Issuu

Friday, March 13, 2020 | Vol. 39, No. 11

Indo American News

March 13, 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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Indo-American News • Friday, March 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

March 13, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

COMMUNITY

March 13, 2020

Full House for Judge Lena Hidalgo at IACCGH Power Dialogue

IACCGH President Tarush Anand (left) and Indian Consul General Aseem Mahajan speaking before members and guests. Photo Credit: Bijay Dixit.

Manu Shah Houston: “Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has run four full marathons. It’s a remarkable achievement. It requires energy and tenacity which Judge Hidalgo also brings to the work she does at the County Judge’s office.” President Tarush Anand’s introduction of the Chamber’s Power Luncheon Keynote Speaker offered an intriguing peek to the young dynamic 29-year-old County Judge who was elected to this role last year. Between Judge Hidalgo and India’s new Consul General to Houston Aseem Mahajan who was the Guest of Honor, the IACCGH Power Luncheon held on February 21 attracted a full house. Congressman Al Green, District Clerk Marilyn Burgess, Chris Brown, District

Attorney Vince Ryan, Jay Guerrero from Senator John Cornyn’s office, and other officials were present at the Luncheon, held at Double Tree by Hilton. IACCGH Past Presidents, Dr. Atul Varadhachary, Sanjay Ramabhadran, Ashok Garg and Swapan Dhairyawan as well as current and former IACCGH Board members were also present. Judge Hidalgo’s calm and measured address was packed with substance about her efforts to make Harris County a community that would draw people and make other counties “jealous.” She discussed the $5-9 billion budget she oversees and emphasized the importance of prioritizing funds “in a way that meets the needs of the community.” Among other things, Judge Hidalgo’s budget has committed $6 million of additional funding to the public health department in

addition to the $3 million invested last year. A “historic” $12 million has been earmarked for environmental protection while almost $13 million has been set aside to improve voting access, security protection and the right to vote at any location on Election Day. In a departure from previous years, her office is allocating budgets based on performance and accountability. Departments have been asked to provide evidence based arguments for why their program is important and how its success will be evaluated. Her office is tapping top analysts, experts and academics in the country and abroad to ensure that budgetary decisions are based on data, metrics and other similar factors. Judge Hidalgo also revealed two other initiatives: The first concerned piloting a better childhood education program and juvenile system and the

second concerned flood control through creative solutions and speeding up drainage projects. In his brief remarks, Consul General Aseem Mahajan shared some statistics about India’s demographics which he described as both a “source of great strength as well as challenges.” India, he stated, is the youngest country in the world with a population of 1.3 billion people and an average age of 29 years. It is the fifth largest economy in the world and is aiming to become a 5-trillion-dollar economy soon. Calling the US-India trade partnership a “global strategic partnership and one of the defining and transformational partnerships of the 21st century,” he noted that the relationship has a great deal of potential and will continue to grow and deepen.

With over $10 billion in trade, India is among Houston’s top trading partner countries. Consul General Mahajan noted that India is the only country that has seen trade with Houston grow over 40% year-onyear for the past 3 years. He further added that “we need the support of the Chamber to widen our activities here in trade and investment and… are fortunate that we have such a vibrant and good Chamber here. The Consulate looks forward to working very closely with the Chamber.” Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia thanked Judge Hidalgo and announced that Consul General Mahajan will be the keynote speaker at the Chamber’s upcoming signature event, the Shell Distinguished Lecture, on March 30, 2020. For more information about this and other upcoming events, please visit www.iaccgh.com

Indo-American News • Friday, March 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

COMMUNITY

March 13, 2020

Sewa Activates Hotline for Corona Virus Response in USA

Houston: Houston, TX (March 08, 2020) – In the midst of growing concerns about the spread of Corona Virus ( COVID-19) in various parts of the country, Sewa International convened a meeting of community leaders from across the country to prepare a framework of response to the crisis. Achalesh Amar, Director Disaster Relief said, “Plugging into resources offered by different governmentt agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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(CDC), various departments of county and city governments, a taskforce was set up to come up with a comprehensive approach to the pandemic. Based on the recommendations of the taskforce, Sewa International is activating a hotline/ helpline for non-medical advice at 281 909 SEWA (281 909 7392) for the Midwest, 708 872 SEWA (708 872 7392) for the Northeast, and 203 872 SEWA (203 872 7392) for Western United States”. Swadesh Katoch, Vice Presi-

dent for Disaster Relief, added, “The biggest concern among the Indian American community was about schools as every school district is responding differently to the evolving situation, and most parents are not aware of the relaxation in attendance norms. The panic related to buying and stocking up masks, sanitizers, toilet paper, and food items also came up for discussion”. “We are especially concerned about the vulnerable population

with weak immune systems, such as seniors, the sick, or very young children. We are circulating WhatsApp messages with helpful information on how to prepare and take precautions. Various chapters in the US are directed to help local communities with up-to-date information as Corona Virus related cases get confirmed in a particular area,” said Prof. Sree Sreenath, President of Sewa International. Sewa International is also taking the initiative of conducting regular webinars and distributing flyers with concise information from

various sources. These flyers offer information about the difference between flu and COVID-19, preventive measures, and techniques to reduce anxiety. The first webinar in the series will be conducted on Wednesday, March 11 by a qualified physician from California. Sewa International, a leading Indian American nonprofit organization, has extensive experience in disaster rescue, relief, and rehabilitation operations having responded to 24 disasters in the US and abroad.

