Event organizers and the instructor, From Left: Hassan, Professor Ahsan Syed, Tauseef Siddiqi.Audience enjoying Urdu Ka Safar workshop. Photos: Hassan Studio
Ian Staff Reporter
SUGAR LAND: Two huge ‘Deewans’ of Meer Taqi Meer and Mirza Ghalib adorned the podium. A pleasant fragrance of rare ‘Khuss Itar’ filled the hall. Calligraphy art and arabesque displays set the mood. In a traditional fashion of Urdu Mehfil of Mughal India, Professor Ahsan Syed lit the candle marking the commencements of the 3-day literary workshop, ‘Urdu Ka Safar – Meer Se Haali Tak’. This literary conference on classical Urdu poets and their unparalleled poetry was organized on April 5,6,7, 2013 at Maryam Masjid, in Sugar Land, Texas and was attended by prominent Urdu poets of Houston and many others. The workshop was conducted by Professor Ahsan Syed of Palo Alto, California, originally from Hyderabad, India, who has been teaching Urdu literature in North America for many years. Besides Meer and Ghalib, other classical poets of 18th, 19th and 20th century India included Momin Khan ‘Momin’, ‘Daag’ Dehlvi, Moulana ‘Haali’, ‘Jigar’ Muradabadi and ‘Akbar’ Allahabadi. Urdu-lovers of Houston are invited to join their mailing list by sending an email to UrduMehfil@yahoo.com for member privileges and discounted tickets or free invitations for their next event.
Eggplant are very popular in India per se and especially so in the North where they are generally cooked in only a few variants, with the most popular being the bhartha or the dish that is presented here, aloo baingan.
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. The small variety, sold in grocery stores here as “Indian eggplant” are the ones used for this recipe as they provide the best taste and consistency, although this dish can be made with the large, round eggplants cut into pieces. You may try it that way and will notice the difference in overall presentation and flavor.
One thing to remember when cooking with eggplant is that once it is cut and left open, the flesh will start to oxidize and turn brown and eventually black. It is for this reason that I suggest placing the cut vegetable in water so that the flesh remains clean and fresh.
On a healthy note, eggplants have all the B vitamins, and are high in B9 (folate) as well as in calcium (1%), phosphorus (3%) and potassium (5%).
Aloo Baingan
Ingredients:
•1 lb small desi baingan (small Indian eggplant)
•1 lb aloo (potatoes) (small round are preferable)
•1 large pyaaz (onion)
•2 medium tamater (tomato) – soft ones are best
•1 medium clump of adrak (ginger root)
•1 medium kernel of lasan (garlic)
•2 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil
•Spices: namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), haldi (tur meric) and sukha dhania powder (dried coriander seed powder), garam masala
Directions:
1. Cut the eggplants and potatoes lengthwise and let them soak in water so that they don’t turn dark.
2. Heat the oil in a medium skillet, wok or khadai. Cut the onion, ginger and garlic into small pieces and brown them in the oil. Now add the diced tomatoes. Add the turmeric, pepper and coriander powder and stir for a while till the mixture has a nice consistency and aroma.
3. Drain the eggplant and potatoes, add to the skillet and stir well to coat them with the masala. Be sure to add salt at this point, to your taste. Cover the skillet well and turn the heat down to medium.
4. The vegetables will cook in their own steam so let them cook covered for 15 minutes. Check to seek that they are tender and stir gently to make sure they are sticking to the bottom. Turn the heat to very low and then let cook covered in their own steam for 10 more minutes.
5. Uncover the skillet and sprinkle with garam masala and let it sit covered for a while to let the taste and aroma of the garam masala seep through. This dish is best eaten with roti or naan.
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.
NEW YORK: Sony Entertainment Network proudly announced the launch of MIX, A pure Hindi Film Music channel on DISH Network for the South Asian diaspora in the USA.
The newest addition of the SEN bouquet is a channel dedicated to music and all that belongs to it. Coming from the SET, MAX, SAB & AATH family of channels – a group that has prided itself on providing fresh breakthrough programming – MIX too promises an exciting and expansive library of Hindi film songs spanning all eras.
Addressing the fact that other channels in the genre carry out comic interstitials to drive differentiation, MIX shall reinforce its brand promise of being a destination dedicated to music by providing musical factoids. The songs lined up MIX as a channel where everyone will find their favorites daily.
In addition to the extensive variation of music, MIX will maintain its undeterred focus on content by producing packaged shows offering right from user generated content to people profiles executed in the most unmistakably musical fashion.
Moving into the gap created by erstwhile music channels rechristened as ‘youth channels’ and other music channels dishing out non-music content as interstitial programming, the channel is confident that viewers shall enjoy MIX as a channel that remains true to the music genre.
