Indiaabroad20160819-dl.pdf

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INDEX

Letters to the Editor......................................A2 People................................................................A3 Immigration..................................................A30 Business........................................................A13 Magazine......................................................A16

Pages: 32+4=36

Friday, August 19, 2016 Vol. XLV No. 47

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The American who fought for India’s freedom

COURTESY: ASHA SHARMA

Samuel StokesÊ forgotten legacy

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The International Weekly Newspaper founded in 1970. Member, Alliance for Audited Media INDIA ABROAD (ISSN 0046 8932) is published every Friday by India Abroad Publications, Inc.* Annual subscription in United States: $32. INTERNATIONAL: Digital edition ONLY outside US 1 Year $10, 2 Years $18 www.indiaabroad.com Periodical postage paid, New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: INDIA ABROAD, Murray Hill Station, PO Box 1876, New York, NY 10156 Copyright (c) 2006, India Abroad Publications, Inc. Ajit Balakrishnan Chairman and Publisher Anjali Maniam Associate Publisher Nikhil Lakshman Editor-in-Chief Aziz Haniffa Editor Rajeev Bhambri Chief Operating Officer-US Media THE EDITORIAL TEAM Vaihayasi Pande Daniel, Editorial Director Monali Sarkar, News and Magazine Editor P Rajendran, Deputy Managing Editor Paresh Gandhi, Chief Photographer Ritu Jha, Special Correspondent Parimal Mehta, System Manager Production: Dharmesh Chotalia, Production Supervisor David Richter, Production Controller, Editorial THE DESIGN TEAM Dominic Xavier, Creative Head Rajesh Karkera, Uttam Ghosh, Joint Creative Heads Sanjay Sawant, Satish Bodas, Creative Directors Shailaja Nand Mishra, Senior Production Coordinator CONTACT EDITORIAL Call: 646-432-6045 Fax: 212-627-9503 E-mail: [email protected] THE BUSINESS TEAM DISPLAY ADVERTISING Call: 646-432-6027/6060 E-mail:[email protected] Geeta Singh Sales Executive CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Call: 646-432-6033/6026 Fax: 212-627-9503 E-mail: [email protected] Shahnaz Sheikh Classified Manager Sujatha Jilla Classified Assistant Manager CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT Suresh Babu Call: 646-432-6000 Fax: 212-627-9503 E-mail: [email protected] Subscription toll free number: 1-877-INDIA-ABROAD (1-877-463-4222) REDIFF.COM EDITORIAL TEAM Saisuresh Sivaswamy, Senior Editorial Director. Ivan Crasto, Editorial Director, Sports Shobha Warrier, Editorial Director Prithviraj Hegde, Editor, News, Nandita Malik, Editor, Business Savera R Someshwar, Archana Masih, Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Managing Editors A Ganesh Nadar, Indrani Roy, Seema Pant, Ronjita Kulkarni, Swarupa Dutt Associate Managing Editors Prasanna D Zore Deputy Managing Editor Rupali Nanjappa, Senior Assistant Managing Editor N V Reuben, Senior Art Director Uday Kuckian, Art Director Vipin Vijayan Chief News Editor Harish Kotian, Deputy Sports Editor Patcy Nair, Bikash Mohapatra, Chief Features Editors Roshneesh K’Maneck, Shubir Rishi Senior Assistant Editors Norma Godinho, Laxmi Negi, Divya Nair Assistant Editors Prathmesh Kher, Junior Assistant Editor Mahipal Soni, Director, Operations (Editorial) Aslam Hunani, Joint Director, Operations (Editorial) Ashish Narsale, Associate Director, Operations (Editorial) Rajesh Alva, Manager, Operations (Editorial) Manisha Deshpande, Senior Visuals Coordinator Anant Salvi, Visuals Coordinator India Abroad Publications, Inc A subsidiary of Rediff.com India Ltd. Ajit Balakrishnan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer EDITORIAL & CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS India Abroad Publications, Inc., Murray Hill Station, PO Box 1876, New York, NY 10156 MAIN OFFICE: Call: 646-432-6000 Fax: 212-627-9503 Web site: indiaabroad.com

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LETTERS

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Wake up, America

he article on Priscilla Parameswaran (‘We need Trump to shake up America: GOP activist,’ India Abroad, July 22) reveals the naive and misguided thinking of desis who support Donald Trump. How can anyone, who has not been on Mars for the last year, not see through this fake, narcissistic, racist, sociopath that is going to make America hate again! She is excited at the prospect of the change that Trump promises to bring. But all change, just for the sake of change, is not necessarily good. Hitler promised change too. On the other hand, people who simplistically label Hillary Clinton as status quo, just because she continues the Democratic line, fail to realize that she has been a change agent for the 40 years — positive change that makes life better for the common man. Parameswaran repeats the worn-out phrase: ‘Illegal immigrants are taking jobs from legal immigrants,’ something that has been proven totally wrong time and time again. And she says that there is no glass ceiling for women in Trump’s organization. Of course there isn’t, because Trump’s fondness for women relies exclusively on their looks, something he proudly admits. She is impressed that Trump ‘has built his business empire.’ But he has done so by leaving a trail of hundreds of lawsuits, unpaid workers, and innocents cheated of their life savings. Throughout his campaign Trump has made outrageous statements and viciously attacked any and all who got under his thin skin. That someone like Trump, who is an international disgrace, can beguile an apparently educated person like Parameswaran speaks more of his abilities as a con man than his ability as a leader. Like Trump once said, ‘I could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue, and I wouldn’t lose any votes!’ Jehangir Mistry Sugar Land, Texas

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onald Trump: A Dangerous Mind’ (India Abroad, August 5) was interesting to read. The idea that Clinton is a liar, or a crook, as most Trump supporters — and Trump himself — claim has no factual basis. The Republicans have been trying to get her for almost 50 years. Every time they have investigated her they have come out empty. Even the last charge by FBI Director James Comey was not prosecutable. After all the hammering, she has only become stronger and more determined to work for the causes she believes in. Trump’s whole adult life has been one of lies, deceit, cons, scams and outright deceptions at all levels. His racist comments, misogynistic messages and his abuse of people have increased since he declared his candidacy. The question is — why is Trump a favorite of at least 30 to 40 percent of Americans? Some of it is because of their dislike and hate for Clinton.

Then there is the significant minority enamored by him. As far as racism and prejudice go, they are in all of us to some degree. They are part of the culture and environment we grow up in. Some of us slowly become aware of it and become relatively unbiased. Indians living in India see racism and biases all over. India, in fact, has been rated as one of the most racist countries in the world. It is still split among its various religious, caste, state and language lines. Many Indians come here with the same baggage. Years ago, I’d received a call from someone who told me he was from a certain Hindu sub-caste; when I told him I did not practice or subscribe to it, he hung up. I hope the children of these Indians grow up with a different set of values. This brings me to my point. Clinton represents the secular world while Trump a bigoted one. The Indian community has to decide which one to vote for. Wake up, America. Another Hitler is on the way Dr Yogendra Upadhyay Roslyn Heights, New York

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hope ‘Donald Trump: A dangerous mind’ (India Abroad, August 5) will scare enough people to vote for Clinton. Trump has made it possible for more people to be openly bigoted and that bodes ill for all brown-skinned folks. I also worry about giving nuclear codes to a thin-skinned guy like Trump. I am glad that Trump wants to renegotiate trade deals to make them more favorable to the United States, but considering how short-tempered and unpredictable he is, I worry about him creating a trade war that has the potential to decimate the markets and plunge the entire world into a recession, if not a depression. I have read a lot of quotes on Trump, but what resonates most with me is the one by former mayor Michael Bloomberg, another New York billionaire, who is Independent: ‘I’m a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one.’ Also, Trump, obviously, did the wrong thing by picking a fight with a Gold Star family like Khizr and Ghazala Khan’s, but I am not convinced that the incident was a game-changer. This was not the first time he made outrageous comments. I suspect that every time he does so, it excites his base; they don’t care if the establishment politicians are offended by his remarks. If anything, it pleases them. This year a lot of people want an anti-establishment candidate to win. Right now, Clinton is leading the polls, but the election is still about three months away and a lot can happen by that time. I suspect that just before the polls Wikileaks will come up with dirt that could destroy her candidacy. So, while I support Clinton, I am mentally ready for Trump, God forbid! Pradeep Srivastava Albany, California

Oops!

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he report ‘Pramila Jayapal’s primary triumph makes her front-runner to win Seattle seat in Congress,’ India Abroad, August 12, was unfortunately published without crediting the photographer. It was shot by Jin-Ah Kim, the photographer for the Washington State Senator’s campaign for Congress. We regret the inadvertent omission.

We reserve the right to edit Letters to the Editor.

Served by Aarthi

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arthi Sampath was only a college student when she first became a fan of Chopped. The challenge of the reality cooking show seemed almost impossible. “I put it up on my vision board that someday I would make my skills so strong that I could be on that intimidating game show,” she told Mid Day. It worked. She won the episode of Chopped that aired August 9. The show has four chefs competing to create a three course meal using random ingredients provided to them to

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Kids with causes

e it celebrities like Karan Brar (Bunk’d, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid) or budding artists like Ananya Tawde, there is something very special about kids who embrace causes with a passion. Ananya has founded a non-profit organization with the intent of using her talent and passion for community service. Through her art, she has so far donated $2,500 to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Heart One of Ananya Tawde’s early contributions. Institute. ‘The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest, largest voluntary organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke,’ Ananya says on the Art for the Heart web site, explaining why she chose AHA and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital as her cause. ‘The organization includes more than 22.5

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FACEBOOK.COM/AARTHI SAMPATH

Aarthi Sampath was part of Vikas Khanna’s core team when he cooked for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

test the contestants on speed, creativity and presentation. And Sampath approached it with the same skill, instinct and creativity that have taken her from experimenting in her parents’ kitchen in Mumbai to the Taj Hotel Group to now being the Chef de Cuisine at Vikas Khanna’s Michelin-star winning restaurant Junoon in New York City. ‘Firstly, I feel relieved,’ Sampath said in a statement immediately after. ‘It was one of the toughest things I have done in my life. Cooking a dish in 20 minutes and then being subject to criticism is not easy. I feel accomplished and I am so excited for this new journey I am going to start. I feel like I am one step closer to my goal of inspiring women in India and across the globe.’

Mindy Kaling and executive producer Matt Warburton speak onstage at The Mindy Project panel discussion during the Hulu portion of the 2016 Television Critics Association Summer Tour in Beverly Hills, August 5.

ari Parameswaran and Vijay Siddharth were trailing till the third round of the History Bowl held at International History Olympiad in Oahu, Hawaii, last month. Hari, from Beaverbrook, Ohio, and Siddharth, from Singapore, representing India in the Junior Varsity level of the tournament, were the underdogs against a formidable team from Canada — and were showing it. And then came the rapid-fire questions in the third round. And Hari’s answer — ‘oracle bones’ — to a question about augury in China, made things even, with Vijay following up with an answer about a writing form (essays), which made the team unassailable and the International History Bowl World Champions. Hari said he could have done better since there were other competitions during the Olympiad, too. While Hari is into Geography, plays a mean piano, and is active in the pool and on the tennis court, his own interest leans toward applied math — something like his father Rajesh, an engineer. His mother Lakshmy is a doctor

million volunteers and supporters working tirelessly to eliminate these diseases. AHA funds innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to save and improve lives.’ Meanwhile, Karan is using his fame — along with Paris Berelc (Lab Rats: Elite Force, Invisible Sister) — to support The School Fund, a crowdfunding site for scholarships for high-achieving, low-income students in the developing world. The Disney stars are calling it the #GetSchooled camDisney star Karan Brar. paign. ‘I know sometimes we all complain about school, but when you imagine not being able to go at all — no chance at graduation, college, having your choice of career? That’s just tragic,’ Brar said in a statement. ‘We can’t eliminate school fees today, but we can at least help some people stay in school for another year.’ MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY IMAGES

India Abroad August 19, 2016

FACEBOOK.COM/ANANYA.ARTFORTHEHEART

PEOPLE

indy Kaling, as we always knew, has big plans and knows how to go for them. And we love her for it. The writer-producer-actress behind The Mindy Project revealed at Hulu’s Television Critics Association press day, August 5, that she had just finished writing her first feature film. “I don’t have a name for it. I’m bad at naming things, that’s why my show is called ‘The Mindy Project’,’ ET Online quoted her as saying. The movie is reportedly completely different from her Hulu show: ‘I always thought the first thing I’d do (for the big screen) was a romantic comedy and what I realized was we write that so much on (The Mindy Project) that I kind of decided that, you know what, I’m going to save that stuff for the show and this is about something completely different.’ She added, ‘It’s inspired by movies I love, like Broadcast News.’ Since Kaling said she would only have a small part in it, we will bank on see more of her in Ocean’s Eight, a female-centered spin-off of the Ocean’s Trilogy. According to Deadline, Kaling will be part of a cast that is expected to include Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter. We can’t wait!

FREDERICK M BROWN/GETTY IMAGES

MINDY AT THE MOVIES M

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but, Hari says, “I find medicine boring.” What he did like about going for the competition two years in a row is meeting new people — from Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong… And then they were on board the battleship USS Missouri. Vijay and Hari also won the silver in the Hextathlon, an event where history questions show up in the form of crossword clues and puzzles. Vijay also won the Battery, a test of about 400 multiple choice questions. Hari placed seventh in that event. Among the winners of the other contests were Shiva Oswal from California, and Eshaan Vakil from Nevada, in the Middle School category. Shiva was part of the team that won second place, Eshaan in the one that came in third. While the main competition was fun, Rajesh said, the duo enjoyed winning a small, unofficial family tournament, too, though the children are not allowed to participate for the first half of the contest. Second was Nandini Vijayaraghavan and her son — Vijay. — P Rajendran

The history buffs

The champions Hari Parameswaran, left, and Vijay Siddharth, right.

COURTESY: RAJESH PARAMESWARAN

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NEWS SPECIAL/STANDING WITH THE KHANS

‘Trump is a wealthy man and forgets what sacrifice means’

urpreet Singh came to America from India when he was 9. He joined the Marines when he was 17. And he died for the country he had always considered his own when he was only 21. Marine Corporal Gurpreet Singh was martyred in Afghanistan in 2011. It was his second deployment, a voluntary one. Today, as many in the country his son gave his life for question the patriotism of those like him, Nirmal Singh and his wife Satnam Kaur feel an unbearable sadness, a feeling they share with Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala, who lost their son, Captain Humayun Khan, in a car bombing in 2004 in Iraq. Singh, 55, who lives in Antelope, California, tells India Abroad that watching Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump criticize the Khans deeply hurt them, too: “They are Gold Star family, too. We are like the same family. It doesn’t matter that we belong to another religion or country. We are one family.” “Trump doesn’t like Muslims or people from other countries or minorities. He is a wealthy man and forgets what sacrifice means,” he adds. Singh is referring to Trump’s idea of a sacrifice after Khizr Khan rebuked him at the Democratic National Convention saying, ‘You have sacrificed nothing and no one.’ Trump’s response to that, on ABC, was, ‘I think I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I’ve created thousands and thousands of jobs — tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I’ve had tremendous success. I think I’ve done a lot.’ Singh tells India Abroad that it is evident that Trump doesn’t understand sacrifice “if you see what sacrifice he did and our family

India Abroad August 19, 2016

did for the country.” Asked if is angry with Trump, Singh said, “I am not angry. I don’t want to play a game… (But) anyone running for President shouldn’t be saying that. There are too many kids who join the Marines and belong to different religions and come from different countries. I know many Indian-descent children who are in the Marines and they feel it’s an honor serving the country.” Singh, who is a naturalized US citizen, adds, “My son, even though he was born in Punjab, India, came here… (and) always considered himself an American.”

Gold Star parents Nirmal Singh and Satnam Kaur tell Ritu Jha how hurt they are by Donald Trump’s treatment of another Gold Star family, Khizr and Ghazala Khan.

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Marine Corporal Gurpreet Singh’s, inset, parents — Nirmal Singh and Satnam Kaur, above — have kept his room like he left it.

or Singh and his wife, their son’s memories live and breathe in their home. “We have his room the way he left it,” Singh says. “I got a curtain matching the Marine’s colors — blue, white and red — custom made in India for his room. His Marine cap that he left in his car is still there.” Singh also has Gurpreet’s car. He recalls how he wanted to buy his son a Toyota Camry, but Gurpreet wanted to buy a white Chrysler with his own earnings. “I did not sell the car and we are not going to sell it,” Singh says. “It’s our memory. I have my own car. I drive his car only when we go to the veteran programs. His car... it’s precious.” There are many Gold Star families in the area. “We occasionally meet and talk with each other and go to events, and it’s an honor.” Singh, who runs a trucking company, says, “There are millions of immigrants like me… (but) we are known in the community because of him.” Warring pride and grief, he adds, “He was my courageous son. Whatever happened is hard for the family. He left us behind. And if someone starts teasing (that wound), it is not good.”

‘Humayun Khan serves as a reminder’ Many answer Kishan Putta’s call to support Captain Khan’s Gold Star parents with a vigil at Arlington Cemetry. Aziz Haniffa reports.

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Many of those who gathered at the vigil showed their support with notes for the Khans.

n the initiative of Kishan Putta, a second-generation community and political activist from the District of Columbia, more than two dozen second generation South Asian Americans and a few elders like Floyd Mori, head of the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies, met at the Arlington Cemetery August 7 to pay their respects at Captain Humayun Khan’s grave and show support for his parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan. In a Facebook post a few days earlier, Putta, had said, ‘With the events of the last week, we realized we live right here and have the opportunity to not only show our support online (to the Khan family), but in person — together.’ He called on his friends to spread the

word, bring others and also ‘bring flowers or letters to leave for the family,’ adding that ‘this is not about politics — it is about standing together.’ “We came together as Americans of different religions, ethnicities, races, genders, and orientations — many of us meeting for the first time,” Putta told India Abroad. “The whole idea was to stand with his courageous family. No politics were discussed, but we all felt how important it was to show solidarity... at a time when they and too many others need support. We left notes and flowers — adding to the many tributes at Captain Khan’s grave.” Putta said he left his pocket Constitution — “I’ve had it for many years for others to flip through” — book-marked to the section on ‘equal protection’ that

Khizr Khan spoke of. “Our people’s equality and our diversity are our greatest strengths,” he said. “Our message was that if you want to make this country and world greater — please work to unite us and please try your hardest to not divide us.” Putta said many tourists from across the country and the world who were visiting the cemetery that day gathered around the group and voiced their support for the Khans.

