Friday, August 21, 2020 | Vol. 39, No. 34
Indo American News
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August 21, 2020
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Published weekly from Houston, TX
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Celebrating India’s 74th Independence Day
I-Day at India House
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COMMUNITY
August 21, 2020
74th Independence Day Celebration at India House Despite Pandemic
Left: Chief guest Consul General Aseem Mahajan, ICC trustees and other dignitaries stand at attention in front of the U.S., Texas, India and India House flags during the flag hoisting ceremony for India’s 74th Independence Day. Center: CG Mahajan making his remarks in front of the audience limited due to Coronavirus public gathering restrictions. Right: CG Mahajan, India House trustees and Executive Director Col. Vipin Kumar listen to Congressman Al Green’s congratulatory phone call.
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Congressman also spoke about the contribution of the Indo-American community over the years and specially during these difficult times of COVID-19. He also shared his experience of food distribution at India House on August 12, 2020 and praised India House for their services to the community. The proclamation on Congressman’s behalf was handed over to India House President, Manish Rungta and Trustees. The program ended on a happy note with people enjoying refreshments which were graciously sponsored by Maharaja Bhog. While Darshak Thacker of Krishna Sounds took care of the sound system, Bijay Dixit was busy capturing the moments through his camera. The event was streamed live on India House Facebook page by our volunteer Manav Rungta, while NTV Houston, a local news channel covered the event.
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Houston: “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance” -- Jawaharlal Nehru (Tryst with Destiny) Even though India’s freedom struggle is history today, 15 August still holds great significance in the hearts of millions of Indians all over the world. To commemorate the day, every year India House celebrates Independence Day with festivity and vibrancy with more than 200 people in attendance. This year the celebration was different keeping in mind the COVID 19 guidelines issued by the City and CDC. All safety measures were in place and around 10 invited guests gathered for the celebration. The event was live streamed on India House Facebook page so that everyone could join the celebration virtually. The Consul General of India, Aseem Mahajan hoisted the Tricolor with Manish Rungta, India House President & Jugal Malani, India House Trustee while everyone joined them in singing the Indian National Anthem. Durga Agrawal, India House Trustee and Sushila Agrawal hoisted the American Flag followed by the playing of American National Anthem. The Texas Flag was hoisted by India House Trustees, Virendra Mathur and Chowdary Yalamanchili. This followed hoisting of India House Flag by Manish Rungta, India House President. It was a spectacular sight as flags of India, USA, Texas and India House were waving in the wind with Indian patriotic songs being played in the background. After the flag hoisting ceremony, India House Executive Director, Col. Vipin Kumar requested Consul General to say a few words on the occasion. Consul General spoke very proudly about the contribution of Indian Community in Houston in strengthening India and the United States relations. He also lauded India House’s contribution and efforts in helping the community. Representative from Congressman Al Green’s office connected him via phone and attendees could hear his message on the speaker phone.
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COMMUNITY
3
August 21, 2020
Corona Mein Dhamaal -- Record 3,200 Attend Desi Grand Opening Houston: Never did Desi Brothers nor Masala Radio imagine that during COVID, a Social Distance Grand Opening would bring out nearly 3200 guests on the first day! When CEO Vipul Patel asked Masala Radio to do the grand opening, Sunil Thakkar thought August 15th (Indian Independence Day) would be the perfect date, but that was in 12 days and the store was totally empty. General Manager Kaushal Patel took it up as a challenge and in 9 days filled 21,000 SF packed with groceries floor to ceiling. It was on! Sandhya Thakkar said “This would have been the first “in person” Indian community event in 5 months, I feared only 300 – 500 would turn out. The first 5 guests lined up at 8AM - and by 10AM there were hundreds in line wrapped around the building, even though we handed out numbered tickets so they could wait in their car and not lose their place!” Indeed, it was a Social Distance Party with Masala Radio 98.7 FM live, DJ Nish, Infused Dancers, Singers, Indian Rickshaw, Bajaj scooters, Balloons, and tons of giveaways including 500 Laxmi Silver Coins, Idli Sambhar, Pakoras, Haldiram Snacks & Quick Tea. “It felt so good to get out of the house and SEE PEOPLE,” exclaimed Swapan Dhairyawan. “I felt ALIVE!” People queued up for incredible deals like 3 lb Almonds for $7.99, 4lbs Toor Dal for $1.89, and Kent Mangoes for $2.99. Vipul Patel said “We have done grand openings of our stores in Austin and Memphis, but this was beyond my imagination. Houston is a crazy city. I knew Masala Radio was known for their promotions and grand opening but no one expected this kind of turnout. I want to thank the city of Sugar Land for letting us do this event. I kept telling Sunil to announce on radio that there will be no limits on the sale items and we will not run out of anything. I had 7 containers parked in the back and I could not believe we still ran out of almonds by the end of Saturday. Thankfully we replenished them Monday morning. In my 25 year history of grocery business, I have never seen a grand opening as big as this.
Drone view shows the completely packed parking lot in front of the Desi Brothers Famrers Market.
Ribbon cutting ceremony with Desi Brothers and their special guests.
