Independent and Largest Newspaper of the Asian
Transcription
Independent and Largest Newspaper of the Asian
Independent and Largest Newspaper of the Asian-Indian Community in North-East Ohio GENERAL DENTIST Cosmetic Dentistry Emergencies & New Patients Welcome Early AM, Evening & Weekend Hours Most Dental Insurance Plans Medicaid, Caresource Accepted Dr. Shyam Sharma, DDS 440-826-0423 RootCanal, Dentures, Bleaching, Crowns, Bridges Middleburg Hts., 18660 Bagley Rd., Suite 304 (Bldg 2) JUNE, 2011 India ™ INTERNATIONAL INDIA GROCERS 6855 W. 130th St., Parma Hts. OH 44130 Phone 440-885-0215 All Indian Groceries Fresh Vegetables (We accept Ohio Food Stamps) Other Ohio Location: Columbus 614.798.9331 www.allindiagrocers.com Voice of Asian-Indian Americans PRICELESS–ONE COPY PER FAMILY CLEVELAND, OHIO Photo by Dan Nottage Cleveland Asian Festival: Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson (center) with a group of Indian participants. At least three Indian groups presented classical Indian dances, drawing large audiences. The two-day festival on May 21-22 had a strong Indian community participation. Picture below: “KathakByShweta” dance school Director Shweta Maniar with one of her students at the festival. Her school presented a captivating show. Asian-Indian Population Explodes Across USA WASHINGTON: The Indian American population in the United States has exploded over the past decade, far outpacing the growth of other Asian groups, according to the newly released 2010 Census data. Indians have surpassed Filipinos as the nation’s second largest Asian population after Chinese, the data show. In 19 of the first 26 states for which figures were released May 15, Indians have emerged as the largest Asian subgroup, with especially large majorities in the Midwest and South. The figures for Ohio are yet to be released. New York and Florida, once the biggest magnets for Indian immigrants, have been replaced by California, especially the area around Silicon Valley. According to the detailed Census demographic analysis, California’s Indian population climbed INDIA INTERNATIONAL 1801 E.12th Street, Suite 1923, Cleveland, OH 44114 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLEVELAND, OH PERMIT No. 1789 68 percent from 2000 to 2010, to 528,000 people, making it by far the largest Asian Indian community in the U.S. New York state’s Asian Indian population, meanwhile, grew by 24.6 percent over the 10-year period, to 313,000. Six of the top 10 cities that have at least 10,000 Asian Indian residents are in California: Cupertino, Fremont, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara, all in Silicon Valley; and Livingston and Yuba City, rural communities with large concentrations of Sikh farmers. In each city, at least one in seven residents is Asian Indian. “The growth in population is because of job opportunities and better education,” says Raj Bhanot, a tax auditor for the state. California’s Indian-American population has now surpassed the Japanese and Korean communities in size, notes Hans Johnson, a demographer at the Public Policy Institute of California. INDIAN DELIGHT Enjoy the delite of Indian Food 5507 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 Close to Downtown Ph 216-651-4007 Lunch Buffet: Mon-Sat: 11 AM - 3 PM, Sun 12-3 PM Dining: Mon-Sat: 5:30 PM–10 PM; Sun 5 PM–9 PM ClassicIndianFood.Com CarryOut & Catering Available for all Occasions (Continued on Page 12) INSIDE What’s Happening ........... 2 NRIs Can Vote ............... 4 Follow Your Dreams ....... 5 India Trivia Quiz .............. 5 Community News ......... 6–7 Art & Culture ............... 8–-9 Asian Festival .............. 10 Community News .......... 11 Indian Population in US... 12 Humor, Riddles .............. 13 Immigration ................... 15 A THOUGHT FOR TODAY Man is what he believes. –Anton Chekhov About 10,000 People read India International every month: To advertise, call 216.781.4055, [email protected] Asian-Indian Community Associations WHAT’S HAPPENING ~ Community Calendar in Greater Cleveland Asha for Education–Cleveland Fehmida Kapadia 216-513-6977 Association of Asian-Indian Women in Ohio (AAIWO) (440) 218-6959 www.aaiwo.org Margaret Gonsalves 440-479-6214 American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) Zahid Siddiqui (440) 238-3796 Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio (AIPNO) Shantaram S. Pai (440) 734-1830 Bengali Cultural Society Presents An Evening with SITAR maestro Purbayan Chatterjee, Disciple of Pt.Ali Akbar Khan. FREE and OPEN to the public! Satish Mahna (216) 228-1168 American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI) Indian Classical Music Society International Services Center presents the 22nd Annual International Folk Festival Sunday, June 26, 2011 2:00–6:00 PM at Wade Oval in University Circle Connect with peoples and cultures from around the world in one afternoon. Specialty foods from local international restaurants and Fair Trade goods for sale. For the latest info about the Festival, visit www.internationalfolkfestival.org For information, contact Ken Kovach at 216-245-5150 or [email protected] Debabrata Ghosh (440) 349-3678 Bharati Cultural Society Meera Subramaniam (440) 572-0778 Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Sreedhar Nair (440) 759-1500 FICA Mona Alag (440) 256-3247 Gujarati Samaj of Grt. Cleveland Ashokbhai Patel (440) 339-4610 Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society Surinder Singh Chauhan (440)243-8439 Punjabi Sports Club of Cleveland Presents Guru Nanak Foundation Dharminder S. Kala (330) 528-0262 Indian Classical Music Society Ravi Gaonkar (440) 838-6414 India-Ohio Chamber of Commerce Radhika Reddy (216) 344-9441 Jain Society of Greater Cleveland Shanti Jain (440) 498-8234 Kasturi Kannada Society Janardhan Kamath (440) 498-8748 Kerala Association of Ohio Anil Kumar 440-572-9571 NE Ohio Marathi Mandal(NEOMM) Jay Masurekar (202) 436-0997 Marwari Association Sushila Mohanka (330) 598-0642 NetIP N. Shah [email protected] Orissa Society of America Punjabi Khed Mela with Live Concert Saturday, June 25 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Longwood Park 1494 E. Aurora Road Macedonia, OH 44056 Brirendra Jena (330) 494-2618 Punjabi Cultural Society Barjinder Dhanoa (216) 650-2311 NE Ohio Telugu Assn (NEOTA) Sravanthi Vallampati (216) 233-9424 [email protected] NorthEast Ohio Tamil Sangam (NEOTS) Meyy Meyyazhagan 440-899-6394 South Asian Bar Association of Cleveland Neelam Gill 440-201-3460 Saffron Patch Temples Shaker Heights 216-295-0400 Akron 330-836-7777 Shiva-Vishnu Temple 7733 Ridge Rd, Parma, OH 44129 Phone: (440) 888-9433 BAPS Swaminarayan Temple 2915 Laurel Rd, Brunswick OH 44212 Phone: (330) 220-4020 ISSO Swaminarayan Temple 13354 Pearl Road, Strongsville, OH 44136 Phone: (440) 238-2222 Jain Temple (Jain Center) 3226 Boston Mills Rd, Richfield, OH 44286 Phone: 330-659-0832 Gurudwara - Richfield Tadka North Omlsted 440-734-1500 Udupi Cafe Parma Heights 440-743-7154 India’s Cafe & Kitchen Parma 440-842-7724 Asian-Indian Stores Asian Food & Spices (Guru Nanak Foundation) Solon Ph: 440-248-0801 4220 Broadview Road, Richfield, OH 44286 Phone: 330-659-3748 Gurudwara Bedford North Olmsted Ph: 440-777-8101 38 Tarbell Ave. Bedford OH 44146 Ph:440-232-1702 Parma Ph: 440-845-0000 India Food & Spices (There is no Asian-Indian church or mosque in Cleveland area) St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church For more information, Contact Mohinder Bhela 216-280-4201 Harjit Dhillion 216-244-5727 Iqbal Boparai 330-754-9396 Amarjit Kang 330-998-3501 Palwinder Sohal 216-375-8463 National/Global Organizations National Federation of Indian American Association (NFIA) w ww.nfia.net Parma Heights Ph: 440-885-0215 Indo-American Foods North Randall Ph: 216-662-0072 Indo-American Convenient Laxmi Groceries & Spices Lakshmi Plaza Mayfield Heights Ph: 440-460-4601 Parma Heights Ph: 440-885-4440 North Olsmted 440-734-0500 Spice Corner Cafe Tandoor Akron Ph: 330-535-1033 Cleveland Heights 216-371-8500 Aurora 330-562-5334 Westlake 440-835-7999 Ram Jewelers Cuisine of India Indian Fashion Parma Heights 440-842-5907 440-666-2197 440-843-4463 Indian Delight 5507 Detroit Rd,Cleveland 216-651-4007 Sunny Auto Repair Jaipur Junction 2 Fore details on the Rath Yatra and other temple programs and activities, please visit www.shivavishnutemple.org 216-362-6050 North Royalton 440-842-3555 Flavors of India Bollywood Films in Theater North Olmsted 440-779-5774 440-717-1699 www.hibsa.com Or call 440 888.9433 Indian Embassy & Consulates in US EMBASSY OF INDIA Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (www.gopio.net) P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, PAGE Sunday, June 12, 9:30 a.m. Patel Brothers Bamboo Garden There are four consulates: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston. Ohio residents are served by the New York Consulate for visa & other services. Chicago Consulate General Executive Office: 600 Enterprise Drive, Suite 108 Oak Brook, IL 60523 Phone: 630-990-2277 President: Dr. Vinod Shah Rath Yatra Parma Heights Ph: 440-842-2402 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Tel: 202-939-7000 www.indianembassy.org American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) www.aapiusa.org Join the annual Mayfield Heights Ph: 440-446-8200 Headquarters: 319 Summit Hall Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 USA Ph: 301-926-3013, Email:[email protected] President: Rajen Anand (562) 537-1077 CT 06904, USA; Phone: (818) 708-3885 Email: [email protected] President (USA): Inder Singh, Tel: 818-708-3885; Shiva-Vishnu Temple India Grocers Kabaddi Tournament, Asian-Indian Restaurants Kids & Women Events Accompanied by Anubrata Chatterjee on Tabla Venue: Bamboo Garden 5106 Great Northern Blvd, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Date: Saturday, 11 June 2011; Time: 5:30 pm Ticket Price: $20 & $10 (Students with Valid ID) DINNER INCLUDED Contact: [email protected] (440) 237 2791 Asian Imports Contact: Dr. T. Mathew 216-591-9632 www.stgregorioscleveland.org [email protected] Please send updates to: [email protected] What’s Where CONSULATES: of India, New York 3 East, 64th Street, New York, NY10065 Tel: 212-774-0600 Fax 212-861-3788 E-mail: [email protected] www.indiacgny.org Tel: 312-595-0405 E-mail: [email protected] www.chicago.indianconsulate.com San Francisco Tel: 415-668-0662 E-mail: [email protected] www.cgisf.org Houston Tel: 713-626-2148/49 E-mail: [email protected] www.cgihouston.org INDIA INTERNATIONAL Indian Visa Services Outsourced With effect from October 01, 2007, visa applicants are requested to obtain visas through: Travisa Outsourcing, Inc. (All queries relating to Indian visa services should be directed to them) 316 E. 53rd St., 2nd Floor New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212) 754-9900 Fax: (212) 754-9905 