBA JOSHI OWNER, PROMOTER AND HOST OF
Geetanjali Radio AM 1320 Sat & Sun 2-6 PM For your business ads
Tel:281-909-0825 - 713-545-4749 Cell:832-878-4338 shobajoshi999@gmail.com
11000 Richmond Ave, Ste 300 Houston, TX 77042
Job Opportunity
Capricorn Travel Requires Full Time Experienced Travel Agent. For Appointment: Please Call: 713-339-2222
FOR ADVERTISEMENT
“IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA”
CALL: 713-789-6397
April 25, 2014
29
First Ever
24 Hour
Telugu Radio in Houston
Online at www.radiohungama.net & Every Sunday 12 PM to 3 PM CST On
KCHN AM 1050 Contact: Sridhar Dadi at
281-217-9736
houstonradio@yahoo.com
15950 N Dallas Pkwy, Ste 400 Dallas, TX 75248
Award Winning Customer Service & Best Rates in Town Proudly Serving For Best Rates to: India, Europe, Cruises & Vacation Packages South Asian Community Toll Free: 1-866-956-0758 - Tel:713-339-2222 for Past 3939 Hillcroft Ave, Suite# 110, Houston, TX 77057 30 Years
CAPRICORN TRAVEL
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
30 April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
31 3
32 April 25, 2014
INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM