Quest 3

In this issue:

Asha Quest From the Coordinator’s Desk…. “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.” H.E. Luccock You might be wondering that Six months have passed by since the Quest 2 has launched and there is no noise about Quest 3. Here we present you the Quest 3 with updates from a successful second quarter. Second quarter has seen lot of new activities with new volunteers. Let us dive into the details. Event updates: 1. Food Fest: Food fest was a tremendous hit and it was very well received by Knoxville community. Started in April, the idea of the fest is very simple. Every week on Thursday, interested volunteers pool up at Apna Bazar and serve mouth smacking Indian delicacies. Apna Bazar is extremely supportive in providing us with a platform to conduct this food fest. On an average, we managed to raise $ 150 USD every week. In the near future, we want to extend this fest to other local communities such as University housing, Oakridge National Labs etc.,

2. Asha Premier League: With everyone caught up with Indian Premier League (IPL) fever, we thought to spread this fever to Knoxville cricket lovers. Based on a double wicket format, this event demonstrated the enthusiasm of Knoxville Indian community. Contd on Page 10

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Editors Note

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Work An Hour (WAH)

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Topic of the Quarter

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India at a Glance

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Kid’s Corner

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Aug 2008

Issue III

A KNOXVILLE CHAPTER PUBLICATION

Editors Note We are glad to publish a brand new issue of the Asha Quest magazine. This issue has been slightly abridged, which may help us explore relations and packaging details with other magazines in Tennessee and Georgia in the near future. For Asha Knoxville, the last several months have been very exciting. The Asha Premier League received a tremendous response and was concluded successfully within the day. The “Work an Hour” program was started to enhance fund generation. Projects launched earlier have been moving forward. As we look to the future with new hope and aspirations, we turned to our new and very young friends for contributions to this magazine. The highlights of this abridged issue are artwork and poems by some of the youngest fans of Asha. We urge you to send us your comments as you read the current and previous issues of Asha Quest. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in all the articles are those of the author and not of Asha. Editorial Team: Auroop Ganguly, Sampath Kandala, Jheelam Banerjee, Tushti Marwah, Debashree Ganguly Design Team: Sridhar Kuppuswamy, Malathi Narnur Email To Editorial Team: [email protected] Asha Virtual office: http://www.ashanet.org/knoxville

Advertise with us: Educate a child…

Contact : [email protected]

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Full Page

$100

3/4th page

$75

Half Page

$50

Quarter Page

$25

Please support Knoxville chapter by selecting the project: Balia Gram Unnayan Samity and chapter: Knoxville in the drop down menus on the donation page “Knoxville raised $1100 USD so far. Target is $5000 USD to support two projects in Andhra Pradesh and WestBengal.”

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More to life through Spiritual Intelligence Unless we don’t see or hear something, we refuse to believe it. Some metaphysicians argue that, nothing could have ever been invented, if the greatest inventors of our times said, “I will believe it, when I see it. I will confirm it, when I hear it. I will accept it, when I like it”. Management experts say that we use our intellect and cognitive intelligence to draw a conclusion from the events that strike our day-to-day lives. Intellect involves knowing things as they appear to the senses and understanding. Through the senses, we can perceive the forms of things and through understanding we can conceive them in terms and categories. Cognitive intelligence primarily involves thinking to reason something. Thinking and intuition are connected to mind. We make decisions based on either what we know, learn or master or based on our inbuilt gut feelings. While cognitive intelligence and intellect is all about planning, comprehending ideas and reasoning, emotional intelligence is about managing the emotion of one self. One can develop self worth, self confidence and self love by developing one’s cognitive, emotional and spiritual intelligence. (Spiritual intelligence is a term popularized by Stephen Covey in his book “The 8th Habit”). Spiritual Intelligence is about self awareness, self esteem, flexibility, gratitude, compassion and creativity. With Spiritual intelligence, one can move out of negativity, restriction, constriction, limitation and can co-create with spirit in love and joy. To handle multifarious demands of the mind, people put their beliefs on absurd superstitions or assertions, which question the facts and realities of life. This shows that there is a growing need to develop “process of thinking”, followed up by impeccable truths of life that has appeal to logic and reason. When the mind is humiliated, stressed and strained by the problems confronting it, only spiritual intelligence can help get the mind under perfect control. One can develop their full potential by mastering cognitive, emotional and spiritual intelligence, as these three powerful systems can drive a higher self esteem, which results in increased competence, confidence, freedom, achievement and satisfaction. Applying them in real life will enhance the beauty of living. - Reshma S Zingde