Commenting on the launch of MIX, Jaideep Janakiram, SVP International Business-Head of North America said “We are proud to announce the launch of our music channel – MIX on DISH Network for the discerning South Asian lovers of Hindi film music. We are confident that MIX will connect with every viewer with its variety of music and special programming. MIX is and shall stay true to music”
Sruta Vootukuru, DISH Director of Programming, states “Sony MIX’s unique theme-based music format helps DISH deliver a better experience to our customers. Adding the Sony MIX channel compliments DISH’s robust international programming and enhances our South Asian offerings.”
MIX is a music channel by the music lovers, for the music lovers and of the music lovers.
About Sony Entertainment Network:
Since its launch on the Indian subcontinent in 1995, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has enjoyed rapid success, leading to the establishment of European, North American and African feeds known as SET Asia. SET and SET Asia are now available in over 150 countries. The channels offer their viewers a distinctive blend of entertainment programs twenty four hours a day, including, soap operas, dramas, sitcoms, concerts, movies, and game shows. Besides SET Asia, SET also has three other leading channels: MAX, India’s #1 premier movies and special events channel, SAB, the only dedicated comedy channel, MIX, the recently launched Hindi Film music channel and AATH, the only dedicated Bengali Movie channel.
HOUSTON: Committed to the progress and growth of women worldwide, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha celebrated its sixth annual Women’s Conference in Houston, Texas on Saturday, March 30th, 2013. Over 600 women of all ages were in attendance at the conference which focused on this year’s theme of “Timeless Traditions: Celebrating the Past, Cultivating the Future”. The conference focused on understanding the importance of Hindu traditions, communicating them with ease, and nurturing future generations by preserving a priceless culture and traditions.
Various speakers shared insights from their personal experiences and related to the audience on the various subjects. The conference first started by welcoming all guests and hearing from the Chief Guest, Alpana Thakkar, a lawyer in the Houston community who also served on a legal team that consulted on procuring the land for Delhi Akshardham. Thakkar highlighted the importance of the role that parents play in ensuring our Hindu culture and values live on. Also, speaking at the start of the conference was special guest, Nandita Parvathaneni, wife of Honorable Consul General of India in Houston, Harish Parvathaneni. Addressing the old Hindu tradition of “Atithi devo bhava” or treating guests as God. She urged everyone to instill such values in our future generations.
Krupa Amin, a student, connected with the audience through conveying her personal pride of her Hindu heritage. She spoke of the cherished values of her upbringing with emphasis on truth (satya), non-violence (ahimsa), and compassion, and how those values have guided her in all situations of daily life. She stressed the role of her Hindu background in forming her healthy and proud Hindu-American identity and provided examples of many successful Hindu-American women who have done the same. In highlighting her sense of pride, she also reminded the audience of the many contributions to the world by Hinduism (and India) in the areas of science, math, astrology, architecture, and medicine. Her talk linked the audience to a priceless heritage and served as a reminder of the traditions and values of their upbringing.
As Hinduism is not just a religion, but also a way of life, Ramola Panchal, spoke about living that way of life with pride and conveying it with comfort and confidence. She stressed the importance of having knowledge and understanding behind one’s religion, traditions, and values. In doing so, one can become a true ambassador of Hinduism and the Hindu way of life, better enabled to answer questions and clarify misconceptions.
Hiral Patel, a research professional, made the case for preserving these values, traditions, and culture and presented realistic, actionable methods to practice and preserve them for future generations. Through personal stories and realistic examples, she illustrated how to incorporate traditions in one’s daily routines to maintain culture with language, music, and other practices. She shared special ways one can celebrate Hindu holidays and festivals, which not only provide families with joy but more importantly, knowledge of the history and purpose behind them. The most instrumental tool shared in all the testimonials was “family time”. This one tool was stressed in order to maintain the Hindu family centric values based on shared sacrifices, and to pass on traditions and culture with solid historical foundations.
Women of all generations attended the conference, each group finding inspiration in the talks for the current phase of their lives and finding priorities to help shape their future. Daksha Nagar, a mother of young children agreed that the theme of this year’s conference was helpful for all generations. She added, “As someone that grew up outside of India, I am grateful for the steps my parents took to ensure I retained Hindu values and it is refreshing to have an opportunity to share ideas and thoughts about the same with other parents in similar situations. It helps me think of ways I can ensure my kids get a similar exposure to our culture that I had.”
After the conference, Alpana Thakkar, chief guest, shared her thoughts. Speaking on the significance of such conferences, she said, “As a woman, or the mother, is the backbone of the family, and in turn the local community. Any mother or woman who attends such conferences will surely find inspiration to do more.” Not only did the attendees experience a rejuvenation of pride in their heritage, they felt more informed to better represent their faith and values.
The conference concluded with a traditional Hindu prayer for peace. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to network and socialize with one another during a post-conference reception. Participants noted the importance of holding an event focused on women and returning attendees were particularly pleased to see the continuation of discussions related to a popular theme such as ‘Timeless Traditions’.
