Friday, April 24, 2020 | Vol. 39, No. 17
Indo American News
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April 24, 2020
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Published weekly from Houston, TX
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Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News
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Sikhs in Afghanistan
Facing Up to Covid-19
P5 “Mrs Serial Killer”
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At great political risk, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issues a mandatory face-mask order with fine up to $1000.
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COMMUNITY
Harris County: Mandatory Face Masks
H ouston : Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo officially announced that she will require county residents to wear masks or face-covering in public in a joint news conference with Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday. New mask order Hidalgo said she would be signing an order requiring people to wear some form of face-covering that will go into effect Monday and remain in effect for 30 days. According to Hidalgo, she is putting the order in place to help keep people safe as officials work to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner sets an example by wearing a face mask reopen the county, but during his daily Coronavirus updates. masks are not a replacement for social distancing. scarf, a handkerchief or anything else so a fine had to be put in place. “If we get cocky or “This is about personal sloppy, we get right back to where we that can be used to cover your nose and mouth. responsibility,” Hidalgo said. “This started and all the sacrifices that we Why is it going into effect is not a recommendation it is a have been making will be in vain,” Monday and not immediately? requirement, that is why we wanted Hidalgo said. Hidalgo said she wanted to make to make it enforceable.” Hidalgo said the latest research it effective Monday so people have There will be no orders mandating says that even people who are not symptomatic can be carrying time to get or make a mask. However, people wear masks in Galveston the virus. Face masks protect the she asked who already has a mask County, according to County Judge community from that transmission. to please wear it. Don’t wait until Mark Henry. Citing “individual liberty and Here is what to know about the Monday. “I know this takes some getting freedom,” Henry said in a Facebook order: Who is required to wear a used to, but these are small but post Wednesday that he believes such powerful actions ...we have made too orders are unconstitutional. mask? His remarks came after news Anyone 10 years or older should much progress to backtrack now,” surfaced that Judge Lina Hidalgo, wear a face covering that covers his Hidalgo said. Mask distribution in neighboring Harris County, is or her nose and mouth. Hidalgo said According to Turner, he wants the expected to issue an order that will she encourages parents to try and get city to get to the point where it can require all residents to wear a mask or their kids to wear a face-covering but understands sometimes that may not have masks or coverings to distribute face covering when out in public . to those who need it. Turner said he “It’s important now more than ever be feasible. will be announcing a plan to distribute that we stress personal responsibility,” When is the order applicable? 70,000 masks to the vulnerable Henry wrote in the Facebook post. This order is applicable when you Henry said he encourages all are in public or when you are with community on Thursday. The people who do not live with you, distribution from City Hall will take residentstoobserverecommendations place at some point after Thursday’s by national and local health according to Hidalgo. announcement. authorities, which call for people What if I can’t wear a mask? Dr. David Persse, with the Houston to wear face coverings when out in Hidalgo said the order will make exceptions for people with health or Health Department, said that having public. However, he will stop short mental health conditions who have facial coverings or masks for people of mandating them. who are not ill is incredibly important. “Just as critical as getting our difficulties wearing facial covers. A r e t h e r e a n y o t h e r The mayor and other entities will economy back up and running, it is be distributing masks, but Persse important that elected officials uphold exceptions? Other exceptions will also include urged people to help their neighbors their oaths to defend the Constitution people who are driving, eating or who may not be able to go out and and ensure individual freedoms get a mask. remain in tact during and after this exercising alone. Associated fine pandemic,” Henry wrote. What if I don’t have a mask? Hidalgo said there is a $1,000 Henry said he looks forward to Hidalgo said she is not asking fine associated with the order. She guidance from Texas Gov. Greg people to wear a medical mask. She said everyone has materials at home believes law enforcement will use Abbott on the next steps to take to that can be used to make a mask, for their discretion but she wanted to reopen the county. -- Click2Houston, example, bandana, an old t-shirt, a make the order enforceable by law, Houston Chronicle
April 24, 2020
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Doctor Receives ‘Drive of Honor’ for Treating Coronavirus Patients
New York: An Indian-origin doctor, who is treating Covid-19 patients, received the ‘Drive of Honour’ as part of her efforts to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic. Mysuru-based doctor, Dr Uma Rani Madhusudana, who is currently working at the South Windsor Hospital in Connecticut, USA, received the honour in appreciation for her services rendered for treating Covid-19 patients in America. Various Karnataka ministers, including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, congratulated her efforts of treating coronavirus patients. The video of Uma was honoured by her patients who had recovered from Covid-19 and went viral on social media. Karnataka medical education minister, Dr K Sudhakar tweeted the video and said, “As I head to Mysuru, happy to share a video of Uma Madhusudhan, Mysuru origin Doctor in US being honoured in front of her house by grateful patients. It’s a beautiful sight of cars, police vehicles, fire trucks lining
up in gratitude, waving & honking to say Thank you Dr Uma!.” In the video, several police vehicles, fire engines and private vehicles conducted a drive-by parade in front of her house with sirens and honks blowing. A convoy of vehicles drove past Dr. Madhusudan’s house stopped by for a few seconds and thanked her with placards. Dr Uma Madhusudan is a 1990 batch graduate from JSS Medical College, a constituent college of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru. Dr H Basavanagowdappa, principal of JSS Medical College, said, “Uma Madhusudan belongs to the 1990 batch of our college. She has made us all proud with her selfless service at South Windsor Hospital, USA. She was also outstanding throughout her stint at college.” Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa also congratulated the doctor on Twitter. “We are also proud of her and congratulate Uma for receiving the honour,” CM said in a tweet. -- Indian Express