You can make donations at our website: www.ashanet.org/knoxville or using the following donation slip

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Topic of the Quarter “ Even as India strives towards meritocracy, a strong class gap continues to dictate the opportunities at primary or secondary school levels. How can this gap be reduced without compromising quality?”

An evaluation of the Indian primary and secondary school system can hardly be accomplished without considering the various complexities. It is among the lives of millions and millions of six to fourteen-year-olds that India's stark socio-economic pyramid darkly manifests itself. Let us take a look at the blatant divide while keeping in mind that even subtle differences in the socio-economic ladder may translate into opportunities. At the top of the ladder, the children of the rich go to infrastructure-equipped upscale schools with well-paid teachers and a nationally or even globally accepted curriculum. Middle class children make it to English medium schools, which are probably state-affiliated, funded with basic infrastructures and teachers with mediocre pay. The children of the poor attend municipal and government schools with no basic facilities and a highly deficient education system. A dismal picture emerges of a well-intentioned goal to provide free and compulsory primary/secondary education to all. The greatest anguish stems from the fact that the most formative years of these unquestioning children is spent battling hard realities influenced by rural or urban divide, gender, parents literacy levels, socio-economic status and caste, instead of getting a simple right to a good education system. The fundamental issue can slowly trickle down to other essential rights like music lessons, skilled teachers, playgrounds, libraries, science labs, competitions, culturals, field trips, so on and so forth. A constant mapping of affordability and opportunity has to be done in most aspects of Indian primary and secondary school learning. One may dismiss this as being clichéd saying that this is an unavoidable consequence of an inegalitarian society. While this is surely a consequence of a highly inegalitarian society, the adverse consequences can certainly be reduced. The current reviving economy may not be helping the situation as it is making only rich schools richer. The poor support from the government in having a standard well funded and networked school system does play a role, especially in comparison to most other developed nations. While private schools with all the "extra benefits" may be strongly encouraged, a common school system with quality education for all levels of the underprivileged must exist. This can be largely funded and supported by the government, while governed by independent voluntary educational organizations that set up an appropriate curriculum and examination systems not very deviant from the rest. Above all, a strong sense of intolerance to substandard education from the general public and parents could greatly help in bringing about a social reformation in the nature of the schooling system. Irresponsible teachers or a poor evaluation schemes must be sternly questioned, thereby increasing awareness. At more internal levels, children must be given an unbiased chance at every stage to express their full potential by school authorities, thereby extending the philosophy beyond mere school uniforms. Monetary contributions from individuals and groups must flow into this channel keeping in mind that true modernization or reform will continue to lag without a quality schooling system.

-Meena Kalyanaraman

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India at a Glance IPL Cricket

