Issuu

Friday, March 6, 2020 | Vol. 39, No. 10

Indo American News

March 6, 2020

Published weekly from Houston, TX

www.indoamerican-news.com

Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News

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Texas Rising Talent

P10 Trinity Players Photo credit: Houston Chronicle.

Record South Asian Voting on Super Tuesday P3

Indo-American News • Friday, March 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

P13

March 6, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

3 Super Tuesday: Sri Kulkarni Wins; Others in Runoff; Most Lose

COMMUNITY Pramod Kulkarni

Houston: SouthAsian participation in the Super Tuesday primaries reached record levels, but the results failed to meet expectations. South Asians can point with pride to the victory of Sri Preston Kulkarni in the Texas District 22 Democratic primary. Kulkarni received 34,579 votes (53%) against Derrick A. Reed 10,075 (24%), and Nyanza Davis Moore 5,881 (14%). As such, Kulkarni avoided a runoff and will face the winner of the runoff between Republican Troy Nehls and Kathleen Wall for the Congressional seat vacated by Pete Olson. In the Republican primary, Nehls secured 29,565 votes (40%) with Indo-American candidate Bangar Reddy getting 1,070 votes (2.05%). For the Texas District 10 Congressional seat, Austin physician Pritesh Gandhi with 26,683 votes (33.1%) is in a runoff against Mike Siegel 35,450 votes (44.0%) to challenge Rep. Michael McCaul in the general election. In State Representative District 26 Democratic primary, Suleman Lalani with 4,419 votes (31.68%) is in a runoff against L. ‘Sara’ DeMerchant with 4,126 votes (29.58%). Rish Oberoi came in third with 2,836 votes (20.33%). In Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 3, Veronica RivasMolloy 31,353 (55.11%) won the Democratic nomination against Dinesh Singhal 16,008 (28.14%). Harris County District Attorney

Kim Ogg received the Democratic party nomnation by a landslide. For the District Judge, 505th Judicial District race, Surendran K. Pattel with 17,302 votes (30.27%) is in a runoff against Kali Morgan 25,506 votes (44.63%). Neeta Sane, with 27,820 votes (47.48%), lost a close race for FB County Tax Assessor-Collector Democratic nomination against Carmen Turner 30,776 votes (52.52%). In the Republican primary, Tom Virippan with 3,781 votes (54.11%) won the race for State Representative, District 27 nominatin against fellow SouthAsian Manish Seth 3,207 votes (45.89%). In the race for Fort Bend Sherrif nomination, Trever J. Nehls won decisively with 44,753 votes (81.85%). South Asian Muzaffar Siddiqi got 2,025 votes 3.70%) Previously the 2018 Democratic nominee, Kulkarni came within 4.9% of unseating then incumbent Representative Pete Olson. Tuesday night at his election night watch party, Kulkarni addressed the crowd, in a raspy voice after months of virtually nonstop campaign speeches, ‘“As Pete Olson himself had said, “As Texas 22 goes, so goes America.” All eyes across the country are going to be focused on us. We must show that the other side’s methods of division and bigotry are no match for America’s core values of diversity and inclusion.’” Sri will be running for the open seat in Texas 22nd Congressional District

March 6, 2020

Congressional District 22 Democratic party nomination winner Sri Preston Kulkarni addressing his supporters at the Victory rally on Tuesday night at the Turquoise Grill at Sugar Land’s Town Center.

while preparing to face the Republican nominee who will be decided by a runoff election. Sri Preston Kulkarni is the son of an Indian immigrant father and a mother whose family descends from Sam Houston. Kulkarni is a former Foreign Service Officer who served fourteen years overseas in places like

Iraq, Russia, and Jerusalem, and as a former Defense, Foreign Policy and Veteran Affairs Advisor to Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY). Just as Kulkarni was not deterred by his 2016 defeat, one hopes that South Asian candidates will continue to seek political offices in the greater Houston region.

