Delhi: We have seen Katrina Kaif going out of her way and performing some raw action, and a film like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ is a glowing reminder of the same. In ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, too, the girl was seen in some stylish motorbike stunts. H
owever, this time around, Katrina Kaif is reportedly not indulging in action sequences herself – but would use a body double.
Kaif, who has two high-octane flicks in her kitty up next – ‘Dhoom 3’ and ‘Bang-Bang’ – has made herself clear to the filmmakers as far as her heavy stunts are concerned. While she will be seen performing acrobatics and indulging in light action, it will be a body double who would take care of the heavy stunts….
Beautifully decorated Lord Ramachandra with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Photos: Thejas Rajaram
By Ravinder Yerram
HOUSTON: ISKCON, Hare Krishna Dham, Houston witnessed hundreds of devotees and guests for celebration of Rama Navami, the appearance day of Lord Ramachandra on Friday, 19 of April.
Lord Ramachandra is a very important incarnation of God, the Supreme Lord who came to the world as Rama, or Ramachandra, in the celebrated Raghu dynasty in the Treta yuga.
Beautifully decorated Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhava.
Lord Ramachandra set the perfect example of an ideal king, son, brother, husband, and master. He is also called maryada-purusottama, “one who exhibits an ideal behavior.”
Festival began with ecstatic kirtan by Jiv Jago youth group and Maha Arati by devotees. Alter of presiding deities of Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhava was beautifully decorated with flowers and fruits and colorful outfits, which was the ultimate attraction of the day.
Spriritual talk by His Holiness Rtadvaja Maharaja.
An interactive spiritual talk on Lord Ramachandra pastimes was given by His Holiness Rtadvaja Maharaja from Ramayan and very well correlated with Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. All the devotees and guests were eagerly involved in hearing the pastimes of Lord Ramachandra.
At the end, a full scrumptious vegetarian prasadam meal was served to everybody by ISKCON devotees.
Worshipers at the Hare Krishna Dham are grateful for this wonderful blessing, thus the reason for the joy during the event in which hundreds of Houstonians took part.
The deities of Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhava preside over a welcoming aarati and kirtan each Sunday at 5:30PM at ISKCON Hare Krishna Dham located at 1320 W 34th Street, Houston TX, 77018.
For more details, please visit www.iskconhouston.org or
Hindus of Greater Houston’s first advisory board meeting with executive committee at Chinmaya Mission. From left: Sarvabhavana Das (representing Dr Hansa Medley), Dev Mahajan, Partha Krishnaswami, Jugal Malani, Vijay Pallod, Sanyasin Santhalinaswami, Satguru Bodhinatha, Acharya Gaurang Nanavaty, Vinod Mantri, Dr. Venugopal Menon, Sharad Amin, Richa Dixit, PC Sharma and Sanjay Jajoo. Photo: Paresh Shah
HOUSTON: An organization that can speak for Hindus in the greater Houston area in one strong voice is emerging. The board of advisors of Hindus of Greater Houston at its first meeting held at Chinmaya Mission Houston recently laid the foundation for the umbrella organization that will be an authentic and credible force, protecting the cause and interests of all Hindus.
Dev Mahajan, chairman of the board of advisors, after the inaugural meeting, addressed the invited representatives from about 60 Hindu religious, social and cultural organizations in the Houston area.
The umbrella organization will unite all the Hindu organizations and each organization will nominate one permanent representative to the team, Mahajan said.
The representative should have a passion for the Hindu cause and feel a part of the big, formal structure, he said.
“We have flowers in different parts of Houston. We have to assemble, a nice garland,” Mahajan said, recalling the message of Acharya Gaurang Nanavaty of Chinmaya Mission, given earlier when the board of advisors was constituted.
Each temple or organization is a blossoming flower, with its own beauty and fragrance. In becoming a part of the Hindu organization, the flower need not shed its beauty or lose its fragrance. While maintaining its own tradition and individuality, the organizations would join hands in support of a general cause that impacts all Hindus. The issues will not and should not pertain to an individual or an individual group, Mahajan said.
The new organization will establish various operational committees devoted to a specific function like youth affairs, festivals, interfaith affairs or community issues.
Mahajan cited a recent bullying incident in which a Hindu family was affected in a local school district. Hindus of Greater Houston authorized Mahajan and other volunteers to take up the cause and fight for the protection of the family.
Mahajan said a majority of organizations and their representatives have felt the need for a strong, umbrella organization to represent the Hindu community.
The Jewish community has several different organizations in the U.S., but they have one umbrella organization to represent the Jews. Hindus should have a similar organization and hopefully, Hindu groups all over the U.S. could adopt the Houston group as a model and adopt it.
Though the board of advisors functions in an advisory role, the advisors bring credibility to the group as they each represent some of the major Hindu organizations in Houston.
Mahajan said the board will shortly formalize the mission and objectives of the new organization.
The board of advisors comprises of Dev Mahajan ( Arya Samaj of Greater Houston), Gaurang Nanavaty (Chinmaya Mission), Ramesh Bhutada (Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh) , Prabhat C . Sharma ( Hindu Worship Society), Jugal Malani (India House), Dr. Hansa Medley (Hare Krishna Temple) and Dr. Venugopal Menon (Shri Meenakshi Temple).
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, head of the Kauai Hindu Monastery in Hawaii and publisher of Hinduism Today, was the guest speaker.
“My guru was keen on the concept of Hindu solidarity. The magazine was started for making Hindus work together. Its motto is solidarity through diversity.”
The magazine does not promote the Hawaii ashram or temple, but promoted Hindus globally. Hinduism today empowers the youth and its efforts devoted to educating the youth.
Hindus should come together with what is in common and show that we are force to reckon with when needed, he said.
Bodinatha Swami applauded the efforts of Hindus in Houston in solidarity.