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COMMUNITY
April 24, 2020
Hydroxychloroquine Consignment from India Arrives at Newark Airport
within 10 days of hydroxychloroquine treatment along with anti-biotic. It also reported a 96 per cent cure rate after 15 days. Early this week, the National Institute of Health reported that a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of adults hospitalised with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has begun, with the first participants now enrolled in Tennessee. Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat malaria and rheumatoid conditions such as arthritis. In various studies, the drug has demonstrated antiviral activity, an ability to modify the activity of the immune system, and has an established safety profile at appropriate doses, leading to the hypothesis that it may also be useful in the treatment of COVID-19, NIH said. The drug is not without risks as even short-term use can cause cardiac arrythmias, seizures, dermatological reactions, and hypoglycemia, it added. “Many US hospitals are currently using hydroxychloroquine as first-line therapy for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 despite extremely limited clinical data supporting its effectiveness,” said Wesley Self, emergency medicine physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and PETAL Clinical Trials Network investigator leading the ORCHID trial. “Thus, data on hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 are urgently needed to inform clinical practice,” he added. According to NIH, participants will be randomly assigned to receive hydroxychloroquine 400 mg twice daily for two doses (day one), then 200 mg twice daily for the subsequent eight doses (days two to five) or a placebo twice
Fast to Aid Houston Food Bank Clear Lake City: Mohammed Nasrullah, an activist and retired project manager from Clear Lake, has begun a 48-hour fast to raise money for the Houston Food Bank. “When I saw the long lines of cars going to NRG Stadium for food donations, I realized what a dire situation many Houstonians are in right now,” said Nasrullah. “This fast is my symbolic way of sharing the pain those suffering
from hunger feel.” He will fast from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21 till 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 23. He has set up a GoFundMe page where he posts regular updates about his experience. Nasrullah retired from the space program two years ago and has devoted much of his time to activism and volunteering. Donors can go to https://bit.ly/2KmlLaV to support his GoFundMe campaign.
daily for five days. COVID-19 cases were first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. As of Saturday, more than 16 lakh people globally tested positive and more than one lakh have died. The United States has emerged as the hotspot with 20,000 deaths and 5.3 lakh cases.
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Newark: A consignment of hydroxychloroquine from India arrived in the United States on Saturday, days after New Delhi lifted a ban on export of the anti-malaria drug, seen as a possible cure for COVID-19, to the US and some other countries on humanitarian grounds. Earlier this week, India at the request of President Donald Trump cleared the export of 35.82 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine to the US along with nine metric tons of active pharmaceutical ingredient or API required in the manufacturing of the drug. “Supporting our partners in the fight against COVID-19. Consignment of hydroxychloroquine from India arrived at Newark airport today,” India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu tweeted. Trump, during a phone call last week, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift the hold on American order of the anti-malarial drug, of which India is the major producer. India, which manufactures 70 per cent of the world’s supply of hydroxychloroquine, lifted the ban on April 7. Hydroxychloroquine has been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for the COVID-19 and it is being tested on more than 1,500 coronavirus patients in New York. Anticipating that it will work, given initial positive results, Trump has bought more than 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine for potential treatment of COVID-19 patients. The arrival of consignment was welcomed by Americans. “US will never forget this great humanitarian gesture by India. Under President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two largest democracies of the world have come together than ever in the past,” said New York-based Al Mason, a real estate consultant and a Trump supporter. “A wonderful gesture by India to its friends in need,” tweeted Dr Sampat Shivangi. Describing this as a “wonderful gesture”, Steve Filipovic, who works in the construction industry, thanked the Indian Ambassador. Meanwhile, according to a new French study of 1,061 hospitalised COVID-19 patients showed a 91.7 per cent cure (viral shedding)
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SOUTH ASIA
April 24, 2020
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Last Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan Plead for Help from US Government By Ehsanullah Amiri
Kabul: The last community of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan is seeking asylum in the U.S. after suffering an attack by Islamic State extremists, posing a test of the Trump administration’s pledge to protect and support religious minorities world-wide. The Islamic State attack targeting a Sikh temple in Kabul last month killed 25 people, while dozens of others were taken hostage in a six-hour siege ending in a gun battle with Afghanistan’s commandos, the elite army unit that works closely with U.S. Special Forces. There are about 650 Sikhs and Hindus left in Afghanistan. The fear in the community is a reminder of the uncertainty facing the country after the U.S. reached a February deal with the Taliban to withdraw all of its troops next year. “When the U.S. leaves, life for us will become impossible. It’s only a matter of time that all of us will be eliminated. We want refugee status and protection in a U.S. Army base here. We want this soon,” a Sikh community leader who lost three immediate relatives in the attack told The Wall Street Journal. The Trump administration has made religious freedom a focus of its foreign-policy efforts, hosting an annual international conference to advance religious freedom and speaking out on the plights of minorities, such as the Christians in Iraq and the Uighurs in China. Vice President Mike Pence has been the face of the religiousfreedom agenda and helped steer hundreds of millions of dollars to Christians and other minorities threatened by Islamic State in Iraq.
