Friday, January 06 2012 | Vol. 31, No. 1
Indo American News
Circulation Verified by
www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX
7457 Harwin Dr, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 713.789.NEWS (6397) • Fax: 713.789.6399 • indoamericannews@yahoo.com
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Dr. K.L. Sindwani Passes Away IAN Founder & Publisher, Community Leader
At a time when the South Asian community in Houston was still tiny and its numbers across the state of Texas and even the southern U.S. were insignificant, Dr. K.L. Sindwani had a vision to bring the far flung members together by sharing local community news and news of events from the motherland. From that vision in 1982, Drs. K.L. and Mohini Sindwani launched their life’s crowning achievement, Indo American News, which is now in its 31st year. See InSIde
The Sindwanis at a luncheon with the staff of Indo American News on their last trip to Houston in October, 2010
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January 06, 2012
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Photos: Sergio Santos & Krishna Giri • Artwork: Saqib Rana for IamNews
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7457 Harwin Drive • Suite 262 • Houston • Texas • 77036 - 713.789.NEWS (6397) • fax: 713.789.6399
2012 Stylishly Ushered at Rocking Party at M Lounge
By Kalyani Giri SUGAR LAND: An elegantly appointed multi-level venue, tasteful décor, five ebullient disc jockeys, two dance floors, several genres of music, and a wellstocked buffet and bar. What more could revelers possibly wish for on a New Year’s Eve, other than someone to kick up their heels with? From 9pm until the wee hours, a diverse and fashionably togged crowd of about 500 partied like rock stars and enthusiastically celebrated the advent of 2012 at the snazzy M Lounge in Sugar Land. The party, Countdown 2012, organized by longtime DJ in this city, Yogi Goyal, and Therese ColeHubbs, Founder/Creative Director of Electric Karma International, incorporated the talents of other local DJs in the popular ilk of Samia Adil, Deejay Chani, Aziz ‘DJ Scoop’ Mohammad, and Devan Shah, who conspired creatively to engage the gyrating mass with a steady flow of banter and catchy remixes of songs du jour. Working closely with M Lounge’s youthful owner Pritesh Shah, event coordinator ColeHubbs in collaboration with Nalini Kannan’s Décor One fashioned a classy ambiance with enclaves of subdued lighting, sumptuous cushions, low tables, and voluminous sheer white drapes quite reminiscent of the times of Scheherazade. The upper level, with its full bar and a buffet table offering tasty hors d’oeuvres from M Lounge’s
balloons in every hue; they rained down softly at the strike of midnight. By turn and sometimes together, all DJs gave in to flights of whimsy in selecting their playlists for the night, from Bollywood movie songs to remixes. Samia Adil, very au courant, chose to begin her set with the vivid and most malarkeyladen song to hit
Above: Members of the Indo American News team welcome 2012 at M Lounge Photos: Krishna Giri
sister establishment Mint Spice Bistro, provided sustenance to those frayed around the edges from a surfeit of spinning their groove on the dance floor. But the beat went on; Kool and the Gang vied with Maroon Five’s Adam Levine boasting that he’s got “the moves like Jagger”. Pinpricks of laser-like lights punctuated the dance floor and adjoining private hall with color, while stroboscopic
lamps dazzled and added fervor to the edgy hip hop/pop mood. The lower level, cavernous by
any standard, boasted a large dance floor, above which was suspended a net bearing hundreds of
the sound waves in a long time, the very popular Why This Kolaveri Di? DJ Yogi who had envisioned the celebration, was elated by the outcome. An IT professional who managed his family’s real estate management business while moonlighting as a DJ for 17 years, is today a career DJ for the past three years. Well-known and much sought after in his field, he collaborated with Cole-Hobbs and together they create the special event experience. “I invited the other DJs to join me in this community Countdown 2012 and we put our heads together and aimed to create something spectacular,” said Goyal. “I liked M Lounge as it is multi-level and we could plan to accommodate all music tastes. DJ’s have high stress jobs, we’re also each other’s biggest competitors. But I believe that if we work together and help each other grow, this industry will be better. On behalf of Therese Cole and I, we would like to thank the DJs, event helpers, media sponsors, and faithful partygoers in helping us ring in 2012 together!” DJ Scoop was equally elated. “I got to DJ for my Houston crowd on New Years Eve after 10years, and I had the most amazing time, and I couldn’t ask for a better crowd. Houston you rocked,” added Scoop. For more information on M Lounge, visit www.mintspice.com.
Indo American News • Friday, JANUARY 06, 2012 • Online Edition: www.indoamerican-news.com
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January 06, 2012
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January 06, 2012
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A disciplined Pioneer of Texas’ desi community, dr. K.L. s sindwani, 84, dies By Jawahar Malhotra HOUSTON: At a time when the South Asian community in the Houston was still tiny and its numbers across the state of Texas and even the southern U.S. were insignificant, Dr. K.L. Sindwani had a vision to knit the spreadout members together by sharing news of local community events from the motherland. From that vision, Drs. K.L. and Mohini Sindwani in 1982 launched their life’s crowning achievement, Indo American News, which is now in its 31st year. The tabloid newspaper, which is published every week in English and is now in full-color, reaches an estimated 35,000 people via print and online. It has become a mainstay of the local Houston community with many mainstream readers who also follow its active website, www.indoamerican-news.com which reaches thousands more. Its articles are also syndicated in the Times of India, a prominent daily that has mass circulation in India. Dr Sindwani passed away this past Saturday, December 31, 2011 in a nursing home in Wichita Falls, about 160 miles northwest of Dallas. He was 84 and ironically would have celebrated his 85th birthday the next day, January 1. He often joked that his parents didn’t remember his real birthday, so they selected January 1 to celebrate it, and that is the day that stuck throughout his life. He was in waning health for some months, having suffered a series of undetected small strokes sometime earlier, but his health took a marked Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $30 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036, tel: 713-789-6397, fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo American News, 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036
At a community farewell felicitation in their honor, KLS and Mohini Sindwani share a smile as they peruse Indo American News, the publication they nurtured from infancy. Photo: Krishna Giri
decline shortly before his wife passed away on October 18 (IAN, October 21, 2011). Sindwani was a Professor of Sociology at Texas Southern University when he decided to launch an 8-page tabloid on newsprint with printed copy that he bought from an Indian newspaper in Vancouver. Although he had no formal training in the newspaper business, with the help of Pramod Kulkarni and Koshy Thomas he reset the copy onto layout sheets and merged into it some local news. “He used to pay me by the column inch,’ chuckled Kulkarni. Sindwani did the marketing and sold ads to defray the costs A year later, the experiment turned out to be more work than he could handle and Sindwani turned to additional partners, including this reporter, who had, at that time, developed a promotional newsletter for the West Indian community for British West Indies Airlines, to take over the fledging news-
paper. The four equal partners – Sindwani, Malhotra, Kulkarni and Thomas – worked out a partnership on a handshake and decided to continue publishing in a more structured way. The partnership leased out an office in the new building where the paper was printed, Southern Chinese Press, on Bellaire and Kulkarni served as the editor and Malhotra started the Kya Nayi Khabar cartoon panel, Thomas did all the typesetting at his typesetting and rubber stamp business which was also located next door in the same building and Sindwani sold the ad space. In short order, Rehana Sarwar joined as office manager and Mohiniji became the circulation manager. The paper began to take off and soon became a 16 and then 24 page weekly. Thomas left four years later to start Voice of Asia and Rajeev Gadgil joined as the managing editor until he left nine years later to start India Herald.
For three years, from 1990 to 1993, Indo American News ventured into television, producing Asiana Television, the first South Asian program of its type in the Southern US. The paper also produced residential and business directories for ten years, the first by Sindwani himself in 1982. Although Indo American News was and remained his main interest, Sindwani was deeply involved
in the service of the Indian community in the Bayou City. His wife was a devout Hindu and the two started the Vivekananda Vedanta Society (which has now moved to its own temple building on Highway 6) in 1980 on Cypress St. near Beechnut and Hillcroft. In 1978 he became the President for two terms of the India Culture Center, a nascent community service nonprofit organization and whose of offices were in an old single-family home across the street from the Vedanta Society. In later years, Sindwani was a council member of India House, a community center on West Bellfort and S. Gessner. Khairati Lal Sindwani was born in Sorhkot, in the Jhung District of the Punjab in India in 1927. After finishing his high school, he landed a job in Lahore for three years. The family moved across the border to Amritsar after the partition of India in 1947. A year later, Sindwani received a Bachelor of Arts in Simla and was married the same year. He followed up with a MA from Delhi University in 1953 and the couple moved to the US in 1958 where he received his PhD in Sociology in 1962 from Ohio State University in Columbus. Over the next 13 years, Sindwani taught at several universities in Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan and in Arlington, Texas before
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COMMUNITY
January 06, 2012
DJ AV
Restaurant ty at Moghul New Year Par
Hungama Radio Party at Rosemary’s Garden
Houston welcomes 2012 with a Bang
By Parth DwiveDi HOUSTON: The New Year gets going on the right foot, as Sunil Thakkar explained, “2011 both started and ended on a Saturday, but 2012 is starting on a Sunday, which brings high hopes for this coming year. I think it will be a good one.” The atmosphere this past weekend was definitely a jovial one as Indians across Houston celebrated with one another. Many different parties took place, hosted by many different organizations, representing many different communities. The Moghul’s Restaurant and Lounge hosted its own New Year’s Eve party. Dozens of nicely dressed people began to trickle in, starting the night off with first-class North Indian cooking and some easy-going beats provided by Moghul to set the mood. Soon enough, DJ AV arrived to add some of his own beats to the party’s ambience and pick the place up a bit. The party was held in an isolated portion of the Restaurant in which lighting was tastefully dimmed to enhance the relaxed feel permeating the area. Employment was dressed-to-impress and worked busily behind the scenes to ensure all of the arrangements were smoothly taken care of. Entrance was by guest list only, as Masala Radio host Sunil Thakkar was among those in attendance along with members of his Masala Radio Crew. Gujarati Samaj of Houston hosted their own very large New Year’s Eve party at the accommodating La Festa Hall. There was no shortage of freshly cooked food constantly being bussed out, along with a free full-service bar. Even having set-up an airwalk in
was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. There were children running around, young people up and about, and of course, catering to keep everyone going. The Radio Hungama DJs were having a great time, and eventually one of them started banging away at a dhol to add fuel to the fire. Cars were spilling out into neighboring parking lots for those arriving after 10:30 p.m., which is too soon; Radio Hungama only needs to arrange for a larger venue next time, which is a good problem to have.
