a monthly publication of the federation of india community...
TRANSCRIPT
A Monthly Publication of the Federation of India Community Associations (FICA) Since 1967INSIDE
Free Monthly Subscription - A Non-Profit & Tax Exempt Organization - Tax ID# 34-1215066
August 2014 - Volume 0814N
on-P
rofit
Org
aniz
atio
nU
.S. P
OST
AGE
PAID
CLE
VELA
ND
,O
HIO
PER
MIT
NO
.10
51
FED
ERAT
ION
OF
IND
IA C
OM
MU
NIT
Y A
SSO
CIA
TIO
NIN
DIA
CO
MM
UN
ITY
CEN
TER
1241
2 C
EDAR
RO
ADC
LEVE
LAN
D H
EIG
HTS
, OH
441
06
Or C
urre
nt R
esid
ent
1
FICA Matters 2Community NewsNot for the faint of heart 3 Importance of Will 4Sonya Quintanilla 5 Shiksha Daan 6One summer morning 7FICA Tennis Tournament 8Runway thoughts 9Community News 10Yoga 11Community News 12
LOTUS TEAM
Publishing & EditorialAsim Datta (Interim)Sujata Lakhe Barnard
Public Relations/CreativeParamjit Singh [email protected]
For Lotus related questions / comments, please email : [email protected], or call 216/791-FICA(3422), and leave message
When I recall some important, interesting, profound or even merely amusing events of earlier life they create a lot of interest among my younger generation. Some nonagenar-ians like me have a recollection of many such happenings of earlier life. So here are some of mine. Most of us have heard of famous leaders of In-dia’s freedom struggle, besides the apostle of peace: Mahatma
Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Pandit Nehru and others. One such leader was Lala Lajpat Rai, a Punjabi highly educated guy. In 1928 the British rulers realized that Indians had woken up from their slumbers and were strongly agitating for Independence. So they tried to calm them a little by bogus promises. They sent a Simon Commission to hoodwink the Indian lead-ers. No Indian was included in the Commission. So it greatly angered the Indians when the Commission arrived and there were protests all over India. Lala Lajpat Rai, a venerated leader, himself led one such procession against Simon Commission. People used to shout the slogan: “Go back Simon”. While Lala Lajpatrai was leading the peaceful procession the Government Police brutally lathicharged the proces-sion. Many were badly hurt. Lala Lajpat Rai received severe head injuries and died within a few days on November17, 1928. I was only a student then, but do remember the commotion of those days. Some young students in those days were immensely angry with the police due to this, and resorted to violent activi-ties. Even a very senior Police Officer was shot by
Continued on Pg 2
DOWN THE MEMORY LANE -BY OM JULKA
2
1
FICA mattersFICA StaffAdministration
Board of Trustees
Chittaranjan Jain, Chair
[email protected], 440/942-4369
Executive Board Asim Datta, [email protected]@usa.net216/394-8720
Rupal Dhruv, [email protected]@hotmail.com440/317-1487
Sujata LakhePublisher/Editor, [email protected]/496-7155
Mona Alag , Past [email protected]/256-3247
Ashish [email protected]/202-6662
Shenaz [email protected]/543-0616
Kenneth KovachCommunity [email protected]/952-9501
Vinod Nagpal [email protected]/821-0479
Atul [email protected]/307-5470
Sister Organizations
Marathi MandalWebsite : www. neomm.orgPresident: Dr. Anupa DeogaonkarEmail : [email protected]: 216/704-2455
Bengali Cultural Society of ClevelandWebsite: www.bcscle.orgPresident: Ashoke BanerjeeEmail: [email protected]: 440/290-8123
AIPNO :http://www.aipno.orgPresident : Dr. Ranjit TamaskarEmail : [email protected] : 216/228-1168
Odisha SocietyPresident : Birendra Jena Email: [email protected] Phone: 330/544-1725
one of them. Due to such activities the authorities arrested some and soon young men accused of murder or throw-ing of a bomb in the Assembly were awarded death sentence. Among them were three youthful martyrs named Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The whole of India was angry with this action of the British rulers and wanted them to release these guys. On March 23,1931 these three youthful martyrs of India’s freedom struggle were secretly hanged by the British at Lahore (now in Pakistan), one day earlier than the appointed date of execution. Their dead-bodies were secretly cremated on the banks of river Satluj near Hussainiwala, which was far away from Lahore. But the secret leaked out and people came to know the truth. I was a student at Ferozpur City about 18 miles away