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.indian-visa.com JUNE, 2011 Perception Isn’t Always Reality Tenth Annual Understanding Diversity Workshop organized by the FBI June 21 and 22, 2011 Ohio Aerospace Institute, 22800 Cedar Point Rd, Cleveland, Ohio 44142 Tuesday, June 21, 2011 and Wednesday, June 22, 2011 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s conference focuses on the reality that perception isn’t always reality. Each informational and interactive session will deal with aspects of recognizing our flash judgments, as well as how to educate others about diversity, human interaction, and more. For registration and information, e-mail to: [email protected] or call to register at (216) 622-3695. You may call (216) 622-6615 with any questions or more information. Laxmi Groceries & Spices 6339 Olde York Road, Parma Heights, OH 44130 (Next to Udupi Cafe) Tel: 440-842-2402 Fax: 440842-2403 All Indian Groceries & Fresh Vegetables We accept Ohio Food Stamps OPEN: Mon thru Fri: 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sat-Sun: 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sarmiento Immigration Law Firm J.P. Sarmiento, Attorney-at-Law 5005 Rockside Rd., Ste. 600, Cleveland OH 44131 Phone: 1.800.496.8043, 1-216-573-3712 Fax:1-888-513-6917 www.sarmientoimmigration.com • Family and Marriage-Based Immigration • Employment-Based Immigration • Citizenship & Naturalization • Change of Status and Visa Extensions • Deportation and Immigration Court Representation, • Asylum &nd Refugee • Non-Immigrant Visas: Tourist, Student, H-1Bs, E, O, • Waivers Including J-1 and I-601 Hardship Waivers, • Detention and Bond Cases, [Washington DC Office– By Appointment Only: 1875 I St. NW Ste. 500 Washington DC 20006] JaipurJunction AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE 9377 W.Sprague Rd, N.Royalton, OH 44133 Ph 440-842-3555 Lunch, Dining & Carry-out Catering Available for All Occasions Fri-Sat-Sun: All-You-Can-Eat Lunch Buffet 12- 4 p.m. Open 7 days 12 pm–10 pm www.thejaipurjunction.com Jayashree Bidari, J.D. Attorney-at-Law IMMIGRATION: Green Card; H-1B & Employment Visas; Citizenship; Family, Business Visas; Deportation; Asylum & Refugee 27540 Detroit Rd, Suite 202, Westlake, OH 44145 Phone:(440) 892-8846,Toll Free: 1-(888) 700-0073 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.jbidari.com Arun’s Tennis Academy LEARN TENNIS FROM THE BEST COACHES UNDER THE SUPERVISON OF DR. ARUN JETLI T he Coach of 8 High School State Champions, Scores of Division One Players and Six Touring Pros, a National Champion and 10 Division One NCAA Captains Tennis Camps at University School, Hunting Valley Campus and Wembley Club in Sunil Sipaeya, ranked # 1 in India and #340 in the world, with tennis the summer of 2011 coach Arun Jetli Starting June 13, 2011 – Mon. through Fri. Each two-week session - 3 hrs. a day –$499 or 6 hrs. a day $899 Time: 9 am - 12 pm and 1:15-4:15 pm $50 rebate for early registration before June 6, 2011 Contact 216-570-2140 or 216-765-1059 [email protected] www.arunstennisacademy.com JUNE, 2011 Asian Imports Groceries and Food from India 26885 Brookpark Extn., North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 440-777-8101 Indian Groceries and Food Indian Pickles & Spices Exotic Icecream & Drinks Frozen Foods & Breads Fresh Vegetables Indian Dresses and Jewelry We accept Food Stamps Tuesday-Saturday: 10:30 - 7:30; Sunday: 10:30 - 5:30 Monday Closed INDIA INTERNATIONAL PAGE 3 INDIA INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 10, NUMBER 5 JUNE, 2011 PUBLISHER & EDITOR Prakash N. Sinha Published by India International Inc. Business & Editorial office: 1801 East 12th Street Suite 1923 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Phone: 216-781-4055 E-Mail: [email protected] Why India International ? India International is a secular and independent newspaper — a newspaper that doesn’t belong to any religious, political, social, cultural group or society, a newspaper that’s truly independent. It aims to create a better understanding between Asian-Indian Americans, other ethnic groups, and the mainstream American society. We believe that mutual understanding fosters friendship, harmony and peace. America is a beautiful mosaic of many cultures and faiths. AsianIndian Americans are all proud Americans and believe in American values — freedom, equality, tolerance, and respect for each other. Amid all its diversity in America, there is a unique unity that we aim to uphold and preserve. India International supports basic human values and upholds the dignity of all human beings – values that are above religion and politics. We believes in universal brotherhood ! India International seeks to promote close friendly relations between the United States and India, the two largest democracies. India International also seeks to help preserve and promote the precious Asian-Indian culture, heritage and values. And it seeks to uphold the pride and prestige of Asian-Indian Americans, as well as others’. India International is published monthly from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It is distributed free in Greater Cleveland and surrounding areas. Yearly subscription is $10 for home delivery. Copyright 2011 India International Inc. Reproduction of any article, report or photograph without Editor’s written permission is prohibited. PAGE 4 India’s Southern Promises A region that is more vibrant economically, and also more appreciative of relations with the U.S. Chennai, India: Forty miles south of Chennai, in India’s south, on the Bay of Bengal, lies Mahabalipuram. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, abounding in temples and massive frescoes, all cut from solid rock. Yet in the seventh century, when carvers began chiseling out the temples, this was India’s portal to Southeast Asia. From here, trade networks reached as far as Indonesia, spreading Indian goods along with the influence of the ruling Pallava kingdom. More than a millennium later, Mahabalipuram’s legacy lives on in Chennai, formerly Madras and now India’s fourth-largest city. Located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai remains India’s gateway to the Indo-Pacific region. This city and this region are deeply embedded in the global supply chain and trading network. It is here that American businesses are finding some of their largest markets. It is also the place where U.S. policy makers may find the greatest opportunities for building the U.S.India relationship, especially given New Delhi’s recent mixed signals about its interest in closer ties with America. Most Americans think of northern or western India when they consider the rise of the world’s largest democracy. New Delhi, the political capital, and Mumbai, the financial one, regularly receive Western visitors. India’s tense relationship with Pakistan draws attention to its northwest borders, while its ongoing territorial troubles with China similarly center on its far northern boundaries. Yet India’s north is poorer and less developed than the south. During my visit, Maoist rebels in the northeast ambushed and killed 11 policemen, while farmers in Uttar Pradesh state, near Delhi, rampaged against police, killing some and holding state officials hostage. That’s not to say that the south of the subcontinent isn’t plagued by poverty. Still, it is more educated than the north and is home to some of India’s most vibrant cities and industries. Bangalore, located several hundred miles west of Chennai, is the center of the country’s space and IT sectors. Kerala state, also to Chennai’s west, boasts of nearuniversal literacy in a country in which only 74% of the populace can read. Tamil Nadu hosts hundreds of universities and colleges—from the University of Madras, founded by the British in 1857, to tiny technical schools located in crumbling buildings. By Michael Auslin While it is hard to believe that many of the state’s 532 engineering colleges provide an education comparable to their larger counterparts, they nonetheless testify to the region’s focus on education. This climate is drawing leading global companies to Chennai. Long after the region served as the gateway to Asia, it became the original home of the East India Company during the 1640s. Madras’s cosmopolitanism grew throughout the centuries of British rule. The East India Company has been succeeded by Ford, Hyundai, Nissan and auto-components manufacturer BorgWarner, to name a few of the corporations that have made Chennai known as the “Detroit of the East.” Indeed, the automotive industry is one of Chennai’s standouts, just as IT shapes Bangalore. India is the world’s largest small-car market, and Ford, for example, has seen growth of sales quadruple since 2009. Chennai is the small-car hub for the region for Ford, a senior company executive tells me, and from here it exports cars, engines and components to Africa, Oceania and Japan. Suzuki, BMW, Hyundai and others similarly produce in Chennai hundreds of thousands of cars and motorcycles, making this city and its surroundings one of India’s most vibrant economic clusters. American companies are clearly but one part of the landscape here. N. Srinivasan, head of the Tamil Nadu branch of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, stresses that the Chennai region is increasingly linked to a broadening Asian network. Over 900 Australian companies operate in the region, he tells me. And of the 120,000 Indian students who go to Australia to study—onefifth more than those who travel to the U.S.