Gujarati Samaj of Houston hosted a New Year’s Eve party at the La Festa Hall
front of the venue to keep the smaller children amused, all ages were present celebrating with the Gujarati Samaj. Providing music was a live band playing everything from older songs to trendy new Bollywood songs, and let’s not forget, what good would any dance floor be without a disco ball? There was a very merry feel to the place, as people were constantly moving about, socializing and dancing in groups. Professional photographers were taking photographs in front of a New Year’s set and shiny banners were spread across the walls—there was even a digital marquis reading “Naya Sal Muba-
rak from Gujarati Samaj!” Parking was squeezed tightly, but proved to be a very small price to pay for a well-managed party. All the while, Bollywood Hungama Bash was being Organizers of the Bollywood Hungama Bash held at Rosemary’s Garden banquet hall, hosted by Radio Hungama, and this party proved to be just that—hungama! The hall If 2012 goes the same way its welcoming was a giant mix of people dancing and so- festivities went, there is no doubt that it will cializing to create an energetic and lively be something to look forward to. atmosphere; even the spacious dance floor
Kite Festival coming Up Jan. 15 at George Bush Park HOUSTON: Hindus from throughout the Houston area will gather together at the George Bush Park (16756 Westheimer Parkway off Westheimer) on Sunday, January 15 from 10 am to 3:30 pm to celebrate the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti. Participants will also celebrate Swami Vivekanada’s birthday. It is said that on the day of Markar Sankranti, Lord Vishnu ended the terrorism of the violent Asuras. For this reason, the festival is celebrated with kite flying and paying respects to the sun. Past quarrels are forgiven, starting afresh by feeding one another sweets, especially those made of til (sesame seed). As is tradition, a lot of kites will fly in the air. For those who do not have their own
kites, kites from India and strings will be available for a small donation. Families can also enjoy the games like volleyball, cricket, kho-kho and kabaddi Participants are encouraged to bring their own vegetarian picnic lunch. Gujarati Samaj of Houston will provide Masala Khhichdi for a nominal donation for those who chose not to bring their own food. Ekal Vidyalaya will provide free tea to all. Makar Sankranti is a highly celebrated Indian festival that heralds the transition of the sun in to Makar Rashi (i.e. Capricorn). It falls on January 14 every year as the sun begins its journey northward, and days start to become longer, symbolizing sunshine in our life. One of most auspicious times, it is a day to celebrated the harvest in India and
is dedicated to the sun. To avoid car-parking problem due to large crowds, we request attendees to car-pool. There will be shuttles running from various nearby locations to the park site. Driv-
ers are requested to drop off passengers at George Bush Park and get information as to where the driver can park and get a shuttle ride. Parking shuttles will run to the various neighboring parking lots and then to Kroger parking lot. Please call 281-851-6866 if you are at a designated parking lot and the shuttle does not come in 10 to 15 minutes. In case of rain, the event will be held January 22. The Houston festivities are sponsored by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America in cooperation with the Gujarati Samaj of Houston and The Hindus of the Greater Houston, as well as other organizations. For more information call Girish Naik at 281-851-6866, Nisha Mirani at 832-7559365 or Pravin Vyas at 281-380-5585
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06, 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
COMMUNITY
January 06, 2012
dr. K.L. s sindwani Passes Away
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accepting a tenure-track position in 1975 as a Professor at Texas Southern University in Houston. Meanwhile, his wife received her PhD in Child Development in 1965 from North Carolina University in Greensboro. “The main reason we moved to Houston,” Sindwani often explained, “was because my wife had developed hypothermia and couldn’t stand the cold at all.” Once in Houston, the couple quickly got involved in the activities of the South Asian community. “At the ICC, we printed a monthly newsletter to inform the community, but I felt that it was not enough to reach the people,” Sindwani recalled in a conversation shortly after he moved with his wife to Wichita Falls to be with his son Arun in March 2010. “So I decided to do a sixmonth experiment with a newspaper. We had free distribution, but for those who subscribed by mail, it was $5 a year. It turned out to be a good idea after all!” After he retired from TSU in 2002, Sindwani devoted his full energy to Indo American News. Advertisers and community supporters became inured to his jovial but persistent calls for ads and follow-up calls for payments. Some even dreaded his open-
ing greeting, a loud Kee haal hai? (How are you?) followed by a demand for an ad or payment and then clicking off the phone without a goodbye, but they all respected his dedication to public service, which is how he viewed his work at IAN, and accepted his quirks. Shortly before he retired from the paper, he sold his portion of the interest in it to Krishna Giri who had worked with the paper off and on for many years. In addition to his son, he is survived by a grandson, Anthony (and his wife Michelle) of Tucson, Arizona and two great grandchildren Madeline and Andrew. His grand nephew Jitender Kumar and his wife Neena are his closest family in the Houston area. But most remember Dr. Sindwani for his humility, unquestionable honesty and lack of formality. Till the day he retired, his memory was sharp and he could recall advertisers, their rates, payments and zip codes with remarkable clarity. He never learnt how to use the computer, but with his hardly recognizable scrawl, he made long tables and ran math calculations quickly in his head, calling out the numbers in Jhungi Punjabi. “He was a gem of a man who wanted to do good for others,” said his long-time friend and occasional travel companion Ashok Bhambani, “and he loved the newspaper.”
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Writers are requested to limit their words to 500 The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Tuesday of each week. For more information, Call 713-789- NEWS (6397) or email us at: indoamericannews@yahoo.com
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January 06, 2012
made in India, Faked in china: c $5 Billion Loss NEW DELHI (SI): Chinese manufacturers are increasingly “faking” popular Indian products of consumer goods giants such as Dabur and ITC, undermining the legitimacy of brands and causing losses worth as much as $5 billion annually, officials said. “A lot of counterfeit Dabur products are made in China. We have conducted at least 20 raids in China but no proper action has been taken by the Chinese,” said Ashok Jain, general manager of finance at Dabur India, the country’s fourth largest FMCG firm. He said such fake products manufactured in China with “Made-in-India” tag are supplied across the world, mostly in India and African countries. “It causes huge damage to the brand. Those fake products are obviously not up to our standards and supplied at very low
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prices,” Jain told IANS. Dabur, which has nearly $4 billion market capitalisation, operates in key consumer product categories like healthcare, skin care, hair care and oral care. The company’s revenue last fiscal was $910 million. Pradeep Dixit, a senior official of ITC, a $33-billion conglomerate, said the popular FMCG brands of the company were counterfeited by unscrupulous firms and supplied in domestic as well as foreign markets. “Our popular cigarette brand is faked and supplied widely in the states like Chhattis-
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garh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,” he said. “China is a big problem everybody is facing,” said S.K. Goel, chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs, told IANS. Goel said the big international brands like Nokia, Adidas, Reebok and Nivea were also widely counterfeited in China and supplied in India and other parts of the world. Chinese manufacturers are also faking drugs, endangering lives of patients. Fake drugs, carrying “Made in India” tags, supplied from China were recently detained in Nigeria and other African countries. K.K. Vyas, Delhi’s deputy commissioner of police (crime), said the police have seized and confiscated a lot of fake and counterfeited products of popular brands in the national capital recently. Vyas emphasised on the need for enhancing punishment for unscrupulous manufacturers and importers. “Punishment needs to be enhanced. Also there is need that judiciary addresses these issues quickly.” “Counterfeiting is a big menace. It is hurting everybody - consumers, industry and the exchequer,” said Anil Rajput, chairman of the anti-smuggling and anti-counterfeiting committee of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Recently, FICCI formed a panel called “FICCI-Cascade” that expands into a committee on anti-smuggling and counterfeiting activities destroying the economy. Chaired by Rajput, the committee is working closely with the government to curb this menace. According to a report by think tank Indiaforensic Research Foundation, the total loss to the economy annually due to crimes such as counterfeiting, commercial fraud, smuggling, drug trafficking, bank fraud, tax evasion and graft is estimated at 22,528 Crore.
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January 06, 2012
Fourteen Indian Americans Listed in Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’
LOS ANGELES (Indiawest): Fourteen Indian Americans have been featured in this month’s Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in eight categories ranging from energy, finance, media, food and wine, music, technology, social and mobile, and science and innovation. According to the magazine, “These are the people who aren’t waiting to reinvent the world. Forbes, leaning on the wisdom of its readers and the greatest minds in business, presents the 30 disrupters under 30, in each of 12 fields, making a difference right now.” The list includes, in the category of Energy, inventor Param Jaggi, 17, of Austin College, 17. The award-winning high schooler
created algae-filled device that fits over a car’s tailpipe and turns carbon dioxide into oxygen, said Forbes. Also in Energy is Damascus Fortune chief executive Vivek Nair, 23, who is developing a technology that transforms industrial carbon emissions into carbon nanotubes. In the category of Finance is Goldman Sachs managing director Asita Anche, 29, whose highfrequency trading genius was poached by Goldman in 2010, said Forbes. Also in Finance is Bank of America and Merrill Lynch financial advisor Vikas Mohindra, 25, a broker who gathered $38 million in three years from scratch, including a big corporate exec and a $5 million 401k plan.
