About 250 members of the Hindu and Jewish communities came together Nov. 30, under one roof at the Bharatiya Temple in Troy, Michigan to celebrate Diwali and Hanukkah. The event was organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of metro Detroit/American Jewish Committee and the Hindu American Foundation, according to a Detroit Free Press report.
Both Diwali, which fell on Oct. 19 this year, and Hanukkah which started two weeks after, celebrate with the lighting of lamps symbolizing the victory of good over evil, a commonality dwelt upon by speakers at the event.
Inside the temple, Hindu priests recited a prayer with “Om shanti, shanti, shanti” and then a rabbi recited Hebrew prayers for Hanukkah as another Jewish leader lit a menorah candle, and tables of menorahs, Ganesh statues and diyas, with a big “Om” were featured on the stage behind where the panelists sat, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Community members enjoyed potato latkes and jelly donuts for Hanukkah along with samosas and sweets for Diwali. A panel discussion took place, about the meaning of the holidays for the two minority communities.
“There’s a need for dialogue across various barriers. We thought this is a great idea to come together, celebrating the lighting of the lamps.” Nasy Sankagiri, a temple member of Bloomfield Hills, is quoted saying in the Detroit Free Press.
“Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the light in the temple lasting eight days. Diwali is also a celebration of light, so both holidays are that celebration of light. Light is a wonderful metaphor for what we can bring into the world,” said Alicia Chandler, president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of metro Detroit/American Jewish Committee.
Padma Kuppa, a board member with the national advocacy organization, Hindu American Foundation, and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, recalled she used to celebrate Diwali and Hanukkah together in a Jewish home, years ago.
“It’s really a great opportunity for us to share our traditions and draw the communities closer together based on our common pursuit of social justice. We have a lot in common in being very education oriented and being committed to the idea of pluralism,” Kuppa is quoted saying in the news report.
“This brings our communities closer and is an opportunity for learning and sharing each other’s faith traditions,” said David Kurzmann, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of metro Detroit/American Jewish Committee. Kurtzmann noted that in October, the Jewish Council held an interfaith event with the Muslim community to build bridges.
Dr. Mohsina Laliwala, an Indian-American internal medicine physician, has been named a 2017 Top Doctor in Chicago. The Top Doctor Awards honor those healthcare practitioners who have demonstrated clinical excellence while delivering the highest standards of patient care, according to topdoctorawardsmagazine.com
Dr. Laliwala is with NorthShore University Health System and has been in practice for more than eight years.
Her career in medicine began in 2009 when she graduated from the Smt. NHL Municipal Medical College in Ahmedabad, and completed her residency at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago after coming to the U.S.
Laliwala is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, she diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions for adult patients and is known for her caring and compassionate approach to medicine.
SOMERSET, NJ – The New York/New Jersey chapter of the Human Development Foundation (HDF) raised $70,000 on December 3rd at the Marigold, in Somerset, NJ where Dr. Adil Najam spoke about his research in Pakistan.
Dr. Najam is a professor of international relations and earth and environment at Boston University, who recently went to Pakistan to conduct a research study on the youth satisfaction in the country and shared those results with an audience of 100.
Dr. Najam started his presentation with discussing the three propositions which tie HDF and Pakistan together, these are: (1) Pakistanis shine in amazing individual glory but are often surrounded by collective mediocrity, (2) Education is the single most important passport to success for Pakistanis everywhere and (3) Education does not trigger success alone unless it is combined with Human Development.
“Human Development is a very Pakistani idea and a very Pakistani practice. Human Development as an intellectual scientific concept was created by Pakistanis,” he said.
“So this idea came out of the UN about 25 years ago called human development, and it came out with the idea of measuring the development of societies by GDP was not enough. Just asking how rich you are was not enough,” he added, saying that the formula for human development is equal to health, wealth and knowledge.
Dr. Adil Najam
According to this formula, out of 170 countries, Pakistan is ranked at the 144th position “with a score of 0.550 in 2015, 1.0 being perfect,” but, in fact, it is lower than the countries surrounding it, including India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Dr. Najam further explained that “the future of Pakistan will be determined by Pakistanis who are today, between 15 and 29 years of age” and so he conducted research in the country with one question in mind: “what does it mean to be young in Pakistan today?”
He concluded with more details of how he conducted his research, using focus groups and setting up video booths in markets where any youngster could go into and take out their anger towards the country.
“The Human Development Foundation was launched by a group of visionary Pakistani Americans in 1997 as a gift to Pakistan on the 50th anniversary of its Independence,” said Dr. Mahmood Alam, the president of the New York/New Jersey chapter of HDF, during his presentation.
Dr. Mahmood Alam and Dr. Nasar Qureshi
Over the past 20 years, HDF’s goal has been to eradicate poverty in Pakistan and relieve human suffering by providing programming in all four provinces of Pakistan and have helped over 1.5 million people.
According to HDF’s website, their mission in “to facilitate a non-political movement for positive social change and community empowerment through mass literacy, enhanced quality of education, universal primary healthcare and grassroots economic development” with a vision of becoming “a center of excellence known for progressive and transformational human development programs.”
A novel by Rakesh Satyal, an Indian-American author who lives in Brooklyn, has been chosen as the 2018 “A Novel Idea … Read Together” project by Oregon’s Dechutes Public Library. “No One Can Pronounce My Name,” is about an Indian suburban family in Cleveland, Ohio.
The announcement of the selection was made by the director of Deschutes Public Library, Todd Dunkelberg, during an event attended by around 250 people on December 1, at the Downtown Bend Library in Deschutes, Oregon, according to the library’s website.
The story in No One Can Pronounce My Name takes place in Ohio and follows the lives of several Indian-Americans as they struggle with issues of identity, connection, sexuality, and loss while straddling the divide between Eastern and Western cultures.
“A Novel Idea” is the largest community read program in the state of Oregon. Last year nearly 7,000 county residents read, discussed and attended free cultural and author events at the Library’s six branches and at partnering organizations. With this year’s selection of No One Can Pronounce My Name, the Library anticipates the highly successful program’s continued growth, the website of the library said in revealing the winner.
“The 2018 ‘A Novel Idea’ selection follows in the footsteps of previous selections by taking us to new places while exploring new cultures,” Communications & Development Manager Chantal Strobel, is quoted saying. “Satyal’s book explores the immigrant experience while using humor in a touching way to delve into a variety of issues. I think readers will appreciate the levity he brings to timely topics,” she continued.