“The Hindus in Houston are fortunate to have over so many organizations conducting worship and teaching programs in the greater Houston area. Normally, all that is needed is for these organizations to perform well their respective missions. However, on occasion there is a need for a united Hindu front, for all Hindus to come together to address a pressing issue such as mistreatment of Hindu students, newspaper articles grossly misrepresenting Hinduism or a natural disaster where Hindus want to work together to create a joint response. The Hindus of Greater Houston, as an umbrella organization, is ideally situated to do just that. We were pleased to attend their recent membership meeting and see the diversity and large number of organizations committed to its mission,” Bodinatha Swami said.
“About 100,000 Hindus, with 18 established temples have established their presence and their significance in Houston. It is only prudent and proper that we create a unified voice to be heard, that our commitments and concerns are understood as an important expression of the mainstream. With that motivating philosophy, the organization of the Hindus of Greater Houston along with its Advisory Board with representatives of all the Hindu establishments in the area is created,” according to the new advisory board member Venugopal Menon.
Sharad Amin, president of Hindus of Greater Houston said, “A historic meeting of Board of Advisors of Hindus of Houston took place at Chinmaya Mission Houston hosted by Acharya Gaurangbhai and the mission team. “I am confident that just like the first meeting of Hindu Leaders at Sandeepani Ashram in Bharat was called by Swami Chinmayananda ji in 1962, this will be also instrumental in bringing Hindus of Houston together to work in Harmony.”
Vidha Dixit, a high school senior, had this to say: “It was wonderful to see the camaraderie between so many Hindu leaders in our community. I was thrilled to learn about all of the upcoming Hindu events occurring throughout the Greater Houston area and I am very thankful to Hindus of Greater Houston for organizing this gathering. I strongly urge all members of the Houston Hindu community to attend events such as this in the future as it truly promotes unity and spirituality.”
“Hindus of Greater Houston has scheduled a banquet on July 13 where the Youth award will be presented to outstanding youth who have worked for the Hindu cause. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii, the first Hindu to be elected to the Congress, will be the chief guest. All temples and organizations are expected to send their youth delegates in large numbers. This year, HGH’s goal is to unite young Hindu professionals in celebration of the 150the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand,” said Richa Dixit, coordinator for the Hindu Youth Award.
HOUSTON: Everything is bigger in Texas, and this year AAHOA took its biggest event of the year to the next level in Houston as hosted its 2013 Annual Convention & Trade Show from March 26-29, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. With a near record turnout, the entire event was an enormous success. In fact, the entire event was so successful that AAHOA received a special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) who personally presented AAHOA with a certificate during the closing Gala Night celebration on Friday, March 29.
Earlier in the week, the two-day trade show surpassed previous marks by welcoming more than 400 exhibitors. As the largest annual gathering of hoteliers, AAHOA’s Annual Convention attracts hoteliers and vendors from all over the country to network, to make deals, and to take advantage of superior professional development opportunities. The theme of this year’s AAHOA Annual Convention was “Inspired by the Past, Building for the Future,” and it fittingly captured the energy and passion of AAHOA members as they gathered in the heart of Texas.
As always, the AAHOA Annual Convention featured captivating guest speakers. The Keynote speaker on Thursday, March 28 was General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.). For over 50 years, General Powell has devoted his life to public service. Having held senior military and diplomatic positions across four presidential administrations, Powell’s deep commitment to democratic value and freedom has been felt throughout the world.
He received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in 1958 and went on to serve in the United States Army for 35 years, rising to the rank of Four-Star General. From 1987 – 1989, Powell served as President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Advisor. He served from 1989 – 1993 as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for both President George H.W. Bush and for President Bill Clinton, and was not only the youngest officer and first ROTC graduate to ever serve in the position but also was the first African American to do so.
In all areas, he used the power of diplomacy to build trust, forge alliances and then help transform these unstable regions into areas where societies and cultures have the potential to prosper. He also worked at the forefront of American efforts to advance economic and social development worldwide.
AAHOA also welcomed Steve Forbes, the well-known CEO of Forbes and Editor-In-Chief of Forbes magazine, as well as PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra K. Nooyi during the Opening General Session on Wednesday, March 27 and Howard Putnam, the former President & CEO of Southwest Airlines, during the General Session on Friday, March 29.
“This stellar lineup of speakers and icons within their respective industries just set the stage for one of our best conventions ever,” said AAHOA Chairman Mehul Patel. “AAHOA members came to Houston from all over the country to learn from the best in terms of how to achieve the highest levels of success.” In addition to these dynamic speakers, AAHOA presented an Industry Issues Panel discussion moderated by former AAHOA Chairman H.P. Rama. This discussion included industry executives such as Wayne Goldberg, President & CEO of La Quinta Corporation; Kirk Kinsell, President, The Americas of InterContinental Hotels Group; Steve Joyce, President & CEO of Choice Hotels International; and Arne Sorenson, President & CEO of Marriott International.
These high-profile industry leaders discussed a wide range of issues affecting the hospitality industry. They also provided insights regarding strategies and solutions to overcome the biggest obstacles facing the industry. AAHOA’s Annual Convention showcased an exciting lineup of education sessions in addition to special conferences for both our Young Professionals on Wednesday, March 27 and Women in Hotel Leadership on Thursday, March 28. During these interactive sessions, attendees heard from industry professionals along with legal and financial experts on how to handle the biggest issues confronting the hospitality industry today.
“Being from the great state of Texas and hosting this Annual Convention in my own backyard, I can honestly say that all of the enthusiasm from both our attendees and exhibitors for this weeklong event was more than justified,” said Chairman Mehul Patel, who was also Convention Chair for 2013. “Every aspect of our agenda was carefully planned to offer a well-rounded experience that our attendees will never forget.”