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COMMUNITY

March 13, 2020

Arushi Nishank Pant: Cultural Ambassador for Houston Tamil Chair

By Sam Kannappan Pearland: Mrs. Arushi Nishank Pant, Daughter of HRD Minister of India Sri Ramesh Pokhriyal, visited Houston on March 3rd, 2020 at the invitation of Houston Tamil Studies Chair (HTSC). She was accompanied by her husband Abhinav Pant, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar and Ms. Santosh Kumar of Chicago. HTSC conferred the title “Cultural Ambassador of the Houston Tamil Studies Chair” to Arushi Nishank. In that role, Ms. Arushi will appraise the Indian central Government about the HTSC mission to set up a Tamil studies chair at the University of Houston and also help with fundraising for HTSC in India. HTSC was established in 2018 as a Texas non-profit 501(C)(3) tax exempt organization with the mission to establish a Tamil

Studies Chair at the University of Houston. Donation and pledges to date have crossed half million mark towards the 2 million goal. We are honored by the endorsement of Tamil Nadu Govt., with a donation of One Crore Rupees. We thank many generous Founding Donors who have pledged, and are recognized in the Electronic Donor Wall, later to be recognized in University of Houston building donor wall. Arushi received “Top 20 Global Women of Excellence” award in Chicago during this visit to USA. Arushi is a champion of educational and environmental causes. Arushi is also an accomplished Kathak dancer and has a MBA, an International Cambridge PGDM from Cambridge University and is currently pursuing her PhD in human resource management in India. She is also the chairperson

of her own Himalayan Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Arushi has been an active promoter for Namami Gange Mission which is a project started by the Govt of India to clean river Ganga. Arushi has been active in activities aimed at social reforms and programs for the upliftment and empowerment of women globally. Arushi met with Dr. Susan Scarrow and Kim Howard at the Department of India Studies offices at UH and discussed about possible future collaboration. HTSC held a fundraising reception at Meenakshi Temple with Arushi as the Guest of Honor wherein the Mayor of Pearland, Hon. Tom Reid conferred the “Cultural Ambassador of Houston Tamil Studies Chair” title to Dr. Arushi. MTS Chairman Dhani Kannan, Secretary Parthasarathy, Treasurer Bhar-

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gavi Golla and the temple priests welcomed Arushi to MTS. Also present was TNF Houston chapter president Mala Gopal. Rajan Radhakrishnan and Abirami Kannappan also honored the guests. On her acceptance speech, Arushi talked about her leadership in Sparsh Ganga project and requested HTSC President Sockalingam Sam Kannappan to be the Ambassador Sparash Ganga Abhiyan Houston, Texas.

HTSC Board members Sam Kannappan, Dr. SG Appan, Tupil Narasiman, Dr. Thiruvengadam Arumugam and Perumal Annamalai made a presentation about HTSC to Arushi. On March 4, Arushi met with Hon. Aseem Mahajan, Consul General of India at Houston and Hon. Surendra Adhana Deputy Consul General of India at the Consulate.

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Indo-American News • Friday, March 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

SOUTH ASIA

March 13, 2020

Holi Gift: Scindia Changes Colors

Bhopal: Marking a new low in its turbulent journey after losing power in the Centre six years ago, the Congress Tuesday lost one of its most prominent national leaders, and appeared set to lose its government in Madhya Pradesh, too, with four-time MP and former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia walking out of the party along with at least 22 state legislators. Scindia posted his resignation letter on Twitter minutes after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday morning. BJP sources said he is expected to join the party in Bhopal soon and become its official candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections from Madhya Pradesh — and later, a Union minister. With the last day of nominations on March 13, the BJP is likely to announce its Rajya Sabha candidates Wednesday, sources said, after a meeting of its Central Election Committee Tuesday was “inconclusive”. Madhya Pradesh crisis: 19 Congress MLAs, including six state ministers, from

Madhya Pradesh have also tendered their resignation. (Express photo) At the same time, 19 Congress MLAs, who had shifted to Bengaluru Monday afternoon, emailed their resignations to Governor Lalji Tandon. Another Congress MLA, Bisahulal Singh, who returned from Bengaluru two days ago, joined the BJP in the presence of former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Aidal Singh Kansana and Manoj Chaudhary are the two other MLAs who have switched sides. Late in the night, both parties scrambled to move their MLAs to “safe locations” in neighbouring states. Left deeply embarrassed by the developments, the Congress mounted a desperate bid to save face by claiming — after Scindia posted online his resignation letter dated March 9 to party chief Sonia Gandhi — that it had expelled the 49-year-old, once known to have been close to the Gandhi family, “with immediate effect” for “antiparty activities”.

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Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

March 13, 2020 7 COMMUNITY Embassy of India Issues Advisory for Travel to India Washington DC: In view of the rapid spread of coronavirus, the Government of India has issued the following instructions: i. All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN / International Organizations, employment and project visas, stand suspended till 15 April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT (0800 EST) on 13 March 2020 at the port of departure. ii. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till 15 April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT (0800 EST) on 13 March 2020 at the port of departure. iii. Any foreign national who might need to travel to India for compelling reasons may contact the nearest Mission/Consulate.

iv All incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT (0800 EST) on 13 March 2020 at the port of departure. v. All incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, would be subject to medical screening and can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India. vi. International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with robust screening facilities. Ministry of Home Affairs will separately notify these check posts.

Fort Bend County Judge Issues Update on Coronavirus Rosenberg: As of this time, our public health professionals, emergency management staff, and health authorities are working around the clock on the evolving COVID-19 situation. Fort Bend County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Fort Bend County Health & Human

Services are both at Activation Level 3 (Increased Readiness). These agencies are working to ensure situational awareness and continue to coordinate response activities with all entities including but not limited to hospitals, private health providers, schools, pharmacies, nursing homes, etc. within Fort Bend County.

We will continue to let science, not fear, drive our public health decisions. It will take all of us, as a community, to slow down the spread of this virus in the event that there is evidence of community spread. Continue to wash your hands, clean and disinfect commonly used areas, and stay home if you are sick. As we have promised, as information comes in, we will do everything in our power to keep

our residents and all jurisdictions informed and safe. Fort Bend County is also currently staffing a phone bank, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, for a physician/medical provider line and a line for the public. General Public Line: 281-6337795 Physician and Community Partner Line: 281-344-6118

Coronavirus Update: India at 75 Cases

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Thursday reported its first confirmed coronavirus case, taking the total number of cases in India to 74. As cases continue to rise, the health ministry Thursday asked people not to panic, saying the focus is on preventive approach and there are adequate facilities available for testing. In a press briefing in the national capital today, the health ministry said, “India’s efforts to deal with coronavirus are in consonance with WHO and the focus is on preventive approach. Over 1,500 people are under observation for coming in contact with 74 positive cases of coronavirus.” It also said there is no instance of any community transmission, adding there have been

only local transmission. As of Thursday, the ministry on its website said that the total number of passengers screened at airports was 10,57,506. The ministry gave a state-wise breakup for the cases: Delhi reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10. Karnataka has four cases, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three. Besides, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month after they recovered from the infection declared a global pandemic.