My family, friends and staff from Austin, Chicago, Memphis & St. Louis came to help, and they were just kept re-stocking Dal-BesanRice-Almonds-Dal-Besan-RiceAlmonds in an endless loop.” Did people really dance…in a grocery store? Just ask Fort Bend County Constable Trevor Nehls, current GOP candidate for Fort Bend County Sheriff, as he twisted to Bollywood music and handed out Silver Coins and Indian flags to the delight of guests. Joining him in grooving was City of Sugar Land Councilman Naushad Kermally. Kermally was instrumental in guiding Masala Radio to navigate city permits to conduct the Grand Opening. Desi Brothers just fell inside City of Sugarland borders, and the area’s Councilman Stewart Jacobson was proud to join Nehls and Kermally in the ribbon cutting and giveaways. Judge KP George arrived at 11am for the store inauguration flanked by security on either side. He congratulated Vipul & Kaushal
Patel for their beautiful store and thanked them for hiring local Fort Bend staff. Over 150 VIP guests, local businessmen and community leaders came in to celebrate. They were treated to VIP lunch area, and a commemorative thali gift set. Swapnil Agrawal, CEO Karya Properties came with his extended family, exclaiming, “I am a proud Indian and we came because today is Aug 15th. This is so much fun… Jai Hind!” CEO of Aisha’s Group’s Khalid Haseeb said, “this is like a desi Sam’s Club!” Aziz Panjwani CEO Toro Imports came with Nisha holding the Indian flag and danced to “Chak De India” The City of Sugar Land maintained the most stringent regulations for safety - 2 days before the opening the Fire Marshall ordered all sprinkler heads to be replaced overnight. Desi Brother’s and Masala Radio’s adherence to 6ft separation, cart & hand sanitizers, required masks, entry temperature checks, and tight security monitoring of 50% capacity assured
patrons that safety was the highest priority of the day. Originally scheduled to open in March, the store had to push back the Grand Opening to August only due to COVID. A crew of 40+ worked 20 hour shifts for 2 weeks to offer a flawlessly clean and fully stocked store. “Kaushal Patel, smiled wide despite only 2 hours of sleep the night before, and managed stocking, registers, and guests as if he was born in a grocery store. Even though the name of the store is Desi Brothers, the force behind the store are the Desi Bhabhis - Prithvi & Priyanka – the respective wives of Vipul &
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Kaushal - who didn’t take a moment’s break from opening to close keeping things moving Saturday and Sunday, combatting the checkout lines that wrapped around the entire store! Kaushal Patel said “We take pride in all our DB brand products. We guarantee them 150%. If you are not satisfied with our Desi Brothers & Geeta brand products, being them back with or without receipt, even open bag no problem.” To that Vipul Patel added, “empty bag also no problem. Full refund with a smile. You will always find our staff smiling and willing to help. In September, Vipul’s Kitchen is opening in the back of the store with seating capacity of 50. All vegetarian food, with samosas, pakoras, idlis and vadas all for 99c, dosas for $2.99, and full Gujarati Thali for $4.99. Thank you Masala Radio for the amazing grand opening, thank you to all our suppliers, and THANK YOU HOUSTON.” Desi Brothers comes with 30 years of grocery experience, and they promise a huge variety of farm fresh produce and low prices on all Indian Groceries. The grand opening sale continues until Aug 30th, and right now it looks like the entire store is on sale! Visit them at 4620 HWY 6 South @ Austin Parkway, 281-417-DESI (3374), desibrothers.com or Facebook/Desi Brothers Sugar Land. Log on to Masala Radio Houston’s Facebook for sales flyer and pictures from the spectacular grand opening. Masala Radio would like to thank their awesome event team – Alisha, Ruchir, Dhaval, Ninad, Simra, Sofia, Shruti, Dilip, Anees, Khusboo, Seema, and Haroon. Masala Radio 98.7 is Houston’s 24 hour Indian FM Radio. Bringing the entire community together…. Halo re halo !!!
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COMMUNITY
August 21, 2020
Udavam Karangal Youth Raise Funds for Children Houston: Udavum Karangal USA’s Houston Chapter and a team of its energetic youth members hosted their own grand virtual karaoke and dance program on August 14th, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many underprivileged children in Tamil Nadu, India are forced to discontinue their education and work extremely low-paying labor jobs just to barely meet their daily financial needs. Six charismatic youth in the Houston community (Adhi Gopal, Aakash Srikanth, Ria Pawa, Varsha Vasu, Samyu Hari, and Harshini Ganesh) came together to entertain their audience and raise funds for this noble cause. The youth personally curated their own program, selecting fanfavorite songs in both Tamil and Hindi languages. YouTube live performance was a great success, with over 500 total views from supporters around the United States. The youth team, along with the help of their generous Houston community, raised over $50,000 to support a year’s worth of education, food, and uniforms for 500 needy children on the verge of dropping out of their education. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the difficulties it has caused to everyone in the world, we are beyond grateful to see so much support and gratitude from donors and youth around the nation. All the U.S. Udavum Karangal chapters have collectively raised a total of $120,000 out of the $190,000 goal. However, the mission doesn’t stop there. 1900 children are in desperate need of your financial help! To find out how you can support the youth and give
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By Melanie Feuk
COMMUNITY
August 21, 2020
5
Waiting in Vain for US Green Card, Indian Families Migrating to Canada By Uttara Verma Hyderabad: After waiting in vain for decades to obtain permanent residency (green card) and realise their ‘Great American Dream’, many Indian families are relocating to Canada. Reasons: Ease of entry, better career opportunities and convenience of settling down. Rough estimates suggest at least 20,000 Indians make this migration — from the US to Canada — every year. “I went through at least six H-1B visa extensions since I joined work. I was living in constant stress,” said Dinesh Dasari, a native of Hyderabad, who moved from Maryland to Toronto this July. This, after a 14-year-long stint in the US. The solutions architect said his career had stagnated because of the delay in getting a green card. “A person’s green card petition is stuck to the employer. This makes it difficult for you to switch jobs,” said Dasari. “Even moving to a managerial position is difficult because employers are sceptical about grooming and in-
vesting in a person who they are not sure will be able to stay in the country,” he added. The immigration of thousands of Indians comes at a time when the community has been lobbying for the passage of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, better known as S386, in the Senate. The bill seeks to end the cap for jobbased green cards in the US. Currently, there is a 7% cap on Indians for issuing a green
card every year, creating a huge backlog. Canadian application process is much easier: NRIs There are approximately 900,000 Indians (holding H-1B, L1 and H4 EAD) in the US. When people ask me if they should stay or move, I always suggest the latter,” said immigration attorney Rahul Reddy of Reddy & Neumann, PC, adding the express entry to Canada has made it possible for people to get PR in
less than a year. “People can simply apply online without even consulting an immigration attorney,” he said. Among those who made use of this opportunity is Girish Chavan. He bid Pittsburgh — his home of 18 years — goodbye and shifted to Toronto in July. The IT professional’s first green card application was rejected in 2010 over a small technicality. “Once the next application was in place, I always thought the green card