“A Novel Idea” kicks off on Saturday, April 14 next year at the Downtown Bend Library. Three weeks of programs will follow where participants will explore the themes and ideas found in No One Can Pronounce My Name. Satyal will attend the concluding event May 6, at Bend High School, where he will also sign copies of the book.
BookPage said of the book: “Ambitious in scope, No One Can Pronounce My Name dares to tackle life’s biggest questions, irrespective of nationality. Through a successful blend of pathos and humor, Satyal bravely explores themes of intimacy, identity and sexuality, asking his characters—and his readers—to closely examine the inalienable qualities that make us all human.”
Satyal is the author of Blue Boy, which won the 2000 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Debut Fiction and the 2010 Prose/Poetry Award from the Association of Asian American Studies. He received the 2010 Fellowship in Fiction from the New York Foundation for the Arts and two fellowships from the Norman Mailer Writers’ Colony. His writing has appeared in New York magazine, Vulture, Out magazine, and The Awl. A graduate of Princeton University, he has taught in the publishing program at New York University and has been on the advisory committee for the annual PEN World Voices Festival.
Cover of “No One Can Pronounce My Name”
Satyal’s novel, which was published in May this year, revolves around three characters – Ranjana is a middle-aged wife and mother seeking new meaning in her life, her son Prashant who struggles to establish his own identity in his first year at Princeton and Harit, a timid, closeted gay man who lives with and cares for his mother who is grieving for his dead older sister.
“When Harit and Ranjana meet and strike up a friendship, they help each other find self-acceptance and new perspectives on the American and Indian cultures they are attempting to navigate,” the website says. .
“Satyal’s book explores the immigrant experience while using humor in a touching way to delve into a variety of issues. I think readers will appreciate the levity he brings to timely topics,” Chantal Strobel, the Deschutes Public Library communications and development manager, told the Bulletin.
There will be an official kickoff scheduled for April 14 at the Downtown Bend Library and a series of events will terminate on May 6 with a presentation by Satyal at 4 p.m. at Bend High School.
The complete schedule of events and activities for A Novel Idea will be posted to the DPL Foundation website as dates and details are finalized.
Although Satyal’s presentation is free, tickets are required and they will be available on the DPL Foundation website and in library branches starting April 21.
Satyal was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and now lives in Brooklyn, New York.
His first novel, “Blue Boy,” won the 2009 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Debut Fiction and the 2010 Prose/Poetry Award from the Association of Asian American Studies.
A Novel Idea has been the largest annual community reading program in Oregon for the last 15 years.
Mumbai: Veteran actor-producer Shashi Kapoor who died at a Mumbai hospital in Dec 4, 2017. He was 79. (Photo: IANS)
In 1994, at the Paris Theater in New York City, a fundraiser for the chair of Indian Studies at Columbia University, screened the film “In Custody” starring Shashi Kapoor as an aging Urdu poet. Kapoor came in person, and fans rushed to crowd him and greet the one-time matinee idol of Bollywood. Kapoor laughed and joked with them and signed autographs.
In 2005, Kapoor was among the chief guests at the India Day Parade in New York City. That year, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, publisher of Desi Talk and recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, was the president of the Federation of Indian Associations which organized the parade. “He (Kapoor) was a big hit because not only Indians but other Americans recognized him from his films,” said Dr. Parikh who had several one-on-one dinners with Kapoor in the following years whenever the actor visited New York. “He was a very humble, practical, and realistic person. We always discussed how to promote his Prithvi Theater in Mumbai,” Dr. Parikh recalls.
Aroon Shivdasani, who was one of the organizers of the Columbia University event, and is now the executive and artistic director of the Indo-American Arts Council, also waxed eloquent about the actor’s humility and good nature of the man who died Dec. 4, and left behind a legacy of classic films acclaimed in India and abroad.
Speaking at a meet preceding the parade, along with Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Chairman and Founder, Parikh Worldwide Media, and brother Randhir Kapoor.
Ironically, on the year of his death some of Kapoor’s seminal films made their way back to New York and theaters around the U.S., through an American company that bought them from the original producers, the late Ismail Merchant, and James Ivory, of Merchant-Ivory Productions which is based in New York.
“Everyone talks about Priyanka crossing over from Bollywood to Hollywood, or Irrfan Khan. But Shashi was definitely the first crossover artist,” Aseem Chhabra, author of the book, ‘Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, The Star’ told Desi Talk.
In 1963, The Householder, Ruth Prawar Jhabvala’s novel-turned-film, was playing in New York City theaters; In 1965, Shakespeare Wallah came to American screens. Then Bombay Talkies played in this country in 1970; and Heat and Dust in 1983.
“Shashi Kapoor was playing in U.S. theaters around the country decades ago,” Chhabra contends. “It’s very commendable he made these kinds of films which didn’t fetch him much (money). And that’s why he did so many Bollywood films,” Chhabra said.
Waving to the crowd at the India Day parade.
“I think of him as an institution,” said Princeton University professor of history Gyan Prakash, who studied Bollywood, introduced it in his courses, and recently had one of his books, Mumbai Fables, turned into a movie, Bombay Velvet. Kapoor, he said, came into cinema from theater, and remained a patron of theater throughout. “Shashi did the crossover through theater. He took to acting through theater,” Prakash said. One of his less remembered classics, Prakash says, was “Dharmaputra” (1961) set in the Partition time, where Kapoor plays the son of a Muslim couple brought up by Hindu parents, who later joins the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, only to find out his Muslim origins at the end. “He was wonderful in that,” Prakash says.
Today, the Indian star who made his mark in the 1960s in Merchant-Ivory films, and in the 1970s and 1980s in Bollywood, is making a resurgence in the United States.The Cohen Media Group, an indie distribution company, which purchased a collection of feature films, documentaries and shorts produced by the James Ivory- Ismail Merchant team, is releasing some of Kapoor starrers this year in U.S. theaters. The collection was sold by the only surviving member of Merchant-Ivory-Jhabvala team still around, James Ivory, whose company Merchant-Ivory Productions informed Desi Talk, he was out of the country but keen to talk about Kapoor at a later date.
The CMG is re-releasing those old classics after restoring some to their former glory, enough to bring back the famous sparkle in Kapoor’s eyes. The company tweeted Dec. 4, the day Kapoor died, and put his photos alongside – “We are saddened to learn of the passing of SHASHI KAPOOR, an iconic and versatile actor – and star of several Merchant Ivory classics, including Heat And Dust (left photo) and Shakespeare Wallah (right photo). #ShashiKapoor
At a lamp lighting ceremony, along with Randhir Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha and Dr. Sudhir Parikh.
Madhur Jaffrey, who played Kapoor’s love interest in Shakespeare Wallah, and lives in New York City, could not be reached by press time.
