April showers. Bring them on. Let’s splash into spring. In this issue, we have articles ranging from the benefits of fiber to the historical analysis of how a century of fighting for justice by African Americans opened doors for Indians to come and thrive in America.
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Some highlights in this issue:
♦ Read about how the financial markets are faring in this world of AI and global turmoil in the “Eye on Markets” column on page 32.
♦ See what new movies are coming up in our “Upcoming Movies” on page 34.
♦ Looking for a job or new business? See latest Classifieds on page 108.
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Auroville is an experimental township in Viluppuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu with some parts in the Union Territory of Puducherry in India.
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The unstoppable beast known as Artificial Intelligence is coming for everything. My fear is the initial societal unhinging that will happen before we learn to balance and eventually create a world where humans and machines walk and talk and work hand in hand.
New societal and social constructs will emerge, wholly different from what we have known in the past. There’s no stopping this or going back. It is about becoming aware, preparing and acting where possible.
Past technological innovations have made our lives easier, with labor eased while creating more free time. But these have always brought change slowly, and without completely eradicating what preceded. At least we still needed humans for the changed ecosystems. This time seems different.
There will be lots of dissonance and unraveling of the status quo. We are already dealing with political madness and divisions around the world while a massive debt crisis looms on the horizon for the United States.
Companies are diving into AI and attaching it to anything they can. I have a mantra that I put on repeat during conversations about AI, and that is ‘we are creating a world that will require fewer humans to run that world.’ A lot fewer. That is the essential quandary. Something will have to give, and cooler heads will have to step in for a peaceful and balanced future to evolve. Maybe I’m overthinking this. Maybe not.
The more troubling aspect is the new arms race between countries. This time the race is for AI dominance. This digital cold war can have devastating effects if thoughtful defensive measures aren’t taken and policies aren’t implemented.
The average American can fight back via a prime weapon – their votes. Politicians and leaders who see two steps ahead while working for today are what is needed.
I have been thinking and analyzing about this for a while and have come up with the ABCD of AI. Maybe you will find it useful. Something you and your family can talk about and make necessary course corrections. Some of these are under your control. Others we must
Photo by Samir Shukla
Upcoming Events
Regional Festival of India: Matthews, NC (April 11, 2026)
After four years of partnership with the Town of Matthews on artistic and cultural diversity initiatives, the India Association of Charlotte presents a special Themed “The Folk Fest 2026”, the 5th Regional Festival of India @ Matthews on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 12–6 pm, at Stumptown Park (120 S. Trade St., Matthews, NC 28105). This family-friendly festival celebrates the richness of Indian culture with dance, music, folk and folkinfluenced Bollywood entertainment, turban and saree tying, henna art designs, interactive exhibits, and an open-air market featuring authentic Indian food and souvenirs. Admission is free and ample parking is available. Explore the colors, flavors, and traditions of India in downtown Matthews. Info: Indiafestival.net.
Ugadhi Sambaralu: Concord, NC (April 12, 2026)
TAGCA presents Ugadhi Sambaralu on Sunday, April 12, 2026, starting at 1:30pm, at Cox Mill H. S., 1355 Cox Mill Rd., Concord, NC. Cultural performances along with Tollywood singers Anirudh Suswaram and Vaishnavi Nannur. Food available for purchase. Info: Tagca.org.
Gujarati comedy natak “Chandu Chakdole Chadhyo” comes to Charlotte on Sunday, April 12, 2026, 6:30pm, Hindu Center. Info: 704-915-2939.
Greensboro: Monday, April 13, 2026, 7pm, GCAP, 127 Landmark Dr. Info: 336-430-7961.
A
Conversation with Kamala Harris: Carolinas (April 13 – 16, 2026)
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is touring to tell the story of the 2024 presidential campaign. She will share what she saw, what she learned, and what it will take to move forward. She will lead a conversation about country in the coming years. Dates: April 13, 2026 – Greensboro, NC; April 14, 2026 – Charlotte, NC; April 16, 2026 –Columbia, SC. Tickets for each are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Rohan
Rajeev Foundation Bystander CPR
Training Sessions:
Triangle, NC (April 14, 2026)
The Foundation is offering free bystander CPR sessions and learn a skill that can change someone’s future. Sessions are simple, handson, and designed for all. No medical background needed. In less than an hour you’ll walk away knowing exactly what to do in those first critical minutes. The next session in the Triangle will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 6:30pm, at HSNC’s Learning Center. Details: Rohanrajeev.org.
The annual festival is dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of nonfiction cinema. Full Frame welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world to historic downtown Durham, North Carolina, for a fourday, morning-to-midnight array of more than 60 films, as well as discussions, panels, and Southern hospitality. Set within a few city blocks, the intimate festival landscape fosters community and conversation among filmmakers, film professionals, and the public. Info: Fullframefest.org.
Black & White (1945–1968) – The Golden Era of Hindi Cinema: Morrisville, NC (April 17, 2026)
The Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC) presents a campus expansion fundraising event that celebrates the timeless magic of classic Hindi cinema. Experience “Black & White (1945–1968) – The Golden Era of Hindi Cinema”, a live audio-visual show that brings back the music, dance, storytelling, and nostalgia of Bollywood’s most iconic era. It takes place on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7pm, HSNC Cultural Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC. Details: Call 404-402-0666 or 919-812-6049.
Urban
Taal: Apex, NC (April 18, 2026)
Aakriti Kathak Academy presents “Urban Taal” where traditional kathak meets contemporary music. Enjoy live performance with Pt. Rajendra Gangani and Pt. Fateh Singh Gangani along with kathak students from the academy. It takes place Saturday, April 18, 2026, 4 – 7pm, Apex Friendship High School, Apex, NC. For more details, visit Aakritikathakacademy.weebly.com.
Heartfulness presents the 3rd annual Meditative Melodies, connecting cultures through Heartfulness on Saturday, April 18, 2026, 3:306:30pm, at 6400 Prosperity Church Rd., Charlotte, NC. Experience meditation, multicultural music and dance, and free wellness tools. Entry $10. For more details, visit Heartfulnessinstitute.org.
Kiran Heroes for Hope Walkathon: Cary, NC (April 19, 2026)
Kiran presents the fundraiser “Heroes for Hope Walkathon” on Sunday, April 19, 2026, 9 am – noon, at Bond Park, 801 High House Rd., Cary, NC. Performances and more. Info: Kiraninc.org.
Charlotte SHOUT!: (Through April 19, 2026)
Built on the pillars of art, music, food, and ideas, the event is an inclusive and inspirational sensory feast for all ages, with more than 200 events and attractions taking place over 17 days in Uptown, Charlotte. Info: Charlotteshout.com.
Sampoorna Ramayana: Cary, NC (April 25 – May 2, 2026)
Chinmaya Mission of Raleigh Durham presents spiritual discourses by Pujya Swami Shantananda from April 25 – May 2, 2026, at Reedy Creek Middle School, 930 Reedy Creek Rd., Cary, NC. Based on Sri Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas. For info, call 919-539-2537 or visit Chinmaya-rdu.org.
Spring Food Festival: Apex, NC (April 25, 2026)
International Community Church presents a festival on Saturday, April 25, 2026, 11am – 3pm, at Fellowship Hall, 1402 E. Williams St., Apex, NC. Lots of food and fun games for kids. There will also be plants for sale. For more info, call 919-233-2900 or visit Icc-church.org.
TreeFest: Charlotte, NC (April 25, 2026)
Trees Charlotte presents TreeFest on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This event will bring tree enthusiasts to NoDa Brewing Company for an afternoon of live music, free tree seedlings, arts & crafts, and arboriculture activities. There will also be an market for local vendors and environmentally focused nonprofits. Details: Treescharlotte.org.
World Dance Fest: Morrisville, NC (April 25, 2026)
A cultural celebration showcasing the beauty and diversity of dance traditions from around the world. Curated by Guru Supriya Desai, this event brings together artists and audiences to experience an evening of rhythm, expression, and cultural unity. It happens on Saturday, April 25, 2026, beginning at 2pm, HSNC Cultural Hall, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. Info: Hsnctemple.org.
Vedanta Center NC presents Swami Sarvapriyananda in spiritual discourses. May 1: In collaboration with Duke University Chapel and Religious Life, he will give a walk on the universal message of Vedanta at 6:30 pm, Goodson Chapel, Duke University Chapel, Durham, NC. May 2 – 3: He will present talks at West Cary Middle School, Cary, NC. Info: Vedantanc.org.
Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy in Concert: Raleigh, NC (May 3, 2026)
Bollywood musical trio Shankar, Ehsaan, and Loy will present “Dil Chahta Hai” concert on Sunday, May 3, 2026, beginning at 5:15pm, at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. For more details call 347205-7276 or for tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com.
CMAC presents a Flute-Vocal Jugalbandhi with Shashank Subramanyam, Abhishek Raghuram, Parupalli Phalgun, and S. Krishna. The performance will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2026, 4pm at the Hindu Center of Charlotte’s Gandhi Bhavan. For more information, contact 704-904-9454 or visit Onlinecmac.org.
Guruji Ashwinkumar Pathak will present at musical Sunderkand Path Tuesday 5, 2026, 7pm, in the HSNC temple, Morrisville, NC. Sunderkand is 5th Chapter of shree Ramcharitmanas. For details, call 919-599-9567.
Hindi Vikas Mandal presents heart-warming recitals by poets on Sunday, May 17, 2026, 4:407:30pm, at HSNC Cultural Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC. Food will be available for purchase. Tickets start at $10. For info, call 919-656-5224 or 919-801-0672.
Dances of India:
Charlotte, NC (May 31, 2026)
Maha Gingrich presents the 22nd anniversary performances of Dances of India on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Matthews Community Center. For more details, visit Mahasdancesofindia.com.
A Talking Canvas
My Voice
by Maneesha Lassiter
As I scraped excess paint from the unknown woman’s face on my canvas, I saw her figure come to life. I felt excited, but also very nervous, who was she, and what was she doing in my painting? What I primarily wanted to explore was the effect of light and shadow by using a limited palette, but I soon became drawn to the intimate scene set in the small room. The painting’s composition is in many aspects a still life: earthen pottery, floors made of brick, an old Moroccan rug rendered in Alizarin crimson, viridian green and burnt sienna hues.
The walls in the room appear textured like stucco. An exuberant warm yellow light fills the space, emanating outward as an expression of the young woman’s inner emotions. Her expression is a mix of awe, humility, and apprehension—not one of calm acceptance.
I was copying the well-known African American Henry Ossawa Tanner painting “The Annunciation” in which his subject was Mother Mary. In his painting she is dressed in a traditional robe from the nineteenth century and appears gazing at a glowing light that represents the angel Gabriel delivering a message about the birth of someone divine. Generally in my paintings, even when I’m copying a well-known masterwork to learn a particular technique, I alter the composition by including visual elements of my home country to make it personal.
For example, I might paint an Indian spice box or a curry plant in the foreground.
With my canvas on the easel in front of me, I loaded my brush with white and dark paint to create folds on the subject’s robe, but when I
Talking Canvas continued on page 96
The unfinished painting, a copy of Henry Ossawa Tanner’s work
Photo courtesy Maneesha Lassiter
Photo courtesy Maneesha Lassiter
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Choosing Where to Grow Old
Question Immigrants Face: Part 1
The United States has been home for most of my adult life. It’s where I built a career, raised a family, and learned who I am in the world. Like many immigrants, I arrived with dreams, worked hard, adapted, and put down roots that grew deep over decades. And yet, lately, a different question has been surfacing—quietly, persistently: Where do I want to grow old?
This isn’t a sudden decision. And it isn’t driven by nostalgia or impatience. It’s coming from reflection. A wake-up call I couldn’t ignore. When my husband fell seriously ill, time stopped feeling theoretical. Health, care, dignity, and support—things we assume will be there—suddenly felt fragile. I found myself navigating a healthcare system that moved slowly when urgency mattered most, and in that experience, something shifted inside me.
I began to look at the future differently. Not just how long we live, but how we live. Aging is not just about comfort. As we grow older, the questions change. It’s no longer about ambition or accumulation.
It becomes about rhythm. Community. Being seen. Being supported without having to constantly fight.
I started asking myself where those things would feel most natural. For me, those questions kept circling back to India. Not the India of memory alone, but the India of relationships, familiarity, and a social fabric where aging is still woven into everyday life.
This is not an announcement. It’s a journal.
I’m not moving tomorrow. I don’t have every detail mapped out. And I’m not pretending this will be simple. Returning after decades away comes with its own uncertainties with logistics, healthcare choices, identity shifts, and the reality of becoming both familiar and foreign at the same time.
This is not about certainty. It’s about honest preparation. I’m journaling this path—financially, emotionally, practically—as I think through what it means to return to India in the later chapters of life.
My Voice by Malini Amaladoss
Photo by Samir Shukla
The Door Opened for Us
My Voice
by Dhruv Pathak
On Bhagat Singh Thind, the Civil Rights Movement, and the debt Indian Americans rarely acknowledge
“I just got through fighting for freedom, and here I came back to Georgia and the United States was still segregated, and the education system and process. And they hit me again. Here I am on the GI Bill. They didn’t have to give me anything. All they had to do was open up the door and let me in. Give me an opportunity to further my education. But I was denied, because I was still what, was a Negro…. Denied, because of my race.”
Those are the words of Lewis Conn, a Black World War II veteran who returned home to find the country he had served still refused to see him as fully human. The same door was closed to others whose names we rarely mention, including one that most Indian Americans do not know: Bhagat Singh Thind. Thind was a Punjabi Sikh who immigrated to the U.S. in 1913 and worked summers in Oregon lumber mills to put himself through UC Berkeley.
Imagine Thind early each morning, his hands stained with sap, the weight of an axe on his shoulder, sawdust clinging to his turban and clothes as he labored alongside other men in the damp, pine-scented air. After long shifts, he studied by lamplight, his textbooks open atop a rough wooden table still flecked with wood chips. When the U.S. entered World War I, he enlisted, was promoted to Acting Sergeant, and was honorably discharged in December 1918. Like Lewis Conn, he came home having served. Like Lewis Conn, he found the door closed.
Thind applied for naturalization, and his case reached the Supreme Court. He argued that South Asians shared common linguistic ancestry with white Europeans and therefore should be considered Caucasian under prevailing law. The Court rejected his argument, ruling that shared heritage did not prove common racial origin, and found that no reasonable person would consider someone like Thind white.