—those from Tamil Nadu, native speakers of the Tamil language, can interact with the Indian diaspora in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, since most of those expatriates speak the same language. One Asian country that draws negative remarks is China. I am told by various executives and officials that China poses the greatest threat to Indian economic growth. It undercuts prices and is not considered a reliable supplier of goods. Yet, in the long-run, argues a managing director of BorgWarner, India’s production costs are more competitive than China’s, since its quality is higher and it will have a younger, more educated work force far into the future. In particular, the south will lead the way, he and other businessmen tell me, with skilled labor and managerial capacity. Not all is rosy, of course. Many of India’s graduates are functionally illiterate, though perhaps less so in the south. This part of the country is plagued by the same poor infrastructure as the rest. Poverty here is similarly appalling, not only in Chennai’s slums, but throughout the city, where makeshift lean-to’s butt up against the walls of the Madras High Court. Corruption is also a factor here: The daughter of the state’s chief minister is currently under indictment for bribe-taking in a national telecom scandal, a charge she denies. Graft had become an issue in the recent elections. Yet there is a dynamism in Chennai that should attract American (and other foreign) companies. The real growth, I’m told, is in the small and medium enterprise sector. American SMEs can find willing Indian partners, and be assured of an Anglo-inspired system of law to protect their rights, unlike in China. Over the next decade, perhaps Washington should focus on this part of the country, creating business opportunities (Chennai’s consulate already handles more work visas than others in India) and fostering cultural ties with the local communities, instead of concentrating solely on New Delhi’s recent rejection of U.S. entrants for a major fighter plane contract and the scuttling of the heralded civilian nuclear deal. Moreover, staff of the U.S. Consulate tell me, people in the south have much more positive images of America than their countrymen do in the north. Touring Fort St. George, first headquarters of the East India Company, I run into a French couple. He is helping build Michelin’s •1 billion ($1.43 billion) tire plant in Chennai, which will be their hub for Asia. Nearly 400 years after the British first arrived to trade in Madras, the opportunities of the Indian south remain bountiful. The lesson here is that Americans will benefit most if they focus where they are wanted. In the long run, that will create a more stable IndoAmerican relationship that could lead to true partnership. Mr. Auslin is the director of Japan studies at the American Enterprise Institute and a columnist for WSJ.com. He is the author of “Pacific Cosmopolitans: A Cultural History of U.S.-Japan Relations” (Harvard University Press, 2011). (Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal Support a child’s education in India: visit www.ashanet.org INDIA INTERNATIONAL Dalai Lama Relinquishes Political Power Dharamsala, India: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has formally relinquished his political and administrative role by signing amendments to the Constitution of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The amendments, mostly pertaining to political and administrative powers vested with 75-year-old Dalai Lama, were debated during the special three day session of the Tibetan Parliament and presented to the Dalai Lama, who accepted them on May 29, 2011, said Tenzin Norbu, Tibetan Parliament Spokesperson. After the approval of the amendments to Tibetan Charter (Constitution) by Dalai Lama, “All political powers formerly held jointly by him and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to represent and serve the whole people of Tibet, are now vested in the CTA and in particular its democratic leadership and Dalai Lama would only remain the spiritual head as per his wishes,” he said. During the special session from May 26 to 28, the Parliament approved a new preamble and inherent rights and responsibilities to be assigned to the Dalai Lama under Article 1 of the charter. Under Article 1, the Dalai Lama is the “Protector and Symbol of Tibet and Tibetan People” and his duties would be to provide advice and encouragement with respect to protection and promotion of physical, spiritual, ethical and cultural well being of the Tibetan people, to remain engaged in efforts to reach a satisfactory solution to the question of Tibet and to accomplish the cherished goals of the Tibetan people. He will provide suggestions in various forms to the Assembly of Tibetan Peoples’ Deputies and Kashag (council of ministers) in matters of importance to the Tibetan people, including the community and its institutions in exile, at his own initiative or at the request of those bodies. The Dalai Lama will meet with world leaders and other important individuals to speak on behalf of the Tibetans, to explain and discuss their concerns and needs as well as to designate representatives and special envoys appointed by the cabinet to serve the interests of the Tibetan people in any part of the world, according to the approved amendments. The powers vested with the Dalai Lama as head of the executive under Article 19 have been delegated to the Prime Minister, who is now empowered to approve and promulgate bills and regulations passed by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile while other responsibilities have been devolved to the parliament and the judiciary. (Continued on next page) JUNE, 2011 Follow Your Dream... Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston 4996 Foote Road, Medina, Ohio 44256 Fax: 330-721-7644 Compiled by Aditi Sinha Photo by Prakash Sinha T Good thoughts are no he only limits on T hose who follow the human achievement crowd are quickly lost in are self-imposed. –Author Unknown it. better than good dreams, unless they be executed. – Denis Waitley –Ralph W. Emerson T ime is more valuable Well done is better than The greatest pleasure in than money. You can get well said.–Benjamin Franklin life is in doing what people say you cannot –Walter Bagehot do. more money, but you Do what you love and the can’t get more time. money will follow. –Jim Rohn And thus Spake the Mahatma... Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. –Mohandas Gandhi Dalai Lama (Continued from previous page) Believe that you have it, and you have it. –Latin Proverb Life is a sum of all your choices. –Albert Camus In April, Harvard scholar Lobsang Sangay was elected as Prime Minister. Another landmark amendment made to the charter is the annulment of Council of Regency enshrined in Articles (31- 35), which empowered the council to “assume the role of Dalai Lama’s role in circumstances when the latter is not acting as head of the state”. The Parliament also approved that the title of ‘Tibetan Government-in-Exile’ be changed to ‘Tibetan Administration’. The meeting approved proposals to appeal to His Holiness to assume the role of ceremonial head of state in addition to the Preamble and Article 1 which the Dalai lama rejected but gave his consent to the Preamble and inherent responsibilities to be assigned to him in Article 1. However, the new duties are not binding on the Dalai Lama. Terming the devolution of the Dalai Lamas formal authority as a watershed in Tibet’s history, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament said the 14th Parliament lived up to his aspirations and visions for the both short and long term benefit of Tibet and the Tibetan people. (Agencies) Nationwide Health Care, LLC 6325 York Road, Suite 101, Parma Hts. OH 44130 Ph:440-888-8888Fx:440-888-8895 W hen you, your friend or neighbor are living in own house or apartment and not willing to live in a nursing home, but still need assistance contact our company. Our Nurses and Home Health Aides can help you through a difficult period in your life. Home Health Aide services include: personal care, homemaker services, meal preparation, shopping and light housekeeping. N O W H I R I N G: Home Health Aide We are currently hiring Home Health Aides to provide health care at patient’s home. When your family members, friends or neighbor needed care you can help them in their house and have extra income. We offer: Competitive pay; medical insurance for full-time employee, great working environment; flexible work hour’s opportunities to expand your skills; good benefits; management that cares about you. Please contact our Representatives: Ms. Gothai Jayaraj, Asian Indian Liaison, 216-661-7550 Ms. LeHang Truong, Asian Liaison, TEL: 614-668-2065 E-mail: [email protected] JUNE, 2011 –Marsha Sinetar Did You Know ? That India International is the largest Asian-Indian newspaper in Ohio That about 10,000 people read India International in North-East Ohio every month That it is your best connection to the 30,000strong, educated, affluent Asian-Indian community in North-East Ohio That it is available at all branches of Cuyahoga County Public Library, many other libraries, all Indian temples, several churches, Indian stores & restaurants in NE Ohio. INDIA INTERNATIONAL A firm of attorneys practicing in North East Ohio with four law offices throughout the region. Practice areas include: Immigration; Litigation; Creditor Rights and Collections Providing quality legal services for your business or personal needs for over 79 years. www.ccj.com Duriya Dhinojwala, Esq. [email protected] Phone: 330-723-6404 (Ext. 518) INDIA QUIZ How well do you know India? Let’s take a journey through this ancient land. We will embark on a journey starting from North India and ending in the South, exploring ten important states of the country. 1. We begin with the state of Jammu and Kashmir, a beautiful mountainous region. Strangely, it has two capitals. The winter capital is Jammu. What is the capital in summer? 2. Moving a bit southward, we reach Punjab. It is also known as the land of the Five Rivers. Four of them are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Beas. What is the fifth? 3. Further South, we reach Rajasthan, the land of maharajahs and palaces. It is also the largest state of India. It houses the oldest mountain range in India, the Aravallis. Atop these hills is located the only hill station of the state. What is the name of this hill station? 4. Now we go eastwards. After a long journey, we reach Bengal. Its capital, Calcutta, is home to India’s largest cantilever bridge, the Howrah Bridge. Which river does it span? 5. Resuming our journey southward, we arrive at the gates of Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa. An atmosphere of past grandeur envelops this place. What is this city known as? 6. We explore the nearby areas and come to Chhattisgarh. What does the name of this state mean, provided that the meaning of ‘chhattis’ is thirty-six? 7. Then we arrive in Andhra Pradesh. There we see the state bird of Andhra. It is brightly colored with shades of blue and turquoise. Scientifically, it is called Coracias benghalensis. What is its common name? 8. Coming to Karnataka, we find that the royal gardens of the city of Bangalore are truly amazing. This city has become the heartthrob of India’s IT industry. What is this metropolis also known as? 9. As we enter Kerala, the lush green and tropical land stretches before us with its wealth of natural beauty. There is a series of caves in Kerala containing Neolithic inscriptions. Which famous caves am I talking about? 