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abeeb Syed, a Pakistani-American attorney, told India Abroad, “I moved to Washington, DC about oneand-a half years ago, but this was my first visit to the Arlington Cemetery.”

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India Abroad August 19, 2016

NEWS SPECIAL/STANDING WITH THE KHANS

Why I, a woman tech-entrepreneur, and immigrant, am voting for Hillary

VINITA GUPTA

able, if we expect more women to break the glass ceilings. Even when we take on more of our share of work in illary Rodham Clinton is a decent human the home, some of us have a boiling ambition and being, hardworking, and refuses to feel sorry want to do it all. Hillary is an ambitious woman who for herself. I am a woman of color from a has worked non-stop while being a mother and wife. similar era, with an accent, and a successful entrepreHillary has been vehemently criticized by some for neur of Silicon Valley. I have fought the subtle battles tolerating Bill’s affairs. Let me offer a point of view. that women of our generation have fought. Hillary is Most ambitious women also want to have a family, presidential material and will get the job done, plus live a full life, and are willing to work at it. Hillary her flaws pale in comparison to those of her main kept her marriage together through Bill’s infidelirival in this race. ties. She has been ridiculed when she denied his Recently FBI director James Comey recommended affairs, perhaps because she wanted to believe him. no criminal charges against Hillary Clinton, in hanSometimes denial is a way to protect the status quo. dling of classified information in private emails when If she forgave her husband, that was her greatness. she was Secretary of State. She was “extremely careBlaming the victim is less,” but found no “intentionanother form of gender bias al misconduct or indications that women have historicalof disloyalty to the United ly experienced. To my surStates or efforts to obstruct prise, Donald Trump who justice.” Comey is a man of had an affair while being integrity on all counts. He married to his first wife, and concluded the same as most married three times, is conAmericans did. sidered an okay man by Raising my own daughters American standards! has made me keenly aware of An incident that does bothhow American culture treats er me is that at times Hillary girls differently from boys. I has exaggerated; in 2008 she was born in India, the second told a tale of landing under of three daughters. My hussniper fire in Bosnia, which band and I have two ambiturned out to be untrue. This tious daughters, now in their was insignificant, yet my ide20s, born and brought up in alism demands better from the US. Girls in the US are our President-to-be. praised for making everyone Yet she has powerful posielse happy. They quickly learn tives going for her. Hillary that thanking others profusely has worked tirelessly to for the smallest things, smiladvance ‘our’ agenda; to help ing even when there is no reaunderserved and disabled son to do so, helping around CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS children and provide affordthe house, spending time with able childcare for women. grandparents and studying Hillary Clinton in Florida August 8. She is an experienced diligently will earn them diplomat who understands the global landscape, acceptance. Girls get harsher and more persistent when to compromise and when not to. She was the criticism than boys for being impolite or less considsenator in New York at the time of 9/11. She pushed erate. to get $20 billion funding from the then president However “boys will be boys.” Boys are not expected George Bush to rebuild the city, and got approved sigto be docile or to help with the housework. nificant additional medical support to the first Girls settle down as compliant home makers while responders who came down with asbestos poisoning boys grow up to earn a living. and respiratory diseases. The economic power of men further tips the scale in She took the helm as Secretary of State and travtheir favor and they have much louder voice in marelled to more than 100 countries, meeting our allies riage, and the cycle continues. and our adversaries, educating them and exchanging Boys can be brash, bullying or boorish and their ideas. As a result we extricated ourselves from several behavior is not just tolerated but admired, as is the crises. President Obama’s job would have been much case with Donald Trump. more difficult without her statesmanship. I started my own successful technology company in Hillary as the first woman to be a Presidential Silicon Valley. My husband had started his own comnominee in the US will certainly leave her legacy pany five years earlier. We were both ambitious, hard behind for her perseverance, compassion and inner driving with two startups and then two public compastrength. I cringe, when I think how she will be subnies, while raising our daughters. One can easily jected to the ugliest political invective and insults in understand how hectic our lives must have been. our history, partly because she is a woman. It is time My husband helped at home more than most men, we stop castigating Hillary and give her the opportubut I still did more than half of the housework in nity to lead our nation and uphold and elevate addition to hiring, firing and managing domestic American values. help. I was the one who had to get up in the middle of the night whenever the babies cried. When the secVinita Gupta is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, the ond baby arrived, I was a sleep-deprived zombie for first Indian-American woman to take her company months. public. I would bet that Hillary was the same way. No This piece was first published on The Huffington Post woman working full time should have to endure this. and has been reprinted with the author’s permission. Men must participate in night duties and be reason-

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A moment from the vigil.

‘Humayun Khan serves as a reminder’

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“Unfortunately, the importance and gravity of the sacrifice of our soldiers is often lost in the politics and our dwelling on the casualties of civilian populations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Seeing the vastness of Arlington Cemetery and the families visiting the graves was a good reminder that the soldiers buried alongside Humayun Khan are not part of those politics; they were men and women much braver than I, giving their lives to protect our country,” he said. California born and educated Syed, who serves on the executive committee of OPEN-DC, an organization fostering entrepreneurship among the Pakistani community, and is also involved with the Muslim Bar Association and the South Asian Bar Association did not know Putta. He was invited to the event by a mutual acquaintance. “I joined Kishan because Humayun Khan serves as a reminder that not only does the immigrant community of the United States come to this country to seek a better life, but that those immigrants and their descendants are also an essential part of America’s fabric, make important contributions towards what makes this country great, and will be an essential component in forging our country’s future,” he added.

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ori, a Japanese American who had seen his Gold Star mother’s grief, told India Abroad, “My mother was an immigrant who was not allowed to be a citizen of the US at the time she sent her two sons off to a war. One went to Europe as the War ended and he came back safely.” “Her oldest son and apple of her eye was sent to the Pacific to help bring peace to Japan when the War ended there. His last letter home indicated that he was going to continue his college studies at Harvard. He was killed in a plane crash a month later before he was able to return home.” “I saw first hand the grief of a mother who lost her son. It was a quiet grief for many years until a religious belief changed that grief to hope. The Mormon religion, which teaches that families are eternal, gave her the hope to be reunited with her son some day. She happily and proudly became a citizen of the US when legislation was passed that lifted the bar of Japanese immigrants from becoming citizens. She lived a full life of 95 years and I believe that she is enjoying the company of two of her sons and her husband.” Having seen the grief a mother experiences with the loss of a son, Mori said, “I felt a desire to give comfort and respect to the Khans after Mrs Khan had been ridiculed by Trump. When I heard that there was going to be a vigil at Captain Khan’s gravesite at Arlington, it was a time when I could go and pay my respects and also pay honor to Mr and Mrs Khan who so strongly spoke out about their mistreatment at the hands of this candidate.” “Sacrifice is part of paying the price of freedom and those who have sacrificed family members in the name of freedom should be honored and revered and not belittled by somebody who has no understanding of what this kind of sacrifice means. To deride somebody of their heritage or culture has no place in this nation where all are to be treated as equal,” Mori said. “The Khans and the Moris are of different hue, skin and religion that may differ from many others. Yet their sacrifice and grief are as real and as important as others who have given the ultimate sacrifice of self or family. So the Khans and the Moris have much in common to be proud and to reject misdirected political rhetoric.”

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NEWS & COMMUNITY

India Abroad August 19, 2016

Sanchez jibe at Obama hands Harris the advantage AZIZ HANIFFA

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nited States Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who represents Orange County in southern California, and is engaged in a high-profile US Senate race with state Attorney General Kamala Devi Harris, in yet another faux pas, this time with racial overtones, has implied that President Barack Obama’s rousing recent endorsement of Harris was because they are both black. Harris, who is of Indian and African American parentage, barnstormed through GARY CAMERON/REUTERS Loretta Sanchez the primary, June 7, for the open US Senate Kamala Devi Harris seat being vacated by retiring Democratic consensus Senator Barbara Boxer. She almost immediately received among political analysts, may have sealed her fate of having endorsements from Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, an outside chance of defeating Harris. much to Sanchez’s chagrin. In an interview for the public affairs show Conexion that In the primary, Harris received 40.3 percent of the vote, burying all the other 33 Democratic and Republican candidates vying for the seat. Sanchez received only 18.5 percent of the vote. By virtue of the fact that Sanchez came in second, she and Harris will face each other in the November 8 general election according to California’s relatively new voting system where n May 2015, Sanchez, while speaking to a group of only the top two vote-getters of any party battle it out in the Indian Americans, trying to make a joke of confusgeneral. ing American Indians with Indian Americans, Sanchez, a 10-term Congresswoman, who is trailing Harris tapped her hand to her mouth in an imitation of a Native by three to one in fundraising, in a statement released by her American ‘war cry,’ that left one group angry and the campaign, following Obama and Biden’s endorsements of other embarrassed. The very next day, she had to convene Harris, had said, ‘I am disappointed that President Obama a press conference to apologize. chose to endorse in an historic Senate race between two Last December, after the terrorist attack in Democrats.’ San Bernardino, she angered Muslim Americans when ‘I would think the leader of the Democratic Party would be she told Larry King that 5 to 20 percent of Muslims supfocused on defeating Donald Trump and supporting Demport an Islamic Caliphate in accordance with Sharia law ocratic Senate candidates against Republicans,’ she had comas ISIS is trying to establish. plained. ‘I believe that California voters are deeply concerned Sanchez compounded the anger of Muslim groups about the entrenched political establishment which has failed when she argued that the figures she had mentioned had to work for them. Yet, it has been clear for some time that not been repudiated by any respected and credible the same political establishment would rather have a coronaresearch group, resulting in Muslim organizations in tion instead of an election for California’s next US Senator.’ California, saying they would not support her in the election. ut with her latest gaffe, Sanchez, who suffers from an acute case of foot-in-mouth syndrome, according to the

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Kesha Ram loses Vermont Lieutenant Governor primary

AZIZ HANIFFA

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Sanchez’s gaffes

aired on Univision 19 in Sacramento last month, The Los Angeles Times reported that Sanchez, noting that Obama and Harris have been longtime friends, claimed that race was also a factor in his endorsement. During the interview, the Times noted, Sanchez, speaking in Spanish, said, ‘I think they have, what he said they have, is a friendship of many years. She is African American, as is he. They know each other through meetings.’ Bitter at the Democratic National Committee, which had put out Obama’s and Biden’s endorsements of Harris, she MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS also said, ‘I don’t know why the leadership of the party did not want a Latino — they did not speak with us. They chose (Harris) from the beginning.’ The incensed Harris campaign reacted angrily, with Juan Rodriguez, Harris’ campaign manager, saying that ‘at a time when there is so much divisive rhetoric flowing through our politics, it’s especially disappointing to see a Democratic member of Congress make those comments.’ Quickly on the defensive, Sanchez released a statement saying, ‘In no way did I imply or intend to imply that President Obama endorsed Kamala Harris for racial reasons. I was stating the fact that the endorsement was based on their long-term political relationship.’ Her remark and her other gaffes may have embarrassed her Indian-American supporters in Orange County, many of whom had earlier expressed support for her, saying she was always there for them, unlike Harris, who solicited their support only when she wanted to raise funds for her campaign coffers. Some of her Latino base — that comprise 38.8 percent of Californians, although of different races and not all Mexican American as is Sanchez — are reportedly shifting to Harris along with the African-American population, who comprise 6.5 percent and the 15 percent Asian population, along with the majority 73 percent white population. If either of them is elected in November, they would create history with Harris becoming the first African/Indian-American US Senator from California and the first IndianAmerican and only second African-American US Senator. Sanchez, if elected, would be the first Latina US Senator from California.

our-term State Representative Kesha Ram, who turned 30 August 2, was denied the perfect birthday gift she was hoping for when her bid to be Vermont’s first woman and colored Lieutenant Governor suffered an ignominious blow in the Democratic primary August 9. State Senator David Zuckerman, 44, who represents the Chittenden district — the same district Ram represents in the House — easily romped home the winner with 44 percent and 31,018 votes. House Speaker Shap Smith, 50, came in second with 38 percent and 26,568 votes, and Ram a distant third with 17 percent and 12,129 votes. The anti-establishment Zuckerman, who was buoyed by a strong endorsement from

erstwhile Democratic Presidential candidate United States Senator Bernie Sanders, will be the first working farmer in Vermont to be elected Lieutenant Governor if he beats Republican Randy Brock in the November general election. Brock, a Swanton resident, former state auditor and state senator, ran unopposed in the GOP primary. All three Democratic candidates were strong progressives, but Smith’s platform, according to the Burlington Free Press was more moderate than Zuckerman or Ram. Zuckerman had made marijuana legislation a platform issue and included climate change as a focus of his campaign. Ram’s top focus was affordable child care and housing for working families, the Free Press noted. Smith focused on affordable housing, the

cost of higher education and of health care, but had also showed interest in development and revitalization initiatives for Vermont towns that were welcomed by the private sector and commercial real estate investors. The Free Press quoted Dustin Tanner of Fairfield, who was up at 6 am placing yard signs for Zuckerman, as saying that he was ‘going to send Kesha a gift basket,’ explaining that if she had taken some of Smith’s moderates that would have made a difference.

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am, the daughter of an IndianAmerican father — now deceased — and a Jewish- American mother, was born and raised in Santa Monica, California. She moved to Vermont to attend the University of Vermont and then made Vermont her home. Elected to the House at the age of 22 — the

youngest ever; even at 30 she remains the youngest state representative — Ram was obviously disappointed that she came in last. When the results started coming in while she and her mother Michelle Jacobson and her supporters were at a campaign watch party at Halvorson’s Cafe on Church Street in Burlington, and it became evident that her bid for higher office was not to be for now, Ram put up a brave front. She said she had run ‘an incredibly optimistic and positive race knowing that we were going in with less name recognition and just a lot of heart and soul.’ ‘I think the results support that,’ she added. ‘I have deep and meaningful support that I’m really grateful for.’ Sanders’ endorsement of Zuckerman was a huge blow for Ram, who remained an ardent

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India Abroad August 19, 2016

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Desi groups raise $70,000 for Dallas’ fallen AZIZ HANIFFA

department plays in ensuring the security of the business community, and in particular our retailers,” Shetty said. ndian-American business, communiRepresentatives of the other Indianty, religious and cultural organizations American organizations echoed Mago in Dallas and the greater Dallas metand Shetty’s sentiments and said more ropolitan area raised over $60,000 for the donations would be forthcoming. ‘Assist the Officer Foundation’ in the after“When the time came to extend a helpmath of last month’s deadly ambush that ing hand to the officers in blue who do so killed five police officers and left several much for us every day, members of wounded. the Dallas Indian Lions Club decided Leaders of the organizations met with immediately to donate $5,000 for Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Executithe families of the fallen officers,” Anil ve Assistant Police Chief David Pughes to Sharma of the Dallas India Lions Club, make the donation, which greatly moved which has been serving the local commuRawlings and Pughes. nity since 1985 and has contributed more ‘This is more than generous,’ Rawlings than $600,000 to different charities, said. ‘I have such respect for the Indian told India Abroad community.’ “DFW Hindu Temple in Irving has ‘This,’ he remarked, ‘shows your support been supporting the Irving police departto all of us.’ ment and various metrolpolitan commuThe coalition of groups was led by the nity organizations for 25 years,” Kishor United States-India Chamber of CommeFruitwala of the temple said. “Hence, it rce that donated $30,000. Indian-American business, community, religious and cultural organizations in Dallas and the greater Dallas was natural for us to extend our sympaThe other groups — the North Texas- metropolitan area met with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, fifth from left, and Executive Assistant Police Chief David thy and support to the families of the based India Association of North Texas, Pughes, second from right, to make the donation. Dallas police officers, victims of an the DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) Hindu extremely tragic incident.” “All of them have always been accessible to listen to our Temple Society (Ekta Mandir), the Karya Siddhi Hanuman “With the safety and security they provide,” Atman Raval of suggestions and concerns. I have developed a deep appreciTemple, the Dallas Indian Lions Club, the DFW Gujarati the DFW Gujarati Samaj pointed out, “it allows the commuation for all that the Dallas police does to protect the interSamaj and the Jain Society of North Texas — each connity to live in peace, assuring our safety.” ests of our community and how much thought they put into tributed $5,000. “This is our way of reciprocating our friendship and suptheir policies and procedures.” US-India Chamber of Commerce Founding Chairmport to the families of the police force of Dallas,” Neerav “To be a police officer is not an easy job,” Mago said. “In an Ashok K Mago led the presentation along with USICOC Dalal of the Jain Society of North Texas said. Dallas, the community and law enforcement officers have President Mahesh Shetty. “The Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple wanted to apprecialways worked together to maintain peace and security for ‘We appreciate the protection you give us, and we wanted ate, applaud, and acknowledge the selfless service of the fallall the citizens of Dallas. When this unfortunate tragedy hapto recognize what you do for us every day,’ Mago toen police officers,” Prakasarao Velagapudi said. “Our congrepened, we all felt it was extremely important for the Indianld Rawlings and Pughes. gation wanted to stand by with the grieving families and American community to show its support for the families of The day after this presentation, August 3, the 7-Eleven assist them to recover from their devastating loss of the the fallen officers by providing some financial assistance.” DFW Franchisee Owners Association, led by its president beloved members of the families.” “It is important for the community to provide support to Raj Singh, donated $10,000 to AOF. “We strongly believe that a community united by ideals of the brave officers of the Dallas PD all the time, but it “I have had the privilege of serving on the Dallas Police compassion has incredible power,” Indu Reddy of the India becomes imperative to extend not only moral but financial Community Support Coalition and have worked with severAssociation of North Texas said. “Small acts multiplied by help during such a tragic time,” he added. al Dallas police chiefs for the last 25 years, representing varbunch of small groups of thoughtful committed citizens can “The US India Chamber of Commerce of Dallas-Fort ious interests of the Indian-American community,” Mago change society.” Worth recognizes the critical role that the Dallas police told India Abroad.

