Friday, July 12, 2019 | Vol. 38, No. 23
Indo American News Published weekly from Houston, TX
www.indoamerican-news.com
$1
Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News
7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036 • 713.789.NEWS (6397) • indoamericannews@yahoo.com
Club 65 Salutes the 90’s
Hindu Charity (HC4A) Launches in Houston Metro
Riyaaz Plays Tribute to Nusrat
P3
P4 P13
IACCGH 20th Gala Photo Collage
MITRA / CAMDEN TRAVEL Consolidators for Turkish Airlines and Asiana Airlines
We have completed 25 successful years 12808 W Airport Blvd Suite 252 Sugar Land, TX 77478
We have special low fares on Emirates
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
P8-9
Tariq at Hanmi Bank
281-530-3000, 1-888-811-LESS Emergency Contact 281-236-9475 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 Summer and December fares please call us now. www.faregurus.com/ camdentravel@aol.com
Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
2
July 12, 2019
Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
COMMUNITY
July 12, 2019
3
A Tribute to Nusrat by the Homegrown Riyaaz Qawwali Ensemble
By Dr. Sarita Mehta Stafford: Riyaaz Qawwali performed a beautiful tribute to Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, honoring the legacy of the legend on Friday, June 28 at Stafford Centre. Nusrat, who died 20 years ago, continues to be a major influence on mainstream Indian and Pakistani media even today. The ensemble of Riyaaz Qawwali has been performing qawwali for 14 years, but this particular 10-musician ensemble was uniquely commissioned by the 26 year-old Indo American Association, a non-profit organization which promotes the cultural arts of India. It was presented in collaboration with the Aga Khan Council for Southwestern U. S The commissioned concert was a tribute to the figure that popularized qawwali in the West: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Riyaaz started off the night with the famous ‘Tumhein
dillagi bhool jaani padeygi.’ Musicians across the world take inspiration from Nusrat’s music. The founder of Riyaaz Qawwali, Sonny Mehta shares in that. A Texas-native, Sonny grew up in Southwest Houston and attended high school at Clear Brook, before heading to UT-Austin for college. During the concert, Sonny commented that he, “first heard Nusrat’s music in 1998 while driving back from Galveston.” This inspiration took physical shape when he formed Riyaaz Qawwali in 2006. Since then, the ensemble has performed at renowned museums, major music festivals and toprated universities. But, the concert on Saturday was especially unique for two reasons: their sound and the audience. First for their sound. Traditionally, Riyaaz comprises of 8 musi-
cians who play traditional Indian intruments. For this concert, Riyaaz Qawwali was accompanied by a saxaphone player, guitar player and a talented drummer. They brought to Houston’s ears the same music that Nusrat Fatel Ali Khan was performing in the years prior to his death: some of his qawwalis, some of his bollywood songs, and some his famous collaborations. The other reason the concert was special was because of the diversity of the audience of nearly 600. In the audience were immigrants from Chile, Iraq, Morocco, France, Malaysia, Italy, Russia, Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan, in addition to Pakistani and Indians (which are to be expected). Perhaps this diversity was due to the crowd that Nusrat used to pull, but perhaps it was because of the audience Riyaaz Qawwali attracts.
The hometown ghazal and qawwali group Riyaaz Qawwali came back to give a concert on June 28 at the Stafford Centre as part of the Indo American Association’s 2019 season of performances. Led by ginger Sunny Mehta, the group has risen in popularity and has played at many venues nationwide.
Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
4
COMMUNITY
July 12, 2019
Light Up Candles for a 243rd Anniversary and Three Nonagenarians! H
By Jawahar Malhotra
OUSTON: You have to be creative to keep the minds of seniors active and involved, and entice them enough to bring them out of their comfort zones and out into the midst of commotion. For the past six-years, Paru McGuire, the President of Club 65, has kept the monthly meetings going and make them entertaining for the seniors as well as their younger chaperones. A sister organization of the Indian Muslim Association of Greater Houston, Club 65 usually holds monthly meetings for seniors at Bayland Community Center on Bissonnet near Hillcroft and sometimes parlays into outings like picnics or a visit to a park. Now McGuire has help – it can be a demanding job rounding people up - from not just one but two Vice Presidents, Rahat Sultana and Meera Kapur. And with the 4th of July just behind them, what could be better than to celebrate the nation’s 243rd birthday? Well, celebrating the July birthdays of three nonagenarians (90 year-olds for those not familiar with the term) and add everyone else (age unrestricted) to help light the candles! Almost 40 members and chaperones turned up for the event at Bayland on Saturday, July 6 and listened as Farida Bandali, the C65 Treasurer gave a brief but interesting description of how the 4th of July came to be celebrated and where the custom of lighting fireworks started. Never a shrinking violet, the 90-year-old Taiyeb Shipchander (fondly known as kaka or uncle) sang a ghazal to get the program
started, and McGuire introduced the new members and Kapur’s new role. Kaka had just turned 90 and also turning a year-older was my mother, 91 year-old Shakuntla Malhotra (fondly and universally known as mama), C65’s first Life Member, whose birthday is on the 22nd. Also attending was the oldest member, Yusuf Ali, a sprightly 94 year-old who doesn’t look (or move like) his age! Neeta Sane, the Houston Community College Trustee who is running for Ft Bend TaxAssessorCollector and her husband Deepak attended the meeting and gave a brief recap of the discounted courses that HCC has developed for seniors. She was followed up by Mandeep Randhawa (who goes by Mandy), a financial advisor who spoke about the four keys to financial well-being and stressed the element that is key to a senior’s wellbeing – long term care and how to plan for its enormous expenses (upto $90,000 per year at a nursing home) in the ebbing years. The other three keys are buying adequate life insurance, paying off debt and saving funds for emergencies through investments and annuities. She also gave tips on estate planning, medical power of attorney and wills. When it came time to cut the cake for Kaka and Mama, all the other July birthdays gathered around (including this reporter) with the C65 Board and kaka’s son Taha. On the cover, on left, 90-year-old Taiyeb “kaka” Shipchander and 91-year-old Shakuntla “mama” Malhotra pose with their sons standing behind them, Taha (left) and Jawahar. Top: The July birthdays and the C65 Board joined kaka and mama in cutting the birthday cake.