Attendees also enjoyed mouth-watering Indian cuisine and dazzling entertainment featuring some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including Mauli Dave and her team of dancers, singers, and musicians on Wednesday, March 27. Thursday night’s entertainment showcased some of the hottest names in comedy as attendees enjoyed performances by Dan Nainan, Kapil Sharma and Mantra.
Of course, no AAHOA Annual Convention & Trade Show would be complete without a spectacular Gala Night celebration. On the final night of the event, Friday, March 29, AAHOA hosted a night to remember featuring top-notch cuisine and entertainment. Headlining this year’s Gala Night were electric performances by Richa Sharma and Kamal.
“AAHOA Annual Conventions are already known throughout the industry for providing a wealth of personal and professional growth opportunities, and this year’s event did not disappoint,” said AAHOA President Fred Schwartz. “The energy and passion was apparent from minute one, and this event offered something for everyone.”
About AAHOA: The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) is THE voice of owners in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1989, it is now one of the fastest-growing organizations in the industry, with more than 11,000 members.
For further details and to see photos of the Houston event visit www.AAHOA.com
HOUSTON: Nothing speaks multicultural diversity more than Montessori School of Downtown’s International Festival held on April 6. Reflecting the diverse population of the school, students participated in an international fashion show by wearing their native dress and enjoyed cuisines from all over the globe. Fun activities, rides, games and a silent auction made the day even more special as a fundraising event for the school. As a forerunner in progressive education, the school is now able to purchase 25 I-Pads for the school. The school enrolls children ages 2 months to 3rd grade.
For further information about their summer or regular program contact Montessori School of Downtown-Clear Lake at 281-488-7599.
Eggplant are very popular in India and especially in the North where the most popular dish is baingan bhartha which is cooked with lots of onions; some people even add peas (fresh shelled ones are best) for an added taste.
The plant that bears the eggplant is native to the Indian Subcontinent but it is widely available all over the world and cooked in many ways. There are many varieties of the plant that produce different sizes, shapes and color, though typically purple. Eggplants have all the B vitamins, and are high in B9 (folate) as well as in calcium (1%), phosphorus (3%) and potassium (5%).
For this recipe choose a large round eggplant that is not heavy: a heavy one means that it has a lot of seeds. A slightly tender, round eggplant is the best, but most times you will find enlongated ones. Still, choose the one that is tender but does not collapse when squeezed. Also, the green shoot (dandal) should not have any dark spots on it.
Ingredients:
• 1 large round baingan
• 2 medium pyaaz (onion)
• 2 medium tamater (to mato) – soft ones are best
• Some small shelled mut ter (peas) (if desired)
• 2 tablespoons of veg etable or olive oil
• Spices: namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), garam masala
Directions:
1. Place a few drops of oil on the eggplant and smear it all around the skin.
2. The traditional way to roast the eggplant is over an open flame – in the old days it was over an ingithi (bucket charcoal stove) – that allowed the eggplant to take on a smoked, roasted flavor. Now, for best results, cook over a gas flame.
3. If you do not have a gas stove but only have an electric stove, place the eggplant in the oven on a metal tray and set on bake at 450 deg till it is soft in the middle. The eggplant will cook faster if you slice it in half. For ease of clean up, you can wrap the eggplant in aluminum foil. The cooked eggplant will shed water so use a deep tray.
4. You can also cook the eggplant in the microwave in a deep tray; again slice it in half, set the power on full and adjust the timer for 10 minutes till it is cooked.
5. Remove the eggplant from the fire, oven or microwave and peel off the roasted skin. Be careful as it will be hot! We often place the roasted eggplant in a bowl of water in order to cool it down fast.
6. Cut the green shoot off, leaving some meat on it. Cut the rest of the meat into quarters and then mash it, making sure it is not stringy.
7. Heat the oil in a skillet, wok or kadai. Cut the onion into small pieces and saute them in the oil till they are brown, then add the cut tomatoes and then add the spices (turmeric is usually not used in Punjabi bhartha).
8. Pour the mashed eggplant and the green shoot (dandal) in the masala (also the peas, if desired) and cook over low heat for some time. When you start to see some oil rise to the sides, turn the heat off; cover and let it stay for 10 minutes.
9. Uncover the skillet and if you want, sprinkle with garam masala though it is not necessary since the bhartha has so many onions. This dish is best eaten with roti. It is an honor to get the cooked dandal and remove the cooked meat off it. When thoroughly cooked, the green shoot can also be eaten and is delicious.
Shakuntla Malhotra recently returned to Houston after a six-week vacation in her homeland India. She is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.
HOUSTON: Maharashtra has a very strong performing arts and theater tradition. The modern-era Marathi theater scene really started to come into prominence in the latter half of the 19th century. The Sangeet Natak or Musical Play tradition reached new heights during this era and through early 20th century. The mostly mythology based Sangeet Nataks slowly gave way to farcical, social and experimental plays in mid 20th century. The Maharashtrian populace is a discerning connoisseur of this art form. This appreciation of theater continues to be very strong within the Maharashtrian families of Texas as well.
Dr. Mohan Agashe interacting with the audience.
It is to cater to this hunger for theater that Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM) organized a ‘Double Event’ on April 21, 2013. There were two great programs in a single afternoon, a Marathi play by Austin based Rangamancha Theater Group followed by an interactive show by renowned Marathi theater personality, Dr. Mohan Agashe. Both the shows were thoroughly enjoyed by the 250 strong audience. The event was held at VPSS Hall, 11715 Belfort Village Drive, Houston, TX.
HMM tries to invite Marathi theater companies to Houston during their North America tours. A lot of hit and acclaimed plays have been brought to Houston in the past years, namely Dilip Prabhavalkar’s “Wah Guru” in 2012.