would be right around the corner, but it never was,” said the native of Mumbai. Visa restrictions meant a series of setbacks for Chavan and his wife, including not being able to work for the company they planned to start and not being able to shift to another job when Chavan wanted to move to New York. The final straw was when Chavan’s wife -- who was representing the US at a high profile summit abroad – returned to find a letter suggesting the renewal for her H4 EAD (dependent visa which allows you to work) needed additional information, a constant irritant for most immigrants who have to keep proving how skilled they are. Canadian application process was a stark contrast in terms of ease. “There was an open line of communication with authorities, something that was missing in the US,” said Chavan. Since their move to Canada, the duo could not be more happier, having received a welcome and the freedom to choose their work. -- Times of India
Biden-Harris Campaign Promises Green Card Relief for Indo-Americans Wilmington: If voted to power in the November general elections, a Biden administration will reform the H-1B visa system and work towards eliminating the country-quota for Green Cards, his campaign said on Saturday, in a move to woo the influential Indian-American community. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa allowsing US companies to employ foreign workers in occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India. In a major policy document for Indian-Americans released on the occasion of India’s 74th Independence Day, the Biden Campaign also emphasised its support to family-based immigration system and streamlining processing for religious worker visas. The administration will also take steps to stem the rising tide of hate and bigotry, address the security needs of house of worship, eliminate language barriers and honour the diversity and contributions of Indian-Americans, it said. This is for the first time that a Democratic presidential candidate has come out with an exclusive policy document for IndianAmericans. There are 1.3 million eligible Indian-American voters across eight battleground states. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is scheduled to address the Indian-American community in a video message later in the day. Biden will support family-based immigration and preserve family unification as a core principle of our immigration system, which includes reducing the family visa
backlog, his campaign said. “He will increase the number of visas offered for permanent, work-based immigration based on macroeconomic conditions and exempt from any cap recent graduates of PhD programmes in STEM fields,” the campaign said. “And, he will support first reforming the temporary visa system for high-skill, specialty jobs to protect wages and workers, then expanding the number of visas offered and eliminating the limits on employment-based Green Cards by country, which have kept so many Indian families in waiting for too long,” it said. According to the policy document, Biden will restore and defend the naturalisation process for Green Card holders. A Green Card allows a non-US citizen to live and work permanently in America. “He will increase the number of refugees we welcome into this country by setting the
annual global refugee admissions target to 125,000 and seek to raise it over time to commensurate with our responsibility, our values, and the unprecedented global need,” it said. “He will also work with Congress to establish a minimum admissions number of 95,000 refugees annually. Biden will remove the uncertainty for Dreamers by reinstating the DACA programme and explore all legal options to protect their families from inhumane separation,” the campaign said. It said Biden will end workplace raids and protect other sensitive locations from immigration enforcement actions. As a largely immigrant community, but in some cases with American roots reaching back generations, Indian-Americans know firsthand the strength and resilience that immigrants bring to the US, the campaign said. “But President Trump
has waged an unrelenting assault on our values and our history as a nation of immigrants. It’s wrong, and it stops when Biden is president,” it alleged. “Biden will rescind Trump’s Muslim ban on day one and reverse the detrimental asylum policies that are causing chaos and a humanitarian crisis at our border,” the campaign said. “He will immediately begin working with Congress to pass legislative immigration reform that modernises our system, with a priority on keeping families together by providing a roadmap to citizenship for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants — including more than 500,000 from India,” it said. Indian-Americans of all backgrounds — Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jain, and others — have been subjected to bullying and xenophobic attacks and need now, more than ever, a reassurance that the US
Indo-American News • Friday, AUGUST 21, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
leaders in Washington will have their backs, it said. During the Obama-Biden administration, the FBI expanded its hate crime statistics programme to include Sikhs, Hindus, andBuddhists. As President, Biden will directly address the rise in hateful attacks and enact legislation prohibiting someone convicted of a hate crime from purchasing or possessing a firearm, it said. “Biden will appoint leaders at the Department of Justice who will prioritise the prosecution of hate crimes, and he will order his Justice Department to focus additional resources to combat hate crimes — including religion-based hate crimes — and to confront white nationalist terrorism,” it said. “He will also seek legislation that increases the potential sentence for certain hate crimes that occur in houses of worship and other religious community sites, such as gurudwaras, mandirs, temples, and mosques. And, he will use his executive power to ensure that the Department of Justice pursues such heinous acts of violence against houses of worship to the fullest extent of the law,” the campaign said. Noting that in 2012, the Sikh community suffered a terrible tragedy when a white supremacist opened fire in an Oak Creek, Wisconsin, gurdwara, ultimately killing seven and wounding four, the campaign added that in January 2019, a Hindu temple was the victim of a horrific act of vandalism and destruction, with windows shattered and xenophobic messages spray-painted across the walls. -- Times of India
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COMMUNITY
August 21, 2020
BAPS Charities Donates $25,000 in Support of Breast Cancer Victims By Lenin Joshi
Dallas: On August 14, 2020, BAPS Charities presented the Susan G. Komen Foundation with a donation of $25,000 to support victims and survivors of breast cancer. The donation will be used to fund several ongoing initiatives, including the Komen Covid-19 Action Fund focused on those who are also suffering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 270,000 women and men diagnosed in the US each year alone, breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women in the country as well as the world. Both organizations were on hand in Dallas, Texas for a limited, socially-distanced check presentation ceremony. Representatives from BAPS Charities presented the check to Susan G. Komen representatives, Melissa Riehl, Director of Philanthropic Relations and Emma Meyer, Project Lead of Cause Marketing and Corporate Sponsorship. The Mayor of the City of Irving was also on hand to show his support for BAPS Charities and the impact its activities has on the local community. Representatives from BAPS Charities presented the check to
Susan G. Komen representative. Melissa Riehl, Director of Philanthropic Relations and Emma Meyer, Project Lead of Cause Marketing and Corporate Sponsorship said, “I want to tell you how grateful we are, how grateful Komen is for your partnership as I know it’ been difficult for you ( Baps Charities) as walks have been canceled, and you’re pulling together for this group and other organizations to donate and make this event happen. Thank you for your trust and for your belief in what Komen does”.