This May, Heat and Dust played in the Quad Theater in West Village, and was sold out. As recently as this November 10, Shakespeare Wallah came to U.S. screens in restored form. “Elegant and atmospheric, Shakespeare Wallah was the feature film that really put Merchant Ivory Productions on the international movie map, winning them great critical acclaim and now recognized as a classic,” announced the Cohen Media Group on its publicity site for release of Shakespeare Wallah.
An older generation remembers Kapoor’s visits to the U.S. “I did spend time with him when we screened Ismail merchant’s “In Custody,” recalls Shivdasani reminiscing about Kapoor in 1994. “In Custody” won the President of India Gold Medal for Best Picture in that year.
By that time, the suave man who defined “handsome” had become overweight. “He was unable to move around but he was sooo popular – everyone at the premiere made a bee line for him,” Shivdasani told Desi Talk. “He was surrounded by adoring fans and he smiled, chatted, signed autographs….,was just wonderful! No arrogance at all – none of that celebrity hauteur,” she said.
In 2001, the IAAC screened Kapoor’s film “Shakespeare Wallah” at the organization’s first film festival.
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, author of Householder, with Shashi Kapoor (1966) who starred in that film.
“Audiences loved the ease with which he communicated with them. They enjoyed his urbane character…….they also identified with him in a manner they couldn’t with other Desi actors,” contends Shivdasani, adding, “Shashi’s roles in Merchant-Ivory films also made him a familiar figure with their sophisticated audiences (in this country). He will be missed.”
“The films being screened today are sold out,” said Chhabra, who was able to see Heat and Dust in the West Village. “It’s fantastic that Shashi Kapoor films are playing around the United States today and it’s not just Indians who go to see them. It’s also not just older people who go to see them. Younger people are discovering Shashi Kapoor,” he enthused.
Upon his death Dec. 4, the Merchant Ivory website featured some tweets from fans. Freesia @Lali1526 said #ShashiKapoor just a few days ago I watched #heatanddust @MerchantIvory #ShashiKapoor was a delight. He is a royal in the movie and after he passes on the tale no longer seems interesting…
Tony Gerber @MarketRoadFilms said, RIP #shashi_kapoor you graced the screen & elevated everything u touched. Thank u for trusting a young director. I learned so much from u. #sidestreets @Lynnbrooklyn @rleefine @MerchantIvory @rosariodawson
And Vani Tripathi Tikoo had this to say – All his Association with @MerchantIvory with Amazing films like #Householder #Muhafiz #Shakespearewallah were films that defined the Global Connect of Indian Cinema his craft went beyond the Commercial films that he Acted in with great ease #ShashiKapoor #RIP
Online marketplace, ZiFiti, recently announced the addition of Saregama’s Carvaan to its extensive collection of thousands of items ranging from daily needs such as Indian grocery items to specialty arts and crafts produced by skilled artisans. Saregama became one of ZiFiti’s hundreds of sellers with the offering of their unique USB music cards in June of 2017. Since then the company introduced their portable digital audio player with built-in stereo speakers and 5000 preloaded evergreen Hindi songs for sale in the United States through zifiti.com.
Carvaan is an audio player that combines the best of digital technology with the convenience and ease of use of a portable unit. Carvaan has a list price of $159 in the US, however, the online Indian marketplace, zifiti.com, is the only site where US buyers can enjoy a straight 10% discount making the final purchase price only $143.10 with free shipping.
Shinu Gupta, CEO of ZiFiti, raves about the Carvaan product, “The handpicked songs available on Carvaan create a truly enjoyable experience for any lover of Hindi music. We are proud to be one of only a few places where customers can purchase the retro-styled radio. This well-designed product is the perfect fit for our target audience. ZiFiti’s marketplace was built to bring the unique product offerings of the Indian Subcontinent to the American consumer, regardless of the buyer’s ethnicity, and has proven successful for all parties involved. With the addition of this highly acclaimed product by Saregama our incredibly Indian marketplace further cements its place as a leader in the industry.”
The 5000 songs available on Carvaan have been handpicked using data analytics and categorized based on singers, lyricists, music composers, moods etc. Each category can be selected by turning a simple dial. Very quickly one can switch from Kishore Kumar classics, to R.D Burman’s pulsating hits, to timeless love songs or to soulful Sufi tracks – all in their original versions, back-to-back without any ads. Carvaan’s music collection also includes the entire Ameen Sayani’s Geetmala collection spanning 50 years.
With the option to tune into FM Radio, Carvaan doubles as a home radio as well. Plus, one can plug into the USB drive to enjoy their own personal music collection or stream songs to Carvaan via a Bluetooth connection. It works on a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 5 hours. The product comes with a one-year warranty applicable all over the US.
Vikram Mehra, Managing Director of Saregama India says, “There has been a lot of demand for Carvaan from Indians living in US. It’s a perfect treat for anyone living away from home and missing good old Hindi music. There’s an inherent nostalgic charm in the songs of yesteryear and we are thrilled that with Carvaan launching in USA, this connect with Indians is complete. It’s the perfect gift for your family this Thanksgiving and for Christmas.”
Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Chairman and Founder, Parikh Worldwide Media (4th from left) and Dr. Vinod Sancheti (5th from left) with some other guests and attendees at the gala. (Photo: Gunjesh Desai/nayaface)
NEW YORK-The Monmouth and Ocean County chapter of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (MOCAAPI) held their sixth annual Charity Gala on December 2 at the Grand Marquis, in Old Bridge, NJ. More than 300 people attended the meet. Prominent attendees included Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Founder and Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara.
Although a final amount of how much was raised has not been calculated yet, Sangeeta Sancheti, the wife of Dr. Vinod Sancheti, the president of MOCAAPI told Desi Talk that they donated at least $2,000 to local charities, including the Food Bank, the Leukemia Society and Caregivers of NJ.
Dr. Sancheti, who was appointed as the president of MOCAAPI in August, had earlier given a statement about his plans for MOCAAPI for the next two years.
“As a team, we hope to enhance support and facilitate the delivery of compassionate, high quality healthcare to our patients. With a constantly evolving healthcare industry affecting us in numerous ways, I believe now more than ever unity is the key to our success,” he said.
Dr. Samul Raval, Dr. Dharam Mann, Dr. Gurpreet Lamba, Dr. Apurva Agrawal, Chief Guest Speaker Preet Bharara, former US Attorney Southern District of New York, Dr. S. K. Mate, MOCAAPI President Dr. Vinod Sancheti, Dr. S. Dhawlikar and Dr. Tarun Bhandari. (Photo: Gunjesh Desai/nayaface)
Dr. Sancheti also mentioned that “for the past several years, different healthcare organizations have been predicting the demise of private practice in the U.S. Administrative burdens, financial costs, long hours, and staffing issues have made several providers choose hospital based positions instead.”