This year, HMM decided to encourage and give platform to our very own Texas talent. The Rangamancha Theater Group is an amateur group based in Austin, Texas. They performed their play called “Kaka Mala Vachva” (literally, “Uncle, Save Me”). This is a comedy based on a series of events that happen to three typical young college boys living in a dorm, how they get into trouble and how they manage to get out of it. The two-hour play was followed by a short break where the attendees enjoyed some light refreshments.
HMM President Sharmila Mohrir felicitating Dr. Mohan Agashe.
After the play, Dr. Mohan Agashe took stage for his show called “Ek Tochi Nana” (“The one and only Nana”). The program is named after his legendary role of ‘Nana’ in Vijay Tendulkar’s internationally acclaimed play ‘’Ghashiram Kotwal’’.
Very few people know that Dr. Agashe was a trained psychiatrist before he became the acclaimed theatre personality that he is today. This interactive program was his humorous look at his career in theater, cinema and psychiatry.
The two hour program was interspersed with short clips from the famous plays and movies he acted in. The audience really enjoyed his perspective on how things have changed in the theatre and film industry since he started his career in the 1970s. It was also instructive to hear about his parallel career in psychiatry and the disappointing state of psychiatric care in India.
Neha Chimote, who along with her husband Rahul, is a new member of HMM; had this to say about the event: “I like watching light comedy plays and this play was thoroughly enjoyed. It was a treat to hear an eminent personality like Dr. Agashe in person.”
HMM committee for 2013 worked hard to bring these programs to Houston and there are several more cultural events that will be organized in the rest of the year. The immediate upcoming event is a Musical Evening on May 17th, 2013.
RICHMOND: What would you do if somebody promised you a remedy that would remove all your problems? Would you give up one weekend of your life to acquire that magic potion that would restore you to complete health? What if you heard that the remedy was as simple as learning to breathe? Well, such was the powerful message at the Spring Yoga Retreat led by VYASA leaders held April 5 –7 at the Gordon Ranch in Richmond, Texas.
Approximately 100 people from all walks of life, young, old, doctors, scientists, engineers and homemakers alike came together to partake in this ancient message in search of the “Eternal fountain for youth and happiness”. For most, however the motivation for coming to the retreat was spirituality. This was a community of like-minded students and teachers who came to strengthen their connection with one another and enrich themselves with the timeless wisdom of the Taiitreya Upanishad, wonderfully elucidated by Prof N. V. Raghuram co-founder of VYASA and Yoga Bharati. “The goal of the retreat was to bring awareness to our personal and everyday life and to be able to handle stress well” Dr. Sudha Rajan, President of the Houston Chapter of VYASA.
Assistant Director and Director of VYASA, Smitha and Vishwarupa.
VYASA (Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana) was founded in Bangalore in 1975. The objectives of VYASA were to examine the efficacy of yoga practices and to develop yoga courses to solve the basic problems of day to day modern life. Dr. Nagendra, Dr. Nagrathna and Prof. Raghuram began this institute which has since evolved into a one of the premier Yoga institutions in India. Over the years SVYASA has achieved several milestones, the major one being the deemed University status [since 2002] given by the Government of India and another milestone with the publication of the International Journal of Yoga. The website of the institution (www.svyasa.org) is one of the most visited Yoga sites in the world.
According to Dr. Sudha Rajan, although VYASA has had a long presence in Houston since 1999, they have never had anybody that was dedicated to promote this holistic science with the kind of dedication and commitment that was needed. They have had a variety of therapists that came and went over the years however it wasn’t until recently with the arrival of Smitha Vishwarupa and Vishwarupa in 2011 that all the efforts have come to fruition. The current Director of VYASA is Vishwarupa and the Assistant Director Smitha or Smithaji as she is affectionately called.
The retreat focused on providing these basic techniques combined with the philosophy and theories of ancient Yoga texts. Participants enthusiastically embraced the teachings and gave up everyday comforts like hot showers and comfortable beds as they partook of simple vegetarian food and tried to absorb the ancient science eloquently described by Prof. Raghuram. As Yoga enthusiast Shubha Kope commented “Even though the showers were warm on the colder side, we used the meditation techniques to visualize steaming hot showers and never felt a thing”. One of the highlights of the retreat was the cultural program where the participants put together a variety of entertaining programs that delighted the group assembled there. Of note, was a demonstration of Advanced Yoga Technique presented by Vinyasa flow Yoga teacher, Helen, who made the difficult Asanas look deceptively easy. The retreat ended with a special graduation ceremony for the Yoga Instructor certificate courses offered by VYASA Houston last year.
Amongst them was high school sophomore Karuna Kankani, who claimed that Yoga has helped her manage the stresses of teenage life and helped her become more clearheaded as to what she wants out of life. She says that she is able to focus better for longer periods of time and that has shown in her schoolwork. Khyati Vaidya, a student at University of Houston says that she strives to make Yoga a part of everyday life and that has helped her to be more successful in her work. Other students that graduated and proudly held their certificates were Armin Kasnavia, Dr.Neeta Shukla, Naresh Sharma, Sneha Thakar and Venkat Krishnan.
So, what is the future of Yoga? With the changes in healthcare reform and as modern medicine becomes out of reach of the common man and is unable to help them find a cure, more and more people are turning to alternative medicine as the primary means of coping and effectively managing their disorders. Houston needs more of these Yoga retreats so that people can get away from work related stress disorders and replenish and renew their resources and learn to live as nature meant them to. After all Yoga is simply the “union” of mind, body and soul.
To learn more about Yoga as a Science contact Vishwarupa or Smitha at VYASAhouston@gmail.org or visit Keshav Smruti center; 4018 Westhollow Parkway, Houston, TX 77082 of call 888-964-2609.