Bottom: : From left, Mandeep Randhawa, a financial advisor; Neeta Sane, the Houston Community College Trustee and Paru McGuire, the President of Club 65,
IMMIGRATION ATT ORNEYS
Willy, Nanayakkara & Associates
INTEGRITY
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW ATTORNEYS
CHIRANJAYA “ CHIRO” NANAYAKKARA
JAMES W. PARKER
Managing Attorney
Associate Attorney
DIGNITY
COMPETENCE
SPECIAL ADVISORS
STEPHANIE STUBBE Associate Attorney
THOMAS P. FISCHER
Former District Director of Immigration
GEORGE R. WILLY
THOMAS R. HUTSON Former Consul General
OF COUNSEL
ROGER PIPER
Former District Director of Immigration
JIMMIE BENTON
Former Immigration Judge
Principal Attorney
Deportation
Employment Based
Naturalization
Family Based
Investment Visas
EB1 / EB2 / EB5
Professional Visas
Skilled Worker Visas
We’ve Moved To
14141 Southwest Fwy, Suite 110 Sugar Land, TX 77478
GRWPC.COM
Canadian Immigration
Masala Radio @ AM 1110 Every Thursday: 4:00 to 4:30 pm
......
30 MIN FREE CONSULTATION
Geetanjali Radio @ AM 1320 2nd and 3rd Saturday: 3:00 to 3:30 pm
Andhra Mirchi @ AM 1050 Every 2nd Saturday: 1:00 to 1:30 pm
•Over 30 years of practice in Immigration Law. •Member of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association since 1989. •Providing representation for Canadian Immigration through our associates in Canada. •Over 16 Languages spoken by the Firm’s staff.
HOUSTON • ATLANTA • CANADA • MUMBAI - INDIA
HOUSTON: EVERY THURSDAY | (281) 265-2522 | (888) 529-5990 | IMMIGRATION@GRWPC.COM ATLANTA: EVERY 1ST & 3RD MONDAY | (404) 937-6868 | (888) 529-5990 | ATLANTAIMMIGRATION@GRWPC.COM Indo-American News • Friday, JUNE 28, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
PAULINE APPELBAUM
Former Immigration Regional Counsel USCIS
IMMIGRATION
July 12, 2019
Indian Emigration to Canada Rises 51% Mumbai: Interest among the Indian diaspora (including those based in the US) in acquiring permanent residency in Canada continues unabated. During 2018, over 39,500 Indian citizens obtained permanent residency in Canada under the express entry system (this figure constitutes 43% of the total number). According to recently released statistics, in 2018 Canada admitted more than 92,000 new permanent entry residents through its express entry system, which is a rise of 41% over the previous year. Permanent residency is akin to a green card in the US. In the previous year, 2017, Canada had admitted nearly 65,500 permanent residents under the express entry route, of which 40%, or 26,300 odd, were from India. The number of Indian citizens to be awarded permanent residency in 2018 has increased by 51% from 2017. Interestingly, China, which occupied second rank during 2017, slipped to third rank with only about 5,800 Chinese obtaining permanent residency in 2018. Nigeria occupied second slot. The number of invites issued to Chinese citizens showed negative growth. TOI in its earlier editions has covered how the challenges faced by Indians working in the US, such as delays or denials of H-1 visa extensions, green-card backlogs, or even the proposed plan to revoke the right of H-1B spouses to work, is resulting in a migration flow to neighbouring Canada. Those based in India are also increasingly looking at Canada for employment or permanent settlement. The Global Talent Stream (GTS), which recently transited from being a pilot to a permanent scheme, enables Canadian companies to bring on board expats with a STEM background within just two weeks. This is expected to increase the flow of Indian employees to Canada. Many of these GTS workers are expected to later opt for permanent residency. Express entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage applications from skilled and qualified workers for permanent residence through three economic immigration programs.
5
Pradeep Sulhan, P.C.