BAPS, drawing inspiration from His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, holds this annual conference as a stage to allow discussion of various topics important to women in society and to serve as a conduit for empowering women of all ages. This year, 10 such conferences were hosted by BAPS across North America. Many women felt enriched by the discussion and identified the importance of implementing the message in their lives, particularly with their future generations.
Members of the Hindi Convention working committee.
By Haider Kazim
HOUSTON: The Houston Chapter of International Hindi Association (IHA) is planning to host the 16th National Hindi Convention in the grand Texas tradition of doing everything bigger and better than before.
The Adhiveshan will be held on the Labor Day weekend from August 30 to September 1. The three-day convention will include seminars, workshops, cultural programs and youth competitions to draw in more young adults and school age kids to encourage and test their proficiency in Hindi language. A major highlight of the convention will be a kavi sammelan featuring well-known Hindi poets from India.
Members of the Hindi Convention working committee.
A working committee of the Houston Chapter for the convention has been set up and has already dived-in mega preparations. Sangeeta Pasrija is the President and Swapan Dhairyawan is the Vice President. Rajiv Bhavsar is the Treasurer and Rafi Ansar & Sanjay Sohoni the Joint Secretaries. Other Committee members are Abha Dwivedi, Dinesh Singhal, Fatehali Chatur, KD Upadhyaya, Om Gupta, Meera Kapur, Vijay Pallod, Ashish Thapliyal, Nausha Asrar and Sangita Bhutada.
“Hindi is often regarded as a dialect continuum. The following languages are often taken to define its boundaries: Punjabi, Sindhi, and Gujarati define the western and northwestern boundaries; Marathi delimits Hindi’s southern boundary; Oriya marks the southeastern boundary; Bengali provides the eastern boundary; and Nepali marks the northern boundary. Along with Urdu, Hindi refers to a standardized register of Hindustani. Although it is spoken primarily in India, Hindi is spoken by large numbers in Nepal, South Africa and Uganda. Hindi speakers can be found on all continents of the globe.
Hindi has been listed as a crucial language by the American State Department since 9/11/2001 because of the strategic business and security interests in South Asia. India is respected as the regional power of South Asia. It is the largest South Asian economy and most populous nation of South Asia, the largest democracy in the world and is also a nuclear power.
According to the 2000 census there are 317,057 Hindi speakers in the United States which must be almost double by now!
Hindi is the official language of India. As such, it plays a key role in society. Hindi is used in government, education, mass media (newspapers, radio, television), trade, and everyday communication. In terms of total number of speakers, Hindi ranks second in the world behind Mandarin Chinese.
As many as 800 million people are estimated to understand Hindi.
We now realize in America that the knowledge of critical languages, including Hindi provides career opportunities such as communications (foreign correspondent, reporter, translator), international finance (international banker, international consultant, political risk analyst), industry (manager of government relations for oil company, market analyst for export company), government (foreign service officer, development program officer, intelligence analyst, government relations specialist, translator or interpreter, linguist), law (contractual and corporate consultant), academia (teaching and research positions) and work with United Nations Organizations. “We can only instill the love of our national language in our next generation by example, exposure and teachings. How wonderful it is to keep our culture alive here in United States through our kids! It is possible only by knowing the language that binds India. “ quoted by Sangeeta Pasrija.
“Hindi is the national language of India. It is a connecting link and a rich language that needs to be preserved for sustaining our Indian culture and identity,” said Dhairyawan, a well-known Houston CPA. “We are fortunate to be part of the host team for this upcoming National Adhiveshan in our own city. This Adhiveshan is just a beginning and much work needs to be done thereafter for preserving and promoting Hindi in our extended communities.”
The committee is seeking sponsorship for the convention which ranges from $500 to $2000. A souvenir will also be released to mark the historic convention and presents a unique opportunity for advertisers.
Texas has been in the forefront of efforts for propagation of Hindi language and culture in the United States. Texas boasts of three IHA chapters – Austin, Dallas and Houston – out of a total of 15 chapters nationwide. It is mainly due to the efforts of Hindi lovers that seven U.S. states proclaimed September 14 as Hindi Day.
The International Hindi Association or ‘Antarashtriya Hindi Samiti’ was established in 1980 in the United States for promotion of Hindi language and literature among Indian diaspora spread all over the world. The organization aims to foster Indian heritage among younger generations and wants to ensure that they not only read and speak Hindi but also understand its rich literary tradition. The non-religious, non-political, and non-profit lingo-cultural organization is run entirely by volunteers with the support and patronage from its growing membership worldwide.
The association organizes Hindi classes, youth camps, poetry recitals, literary symposiums and publications promote and inculcate human values inherent in the Indian culture.