HOUSTON: American Completion Tools, a subsidiary of Parveen Industries, India is pleased to announce the opening of its new modern facility for the manufacture, assembly and sales of its entire product range in the fall of 2013.
American Completion Tools designs and manufactures service and completion tools such as drillable Bridge Plugs, Frac Plugs, Cement Retainers along with Hydraulic Set Permanent and Retrievable Packers in addition to Wireline, Hydraulic, Hydro-Mechanical and Mechanical Setting Tools for the oil and gas industry using state-of-the-art manufacturing processes.
A strong emphasis on consistent quality, customer service and ongoing product development over the years has ensured that its customers are provided with a wide array of superior products and services which help them maintain an edge in a highly competitive market. An in-house hydro testing facility certifies that all their products are tested in compliance to API standards. Highly trained domestic and international field representatives are always accessible for any questions and support.
Parveen Industries oversees seven plants in Delhi and Mumbai with a down hole Product line in Burleson, Texas.
T. J. Sinha, General Manager, expressed the view that with the unveiling of this new facility, they will be better equipped to serve a growing and dynamic market. P. Kumar, CEO, also voiced the fact that the new facility will cater not just to markets in America but Canada and Europe as well.
American Completion Tools invites and welcomes all oil professionals to visit their booth No. 5404 at the OTC oil show commencing from May 6 at the Reliant Centre, Houston.
Lord Karan Bilimoria is unapologetic in his unabashed admiration for the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who had passed away on April 8 at age 87. In an email interview with me, one of the youngest Lords in England, Bilimoria describes her as “The Entrepreneurs’ Prime Minister”. “By creating the environment that she did, Margaret Thatcher enabled the Asian community in England to succeed, prosper, and excel,” he strongly believes.
When Karan Bilimoria Esq became Lord Bilimoria in 2006 at age 44, he was almost like a “Baby” in the House of Lords where the average age is 69. Karan is really proud of having become a Lord without any political support or a godfather. In the seven years, he has been a Lord, Karan has presented on many occasions his views candidly, and from a different perspective. Three years ago, he had given a speech on enterprise and Britain’s economy and the then looming general elections. He was speaking from the front bench of the Crossbenchers, and sitting across from him was Lady Thatcher, the longest serving British Prime Minister in the post-World War II era. He saw her nodding her head, as if, in agreement.
The year 1989 became a turning point in his life when the COBRA Beer was born. With only “guts and wits” as his capital, the young Karan had plunged headlong into this daunting venture. When once he found himself with a large consignment to dispose off,he put the entire lot in an old Citron jalopy, and visited one Indian restaurant after another and gave two free sample bottles to every restaurant. He thus successfully sold the entire lot of beer. The rest is history.
By Raj Kanwar
Here are some excerpts from the interview.
What was England like when you first arrived there in 1981?
“I was only a nineteen year old student when I landed in Britain. She had then loomed as a towering figure with immense influence. Many of my colleagues at the House of Lords have paid ‘simply marvellous’ tributes to her that is ‘absolute treasures’. My tribute however is from a different perspective since Margaret Thatcher was somebody who has influenced my life from the day one of my arrival here.
Lord Karan Bilimoria
I remember the Britain I came to, which was at that time the sick man of Europe, a country with no respect in the world economy. It was a country that had lost its empire just over three decades before, a country going down the tubes, with no prospects and no promise. It was a country where, when I first arrived, I was told by my family and friends that I would never get to the top, as I would never be allowed to get to the top as a foreigner, as there would be a glass ceiling. And they were absolutely right at that time. The Britain I came to in 1981 was a country where entrepreneurship was looked down upon, with images of Del Boy and second hand car salesman defining the word.
And how was Thatcher able to transform the Britain of 1981 into a thriving economy and an Entrepreneurs’ paradise?
“I saw, before my own eyes, as a student in London and at Cambridge, this country being transformed, this country being opened up and the glass ceiling being shattered. Margaret Thatcher herself led the way by achieving all the things she did as a woman, in smashing through the glass ceiling. Britain opened up not only to the world, with London opening up as a global financial centre, but did so with the spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship being unleashed in the country. It became a country where an attitude of aspiration, an attitude of competitiveness, an attitude of people from anywhere being able to get anywhere, was created. And I knew, even as a student, that there was only one person who initiated this, who unleashed this, and who drove this forward – that person was Margaret Thatcher – the Entrepreneur’s Prime Minister.”
How did all that specifically help the Asian community prosper?
“By creating the environment that she did, Margaret Thatcher enabled the Asian community in this country, an immigrant community, to succeed, prosper, and excel. A community that had come, like the Ugandan Asians thrown out by a brutal dictator in the late 1970s, with nothing but who during Margaret Thatcher’s Prime Ministership were able to prosper and succeed, because of the enterprise environment and the aspiration environment she initiated and championed. And what is more, I always say that Asian values are summarised through hard work, the importance of family, and education. Margaret Thatcher embodied those values herself. We have heard from so many who knew her so well, and who worked with her, about how hard she worked, and of the legendary four-hour sleep every night. We know the importance she gave to education, being a highly educated person herself.”
In what way her family values were similar to those of the Asians?
“I had had the privilege of knowing her husband Denis and learning from him in great detail about his relationship with his wife, and the wonderful manner and dignity with which he conducted himself as the husband of the Prime Minister, never publicly interfering but always standing as a rock of support next to her and supporting her from behind the scenes. Similarly we have also heard of her complete love and devotion to her husband who she doted on, and loved and respected so much. And we have seen the loyalty to her given by so many individuals, personified by Mark Worthington, her private secretary, who served her with absolute devotion and selflessness, especially during her illness in the last few years. Also, of course, her colleagues like Lord Michael Forsyth, who looked after her so well, as I have seen personally.”
