Friday, April 17, 2020 | Vol. 39, No. 16
Indo American News
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April 17, 2020
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Published weekly from Houston, TX
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Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News
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Emotional Health vs Covid-19
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P3 Sewa & Covid-19
P 2,4,7 Vaisakhi Special II
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COMMUNITY
April 17, 2020
Sewa Launches 24/7 Covid-19 Convalescent Blood Plasma Registry
For 10 patients severely ill with the new coronavirus, a single dose of antibodies drawn from the blood of people who had recovered from COVID-19 appeared to save lives, shorten the duration of symptoms, improve oxygen levels and speed up viral clearance, newly published research reports. The preliminary findings emerged from a “pilot study” published Monday in the journal PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. Conducted at three hospitals in China, it underscored the promise
of harvesting immune antibodies from recovered people (a therapy also known as convalescent plasma) and administering them to people battling a severe case of COVID-19. With a vaccine at least a year away and no clear treatments available for COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Mar. 24 approved the use of such therapy as an experimental treatment in clinical trials and for critical patients without other options.
ing prior epidemics like the Spanish Flu in 1918 and the SARSCoV-1 (older cousin of SARS CoV-2 or COVID-19) in 2003.” Dr. Bogabathina pointed out that convalescent plasma therapy has been successfully used in current critically ill COVID-19 patients in China and that this investigational therapy has been deployed in the US under FDA guidance. “Early therapy has been found to be beneficial from prior experience with SARS CoV-1. Critically ill COVID-19 patients cannot wait until approved therapies become available. Convalescent plasma therapy unlike several other therapies is available now, only if we can streamline and organize a steady stream of donors who are COVID-19 survivors among us,” he said. “We at Sewa International are using technology and human resources for troubleshooting regulatory and logistical bottlenecks. We are in a mission to help physicians and families of critically ill COVID-19 patients obtain convalescent plasma in a timely manner,” said Prof. Sree Sreenath.
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Houston: Sewa International today launched a national registry for COVID-19 Blood Plasma. As of today, the Sewa Plasma Registry (www.sewacovidplasma.org) is the only 24/7 service that offers a national registry for both donors and recipients under the Convalescent Plasma Therapy program with live phone and social media support. “Our mission is to bring together matching blood donors and COVID-19 patients seeking the plasma, in-time and save lives, and we are open round-the-clock to serve” said Sewa International President, Prof. Sree Sreenath. Sewa’s registry is a mobile enabled, fully functional, self-registry service with 24/7 live phone and email support that offers both pre-screening and donor-patient matching services. The registry includes status updates and email communication with an automatic status change intimation. Run by a dedicated team of Sewa volunteers, the services adhere to HIPPA medical data protection laws, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of the registered users (donors and recipients). “A dedicated group of physicians and technologists designed and developed this registry rapidly because they saw the urgent need for such a service nationwide,” said Prem Pusuloori, Sewa Director of National & International Programs. Users of the registry can call 302 659 SEWA (7392) or contact via email: PlasmaSupport@SewaUSA.org. Convalescent plasma therapy is an investigational treatment under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations (see Box) that physicians use to treat patients with respiratory failure from COVID-19. Results have been encouraging, and more and more physicians are opting for this treatment for their critically ill COVID-19 patients. Dr.Hari Bogabathina, MD, Board Certified Cardiologist and Interventional cardiology fellow, from Louisiana said, “The medical community worldwide is hard at work developing several investigational therapies. Convalescent plasma therapy was consistently successful in saving patients with favorable risk-benefit profile dur-
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COMMUNITY
April 17, 2020
H-1B Relief: US to Accept Applications for Extended Stay
Washington DC: : In a big relief for thousands of stranded Indian professionals in America due to the coronavirus pandemic, the US government has decided to accept their H-1B visa applications for an extended stay in the country. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The US department of homeland security (DHS) in a new notification has said it recognises that there are immigration-related challenges as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement comes at a time when countries around the world have closed their borders and all international passenger flights have been suspended globally. The travel restrictions have left a number of H-1B visa holders stranded in the US with their visa permits soon to expire. However, the DHS will shortly start accepting
applications for the extension of expiring visas. “We recognise that non-immigrants may unexpectedly remain in the United States beyond their authorised period of stay due to COVID-19,” the DHS said. “We continue to carefully analyse these issues and to leverage our resources to effectively address these challenges within our existing authorities. The DHS also continues to take action to protect the American people and our communities, and is considering a number of policies and procedures to improve the employment opportunities of US workers during this pandemic,” it said. Generally, non-immigrants must depart the United States before their authorised period of admission expires, it said. Non-immigrants could apply for an