The annual and biennial IHA conventions have been instrumental in getting the message to public at large. Hundreds of people were drawn to IHA by the conventions held in Washington, D.C. in 1991, Rochester in 1992, D.C. in 1993, Houston in 1994, Syracuse in 1995, Cleveland in 1996, New Jersey in 1997, Boston in 2000 and Dallas in 2003. Many political and literary luminaries from India and USA took part in these conventions. They included Shatrughna Sinha, the famous actor and former cabinet minister of the Government of India, Kalraj Mishra, a member of India’s Rajya Sabha, late Narendra Mohan, another Rajya Sabha MP and publisher of famous Indian newspaper Dainik Jagran. In Boston Convention (2000), Vinod Khanna, another luminary of Indian films and politics joined US Congressman McGovern of Massachusetts to grace the occasion. This was the first time ever that the parliamentarians of US and India joined to promote Hindi from the same stage. Another Rajya Sabha MP, Uday Pratap Singh, was a special guest poet in 2005 Kavi Sammelan.
For further information
Call Sangeeta at 281-788-9750 or Swapan at 281-382-0348
Rehan Siddiqi with Strings. Photos: Meedu’s Fotografy
HOUSTON: Rahat Fateh Ali khan will be performing in Houston in the Reliant Arena on April 20. Rehan Siddiqi of Hum Tum Shows who has brought many successful shows in the past, is the show promoter and the mastermind behind organizing this show in Houston. He recently presented Houston, in the last three weeks with two successful shows, Adnan Sami and Strings. Both shows were sold out events. The audience enjoyed Adnan Sami show a lot and the team had to put together a second performance which was also a sold out event.
Rehan has a passion for doing shows and is an expert in organizing them well, in a way very different from others. The sound, light, and stage management in his shows are exceptional; he adds a personal touch to every element of the show, which make him different from all other promoters. He works hard and delivers top quality shows by working on the minutest details. The entire Houston audience believes in him and knows that if a show is organized under his banner, it will be a world-class event.
A sold out Adnan Sami show.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will be arriving in Houston next Wednesday, on April 17 for a special VIP meet and greet event. Rehan Siddiqi has put together this event after convincing Rahat to make a special visit during the week, before his concert. Rehan Said, “This will be a special meet and greet event exclusively in Houston on Wednesday April 17, and is organized for VIPs and Houston’s media. It is a party to kick start Rahat’s North American 2013 tour.”
Rehan Siddiqi promises that the upcoming concert will be a totally different one as compared to the past performances that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has given. Rahat will be landing directly in Houston to initiate his North American 2013 tour consisting of his performances in over 25 cities across USA, Canada and the Caribbean.
The group will be arriving inHouston on April 17 and will leave for the Dallas show and will return to Houston on Saturday April 20, where Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will perform in front of an estimated audience of over 8500 people at the Reliant Arena. With a group of over 20 musician performing all his latest hits like Dagabaaz Re, Halki Halki Khumarian, Tere Mast Mast Do Nain, to his amazing qawalis and all major hit songs.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s, LasVegas concert was recently televised on Star and since then fans are going crazy for the tickets. His performance is world class, he is one of the best performer in the world with number one rating across South Asia.
This year there is a special sound company who will be touring with the maestro ensuring that the audiences get top class sound across the tour. Therefore, get ready to sit back, relax and enjoy the biggest performance of this year!
In conclusion, Rehan Siddiqi says, “This is a very special treat for Rahat fans and all I can say is one world, one voice, billion followers, so Houston get ready for the best performance ever at Reliant Arena on April 20.
For tickets, visit www.sulekha.com or www.desiclub.com.
Tickets also available in stores at Patel Brothers, Keemat Grocers and World Food Warehouse.
For group ticketing Call Rehan Siddiqi at 713-545-4115.
The newlyweds Anushka Kinra and Ali Ghazi-Askar with the bride’s mother Anita Kinra at the reception.
By Jawahar Malhotra
SUGAR LAND: Dressed in a heavily gold-embroidered, deep purple lengha and choli, her hands painted with henna designs, Anushka Kinra was describing the episode when she met her future husband as they stood in line to hear the schedules for their pediatric residency rotations in Chicago four years ago.
“I had all my papers neatly arranged and in a portfolio, and in walked this disheveled guy, papers flying everywhere, his face in a panic and I thought, ‘I hope I don’t get on a team with him’,” Anushka recalled with a chuckle. When Ali dropped his papers, she offered to help and later discovered that yes, they were assigned to the same team after all. She soon came to realize that Ali was a warm, caring man with an incredible sense of humor, all of which eventually won her heart.
Phoenix Murphy and Sarah C. performed at the reception.
Ali Ghazi-Askar, 33, of course remembered the incident a little differently. “It’s true I had all my papers flying everywhere that day, but I thought to myself ‘Who’s the most organized person there in line who can help me?’ and that’s when I spotted Anushka.!” he said with a broad, gleaming smile.