Margaret Thatcher
How well did you know Margaret Thatcher and what was your personal equation with her?
I was privileged to get to know her over the past decade or so, through the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where I was a Commissioner for six years and where she was a regular visitor. I also knew her when I was President of the Memorial Gates Committee on Constitution Hill, where she attended our annual ceremony. And of course I knew her in Parliament. I remember on one occasion speaking in a debate on enterprise and the economy, I was speaking from the front bench of the Crossbenchers, and she was sitting two feet across the aisle next to me, on the Opposition front benches. Throughout my speech I could see from the corner of my eye, she was nodding consistently in approval. Not only did this fill me with pride and mean a huge amount to me, I knew what I was saying must have been on the right track!
The Margaret Thatcher who I was fortunate to get to know was an always charming, always polite, and always beautifully turned out lady. It was genuinely a privilege to have known her.
How did the new attitudes of aspiration and competitiveness help you in the COBRA venture?
I came up with the idea for my business while I was a student in the Thatcher era. I started my business, Cobra Beer, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister. There is no way I could have done what I did without everything that she did to enable it to happen. I am a child of Thatcher. The flourishing entrepreneurial community in Britain today are children of Thatcher. The success of the Asian community in Britain today, which makes up about 4% of the population but contributes more than double that to the economy, could not have been accomplished without Thatcher. Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, Lady Thatcher, when Britain was down on its knees, saw the ‘Great’ in Britain and she put the ‘Great’ back into Great Britain.
Lord Bilimoria is the chairman, Cobra Beer Partnership.
Raj Kanwar is a Dehra Dun based freelance journalist and writes columns on current affairs for local and national newspapers. He is also the author of the official history of ONGC, which is one of the top three companies in India in terms of market capitalization. Kanwar is also associated with World Oil as its Contributing Editor for South Asia.
Performers on stage after the play, from the narrative drama Jagruti.
By Jawahar Malhotra
KATY: Thoughts of the Great Mahatma raced through the mind as the lines from his beloved poem Lead Kindly Light echoed through the cavernous auditorium, two whole, huge walls of which were splashed with projected slides; three more screens completing the semi-circular background that transposed the stage in front to a village setting in West Bengal. The scenes changed as the evening progressed and took the audience of a flight of fantasy.
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, continued the female narrator as those of us who learnt the beautiful poem in high school recalled the words, long forgotten. And so began the lead in to the narrative drama Jagruti (Awakening), designed, produced and directed by Debleena Banerji of the Prana School of Music and Arts of Katy.
The play tells the story of the struggle of a 7 year-old orphaned girl Anandi who is adopted by a childless village couple Bijoya and Nikhil. She excels in studying and despite the objections of close-minded village leaders, goes off to college in the city and returns with her degree to teach the kids in the village. The cast – Achintya Ghosh, Jaya Ghosh, Praveen Srivastav, Sudip Bandyopadhya, Rupa Ghosh, Rittika Nandi, Aishani Saha, Anusha De and many more – were accentuated by the live background music provided by Biplab Samadder, Erich Avinger and Raja Banga.
The auditorium of the CrossPoint Community Church on South Westgreen, packed with nearly 600 people listened with rapt attention as the story unfolded and the message of learning and educating sunk in.
For this is the message that Rishabh Shah, a senior at Seven Lakes High School had understood when he visited the tiny village of Gayeshpur in West Bengal several months ago. He was motivated by the little kids he saw who were thirsting for knowledge in a crowded school supported by Ekal Vidyalaya, a non-profit organization that builds schools for marginalized children across rural and tribal India. He looked around for inspiration and found it in RICE – Removing Illiteracy through Collective Education – an organization started five years ago by Tarun Mathur in Orlando, Florida who had likewise visited an EV school. Mathur persuaded his own public high school to donate to EV and from there, the nucleus of RICE started, now with 5 chapters nationwide.
With his passion, Shah inspired others to start RICE at his high school and pull together this remarkable event to raise money for the EV cause with the help of their parents and gurus at Prana School. While the chapter is only a few months old, this past Saturday, April 20 at their first fund raiser they collected more than $13,500 in donations.
“RICE has formed with the commitment to its mission of eradicating illiteracy through collective education and by breaking the cycle of poverty by funding education for the underprivileged,” said Shah, President of the club. Through its affiliation with EV, RICE is able to avail of Ekal’s global reach and operations and support the 47,000 schools that EV runs in India. Over 20,000 graduates of the program have come back to teach at EV schools.
The rest of the evening was comprised of a number of unique performances: World Orchestra by the students and the siblings of Prana School, Lehra Ghongroo presentation by Kathak Nrityalay directed by Keka Kar with live tabla accompaniment by the students of the Prana School and its principal Raja Banga. The final performance was the Prana Concert, a Raga-Jazz fusion with 7 well known musicians from the Houston music world. Talented vocalist Balkar Singh and noted violin player Biplab Samdder drew the images of Indian ragas, while Erich Avinger and Aaron Hermes reciprocated with Jazz music using flute, acoustic guitar and bass guitar. Young drummer Ved Chitale and Salil Kulkarni on percussion added to the pleasure of audience engrossed in the fusion of various Indian ragas and jazz streaks intertwined.
HOUSTON: The property owners need to understand the relationship of government spending, real estate market, property values, and tax rates, which affect property taxes. All across the state, the increase in taxes have received more attention and criticism since last several years.
In the last five to six years, the commercial property taxes have tripled while market values have only doubled, and for homeowners is also up averaging about $4,000 yearly. Remember, each year stands on its own. You need to attempt reducing your property taxes every year, even though the assessed value has not changed or even it is less than its market value.
Due to lack of awareness and knowledge, only 10% or less of property owners file a protest and appeal each year. The following information will give you more details about the protest process.