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Sikhs in Union City rattled by mystery vandalism

he desecration of a Sikh holy book by likely an Indian man in a Union City park in California in the presence of Sikh seniors is not a hate crime, Union City police chief Darryl C McAllister told India Abroad. The incident occurred about 7 pm August 9 at the Contempo Park in Union City. “The facts clearly substantiate that no law was broken at all,” Chief McAllister told India Abroad in an email. As a group of Sikh elders met in the park — which they do regularly — a man entered the park, stood near the men and then started to rip apart a book he had brought with him. He made no threats, said virtually nothing, then walked away after tossing the torn pages of the book to the ground, McAllister said. The man then retreated to a car nearby and drove away. None of the witnesses noted

the number of the man’s car, and none of them had seen him before. “The guy spoke in Punjabi,” Sikh community leader Sarabjit Cheema told India Abroad. “He was a crazy, sick, man, I would say, from around the area,” Cheema, a school board member for the New Haven Unified School District in Union City, added. The book he ripped pages from was the Sukhmani Sahib Gutka, a Sikh prayer book, a smaller version of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikhs’ holiest book. At first, the Sikh seniors did not understand what was going on, then three seniors grabbed the man who shook them off and fled, Cheema said. “He left his shoes behind and had a car. Some people in the park have shot a video and we are waiting for the police to catch hold of this man,” Cheema added. “I understand the incident in the park has generated concern,” Chief McAllister told

India Abroad. “We continue to have a strong, engaging relationship with our Sikh community here in Union City, and as we do on all issues we’ve worked on together, we completely understand and empathized with how insulting the incident in question must be for those who witnessed it happen.” “The reality is, however, in terms of legality, we are very much limited in our approach to dealing with the situation,” he added. “Again, while we stand shoulder to shoulder with our Sikh community in denouncing anyone’s acts or gestures to offend the beliefs of others,” the police chief said, “the fact is that no laws were broken in this case and our approach to handling the situation must be consistent with both the facts and the laws.” “While the man’s behavior may violate the laws of other nations, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution allows for free expression, even of this nature, even if it insults, dishonors, or defiles the beliefs of others,” McAllister said.

“We completely understand how upsetting this is for those whose religious tenets have been insulted,” he conceded. “While our legal options are limited to the facts, our intent is to do what we can to promote a feeling of safety and solidarity to our entire community.” “We have asked that anyone who may know the identity of the man to contact us with the information so we can at least attempt to speak with him about the incident, as a matter of due diligence and to confirm there are no other aspects of the incident about which we are unaware,” McAllister said. “What happened is shocking for the whole community, that it could happen here in our backyard,” Cheema told India Abroad. “We can’t say it’s a hate crime,” she said, “but this is someone who wants to meddle with the peaceful environment in Union City.” The city has a large Sikh population. “We had a community meeting,” Cheema, who has lived in Union City since 1991, said. “We need to be more prepared now.”

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NEWS & COMMUNITY

India Abroad August 19, 2016

Cow vigilantism: US alerts India about concerns AZIZ HANIFFA

cide. (But) they are not governmental,’ the journalist noted. ‘And you’ve invited Prime Minister Modi here in two years four times.’ For all Washington’s entreaties and concerns, the journalist asked, ‘Are they just sitting there in Delhi and laughing at your report if there is no follow-up action to do something about this?’

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he Obama administration has made clear its concerns to India over cow vigilantism and violence against the minorities, whenever New Delhi has been slow to respond to such violations of religious freedom. Rabbi David Saperstein, the administration’s point man for international religious freedom, recalled that when President Obama ‘traveled to India, he gave a major public speech (at Siri Fort in New Delhi January 27, 2015) in which he was very clear about the need for religious freedom in India that could be exercised without people being subject to violence, urging the government to ensure that all people were able to safely live out their religious lives.’ Consequently, Saperstein asserted, ‘We have been clear in our engagement with India about our concerns about those times when the government has been slow to react when violence has taken place, and some of those controversies over the cows are an example of that,’ At a briefing that followed the State Department’s unveiling of its annual 2015 report on International Religious Freedom, Saperstein argued, ‘There have been other times where Prime Minister Modi has spoken out very forcefully about the need to protect religious freedom for all and the security for all.’ ‘So I think we’ve been clear about our view of what is needed and our willingness to be supportive in confronting the challenges to religious freedom that need to be addressed there and when the government’s been slow to react, urging them to be more assertive on that, et cetera,’ he reiterated. Continuing to quote Modi’s assurances, Saperstein said, ‘When he has promised to ensure that everyone has the — I’m quoting him now — the “undeniable right to retain or adopt religions of his or her choice with-

3Page A6 supporter of the Senator throughout his Presidential campaign. On the eve of the election Ram had strong endorsements from Emily’s List, Democracy in America and former Vermont governor Madeleine Kunin, but it didn’t give her much traction as did Sanders’ endorsement of Zuckerman. On the day of the primary, Kunin made a strong pitch for Ram, saying, ‘I have known Kesha since her days as a student at the University of Vermont. We developed a friendship and since that day, she has continued to impress me. I’d the honor of speaking at her 30th birthday party recently, and I told the crowd, “Anyone who has gotten to know Kesha is impressed. She is only 30 years old, but she has the wisdom of someone much older and has the enthusiasm and optimism of someone much younger than 30’’.’ Ram, the former governor argued, ‘has been an effective legislator for Vermont in these last eight years, working hard to finish what was started of our progressive agenda for our working families.’ ‘She’s the best candidate to keep advancing

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rights and religious freedom violations — was responding to tough questions from an Indian-American journalist who publishes the Indian American Times newspaper that India was apparently indifferent to concerns of discrimination and violence against the minorities, with cow vigilantism being the most recent manifestation. ‘This is a new thing — Muslims being attacked in India for the beef ban, cow slaughter, and most of the cases, it is some other kind of meat,’ the journalist told Saperstein. ‘The second is NGOs facing what has been going on with their money coming in. If they aren’t exactly catering to the whimsical directions or directives of the Modi government.’ ‘When you talk about all this ISIS and ISIL, these are people who are doing geno-

aperstein was also peppered with questions about religious freedom in the US and asked about his ‘assessment of Donald Trump’s call for banning all Muslims temporarily from entering the US’ and how it squared ‘with the traditions of religious freedom in this country?’ In response, he said, ‘In terms of Donald Trump, that’s obviously beyond the purview of this (briefing). The administration has spoken clearly about the concerns, putting aside from who they emanate from, about the concerns of singling out any group for different treatment because of their religious identity or their religious — their peaceful religious practices here.’ ‘That would apply in the US as it would elsewhere,’ he said. ‘Those are universal rights; they’re enshrined in our Constitution.’ Asked if Trump’s remarks make it harder when the US calls for religious freedom elsewhere,’ he said, ‘I truly think that countries across the globe — and I travel now to many countries of very different religious majority populations — they see clearly the basic Constitutional, institutional constraints against violations of religious freedom in the US, and I believe deeply in America’s promise… to be a model about treating all people equally without regard to religion.’ ‘So I think that that is clear and that is not tarnished by the statements here. No matter who is elected,’ Saperstein said, ‘the institutions of the US, Constitutional restraints will ensure that we continue along the line we have for the last 200 years.’

bring that same fighting spirit to the Lieutenant Governor’s office.’ Ram, who was hosted at three fundraisers by the Indian-American community in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, in a recent interview with India Abroad, had been bullish about her chances to be elected the first Indian-American and colored Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, but had said she wanted all the support from the IndianAmerican community too in order to prevail in the primary. Of Zuckerman, she had said, “He’s my major opponent,” and acknowledged that since he is also a state legislator he too “has name-recognition.” “We both start out roughly at the same place,” she had said. ”I have a real opportuni-

ty to build my name recognition, and I am traveling the state more and I have a deep well of support.” During an appearance at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, Ram noted, ‘Vermont has never sent a woman to Washington, period. So, Lieutenant Governor is a great position to make a difference and figure out what the future is for a candidate like myself and people who are blazing trails all over the country.’ Ram, who served as a public engagement specialist for the City of Burlington Community and Economic Development Office although initially saying that she would remain in her city government job even as she sought higher political office, a few months ago, has resigned this position. Prior to joining municipal government, she was legal director, Women Helping Battered Women, assisting victims of domestic violence in the courtroom and throughout family and criminal legal proceedings. Ram also taught preschool, and currently serves on the boards of the Center for Whole Communities, Emerge Vermont, and the University of Vermont.

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Digvijay Nath Tiwari, the commander of a Hindu nationalist vigilante group established to protect cows, with animals he claimed to have saved from slaughter, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, August 8. out coercion or undue influence,” this is responding to some of the attacks on Christians because they are seen as proselytizing and encouraging others to convert.’ ‘We’ve been clear and consistent in our messages about the things that we think are most helpful for the stability of the region and the stability of the country,’ he added. ‘We’ll continue to be supportive of those efforts where he is acting in accordance with the international obligations of India in these regards.’ Saperstein — an ex-officio member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, established and funded by Congress, whose commissioners have always been denied visas by India to visit the country and investigate allegations of human

Kesha Ram loses Vermont Lieutenant Governor primary

our progressive agenda,’ Kunin declared. ‘Democracy for America was proud to support Kesha when she beat the odds at just 21 years old to earn a seat in the legislature, and we’re just as excited to back her now in her bid to serve as Vermont’s next Lieutenant Governor,’ Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean said about the national grassro- Kesha Ram ots progressive organization’s endorsement of Ram. ‘In Montpelier, Kesha has consistently stood up to establishment insiders and powerful special interests to fight for Vermont’s children and families. As a Vermont-based national political organization, we’ve seen Kesha’s fierce advocacy for the people of our state in the legislature and our members in the Green Mountain State and across the country can’t wait to see her

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SPECIAL

India Abroad August 19, 2016

One of the several times Shah Rukh Khan was detained at an US airport was at the Westchester County Airport in April 2012 when he was invited to speak at Yale University. ‘They (immigration officials) always ask me how tall I am and I always lie and say 5 feet 10 inches. Next time I am going to get more adventurous. (If they ask me) What color are you, I am going to say white,’ he had said in his speech later.

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t happened again. Shah Rukh Khan landed at the Los Angeles International Airport and when he got into the immigration line the system flagged his name and he was held up for further questioning. It is not known how long Shah Rukh was stopped at the airport. The only information about this happening was a tweet by the Bollywood star where he acknowledged that he understood the need for security considering the world we live in. He then added, ‘but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really really sucks.’ I feel for Shah Rukh Khan, and more so because as a United States citizen I hope that my country will be fair to all visitors. It is known that in the post-9/11 scenario US immigration officers have become extra vigilant. And I am ashamed to state something else. It is widely believed that they often tend to single out people with Muslim sounding names. This is at least the fourth time Shah Rukh Khan has been held up for extra questioning at a US airport. And the irony is that after each such incident he has been allowed to enter the US. He was stopped once when he landed at the Newark Liberty International Airport as he headed to Chicago for an event. Reports then indicated that he was held at the airport for approximately two hours. At that time a spokesperson for the immigration services told me he was stopped for a ‘routine’ check and it lasted less than an hour. Another time Shah Rukh was traveling to Los Angles from London, when he stopped to switch flights in Toronto. Visitors entering the US via Toronto have to go through immigration check at the Canadian city’s airport. And so Shah Rukh was stopped there. And in April 2012 when Shah Rukh was invited to speak at Yale University, he was questioned for an extended period of time at the Westchester County Airport. It is unfortunate that a person traveling to the US after a long trip has to spend time answering questions from

Why SRK?!!

PARESH GANDHI

Shah Rukh Khan was once again — this was at least the fourth time — detained at an US airport. ‘I feel for Khan, and more so because as a US citizen I hope that my country will be fair to all visitors,’ says Aseem Chhabra. immigration officers, who often appear to be rude or abrupt. But to be stopped four times crosses the line. People have speculated about why Shah Rukh may have been stopped so many times. Some friends have suggested that perhaps his name matches that of another person on the US immigration watch list. To me this is conjecture. What I am surprised about is that the Indian government and the Indian embassy in Washington, DC have not dealt with this issue in the past. No Indian citizen should be humiliated by the US authorities. And Shah Rukh Khan happens to be one of India’s most well-known citizens. After the news of Shah Rukh being held up at LA airport broke out, former Indian ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao said in a tweet: ‘I don’t think we can question the customs and border protection laws of any sovereign country. Live and learn.’ I know Rao and I respect her. But I beg to differ with her. I think it is precisely the Indian embassy’s responsibility to raise this question with the State Department, as well as the Department of Homeland Security and ask why its Citizenship and Immigration Services group has singled out Khan so many times. It should be the role and responsibility of the Indian embassy, the Indian ambassador and India’s external

affairs minister to take up cases of Indian citizens, especially when it is an exceptional situation. Earlier this week, India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj responded to a tweet by a man whose new wife had lost her passport, so she could not accompany him on their honeymoon. Swaraj suggested she would step in to help the couple. In the last two years she has helped out countless Indians stranded in different countries. I do not know what Khan’s politics are or what party he votes for. But he is an Indian citizen. Swaraj and her government have to explain to the US authorities that this is perhaps a case of mistaken identity. Shah Rukh Khan is an actor and as far as it is known, he is a responsible citizen of India. It is really ridiculous that he is singled out each time he tries to enter the US. PS: I just saw this tweet from Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal: ‘Sorry for the hassle at the airport, @iamsrk - even American diplomats get pulled for extra screening!’ I don’t know if this is an official apology, but Nisha is of Indian origin and she knows who SRK is! Aseem Chhabra has lived in America for 35 years.

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INDIA SPECIAL/AN INCREDIBLE STRUGGLE

India Abroad August 19, 2016

After the world’s longest hunger strike

Irom Sharmila speaks to the media outside a prison hospital in the northeastern city of Imphal, India, August 20, 2014.

After her lone fight for 16 years, Irom Sharmila has only the state machinery to keep her safe from the public whose cause she championed all this while. Chitra Ahanthem reports from Manipur on the end of the fast and its aftermath.

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he moment when Irom Sharmila was to break her 16-year-old fast in the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences complex in Imphal, Manipur, a few meters away from the hospital room where she had been kept in custody, was emotional — one she described as “a moment I will never forget in my life.” She asked for honey, which she put in her palm and looked at for a long while — the tears streaming down her face — even as she haltingly brought her face near to it. As the cameras went into a frenzy, she took a drop of honey from her palm and put it in her mouth, making a face as she felt the taste. Much before the moment of breaking her fast of 16 years, unending drama unfolded at the complex of the court of the chief judicial magistrate (Imphal West).

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he first part of the drama was, of course, the frenzy caused by the media that swooped down to get the best pictures and visuals of Irom Sharmila being taken inside the court. The frenzy was such that she had to be physically lifted inside the court complex by women personnel of the state police once she alighted from the ambulance that had brought her. Inside the court room, when Lamkhanpau Tonsing, the chief judicial magistrate (Imphal West), brought up the case of the State of Manipur vs Irom Sharmila, she stood up and in a determined voice reiterated her decision to stop her 16-year-old hunger strike, mentioning that her fight against the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act would continue, but that she had decided to change her strategy by breaking her fast and making a foray into politics. When she was told that she would have to plead guilty to the charge of suicide against her, she said, “How can I plead guilty if I am not wrong?” Sharmila also sought the magistrate’s permission to addr-

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ess the media. Her only rider was that the media be seated in a room so she could speak to everyone. She was then asked to furnish a personal bond, following which the proceedings went on for more than an hour as witnesses were still to depose. At some point of time, two batches of four people — who were involved in criminal cases ranging from murder to being caught with arms in their possession — were also brought into the packed court room while medical and police personnel gave their testimonies. When a restless Irom Sharmila requested a speedy process, the defense lawyer asked her in a curt demeanor, “Do you want to be free today or do you want to come back another day?” When Sharmila replied, “I want to be free today,” he shot back, “Then you will have to wait for all of this to be over.” By the time the court was in the process of preparing the formalities of freeing Irom Sharmila, it had been agreed that she would address the waiting media.

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he second act of the drama unfolded as she was brought before the media, which literally pounced and stepped

‘I have become akin to Abhimanyu caught in the chakravayuh, unable to find a way out. If the public is angry with my decision and resent it, you can kill me like Gandhi and Jesus Christ was killed. Let my blood wash away all their dark emotions and negative feelings.’

on one another to be in ‘breaking news’ mode. She was to speak while seated at a bench with a ‘table’ that had been literally assembled from its old broken version placed before her. The ‘table’ had mikes and recorders placed on it, but in a matter of a few seconds, everyone was climbing and leaning on it, making the ‘table’ groan and creak ominously besides tilting towards Sharmila. Seated beneath the table and less than an arm’s length from Irom Sharmila I could not hear the few sentences that she was able to speak while the assembled media nearly came into blows. Irom Sharmila had to be whisked off, which meant that thanks to the media behavior, her freedom and the moment of her fast coming to an end was postponed some more.

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he third act of the drama was when representatives of women’s groups in Manipur, who have rallied around Irom Sharmila every time she was released every year, started venting their anger and unhappiness over her decision. ‘She should have continued her protest.’ ‘She should have consulted us.’ ‘She should have thought about the struggle that we have undertaken against AFSPA before she even took her fast.’ By this time, journalists reporting the story had taken the brief address Irom Sharmila had given to the media and taken it out of its context. Her statement that she would want to contest elections against Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi and that she would repeal AFSPA when she became chief minister was reported as ‘I want to be chief minister and repeal AFSPA.’

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y 3 pm, the next act had moved to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences where security was tight but the media throng was a bit more organized.

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INDIA SPECIAL/AN INCREDIBLE STRUGGLE

India Abroad August 19, 2016

3Page A10 News then started to trickle in that the formalities for Irom Sharmila’s release were being completed and she would address the media. So she came, appearing in public for the first time without the nasal tube that had been her constant companion for the past 16 years. Surrounded only by the media and security personnel, she first addressed the gathering repeating that her fight against AFSPA would continue and that breaking her fast was a change in strategy.

After the world’s longest hunger strike

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had been (the official has since retired), angry residents of the neighborhood stormed the ambulance she was in and forced her to change her plans. What irony that after her lone fight against the establishment all these long years she has only the state machinery to keep her safe from the public whose cause she championed all this while. She was escorted to the JNIMS to stay under police protection, free at last from the State, but not free from the anger of the public.