Certified Public Accountant 14340 Torrey Chase Blvd. | Suite 110 | Houston, Texas 77014 (281) 583-2993 | (281) 580-8700 | Fax(281) 580-7550 www.sulhancpa.com | pradeep@sulhancpa.com
Over 25 years experience
Under the express entry programme, candidates complete an online profile and are then placed in the express entry pool and ranked relative to each other based on their comprehensive ranking system (CRS) scores. CRS considers existence of a job offer, age, education, work experience, English and French proficiency. Those who clear the cutoff mark (the maximum is 1,200) are sent “invitations to apply” for permanent residency. “The top countries of citizenship based on the people admitted to Canada generally mirrors those of invited candidates. Nearly half of all people admitted in 2018 had Indian citizenship,” stated Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada’s immigration di-
vision, in its recently released express entry year-end report. In 2018, 41,675 invites (or 46% of the total) were sent to those holding Indian citizenship. In 2017, of the 86,022 total invites, 36,308, or 42%, issued to Indians. Express entry draws are held periodically. The most recent was on June 21, which had a CRS cutoff threshold of 462 points and will result in 3,350 candidates being invited to take up permanent residency. Canada’s multi-year immigration levels plan is committed to welcoming more permanent residents (including those on humanitarian grounds) over three years. It has set a target of 3.30 lakh for 2019 and 3.40 lakh for 2020.
For Advertising in Indo-American News call:
713-789-6397
R. SRINIVASAN AND COMPANY
15 Years of Solid and Trusted Experience Book Keeping & Tax Services Income Statements & Balance Sheets Filing of all individual Business Returns 1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065 Free Consultation
BOOK KEEPING | PAYROLL | INCOME TAX Incorporations: C and S Corporations, LLC’s Sales Tax and Franchise Tax Returns Income Tax and Sales Tax Representation Payroll and Payroll Tax Returns
Cell: 832-877-9625 | Fax: 713-977-2221 | Email: acct77036@yahoo.com | web: www.asu2020.com 6666 Harwin Dr, Suite 365, Houston, TX 77036 Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
6
BUSINESS
July 12, 2019
Nikit Bhatt Marries Natasha Noun
HOUSTON: Natasha Noun and Nikit
Bhatt were married at the Holy Rosary Church in front of friends and family from US and abroad as Nikit’s Grandmother made a special visit from India. An awesome reception was held to celebrate the wedding at beautiful ballroom in JW Marriott Galleria hotel on July 6. Wonderful catering was provided by India’s Restaurant and Fadi Restaurant – mixing Indian and Mediterranean flavors. Nikit is the son of Chirag and Yamini Bhatt, who came to US in 1980. Yamini was a student in NY but while visiting Houston, she met Chirag in 1983 and they were married in late 1983. Natasha is the daughter of Tony and Georgette Noun - who met in Beirut, Lebanon in 1981 at the early age of 13 years. They eventually got married at the age of 21 in Beirut in 1989 and came to Houston in October 1989. Nikit and Natasha were both born in Houston and have been in the city since then. Natasha attended the University of Houston and graduated with a Masters in Communication Science and Disorders. Natasha currently works closely with elementary students as a Certified SpeechLanguage Pathologist within the Klein ISD. Nikit also graduated from UH with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the Hilton College. He currently works with Sonders as Operations Director in Houston. Nikit and Natasha met through mutual friends and connected on social media in early 2012. Their first official date was in early 2012 at the House of Pies in Houston. They remembered that Natasha got the Banana Cream Pie and Nikit got theAlmond
Creme Pie. It has been a sweet – as a pie friendship ever since then! Tony is a business owner in the Automotive Industry, providing Texas and surrounding states with consumer automotive sales and automotive services since 1992. He is also the founder of the United Republicans of Texas. Georgette works closely within the family business, providing administrative services. Chirag is a Food Safety Professional and has worked with City of Houston Department of Health for many years and currently works in the food service industry. He has lived in Houston since 1980 and has been active within the local Indian community. Yamini is the founder of the Riddham Spiritual Center, where she offers transformational training and teaching in spirituality since 2001 – including yoga and meditation. Natasha’s family faith is Maronite Catholic, while Nikit’s family faith is Hindu and his parents are very active members at the ISKCON community in Houston since 1993.
Indo-American News • Friday, JUNE 28, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
COMMUNITY
July 12, 2019
7
Katy Teenager’s Hawker App Gets Mention in Maharashtra Assembly Katy: Teenager Aditya Bhatia, a 10th grade, created what he calls a “Tech Bridge” with his 13 year old cousin Aryan in India to launch new mobile App “MeriPheri”. The initiative, after a year of effort got off to a flying start 2 weeks back. The app on its launch, was mentioned by city MLA Smt. Jyoti Kalani in Maharashtra State Assembly and recommended felicitation. People jumped on this first of its kind app MeriPheri in India and they have 2000+ downloads in 2 weeks. Big newspapers like Times of India published articles and the app got some exciting reviews. Aditya’s visit to his grand parents in Mumbai last year was the trigger for this idea/app. With his background and experience in Technology (launching apps, writing articles etc.), Aditya and his cousin Aryan were on a lookout for his next app when this idea came by accident. Asked to stand on lookout for nearby Pheriwala everyday to buy Vegetables and Fruits for 30 to 45 minutes, two teenagers thought they can solve this problem thru a simple mobile app. The two conceptualized this idea during the visit and then created a Tech Bridge to work on it together while being remote. After rounds of test-
Katy teenager Aditya Bhatia (left) and street hawkers in Mumbai, who can benefit from Adity’as Mera Pheri app.