Initially, the Foundation was to be the national beneficiary of the efforts of about 25,000 walkers in the nearly 80 Walkathons that BAPS Charities convenes each year throughout the US. However, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, all Walkathons were cancelled for 2020. Despite these circumstances, BAPS Charities wished to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation, whose research, resources, and advocacy has continued to pave the way towards a cure for the deadly disease. The Susan G. Komen Founda-
tion is the world’s largest nonprofit breast cancer organization, funding breast cancer research while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. BAPS Charities, a charitable organization dedicated to the spirit of service, is committed in its commitment to improving health and wellness for those in need. The non-profit has for many years has provided low cost, high quality services in a variety of ways including health fairs, health awareness lectures, primary health care facilities, and initiatives in the developing world to provide quality
health care for disadvantaged communities as well as the public at large. Nimisha Patel of Houston, Texas, a volunteer of BAPS Charities and a breast cancer survivor, said, “It means a lot to me to know that BAPS Charities is helping other women who are fighting the same battle that I fought. I hope that this donation will help research new treatment plans to help not only those who have cancer but their families as well. I am excited that these two organizations, that I strongly support, are working together to help as many people as they can. They both give 100% of their effort.” In addition to the above donation, BAPS Charities has donated $180,000 to various organizations across North America, donated 113,522 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE), and supported the first responders and needy by distributing 83,214 meals and care packages.
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Indo-American News • Friday, AUGUT 21, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
COMMUNITY
August 21, 2020
7
CG, Cong. Al Green Lend Helping Hands at India House Free Food Distribution
Pic 1: Consul General Aseem Mahajan, Col Vipin Kumar, Executive Director India House; Dr. Virendra Mathur, India House Trustee; and Congressman Al Green. Pic 2. Consul General of India and Congressman Al Green lending helping hands. Pic 3: Some of the volunteers. Photos by Bijay Dixit,
Houston: India House, in association with Houston Food Bank, organized the free food distribution for needy families on Wednesday, August 12. Worth a week’s supply of food items (fresh produce and groceries) were distributed to approximately 170 needy families by a contactless drive-through distribution following all COVID-19 related guidelines. Also, free masks were distributed to the recipients which were donated by the Integrated Chemical Specialties. The Houston Food Bank truck brought large boxes of Cereal, Canned food, Cheese, Bread, Fruits, Vegetables, Milk etc. Volunteers coming from a remarkably diverse sections of the community,
were briefed by Col. Vipin Kumar, Executive Director of India House, about the Safety Protocol that had to be followed. The Volunteers unloaded the food items to the assembly line and packaged these into plastic bags for each family. Under strict supervision of 3 volunteer Police Officers from the Houston Police Department, the recipients’ cars drove to the pickup point with their trunks open. Groceries were then loaded by the volunteers in their cars. Few families that did not have cars were also given food. Most of the needy families expressed their gratitude to India House, Houston Food Bank and the volunteers. Consul General of India, Aseem Mahajan and Congressman Al
Green very enthusiastically participated in the volunteer work and loaded food supplies in recipients’ vehicles. They also lauded India House for their support and service to the community. Consul General informed that India House had continued providing various services for the community even after the pandemic started in MidMarch and promised his all-out support to India House for their program and services in future. Congressman Al Green mentioned that India House has been doing a commendable service by providing much needed food & groceries to the people of all ethnicities in these difficult times. Virendra Mathur, India House Trustee who volunteers at India House Char-
ity Medical Clinic every Saturday morning, and Anjali Agrawal, Board of Director India House, also volunteered their services during this food distribution. The August month food distribution was sponsored by Shakun Parti. Col. Vipin Kumar, Executive Director India House informed that the food distribution will now be held every 2nd Wednesday of
the month and the next food distribution is scheduled on August 26, 2020. He thanked Maharaja Bhog who have been sponsoring refreshments for the volunteers during every food distribution. For more information on India House programs and services please visit: www.indiahouseinc. org or contact 713-929-1900 / vipin@indiahouseinc.org
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August 21, 2020
“Khuda Haafiz�: Vidyut Jammwal Starrer Feels Dated