Over time, through experience and continued political savvy, South Asian candidates can expect to find greater success, if not for themselves, but for the next generation of South Asian candidates. There will be opportunities for South Asians to volunteer and run for national, state, and local offices.

Indo-American News • Friday, March 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

4 March 6, 2020 COMMUNITY Got Talent? Audition for Texas-wide Rising Star, Finals April 12 Houston: After the grand success in 2019 of the Javed Ali Live and Richa Sharma concerts, H-Town’s own Mousumi Banerjee is working hard to promote a brand new Texaswide singing reality show in March and April. Organized by her MB Foundation, the upcoming show Texas Rising Star 2020 Season 1, a new Music Reality Show, will feature and promote talented kids in the US between the age of 5 to 14. Auditions and workships will be conducted in 3 cities: Houston on March 28 and 29, Austin on April 4 and Dallas on April 5. The Grand Finale will be held on April 12 at the GSH Event Center in Houston. Auditions and workshops will be conducted by Anand Sharma (music director for shows like ANTAKSHARI, SAREGAMAPA, INDIAN IDOL, DIL HAI HINDUSTANI, INDIA’S GOT TALENT and TED TALKS; Raj Vishwakarma (creative director, director, talent and music supervisor for the shows like SAREGAMAPA, RISING STAR, JO JEETA WOHI SUPERSTAR, ANTAKSHARI the great challenge).

are focused to spread awareness for participants who would like to register in the Texas Rising Star 2020 Seasons 2 and 3 talent shows for the other ages as well. For more information and to register. visit www.mbfoundation. net; email: info@mbfoundation.com or call 832-841-5727. About Mousumi Banerjee Foundation: MB Foundation is a US based organization dedicated to promoting Indo-American cultural arts in the US. The Foundation works to build awareness of Indo-American artists

Also working with them will be singing sensation Sanchari Bose who made her fame on ZEE TV’s ‘SaReGaMaPa Children’s Special’ where she won 7 episodes in a row and won Star Voice of India 2007. She received the Lata Mangeshkar Award, State Embassy Award and shared the stage with celebrities like Shaan, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Adnam Sami, Anuradha Paudwal, Hansraj Hans and Agnee The Padma Shri awardee and noted film playback singer Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam will be the honorable judge, accompanied by another Houston musical luminaire Pandit Suman Ghosh who is an internationally acclaimed Hindustani Classical Vocalist of the Mewati Gharana of Hindustani Classical

Music and Anand Sharma and Raj Sharma the Creative and Music Directors of talent shows. “We launched the Texas Rising Star 2020 Season 1 to provide a platform to explore and promote the singing talent in our kids”, said Mousumi Banerjee, the President of MB Foundation. “We are extremely fortunate to welcome the ZEE SAREGAMAPA originators who have mentored some Bollywood singers, to be a part of our Team and will conduct auditions and workshops for the Texas Rising Star 2020”. Banerjee said MBF has received tremendous response from the community so far and asks parents to encourage and register their kids. The workshops are for all ages and

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5 Ekal’s Monumental “Parivartan Kumbh” with 110,000 Delegates

COMMUNITY

March 6, 2020

By Prakash Waghmare Lucknow: From February 16th to 18th, India witnessed the most monumental public Convention in its history that was attended by over 110,000 delegates on expansive ‘Ramabai Park’ grounds. Headlined as “Parivartan Kumbh” (meaning, ‘Transformation’), it was hosted by “Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation” (‘Ekal’, as it is popularly known) to highlight the ‘Parivartan’ (change) it has brought to over 105,000 rural and tribal areas across India. Although rooted in education, in past 31 years, Ekal has significantly come a long way and evolved into economic empowerment of rural folks, village development, social-life improvement and digital connectivity. Initially, the rural-tribal children struggled to incorporate basic functional literacy in their daily chores. There wasn’t any trace of modernity either, affecting their lives. Now, the little ones, with digital ‘Tablets’ in hand, are aspiring to touch the Moon in their routine folklores. The main objective of this historic gathering was not only to highlight this willful reformation, but also, to emphasize villager’s confident strides towards contemporary ‘main stream’. February 16th, saw a mammoth rally comprising representation from most of the Ekal villages in day-long awe-inspiring various village artistry sessions. The unprecedented gathering was also addressed by Didi Ma Sadhvi Ritambharaji. Currently, Ekal has 105,000 schools in the same number of rural regions all over India,