extension of stay (EOS) or change of status (COS) permit. Without a visa extension, thousands of students and professionals in the US would have suffered. If applicants put in their forms within the specified time frame, their presence will not be taken as “unlawful” and where applicable, “employment authorisation with the same employer, subject to the same terms and conditions of the prior approval, is automatically extended for up to 240 days …when an extension of stay request is filed on time,” the notification said. The US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) added that it “reminds petitioners and applicants that it can consider delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic when deciding whether to excuse delays in filing documents based on extraordinary circumstances.” According to rules, if an employer terminates the contract of an H-1B holder, the employee needs to find new employment within 60 days, in order to retain the visa status. Indian IT workers have been seeking an extension of this 60 day grace period to 180 days. -- Times of India
Fort Bend County Offers Free Covid-19 Testing Fort Bend County – County Judge KP George announced publicly on Tuesday that the Fort Bend County testing site for COVID-19 is now open to all residents -- whether or not they are experiencing symptoms from the novel coronavirus. The Judge announced the expansion in the open session of the Commissioner’s Court. “I am pleased that we have found the resources to open our county testing side to everyone who wants to be tested, at no cost to them,” Judge KP George said shortly after the Commissioners Court meeting. “I want to thank all the hard working Fort Bend County and Access Health employees who are working around the clock to make our community safer for families and especially those most vulnerable to this ter-
rible virus. I pray that more testing will help save lives.” There is no requirement for symptoms to be tested. Under the expanded testing policy, residents of Fort Bend can call (281) 2382363 to get an identification code and to schedule date and time. They must bring the code with them to the appointment. The County can
do 200 tests per day free of cost to the resident. The County launched the testing site on March 30 with partners AccessHealth and Luminaire. Until now, people were screened to determine if they were symptomatic or in a high risk category, such as first responders. So far, the site has tested 854 individuals. That figure is updated daily on the County’s Response Hub (lower left corner of the data) at 8:30 a.m. There is a guide for navigating the hub at this link. For more information on AccessHealth, contact Lacie Sumpter at (281-633-3157) or lsumpter@ myaccesshealth.org. To learn more about Luminare, visit www.Luminaremed.com or email info@ luminaremed.com or covid19@ luminaremed.com
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Woman Loses Both Parents Within Hours to Covid-19
Sugar Land A Houston woman is mourning the death of her parents after they died within hours of one another. Abdul Ahad Wahab, 74, and Tazroon Wahab, 71, both died at Houston Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land from complications related to Coronavirus, according to Waheeda Hussain, the couple’s daughter Hussain said her parents moved to Houston in January to be closer to family. “It was just so fast,” Hussain said. “I dropped my parents off at the ER -- my dad on Friday, and my mom on Saturday, and not even a week in the hospital, they passed away.” According to Hussain, she too tested positive for the virus. As she recovers, she is also mourning the loss of her parents. “My mom was my best friend,” Hussain said. “My mom, I could tell her anything and everything. My dad always told jokes; he spoiled us rotten. There was noth-
ing we could ever do that would be wrong.” Hussain said her parents decline was quick. Her father was on a ventilator and her mother was sedated. Hussain said she was able to say goodbye via video conference. “In Islam, we have where we do Koran recitations,” Hussain said. “We were able to recite the Koran for them and, just as their last Islamic rights so they would have that passing, for them to be at peace.” Hussain’s heartbreak though, turned quickly to frustration as she believes people are not taking the pandemic seriously. “It’s not a game, it’s not a joke, it’s not a hoax. Coronavirus is taking lives,” Hussain said. “If you don’t have to go out, do not leave your house. Use the hand sanitizers, use the gloves, use the mask, use whatever you can to protect you and your family members.” Hussain continues to recover in self-quarantine. -- Click2 Houston
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GAMES/VIEWS
April 17, 2020
SUDOKU
Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
Send us the correct answer before before April 22, 2020. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 212, Houston, TX 77036. Please send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published
Solution Next Week
Last Week’s SUDOKU Solution
Sewa: Engaging Homebound Children Houston: As the growing concerns about the spread of coronavirus has led to a national emergency, and schools and colleges are closed if not for the whole semester (as in some states) at least for the next three weeks, parents have begun finding it a challenge to keep their children engaged, safe, and active. There is only so much time children can devote to homework, assigned readings, etc., before they seek a break, do something that is interesting, fun. So, a Houston volunteer for Sewa International, Sachin Dabir, stepped in, put on his creative cap, and came up with a couple of games that could be played on Kahoot, the game-based learning platform that is now being used by thousands of teachers and instructors in schools and colleges, if not by workshop leaders at conferences and corporate meetings, across the nation. Dabir, founder-director of Ashnik, and an electronics engineer by training, who has built technology solutions for large enterprises in telecom, banking, manufacturing and government sectors, is an active volunteer for Sewa International in Houston. Asked why Kahoot, and what kind of games he thought would best engage children, he said, “I wanted to create these games/ quizzes keeping in mind the three E’s -- Engagement, Entertainment and Education – so as to help families and children stay mentally positive. During this time of social isolation, I wanted to make