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8 March 13, 2020 COMMUNITY Club 65 Celebrates Spring, in All Its Names and Traditions By Jawahar Malhotra

McGuire took the lead by teaching them the basic of yoga poses. Then Parul Fernades educated them about President’s Day, Shaheen Vora about Hazrat Ali, Holi by Paru and Now Ruz by Parveen Sayed. Octogenarian Shakuntla Malhotra shared her recipe for making Punjabi kaddi. But the cue for Spring was coming dressed in your western wear in honor of the Houston Rodeo and several members came in their togs, especially some in hats, with gentleman farmer Latafath Hussain coming in his overalls!

HOUSTON: It couldn’t get better

than this. Saturday, March 7, just cool enough to feel Spring coming around the corner, itself ushered in as Holi, Now Ruz, HazratAli’s remembrance, President’s Day and that nuisance: Daylight Savings Time springing an hour forward. And Dr. Manazir Shamsi made sure to remember Mardi Gras with colored beads for all to wear. It was enough for Club 65 President Farida Bandali to roll into one event for the 40 or so seniors and their younger chaperones to mingle over and learn about each of these traditions from a presenter. Paru

The presenters at the Club 65 meeting held on Saturday, March 7.

What Home Minister Amit Shah Said in Rajya Sabha on NPR, CAA New Delhi: Amid concerns expressed by Opposition parties on the National Population Register (NPR), Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday reiterated that no documents would be required to be submitted during the exercise while saying that no one would be marked “doubtful”. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a debate on the riots in northeast Delhi, Amit Shah said, “I am again repeating that no documents will be needed for National Population Register (NPR). All the information asked is optional. Nobody has to fear from the process of NPR. There will be no ‘D’ (doubtful) category.” On the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which has led to widespread protests across the country and is

believed to be at the heart of the riots that broke out in northeast Delhi, leaving 53 people dead, Amit Shah said the legislation would not take anyone’s citizenship. “I reiterate to my Muslim brothers and sisters that false propaganda is being spread on the issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). This Act is not to take anyone’s citizenship but to give citizenship,” Amit Shah said. The NPR exercise is to be carried out with the house-listing phase of Census

2020 and is scheduled to begin on April 1. The NPR, data for which

was first collected in 2010 and updated in 2015, is a list of “usual residents of the country”. So far, West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh have asked the Centre to halt the exercise of updating the NPR. The Bihar Assembly resolution demands that the NPR exercises be carried out in accordance with the 2010 format. According to the Home Ministry, a “usual resident of the country” is one who has been residing in a local area

for at least six months or intends to stay in a particular location for the next six months. In the 2018-19 Annual Report of the Home Ministry, the NPR was described as the first step towards the implementation of the controversial NRC, an issue that has led to widespread protests across the country. However, Amit Shah later said the two were not connected and that NPR data would not be used for NRC. The NPR will collect both demographic data and biometric data, although for the latter it will depend upon Aadhaar. In the last NPR in 2010, data were collected on 15 aspects; in the 2020 NPR, there are 21 data points — another thorny issue that the Opposition has protested against.

Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

9 ZT Corporate and Nitya Capital to Explore Joint Opportunities

BUSINESS

Houston (PRNewswire) -- ZT Corporate, a private equity firm that specializes in healthcare and automotive companies, and Nitya Capital, a privately held real estate investment firm, today announced that the two Houston-based companies will explore ways to collaborate and take advantage of their respective expertise. The firms will bring opportunities to each other and strategically utilize their experience in these potential transactions. ZT Corporate’s expertise in healthcare and automotive sectors and Nitya Capital’s expertise in real estate will be invaluable to these opportunities. As transactions arise that fit both firms at their discretion, the companies will announce joint venture deals with the first being expected in 2020. Each organization is led with an entrepreneurial spirit and brings a unique, complementary perspective to this collaboration. Taseer Badar of ZT Corporate is a Pakistani American and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. Swapnil Agarwal of Nitya Capital is an Indian American and is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. Taseer Badar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZT Corporate, said, “Sharing similar humble beginnings and pursuing the ‘American Dream’ with our respective businesses over the last 20 years, Swapnil and I both take great pride in our South Asian heritage along with the pride of America and the opportunities of all countries. This strategic partnership will expand the scope for our investors and is a win-win for everyone involved. We look forward to working together to align interests for our clients, and just as importantly, giving back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.” Swapnil Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of Nitya Capital, said, “Taseer and ZT Corporate share in our mission of creating capital value and wealth. We look forward to exploring opportunities where we can deliver a great benefit to each other and our alliance. ZT Corporate’s proven track record in healthcare and automotive will bring new ideas and approaches to our team. Together, we intend to bring great returns and innovative opportunities to our investors.” About ZT Corporate Established in 1997, ZT Corporate is a private equity firm with an active portfolio in healthcare services and automotive dealerships. With offices in Houston and New York, the team provides full-service wealth management

March 13, 2020

Taseer Badar, Chairman & CEO, ZT Corporate; and Swapnil Agarwal, CEO, Nitya Capital.

services to its clients and investors and creates value through a broad range of financial channels, including traditional and alternative investments. ZT Corporate’s active healthcare portfolio operates under Altus Healthcare and Neighbors, with automotive dealerships branded under the ZT Motors umbrella. For more information: www. ztcorporate.com About Nitya Capital Nitya Capital is a privately held real estate firm with ap-

proximately $2 billion in real estate assets throughout the country. The firm’s assets span from its 16,000 multifamily units to commercial offices, single-family homes, townhome development, and multi-use ground-up development projects. Nitya is a vertically integrated real estate platform that manages its assets through its sister property management arm, Karya Property Management. For more information: www. nityacapital.com