ing and development, they finally launched the app 2 weeks back. “The app is super simple, easy to use and cool. Its first app in India that connects buyers with nearby Pheriwals for small day to day purchases like Vegetables, Fruits, Snacks, Street Food etc. etc. This market and segment has been largely untapped” says Aryan Bhatia. Per Aditya, this makes a great Start Up venture and big potential to grow all over south east Asia. Student of Thompkins High School Katy, Aditya has couple
tracking, seeing items matched and whole cart of Pheriwala along with his photo. The app has potential to solve many social issues for Pheriwala’s like no hawker zone, more selling and business for perishable items etc. Despite being too young, the two are now seeking Venture Capital or Angel Investor funding to promote the app and get maximum downloads. According to Aditya, they have introduced new concept “P Commerce” or “Pheri Commerce” which can run into millions of dollars’ worth of business which is not tapped right now. Aditya can be reached at adityabhatia78@gmail.com
of years of Technology History behind him. He launched his first mobile App “SportsConnect” when he was 13 years old. His articles on high tech areas like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and e-Commerce have been published as Cover Page stories in prestigious Computer Society of India magazine. The app has been designed meticulously with local details given great attention. It’s available in 7 languages for people who can not read English or Hindi. There is option for voice alert, calling, live
Have you planned for your future?
People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan
Jesal Patel ARPC, CLTC, LUTCF Financial Adviser*: Eagle Strategies LLC Life Member MDRT Ph: 281-221-5061/713-499-7670 Fax: 832-201-5394 Website: www.jesalzpatel.com *Financial Adviser offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC, A Registered Investment Adviser. Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC-Member FINRA/ SIPC, A Licensed insurance Agency. Agent with New York Life Insurance Company. 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 1900, Houston, TX 77027 (713) 961-4545 California Insurance License # 0F53803 smru#1711530 Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
8
July 12, 2019
Indo-American News • Friday, JUNE 28, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
July 12, 2019
Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston
20th Annual Gala
Saturday, June 15, 2019 Hilton Americas, Houston
Photos: Bijay Dixit, Unique Photo Images
Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
9
10
July 12, 2019
Five Reasons Young Families Need Life Insurance Now
By Amiralli Dodhiya Houston: When it comes to money matters, young parents who are just starting out have a lot to juggle: They may be paying off student debt and saving for their fi rst home, all while raising kids. But it’s also a time when young families may be the most fnancially vulnerable should the unexpected strike. To ensure that they have n ancial protection when they need it most, purchasing a life insurance policy should be top of mind. Here are fi ve reasons why young families need life insurance: 1. You just never know. While it’s not the most pleasant thing to ponder, an emergency situation could quickly put your family’s finances under water. In fact, nearly half of Americans don’t have enough savings to take care of a $400 emergency response. And when you’re starting out, not having protection in case something happens to a family’s breadwinner is even scarier. 2. The earlier you opt in, the more affordable it is. Because age is one of the factors that affects the cost of your premium, the younger you are when you purchase a policy, the less you’ll be paying each year. 3. It’s not as expensive as you
INSURANCE Indo American News Founder: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Publisher: Jawahar Malhotra Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Advertising Administrator: Sarita Mehta Correspondent: Sanchali Basu ®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 212, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel & fax: 713-789-6397 email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: www. indoamerican-news.com
“IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA”
Stay tuned every Sunday,
think. If you’re on a budget and are convinced you can’t afford life insurance, consider term life insurance. It guarantees protection for a set amount of time. Since it’s not designed to last a lifetime, the annual premiums are considerably lower. 4. It lets you concentrate on other goals. Once you have the peace of mind and n ancial protection that life insurance grants you, you may feel secure enough to fund long-term goals, like buying a home, saving for your nest egg, or going back to school. 5. You can always upgrade at a later date. Don’t let the fear of making the wrong decision deter you from purchasing a policy now. The policy you purchase today isn’t intended to be set in stone. As your family’s
needs change, you have the option of making upgrades. We know it’s not easy for young families to make their life insurance needs a priority, given all their competing financial obligations. However, life insurance is a vehicle for protection that is not only affordable, but can also help families save money and can ultimately propel them toward reaching both their mediate and farreaching goals. This educational, third-party article is provided as a courtesy by Amiralli (Amir) Dodhiya, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Amiralli (Amir) Dodhiya at 832-877-0177.