and went with friends to see the ashes of these martyrs. Large crowds of Indians had already gathered there on that day and we saw the ashes in three separate places cremated with gasoline. Thereafter we went again on 13th April 1931 which was a Baisakhi day when thousands had come there for the religious bath in the river. The ashes of these martyrs were still there, placed on tables and three big Gates were erected with the names: Bhagat Singh Gate, Ra-jguru Gate and Sukhdev Gate for each. There is now a permanent memorial building at that place and anyone can go and visit. The border between India and Pakistan is also very close to that location. Soon the National leaders and the public were taking out processions against these atrocities of the British rulers. I still recall a part of the song which they used to sing in those days:“Shahidon ke khun ka asar dekh lena, Mitaa denge zaalim ka ghar dekh lena.)(You (cruel rulers) beware, the blood of martyrs spilt by you will demolish your edifice) However, in course of time, when the British rulers were forced to quit India, all the past atrocities were forgiven and they departed as friends on August 15, 1947, but causing a great deal of death and destruction of mil-lions between India and Pakistan.(more in the next issue of Lotus) !
Continued from Pg 1
DOWN THE MEMORY LANE -BY OM JULKA
India got independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, when it was partitioned and a part of the country was made a new country: Pakistan. None realized the likelihood of blood baths it would cause to innocent citizens. In the aftermath of partition, a huge popula-tion exchange occurred between the two newly formed countries. And this was the second bloodiest holocaust in India, the first one was during the reign of Aurang-zeb (1658-1707), when slaughter, forced conversions, abduction of Hindu women and children and destruc-tion of temples was done by Mughal rulers. Decline of weak and corrupt Mughal rule had then begun. The British East India company and other European coun-tries started intruding into India and gradually taking over thecountry. The date of creation of Pakistan was August 14, 1947, and that of India was August 15, but the Muslim masses of Lahore and the areas in the North of Punjab started rioting much earlier. Even on March 4, 1947 they were stabbing Hindus and Sikhs, besides arson, looting and murders. Famous Gurdwaras of Sikhs were at-tacked and burnt from August 12 onwards. As a result most of Hindus and Sikhs started moving to India as refugees, leaving all their belongings in Pakistan. And on arrival in India they were full of rage against the Muslims in general. I happened to be living in a government quarter at New Delhi with my wife and two children at that time. I distinctly remem-ber the happenings. Following are some snippets of those days:
1. Revenge killing of Muslims started in our area, be-sides other places in Delhi and Punjab. A Muslim family lived in the third house from mine and they were hus-band, wife and two teenage children, a daughter and a son. Our neighbors agreed with me that we should save them from slaughter. So, some of us helped the Muslim family and gave them a ride to Purana Qila (Old Fort) which the government had made as a Refugee Camp for Muslims.
2. My house was within 10 yards from the Railway Line on which the Trains from New Delhi to Agra and Bombay used to go at high speed. One day in August 1947 three Sikh Refugees from Pakistan who were full of rage against Muslims, came to our house on foot and wanted to wash their swords stained with blood of Muslims whom they had killed only about 200 yards away in the train from Agra, and openly said, “Gaddi Wadh Ke Aaye Hain” - we are coming after slaughter of Muslims in the train. My wife and other relations living in my house could not stop them from washing their swords in our water taps in the bathrooms and they quietly went away with their swords cleaned. My brother’s 14 year old son living with us was very scared to see those Sikhs, so much so that even after one year when he went with his Dad to buy his shoes, he found the Salesman of the shop and recognized him as the same Sikh who had washed his sword in our house. So my nephew pulled away his father saying that he did not want to buy his shoe from the murderer.