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wo days after Iron Sharmila broke her fast, she looked content and at peace with her decision, regardless of the strong reaction of civil society groups led by women. August 11, visiting time in the ward in JNIMS that had been home to her all this while was still being restricted as a security measure and keeping in mind the need for Sharmila to rest. But she patiently met media and well wishers in turn. “I am a true revolutionary. I do Asked how she was taking the not want to be kept on a pedestal. strong reaction to her decision to Sixteen long years, I have been end her fast and the action of given the name Iron Lady while various people who forced her to everyone else stays content that I give up her plans of taking shelam on my fast,” she said. ter in the house of a long-time “Many are saying that politics supporter, all she had to say was is dirty, so why should I take it it, “could be because of the misCHITRA AHANTHEM up? I ask you this — can politics understandings over my new Irom Sharmila's mother Shakhi Devi, left, has not met her youngest daughter for over 11 years. On right is Sharmila's brother. be dirty on its own? Isn’t society step in decision.” this to say: ‘His governance a part of the dirt associated with politics?” she asked. Largely unnoticed by the media, a deals with violence and his ‘If 20 like-minded people emerge as candidates for the few people have reached out to only concern is for the happielections, we can bring about a change. I want to contest Sharmila on a personal level. One ness index of nations. He is a the elections against Chief Minister Ibobi. I want to be CM, deeply special since it came from native from the place of so I can repeal AFSPA,’ she added. Ukhrul, a hill district of Manipur. “I Gandhi. Why cannot he govern Commenting on her earlier statement that she had not would like to stay in different parts of with non violence?’ got the kind of support that she was expecting for her cause, Manipur and discuss AFSPA, try to ‘Are you a woman in love?’ Irom Sharmila said, ‘Every year when I am set free for build a hill and valley common one journalist asked. ‘Isn’t that sometime, people come to greet me. It is like I am a spectaground,” she said. a matter of my personal cle to be seen with curiosity and then forgotten. When I first Medical staff attending to Sharmila choice?’ she responded. ‘Isn’t started my fast, the public said I was insane to do it. These said her vital signs were normal and that normal?’ long years, I remained cut off from everybody. I have to be that apart from rice water she was When it came to the free now.’ also now being fed half cups of moment of Irom Sharmila Her statements included the following: Horlicks and a mostly liquid oat mix breaking her fast, there was no ‘If there had been a massive public support over my fast, throughout the day. one to do the honor of the AFSPA would have been repealed then. The narrative of my But even as young people are beginsymbolical act of offering her fast has in fact been misinterpreted. While I was fasting till ning to talk about rallying behind the honey even though she the time AFSPA would be repealed, it is being described as Irom Sharmila, a few meters away had announced her desire for an indefinite fast.’ from the ward in JNIMS, the memyoung students to be present ‘The martyrdom of Irom Sharmila is not what I want. I bers of SAKAL (Sharmila Kanba when she broke her fast. have become akin to Abhimanyu caught in Lup), which had taken up the responWhen she did break her fast the chakravayuh, unable to find a way out. If the public is sibility of caring for Irom Sharmila When Irom Sharmila wrote a rare every time she was released annually, she did it alone just as she was angry with my decision and resent it, you can kill me like alone when she first began her Gandhi and Jesus Christ was killed. Let my blood wash besides taking up other campaigns of appeal to the people of Manipur fast in 2000. The only differaway all their dark emotions and negative feelings.’ relay fasts announced August 11 that ence was the media scrum that ‘I do not want to be seen as a goddess. I am human and I the group was disbanding since it had asked her to speak in Hindi want to be treated like one.’ no purpose with Sharmila giving up and English or repeat the act In response to media queries on her future course of her fast, a sign that civil society of breaking her fast so they action, including where she would stay, Irom Sharmila groups were in no mood to reconcile could get ‘proper visuals’ and replied that she would not go back to her house as she wantto her decision. ‘proper bytes.’ ed to honor her earlier promise to her mother that she Does all of that discourage would come back only after AFSPA was repealed. Sharmila? ‘I want to stay at an ashram, but it will take a few days to Not at all. For even as vocal civil he last bit of the drama take a final decision,’ she said. society groups have been vociferous unfolded as this report was Asked what she had to say to the people of Kashmir who in their disapproval, there are people being written. When Irom have been protesting against AFSPA, she said, ‘Let the peofrom Manipur and elsewhere who Sharmila was being escorted to ple of Kashmir get their right to self determination.’ have written to her, come in to meet the home of a former health http://bit.ly/2aM6iNC For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Irom Sharmila had and check up with her. official under whose care she

‘Every year when I am set free for some time, people come to greet me. It is like I am a spectacle to be seen with curiosity and then forgotten.’

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that of his own misrule. Credibility with legitimacy of moral authority was the USP of his leadership that went into his grave along with his body. Not that he had forgiven those who tormented him from 1953 to 1975 and consigned him to 22 years in the political wilderness. His autobiographical account leaves nothing to doubt on that score. Yet he chose to retain his own vital stakes in that forgettable past. Between 1947 and 1953, Sheikh Abdullah was exhibited on the world stage as the living symbol of India’s moral legitimacy in Kashmir. His towering personality at the local level dwarfed every other feature on the political landscape. However, the inverted logic of ‘1953’ dictated loss of that moral high ground. No doubt that Sheikh Abdullah’s relationship with New Delhi towards the fag end of his first innings (1947 to 1953) was fouled by mutual distrust over various issues, including that of the demarcation of Centre-state relations in the context of India’s commitment to the Maharaja on greater internal autonomy for his state. Even so, the Delhi Agreement of 1952, formalizing a broad framework of distribution of powers between Srinagar and New Delhi was concluded with Sheikh Abdullah at the helm. The job done, Sheikh Abdullah found himself thrown behind the bars shortly thereafter.

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INSIGHT India Abroad August 19, 2016

O UMAR GANIE

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Why August 9, 1953 casts a dark shadow over Kashmir

t was on this fateful day, August 9 in 1953 that the Indian State sowed the proverbial wind in Kashmir and the country continues to reap the whirlwind for the past 63 years. Precisely, on the night between August 8 and 9, 1953 Sheikh Abdullah, political anchor of J&K’s accession with the Indian Union, was unceremoniously removed from power and put behind bars; causing a tectonic emotional breach and setting off disastrous fault lines between Srinagar and New Delhi. Down that fateful line today, the latest unabated bloody flare-up in the Valley, following Burhan Wani’s killing on July 8, is a grim reminder that the accumulated anger and simmering alienation, now with a sharper hostile edge, are not going to go away unless addressed concretely. Over the past six decades the situation has got compounded for want of meaningful engagement, pushing farther the goal posts on both sides. In 1953, New Delhi’s indefensible action to oust and imprison someone who then was the local face as well as the tallest symbol of the accession of the country’s only Muslimmajority state, against the (communal) run of events on the subcontinent, turned out to be a bad bargain in the long run: Undermining India’s moral legitimacy in its Kashmir case for the sake of a questionable political gambit to artificially force the pace of the state’s ‘integration’ with the Union and ‘managing’ (manipulating?) its local affairs. Ironically, with this one fell swoop J&K’s Constitutionally guaranteed special status was rendered hollow and reduced to fiction; as if to match Pakistan’s unabashed annexation of the so-called ‘liberated’ Kashmir across the Line of Control, with the Islamabad-based Kashmir affairs secretary enjoying over-riding authority to hire and fire the notional ‘president of Azad Jammu & Kashmir’. On this side of the LoC, one of the architects of the accession, Sheikh Abdullah, had come to be seen by New Delhi as a stumbling block in the ‘process of integration,’ in less than six years’ time. His forced exit virtually wrote the epitaph to his celebrated role as a ‘patriot.’ Overnight he became a ‘traitor.’ Locally, the message was loud and clear: Time for a ‘Kashmiri-Indian’ to rule this state was over; now on only

‘Indian-Kashmiri’ would get that accreditation. And it has been so ever after. Even Sheikh Abdullah returned to his downsized throne 22 years later only after his ‘conversion.’ As history would show, this miscalculation virtually gifted Pakistan an unearned opening for its proxy presence on this side of the LoC after its near eclipse from the arena in the turbulent fallout of the (1947) tribal invasion. Sheikh Abdullah’s arbitrary overthrow, perceived as a brazen assault on the popular local sentiment he symbolized, resulted in intractable complications on the ground as well as vitiating the external dimension of the Kashmir dispute to India’s disadvantage. Accumulated discontent, since 1953, occasionally burst into the open, over one immediate issue or the other. The latest being the post-Burhan Wani upheaval. The familiar pattern has been that after dousing the flames of unrest New Delhi invariably goes to sleep, letting the grass grow under its feet; until the next round of firefighting. As a result, the emotional/political distance between Kashmir and the rest of India has been growing in inverse proportion to the considerably shortened physical travelling time between Srinagar and New Delhi by road, air and now partly by rail too. On the other hand, the almost defunct symbolism (between 1947 and 1953) of the decrepit ‘SrinagarRawalpindi road,’ the Valley’s only surface link with the rest of the world till 1947, resonates louder after each round of this cyclic unrest; lately in its strident ‘Azadi’ mode.

MOHAMMAD SAYEED MALIK

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ill he was alive, Sheikh Abdullah’s unrivalled leadership across the spectrum served both, as the sword arm and the shield of Kashmir’s popular politics. After his demise on September 8, 1982, the disintegrated legacy is claimed (or usurped) by political actors across the democratic divide — mainstream and separatists. Even so, none of his successors from within the Abdullah dynasty and their rivals has been able to replace him effectively. They can only float over the crest of an occasional wave of unrest but cannot control it. Sheikh Abdullah alone had the capability and ability to contain/neutralize the toxic effects of post-1953 alienation or

ver six decades later, today, the political appeal of the accession as well as the ‘autonomy’ has drastically diminished, almost vanished. In 1947, the accession of the Muslimmajority J&K state was convincingly acclaimed as the logical culmination of the ‘affinity of ideals’ — democracy and secularism versus Pakistan’s two-nation theory. The political landscape has since changed — beyond recognition. Now there is a head-on collision between forces spearheading Kashmiri discontent and those perceived to be conniving in New Delhi’s callous unresponsiveness, irrespective of the ideological complexion of the regime at the helm. Sheikh Abdullah was able to maintain that tricky balance between steam letting and explosion of anger. Generational changes between 1953 and 2016 were accompanied by gradual withdrawal from committed positions at both ends of the game, stridently after Sheikh Abdullah’s demise in 1982: New Delhi brazenly backtracking from its committed position on restoration of the usurped (greater) autonomy and the dominant sentiment in the Valley moving away from its emotional commitment on the accession. The first generation with Sheikh Abdullah in the lead found itself entrapped in a vicious situation after 1953. He led a 22 year-long largely peaceful but very effective political resistance demanding ‘plebiscite’ (1953 to 1975) until the Kashmir Accord that enabled his return to power but left estranged local aspirations dissatisfied for want of any substantial concession in return. The succeeding (leadership) generation either acquiesced or found itself helpless to check New Delhi’s growing shadow over the local political landscape until it became the ultimate deciding factor. Erosion of the state’s constitutional autonomy was now matched by corresponding political encroachment on the ground at the expense of the public standing of the local political class. The deteriorating equation reached its logical conclusion by the time the third generation (post-1990s) arrived on the scene. By that time even the remnants of the political ‘autocut’ of the Sheikh Abdullah era had also ceased to function. It was the reversal of all that had happened between 1947 and 1953 when the tribal invasion from Pakistan was resisted with popular local support and unarmed Kashmiri staked their lives to stem the advance of Pakistani invaders until the arrival of Indian forces. The third generation of the post-1990 era found itself on a totally opposite course: Groups of Kashmiri youth flocking to Pakistan and returning with weapons after getting arms training across the Line of Control. Something that was unimaginable even till a long time after ‘1953’. Even a major historical tragedy like ‘August 9, 1953’ remains shrouded in mystery. Who played what role and why is not yet fully revealed because the dramatis personae were reluctant to part with the full facts known to them. Even Sheikh Abdullah’s own account is less than convincing. Yet the event will go down in Kashmir history as a political watershed, for better or worse. Mohammad Sayeed Malik is a veteran commentator on Kashmir affairs.

NY/NJ/CT

How a NYU Tandon team is devising a smarter way to rehabilitate stroke patients A CORRESPONDENT

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t New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering a team of students — guided by Vikram Kapila, NYU Tandon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering — is using smartphones to improve the arduous and repetitive process patients must typically undergo to relearn the basic skills they lose after suffering a stroke. ‘The centerpieces are wearable mechatronic devices: A jacket to measure arm placement, a glove to measure wrist and finger placement and finger joint angles, and a finger trainer built of hand-friendly, compliant material,’ the school announced. ‘All are connected inexpensively by a smartphone.’ When a patient performs an exercise assigned by a physician or physical therapist, microcontrollers quantify the action — measuring grip strength, for example — and display that information via the smartphone to both the patient and medical provider. ‘Rather than mindlessly repeat the exercise, patients engage in a virtual reality game that allows them to observe the performance of the unaffected side of the body and mimic the same performance on the affected side,’ the school added. ‘Smartphone-integrated stroke rehabilitation is a marked improvement over the conventional treatment programs of

the past,’ Kapila said. ‘The medical community acknowledges that while the central nervous system is highly adaptive and has the ability to regain functions with concerted effort, a patient must assiduously practice those regained skills.’ ‘This makes stroke rehab a long and sometimes trying ordeal. Providing patients with immediate feedback and placing that feedback in the context of a virtual reality game that they can use within their own homes is definitely encouraging and motivational he added.’ Using smartphone technology also allows stroke survivors to make great strides within their own homes. Not being rendered dependent on caregivers and therapists in a clinical setting boosts morale and motivates the patients to continue rehabilitation, the researchers believe. n addition to Kapila, who oversees NYU Tandon’s Mechatronics Lab, Dr Preeti Raghavan of NYU ILangone’s Rusk Rehabilitation Ambulatory Care Center helped Ashwin Raj Kumar and Sai Prasanth Krishnamoorthy, the students who helped transform the original idea into a working prototype. Raj Kumar of Tamil Nadu received his master’s degree fr-

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Ashwin Raj Kumar, left, and Sai Prasanth Krishnamoorthy with the affordable wearables they developed. Inset, Professor Vikram Kapila. om NYU and his bachelor’s degree from the National Institute of Technology in Tiruchirappalli. Krishamoorthy of Andhra Pradesh matriculated from the Amrita Vishwavidhyapeetham University in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The team recently took third place in BMEidea, the nation’s leading competition for biomedical and bioengineering students, the school said, noting that the entries — each of which must pioneer a health-related technology that addresses a real clinical need — are judged on technical, economic, and regulatory feasibility; contribution to human health and quality of life; technological innovation; and potential for commercialization. NYU Tandon Dean Katepalli R Sreenivasan said, ‘This is a testament to both the fine quality of our aspiring engineers and NYU’s commitment to invaluable cross-disciplinary research that allows technology to be used in service to society.’ Next steps for the students include forming a company with the patent-pending technology and launching a startup at the NYU Tandon new-business incubators. They are currently refining their prototype and expect to shortly begin working with several patients from around the world, including their native India. PHOTOGRAPHS: ENGINEERING.NYU.EDU

India Abroad August 19, 2016

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NY/NJ/CT

50 years after M S Subbulakshmi performed at the UN

India Abroad August 19, 2016

A CORRESPONDENT

U N PHOTO/P A S

JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES

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mong the many Indian Independence Day activities taking place in the Tristate area — several with the support of the Indian consulate in New York — probably the most high-profile one was to be A R Rahman’s concert at the United Nations August 15. The Oscar and Grammy-winning composer will pay tribute to legendary Carnatic vocalist M S Subbulakshmi at the world body’s iconic General Assembly. Rahman will be only the second Indian artist after Subbulakshmi to perform at the UN after she was invited for a performance 50 years ago. She had been invited by the then UN Secretary General, U Thant, and the then Chef de Cabinet, C V Narasimhan, to perform at the world body’s headquarters in 1966. Commemorations to mark Subbulakshmi’s birth centenary also include a photo exhibition at the UN headquarters by India’s Permanent

Mission, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, India’s envoy to the UN, revealed. The exhibition opens August 15 and will run through August 19. The concert aims to ‘perpetuate the memory of not only one of the greatest musicians India had ever produced but that of a greatest soul who lived a life of philanthropy and goodwill for all humanity,’ S S Badrinath, chairman emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya, the trust that is supporting the event, told the media. The trust’s president S V Acharya added in the statement that it plans to create a ‘Chair for Music’ in Subbulakshmi’s name at an American university. The concert promised to be the high point of the Independence Day celebrations that day, which would include a flag-hoisting ceremony in the morning and India’s Consul General Riva Ganguly Das ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ, a tradition of many years now.

M S Subbulakshmi in the General Assembly for the UN Day Concert in 1966. A R Rahman, inset, will be only the second Indian artist after Subbulakshmi to perform at the UN.

A Hindu Heritage Day in New Jersey

The key to Raritan, a road in Secaucus

A CORRESPONDENT

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COURTESY: SHREE SWAMINARAYAN TEMPLE LOYADHAM

Charles McMullin, right, mayor of Raritan in Somerset County, New Jersey, attends the second anniversary celebration of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple Loyadham. The mayor, who was there with his family, addressed the assembly and then presented Swami Shree Ghanshyam Prakashdas, the founder of the temple, with the key to the town of Raritan.

TWITTER.COM/SGADINAIROBI

he inaugural Hindu Heritage Day in New Jersey — organized by the NJ chapter of World Hindu Council at the North Brunswick High School — drew more than 900 attendees from the Tristate area in a festive celebration. Though the event featured 11 nonprofits, along with Indian clothes and cuisine, the organizers felt the main attraction was the cultural program, in which over 250 students performCOURTESY: VHPA Performers at the Hindu Heritage Day. ed 30 pieces. ‘While some students performed classical music and dance, others recited poems and sang traditional hymns,’ the VHPA said. ‘One group even performed a play in Sanskrit.’ For adults, theater groups performed plays and Swami Adhyatamananda delivered a seminar on stress relief. ‘VHPA wants to engage second-generation youth and their families to connect with their heritage, and also give them a platform to exhibit their talent and skills,’ Brahm Sharma, president, NJ Chapter, VHPA, told the media. Arun Joshi, another main organizer of the event, added, ‘By making HHD an annual event, we want to help the public understand Hindu values and different aspects of Indian tradition.’ The organizers hoped that in the coming years the event look would draw an more diverse crowd, especially youth and those unfamiliar with Hinduism.