sure that children don’t feel lonely. I created these games in an open challenge format. Sewa has taught me to help society whenever needed, and hence this was a small contribution from me. I am planning to create more such content. I find Kahoot to be a good third-party platform to host and generate excitement.” One of the games is on the coronavirus, that has 17 questions, and includes questions like – “Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of coronavirus? 1) Dry cough, 2) Fever 3) Rash 4) Shortness of breath”; and “During this time of social distancing experts DO NOT recommend -- 1) Online Games 2) Online Learning 3) Visiting people 4) Social media, chat and video”; and “Good, safe greetings practices are all of the following, EXCEPT -- 1) Nod 2) Wave 3) Handshake 4) Bow”. He has also built another game/ quiz on Hindu heritage, with questions like – “How long did the longest lasting empire in Indian history last? -- 1) 1600 years 2) 1000 years 3) 600 years 4) 3000 years”; and “Which empire lasted the longest in Indian history? -- 1) Chalukya 2) Gupta 3) Rashtrakuta
4) Chola”. Sachin feels that inspiring other volunteers to think of ways of contributing to society in this challenging time is what he can do and do it by setting an example. Others in the Sewa “family” are also putting on their creative thinking/doing caps and finding ways to build some fun activities to keep children engaged during their time away from school. The San Francisco Bay Area chapter volunteers will begin conducting classes via webinars that stream through Facebook Live. These webinars will be held thrice a week, and last 45 minutes. They will include dance lessons, exercising, practicing yoga, meditation as well as some academically stimulating activities such as coding games and puzzles. These webinars are aimed towards children aged 6-11 (grades 2-5). Sewa International volunteers, of course, are also involved in the serious task of delivering groceries and food to those who cannot go out on their own; keeping nonmedical helplines open in twenty major metro areas; supplying personal protective equipment to healthcare workers and other emergency service personnel; providing case management to individuals and families needing long-term help; offering support to international students stranded and needing help with food, accommodation, and travel/visa help; and conducting regular webinars and distributing flyers with concise information from reliable sources.
Use “I Don’t Care” Effectively to Navigate through Life By Shivam Aggarwal
Last Week’s SUDOKU Winners
Kumud Athavale
I Don’t Care: Frequently used words. Right? Often using these words “I don’t care” are famous for getting people labeled as inconsiderate or irresponsible. However, have we ever understood the power of these words if used correctly? These words can make you very successful. Using I don’t care, doesn’t mean that one ignores COVID-19, or some other catastrophe happening globally or personally. It means to not care about what others think about what you can or cannot do. What people think is not relevant, if it doesn’t help us get closer to our goals. All too often I see students not do their coursework properly, for fear of being called a “nerd” or someone without a “life”. I see adults buy houses just because their friends have, without consideration if it is helpful or harmful to them. I see people host luxurious parties to show off their wealth, while their savings are nonexistent because their friends do it and if they don’t, they look “poor”. I see people not follow COVID-19 precautions because they might look like a coward in front of their
“We buy things we don’t need with the money we don’t have to impress people we don’t even like” -- Tyler Durden (Fight Club) friends. All this care of what others think of them not only doesn’t help them reach their goals; it also makes one chase approval and recognition that is very fleeting and shallow. Some of the situations where “I don’t care” should be used: When people are commenting on how you look even if you are dressed appropriately. People making fun of your height. People making fun of your physical attractiveness. People making fun of your interests. People making fun of your hair. People making fun of you for abstaining from drinking, smoking, and drugs. People making fun of your lack of luxurious or branded clothes, wealthy accessories, or wealthy ornaments. When you reminisce about the “cringe” moments you have had in your life. On the other side of the spectrum, I see people who rebel against feedback that is given to them saying “I don’t care” under the assumption that anybody that doesn’t match their opinion is a “hater” or are just “jealous”. They do this because, it hurts to admit
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when one is wrong, it is uncomfortable to bear responsibility. So, they build a make-believe world in which non-positive feedback given to them is an insult. Doing this sometimes makes them push away people that care for them and also causes them to ignore potentially life changing advice. The key to living the dream life is to not ignore advice, but to also not be hurt when people give one good or bad feedback. When people in our life expect something from us either by direct or indirect communication, just stop and think: “will this help me live the life I want to live?” If the answer is yes, then take their advice into account. If the answer is no, then pay no attention to their comments. The next time unnecessary emotions make you nervous or overwhelmed, take a deep breath and tell yourself “I don’t care.” Shivam Aggarwal is a 15-year-old home-schooled high school student in Houston. He likes to read about social sciences, science, psychology, and philosophy.