10. At last, after thousands of miles of traveling, we stand at the tip of peninsular India in Tamil Nadu. The vast ocean stretches on endlessly before us. What is the southernmost point of the Indian peninsula known as? (Answers on Page 14) PAGE 5 COMMUNITY NEWS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Convention Focuses on Teaching Hindi to Younger Generation T he 15th Convention of the International Hindi Association (IHA) was held in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday 29 April through May 1, 2011. A 27-member Reception Committee was formed to look after the grandiose preparation of the convention which was held at Days Inn Conference Center, 4742 Brecksville Road, Richfield, and at Brecksville Middle School, Mill Road, Cleveland, Ohio. The grand inauguration of the Convention was kicked-off by Dr. Anoop Kapoor, the convener of the convention on April 29 with a creative and innovative musical play “3000 Years of Hindi Bhasha ki Yatra” staged by the local chapter of the Hindi Association. The gala evening included captivating dances and melodious music directed by Dr. Sneh Raj. More than 80 children and adults performed various mesmerizing dances. This was followed by a Kavi Sammelan where poets from various chapters of IHA recited poems. The poets included Maha Kavi Gulab Khandelwal, the IHA President and Sri Surendra Nath Tiwari. The second day of the event included various workshops to promote the teaching of Hindi in public schools. Various thoughts were presented for teaching of Hindi while the students have fun in the process of learning. Mrs. Kiran Khaitan organized various workshops like “Khel Khel mein Hindi Shiksha,” “Hindi Shiksha ko Ruchikar kaise banayen,” “Typing Hindi on Computer,” etc. The two-day event included a rip-roaring Hasya Kavi Sammelan on the second day. The poets were some of the most famous from India and included Dr. Vishnu Saxena, Sri Sarvesh Asthana, Dr. Praveen Shukla, and poetess Ms. Kamal Musaddi. A full auditorium thoroughly enjoyed the four-hour evening of non-stop hasya kavita (humor poetry). Guests arrived from various states of the USA and from India. The Team IHA Convention 2011 worked diligently with the logistics of picking up guests and providing them accommodation. The keynote speaker of the event Sri Kesari Nath Tripathi, past Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha captivated the hearts of audience with his motivating speech. Dr. Ranbir (Continued on Page 12) At Cleveland State University: from left to right– Dr. William Morgan, Prof. of Sociology; Dr. Chittaranjan Jain, retired Prof., Dept of Engineering; Dr. Nirmal Selvamony, visiting Indian Scholar; Dr. Murali Nair, Prof. of Sociology; and Dr. Gregory Sadlek, Dean of the College of Liberat Arts and Social Sciences. The occasion was Dr. Selvamony’s lecture “A New Perspective on Indian Art” on June 7, 2011. The Indian fellowship program, created several years ago, was made possible by generous contributions by the Indian community in Cleveland. International Hindi Convention in Cleveland At the Kavi Sammelan: Dr. Kamal Musaddi (Poetess), Sri Sarvesh Asthana (Poet), Dr. Vishnu Saxena (Poet), Dr. Praveen Shukla (Poet) Front Row (Left to Right): Mrs. Renu Gupta, Mr. Akash Kapoor, Mrs. Anju Kapoor, Dr. Anoop Kapoor (Convener), Dr. Than Mal Jain, Dr. Shail Jain, Mrs. Madhu Khandelwal, Mrs. Madhu Varshney. Middle Row (Left to Right): Mrs. Saroj Agrawal, Mrs. Sushila Mohanka, Mrs. Krishna Khandelwal, Mr. Gulab Khandelwal (Maha Kavi), Sri Kesari Nath Tripathi (Speaker), Dr. Nand Lal Singh, Dr. Praveen Shukla (Poet), Dr. Rakesh Ranjan, Mr. Ashok Khandelwal, Mr. Anil Gupta, Mr. Raghubir Goyal, Dr. Munna Lal Agarwal, Mr. Kamal Khandelwal, Mr. Manju Kant Dwivedi. Back Row (Left to Right): Mr. K.K. Mayank, Mr. Rajendra Misra, Dr. Ravi Prakash Singh, Mr. Ram Babu Gautam, Mrs. Archana Agarwal, Mrs. Kiran Goyal, Dr. Shobha Khandelwal, Dr. Satish Misra, Sri Sarvesh Asthana (Poet), Dr. Vishnu Saxena (Poet), Mr. Alok Misra, Mrs. Suniti Misra, Mr. Yagya Prasad Tiwari. PAGE 6 INDIA INTERNATIONAL JUNE, 2011 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMUNITY NEWS First Annual Convention Picture above, from left to right: Dr. Satheesh Kathula (Secretary, AIPO); Dr. Gautam Samadder (Vice President, AIPO); Dr. Ajeet Singhavi (President, AAPI); Dr. Deepak Kumar (President Elect, Ohio State Medical Association); Dr. Sunita Kanumury (President Elect, AAPI); Dr. Satish Mahna (President, AIPO); Dr. Prashanth Kesav (Treasurer, AIPO). Left: AIPO President Dr Satish Mahna addresses the convention delegates and guests. Memorable AIPO First Convention A large number of Indian American physicians from all over Ohio gathered in Cleveland May 20-21, 2011 at Wyndham Hotel, downtown Cleveland to hold the first annual convention of their newly-formed statewide organization, Association of Indian Physicians of Ohio (AIPO). “The first annual convention represents a moment of excitement and joy for all Indian physicians in Ohio, after the major sister chapters in Ohio came together to form AIPO,” said Dr Satish Mahna, a founder and the first President of AIPO. “We have succeeded in bringing together the Indian physicians of Ohio, as AIPO fills a glaring void in our representation as prior to its existence there was no means by which we could convey our perspective at the state level,” he said. Besides bolstering the regional sister organizations through proactive support, AIPO will effectively address the missing link between the national organization AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) and its local chapters. “A united front will ensure that physicians are able to address fundamental issues facing the community at local, regional and national levels,” said Dr. Mahna. Speaking at the convention dinner at State Theater May 21, AAPI President Dr. Ajeet Singhavi praised Dr. Mahna’s successful efforts in organizing AIPO. Several speakers made special mention of Mrs. Ritu Mahna, wife of Dr. Satish Mahna, who successfully organized the convention on a grand scale. Indeed, the First Annual Convention of AIPO in JUNE, 2011 Cleveland was a great success. The Karaoke/dance program on May 20 evening was attended by approximately 200 people. May 21 morning CME was well attended. The evening dinner on the stage of the State Theater was attended by approximately 400 people. In attendance, among others, were Honorable Ron Young (Ohio State Representative); Mrs. Kathy Young; Dr. Ajit Singhvi (President National AAPI); Dr. Sunita Kanumury (President-Elect National AAPI); Dr. Deepak Kumar (President-Elect of OSMA and Past President of Ohio State Medical Board); Dr. Richard Ellison (Past President, Ohio State Medical Association); Mr. Jeff Smith (Director Governmental Relations, OSMA); Dr. Laura David (Past President of AMCNOMA); Dr. James Sechler (President-Elect AMCNOMA); Dr. Elizabeth Balraj (Former Coroner of Cuyahoga County); Dr. Anant Bhati (Coroner Hamilton County; Past President, Ohio State Medical Board); Dr. Darshan Mahajan (Member and Vice President of Ohio State Medical Board); Dr. D. Madia (Member and Past President of the Ohio State Medical Board). Also present was Dr. Mohan Bafna, a distinguished member of the Cleveland Indian community. The Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio (AIPNO) was represented by Dr. Appachi (President Elect), Dr. Rajesh Sharma (Treasurer) and Members of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Parshotam Gupta, Dr. Mohan Durve, Dr. Chandra Haria, Dr. Ashok Patil, Dr. Girish Mulgaokar, Dr.Aji Shah, Dr. Sanjay Parikh, Dr. Shailesh Nanavati, Dr. Sangita Mehta and Dr. Satish Mahna, Past Presidents of AIPNO, attended the Convention. Local Chapters from Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Youngstown/ Warren were well represented by their members and leadership. “It is a matter of pride for the Indian community and physicians for having come together in such a large number in support of the Association of Indian Physicians of Ohio (AIPO). The AIPO leadership applauds their support. Let us stay together and make a difference for the future generation,” said Dr. Satish Mahna. The May 21 evening concert by Sonu Nigam at Palace Theater was almost sold out. People from all over Ohio, Toronto (Canada), Philadelphia/ Pittsburgh, as well as West Virginia came to the show. And Sonu presented a fabulous concert. –PS Governor Appoints Vinny Gupta to Ohio Board of Regents Mr. Vinny Gupta, a business executive and serial entrepreneur in Northeast Ohio, has been named by Governor John Kasich to the Ohio Board of Regents. This is the first of its kind appointment of an Asian Indian in the country. Born in India, Gupta has lived and worked in Northeast Ohio for the past 32 years. He began his career at Gould Inc., progressing to Director of Operations before joining Condec Corporation in Orrville, Ohio. Later, as founder and President/CEO of Technocast Inc. he grew the business from $1 million to over $16 million in 12 years and, at the same time, acquiring a specialty metal alloy casting company. Later, Mr. Gupta and his associates bought Ohio Cast Products in Canton, Ohio. As President/CEO he grew the business from $9 million to $26 million in 14 years. He is currently associated with JumpStart, Inc., a nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charity and education. INDIA INTERNATIONAL Mr. Gupta has contributed to his community with equal enthusiasm. He was the founding President of both Ohio Cast Metals Association and the Asian Indian Alliance (AIA), the latter being a consortium of major Asian Indian business owners in Ohio. He currently serves as AIA’s president. He is a recipient of the Minority Entrepreneur of the Year award from City of Cleveland. Gupta holds a Bachelors degree in Chemistry from Bombay University, a Bachelors degree in metallurgical engineering from Michigan Technological University and a Masters degree in metallurgical engineering from Case Western Reserve University. Gupta has been appointed to a five-year term on the Ohio Board of Regents. The nine-member advisory board provides policy guidance to the Governor and the Ohio General Assembly, advocates for the University System of Ohio and carries out state higher education policy. PAGE 7 Sonu Rocks Cleveland Indian Painter M.F. Hussain Dies in London From left to right: Sanjay Desh Popular Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam presented a fabulous show at the Palace Theater downtown Cleveland May 21, 2011 to an audience of well over 2,000 people. LONDON: Legendary Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain, popularly known as ‘Picasso of India’ who earned both fame and wrath for his paintings, died here on June 9, 2011 at a hospital following over a month-long illness. He was 95. Husain breathed his last at the Royal Brompton Hospital where he was admitted after being in “indifferent health.” The painter, whose works fetched astronomical sums at the recent Bonham’s auctions - the highest for any Indian artist, was living abroad since 2006 after a series of legal cases and death threats against him over his paintings depicting Hindu goddesses in nude. He accepted Qatari citizenship in 2010 after surrendering his Indian passport and till the last was reticent on whether he would return to his homeland. Husain’s paintings of Hindu goddesses Durga and Saraswati invited the wrath of Hindu groups. In February 2006, Husain was charged with hurting sentiments of people because of his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses. In the wake of legal challenges in India, Husain had been living abroad in self-imposed exile since 2006. Vocalist Manjir Cleveland A CLEVELAND: Cleveland’s Hindustani music lovers were treated to an outstanding concert by noted vocalist Smt. Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar, held under the auspices of the Indian Classical Music Society (ICMS) at the Bamboo Garden restaurant auditorium on May 14, 2011. Smt. Kelkar is one of the younger and respected artists of the famed JaipurAtauli Gharana style of Hindustani Classical music. She is a disciple of Pt. Madhusudan Kanetkar, himself a direct disciple of Ustad Bhurji Khan. She is gifted with a very rich, mellifluous voice, backed by many years of rigorous training in Aakaar, Swara aalapana and intricate laykari (rhythmic variations). This has earned her accolades in every concert she has performed. She started her concert with Shree, an early evening melody. Her slow and deliberate elaboration of the raga by highlighting the raga’s melodic progressions in the vilambit (slow) Support primary edu www.ekal.org e-m Swaminarayan BAPS Free Health Fair Helps H More than 500 people received free consultations and check-up in a wide-ranging medical specialities from some of the best physicians in the region at the annual BAPS H 1, 2011. Many tests were also offered free: lab/blood test, ECG , bone denstiy test, women’s tests, to name just a few. The fair was organized by BAPS Charities and the As Page 8 India Internation Future success starts today. Announcing the 2011 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee. At Metlife, we understand how important your child’s education is to you. We also know that creating a plan for financial security and planning for that education is equally important. That’s why, for the second year, we are the proud sponsor of the 2011 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee. Visit www.SouthAsianSpellingBee.com today to register your child and learn about the contest’s valuable scholarship prizes (certain restrictions apply). While your child prepares for success at spelling, MetLife can help you succeed at creating a financial plan for your child’s education. $OR\VLXV-RVHSK Financial Services Representative Investment Advisor Representative 9200 South Hills Blvd S-100 Broadview Hts, OH 44147 DFMRVHSK#PHWOLIHFRP hpande, Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar and Suyog Kundalkar ri Asanare-Kelkar Keeps Audience Spellbound By V. Narayan phase, followed by fast intricate tans in the drut (fast) phase clearly showed her complete control and grace in her rendering, and had the audience fully captivated. She followed this with a very rare and challenging raga called “Daguri”, where all notes are shudh Aaroh (ascending) sounds like Desh with the notes Sa Re Ma Pa Ni Sa. Avaroh (descending) notes are different — Si Ni Dha Ma (Ga) Re Sa — where you slide from Ga to Re. This sliding rendering of Re is the unique characteristic of this raga. This is indeed a very difficult raga, but Manjiri Kelkar rendered with so much melodic grace that it mesmerized the audience. In the second half, Ms. Kelkar rendered more popular ragas Bageshree and Sohini, and concluded with a bhajan in Raag Bahiravi, where she amply demonstrated her ability to generate bhakti bhava. She was superbly accompanied by Suyog Kundalkar on the Harmonium, and Sanjay Deshpande on the Tabla. Suyog’s ability to instantly reproduce and improvise her melodic patterns was very well appreciated. Sanjay’s consistent taal support with timely rhythmic variations allowed the vocalist to display her rhythmic skills to the fullest. Pleasant interactions and appreciation among the artists made the concert even more enjoyable. It was an extremely satisfying and spiritual experience, something the audience will remember and cherish for a long time. ucation in India’s remote regions: mail:[email protected] Aapki zindagi mein aapke saath © 2011 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. L0311164425[exp0412][All States][DC] ©2011 PNTS 1103-0721 Learn Singing Hindustani Classical Music With Noted Vocalist Sugata Chatterjee (Also giving lessons at Tri-C) Contact 440-892-9611 [email protected] Jesus: Bringing Peace, www.sugatachatterjee.com Building Hope, Bridging nations Every Sunday: Worship 9:30 a.m., Bible studies 11:00 a.m. Hundreds Health Fair at Swaminarayan temple in Brunswick on May ssociation of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio (AIPNO) nal – JUNE, 2011 Church phone: (216)-544-1684 We welcome all to hear the good news of Jesus Christ ! Meeting at the Wyndham, Playhouse Square, 1260 Euclid Ave, 3rd floor ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET Bombay Grill $1.50 OFF LUNCH BUFFET Not valid with any other offer. Valid with coupon only. Valid up to 4 people. Expires 07-15-2011 1/2 OFF DINNER Buy One Dinner At Regular Price & Get The 2nd of Equal or Lesser Value 1/2 OFF. Not valid with any other offer. Valid with coupon only. Expires 07-15-2011 Authentic Indian Cuisine Weekend Buffet includes: Masala Dosa, Uttapam, Wada, Sambar, Goat Curry, Pau Baji, Pani Poori, Shau Poori, Bhel Poori & Indochinese 3750 W. Market St. #E, Fairlawn (In Front of Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Plaza) Phone 330-664-0689 www.bombaygrillcuisine.com Delivery Available • Catering Lunch Buffet - Tues - Fri 11:30 - 2:30 • Sat & Sun 11:30 - 3:00 Dinner - Sun, Tues-Thurs 4:30 - 9:30 • Fri & Sat 4:30 - 10:00 Page 9 CLEVELAND ASIAN FESTIVAL 2011 Indian Community Showcase Traditional Art, Culture, Food A highlight of the Cleveland Asian Festival was a strong participation by the Indian community in Greater Cleveland. The Indian classical and folk dances Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Bhangra presentations on the two stages drew large crowds. The festival attracted 25,000+ people. Many folks who flocked the festival had a taste of India at the food court where four Indian restaurants had their stalls doing brisk business. Photo by Dan Nottage Photo by Dan Nottage Righto left: India International Editor Prakash Sinha, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and City Hall Asian Liaison Le Nguyen at the festival May 21, 2011. From left to right: Abhijit Kaushik (Sewa Shangrila Weavers Project Manager), Mayor Jackson, Mongal Maya (Bhutanese refugee weaver), and Prof. Sree N. Sreenath, National President of Sewa International. Seva International has provided great help and support to Bhutanese refugees from Nepal, helping them to acquire basic education and skills to make a living and be economically independent. Besides providing them handlooms, they also supply them wollen yarns and help marketing their finished product. Mayor Jackson visited their booth where Prof. Sreenath explained how a few hundreds Bhutanese refugees are trying to find their feet in the city of Cleveland. Hundreds of Bhutanese refugees have arrived from Nepal in Cleveland during the last two years. Samosa Eating Competition at the festival: Winner eats 10 large samosas in 9.02 minutes Back row, left to right: Lisa Wong, Hao Zhou, 3rd place winner Emily Kwong, (first place winner Mike Koch (AKA The Rapture), 2nd place winner Alex Madorsky (AKA The Mad Russian), Melissa Reid (Fox 8 News Reporter), and Wayne Wong (Master MC at the festival). The champion was Mike Koch, who are 10 large samosas in 9:02 minutes. Ms. Sujatha Srinivasan introduces students from her Indian classical dance school. They presented a few dance items at the Asian festival PAGE 10 INDIA INTERNATIONAL JUNE, 2011 COMMUNITY NEWS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Hindi Spelling Bee participants and judges at India Sunday School in Akron. The school has been running at Akron University for 30 years. Hindi Spelling Bee at India Sunday School I ndia Sunday School, Akron, organized its annual Hindi spelling bee on May 8. About 30 students participated. “Our annual spelling bee is one way in which the parents can see what the students are learning. The spelling bee gives the students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to listen, translate and write from English to Hindi. Our spelling bee is different from regular spelling bees in that it gives the student more opportunities to prepare and compete, said Mrs. Kiran Khaitan, the Director of the school. There are two parts to the spelling bee. The first is completed in the classroom on paper. The students have a list of both words and phrases that they are required to translate. In the second part, the family is invited to watch five rounds in which the students are required to translate one word into Hindi and also write the word in Hindi. There were three judges and points were awarded for each correct answer. “The students are highly motivated and competitive and they not only learn Hindi vocabulary but also public speaking. Our students should be commended for their effort. We are very proud of their accomplishments, said Ms Khaitan. The India Sunday School has been running for 30 years, teaching Hindi to children and promoting Indian classical dance and music and Indian culture in general. For more information about Hindi classes and the spelling Bee, please e-mail to: [email protected] For more information about the school, please visit visit:www.indiasundayschool.com Rao K. Garuda, CLU, ChFC Twenty-first Century Trusted Advisor Associated Concepts Agency Inc. First Financial Resources L.L.C. Two Summit Park Drive, Suite #350 Independence, OH 44131 Member Ed Slott Senior Elite Group 216-642-9211 Office Email: [email protected] 216-642-9213 Fax www.raokgaruda.com Rao can assist you in evaluating your investment objectives... 