including Nepal, that are grooming 2.8 Million children each year. Internationally, it has presence in ten countries - biggest among them is in USA. Ekal-USA provides, not only financial assistance, but also, gives active support in fields of ‘technology-transfer’ and healthcare. February 17th was the inauguration day of this congregation and it was officiated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Hon. Adityanath Yogiji at the huge ‘Ambedkar Auditorium’ in ‘Ram Lohiya College’ in presence of capacity crowd. This day was devoted to honoring outstanding achievements of Ekal alumni who brought social, economic or cultural transformation to their own lives under most hardship conditions and had managed to become the toast of the ranking society. Board members of Ekal’s international chapters,

generous Donors and special-project initiators were also felicitated. This entire event was organized and conducted by village youths. There were numerous stalls on the grounds displaying products from Ekal villages that are now integral part of its cottage industries. The closing ceremony on February 17th was presided over by Defense Minister, Hon. Rajnathji. During this entire event there were deliberations on where Ekal wants to be in Yr.2025? In 2017, Ekal had already resolved to reach out to all of India’s 650,000-plus rural tribal regions. So, in addition to its main objectives, it was decided on this momentous occasion to make rural areas more ‘women & youth-centric’ to develop village’s and villager’s full potentials. On the social front, Ekal wants to create alcohol-free environment and overcome downside of caste,

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creed & religion, so that Gandhiji’s dream of ‘Su-Swaraj’ (ideal Admin - life) becomes a reality. With this task in mind, Ekal has decided to create units of 10 youths in each village, called ‘Swaraj Senani’ (comprehensive nation building teams) that would keep track of progress and development in their village and also tap into governmental schemes & entitlements for the benefit of their brethren.

Accordingly, the steps are already being taken at every level of Ekal to handover the baton for the new age to younger generation. A ceremony representing the new dawn was performed by ‘Ekal Abhiyan’ Chairman, Bajrang Bagraji, by handing over the Parivartan-flag to a youth group that defined rural and urban areas. This entire 3-day event had pronounced presence of youths and every aspect of it was flawlessly administered, managed and executed by them. As a departure from usual Bollywood-singers for its fund-raising events, Ekal-USA this year, has invited an array of diverse rural entertainers with exceptional artistry, as the headliners for the concerts. Their performances under the banner of ‘Bharat Ke Rang, Ekal Ke Sang’ have already started in southern parts of USA. This unique concert is a spectacular splendor of ethnic music, dances and dramas by enormously talented rural-tribal artistes. In 2017, if one can recall, the similar variety programs were sold-out wherever they took place. For performance in your town, kindly visit www. ekal.org.

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Indo-American News • Friday, March 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

SOUTH ASIA

March 6, 2020

16 Tourists Positive for Corona Virus

People with symptoms queue outside a Novel Coronavirus facilitation centre at RML hospital in New Delhi.

Jaipur: A group of 23 Italian tourists — 16 of them and their Indian driver have now tested positive for coronavirus — came in contact with at least 215 people across six districts of Rajasthan, State Health Minister Raghu Sharma told the Assembly on Wednesday. He said samples of 93 people have been collected; 51 have tested negative, while the remaining test reports are awaited. The group, including the 69-year-old Italian man who first tested positive, had arrived in New Delhi on February 21. They took a bus to Jhunjhunu, in Rajasthan, the same day. From there, they went to Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur, before arriving in Jaipur on February 28. Those who came in contact with them include 59 in Jhunjhunu, 44 in Bikaner, 14 in Jaisalmer, 14 in Jodhpur, and 6 in Udaipur. In Jaipur, six persons at the hotel where the tourists were staying are reported to have come in contact with them. The list also includes 35 people at a private hospital in Jaipur and 37 at the government-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital,