SOUTH ASIA/COMMUNITY
Ekal’s Rural Initiative Against Coronavirus
April 17, 2020
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Emotional Health & Covid-19
By Prakash Waghmare Mumbai: When everywhere ‘Coronavirus’ outbreak is being associated only with the urban area populous, “Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation” has quietly launched an ambitious initiative against it in rural & tribal areas across India. As for networking and connectivity in such areas, “Ekal” (as it is popularly known) is in very unique position with its presence in over 103,000 such remote hamlets. As the shortage of Masks and Sanitizers became apparent in early March, Ekal tailoring training Ctrs banded together and started stitching face-masks and producing hand sanitizers for Ekal Volunteers, district health authorities and law enforcement personnel. It had been producing 10,000 masks and 1,000 liters of Hand-sanitizers or disinfecting solutions per day as of March-end and supplying them ‘free-of-cost’ to their authorities. Masks and Sanitizers are also being distributed free-of-cost to the poor families. It costs Ekal Rs. 20 each to make it and to distribute it. According to Bajrang Lal Bagra, CEO of “Ekal Abhiyan” (umbrella organization of all Ekal satellite endeavors), beginning this month – April - Ekal is launching most ambitious plan to triple its ‘tailoring’ capacity in 28 centers to produce 1 Million cotton Masks by the end of April (2020). These 2-ply masks are being made to WHO’s stringent specifications and Ekal plans to keep on producing them as long as there is need. As part of empowerment and to reduce the dependency on ‘outside food’, Ekal-Villages, have actively started harvesting ‘Poshan Vatikas’ (Nutritional sustaining food items) for the people in their own vicin-
Ekal volunteers stitching masks. Ekal’s goal is to deliver one million masks throughout rural regions of India along with tens of thousands
ity on cooperative basis. Keeping up with the governmental directive, although all Ekal field activities were suspended on March 14, according to ‘Lalan Kumar Sharma’, Central co-coordinator of “Ekal Abhiyan”, the awareness campaign against deadly Virus is in motion with full throttle speed with the blessings of the local concerned authorities. Currently, ‘Arogya Sahayikas’ (Health Assistant) and Ekal teachers are, not only, emphasizing critical need for personal hygiene and clean environment in villages, but also, keeping a written tab on cases related to fever, cough and shortness of breath. Social-distancing and repeatedly washing hands with soap is being promoted as part of daily routine. Supporting the efforts of ‘GramPanchayats’ (village administrative admin), identifying and quantifying urban visitors or returning villagers from such areas is being diligently carried out. Harish Karat of ‘Ekal-Global’ says, “as a reminder for the precautionary habits that one must adopt to arrest the spread of ‘Coro-
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navirus’, the walls in lot of villagedwellings are being painted with healthcare slogans”. What is interesting is that villagers have enthusiastically endorsed this campaign as one of the safeguards in the current crisis. Ekal volunteers in Indian urban areas are helping older, poor people during these clampdown with food or sustenance items wherever possible. For example, in ‘Guwahati’ area in two days, ‘Vanbandhu Parishad’ (an allied Ekal organization) delivered food items to 650 families. Ekal-USA providing assistance to the needy in variety of ways - such as food, mask-making, groceryitems and medical help etc. Ekal volunteers in USA are assisting food-banks, soup-kitchen and delivery of groceries to the elderly. According to Suresh Iyer, President of Ekal-USA, “In the U.S., Ekal has partnered with other nonprofit organizations, including ‘Sewa International’, in providing community service at this hour of immense need. It’s times such as these we are seeing the best of humanity and I am confident that we will get through this difficult time soon and come out feeling even stronger”. Though, all the annual fund-raising concerts have been cancelled currently for foreseeable future, ‘Ekal Vidyalaya’ is appealing its loyal Donors and well-wishers who have been consistently helping it to keep supporting its multiple endeavors (projects) in rural areas, including its ambitious initiative to fight ‘Coronavirus’ Kindly Donate at https://www. ekal.org/us/donate and be an active member of defense against the virus in the current crisis. Ekal serves the humanity irrespective of caste, creed, and religion.