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Citigroup co-head of European equity derivatives sales Manvir Nijhar, 28, is also included in this list. A London School of Economics math grad, he left BNP Paribas after a four-year stint to give Citi’s derivatives business a jolt. Also named is Goldman Sachs managing director Kunal Shah, 29, who is the youngest managing director at Goldman Sachs, promoted at 27. The Cambridge math grad now a rock star is an emerging markets trader, said Forbes. In the category of Food and Wine is Back to the Roots co-founder Nikhil Arora, 24, who along with Alejandro Velez, started a business selling grow-your-own-mushroom
kits using 1 million lbs of recycled coffee grounds. In Media is cited CNBC “Squawk Box” producer Maneet Ahuja, 27, a hedge fund expert and WSJ veteran; who has been on Wall Street since she was 17; with a “deeper Rolodex than mine,” according to @andrewsorkin. Musician Nicki Minaj, of part Indian heritage, has been included in the Music category. The 29-year-old Minaj’s debut album Pink Friday sold 375,000 copies opening week, helping make her the only female in hip-hop’s top 15 earners.
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In Science & Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory postdoctoral candidate Rizia Bardhan, 29, was cited for his nanotech particles that can diagnose or treat disease; new ways of storing energy. Also, Biological Dynamics chief executive Raj Krishnan, 29, was included in this category for developing blood tests that use electric fields to detect key signals that a patient has cancer from the blood. Samasource CEO Leila Janah, 29, has been included in the category of Social/Mobile for having founded and leading nonprofit Samasource, which helps U.S. companies outsource tech work in a socially responsible way, said Forbes. And finally, in the Technology category, is Levant Power co-founder Shakeel Avadhany, 24, who along with Zack Anderson developed a computer-controlled shock absorber that generates electricity and built a fast-growing company to commercialize it. Also cited in this list is University of Washington graduate student Sidhant Gupta, 27, for developing new sensors and software for the home that conserve electricity, heat and gas.
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dr. K.L. sindwani: s condolence messages m Dear Jawahar Malhotra, Pramod Kulkarni, Krishna Giri and Arun Sindwani, I would like to share the following with all of you in the community my thoughts on the news of recent death of our beloved Dr. K. L. Sindwani. I am very saddened at the passing away of Dr. K.L. Sindwani. I had known him since about 1978 when I was getting increasingly interested in the activities of India Culture Center, Houston. (ICC). At that time, Dr. Sidwani was actively involved in pursuing the dream of having an ICC House of our own in Houston. Once he set a goal, he fully put in his mind and heart to pursue it to the end. He was very persistent, collected enough funds and made many life members for ICC, including myself, to contribute to this cause. He did not stop until he facilitated the purchase of the first ICC house on 5901 Cypress Street. Other than Dr. Harb Hayre, who was the founderpresident of ICC, I believe, Dr. Sindwani was the first consecutive two-term elected president of ICC
for the Years 1979 and 1980. As founder of the first IndoAmerican community newspaper, Indo American News, Dr. Sindwani continued his dogged persistence in ensuring that the newspaper became successful. He would not hesitate making late night calls to people who owed the newspaper money for the promised ads, subscriptions, or donations. He stuck to his persistent qualities throughout his life and later demonstrated the same when collecting funds for the new India House as well. We all know Death is the inevitable reality for all living beings and it is true that we old-timers are all in line, waiting for our turn. Nevertheless, I will miss Dr. Sidwani’s friendship and his unflinching dedication to the betterment of the Indo-American Community in Houston. May God grant peace and tranquility to his soul and give strength to the surviving family and friends to bear his loss. - Lachhman Das (Former President and Chair Chairman, Board of Trustees, ICC, Houston)
Dear IAN family, It is most tragic to hear about demise of the founder of IAN and a beloved Houstonian Dr Sindhwanisaab. May his soul rest in peace and the family have courage to bear this loss. 2011 has taken toll of both visionaries Mohiniji and Sindhwanisaab within a span of almost two months. We shall miss them dearly. - Swapan Dhairyawan
Dear Indo American News, Our condolences to the entire IAN crew and the Sindwani family. Dr. Sindwani was my ‘official’ first boss and I will miss him dearly. There are just too many happy moments that come to my end when I think of both Dr. Sindwani and Mrs. Sindwani. They really were noble people. - Rashida and Shabbir Evershine
Dr. Sindwani was a father figure to all of us. I learnt a lot about the virtues of hard work, patience and commitment after working with him. I still remember the fact that even after retirement, he used to call us often and not only inquire about how things were at the of office, but also about us as individuals and our families. Words seem inadequate to express the sadness that I feel. May his blessed soul rest in peace. - Manasi Gokhale
Dr. Sindwani was a great boss. He was very much admired and immensely respected. I feel blessed, that I started my career under his guidance. All of us who worked for him thought the world of him. He will be greatly missed. May his soul be blessed with perpetual rest. - Vanshika Vipin Dear Indo American News, It is really sad to hear about Dr. Sindwani passing away. Not only Dr. Sindwani was a dedicated person but a role model for most of us. He will truly be missed and I feel like really losing not only a beloved boss but literally one of my parents. My heartfelt condolences to the entire team of IndoAmerican News. Dr. Sindwani taught many great lessons, one of the best was of loyalty, honesty and dedication. May God bless his soul. - Hussain Mandviwala
Our Deepest Condolences at the loss of a Community Pioneer
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COMMUNITY
The Loss of a Publishing Icon
The c celebration of Life.... of my Uncle, my m mentor, my contemporary
Dr. K.L. Sindwani was more than a leader in our community; he was my mentor, someone who raised the profile of the South Asian community for all our sakes, before there was Zee TV, Internet or smart phones. Dr. Sindwani walked that fine line that a publisher and businessman must, but with an unparalleled aplomb. He was able to please his readers and earn their respect, and raised the profile of our community. I’ve been a journalist for nearly 15 years, but Dr. Sindwani gave me one of my first newspaper jobs. I worked in circulation at Indo-American News. Each morning, he and “auntie,” also Dr. Sindwani, picked me up from Beechnut Chateau in Houston, and the three of us drove to the newsroom together. It wasn’t my first job at a paper; I had already started writing for The Myrtle Beach Sun News and my high school newspaper, but working under a real seasoned newspaper publisher like Dr. Sindwani, was a treasured experience. Outside of the newsroom, Sindwani uncle was largely soft spoken. Once in the office, it was all business. When uncle walked into the paper, people stood up straighter, typed faster, and everything ran like an efficient machine. He wasn’t a micromanager, but Dr. Sindwani knew the granular details of that operation. He made
everyone want to be better. Eventually, Dr. Sindwani invited me to be one of the paper’s correspondents from Washington. That summer though, I tied papers. “77036, 77411, 77025…” he called out. Dr. Sindwani rushed around the circulation department calling out numbers I had never heard before. “Houston has more than one zip code,” I thought. Before I could finish the sentence in my head, Dr. Sindwani rushed over to auntie and me. She was laughing, casually crunching her dried cereal while meticulously tying papers, checking off bundles from a spreadsheet. “77036 needs to be over here,” Dr. Sindwani said sternly while pointing at the corner. All I remember hearing was something like, “77402 is Bellaire. It needs to be far away from 77036. They aren’t the same place.” I kept my head down, tying one knot, then two, then three, then pushing these 25-pound batches of newsprint out of my sight. I was tired, but Dr. Sindwani never tired. Auntie always offered me some of that dried cereal that kept her going. It helped. Dr. Sindwani walked around with his head down, focused, counting, examining. He worked with a sense of purpose that reflected a rare breed of contentment, his eyes fixed on the numbers. It’s often said that real news is local news. Real change happens within individual communities. Dr.
Sindwani led our community through his efforts as a publisher, a businessman, a philanthropist and a friend. Outside of the newsroom, Dr. Sindwani and I would talk regularly about current events and stories I was working on. He was never condescending. He spoke to me as a student with same tenor that he used after I graduated college. He was always the same —eloquent, honest, and thoughtful. The Indian community lost an icon on December 31, but I really lost a friend. - By Dipka Bhambhani
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When we learned of Dr. K.L. Sindwani’s passing last week, it marked the end of an era, the loss of a visionary icon who left in his wake, an immeasurable legacy of creativity, old world values, humility, caring, bursts of brusqueness, and great kindness, all tempered with sudden glimpses of humor and a down-to-earth fresh-
ness of spirit. We knew it wouldn’t be long before he left this world, mostly because he was besieged by loneliness after the demise of his beloved wife of nearly six decades, Dr. Mohini Sindwani. Together they were a winning team that collaborated and conspired with daring intent to draw together the Indo American community by giving them a voice of their own in this adopted land where they made their homes and pursued their dreams. Their brainchild, this publication Indo American News was
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He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery
conceived with love, raised with great discipline, and it thrives still through careful nurturing 31 years after its advent. Drs. Sindwani passed the baton into capable, caring hands. They live on through their mentorship and their encouragement of the Indo American News family. They live on through their surrogacy as grandparents to the children of the Indo American News family. To Krishna, Anushka and I, they were always encouraging. They applauded our daughter’s study ethic, they called simply to ask Krishna about his health, and even after they moved to Wichita Falls, Dr. KLS would call to tell me if he enjoyed reading something I’d written. After 23 years of knowing them, we feel their loss keenly, we feel deprived by their absence in our daily lives, in this realm we inhabit. We shall always keep their memories close and strive to better ourselves through the enrichment of their association. I hope that wherever they are, they are once more united. I know both would have liked that very much. - Kalyani Giri
Fondren
The Sindwanis with the extended IAN family at a farewell luncheon hosted by the Kulkarnis in their honor.