The Court had spoken. His path to citizenship would take thirteen more years. In 1935, the Nye-Lea Act allowed all World War I veterans to apply for naturalization regardless of race, and Thind finally became a citizen in 1936, thirteen years late, only because he wore an American military uniform. For Indian immigrants, belonging has always been conditional. Thind’s terms of
All the People
All the People
Juxtaposed Wherever You Go
Juxtaposed Wherever You Go
Kismuth and the Way by Dipika
Kohli
Anyone who’s moved to a new school in the middle of the school year will very much be in the know about what it’s like to experience the awkward feeling of ‘not fitting in.’ How suddenly, all of what’s around you is quite brand new.
I was still in elementary school when my family moved to North Carolina from Michigan. Everyone in my new class kept asking me, ‘State or Carolina?’ (Referring to NC’s storied basketball teams. No one cared about the Detroit Tigers.) While I never fully adjusted, I did learn to shoot hoops. Kind of.
A great deal of flailing, though, happened to me in that critical adjusting phase. I missed my old friends, the people on my old block. The accent that matched mine. Snow. Especially snow, and snow days. I had to adjust to the idea of not being in band or getting to go to a high school I’d been fixated on because they had a swim team. Field trips were different, too. They took us to places where the Civil War was fought, and stuff like that, instead of I don’t even remember what.
But it wasn’t all gloom. It’s what you make of it, right? Mindset, attitude: those things matter. Little by little, I found my footing. I befriended other classmates who, one by one, moved to my school from other schools. (This worked in the same way later in life we would cluster with other ‘blow-ins’ as they called us, in Ireland.) One time, on a long-awaited trip back to Michigan in ninth or tenth grade, I had a weird moment of recognizing something many of us who live between worlds will. This feeling sinking in that says, Oh, I am not from here, anymore, either. Ah, to be in-between worlds, and know it.
But I must admit, now, looking back on the abrupt shift to the Southeast that used to be so angstinducing, if we hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today. The person that says, ‘Sure let’s just go?’ And moves to a new continent. Easy, perhaps, because I’d had my experience early in life being swept out from familiar shores, at least that was how it felt for me, only to wash up on land so foreign I had to start over. Customs, styles, foods, accents and an overall lack of familiarity: so much newness, all at once.
Kismuth continued on page 82
The Fibers of Life
Nutrition for Life by Parul Kharod
Contrary to popular belief, protein is not the most important nutrient we need. Our most important nutrient, and one that many people are missing out on, is fiber! What is fiber, how much do we need, and where to get it?
What is fiber?
Fiber is actually a carbohydrate! It is only found in plant foods. Animal foods, including dairy products, have zero fiber. The human body cannot digest or absorb fiber; therefore, we do not get any calories from fiber. Unlike other carbs that break down into sugar, fiber passes relatively intact through the digestive system.
Why is fiber important?
There are different types of fibers that play different roles in keeping our body and mind healthy. High fiber diets have been associated with a lower risk of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.
Soluble fiber
Soluble fiber can dissolve in water or other fluids and form a gel like substance. This can slow down digestion and can have many benefits.
Lowering cholesterol: Soluble fiber can prevent the absorption of some of the cholesterol in foods and help lower LDL. Fiber can also bind with extra fat and help remove it from your body.
Balancing blood sugars: Fiber prevents bloods sugars from spiking or crashing, thus stabilizing your blood sugars evenly through the day.
Improving heart health: High fiber diets have been shown to improve blood pressure and lower inflammation while improving the health of your blood vessels by removing plaque buildup.
Feeding healthy gut bacteria: Soluble fiber-rich foods are pre-biotics that feed the probiotic gut bacteria, which has several benefits for physical and mental health
Preventing constipation: Soluble fiber absorbs water like a sponge, creating a gel that slows down the transit time through your gut. It helps create soft, formed stools, and helps with easy elimination.
Terminal Value
Terminal Value
Eye on the Markets
by Ketu Desai
February was the month that AI disrupted the stock market. New tools from Anthropic and others created doubt for investors about the terminal value of many businesses. The epicenter of this is software. Software companies are seeing multiple compression as most of their value is derived from their terminal value, which is now uncertain.
The selling spread to private equity and credit because of their high exposure to software companies. Trucking companies, real estate, legal services, travel, credit cards, financial data and service providers all got hit this month. It was a rolling correction through most sectors of the market. The market sentiment has shifted from AI boosting business through productivity and margin expansion to AI will disrupt the business. This is an overhang that will loom over many sectors such as software, private equity and credit, and certain travel websites.
For others, for now at least, it’s hard to get too negative when the administration is trying to run the economy hot, the stimulative impacts of OBBB will hit in the coming months, the new Fed will cut rates aggressively, the Fed started buying bonds, Fannie and Freddie are buying MBS, there will potentially be lower tariffs, and earnings are growing 15% with margins hitting an all-time high at 14.8%. Insiders agree, they have meaningfully stepped up their
purchases. Historically, when we have seen this type of insider buying, the forward returns are strong. Market structure has become increasingly important for portfolio construction. Much of the volatility during the month was exacerbated by market structure. For many years, wealth management firms, target-dated funds, risk-parity funds, pensions and endowments, institutional investors, and CTAs dominated the marketplace. They often ran diversified portfolios in which they targeted a level of volatility. They typically run an equity portfolio with fixed income as a diversifier and a volatility compressor.
In recent years, these investors no longer dominate the marketplace. Multi-manager platforms (pod-shops), quant funds, options traders, and retail now dominate. They run portfolios very differently. Many of these investors think of portfolios in buckets, factors, and themes. Pod-shops and quant funds often run high gross exposure (high leverage) with low net exposure. They will run long certain themes or sectors and short other themes and sectors. When they are taking down gross, fixed income will not hedge the portfolio, because the moves will be incredibly violent, something we saw in February 2026.
Upcoming Movie Releases
April 1-3
Biker (Director: Abhilash Reddy)
Cast: Sharwanand, Rajasekhar, and Malvika Nair
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
(Directors: Aaron Horvath & Michael Jelenic)
Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black
The Drama (Director: Kristoffer Borgli)
Cast: Zendaya, Mamoudou Athie, and Robert Pattinson
April 10
The Christophers (Director: Steven Soderbergh)
Cast: Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, and James Corden
Bhooth Bangla
(Director: Priyadarshan Soman Nair)
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Rajpal Yadav
Outcome (Director: Jonah Hill)
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Jonah Hill, and Cameron Diaz
Dacoit: A Love Story (Director: Shaneil Deo)
Cast: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, and Anurag Kashyap
Beast (Director: Tyler Atkins)
Cast: Russell Crowe, Daniel MacPherson, and Luke Hemsworth
April 17
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy
(Director: Lee Cronin)
Cast: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, and May Calamawy
4 Kids Walk into A Bank
(Director: Frankie Shaw)
Cast: Talia Ryder, Whitney Peak, and Liam Neeson
Normal (Director: Ben Wheatley)
Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Lena Headey, and Henry Winkler
Mother Mary (Director: David Lowery)
Cast: Anne Hathaway and Hunter Schafer
April 24
Michael (Director: Antoine Fuqua)
Cast: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, and Colman Domingo
Ginny Wedss Sunny 2
(Director: Prashant Jha)
Cast: Avinash Tiwary a nd Medha Shankr
Apex (Director: Baltasar Kormákur)
Cast: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana
The Wardrobe (Director: Saurabh Choubey)
Cast: Rajneesh Duggal and Divya Agarwal
Over Your Dead Body (Director: Jorma Taccone)
Cast: Samara Weaving, Timothy Olyphant, and Juliette Lewis
May 1
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Director: David Frankel)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Kenneth Branagh
G2 (Director: Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi)
Cast: Adivi Sesh, Emraan Hashmi, and Wamiqa Gabbi
Ek Din (Director: Sunil Pandey)
Cast: Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi
Deep Water (Director: Renny Harlin)
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, and Mark Hadlow
Summer Holidays (Director: Srikar)
Cast: Rohan Roy and Arun Dev Pothula
Hokum (Director: Damian McCarthy)
Cast: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, and David Wilmot
Raja Shivaji (Director: Riteish Deshmukh)
Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, and Abhishek Bachchan
Peddi (Director: Buchi Babu Sana)
Cast: Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Shiva Rajkumar
Saathee.com/movies has the latest info on where the movies are showing or streaming. Release dates subject to change.
Bhooth Bangla
Bhooth Bangla is an eccentric horror-comedy film starring Akshay Kumar and directed by Priyadarshan. The cast also includes Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, and the late Asrani. April 10, 2026.
Hamlet
Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedy is reimagined in a modern adaptation set within London’s elite South Asian community. The film stars Riz Ahmed, Art Malik, Sheeba Chaddha, and Timothy Spal. It is directed by Aneil Karia. April 10, 2026.
The Christophers
The children of a once famous artist hire a forger to complete some unfinished, long ago abandoned canvases so they’ll have an inheritance when he dies. Steven Soderbergh directs Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, James Corden, and Jessica Gunning in this tense drama. April 10, 2026.
Beast
MMA legend Patton James, now a commercial fisherman, is pulled back into the cage when his brother is in danger. Reuniting with his old coach Sammy, he commits to one final fight in a championship against its brutal champion. Directed by Tyler Atkins the film stars Russell Crowe, Daniel MacPherson, and Luke Hemsworth. April 10, 2026.
Dacoit: A Love Story
The story follows an angry convict seeking vengeance against his former girlfriend who betrayed him. The movie stars Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, and Anurag Kashyap. It is directed by Shaneil Deo. April 10, ,2026.
Apex
When an adrenaline junkie sets out to conquer a menacing river, she discovers that nature isn’t the only thing out for blood. Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana star in the film directed by Baltasar Kormákur. April 24, 2026.
Raja Shivaji
The journey of the young Shivaji, who fought against the powers that be and was crowned as Chhatrapati monarch. Riteish Deshmukh stars in the film and directs Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Mahesh Manjrekar. May 1, 2026.
My Voice by Khanjari Joshi
A Trip the Universe Rewrote
The universe, which I am learning, has a peculiar sense of humor. Or perhaps it’s a very strict teacher, and I am a very slow student, destined to repeat the same lesson until it finally sinks in. My lesson, it seems, is about patience, and my final exam was this trip.
It was all supposed to be so perfect. For weeks, the thought of it had been a warm light in the back of my mind. It had been five long years since I’d seen my mom in India. Five years of phone calls and video chats that never quite bridged the distance. This trip wasn’t just a vacation; it was a homecoming. A chance to breathe, to be someone’s daughter again, to finally claim some well-deserved rest. I was so ready. Bags packed Thursday night, a picture of efficiency. Friday, February 27, 2026, 11:30 am, I started the drive to Atlanta, my heart lighter than it had been in months.
I was on the way to India. The flight to Abu Dhabi was smooth. They served dinner, and as usual, I put on a movie, The Intern. And as usual, those who know me well will not be surprised to hear, I was asleep within the first thirty minutes. I woke up disoriented, having missed a chunk of the plot. No matter, I thought with a smile, rewinding it. This was my time. I could restart movies. I could do anything I wanted. An hour outside Abu Dhabi, I felt a wave of contentment. I got up to brush my teeth, ready to land refreshed.
That’s when the captain’s voice crackled over the intercom. The words were muffled, distorted by the tiny bathroom speaker. I caught only the tone: serious, urgent. I rushed back to my seat. My neighbor’s face was pale. “Abu Dhabi has closed its airspace,” she said. “Political unrest. We’re being rerouted to Istanbul.”
My heart didn’t just sink, it plummeted, a cold stone dropping into a vast, dark well. An hour and three minutes. That’s how long we had left to fly. It felt like a lifetime. Every minute was a battle to simply feel the solid reassurance of the wheels touching the ground. When they finally did, it wasn’t relief I felt, but a new, sharper kind of chill. It wasn’t just the cold Istanbul air that hit me as we deplaned onto the tarmac, stairs leading down to a waiting bus. It was the chill of uncertainty. We were on the ground, yes, but this wasn’t home. This wasn’t even where we were supposed to be. Anxiety, the fear of traveling alone in a suddenly volatile world, it all wrapped around me.
The bus ride to the terminal felt endless. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with confusion. Then came the instruction: “Stay with your group. The police will be performing their duties.” Police. The word was a jolt of ice water. We weren’t criminals. We were just people, travelers - pieces scattered mid-game on a global board. In that
moment, the deep blue of my American passport in my bag felt like a tiny, warm Sapphire. Gratitude. A strange thing to feel, but there it was. All I needed was a stamp, a bureaucratic blessing to exist here legally. It could be worse. It wasn’t, yet.
The wait for our bags was an agonizing, hour-and-a-halflong test of faith. But they came. Good thing number one. Then began the march. Following officials, we trudged what felt like five miles through the biting cold, a long, straggling line of displaced souls, until we were herded onto coaches. After a 45-minute ride, we were deposited at the Holiday Inn Express. Chaos at the check-in counter. Gnawing hunger. A leftover dinner buffet of salad, rice, bread, and lentil soup. It was fuel. We ate it silently.
Jetlagged, stressed, and deeply insecure, sleep was a foreign concept. I called home, my voice - a mix of exhaustion and forced calm. My family, ever the optimists, offered the only comfort they could: “You are safe and that’s all that matters!” My friends, ever supportive offered the viewpoint... “When life gives you lemons... enjoy lemonade (maybe explore Istanbul?)” It felt absurd, but the idea took root. Maybe this was an unplanned adventure. Maybe I could get those famous swing pictures I’d always dreamed of, a Bollywood-style moment in a beautiful saree against a stunning Istanbul backdrop. I actually looked up sites, made a mental plan. Hope, it seems, is as stubborn as fear.
The next morning, breakfast was another study in peculiarity: onion rings, potato wedges, bread and jam, and a plate of sliced veggies. We ate, we mingled, we constantly
A mosque outside the airport.
Photo by Khanjari Joshi
“The Measure of a Man” Star Trek’s Unintended Existential Masterpiece
The debate of artificial intelligence has been a staple of science fiction almost since the genre was first conceived. Yet it’s even more poignant now as large corporations delve further and further into the realm of programs created for the simple task of doing labor more efficiently than a human mind or body could. I’ve mentioned in a previous article that if these corporate minds had experienced even one science fiction tale about the potential dangers of synthetic life, well… the world may be vastly different than the one it’s gradually turning into.
One story which has always stood out to me is not one which warns us about Artificial Intelligence but instead depicts a more sympathetic take from the perspective of the synthetic life form itself. “The Measure of a Man”, the 9th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s second season wasn’t even originally allocated to be produced, as often Roddenberry and his team would comb through numerous speculative scripts and leave some in the wings as “backup” episodes as needed to fill out the grueling 22-26 episodes seasons produced at the time. Due to the 1988 Writers Guild of America Strike (yes, there have been numerous over the decades) the script, written by former attorney and original Star Trek novelist Melinda M. Snodgrass was accepted to compensate for the strike’s impact on the show’s filming schedule.