How is your property valued? The local appraisal district first collects detailed descriptions of each taxable property in the district, and then classifies them according to a variety of factors, such as size, use and construction type. The district also considers variable factors such as age of the property, location, or esthetic value. Then the district establishes “typical” property values to appraise all the properties in each class.
For income producing properties, the district uses three common approaches – market, income and cost. The market approach is most often used on the basis, “What are properties similar to this property selling for in the same area as of January 1?” For the income approach, “What would an investor pay in anticipation of future income from the property?” The third approach related to cost for replacing the property with one of equal utility.
Why other 90 % do not appeal? (1) The property owners thinks the process is overpowering (2) They are uncertain about the successful outcome after the appeal. (3) They think it is a waste of time (4) Some think their home’s assessed value is below market value, so there is no need to appeal. (5) They do not understand they can appeal on unequal appraisal for their property in the same subdivision or area. (6) Some believes that by reducing the assessed value, it will reduce the selling price. (7) They do not know that it is an annual process, and they should file an appeal every year.
Why to appeal? You need to attempt reducing your property taxes every year, if you don’t appeal for protest every year the central appraisal district (CAD) will keep increasing the value of your property each year. It doesn’t cost owner anything to pursue the appeal, and that is the only way to get a fair share.
Where to file an appeal? You can file an appeal online or at the county CAD office.
How to appeal? You can file a protest based on the assessment data, market value comparison, and unequal appraisal. There are three levels to appeal: (1) informal hearing (2) appraisal review board hearing (ARB) and (3) legal judicial appeal.
You must know the facts:
(1) You can appeal though your taxes are lower than last year or assessed for less than market value. (2) Property tax increases are capped at 10% per year. (3) The value cannot be increased at the informal hearing, where most accounts are settled. The assessed value rarely increases at the ARB. (4) The appraisal district will not take revenge, if you or your agent protest for you even every year. (5) If the district has wrong area of your property, and if you request, they will come and measure the property again. (6) Taxes payments dates, taxing units usually mail their tax bills in October. The delinquency date is usually February 1 or the delinquency date is on the bill. In general, January 31 is the deadline for paying property taxes. Taxes that are unpaid on February 1 are delinquent. Penalty and interest charges are added to the original amount. (7) Do not consider your tax assessed value to be indicative of your true market value.
The value changes each year upon the market and the comparable sales during the calendar year affect the property value. (8) Exemptions: you have to apply for the applicable exemptions. Homestead Exemptions and Optional 65 or older or disabled exemptions.
One can qualify for 100 percent disabled veteran’s residence homestead exemption. (9) The religious or charitable organization may receive a property tax exemption for the year in which it purchases qualifying property.
How we can help you?
You pay nothing for our services, unless we save you money. We have an experienced licensed consultant team to serve you with over twenty years of accumulating diversified experience and knowledge in business accounting, engineering, technical, general construction, legal, and administration.
We specialize in residential and commercial properties, Business personal property, and vacant land. We protest taxes in all Counties of the Greater Houston Area.
For further questions or filing protest early before May 31 deadlines, please call Mary Pineda of Property Tax Protest Professionals at 281-242-8464.
Scenes from the celebration of Nepal Day and arrival of Nepali New Year 2070. Over 300 people celebrated the night in a family-based environment and welcomed the arrival of new year 2070 Bikram Sambat.
HOUSTON: Nepalese Association of Houston (NAH) organized a social and cultural evening to celebrate Nepal Day and the arrival of Nepali New Year 2070 B.S. on April 13. During the Non-resident Nepali Conference 2010 held in Houston, Mayor Annise Parker had recognized to celebrate Nepal Day in Houston every year. Since then, NAH has been organizing various events and programs in Houston City to celebrate the tradition, culture, heritage and identity of Nepali diasporas in Houston.”Houston is home away from home for many of Nepalese now. It is a matter of our pride and pleasure to be able to celebrate our national culture in the great city of Houston every year”, said Madhukar Amatya who was re-elected as the NAH President for second term in October, last year.
This year’s Nepal Day celebration included a blood donation drive on March 30 at NAH office located in the Hillcroft area. Over 35 people donated blood during the event. Jyoti Ghimire, the coordinator of the event underscored the importance of blood drive, “blood is fundamental to human life and one of the easiest way to help to save lives”. Similarly, on April 6 Nepal Day Soccer Tournament was organized at Memorial Park where 6 Nepalese soccer teams competed in the one day event. On the eve of Nepali New Year 2070, the Nepal Day celebration was marked by children art competition, family fashion show, cultural program, and dj night at Taj Hall located in the Hillcroft area.
The children art competition theme was Angry Bird Goes to Nepal. Angry Bird has become a popular computer game that is enjoyed by millions of children and even adults around the world every day. Angry Bird-Rio, a movie based on Angry Bird that was released last year also enjoyed a great success among its fan. We want our children that are being raised here to remain connected with Nepal, and such art competition helps us the children to connect USA and Nepal creatively stated the General Secretary of NAH, Dr. Rupak Rauniar. The cultural program hosted several Nepali folk dances and recital of national songs from Nepal. Over 300 people celebrated the night in a family-based environment and welcomed the arrival of new year 2070 Bikram Sambat.
As the Nepalese community in Houston continues to grow in the Houston area, events and functions like this helps to preserve the rich South Asian culture in the city.
Royal Challengers Bangalore scored the highest T20 score ever as Chris Gayle slammed a record 30-ball century at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday evening. The team eventually defeated Pune Warriors by 130 runs. The win is Bangalore’s sixth in eight matches and puts them on top of the points table.
Bangalore scored a mammoth 263 for five wickets in their 20 overs against Pune who lost wickets at regular intervals during their reply. No batsman however could even remotely replicate the stunning display of power hitting from Gayle who had scored an unbeaten 175 off 66 ball, an innings studded with a record 17 sixes and 13 fours.