where the 69-year-old went for treatment. While international passengers are being screened at the airport in Jaipur, this group took a bus from Delhi, and was therefore not screened. Taking stock of the situation, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “The passengers who had come from Italy were staying in Surya Hotel. We have traced and identified the people who came in contact with them, and they have been kept in isolation.” In Delhi, a total of 4,421 passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran and Italy were screened at the airport on Wednesday. Of these, 10 symptomatic passengers were sent to hospital. “Five each have been hospitalised in RML and Safdarjung. Since January 15, 33 symptomatic passengers have been hospitalised in these two hospitals — seven in RML and 26 in Safdarjung. We are monitoring the condition of all the patients on a regular basis,” said a senior health department official. -- Indian Express

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Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

COMMUNITY

March 6, 2020

Devotees Receive Mahasivaratri Blessings at Saumyakasi Sivalaya

Devotees performing Mahamrytunjaya Homa.

By Satchitananda Houston: On a cold February 21, hundreds of devotees thronged Chinmaya Mission Houston (CMH) to celebrate Mahasivaratri with warm hearts. Each year, CMH hosts the biggest Hindu celebration in Greater Houston on the Mahasivaratri, a day of meditation and devotion for Lord Shiva who is worshipped in the form of Linga, a symbolic representation of Brahman in Vedanta. Shiva means auspiciousness and praying to HIM reminds us of our true nature, Atman. Sivaratri is a reminder to get out of the shackles of our body, mind, and intellect. Every year, the grand celebrations at the iconic linga-shaped Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya inspires great devotion and spirituality in a backdrop of selfless seva from count-

less CMH volunteers. This year too, Sri Ganesh Sathyanarayanaji, Sivalaya’s resident priest, began the sacred week of prayer, leading hundreds of CMH families with his Vedic chanting during the Maha Mrtyunjaya Homa on February 15th, 2020. Families had a great opportunity to chant “Om Tryambakam” 108 times with their kids and continue the tradition of praying for the well-being of the entire world. On Feb.21, devotees stood in long lines to have an opportunity to do Ksirabhiseka to the Utsava Murti of Maheswara in the basement of the Sivalaya which had been transformed into a mini Kailas by the tireless army of CMH volunteers. Vedic chants echoed through the day in the form of Mahanyasa purvaka Rudrabhiseka in the morning and Laghunyasa

A cross section of the devotees. Photos by Rajesh Thatte.

purvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhiseka in the evening. The spiritual vibrations of Rudram, Namakam and Chamakam transported everyone to a timeless realm; devotees also had an intimate devotional experience with the Rudrabhiseka Seva conducted multiple times in Chinmaya Smriti Hall. The most holy evening culminated in quiet meditation upon Isvara, the Lord of the Universe. The silence inside the Sivalaya dwarfed the quiet outside. It was divine to gaze at the serene face of the Lord of Saumyakasi glowing in the gently dancing light from the many lamps lit on the altar. In the quiet hour of meditation before the midnight of Sivaratri, all thoughts were stilled. Then, the midnight arati filled the hearts of all devotees with great joy. As the devotees left the temple with the

lingering wondrous experience, the prasada shared by CMH’s kitchen team tasted heavenly. Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda highlighted the wisdom of “giving more than what we take.” The spirit of the CMH pledge is most alive at CMH on Sivaratri. The great aura of the event is possible only due to the countless volunteers which include the next

generation, the several young Balavihar students who were cheerfully shouldering many tasks this year. The lofty example set by Acharyas Gaurang and Darshana Nanavaty continues to influence such spirited teamwork. The great event of Mahasivaratri also reminded the devotees of Greater Houston about the Jirnodhar (temple renovation) project and the upcoming Maha Kumbhabhiseka celebration of Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya in Aug 2020. To get associated with such an auspicious event will help not only our immediate spiritual growth but also bless the future of the entire Houston community. Tradition steeped in wisdom, diffused with fun is the norm at Chinmaya Mission Houston, located at Chinmaya Prabha, 10353, Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX-77498. For more information, visit www. chinmayahouston.org or call Jay Deshmukh 832 541 0059.