The 15th anniversary of the Swaminarayan Temple of Secaucus, New Jersey, was marked by Penhorn Avenue being renamed ‘Swamibapa Way’ to honor Muktajeevan Swamibapa, the religious leader who was the first to bring the Swaminarayan sect to the United States in the late 1970s. The honorary renaming took place August 7 in the presence of the sect’s spiritual leader, Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, Secaucus Councilman Rob Constantino, Secaucus Councilwoman Susan Pirro, and Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari.

India Abroad NY/NJ/CT

August 19, 2016

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BUSINESS India Abroad August 19, 2016

Be warned! Bad times ahead for Indian economy With Parliament greenlighting GST, India has begun the process of passing what many think is its most important economic reform in two decades. But we can’t expect many more reforms, and none the size of GST, warns Aakar Patel. The Goods and Services Tax is aimed to simplify indirect taxation in India. After this, what exactly are the big bang reforms left to be legislated in a country which is no longer socialist, wonders Aakar Patel.

I

ndia has begun the process of passing what many think is its most important economic reform in two decades. The Goods and Services Tax will simplify indirect taxation in India and some think merely this simplification would add a couples of points of economic growth. Others disagree, but all believe that this is a key reform. What other reforms can we expect? Not many and none the size of GST. If the expectation was that the Narendra Modi government would legislate dramatic change, this expectation has been let down. The GST bill being pushed as a big reform is the idea of the previous Congress government and had actually been opposed by Modi as chief minister. When he won the general election, he changed his position and I think that is very good and wise politics. In an interview to The Wall Street Journal some time ago, Modi said he himself did not know what big reforms remained to be legislated in India. He said: ‘When I came to the government, I used to sit down with all the experts and ask them to define for me what is the “big bang” for them,’ Modi said. ‘Nobody could tell me.’ He said much of the reform now concerned the states and he would look to states to further liberalize labor laws, an area seen as crucial and contentious. ‘Labor reform should not just mean in the interest of industry,’ Modi said. ‘Labor reform should also be in the interest of the laborer.’ These words show that Modi is cautious. I think the prime minister is absolutely right. What exactly are the big bang reforms left to be legislated in a country which is no longer socialist? Both the ruling party and the Opposition stand in favor of liberalization. The fact is that not much remains to be liberalized.

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ut if this is so, and not much legislative change is to be anticipated, what does that mean for our economic growth? I believe that the present rate of 6 or 7 percent will not be exceeded in the medium term, meaning the next decade or so. And the passing of time will make maintaining even this growth rate more difficult because the base will become larger. We should not expect 10 percent growth simply because no big change is on its way and in the absence of big change things will continue the way they are. The state of economic growth in the outside world is not favorable to India. Things are slowing down and jobs are disappearing faster than ever in history. For a long period we had anticipated the loss of jobs in manufacturing. This is now happening because the cost of borrowing money is lower than employing labor, and so labor is being substituted.

SIVARAM V/REUTERS

Automation has even begun hitting services jobs. Mohandas Pai, formerly of Infosys, says: ‘I think in the IT sector, may be 10 percent minimum of incremental jobs that are created will disappear. That means every year if they create 200,000 to 250,000 jobs, 25,000 to 50,000 jobs will disappear.’ According to him, middle-level managers account for 10 percent — or 450,000 people — of the 4.5 million strong IT industry in India. Half of them (225,000) would lose jobs over the next decade as their work would get automated. There are today lots of people (who are middle-level managers) earning between Rs 3 million and Rs 7 million (per annum). Half of them will lose their jobs in the next 10 years, Pai said. This is very bad news for Indian cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Pune and Hyderabad. Service-sector jobs have been the backbone of growth in these cities. Automation of service jobs means that this work will no longer need to be sent to India. We will need to figure out new ways of keeping our urban middle class youth employed, something that we have not had a problem doing in the last two decades. Service sector jobs through English were the easiest way for the poor to enter the middle class. Entry level jobs vanishing will mean this social mobility will end.

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e should expect that the social unrest that is currently in the smaller cities, like the agitation of the Patidars in Gujarat and the Jats in Haryana, will intensify. I do not think the government is preparing the population to face these facts. The picture being painted is extraordinarily rosy and the various episodes of unrest are being explained in localized fashion rather than the building up of a national crisis. Modi would do well to explain the nature of the task that remains for his government in terms of legislation. And he should explain more clearly that no more ‘big bang’ reforms should be expected and that any change that will now come will be largely externally forced upon India. We have a very difficult period ahead of us. Fortunately, we have a popular government and a popular leader who is ideally placed to take us into confidence. Aakar Patel is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own.

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BUSINESS

Why house sellers need to know India’s Finance Act 2014 AN SANDEEP SHANBHAG SHANBHAG

I have an apartment in India that I have recently rented out. The rent is a very nominal Rs 15,000 ($225) per month. The money is being credited to my Non Resident Ordinary account and is being used by my parents for day-to-day requirements. Am I liable to pay any tax in India now that I have started receiving rent? If so, would I also need to file a tax return? I do not have any other income in India. — Pashupati Though normally rental income is taxable, in this particular case, since the total rent for the year at Rs 180,000 ($2,700) is less than the basic income threshold of Rs 250,000 ($3,750) below which tax is not payable, you would have no liability to pay tax. Consequently, you do not need to file a tax return either. However, note that the tenant, by law, has to deduct tax at source on the rent (regardless of its amount). If that happens, your only recourse to get back the tax is to file a return and claim refund of the tax deducted. I stayed outside India starting June 19, 2007 and returned to India June 13, 2016. I am considering myself as RNRO based on the clause where the number of days spent in India in the previous seven years should be less than 729 days since I was in India in the last 7 years for much less number of days. Is that right? — Karunakara Incidentally, it is Resident Not Ordinarily Resident and not RNRO. One gets the RNOR status if one is an NRI in nine out of the previous 10 years or has been in India for a period of 729 days or less in the previous 7 years. Based on the data provided by you, from financial year 07-08 till FY 15-16, you have been a Non-Resident Indian in nine years. Hence, you will get RNOR status for two years i.e. FY 16-17 and FY 17-18. I had an ancestral house in India, which I sold recently. The sale has resulted in me earning a substantial amount of Long Term Capital Gains. I understand that such LTCG can be saved by investing in another property. However, I do not wish to put the entire money back in another

India Abroad August 19, 2016

Rajan’s parting note

property. It would be much more convenient if I could buy two or even three smaller apartments so that later I can bequeath them to each of my three children equally. Can an individual avoid LTCG tax by investing in two or more flats upon earning LTCG from sale of property? — Bhargava As per the words used in the law, exemption from paying LTCG tax was available if the LTCG was invested in a residential house. There was a flood of litigation revolving around the meaning of the word ‘a’ and the judiciary pronouncements were contradictory and inconsistent with one another. Additional ambiguity arose because of faulty language used in the legislation, which made it possible to claim the benefit even on a house purchased abroad. The Finance Act 2014 has addressed these issues in one stroke by replacing the phrase ‘purchased a residential house’ with ‘purchased one residential house in India.’ So, now the exemption is available only for one property purchased using the capital gain money. Note that the entire capital gain amount needs to be invested for full exemption. If part is invested, the exemption would be proportional. Moreover, such property has to be situated in India.

1. I have a house in India that I have given out on lease. In the contract for the lease, I have undertaken to do house repairs and maintenance every two years. Can I claim the expense on repairs as a deduction against the lease rent? 2. Also, depending upon my income level, I have been filing my tax return. Some years I have not filed my return as my income was below taxable limit. Can this — filing one year’s return and not filing in another year — raise suspicion or is it permissible? — Pranav You can claim a standard deduction of 30 percent of the lease rent every year, irrespective of whether you carry out any repairs in that year and the amount spent thereon. There is no additional deduction over and above this one for repairs per se. If you have a housing loan, then the entire interest payable is also deductible. If the resultant figure, after addition to your other income taxable in India, is less than Rs 250,000 you need not file tax returns. However, it is better to file returns to maintain continuity. Filing one year’s return and not filing in another year is well within your rights. Can an individual resident in India invest in a mutual fund abroad that deals in the commodity market? — Gupte Manishi Up to $250,000 per year may be invested by an Indian resident in any overseas financial asset. It needs to be an upfront investment and not payment of margin money. As long as this condition is satisfied, the same is allowed.

A N Shanbhag is an investment consultant and author of In the Wonderland of Investment; How to Convert a Taxpayer into a Taxsaver; NRI Investment Guide. This article does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisor before making tax- or legally-related investment decisions. The authors may be contacted at [email protected].

His legacy

A look at the performance of some key indicators over the tenure of Rajan as RBI governor

All data are the latest available Sources: RBI, Bloomberg, Capitaline Compiled by BS Research Bureau

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Satyanand ‘Samuel’ Stokes, and his wife, with their daughter, Satyavati, center. He named his children Prem Chand, Pritam Chand, Tara Chand, Champavati, Savitri, Satyavati and Lal Chand.

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Samuel Stokes was the only American to be imprisoned for India’s freedom struggle, but his contribution to the country was far more transformational than that. On the eve of India’s 70th Independence Day, his granddaughter Asha Sharma tells Archana Masih/ India Abroad about his extraordinary life. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY: ASHA SHARMA

hen Samuel Stokes left home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and set sail for India aged 22, his parents had hoped he would return home after a year or two. But this did not happen. Instead, Stokes made India his home. A young man from a wealthy American Quaker family, he had come to India to work for a home for the leprosy-afflicted in 1904 and went on to become an active participant in India’s struggle for freedom. The brutality of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919 drew him into the freedom movement. Stokes worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi and took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement. He was imprisoned for six months for sedition in the Lahore jail and refused bail, the only American to be jailed in India’s struggle for Independence. The British CID, in fact, maintained a special file on him. He also fought against begar or forced labor that the British exacted out of Indians, which was finally abolished. Stokes wore Khadi, married an Indian, learnt Sanskrit, became a Hindu, set up a school and introduced apples to Himachal Pradesh. The Himalayan state’s most famous produce owes its origins to the apple cuttings Stokes had brought from America to persuade farmers to start apple cultivation.

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THE AMERICAN WHO FOUGHT FOR INDIAÊS FREEDOM Stokes renamed himself Satyanand and never went back to America after a trip he made with his wife in 1914. His family still maintains roots with Kotgarh in Himachal Pradesh where Stokes started it all. Stokes, who was born on August 16, 1882, didn’t live to see India gain freedom. He died in 1946 and was cremated in the hills he loved so dearly. The letters and articles he wrote are preserved in the Nehru Memorial Library. There is also a picture of him on its walls, but his contribution has largely been ignored. A few years ago, his granddaughter Asha Sharma, wrote a biography on Stokes, An American in Khadi (Penguin Books India). An American edition of the book, titled An

American in Gandhi’s India (Indiana University Press) was published in 2008. The author, who divides her time between California — where her children live — and Himachal Pradesh, tells India Abroad about Stokes’ extraordinary life and wonders why he is hardly remembered in India. What was Samuel Stokes’ contribution to India’s freedom? His contribution to our freedom was very substantial. He was very active in the first Non-Cooperation Movement and worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, Motilal Nehru, C R Das and other national leaders. He wrote articles, gave speeches and organized meetings.

Though he was an American his fierce denouncement of imperialism and absolute identification with Indians had a deep impact. His unequivocal support of Gandhi through these years was valuable to the cause. He had full faith in Gandhiji and believed that he was the only one who could lead India to independence, so he gave his wholehearted support to him and urged others to do the same. What was Stokes’ friendship with C F Andrews (Gandhiji’s friend and a Christian missionary who supported India’s freedom) like? How did they become friends and how did Stokes become associated with Gandhiji? Stokes knew Andrews for a long time. Andrews lived in Delhi, but used to come up to the hills to escape the heat of the plains and that is where he met Stokes. Both men were very much alike in their thinking, so it was easy for them to become friends. It was Andrews who brought Gandhiji and Stokes together. It was at the time when Stokes was fighting against begar in the hills. Gandhi came to know about Stokes and his work through Andrews. In September 1920, when the viceroy of India, made a trip to Baghi in the interiors of Himachal Pradesh, thousands of poor villagers were called upon as begar to serve him. The villagers were in the midst of sowing winter crops, so it was hard for them to get away at this time. Stokes was greatly troubled to see the plight of the people and wrote an article ‘The Viceregal Trip’ describing their situation. The article was published by Gandhi in Young India and drew national attention. It also brought Stokes closer to Gandhi. Can you elaborate on Stokes’ relationship with Gandhji? A long-abiding friendship was forged between the two men during the early years of the Non-cooperation movement when Stokes worked closely with Gandhi, travelled and toured with him, gave speeches in support of his program and lived in the Sabarmati Ashram with him. Their friendship sustained through life even though they did not meet much in later years. Gandhi and Stokes did not always agree with each other, but this did not affect their relationship. If anything it brought them even closer as they could discuss their differences without any reservation. Stokes always felt that Gandhi was one of the ‘greatest and noblest of men — both simple and profound.’ ‘I doubt if there is such another in the world today.’ he wrote in 1921. ‘He stands for the noblest in our nature. He often said that his association with Gandhi was the part of his life of which he was most proud. Gandhi in turn held Stokes in high regard and spoke of him as an example to others. ‘Non-co-co-operators worship Andrews, honour Stokes,’ he said. He also admired Stokes’ courage of conviction and his love for India. ‘He has made India his home in a manner no other American or Englishman has,’ Gandhi wrote in Young India at the time of Stokes’ arrest. He also took to khadi as a response to the Mahatma’s call? Yes... In fact, he took to wearing khadi in the presence of Gandhiji when he put his own clothes in a fire lit by Gandhiji in

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3Page A16 Bombay on 31st July 1921. Thereafter, he embarked on a tour of UP with Gandhiji dressed in khadi coat, dhoti and cap. From then on he always wore khadi. His wife and children did the same. He and his family also took to spinning (threads) everyday. As his biographer, what do you find extraordinary about his life? His life was extraordinary in many ways. The most remarkable trait of his personality was perhaps his empathy for those who needed help. For example, when his father gave him money to start a business, he used it to start a Neighborhood House in Philadelphia where the poorest boys of the area were taught skills like carpentry so that they could earn a living. It was the same when he came to India. He was always willing to share what he had with those who had less. His intolerance of any kind of discrimination and injustice and his quest to remedy it wherever he found it led him to fight against begar and join India’s freedom struggle. Your mother was his eldest daughter. What stories did she tell you of your grandfather? My mother did tell me many stories about her father, which reflect the kind of person he was. I have included all this in the book. For example, she told me that she and her brothers and sisters always dressed very simply, just like the other village children. She said her father would not encourage or even allow his daughters to wear fancy clothes or jewelry because the village girls could not afford to wear them. ‘How would they feel seeing you dressed up in such finery?’ he would tell them. Did he speak Hindi well? Yes, he spoke Hindi well even though his accent remained foreign. In fact, he started learning the language soon after he arrived

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY: ASHA SHARMA

THE AMERICAN WHO FOUGHT FOR INDIAÊS FREEDOM in India in 1904 to work in a leper home in Subathu in the Simla Hills. The motivation came from his desire to interact with the patients at the Leper Home and with other locals who only spoke in the pahari dialect or in Hindustani. Knowing the language helped him in coming closer to the ordinary people. He was a great advocate of Hindi and encouraged his children to speak in Hindi rather than in English. He himself spoke with them in Hindi. He was also in favor of first making children proficient in Hindi and only then teaching them other languages like English. In his own Tara School in Kotgarh, all teaching was done in Hindi for the first few years. English was introduced only in the 4th, 5th class. He also learnt Sanskrit in his later life. His interest in Sanskrit grew from his interest in Indian religious philosophy. After studying the English translations of the Upanishads he wanted to study the original texts and hence learnt Sanskrit. Did he like being called by his Indian name Satyanand or was he called Samuel too? I do not know if he liked being called Satyanand or not, but I presume he must have. In my interviews with his contemporaries in Kotgarh, I saw that he was addressed in different ways — Sahibji, Stokes Sahib, Satyanandji and even Mr Stokes. For the locals, the affectionate name for him was Sahibji. Did he miss anything about Philadelphia?