11
January 06, 2012
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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06, 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
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INDIA
12 January 06, 2012
The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi’s Arrest creates sensation worldwide
Open 7 days a week
The story thus far…Newspaper reporters from all over the world were there to report the progress of the Gandhi’s satyagraha. The march ended on April 5 at Dandi village. Gandhi and his selected followers went to the sea shore and broke the salt law by picking up salt left on the shore by the sea. Gandhi then gave a signal to all Indians to break the salt law and prepare to resist the police action in a nonviolent manner. Heeding Gandhi’s word, all over India people swarmed to the nearest sea coast to break the salt law. Great excitement was created everywhere. Only a few people knew how to make salt, but the people soon found their own ways of making it. All that mattered was the breaking of the salt law. Gandhi and other leaders had made arrangements for the continuation of the agitation if they were arrested. A chain of leaders had been chosen, so that as each leader was arrested another would be ready to take his place. The government waited for some time before taking any action, and then at last retaliation began. Gandhi was left at liberty, but many other leaders were taken into custody. Jawaharlal, Mahadev Desai, and Gandhi’s son Devadas were the first to pick up salt to break the law and be sent to jail. In dealing with the breakers of the salt law, the police resorted to their usual brutal methods. The Indian National Congress was declared illegal. Some newspapers, threatened with censorship, suspended publication. The people held hartaals (strikes) and demonstrations, and mass arrests were made. Soon the jails were overflowing. The people remained nonviolent, lest Gandhi should call off the movement. Gandhi then informed the Viceroy that he was going to raid the government salt works at Dharasana. Lord Irwin decided to act. Two English officers, with pistols, accompanied by many Indian policemen armed with rifles, arrived at Gandhi’s camp in the middle of the night. They woke Gandhi and
said, “You are under arrest.” Gandhi was taken to Yeravda Central Jail and was thus absent for the raid on the Dharasana salt deposits. The salt deposits were surrounded by barbed-wire fencing and protected by four hundred Indian policemen armed with steel-toed canes. A few British officers were in command of them. Gandhi’s volunteers halted some distance away from the fence. Then a select group of them advanced towards the fence. Police officials ordered the volunteers to disperse but they ignored the warning. Suddenly the police rushed at them and rained blow after blow on the defenseless men. Not one of the volunteers even raised an arm to stop the blows. They fell down, some with broken skulls, some with broken shoulders, arms, or legs. When the entire first batch had been knocked down and carried off on stretchers, another batch advanced to meet the same fate. The campaign went on for hours. Finally, as the heat of the day increased, the volunteers stopped their activities for that day. Among the volunteers two had died and 320 were injured. Gandhi’s arrest had created a great sensation in India and abroad.
Representations were sent from all parts of the world to the British Prime Minister asking the government to release Gandhi and make peace with India. Even those who were cooperating with the British demanded the release of Gandhi. Gandhi proved to be more dangerous inside the jail than outside. While he sat quietly in Yeravda Jail, countrywide outbreaks of civil disobedience were greatly taxing the British. The jails were full. The government was in distress and finally, in 1931, had to release Gandhi, Nehru, and other leaders. As soon as Gandhi was out of prison he asked for an interview with the Viceroy, Lord Irwin. The interview was immediately given. Gandhi and Irwin met, but the two men seemed to have come from two different worlds. Gandhi did not go to seek any favors. He wanted to negotiate on terms of equality. The meeting went on for many days and finally the talks culminated in a treaty, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. It embodied compromises made by both sides. Irwin agreed to release all the political prisoners, and Gandhi promised to suspend civil disobedience and send a Congress representative to the Round Table Conference. At the time, in London, the British government was holding a Round Table Conference on the future of India. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was a victory for nonviolent resistance. But some of Gandhi’s Congress followers thought that he had not gained much as a result of the pact. Gandhi was designated as the sole representative of the Congress to the Round Table Conference. In
August 1931 he sailed for London with a small party. Gandhi went to England with the object of reaching an agreement with the British on a fair Constitution for India and also of winning the hearts of the British people. In his first object he failed, and in the second he met with great success. The Extraordinary Life and Times of Mahatma Gandhi is brought to you courtesy Mahatma Gandhi Library. www.gandhilibrary.org Gandhi spent 84 days in England and most of the time he was meeting and talking to people. Prime Minister Winston Churchill refused to see him but Gandhi captivated the hearts of many. He had tea with the King and Queen. When a reporter asked him if he thought he had been dressed well enough for such an august tea party, Gandhi replied, “The King had on enough for both of us.” At the Round Table Conference
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nothing was conceded to India. The Conference played up the differences between Hindus and Muslims, and this only served to worsen communal tension in India. Gandhi returned with nothing except warm goodwill for India from the hearts of many English people. At home, Gandhi found that the government had returned to the policy of repression. There were widespread arrests and seizure of property and bank accounts of people and organizations who were hostile to British interests. Early in 1932 Gandhi wanted to meet the new Viceroy, Lord Willlingdon, but the Viceroy made it clear that the days of negotiations were over. Gandhi informed the authorities that he was again starting a civil disobedience movement. The Viceroy thought it was a threat and had Gandhi arrested and lodged in Yeravada Central Jail. Several other leaders and many followers of Gandhi were also arrested and jailed. — To be Continued
Shraddhanjali to Mahatma Gandhi Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Rose Garden Hermann Park
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Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06, 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
INDIA January 06, 2012
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06, 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
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14 January 06, 2012 Our Community Has Lost a True Selfless Visionary
Our Deepest Condolences on the Passing of Dr. K.L. Sindwani
Ashok Bhambhani and Dr. Sindwani on a cruise vacation to Alaska, July 2006 We celebrate the friendship we had of 30 years and all those vacations that we took together
Ashok & Mohini Bhambhani
Sharad Amin Vijay Pallod Hindus of Greater Houston
Condolences for Passing of Dr. Sindwani who was a Trusted Council Member and Supporter India House 8888 West Bellfort Street Houston, TX 77031
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06, 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
January 06, 2012
Our Deepest Condolences for the Loss of a Community Pioneer
We Will Always Miss Your Friendship and Presence
I cherish the moments that we shared, and remember fondly that camel ride we took together once !
With the passing of Dr. Sindwani, a great era has come to an end. He was an iconic personality who devoted his time and energy to community service. He will always live in our hearts. We will cherish his memories. Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family. May god bless his soul with everlasting peace.
Col. & Mrs. Raj. P. S Bhalla
Thank you for always looking after us and being an elder brother to us.
Surinder & Lalitha Trehan Dhruv & Gauri Trehan
On the passing of Dr. K. L. Sindwani, a twice former president of India Culture Center Houston (ICC) for the years 1979 and 1980 and later a trustee, the directors and trustees of ICC salute him for his progressive vision, creativity, community service and for strenghthening ICC as a powerful Indian American organization of Greater Houston. He was a man of simple habits and led by his own example. We miss him. He will be always in our prayers. Our condolences to the bereaved family and his extended family at Indo American News
Col. R.P.S.Bhalla President, ICC Houston Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06, 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
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INDIA
16 January 06, 2012
Ichhaben s shah: Unwavering dedication to Lifelong Principles
By haiDer er KaziM HOUSTON: Ichhaben Shah, a loving mother and grandmother, passed away on December 24, 2011. She was 88. The cremation took place on December 26 and was attended by a record number of people. Known as “Ba” by her family members, she possessed cherished qualities that helped shape her 6 children and 15 grandchildren. Her children are Kokila Shah, Nalini Mehta. Kirit Shah, Malti Shah, Bipin Shah, and Anjana Nagarsheth. Her grandchildren are Sonal Shah, Roopal Shah, Anand Shah, Amita Mehta, Sujata Mehta, Mona Mehta, Chirag Mehta, Sarin Shah, Samit Shah, Neha Shah, Mihir Shah, Hemang Shah, Neal Shah, Nisha Nagarsheth and Meera Nagarsheth, She also had seven greatgrandchildren. “In this New Year, each of us in the family need to resolve to be happy no matter the circumstances. Ichha Ba never had an unkind word to say about anyone and allowed them to live their lives to the fullest. We should do our best to carry on her love,” said Kokila Shah, the eldest of her children. Ichhaben was born in Gabat, Gujarat, and moved to Mumbai at 18. Later she migrated to the US where she lived for the past 30 years traveling across 20 states and four countries to visit all of her children and grandchildren. She was married at 14 in a traditional wedding. She did not see her husband or know him until she went to live with his family two years later. Her parents died when she was only 18 and she took care of her younger siblings, the youngest of whom was 11 months. Although Ichhaben had formal education
only up to 3rd Standard, her knowledge of the plant world amazed the people around her and earned her the status of a botanist. She could identify the properties of a plant from a single leaf or seed. She could tell about its fruit, the season it blooms and its medicinal value. She could cure almost any ailment with a combination of turmeric, ajmo, and sundry items from her kitchen. She was a forceful personality , but never raised her voice. She spread the joy she felt in the service of others. The word ‘can’t’ did not exist in her vocabulary. She never complained and was always more concerned
about others than her own well-being. Ichhaben was fearless with an unbelievable, unwavering faith in God. She carried her Thakorji and did her morning prayers wherever she went. She wrote pages of “ShriKrishna Sharanama” in the afternoon. She read the Bhagvad Gita every night. When asked whether she was scared or worried about something, she would always say that it was in God’s hands and whatever happens takes place only for the good. She was always willing to try something new or do something adventurous, whether
Ichaben’s grandchildren from left are Neal Shah, Samit Shah, Sonal Shah, Roopal Shah, Meera Nagarsheth, Chirag Mehta, Nisha Nagarsheth, and Sarin Shah
that was travelling on her own, bargaining with vegetable dealers in foreign countries, or learning how to shoot a basketball. She loved to cook, always making sure that everyone had their favorite foods. A snack and a laugh from her could change your whole day, making it almost impossible not to feel happy in her presence. Though she spent her early years in hardship, she fed hundreds of friends and family that stopped by their 200 sq ft home in Bhuleshwar in Mumbai. She would love to tell stories about how she could get a whole week’s shak-bhaji for 2 rupees and how she would ride the tram in Mumbai. She would tell stories about the old days – how she and her girlfriends walked to the river to wash the clothes; how they made trips to the forest to pick up cow dung, twigs and leaves for cooking; and how far they stretched a few rupees eating the best of fruits and making the most of life in Mumbai She firmly stood on her principles and despite her adventurous spirit she was unwavering in her dedication to the things that were her principle; doing new things in the framework of her steadfast beliefs. She taught all of the value of determination, positivity, and strength that comes with consistency in thought. Ichhaben passed on a moonless night or Amavasya at 12.30 a.m. on December 24. For her children and her grandchildren she will always be a subtle reminder of the everpresent Force. Her unwavering faith in God and her selfless love will always continue to illuminate the lives of people who were blessed to know her.