By Shubhra Gupta Cast: Vidyut Jammwal, Annu Kapoor, Shivaleeka Oberoi, Shiv Panditt, Aahana Kumra, Vipin Sharma Director: Faruk Kabir Rating: One and a half stars How do you get an action star to play a common man forced into situations where he has to use his fists-and-fangs but not like an action star, and still be credible? That’s the dilemma that Khuda Haafiz grapples with right through, as Jammwal slaloms between being a Lucknow-based software engineer working honestly for a living, and a desperate husband in search of his missing wife in a fictional Middle East country called Noman. There was potential here to make it a racy rescue mission, between a vicious gang of flesh-
traders and the good guy, but the film feels dated, and at two hours plus, it’s much too long. Newly-weds Sameer (Jammwal) and Nargis (Oberoi) find jobs in Noman via an agent (Sharma, effective) who looks so shifty that you know instantly that he’s a bad ‘un. Of course, it doesn’t occur to the couple that there’s something fishy about the whole thing, because it’s that kind of film. This is what we get: a kindly Pathan cabbie (Kapoor) as Sameer’s saviour, a figure we’ve seen a zillion times before. An officious but helpless official at the Indian mission. A couple of zealous local lawmakers (Panditt and Kumra) who track Sameer’s journey, as he encounters vicious brothel-runners and their henchmen, while looking for the king-pin. And the stunning locations in Uzbekistan, where most of the film is set: some of the
desert-and-ocean scenes are really scenic. But the only time the film lifts off the screen is when Jammwal gets going, minus the weepy wife or the scenes in which he has to emote. A couple of strikingly choreographed fight-and-chase scenes hold our interest, especially one in which Jammwal is hemmed in a narrow corridor with a whole bunch of armed louts about to pound him into the ground. Both Panditt and Kumra, able actors, are made to speak in a strong ‘Arabic’ accent which has no way not to slip. The only one who belongs to this universe is Kapoor, with his dialogue-delivery (‘tum jise karz kehte ho, Pathan usko apna farz maanta hai; tumko jo ehsaan lagta hai, momin ko imaan lagta hai’, and so on). The rest of it is creaky and cartoonish. -- Indian Express
ENTERTAINMENT
“Lootcase�: Bland Comedy-Drama
Cast: Kunal Kemmu, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Raaz, Ranvir Shorey, Gajraj Rao, Aakash Dabhade, Aryan Prajapati Director: Rajesh Krishnan Rating: Two stars A suitcase full of loot, a regular joe on the loose, and a bunch of crafty hoods on the move: the elements that make up Lootcase are familiar ingredients in films which feature ill-gotten cash falling into the wrong hands causing murder and mayhem. Printing press operator Nandan Kumar (Kemmu), returning from a late-night shift, stumbles upon a stash of cash, and makes off with it. Of course, it’s rotten money, and of course, there are many claimants, none of them legitimate. A nattily dressed crook who is a NatGeo fan (Raaz), a twinkly-eyed corrupt neta (Rao), and a pressedupon cop (Shorey) start sniffing on the trail of the missing suitcase, and fun and games ensue. Actually, scratch the last bit. Fun and games should have ensued.
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Kim Ogg
H a r r i s Co u n t y D A . C O M Indo-American News • Friday, AUGUT 21, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
They do, and we smile to begin with, but soon we begin tiring. The length of the film begins weighing upon the plot, which starts stretching and flattening. A crisper plot and faster pace would have made Lootcase what it was aiming to be. Done well, this kind of film can be a full-on entertainer. One of my favourites is the Hollywood classic, Sting, which never gets old. And Lootcase does try: each character has been given some thought, their little foibles given some time to play out, and a clean, uncluttered palette. The ensemble cast is firstrate. Khemu makes you believe in his working class guy, first over the moon, and then wilting under the weight of the ‘dus khoka’ (ten crores). There’s also a nice strand that the film picks up on: be careful what you wish for, because you may not know what to do with it, once you do get it. If you’ve never had money, you will never know how to spend it like water, as Nandan discovers.
COMMUNITY
August 21, 2020
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Sewa Houston Volunteer Mans Phone Lines, Organizes Plasma Donations By Lindsey Peyton Houston: Lately, the helplines created to assist Houstonians during the pandemic have been ringing nonstop. One number, created by the Houston chapter of the Hindu faith-based nonprofit Sewa International, provides disaster relief and family services for all, regardless of race, religion, nationality or background. And callers are lucky when volunteer Madan Luthra is on the line. “Madan has just been phenomenal,” said Sewa’s executive director Kavita Tewary. “He’s a true volunteer.” Luthra answers questions, delivers groceries, scours the city for needed supplies and has even helped with funeral arrangements. When the call came for plasma - Luthra went into high gear. The long-time Missouri City resident spent 15 years working at MD Anderson in clinical pathology research. Before that, he was on faculty at Baylor College. While Luthra retired three years ago, his interest in medicine and health remained. He and his wife, Raja Luthra, who works in MD Anderson’s molecular diagnostics lab, had discussed the possibility of convalescent plasma therapy, in which antibodies found in plasma from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 is used to treat coronavirus patients.