He did miss Philadelphia especially at first — not the place so much as his family and friends. In his early letters he often wrote of how home-sick he was and wanted to meet everyone. This changed with the passing of time and his involvement in his work. But he remained connected with his American roots through his correspondence with his mother. What was it about India that never made him never want to leave? I believe he never went back to America after making one trip with his wife very early on in their marriage. He seemed to have fallen in love with India and its people from the time he landed here. When he left home in Februray 1904, his parents had hoped that he would return home after a year or two. But this did not happen as within months of his living in India he decided to remain here permanently. While the beauty of the Himalayas was a strong attraction for him, it was the simple, trusting pahari people who truly won his heart. He did go back to America a few times during the early years, but after his marriage in 1912, he went only once. He was keen for his wife to get to meet and know his mother and other members of his family when he took her and their infant son to Philadelphia for an extended visit in early 1914. They stayed there for about a year-and-ahalf. He could never return to Philadelphia

Above, this family portrait of Samuel Stokes, his wife Agnes and their first born, Prem Chand, was shot in Pennsylvania. Left, Stokes’ wife and son with his mother Florence Spencer Stokes in Philadelphia. They never went back to America after the trip they made in 1914. Below, Stokes’ granddaughter and biographer Asha Sharma, who divides her time between America and India. after that. He was too involved with Indian affairs, both national and local. Also traveling with his large family was unaffordable for him. But his mother came to India twice to visit him. His brother also came a couple of times. How has India preserved and honored his memory and contribution to the freedom struggle? Hardly. Only his photograph hangs in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi beside those of other national leaders of the freedom struggle. As a result, the younger generation do not know much about him at all. This is perhaps due to the fact that he passed away just before India became independent. Even in his lifetime very little was known about my grandfather’s life even though he had done so much for the country. Most people knew he introduced the American Delicious apples in the Simla Hills, but that is about all. Even the family did not know much about his other accomplishments. We had heard, of course, that he knew Gandhiji well and went to jail during the freedom struggle, but that is all. There were occasional articles, but they did not add too much. When I began researching the book, I discovered a wealth of information about his life — the hardships he went through and the sacrifices he made in the service of the country. I hope that he will get his due recognition. How and when that will happen I do not know. But I do know that many of those who have read his life story are over-awed and feel the richer for having read it. They invariably ask why there is no mention of him anywhere among other freedom fighters. What drew him to be a part of India’s struggle for freedom? The brutality of Jallianwala Bagh and the

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3Page A17 treatment of Punjab in its aftermath affected him deeply and made him join the struggle for freedom from British rule. Stokes responded to the call for the NonCooperation Movement. Do you have any letters by him that reveal what it must have been in those days? He made a compilation of excerpts from his letters for his children and grandchildren, which give a fare account of his life in India. They reflect his thinking and also describe the situation in the country at that time. About how was it being an American fighting for India’s freedom? He identified himself as an Indian, so this was not an issue. I understand he was a prolific writer. He was a prolific writer. He wrote letters, journals, newspaper articles as well as a number of books. What struck me most was his determination and truthfulness in all he did. There were no compromises in his life. He was very hardworking and continued to work till the end of his life — even when he was in poor health. His papers are with members of the family and some are also in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi. Was he the only foreigner to be imprisoned for sedition in India’s struggle for freedom? What were his days in prison like? I understand he refused to be put in a cell set aside for Europeans. I do not know about other foreigners, but he was the only American to be imprisoned during India’s freedom struggle. It is true that he did not want to stay in a European cell. He said he was an Indian and wanted to be treated as such. He requested for a change of his cell, but the administration did not agree. He had arrived in India as a Christian missionary to work in a leper home and spread the word of Christianity, but ultimately converted to Hinduism. What brought about that transformation? One of the chapters in my book is titled ‘Came to teach and stayed to learn.’ It describes his spiritual journey. Though he spent the greater part of his life fighting for justice and the rights of the common man, he was also a seeker of truth. In that sense his life was also a spiritual journey in which he was willing to take the best of what he found along the way. Thus, when he discovered that there was a lot to learn from ancient Hindu scriptures he began to study these in earnest. He even learnt Sanskrit so that he could read some of the original texts in the language. There was no conflict in his mind about religion as he found much in common between Vedanta and his own Quaker beliefs. His conversion had more to do with his family and social concerns than with religion. Did he build a temple? Is it still there? Yes, he built a temple near his home in Kotgarh. It is called Paramjyotir Mandir. It is a small, simple, temple built in keeping with local architectural style. The temple has wooden panels engraved with shlokas from the Vedas engraved on them. It was Stokes’ hope that the temple would become ‘a means to show the way to those looking for peace and internal strength, more so during times of difficulties and trials.’

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A mural of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. This brutality and the treatment of Punjab in its aftermath affected Samuel Stokes deeply and made him join India’s struggle for freedom from British rule.

THE AMERICAN WHO FOUGHT FOR INDIAÊS FREEDOM ‘It is my prayer that the temple and this little booklet may bring peace to many,’ he wrote when the temple was completed. Stokes brought apples to Himachal and brought in a revolution. How difficult was it for him to do this? How is he remembered by the orchard-owners and farmers there? He was struck by the extreme poverty of the local people and wanted to help them in whatever way he could. Once he settled in the area, finding a solution to the poverty of the people became a top priority for him. The answer to his search came in the form of apples. Some British variety of apples were already growing in the region, but they were not good in taste and were not popular, so he knew he would have to find a new strain of apples, which would be commercially viable. During a visit to Philadelphia in 1914 he studied apple growing in America and also brought some apple cuttings with him on his return, which he planted near his house. In the following years he imported and experimented with over 33 varieties of apples to determine which would be most suitable for the area. Finally, he selected the American Delicious variety, which had already proved to be a success in America. He first planted the trees on his own land and only when he was satisfied with the results did he encourage others to do the same. But persuading farmers to switch to apples was not easy because of the long gestation period of apple trees, and though he distributed free saplings and offered to help the

farmers to grow and nurture them, their response was very discouraging. But he persisted in his efforts and slowly the people began to be convinced. Once the apple trees started bearing fruit, there was no turning back and many farmers became enthusiastic about growing apples. The rest is history! Is there a statue/memorial in his remembrance in Kotgarh? How have his memories and his contribution to India been preserved and remembered? A Stokes Memorial Farmer’s Community Centre was built in Kotgarh in 1974. A bust of Stokes was installed in it subsequently. Are there any family anecdotes about him that you can share? We were always hearing stories about him like the time he lived as a sadhu in a cave and had two snakes as pets and when he slept in the cremation ground one night to prove to the villagers that they should not be afraid of the dead. How does the American part of the family remember him? The American branch of the family remembers him with great pride and affection. Some distant cousins have visited Kotgarh. How is he best remembered by family and the families of acquaintances that knew him or knew of him? I have heard of the free dispensary he ran in his house and of the way he tried to educate people about basic health care; of instances when he rushed the critically ill to Simla… or brought in specialists doctors from the plains to fight epidemics in the area,

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all at his own expense. What was forced labor in those days like and how did it move him so much to be a part of the campaign to end it? He was largely responsible for getting begar or impressed labor abolished in the Simla Hills. Begar was a system under which villagers were obliged to provide services to traveling officials and others either free or for a pittance. The practice was not only demeaning for them, but it also affected their livelihood as the farmers were often called in for begar during planting or harvesting times, and they lost their crops in the bargain. Some begar, like the dak begar was dreaded most by the villagers as they had to walk long distances in the cold and snow to distribute letters in different villages and many villagers lost their lives. When Stokes saw this injustice he decided to fight it tooth and nail. He criticized the practice in the press and complained against it to the British administration. When despite all his efforts no action was taken, he decided to get the villagers together and protest against the injustice. This organized resistance to the practice — a kind of Satyagraha was Stokes’ first battle against the British administration and brought him into the limelight and drew the attention of Mahatma Gandhi and other Indian leaders. Would you have any idea of how the British in India thought of him? Some Britishers admired and respected him. Others couldn’t stand him. He had many British friends and could count on their support when it came to getting any kind of help for the local people. However, the British administration had very early noted his empathy for Indians and had kept a watch on him. The CID had a special file on him even though he did not know about it. n

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t is a wet morning. We are on our way to the Lower Circular Road Cemetery in central Kolkata to look for Charles Freer Andrews’ grave. A priest from Cambridge, C F Andrews came to India to teach philosophy at St Stephen’s College and diligently supported India’s struggle for freedom. To Kolkatans, the Lower Circular Road Cemetery is mostly known for the graves of the poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt and his wife Henrietta Sophia White. “Very few in this city are aware that it also has the grave of C F Andrews,” Ashim Kumar Biswas, the cemetery secretary, says as he leads the way. “While Michael Madhusudan Dutt’s grave draws the maximum number of visitors, not many visit Andrews’s grave.” “In my long career here, I haven’t seen much activity around this one,” he says, pointing to Andrews’ tomb that has the the inscription: The friend of the poor. Many Englishmen came to India during the British Raj. Some fell in love with the country and stayed back. History remembers only a few of them, says Professor Susanto Das, former head of Rabindra Bharati University’s history department. Of them, C F Andrews, a priest from the Church of England, an educator and social reformer, shines brightest. In 1904, Andrews joined the Cambridge Mission to Delhi and arrived there to teach at St Stephen’s College. Some years before my visit to the cemetry, St Stephen’s alumni installed his bust by his grave. Andrews taught at St Stephen’s for 10 years and became friends with many of his Indian colleagues and students. Touched by the social and cultural injustice inflicted upon the Indians by the British, he became a part of the social and political movements of the day, and championed the causes of the laborers, railway workers and other downtrodden. With his connections among influential people in England, he tried to arouse public opinion against the atrocities inflicted upon the colonized people in India, Fiji, South Africa and other parts of the British empire. His love and compassion for the poor earned him the affectionate title, Deenabandhu, friend of the poor.

The Englishman who was more Indian than Indians Buried in a Kolkata cemetery is an Englishman who served India well during her freedom struggle. Indrani Roy rediscovers Charles Freer Andrews, a close friend of both Gandhi and Tagore and a benevolent force that neither Indians nor the British could ignore.

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ndrews first met Gandhi in Durban in January 1914, an encounter encouraged by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, one of the greatest leaders of his time. Both men developed a strong bond. Andrews was deeply influenced by the Gandhian doctrine of ahimsa, says Gandhian Sailesh Kumar Bandyopadhyay. Andrews was a key force at Gandhi’s ashram in Natal and help the publication of the magazine, The Indian Opinion. He also convinced Gandhi to return to India from South Africa and initiate a movement against British oppression in his mother country. He then took upon himself the task of interpreting Gandhi to the West. He kept open the possibility of a dialogue between the Indian leaders and the British government, says Bandyopadhyay. In a lecture delivered at the National Army Museum, London, on September 18, 2006, lawyer and columnist T Sher Singh said: ‘In my readings on C F Andrews, I repeatedly came

A bust of C F Andrews at the Lower Circular Road Cemetery in Kolkata. Andrews had died here in 1940. Years later, alumni from St Stephen’s College, New Delhi — where he once taught philosophy — installed this bust.

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across people — in India, in England, in different parts of the world — who amazingly, over and over again, compared him to St Francis of Assisi.’ ‘My favorite quote on Andrews,’ Sher Singh added, ‘is from Sir Gordon Guggisberg, who served as the British governor of the Gold Coast (present day Ghana), and later of British Guyana. Sir Gordon met with him, had discussions with him on various thorny issues, they had lunch together, and then, Sir Gordon saw him off at the door.’ ‘As the taxi drove away carrying Andrews — an eyewitness describes this graphically — Sir Gordon gazed after it with bowed head and fixed eyes... he breathed deeply (and said): “I feel as though I had been honored to give lunch to Our Lord”.’

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ndrews decided to be a part of Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva Bharati, an educational institution that was Gurudev’s brainchild, after he met the poet in London in 1912. He was floored by Tagore’s poetry when he heard them for the first time at William Rothenstein’s house in London, the poems read no less by the acclaimed poet, William Butler Yeats. Tagore’s poetry had such a profound influence on Andrews that he roamed around London streets reciting On the sea shore of the world like a man possessed, the late writer Pramathanath Bishi wrote in his book, Purano Sei Diner Katha. After Tagore won the Nobel Prize in 1913, Visva Bharati saw the arrivals of many foreigners, but of them Andrews stood out for the uniqueness of his character, Bishi said. In Santiniketan, Andrews was everyone’s darling, Bishi, who had the privilege of working with the clergyman, wrote. His presence at Shantiniketan will be written in gold forever, says Sabujkoli Sen, a senior professor at Visva Bharati. “When he and Tagore met for the first time in London in 1912, it was love at first sight for both,” she told India Abroad. After he arrived at Visva Bharati in 1914 with his friend W W Pearson, Andrews worked closely with Tagore in the making of Visva Bharati and travelled widely with the poet in India and abroad. He also translated many of Tagore’s works into English. Andrews was a soul besotted with the cause of the poor, Bishi wrote. He would give away money, food, even his clothes for charity. His heart wept for the downtrodden. When Andrews wrote his life story, What I Owe To Christ, he earned a lot of money. ‘He soon got rid of that wealth by providing for the education of one of our associates at Oxford University,’ Bishi recalled. Andrews was Tagore’s constant companion — he would read out newspapers to Gurudev or ferry him around Santiniketan in a rickshaw. In the initial years at Visva Bharati, many parents did not pay the education fees on time and Andrews was entrusted with the task of collecting money from them. On hearing that a sahib would be coming to ask for the dues, many parents would get scared. But in came Andrews, clad in a dhoti and kurta, with kind eyes and a golden heart. The defaulting parents saw in him a friend, and not a collector. The dues, therefore, hardly got cleared, Bishi wrote.

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3Page A19 Andrews worked in tandem with Tagore when he initiated the Brati Balak Sangha, an indigenous form of the Scout Movement and a health cooperative movement to uplift the condition of the tribals, especially Santhals, in and around Visva Bharati.

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C F Andrews, back to the camera, with Mahatma Gandhi, left, and Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan, 1925. He was ‘Charlie’ to both Gandhi and Tagore. India marked Andrews’ memory and contributions with a postage stamp, inset.

He divided his time between Tagore’s Visva Bharati and Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram. Dwijendranath Tagore, Tagore’s eldest brother, called Andrews the ‘essential hyphen’ that linked Rabindranath and Gandhi. that both Gandhi and Tagore had a huge influence on him and they expedited the process of his ‘Indianization.’ Andrews arrived in India at a time when the people were desperate for freedom from British rule, adds Professor Susanto Das. One of the few Englishmen who courted arrest for taking part in the non-cooperation movement, many Indians believe Tagore gave him the title Deenabandhu. “He was named thus by the indentured laborers of Fiji whose cause he fought for,” clarifies Professor Sabujkoli Sen. In India, he divided his time between Tag-

ore’s Visva Bharati and Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram. Dwijendranath Tagore, Tagore’s eldest brother, called Andrews the ‘essential hyphen’ that linked Rabindranath and Gandhi, Professor Sen adds. In 1925 and 1927, he was elected president of the Trade Union Congress. As a crusader against untouchability, he also worked with Dr B R Ambedkar in formulating the Harijan (Dalits) demands in 1933. After taking an active role in India’s fight for freedom, Andrews returned to England in 1935. On his next visit to Calcutta in 1940, he

was taken ill and passed away on April 5 that year. In those final days at a Calcutta hospital, C F Andrews refused to receive special treatment. He wanted to die among the common people, says Professor Sabujkoli Sen, those whom he worked for all his life. A few days after Andrews’ death, Tagore paid tribute in a song:

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ndrews was ‘Charlie’ to both Gandhi and Tagore. The unifying force that brought Gandhi and Tagore together on a common platform, the duo’s ideological and political differences notwithstanding. In Gandhi, Andrews saw a leader with enormous potential to free India from the clutches of British rule, whereas in Tagore, he saw unparalleled creativity that could make age-old conventions stand on their head. “What fascinates me most about Andrews is that though he arrived in India with an aim to propagate Christianity, he fell in love with this country and its people,” historian Chittabrata Palit tells India Abroad, noting

When Mahatma Gandhi visited the ailing Andrews in Kolkata in 1940.

Prem eshechilo nisshobdo chorine Prem eshechilo Tai swapno mone holo tare Dei ni tahare ashon Loosely translated, it reads: Love came to my life Walking softly, silently Love came to my life I mistook him for a dream Didn’t care to greet him On the day Andrews died, Gandhi declared: ‘I have not known a better man or a better Christian than C F Andrews.’ n

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PHOTOGRAPHS: RAJESH KARKERA

India Abroad August 19, 2016

In Gandhi’s lap at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Below, the cottage which was home to Mahatma Gandhi.

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To Gandhiji, wherever he is

ne of the best things about the Sabarmati Ashram meets you even before you can enter its small gate. It is a red post box, yes, the same cylindrical tin box that we stopped noticing on Indian roads a long time ago. This one in a corner of the parking lot thankfully looks red and not a rusty brown. A board next to it says that letters posted here will have the post mark of the charkha, the Mahatma’s spinning wheel. A picture of this postal stamp is placed alongside the notice. Each time I have come here, I have kicked myself for not having a postcard or stamp to post a letter in that post box. The library and shop at Sabarmati don’t sell stamps, even though they stock postcards. I wonder why, because that red post box outside serves no purpose, when there are no stamps to buy. While we are with handwritten letters; inside the ashram are pictures of letters sent to Mahatma Gandhi. One of them just has this address: ‘Gandhiji jahan ho wahan’ — Gandhiji wherever he is — and I try to imagine the different things Gandhi must have meant to different people at that time when India fought for its freedom. The power he had over India’s masses and the hope people had of him. It also makes me think about what brings people to this ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati where he spent 12 years of his life. From where he took off on the Dandi March, at the advancing age of 61, trekking 24 days and over 230 miles to the coast of Gujarat, to defy the British monopoly on manufacturing salt. Gandhi never returned to Sabarmati. He had vowed that he would only come back after India won its freedom, but that promise remained unfulfilled. Five months after India was free, he was assassinated in another ashram in Delhi.

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designed by eminent architect, the late Charles Correa. Others have come just to be at peace in a place surrounded by lush green trees and a bed of cool grass. Some have come for an evening walk. Mayur, a young lad sat by Bapu’s statue, gazing at the river front. He had been sitting there for hours, all by himself. Upset with his grade 12 marks, he had come for some quiet time. “I have got 68%, but the cut off is 70% for the college I want,” he says, voicing the common angst of Indian students as they compete for college seats. This was only his second time at the ashram; the last time he was here, he was a child — when the results came he couldn’t think of any other place to go. We give him a pep talk, telling him that life is not a sum of percentages and he gives us a brave smile, but continues to sit, finding solace at Gandhi’s feet. Harshit Sakhidas, a student standing beside Gandhi’s statue, is here every evening. He comes to the city every morning by train from neighboring Surendranagar to attend class. In the evening, a friend gives him a ride to the ashram, where he spends an hour or so before it’s time to catch the evening train back from Sabarmati station, a short walk away. Two women have come after attending music classes. “It’s so peaceful here,” they say. Poorvi, a fine arts student, says she is meeting a friend. “Ahmedabad doesn’t have many places to hang out, though some hookah bars have opened. I like to come here because it’s quiet,” she says, telling me that the city is very safe for girls. Behind Hriday Kunj, Gandhi’s cottage, there is commotion. Led by a security guard, two, three people are trying to coax a baby cobra from its hiding place, striking a blow with a bamboo pole, each time its body comes into view. Rajesh, my colleague, tries to stop them and calls the snake helpline. No one answers after repeated calls. The snake goes into hiding again and the status quo remains till we leave. On the way out, we meet a young couple hastily making their way in with suitcases and bags. “Coming straight from the airport?” I ask. They say, no; they are on the way to the airport instead. “We didn’t want to leave without seeing Sabarmati Ashram,” says the man, hurrying his wife to Gandhi’s cottage before it closed for the day. n

At Sabarmati Ashram, some come to pay homage, some for peace and some to deal with life’s blows. Bapu’s memories, Archana Masih finds, have a special meaning for each of them.

n a political culture that exalts our leaders as deities, we often forget that great men like Gandhi were humans too. They fought against colonial tyranny with wisdom, courage, their own shortcomings but had a deep understanding of India, drawn by journeying miles upon miles, meeting and mingling with India’s people. That was where Gandhi’s appeal lay — in his ability to have conversations with admirers and detractors. That is why there has been no mass leader like him — and that is what continues to draw ordinary Indians to Rajghat or Sabarmati.