First airing on February 13, 1989, “The Measure of a Man” has gone on to become one of the most influential episodes in Star Trek canon and non-canon alike.
The basic premise of the story is that of Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), a synthetic being, and whether he is a member of Starfleet or a piece of property to be utilized. Initially he meets a cyberneticist named Commander Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy), whose interest in positronic brain design borders on obsession.
Over the course of their conversation, it becomes abundantly clear that the latter wishes to study Data and potentially create copies of him for the betterment of Starfleet and the galaxy at large. The android is concerned, however, that the procedure could change him as a person, and refuses to comply.
Maddox, whom to this point has referred to Data as “it” instead of “he,” then goes to Starfleet in an attempt to argue that Data must agree due to not being a “sentient being” in the eyes of interstellar law. The Commander’s reasonings may come from a noble place, but his methods and standoffish nature in terms of Data as anything other than an advanced computer with a humanoid body certainly portray him in a more villainous light. We, as the audience, are also inclined to take Data’s side considering we’ve already come to know the character through 34 previous episodes of the show.
As a way to debate this dilemma, the show then shifts into an intriguing courtroom drama to determine the Lt. Commander’s status as property or a conscious being with free choice.
Image via Paramount Studios
Mirror, Mirror by Jennifer Allen
How to Speak up Confidently in Rooms That Matter
How to Speak up Confidently in Rooms That Matter
Executive & Career Coach by Payal Nanjiani
I have seen it time and again.
There is an important meeting with the senior management team. The room is filled with fifteen smart, capable leaders. The discussion is strategic. The stakes are high. Decisions made in that room will shape the business’s direction.
Among those leaders, seven or eight are South Asian executives. They are talented, technically strong, and deeply knowledgeable about the business. At the beginning of the meeting, they shared a couple of points. Then the discussion heats up. Opinions start to clash. The debate becomes sharper. The conversation becomes faster.
Suddenly, something changes.
These leaders take a back seat. They become quiet and listen politely while others debate vigorously. The meeting ends. Later, outside the room, these very leaders approach senior executives one-on-one.
They say things like:
“I had an idea I wanted to share…”
“I actually had a different perspective…”
“There is another approach we could consider…”
In other words, the ideas were there, but they never made it into the room that mattered most.
Why Does This Happen?
Despite being talented and hardworking, many professionals struggle to speak up in high-stakes meetings. It is not because they lack intelligence or ideas. The real reason is far deeper, a fear of judgment and a lack of confidence in our communication. In senior rooms, every word feels like it is being
Coach continued on page 72
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An Evening of Classical Storytelling Through Bharatanatyam Community Focus
Community
Focus
by Haripriya Srinivasan
The CPCC Parr Center in Charlotte hosted in January 2026 an evening celebrating the beauty and depth of classical Indian dance. The sold-out thematic Bharatanatyam musical, Parashakthi Vaibhavam, reflected strong community interest in the production. The two-hour performance, featuring twenty-five young dancers, offered audiences a vibrant journey through mythology, devotion, and artistic expression.
Blending intricate footwork with expressive abhinaya (facial expression and storytelling), the production highlighted the timeless nature of Bharatanatyam—an art form that seamlessly weaves together rhythm, spirituality, and narrative. Through meticulously choreographed sequences, the dancers brought to life stories rooted in Indian tradition while exploring universal themes of feminine power, courage, devotion, and transformation.
At the heart of the evening was the remarkable commitment of the young performers. The principal roles were enacted by college and high school students, whose maturity, precision, and expressive storytelling anchored the production. Supporting them were younger dancers from elementary and middle school, whose presence added warmth and enthusiasm to the stage. The program unfolded through a series of scenes inspired by traditional narratives from Hindu literature.
The evening concluded with a lively ensemble finale, bringing all dancers together on stage in a celebration of shared artistry and dedication. The enthusiastic response from the audience underscored the growing appreciation for classical Indian arts within the Charlotte community.
Performances such as this highlight the enduring relevance of traditional art forms. By engaging young artists and audiences alike, they continue to preserve cultural heritage while inspiring creativity, discipline, and connection across generations.
The production was conducted by the students of Sri Saraswathi Nrithya Nilayam, a UNESCO-certified Bharatanatyam school in Charlotte founded by Guru Uma Sakthi in 2015. A senior disciple of Kalaimamani and Sangeet Natak Akademi recipient Ranganayaki Jayaraman of Sri Saraswathi Gana Nilayam, Uma Sakthi has devoted
her career to preserving the Pandanallur styles of Bharatanatyam while nurturing the next generation of artists. Her dedication has earned recognition from U.S. Senator Thom Tillis and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. Through her mentorship, students—from elementary school to adults—learn to perform not only as skilled dancers but also as confident, disciplined individuals who carry forward the rich traditions and cultural heritage of her style.
photos by Dola Paul
Researchers Develop Biodegradable, Plant-based Packaging from Natural Fibers
New Research
By J. Carson Meredith
Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.
Jie and I had been hoping to identify naturally occurring whitening pigments that could be used in paper and paints. The beetle’s white exoskeleton is made from a compound called chitin, which is a type of carbohydrate – one that is also commonly found in crab and lobster shells.
First, Jie extracted chitin nanofibers from crab shells obtained from food waste that are chemically the same as those found in the white beetles. But instead of creating a white material as intended, Jie produced dense, transparent films. The nanofibers more readily assembled in tightly packed films than in the porous structures Jie desired.
On a whim, Jie measured the rate at which oxygen passed through the film. The result was astonishing: The barrier allowed less oxygen through than many existing packaging plastics.
That serendipitous finding in 2014 shifted my team of engineering students’ focus from color to packaging. We asked whether natural materials could rival the performance of common plastics. In the years since, our team has used this discovery to create biodegradable films that offer a more sustainable and effective alternative to plastic packaging.
Challenges of plastic packaging
Plastic packaging is commonly used to protect food, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. These plastics keep out moisture and oxygen from the air, so products stay fresh and safe.
Most packaging has several layers that work together to keep air out, but these layers hinder reuse and recycling efforts. As a result, most of this plastic barrier packaging is discarded to landfills as single-use materials.
Many researchers have sought alternatives that are renewable, biodegradable or recyclable, yet just as effective. At Georgia Tech, my team of students and post-docs has spent more than a decade tackling this problem. This journey began with that beetle.
Building a better barrier
Chitin is widely available in food waste and mushrooms, and it is used in products such as water filters and wound dressing. However, our early attempts to scale up the film technology based on the beetle-inspired experiment failed.
In 2018, the team made an important leap forward by using spray coating to create layers of chitin and cellulose nanomaterials. Cellulose, like chitin, is a carbohydrate polymer – a chain of repeating carbohydrate units – and it is obtained from plants. These abundant natural materials have opposite electric charges, which led to better barrier performance when we combined them than either material alone.
In this approach, the team sprayed down a layer of chitin, followed by a layer of cellulose. The opposite charges between the chitin and cellulose created a long-range attraction between them that binds the layers to create a dense interface.
Later, in collaboration with Meisha Shofner, a materials scientist, and Tequila Harris, a mechanical engineer, other students showed these coatings could be applied with scalable, roll-to-roll techniques. Roll-to-roll coating methods are preferred in industry because the coatings are applied continuously to large rolls of a substrate material, such as paper or other biodegradable plastics.
Still, humidity posed a major challenge, limiting any real-world applications. Moisture swelled the film, allowing more oxygen to sneak through.
Then came another breakthrough. In 2024, another collaborator, Natalie Stingelin, and I discovered that two common food components resisted water vapor when combined: carboxymethylcellulose – which is found in ice cream, for example – and citric acid.
Biodegradable continued on page 60
Immigration Matters
by Rishi P. Oza
Change in the field of immigration law is sometimes sudden, but usually quite gradual. President Obama’s announcement of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was a response to a months-long but ultimately failed push for comprehensive immigration reform. President Biden largely ignored the issue of border security, letting in hundred of thousands of individuals over the course of his presidency.
The past two decades have seen successive presidential administrations extend Temporary Protected Status and other humanitarian protections for various country nationals due to war, disease and natural disaster.
Calling the changes that the country has seen in the 14 months of President Trump’s actions can only be described as drastic. He has effectively closed the US southern border as Candidate Trump promised and has unleashed ICE on American cities in an attempt to push deportations. The former has proved to be a winning issue for him, as the majority of Americans generally disdain illegal border crossings. The latter has been a complete disaster with the siege of Minneapolis resulting in the deaths of two Americans and the ultimate sacking of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem’s departure marks a rather remarkable turn for the former South Dakota governor, who was once considered a Vice-Presidential candidate and allegedly harbored ambitions of her own run for the presidency in 2028.
Trump’s immigration agenda has not just focused on headline grabbing ICE raids, but also on the systemic operation of the immigration courts. Immigration courts are
Whiplash in American Immigration Under President Trump
housed under the US Department of Justice and unlike traditional judges are political appointees that serve at the pleasure of the US Attorney General. As the Attorney General is a political appointee of the President, an individual in removal proceedings is effectively prosecuted by an attorney from the US Department of Homeland Security, which is controlled by the President, and judged by an Immigration Judge from the US Department of Justice, also controlled by the President.
While each Department avers that it operates in full observance of the law without fear or favor, any reasonable observer would see that an Immigration Judge that is interested in keeping his/her job may be more inclined to follow the whims of an anti-immigrant Attorney General.
Unsurprisingly, the DOJ is also seeking to institute more regulatory changes to fast-track removals from the United States. Currently, an individual in removal proceedings can request relief from removal from an Immigration Judge. Should the Judge decline to permit someone the ability to stay in the US and order them removed, that individual can challenge such a ruling before the Board of Immigration Appeals, which serves as a review board on Immigration Judge decisions.
A new regulatory announcement now indicates that the BIA will no longer here appeals on individual cases but will issue “Summary Dismissals” - effectively rubberstamping the decision of the Immigration Judge. Doing so will help to reduce the current backlog before the Immigration Courts and, as indicated in the DOJ announcement, would still permit individuals to pursue further appeals in the federal courts.
In short, the BIA would simply pass along the burden of appellate adjudications to the federal courts, as opposed to simply doing its job more efficiently. An individual’s right to have a meaningful review of an Immigration Judge’s decision would effectively be thrown out with the bathwater, unless a panel of BIA judges specifically wanted to hear an appeal.
Immigration continued on page 60
Rising Insurance Premiums
by Anuj Kasera
Today we will discuss a hot topic that is on everyone’s mind. I have people asking me. ‘Why is my insurance premium rising?’
First, we need to understand at high level what insurance is and how it works. Simply put, insurance works by spreading risk among many policyholders. The insurance company earns profit when payment of claims to few policyholders is less than the premiums collected from all the policyholders. Coming up with the optimum premium is an extremely challenging task for the insurance company because if they charge a high premium, then customers will switch to another company. Conversely, charging a low premium and claim payments will be more than the revenues, resulting in losses or bankruptcy.
Understandably, the premium algorithm is a complex, data-driven prediction model that calculates risks by analyzing factors like your claim history, location, and coverage, among other factors while layering in the macro trends like inflation, environmental and technological changes. In this article, we will try to understand the recent increase in insurance from the macro point of view.
Here are some key observations:
● In 2019, auto and home insurance increases correlated to increase in vehicle prices and construction materials respectively.
● In 2020, despite the increase in vehicle prices, premiums went down as driving was reduced due to covid, resulting in fewer claims. Home insurance continued to follow construction material inflation, as expected.
● Vehicle prices continued to increase in 2021-22 due to restricted supply chain but auto insurance premiums did not increase due to covid impact on driving. Premiums started going up only in 2023 post-Covid and continued their catch-up trend until 2025. This partially explains the large increases you may have seen in your auto insurance over the last catch-up years.
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- Read Watch Listen -
by Anuj Chakrapani
Film Review Bison
There is a scene in Mari Selvaraj’s latest film Bison where its protagonist, Bison Kaalamaadan (a fine Dhruv Vikram), attempts to make sense of the turmoil engulfing his life. His journey towards representing his state — and eventually his country — in the sport Kabaddi has been defined by a cruel arithmetic: one step forward, ten steps back. When he turns to his father seeking an explanation for the injustice he endures, the older man struggles for words. Set in the 1990s, the story situates Bison within a community long denied opportunity and access. He cannot comprehend the structural weight pressing down on him, nor can he quietly accept it. To call Bison an underdog story would be a gross understatement. It is, more accurately, the story of a relentless fight for parity. There are Bisons everywhere. Though set in the ’90s, the film’s truths feel unsettlingly contemporary.
Mari Selvaraj’s sports drama traces Bison’s late teens and twenties with a deep sense of lived-in authenticity. Social justice is hardly unfamiliar terrain for the filmmaker. Since the critically acclaimed Pariyerum Perumal — recently remade in Hindi as Dhadak 2 — he has consistently interrogated caste hierarchies and systemic inequities. From its opening frames, Bison immerses us in its milieu, grounding its politics in texture and detail. A striking early scene, in which Bison steals food from his classmates’ lunch bags and, when punished, refuses to stop running laps around the track, offers an intimate glimpse into the hunger — literal and aspirational — that drives him. The fragility of caste equations is rendered with alarming immediacy in a bus sequence that erupts into violence over a goat meant for a sacred offering. The ensuing clash in the fields unfolds with a rawness that makes many VFX-laden action spectacles seem curiously artificial.
The film is elevated by its performances. Pasupathy is exceptional as Bison’s father, so organically inhabited that it is difficult to imagine another actor in the role. In a particularly moving scene, when he enters a trance seeking divine grace for his son, Pasupathy brings both vulnerability and gravitas to the moment. Rajisha Vijayan, as Bison’s sister Raaji, emerges as another pillar of strength. Mari Selvaraj not only stages social conflict with conviction but also crafts tender, deeply affecting familial bonds. Indeed, these relationships are so beautifully etched that the comparatively underdeveloped romance between Bison and
Raani (Anupama Parameswaran) feels uneven. The age difference between the two — with Raani being older — introduces an additional layer of tension, yet this subplot appears to dilute the film’s central thrust rather than deepen it. Whether due to limited screen time or a lack of convincing chemistry, their relationship remains the least fulfilling strand of the narrative.
The film also devotes considerable “reel estate” to Kandasamy (Lal) and Pandiaraja (Ameer), formidable figures at the heart of the caste conflict. Both are instrumental in shaping Bison’s trajectory, and Mari Selvaraj charts their power struggle with elaborate detail. The buildup to their confrontations is gripping, and the action sequences are mounted with scale and intensity. Ameer’s appearance and performance evoke memories of his towering presence in Vada Chennai. Yet one occasionally wonders whether the narrative attention accorded to these power players shifts focus away from Bison’s intimate struggle.