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Investment Advisor Representative of and Advisory Services Offered through QA3 Financial LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, Associated Concepts Agency, Inc or First Financial Resources is not affiliated with QA3 Financial Corp., or QA3 Financial LLC Champion Sukanya rceives her trophy NATIONAL ENGLISH SPELLING BEE CHAMPIONSHIP Indian Girl Aces ‘cymotrichous’ to Win Spelling Bee WASHINGTON: Spelling “cymotrichous” correctly (having wavy hair), Indian American Sukanya Roy won the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee crown June 2 to retain the coveted honor for the Indian community in US for the fourth year in a row. Sukanya Roy, 14, an eighth-grader at Abington Heights Middle School, Pennsylvania, said she knew as soon as she heard “cymotrichous” that she’d get the word right and win the championship. “My heart started pounding, I guess,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. . It’s just amazing. It’s hard to put into words.” JUNE, 2011 It was Roy’s third trip to the national spelling bee, and she had credited her past experience with keeping her calm and relaxed heading into the finals. She tied for 12th place in 2009 and 20th place in 2010. Roy is the ninth Indian-American in the last 13 years, a run that began when Nupur Lala captured the crown in 1999 and was later featured in the documentary “Spellbound.” The winner will be awarded a $30,000 cash prize, a trophy, a $2,500 US savings bond, a complete reference library, a $5,000 scholarship and $2,600 in reference works and other prizes. INDIA INTERNATIONAL Cleveland’s Anamika Veeramani had scored a hat-trick for Indian-Americans in taking the crown last year. Sukanya Roy was one of the six Indian Americans - Sriram Hathwar, Arvind Mahankali, Prakash Mishra, Mashad Arora, and Dhivya Senthil Murugan - who made it to the last 13 in this year’s finals. The youngest finalist was 10-year-old Dhivya Murugan of Denver, who was born in India. Laura Newcombe of Toronto was the runner-up. The 12year-old was trying to become the first Canadian to win the (Continued on Page 12) PAGE 11 NEWS FROM ACROSS AMERICA ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Indian Americans: Fastest Growing Immigrant Group I ndian-Americans are among the fastest growing immigrant groups in the United States. According to the 2010 Census results, the Indian population in the US has increased exponentially over a past few years to become the second largest population group after Chinese. The data released for 26 states (as on May 15) shows that the number of Indian-Americans in those states put together is 661,799. Indian-Americans are one of the wealthiest and besteducated communities in the United States. With an average annual growth rate of 10.5%, it makes Americans from India and their descendants the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. VITAL STATISTICS The Indian-American population has gone up by more than 80% in last one decade in the states of Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. In last 10 years, the Indian-American population has grown by 68% in California. In New York City while the population of the city increased by 12.5%, the Asian-Indian population increased by 24.6%. In the Bay Area of nine counties, the Indian population has grown by 53%. India sent the third largest number of immigrants in 2010. 69,162 people of Indian origin obtained legal permanent resident status in 2010. Indian companies played a crucial role during the recession by employing 60,000 people across 40 states. They have been instrumental in acquisitions worth $6 billion since 2005 and have also employed thousands of fresh US college graduates. 15% - percentage of Silicon Valley start-up firms owned by Indian-Americans. 59.9% of Indian-Americans work in top managerial positions. Average yearly income of an Indian worker is $51,904. More than 300,000 Indian-Americans work in the Information Technology sector. $69,470 - the median income of Indian-American families, nearly double the median income of all American families — $38,885 200,000 - the number of Indian-American millionaires (Source: Merrill Lynch). The purchasing power of the community is $25 billion. Nearly 10% of the physicians in the US are of Indian origin. Around 35% of the hotels in the country are owned by Indians. More than 5000 Indian-Americans serve as faculties in the universities across America. 104,897 Indian students enrolled in US universities in 20092010. 68290 students enrolled for Post graduate studies, while 15192 enrolled for under graduate studies. 64.4% - percentage of Indian-Americans over the age of 25 who have a college degree (BA or higher). Indian-Americans also have a huge marked presence in the national and local political arena. At least 12 candidates won various elections in 2010. Of the total non-farm business owned by the Asians, the Indians own close to 1/5 of the business in America and have earned over $150 billion in revenue. Indian-Americans owned 19.9% of the total Asian firms with a value of $152.5 billion and a recorded growth of 38.2 % in 2007. Over 50% of the H1-B and L visas are issued in India. Over 900,000 Hotel rooms - Asian-Americans currently own 50 percent of the economy lodging sector and 37 percent of all hotels (Source: Asian American Hotel Owners Association). (Watch out for more updates as data is released in a phased manner by the US Census Bureau.) PAGE 12 Indian-American Population Rises 80% in Southern States (Continued from Page 1) “We know from other data that it’s the best-educated population— more likely, for example, to be college-educated than whites.” Chinese continue to be California’s largest Asian group, with 1.25 million people. In the South, meanwhile, the Indian American population increased by more than 80 percent in four states – Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky– and more than doubled in a fifth state, Georgia. The population of Indian Americans in Florida rose from 70,740 in 2000 to 128,735 in 2010, an increase of 82 percent. Indians are the largest Asian group in Florida, far ahead of Filipinos, at 90,223. In Georgia, the number of Asian Indians surged to 96,116, versus 46,132 in 2000. The next largest Asian populations were Koreans (52, 431), and Chinese and Vietnamese (virtually tied at around 45,000). In South Carolina, where Nikki Haley, the daughter of Sikh immigrants, is governor, the Asian Indian population grew from 8,856 to 15,941. Filipinos are the second- Indian Population in US Estimated to be 2.8 mln. According to the results of the 2010 U.S. Census released by the U.S. Census Bureau [8], the Asian Indian population in the United States grew from almost 1,679,000 in 2000 to 2,843,391 in 2010: a growth rate of 69.35%, the highest for any Asian American community, and among the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. In 2009, the New York City Metropolitan Area, consisting of New York City and adjacent areas within New York State as well as nearby areas within the states of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, was home to approximately 600,000 Indian Americans, comprising by far the largest Indian American population of any metropolitan area in the United States. As of August 2009, Indian airline carriers Air India and Jet Airways as well as United States airline carrier Continental Airlines were all offering flights from the New York City Metropolitan Area to and from India. At least eightteen Indian American enclaves characterized as a Little India have emerged in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Other metropolitan areas with large Indian American populations include Atlanta, Washington/ Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland. INDIA INTERNATIONAL largest Asian group, at 10,053, and Chinese third at 9,686. Tennessee’s population of 23,000 Asian Indians represented an 86 per cent increase from the 2000 count. The second-biggest Asian group in the state—18,867 people—was the category “Other Asians.” Chinese were third among Asian groups with 15,415 and Vietnamese fourth at 10,033. The Asian groups listed separately in newly released census data are: Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese. All other Asians were grouped together in the “Other Asian” category, unless listed in mixed race cohorts. In Kentucky, the Asian Indian population shot up 84.6 percent from 2000 to 2010, going from 6,771 to 12,501. Chinese were second with 9,051 residents and “Other Asians” totaled 8,103. Massachusetts went from 43,801 to 77,177 Asian Indians, a rise of 76.2 percent. Indian Americans, who constitute 1.2 percent of the total population, are the second largest Asian group in the state after Chinese (122,957). Indian Americans in Michigan grew from 54,656 to 77,132 in the decade, making them the largest (Continued from Page 11) Asian group in the state, with Chinese a distant second at 44,496. In New Mexico, Chinese are the most numerous Asian group with 5,729 residents, followed by Filipinos (4,963), Vietnamese (4,723) and Asian Indians (4,550). There were just 3,104 Asian Indians counted in the state in 2000. Vietnamese are the largest Asian group in Mississippi with 7,025 enumerated in 2010, followed by Indians at 5,494, up from 3,827 counted in 2000. In Fremont, Indian-American population has nearly doubled during the past decade, surpassing Los Angeles to become the secondlargest Indian community in the state. Indians now number 38,711, or 18.1 percent of Fremont’s population, outstripping, for the first time, the Chinese population of 38,118, or 17.8 percent. Nearly all Asian nationalities have increased in number throughout the East Bay, but none has grown as fast as Indian Americans, whose population soared 74 percent to 94,606 in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. In Maine, the Asian Indian population went from 1,021 to 1,959, which is an increase of 91.9 percent. Spelling Bee bee, but she went out on the word “sorites,” her look of concentration turning suddenly to a sad one when she realized she’d misspelled it. Canadians have been a strong presence at the competition for many years and have had several close calls, with Nate Gartke of Alberta also finishing second in 2007. The spelling bee kids just keep getting better and better. Even words like chlorthalidone,” “dreikanter,” “renminbi” and “helichrysum” couldn’t sufficiently narrow down the field in the semifinals, which needed 95 minutes of overtime to whittle the competitors from 41 to 13. The week began with 275 spellers. A written test May 31 and two oral rounds June 1 reduced the field for the semifinals. According to the Scripps Spelling Bee’s website, this year brought contenders ranging in age from 8 to 15 years old from all over the world. The bee began the finals by remembering its first two champions. With Jeopardy uber-champion Ken Jennings and eight former winners in the house, the bee paid tribute to Frank Neuhauser and Pauline Bell, who both died in their 90s recently. Neuhauser won in 1925 with the word “gladiolus” and Bell won in 1926 with the “cerise,” so bee officials placed an arrangement of cerise-colored gladioli at the base of the trophy pedestal onstage. (Continued from Page 6) Hindi Singh, Counsellor from the Embassy of India in his address promised full support to provide help and assistance for promoting Hindi. Dr. Anoop Kapoor, the Convener of the IHA Convention, dedicated the event in memory of Dr. Mahadeo Chand, and said that Dr. Chand, the original convener, was pivotal in bringing this event to town. Dr. Chand died suddenly of a massive heart attack earlier in April. He worked incessantly for the cause of Hindi promotion and was awarded Hindi Ratn, the highest honor from IHA. The award was presented posthumously to his wife