HINDU WORSHIP SOCIETY

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PATRONS

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

SPONSORS

Kirti & Devki Agarwal Family Vanita & Vijay Bhagi Family Aruna & Ravi Goel Family Sudesh & Bhisham Gupta Family CanCelled due to Coronavirus Radha & Ram Gupta Family Khurana Family We will reschedule later in Balwant the year Surita & Satish Malhotra Family Manju & Madan Mangal Family Indu Puri Family Vijay & Suresh Sachdev Family Dipi & Raj Sethi Family Jaya & Prabhat Sharma Family Neelu & Ashok Sharma Family Meera & Rajinder Soni Family For General Information or to be a PATRON/SPONSOR contact: BAL SAREEN 337-540-6001 RAVI GOEL 713-690-3335 RAJINDER SONI 281-565-5952 For Puja information, contact Pandit Bhawani Shankar Shastri ji 832-278-0100 For Prasad or Food help, contact: ASHIMA PATEL 832-563-6689 ARUNA GOEL 281-589-9748 INDU PURI 832-520-3547 SANDHYA SINGH 832-512-6393 Diana & Narin Sehgal of Bombay Brasserie have very kindly agreed to provide the dinner prasad for all the attendees TEMPLE: 713-957-4608 www.hwstemple.org; hws.temple@gmail.com; Facebook: @hwstemple

Indo-American News • Friday, March 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

10 March 13, 2020 SPORTS TCC Winter 2019: Champions – ECC , Runners-up – BHCC Houston: On Feb 29, 2020, ECC was crowned the Champions of TCC Taped Ball – Winter 2019 after defeating BHCC (in their first final ) to claim their 5th TCC Championship in an enthralling game of cricket. Both teams had a fantastic tournament and reached the finals after a few close but well fought games in the playoffs in a competitive TCC tournament. On a pleasant sunny morning, BHCC won the toss and elected to field. ECC openers, Bhaskar (16) and Kumar (11), gave steady start to ECC innings and were scoring at 6 RPO at the end of 5 overs after some tight bowling. BHCC hit back by dismissing both the openers in quick succession in the 6th over. George and Kiran then steadied the ship and were going at a good click reaching 67/2 at the end of 10. They upped the ante right after the break but lost George (23) and Venkat (5) to some tight bowling from Madhusudhan. After consolidating for a couple of overs, Kiran (70* of 44 balls) and Avinash (34* of 14 balls) went on a relentless onslaught and plundered 57 of the last 4 overs, taking ECC to 165/4 at the end of 20 overs. Kiran’s innings was a treat to watch. Madhusudhan was the pick of BHCC bowlers (4-1-20-2). Chasing a big total of 165, BHCC started well and was ahead of the required rate at the end of 7th over by scoring 59 without losing a wicket. A tight spell from

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Winners ECC with Chief Guest Jannisar Khan.

Runners up BHCC with Chief Guest Jannisar Khan.

Sankar (4-0-24-2), who removed both the openers Mithilesh(23) and Hirak(44) in quick successive overs, restored the balance of the game. At the break, BHCC was at

76/2. BHCC batsmen, Paul (38) and Sandip (22) continued keeping up with the required run rate. The required run rate started climbing steadily. ECC’s strike bowlers

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came back with BHCC needing 39 off the last 4 overs. A 2 wicket 4 run 17th over from Mani(4-0-202), broke the back of the huge run chase. BHCC lost few more wickets trying to get to the target but finished at 154/7. At the end ECC

won by 11 runs. The game was followed by wellorganized presentation ceremony hosted and facilitated by Jagadish Biradar of TCC. Sumptuous refreshments were served to the teams and visitors. The event was honored by Chief guest, Mr. Jannisar Khan, current US National team player. He is also an active contributor the growth of youth cricket in Houston which is emerging as the hub of Youth cricket in the USA. Sankar Tangirala, captain of ECC was presented the championship trophy and Sandip Patil, captain of BHCC was presented the runners up trophy. Kiran Muppala of ECC was awarded the Man of the Match for his dazzling all round performance of 70*(44), a spell of 4-0-29-0 with 2 catches and a brilliant run-out. Tournament awards were also presented during the presentation ceremony. George from ECC was awarded the MVP of the TCC taped ball Winter 2019 tournament. Aveg Kadian from Grady CC was the best batsman with 280 runs, Girish Mopuru of HCCC was the best bowlers for his 16 wickets. Aveg Kadian from Grady CC was the best allrounder with 280 runs and 9 wickets, Gautam Mehra from BBCC was the best wicketkeeper with 21 catches and 1 stumping. Pavandeep Singh from CJCC and Bhargav Patel from Gladiators got a special award for their hattricks. Ranil Abeysekera from SLCC and Aveg Kadian from Grady CC got a special award for centuries.

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Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY

Editorial Kambala vs. 100-m Dash

Unverified claims of the Srinivas Gowda, the buffalo jockey from southern Karnataka, running 100 m out of a total of 145 m in 9.55 seconds in Kambala, set into motion an absurd chain of events. Personalities like Anand Mahindra and Shashi Tharoor offered fulsome praise on social media. Sports minister Kiren Rijiju even tweeted: “I’ll call Karnataka’s Srinivasa Gowda for trials by top SAI Coaches… I’ll ensure that no talent in India is left out untested.” However, denying the man individual autonomy on something as important as his career, is very problematic. Was he asked, before dispatching train tickets to him and summoning him to SAI Bengaluru, if he wanted to dip his toes (or heels) into a sporting event which has yielded no financial dividends for 100-metre national champions all these years? He may have wanted to simply continue in kambala races (buffalo races) for which he has trained at an academy since 2011 — and where he makes about Rs 5-7 lakh every season. Did the minister consider inviting him to the many tracks in Mangalore or the excellent Alva’s Sports College, Moodbidri, before pouncing on comparisons with Bolt and setting him up for a gimmicky spectacle? That he is 28 — old by sporting standards — when he is being drafted into the sport, shows this as being nothing more than a headline-grabbing move. The narrative has a nice ring of “doing something for sport” to it. But the comparisons between Gowda and Bolt are unfair to both. In fact, picking his 100m time randomly from a 145m run — where the rolling start to Gowda’s 100m ignores Bolt’s (or any sprinter’s) significant challenge of speeding up from the 0 kph start — is disingenuous. No one runs in slush in formal track events — nor do they run barefoot, which changes the dynamic. The suggestion that this is a novel way of scouting talent is deceitful and insulting to the hundreds of nameless coaches spread across SAI’s centres, who haven’t exactly been sitting and twiddling their thumbs for all these years. The assumption that India is teeming with athletic talent numbering millions, and that it only needs a keen eye to spot such talent, is humbug. That thousands of medals haven’t happened because of official apathy and bureaucracy is a comforting lie. Blazing ignorance about sports leads to assumptions like kids in dance shows can lead to the next gymnastics talent, or that the country needs to embark on a mammoth rural exploration to discover the toiling farmer’s children whose bodies lend themselves to hardy sport. The truth is: India’s top athletes in physically demanding sports have always come from rural regions. No kid from an affluent background grows up dreaming about cracking the 100m sport for a railways or a services job. Jamaica does two things that helps it produce an assembly line of sprinters: Its famous Champs meet where 30,000 spectators turn up to watch inter-school races. And, a health initiative going back to the 1920s which insists on hygiene, clean water and faecal/mosquito control as well as nutrition for kids to raise the quality of bodies on the island. Generations of training and conditioning later, Jamaica had Bolt: It’s not as visually appealing as two gloriously dressed up buffaloes pulling a chiselled man sliding his heels on slush. It’s rather boring, in fact. But India needs to start respecting the fundamentals in sport. That starts with asking a man if he’s interested before anointing him as the one to go chasing after Bolt’s shadow. -- Indian Express