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 2-5 PM For your business ads
Cell: 832-878-4338 Tel: 713-545-4749 shobajoshi999@gmail.com
Indo-American News • Friday, JUNE 28, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
ENTERTAINMENT
July 12, 2019
11
Yesterday: Danny Boyles’s Time-Travel Movie of Beatles’ Songs By John DeFore
What would you do if you woke up one day and realized you were the only one in the world who remembered the songs of The Beatles? It’s the kind of daydream many of us have had, usually combined with time travel — maybe you’d go back and dribble paint before Jackson Pollock, beat Agatha Christie to the mystery-novel racket or invent Twitter. If you were screenwriter Richard Curtis, though, and you found yourself in a world where the Fab Four never made music, your course would be clear: somehow wrap the rediscovery of those songs into a Hollywood romance with only the most tenuous connection to the phenomenon of love as it is experienced on planet Earth. A puzzling match for the directing talents of Danny Boyle, who generally likes a little more edge than is found here, Curtis’ Yesterday tells of an unsuccessful singer-songwriter (Himesh Patel’s Jack Malik) who becomes a worldwide star when he “writes” songs like “Let It Be” and “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” only to find his path to fame leads him far from the love of his life. Neither a nononsense delight like. A nobody like this wouldn’t seem to need a manager, but Jack
has one: Ellie (Lily James), who chauffeurs him to the occasional gig and gives muchneeded pep talks. Some assume they’re a couple, but they’re not, and the viewer is left to draw the obvious conclusion: If they’re not together, it’s because she doesn’t like him that way. Midway through the film, an awkwardly dramatized scene will rely on us understanding that the opposite is true: She has secretly longed for him, but Jack never thought of Ellie as anything more than a sister. “I love a story that’s against all of the odds,” says Danny Boyle, who won a directing Oscar for ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ This is not the usual movieromance baloney, in which a duckling is ugly until the leading man gets a load of her third-act makeover. Ellie is as lovely and lovable at the pic’s start as at the end — more so, in fact, given her steadfast belief in Jack’s dubious gifts. Never convincing us that this unlikely dynamic is real,
the film will compound things once Jack understands his heart’s mistake, having Ellie issue an extremely outof-character ultimatum and pushing him away. But back to the start. On the night that Jack finally decides he’s quitting music for good, a mysterious Y2K-style event somehow kills all the electricity on the planet for a moment or two. At the same instant, Jack is hit by a bus; when he awakens in the hospital the next day, he’s in a Beatles-free world. The picture has some fun with this, as we should expect: Jack tries out a new guitar by strumming the move’s title song, and brings his friends to astonished tears. When he
starts to understand what has happened, he spends the afternoon Googling “Beatles” and finding nothing but hard-shelled insects. Rolling Stones, yes; Beach Boys and Bowie, still here. Oasis? What do you think? Understanding that he’s the sole repository of pop music’s greatest catalog, Jack races to reconstruct everything he can from memory; when he has trouble recalling a song, Boyle helpfully transforms misremembered lyrics into a stop-and-start music video. When he finally gets some of them recorded and out into the world, the world notices: Ed Sheeran drops by Jack’s house and invites him to open for him on tour, where the nobody is soon upstaging the star. (The real-life pop star quickly concedes that Jack’s the better songwriter, and slinks away in awed defeat; but isn’t framing Sheeran as the Salieri to a Lennon/McCartney Mozart kind of overstating the achievements of Mr. In-Love-With-Your-Body?)
Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
Kate McKinnon plays the film’s most entertaining character, Debra, a music agent whose eagerness to milk Jack’s talent fits the Saturday Night Live performer’s gifts perfectly. McKinnon reins herself in a bit, looking Debra’s new find in the face while deadpanning a list of the ways he’s defective as a would-be pop icon. Curtis’ script skips over some inconvenient questions (how does a perhaps-menacing stranger in Moscow wind up connecting with another odd bystander in Liverpool?) and chooses not to address philosophical ones that might ruin its fun: Isn’t it possible that the Beatles’ personalities had something to do with their success? Patel is likable in the lead, and casual Beatles fans will enjoy his performances of the many songs Jack re-composes. But it’s odd how little the film’s arrangements play with these sturdy songs. The only performance that really stretches is a live one of “Help!” in which Jack, nearly desperate in his offstage life by this point, rocks hard enough he seems to be crying out for rescue. The scene hints at a couple of directions Yesterday might have gone, instead of building to the kind of tiresome, forced romantic gesture that would be unsatisfying even if a supernatural blackout caused the world to forget every hack move in the rom-com playbook. -- Hollywood Reporter
12
LEGAL
July 12, 2019
Do You Know What to Do in Case of an Accident with Uber or Lyft? By Mala Sharma
With the advent of popular aps like uber and Lyft, there are more and more non-traditional drivers on the road. Not quite a taxi, but not an ordinary driver, these shared ride apps have created an entirely new category of commercial driving. So, what do you do when you have been in an accident wither an uber, Lyft, or another shared ride app vehicle? Before getting to that answer, it is important to know a few basics. Under the Uber insurance policy, required by all Uber drivers, there is liability coverage up to $1 million if the Uber driver is found at fault for an accident or $250,000.00 uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UM/ UIM) with a $1,000.00 comprehensive and collision deductible for property damage. However, if an Uber driver and passenger are hit by a negligent or at-fault driver that has insurance, then the at fault driver’s auto insurance policy would be the first to look at in claiming all damages incurred. This includes damages for injuries to both the Uber driver and passenger, as well as property damage to the Uber vehicle. If the at fault driver was driving a vehicle owned by another and that auto policy does not provide any coverage for accidents caused by the at fault driver, then the at fault driver’s own insurance policy most likely will provide coverage
for the damages caused. Once policy limits are reached through the at-fault driver’s insurance, then Uber’s underinsured motorist coverage (UIM coverage) will kick in to help cover any additional medical expenses incurred, so that those injured by a negligent driver may receive the maximum compensation possible. What if the at-fault driver that hit the Uber driver and passenger did not have insurance? If an uninsured vehicle negligently hits the Uber vehicle causing damages, then both Uber driver and passenger may recover under the Uber Uninsured coverage policy (UM coverage) for both personal injuries and the property damage. Now what if the Uber driver was using the vehicle not for ride share purposes but for personal use? The Uber policy will not be effective as the policy only provides coverage while the Uber driver is using the vehicle for Uber drive purposes and does not cover any accidents occurring when the vehicle is being used for personal use. Thus, when an Uber driver is injured in an accident during
personal use, their personal insurance policy will control, not Uber. Additionally, if the uber driver injures another while using the vehicle for personal use, the personal auto policy will be used to pay any resulting damages or injuries. Always discuss with an attorney if there is a question as to when an uber driver is using their vehicle for personal vs work and which insurance policy controls. It is also important to have the attorney review the terms of the personal insurance policy, as sometimes there are no restrictions for ride-share purposes and therefore that policy may cover accidents during both personal and during ride shares. Thus, whether you are an Uber driver or passenger injured in an auto accident with an at-fault party, you must first call the po-
DOES YOUR RETIREMENT MATH ADD UP?