Mrs. Sushila Mohanka, also the IHA Presidentelect 2012-13. Mrs. Mohanka prepared Smarika, a booklet with various details of the association, for distribution to the audience. The web-site www.IHAConvention2011.com prepared by Mr. Akash Kapoor was pivotal in providing complete details and contact information, including Registration Form and the Program of Events. One guest commented, “This is the best IHA Convention I ever attended. The bar has now moved higher for future!” The fun-filled weekend included mouth watering food and snacks — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and much more. The event was hosted by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the International Hindi Association, and the theme of this convention was: Education of Hindi in the Next Generation. JUNE, 2011 Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing. –Mark Twain Days in Jail Patents An 80 year old woman was arrested for shop lifting. When she went before the judge in Cincinnati he asked her, “What did you steal?” She replied, “A can of peaches.” The judge then asked her why she had stolen the can of peaches and she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can. She replied, “6.” The judge said, “Then I will give you 6 days in jail.” The woman’s husband asked the judge if he could say something. The judge said, “What is it?” The husband said, “She also stole a can of peas.” A man goes along to the Patent Office with some of his new designs. The loss of engines Two blondes were flying to Miami from Cleveland. Fifteen minutes into the flight, the captain announced, “One of the engines has failed and He says to the clerk, “I’d like to register my new invention. It’s a folding bottle.” I used to think I was indecisive, but now I’m not so sure. the flight will be an hour longer. But don’t worry we have three engines left”. Thirty minutes later, the captain announced, “One more engine has failed and the flight will be two hours longer. But don’t worry we have two engines left”. An hour later, the captain announced, “One more engine has failed and the flight will be three hours longer. But don’t worry we have one engine left”. One blonde looked at the other blonde and said, “If we lose one more engine, we’ll be up here all day” HEALTH BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER ♦ Reduces stress ♦ Lowers blood pressure ♦ Elevates mood ♦ Boosts immune system ♦ Improves brain functioning ♦ Protects the heart ♦ Connects you to others ♦ Fosters instant relaxation ♦ Makes you feel good So make sure you get your daily dosage of laughter every day! Medical Error At the outpatient surgery center where I work, the anesthesiologist often chatted with patients before their operations to help them relax. One day he thought he recognized a woman as a co-worker at the VA hospital where he had trained. When the patient confirmed that his hunch was correct, he said, “So, tell me, is the food still as bad there as it used to be?” “Well, I suppose,” she replied, “I’m still cooking it.” Taking Action Against High Gas Prices Now that President Obama has taken care of Osama bin Laden, it’s time for him to do something about rising gas prices. All the conventional methods have failed, so Obama needs to do something drastic: send a team to “negotiate” with oil company executives. I suggest Navy SEAL Team Six. I hope to turn on my TV one of these days and see Obama making an important announcement again: “Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed the wanton greed of Exxon Mobil, British Petroleum and Chevron, as well as oil companies in the Middle East. Together, these companies are responsible for millions of sad faces at fuel pumps around the world. It was nearly 130 years ago that the first gasolinepowered automobiles were produced in Germany, with Henry Ford and other Americans introducing their own versions not long after. Little did they know that when they gave up on horsedrawn carriages in the name of progress, their descendants were doomed to stare at gas-pump prices with faces as long as horses’. Over the last 10 years, we have seen gas prices gradually inch upwards, and we have scratched our heads to try to understand many of these increases. It was reasonable, the experts told us, that gas prices would increase when we went to war in Iraq. But my fellow Americans, was it reasonable that gas prices would increase when Oprah went on a diet? Was it reasonable that gas prices would increase when David Beckham got a new tattoo? Was it reasonable that gas prices would increases when Angelina Jolie got a new baby? Of course not! But these were some of the many excuses for oil company executives to increase prices and boost their profits, while laughing at us for not only paying high prices at the gas pumps but also doing all the pumping ourselves. And so shortly after taking office, I LIFE CAN BE SO FUNNY ! Melvin Durai is a Winnipeg-based writer and humorist. Born in India and raised in Zambia, he has lived in North America since 1982. Through the Internet, his column is read by thousands of people in more than 90 countries. Read his previous columns at www.melvindurai.com Write to Melvin [email protected] The Humor of Melvin Durai directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing of oil company greed the top priority of our war against high gas prices, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat their evil network. Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible solution to high gas prices. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we could corner oil company executives within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to surround oil company executives in Pakistan and scare the living daylights out of them. Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in “OK,” says the clerk. “What do you call it?” “A fottle, replies the inventor.” INDIA INTERNATIONAL Compiled by Aditi Sinha “A fottle? That’s a stupid! Can’t you think of something else?” “I can think about it. I’ve got something else though. It’s a folding carton.” “And what do you call that?” asks the clerk. “A farton”, replies the inventor. “That’s rude. You can’t possibly call it that!” “In that case,” says the inventor... “You’re really going to hate the name of my folding bucket.” Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed oil company greed and gave it a quick burial at sea. Yet its death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that oil companies will continue to pursue attacks against us and our wallets. We must — and we will — remain vigilant at gas pumps at home and abroad. The cause of protecting our country from high gas prices is not complete. But tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to, even bring gas prices down to 10 cents a gallon. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, justice and low gas prices for all. Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.” If you enjoyed this column, you’ll love Melvin’s novel BALA TAKES THE PLUNGE “BALA TAKES THE PLUNGE” Now available in North America through McNallyRobinson.com and Amazon.com JUNE, 2011 Riddle Corner 1. I can only live when there is light, although I die if the light shines on me. What am I? 2. There are 11 body parts that have only 3 letters (no slang allowed). What are they? 3. Below are ten words each missing the same two letter combination. Can you figure out what those two letters are? Sw_ _n Do_ _ Ch_ _e _ _al Janit_ _ W_ _ld _ _ange T_ _e Vap_ _ize _ _at_ _ 4. Some months have thirty days and some months have thirty-one days. How many months have twenty-eight days? 5. What is the most frequently used letter in the English language? And what is the most used word in the English language? Anwers on Page 14 PAGE 13 Answers to India Quiz 1. Srinagar is the largest city in the state. Jammu and Kashmir is sectioned into 22 districts and the predominant religion is Islam. 2. The Sutlej The Sutlej River is 1,450 km in length. The main crop cultivated in Punjab is wheat. It is grown in the winter. Bhangra is the traditional and most famous dance of the people of Punjab. 3. Mount Abu Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. The state is part of the Thar Desert. Rajasthan also contains famous sanctuaries like the Bharatpur Reserve and architectural marvels like the Hawa Mahal. 4. The Hoogly Calcutta (or Kolkata) is known as the City of Joy. It houses the Victoria Memorial, the famous Alipore Zoo and other sites of cultural importance. The predominant language is Bengali. 5. Land of Temples Orissa was formerly known as Kalinga. It was ravaged by Emperor Ashoka in 261 B.C.E. Orissa is home to the Nandankanan Wildlife Reserve where breeding programs for white tigers are carried out. 6. 36 fortes Chhattisgarh, formally recognized as a state in 2000, was earlier a section of Madhya Pradesh. It was an important Buddhist site in the past. 7. The Indian Roller The state animal of A.P. is the black buck. The state dance is kuchipudi and the state tree is the neem (Azadirachta indica). 8. The Silicon Valley of India Karnataka is divided into twenty-nine districts. The mother-tongue of the people is Kannada. The state is situated south of the Krishna River. The industrious nature of the people has helped the state to advance by leaps and bounds in the early 21st century. 9. Edakkal Caves Though located in the tropics, Kerala possesses a hill station by the name of Munnar. It is home to the famous Silent Valley. The beach of Kovalam in Kerala was damaged by the huge earthquake-triggered tsunami of 2004. 10. Kanyakumari Although Kanyakumari is the most southern spot in peninsular India, Indira Point in the Nicobar Islands is the southernmost point of the entire country. Kanyakumari is home to the statue of Thiruvalluvar and the famous Vivekananda Rock. Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program Begins June 4th Library reading game helps kids and parents defeat the summer brain drain. Parma, OH – Cuyahoga County Public Library’s (CCPL) popular Summer Reading Program returns Saturday, June 4th through Saturday, August 6th. The theme of this year’s game is “Read Around the World.” Playing the game is simple. Participants of all ages track their reading in order to earn entries for monthly prize drawings and End of Summer Grand Prizes provided by CCPL’s summer reading partners: Chipotle Mexican Grill Cleveland Browns Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Indians High Achievers Kids Club Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Museum of Natural History Great Lakes Science Center Lake Erie Monsters Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum You can register to play online at http:// w w w. c u y a h o g a l i b r a r y. o r g / summerreading.aspx or in person at any of CCPL’s 28 branches. ”Read Around the World” game boards will be available in all 28 Cuyahoga County Public Library branches beginning June 4th. Why is summer reading important? Students can lose up to three months of reading skills during summer break, but being away from school doesn’t have to equal “summer brain drain.” By participating in enriching activities, students can actually get a running start into the new school year. Experts say the best ways to prevent loss of reading skills during summer break are to keep lots of books around the house, to make regular trips to the library and to participate in summer library programs. CCPL’s “Read Around the World” summer reading game offers kids (and parents, too!) the opportunity to keep their reading skills sharp and have fun doing it! “Read Around the World” monthly prizes include: Chipotle BOGO (buy one get one) Cards and Free Kids Meal Cards Cleveland Browns pre-Season tickets Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters merchandise Cleveland Indians game vouchers The Most Frequently Used Word in English Language Answers to Riddles 1. A shadow 2. 1. Arm 2. Leg 3. Ear 4. Eye 5. Lip 6. Gum 7. Rib 8. Jaw 9. Toe 10. Hip 11. Gut 3. The letters are OR: Sworn Door Chore Oral Janitor World Orange Tore Vaporize Orator 4. Every month has 28 days (at least). 5. The letter most frequently used in English is E. The least frequently used letter is Z. The most frequently used word is THE. The list below shows the frequency of letter use in English. Letter (Frequency): A 8.17%; B1.49%; C2.78%; D 4.25%; E 12.70%; F 2.23%; PAGE 14 G 2.02%; H 6.09%; I 6.97%; J 0.15%; K 0.77%; L 4.03%; M 2.41%; N 6.75%; O 7.51%; P 1.93%; Q 0.10%; R 5.99%; S 6.33%; T 9.06%; U 2.76%; V 0.98%; W 2.36%; X 0.15%; Y 1.97%; Z 0.07%. The most commonly used letter in the English language is the letter “e”. This is the case in the general language, in fiction and non-fiction writings, journalism, religious works like the Bible, and even in Morse code. The most common consonant in the English language is “t.” With “e” being so common in the English language, one would think that it would start the most words. Actually “t” begins the most words, followed by “o.” “E” is the letter which most commonly occurs third in a word, and is the third most common second letter in a word. The most common second letter in a word in the English language is h. Actually, “e” is far down the list of English language word beginners, and comes in at the 15th place. The five most common letters beginning words are “t,” “o,” “a,” “w,” and “b.” Approximately half of the words in the English language end with the letters “e,” “t,” “d,” and “s” with the greatest share of words ending in “e.” Further, there are four letters most likely to follow “e” in a word. These are “r,” “s,” “n,” and “d.” Ironically, of the most common words with two letters in the English language, only three words actually have an “e.” They are be, we, and me. As well, in the top twenty most frequently written English language words, only three words have an “e.” These are “the,” the most frequently used word in the English language, and “he” and “be.” However, when one analyzes most frequently used three-letter words, “e” gets a fairer share. INDIA INTERNATIONAL Cleveland Metroparks Zoo free admission tickets Cleveland Museum of Natural History free admission tickets Great Lakes Science Center: “Pick-Two” tickets (good for two of the following: general admission to Great Lakes Science Center, OMNIMAX film, Steamship William G. Mather or Facing Mars special exhibition) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Family Memberships “Read Around the World” End of Summer Grand Prizes include: Chipotle Burrito Party (for up to 25 people) Cleveland Browns Family Game Package Cleveland Cavaliers Suite Night Package Cleveland Indians Suite Experience Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Family Membership Cleveland Museum of Natural History Family Plus Membership Great Lakes Science Center Family Membership Great Lakes Science Center Overnight Camp-In (for up to 10 people) Lake Erie Monsters Suite Night Package Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Birthday Party Great Lakes Science Center will give a $2 discount on admission to Born to Be Wild to library cardholders who show their cards at the GLSC box office. Valid through September 5, 2011, for up to 4 people per library card. Bring your completed “Read Around the World” game board to Cleveland Museum of Natural History for discounted admission to the museum. About Cuyahoga County Public Library: Cuyahoga County Public Library consistently ranks as one of the nation’s ten busiest and best library systems. Its 28 branches serve 47 communities. The Library’s mission is to be at the center of community life by providing an environment where reading, lifelong learning and civic engagement thrive. For further information, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org. ASIAN TOURS & TRAVEL New York / Chicago –Mumbai/Delhi From any city in US Lowest fares Confirmed seats Reserve Seats Today! Free Ticket delivery anywhere in US Call Ranjit Dhillon: 330-467-6711 Cell: 216-401-1322 For your convenience, we can answer your calls in English, Hindi & Punjabi JUNE, 2011 IMMIGRATION~~~ USCIS Urges Green Card Holders to Become Citizens LOS ANGELES: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a campaign emphasizing the benefits of being a US citizen with the goal of convincing more than seven million Green Card holders to become naturalized. “It’s very important for people who are already permanent residents to consider citizenship for all the benefits that that will bring them,” Mariana Gitomer, the USCIS spokesperson in Los Angeles, said. The Citizen Public Education and Awareness Initiative will include radio and television advertisements, written press and Internet dissemination nationwide. The messages will be broadcast in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and English with special emphasis on the cities of Los Angeles and New York, and also on the states of Florida and Texas, where there are high numbers of permanent residents. The first sentence of the message in Spanish, which will be spoken by an Hispanic woman, states: “I was born in Mexico and being an American citizen makes me proud.” “The campaign will last for three years and the funds, which amount to $11 million, are coming from an allocation made by the federal Congress in Fiscal Year 2010,” Gitomer said. “We’re going to channel part of those funds to community organizations that help immigrants so they can help us to educate and convince people to become citizens,” she added. The USCIS spokesperson said that, according to the government’s database, there are about 12.5 million permanent residents in the US, of whom 7.9 million are already eligible to get US citizenship, the majority of them being Hispanics. In California alone, there are approximately three million people who obtained Green Cards more than five years ago. “There are many reasons why people don’t become citizens, some people don’t know the benefits and feel that if they already have a residence card they can work, they can travel, then they feel they don’t need citizenship,” said Gitomer. “But citizenship gives them the benefit of voting, obtaining a US passport to travel without restrictions, and obtain better jobs,” she said, citing studies that show that people who become citizens began to earn more money. Tending to All Your Immigration Needs Margaret W. Wong Managing Partner AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell Listed in “Best Lawyers in America” 1998 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient Email: [email protected] Family Immigration Non-Immigrant Visa Employment Immigration Asylum&Refugee Deportation and Criminal Indian Govt Officials Visit US to Hear NRI Complaints Immigration Center High-ranking officials of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of the Govt. of India visited three US cities last month to get feedback from the community on a ‘fact finding mission’ on current issues and hardships relating to the surrender certificate requirements, OCI, PIO cards and to learn the grievances of NRIs about the visa issuance. The delegation was headed by Dr. Ajai Choudhry, Secretary, and included Mr. B.K. Gupta, Additional Secretary and Cherian Thomas, Under Secretary. The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) representatives met the delegation members and submitted a memorandum on the issues pertaining to surrender of Indian passport and issuance of Indian visa. The team leader, Mr. Choudhry heard complaints and took notes of input from the attendees. He promised to resolve several issues and streamline the visa process. 3150 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Phone: 216-566-9908 Fax: 216-566-1125 By Appointment Only : Columbus, OH office: Phone 614-221-8892 Detroit, MI Office: Phone: 313-527-9989 www.imwong.com CUISINE OF INDIA Under New Management Among The Plain Dealer’s Top 100 Restaurants in North-East Ohio RESTAURANT & BAR (Only Indian Restaurant Featuring Full-Service Bar) 6857 West 130 Street – Across from Southland 440-842-5907 or 440-842-5807 LUNCH BUFFET: Tues-Fri –11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Only $8.95: (More than 18 Items) DINNER: Mon-Sun: 5 p.m-10 p.m. For Full Menu, Visit www.thecuisineofindia.com Visit us on Facebook COUPON $2 OFF JUNE, 2011 FOR DINING One coupon Per Table Not valid with any other offer Expires 07/15/2011 SUPERSIZE WEEKEND BUFFET Only $11:95 Over 35 Items - Including Champagne New Items Every Weekend Sat & Sun: Noon - 3:45 p.m. INDIA INTERNATIONAL FOX 8.Com Hot List: 2009 Best Indian Restaurant COUPON $5.00 OFF With Purchase of $30 or More Valid only for Dining Not Valid with any other offers Expires 07/15/2011 PAGE 15 Future success starts today. Announcing the 2011 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee. At Metlife, we understand how important your child’s education is to you. We also know that creating a plan for financial security and planning for that education is equally important. That’s why, for the second year, we are the proud sponsor of the 2011 MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee. Visit www.SouthAsianSpellingBee.com today to register your child and learn about the contest’s valuable scholarship prizes (certain restrictions apply). While your child prepares for success at spelling, MetLife can help you succeed at creating a financial plan for your child’s education. Ranjan Jagetia, CPA, MBA Financial Services Representative Financial Planner 21891 Forbes Road Oakwood Village, OH 44146 440-786-3758 [email protected] Aapki zindagi mein aapke saath © 2011 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. L0311164425[exp0412][All States][DC] ©2011 PNTS 1105-1649 JUNE, 2011 INDIA INTERNATIONAL PAGE 16