HOUSTON: For the past fourteen years, Sutapa Ghosh, Founder and Executive Director of the Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH), has watched the annual event mature. What began as an idea to introduce Houstonians to true Indian cinema has grown both in size and in scope, attracting movie-goers not only from our local diverse communities but from other parts of the country and world.

Ghosh wanted to make this year very special because India is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its independence. At the same time, it’s the celebration for Satyajit Ray, considered to be among the “100 Greatest Film Directors Ever,” who was born a century ago this year. He was the inspiration for many brilliant filmmakers around the globe. Ray won multiple awards, including ones from Berlin, Tokyo, Cannes, Venice, Russia, and Yugoslavia. He also received the French Legion of Honor from the President of France, as well as an Academy Honorary Award here in the United States.
Master of Ceremonies for the Festival held at the Asia Society Texas Center was Jose Grinan from FOX26 Morning News and Board Member of IFFH. He introduced Indian Consul Sandeep Choudhury who launched this year’s Indian Film Festival of Houston.

The first film shown was Ray’s Charulata (The Lonely Wife), based on a tale by India’s first Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore. It is the story of a talented woman married to a newspaper publisher so involved in his business that he neglects his wife. She falls in love with his cousin who is helping to develop her literary talents.
A reception was held between the screenings. Attendees included Consuls General and Deputy Consuls General from countries including India, Korea, Mexico, and Angola. They were treated to Indian delicacies from the Verandah Restaurant while enjoying the sounds of Moodafaruka, a band that combined Indian instruments (the sitar and tabla) with western ones, creating fusion music.
Returning to the theater, Grinan introduced Houston Councilwoman Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz who gave Founder and Executive Director Ghosh a Proclamation on behalf of Mayor Sylvester Turner declaring October 15, 2022 as Indian Film Festival of Houston Day.
The second film was Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players), based on a true incident in 1856. Chess, a game invented in India, became an obsession among many, including noblemen who are depicted in the film that takes place in 1856. They ignore the historic event taking place—the British take-over of the Indian princely state of Awadh whose capital is Lucknow.
Next year the Festival will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary. Special plans are being made for the event which will move to February 23-25, 2023. It will include film screenings, Q&As, international filmmakers, entertainment, a sit-down dinner, and an awards ceremony.
The Festival is grateful to all of its Board Members, Sponsors, Patrons, Supporters, and Volunteers.


It is a rare event in the diaspora when members of the social justice community congregate and celebrate visionaries such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (known as “Mahatma” or “Great Soul”) and Martin Luther King Jr. on the same platform, but Austin-based community group, Friends of India, Texas (FIT) did just that on October 2nd of this year!


HOUSTON: This Diwali comes with a picture book, Diwali In My New Home, a story about a little girl Priya, who loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali. But this
Join Shachi for a special Diwali Story Time at the Brazo Bookstore on Saturday, October 15, 2022 – 10:30am




RICHMOND, Fort Bend County: Many candidates running for political office in the elections in November have placed their yard signs on a block-long stretch of Richmond Parkway and Wildwood, across from the CVS, for people to look at as they drive by.


















SUGAR LAND: Ramesh Cherivirala from the Houston office of New York Life has been listed on the 2022 Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals Best-in-State list. The individuals named to this list of distinguished professionals were chosen based on many criteria considered by an independent research firm.


Resource generation efforts spearheaded by the Alliance for Disaster Relief, a collaboration of more than 35 plus community organizations in Houston, Texas, USA; to help flood -battered Pakistan; has raised more than $1million in just three hours during a fundraising event. 
Heavy rainfall in Southern Pakistan and melting glaciers in the country’s northern mountains have caused massive floods and flash floods that continue to devastate districts across the region. The floods have killed at least 1,191 people, 399 of whom were children, since the flooding began in mid-June at the beginning of the monsoon season. In addition to this, a reported 3,554 individuals have been injured. The National Disaster Management Authority stated that as of August 29, 2022, more than 33 million people have been impacted and more than 1 million houses have been destroyed.
The floods have spawned a critical humanitarian crisis as damage and displacement increase across the country. So far, 66 districts have been officially declared “calamity hit.” An estimated 50,000 people have been evacuated since rescue efforts began. Pakistan’s meteorological office has predicted that more flash floods are expected throughout September.


Men of great wisdom, like Pujya Gurudeva Chinmayananda, descend to our plane out of their kindness and a keen desire to share the highest truths. Vedanta, literally means the ultimate end or culmination of Knowledge (Vedas). Many great Rishis, Masters and Acharyas have endeavored to take us closer to this Absolute Truth. Swami Chinmayananda was foremost among them in elevating any seeker to gain easy access to this wisdom. He spent


MORRISVILLE, NC: The Seattle Thunderbolts continued a streak of remarkable form into the final of the 2022 Toyota Minor League Cricket Championship presented by Sunoco, defeating the Atlanta Fire by 10 runs to win the
HOUSTON: Amiralli (Amir) Dodhiya from the Houston General Office of New York Life has been listed on the 2022 Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals Best-in-State list. The individuals named to this list of distinguished professionals were chosen based on many criteria considered by an independent research firm. A New York Life agent for 14 years, Mr. Dodhiya received this recognition for helping his clients in a world in which wealth preservation and protection matter more than ever.