Though many predictions were made about decreasing private practices, more than 60 percent of physicians still work in private practices rather than the hospital.
Dr. Sancheti said he wants MOCAPPI and other physician organizations to work together.
“I strongly believe that working with one another, MOCAPPI and other physician organizations can help navigate the challenges ahead,” he said.
“We will work together as professional colleagues, encourage and welcome new physicians, and promote cultural exchange to meet the needs of our members,” he added.
NEW YORK – The South Asian International Film Festival presented by HBO will celebrate its 14th year, with screenings from December 13-17, at the Landmark Sunshine Theater at 143 East Houston Street in the East Village, of New York City.
The festival throws open its doors with the Opening Night World Premiere of ‘Long Live Brij Mohan’. The Centerpiece film is ‘Na Maloom Afraad 2’, while the New York premiere of ‘Ribbon’ will be the Closing Night feature, with cast and crew in attendance.
The world premiere of ‘Long Live Brij Mohan’, directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, is the story of Brij Mohan, a hosiery shop owner in a busy middle class market in Delhi. He is fed up of his ball-crusher wife and mounting debts. In a desperate attempt to escape his wretched life, he changes his appearance and adopts a new identity as Amar Sethi, but in the process, ends up committing a botched-up murder. He then runs off with his younger girlfriend, hopeful of making a new beginning. But instead, as luck would have it, he finds himself trapped in a web of his own karma.
‘Na Maloom Afraad 2’, directed by Nabeel Qureshi, is an upcoming sequel to the 2014 Pakistani hit thriller film Na Maloom Afraad. The leading cast returning to it will be Fahad Mustafa, Javed Sheikh, Mohsin Abbas Haider and Urwa Hocane, along with Hania Amir in the lead and Marina Khan in her debut performance. The film is hysterical a comedy of errors when an extravagant Sheikh arrives in Cape Town with his precious and infamous ‘Gold Pot’ – a toilet bowl made of gold. The Pot mistakenly finds its way to the three misfits -who call themselves Na Maloom Afraad- and are clueless about what to do with it. The movie unfolds as the South African police, smugglers and the Sheikh’s entourage start looking for the Gold Pot as the three misfits do their best to escape unscathed.
Ribbon, directed by Rakhee Sandilya, is the story of a young urban couple who are overwhelmed by their baby girl and discover that parenthood comes with its own challenges. And it takes more than just love to stick through all of life’s curveballs.
SAIFF 2017’s Feature Competition line-up includes the following highly-anticipated titles:
Mona Darling – Directed by Shashi Sudigala / India / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles)
Narrative Feature / International Premiere / 111 mins.
In English We Say – Directed by Harish Vyas / India / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / World Premiere / 104 mins.
Half Widow – Directed by Danish Renzu / India / 2017 / In Urdu (with English subtitles)
Narrative Feature / World Premiere / 91 mins.
Maacher Jhol – Directed by Pratim D. Gupta / India / 2017 / In Bengali and French (with English subtitles). Narrative Feature / New York Premiere / 108 mins.
Code Name Abdul – Directed by Eshwar Gunturu / India / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles), Narrative Feature / North American Premiere / 114 mins.
SAIFF 2017’s Feature Spectrum line-up includes the following highly-anticipated titles:
Azad – Directed by Rehan Sheikh / Pakistan / 2017 / In Urdu (with English subtitles)
Narrative Feature / World Premiere / 121 mins.
Coma Café – Directed by Avi Vasu / India / 2017 / In English and Hindi (with English subtitles) Narrative Feature / North Amercian Premiere / 104 mins.
SAIFF 2017’s Short Film & HBO Competitors line-up includes the following highly-anticipated titles:
Please Don’t Call The Cops – Directed by Kartikye Gupta / United States / 2017 / In Hindi (with English subtitles), Narrative Short / World Premiere / 15 mins.
Safeword (HBO Competitor) – Directed by Mukesh Vidyasagar / United States / 2017 / English Narrative Short / World Premiere / 3 mins.
Cobbler’s Dream (HBO Competitor) – Directed by Sydney Chandrasekara / Sri Lanka / 2017 / In Sinhalese (with English subtitles) Narrative Short / World Premiere / 15 mins.
Diwal’oween (HBO Competitor) – Directed by Shilpa Mankikar / United States / 2017 / English Narrative Short / World Premiere / 33 mins.
The Pits (HBO Competitor) – Directed by Shetu Modi / Canada / 2017 / English
Narrative Short / New York Premiere / 6 mins.
The Language of the Ball (HBO Competitor) – Directed by Ramón Rodríguez / United States / 2017 / English Narrative Short / New York Premiere / 9 mins.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks to speak with the media as he arrives at the parliament house to attend the first day of the budget session, in New Delhi, India, January 31, 2017. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
AHMEDABAD – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a jibe at the Congress party on its claim of winning the Gujarat elections, referring to the “big hullabaloo” about Cyclone Ockhi that was set to hit the state in a big way, but did not.
Disregarding the ‘Ockhi’ alert and continuing his scheduled programme of three days’ campaigning, the Prime Minister was here in Dhandhuka, a southern part of Ahmedabad district. Once again he began his speech mentioning the Congress, after reminiscing on his relationship with the place.
Mentioning the alerts about Cyclone Ockhi, he said, “Whatever that makes a big hullabaloo and is said that it is coming, never does”, hinting at the Congress, which has been campaigning in the state and claiming it is going to win the elections. The Cyclone was on Tuesday headed towards Gujarat but on Wednesday it weakened while over the Arabian Sea, sparing the poll-bound state.
The Dhandhuka crowd, many of them comprising children who were made to sit in chairs in order to show a packed crowd, was totally unresponsive to any of Modi’s interactive questions. Some were even seen laughing. Modi’s style of questioning the audience and then getting affirmative answers from them, did not seem to be working on them.
Addressing the crowd, Modi said, “We think that the Congress meted out injustice to Sardar Patel, but let me tell you, he was not the only one. Their one family which rules meted out injustice to the maker of the Constitution, Bhimrao Ambedkar and all those who were getting significance in politics. Ambedkar had to go all the way to Bengal to fetch a membership in the constitutional body elections. Congress could not even afford to honour him with the Bharat Ratna. Baba Saheb was never remembered during the entire Congress regime in central government.”