Rail Budget 2008-09

The IPL (Indian Premier League), a cricket league in the twenty20 format, was played between 8 Indian city-based teams and featured both international and national cricketers. The IPL was established with the support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Railways Minister, presented his fifth consecutive Railway Budget on 26 January, 2008. The minister announced a record surplus Balance Sheet of Rs 25,000 crores for Year 2007-08. Lalu announced a cut in passenger fares. First Class A/C fares will be down 7%, A/C 2 down 4% and A/C 3 will see a reduction of 2%. Second Class fares have been cut by 5% for tickets beyond 50 kms. Lalu Prasad Yadav declared a record surplus of Rs 25,000 crores for FY-08. Lalu said the Railways had made a remarkable turnaround and announced a profit of Rs 68,778 crores in the last five years. The minister said that Rs 15,000 crores had been paid as dividend to the government in the same period. Railways would be controlled online in two years. Use of IT communications will occur by 2009. Rajdhani and Shatabdi Exprress trains will have LHB coaches. This would enhance speed and comfort. Only stainless steel coaches would be produced after 2010. Professional agencies will undertake on board cleaning system in every Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Mail and Superfast trains. Low level and medium level platform in B category stations will be converted to high level platforms. All D level stations will have platform shelter. The Railways has attained 790 tonne payload target. Freight Wagon turnaround takes to a profit of Rs 233 cr. 3000 new bogies have been added to freight trains. Uncoaching earning has gone to 4000 cr. Shipping and road transport companies are permitted to run dedicated trains. Freight loading has been increased by 10%. New freight income target new Rs 440,000 cr.

The teams: (1) Mumbai, (2) Bangalore, (3) Kolkata, (4) Hyderabad, (5) Chennai, (6) Delhi, (7) Jaipur and (8) Chandigarh/Mohali. The team owners were as follows: Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries) owns Mumbai team Vijay Mallaya (United Breweries) owns Bangalore team Shah Rukh Khan (Red Chillies Entertainment) owns Kolkata team Lachlan Mudroch (Emerging Media) owns Jaipur Team Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia own the Chandigarh/Mohali Team Deccan Chronicle Group Holdings owns the Hyderabad Team India Cements owns Chennai Team GMR Holdings owns the Delhi Team About 80 international cricketers, State Ranji trophy players, and under-22 players, played in the IPL. BCCI had stipulated that of the 16 players in each team, there could be a maximum of four international players, eight Indian players and four budding talents. The total spending cap in the first player auction was US $5M. Sony had purchased the rights to telecast not just the IPL matches in the first year, but for the next 10 years, for a whopping one billion dollars. A total of 59 matches were played in the first IPL. The opening match was in Bangalore and semis and final were in Mumbai.

Source: Surfindia.com

Main Budget

The Rajasthan Royals defeated the Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets in the final on the 1st of June, 2008, to become the winners of the first IPL tournament. With the scores level with one ball remaining, Sohail Tanvir scored the winning run and prevented the match from being decided on a bowlout.

Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has proposed a wide range of reliefs for tax payers in his 2008-09 Budget proposals. Under this, the threshold limit of personal income tax has been increased from Rs 1.10 lakh to Rs.1.50 lakh. The common man has waited long enough to know how the Government of India’s annual rigmarole would impact his life.

Each player and representative on the team was awarded a medal and the team was presented with the DLF Indian Premier League trophy along with a cheque for US$1.2M prize money. Many of the Royals' players also took home individual awards for their performance during the tournament: Yusuf Pathan claimed the Man of the Match award for the final, Sohail Tanvir finished the tournament with the Purple Cap (the tournament's leading wicket taker) and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was declared the Man of the Series.

Here are the major highlights of Union Budget 2008 that would impact your life directly: Sixth Pay Commission report by March 2008 -Small cars to cost less by Rs 10,000 to 15,000 -Two wheelers to cost less, excise duty reduced by 10% -Requirement of PAN extended to all financial transactions -PAN to be sole identification in securities market -3 IITs to be set up in Bihar, AP, Rajasthan - Duty reduced on life saving drugs; exempt from excise -Anti-Aids drug exempted from excise duty -Excise on packaged softwares to lower from 8% to 12%--Duty on non-filter cigarettes to be raised -Excise duty slashed to 8% on water purification items -Duty withdrawn on naptha for production of polymers—

Source: http://www.squidoo.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Premier_League © Copyright of Asha Knoxville