“It was one of those days. It was a good wicket and we needed a good total,” Gayle said after his brutal innings.
Gayle was in super touch, middling the ball from the very start after the match was interrupted briefly by a sharp shower. His century came off just 30 balls and contained 11 sixes and 8 fours. The Jamaican erased the record of Australian Andrew Symonds, who had cracked a 34-ball T20 century for Kent….
New Delhi:
It was easy to get carried away watching Chris Gayle’s knock of 175 not out in the first match on Tuesday (April 23), but fans who came in to the Feroz Shah Kotla expecting something similar from Virender Sehwag and Delhi Daredevils in the second match, went home disappointed. Kings XI Punjab cruised to a five-wicket win with three overs to spare to give them their fourth win in seven matches in the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013.
Darren Lehmann, the Punjab coach, expected more from his foreign players and they delivered at a crucial stage. David Hussey (20) and David Miller (34 not out) put together a vital 40-run stand for the fifth wicket, and in doing so, they didn’t only eased a sense of panic that had grown at one stage, but also did well to not expose a jittery lower order that looked light on experience. (Also read: Punjab add to Delhi’s woes, stats from the match)
Earlier, Delhi ended up with a modest 120 for 7 in 20 overs after being asked to bat. David Warner, who came in at No. 4, top-scored with a 36-ball 40, while other batsmen fell to a rash of misguided and miscued strokes. Virender Sehwag, coming off a blistering 95 off 57 balls in the previous game, teased the crowd with two fours and a six en route to 23, but the pressure of losing quick wickets upfront consumed him. With the next best score being 14, Delhi never had any sort of momentum. (Watch NDTV analysis: Gavaskar feels Delhi can only be party spoilers now)
The all-round bowling effort by Punjab was led Harmeet Singh, making his first appearance this year. His triple strike, including the prized scalp of Sehwag and the in-form Kedhar Jadhav, broke Delhi’s back while Praveen Kumar, who picked up two wickets, started the slide with Mahela Jayawardene’s wicket in the first over….
The first official trailer for Thor: The Dark World – in UK cinemas Oct 30. The sequel to Marvel’s Thor, starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Christopher Eccleston. Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness.
Islamabad: Pakistani police say they have defused a car bomb near the house of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. Islamabad police chief Bani Amin says the explosive-laden vehicle was found parked about 150 meters (500 feet) from the main gate of Musharraf’s house on the capital’s outskirts Tuesday. The former military strongman is being held under house arrest in connection with a case involving his decision to fire senior judges while in power. Amin says police are investigating how the vehicle was able to approach Musharraf’s house. The Taliban have threatened to kill Musharraf, and suspected militants tried to assassinate him several times when he was in power from 1999-2008….
BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces backed by helicopters raided a Sunni protest camp before dawn on Tuesday, prompting clashes that killed at least 36 people in the area and significantly intensified Sunni anger against the Shiite-led government. The fighting broke out in the former insurgent stronghold of Hawija, about 240 kilometers (160 miles) north of Baghdad. Like many predominantly Sunni communities, the town has seen months of rallies by protesters accusing the government of neglect and pursuing a sectarian agenda. In an apparent response to the morning raid, militants tried to storm two army posts in the nearby town of Rashad, and six of them were killed, according to the defense ministry. Seven other militants were killed while trying to attack military positions in another town, Riyadh, according to police and hospital officials. Outrage also spread through other Sunni parts of the country, including the restive western Anbar province, where demonstrators took to the streets and clashed with police. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki swiftly announced the formation of a special ministerial committee to investigate what happened in Hawija, underscoring the government’s concern over the incident. Sectarian tensions have been intensifying for months, pressured by Sunni protests that began in December and what officials fear is a strengthening of al-Qaida and other Sunni-backed militants. Hawija was the site of some of the fiercest fighting between US and Iraqi forces who faced frequent deadly attacks by al-Qaida in Iraq and other insurgents. That raises fears that the growing anger among Sunnis could lead to a new round of violence….
SINDHANOOR (Karnataka): In a major offensive against the ruling BJP in Karnataka, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the party of “looting” the state and claimed it would lose the May 5 assembly polls. Launching the Congress’ campaign in northern Karnataka, he said BJP broke electoral promises and “the only thing they remembered was how to loot public money in the state. They have done it. They are past masters in this”. Seeking to strike a chord with the public, he tried to make it interactive posing questions on the poll promises made by the BJP and whether they have been fulfilled to which the crowd responded with a vociferous ‘no’. The BJP government had hurt the people and “betrayed” the faith reposed by them, Gandhi told the gathering before whom he apologized for making people wait in the scorching sun. He was about one-and-a-half hours behind schedule. “… BJP will lose here. We can hear it in Delhi…”, Gandhi said, as he commenced his party’s poll campaign with a brief speech losing no time in taking on the ruling BJP for “doing nothing but looting the state”….
The Army chief is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
JAMMU: Army chief General Bikram Singh on Tuesday reviewed counter-infiltration and security measures in Jammu and Kashmir and visited forward areas along the Line of Control(LoC). The Army chief, who is on a two-day visit to the state, chaired a meeting at the 16 Corps headquarters in Nagrota, where he was briefed by field commanders about security and counter-infiltration measures in J&K, a defence spokesman said. Gen Singh later flew to the Rajouri sector where he visited forward areas along the LoC. During his stay, Gen Singh will be meeting chief minister Omar Abdullah and will call on J&K governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhawan. He would also be undertaking a tour of the forward areas in the Akhnoor sector, besides visiting the Doda region, where he will be briefed by personnel of the counter-terrorism Delta force. He is scheduled to return to Delhi tomorrow….