A funeral procession last month for Afghan Sikhs killed in an attack by an Islamic State gunman. Photo: Tamana Sarwary/AP
Sarah Makin, a senior official on Mr. Pence’s staff, is handling the appeal from Sikhs and Hindus at the White House and was sent a video message from their lawyer last week. She didn’t respond to a request for comment. A senior administration official said the Trump administration condemned the attack. “We are aware of the Sikh community’s concerns, which have been expressed to senior U.S. officials, and will continue to advocate for freedom of religion for the Sikh community and people of all faiths,” the official told the Journal. The asylum request by the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus pits the administration’s commitment to lowering immigration against its pledge to help those persecuted for their religious beliefs. In September, it dropped the refugee cap to 18,000, a record low, for the fiscal year 2020. In previous episodes, such as
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in Iraq, the administration has encouraged minorities to rebuild their lives at home rather than seek a new start in the U.S. or elsewhere. Islam is Afghanistan’s official religion, and while the constitution recognizes the freedom to worship in other faiths, minorities in practice often have faced harassment for their beliefs. In 2016, Hindus and Sikhs were granted a seat in parliament. An Afghan presidential spokesman said that the government was aware of the concerns raised by the Hindus and Sikhs and that security forces were doing their best to protect them. “The enemy is very dangerous,” the spokesman said. “The enemy kills others with suicide attacks.” Hindus and Sikhs have lived in
Afghanistan for hundreds of years, playing a prominent role in moneylending and merchant trade with the rest of Central Asia. Most fled during the civil war of the 1990s and the harsh Taliban rule that followed until the U.S. invaded in 2001. The Sikh and Hindu population in Afghanistan declined further as the security situation deteriorated during the more than 18-year, U.S.-led war. In 2018, an Islamic State attack killed 19 of its community leaders who were waiting to meet President Ashraf Ghani in the eastern city of Jalalabad. The Sikhs and Hindus that remain are mostly in Kabul and known for operating medicinalherb shops. The top U.S. envoy for religious freedom at the State Department, Samuel Brownback, told the Journal he had recently met with U.S.-based Sikhs to discuss their concerns. He declined to comment on the possibility of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus being granted asylum in the U.S. “It was a tragic event in Kabul,” he said, referring to the attack in March. The Sikh and Hindu community will join a crowded field of émigrés world-wide, at a time when violence and persecution has driven global refugee numbers higher. The State Department expects to process 350,000 new asylum claims this year, joining over a million others awaiting adjudication in the U.S. Rajdeep Jolly, a U.S. lawyer representing the Afghan community in Washington, said the immi-
nent threat of another attack was grounds to expedite their claims and resettle them in the current year. He said that recent U.S. calls on the Afghan government to provide better security for its religious minorities wasn’t a viable solution. “There’s a thin line between killing people and letting them die,” he said. Immigration flows into the U.S. are grinding to a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic. Most routine visa processing has been suspended and the U.S. is no longer accepting any asylum requests at its southern border. The situation in Afghanistan has grown especially precarious since the U.S.-Taliban peace deal. The U.S. has agreed to withdraw all of its troops within 14 months in return for guarantees the country will no longer be used as a safe haven for terrorists seeking to attack the West. An ongoing political crisis in Kabul over the outcome of a disputed presidential election has resulted in both President Ghani and his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, declaring victory and holding parallel inaugurations last month. Since then, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered a $1 billion cut in aid to Afghanistan over the government’s failure to overcome the differences and begin talks with the Taliban. The pressure appeared to precipitate an agreement between Mr. Ghani and Mr. Abdullah to begin talks with the insurgent group, but the Taliban broke off the process after a week. -- Wall Street Journal
Support for North America from Indian Industries New Delhi: Indian industry has investments and operations across a wide spectrum of sectors in both the US and Canada. However, Indian companies are not only adding value to the North American economy, they also invest in their local communities as well. With the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Indian industry has taken the initiative and made special efforts to support Government and their neighbours in bolstering their local economies, communities, and education and health systems. While nearly all “non-essential” businesses have implemented
work-from-home policies, many essential businesses, such as those in the foods packaging industry, have adapted their operations with extra precautions and protocols to
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better support their communities. Automotive and other manufacturing facilities are collaborating with local governments to procure “essential business” certification, so they can adapt, redesign and manufacture essentials items such as Personal Protective Equipment and hospital infrastructure necessities to help meet the escalating demand. CII is proud to share a compilation of Indian companies’ efforts to support the US and Canada during the COVID-19 crisis, as we work together to ameliorate this historic global crisis.