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06, 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
INDIA
January 06, 2012
How the o other Half Lives - y you Too mumbai? m
By Kalpana Sharma MUMBAI (Hindu): In October 2011, Mumbaikars woke up rather rudely to a reality that millions of women living in that great city have to live with every day — that of sexual harassment in the public space. The incident that caught media attention took place outside a restaurant in suburban Mumbai. A group of friends, men and women, stepped outside the restaurant. When one of the young men objected to lewd remarks being directed at a woman in their group by four men who were hanging around, it first appeared that the matter would end there. Instead, these four returned with reinforcements, set upon the men in the group, killed one, Keenan Santos, on the spot and grievously wounded another, Reuben Fernandes. The latter died in hospital. The incident shocked the city. Was it safe no longer for women to go out even with men friends? Was it unwise for men to intervene if women are harassed? And why did none of the people who stood by and watched intervene or call the police? Could this really be happening in Mumbai, a city where women feel safer than they do in practically any other city in the country? Shocking findings A recent survey initiated by the women’s resource group Akshara in Mumbai along with Hindustan Times and market research organisation Cfore has put some concrete numbers behind this unfortunate but emerging reality in the city, that women are not as safe as they thought they were. Of the 4,255 women interviewed for the survey, 99 per cent of them said they did not feel safe. What has changed to make so many women feel unsafe? The public transport system in Mumbai is still better than in most Indian cities. Between the BEST buses and the local trains, over 80 per cent of the city’s population travels. You would not know this if you saw the traffic jams at all times of the day. Yet, even people with cars and two-wheelers prefer
ed to lewd remarks. After dark, in areas such as the pedestrian underpasses, they feel particularly vulnerable. Girl students find that stepping outside their colleges is often hazardous as men are waiting to ply them with unwanted attention. Changing experience Why should any of this information come as a sur surprise? It does because the perception that Mumbai was safer for women was Changing times: A separate ladies coupe in the Mumbai suburban based on their lived extrain. Photo: Shashi Ashiwal perience. Ask any young Mumbai’s public transport system. It is certainly a woman who has grown up in Bangalore, or Delhi, or better and more pleasant option than spending long even Chennai about the sense of liberation she feels hours on the road. It is by no means as comfortable when she moves to Mumbai. The principal reason is as the Delhi Metro. But the local trains especially are the ease and safety of travel, even at late hours of the efficient and transport millions of people each day, night. This gives them a sense of freedom, of choice, way beyond their capacity. that they do not have in places where their movements Mumbai’s local trains have separate women’s are restricted because of the absence of safety after compartments that do help in minimising the chances dark or the inadequacy of transport. of sexual harassment on the trains. But in the buses, Women have used the trains and buses in Mumbai although there are a few seats reserved for women, for decades. They have been in the public space, there is no such separation between the space occu- working in offices, selling wares on the streets, runpied by the men and women. It is here that women ning small businesses, working in restaurants and in report the maximum amount of harassment by way a myriad other jobs. So women have been an integral of men rubbing against them, feeling them up etc. part of the public space in Mumbai for a much longer The survey revealed that 46 per cent of the women time than in more conservative cities in the North, reported being sexually harassed. However, unlike for instance. Delhi, where women travelling on buses are afraid If despite this, the majority of women say they feel to shout or object to harassment because other pas- unsafe, then the reasons need to be considered and sengers rarely support them, in Mumbai by and large addressed. The steps taken to deal with this would women do get such support. be relevant not just for Mumbai’s women, but for Apart from the buses, on Mumbai’s streets too women in other cities as well. women report being touched, followed and subjectOne of the telling statistics in the survey was that 63
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per cent of the women who faced harassment never told their families. Worst still, in a city where women have counted on support from men if they objected, 78 per cent of the men interviewed (776 men were part of the survey) admitted that they did not help. What should be done? It is clear a stronger law is essential to deal with sexual harassment — at the workplace, in educational institutes and in the public space. Women should not feel that they have no option but to remain quiet. But even if there is such a law, it can only be effective if women feel it is possible to use it. Many cities, including Mumbai, are now beginning to realise the importance of not just laws but making it easier for women to approach the law enforcers. Hence in Mumbai there is one number that women can call if they are attacked or in need of help. Larger context But even a stronger law, better policing, a more responsive criminal justice system will not suffice. What is happening to women in our cities is the result of a growing culture of impunity — where you know you can get away with breaking a law regardless of whether it is a minor misdemeanour, like driving through a red light, or more serious crimes like defrauding public funds or even murder. In such an atmosphere, not just women but anyone who is vulnerable will feel unsafe. At a time when people’s protests seem to be making some impact on public policy, perhaps women too have to launch protests that demand an equal right to safety in public spaces. “Freedom from sexual harassment” is a campaign that everyone would support. Akshara has launched a Blow the Whistle campaign, urging women to shout out if they are harassed. College students in the Mumbai are conducting a Zero Tolerance Campaign, the Chappal Marungi and Freeze the Tease campaigns. These are positive steps. Women cannot afford to sit back and be silent victims.
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18 January 06, 2012
As singular Life
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our founder and first publisher, Dr. K.L. Sindwani. The one comforting thought that comes to mind is that Dr. Sindwani lived a long, singular life full of great accomplishments. He was a dedicated scholar with a doctorate from Ohio State University and a professor at Texas Southern University. He was a devoted husband and father. He was a community leader with two terms as the president of the India Culture Center in its formative years. Dr. Sindwani was not a particularly religious man, but when his wife, Mohini, became involved with the Vivekananda Vedanta Society, he was fully supportive of her activities. When Dr. and Mohini Sindwani decided to launch the Indian community’s first newspaper, they devoted themselves to the labor of love. Dr. Sindwani was a mentor to all of us who worked with him at IndoAmerican News. What is most remarkable is that throughout all his life, he conducted himself at the highest moral and ethical standards. We could not wish for a better mentor. May his soul rest in peace. - Pramod Kulkarni
Long overdue o
It was in 1991-92 when Manmohan Singh, as the finance minister, opened up the country’s capital market for foreign institutional investment (FII) for the first time. That was when the country desper desperately needed foreign exchange and a big boost to the economy and investment climate. Since then, foreign funds have made cumulative investments of $ 119 billion — more than a third of India’s foreign exchange reserves. It has taken 20 years for the government to take another path-breaking decision aimed at turning around the sluggish markets and slowing economy. It has now allowed foreign individual investors, trusts and pension funds to directly invest in Indian stocks with a view to increasing the capital inflows, reducing volatility and deepening the market. Foreign individuals now need not register with a sub-account of an FII, which will then get a registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) — a time-consuming process. They do not have to invest through controversial participatory notes (PN) — which is an offshore derivative instrument issued by brokerages to foreign investors who remain anonymous to the Indian regulators. The new class of qualified foreign investors (QFIs) will attract individual and aggregate investment limits of 5 per cent and 10 per cent respectively of the paid-up capital of an Indian company. The government and the markets are looking for more inflows as the investment climate has taken a heavy beating and investors are sitting on huge losses. The Sensex has fallen 24.3 per cent in 2011, making India one of the top losers in the world. Foreign funds have been keeping away from India and other emerging markets with eurozone debt worries adding to their worries. After investing $29 billion in 2010, FIIs have pulled out $357 million from Indian equities in 2011. How soon dollars will start flowing in will depend on the government’s handling of the growth story, reform measures and fiscal management. - Indian Express
EDITORIAL
The Fame Game
By Jug Suraiya Do Anna Hazare and ‘Kolaveri di’have anything in common? The question might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Both almost overnight caught popular imagination and became international icons. The anti-corruption activist was publicly lauded by Barack Obama, to the embarrassment of the UPA government. In the case of the song, Manmohan Singh commended it to the visiting Japanese PM, Yoshihiko Noda, as an example of India’s ‘soft power’. Both Anna and Kolaveri have proved huge hits in Pakistan. While the Pakistanis have rued the unhappy fact that their country — which is perhaps even more bedevilled by corruption than India — has yet to produce its own Anna, a local group has come up with its variation of the Indian song. The Pakistani version, called ‘Democracy ji’, has apt lyrics for a country which once again is facing a political crisis. Indeed, some who’ve heard both versions say that the Pakistani one improves on the original in terms of the political satire it so succinctly conveys. Both Anna and ‘Kolaveri di’ are inter interesting case studies in the phenomenon of instant fame. The 74-year-old self-styled Gandhian had been on the periphery of the news for a long time. But a combination of events — a seemingly endless succession of scams and the mounting public rage against rampant and shameless corruption — catapulted Anna into the limelight of celebrity status almost before you could say ‘Jan Lokpal’.