March 13, 2020

Balance between Capitalism & Socialism

By Pratap Bhanu Mehta Democracy and capitalism have, for good or for ill, often been closely aligned. But this moment in global politics is characterized by the intensification of the tension between the two. This tension provides the new ideological faultline in many contexts. Democracy, as Karl Polanyi argued, had as one its functions, the “self-protection” of society against what he called the “satanic mills” of capitalism. This protection had to take place on a number of dimensions. First, there had to be a modicum of social justice, as evidenced in the share between labor and capital, for the system to have any legitimacy. In practice, this social justice was achieved through the welfare state, which by ensuring basic goods at least maintained the fig leaf of equality of opportunity. The second was to ensure that the political process was not entirely beholden to monied interests to the point that it could not claim independent legitimacy. Politics could serve as an independent source of legitimacy, only if it was not entirely subservient to the logic of market interests. Governments may rise or fall with economic performance. But the resilience of democratic authority requires that its fate not be entirely tied to economic outcomes. Third, the self-protection had to ensure that the commodification of social life did not acquire the dimensions where it would lead to a loss of meaning. It also required ensuring that nature of capitalist accumulation was not self undermining. In the case of the environment for instance, it did not lead to outcomes, where capitalism’s own promises of a better life were undermined by a degradation of the environment. Fourth, the state ensured personal liberty as a sign of respect for and trust in the autonomy of persons, as expressed in rule of law. And finally, while economic efficiency promised the satisfaction of private wants and needs, it needed to be supplemented by some account of a common project, a community of fate that tied citizens together in more than just a

relationship of convenience. Democracy would allow capitalism to flourish, only if it could be seen to be performing these functions of protecting society to some degree. It could be argued that at this point in many countries across the world, the “Left-Right” dimension does not quite capture what is at stake in contemporary politics. What is at stake is not just equality of distribution, but the relationship between democracy and capitalism. If you look at the emerging ideological landscape, the issue is not so much between socialists and capitalists. The issue is between those who think that capitalism is the problem, and those who think democracy is the problem. In some ways, a potential contest between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump will turn out to be a more interesting contest because it is the one contest that makes these stakes totally clear. Personality and competence issues apart, the Bloomberg-Trump contest, would be ideologically not a contest at all. Whether the heirs to “ClintonObama” centrism are more electorally attractive can be debated. But they are seen to fudge the democracy question. It is true that there is a good deal of the condescension of posterity in how we assess Clinton-Obama-Blair centrism. The condescension underestimates the complexity of electoral politics and the contextual virtue of institutional moderation. But analytically, the critique of that centrism is that it saved capitalism (and some of its plutocracies and associated imperialism) more than it saved democratic enfranchisement; and by not pushing harder on the social protection functions of democracy, it paved the way for disenchantment with it. What may attract the young to Sanders is not equality per se, but restoring the romance of agency; the idea that democracy does not give itself over to a fatality where its protec-

tive functions are undermined. That this is a contest on the balance between democracy and capitalism is obscured by two things. First, all parties still work within the frame of electoral contestation and within this frame, contingency matters a lot. Particular leaders may matter, for example. That frame for all its corruptions, seems to have enough legitimacy to appear to be the final arbiter. Second, the Right substitutes, the language of democracy with its close cousin, the language of the people. This is why the question of the internal diversity within parties like the Republican Party has become relatively irrelevant. Moderation made sense when the contest was largely on one dimension — a little more or a little less distribution. But once you have grasped the thought that the pushback against a self-undermining capitalism will come from democracy itself, then there is relatively little resistance to standing behind any form of executive power that will contain that democracy. Right-wing parties hang together not just because they have that ultimate form of identity politics — nationalism — to bind them together. They hang together because their raison d’etre is now to ensure that society does not pushback against capital. They can have success in this endeavour, but only at the risk of making society off balance in ways Polanyi had suggested. With an environmental crisis looming the costs of capital democracy relations being off balance are even higher. So the contest in the US, but elsewhere as well, is less over socialism versus capitalism. It is whether there is too much democracy or too much capitalism, and where the balance between the two lies. -- Indian Express

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

Indo-American News • Friday, March 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

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March 13, 2020

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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes

Nothing beats the morning brunch than a plate of hot puris (fried puffed bread) and either channe (chickpeas) or turri aloo (curried smashed potatoes)! So here is a reprint of Mama’s Puri recipe which is a favorite of kids and grown-ups alike. It is reprinted with some additional information and directions