He continued, “We bow to such great leaders. By continuing with the development works in Gujarat, the people of Gujarat should pay respect to the great leader.”
On the Triple Talaq issue, Modi said, “During the oncoming Uttar Pradesh elections, the central government was asked by the Supreme Court to file an affidavit regarding the issue. Many warned me that as the UP elections are coming we cannot risk doing so and many even expected that Modi would buy time from the apex court. But I said, why should I, when the question about thousands of our Muslim women is at stake. I don’t care about the elections. The country does not run merely on elections. That issue, which was hanging in the air since the time of Rajiv Gandhi, was cleared by the apex court.”
On the Sunni Waqf Board’s counsel Kapil Sibal asking the court to delay the hearing till the 2019 general elections, Modi said: “When Sibal asked that, the Congress says it is Sibal’s personal and individual issue. I ask you how does the 2019 general elections affect Kapil Sibal personally or the Waqf Board? Is Sunni Waqf Board contesting the elections?”
The Prime Minister also informed the audience about the central government’s drive to make practical solution of solar pump and how the works were in progress, which could make a farmer’s life easy. He informed them about plans on Dholera, a bustling port in an ancient civilization, and how that would make the entire region heavily laden with richness and prosperity. He said, “I requested umpteen times to the then UPA government for the development of Dholera, but they weren’t interested. Now through our efforts, within 10 years, Dholera would be as prosperous as Mumbai or Rajkot.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan visits the holy Sikh shrine of Golden temple in Amritsar, India, December 6, 2017. (Photo: Reuters/Stringer)
LONDON
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called on the British government on Wednesday to make a formal apology for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in which nearly 400 Sikhs were shot dead by British Indian army soldiers.
During a visit to the Golden Temple at Amritsar in northern India, the most important pilgrimage site of Sikhism, Khan called the massacre one of the most horrific events in Indian history.
On Sunday 13 April 1919, some 50 soldiers began shooting at unarmed civilians who were taking part in a peaceful protest against oppressive laws enforced in the Punjab by British colonial authorities.
At least 379 Sikhs were killed, but the figure is still disputed.
“It is wrong that successive British governments have fallen short of delivering a formal apology to the families of those who were killed,” he said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan places a wreath at the Jallianwala Bagh memorial in Amritsar, India, December 6, 2017. (Photo: Reuters/Stringer)
“I’m clear that the government should now apologise, especially as we reach the centenary of the massacre. This is about properly acknowledging what happened here and giving the people of Amritsar and India the closure they need through a formal apology.”
Khan, who is from the opposition Labour Party, does not speak for Britain’s Conservative government.
Former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron visited Amritsar at the end of a trade mission to India four years ago in a show of contrition over the massacre but stopped short of making a formal apology.
Khan is on a six-day mission to India and Pakistan to strengthen cultural and economic ties with the British capital.
The British Foreign Office said in a statement: “As the former Prime Minister said when he visited the Jallianwala Bagh in 2013, the massacre was a deeply shameful act in British history and one that we should never forget.
”It is right that we pay respect to those who lost their lives and remember what happened. The British Government rightly condemned the events at the time.”
Reporting by Stephen Addison, editing by Estelle Shirbon
Songwriter and producer Arjun Ivatury, has received a Grammy nomination for his song about suicide prevention.
Ivatury’s hip-hop collaboration with Maryland rapper Logic titled “1-800-273-8255,” is listed among the nominations in the ‘Song of The Year’ category at the 60th Grammy Awards.
The title of the song is actually the phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the song focuses on mental health, creating an emotional dialogue between a suicidal caller and a crisis worker who helps the caller find a glimmer of hope by song’s end.
The song is written by Ivatury along with Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II and Khalid Robinson, and was a part of Logic’s new album, “Everybody.”
The song has also earned the distinction of being the highest-charting phone number song in Billboard chart history and its video is also nominated in the ‘Best Music Video’ category.
Ivatury, 26, is a native of Maryland and dropped out from the University of Maryland in 2013, where he was majoring in neurobiology and physiology.
Ivatury told XXL magazine that he always liked music and knew that he either wanted to be a doctor or a hip-hop producer but didn’t think music was much of a suitable career for him until he met Logic in 2010.
“We actually really met on Twitter when he tweeted me and asked to meet up because he remembered me from a beat battle and asked me to send him a batch of beats. The first batch of beats, he didn’t like any of them,” he told XXL magazine, adding that he still “kept sending him more beats and he liked this one beat in particular” which ended up going onto his first project.
The two have become best friends ever since and have collaborated on Logic’s three part “Young Sinatra” mixtape series as well as both of his albums “Under Pressure” and “The Incredible True Story.”
Ivatury is currently associated with the independent record label Visionary Music Group and has produced for other artists such as Dizzy Wright and Michael Christmas.
All Winners: Elena Macnoughey, Bessie Gee, Carolyn Antal, Joselyn Zambrano, Meghan Martin, Tommy Maksanty, Kyree Moore & Jose Baez.
In search for an international model, AWESOME TV and ASC Production hosted the Awesome Top Model 2018 contest on Dec. 1 at Royal Alberts Palace in Fords, New Jersey.
The show featured a ramp walk of models and talents covering a diverse array of specialties that ranged from unique casual wear, swimwear, evening wear and more.
Team members (L to R): Bumi Veyg, Mike Speier, Hakim Dubois, Nutan Kalamdani, Mani Kamboj, Kenny ‘Kas’ Flanagan, Michele Sorvino, Jon Harari, Cheryl Jacobs, Roxanne Seunarine, Ritesh Parikh, John Dente, Nabeel Shams. (All Photos: Suresh Maisuria & Jeff Smith)
Fashion designers showcased at the event were included Caren K by Kiran Khan, Kenny ‘KAS’ & LAVA LUXE, Layol loyal by Quiana Brown, Derrick J. Sellers for DJS Lifestyles, Zainab Ero-Phillips for Hot Momma, Original Crackage by Wesley Woods and Patty Such for Candy.
The judges’ panel consisted of people from the fashion and entertainment world including Jon Harari, CEO and co-Founder of WindowsWear.com; Michele Sorvino; Cheryl Jacobs, actress and model; Kenny ‘KAS’ Flanagan, designer at House of KAS; Mani Kamboj, COO at NetIP NY; and Hakim Dubois, founder of DEKAD Lifestyle.
Top winners: Meghan Martin & Tommy Maksanty
Each contestant was scored on presentation, grace, pattern, hair, accessories and attire.
The event also featured a performance by indie soul/indie soft rock musician Bindi Liebowitz, an Indo-Italian fusion cuisine for dinner, and music by DJ Sunny Patel, a press release from organizers said.