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COMMUNITY
April 24, 2020
Sewa & South Asian Women Physicians to Work Together vs. Covid-19 By Vidya Tontalapur
Boston: Sewa International, a nonprofit Hindu faith-based disaster relief organization, with 43 chapters spread across the United States, and the South Asian Women Physicians of North America (SAWPNA), a nonprofit organization comprised of working physicians and physician-scientists, which has 5,320 registered members from all parts of United States and Canada, have decided to collaborate to respond vigorously to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two organizations released a joint statement: “We have watched with concern the unprecedented and unpredictable spread of COVID-19, that as of today, April 19, 2020 has infected more than 2.41 million people and killed more than 165,000 people around the world. The rise in infection and deaths has crested in some areas of the world, while it is still climbing in other parts. Much of the world is in some form of a ‘lockdown’, and governments and communities are struggling to put administrative controls in place so that the spread of the virus can be stemmed and that hospitals and doctors are not overwhelmed by the stream of arriving patients and the heavy of load of the sick they have to tend to. Given the nature of this pandemic, and the deep stresses and strains that individuals, communities, cities and states are struggling with, we believe that it is essential, indeed imperative,
that we work together to stem the tide of this pandemic, help those who are afflicted to find medical care, and support those who are in some kind of financial or personal distress. “It is in this context that Sewa International and SAWPNA affirm that the two organizations will collaborate and work together to respond to this pandemic and do as much as we can to alleviate the problems posed by this pandemic. “Sewa International’s 1000+ volunteers over the past six weeks, having set up eight helplines to offer information and resources about travel, health, visas and visa status; delivery of masks to first-responders and those at the frontlines, and delivering food, groceries, and medicines to those who need them; helping seniors in the community with medical advice, and delivering grocery/ meals; helping international students by connecting them to doc-
tors, foreign consulates for helping them with visa and travel updates; assisting stranded students with accommodation needs and food; and providing consultation with doctors and lawyers to those who need them. “Volunteers have also been busy organizing webinars on a variety of health, wellbeing, travel, business, and other related issues; making and delivering masks; raising funds to buy essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and to help those in distress; networking and collaborating with other community organizations to pool resources and organize delivery of services through a singlepoint delivery system; and setting up a national convalescent blood plasma registry, the first such, to help those seeking blood plasma transfusion and to enable those who have recovered from the infection to register to donate their blood plasma.
“Sewa International has raised over $500,000 already and seeks to raise $3.5 million to help facilitate this work over the next few months. “SAWPNA, a unique group that brings together South Asian women physicians and women physician-scientists together, is best positioned to offer important and valid information regarding the nature of the virus, medical response to deal with the virus, and any advances in the research to respond effectively to those who contracted the virus, such as the convalescent blood plasma therapy. SAWPNA will also be able to leverage the information in the plasma registry on a realtime basis and help in connecting donors with recipients through the network of hospitals and laboratories that members of SAWPNA are affiliated with.” In a related development, Sewa4Community – New Jersey, an Indic collective of more than 40 Dharma and Sewa organizations, has raised over $30,000 in donations for various COVID-19 related relief efforts. So far, Sewa4Community has donated $23,000 to various food pantries and soup kitchens in New Jersey. Some of the beneficiaries include Elijah’s Kitchen, North Brunswick High School, food pantries in Monroe, Hightstown, Plainsboro,
Parsippany, Bordentown, Morristown townships and MCFOODS. Around 150 volunteers from the tri-state area are working to sew masks, procure N95 masks and other PPE and connect with medical centers in need. So far, 6500 masks and 85000 gloves have been donated to various hospitals including Lantern Medical Center, Holy Name Medical Center, Jersey Shore Medical Center, Centra State Hospital, UMDNJ, RWJ, and JFK Medical Center. “We need to support the food pantries and medical centers who serve our communities, enabling them to have the necessary resources to meet the rising demand,” said Rajesh Sharma, Central Jersey Coordinator for Sewa International, one of the organizations whose volunteers are involved in mask making. Minal Sapre, Service Coordinator from HSS USA, mentioned that teenage volunteers are doing their part by collecting food to provide meals to EMS/EMT workers in their townships. “This is very impressive that even teenagers have come together to join hands during this pandemic to serve the community,” she said. Due to restrictions and social distancing, the fundraiser was mainly executed through Facebook. People from all walks of life have generously contributed to this cause. Anyone willing to participate in this effort can make their donations here https://www.facebook. com/donate/543555082960402/ .