Kavita Tewary, left, and Madan Luthra of Sewa International started a website to connect plasma donors with antibodies to COVID-19 to those who are very sick. Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
After Houston Methodist began seeing success with this treatment, one of the men Luthra was helping was approved for the therapy. When Luthra found out, he started making calls to try to find a donor. Luthra narrowed the pool down to an ideal donor.And doctors used the plasma right away to help the original patient Luthra knew, as well as a second patient — saving two patients’ lives in two days. Luthra was convinced that more could be done, so he started work-
ing with Tewary and other volunteers to create a website that would connect plasma donors with patients. “We had a sense that we could make a difference in the community,” Luthra said. “We could coordinate with the medical community and families in one project. Sewa could put all these things together and make a difference. The opportunity was there to do some good, and that’s what we’re here for.”
Now the website, sewacovidplasma.org is live. Already, there a few dozen donors on the roster, mainly from Texas, but the website has expanded to the rest of the United States as well. The mission is to have the plasma on hand so doctors can treat patients. “That way, when the requests come, they can fulfill them right away,” Luthra said. “It will be easier to handle, because of the effort we’re making right now. We’re hoping it will make a big
Houstonian Rajveer “Raj” Kindra is No. 1 Debater Houston: Rajveer, who is now a Senior in high school, has won numerous state, national, and international tournaments in Debate & Oratory leading up to this achievement. Rajveer has always had a passion for helping others find their voices, encouraging others to build confidence, and speak on topics meaningful to them. In 2016 Rajveer took the initiative to set up a debate class in his middle school that did not offer any debate curriculum or assistance for competitions. Debate was what he fell in love with as it allowed him to engage in both sides of any issue from all angles. He stated, “The focus it develops to closely pay attention to your opponents’ arguments, understand them, and then deliver your counter-arguments to convince the judges for a win is enthralling.” Rajveer won the very first debate tournament he participated in middle school. As he moved into high school, it took uncompromising commitment. Long hours to write and practice cases, travel across the country on weekends for intense competition, and immediately return to school with ample homework to catch up on. The effort has paid off as throughout his academic career so far, Rajveer is Ranked first in the Nation in De-
bate (Lincoln Douglas – National Speech and Debate Association), has won Two National Championships and qualified for three other Nationals, including Tournament of Champions in his Junior year, Qualified for Nationals (NSDA) in Sophomore and junior year consecutively going undefeated during qualification rounds, and as a freshman won sixth place in LD at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State, just to name a few. Outside of School, Rajveer’s proudest accomplishment is working with various non-profits to provide financial resources for debate and speech programs nationally. He works with these organizations
to maximize the opportunity for all to enjoy debate, as his principal objective is to combat the social inequalities he has witnessed while participating in the debate circuit. There are massive schools with significant funding for their debate programs that have up to 6 coaches and a plethora of teammates that faced Rajveer, who had to pay out of pocket to fly out and attend these tournaments with no institutional support, peers, or coaching. Even with all the odds stacked against him, Rajveer has shined in the field of debate. He intends to pursue law and wants to help the impoverished and fight for their voices, just like he did as a middle schooler.
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impact.” The plasma registry will continue until a vaccine becomes readily available. In the meantime, Luthra continues to make deliveries and to man the helpline. Tewary estimates he spends about 30 hours a week taking calls and responding to needs. “I spend a lot of time to resolve situations, just doing whatever needs to be done,” Luthra said. He shops, picks up groceries and leaves them outside of caller’s doors. Luthra said that his medical background prepared him for being safe and taking all of the necessary precautions. “It’s definitely a scary spot,” he said, “but someone has to do the task. When no one else is there, we can step in like part of the family.” Luthra often drives from his home in Sienna Plantation to Cypress or Magnolia to help others, Tewary said. “It’s a lot of work and a lot of time,” she said. “His efforts in setting up the plasma registry is now helping families in Houston and around the country.” How to help or get help: For non-medical COVID-19 help, call 281-909-7392. To sign up for the Sewa plasma registry, go to sewacovidplasma. org. -- Houston Chronicle To donate to Sewa’s relief efforts or learn more, visit sewausa.org. Lindsay Peyton is a Houstonbsaed freelance writer.
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August 21, 2020
What’s in a Name?
In school, a new girl with a ‘different’ name leads to a realisation of fluid identities. “Shanthi, this is Sharada Kasim, a new girl,” said Mrs. Das to me. “Sharada, this is Shanthi Paul.” “Are you Sharada or Kasim,” I asked. “What do you mean?” “I mean, are you a Hindu or a Muslim?” “I’m a Christian.” “Whaaat …?” I was stupefied. “Then, why are you Sharada Kasim?” “Because Sharada is a girl’s name, and Kasim is my family name,” she said. “Really! What’s your father’s name, then?” “Sadananda Kasim. And my mother’s Ambika. My sister’s Ganga. And my elder brother’s Churchill.” I warmed to her, a chatter-box like me. “Do you have any brothers and sisters,” she whispered in class. “Younger sisters. Twins, Sara and Susan.” During lunch break, I took her to my friends. She opened a box of sandwiches. Most of us usually brought curd or lemon rice with lime or mango pickle. Only Jahnavi and Shivani brought rotis always. It did not really matter who brought what, for we always shared. “But I thought Kasim was a Muslim name, Sharada. Our sports captain is Javida Kasim.” We were under my jacaranda tree. “Yes, it is. Many Christians in Gulbarga have Muslim names,” she said. “My grandfather’s father was a Muslim Kasim, but we’re Christian Kasims.” All this was getting too much for me. “Come, let’s play tag,” I said. After lunch break, she did not come with me to the Kannada class; her second-language was Urdu. “Why should a Christian learn Urdu, Sharada,” I asked her as we walked home. “Why not? We speak Urdu at home. It’s only with others like you that we speak Kannada,” she said. “But Urdu…? Isn’t it the language of the Muslims?” “It’s ours too,” she said, smiling. “Will you come to the Krishnarao Park this evening? I have a whole bunch of friends. Your sister can play with my sisters.” “Right! See you then,” Sharada said. “Amma, there is a new girl in class. Sharada Kasim! And she says she’s a Christian. Can you beat it?” “Oh, they must be related to Ambrose Kasim. They’re from Gulbarga. Nice name, Sharada. That is Goddess Saraswathi’s name.” “So, Amma, isn’t Sharada a Hindu name?” “So what, magale?’ Amma said gently. “What’s in a name, anyway?” Suddenly I felt a glow in my heart. Sharada was on top of a slide and ran down the slope to me with her arms outspread, grinning. She played with my friends, while Ganga made castles in the sandpit with the younger ones. “Your new friend is amazing, Shanthi,” Amtul said. “She talks Urdu better than we do. Just like my grandfather does. I’ll take her home. But she says she’s a Christian. I thought you Christians spoke only Kannada and English.” “I thought so too, Amtul. But who cares!” Sharada knew all the games we played. She loved being a leader like me. When we played seven tiles, she led one group and I led the other. Then we held each other’s hands and whirled round and round until we were heady. -- The Hindu
The American Kamala: Black and Indian By Ashutosh Varshney “You have been such a regular customer, so I hope you won’t mind my question. I know white and I know black — what are you?” Thus spoke my dry cleaner in South Bend, Indiana, in 2000. A small town brought to national attention this year by Pete Buttigieg, the town’s former mayor who ran the Democratic presidential primary with distinction, losing finally to Joe Biden, South Bend also houses the University of Notre Dame, a great educational treasure of America’s Irish Catholic community. I taught there for two years, 1999-2001. The dry cleaner’s comment was not offensive or prejudiced — it simply embodied conventional wisdom and reflected curiosity. The colour of my skin did not align with her pre-existing understanding of America’s great racial binary. Historically, one could either be black or white, but the space in the middle was virtually non-existent in the US. It is this middle space — neither black, nor white — which acquires significance in light of Kamala Harris’s vice presidential nomination, although it should also be clear that it cannot compete with the historical charge of black identity, which Harris also simultaneously represents. In 1790, after independence, the US was roughly 80.7 per cent white and 19.3 per cent black. In 1960, the proportions were 88.6 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively. After the Immigration Acts of 1917 and 1924, white Europeans were practically the only immigrants into the US (with some Latinos counted as white). Between 1880 and 1960, the Asian proportion of America remained below 0.3 per cent. That is why, once the indigenous Americans were reduced to statistical insignificance, US history for a long time did not have a third race. The Hispanics, now 18 per cent of the country, arrived mostly after the mid-1960s. How many of the Asians were Indian? In “The Other One Percent”, Sanjoy Chakravorty, Devesh Kapur and Nirvikar Singh note that in 1940, there were only 2,405 Indians in the US, and although by 1960, when Kamala Harris’s mother came from Delhi to Berkeley, the num-
bers had climbed, there were still only 12,296 Indians in the US. It is after the 1965 immigration reform, which abrogated national quotas, that the non-white immigration rose rapidly. Indian Americans today number about 4 million, a remarkable increase over 1960, but that is still only a little over 1 per cent of the US. Because their numbers were small and their employment heavily skewed towards the educated and skilled professions, Indians have been invisible in America’s mass politics. Engineers, scientists, doctors, business executives and professors, Indians have been present in the middle and upper echelons of America’s biggest cities, but not in smaller towns like South Bend. The largest concentrations have been in the metropolitan regions of New York, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, DallasHouston and Philadelphia. Average Americans in small towns have little direct experience of Indians. Almost certainly, the rise of Kamala Harris will make Indians more visible in America’s public life. But how that will happen is complicated, and needs to be understood in its complexity. For America’s mass politics, Harris is primarily black and only secondarily something else. At one level, this is quite a paradox. Harris rarely talks about her father, a black immigrant from Jamaica and a former professor of economics. She often speaks of the strong influence of her Indian mother, who raised her as a single mom after the marriage broke down. But it is noteworthy that in addition to giving her daughter a sense of India, the mother also
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emphasised Harris’s black roots, making it clear that the US would primarily view Kamala as a black woman. Such mixed upbringing was easy in a multi-racial California, but much tougher in a predominantly white Montreal, where the mother accepted a job. Harris lived in Canada for five years, completing her high school education there. In a move whose wisdom and significance are unmistakable, Kamala went for her BA to Howard University, a black college established after the abolition of slavery in the 1860s. What better way to explore her black identity than being in a historic black college, surrounded by black co-students in a hugely formative period of one’s life! In part inherited from her father, Kamala’s black identity was thus also socially constructed. If one has both black and Indian ancestries, as Harris does, the former was always going to play a bigger role in American politics. The black community is 12 times larger, it has a longer and poignant history, and after the Black Lives Matter movement, its political significance has gone up significantly. That, however, does not mean that the Indian ancestry of Harris is politically irrelevant. In the three swing states that accounted for Trump’s victory — Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — Indian votes can be hugely important this November, as the Democratic party has already conceded. Clinton lost Pennsylvania by roughly 42,000 votes, Michigan by 11,000, and Wisconsin by 26,000. Pennsylvania has over 1,05,000 Indians, Michigan nearly 1,00,000, and Wisconsin over 25,000. Florida is also expected to be in play. In short, the black part of Harris’s identity is bound to be bigger, but the Indian part will not be suppressed. The logic of demography and identity, an inescapable part of democratic politics, shows why the Harris candidacy is generating excitement. It is aimed at a multiracial America. It is a 21st century American reality Trump is trying to suppress. -- Indian Express The writer is Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and Professor of Political Science at Brown University.