The judges: Hakim Dubois, Mani Kamboj, Kenny ‘Kas’ Flanagan, Michele Sorvino, Jon Harari, Cheryl Jacobs.
The event was hosted by Lina Ludwicki, Jo Gagliardo and Johann Ortiz, the red carpet event for Awesome TV and AWSM Radio was covered by Rox Seunarine, Alaja Greene handled backstage, casting and styling and Liza Gibson helped the models develop their portfolios onstage.
Besides the fashion designers, the event also highlighted the hard work and efforts of makeup artists.
(L to R) Amit Singh Chauhan, Nutan Kalamdani & Ritesh Parikh.
With over 50 Models participating in the Awesome Top Model 2018, the final top winners were Meghan Martin in the female category and Tommy Maksanty in the male category.
Winners of various categories included:
Tommy Maksanty and Joselyn Zambrano for Mr. and Miss Popularity
Jose Baez and Elena Maconaughey for Mr. and Miss Personality
Tommy Maksanty and Katy Grey for Mr. and Miss Photogenic
Kyree Moore and Bessie Gee for Mr. and Miss Performance
Tommy Maksanty and Carolyn Antal for Mr. and Miss Physique
“The ‘Awesome Top Model’ hunt celebrated exceptional designers whose imagination and creativity broke new ground in fashion industry. The purpose was to discover, showcase and inspire modeling talent from around the world,” Ritesh Parikh, founder of Awesome TV and AWSM Radio, is quoted saying in a press release.
“Awesome Top Model is a vision that we created with the purpose of offering a platform for models to progress further in their careers with the help of well-established individuals, industry professionals, mentors and the like, thereby giving them an opportunity to connect with them,” said co-founder Nutan Kalamdani. Models need to be given the tools required to become successful, and help minimize struggles to achieve that goal, Kalamdani added.
“I truly want to see all my models succeed. I want them to make a name for themselves. It gives me great sense of satisfaction when I see their progress. I want nothing else,” the founder of ASC Productions, Amit Singh Chauhan, who according to the press release has been working with models for several years and been active in the New York Fashion Week, said.
Indian American Sunitha Guntipally was sentenced to 52 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to commit several crimes including visa fraud, obstruction of justice, and use of false documents, mail fraud, and witness tampering, according to the Justice Department.
Guntipally pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on May 3, and the sentence was handed down by the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, U.S. District Judge.
Along with Guntipally, 44, of Fremont, a grand jury also indicted he three co-defendants, Venkat Guntipally, 49, of Fremont; Pratap “Bob” Kondamoori, 56, of Incline Village, Nevada and Sandhya Ramireddi, 58, of Pleasanton, in a 33-count indictment filed May 5, 2016 for the submission of fraudulent applications for H1-B work visas.
The Justice Department confirmed that Guntipally also admitted that she and her husband Venkat Guntipally founded and owned DS Soft Tech and Equinett, two employment-staffing companies for technology firms and that between 2010 and 2014, she and her co-defendants submitted more than 100 additional fraudulent petitions for foreign workers to be placed at other supposed companies.
These companies either never existed or didn’t employee H1-B visa workers and the H-1B visa applications were designed with the intention to create a pool of H1-B beneficiaries who then could be placed at legitimate employment positions in the Northern District of California and elsewhere, allowing Guntipally and her husband to earn money from these companies.
In addition, Guntipally admitted that she obstructed justice and directed her co-defendant to do the same, in an effort to mislead the agents and conceal the conspiracy.
According to the Justice Department, Guntipally was charged with one count of conspiracy, ten counts of substantive visa fraud, seven counts of using false statements, four counts of mail fraud and four counts of witness tampering, though she only pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge while the remaining charges were dismissed.
During the sentencing Judge Koh stated that the defendant’s crime does “damage to the rule of law.” Judge Koh stated that the defendant’s conduct “undermines respect for our legal immigration system” and does “tremendous damage to our institutions and affects the rights of others to immigrate to the United States.”
In addition to the prison term, Judge Koh also ordered Guntipally to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a $50,000 fine.
Judge Koh also sentenced Ramireddi to 14 months in prison and Kondamoori to 20 months in prison while Venkat Guntipally is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2018, at 9:15 a.m.
In an Arizona federal court, Canadian Indian Dilbagh Singh was sentenced 46 months in prison for travelling to the U.S. to have sex with a minor girl.
Singh previously pleaded guilty to international travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
According to the court documents, in January 2017, Singh began an online relationship with a 15-year old girl and over the next four months, he told the girl that he wanted to engage in various sex acts with her.
Finally in May 2017, Singh travelled from Canada to Flagstaff, Arizona, to meet the girl and have sex with her.
According a FOX report, when he checked into a hotel with condoms and alcohol, he was arrested by local and federal authorities.
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has been named the world’s sexiest Asian woman for the fifth time, dethroning Deepika Padukone, who topped the list last year, in the UK based newspaper Eastern Eye.
This year Chopra made her Hollywood debut in the film Baywatch and won another People’s Choice Award for her role in the TV serial Quantico.
“I cannot actually take credit for this at all. Full credit should be given to my genetics and your optics! Thank you Eastern Eye and to everyone who voted for me to be Asia’s Sexiest Woman, for what I’m told is a record breaking number of times! I feel grateful and am humbled. Consistency is key,” said Chopra who has surpassed 20 million followers on Instagram.
Now in its 14th year, the longest running list of its kind is based on millions of votes sent in by fans around the world, media coverage, impact and heat generated across various social media platforms.
The list this year was trending on Twitter across different countries including India during the voting process.
“Priyanka Chopra has become an incredible international ambassador for India and is smashing through glass ceilings all over the world. Apart from being courageous enough to fly into the unknown professionally, she has also done a lot of work for social causes, become a strong symbol for girl power and is making a young generation have big dreams. She is the perfect mix of beauty, brains, bravery and a kind hear,” Asjad Nazir, the Entertainment editor of Eastern Eye who founded the list and puts it together annually, said in a press release.
Television star Nia Sharma came in second, holding onto her position as the sexiest television star on the list.
“I dare to dream of reaching where Priyanka Chopra is one day. But seeing my name next to her in the list is no less a dream and struck me with a frenzied happiness. What my fans have done, I can’t pay them back in words. They make me feel confident and I feel I exist because of them. Yes it’s a TV girl who is weird, fierce, bizarre, wannabe or whatever names they call her. I owe my fans this joy and want to share it with them despite not being able to digest the development,” she said in a press release.