lice to write a police report and always gather the following: (1) names and contact information for all driver’s/vehicles involved in the accident,(2) insurance policy for the at-fault driver, (3) Uber insurance policy, (4) Uber driver’s personal insurance policy, (5) all vehicle license plates, (6) pictures of all vehicles including their license plate, (7) pictures from the scene of the accident, (8) pictures of all bodily injuries including abrasions and more, (9) pictures of all property damage, (10) names and contacts for any witnesses, (11) any ambulance bill, hospital records, hospital bills, physicians bills, police reports, and any other treatment. In certain situations and with the right attorney, it is possible to recover from all three insurance plans: the Uber policy, Uber driver’s personal policy, and the at-fault driver’s policy. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact a qualified personal injury attorney to pursue your right to recover maximum compensation including medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain, mental anguish, and more! It is crucial to have an attorney fight
on your behalf against the insurance companies for your fair and just damages. About the Author: Mala Sharma has been practicing family law and personal injury with her family at the Law Offices of Sharma & Associates, founded in 1997. Mala has been appointed leadership roles for the American Bar Association GP Solo and GP Solo YLD division, is Board member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Past President of the Houston Northwest Bar Association, and prior board member of the South Asian Bar Association. She is also a member of the Houston Bar Association. Mala Sharma has been selected to the 2019 Texas Rising Stars by Super Lawyers. Mala has also been selected as 10 Best Attorneys by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorney for 2018-2019, Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers for 2018-2019, and Texas Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney by Attorney and Practice Magazine for 2019. This material is available for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. If you require advice or assistance, you may contact her at office number 281-893-8644 or by email at mala@sharmalaws.net to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
JaykayWealth Advisors,Inc. JayKabad,CFP® 6200 Savoy Drive Suite 300 Houston, TX 77036 (713) 780-4575 P hone Jay@advisorusa.c om www.advisorusa.c om
When it comes to retirement, it’s all about the numbers—how much money you’ll need and how much you’re saving to get there. Find out your retirement numbers with this five-minute calculation. With the right information, you can move ahead and plan with confidence.
Need your numbers? Contact us today to learn more.
Securities offered through LPLFinancial,Member FINRA/SIPC. Investmentadvice offered through JaykayWealth Advisors,Inc.,a registered investmentadvisor and separate entityfrom LPL Financial.
MKT-06070-0317 Tracking #1-592291 (Exp. 04/20) Indo-American News • Friday, JUNE 28, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
13 TNF Houston Chapter Celebrates Father’s Day with a Picnic
ENTERTAINMENT By Dr. P. Stalin Sugar Land: Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) – Houston Chapter conducted its Fathers’ Day Celebration on Sunday, 30th June, 2019 at Sugar Land Memorial Park- South Meadow Pavilion. The TNF office bearers and members of Advisory Board along with family arrived at 10.00 AM and started the function arrangements. Some of those who participated brought food, audio-visuals and other needed items for celebrating the event. The President of the Houston Chapter, Mrs. Mala Gopalakrishnan did the welcome address and gave a brief introduction of the TNF- Chapter activities and introduced the officers namely Secretary Dr. Nalini Balachandran and Treasurer Mrs. Punitha Thangaraj. Also, she introduced the Advisory Board members. Among the TNF Board members who attended the function were Dr. Vaduganathan, Mr. Srikanth Venugopal and Mr. Bala J. Balachandran along with family members. In her welcome address, she mentioned that the TNF took a lead in organizing the Fathers’ day celebration this year. Among the senior fathers who attended the event were Dr.S.G.Appan, Mr. Anantha Krishnan and Mr. C. Jegadeesan. They were recognized as Banyan tree (Alamaram Appa) which means
sturdy and characterized by aerial prop roots that mature into thick woody trunks and anchor the tree to the ground. This tree symbolizes longevity which means offering continuous care and guidance to the upcoming generation in a family. The Father’s Day started in a pleasant manner with a prayer song sung by Mr. Anathakrishnan, followed by Karaokesongs offered by Ganesh Rajamani, Uma Shankar, Kishore Thangaraj, Nalini Balachandran, Thenmozhi Ganesh, Anitha Chandrashekar and Priya Senthil. Also Aadhi Gopalakrishnan and Aakash Srikanth sang a very popular Tamil song. After that, a debate (Patti Mandram) on the “Future of Children’s Career is Self driven or under Father’s guidance” was conducted. There were three participants in each group. For those who supported ‘Self driven” were Dr. Jeevaraj, Dr.P. Stalin and Dr. Vaduganathan. And those who sup-
July 12, 2019
ported the group “Father’s guidance” were Mr. Chokkalingam, Mr. Govindan and Mr. Thangaraj. The above three senior fathers volunteered to be the judges for the debate. The speakers of the” Self driven group “stressed the importance of allowing the children to take selfdecisions in building their future carrier namely education, job and life style. In the contemporary world, the children are well aware