By Sneha Desai As the United States and the rest of the world is working tirelessly to contain the current pandemic, it is important that we take care of not only our physical health but also our emotional health. What is emotional health and why is it important? Emotional health is the ability to understand, feel, and express our emotions fully. In other words, an emotionally healthy individual will be at ease with anger, sadness, happiness, and so on, and find the right coping skills to manage their emotions. Emotional health is an integral part of our overall health. What are some normal emotions that people experience during this pandemic? Any change that is unwanted and unplanned can evoke a plethora of emotions within us. It is very common during this time to experience the following stages of grief : Denial (“This can’t happen to me.”, “This is a joke.”, “This is a scam.”) Anger (“I hate __ for having passed the virus on to __.” “I am angry at the government for __.”, “I am angry at my boss for __.” ) Bargaining (“If I pray more, this will get better.” “If this gets better, I will donate money to __.” ) Depression (“I don’t want to live anymore.”, “I don’t know why this keeps happening to me.” , “I don’t find a reason to get out of bed.” ) Acceptance (“I understand this is happening.”, “I know I cannot change the situation but I can control my actions.”) Remember that these are stages and therefore, you will pass through them and feel better eventually. What are some coping skills that I can use during this time to
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maintain a sense of well-being? During this time, it is very easy to get caught up in the near-constant stream of news reports as well as social media posts, causing one to be in a constant state of heightened tension. Make sure you seek out information only from trusted and official sources and only at set times during the day. Be sure to connect with friends and family while maintaining social distancing. While it may be natural to talk about the current epidemic, also prioritize talking about more pleasant topics that will potentially lead to a mood boost. Focus on long term goals rather than the short term crisis. Caring for family members can be exhausting when you are experiencing generalized worry. Maintain a daily routine similar to pre Covid-19 times as much as you can. Provide an environment for everyone to be able to ask questions and express feelings such as fear and sadness. Be sure to get enough physical and mental exercise. Take scheduled walks around the house or within your house frequently. Engage in puzzles and cognitive tasks to stimulate your brain. Most importantly, be sure to get enough sleep to renew your bodily cells. Avoid the temptation to eat unhealthy foods to cope with the situation. While comfort foods make you feel good temporarily, they make you feel worse as the effects wear off. Eat at scheduled times and stock up on healthy snacks. Lastly, express your feelings. Write in a journal. Whether it is a mood journal to track your mood, or a gratitude journal to note the things you feel thankful for, to put your thoughts and feelings onto paper or another external medium can be a very cathartic experience.
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COMMUNITY
April 17, 2020
World Hindu Council Initiative: Food for the Front Liners By Manu Shah
Boston: Volunteers from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America contributed to the fight against the Corona virus in their own way - by feeding the Fighters on the frontlines of the fight. Called “Food for the Front Liners”, this effort is raising funds to buy food and deliver to the doctors and nurses who are directly treating the Covid-19 patients in Emergency rooms and tents outside the hospitals across Massachusetts. The idea came from one of the volunteers talking casually with one of her friends, who was a doctor who was directly involved. She said she got so hungry during the day, because the line of patients needing attention was so long, there was not even time during the day to stop to get food. It was not only her, all the people in these “Covid Tents” as they are called, do not have time to stop for anything. As a result, they keep working, sometimes late into the afternoon, until someone stops and buys food for them. Anit Gupta delivering food to UMass Memorial, Worcester. From this casual conversation was born this idea of buying food for these brave doctors and nurses and delivering it to them. A flyer was created and circulated amongst the community. Various restaurants and sandwich shops were approached, and sandwiches, chips were bought and delivered to
Anit Gupta delivering food to UMass Memorial, Worcester.
area hospitals, starting with UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. Apeksha Tripathi M.D, from UMass Worcester says, “I was touched by their humility and by the efforts they took to express their gratitude and support for Health care workers.” Three days after this was started, we are already starting to see the results of this initiative. Food has been delivered by dedicated volunteers to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, and Lowell General Hospital. Anit Gupta, one of the first volunteers to deliver the food, said, “it was a very satisfying feeling to think that I could do something for our doctors and nurses, who are putting their lives at risk for us during this Covid-19 pandemic.”