‘To other countries I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim,’ said Dr Martin Luther King, who drew much of his inspiration from Gandhi. Which great leader will say this about another Indian leader in time to come, I wonder.

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t the Sabarmati Ashram that evening, I meet pilgrims of a different kind. Some who have come to see and feel the place where Bapu lived, setting his own rules that had to be adhered by all. “He fasted as penance if others broke rules of the ashram. Imagine how guilty that person must have felt. He gave up a £4,000 to £5,000 legal practice to do what he believed in,” says Lata, with a Masters in Gandhian Thought, spinning a charkha on the verandah of the cottage where Gandhi lived. The ashram also houses Gandhiji’s own charkha. “There are 35,111 letters by Gandhiji; we read one everyday,” she tells a visitor in a suit, sitting cross-legged in front of her, discussing Gandhi’s philosophy. His chauffeur wearing a white uniform stands beside him. Two girls request if they can get a selfie while spinning the charkha and she obliges, telling them how to weave thread. Families and school children walk about, surveying the ashram, which has cottages, open grounds and a museum

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SIBLING LOVE

THE MAGAZINE India Abroad August 19, 2016

I love my brother. Not Raksha Bandhan.

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pparently a barn owlet will squawk less if it knows its sibling is hungrier, taking up its own cause only after its sibling has been fed. Isn’t that sweet? Barn owlet siblings are just precious. They sound like atypical siblings, though if you’ve ever watched piglets fight over access to a sow’s teats, you know the meaning of cutthroat competition. My own siblings are a huge pain in the posterior, have authored some of my strangest and deepest wounds, and cannot be counted on to pipe down with the squawking just because I’m hungry. However, I do love them to bits, and will methodically disembowel anyone who messes with them. Raksha Bandhan is the only Indian tradition I know of — not that I know much, having been raised by cultural wolves — that is dedicated to the sibling relationship. Except that it’s not, really. If it were dedicated to siblings, every sibling would tie rakhis on every other sibling. In its present form, Raksha Bandhan is dedicated to the same old paternalistic relationship between men and women that so many of our cultural traditions are dedicated to. So, while I love my brother, I disapprove of Raksha Bandhan. The notion of going begging to a man for protection makes me green around the gills. A holiday in the service of women worshipping men with sweets, and men showering material largesse on women makes me hurl. The whole thing is, I contend, a lousy idea that feeds right into all our worst gender assumptions (women are weaklings in need of paternalistic protection). We tend to defend cultural tradition from critique, but there’s nothing innocuous about culture. It reflects and further institutionalizes behavior. For some years in my young adulthood I enjoyed rakhi as a sort of social occasion. By the time it started to bother me, my brother was out of the country, where he stayed for years and years, so I never really had to confront the beast. But he’s back now, so I sent him a message stating that the cultural assumptions behind Raksha Bandhan are not to my taste, and proposing the following alternative: We exchange rakhis, and ditch all commercial transactions. That’s more in line with celebrating general fellow feeling among siblings. When my sister returns to live in India, which should be approximately the same day that pigs start to fly, I will propose the same thing to her. So, now I have a nice flame-colored rakhi on my wrist, he does too, and we have pledged to support each other. Nobody has yet said anything about toning down the squawking, but at least we’re doing away with the

The notion of going begging to a man for protection made Mitali Saran green around the gills, so now she and her brother have their own tradition — they exchange rakhis and pledge to support each other. Illustration: Dominic Xavier one-way nonsense. I am now my brother’s well-wisher and protector, and he mine. I inaugurated this solemn vow by offering his daughter five bucks to whack him on the bum without incurring his wrath. (I didn’t have change, so I borrowed it from Tara’s

mother, who only had a Rs 10 note, which she said Tara could keep if she whacked him twice. It was a teaching moment: Showing Tara that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and schooling her in the art of persuading someone to get on board with an idea that is not necessarily in their self-interest.) What can I tell you, once a sibling, always a sibling. Tara is a much better sibling to her younger brother and sister: When her three-year-old sister attempted to blow out her birthday candles by sitting very still and going ‘Ffffffffffffffffttt’ many times with no result, Tara stepped in and helped. In her place I’d have started eating the cake. Or at least squawking loudly. n Mitali Saran is a Delhi-based writer. By arrangement with Business Standard

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NICHOLAS HUNT/GETTY IMAGES

Meera Menon’s Equity is now in theaters and she tells Ruchi Sharma about her journey from a crowd-funded first film to a film purchased by Sony Pictures.

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From left, director Meera Menon and actresses Sarah Megan Thomas and Alysia Reiner discuss Equity at the AOL headquarters in New York City July 28. Meera Menon

A scene from Equity. The Wall Street drama was purchased at the Sundance Film Festival.

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Jersey girl, Menon was always associated with the Kerala film industry through her father. Vijayan Menon migrated to the United States over three decades ago and felt the deep loss of Malayalee cinema. So, he began working as a producer and event organizer, heading up Tara Arts, a company that brings movies and artistes to this part of the world from his home state. “I grew up with Mammooty Uncle and Mohanlal Uncle as frequent visitors at our home. Cinema was always part of my life, from ever since I can remember. Creative endeavor sort of runs in the family,” Menon says. With a degree in Art History and English, Menon worked in the art world in New York City for a while before deciding to try a hand at film direction. Asked if she was nervous about such a big release, she says, “Not really. I’ve done the bulk of the hard work and sweating bullets before it released at Sundance. This movie has exceeded all my expectations. I’m happy for it. Now, I’m along for the ride and enjoying it immensely.” What does this kind of commercial exposure mean for her? “Well, it certainly opens up a whole new world of opportunities for me. I now have better agents and managers who will be positioning me better. I am working on films with other writers too, and I will always continue to pursue projects that are more interesting and different. I want to focus on the creative side of things, always,” she says. n ROBIN MARCHANT/GETTY IMAGES

FROM FESTIVALS TO THE BOX-OFFICE

ollywood dreams are everything to a film aspirant, and it looks like Meera Menon has walked the first of many miles to fulfill hers. Her latest film, Equity, premiered in all major theaters in New York and Los Angeles July 29. Starring Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), James Purefoy and Alysia Reiner (Orange is the New Black), it has brand equity in recognizable faces. A big leap from Menon’s first film. Farah Goes Bang (2013) was a comedy about three girls who are on the road, campaigning for John Kerry. It met with a fair amount of critical success and did fairly well on the film festival circuit. “I was always writing a lot, what with my Fine Arts degree,” Menon tells India Abroad. “I worked on Farah Goes Bang right after I graduated. The best part about making it was that we actually raised the money for it thorough crowd-funding, and showed it at festivals that we could afford. It gave me a better space and some degree of visibility, and then I landed Equity.” Menon scooped up the Nora Ephron Prize for a groundbreaking female filmmaker at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013 with Farrah Goes Bang. “I got in touch with the producers of Equity after the success of Farah Goes Bang at the Tribeca Film Festival, and subsequently, was hired to direct it,” she says. “We started out with Equity not even expecting it to come this far.” A Wall Street drama is almost always a draw, and when Sony Pictures purchased the movie at the Sundance Film Festival where it showed in January, it guaranteed a big release. Equity is a female-centric movie about a Wall Street analyst — Tribeca called it the first woman-driven Wall Street film — who is leading the public offering for a tech company. This is the next big step of her career, and the highlights are the competition trying to undermine her and cut into her share of success. A tight plot and some good performances are what take it to the next level. Asked if she thought that not having a strong male lead — the strong female protagonist is still not run-off-the-mill in Hollywood, and often viewed as a risk — would impact its commercial success, she adds, “I think people are always interested in Wall Street movies, which makes me believe it will do well. Add to that money, power, greed and ambition, and I think there’s definitely an appetite for that kind of a story. My hope is that it will translate into box-office success.”

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TRIBUTE

THE MAGAZINE India Abroad August 19, 2016

PROFESSOR BRAJ B KACHRU MAY 15, 1932- JULY 29, 2016

A cultural warrior rests his case

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inguistics, English studies, and India Studies have lost one of their most charismatic leaders. Professor Braj Behari Kachru successfully challenged the orthodoxies of the English establishment on both sides of the Atlantic (the British Council, TESOL), including the ‘sacred linguistic cow’ of the native speaker, which looked upon non-native varieties as erroneous approximations of standard English. He argued for a pluralistic, socially realistic view of the English-using world, known as the ‘Three Circles of English’ paradigm, where each circle has different contexts, uses and users. The inner circle consists of the native speaker varieties, the second language varieties are the outer circle, and the foreign language varieties comprise the extended circle. Through half a century of meticulous scholarship and energetic advocacy, Kachru demonstrated that the non-native Englishes such as Indian English, Nigerian English, and Singapore and Filipino English were rule-governed systems, shaped by natural evolutionary processes of second language learning and multilingual creativity, and vibrant expressions of distinct cultural identities. It is irrelevant to judge them with reference to native speaker norms. Kachru emerged as the world’s leading authority on English as a global language. Today, ‘World Englishes,’ the field of study he pioneered and dominated, is a burgeoning discipline, with a worldwide following. Kachru was an influential authority on sociolinguistics, multilingualism, South Asian linguistics, applied linguistics, and his native language, Kashmiri, as well. He wrote wellresearched, comprehensive surveys on language in South Asia for numerous international reference works. He organized the first conference on South Asian Languages Analysis in 1978; SALA is now a major international conference series for South Asian linguists. In his research, he showed how South Asian languages have been shaped by a history of multilingual give and take with one another and with the lingua francas, Sanskrit, Persian, and English. There is, therefore, a common core in the sound system, vocabulary, grammar, and culturally rooted modes of expression, such as greeting, which bridges the otherwise baffling diversity. He studied the communicative rationale for the widespread use of language mixing or hybrid languages (for example, Hinglish) all across South Asia. He described choices that speakers make based on the range of valued roles they make available. He was concerned with the ‘killer’ effect of the hegemonic languages on regional, minority and tribal languages of South Asia.

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rofessor Kachru authored and edited over 25 books and numerous research papers. He was author of The Indianization of English, The Alchemy of English, Asian Englishes: Beyond the Canon, A Reference Grammar of Spoken Kashmiri, A History of Kashmiri Literature, and co-author of other important works. He edited or co-edited The Other Tongue, The Handbook of World Englishes, World Englishes: Critical Concepts, Asian Englishes, Language in South Asia, Dimensions of Sociolinguistics in South Asia, Issues in Linguistics, Cultures, Ideologies, and the Dictionary, among other titles, which have become standard reference works. He was associate editor The Oxford Companion to the English Language and contributor to the Cambridge History of the English Language, and other volumes.

Professor Braj Behari Kachru, left, with Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. Kachru was born in Srinagar and educated at the University of Allahabad, the Deccan College in Pune, and the University of Edinburgh. He was the Professor of Linguistics, Jubilee Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Center for Advanced Study Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He breathed his last in Urbana. He and his wife are survived by their daughter, Amita, a physician in California; son, Shamit, a professor of physics at Stanford, and two granddaughters, Sasha and Ila.

and applied linguists. He insisted that linguists should address not only the structural and theoretical aspects of language but also their social and cultural dimensions. He encouraged the study of linguistic theory with its applications to areas, such as, second language teaching, discourse structure, and analysis of literature. He championed the teaching and scientific study of non-Western (Asian and African) languages, and the dynamics of multilingualism. Subsequently, as Director of the Division of English as an International Language (1985-91), he transformed it from a service unit into an innovative research COURTESY: S N SRIDHAR entity. Finally, as Director of the university’s prestigious Center for Advanced Study comprising many Nobel laureates, he redefined its mission and gave it expanded visibility and influence (1996-2000).

Linguistics Professor S N Sridhar pays tribute to one of the most charismatic leaders of Linguistics, English studies, and India Studies.

The Collected Works of Braj B Kachru have been published by Bloomsbury, London, in three volumes so far. With Larry E Smith of the East-West Center, Honolulu, he co-founded and co-edited the journal World Englishes (now in its 35th year) and co-founded the professional organization, the International Association for World Englishes (IAWE), serving as its president from 1997-99. In his vast research, publication, advocacy, and institutionbuilding enterprises, he worked closely with his brilliant wife and colleague, Professor Yamuna Kachru, who was an authority on Hindi grammar and English discourse — honored by the President of India — and who died in 2013. Professor Kachru’s other major collaborators were Professor Kingsley Bolton of Singapore, as well as many students, who have made their names as distinguished scholars around the world.

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achru was also a gifted administrator. In a distinguished career spanning nearly half a century at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one of the leading public universities in the US, he served as head of three academic units. Under his leadership (1968-79), the Department of Linguistics blossomed into a vibrant, multi-faceted research center, and came to be ranked as the third leading department in the nation. His pluralistic vision ensured that its faculty comprised cutting edge Chomskyan theorists as well as Classical scholars, experts on non-Western languages, Asian and African,

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achru held many influential offices and received many prestigious honors. He directed the Linguistic Institute of the Linguistic Society of America in 1978. He was Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Visiting Professor at Hong Kong University (1998) and a Visiting Professor at National University of Singapore; an Honorary Fellow of English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and President of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (1984) and the International Association for World Englishes (1997-99). His book, The Alchemy of English: The Spread, Functions and Models of Non-Native Englishes, was conferred the English Speaking Union of the Commonwealth prize for the best book on English. He was a sought after keynote speaker at universities and professional conferences all over the US, India, and Asia. Kachru was a larger-than-life figure who left an indelible impression on everyone he met, from students to luminaries in the field. He was an encyclopedic and meticulous scholar, a critical but respectful admirer of tradition, an open-minded integrator of scholarship from every culture — African, European, and American—an imaginative institution builder, and a confident, fearless, visionary intellectual. He was also an inspiring teacher, passionate public speaker, a caring mentor, a supporting colleague, and a charismatic raconteur. At Urbana, he and Yamunaji were an institution. They trained generations of well-rounded linguists. These beloved gurus are now, in the words of Abhinavagupta, the greatest of Kashmiri scholars whose millennial anniversary we celebrate this year, kiirti maatra shariira (present only through their fame), but they will be missed by their world-wide, extended family of scholars and students. n S N Sridhar is Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics and India Studies, and director of Mattoo Center for India Studies, Stony Brook University, New York.

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ÂI GET REALLY RIDICULOUS SCRIPTS EVERY SECOND WEEKÊ

Your films often travel the international film festival circuit. How are films coming out of India being viewed? The films that go to the film festivals are very different from the films that are released in India. In India, the Bollywood audience is the primary one. Overseas, small films like Titli and Masaan make a big impact. Titli was actually produced by a Korean-American woman. It has been to some 15 international film festivals where films like that are appreciated and received well. The West is just waking up to the fact that there are cinemas other than Bollywood in India. Do you think it’s necessary to find a balance between commercial and art cinema for a longer career? It depends on what you want out of your career. There are several people who don’t care about the labels of the film industry; they just want to keep working and in good films. Actors like Sanjay Mishra, who did Masaan, is in every second film because he believes that the more he works, the better he will be as an actor. That’s his approach towards his work. There are other actors who are selective and are happy doing one or two films in two or three years. Do you challenge yourself by choosing different kinds of roles? I just want to experiment. I just want to have a good time doing the work that I love to do. That’s the only thing I think everybody should do. Unfortunately, the industry is very stuck up and doesn’t let people experiment. Even superstars are restricted because the audience is so hung up on seeing them in a particular way. The press asks you dumb questions about why you took a chance. I don’t really care; I like doing what I do. What do you consider your most challenging role? Masaan was a difficult role because it was very restrained. Gangs Of Wasseypur was also difficult because you had to act a certain age and play this gavar (bumpkin) woman. You have a wide range as an actress, but do you fear being stereotyped in the commercial Bollywood space? How am I being stereotyped if I am doing a wide range of work? How am I being stereotyped if I am doing Cabaret? In the commercial space, people are yet to experiment with you... But Cabaret is a commercial film with nine songs. Who cast me in that? Mahesh Bhatt. He makes commercial films, so how am I being stereotyped? Your role in Cabaret (the film’s release has been delayed by months) is something not too many people would have imagined you in… I liked the story. Pooja (Bhatt, director) was like ‘Let’s experiment, let’s have some fun,’ and I was like, okay, sure. That’s about it. That’s the only thing I thought about when signing the film. I am happy I did it. It was a challenge for me, something new and different to do. I don’t care about how people are used to seeing me — that is their problem. They make little compartments in their heads and they want to fit everybody into that, but I don’t really abide by it. What was it like working with Pooja Bhatt? She’s said to be a very strict taskmaster. She is tough to work with because she’s a perfectionist and she wants everything done properly and in her way and in time. But I had fun and I learnt from that experience. I think I can handle a commercial film now. You are now also part of an international production. Can you tell us about your experience of working in Love Sonia? It was a great experience. I think they had me in mind when they were writing that particular character. I am happy I am part of it because it has a great

The struggles and successes of a new generation of actors — who straddle mainstream and indie films — are transforming Indian cinema. In the fifth of an India Abroad series on these gamechangers, Richa Chadha speaks with Jahnavi Patel/India Abroad.