The hall full of guests burst into laughter at the Madras Pavilion, Sugar Land last Saturday, April 6 as the couple stood in front of them to celebrate their marriage almost a year ago. Due to their heavy work schedules, they were unable to plan the reception that Anushka’s mother Anita wanted to throw in their honor till this Spring. “But six months ago, we finally settled on a date that worked,” smiled Anita, a long-time Houstonian, “and I prepared for the reception.”
The reception was full of old-time friends and some relatives of the Kinra household. Anita has recently retired as a teacher from HISD and has been devoted to Vapasana Meditation for many years, even teaching courses every year and so has a large following among the community, as fact that Anushka alluded to as the extended family that she expressed thanks to for their support. A major part of the evening’s short entertainment session were dance and singing performances by the young Zara Shipchandler and the talented young couple of Phoenix Rose Murphy (his given name is Keshav Parikh) and Sarah Chybrzynski.
Ali is of Iranian descent, having come moved to Mesa, Arizona as a young 3 year-old, where his father Mehdi and late mother Mina settled. His father is retired from his pedriatric practice and stills lives in Mesa. Ali has two older sisters, also doctors. Anushka, 31, grew up with her brother Rajiv in College-Station and graduated from UT-Austin.
The young couple moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in June 2012 where Anushka joined a private practice and Ali will complete a fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Oklahoma University Children’s Hospital by 2015.
HOUSTON: Four years ago saw the fulfillment of a dream seen by founder Samrat Bhattacharya and producer/director Shyamal Bhattacharya. Their musical background helped and inspired them to start a radio show that aired a mix of Bengali as well as Hindi songs. It was the first of its kind to feature that genre of music in Houston and it is all to the credit and indomitable spirit of Shyamal, Mita and their son Samrat. This radio station, despite its trials and tribulations, has survived through it and is now back with a bang.
It’s innovation and novelty attracted the entire Indian subcontinent and USA, especially Bengali communities in Houston initially.Its listening audience has spread all over the world to the point where one can listen to it online on www.radiomastihouston.com. Radio Masti airs in Houston on 1090 AM KULF on Saturdays from 7AM-11AM and on Sundays from 7AM-9AM.
Radio Masti has grown in leaps and bounds over the years and is unique in the sense that it encourages and promotes new artistes from the Indian subcontinent and the USA and gives them exposure.
On Saturdays there are segments called Kabi Pranam (where a single composer is highlighted) and Banglar Adda (where a prominent figure is interviewed live on air and listeners are encouraged to call and participate in the discussion). Besides music and recitations, there are quizzes on the radio show and also lively discussions on medical topics, filing taxes, astrology, etc. In other words, there is a new flavor to the show every week such that one gets addicted to the show and wants to keep on listening to it. It also has several different RJs on the show that spice up the show and keeps the show exciting.
On Saturday, April 6, they celebrated their 4th anniversary at their studio with RJs, well-wishers, supporters, and friends in attendance. In addition to playing an array of music, several RJs including Mita Bhattacharya and Remi Mookerjee, as well as technician Roni Shome, events coordinator Sharmila Mitra, and several long-time supporters and sponsors livened up the celebrations. The festivities also included singing Happy Birthday live on air while cutting the cake. There was a lot of food and drinks and the atmosphere was very lively and cheerful.
Radio Masti listeners were continuously calling throughout the entire period of the program to show their love and support as well as many contributions and donations were made.Their words of encouragement made producer Shyamal quite emotional. He announced that Radio Masti is on its way to having its own studio and thanked and encouraged listeners to keep listening and keep supporting the station. Now with all the young blood that have become a part of the Radio Masti team, he was confident that it has no boundaries and it will keep growing from strength to strength.
Ash Shah, the Executive Producer of the new movie Benoy, Badal, Dennis
By Manu Shah
HOUSTON: The 46th Annual Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival will premiere 150 new Feature and Short Indie Films at the AMC Studio 30 on Dunvale starting this weekend from April 12 through 21. This year, one of the entries – Binoy, Badal, Dennis, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Jimmy Shergil, K.K. Menon, Shauvik Kundagrami and Sandhya Mridul (showing on Thursday, April 18) has a very special Bayou City connection. The Executive Producer for the movie is none other than a well-known Houston entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist, Ash Shah.
As one of the financiers of the $2 million budget film, Shah’s is candid about the fact that this is a commercial film and they do hope to make money but he also shares his excitement about helping bring good movies to the silver screen.
An avid movie buff, Shah’s admits flirting with the idea of getting into the movie business for a while now. A meeting with Director Anjan Dutta a few years ago in Houston sparked his interest in Anjan’s narration of a possible story for a movie. A few lively discussions followed, ideas were swapped, suggestions were seriously considered and Ash made up his mind to finance the movie. The fact that Naseeruddin Shah had been roped in to play the pivotal role of a corrupt politician was but icing on the cake.