Similarly, the Tamil song (which appar apparently means ‘killer rage’) emerged from nowhere to be bestowed with stardom in the blink of an aye. Like many individuals, institutions and inventions which get fast-tracked into fame, neither the activist nor the song have any obvious and undisputable intrinsic merit commensurate with the public attention — amounting to adulation, among many fans — that they have received. For all his self-professed Gandhianism, Anna has a far from spotless background, what with his alleged links to the RSS and his propensity to beat up people for having a drink or watching television for entertainment. To his critics, he is a rabble-rouser — with no knowledge of constitutional niceties, much less concern for them — and represents a very real danger to democracy. With its pidgin Tamil lyrics, ‘Kolaveri di’ has undertones of what could be con-
strued as racism and sexism. Its repetitive, rhythmic tune is effective because of its simplicity, its streetside slanginess and lack of sophistication. BothAnna and ‘Kolaveri di’fall into the category of what might be called gut-feel, as opposed to brain-think, entities. Both appeal to the emotions rather than to the mind, which is largely what accounts for their magnetism, the immediate response they evoke. They are famous (or notorious, depending on your point of view) for being famous (or notorious). Are Anna and Kolaveri both products of what might be called the fad factory? Fads are ideas or devices, often irrational in themselves, which become instant hits with the public and, just as suddenly, disappear from sight. Fads can be anything and everything from hula hoops (remember those?) to dietary regimens based on eating nothing but grapes to a chief election commissioner called T N Seshan who morphed from Indian icon to Indian i-gone before you could say ‘electoral reform’. Fads are like those flash mobs which seem to gather at random in public places, put on an entertaining show, and then disperse back into anonymity as inexplicably and as without notice as they appeared. Thanks to the publicity they have generated, Anna and Kolaveri are currently high-voltage buzz words. Will one, or both, have an unannounced power-cut when the current is switched off? Fads have a habit not of fadding on but of fading out. Times of India
moribund state. The unseemly political divide between Democrats and Republicans has stalled the progress of important enactments and the budget. Even the employment figures do not look that good, if the 300,000 people who have opted out of the workforce are taken into account. Emerging economies — India and China, among others — who were the growth engines for the world economy are slowing down. As a recent UNCTAD report points out, the developing world is both unable and unwilling to accept the role of debtor of last resort. For the global economy to mend, the leading economies must make the right policy choices and work concertedly. The key policy debate has been on whether to go back to the expansionary policies that had helped to ward off the worst symp-
toms of the crisis or to opt for the nowfashionable economic austerity. During 2011, most advanced economies changed course and opted for fiscal restraint which they hoped would improve the private sector’s confidence and set off a wave of private investment and consumption demand. But new data from some important countries that took this route point unambiguously to a recession in 2012. Private sector confidence is touching new lows, as demand from the government and from public sector is sliding relentlessly. UNCTAD argues that, in the prevailing environment, fiscal austerity will make matters worse, not better, in the advanced economies. For most of them, high unemployment is a more pressing problem than fiscal imbalance. Hindu
If the rich r c choose Austerity…
Prognosis for the global economy in 2012 remains bleak notwithstanding some improvement in the United States. Recently, IMF chief Christine Laggard reiterated that the world economy is in a dangerous situation. It is doubtful that the accord the European Union leaders struck at the December 9 summit for deeper economic cooperation in the euro zone will stem the debt crisis that began in Greece in 2009 and now threatens to engulf even France and Germany. In the U.S., there are signs of recovery across a number of parameters. Retail sales have been strong; spending on discretionary items has picked up; and the unemployment rate has dropped to 8.6 per cent. But then, there are also worrying factors. The housing sector, from where the global economic crisis originated, remains in a
I Indo Am American News Founder: dr. K.L. Sindwani
editor: Pramod KuLKarni BuSineSS manager: Jawahar maLhotra managing Partner: KriShna giri Community rePorter: KaLyani giri Community editor: manaSi goKhaLe adminiStrative manager: vanShiKa viPin BuSineSS & reCreation: JaCoB david graPhiC deSign: SaqiB rana correspondents chicago: nand Kapoor, UK: aseem KUlKarni new delhi: raj Kanwar ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06 , 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
INDIA
January 06, 2012
Provide Healthcare with compassion: ssays Former India President APJ Kalam
BANGALORE (Hindu): The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said here on Tuesday that medical practitioners should provide healthcare with compassion. Delivering the keynote address at the silver jubilee celebrations of Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar on Tuesday, Dr. Kalam said here on Tuesday that medical practitioners should be generous, tolerant and ethical while discharging their duty. Dr. Kalam spoke on the role healthcare givers play in the development of the nation. He said that they should think out of the box so that their patients benefit by their association with medical practitioners. He said only if they think out of the box, medical practitioners would be able to achieve great heights in their profession and will be remembered for ever even after they are gone. Dr. Kalam spoke about two doctors who have made a difference in society by providing healthcare to rural people at a low cost. He narrated how Dr Solomon Chelliah of Lakshmeshwar, upgraded the CSI (Basel Mission) Hospital in Betgeri, Gadag district. The hospital is equipped with modern technology and is providing low-cost high-quality healthcare to rural people. The same way,Dr. Soma Raju of Bhimavaram area in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, played a key role in setting up the cardiac facility in the
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The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam interacting with students at the inauguration of the silver jubilee celebrations of Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar on Tuesday. Photo: KPN
Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences. Dr. Soma Raju has the historical distinction of performing the first balloon angioplasty procedure in India in 1985. “Dr. Soma Raju has initiated innovative schemes to channelise the goodwill of the people to help poor patients get expensive medical treatment at a low cost. He has performed free corrective surgeries on 1,080 children born with congenital heart defects”, Dr. Kalam noted. He administered the oath of medical
profession to students assembled on the occasion and urged them to embark on the noble mission of extending medical facility to people who cannot afford it, diagnose the disease in patients on time so that they can be cured of it before it is too late, and treat at least 30 patients a year in rural areas, and educate people on preventive healthcare. Chairman of Sri Devaraj Urs Education Trust (DUET) R.L. Jalappa delivered the presidential address.
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s shefali duggal: most Powerful w woman in california SAN JOSE (SI): Indian Chairman’s Council and is American ‘Shefali Duggal’ on the board of Director’s of has been chosen as the most the Forgotten International. powerful woman in California, She has also actively by National Diversity Council. supported the Presidential The 40 year old Shefali is a top Campaign of Senator Hilfundraiser at President Barack lary Clinton, where she was Obama’s re-election campaign, a member of the campaign’s who was successful in raising Northern California Steer Steerfunds between $ 50,000 and $ ing Committee and the 100,000. women for Hillary commitShefali will be formally tee. She was a board memacknowledged at a ceremober of the Indian Ameriny on February 2. She is a can Leadership Initiative, member of Obama’s Presiwhich is an organization dential Partners, National working on the promotion Shefali Razdan Duggal with President Barack Obama Finance Committee and of South Asian Political Northern California Finance Comparticipation. mittee. DNC National Steering Committee, Three other Indian Americans Shefali is associated and member Human Rights Watch and California Azita Raji, Devan Pareg, and Kavita of prestigious committees like the Committee North. She is also a mem- Tankha have made it to the list of Democratic National Committee ber of the Democratic Congressio- key fund raisers for Obama’s 2012 Asian American Leadership Council, nal Campaign Committee (DCCC) presidential election.
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06 , 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
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John c chacko: Going Big with the small s By Shally Seth mohile (Outlook) He stands 6ft 2 inches tall, is precise in what he says, loves efficiency, is a workaholic and dislikes slackers. John Chacko is, for all practical purposes, a German with an Indian name. Occasionally, the south Indian Malayali in him peeks through—when he discloses his love for spicy food and the fact that he studied engineering, for instance. But those passing glimpses are rare. The fact that Chacko works in an automobile company merely completes the German package. It doesn’t surprise me that the chief representative, Volkswagen (VW) Group, in India and president and managing director, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd, pines for home—and that does not mean Kerala. “We are going back (to Ger Germany) after my stint here. I must admit, this is not home for me any more.” Chacko’s parentage—Keralite father, German mother—and more than three-and-a-half decades in the European country where he has spent the major part of his work life, explain why he is yearning to return. Also, German, not Malayalam, is his language of choice and that’s why, after five years in India, he is still getting used to the Indian way of working— a style he says doesn’t suit his nononsense, direct approach. The VW group, which sells the Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Porsche brands in India, has injected a surge of energy into its flagship brand since last year. Volkswagen, which adopted the top-down strategy for entering the Indian market, got into the competitive small car segment with the Polo in February 2010, followed by the mid-size Vento in October 2010. Eight months after the Vento’s launch, older rivals such as Honda Siel Cars India Ltd, which had been at the No. 2 position in the mid-size segment for several years, ceded ground to it. The Vento’s competitive price forced the Japanese car maker to cut its City model’s price in August, helping it regain some ground in the months from April-November. The Japanese carmaker sold 23,831 units of the City, against Vento’s 23,405 units, in this period. Dressed formally in a crisp white shirt, red tie and black suit, 59-yearold Chacko meets me in a small, minimalist, second-floor meeting room in Volkswagen’s factory, which overlooks other automobile factories on stretches of vast lands in Chakan, near Pune. In 2006, when VW was preparing a blueprint to enter the Indian mar market, Chacko’s Indian roots ensured he was given charge of the project. He did the requisite groundwork and helped the Wolfsburg, Germanybased auto-maker which was aggressively scouting for new markets to enhance its global footprint, firm up its India plans. In March 2008, he signed a contract with VW Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd and has been in India since. Chacko has been associated with the VW group for 33 years in roles that have straddled logistics, production
Dr John Chacko has had an illustrious record with VW Group globally
planning, and manufacturing engineering in SEAT, VW’s Spanish car line, Audi and now, heading all the Volkswagen group firms in India as the chief representative. Much against the wishes of his par parents, who wanted him to chase a conventional academic stream, Chacko, the second of five siblings, chose to study aeronautics. The Delhi-born, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras alumnus went to the UK to pursue a master’s degree and then to Germany to get a doctorate. “Like most Indian families, there was a lot of pressure to become a medical doctor or engineer, but I managed to avoid that,” he says. He switched to cars when he realized recognition in this industry would come faster. Getting back to India was not easy; Chacko found it challenging to come to terms with the pace at which things move here. He found it tough to meet the timelines, which was important for VW. It was especially difficult given the state of infrastructure in Chakan; Chacko says it was, and is, an issue. “The amount of energy I have to put into my job here is much more to get the same effect,” he says. A self-confessed “difficult person to work with” who has fixed ideas, Chacko is easily put off by indirect or evasive replies. He is still getting used to the way some managers, with a hierarchical approach to work, function. “I have now developed a sort of an antenna—when someone is saying he has a challenge, it means he is not doing it. If he uses words like could and should and so on, I know he is not doing it. You have to be so alert because they are not being direct.” Unlike his stint in SEAT, Spain, his task was different here—not just to build physical infrastructure, but work towards a new work culture. In November last year, when his three-year contract as the technical managing director here was coming to an end, Chacko was preparing to go back to Germany—the country he was yearning to return to. But that was not to be. The VW management entrusted him with a bigger responsibility. The firm found in him a natural successor to Joerg Mueller to head the India operation.