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April 24, 2020
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“Meenakshi is Our Saviour” - MTS Stays Strong Serving the Devotees By M. K. Sriram
Pearland: “Sri Meenakshi is always with us, she always protects us” - this is the one strong feeling that the devotees of Sri Meenakshi Temple have, that has given them the strength to face great adversities in their lives in the past, now in the present Covid-19 calamity that is engulfing the whole world. MTS took prompt and quick steps to comply with the State and County regulations, for the safety of the devotees as well as the safety of its staff. The temple has been closed for the public. But, it is a matter of great pride that the daily or Nithya pujas as well as pujas specific to the Hindu calendar are being conducted without the slightest interruption. All the pujas are livestreamed giving the devotees to be virtually at the temple and witness the pujas live, or view them later at their convenience. Additionally, it is very remarkable that during the whole month of April, special and powerful homams are conducted and livestreamed every day at 10 AM for the health and welfare of the entire community. The Maha Mrutunjaya Homam is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is also known as Vaidhyanathan (the Lord of Healing and Medicine). This most potent mantra helps to overcome the fear of suffering, sickness and death.
ing worked out to systematically and gradually re-open in a phased manner with utmost emphasis on the safety and health of the people, as and when the governing authorities give the green light.
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713-789-6397 While this homam is conducted on one day, the divine Dhanvantari Homam is conducted the following day. Lord Dhanvantari is an avatar of Maha Vishnu and is considered the God of Ayurveda. According to the Hindu Puranas, He emerged from the milky ocean as it was churned by the Devas and Asuras, with a pot of the Amrita elixir. Kudos to the MTS Chairman Dhani Kannan, the Religious Activities Committee led by Vinod Kaila and the entire Board members for working very well together in organizing these pujas. The priests have been conducting
the daily and special pujas with utmost dedication and bhakti. It is felt by everybody that all these activities significantly contribute to keep us and the entire community and region safe. Devotees are encouraged to sponsor the pujas and homams and obtain the blessings of the deities, while at the same time supporting the temple in these challenging times. The bottom line is that even though the temple is physically closed for the public for now, it is virtually open, welcoming all devotees to attend and participate from their homes. Plans are be-
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April 24, 2020
Jacqueline Fernandez and Manoj Bajpayee’s Netflix Movie “Mrs Serial Killer” on May 1
Mumbai: Jacqueline Fernandez’s Netflix movie Mrs Serial Killer will start streaming on the OTT platform from May 1. The release date was announced by Jacqueline and co-star Manoj Bajpayee in a video released on Wednesday. In the video, the two can be seen interacting via a video call. Post a healthy banter, the premiere date of the movie was shared by Bajpayee. The official synopsis of Mrs Serial Killer reads, “When her husband is framed and imprisoned for a string of shocking murders, how far will a doting wife go to prove his innocence?” The film will mark the second collaboration of Jacqueline Fernandez and Netflix. She was earlier seen in the Netflix film Drive, which also starred Sushant Singh Rajput. Shirish Kunder directorial Mrs Serial Killer is produced by Farah Khan. The movie will also see
Uri actor Mohit Raina in a pivotal role. Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma on Tuesday unveiled the teaser of her upcoming Amazon Prime Video web series. The series will be bankrolled by Anushka’s production house Clean Slate Company.
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The short teaser looks intriguing but doesn’t give away details about the web series. As we see the blood spatter on the screen, a man in a husky voice states, “The countdown has begun. To change the law of the land, the worms have crept in, who will spread terror and shed blood. They will turn the world into a living hell.” he yet-to-be-titled web series stars Gul Panag, Jaideep Ahlawat, Abhishek Banerjee, Bengali actor Swastika Mukherjee and Neeraj Kabi among others. Writer Hardik Mehta said, “It’s a Delhi-based investigation drama. The first season will see the cop handling one case, and in further seasons, the cases will be different like how it’s on shows like True Detective.
ENTERTAINMENT 10 Bollywood Movies on Amazon Mumbai: With the lockdown extended till May 3, there are many who are confused as to what to watch along with their family, something that will hold everyone’s interest, be it the elders or children. So, here we compile a list of feel-good Bollywood movies available on Amazon Prime Video. Chupke Chupke (1975) With impeccable performances by Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Asrani and Om Prakash, the comedy-drama will lighten up a dull day and boost your spirits when you are feeling low. Angoor (1982) A story of identical twins and mistaken identities, based on Shakespeare’s play ‘A Comedy of Errors’, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke (1993) Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla starrer is a perfect family entertainer. Andaz Apna Apna (1994) “Teja main hoon mark idhar hai”, “Crime Master Gogo naam hai mera, aankhen nikal ke gotiyan khelta hun main”, “Main toh kehta hun aap purush hi nahi hain, mahapurush hain mahapurush,” these and other dialogues from the Rajkumar Santoshi directorial has left many rolling with laughter over the years. Hera Pheri (2000) Trust the combo of Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal to provide
you with loads of laughter. The film has gained a cult status over the years and the characters, be it Kabira, Khadak Singh, Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, Raju or Shyam, are remembered for their hilarious sequences in the film. Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Dil Chahta Hai is one of the best bromance films ever made in Bollywood. Farhan Akhtar sketched three most relatable characters in Sid (Akshaye Khanna), Akash (Aamir Khan) and Sameer (Saif Ali Khan). Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) Munna Bhai M.B.B.S introduced movie buffs to a new form of ‘bhaigiri’ Jab We Met (2007) Imtiaz Ali introduced us to the girl-next-door Geet (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and suave Aditya Kashyap (Shahid Kapoor) in Jab We Met. Even today, the film finds a place in the list of movies which can brighten up your dull day. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) If you liked watching the bonding between friends in Dil Chahta Hai, watch Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara too. It is a story of three friends who take a bachelor’s trip to Spain. Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) Ayushmann Khurrana plays a frustrated middle-class husband Prem Prakash Tiwari who marries an overweight Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar) because of family pressure.