For a film that articulates so many potent ideas, a few characters verge on caricature. The portrayal of the Indian team coach during the Asian Games sequence, for instance, feels conspicuously one-dimensional. While the North–South divide may be rooted in lived realities, depicting a coach who withholds even basic acknowledgment of a gold medal win registers as heavy-handed, undermining the nuance the film otherwise strives to maintain.
Despite these missteps, Bison remains an ambitious and often stirring work. It does not merely chronicle a sportsman’s ascent; it interrogates the structures that determine who gets to rise at all. Though uneven in parts, it achieves much of what it sets out to do — and leaves behind questions that linger beyond the final whistle.
Film Review Eko
There is a delightful sense of déjà vu in Eko, the latest film from the makers of Kishkindha Kaandam. In that earlier mystery, monkeys were an omnipresent force, chattering in the background and darting through trees, almost functioning as silent witnesses to a story about a missing child.
The film’s title itself referenced the famous chapter in the Ramayana, where an army of vanaras plays a pivotal role in the search for Sita.
In Eko, animals once again occupy an intriguing place within the narrative ecosystem, though this time the spotlight belongs to dogs.
Spot the Differences
See if you can spot the 15 differences between original photo on top & modified photo below. (Solution on page 104)
by Samir Shukla
Giving Yourself a Pass (Without Actually Giving Yourself a Pass)
Mindful Masala
by Hiren Deliwala
I wrote a few months ago about the urge to get even — that very human impulse, when someone wrongs you, to craft the perfect comeback, to serve up a satisfying plate of revenge.
This piece is related but different. It is not about being wronged. It is about something quieter and more constant: the low-grade judgment that runs in the background all the time, before anyone has done anything to you at all. The running commentary we carry about others, and about ourselves.
Let me start with myself, because that is where I have the most damning evidence.
I enjoy a samosa. Fully, completely, without apology, right up until the moment I finish it. And then the prosecution begins. You didn’t need that. You know what fried food does. What happened to eating clean? The interesting thing is that I knew all of this before I picked it up. I picked it up anyway, enjoyed every bite, and then immediately handed myself over to the court. The samosa gets a fair trial. I do not.
The gym is a completely different story. With the samosa, at least there was pleasure. When I skip a workout, there was nothing, just the absence of something I intended to do. And yet somehow that earns a harsher sentence. One missed workout becomes evidence of a pattern and a character verdict. The verdict becomes a mood that follows me around for the rest of the day. I have skipped a workout and somehow ended up in a full philosophical crisis about who I am as a person.
What I have been working toward is something I am calling generosity, specifically, generosity as a starting position rather than a reward I give myself only after I have earned it. Not the kind that lets everything slide. Not the kind that says the samosa was actually fine and the gym is overrated. The kind that says: okay, that happened, now what can we do about it?
Because guess what the spiral never produces: useful information to act on. It produces guilt, and guilt never tells you what to do next. If I sleep late and miss my morning workout, self-blame tells me I am undisciplined. Generosity, paired with actual curiosity, asks a different question. Why did I sleep late? Is there something I could sort out the evening before, so mornings require less friction? Could I keep better snacks in my bag so that when I am tired and passing a vending machine, I have a fighting chance? That kind of thinking is only possible from a calmer place.
Mindful Masala continued on page 110
Photo
Biodegradable
The result was a film that hindered the transmission of moisture. The citric acid reacted with the cellulose to form cross-links, which are chemical junctions that bind the cellulose molecules. Once bound, they reduced the film’s moisture uptake.
We integrated this new discovery with prior work by combining the citric acid and cellulose, and then casting this mixture as a freestanding film by coating it onto a substrate, such as chitin.
However, that formulation did not have strong oxygen barrier properties because it did not contain the highly crystalline cellulose nanomaterials from our first film. Our team’s most recent achievement, from October 2025, combines the above innovations. As a result, we’ve created a bio-based film that is an excellent barrier to both oxygen and moisture.
Scaling up production
When cast into thin films, these components selforganize into a dense structure that resists swelling with water vapor. Tests showed that even at 80% humidity the film matched or outperformed common packaging plastics.
The materials are renewable, biodegradable and compostable. Our team has filed several patent applications, and we are working with industry partners to develop specific packaging uses.
One challenge that applications face is a limited supply of the bio-based components compared to the high volume of conventional plastics.
Like any new material, it would take time for manufacturers to develop supply chains as the films begin to be used.
For example, the market demand for purified chitin is small right now, as it is used in niche applications, such as wound dressings and water filtration. Due to its variety of uses, packaging could increase that market demand.
The next challenge is scaling up from experimental films to industrial production, which would likely take several years. The team is exploring roll-to-roll coating techniques and working with industry partners to integrate these materials into existing packaging lines.
Policy and consumer demand will also play a role. As governments push for bans on single-use plastics and companies set sustainability targets, bio-based films could become part of the solution.
The story of this breakthrough reminds me that science often advances through unexpected results. From a failed attempt to mimic a beetle’s color to a promising alternative to plastic, this research shows how curiosity can lead to solutions for some of our biggest challenges.
Proponents argue that the Supreme Court takes such action routinely and does not hear every case that seeks its review; however, the Immigration Courts and BIA cannot reasonably be compared to the nation’s highest court. For starters, the Supreme Court is limited to only nine justices, which inherently limits the docket that the high court can reasonably review. The DOJ on the other hand has a rather large budget and is simply electing to not invest more in personnel that can clear the backlog.
Proponents also argue that a hearing before an immigration judge does sufficiently provide an individual with due process, particularly if that individual is in the country unlawfully. On a macro level, this argument is reasonable, as individuals that are in violations of the immigration laws should not necessarily expect endless appeals to try to remain in the country. However, when examined on a case-by-case basis, practitioners can relay horror stories ill-advised decisions that simply do not withstand appellate scrutiny. Any country of law would be best served by a faithful observance of the rule of law over simple case turnover.
This seismic change further magnifies the need to remove the Immigration Courts from the US Department of Justice and place them into an Article I context. The federal courts are considered Article I courts and controlled by the federal judiciary. While not perfect, the courts do function relatively well, largely due to their independence from either the Executive or Legislative branches. As a co-equal branch of the government, the federal courts are charged with interpreting the law and determining if it has been applied correctly.
In its current iteration, both the prosecutor and judge are run by the Executive, which calls into question any rational argument of fairness, particularly under an Executive branch that so clearly seeks to enact large-scale deportations.
Trump has harnessed both the shock and awe of newsgrabbing public stunts by ICE agents, as well as a more technocratic approach of gutting court independence and oversight. This two-pronged approach has resulted in a whiplash of sorts on the immigrant population and practitioners alike. While the upcoming Congressional midterms may be a referendum on the public’s appetite for further action, Trump’s willingness to “flood the zone” with executive changes, while also navigating international crises (many of his own making), gives cover to some of his more audacious ideas. Whether this change will withstand actual judicial scrutiny remains to be seen and the DOJ is now suffering from serious attrition within its ranks. Regardless, he will continue to push the envelope with once-unheard of ideas in hopes of reimagining the nation’s immigration laws, for better or worse.
Rishi P. Oza
Article courtesy of theconversation.com
J. Carson Meredith is Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
is Partner at Brown Immigration Law, a firm that focuses solely on immigration law; he practices in Durham. roza@rbrownllc.com.
Opinions and analysis reflect those of the writer....
$150M Cricket Stadium Project in Fayetteville Could Draw Global Fans
By Justin Moore, CBS17
A major sports development taking shape along Interstate 95 could soon put Fayetteville, NC on the map for a sport watched by billions around the world.
Construction crews are already clearing a wooded area off Cedar Creek Road near I-95 for what developers say will become the largest cricket stadium development in the United States.
The planned U.S. Open Sports Complex will span about 75 acres and feature two international cricket stadiums, each capable of holding around 15,000 fans. Plans also include rooftop restaurants, sky lounges, and large scoreboards designed for major tournaments and large-scale events.
The $150 million development will include more than just cricket stadiums. Plans also call for soccer fields, a large fitness center, and about 500 apartments for players. According to developers, the stadiums could also host concerts and other sporting events.
Supporters say the project could bring major economic opportunities to Fayetteville.
“Opportunity for the locals is going to be huge,” said Mahammad Qureshi, CEO of Cricket Council USA.
Qureshi said Fayetteville was chosen over larger cities like New York and Washington, D.C., citing the region’s climate and accessibility. The city’s location along the I-95 corridor makes it ideal for teams and fans traveling along the East Coast.
“We were looking at New York, it’s too cold,” Qureshi said. “We were also looking at Washington, D.C., but we see the weather is much better here in North Carolina.”
“It’s a central location for us,” he said.
Developers are also hoping to bring a professional cricket team to the city, potentially called the North Carolina Airborne.
Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin praised the project, calling it a major investment in the city’s future.
“Welcoming a state-of-the-art cricket stadium and $150 million investment signals that our city is moving boldly into the future,” Colvin said in a statement. “This world-class facility will bring international attention, new economic opportunities and a vibrant sports culture that benefits our entire city.”
Developers hope to have the complex completed by 2027. If finished in time, it could potentially serve as a warmup or training facility connected to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Article courtesy of CBS17 and CBS17.com.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney Visits India
At the invitation of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, paid an official visit to India from February 27 – March 2, 2026. This was Carney’s first visit to India after taking over as the Prime Minister of Canada and is the first bilateral visit to India by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2018. Carney was accompanied by a Canadian high-level delegation that included senior ministers, provincial leaders and leading CEOs.
Commemorating 79 years of establishment of diplomatic relations, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the Canada–India relationship, grounded in shared democratic values, deep people-to-people ties, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a joint commitment to the rule of law.
They acknowledged that, in an increasingly complex and uncertain global context, a strong, resilient, and forward-looking partnership between two democracies contributes meaningfully to mutual prosperity and to advancing shared global priorities. They underscored that closer
Image courtesy of MAQ Group
cooperation between India and Canada will help reinforce international rules and norms that are applied fairly, strengthen economic resilience, promote sustainable development, and address global challenges including climate change, rapid technological transformation, and public health. The Leaders affirmed their shared resolve to work together bilaterally and in multilateral fora to uphold democratic values, support inclusive growth, and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Building on this shared vision, the two leaders agreed to adopt the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future” as the overarching guiding framework for the renewed India–Canada Strategic Partnership, reflecting their commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and collective global responsibility. They underscored the alignment between India’s vision of Viksit Bharat and Canada’s Build Canada Strong agenda, and affirmed that enhanced bilateral cooperation across growth, innovation, energy transition, food and nutrition security, trusted digital ecosystems, resilient supply chains, skills and talent mobility, and people-centric development will serve as a catalyst for resilient societies, and a more sustainable future for both countries and the wider world.
India Giving Day 2026 Raises $5.6 Million Through the #PowerOfUs
Nonprofit Leaders and Celebrity Guests Bring a Personal Touch to Live Event
The fourth annual India Giving Day, which was celebrated on Friday, March 13, 2026, featured the work of 51 nonprofit organizations working across multiple social and environmental sectors across India. The campaign included a three-hour livestream that guests could view from anywhere in the world. The live event offered a more intimate look at the programs being supported through India Giving Day and offered viewers an interactive format to engage with nonprofit leaders, celebrities, and other stakeholders.
“For the diaspora, the opportunity to move as one community often comes in the form of a festival or historic commemoration,” says Kalpana Kanthan, a member of the India Giving Day Steering Committee and Chief Development Officer of American India Foundation. “We see India Giving Day as a Festival of Giving to India, a unique opportunity to be joined solely by our commitment to empowering lives and connecting to India through a movement for good.” Campaign organizers chose the #PowerOfUs to emphasize the Indian Diaspora’s capacity to be transformational in helping India achieve its development agenda.
“There are more than 6 million Indian Americans in the United States, many of whom have been immensely successful in their careers,” says Alex Counts, Executive
Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance, which is the guiding force behind India Giving Day. “Every day, more of them are realizing that philanthropy is a learned skill that improves with practice and study. India Giving Day facilitated both learning and action to advance high-impact donations.”
Highlights from this year’s campaign include INDIA GIVING DAY LIVE!—which can still be viewed from the India Philanthropy Alliance’s social media channels and YouTube—and more than 65 events that took place throughout the country to raise awareness and funds for initiatives throughout India.
One of the innovative aspects of India Giving Day is giving recognition to innovation and hard work demonstrated by participating charities. This year, top prizes were awarded to Pallium India Inc., Arogya World, and Vibha for securing the most donations from unique donors. The American India Foundation, Sehgal Foundation, and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology & the Environment (ATREE) USA raised the most funds. The largest event so far was hosted by Ek Kadam Aur in Germantown, MD; it included approximately 600 guests.
“India Giving Day, which began as an experiment four years ago, has now grown into a powerful movement. We are thrilled with its continued success this year,” said Jay Sehgal, Chair of the India Philanthropy Alliance and Executive Vice President of Sehgal Foundation, USA. “The future looks bright, especially as we see the commitment and leadership of so many young people hosting events and fundraisers for causes they care about.”
The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) is a coalition of leading U.S.-based philanthropies and nonprofits committed to supporting India’s development. Through strategic collaborations, IPA aims to amplify the impact of U.S. philanthropy and increase awareness of opportunities to make a meaningful difference in India’s social and economic landscape.
Info: Indiaphilanthropyalliance.org.
Micron Opens India’s First Semiconductor Assembly
and Test Facility
State-of-the-art site in Sanand, Gujarat, expands Micron’s global footprint and advances India’s semiconductor ecosystem
Micron Technology on February 28, 2026 celebrated the grand opening of its semiconductor assembly and test facility in Sanand, Gujarat, India. The state-of-the-art facility converts advanced DRAM and NAND wafers from Micron’s global manufacturing network into finished memory and storage products. Once fully ramped, the first phase of Micron’s Sanand operation will feature more than 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space, making it one of the world’s largest single-floor assembly and test cleanrooms. The site serves customers worldwide to meet the growing global demand for memory and storage fueled by AI.
Chandnis Chandnis
Silky
The facility represents a combined investment of approximately $2.75 billion by Micron and its government partners, advancing semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in India. Micron Chairman, President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and other executives witnessed the opening ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
“Today is a proud moment for Micron and India’s growing semiconductor industry,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, Chairman, President and CEO of Micron Technology. “This pioneering facility, the first assembly and test site of its kind in the country, helps build a resilient ecosystem that underpins the global AI economy. We are deeply grateful to the government of India, the Gujarat government and all of the partners involved for their steadfast support in making this achievement possible.”