Hanmi Bank’s Mohammad Tariq to Grow the South Asian Market Houston: Mohammad Tariq, Executive Vice President & Regional Chief Banking Officer at Hanmi Bank has been appointed to actively grow the South Asian market in Hanmi’s geographical footprints across the U.S. Tariq joined the bank in 2014 to manage Texas market’s overall operations, loan production and deposit generation. He recently led the effort to open a new branch in Houston Chinatown area, an important initiative for the Hanmi’s growth strategy. Tariq’s ability to generate a profitable growth has opened a door of opportunity for him to expand his management and leadership capabilities beyond Texas. “Tariq has extensive lending background serving the South Asian, Middle Eastern, Korean, Chinese and the mainstream communities. He is well qualified to strengthen our relationship with the South Asian communities while growing our markets”, said Bonnie Lee, President & CEO of Hanmi Bank. “My team and I will focus our initial efforts on meeting the needs of our customers in markets such as Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia where we already have established presence. We will be exploring opportunities to further strengthen our reach into multi-ethnic communities”, said Tariq. Prior to joining Hanmi Bank, Tariq served as the Chief Lending Officer at MetroBank, N.A., and Executive Vice President and Chief Loan Officer at
about good and bad things in their lives and some time they help the parents in routine day-to-day activities. On the other hand, the ‘Father’s guidance group” presented the view on the significance of abiding the continuous guidance and mentorship of parents for leading their children’s bright future career. The discussions were very hilarious that made the audience quite lively. On hearing both sides of the debate, the judges narrated
with specific examples from their own personal lives and concluded that the future of children’s carrier can be advanced both by Self driven as well as by close monitoring and guidance of parents. This combined effort will only provide a healthy atmosphere for the well being of the entire family. The president of the Houston Chapter congratulated the speakers of the both groups of the debate for their valuable contributions. With joy and humility, the organizers of the Houston Chapter served a sumptuous lunch and snacks to all the participants. Amid much cheers, the program continued with some more pleasant songs offered by attendees. The weather was very pleasant throughout the day. There were about 80 persons that included kids and adults who equally enjoyed the event. Finally, Dr. Nalini Balachandran offered the vote of thanks. She thanked the office bearers, advisory board members and other participants of the event for their involvement and making the function a grand success.
Domestic sales Director ImmedIate OppOrtunIty at renOwned rIce mIllIng & rIce IngredIents cOmpany Responsible for ethnic & “US broadline” retail and foodservice sales development
50% travel required Hanmi Bank Executive Vice President Mohammad Tariq
Golden Bank, N.A. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania’s Stonier School of Banking and holds a Leadership certification from the Wharton School of Business. Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: HAFC, or “Hanmi”), the parent company of Hanmi Bank (the “Bank”), serves multiethnic communities through its network of 35 full-service branches and 9 loan production offices in California, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Washington and Georgia. Hanmi Bank specializes in real estate, commercial, SBA and trade finance lending to small and middle market businesses.
This is a new business development position Salary and benefits very competitive! We are looking for energetic, self-motivated applicants This is noT a desk job Please send all resumes to cbrenck@gulfpac.com
Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
14
July 12, 2019
Indo-American News • Friday, JUNE 28, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
STORY OF MAHATMA GANDHI
The story thus far…In South Af-
rica, Gandhi saw how the Indians were treated as inferiors, only allowed to work the soil but not permitted to own land. Under the law enacted in the Orange Free State in 1888, Indians had been deprived of their rights. In Transvaal, they had to pay a poll tax of 3 pounds if they wanted to stay in that state. Gandhi gathered the community together and drew their awareness to the deficiencies in their statuses and advised them unite for justice. The Indians, as advised by Gandhi, now realized what was at stake but they were at a loss at to what to do. They requested Gandhi to postpone his departure and help them. He agreed to stay on for another month and organize resistance to the new bill. Late that night the Indians held a meeting at Abdulla Seth’s house under the stewardship of Seth Haji Muhammad, the most influential Indian merchant there. They resolved to oppose the Franchise Bill with all their might. Telegrams were sent to the Speaker of the Assembly and the Premier of Natal requesting them to postpone further discussion on the bill. The Speaker promptly replied that the discussion would be put off for two days. The Natal Indians then drew up a petition to the Legislative Assembly pleading against the bill. They followed up with another petition to Lord Ripon, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies. More than ten thousand Indians signed the bill. Copies of the petition were circulated in South Africa, England, and India. There was much sympathy for the Natal Indians’ plight, but the campaign had started too late to stop the bill becoming law. However, the campaign did some good. For the first time, the people of India came to know of the conditions in Natal. An even more important result was the new spirit that was now awakened with the Indians in South Africa. The Natal Indians pressed Gandhi to remain and guide them for a little longer. Gandhi told them that he was prepared to stay on if the Indian community would provide him with sufficient legal work. They gladly agreed to do this. Twenty merchants turned over all their legal business to him. When Gandhi applied for enrolment as an attorney to argue his casel-
The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi - Part 5
Struggle for Civil Rights in S. Africa
Gandhi (seated, third from left) with leaders of South Africa’s civil rights movement.