Katherine Fredette, R.N from UMass Hospital Emergency room, expressed her appreciation to the volunteers. She said, “We can’t express enough gratitude to the organization and its members.” Abhishek Singh, volunteer, thought it was “very rewarding to be able to help someone who was helping so many people stay healthy during these tough times.” Food delivered to Lowell General Hospital Sangeeta Singh also echoed other volunteers. She said, “It was a great feeling knowing that I could help someone who is doing so much for the community.” This is an ongoing effort to provide much-needed nourishment to the weary healthcare workers who are risking their own safety
Food delivered to Lowell General Hospital.
and health to keep the public safe. Please donate generously to this initiative, so that the work can continue as long as it is needed. This is also an opportunity to do your part
by volunteering to deliver the food to the various area hospitals. To Donate please visit: https:// www.vhp-america.org/donation/
Indo American News Founder: Dr. K.L. Sindwani Publisher: Jawahar Malhotra Editor: Pramod Kulkarni Correspondent: Sanchali Basu ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. 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:713-789-6397, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: www. indoamerican-news.com
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COMMUNITY
April 17, 2020
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Sewa Hosts Weekly Distribution of Masks and Hand Sanitizer in Houston By Nikhil Jain Houston: After distributing 30,000 masks, 3,000 gloves and 135 gallons of Hand Sanitizer across the nation in its effort to help the community during the COVID19 pandemic, Sewa International’s Houston chapter will be donating a significant number of Masks & Hand Sanitizer to several local Hospitals, Caregivers, First Responders and Emergency personnel. This drive-through distribution in the parking lot of Sewa International’s office located in West Oaks Mall will happen every Saturday, starting April 18th. Organizations & agencies interested in receiving should text their email ID to 281 909 7392 so that they can be sent the request form. Recipients of PPE’s include doctors at MD Anderson, Fort Bend County, Alief ISD, Hospice Cares, Sheriff Office of various counties and other agencies. J.W. Caldwell, Deputy Chief - Command Operations of Waller County Constable Department Pct.3 said, “On behalf of Constable Herschel C. Smith, and the deputies and civilians of Waller county, please allow me to begin by expressing our most sincere thanks and gratitude for Sewa International’s overly generous contributions to those of us so desperately in need during this pandemic.”
sponse to this situation, is also in full swing. Nationally, 200+ organizations have signed up for this; details can be viewed at https:// sewausa.org/sewasankalpa. Sewa International is a 501(c)(3) Hindu faith-based charitable nonprofit that works in the areas of disaster recovery, education, and development. Sewa has 43 Chapters across the USA and serves regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. The Sewa movement works with communities in need and is active in 22 countries, including the USA, Canada, The Caribbean, India, and the UK. For any assistance in our area, reach out to Sewa International at 281 909 SEWA (7392). Sewa International has established the first of its kind US National Registry for Plasma Donors/ Recipients. As of today, the Sewa Plasma Registry (www.sewacovidplasma. org ) is the only 24/7 service that offers a national registry for both donors and recipients under the Convalescent Plasma Therapy program with live phone and social media support. The first donor who came forward in Houston was from the efforts made by their local team. Sewa International is also operating helpline, 281 909 SEWA (7392). for non-medical related is-
sues. So far, it has addressed 300 calls since the operation began in early March. Sewa International has delivered more than 2000 meals to the First responders with the help of its food partners. It continues to conduct Education, Wellness & Awareness Webinars on a regular basis. Past week they had a Q & A with Consul General of India Mr. Aseem Mahajan and with Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls, both of them addressed questions & concerns from the community members. Sewa Sankalp movement, which is about partnering with organizations to provide a combined re-
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Indo-American News • Friday, APRIL 17, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