Puri (Deep Fried Puff Bread)) There is one type of fried bread that elicits great excitement because it is a cross between an appetizer and a meal, but can be eaten as either. You could call it a snack, but puris (deep fried puff bread) can be eaten for breakfast (with aloo sabzi), lunch (with kale channe), dinner (with different sabzis) and even dessert (with halva). Puris are those wonderfully light, golden brown puffed, usually fourinch round pieces of fried bread that, if you aren’t careful, you can eat a dozen of in one sitting when they come hot off the frying kadai (wok). The word puri derives from the Sanskrit word purika from pur or filled. Puris are usually made of atta (wheat flour finely milled), but some make them using maida (refined and bleached white flour) and atta mix. The dough is a little harder than the one made for regular rotis (flat bread). While frying puris, the moisture in the dough expands in all directions so that it puffs up like a round ball. A punctured puri does not puff because the steam escapes as it cooks. Some people put a little oil in the dough as they believe it will make the puri crispy but that in fact, it makes the puris hard after they have cooled down. Punjabi usually eat puris with kale chole (black chickpeas), but these are not to be confused with the larger and softer bhature (deep fried soft bread) which is similar but bigger and also eaten the same way. Most often puris are eaten for breakfast or as a part of a ceremonial religious ritual. Uneaten puris can be kept wrapped in aluminum foil for 4 or 5 days and they will not go bad. If they are hard then warm them up in the microwave, and they become soft again. Ingredients: • 250 gm atta (wheat flour) • 1 measure of pani (water) to make the dough soft • Vegetable oil to fry in Directions: 1. Slowly add water to the flour and knead the dough till it has is semisoft.

high until you are done with cooking. 8. Serve hot with the chole, aalo sabzi or halva with your favorite garnishes

with a light cloth and place it aside for 30 minutes to let it ferment a little.

place them on paper towels on an inclined plate to soak up and drain the excess oil. Keep the heat on

3. Grease your palms with some oil so that the dough won’t stick and then break the dough into several 1-inch pieces. Roll them into balls and set aside.

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.

4. In a kadai (deep skillet or wok), heat the oil up till it is very hot. 5. Roll the dough with a valan (rolling pin) till you form a 4-inch round patty. Roll all the patties out and keep to the side for frying. 6. Carefully slide the patty into the hot oil and then see if the patty starts to puff up and then turn slightly brown. 7. Repeat the steps and cook all the dough. As the puris come out,

MAMA’S TIP O F THE

WEE

K HOW TO CHOOSE FRESH VEGETAB LES

Shopping for fresh ve you are not experie getables can often be a confusin g ta nced in picking th these are the seed e right ones, espe sk if cially if variety. If you ha pp have too many se eds then you will en to select the ones that waste a lot of the since the ripe seed vegetable s will have to be re moved. For kerelas (bitter go kheera (cucumbers urd), bhindi (okra), ghia (bottle squash), ) and baingan (egg beans) choose piec pl es that are not too ant), france bean (green fat (which means too many

2. Put the dough in a bowl, cover it

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713-789-6397 Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

ENTERTAINMENT

March 13, 2020

Kathak Beats Recital “Udaan 2020”: A Delightful Kathak Extravaganza

Houston : Dance is an ultimate expression of Joy and Happiness and it becomes memorable for the performers when their hard work is well appreciated by a full house. The date of 22nd Feb 2020 (02/22/2020) will remain etched in the memory of more than 60 plus students of Kathak Beats who took to the stage and were applauded for successfully completing their performances in Kathak Beats’ Annual Dance Recital – Udaan 2020. This was a sold-out event, as more than 300 plus attendees filled the auditorium to its capacity. Kathak Beats is a brainchild of Dr. Manjusha Jadhav, who has been a strong follower, choreographer and proponent of authentic Kathak dance form since her early age. Dr. Manjusha saw that there

was a void in Houston of an institute that offered authentic Kathak dance education with a structured training program wherein dancers could get a globally recognized Kathak dance certification from the best institute in India. She thus started Kathak Beats with a sole aim to provide pure Kathak education and a certification to its students, from India’s oldest and most renowned institute “ Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya “ , with a motto of making them excel in “Grace, Perfection and Rhythm”. No wonder, her following has grown quickly to multiple branches in Sugar Land, Aliana and Katy. She believes that dance instills commitment and hard work and helps promote cultural values at a young age.

Angrezi Medium: Irrfan Returns Champak Bansal (Khan), owner of a famous mithai-shop in Udaipur, has been confused all his life. This, or that? Now or later? But there’s never been any confusion when it comes to his daughter Tarika aka Taru (Madan): what she wants, she will get. Taru’s wish to go to the UK (Truford University standing in for the world-famous red brick institution) is Champak’s command. Using that as a peg, Angrezi Medium, which comes three years after Hindi Medium, goes about picking several thematic points: the love of family which subsumes all else, the very special bond between fathers and daughters, and, of course, how knowing English is a passport to better prospects. In Hindi Medium, the physical journey essayed by the protagonists was much shorter, from traditional Old Delhi to swanky South Delhi. In this sequel, the distance is longer, from Udaipur to London, but the learnings, in spirit, are more or less similar. Family values, and blood ties, trump all else, even if it comes to realising a longcherished dream of leading a free life in a shiny city in the West. And is freedom everything it is cracked up to be? This ‘pariaarivarik film’ spells out the answer, underlining it for all its worth. Taru is accompanied by protective papa Champak and uncle

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Gopi (Dobriyal, as good as he has been before) as she steps into a new world, there to encounter a whole bunch of new characters: Kareena Kapoor as a cop, Dimple Kapadia as a stroppy elderly lady who offers rooms on rent, Ranvir Shorey as a good-hearted conman, Pankaj Tripathi as a dodgy travel agent who has a sideline in fake passports. The chief problem is a laboured plot, meandering about trying to hoover up too many things at the same time. Fortunately for us, the post-interval part takes some of the attention away from the KhanMadan to-dos, and spreads it amongst the others. The film sets up a beat when Kapoor and Kapadia show up, showing how strong, unadorned female characters who are characters first, make things worthwhile. You wish these two, and the very excellent Shome, had more screen time, but they get lost in the muddle, which keeps getting more and more contrived and unbelievable as it goes along.

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Indo-American News • Friday, March 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

March 13, 2020 India Off the Beaten Track

Nalanda – Knowledge for the Ancients

Nalanda: a great hall and temple.