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EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Future Shock
April 24, 2020
9
Karuna-0, India-1 By G. Sampath
Fve decades after the oil shock of 1973, when an Arab embargo on the supply of oil to some western powers including the United States sent the price of crude skyrocketing fourfold to $12 a barrel, the global economy faces a fresh shock from a free-fall in oil prices. On Monday, May futures for the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) U.S. crude plunged below zero to touch a historic low of -$40.32 a barrel. A negative price implies that a seller would have to pay the buyer to hold the oil to be supplied. While the unprecedented plunge in the particular futures contract could be partly explained away as a technical anomaly given that the May contract was set to expire on Tuesday, beyond which buyers would need to be ready to take physical delivery, the reality is that oil prices are desperately in search of a bottom. A perfect storm of a supply glut exacerbated in March by a price war that saw key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia ramp up output even as demand continued to contract on account of the COVID-19 outbreak sent prices into a steeper slide. Brent crude futures have tumbled more than 67% in 2020 to about $21 a barrel as of Tuesday afternoon in London trading, while the WTI futures have plunged about 110% to -$5.78. The International Energy Agency observed this month, that the confinement measures instituted worldwide have resulted in a dramatic decline in transportation activity which will erase at least a decade of demand growth. With storage for crude — on land or offshore in supertankers — nearing capacity or becoming prohibitively expensive, oil producers are going to have little option but to curtail output. Saudi Arabia is reported to be considering output cuts even before a 9.7 million barrels per day deal it had struck with Russia to cut production takes effect from May. Still, merely closing the tap a notch or two is not going to redress the oversupply in the market at a time when the ‘Great Lockdown’ has destroyed demand on an unprecedented scale. India has prudently been using the sharp fall in both crude prices and domestic demand to accelerate the build-up of its strategic reserve. While the sliding oil prices would help significantly pare India’s energy import bill, a protracted demand drought would end up hurting the government’s tax revenues severely, especially at a time when it badly needs every additional rupee it can garner. Also, rock-bottom oil prices risk damaging the economies of producer countries including those in West Asia, hurting inward remittances. After the lockdown, the Centre ought to consider using this opportunity to cut retail fuel prices sharply by foregoing some excise revenue for a while in order to tease back momentum into the wider economy.-- The Hindu
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week there is only one shloka constantly vibrating in my head: ‘Go Karuna, Karuna Go; Karuna Go, Go Karuna’. I’ve been playing an EDM remix of this mantra non-stop and at full volume on my 2,000-watt home theatre system. Needless to say, it is working brilliantly. The wall of sound I’ve erected around my house is so strong, so high and so thick that not a single Karuna Virus can break in. I am aware that I’m just one among India’s 130 crore soldiers fighting a historic battle. The fact that the whole world is now looking at India as a shining example of how to beat back the Karuna Virus is a proud moment for the nation. Therefore, my dear fellow Indians, do accept my congratulations for doing a fantastic job of executing Phase I and Phase II of India’s unique strategy against Karuna Virus. Shock of its life In Phase I, by banging pots and pans at high decibels — a WHOapproved torture technique — we not only weakened the Karuna Virus by making it deaf, we also gave it the shock of its life. According to the health ministry website, as a result of the collective pandemonium produced by 130 crore patriots, 56 billion Karuna Viruses in India have so far tested positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is the reason COVID-19 has been spreading more slowly in India than in countries like Italy and Spain. Just put yourself in the virus’s shoes: would you feel like jumping into strangers’ mouths and swimming into their lungs if you were suffering from PTSD? But it is Phase II that truly embodies the genius of India’s strategy against Karuna Virus. We all know how viruses think, how they organise their defences. They are always changing their genes, mutating this way and that way to arm themselves against potential new vaccines. But they were unprepared for the magnificent ambush that India unleashed on April 5.