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India at a Glance -Improved infrastructure for Sainik schools -Debt waiver scheme for farmers announced -Loan waiver amounts to 4% of total bank loans -Farmers eligible for fresh agri loans post the waiver or one time settlement -Farmers eligible for fresh agri loans post the waiver or one time settlement -Rs 340 cr insurance scheme to cover 17 lakh farmers and weavers -300 more ITIs to be upgraded with an investment of Rs 750 cr -LIC to cover all woman SHGs linked to the bank Schemes for women to get Rs 1,460 crore this fiscal -Childrelated schemes to get Rs 33,434 crore -Jawaharlal Navoday Vidyalaya to be set in 20 new districts for SC/STs -16 new Central Universities to be built -NE region to get Rs 1,455 cr as budgetary support -NREGS to be extended to 596 rural districts at an outlay of Rs 16,000cr -Science scholarships for young learners -About 6,000 high quality schools to be built by 2009-Rs 200 cr for providing potable water system in each school in areas of water scarce regions Education & health to get 20% more from Rs 28,674 cr to Rs 34,4000 cr -Agri credit doubled in first two years Keeping inflation under check to be on focus -Women entitled to equal share and equal say --Pilot plan to use smart cards for food grain distribution in Chandigarh, Haryana.

a boost to ADAG’s aim of emerging as a leader in the entertainment industry worldwide, according to some experts. ADAG announced projects at the recent Cannes film festival in collaboration with Hollywood stars Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Jim Carrey and George Clooney, which was worth $1 billion. Source: http://www.india-server.com

Abhinav Bindra Wins Olympic Gold Medal Abhinav Bindra, an Indian shooter from Zirakpur, Mohali district, Punjab is now the Olympic champion in the 10 m Air Rifle event by winning the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He now becomes the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games. Previously the Indian Hockey team has won gold in Olympics 1980. The historic victory for the 25year-old pro from Chandigarh came against heavy odds as he entered the event ranked number 17 in the world and pitted against Athens Olympic champion Zhu Qinan of China and Henri Hakkinen of Finland rated much higher than him. But Bindra proved that reputation and history counted little as he overcame a two-point deficit against Zhu and Haikkinen after the qualifying round and annexed the title.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ Budget_2008_Impact_on_you/articleshow/2825403.cms

Reliance venture into US entertainment industry Reliance Big entertainment arm of ADAG (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) has entered into joint venture with Hollywood living legend.

Bindra was a child prodigy, representing India at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, while just 16. In 2000, he was not yet 18 years old, when he went to the Sydney Olympics. He was the youngest in the contingent. But within a year he was winning medals around the world and in 2002 he became a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. He was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2001.In the 2004 Athens Olympics, despite breaking the Olympic record Bindra failed to win a medal. But on July 24, 2006, Bindra became the first Indian shooter to win a World Championship gold in Zagreb. (BBC news, http://www.quickonlinetips.com, www.financialexpress.com)

Steven Spielberg. Under the new agreement, joint venture will make six films a year. Reliance Big has invested $500 million in the project and this joint venture company will fund all Spielberg movies. Hollywood has had to increasingly turn to foreign backers amid recent turmoil on Wall Street.. This ambitious project from Reliance Big is aimed at company’s plan to become a global leader in entertainment industry. The group has also bought a US located theatre management company to operate in the US and has set up a distribution company to earn license rights. In India, Reliance Big already has the Adlabs cine complexes. Lately the company has bought more than 200 theatres across 28 locations in North America, including New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Seattle. The deal will surely provide

- Compiled by Tushti Marwah

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Knoxville Events Asha Premier League (APL)

Independence Day Celebrations (MANTHAN)

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Kids’s Corner INDIA

PATRIOTIC FEELINGS The colors of my flag makes me

Sunny and warm Sweet smells of hon ey eve

feel patriotic,

also Demsey and Hamm shooting

a goal,

Blowing dust into my face

peninsula, seeing a bald eagle on a muddy

Cows Darting from place to place

looking at the White House,

I run to pat them

seeing the Statue of Liberty and my parents becoming citizens patriotic.