oad in court, the entire bar, composed of white lawyers, strongly opposed him. The Supreme Court of Natal overruled the objection, and he was allowed to practice. Soon Gandhi became one of the busiest lawyers in Durban; but to him law was a subordinate occupation. His main interest was his public work. He felt that merely sending in petitions and protests would not help the Indians much. He felt the need to organize a sustained agitation. So he proposed the formation of a permanent organization to safeguard the interests of Indians. A meeting was called to discuss this matter. The spacious hall in Dada Abdulla’s house was packed. It was there, on that occasion that the Natal Indian Congress was formed. In 1894 the Natal Government sought to impose an annual poll tax on the indentured Indians. These were laborers who had been recruited from India on a five-year contract, but on a pittance. Under the contract they could not leave their employer. They were treated practically as slaves. These men had been taken to South Africa to help the white colonizers in agricultural work. The Indians did more than had been expected of them. They worked hard, pur-
chased land, and started cultivating their own fields. Their enterprise did not end there. They soon built houses and raised themselves far above the status of laborers. The white people did not like this. They wanted the Indian workers to return to India at the end of the contract period. To make things much harder for them, the Government now imposed an annual poll-tax of £25. The Natal Indian Congress started a strong agitation against this. Later, at the intervention of Lord Elgin, the then Viceroy of India, the tax was reduced to £3. Still Gandhi considered it an atrocious tax, unknown anywhere else in the world. The Natal Indian Congress continued its agitation, but it was 20 years before the poll-tax was finally withdrawn. In three years in South Africa, Gandhi had become a well-known figure. And his practice was well established. He realized that he was in for a long stay. He knew that the people there wanted him with them, so in 1896 he asked their permission to go home and
bring his wife and children to South Africa. Besides, a visit to India would be useful in gaining more support for the Indians in SouthAfrica. He had arranged his work so well that he could look forward to six months’ leave. In the middle of 1896 Gandhi sailed for India, and after 24 days landed at Calcutta. From there he went to Rajkot. It was a happy family reunion when Kasturbai welcomed him with their two sons. But the plight of the Indians in South Africa was so much on his mind that he could not be content to enjoy domestic bliss in peace. He therefore launched a campaign to acquaint the people of India with the real condition of the Indians in South Africa. He met the editors of influential newspapers and important Indian leaders, including Lokamanya B. G. Tilak, the hero of Maharashtra, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale who, like Gandhi, was already famous at the age of 27. Wherever Gandhi went, he tried to make the people aware of the lot of their compatriots in South Af-
July 12, 2019
15
rica. Many newspapers published his views and strongly condemned the South African government. Summaries of these newspaper reports and comments reached South Africa long before Gandhi returned there. Meanwhile, plague broke out in Bombay and threatened to spread to neighboring areas. In Rajkot Gandhi volunteered to join a group who tried to educate the people about the need for sanitation and other measures to prevent the spread of the disease. At the end of November, however, Gandhi received an urgent message from Natal asking him to return immediately. There were some developments which required his presence there. So Gandhi set sail for South Africa once more, this time taking with him Kasturbai and their two sons and the only son of his widowed sister. However, a message reached Gandhi advising him not to land with the others but to wait until evening, as there was an angry mob of whites at the dock. Kasturbai and the children were sent to the house of Gandhi’s Parsee friend, Rustomji. Later, accompanied by Jason Laughton, the legal adviser of Dada, Abdulla & Co., Gandhi went ashore. The scene looked peaceful, but some youths recognized him and shouted, “Look, there goes Gandhi.” Soon there was a rush and much shouting. As Gandhi and his friends proceeded, the crowd began to swell until it was impossible to go any further. Suddenly Laughton was pushed aside and the mob set upon Gandhi. They pelted him with stones, sticks, bricks, and rotten eggs. Someone snatched away his turban, others kicked him until the frail figure collapsed. He clung to the railing of a house. The fury of the white mob was unabated and they continued to beat him and kick him. “Stop, you cowards,” cried a feminine voice. “Stop attacking the poor man.” It was the wife of the Superintendent of police. She came up and opened her parasol and held it between Gandhi and the crowd. This checked the mob. Soon the police arrived and dispersed the crowd. - To be continued next week
Sponsored by the Houston Arts Alliance in honor of the Mahatma Gandhi Sesquicentennial Houston celebrations.
Indo-American News • Friday, JUly 12, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
16
July 12, 2019
Indo-American News • Friday, JUNE 28, 2019 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com