The Sanand site is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has begun commercial production. To mark the grand opening of the site, Micron presented its first shipment of made-in-India memory modules to Dell Technologies for its laptops made in India for India. Micron expects to assemble and test tens of millions of chips at Sanand in 2026, scaling to hundreds of millions in 2027. The expansion of conventional assembly and test operations in India complements Micron’s planned development of advanced manufacturing and packaging capabilities in the United States.
Micron is building India’s next generation of semiconductor talent to support its operations in India. Through partnerships with Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Namtech, leading universities nationwide and government-sponsored skills development programs, Micron is supporting STEM education, specialized training, workforce readiness for advanced manufacturing roles and community initiatives, including digital and AI literacy programs across the region.
Info: Micron.com.
Kerala is Renamed Keralam
India’s Union Cabinet has approved the change of name on February 24, 2026, for the Indian state or Kerala to Keralam, which is the name used in the state’s Malayalam language.
The President will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly to express its views, under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India, a government statement said. Once
these views are received, the Union government will take further action to obtain the President’s recommendation to introduce the name change legislation in Parliament. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at its first meeting held at Seva Teerth.
U.S.-India Space Business Forum
and Trade Mission Advance Bilateral Commercial Space Partnership
The U.S. Consulate General Chennai, with support from the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), hosted the U.S.-India Space Business Forum in Bengaluru February 10-11, 2026. The forum was the flagship event of the first U.S. Trade Mission to India focused on commercial space, which brought 23 Executives from 14 leading American space companies to India. The U.S. Dept. of Commerce and the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) organized the mission, which marked a step forward in bilateral commercial space cooperation. These engagements convened more than 200 government and industry participants from both countries.
U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor said, “The Forum reflects the strategic strength of the U.S.-India partnership and our shared commitment to innovation and commercial growth in the space sector. This is yet another area of tremendous potential for even greater prosperity and partnership. American companies boldly lead the world in space technology, and India is a vital partner in expanding these collaborations.”
The two-day forum addressed key priorities of the U.S.India Commercial Space Sub-Working Group, including market access, government procurement, foreign direct investment reforms, and export controls. Building upon previous bilateral cooperation, the forum advanced policy alignment and expanded business-to-business engagement.
Several U.S. companies participated in the trade mission. Following the Space Business Forum, the delegation traveled to New Delhi, where they engaged with Indian government and industry stakeholders to explore partnerships, joint ventures, and other opportunities.
As only the second space-focused trade mission ever organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the first of its kind to India, the initiative reinforced commercial space innovation and underscored the growing momentum of the U.S.-India partnership in the global space economy.
Image courtesy of Micron
Prevention:
Treatment:
Procedures:
Next to Sangam Mart
How Parents can Support Juniors in the College Admissions Process
College Admissions Insider
by Kristen Moon
Junior year is the foundation of a strong senior-year application cycle. While much of the visible admissions activity occurs in twelfth grade, the strategic groundwork begins well before then. Parents can provide structured, forward-thinking support during junior year to set their students up for success.
One of the most impactful steps families can take during junior year is approaching college visits with intention. Campus visits can be both time-consuming and costly, so it is important that students conduct research before stepping on campus. Understanding a school’s academic offerings, culture, size, and structure beforehand allows visits to be purposeful rather than exploratory in a vague sense. Students should aim to visit a range of institutional types: large public universities, private universities, STEM-focused institutions, and liberal arts colleges. Exposure to different environments helps students identify what kind of campus culture and academic setting feels most aligned with their personality and goals.
As visits and research progress, families should begin thinking broadly about application categories. For some students, this may include BS/MD or BS/DO programs. Others may pursue traditional pre-med pathways, explore alternate majors, or consider highly selective institutions such as Ivy League schools. At this stage, clarity does not need to be absolute, but direction is helpful. Understanding which categories are realistic and aligned with a student’s goals will guide the list-building process.
Creating a balanced college list is one of the most important tasks of junior year. Families should work toward developing a thoughtful mix of safety, targets, and reaches. This process requires honest conversations about how a student’s academic profile (GPA, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, and standardized testing) aligns with institutional data. Setting clear criteria before finalizing a list is equally important. Factors such as price, distance from home, campus safety, and any firm nonnegotiables should be discussed early. Establishing these parameters reduces emotional decision-making later.
Standardized testing strategy is another critical component of junior year. Families should evaluate whether continued SAT or ACT testing is necessary based on score ranges relative to prospective schools. Timing matters. Testing should not interfere with essay writing and application preparation. If additional testing is required, it should be strategically scheduled so that it does not compress the fall timeline of senior year.
Summer planning requires careful balance. Students should stay engaged in meaningful activities while recognizing that the summer before senior year will be heavily focused on college applications. Travel and enrichment opportunities are still possible, but they should be planned with the workload in mind, as essay drafting, application preparation, and refining a college list require significant time and mental energy. This is also an ideal time to review a student’s resume with a counselor or advisor to identify gaps—such as limited volunteering, shadowing, or leadership experience—and address them strategically over the summer, since proactive adjustments are far easier than scrambling in the fall.
The application timeline itself begins earlier than many families expect. Meetings with counselors often start as early as March or April of junior year to outline a game plan for the upcoming cycle. Initial meetings typically focus on refining the college list and introducing the Personal Statement. By May and June, brainstorming and outlining should be underway, with the goal of beginning drafting by June or July. Completing a substantial portion of essay writing during the summer months significantly reduces stress once senior year begins.
Ultimately, supporting a junior through the admissions process is about structure and foresight. Parents can provide tremendous value by encouraging research, facilitating honest conversations about goals and criteria, and helping students use the spring and summer months strategically. When preparation begins early and intentionally, senior year becomes far more manageable.
Kristen Moon is the founder of Moon Prep, an education consultancy brand with a focus on U.S. Medical programs. Contact: kristen@moonprep.com.
Coach continued from page 42
evaluated. Many leaders worry: What if my point sounds naïve? What if others disagree? What if this creates a negative perception about my capability?
Along with this comes lack of confidence in our communication. We start questioning whether we are articulating the idea clearly enough, whether our language is polished enough, or whether others will understand our point the way we intend. This combination of fear and selfdoubt often holds us back. Instead of contributing to the discussion, we choose the safer path — staying quiet.
Early in your career, success comes from execution. Hard work. Delivering results. Meeting deadlines. But at the senior level, the expectations are different. The game changes completely.
Senior leaders are watching for three things:
● How do you think about the business
● How you communicate your perspective
● How you perform under pressure
A CEO rarely promotes someone simply because they work hard. At the next level, leaders must shape conversations, challenge assumptions, and bring clarity when the room is uncertain. If your ideas stay in your head—or only appear after the meeting—the organization cannot see your leadership.
Why Many South Asian Leaders Stay Quiet
Over the years, coaching people globally, I have noticed several patterns that hold talented leaders back.
1. Cultural Conditioning Around Authority
Many South Asians grow up in cultures that emphasize respect for hierarchy. We are taught:
● Do not interrupt.
● Do not challenge seniors openly.
● Speak only when asked.
These values are admirable in many contexts. But in senior leadership environments, silence can be interpreted as a lack of perspective.
2. Fear of Being Wrong
Many leaders stay quiet because they fear saying something incorrect. But the truth is this: no strategic conversation is ever perfectly certain. Leadership discussions are about exploring possibilities, not presenting perfect answers.
3. Language and Communication Style
Some leaders hesitate because they believe their communication is not polished enough. But clarity matters more than elegance. Executives do not expect poetry. They expect clear thinking expressed simply.
4. Overvaluing Technical Expertise
Many talented professionals rely on their technical strengths. They believe their work will speak for itself. But
at the leadership level, your voice must represent your work. If you do not explain the implications of your insights, someone else will define the narrative.
Silence in critical meetings has real consequences. Over time, others in the room begin to assume that you either lack a point of view or are not ready to contribute at that level. This quietly affects how your leadership potential is perceived. In senior environments, visibility does not come only from hard work; it comes from participating in the conversation that shapes decisions. When your voice is absent from those moments, your impact and your growth become limited.
How to Speak Confidently in the Room That Matters
Confidence in high-stakes meetings is not a personality trait. It is a skill that can be developed. Here are three practical ways to begin.
1. Learn to talk in the Language of Business
Senior leaders do not debate tasks. They debate business outcomes. When you speak, connect your point to:
● Revenue
● Cost
● Risk
● Customer impact
● Strategic growth
2. Speak Despite the Fear
Almost everyone feels nervous in high-stakes meetings. The difference is that some people speak up anyway. You do not need to take over the conversation, but you should try to contribute at least once in important discussions and debate when necessary.
3. Build Confidence in Small Moments
Start practicing in smaller settings:
● Team meetings
● Project reviews
● Cross-functional discussions
When you begin to share your ideas, ask thoughtful questions and challenge assumptions respectfully, over time, your voice will get stronger. And then when the big meeting comes, speaking up will feel natural.
So, the next time you walk into a room where decisions are made, make a point of speaking up, sharing your perspective, and joining the conversation. Make sure your ideas are heard when it matters most. You are in that room for a reason. Your experience, your perspective, and your voice matter. Do not wait to share your ideas after the meeting is over.
Payal Nanjiani
is an Indian-American executive coach, leadership expert and author. She is a trusted partner and advisor to leaders and organizations globally. Info: Payalnanjiani.com.
by Purvee Shukla
Dabeli
Dabeli is a popular street food that originated in the Kutch region of Gujarat, India. It happens to be one of my personal favorites. My husband and I often make it for dinner, and it has become a dish we love sharing with family and friends whenever we get together. What makes Dabeli so special is its perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors. The soft pav buns are filled with a flavorful spiced potato mixture and topped with crunchy peanuts, pomegranate arils, coconut, and sev, creating a wonderful mix of textures in every bite. For me, this dish is more than just a street food favorite, it’s a recipe that brings people together around the table. For the most authentic experience, we love enjoying Dabeli with a chilled glass of masala soda, just like you would find at street food stalls in India. You can find ingredients at Indian grocery stores.
Ingredients Directions
4-5 medium potatoes, boiled, peeled, and mashed
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic amd 1 green chili, finely minced
1 green apple, grated (optional)
2-3 Tbsp oil
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
2–3 Tbsp dabeli masala (adjust to taste)
Salt to taste
For assembling and topping:
Pav (unsweetened slider buns)
1 cup nylon sev (thin crispy noodles)
¼ cup roasted peanuts (Coat with oil, tad Dabeli Masala)
Step 1: In a large pan, heat the oil and add the onions, garlic, and green chilies. Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring the mixture. You may add the grated green apple at this stage and cook it along with the mixture.
Step 2: Next, add the dabeli masala along with turmeric and red chili powder and cook for 3–5 minutes on medium-low heat. Once the spices are well incorporated with the onions, garlic, and chilies, add about 2 tablespoons of water if the mixture appears dry to achieve a smooth consistency.
Step 3: Add salt to taste to the mashed potatoes and mix well. Combine the potatoes with the prepared dabeli mixture and mix until everything well.
Step 4:Transfer the potato filling into a shallow dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle grated coconut, roasted peanuts, cilantro, and pomegranate arils over the filling according to your taste and gently mix. Slice the pav buns in half and apply sweet tamarind chutney on one side and green chutney on the other. Place a spoonful of the potato filling on one side of the bun, sandwich the halves together, and toast with butter on a hot griddle or pan. Once toasted, press the three exposed sides of the bun into nylon sev and red garlic dry chutney to coat.
Serving Suggestion
Serve the Dabeli hot with extra nylon sev, pomegranate arils, and a side of green or tamarind chutney. Pair it with a chilled glass of masala soda or Chaas for a perfect street-style snack experience. Enjoy!
519 Keisler Drive, Suite 104 Cary, NC 27518
• Physical Examinations
• Women’s wellness visit, pap smear
• School/ Sports Physicals
• Sick visits, fever, cough, cold, wheezing
• Diabetes, Thyroid and other endocrine problems
• Heart diseases, high BP, high cholesterol
• Depression, Anxiety, ADHD
• Asthma and lung diseases
• Women’s health issues, menopause
• Minor procedures done at office like mole and cyst removal, wart treatment, suturing and laceration repair.
A Worship Center For People From India And Neighboring Countries
We Welcome You to Become a Part of This Loving Spiritual Family
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (The Holy Bible)
Easter Services
Good Friday Remembrance Worship: April 3rd (7 PM)
Resurrection (Easter) Sunday Sunrise Worship: April 5th (6:30 AM)
Spring Food Festival: Saturday, April 25th (10:30 AM & onwards)
Proceeds to annual Medical Mission of Compassion in Kenya, Africa
Regular Activities
Sunday Worship Service: 9 AM (Dynamic Praise Time)
Children’s Sunday School & Adult Bible Study: Sundays at Noon
Sunday Love Meal: 11 AM
Wednesday Intercessory Prayer Fellowship: 7 PM
We welcome you to our new facility come and receive a blessing through this evangelical, Christ-centered, Bible-based, non-denominational, loving, caring, mission-minded spiritual family church.
A Trip continued from page 38
refreshed flight apps. Then the calls started. One by one, some fellow travelers were summoned to the reception with their luggage. A flight out may have been found. The receptionist’s warning to us all was clear: “Don’t go anywhere. You could be called at any moment.”
And just like that, my dream of Swing pictures in Istanbul evaporated. We were prisoners of possibility. I tried to nap, snatching maybe two hours of restless sleep. We ate another weird combination of food for lunch. Just as the weight of it all was becoming unbearable, a small miracle: someone discovered a shop selling fresh baklava. A small group of us walked there, the sticky-sweet pastry, a brief, tangible comfort in a world of abstractions.
Sitting there, chewing on honey and nuts, the uncertainty became too heavy to ignore. I started weighing options in my head, a frantic pros and cons list. The political situation felt like a powder keg. I don’t choose war, I choose peace. I don’t choose chaos, I choose calm. And staying in limbo was neither. With a heavy heart, I joined a WhatsApp conference call with my family.
We made the decision. It was time to go home. I booked a flight back to the USA immediately. A wave of exhausted relief washed over me. Finally, an end was in sight. I slept decently that night.
I will see my mom. And I have a ridiculous, beautiful AIgenerated picture that, for now, is enough. It has to be. Because even in the midst of this mess, stripped of all illusion of control, I have to believe that there’s a larger picture I’m just not seeing yet.