But they'll moo loud ly in my face

makes me feel

And run off.

Radha, 2nd Grader Woodland Elementary School, Oak Ridge, TN

Parin Bhaduri, 4th Grader Knoxville, TN Farragut Intermediate School,

Volten V olcano

1st Grade r,

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rden Spring Ga

hadhuri Bareesh B

Awroni B haduri

Farragut

rywhere

Windy and blustery

hool Primary Sc , Farragut TN , lle 1st Grader vi Knox

Primary

School Knoxville , TN

9

...contd from pg 1

24 teams participated in this day long event complemented with Indian food served from Ms. Kakkar. The event generated a modest profit of $ 800 USD. More importantly we had lot of new participation and energy in Asha.

Balia Gram Unnayan Samity (BGUS) – AP: Knoxville has disbursed the first installment of $2215.00 USD to GVS in May 08. This project was previously supported by Silicon Valley and UIUC chapters. This project will support several activities including staff salaries, students nutrition and medical needs etc., Major portion of the funds ($ 1515 USD) for this project was contributed by generous Bengali community volunteers. Many thanks to them. We wish

Current and Future Activities: 1. Work an Hour 2008: Each year, people from around the world come together in a demonstration of great human spirit, to help educate underprivileged children in India. Work An Hour, or

to extend this model to GVS and other future projects.

WAH, as it is popularly known, is a summer-long, global, online fundraising campaign based on a simple concept. Participants are asked to symbolically Work an Hour towards the cause of children's education by donating an hour's worth or more of their salary. This year, the event begins on July 15 and concludes on

Enjoy the magazine!!!!

September 15 spanning through India's Independence Day on August 15 and Teachers' Day on September 5. Fifteen projects across Asha have been showcased in this year's WAH. Donors will have the ability to give to a project of their choice.

Sampath Kandala - Chapter Coordinator (Ph: 865-604-

Thank You!

Committee 3560) Teja Sastry - Projects Coordinator (Ph: 865-406-4395) Mohan Damu and Gagan Rajpal - Treasurers

(Ph: 865-335-1998) Aashish Chaurey - Events Coordinator (Ph: 865-806-1296) Debashree Ganguly - Publicity Coordinator (Ph: 865-9247031) Ramu Katakam - Fund Raising Coordinator (Ph: 937-5547516) Pushpalatha - ARC Representative Bhargav Kandala, Madhan and Pushpalatha - Webmasters

WAH 2007: Knoxville Chapter raised $3500 USD Please donate for WAH 2008 at www.workanhour.org and do not forget to mention Knoxville chapter. 2. Collaboration with UT: Starting this Fall, Asha volunteers will be working with Dr. Bob Kronick to support his Civic Engagement program. As a part of this program, Asha volunteers will help students in Pond Gap and End Skip schools with after school tutoring in subjects like Math, English etc., and also provide prescription support for generic illnesses. Visit our stall at HCC India fest on August 23rd. Groundwork is being done by Asha volunteers to host cultural fest in Downtown, Knoxville. Treasury updates: 2007 Balance: $ 4327.5 USD 2008: Food fest as of 07/03/08- $ 1512.00 USD, APL - $800.00 USD, General Donations- $833.00 USD Project specific donations: $1875.00 USD Project updates: Grama Vikasa Saradhi (GVS) – AP: Knoxville has successfully disbursed three installments of total $3157.00 USD to GVS from Jan 08 through Jul 08. This project is in joint collaboration with the Asha – New River Valley (NRV) chapter. Second Quarter report (Apr 08 – Jun 08) was received and is available on the Asha Knoxville webpage. The students finished their annual exams successfully on 24th April 08.

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