Well aware of the advantages early movers have in the market, Chacko is now bracing VW for the long winding journey to the pole position in the car market. “It’s a terribly competitive market and we are late. Most of our competitors, who we take seriously, have been here for 10-15 years. We are not even present in the segment where the volume game is played,” he says, adding that any step into the future will be in the direction of strengthening the firm’s presence in the small car market. Volkswagen Group’s market share in the passenger car segment increased to 4.8% in the months from January-November against 2.5% over the entire year in 2010. The company plans to launch at least two new small cars—the VW Up! and another small car that will be positioned below Skoda’s Fabia—some time next year. These challenges have ensured that since his appointment as the chief representative of India operations, Chacko has been living out of his travel bag and when he’s not travelling, he’s recovering from it. One of the reasons why he pauses when asked about his interests and hobbies. “Can’t say I have a hobby—will have to look for one,” he says, smiling. The German-style commitment to work doesn’t give him much time for leisure travel either. Chacko prefers quick, short vacations over none. “I would rather go to a place for two days than not go at all. I always have this argument with my wife. I can’t afford a week but only two days. It’s better than nothing.” A typical day for him begins at 7.30am and ends at 8.30pm with a quiet dinner with his wife, Irmgard, at their house in Koregaon Park in Pune. Years in Germany, Spain and other parts of Western Europe have had a great influence on Chacko but somewhere, the Malayali in him remains intact. “I love south Indian food. I like the spices,” he says. Ask him what he intends to do after hanging up his boots and the workaholic chuckles. “I keep getting this question from my wife but I haven’t thought about it. It’s about time I do but I avoid thinking about it. I have a number of years to go and if I start thinking about it, I may go off-track.”
Indo AmerIcAn news • FrIdAy, Ay, JAnUAry 06 , 2012 • Online editiOn: A On: www.indOamerican-news.cOm O
BUSINESS
January 06, 2012
21
The success s sstory of an Indian entrepreneur e Vijay Dhawan’s company SARA SAE acquires Consolidated Pressure Control in Houston
By raJ aJ Kanwar ian new Delhi CorreSponD pon ent ponD Though the distance between Dehra Dun – 150 miles North West of New Delhi in the foothills of the Himalayas – and Houston, Texas in the USA is over 8510 flying miles, for the 67 year old entrepreneur Vijay K Dhawan, it was just like a walk in the park. On 7 November, 2011, Dhawan’s company SARA SAE bought an American owned and Houstonbased oilfield equipment manufacturing company Consolidated Pressure Control (CPC) in an all-cash deal. The pre-acquisition negotiations took just a few months and then the deal was signed, sealed and delivered. Dhawan is no stranger to Houston or to the USA which he has been frequently visiting since 1980 on business trips. In fact, SARA already has a stockyard in Houston. CPC is a “fully operational and profit oriented company and is being efficiently managed by professionals,” Dhawan told IAN in a special interview. He has high hopes on this acquisition which he said could become a spring board for expanding their operations both in India and overseas by adding high value to their products. Dhawan feels that the acquisition of CPC will not only “open up new avenues for our products but will also provide wider markets to our India-made products in America and Canada”. A long hall However, it was a long and arduous haul for this mechanical engineer who
Entrepreneur Vijay K Dhawan is based in Dehra Dun but frequent visitor to Houston.
had initially joined as a driller India’s E&P giant, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in July 1967. During the six years he worked in the oilfields of Assam and other places, Dhawan had picked up enough know-how about drilling operations and the components that are used. It was just another change of career when he resigned from ONGC to join Larsen & Toubro to work in their agency division which at that time were representing some reputed manufacturers of oilfield equipment. His senior there was Chandra Kumar, another qualified engineer. For next six years the two worked hard and added more agencies to Larson & Toubro’s portfolio and thus brought sub-
stantial business to the company’s kitty. Life took another turn for this young driller-turned-marketing executive when he along with his senior colleague Kumar decided to leave L&T and start their own business. The company was named SARA Services & Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Their first American agency was Dowell Schlumberger. Jointly, the two added one agency after another and very soon the number of foreign oilfield manufacturers that came into their fold rose considerably. At one time, SARA had over 20 foreign agencies in the E&P segment. More reputed amongst those were Martin Decker, GeoSource, Varco, Reed et al. In 1981, SARA had set up a manufac-
turing unit at the outskirts of Dehra Dun making aluminum products which were supplied to a French company. SARA’s first joint venture was with Varco in 1985, and this new company manufactured control units, power tongs etc. This joint venture is still continuing. Another joint venture came about in July 2007 under the terms of which SARA transferred 76% its shares to National Oil Well Varco, Houston (NOV) and merged some of its group companies in the new entity called NOV Sara India Pvt. Ltd. A few months ago in August last year, Sara was able to buy back all its shares from NOV with funding from private equity company. Ambitious expansion plans The company has ambitious expansion plans. If everything goes well, the company might go in for Initial Public Offer (IPO) in the next three to four years by that time it hopes to have its annual turnover reach between Rs. 6000/10000
millions. The company now has three manufacturing plants in Dehra Dun and two in Faridabad near Delhi. A forging plant is also in operation in the Punjab. The company’s total staff strength is 1000 plus. Sara has big plans laid out for its Houston acquisition. Dhawan’s elder son Samir will look after the technical services and manufacturing while his second son Sumit will oversee the finances and administration part. Dhawan does not want to make many changes in the existing set up in Houston and all the appointments at the operational level will continue to be held by the present incumbents. Houston will now see more frequent visits by Dhawans; the family does not want to buy a house at this moment and company’s officials will stay in hotels. Dhawan also plans to buy land in Woodland area to set up another manufacturing unit.
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INDIA w w w. d i n o d i a . c o m
22 January 06, 2012
w w w. d i n o d i a . c o m
Sankranti or Pongal sakkaraiPongal Pongal Sakkarai This recipe for sumptuous sweet rice is from Jaffna, Sri Lanka
To Earth, a Festival of Thankfulness Preparation time: 10 minutes
Sankranti or Pongal H How is the final day celebrated?
To Earth, a Festival of Thankfulness
H
What is the nature of this festival? Hindus acknowledge the sacredness of Earth and all life. Nature is a creative force worthy of respect, even veneration. Each year at harvest time, agrarian communities all over India celebrate this festival with enthusiastic abandon. They dance, fl y kites, sing What happens on thegifts thirdinday? and exchange a grand thanksgiving celebration.
What is the nature of this festival? Makara Sankranti is four days of giving thanks to four great forces of infl uence and protection: Indra, the giver of rain; Surya, the Sun; gracious cattle and beloved ancestors. This happy occasion is known as Pongal Whyby is the harvest festival so important? Tamils, Pedha Panduga among the Telugus and Lohri by Punjabis. It begins on the day the sun enters Makara (Capricorn), between January 13 and 15. This is a special time of giving blankets, pumpkins, sugarcane and other items to the poor. Married women are honored, and gifts are given to newborn children.
Tidbits About the Harvest Festival What is done on the first day?
Cooking time: 55 minutes What is the Serves: 4 nature of this festival? Equipment: A medium pot, a skillet and a big spoon Ingredients Ingredients 2 cups rice, 1/4 cup raisins, 2 tbsp mung dal, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 2/3 cup sugar, 3/4 cup freshly grated coconut (or frozen grated coconut), 1/4 cup cashews, 1 tbsp ghee Method Method 1. Roast mung dal in a dry skillet until it is golden brown. 2. Boil rice and mung dal in fi ve cups What is done on the first day? of water for thirty minutes, until the rice is cooked. 3. Add sugar and coconut and stir well. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 4. Fry raisins and cashews in ghee until nuts are light brown, then add them to the rice along with the cardamom powder. 5. Stir rice well & remove from heat. What happens on the second day?
Tidbits About the Hinduism: Fact &Harvest Fiction Festival
What is done on the first day? The day before festivities begin, Hindus What happens on the second day? thoroughly clean their homes, discarding is orthe harvest festival so FACT: Hinduism places great emphasis on giving. Dana,Why charity giving, is one of the unwanted, worn out or broken items and important? tenets of yoga. Hindus are encouraged to give to the poor, to holy men and to religious obtaining replacements for the year ahead. Marked as an inauspicious time, the months institutions. The Tirukurall inquires, “The benevolent expect no return for their dutiful giving. This clears away stale, negative energy and before theorharvest aregiving fraughtone-tenth with anxiety for How can the world ever repay the rain cloud?” Dashamamsha, tithing, brings an infl ux of dynamic blessings into and for society. All celebrations, new clothes, families visit one another, It is a day for picnic of incomevenerated. to the religious institution yououtings are affiand liatedfarmers to, is an ancient Hindu practice. such as the home. It is a time for clearing the mind as exchanging gifts and enjoying feasts. family visits. Young girls and women receive weddings, are held off. Months of toil in the fi Are there other festivals during this well, to begin the year with focus and confi FICTION: It is commonly all Hindus believe God occasionally elds andthat uncertainty over the harvest come to an blessings from olderthought womenthat for happiness month? dence. On this day, Indra, the celestial power What happens on the third day?incarnatesand as an earthly Y being, called an avatar. In fact,end this doctrine specific The onlyharvest to some with MakaraisSankranti. brings prosperity. of lightning and rain, is worshiped. On the third day, Hindus offer thanks to denominations traditions. outhand honor their elders. Brothers and sisters prosperity. Agrarian communities all over cattle, the farmer’s gracious helpers. Bulls and exchange gifts and express mutual respect and India celebrate this festival with enthusiastic What happens on the second day? cows are lovingly adorned with cowrie shells, allegiance. Poets and their works are revered. abandon. Once the crops are harvested and Using colored rice fl our, women draw embroidered shawls, colorful ropes and bells. cash fl ows in, communities proceed to plan In Tamil Nadu, it is also called patterns on the floor called kolam or rangoli, They are fed sweet rice and sugar cane. Tiruvalluvar Day, in honor of the author of weddings and other rites of passage. Over one depicting the Moon and the Sun in a chariot. quarter of the Rig Veda is devoted to praises the famed ethical scripture Tirukural. How is the fi nal day celebrated? Prayers are directed to Surya, the Sun, with of Indra, the lord of the ele ments, the exalted On the fourth day, ancestors and wildlife are offerings of freshly harvested sugarcane and Lord of the devas and God of rain, who is vegetables. essential to the yield. The main event happens at sunrise when Are there other festivals during this everyone gathers in a gaily decorated month? compound where freshly harvested rice is In the Bhogi bonfi re, communities heap and Hinduism places great emphasis on giving. Dana, charity or giving, is one cooked with milk in a new pot. In Tamil burn organic, agricultural waste accompanied of the tenets of yoga. Hindus are encouraged to give to the poor, to holy men and to communities, the moment the pot boils by festive dancing to drums. During Kummi, a religious institutions. The Tirukural inquires, “The benevolent expect no return for over, all shout, “Pongalo Pongal!” (“It’s folk dance is performed by children, twirling their dutiful giving. How can the world ever repay the rain cloud?” Dashamamsha, or boiling over!”). All watch to see whether and clapping around a pot to simple poetry tithing, giving one-tenth of income to the religious institution you are affi liated to, is the froth overflows toward the East, which chanted in a sing-song manner. For Gombe an ancient Hindu practice. auspiciously indicates abundance for the year Ellu, children carry dolls as they visit neighbors ahead. Conches are sounded and children with offerings of ellu bella (a “trail-mix” made It is commonly thought that all Hindus believe that God occasionally of desiccated coconut, jaggery, sesame seeds dance for joy. A portion of the boiled rice, incarnates as an earthly being, called an avatar. In fact, this doctrine is specifi c only to the season’s fi rst food, is offered to and peanuts). some denominations and traditions. Mother Earth as a gesture of gratitude, They give and receive treats, learning from a and to all creatures and nature spirits. The small age the value of community sharing. remainder is eaten by the families. Wearing
FACT:
Hinduism: Fact & Fiction
FICTION:
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January 06, 2012
In Memory of our Founder and Publisher and Mohiniji
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24 January 06, 2012 OPINION The Use, m misuse... and Abuse of the mobile Phone Sometimes, the mobile users are so grossly engrossed in their talk that they forget the world, much to the annoyance of those who are around them.