The storyline deals with three men, Binoy, Badal and Dennis, who decide to right a wrong done to them by a manipulative politician. The idea of angry young men taking the law into their own hands is not a new one but what makes BBD different, according to Shah, is that the three protagonists are not aware of each other until the very end. The storyline has historical echoes of three lesser-known freedom fighters, Binoy, Badal and Dinesh who had plotted against General Dyer for the Jallianwala bagh tragedy. A social message about communal harmony is also interwoven in the 118 minute long movie.
Shah is the Managing Director of Impex International, a $28 million company that manufactures a wide range of plastic films for many brands. He has also dabbled in several other businesses along the way, and divested them when the opportunity was right. He and his wife Leena are active in several charitable organizations like Akshay Patra and Pratham, and donate generously. They are a down-to-earth couple who greet you with a warm and friendly hello.
Shah describes his first foray in the movie industry as an “overwhelming and emotional” experience. While not totally unaware of what it entailed, he still describes it as an eye opener to see the amount of forethought, preparation and time spent behind the scenes to bring it all together in three short hours before a demanding audience.
Asked to name five favorite movies, Shah quickly rattled off Titanic, Mohabaatein, Sixth Sense, Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam as his all-time favorites. He laughingly admits to a strong streak of romanticism and is looking forward to landing a role in his next movie venture. Clearly, it’s not just the “bottom line” that interests this businessman; it’s also about having fun along the way!
Houston’s champion Drayton McLane made an inspirational speech in his encore appearance at the IACCGH Distinguished Speaker series. Photo by Bijay Dixit.
HOUSTON: McLane Group Chair-man and former Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane, Jr was the keynote speaker at the IACCGH Distinguished Lecture on April 3rd at the Hess Club. Mr McLane’s spoke on the topic of “Leadership and Business Acumen”.
This lecture was sponsored by Shell. IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia welcomed the attendees and President Pankaj Dhume introduced on of Houston’s great champions.
Mr. McLane explained that great leaders have great visions. They see way beyond what is needed today to solve a problem. Here are excerpts from McLane’s encore presentation at the IACCGH.
In 1896, the largest city in Texas was Galveston. It was a port city and all European immigrants would pass through the city. In contrast, Houston had about 3,000 inhabitants and it wasn’t growing. Six of Houston’s largest landowners finally got together with the express purpose of growing their city, asking themselves, “What can we do to make Houston grow?”
One of the community leaders suggested building a ship channel leading to Houston. They approached Washington to fund the ship channel but the government only provided half of the needed funds—Houston leaders had to raise the remainder. The 47-mile channel was completed in nine years.
Today, the port of Houston is the second largest port in the United States and the fourth largest port in the world. When the Panama Canal is widened, even more shipments will pass through the channel and Houston will continue to grow. There was no reason to build the Houston ship channel in 1896. But were it not for the visionaries who were committed to growing their hometown, the city may never have reached the level of growth it has today.
Do you know what slows down vision? Success! Our success may impede our growth and development of a vision to drive growth!
Vision comes from individuals who are somewhat disenchanted, angry, mad and driven by a desire to change things. They want to become risk takers!
What is a crucial responsibility of visionaries, entrepreneurs, and other successful people? Philanthropy. Jessie Jones, a philanthropist in the 1920s, created the largest endowment fund in the southwest—Houston Endowment. The fund manages and donates several billion dollars to charitable causes.
Part of Houston’s success is not only it’s growth, but also that its successful residents give back.
This past year, Forbes rated Houston as the coolest place to live and work, based on its business environment, available opportunities, education, and recreation. When we see limitations, we don’t take the time to see the good things that we have here at home.
The Houston economy is reviving out of the recession of 2008-2009 and the rejuvenation of Houston is not complete. This has led to the creation of “Opportunity Houston 2.0”.
“Opportunity Houston 2.0” is a six-year program commencing in 2014. The program will continue to act as an aggressive marketing initiative that will generate leads for economic development organizations.
The Distinguished lecture is one of the IACCGH signature events. The next event is a small business outreach on April 24 at the Katy Campus of Houston Community College. Visit www.iaccgh.com or contact info@iaccgh.com to learn about IACCGH membership.
From Left : Gordon Quan, Khairunisa Hashmani, Latafath Hussain, Dr. Beverly Gor and Rogene Calvert Photos: Bijay Dixit
HOUSTON: On April 7, Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston, launched its much awaited initiative, Club 65, in the presence of Consul General of India P. Harish and his wife, Nandita Parvathaneni. Gordon Quan, a great friend of the South Asian Community, Dr. Beverly Gor of MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, and Candidate for City Council, Rogene Calvert (both are also co-founders of Hope Clinic), Khairunisa Hashmani, Chairperson, Aga Khan Social Welfare Board, Lalit Chinoy, President, Indian Senior Citizens Association, PV Patel, President ICC, Rajeev Bhavsar, Immediate Past President of ICC, Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, Executive Committee of IMAGH, their family and friends, and over 175 guests representing the entire South Asian Community.