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COMMUNITY

March 6, 2020

Houston Priming Up to Welcome the Most Prominent Face of Yoga

By Manu Shah Houston: Patanjali Yogpeeth USA President Shekhar Agrawal recently announced that none other than Yogrishi Swami Ramdev himself will be in Houston on the 18th, 19th and 20th June to personally conduct a 3-day Yoga Chikitsa (Therapy) and Meditation Camp at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. The last time Swami Ramdev held a camp in Houston was in 2008 where more than 3,000 people attended the 5-day yoga session. A recent survey revealed that there are 40 million “yogis” in the US and the number is growing exponentially. The resounding interest in the practice of yoga since June 21 was declared the International Day of Yoga in 2015 is expected to attract substantially more crowds this time. Organizers say the camp will

include pranayama (breathing techniques) asanas (physical poses) for fitness and meditation to declutter the mind. This will be done through demonstrations, guided practice and commentary by Swami Ramdev. Trained yoga teachers and interpreters on the floor will assist in following the exercises. For over three decades, Swami Ramdev, with his supple body and gravity defying poses, has been guiding legions of people to take charge of their health with the practice of yoga. Millions of people flock to his yoga camps or tune in to his YouTube videos or daily telecasts to follow his simplified instructions in their own living rooms. Steeped in ancient yoga wisdom, he has helped millions cure themselves of various ailments and if not cure, at least, control their blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, obe-

sity and medication by practicing yoga, natural healing and herbal remedies. Patanjali Yogpeeth USA will be working in unison with other organizations in the city to reach out to a wider section of yoga seekers and enthusiasts so they can obtain the benefit of Swami Ramdev’s presence in Houston. The 5000 year old practice, according to Swami Ramdev, can play a critical part in shaping a healthy body and mind and calls for no expensive equipment other than the willingness of an individual to practice it consistently. Incidentally, this Brand Ambassador of yoga hasn’t missed a single day of practice since he was 9 years old. His Divya Yog Mandir Trust and Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, India, established in 1995 and 2006 respectively, along the banks of the holy river Ganga, are world renowned institutions for scientific

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research and treatment with Yoga, spiritualism and Ayurveda, and cater to about 10,000 patients every day. Since 2008, under the guidance of Swami Ramdev, Patanjali Yogpeeth (USA) Trust has conducted 12 Yoga Teacher training workshops in cities across the US and trained more than 700 teachers. Many Patanjali Yoga teachers

conduct free yoga classes in temples and community centers. Scientific research is now backing what Swami Ramdev has been saying all along. “Good health, he is fond of quoting, is the birthright of every human being and yoga and meditation can make the world disease-free.” With this goal in mind, the organizers are encouraging yoga aspirants to take full advantage of the three day camp that is “scientific, secular and universal” and use this tool to transform one’s own health. For more details, visit www. pyptusa.com or contact Shekhar Agrawal at pyptusa@gmail.com

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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10 March 6, 2020 COMMUNITY Indo-American Association Announces Exciting 2020 Lineup By Sheetal Bedi Houston: Founded in 1993, IAA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which promotes the cultural arts of the Indian subcontinent in the American context. IAA has been lauded as being one of the first Indian arts organization to earn recognition amongst mainstream non-profit organizations as an equal. Recently, a new organization using the name SIA has been promoting shows similar to IAA events at many of the same venues used by IAA. SIA also is using the exact same telephone number IAA has used for years to promote its events. IAA is not associated with or in any way connected to SIA. IAA continues to enthrall Houston audiences with spectacular events as it has, for the past 27 years. IAA proudly launched its 2020 season with Javed Siddiqui’s play “Hum Safar” starring Harsh Chha-