What is amazing is the extensive use of the mobile/ cellphone all over the world. A report suggests that 1,000 new users are being added every minute globally. We in India have an impressive growth rate. It is claimed that about 4 million subscribers jump on the mobile users’ bandwagon every month. Flaunting a mobile telephone is no longer a status symbol. The ubiquitous shiny device has been lapped up by practically every member of our society, cutting across religion, caste, gender and income groups — domestic help, hawkers, plumbers, doctors, homemakers, teachers, students, journalists, engineers, lawyers, et al. For some users, there is no life without a mobile phone. They take it wherever they go, including the morning or evening constitutional. During a train or bus jour journey, one encounters chatters of various phone users. Ringing tones, with options such as the call of a cuckoo or the cry of a baby, and other bizarre tones, could be very disturbing. Extra buck For a few mobile users, “Time is money” and they would like to use a mobile phone to make that extra buck. We encountered a doctor who, while examining a patient, got a call on his cell. Without even utter uttering an excuse, he went out for another consultation, while the patient was cooling her heels in the doctor’s chair, only to return after an hour. Sometimes, the mobile users are so grossly engrossed in their talk that they forget the world, much to the annoyance of those who are around them. Such (ill) ‘manners’ are certainly annoying, to say the least. Though there
are regulations about the restrictions on the use of cellphones in banks, public offices, concerts and others places, these are followed more in the breach than the observance. There is some concern at the radiation and other ef effects on human beings with prolonged use of mobile phones, especially by young children. There is a code of conduct in the advanced countries that advertise-
ments for mobile phones do not target children. No such code appears to be in place in our country’s industry. The government too has kept its hands off this controversy. However, it would be advisable that children do not use mobile phones for too long. Those who use gadgets, with all sorts of the latest technology, could easily surf the Internet that con-
tains information and websites not in the interest of children. Also, traffic rules prohibit the use of mobile cell phones while driving. Again, due to the indif indifferent enforcement of the rule, drivers are exposing themselves as well as others to danger. The long-term ill-effects of using the fingers for prolonged SMS should be kept in mind.
Like any technological invention, the mobile phone has its uses and misuses. No one can deny the fact that a mobile phone is exactly what the doctor ordered in an emergency. The ability to connect with anyone anywhere with a cellphone 24x7 is remarkable. Of late, the mobile phone has come into the limelight and it is being put to use for illegal operations — terrorist attacks, extortions, kidnapping and
sex and drug rackets. Code essential There has to be a code of conduct for the use of cellphone that has almost become part of a person’s daily life these days. Proliferation of mobile phone use cannot be prevented when the gadget is becoming cheaper and coming with more and more added features while the costs are coming down year after year. Moreover, the service providers are bending over backwards to woo more customers and retain the existing ones. They are offering ser services, which are ‘irresistible’. Obsolescence and with that the problem of waste management of old and discarded handsets are issues that need to be tackled urgently. The service providers should be made to ‘buy back’ old sets for recycling. While the technology of cellphones is improving regularly, we need to inculcate in the users a sense of responsibility. Children and teenagers should be advised by parents and teachers to use the mobile sparingly. Stricter check It is no more a fashion to go on SMS for thrills to friends. A stricter check with verification of the personal details of the persons who apply for cell phones should be done before issuing a pre-paid or post-paid mobile connection. In case of any crime connected with the mobile users, the service providers should volunteer to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities to help in nabbing the culprits.
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family issues. Devote time and attention to yourself and your beloved. LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23: Career and family are going to be at the centre-stage this week. Be with your family members, they may need your support. Sit with them, give them a shoulder to cry on, help them sort out their issues. You know the art of balancing, so in the times of crisis you can help to maintain a peaceful environment. You have been trying to strengthen your professional front. This shall yield excellent results now. Voice your feelings if you have someone special on your mind. SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22: Scorpios are known for their ambitious nature. This year you plan to attain perfection. A new and more lucrative job is a possibility, especially if you want it badly. Weigh your options carefully, before taking a leap. Plus, there is a possibility of something even better coming along shortly. Maintain a certain level of confidence in your abilities and luck. Don’t forget your domestic responsibilities amidst professional activity. Don’t ignore your social connections and networks. It is crucial for future success. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22: Concentrate on your own business, less on others. Meet the deadlines. Think before you speak and see before you leap, as this is a very delicate phase for you. Don’t enter into arguments with others, especially with your boss. Take time to focus on family. Creating emotional har harmony at home will go a long way in maintaining balance and calmness in your mind. Keep a rational yet calm and optimistic approach to tide through difficult family issues. CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20: Goats, it’s time to make things happen! With your charm and persona, you convince and turn situations in your favor. Your meticulous planning will make things even easier. Focus on planning and research, and the real action may come later. Avoid stepping on other’s toes while marching towards your goals. Business will progress and your professional goal may get a good direction during this phase. Don’t ignore your health and family life amidst your job’s demands. AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19: This is an excellent time for you. A lot depends on you. It is going to be up to you, your talents and foresightedness to make the most of this highly favorable phase. If you make the right decisions now, the rest of the year will be taken care of. Work harder on the career front. Financially, it is going to be a sound week. Business is likely to be average. Don’t ignore your relationships, though. You want to conquer your goals, but remember, personal relationships are important too. PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20: Responsibilities, family issues and personal matters will keep the Fish fully occupied. Avoid emotional dependence on others. Your stars are quite powerful, and if you believe in your strengths, you will be able to deal with all of them. In fact, it’s the right time to prove your calibre and ability to handle pressure. Be strong, be positive, as you may need take a tough stand. However, owing to all the stress, your creativity may suf suffer this week. As far as the money matters are concerned, expect smooth sailing.
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do
Happy New Year 2012 ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20: Your financial stars are shining brightly. Make the best of it. On the job front, things will be stable. You will now want more from life. Remember: ambition is good but only in moderation. You are ready to risk your money on speculations. Continue to work hard, and stay focused on your goals. You may end up spending your precious time, money and energy on unimportant, vacuous matters. In the matters of heart, expect relations to get better. TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You may have a tough time balancing your romantic relationship and work, this week. Your spouse/partner may complain about the time you spend with him or her. This may heighten to a domestic chaos. Employ a soothing, rational line of reasoning to make your loved one understand your situation. Your beloved will understand. A similarly tactful approach is needed at your workplace too. On the finance front, stay away from speculation and risks. GEMINI May 22 - Jun 21: The week looks set to be a favorable one for you. At work, expect to get promoted, especially if you have been working hard for this raise. You shall successfully complete your projects and make your boss happy. There will be plenty of positive changes in your working environment; this may also mean a change of place. Entrepreneurs too shall be in some serious run of luck. You may lose out on important networks, as you rake in all the good luck now. Employ latest communication technology to your advantage, if need be, or simply go to a colleague’s desk to say hi! Expect smooth sailing in the matters related to money and finances. Watch from overspending! CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 23: Enjoy life to the fullest! The week will keep you busy in plenty of fun-filled activities. Catching up with old friends and family members will take up most of your time. Work will become more demanding. However, socializing will refresh you. Your desire for excellence on the business front shall heighten. You will not face any problem in getting good returns. Keep a close guard on your finances. Your domestic life shall be calm, and this shall help you concentrate better on your work. However, your children may become a bone of contention between you and your spouse. Take care! LEO July 24 - Aug 23: You have an enthusiastic beginning this new year. Parties, hanging out with friends and social functions are much on the cards, suggest the planets. On the work front, you will be at your creative best. Your charisma and popularity increases. Moreover, a lot of surprises are in store for you this week. There is a very strong possibility of you falling in love, or someone going down on their knees and proposing to you. In short, love is in the air! However, it’s best to not expect much from your family members. Make the most out of what is going right for you. VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23: The week starts slow. Don’t be discouraged. Plenty of mundane chores will keep you occupied. A little rest doesn’t hurt either. The perfectionist in you keeps pushing you to do better. Honing your skills, conducting a relevant research or simply planning for future keeps you going. Guard your finances closely, steer clear of unwarranted expenses. On the personal front, things are dull. Learn to enjoy this stability. Avoid conflicting
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