Pincer movement Devised by our beloved leader, it was a cunning pincer movement that caught the Karuna Virus unawares. First we confused the virus by suddenly turning off all the lights. The Karuna Virus, unable to see, was thenerifying in panic. Then came the second blow from the opposite direction: tiny bursts of pure, disinfected, organic light from candles. First plunged into darkness, then blinded by light, the virus was so disoriented it couldn’t tell its RNA from its elbow. While it was still reeling from this onslaught, thousands of Indians delivered the knockout punch: firecrackers and disco music. As per data released by the Icy Yama, 9 billion Karuna Viruses went insane during the 9-minute blitzkrieg of April 5. More significantly for India, especially from a geo-political perspective, another 12 billion Karunas decided to leave India and go — to Pakistan. As the health ministry has pointed out, “Our strategy is, instead of virus chasing us, we chase the virus”. It is also why this whole obsession with PPEs, testing kits, etc. is misplaced — these are all reactive and defensive measures. They entail responding to the terms set by the virus — playing on its turf, as it were. Thankfully, unlike other countries, India did not fall into this trap. Rather, India’s strategy has been to go on the offensive. To make the virus react to our moves. So, instead of taking action in the realm of public health, we are attacking the virus where it least expects to be attacked – in the spiritual and cosmic realm. The Karuna Virus
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has no defence against the vibrations produced by the ‘Go Karuna Go’ mantra or the photons released by the agni in every diya or the collective willpower of 130 crore Indians. Having pushed the Karuna Virus on the defensive, we now have to deliver one last blow to neutralise the threat once and for all. Yes, I’m talking about Phase III of the battle against the virus. It’s simple: you donate your next 10 months’ salary to PM CARE, a fund set up specifically to enable every Indian to demonstrate how much they care for the PM. In case you are unemployed and therefore unable to donate salary, don’t panic. You can donate one finger a month for 10 months. This collective show of love and loyalty to the PM, modelled on the highly effective practices of the Yakuza — Japan, by the way, has done a terrific job of containing the virus — will inflict lasting psychological damage on the Karuna Virus, incapacitating it permanently. Being the world’s sole spiritual superpower, this is India’s special gift to humanity: a psycho-spiritual vaccine against Karuna Virus. While the conventional vaccine contains physically weakened specimens of the virus being targeted, India’s innovation is to create psychologically and spiritually weakened specimens of the organism. Simply put, this is the beginning of the end for Karuna Virus worldwide. From ‘Karuna Go’, it’s now Karuna-0, India-1. G. Sampath is Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu
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BUSINESS
April 24, 2020
McDonald’s Offers Free “Thank You” Meals for Health Workers, First Responders
New York: In appreciation for the healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics who are committed to our health and safety, McDonald’s will offer free Thank You Meals*, between Wednesday, April 22 and Tuesday, May 5, as a token of appreciation for their selfless service. While the majority of America is staying home, McDonald’s has remained open, with our franchisees and hardworking restaurant employees serving hot meals to communities who need quick and affordable options, especially those on the frontlines such as healthcare workers and first responders. The company is grateful for the ongoing dedication and commitment of McDonald’s employees who enable McDonald’s to stay open to serve our communities during these challenging times. Each Thank You Meal will be available at no charge via drive thru or carry out at participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide through May 5. The Thank You Meal, available during breakfast, lunch or dinner, will feature a choice of sandwiches, drinks, and a side featuring small World Famous Fries or a Hash Brown, along with a note of appreciation. It will be served in McDonald’s iconic Happy Meal box, in the hopes of bringing a smile along with delicious food. “We have been inspired by the way our franchisees have been going above and beyond to support their local communities throughout this trying time,” said Joe Erlinger, President, McDonald’s USA. “I couldn’t be more proud of how our company, franchisees and supplier partners have come together to give back to those who are working tirelessly for our country. That is truly our McDonald’s system at its best.” Day or night, these frontline he-
day feel-good moments with family, friends and neighbors,” said Vicki Chancellor, an Atlanta-based Owner/Operator and chair of McDonald’s Operator’s National Advertising Committee. “And, now during times like this, it’s more important than ever for our restaurants to continue to serve and help the communities that have supported us for so long.” Nearly all McDonald’s U.S. restaurants remain open and are ofroes can simply show their work badge, or be in uniform, to receive one of the below Thank You Meal options: Serving these brave men and women would not be possible without McDonald’s dedicated and unwavering restaurant employees, who are also doing their part to help during this time. McDonald’s employees are the heart of the business, and their health and safety has been, and will continue to be, the company’s top priority. McDonald’s has implemented nearly 50 new safety measures to ensure the well-being of its employees, and is continuing to explore additional safety steps in accordance with guidance issued by local and national health authorities including the CDC. “Emergency physicians and other health care workers on the frontlines are spending hours a day on their feet, often missing meals in their efforts to care for their patients,” said Dr. William Jaquis, President of American College of Emergency Physicians. “McDonald’s Thank You Meal is a much appreciated gesture for those risking their lives each day to take a break with a hot meal amidst the turbulence.” During past times of national crisis, McDonald’s has helped and served communities in need, from donating funds to disaster relief
efforts to providing food for those impacted by natural disasters. McDonald’s commitment to feeding the nation’s healthcare workers and first responders throughout the pandemic is a continuation of that dedication. McDonald’s local franchises have also been working throughout this crisis to support thousands of communities their restaurants call home. “Our restaurants have always been a place for the community to come together and share every-
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fering convenient and contactless ways for customers to enjoy McDonald’s favorites through drive thru, carry out, McDelivery, and mobile order & pay with our app. *Thank You Meals offered at participating US McDonald’s 4/22/20 through 5/5/20. Valid ID required. Limit one per person per day. Menu options may vary by restaurant. Visit McDonalds.com for more details.