at Stafford Arts Centre of Shanti Dhwani: Pt. Partha Performing Bose promoting peace and nonArts violence, Saturday August 22 at Thari – MATCH Houston The Loom: Soulful Strings, Soulful Voice: in collabora- Ustaad Shujaat Khan, Saturday tion with the September 12, at Stafford Centre Asia Society, of Performing Arts. Friday July We hope that the above resolves 24 & Satur- any confusion that may exist day July 25 amongst our sponsors, patrons and at Asia So- audience. The all-voluntary Board IAA Houston will present ‘Masala Jazz” on March 27 at Wortham Center. ciety of Directors invites you to join us N a s h i l i for the 2020 season and beyond, ya and Lubna Salim at the beautiPenn Masala – A Capella, Friday ful Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center to a April 24, at Zilkha Hall, Hobby Peshkash…A True Khazana: Vat- and we hope to see you at the sala Mehra, Saturday August 1 Wortham Center on March 27th! packed audience on Friday, Febru- Center ary 21st. From Khayal to Thumri: Vidushi at Stafford Centre of Performing Our offerings for 2020 include Kaushiki Chakraborty, Thursday something for everyone: May 14, at Stafford Centre of PerChemical Co. in Baytown Masala Jazz: A fusion of Raga forming Arts Looking for and Jazz featuring Garaj Mahal, Yahoo! – A Niche entertainment Chemical Engineer Friday, March 27, at Wortham production on the Karishma of Candidates should have an engineering Center Shammi Kapoor, Sunday, May 31 degree and some chemical plant experience Sakhi: A tapestry of love and at Cullen Performance Hall friendship through dance and muClassical, Bollywood & Beyond: Great pay w/ benefits. EOE/AAP sic, Saturday , April 11, at Stafford Dr. L Subramaniam & Kavita Send resume to apply@chemicalsinc.com Centre of Performing Arts Krishnamurti, Saturday, July 11

D.A.V. Students Win Big at 2020 Private Schools District Competition Houston: On February 29, 2020, 22 students from D.A.V. participated in the PSIA (Private Schools Interscholastic Association) competition. Due to everyone’s fantastic efforts, we had a total of 29 placements by our students in 8 categories divided by grade level, and 9 of our students are eligible to compete at the state level! Congratulations to all our students who competed in this district meet! Special thanks are due to ALL the teachers who helped our students prepare for this meet. I also want to give a BIG THANKS to the parents who not only were judges and graders for the event, but also prepared their children for the event. The following students, who placed first in their categories, will advance to the state competition. In the category, Ready Writing, those who placed first or second will also advance to state. The state level meet will be on May 2, 2020 at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Math First Place: Jasmine Kadakia

(2nd Grade) Second Place: Vraj Patel (2nd Grade) Third Place: Ram Jhaver (5th Grade) Fourth Place: Nylan Patel (5th Grade) Fifth Place: Narayanan Murugappan (5th Grade) Sixth Place: Dhruv Makati (4th Grade) Informational Skills First Place: Aadi Patel (5th Grade) Fourth Place: Ram Jhaver (5th Grade) Spelling

First Place: Ansh Maheshwari (1st Grade) Third Place: Aadi Patel (5th Grade) Fourth Place: Aadit Mantri (4th Grade) Sixth Place: Vedant Sharda (1st Grade) Sixth Place: Ishani Sanghvi (3rd Grade) Sixth Place: Dhruv Makati (4th Grade) Dictionary Skills Fourth Place: Swara Bhatt (5th Grade) Ready Writing (following stu-

dents, who placed first and second in this category, will advance to the state competition).