Padukone came in third this year while Alia Bhatt came if fourth ahead of Pakistani star Mahira Khan who was in fifth place with Drashti Dhami in sixth, Katrina Kaif in seventh, Shraddha Kapoor in eighth, Gauahar Khan in ninth and Rubina Dilaik in 10th.
Other names on the 2017 list include Niti Taylor (11), Sonam Kapoor (12), Sanaya Irani (13), Jennifer Winget (14), Esha Gupta (17), Krystle DSouza (21), Charli XCX (24), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (26), Erica Fernandes (28), Jacqueline Fernandez (30), Athiya Shetty (32), Humaima Malick (33), Anushka Shetty (42) and Anushka Sharma (44).
The complete 50 Sexiest Asian Women list for 2017 will be published in the Eastern Eye newspaper on Dec. 8 and the list of 50 Sexiest Asian men will release on Dec. 15.
Rasa offers bowls filled with such toppings as chicken tikka, tamarind shrimp and dehydrated bitter melon. (All Photos: Rey Lopez)
Ordering at Rasa, a new fast-casual restaurant opening Wednesday in Navy Yard, will probably feel familiar: Pick your base, choose a topping, finish things off with a sauce.
Some ingredients, like tikki, podi and kokum, though, may feel a little new.
The restaurant is one of the few in the area serving Indian food in the Chipotle-style manner, joining a national movement of new fast-casual joints — led by such chainlets as Curry Up Now in California and the Kati Roll Company in New York and London — that aim to introduce the cuisine to a wider market.
“There’s this perception that Indian food is unhealthy or heavy, or filled with butter,” says Sahil Rahman, 26, who founded Rasa with his childhood friend, Rahul Vinod, 27. “We’re excited to show people that’s not the case. It’s very clean and healthy food. It’s just in the way you prepare it.”
Signature bowls are seasoned with house-made spice blends that draw inspiration from southern and northern India. The Tikka Chance on Me ($9) is overflowing with basmati rice, chicken tikka, roasted tomato sauce, sautéed spinach and pickled radish. It’s topped with toasted-cumin yogurt and mint-cilantro chutney. The Aloo Need is Love bowl ($9) is a vegetarian-friendly mix of sweet potato tikki, coconut-ginger sauce, charred eggplant and a super grain mix made with quinoa, green lentils and ragi, an ancient grain with chocolate notes.
Alcoholic beverages such as a masala gin and tonic are served at Rasa
It’s worth veering from the pre-made bowls for the spiced beef, flavored with a blend of cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander and ginger that packs fiery heat. Try mixing it with dehydrated bitter melon and a peanut sesame sauce for a harmonious blend of spicy, earthy and savory flavors.
Alcoholic beverages such as a masala gin and tonic ($7.50) and canned rosé ($6) are also available.
The cheery space includes a wall of bright-pink shelves that hold books and mementos from Rahman and Vinod’s research travels to New Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai and Kerala. A trio of swinging nest chairs add a hint of playfulness, while rainbow-colored canvasses come from Rahman’s aunt. A huge cobalt door was imported from India and installed into the facade.
Rasa is a family affair that’s been a long time in the making. The menu was a collaborative effort between chef K.N. Vinod, Rahul’s father, and Surfy Rahman, Sahil’s father, along with their sons. The elder duo co-own Indique and Bombay Bistro, and worked together in India before moving to the United States.
Rasa is the brainchild of Sahil Rahman, front left, and Rahul Vinod, top right. Their fathers, Surfy Rahman, bottom right, and K.N. Vinod, top left, met in India while working at hotels.
The two younger men, who both grew up in Gaithersburg, hatched the plan for Rasa in high school, when they pitched it as a business plan for class and won $500. After college, both pursued careers in consulting and investment banking but eventually returned to their idea for a fast-casual Indian restaurant.
“When I was [working in New York], I didn’t eat Indian food very often,” Vinod says. “There was some small hole-in-the wall places that were okay, and there was also very high-end Michelin rated places I couldn’t afford.”
There had to be something in the middle, they thought.
The two left their corporate gigs in 2014 to open a restaurant that they hoped would reflect the changing culinary market and represent their backgrounds. “We are American, and we are Indian,” Rahman says. “India is so diverse, and we try to reflect that on our menu while not limiting ourselves.”
1247 First St. SE. 202-804-5678.
Correction: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this article included the incorrect name for Bombay Bistro. This version has been updated.
Sherin Mathews, of Richardson, Texas, is missing after disappearing Saturday morning. She had been sent outside at 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking her milk. (Richardson Police Department)
The adoptive parents of Indian American Sherin Mathews, Wesley and Sini Mathews, were ordered by a judge, not to have any access to their 3-year-old biological daughter after the state convinced the judge that the couple “were not fit to be parents.”
According to the Associated Press, Wesley has been charged with first-degree felony injury to a child in the death of Sherin Mathews and Sini has been charged with child endangerment or abandonment relating to the death.
Wesley had told investigators earlier that Sherin had died after choking on milk which he forced her to drink.
The Associated Press reported that on Tuesday, Richardson police Detective Jules Farmer testified that Wesley Mathews told officers that he was force-feeding Sherin, who was underweight, with milk in the early morning on Oct. 7 when she choked and died in his arms.
Wesley then told officers that he placed her body in the back of his car with a bag of garbage and drove to a shopping center where he threw away the garbage and then drove to the culvert to hide Sherin’s body, which was found there two weeks later on Oct. 22.
Wesley Mathews, 37, was arrested Saturday on charges of abandoning or endangering a child. (Richardson Police Department)
Farmer also said that Wesley had turned off a geo-locating setting on his phone that morning and that he appeared shocked when he was asked about it and also noticed a dark stain on the shorts Wesley was wearing.
The Associated Press further reported that Sini told police that she woke up at around 5 a.m. on Oct. 7 and found Sherin missing while Wesley was “sitting at the kitchen table with a strange look on his face,” Farmer said.
When she was asked if she knew if her husband had done something with their daughter, she said she was unsure and asked police if she would still be able to attend a baby shower later that day, Farmer added.
Stained clothes were also found in the trash inside the Mathews’ home, which are thought to be Sherin’s and are currently being tested.
Sini Mathews
Last week, Dr. Suzanne Dakil testified during the first day of the custodial hearing and said that she had suspected abuse after looking at Sherin’s x-rays and even reported her concerns to Child Protective Services (CPS).
Wesley and Sini had adopted Sherin from India and learned of her developmental condition on a trip to India in 2016.
In an earlier News India Times reports it was stated that Sherin was left home alone on the night of Oct. 6 when Wesley and Sini took their biological daughter out to dinner.