By Shashishekhar Gavai Patna airport evokes nostalgia. It reminds me of airports in tier II cities 30 years ago or more with all their squalor and chaos. This airport would make a good set for a retro Bollywood film, I think. There is also a rather ominous government notice, prominently displayed, warning incoming passengers about the dire consequences of bringing alcohol into the strictly ‘dry’ state of Bihar. As I am being driven to my destination, I quiz Mukesh, the driver, on how prohibition works in his state. He laughs telling me that there is no problem at all getting hold of the stuff, it’s just more expensive than before. Liquor is lucrative business now for gangs and entrepreneurial individuals, who smuggle it in from neighboring states. The constabulary is of course in cahoots. If the cops catch you bringing in a consignment they keep half and release the rest, in the true spirit (pun unintended ) of live and let live. But woe betide the poor if caught trying to drown the sorrows of their miserable lives in a glass of spirits – they are marched off to prison . There are as many as 200,000 such cases pending in courts and several thousand imbibers languish in jail awaiting bail. And this is only one aspect of the problem – the desperately poor state can ill afford to lose the considerable revenues, so vital for development, that would have accrued from taxes on liquor had it not embarked on the quixotic quest for the impossible. As I reach the town of Gaya, the traffic comes to a standstill – and then starts moving at snail’s pace. 30 minutes is what it takes to cover a distance of about 300 metres to reach a tri-junction where all modes of transportation try to hustle their way through utter chaos without much success, while the air is dead with diesel fumes and alive with the cacophony of horns. My attention is drawn to the street corner where stand a group of four or five traffic cops seemingly oblivious of the mayhem around

Museum: Buddha statue

them. A couple of them have ears clamped to mobile phones while the others nonchalantly ruminate on paan. And behind them is a police post where a custodian of the law sits at a desk wearing slippers, khaki uniform trousers and a dirty vest. None of the public caught in the traffic jam ask these worthies to do their duty. Nor do I! After all, I am only an outsider. One of India’s better performing chief ministers has been quoted as saying that Indians are a first class people with third class governance. But can first class people absolve themselves of the responsibility for the third class governance they are subjected to if they do not rise against it? Incidentally, that Gaya tri-junction was the only place where I saw police presence during my travel in Bihar over a couple of days. The Force is perhaps fully occupied with enforcing prohibition at the borders and other disreputable places. But I have digressed enough! I have reached Rajgir about 90 km south of Patna. It has a few mediocre hotels and I have checked into one of them – Diamond Inn. Any diamond-like qualities that it may possess elude me, except perhaps the hardness of the bed. Rajgir is a nondescript town which belies its glorious past – Rajgriha of ancient India was a major centre of religion, political power and learning. Mahavir, the founder of Jainism, spent several years here and the vicinity is home to many Jain monuments and holy places, including Pavapuri. Buddha too preached here and his first royal disciple was King Bimbisara of Magadha, whose capital was Rajgriha. The king was deposed by his son Ajatashatru and imprisoned. I visit the site of the royal jail, the only indicator of which is a recently constructed wall which marks its borders. It is said that Buddha frequently walked up the hill, which is visible from the prison site, to preach to his disciples while Bimbisara would pay homage from a distance from his place of confinement. Given its as-

sociation with Buddha, Rajgir also has many Buddhist monuments in close proximity. The First Buddhist Council was held in the Sattapani caves around 400 BCE following the death of Buddha. There is also the Stupa said to have been built by Emperor Ashok in the 3rd century BCE. A short drive from Rajgir is Nalanda, site of the eponymous university. Nalanda and the considerably older Taxila near today’s Islamabad were the Oxbridge of ancient India. It’s raining as I enter the UNESCO World Heritage site. There are just about a dozen other visitors. Nalanda Mahavihara was established in the 5th century by Emperor Kumaragupta of the Gupta dynasty as a Buddhist centre of learning. Though Hindus themselves, the Guptas also supported the Buddhist and Jain religions. Nalanda, like Oxford which came into being more than 500 years later, was primarily a university of religion, but also taught subjects like grammar, classical literature, logic, astronomy, medicine and Samkhya, a rationalist school of Indian philosophy. The famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang, who visited Nalanda twice and spent some years here in the 7th century during the reign of Emperor Harshavardhan, has left detailed accounts of the university. Xuanzang describes a brick wall enclosing the complex, within which are located a great college and eight other halls of learning. According to him, Nalanda had 1,500 teachers on its rolls (the number of students would correspondingly have run into thousands) Nalanda’s reputation as a great centre of learning transcended the borders of India. Student-monks and scholars came from China, Korea and Sri Lanka. The Sri Vijaya empire of Indonesia built its own monastery here. Nalanda’s library was said to have a million manuscripts. The original structures of the Gupta period were later overlaid by new construction by the Pala empire from the 9th century, but some portions

uncovered during excavations undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India since the 19th century can still be seen. These excavations have unearthed 11 monasteries and 6 temples on a 30-acre site. The university during its existence, however, occupied much larger ground, which lies under the town and so further excavations may not be possible. I walk around the hallowed grounds of this ancient temple of learning, immersing myself in its magic and imagining saffron-clad monks hurrying to their classes 1500 years ago. My guide then brings me back to present times, telling me about a Bollywood hit song that was shot here. I recall the film from my college days with the Evergreen Hero wooing the Dream Girl on the walls of Nalanda. I conclude the tour with a visit to the museum which has interesting artefacts recovered from the ruins of Nalanda. Nalanda went into gradual decline in the post Gupta period. The Pala kings from the 9th century tried to restore its eminence but only with limited success. So they established another university at Vikramshila, about 250 km east from Nalanda, which also became an institution of excellence. And then catastrophe struck in the form of Bakhtiyar Khalji. A general formerly in the service of Kutb ud din