Second Place: Ishani Sanghvi (3rd Grade) Second Place: Ram Jhaver (5th Grade) Third Place: Aadit Mantri (4th Grade) Poetry Interpretation First Place: Swara Bhatt (5th Grade) Third Place: Eehen Nanda (5th Grade) Creative Writing First Place: Vrinichi Vinjamuri (1st Grade) First Place: Vraj Patel (2nd Grade) Second Place: Praneel Bhatt (1st Grade) Second Place: Dhruvi Shah (2nd Grade) Storytelling First Place: Praneel Bhatt (1st Grade) First Place: Jasmine Kadakia (2nd Grade) Second Place: Akshara Choudhari (2nd Grade) Second Place: Kiara Neupane (2nd Grade) Third Place: Ishani Sanghvi (3rd Grade)

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Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

March 6, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, March 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

BUSINESS SUDOKU/RECIPE

March 6, 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 March 11, 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

Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

By popular demand, here is a reprint of Mama’s Tamater te Piyaaz da Raita recipe, which is a tasty recipe for the summer months to eat with rice biryani, sabzi (vegetables) or simply with paranthas (crispy flatbreads). It is reprinted with some additional information and directions.

Tamater te Piyaaz da Raita (Tomato & Onion Yogurt Dip) Yogurt (dahin) has a special significance in Indian culture and religion. It is considered sacred and a purifying agent because of the relationship of cowmilk with many Hindu rituals and because yogurt, or curds as many Indian call it, were eaten up by the baby Lord Krishna. Fresh clay praats (flat saucers) of yogurt with a thick layer of congealed cream on top are readily available at the halwai’s (sweet maker’s) shop all across most Indian cities though modern diaries now sell yogurt in white plastic pouches at kiosks. The taste of fresh halwai yogurt is very similar to the Greek yogurt that is so popular these days.

Last Week’s SUDOKU Solution

Yogurt has medicinal value too: it is quickly soothing in the blazing Indian summers, easily digested when eaten at lunchtime and should be avoided at night time. It is considered a good cure for severe diarrhea, especially when eaten with khichri (runny rice and lentils). Yogurt provides high protein content to a vegetarian diet.

Directions: 1. Peel the onion and then chop into small pieces. Wash the tomato and likewise chop into small pieces. Set aside.

Raita or yogurt dip or sauce is a byproduct of yogurt and is eaten all over India to complement and soften the taste - and sometimes the spiciness - of many Indian dishes. Raita must have the right consistency so that it doesn’t run all over the plate and can be eaten with roti, paranthas or chawal (rice).

3. Roast some jeera seeds on a tava (flat plate), grind them and sprinkle on the raita.

Raita is a quick and simple dish to make with vegetables can take the place of a salad, which, for most Punjabi meals, is a very simple arrangement of tamater (tomatoes), piyaaz (onions) and hari mirch (green peppers) – all very basic and healthy condiments to make the raita.

Last Week’s SUDOKU Winners

Kumud Athavale Venkataramana Vadrevu

Ingredients: • 500gm saddi dahin (plain yogurt) • ½ medium piyaaz (onion) •1 medium tamater (tomato) • ½ cup doodh (milk) • 10 leaves pudina (mint) (cut in halves) • ½ teaspoon jeera (cumin) – optional if you like the taste • Spices to taste: namak (salt), lal mirch (red pepper)

2. Place the dahin in a bowl and stir it thoroughly adding the milk to it. Add the salt and pepper to taste and mix in the mint leaves.

4. Throw in the chopped tomato and onion and mix well but gently. 5. Chill for 10 minutes and serve.

Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India (since renamed Faisalabad) before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her late-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share her delectable Punjabi recipes for future generations.