The ten founding members, with the first one, Shakuntla Malhotra (holding her certificate)
In his welcome speech, Latafath Hussain, President of IMAGH, said that the Steering Committee, first met on Nov.10, 2012 to discuss the framework of Club 65. Six months and hundreds of volunteer hours later, it is very heartening to see so many distinguished community leaders and members gathered here today to celebrate the unveiling of this newest initiative of IMAGH. He also credited Lutfi Hassan for advising IMAGH to take up the cause for Seniors.
Over 175 people attended the event held at the Chateau Crystal banquet facility.
The Steering Committee led by Fateh Ali Chatur has determined that in our universe there are two kinds of Seniors: the Active seniors and the Passive Seniors. Active Seniors are those who came to Houston 20,30, 40 years ago, had a career, started a family, but now their kids have grown and gone, and are typically ‘empty nesters.’ Passive Seniors came to Houston, after retirement from India, live with their children and grandchildren. They typically do not drive, may have language and culture barriers, and are stuck in an empty home during the day. Club 65 intends to harness the energy and mobility of Active Seniors to pair them up with the Passive Seniors, and organize joint activities, like picnics, walk in the mall, movies, card games, gardening, lectures on health, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Nutrition, etc.
Club 65 will also seek young volunteers to ‘adopt‘ Seniors, ala Big Brothers Big Sisters but in reverse. The program is that both can learn so much from each other. The ABCD generation growing up here needs to learn about our culture, traditions, languages, customs, while the Seniors need to see the new country through the eyes of these young people. They can also learn about computers, internet, while teaching cooking, sewing, and other such stuff.
Uma Mantravadi sang beautiful old songs during the entertainment.
It was thus very elating that there were more than 20 young adults who signed up to volunteer.
Fakhruddin Sabir is the Chairman of Club 65 and he outlined specific ideas and activities of Club 65. He also promised that the Steering Committee will soon elect new office bearers, and will actively solicit businesses, foundations and charities to underwrite the many activities that have been planned.
Abeezar Tyebji, Chairman of Board of Advisors, unveiled conceptual pictures of the Community Center, that is envisaged in the very near future. He declared that IMAGH will build upon the tremendous goodwill demonstrated in abundance today, to come up with their own center, where the young and old can spend time together. It will be self-sustaining and have a library, Current Indian Newspapers, Magazines, card tables, table tennis, health club, as well as, basketball court, and an area for baseball, cricket, badminton, etc.
Consul General of India P. Harish presented awards to the founding members.
However, this will just be the beginning and eventually they will build an entire Seniors Village with residential cottages.
Club 65 awarded Founding Memberships to Eleven Individuals who either actively participated in the Steering Committee or encouraged the founding of the club with their advice, and blessings. The first Membership was awarded to Shakuntla Malhotra, mother of Jawahar Malhotra. Kanwal Bhalla, Col. Raj Bhalla, Moni Thomas, Koshy Thomas, Dr. Khalid Razvi, Tyeb Shipchandler, Syed Asif Ali, Shaukat Ali Upadhya, Farida Jinnah and Paru McGuire, were the other recipients. Lalit Chinoy, President of Indian Senior Citizens Club was given an Honorary Membership to Club 65, for his advice and support in forming this Club.
The event concluded with beautiful rendition of old songs sung by the very talented Uma Mantravadi, an Immigration Attorney, and an Advisor to IMAGH.
The event was underwritten by the CPA firm of Arjunani and Hasan. Angeli Arjunani is an Advisor to IMAGH and a big supporter of Seniors causes.
For Membership and Volunteer Opportunities, please contact, Latafath Hussain at 713-269-6171 or at latafath@imagh.org.
Shootout At Wadala 2013 First Look John Abraham, Kangana Ranaut Bollywood Hindi Movie. Shootout at Wadala is an upcoming Indian crime film written and directed by Sanjay Gupta. It is the sequel to 2007 Bollywood film Shootout at Lokhandwala based on the book Dongri to Dubai written by Hussain Zaidi’s. The film features an ensemble cast that includes John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, Tusshar Kapoor and Sonu Sood.
New Delhi: A retired judge probing whether Walmart may have bribed Indian officials to gain easier market access said Wednesday he wants to ask the US supermarket giant more questions about its activities. Justice Mukul Mudgal, named by the government in January to investigate if the chain broke any Indian laws with its lobbying, also said his report might be delayed to June from its April deadline depending on the response.
Walmart said in a routine disclosure report to the US Senate last year that it spent Rs. 125 crore over four years on issues related to “enhanced market access for investment in India”. The report stirred a ruckus in India with opposition lawmakers, who oppose the chain’s entry saying it will hurt local “mom and pop” stores, demanding an inquiry into whether Walmart made any illegal payments as part of its lobbying.