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ENTERTAINMENT
April 17, 2020
Akshay Kumar Hosts 3-Day “Sangeet Setu” to Top 10 Documentaries on Netflix H : Besides web series, doping for an amateur race. Raise Funds for Coronavirus Victims in India movies 6. Out of Thin Air and TV shows, Netflix is ouston
Mumbai: Nearly half a billion viewers (45 crores) tuned in to watch a 3-day virtual music concert featuring several music legends such as Lata Mangeskhar, Asha Bhosle, Kumar Sanu and others, as international superstar Akshay Kumar hosted the massive event to raise funds to fight the coronavirus. Organised to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s PM
CARES FUND, the Sangeet Setu virtual concert took place between 10th – 12th April and brought together some of India’s biggest music stars to put on a show for the country as it continues to go through a lockdown. So far, the country has recorded more than 10,800 cases of the virus which has caused 353 deaths. Among the star-studded list of performers were veteran singer
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Sudesh Bhosale, Asha Bhosle, Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu, Suresh Wadkar, Sonu Nigam and Pankaj Udhas who put on a spectacular show as India stood united during this difficult time. Akshay Kumar was the perfect host for the concert, encouraging viewers to donate to the PM CARES FUND and to provide some much-needed support to those deeply affected by the virus outbreak. He kept the audience entertained throughout with his excellent hosting skills while he invited performers to sing some of their most iconic songs. On the final day, Akshay Kumar requested Pankaj Udhas to sing the romantic song Chandni Jaisa Rang Hai Tera and to dedicate it to Akshay Kumar’s wife Twinkle Khanna in what was a heart-warming moment enjoyed by all.
a large repository of documentaries. To make something easier for you, here are ten best documentary films that you can check out on Netflix. 1. FYRE: The Greatest Party that Never Happened Based on the notorious Fyre Festival, which never happened, this documentary examines the happenings that led up to the disastrous weekend of the Fyre Festival. 2. The Great Hack The Great Hack talks about the breach of online privacy and how a corporation like Cambridge Analytica used the data that was provided to them by Facebook. 3. Abducted in Plain Sight This documentary will surely send chills down your spine as you see the story of Jan Broberg Felt, who was kidnapped by her neighbour Robert Berchtold on two separate occasions. 4. Amanda Knox This 2016 documentary tells the story of Amanda who was accused of murdering Meredith Kercher. Knox was a target of tabloid journalism where everything from her clothes to her relationship was made available for public consumption. 5. Icarus Directed by Bryan Fogel, Icarus won the Oscar award for Best Documentary Feature in 2017. The film follows Fogel as he dabbles in
Based on the real-life story of Reykjavik Confessions, this documentary explores the infamous Icelandic case where six people were implicated for the disappearance of two individuals. 7. Bikram: Yogi Guru Predator Directed by Eva Orner, this documentary on Bikram Choudhury explores the rise of a megalomaniac and his eventual decline, at least on US soil. 8. Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond This documentary shows the behind-the-scenes footage from the time when Jim Carrey played Andy Kaufman in the 1999 movie Man on the Moon. Present-day Carrey also reveals his thoughts at the time and what led him to be Andy for the entirety of that period. 9. Gaga: Five Foot Two This documentary on singersongwriter Lady Gaga’s life is centered around the preparation of her Super Bowl half-time show and the production of her album Joanna. 10. Feminists: What Were They Thinking? The documentary takes us back to the second wave of feminism. Celebrities like Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem and Lily Tomlin talk about their first-hand experiences and their role in the growing awareness for women’s rights. -Indian Express
The 2020 Census will impact your family’s future.
The information collected in the census will inform the distribution of more than $1.5 trillion in federal funds each year. These funds impact critical services, including education, health care, senior centers, and public transportation.
It is important for college students to be counted where they would have been on April 1 under normal circumstances.
Don’t forget to count babies and young children!