MAMA’S TIP O F THE

WEEK

BOILING POTATO ES IN THE PRESSURE COO KER LEAVES STA INS Some cooks swea r th

cookers, using them at they can’t live without their pressure to make daals (lent potatoes and othe ils), channe (chick r items. But my ex peas), perie cooker is overused by people in a hurr nce is that the pressure be less than satisfa y ctory. If left overdo and the results can often ne, the daals and become too soft an potatoes d mushy, become soups or mashed instead. One thing to be ca reful about is that sure cookers will cooking potatoes usually leave a re in pressidue and stain th Be sure to wash th e insides. e vessel thorough ly so that it is clea no stain from the n an starch or for best results use steel wo d has ol scrub-

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713-789-6397 Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

ENTERTAINMENT

March 6, 2020

Classical Arts Society Presents Madras Players’ English Play “Trinity”

Vijay Siva is Muthuswami Dikshitar (left), Dr S. Sunder as Saint Thyagaraja (center) and Gayathri Venkataraghavan is Lalitha, Shyama Sastri’s wife

Houston: The Madras Players, the oldest English Theatre company in India, offer their latest production, “Trinity”, in translation and adaptation, thus bringing Indian writing to the English stage. It is based on the sensitive stories, authored by Seetha Ravi in Tamil and translated into English by Prabha Sridevan, on Carnatic music’s legendary composers, Saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri. By a wonderful coincidence, not only were all the three composers born in the temple town of Tiruvarur in South India in the mid-18th Century, but lived at the same time in and around Thanjavur, creating magnificent classical carnatic music compositions that form a major part of the Carnatic music practitioners’/performers’ repertoire to date. What makes “Tinity” unique: In this production, “live” Carnatic music is being amalgamated into an English theatre production. Celebrated Carnatic musicians, Vijay Siva, Gayathri Venkataraghavan, and Dr. S. Sunder have come together to play the characters and sing live on stage, making the entire presentation very different from what our audiences have seen before. They are joined by a galaxy of well-known young concert performers such as Vikram Raghavan, Bharat Narayan, Abhinav Shankar, Sanjay Nag and Houston’s own Shilpa Sadagopan. Supporting

these musicians are veteran actors S Ram, TT Srinath, Aryamba Sriram, Victor Paulraj and other local (Houston) actors/musicians Bhavani and Mahesh Iyer, Nalini Sadagopan, V. Muralidharan, and Pavithra Chandrasekaran. The Madras Players, the oldest English theatre company in India, with a track record of 63 years, and about 300 productions to its credit. It pioneered in bringing Indian writing to the English stage in translation, adaptation or original. Having presented works of Badal Sircar, Mohan Rakesh, Vijay Tendulkar and Girish Karnad, The Madras Players went on to showcase eminent writers of the South, such as Kalki Krishnamurthi, R.K. Narayan, Indira Parthasarathi, Sivasankari and more. Their recent productions of Komal Swaminathan’s “WATER”, and “Chudamani”, based on the short stories of R. Chudamani, have taken audiences by storm. “Chudamani” has been in performance for over three years now, their longest running play. “Tinity” Author: The three short stories, each depicting an event, a movement, a moment in the lives of these great composers are drawn with rare sensitivity by Seetha Ravi, from fact, embellished by imagination. Seetha Ravi, a torchbearer of a rich tradition as the granddaughter of the great“Kalki” Krishnamurthi, is a noted author and scholar in her own right. The Translator: Prabha Sride-

van is no stranger to The Madras Players. Her translation of ‘Chudamani” has been performed with phenomenal success in Chennai and elsewhere. Prabha’s translation of “Trinity” is free flowing and faithful to the original Tamil, and captures the “feel” of the 18th

century artistic sensibilities of Thanjavur. Bringing Trinity to Houston is Classical Arts Society’s way of celebrating our great culture and tradition, and the genius of these three legends that has filled the universe with musical gems of “the

purest ray serene”. It is therefore a must see for our youngsters here who have taken to classical music and dance, to get a feel for our rich heritage; the fact that the play is in a language that all of us here understand, makes its appeal very universal for all music lovers.

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Great pay w/ benefits. EOE/AAP Send resume to apply@chemicalsinc.com Indo-American News • Friday, March 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

March 6, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 6, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

COMMUNITY

March 6, 2020

HINDU WORSHIP SOCIETY

invites devotees to attend

PATRONS

Susheela & Durga Agarwal Family Shakun Parti family Aarti Soni Rita & Bal Sareen Family Diana & Narin Sehgal Family