Wesley originally told police that Sherin had disappeared at 3 a.m. on Oct. 7 when he had punished her for not drinking her milk, but reported her missing five hours later.
Their biological daughter was taken into the custody of CPS shortly after Sherin was reported missing and is now living family in the Houston area.
Fourth-year Pradnya Narkhede, one of this year’s Marshall Scholarship recipients.(Photo: Jean Lacha, University of Chicago news website)
Three Indian-American women are among the 43 winners of the 2018 Marshall Scholarship awarded by the United Kingdom to Americans.
Pradnya Narkhede of University of Chicago, Shruthi Rajasekar of Princeton University, and Meghana Vagwala of Duke University, won the scholarship, the Marshall Scholars program announced Dec. 4, in Washington, D.C.
In what is a “rigorous and highly competitive” selection process, 43 “outstanding” students from across America will be taking up degree courses at leading British universities in a wide variety of disciplines beginning in September 2018, the announcement said.
Narkhede, a fourth-year student at U Chicago, said on the university website that she will use her Marshall Scholarship to combine two one-year degrees: the first, at the University of Edinburgh in science and technology in society, and the second at Imperial College London in plant chemical biology.
“This award provides me with an unrivaled opportunity to probe the relationship between science and sustainable development,” said Narkhede, who is particularly interested in the role of agriculture. “Equipped with the tools I hope to gain from my studies in the U.K., I aim to become a globally engaged scientist, contributing innovative discoveries that shape intelligent policy and improve people’s lives worldwide.”
Shruthi Rajasekar, among the 43 winners of the Marshall Scholarship for 2018. (Photo by David Nie, Class of 2019, Princeton University website)
Rajasekar, a senior at Princeton and a Music Major, is originally from Plymouth, Minnesota will go to London to work toward a Master of Arts in the new Opera Making and Writing program at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama during her first year abroad, according to the Princeton news website. During the second year, she will pursue a Master of Music in Ethnomusicology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS). She plans to use the degrees to help her meet her long-term goal of writing an opera set in India. Rajasekar is a performer and composer in classical Western and Southern Indian traditions. “I was truly stunned to receive the news,” she is quoted saying in the university website. “I’m still overwhelmed and deeply grateful. I very briefly called my family before returning to class,” she said as she did not want to interrupt an ongoing rehearsal.
Meghana Vagwala, a Duke University senior, won the 2018 Marshall Scholarship. (Photo: Duke U School of Medicine, Neurobiology)
“I am delighted that two distinguished Duke students and one alumnus have received this prestigious recognition,” said Duke President Vincent E. Price. “In their time on campus, Meghana, John and Antonio have each demonstrated tremendous academic potential and a dedication to service that reflects Duke’s core values. I wish them the very best as they embark on their studies in the United Kingdom.”
Vagwala , a senior at Duke University, North Carolina, wants to study cultural norms related to brain health in South India, the university newspaper Duke Today reported. She is at Duke on a four-year, merit-based Angier B. Duke Scholarship at Duke. As a Marshall Scholar, she plans for post-graduate studies in medical anthropology at the University of Edinburgh and in global mental health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the university website said. Vagwala is a self-designed Program II major at the intersection of neuroscience, ethics and anthropology, Duke Today reported. She has been published as a ‘first author’ in the journal Neuroethics, and won the top-paper conference prize. Vagwala has studied mental health issues in Nepal, worked as a research assistant in Dr. Kafui Dzirasa’s Laboratory for Psychiatry Neuroengineering, and spent ‘hundreds of hours’ helping survivors of domestic violence at the Compass Center for Women and Families in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the university newspaper said.
Named for Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the Marshall Scholarship Programme began in 1953 as a gesture of gratitude to the people of the United States for the assistance that the UK received after World War II under the Marshall Plan.
Over 4,000 Independent Retailers Rely on National Retail Solution’s POS Network to Boost Sales, Lower Costs, and Improve Operations
NEWARK, NJ
National Retail Solutions (NRS), operator of one of the nation’s fastest growing point-of-sale networks for independent retailers, said today that its point-of-sale (POS) terminals are already installed in over 4,000 independent retailers and convenience stores – helping these stores to increase sales, cut costs, and operate more efficiently.
Elie Y. Katz, President of NRS
Elie Y. Katz, President of NRS, said, “Bodegas and other independent retailers are hungry for tools to help them compete against large retail chains and big box stores. Our POS platform helps mom-and-pop stores to boost sales and gain new customers, while our mobile app makes it easy for store owners to manage their operations whether they are in the store, at home or on the road.”
NRS’ state-of-the-art POS terminals are at the heart of its platform. The terminals, which include customer and retailer facing displays, scanners, and beacon technologies, enable retailers to offer and accept electronic coupons and special offers from leading CPG providers.
NRS’ POS terminals help retailers to attract new customers and increase sales with special offers, discounts and coupons on both popular brands and ethnic specialty products. These promotions are targeted to the retailers’ existing customers and the over 3.2 million members of NRS’ popular BR Club rewards program nationwide. The POS terminals also provide merchants with easy-to-use tools to control costs, optimize inventory, and process transactions efficiently.
“For years, CPG suppliers have sought more effective ways to market to inner-city consumers. This large and diverse consumer segment typically purchases consumables from local, independent, ethnically-focused neighborhood stores,” said Eli Korn, VP of NRS. “Through our platform, CPG’s can reach both urban consumers and the independent retailers who serve them with targeted promotions, coupons, and POS advertising.”
About National Retail Solutions (NRS): NRS operates a point-of-sale (POS) terminal-based platform for independent retailers and bodega owners nationwide. The platform provides a robust portfolio of tools to help these retailers compete more effectively including rewards programs, consumer coupons, wholesaler discounts, and integration with Boss Revolution® communication and payment service products. Consumer package goods (CPG) suppliers are able to leverage the NRS platform to provision promotions, coupons and special offers to independent retailers and their predominantly urban, ethnically focused customer bases nationwide. NRS is a subsidiary of IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT).
NEW YORK – An Indian American woman, Amarjit Kaur, 34, of Queens, New York, has been missing since Tuesday morning when she left her home on 128th Street in South Ozone Park to go to a local bank.
According to NBC4, Kaur’s car was found near the bank on 113th Street and her phone was inside the car.
Police say that Kaur is six weeks pregnant and is also the mother of two 7-year-old twins.
Kaur was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and yellow pants.
A surveillance video, released by authorities shows the 5 feet, 4 inches tall woman walking alone on the sidewalk for a short time before she disappeared.
Witnesses with information on the mother’s whereabouts are urged to contact police.