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hen we connect over the phone for the scheduled interview, Richa Chadha isn’t keen to talk about movies. Somewhere between the artist and the publicist, and the journalist and the publicist a message or two has evidently been lost. “I do interviews (about movies) every day; they don’t interest me,” the actress tells India Abroad, noting that her focus at the moment is the NGO Purnata and the crowd-funding platform Ketto’s campaign to rescue girls trapped in trafficking and prostitution. Eventually though, we pick our way through the confusion and settle into a rather candid chat. You are an outsider in the film industry who made it on her own. How tough was it? Are you content with your journey so far? I am satisfied, not content. This makes me want to work harder and get to where I want to be. Having said that, it never really ends; the struggle continues every day. It is very difficult if you aren’t from the industry. Earlier, we just had the first generation. Now, we have grandkids and all kinds of people who are born into the industry. One has to just deal with that. Movies where you had better roles, like Masaan, haven’t been seen as much as films where your role was smaller, like Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela and Sarbjit. Do you find that unfair? Masaan was released in a certain number of screens; it was intended to be released on the scale that it was. It is probably the most widely watched Indian film overseas in recent times and that was the market for the film. It released in France, Germany and, later, in Italy. We have been travelling to do promotions. Last year, we went to France to promote the film after I debuted at Cannes. I was very satisfied with the way the film was received internationally. About Sarabjit, a large part of my role was edited out. It’s up to the filmmaker. Maybe they thought that the film would be better if they shorten the length. As for Ram-leela, I did it pretty early on in my career for the love of Bhansali (director Sanjay Leela Bhansali). I have no regrets. I don’t think it is unfair at all.

I am satisfied, not content. This makes me want to work harder and get to where I want to be.

Richa Chadha at the Masaan photocall during the Cannes Film Festival last year. She was on the Cannes red carpet this year too with Sarabjit.

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BREAKING THE BOLLYWOOD CYCLE

THE MAGAZINE India Abroad August 19, 2016

3Page A25 cast and story. I see big potential in this film. Was it this dive into the horrors of sex trafficking in Love Sonia that led you to start the campaign to rescue girls trapped in trafficking and prostitution? Actually, both things happened around the same time. I was already working on this (the campaign) before I signed Love Sonia. I am going to reach out to the film also to see if they can, in any way, help with the campaign. You have said you always wanted to put your popularity to use for causes… I’ve lots of things that I’d love to do. I think everybody who has some kind of power gets into causes. Some people fight for sports and equality, some people for women’s education... lots of celebrities in India do lots of good work. I am starting with this (the KETTOPurnata campaign) because I think it is an urgent matter. These girls must have a place to stay. What happened to them is not A scene from their fault — they were abducted or the celebrated taken away. One girl was abducted and Masaan. sold at the age of six. Then she was groomed till she was ready and her puberty was auctioned at 12. That’s a horrifying thing for you and me to hear. This will continue to happen unless we do something to rehabilitate them, reintegrate them into society and get them a place and a shelter where they feel safe. They had issues trusting me to even talk to them because whoever they’ve met and trusted has stabbed them in the back. How are you going about the campaign? There are four girls living in the shelter. I know 12 more girls who want to leave the sex trade and stay there, but the current accommodation is not enough. That is why we started the campaign, so that they could live in a better place where they would feel safe and we could allot somebody for their security. A place where they can have dance lessons and embroidery lessons, so that they are trained. That is why this campaign was started — to accommodate a higher number of girls. It is interesting that both Freida Pinto and you — both committed to the cause of empowering girls — are in Love Sonia. What was it like working with her? It was great. She’s a lovely girl. She’s one of the first breakout stars from India. Her story is like a dream story. I have been to Los Angeles where I have seen that she is a wellrespected actor and celebrity. I am really happy that we could collaborate on this production together. You’re also doing Jia And Jia with Kalki Koechlin… We worked on the film together and became good friends. She is a lovely girl, very hardworking, very bright. There’s always a lot to learn from her. I had great fun working with her. Have you ever watched a film by your contemporaries and wished you were in it? Several times. It happens when you think you can do something differently or better. I am sure people watch my films also and think they could have done it better. Any recent film you wish you had done? I had that feeling when I watched Queen. I thought it was an interesting character to play; I wish I could have done it. (Just to clarify) Kangana’s character? Which other character could I have played in Queen?

Richa Chadha in Love Sonia.

People always try to blow you away by saying we’ll send the film to festivals or we’ll get a good release or we’re getting a good cameraman, choreographer... they try to lure you. The industry is full of people who will lie to people to get what they want. Will you still take up supporting roles? Depends on several things. I don’t really look at roles like supporting or side or central or negative because if I did, I wouldn’t have a career. Gangs Of Wasseypur would not be an ideal launch for most people. It is because of that film that I have a career at all. But then, actresses would not be very comfortable doing a role like Fukrey because it’s a negative part. What do you think of the pay disparity between male and female actors? Once again I have to answer a question I must have answered a million times, but I’ll do it. Actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan get paid what they do because they can guarantee you a certain opening. Bollywood works like that. Which is why if Deepika (Padukone) is a huge star, at her level, she will be paid on par with her male contemporaries because she is as popular and successful. The same goes for Kangana or Anushka (Sharma) or anyone at that level. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’m not in that league, so I don’t really have to worry about pay disparity. I don’t think it happens to me at any level in any case. I think it’s how popular you are, in terms of your box office opening, that decides what you get paid. As a celebrity, you’re always under media glare, always judged for everything from the way you dress to the way you conduct yourself. How do you INSTAGRAM.COM/LOVESONIAMOVIE deal with the pressure? Everyone deals with it. It’s not for the people out there to judge celebrities for what Even Lisa Haydon’s character was good. they wear. It really makes no difference to the world how I am sure, but why would you think I would want to play somebody dresses, what they wear, how they wear it, how Lisa’s character and not Kangana’s? they look, whether they’ve gained or lost weight, whether Actually, Kalki (who we interviewed for this same series — they have wrinkles or stretch marks. It doesn’t matter to the India Abroad, August 12) said she wanted to play Lisa’s world in the larger scheme of things. character… It’s the people who react so shockingly and badly, who post (Interrupts) Don’t ask obvious questions. negative comments on social media who should be asked Have you ever been offered a truly bizarre part? why they are so jealous of people who are successful or at the I get really ridiculous scripts every second week. top and why they are constantly trying to put them down. It’s a question society must ask itself. Actors know that they are always in the limelight and it’s a tough job. How do you cope with failure? What keeps you motivated? There is no failure. I have bad days every now and then, everybody does, because you’re PMSing or have a fight with your boyfriend or whatever you’re going through. You have bad days off and on but I really think there’s no failure, especially in our business. Unfortunately, our film industry is suffering at the hands of piracy. Till that stops, there’s no measure of success or failure because we’re losing more than three times the money to films being watched on tablets. A film not doing well at the box office is really not the measure of anything. Every film has its own destiny. The most well marketed films sometimes bump very badly at the box office, and then there are small films that make a wonderful noise and do well. n

ÂI GET REALLY RIDICULOUS SCRIPTS EVERY SECOND WEEKÊ

It’s not for the people out there to judge celebrities for what they wear. It really makes no difference to the world how somebody dresses, what they wear, how they wear it, how they look, whether they’ve gained or lost weight, whether they have wrinkles or stretch marks. It doesn’t matter to the world in the larger scheme of things.

THE MAGAZINE

FOR YOUR HEALTH

A27

India Abroad August 19, 2016

100% Happier Meenakshi Bhattacharjee

recommends stress management with yoga

W

hen yoga was first created hundreds of years ago, practitioners didn’t have the benefit of modern science to explain why it worked. They just knew it did. Today, we depend on science to help us understand how yoga gives us relief from many health problems. One of the biggest ones is stress. Each day our lives are filled with change. Some are dramatic, others are more subtle. Then there are the changes we choose. These events, whether positive or negative, are “stressors.” They trigger conscious and unconscious thoughts, emotions, feelings and, subsequently, behavior. Your response, which is based on an inner belief you may or may not be aware of, can be healthy — taking a walk, meditating, getting a massage, or visiting a counselor. It can also be unhealthy — overeating, obsessing, becoming self-deprecating or isolating oneself from the world. By reducing perceived stress and anxiety, yoga appears to modulate stress response systems. This, in turn, decreases physiological arousal like reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and easing respiration. There is also evidence that yoga practices help increase heart rate variability, an indicator of the body’s ability to respond to stress more flexibly.

Understand body’s response to stress One needs to understand how stress typically affects the body to begin changing the way you react to stress. If your mind interprets a stressful event as an emergency threat, it triggers an immediate response in the autonomic nervous system. This stress response kicks in and activates the sympathetic nervous system. The body is flooded with hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine, which heighten the senses, increase heart rate and blood pressure and focus the brain’s activity. The parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for physical relaxation and emotional calm, becomes overwhelmed by this sympathetic response. When the sympathetic nervous system is in charge and the parasympathetic is overburdened, you begin to respond with energy and focus, but also with anger, abrupt behavior, anxiety and aggression. Humans developed this primal reaction, known as fightor-flight, so they could effectively fight off or flee from life-

People whose heart rate differs widely between inhalation and exhalation are said to have high heart-rate variability which is a good thing. It means that the nervous system has the flexibility to go from an active state to a relaxed state quickly, and that the SNS does not have unhealthy control over the body. A lot of research on heart-rate variability and yoga provides evidence that the practice can help many people in their quest for healthier stress responses. After yoga practice, participants weren’t just more relaxed; they were in a state of autonomic balance and flexibility driven by the parasympathetic which is exactly the type of balance and flexibility that predicts greater resilience to stress. Aerobics is also a common method of exercise but it cannot trigger a stress response in the body as yoga does. With yoga practice the physical demands are met with mindfulness and steady breathing, and the nervous system responds differently. It maintains activation while keeping an underlying sense of calm. It remains skillfully engaged but without going into full-fledged fight-or-flight mode. Paying attention to how your body and mind react to the “stress” of the paschimottan asana, or any pose, offers clues about DINUKA LIYANAWATTE/REUTERS how you typically react to stress in your life. By training yourself to actively observe, while staying calm threatening danger. This important survival mechanism is in poses, you will be able to do the same thing when diffiuseful when you need to slam on the brakes to prevent a car cult sensations, thoughts, or emotions arise in the face of accident or run away from an attacker. But it overlooks stress. Instead of going into your habitual reaction mode, most of the conflicts and challenges we face day today. you’ll notice what’s happening while staying present While it’s easy to view life’s hassles as a threat to your enough to choose an appropriate response. expectations, sense of control or ideals, it’s better for your When it comes to transforming your own response to health to temper that perception and instead see each stress, it’s tempting to search for that one pose or breathstressor as a challenge you can handle. Even if an emering exercise that will work its magic. But there isn’t one gency exists entirely in your imagination, or if the threat is magic pose. only to your feelings, it can still trigger the fight-or-flight The process is a gradual exploration rather than an easy stress cycle. solution. If you’re practicing yoga every day, you’re preparOver time chronic stress takes a toll on the body and ing for what life brings. You don’t have to have a strategy brain, leading to all kinds of health problems, including for what yoga technique you’ll use in a difficult situation. insomnia, depression, chronic pain, and cardio vascular When challenges arrive, they will begin to flow through you disease. but not overwhelm you and it doesn’t catch us unawares. When stress strikes and you adopt the challenge We’re prepared to meet it and don’t get stressed out. response, your nervous system will respond differently. This is the real story of how yoga can help you manage Once the challenge is successfully met, the parasympastress. It doesn’t just provide ways to burn through stress. thetic nervous system goes back to normal, bringing you Or escape from it. It doesn’t only offer stress-reduction back to the everyday state of balance. In other words, if techniques for anxious moments. It goes deeper, transyou generally handle stress well, your parasympathetic forming how the mind and body intuitively respond to nervous system, not your sympathetic, is in charge of stress. Just as the body can learn a new standing posture increasing the readiness to face stressors. That may sound that eventually becomes ingrained, so the mind can learn like a trivial detail, but the consequences for the mind and new thought patterns, and the nervous system can learn body are significant. new ways of reacting to stress. The result: When you roll up your mat and walk out the The yoga process door, you can more skillfully take on whatever life brings. n Scientists have long known that with every inhalation, the nervous system shifts a bit toward sympathetic activaMeenakshi Banerjee Bhattacharjee is a faculty fellow and tion, and the heart beats faster. With every exhalation, it executive director of Applied Algal Research at Rice shifts toward parasympathetic activation, and the heart University, Houston, Texas. beats gets reduced.

A28

India Abroad August 19, 2016

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USCIS expands provisional waiver to help family of US citizens

India Abroad August 19, 2016

CONRAD E. POLLACK, ALLEN E. KAYE, NELSON A. MADRID Attorneys at Law

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The Republican National Convention wrapped up with Donald Trump formally accepting the party’s nomination for president. During his one-hour plus speech, Trump painted a doom-and-gloom picture of America and offered himself as the candidate who could restore law and order. Trump entered the general election with the same antiimmigrant rhetoric and fearmongering tactics he used throughout the primaries, minus the assumption that some immigrants are good people. The candidate, who’s played into people’s prejudices, once again falsely associated undocumented immigrants with higher crime rates (immigration is actually associated with lower crime rates); said Syrian refugees are dangerous and are not screened before entering the country (refugees are vetted by multiple US federal agencies); and repeated that immigration lowers American wages and raises the unemployment rate (immigrants both contribute to the economy and create new companies and jobs that grow the economy). Trump’s solution: build a wall along the US-Mexico border. However, a Gallup poll recently found that ‘significantly more Republicans favor a path to citizenship than support building a border wall or deporting illegal immigrants.’ Commentators have noted that Trump’s speech echoed more of Richard Nixon’s lawlessness tone, rather than Ronald Reagan’s theme of renewal. The Economics of Immigration

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Discussions on immigration in the United States often consist of heated outbursts based on a multitude of passionate and unreasonable positions. Whenever the topic of immigration comes up, it seems like the most extreme rhetoric, on both sides of the issue, ends up garnering the most attention. But on July 13, Ann Saphir and Terry Wade reported for Reuters (Fed policymakers say immigration key to leaving rut of slow growth) on a point that perhaps all sides of the immigration debate can support: positive immigration growth leads to economic growth. Though opponents of immigration reform often use stereotypes and fearmongering to try and show that any positive economic benefit resulting from immigration is offset by the consumption of public benefits, this is just not true. The economic benefits of immigration reform have been well-documented by the American Immigration Council. And just last week, two regional Federal Reserve Bank presidents, from Dallas and Minneapolis, not politicians or advocacy groups, stated clearly and unequivocally, that continued immigration growth is a key factor to economic growth in the United States. As Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said, ‘If we have a population that’s not growing, it’s much harder to have economic growth.’ In this year’s presidential race, both political parties claim that they will grow the economy and put people to work. Certainly this result would be good for all Americans. But, as Saphir and Wade reported, the Federal Reserve does not believe that low interest rates alone can sustain economic growth; population increases must also be a part of the equation. According to the US Census Bureau report released in December 2015, seven states saw population declines or zero growth, and with that, negative economic growth Saphir and Wade note that, ‘Fed officials increasingly believe the US economy’s long-term growth potential may have fallen to around 2 percent, well below the historical norm, and many, including Fed Chair Janet Yellen, have lately suggested that only structural changes beyond the central bank’s purview can lift growth higher.’ If we are going to get more Americans back to work and lift up the middle class as both parties claim they will do, a real discussion about the true value of immigration to the US economy must happen. Economic growth is good for everyone, regardless of your opinion about immigration. So let’s stop the overheated outbursts and focus on creating immigration policies that will help us all. Thanks to Matt Maiona, AILA Member, for allowing us to share his blog with our readers: WASHINGTON -Those championing immigration reform have already begun to lay the groundwork for a new push

in Congress, predicting the Hispanic vote could have a game-changing impact on this year’s presidential election. If Hispanic voters turn out en masse to oppose Republican Donald Trump and his stand on immigration, the November outcome could look a lot like 2012, but on steroids, some predict. Within hours of the 2012 election results, conservative leaders were calling for the party to be more welcoming to the nation’s fastest-growing voting bloc, who overwhelmingly supported President Barack Obama after Republican candidate Mitt Romney supported a controversial ‘self-deportation’ platform. ‘I think we’ll make a run at it one way or another in 2017. It’s just a question of what we’ll be running at.’ Benjamin Johnson, American Immigration Lawyers Association That didn’t appear to be a concern in Cleveland on the first night of the Republican National Convention. The GOP demonstrated its tough stance on immigration when one of the first speakers was the family of border patrol agent, Brian A Terry, who was killed in a shootout linked to a botched gun-smuggling sting known as Fast and Furious. Terry’s brother and sister told the crowd inside the Quicken Loans Arena that the Obama administration hadn’t done enough to stop illegal immigration. ‘Only one candidate is serious about border security, and that’s Donald Trump,’ said Kent Terry. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have made immigration a major part of their campaign. Trump has proposed deporting 11 million immigrants living in the US illegally and building a wall along the US-Mexico border. Clinton said she would introduce an immigration overhaul in her first 100 days in office. More than 27 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in the 2016 election, according to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of them millennials, reflecting the potential importance of the young US-born Latino people in the election. Recent polls show Trump has little support among Hispanics. Eighty-two percent of Hispanic voters have an unfavorable view of Trump, according to the poll by Telemundo, NBC News and The Wall Street Journal. A Univision television network survey found that 77 percent of Hispanics had an unfavorable opinion of Trump. Trump has called Mexican immigrants criminals and rapists. He criticized the nation's only female Hispanic governor and accused a US district judge of being biased against him because the judge was of Mexican descent. ‘If Hillary Clinton wins the election with huge support from the Latino community, I think the Republicans are going to have another critical, introspective moment where they recognize that some of the angry rhetoric during the campaign is on a collision course with the demographic realities of the future,’ said Benjamin Johnson, executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Some Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham, R-SC, have raised the idea of reconstituting the so-called Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of senators who wrote immigration legislation that included a citizenship opportunity for millions of people in the United States illegally. If Democrats regain the Senate, Chuck Schumer, D-NY, another member of the Gang of Eight, is expected to be the Senate majority leader. (To be continued)

Allen E Kaye, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Queens College of the City of New York, Columbia Law School (JD) and New York University Law School (LLM), is the President of the Law Offices of Allen E. Kaye and Associates and Of Counsel to Pollack, Pollack, Isaac and DeCicco. He is a past National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Co-Chair of the Immigration Committee of the Queens County Bar Association. He has been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2014 'Top Rated Lawyer' in the practice of Labor and Employment (for Immigration) and the 2017 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Questions for publication may be sent to Mr. Kaye at 225 Broadway, Suite 307, and New York, NY 10007 or by email at [email protected] or [email protected]

India Abroad August 19, 2016

A31

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