Justice Mudgal, who questioned some store executives including its Asia chief executive Scott Price last month as part of his inquiry, met with government officials in New Delhi on Wednesday to review the matter….
NIKE FLEX 2012 RUNNING SHOES Provide great durability and a barefoot feel. Also comes with a soft yet durable midsole/outsole – Phylon and Fused Phylite Midsole. this Nike Flex 2012 delivers lightweight cushioning and a responsive fit. A breathable mesh upper keeps air moving while the flexible outsole allows for a natural range of motion.
Casual watch, Japanese quartz movement, Polished silver-tone sword hands and red sweep seconds, Applied polished silver-tone Arabic numbers mark twelve and six o’clock, White dial with polished blue accent and polished red/white/navy flag logo applique below twelve o’clock, Slim matte red/blue double-wrap silicone strap with polished silver-tone stainless steel buckle, Polished silver-tone stainless steel rectangular case, Textured steel crown, Stainless steel caseback, Mineral crystal, 3 ATM (30 meters/100 feet water resistant)
Charleston: Serena Williams earned her 49th career singles title and third of the year by rallying to beat former world number one Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Family Circle Cup on Sunday. The world No.1 Williams and former Charleston winner Jankovic got into a testy verbal exchange early in the second set after Williams accused Jankovic of trying to rush her on the service return. After the exchange, Williams won 12 of the final 14 games. “I am definitely happy to have another win under my belt. Excited to hold my title,” said Williams, of her 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory on the green clay surface. Williams successfully defended her title by claiming her third overall Charleston crown one day after routing her sister Venus in the semi-finals. She has won 22 consecutive clay court matches at WTA Tour events and Fed Cup and 15 straight matches in Charleston. That includes titles last year and 2008. Bad blood between the two surfaced early in the second set with Jankovic serving after having just won the first set….
Turin, Italy: AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli has been suspended for three matches by the Italian league’s disciplinary committee on Tuesday after insulting an assistant referee. The Italy international was given a one-match ban after picking up a fourth yellow card in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Fiorentina. He was banned for a further two games after insulting a linesman at the end of the match, the league said in a statement. Balotelli turned on the official who was watching the forward having an animated discussion with Fiorentina goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano. The suspension means he will miss Milan’s next two big matches against Naples and league-leaders Juventus plus the encounter with Catania….
London: A friend of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died after being denied an abortion in Ireland, testified during an inquest on Tuesday that medical staff at Galway University Hospital refused to carry out the termination of her pregnancy. During the second day of hearings at the Galway Courthouse in Ireland, Mrudula Vasepalli, told the inquest that when a request for a termination of pregnancy was made, a midwife said, “We don’t do that here dear, it’s a Catholic thing”. She had visited Savita at the University College Hospital on October 23, five days before her 17-week pregnant friend died from blood poisoning as a result of a miscarriage. During lengthy cross examination by Declan Buckley, acting on behalf of the hospital and its staff, Vasepalli was adamant that was what she had heard. Buckley said there was no record of such a conversation in any medical notes. The friend’s account matches husband Praveen Halappanavar’s statement on Monday that his wife’s two requests for a termination were denied by the doctor who said that Ireland “is a Catholic country”….
New Delhi: During the Emergency that was declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, many of her ministers and party-men were competing to display total loyalty to her. Congress President Dev Kant Baruah’s assertion, “Indira is India”, is famous. A cable sent by US diplomats in India to their home office in Washington illustrates the sycophancy of then Defence Minister Bansi Lal. The cable, part of WikiLeaks’ latest release, is dated January 19, 1976.
It notes that Bansi Lal declared at a public rally in Haryana that he was “loyal to Mrs Gandhi personally and not to the office of Prime Minister. He said he would remain loyal to her all his life. All his strength came from the ‘blessings’ of Mrs Gandhi.”…
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told his Italian counterpart Mario Monti that a view on specific aspects of the case involving two marines facing murder charges in the country cannot be taken pending investigations. However, Singh, who received a call from Monti, recalled the clarification given by the Ministry of External Affairs to Italy prior to the return of the marines to India last month. The telephone call by Italian Prime Minister came amid concerns in Italy over the slapping of murder charges against the marines which entails death penalty. “Prime Minister Singh received a telephone call this evening from Italian Prime Minister. During the course of the call, the issue of Italian marines in India was discussed,” official sources said. The sources said Prime Minister Singh appreciated the Italian government’s decision to send the marines back to India in line with the commitments that had been made before the Indian Supreme Court and in order to enable the judicial process to move forward. Singh also recalled the recent conversation between the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy, Staffan de Mistura and mentioned that the process of setting up a special court is at a fairly advanced stage and the Attorney General would provide further details in this regard during the next hearing in the Supreme Court on April 16….