Aibak of the first Slave dynasty in Delhi, Khalji had carved an independent principality for himself in Bihar and Bengal by the end of the 12th century. Around then, he attacked Nalanda and destroyed as much of it as he could. The faculty and students were massacred and the library with its precious manuscripts was burnt down. The fire continued to smoulder for three months, it is said. A centuries old beacon of knowledge and learning had been extinguished. The university at Vikramshila also suffered the same fate at the hands of Khalji. Not far from the ruins of the ancient university an effort is being made to resurrect it. Nalanda International University was established by an act of the Indian Parliament in 2006 as a research oriented institution. It started functioning in 2014. It’s new campus is expected to be ready soon. I am back at Patna airport with its crumbling infrastructure and stifling spaces. As I eagerly await the boarding call, I review my recent travel in Bihar. It was here in the space occupied by modern Bihar that two great religions were born. This was also the ‘karmabhoomi’ of their two great founders Buddha and Mahavir, who preached from here their message of compassion and nonviolence. This land was the centre of two of India’s greatest empires under outstanding rulers – Ashok of the Mauryas, whose vision was centuries ahead of his times and the Guptas, who gave India its golden age. It was here that two of the greatest centres of learning that the ancient world has known were established and continued to impart knowledge for centuries. And so Bihar’s evolution to its present state is truly one of the great ironies of history -- indeed its tragedy. A retired Indian Foreign Service Officer, Shashishekhar Gavai’s career has included serving as the Consul General of India in Houston and India’s High Commissioner for Canada. For a full version of this and other travelogs, visit indiaoffthebeatentrack.home.blog.

Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

ENTERTAINMENT

March 13, 2020

Indo American Association Inaugural with “Hum Safar” By Purav Patel

Houston: The Indo American Association (IAA) Houston, inaugurated its 2020 Season to a packed audience with the play “Hum Safar” starring India’s top theatre artists Harsh Chhaya and Lubna Salim, on Friday February 21, at Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center. “Hum Safar”, written by eminent Hindi and Urdu playwright Javed Siddiqui, is a sensitive tale of a couple who have drifted apart and divorced after 15 years of marriage. But their lives are still intrinsically entwined and despite being at loggerheads, they cannot deny the fact that they are soulmates. The poignant play about bonds of love, family ties and relationships that bind, was brilliantly enacted by stage veterans Lubna Salim as Sonal and Harsh Chhaya as Sameer. The highlight of the play included poems of veteran poet Gulzar, recited in his own voice and interspersed between scenes. IAA’s Executive Director, Ms. Sheetal Bedi warmly welcomed the audience and acknowledged the hard work of an all-voluntary board and devoted volunteers. In keeping with the theme and valentines, attendees were welcomed with pretty bags of Hershey’s chocolate kisses.

“Hum Safar” was written by eminent Hindi and Urdu playwright Javed Siddiqui.

The event was a great introduction to IAA’s warm welcome, professionalism and line up of performances for the rest of 2020! Houston audiences, you are in for

a treat. Founded in 1993 IAA, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which promotes cultural arts of the Indian subcontinent. IAA, has

been recognized as being one of the first Indian arts organizations in Houston and is considered an equal amongst mainstream nonprofit organizations. It has present-

ed spectacular events for the past 27 years to Houston audiences. The 2020 season line up features 10 more exciting shows. Contact 832.315.6586 or visit www.iaahouston.com for more information and become a season subscriber. Upcoming shows include: Masala Jazz, March 27: A double-bill concert with the legendary Garaj Mahal Band with leading Indian artists. Fareed Haque (Guitar), Kal Eckhardt (Bass), Oz Ezzeldin (Keys), and Hassan Hurd (Drums) join top notch Hindustani Classical performers from Indrajit Banerjee (Sitar), Gouri Sankar (Tabla), Indradeep Ghosh (Violin), and Brajeswar Mukherjee (Vocal) to bring a world-class production (”MASALA JAZZ”), a fusion of Eastern and Western traditions. SAKHI: A tapestry of love and friendship through dance and music, April 11: Critically acclaimed Bharatanatyam Dancer / Choreographer / Teacher Malini Srinivasan and the talented artsists of the Brooklyn Raga Massive collective NYC, present an unforgettable evening of dance and music. Solo dancer Malini, accompanied by outstanding artists Arun Ramamurthy (Violin) Jay Gandhi (Bansuri), Bala Skandan (Mridangam), Umesh Venkatesan (Nattuvangam), Samyukta Ranganathan (Vocal), and Gourisankar (Tabla) will explore the many colors of love and devotion.

SIA Kicks Off Inaugral Season with Family of Persussionists

Dr Hari Dayal welcomed guests to SIA’s inaugral first concert By Jawahar Malhotra

HOUSTON: If you love the

sounds of percussion – those musical tones that are created from wind, drum and shaken instruments – you understand how mellow they can be, and the richness of the tones that they produce. A master of Karnatic percussion music, 78 year-old Vikku Vinayakram brought his ensemble to town this past Saturday, March 6 and shared the “taals” and “dums” that resonated in the intimate setting of the

Three Generations of The World of Percussion featured grandfather Vikku Vinayakram, son V. Selvaganesh and grandson S. Selvaganesh at a concert at MATCH in the Midtown area on Friday, March 6. Midtown Arts & Theater Center on Main street. The recital was organized and presented by the Society for Indoamerican Arts and the Bjatatiya Kala Manram and was the inaugural event for the new SIA, founded by Dr. Hari Dayal, formerly with the Indo American Association. Dayal spoke about how he had co-founded the IAA 27 years ago and recently left to start this new organization from the sheer love of Indian arts that he wants to share

in the Bayou City. SIA intends to bring seven more events in this season, which will end in November. The next evet is the Ghazal ka Filmi Safar featuring singer Radhika Chopra on March 14. Vikku Vanayakaram plays the ghatam (a magda or round gourd) and is a Grammy Award-winning artist for his 1991 CD “Planet Drum”. He has received the Padma Shri from the Government of India in 2002 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2012,

followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2014. He tours with his son V. Salvaganesh (playing the hybrid drums) and his grandson Swaminathan (on the kanjira, a small tambourine without cymbals) and they were accompanied by two other musicians. The results of the first three sets were mesmerizing and spellbinding in the speed and strength with which they played their instruments, blurring all hand movements. Starting with “Shivatabn-

dem” they moved into “Guru Vandanam” a modern piece called “71/2” based on the beats dived by two, in which the audience was asked to participate by clapping to a beat and then shouting “dum”. Each set ended with a crescendo with all musicians pounding energetically on their instruments. The ensemble’s performance lasted for two hours, during which each of the five musicians played solo pieces showing their mastery of their instruments.

Indo-American News • Friday, March 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com

March 13, 2020

Indo-American News • Friday, MARCH 13, 2020 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com