SUDOKU/RECREATION 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.
August 21, 2020
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100-acre Eastern Glades Opens at Memorial Park
Send us the correct answer before August 26, 2020. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Please send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published.
Solution Next Week
Last Week’s SUDOKU Solution
Last Week’s SUDOKU Winners Sharmila Moharir
The 100-acre Eastern Glades project includes the 5.5-acre Hines Lake against the backdrop of Memorial Park wetlands and parkland and the Cify of Houston skyline.
Houston: Memorial Park Conservancy and project partners at Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Kinder Foundation and the Uptown Development Authority are unveiling the Clay Family Eastern Glades, the first major project of the 2015 Memorial Park Master Plan and the associated Ten-Year Plan announced in 2018. Located north of Memorial Drive between Memorial Park Golf Course and Crestwood Drive, the transformed 100-acre area features picnic areas, native wetlands, savanna, pine-hardwood forest, wide open green spaces, and miles of accessible trails for Houstonians to enjoy. Eastern Glades is open to the public and can be easily accessed from a parking lot with bike racks along the Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail and a pedestrian plaza at the intersection of Crestwood Drive and Blossom Street, as well as by vehicle or public transport at the intersection of Memorial Drive and East Memorial Loop Road. “Eastern Glades provides a much-needed place for people to engage with nature and experience Houston in a whole new way – and our citizens need and deserve this now more than ever. We are grateful for the public-private partnership that allows transformational projects like Eastern Glades. I believe it is important to enhance parks throughout the City to improve the quality of life for every Houstonian,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. In addition to reclaiming and restoring 100 acres of largely inaccessible and ecologically distressed parkland for recreation, relaxation, and rejuvenation, the completed Eastern Glades project: Establishes the 5.5-acre Hines Lake and wetlands providing stormwater detention and reuse for irrigation, and aquatic habitat Introduces over 2.5 miles of majestic new boardwalks and accessible walking trails as well as opportunities to experience and learn about natural ecology systems Significantly expands community areas with the opening of Live Oak Court, a new food truck court and event lawn, in addition to three covered picnic pavilions, four picnic areas and a grand lake-
side plaza Draws upon the Park’s history, re-establishing a pedestrian entry at one of the original entrances to Camp Logan, the World War I military training facility for which Memorial Park is named Features personal quotes from more than 50 Houstonians describing what the Park means to them. Houston’s 2020 Youth Poet Laureate, Madison Petaway, curated these unique quotes for permanent installation around Eastern Glades’ Central Lawn. “Eastern Glades honors and celebrates what Houstonians love most about the city’s largest urban wilderness and recreation park while providing an expansive new area to explore and discover,” said Shellye Arnold, President and CEO of Memorial Park Conservancy. “We are thrilled to celebrate two important milestones as we deliver this first project of the Master Plan in concert with the 20th anniversary of Memorial Park Conservancy.” Eastern Glades Phase I opened in October 2018 and included relocating a portion of East Memorial Loop Road; extending the Seymour Lieberman Trail; adding new restrooms, parking, dark-sky pedestrian lighting and multiuse trails for safer biking and walking; and providing drainage infrastructure to facilitate stormwater management and water purification. The Uptown Development Authority funded and led Phase I of the project. “We are proud to call Houston home, and happy to support Memorial Park as it becomes the preeminent outdoor space for all Houstonians to enjoy now and forever,” said Emily Clay. “Houstonians deserve nothing but the best,” added Robert Clay. Together, the couple contributed $10 million to the Master Plan, naming the Eastern Glades for their family – a fitting gesture that echoes the welcoming feel of this new community gathering space. An essential component of Eastern Glades includes an extensive ecological restoration and conversion process. The Conservancy’s data-driven and scientifically grounded approach involves removal of invasive species undergrowth, allowing native trees to
Indo-American News • Friday, AUGUST 21, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
grow; establishment of healthy forest structure and biodiversity through the addition of native woody species and herbaceous plants; and stewardship through ongoing maintenance. While the conversion process is ongoing, the resulting restored natural areas will be more resilient to climatic conditions and more hospitable to diverse wildlife. “The Conservancy has done impressive work restoring nearly 40 acres of degraded habitat in Eastern Glades so far and planting more than 150 native species to help promote and sustain wildlife. Restoring the landscape not only creates wonderful spaces for people to enjoy nature, but also provides important benefits for the overall ecology of the Park and plays an integral role in stormwater management,” said Nancy Kinder, President and CEO of the Kinder Foundation, Ten-Year Plan catalyst donor and project partner. “This opening is just the start of what is to come.” Nelson Byrd Woltz served as the lead design firm for the Master Plan and the Eastern Glades project. Globally recognized, they were selected based on their successful work with ecologically challenged public spaces. The total Eastern Glades project cost is $35 million. The City of Houston invested $10 million in Eastern Glades through the Uptown TIRZ for project infrastructure including the moving of a road that had previously cut the 100-acre area in half. Donors to the Conservancy including Emily and Robert Clay, Wendy and Jeff Hines, the Kinder Foundation and others provided the balance – $25 million – to restore the site’s distressed ecologies and build the amenities. In 2018, the Kinder Foundation provided a catalyst gift of $70 million to accelerate the delivery of ten years’ worth of Master Plan projects and joined the Conservancy, Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Uptown Development Authority as a project partner for the delivery of these Master Plan projects. The Conservancy continues raising funds for additional projects as part of its capital campaign.
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August 21, 2020
Indo-American News • Friday, AUGUT 21, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com