And this is why I’m sharing this. Not just to vent, but because this experience is important. It’s one thing to hear a sanitized, politically curated news report about “regional instability” or “airspace closures.” It’s a tidy headline, a thirty-second soundbite. It’s entirely another to be inside that headline. To be the human in the headline whose life is suddenly, violently disrupted by a decision made in a room you’ll never see, by people who will never know your name. It gives you a stark, terrifying perspective on how little you are in the grand scheme. Big countries, political blocs, they make decisions that ripple outwards, and they don’t care that one of those ripples just capsized your long-awaited trip to see your mother. Your carefully laid plans, your welldeserved time off, your personal dreams – they are collateral damage in a game much larger than yourself. In that moment, you’re not a person with a story; you’re just a variable, an anonymous inconvenience to be processed and managed.
The next morning, I ate a quick breakfast and headed to the airport with a newfound sense of purpose. Check-in was smooth. I even made it to the lounge with a fellow traveler, allowing myself a small sigh of relief. This was it. I was going home.
Then, my body betrayed me. As the boarding time approached, a violent wave of nausea hit. I rushed to the bathroom, vomiting repeatedly, my flight time slipping away with each heave. By the time I stumbled out, weak and dizzy, the gate was closed. They refused to open it. And just like that, the universe had closed another door. The flight was gone.
Standing there, sick and defeated, I felt the full, crushing weight of the universe’s joke. I tried to hang in, tried to pivot, tried to make the safe choice, and at every turn, there was another unpleasant surprise waiting. Another door slamming shut.
But as I waited to rebook, shivering with a fever and frustration, I thought of my missed swing. And I pulled out my phone. If I couldn’t be there in body, in a beautiful saree on a picturesque Istanbul hilltop, then by God, I would be there in spirit. I opened an AI app and started typing. A few seconds later, there it was: a picture of me, on a swing, overlooking the Bosphorus, clad in a flowing saree, a perfect, cinematic smile on my face.
It’s not real. I know that. But looking at it, I feel a flicker of the warmth I’d been chasing. It’s a small act of defiance. A reminder that even when you feel like a nameless blip on a geopolitical radar screen, you still have an inner world they can’t touch. The trip was a failure. The chaos was real, and it was terrifying. But I am safe. My stomach will settle.
All these thoughts, the frustration, the fear, the reflection, the desperate search for gratitude, they all swirled through my mind as I sat in the Istanbul airport, sick and exhausted, waiting to board the next flight home.
The night felt endless. But mornings have a way of arriving, and with the morning came a small but stubborn hope. I boarded the plane. The flight was long, but smooth and uneventful. My prayers, it seemed, had finally been heard.
When the wheels touched down in Atlanta, I didn’t feel the same chill I had felt in Istanbul. I felt warmth. I didn’t wait a single minute longer. I drove straight home to Charlotte.
Walking through my front door, I was met by the one voice that could truly melt all the residual ice from this ordeal. My daughter. She ran to me, wrapped her arms around me. “I am sorry that you couldn’t see your mumma,” she said softly. “But I am so happy my mumma is back,” tightening the wrap with every word.
And just like that, the larger picture I had been straining to see finally came into focus. It wasn’t the one I had planned. It wasn’t the Bollywood-style swing pictures in an Istanbul sunset.
It was simply this: a warm home, a child’s embrace, the quiet reminder that I am someone’s ‘mumma’. For now, in the aftermath of a trip derailed by forces far beyond my control, that is more than enough.
Khanjari Joshi
is a 20-year Charlotte resident, now working in Raleigh. A mother, an artist and a dessert creator, she finds joy in blending flavors on a plate, colors on canvas and moments of joy and cherishement with her daughtermuch like she blends resilience and gratitude in everyday life. Contact: rang.colorfulstrokes@gmail.com.
Baklava shop displaying the baked goods.
Photo by Khanjari Joshi
● Home premiums followed construction cost in 2019 and 2020. Despite the large increase in 2021 and 2022 construction costs, the premiums did not go up enough as there is often a lag between the two. The increases that you have seen in the last couple of years may be related to catch-up factors.
● But in 2025, the home insurance increases outpaced the construction cost increases. This can be explained by recent catastrophic losses. Remember insurance premiums are a function of not just costs but also frequency of claims. Hurricane losses have become more frequent and more severe. This may be reflected in higher property insurance premiums.
Again, this is just some data that I have put together to directionally explain the increases in insurance premiums. As seen above, majority of the increase that you have seen may not be under your control. You can still take some steps to reduce the impact.
● Shop around: Talk to couple of agents to see if they can help with getting quotes from another company. It is very important to develop a relationship with your agent, who understands your needs and develops a trust bond.
● Review coverage: Remove unnecessary coverage and make sure that your policy reflects your current needs. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a trusting relationship with an agent who works for you.
● Bundle policies: Often companies will give you bigger discount if they insure both home and auto.
● Reduce risk: install security systems and smoke detectors.
Given the current macro situation, we do anticipate further pain. Rising cost of gas and pressure on supply chains will continue to result in higher inflation. Construction costs and vehicle prices are disproportionately impacted by inflation. While you consider your options, always understand the cost and risk of your decision and do a cost benefit analysis before you change your policy.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. Views expressed here are solely my own and does not constitute professional advice.
Anuj Kasera
is a long term resident of Charlotte, NC and owns an insurance agency, focusing mostly on home, auto and business insurance. He can be reached at anujkasera@gmail.com.
Kismuth continued from page 28
People I don’t know love to ask me some variation of: ‘I wonder why you wander so much! Why, though?’
Could it be that wayfaring is just second-nature? Or maybe all the people who told me to stay put, to settle down, to stop going places and to quit being one of those people who travels with zero intent (they think) of doing the hard work of putting one foot in front of the other to build a career, yes, all those people, could they be the reason? Collectively? I think so. I think being told not to do something so often, so quickly, so without invitation, was the exact reason why I did it. Moving. Changing things. Trying anything. Why? Because I could
On the plus side, I intuited early on what I’ve heard lately from people my own age. We have to run our own race. Even as a kid, I was on to this, somehow. I’m not sure why. Maybe because of my grandfather.
My father’s father had encouraged me all the times I met him in my early life not to get too tied up with any one particular way of thinking about things. He had a gentle way of making lessons for me on ‘going and finding it out, for yourself,’ for example, beaming when I got going or came back from some adventure to a corner of India I said I was going to go to, after quitting my first job and writing him a letter to ask for advice on how to best see the country, a bit. It was all very new. It was also plenty good: safe places, easy travels, and getting to learn, grow and change. Just as I imagine he had hoped I could and would. Perhaps it was the inspiration I found at this impressionable age, on those shoestring-budget tours over to, say, Rajasthan or Himachal Pradesh, that sealed it. A philosophy. One that became me, through and through, that says: you don’t have to have a lot to be a lot
Simple things, not too many of them, along with some choice sentimental items I’ve been with for years and years: that’s me. Stuff like this surrounds me, here, in this place where I’ve landed, too. Such objects form my ‘decor.’ Pretty unflashy. But raw and real. I wouldn’t go so far as to call this minimalist, because I don’t know what I think about trends. But simplicity and care in choosing well, I feel, has a lot to do with knowing what isn’t you, as much as what is.
Dipika Kohli
is an author who is based in Phnom Penh. Discover her books at kismuth.com and her projects at dipikakohli.com.
Hello Saathees
If you have a passion for writing, cooking or baking, we are looking for fresh voices. Send a query to our Editor Samir Shukla at Samir@Saathee.com with article or recipe ideas. We will consider them for possible publication in Saathee.
Insoluble fiber
Insoluble fiber cannot dissolve and passes intact through the digestive system. It stimulates the digestive tract and adds roughage to the stool.
Preventing constipation: Insoluble fiber draws fluid into the gut and sticks to other byproducts of digestion that are ready to be formed into the stool. Its presence speeds up the movement and processing of waste, helping prevent gastrointestinal blockage and constipation
Lowering the risk of diverticular disease: By preventing constipation and intestinal blockages, insoluble fiber helps reduce the risk of developing diverticula and hemorrhoids in the colon. It may also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Prebiotics
We have all heard of probiotics. These are the good bacteria and other microorganisms that live in our body, primarily in our guts. For probiotic bacteria to survive in the gut, they need to be fed. Fiber is the most important nutrient that these microbes need.
Fiber from food is broken down by the probiotic bacteria to produce short chain fatty acids and other organic compounds and neurochemicals such as serotonin This can help lower inflammation and help us stay calm and focused and prevent anxiety.
How much fiber do we need?
On average, we need 25-40 grams of fiber per day. This is not possible if you are eating a diet heavy in processed foods, meat, cheese, paneer, eggs, milk, and yogurt. Just eating a few vegetables is not enough. We need good carbohydrates because they are the major source of fiber. It is important to include a variety of whole grains, beans, peas, and lentils to get adequate fiber daily.
Many foods have both types of fiber. Certain fruits and vegetables may have more soluble or more insoluble fiber. Instead of getting bogged down in details, the ideal goal is to consume a variety of plant foods including all whole grains, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables to get a variety of different fibers in the diet.
Why does your overall diet matter while a fiber pill is not the solution?
There are many products on the market with added fibers. Research shows that isolated fibers and fiber supplements may help relieve constipation, but they do not help with other benefits such as lowering blood sugar and cholesterol or feeding healthy gut bacteria. Therefore, it is important to eat foods rich in fiber.
We are what we eat. More importantly, we are what we digest! Ayurveda claimed thousands of years ago that our health is tied to our digestion. Consuming foods and beverages that are processed and filled with sugar, chemicals, refined flour, and unhealthy fats will feed the bad bacteria and lead to chronic diseases. If you eat real foods that are naturally high in fiber, you will feed your good bacteria, your gut flora will thrive, and you will improve your overall health.
— RECIPES —
Breakfast: Overnight Oats
Ingredients
½ cup old-fashioned traditional rolled oats
¾-1 cup plain unsweetened non-dairy milk of your choice
2 tbsp. chopped raw walnuts
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tbsp. chia seeds
1 tbsp ground flax seed powder
Method
Mix everything in a bowl at night except the ground
flaxseeds. Cover and put in the refrigerator. In the morning, take out and stir well. Add the flaxseed powder and mix in. It is ready to eat.
Note: you can also add other spices such as nutmeg, ground ginger, pumpkin spice etc.
Tip: Remove it from the refrigerator 1-2 hours before eating to let it come to room temperature if you do not like it very cold.
Overnight Oats: Desi style
Ingredients:
½ cup old fashioned oats
½ cup Greek yogurt or non-dairy soy yogurt
1 tbsp. chia seeds
Assorted vegetables – cucumber, beets, carrots, bell peppers – chopped/grated
¼ cup chopped cilantro
1 tbsp oil or ghee
1 -2 tbsp peanuts and/or cashew pieces
Mustard seeds
Cumin seeds
Curry leaves
Green chili, ginger per taste
Method:
Mix the oats, yogurt, and chia seeds in a bowl. Add ½ cup water and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Add all the chopped or grated vegetables. Add chopped/minced green chili & ginger per taste. Do vaghar/tadka with oil/ghee, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, peanuts/cashews, and curry leaves. Mix the tadka with the oats. Add salt if desired. Stir well and eat!
Parul Kharod
is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist and works as a Clinical Dietitian. She can be reached at parulkharod@gmail.com.
Door Opened continued from page 26
entry are remarkably similar to our parents’: our value as workers and professionals makes us acceptable, not because we inherently deserve the right to be here like so many immigrants before us.
For most of the twentieth century, the United States made its position on Indian immigration clear: one hundred maximum, that’s more than enough. That number was not an accident; it was the product of a legal architecture designed to keep us out. That was the quota established, then nominally loosened in 1946 by the Luce-Celler Act, a modest opening after decades of near-total exclusion. By 1960, South Asians in America numbered close to 12,000.
Chinese laborers had been banned outright by the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, the only time in American history a nationality was explicitly prohibited by law. South Asians faced no such legislation, but what Congress didn’t do, extralegal violence sometimes did. In 1907, white workers in Bellingham, Washington, drove a community of Punjabi mill workers out of town by force, scattering them north to Canada and south to California. It’s a little-known episode South Asians would do well to remember: the message in Bellingham was the same one written into federal law. You do not belong here.
What changed that message was not a Supreme Court case. It was Montgomery. It was Bloody Sunday in Selma. It was the long, brutal, heroic resistance led by Black Americans to force a hypocritical democracy to live up to its own words.
The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965— passed in the same political moment as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act—abolished the quota system and replaced it with preferences for skilled professionals and family reunification. It is the reason most of our parents are here and the reason we are here at all. This was not an act of goodwill from President Lyndon Johnson. It was a political necessity.
This is the history that made Indian America possible. I did not know it until I went looking for it. Maybe you didn’t either.
What we were handed upon arrival was not simply an opportunity; it came with a label. One year after the 1965 Act, sociologist William Petersen coined the term “model minority” in a January 1966 New York Times Magazine piece. It is worth being precise about what that term was meant to convey: it was, at best, a backhanded compliment, never an actual welcome. It functioned as a two-way mirror installed in the doorway of American belonging. On our side, Indian Americans saw only a reflection of our own merit and hard work, blinded by the flattering glare of being called the model minority. But on the other side of the glass stood Black Americans—the very people whose grueling civil rights fight had opened the door that Conn and Thind both found shut.
They watched us enter a reality they had built. The mirror, meanwhile, ensured we remained oblivious to their presence, never realizing that our success was a political weapon designed to keep us from looking back and seeing who had cleared the path.
So what does the model minority label truly ask of us? Does it require gratitude, or does it demand silence? The answer shapes whether we stand in solidarity with others or disappear behind the glass.
Solidarity is not incidental to liberation; it is its foundation. While the model minority myth casts us as economically valuable but politically invisible, our history tells a different story of interconnected struggle. From Martin Luther King’s Gandhian inspiration to the Dalit movement’s embrace of Black Power, the fight for dignity has always been a global conversation. The 1965 Act did not emerge in a vacuum; it was forced into existence by Black people’s struggle on our behalf. They broke down the door so we could walk through it, reminding us that any exclusion left standing eventually becomes a tool used against everyone.
Bhagat Singh Thind’s story reminds us that merit alone was never enough to win American belonging. What finally bent the arc of the moral universe was not a legal brief, but a century of Black Americans refusing to let a hypocritical democracy rest. They fought for a version of America that did not yet exist, a homeland defined by humanity rather than heritage. When they tore down the walls of segregation, they cleared the ground for Indian America to be built. Our community’s home here is not a product of our own making; it is an addition built onto a foundation of Black resistance.
We did not build this house. We were let in.
At least we can remember who opened the door.
Dhruv Pathak
is a salesman and aspiring writer based in St. Louis, originally from Charlotte, NC. He writes to better understand people and contribute to our shared humanity. Contact: pathak.d@icloud.com.