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April 24, 2020
11
Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
This has to be the most well-known Punjabi paranhta, and one that several readers have asked to reprint. Among older desis in the US, a hot, crispy Aaloo da Parantha is a comfort food that brings back memories of home. So here is a reprint of this popular recipe with some additional information and directions. Mama has even made a video of this recipe will soon be available on Youtube.
Aaloo da Parantha
(POTATO STUFFED CRISPY FLATBREAD)
Every cuisine in every corner of the world has its comfort food and if you ask a Punjabi, what their choice is, chances are pretty good that they’ll first say “paranthas (crispy flatbread)! Paranthas have become famous the world over and are found not just in Indian restaurants but also in the frozen food section of Indian grocery stores. Though the basic way to make paranthas is very similar but it’s the stuffing that differentiates them in the cooking methods and of course the taste … and even the way you eat them. So well is this idea ingrained in the minds of people that the art of cooking paranthas is celebrated in guidebooks like Michelin or Lonely Planet which lead tourists to a small busy restaurant in the old part of Delhi in Chandni Chowk to the Paranthe di Gulli (Parantha Alley) where there is usually a line to get in to eat 12 inch round paranthas of all types! A homemade Punjabi parantha is usually 8 to 10 inches round and nearly ¼ inch thick. It is made of twice-rolled dough, with a little dab of oil and then cooked on each side till there is a crispy, golden brown top layer, which can only happen when you coax the dough to actually puff up and NOT press down hard on it while cooking. Then the crispy side is coated with some butter or oil and served piping hot. The easiest – and most often made – stuffed parantha is the aaloo (potato) type probably because they are readily available everywhere and easy to cook and prepare. Many people make aloo paranthas that are limp and taste like soggy mashed potatoes which takes the joy out of them, while others use too much butter or oil which makes them too greasy. Made properly, they should be crispy and just firm enough to eat with plain yogurt. Ingredients: • 500gm kanak (gehon) ka atta (wheat flour) • 500gm aaloo (potatoes) – firm white, not Russet or baking kind • 2 tbsp tael (olive or vegetable oil) • 1 1/2 cups pani (water) • 1 tsp dhaniya (coriander) • ½ tsp lal mirch (red pepper) • 1 tsp amchoor (mango powder) • ½ tsp garam masala • ½ tsp ajwain (fenugreek)
Directions: • Pinch of namak (salt) per paran1. thaCombine the spice ingredients in a small bowl and set off to the side. 2. Knead the atta into dough with water and set aside for 30 minutes. 3. Put the potatoes in a pot of water and bring to a boil. When they are soft but not mushy, turn the heat off and drain the water out. Let the potatoes cool off for 20 minutes. 4. Peel the potatoes and place them in a bowl. Smash them with a masher into small pieces. Add the spice mixture and mix thoroughly. 5. Pinch off a piece of dough and make into 1½ inch round padde (balls). Roll each padda out into a 4 inch disc. 6. Spread the dough into the middle of the disc and place three tablespoons of the smashed potatoes into it. Throw in a bit of salt and then gather off the ends off the dough with a pinch and then roll into a ball again. 7. Carefully roll out the ball into an
8 to 10 inch disc ¼ inches thick, trying not to spill the mixture in a tear of the dough. 8. Put a small dab of oil on a hot tava (hotplate or skillet) and place the flattened disc on. When it puffs a bit and turn color, turn the pancake over. Turn the heat to medium low. Put another dab of oil on the tava and then turn it over 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 early-nineties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share her delectable Punjabi recipes for future generations.
MAMA’S TIP O F THE
WEEK THE DOS AND DO N ’T S OF MAKING GOOD PA Making tasty and R A N THAS crispy aaloo para nt tip
has can be tricky s can make the en but a d results a much put the salt into be tter. The first tip is few the mashed potato not to es spices. This only m akes the potatoes along with the rest of the sh cult to stuff and ro ll out the dough. Th ed water and makes it diffien, it is important heat on high unde to turn the r the tava and wh en the first parant for the first time, ha is turned turn the heat to m edium low. Next, oil on the tava ea place a little ch This will make it cr time before you place and flip the parantha. ispy. Finally, do no cooked parantha t press down hard but wait till both of the unsides are slightly cooked, then
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April 24, 2020
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