•
On-campus students will be counted by the university through group quarters
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Off-campus students should fill out the Census with their roommates at the residential address
Responding is easy. ONLINE my2020census.gov
PHONE 1 (844) 330-2020
English & Spanish
Need help or have questions? Call the Asian Census Hotline at (844) 202-0274 Indo-American News • Friday, APRIL 17, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
www.2020census.gov ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN VOTE
www.apiavote.org/census2020
VAISAKHI SPECIAL
April 17, 2020
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The Alphabet Lesson By Bhupinder Singh The bani of “Patti Likhi” is the first lesson imparted by Guru Nanak Dev Ji using the alphabet letters to convey their spiritual significance. According to the Puratan Janam Sakhi, when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was 7, his father Mehta Kalu Ji took him to a Pandha named Gopal for getting education. Pandha wrote the 35 letters of the Alphabet on a wooden tablet (called Patti in Punjabi) to master. Patti is a wooden flat tablet which is coated with yellow clay paste and then dried in the sun. Then with a sharpened reed pen the alphabet is written over it. It can be washed and recoated and used again. This school is at a very short distance from Gurudwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib where Guru Ji was born. One day during school Guru Ji sat in a corner away from rest of the students deeply engrossed in writing and humming while writing. The whole day passed and Guru Ji had not shown his work to Pandha. Before the end of class, the teacher called Guru Ji asked him to show his assignment. Guru Ji brought 3 Pattis and handed first one over to Pandha, while holding the remaining 2 in his hands. Gopal was stunned to see acrostics - praises of God - using all the letters of the alphabet. Gopal was struck in awe and asked Guru Ji, why he did not learn what his father wanted him to learn? He reminded Guru Ji that he will be taking over from his father the property accounts of the village and will be managing those. Guru Nanak Dev Ji replied, “That knowledge will not in any way help you in obtaining liberation”. The teacher was very much astonished at the words of the young child. Pandha told him, “Nanak, tell me something which could help me in the attainment of salvation”. Then Guru Ji gave a complete discourse which is part of Guru Granth Sahib on Page 16, but for this discussion let us restrict ourselves to Patti. Pandha was very impressed as he saw in the child Nanak the makings of a great man. He recommended to Guru Ji’s father that he should be under charge of Pandit Brij Nath, who could teach him Sanskrit and scriptures, as he does not have anything more to teach child Nanak.
The school a very short distance from Gurudwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib where Guru Nanak was born.
Children writing the alphabet with a sharpened reed pen on a wooden flat tablet (called Patti in Punjabi) coated with yellow clay paste and then dried in the sun. It can be washed and recoated and used again.
Indo-American News • Friday, APRIL 17, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
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VAISAKHI SPECIAL
April 17, 2020
Sikh Volunteers Delivering Thousands of Meals During Pandemic By Carol Kuruvilla
New York: Sikh gurdwaras, are primed to quickly and efficiently produce large quantities of food for hundreds of people. That’s because every gurdwara has a langar, or communal kitchen, where volunteers regularly cook fresh vegetarian meals to serve to congregants ― and any visitor who shows up at the door. While most American gurdwaras have paused communal worship services due to the coronavirus pandemic, some gurdwara kitchens are still running. Sikh volunteers in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle and
other cities have prepared and distributed thousands of meals from gurdwaras over the past few weeks, according to United Sikhs, the humanitarian group organizing a global langar effort. Volunteers have also delivered groceries to those who call in to a dedicated hotline or request help on a website ― adapting the tradition of langar to a modern-day pandemic. “Filling somebody’s stomach who is in need and who cannot get food, this concept spread in Sikhism from Day 1,” Hardayal Singh, United Sikhs’ director of advocacy, told HuffPost. “Serving humanity is serving God.”
United Sikhs volunteers prepared meals at California’s Buena Park Gurdwara to deliver to The Courtyard Shelter for the homeless in Santa Ana.
Stay safe and sheltered during this COVID-19 crisis. Better days are ahead!
Indo-American News • Friday, APRIL 17, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com
In New York City, the current epicenter of the crisis in the U.S., United Sikhs is part of a group of more than 60 charitable organizations that provide disaster readiness, response and recovery services to communities. In midMarch, Singh said he received an urgent request from the city’s Office of Emergency Management for vegetarian meals. In Southern California, the Gurdwara Sahib Riverside has been working hard to fulfill meal requests from the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. The gurdwara has also been delivering meals to local law enforcement and health care workers. -- Huff Post
VAISAKHI SPECIAL
April 17, 2020
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Even as we pass trough this difficult time of COVID-19, remember it is also the time of rebirth!
Jain & Jain CPAs
Our heartfelt thanks to all the healthcare workers for their service during this COVID-19 pandemic. May the spirit of Vaisakhi guide you.
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April 17, 2020
As we tackle the Coronavirus Pandemic, remember to have a
Prithvipal Singh & Manmeet Kaur Likhari
Indo-American News • Friday, APRIL 17, 2020 • www.indoamerican-news.com