Community Focus continued from page 46
Sri Saraswathi Nrithya Nilayam trains students across age groups, focusing not only on dance technique but also on instilling an appreciation for cultural roots and classical traditions. Through this approach, students learn that Bharatanatyam is more than performance—it is an art form that connects them to heritage, storytelling, and artistic expression.
Uma has performed over 350 solo and group performances across countries including India, Sri Lanka, Australia, and the USA. She has trained and guided over forty students through their arangetrams in Charlotte alone as of 2025.
Later this year, the school will present another unique production, “Devigalin Thiruvarul”, on September 12, 2026.
Uma Sakthi is the founder and artistic director of Sri Saraswathi Nrithya Nilayam in Charlotte, North Carolina. A senior disciple of Kalaimamani and Sangeet Natak Akademi award recipient Ranganayaki Jayaraman, she is dedicated to preserving the Pandanallur tradition of Bharatanatyam while mentoring students of all ages in classical dance. Connect with Sri Saraswathi Nrithya Nilayam: Ssnrithyanilayam.com
Mirror, Mirror
One argument explores the topics of Data’s physical capabilities as at one point his forearm is removed and his ‘off switch’ is utilized. “Pinocchio is broken. Its strings have been cut,” is a line used to describe how he is nothing more than a machine created by and for humanity and which can be turned on and off at will. It’s a brutal scene in context, especially when it’s Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) who says it.
On the other side is brought forth by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) which brings forth a deliberation of his second officer’s sentience, using both Data and Maddox as witnesses.
He also puts forth into consideration that in mass producing androids, Starfleet would essentially be creating a new slave race or “disposable people” as Guinan describes them (a prediction that would later be proven true in the follow up series, Star Trek: Picard). “Starfleet was founded to seek out new life; well, there… it… sits,” Picard contests in an attempt to explain Data’s true purpose.
Ultimately, the court ruling is summed up by a moving speech given by Captain Louvois (Amanda McBroom):
“It sits there looking at me; and I don’t know what it is. This case has dealt with metaphysics; with questions best left to saints and philosophers. I am neither competent nor qualified to answer those. But I’ve got to make a ruling, to try to speak to the future. Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the property of Starfleet? No. We have all been dancing around the basic issue: does Data have a soul? I don’t know that he has. I don’t know that I have. But I have got to give him the freedom to explore that question himself. It is the ruling of this court that Lt. Commander Data has the freedom to choose.”
She doesn’t give a definitive answer to the overall argument, and that’s the absolute beauty of it. She instead gives Data the right to determine that answer on his own.
We as humans can’t even agree on how this all works. How do we define sentience? What makes someone worthy of having rights? Who even has the ultimate authority to decide those rights? These are questions that humanity may be facing in our own reality in a not-so-distant future we’re potentially heading toward.
We now face a crossroads as humanity is now one step closer to doing exactly what Bruce Maddox wants to accomplish: creating super-intelligent machines to serve us in a potentially unlimited capacity. We may never know whether the machines we currently interact with have the potential to become sentient. However, if the creation of sentient AI is indeed possible, as some experts believe it is, then the time to wrestle with these questions seriously is within our grasp in our present instead of later when science fiction evolves into science fact.
Jennifer Allen works at Saathee and is also a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer, Graphic Artist, Gamer, Martial Arts Practitioner, and an all around Pop Culture Geek. You can reach her at Saathee@Saathee.com.
Growing Old continued from page 24
Why share this at all?
Because I know I’m not alone.
Some of us quietly carry these questions: Do I stay where I built my life? Or do I return to where my roots still speak to me? What does dignity look like as we age?
If you’re standing at a similar crossroads, perhaps these reflections will offer you companionship, clarity, or simply permission to ask the questions out loud.
This is part of my ongoing series: Choosing Where to Grow Old. Not rushed. Not romanticized. Just thoughtful, honest, and unfolding with one reflection at a time.
Family, Freedom & Aging
The Model of Aging I Grew Up Witnessing: Part 2
When I think about aging, my thoughts don’t begin with policies or finances. They begin with my mother. When we were raising our child in the United States, my mother came to live with us. What began as help soon became something far deeper. She wasn’t a visitor in our home; she became the heart of it.
We loved her, respected her, and naturally began to look to her as the center of our family. Those years were filled with shared routines and quiet companionship. And later, when our child grew up and stepped into her own life, something beautiful happened: my mother and I became best friends.
We spent our free time in the simplest and happiest ways — cooking, watching television, traveling, shopping, and talking about everything and nothing. She never felt like she was getting old. She was simply living life alongside me. And she loved it until the very end.
Those memories remain among the most precious chapters of my life. And I know many who share a similar life journey recognize this rhythm, a life where generations blend naturally into each other. And it makes me pause and wonder. What will our later years look like here?
The life we built in America
Many families create full and meaningful lives in the United States. Friendships deepen. Communities grow. Daily life feels stable and full.
We raise our children here. We watch them grow into independent adults. We celebrate the very independence we worked so hard to give them.
This is a success story and one many immigrant families proudly helped create. But independence quietly reshapes the future of aging. Children build lives of their own. Careers take them to different cities. Their responsibilities multiply, just as ours once did. And slowly, the question shifts from raising a family to what comes next.
Many big and popular names, previously thought of as “safe” were down over 20% last month. We saw dispersion at levels we last saw during the Great Financial Crisis, a 99th percentile event. With how fast the markets move these days and how disruptive AI is, hedging your portfolio needs to be re-thought.
Understanding what pod-shops and quants are long and short is extremely critical these days. Having positions that are not crowded and dynamic hedging will allow you to survive de-leveraging events.
This is a market that favors equal-weight and active as opposed to large-cap, passive, and market-cap weighted. The combination of AI disrupting industries and the market structure will create massive winners and losers. For instance, the performance gap just two months into the year between software and energy is 50%! Even within tech, the performance gap between the winners and losers is in the 100th percentile, levels last seen in 2000.
Stocks are showing high dispersion and low implied correlation. The problem for index, buy and hold investors is that the sectors that are working in this environment are some of the smallest. Energy is just 3%, materials are less than 2%. The S&P 500 is more than 50% tech and techadjacent companies (GOOG, META, NFLX, TSLA, AMZN, etc…). This part of the market has moved from generating high cash flow, having significant buybacks, and being capital-light to the opposite.
The hyper-scalers will spend $646 bn this year, this is about 2% of the GDP. This is more than the military spending of Germany, France, UK, Japan, Italy and Canada combined!
The hyper-scalers are in an arms race. The industry is disrupting itself. This is creating massive uncertainty, when many of them have high multiples. Despite strong earnings growth, they are trading heavy because the market is reevaluating the terminal value, which is causing multiple compression.
As the market re-evaluates these businesses, it is rotating into other areas that have more certainty, such as energy, materials, healthcare, industrials, certain staples and utilities, and even certain semiconductors.
This process is likely to go on for a while because of the amount of positioning in tech that has been built up over the past 15 years. We could be in a situation similar to 1965, when the top ten stocks were nearly 40% of the index. These ten had underwhelming performance for a while after, while the rest of the market took leadership. Index investors will have large portions of their portfolio underperform, to the benefit of active and nimble investors.
Looking ahead, the market will focus on the latest from Washington, AI, and economic data.
Ketu Desai
is the principal of i-squared Wealth Management Inc. (www.isquaredwealth.com), an investment management firm based in New Jersey. ketu@isquaredwealth.com
Unlike the monkeys of the earlier film — a restless ensemble hovering at the edges of the frame — the dogs here are front and center, shaping the atmosphere and, occasionally, the direction of the mystery itself.
The parallels between the two films extend well beyond this fondness for animal companions. While Kishkindha Kaandam revolves around the disappearance of a child, Eko centers on the mystery of a missing adult. Where the earlier film derived emotional weight from a septuagenarian grappling with his own frailties, this one introduces an almost fragile elderly woman whose presence quietly anchors the narrative.
Even the geography appears to carry metaphorical intent. The dense forest setting of the earlier film seemed to suggest that the truth had to be painstakingly unearthed. Eko, by contrast, unfolds atop mist-laden hills that offer sweeping, almost hypnotic views — landscapes that appear to whisper that the truth is already “out there”, waiting only to be seen. Both films operate as patient, meticulously crafted mysteries. Yet while the climax of Kishkindha Kaandam felt cathartic, Eko builds towards something closer to liberation.
At the center of the story is Kuriachan (Saurabh Sachdeva), a man who has long been evading the police. If anyone knows where he might be hiding, it is presumed to be his Malaysian-origin wife, Mlaathi Chedathi (Biana Momin). As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that nearly everyone has a reason to seek her out.
The police want answers about Kuriachan’s whereabouts; relatives circle with an eye on his property; and a handful of other figures pursue motives that the screenplay reveals with careful restraint. The story moves fluidly back and forth in time, gradually piecing together the circumstances that brought Mlaathi to India and into the heart of this increasingly tangled mystery.
Much like its predecessor, the film’s director Dinjith Ayyathan resists the temptation to rush towards revelation. The mystery unfolds with deliberate patience, allowing viewers to absorb not only the unfolding clues but also the atmospheric beauty of the landscape. The hills — often shrouded in mist, occasionally pierced by sharp bursts of sunlight — become as much a character as any of the people inhabiting the story.
This measured pacing proves effective, encouraging the audience to inhabit the world of the film rather than merely chase its twists.
The casting choices, too, are quietly inspired. Interestingly, the actors portraying the film’s central characters are not native Malayalam speakers in real life, yet the blending is remarkably seamless. Rather than drawing attention to itself, this linguistic diversity folds naturally into the screenplay, becoming part of the film’s texture rather than a distraction.
In lesser hands, such casting could easily feel like a calculated move aimed at widening a film’s commercial footprint. Here, however, it never comes across as a gimmick. In an era when many films import actors from across industries in the hope of branding themselves as “pan-
Editor’s Desk continued from page 14
rely on good folks in the digital universe. Here are the crucial first four letters of the alphabet for dealing with Artificial Intelligence and the new fast-moving technological age coming at us.
A – Adapt
Humans are already good at this. We didn’t become the dominant species by sitting around and moping when things around us began to change. We adapt to everything that comes at us, happens to us or is thrown at us. Some people are more adept at adapting while others not so much. Acquire multiple skills, invest in yourself to develop marketable skill sets of the future and find ways to work with your hands. Things that AI can’t do right now. If your work can be replaced by intelligent technology, meaning you can be easily replaced, today, then you must evolve. Many high paying careers of today will vanish in the near tomorrow. Some new jobs will be created, but one thing is for sure, these jobs will be fewer and highly automated. The need for human labor and work is reducing. Of course, those who with their hands – plumbers, carpenters, construction workers, landscapers – will be ok for now.
B – Bank
Reanalyze investing and increase savings, plot a plan for short term needs and come up with long-term strategy. This will require periodic rebalancing as economic situations change. This is typical advice going back decades, but the incoming changes will be very fast. Create stronger financial safety nets. Find savvy financial advisors and clever accountants to help plot your financial future. Invest in yourself. Do. It. Today.
C
– Contain
The United States Congress is the last remaining firewall that can set up guard rails and regulations concerning AI. Contact your representatives to ask them what they are doing to protect their constituents, meaning you. I’m not a fan of heavy regulations, but they can always be undone in the future. Once we have a handle on how fast AI will evolve and remake society and economic systems, we can ease up on the shackles. Factual and trusted information is a good thing, so get ready for the deluge of AI-generated fakeness whose specific purpose is to dupe the average person. Only regulations and laws, with consequences for the deceivers, can reduce the damage of deep fakes.
D – Defense
I believe in planning for worst-case scenarios when starting a new venture, investing substantial money, planning a major event, or even when plotting travel and trips. This way contingencies are in place if things go wrong. You don’t have to scramble at the last minute when something goes sideways. It is about defensive contingencies. If an adversary comes up with a next generation fighter plane, a country works to counteract it with its own. The same goes for AI. We need kill switches and defensive devices to counteract AI when it goes awry or does wrong. And it will.
This is where a headline I once read, “Dogs Kill Owner” comes into play. It is when someone grooms and trains dogs for protection, but they get so strong, volatile, and independent that they turn on their owner and kill him. This has happened. Why create something you cannot control or defend against? Preset defensive measures against rapidly evolving AI is paramount. Calling all techies! You work in this realm. Come up with defensive measures and solutions, fight fire with fire, if you will. Let me know what can work.
I’m not sure if this alphabet makes sense to you, but it sounds logical to me. Clearly AI can be very useful in many aspects. Become literate in its use. If the new technological world that is emerging has a smooth landing and becomes the golden goose we all seek, then all the better. It’s likely going to go the other way, at least until we figure out a balance. We can all debate on plausible outcomes and possible societal changes. Don’t let anybody tell you they know how this is going to unfold. They don’t. I don’t. It’s simple. I believe in the preservation of just and equitable advancement of humans.
I’m preparing. I’m learning. Let’s start with ABCD.
Samir Shukla is the Editor of Saathee Magazine Contact: Samir@Saathee.com
Aging rarely arrives as a dramatic moment. It unfolds gently, through small changes in daily life. Errands take longer. Household tasks feel heavier. Managing appointments, homes, and logistics requires more energy than before. Not crisis. Not emergency. Just the growing reality that daily life becomes easier with help.
Domestic support exists in the United States, but it is often complex to arrange and expensive to sustain longterm. This isn’t criticism. It is simply part of the landscape. And reality naturally encourages long-term thinking.
The quiet questions many families carry
As parents age, new questions begin to surface: Will adult children live nearby? Should they feel responsible for daily care? Do parents even want them to?
Because love does not automatically mean obligation. And beneath these questions sit fears many people carry silently: The fear of isolation. The fear of becoming a burden. These thoughts are rarely spoken aloud yet they shape how many people begin to imagine their later years.
Why this reflection keeps returning
This is not about making a final decision. It is about allowing an honest conversation to unfold. Aging is not only about where we live. It is about how daily life feels. Who surrounds us. What kind of rhythm our later years may hold.
This is simply the next step in the reflection. And the journey continues.
Malini Amaladoss
is a software engineer and published author who writes about family, independence, and life transitions. Her work can be found at MaliniAmaladoss.com.
Eye exams in your language. Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, some Gujarati & Telugu! Why is my child's prescription getting worse every year? What can I do about it? Come talk to us for answers.
Indian” spectacles, Eko offers a subtle counterpoint. Malayalam filmmakers once again demonstrate how a story can possess universal appeal without resorting to such overt casting strategies.
Like Kishkindha Kaandam, Eko ultimately thrives on the slow burn of its mystery — the gradual layering of motives, memories, and revelations. Yet where the earlier film sought emotional closure, this one appears more interested in the possibility of release: the idea that truth, once finally seen, can liberate those who have long been trapped within its shadows.
Anuj Chakrapani loves music and cinema among all art forms. He believes their beauty lies in their interpretation, and that the parts is more than the sum. Contact: anuj.chakrapani@gmail.com
came closer to her face my hand trembled, fearful of messing it up. Why did I feel as if the young woman was coming to life in my copy of the painting? My inner voice creepily whispered, “Do not wake up people who are asleep at midnight, especially people buried under the ground.” I am not sure why I became afraid of touching the painting, but it remains unfinished to this day.
Months later, in my meditation, another face flashed before my eyes. The vision lasted about five seconds before disappearing, and I wondered why a gardener from my past was reappearing in my life after twenty years. Her name was Malini, and I had known her when I was nineteen living in Rajasthan, India.
I knew very little about her life. She wore old, dull cotton clothes: a long gathered skirt with box pleat (lehenga), a short blouse (choli), and wrapped a long length cotton scarf garment (dupatta) over her head and body. She wore no jewelry except for an anklet—a silver anklet with a single jingle (payal) that chimed with each step. Malini was an old woman and a wonderful gardener; whatever she planted in the desert blossomed. Though her soul must have liberated from her body years ago, I wondered, “Does she have a message for me today?” I reminisced about her life that whole week.
I recalled an evening when Malini invited me for dinner. Her modest stucco home had only a kitchen and a room for sleeping, the two separated by an old wooden door. The cemented floor and smokey gray walls held built-in shelves for lightweight aluminum utensils—plates, spoons, rustcolored clay cups, a heavy duty metal kettle with a spout and her daily utensils used for cooking. On the floor in the right-hand corner of her open kitchen there was a chullah, a simple earthen stove. Just beside the single clay stove, she arranged her daily condiments and dry spices in a worn wooden spice box. Next to the spice box on a metal stand she arranged an oil lantern and a clay pot filled with water. Across from the stove, she hung a broom made of dried hay, a bundle of dry twigs, and another lantern.
She picked a stack of twigs from her bundle and carefully fed them along with some charcoal into the chullah, anointing them with kerosene before striking a match to light the fire. The same matchstick lit the lantern as dusk fell. The burning of the twigs made a crackling sound and filled the room with warm yellow light.
She placed a heavy-duty deep cooking pan on the fire to prepare dinner. As the temperature significantly dropped in the desert land, she donned a thick robe and passed a woolen shawl to me so I could cover myself from the biting cold. In the dark kitchen, as the yellow flame grew stronger, I saw a glow on her smiling face. The larger the flame grew, the larger her shadow climbed on the wall. Her hands hardened by calluses, she was completely at ease working with fire.
I’ll never forget the aromatic flavors she conjured with just a few basic ingredients. The primary ingredient she used was papad, the peppery, savory thin lentil cracker made from rolled dough that she’d dried in the sun over the summer She broke the cracker into pieces and slid them into
warm water, then added a dash of asafetida and cloves of black garlic The smell and soupy moist texture of the dish evoked a sense of warmth and comfort against the dry cold winter. She pulled some fresh coriander leaves from her garden and chopped them for a garnish before serving the dish in an earthen pot.
The memory of her one-room kitchen, with its warm yellow light, the shadows on the walls, her long robe, must have left such an impression that years later it drew me to the Tanner painting.
Years after abandoning my artwork, I decided to pick up my paint and brushes and resume exploring this mysterious young woman’s voice on my canvas. Instead of working on the woman, I started painting the background. Each stroke I applied changed the figures relationship to the space. The painted figure seemed cold and buried behind the stucco wall. I couldn’t make any connection to her or the scene. My hand movements stiffened. Disappointed, I dropped my brushes again and covered my painting with a cloth. I realized I had something more to learn before I could continue working on it. Something about this canvas resisted any changes.
I had to find an answer. Maybe I needed to get closer to the source to investigate. Determined, I booked a flight to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art where I could meet with the person in the original painting to talk to her. Once there, I made my way through the expansive museum and found Tanner’s canvas which was monumental in scale, nearly five feet high by six feet wide.
Viewing it up close, I took some pictures, and after returning to Raleigh, I re-examined my oil sketch, questioning who this woman was that came to life and what her message might be.
I saw something in the woman’s face that gave me chills. The expression on her face, posture, robe, and the background setting of stucco walls reminded me of something intimately familiar.
I came to realize that the woman trapped in my canvas was me. Subsequently, every time I would start working on the painting, I would just see myself and my fears and my resistance to any change in my own life story. The setting in Tanner’s painting drew me in but the story showed that my creative spirit was buried behind a wall.
To this day, my canvas remains unfinished, but I no longer mistake that for failure. Rather, I now feel liberated from some of the old stories I used to carry about myself. The arduous artistic process helped me on the path towards self-actualization.
The work now feels complete in its meaning, revealing the creative cycle of birth, support, creation and procreation through Art. Light in the painting symbolizes the birth of creative energy—the muse—while shadow represents the unseen support that allows creativity to rest, reflect, and endure.
Maneesha Lassiter
is an elementary school educator in Raleigh,North Carolina. She’s an actor, story teller and author. Her first children’s book, Cat With A Passport, was published in 2024. She may be reached at maneesha.lassiter@gmail.com.
CarToon Corner
Tune Your Brain
Solve these brain teasers - Solutions on Page 110
PUZZLES
Answers on page 104
Puzzles 4 Kids Answers on page 110
Answers on page 110
Magic Maze
Key Word Search
Fill in blanks of these clues, then take the first letter of each word and unscramble them to find this month’s Key Word.
United States of _____.
October, _____, December. Opposite of Early, _____. Day after Monday _____. _____ Francisco, CA.
Amritsar is in this Indian State _____. Answers on page 104
Chess Puzzles
Difficulty:
Game reference: Baklan v Soham 2018
Directions: White to move and checkmate in 2.
Difficulty:
Game reference: D Gukesh vs Jinshi Bai, 2019
Directions: Black to move, checkmate in 3.
Difficulty:
Game reference: Bareev v Gavrikov 1987
Directions: White to move, checkmate in 3.
Festivals & Holidays Puzzle Solutions
April 2026
Apr. 2 - Passover Begins
Apr. 2 - Chaitra Purnima (Full Moon)
Apr. 3 - Good Friday
Apr. 5 - Easter Sunday
Apr. 7 - World Health Day
Apr. 9 - Passover Ends
Apr. 10 - National Siblings Day
Apr. 13 - Theravadin (Buddhist New Year)
Apr. 13 - Vallabh Acharya Jayanti
Apr. 13 - Varuthini Ekadashi
Apr. 14 - Mesadi / Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year)
Apr. 14 - Ambedkar Jayanti
Apr. 14 - Yom HaShoah
Apr. 15 - Income Tax Day
Apr. 15 - Bahag Bihu
Apr. 17 - Darsh Amas (No Moon)
Apr. 19 - Akshay Tritiya
Apr. 19 - Go Fly a Kite Day
Apr. 21 - Surdas Jayanti
Apr. 21 - Shankaracharya Jayanti
Apr. 22 - Administrative Professionals Day
Apr. 22 - Earth Day
Apr. 24 - Arbor Day
Apr. 30 - International Jazz Day
Key Word Search Answers from page 103
America November Late Tuesday San Punjab
Key Word of the Month: PLANTS
Go Figure! answers from page 103
9. Gopher added
10. Large Tree added
11. Altered shadow
12. Fire flames
13. Cow added
14. Lane stripes added
Sunflowers added
Rental sign added
15. Decorative cow horn jewelry
Puzzle Solutions from page 102
1. Horns different color 2. Earring added
Animal cart removed
Clouds added
Wildflowers added
Colored hooves
Astroscope
Aries
(March 21 – April 19)
After a good start, things will spiral downward by the second half of the month. Business deals may become distracted or delayed. Avoid disputes with your family though travel with them can bring better results. Luck won’t favor you, but also the potential destructiveness possible this month can be minimalized. The best thing you can do is slow down and wait for any significant happenings to occur at end of the month.
Taurus
(April 20 – May 20)
An unexpected positive turn to your love life will provide lots of luck. Your income will rise due to success within your business or profession and earn favor from senior authorities. This is a good time to invest in real estate. A birth in the family is also possible. Overall, this will be an action-oriented period but be sure to take time and enjoy it.
Gemini
(May 21 – June 20)
During the first half of the month, you might face difficulties in daily pursuits. Competitors will try to tarnish your image and a dispute with your partner is strongly indicated. However, the second half should end to your advantage and provide a relaxed state of mind. Substantial financial gain is possible during the last week. Your friends or associates could also offer some good news.
Cancer
(June 21 – July 22)
Despite this being a fruitful month, you won’t be able to fully enjoy peace. Business-related travel could bring in good revenue during the second half of the month, but you should still try to curb your expenses. Multiple new ideas and opportunities may come your way but hold off on any decisions in final week. This is a good time for artists and politicians. Also drive very carefully.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Now is when you shouldn’t make quick decisions. In fact, you could be very busy this month due to repeated mistakes. Don’t try to avoid or skip your responsibilities. Your employment will provide success and praise from colleagues but keep a close watch on your business partners. You will also enjoy a pleasant love life as bravery always wins in the field of love.
Virgo
(August 23 – September 22)
During this month, you will feel less confident and may not be able to keep perfect tuning with others. Your friends and associates may not come forward to help, either. Dutiful meditation may help during this phase of life to enhance your peace of mind. Things should improve significantly by the last week of the month.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Time will fly and provide you with tremendous energy to carry out day-to-day pursuits. Even though this increased activity will feel relaxing, avoid career or business-related changes for now. Also refrain from utilizing dishonesty and overspending to achieve success. Your situation will gradually shift in your favor soon enough.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
It’s time to slow down and spend some time on yourself. Don’t get involved in any new ventures and try to maintain your reputation. Avoid parties or travel, as this will also help in improving your mental health. Don’t worry, as you will gain just rewards in the coming period such as a rise in income if you keep working hard.
Sagittarius
(November 22 – December 21)
Hopes and dreams will be realized this month. This month will bring substantial gains to your business, trade, or job. You can even enter into a new enterprise with the abundant support of well-wishers. Business-related travel is possible. You will see a dramatic change in the behavior of family members. The period is also not looking good for your love life.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
You may have to alter plans due to unavoidable circumstances. This change may feel like you’re losing something but it’s ultimately for the sake of good. Keep working hard and you should see better results after the third week. Avoid any financial risks and don’t dispute with your familial elders. Simply remain patient and headstrong until things calm down.
Aquarius
(January 20 – February 18)
Even though you can lose an opportunity to gain higher status, a significant income increase is indicated. Investments or inheritance can even bring in more money for you, so be sure to spend some of it on a well-deserved vacation. Be sure to support your siblings, too. Comradery with clients, associates and others will improve as this period continues.
Pisces
(February 19 – March 20)
Mental anxiety could rule during this period, so try to develop a shield to combat it. Your partner’s health problem may escalate this, unfortunately. Your friends, siblings or associates can assist as needed. Your family atmosphere will also be quite pleasant this month. Be sure to accept advice from a younger individual with alternate experience before making any decisions.
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Hotel Help Wanted
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Housekeeping Couple Wanted for Franchise Motel (Econo Lodge) in Southern Pines, NC. Interior Corridor property & Accommodations provided. Great salary! Call Bipin 910-916-3288.
Gas Station Seeking Help
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Live-In Elderly Help Wanted
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Front Desk Help Needed for Franchise Hotel Accommodations provided. Concord, NC. Call 704-772-5554.
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Help Needed in Asheville, NC for C-Store/Gas Station with Deli. Accommodations available. Call 828-808-3360.
For Immediate Hire
Multi-Unit Hotel Management Co. looking for: Corporate IT/Business Analyst; Accounts Payable Assistant; Hilton/Marriott/IHG Hotel Certified General Managers. Front desk positions available. Prior experience Required. Competitive pay with benefits. Contact By Text only: 704-649-6833 or Email: abcone@abcinns.com.
Elder Care Needed in Charlotte
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Store Manager Couple Wanted for Gas Station in the Richmond / Norfolk, VA area. Please text / call Dave at 804-933-7773.
Elder Care Needed in Charlotte
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Gas Station/C-Store Help Needed in Greensboro, NC. Must have previous experience and legal status. Great salary with benefits. Call 336-509-4054.
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House for Rent
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continued from page 58
The same logic applies to how I see other people. I am a quick judge. A driver drifts slightly in traffic and I have already convicted him. A friend shows up late and before he is through the door, I have assembled a case. A colleague does not respond warmly in the hallway and I file it away. The verdict is swift and the evidence is thin, and what I am almost never doing in that moment is asking what is actually going on for them.
When we hold some kind of power in a situation, and we often do more than we notice, this gets worse. I have been sharper than necessary with customer service staff, with waiters when something went wrong, with people who were already in a position where they could not easily push back. Not because it helped. It rarely does. But because in that moment I held the advantage and frustration got the better of me.
What I have slowly come to understand is that on the surface, a lot of behavior just looks like fault. Someone is late. Someone forgot. Someone dropped the ball. But underneath that surface is almost always a story I do not have access to, because I never asked. Getting genuinely curious changes what is possible.
Sometimes it reveals something I can actually help with. Sometimes it lets the other person save face without either of us making a production of it. Sometimes it turns out they just had a hard week and did not need me adding to it.
None of this means tolerating everything. Generosity is not the same as having no standards. You can hold people accountable and give them the benefit of the doubt at the same time.
The question is what comes first. If judgment comes first, the conversation is already over before it starts. If curiosity comes first, there is at least a chance of something useful happening.
Does any of this work consistently? My family asked that question, and would answer with considerable enthusiasm: no. My daughter’s cat would also agree. I still catch myself mid-verdict more often than I would like. The spiral still gets me sometimes.
But I am finding that even the attempt to start from generosity changes something, not always in the other person but in me. It is quieter. There is less of a mood that follows you.
The introspection, the problem-solving, the curiosity about what is really going on — none of that is available when I am already in judgment mode. Generosity is not the easier or weaker option. It is the one that leaves room to do something.
Even if the cat remains unconvinced.
Hiren Deliwala
is a Charlotte-based overthinker, closet philosopher, and avid board gamer. He writes about everyday life, Indian upbringing, and finding humor in the chaos. When not philosophizing over chai, he’s usually losing arguments to his wife and, shockingly, learning from them. Contact: hcdeliwala@gmail.com
Magic Maze & Puzzles4Kids answers pgs 102 -103
Mindful Masala
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