3. The Muslim family, our neighbor who were saved and sent to Refugee Camp in Old Fort could not take away all their belongings with them, except their cash and jewelry or may be some clothes. And thousands of Hindu refugees who had come from Pakistan were looking for some accommodation to live in. And many refugees came to loot the same house. I saw people removing TVSets, Sofas, Carpets and other belongings of that house in our neighborhood, but we could not stop the looting. And within two hours that house was totally emptied. Three Hindu Refugee families from Pakistan occupied the three bedrooms of that house; and they lived as our neighbors for a few years. We call that house as our Heritage home even now!!
1947 - WHEN REASON WENT COLD- By Om Julka
3
1
Around the communities
An estimated 25 million Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs (1947-present) crossed the newly drawn borders to reach their new homelands. These estimates are based on comparisons of decadal censuses from 1941 and 1951 with adjustments for normal population growth in the areas of mi-gration. In northern India - undivided Punjab and North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) - nearly 12 million were forced to move from as early as March 1947.
In the aftermath of partition, a huge population exchange occurred between the two newly formed states (India and Pakistan). About 14.5 million people crossed the borders; including 7,226,000 Muslims came to Pakistan from India while 7,249,000 Hindus and Sikhs moved to India from Pakistan. About 5.5 millions settled in Punjab Pakistan and around 1.5 millions settled in Sindh. (Indiamemoryproject.com)
Partition wrecked day-to-day life! Farmers, doctors, barbers, cobblers, bakers, lawyers, teachers, librarians were displaced and their posts left vacant leaving life as miserable for the once who were not being driven away from their homes as the once who found themselves on a road with no clear destination! Refugees in a land, which used to be their home! Friends and neighbors torn apart overnight, most against their own will and by political process they had no say in.
The massive exchange of population that took place in the summer of 1947 was unprecedented. It left behind a trail of death and destruction. The Indian map was slashed to make way for a new country - Pakistan. The migration was a massive exercise in human misery, wrote Bourke-White later.
All the major trade routes were shut down between India and Pakistan, which had now become two separate countries. Hence, all the traders along the route were forced to shut down business activities. Munshi Aziz Bhat & Sonsi (Indiamemoryproject.com) also suffered a similar fate. Munshi Aziz Bhat rose to prominence as a pioneer Silk Route Trader during 1880-1950, by 1920 he established his own large scale trading busi-ness with the help of his two older sons and a cousin. The enterprise was named “Munshi Aziz Bhat & Sons”. The shop sold soap, toiletries, statio-nery, cosmetics, medicines, spices, textiles and shoe polish, mostly im-ported from Europe! The carpets were imported from Central Asia. They also sold unusual items as horse and camel accessories, catering to the big demand to decorate horses and camels, which were a status symbol, like cars today. The items were bartered between the traders from all over the world but later with the influence of East India Company and Christian Moravian missionaries, goods began to be traded in money and silver coins. The shop was known far and beyond for its variety of goods and earned itself a local folklore that “one could even find Birds’ Milk at the Munshi Aziz Bhat Sarai”. It is notable that stocking such a range of goods in Kargil, with no paved roads or motor vehicles, was a great feat.
The usual trade route began from Kashgar, Yarkand, Khotan in Central Asia, Xingjiang province of China and entered Indian borders at Nubra valley in Leh to Kargil then carried on till Srinagar on horse or camel backs. From Srinagar it travelled to Hoshiarpur or Amritsar via Rawal-pindi by lorries. And from there it travelled to the ports of Bombay and Bengal via trains from where on these goods were shipped to Europe, Africa and Arab countries.
As a result of partition all the major trade routes were shut down between India and Pakistan, which had now become two separate countries. Hence, all the traders along the route were forced to shut down business activities. The Munshi Aziz Sarai also suffered a similar fate. The Silk Route trade saw its lasts days during the Partition of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and the uprising of communism in China the following year.
Let us forgive the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity in order to move forward, but lets not forget the lessons learned from this his-tory. Let us not close Silk roads, lets not burn bridges and lets not draw boundaries with blood and misery of humans any more! There is no substitute for open heartedness, empathy, intelligence, non-violence and peace in order for avoiding large-scale misery! While we celebrate India’s assumption of political self-rule 67 years ago, lets not forget the toll some people had to pay!
All photo Credits go to indiamemoryproject.com.
Not for the faint of heart! what have we learned from this devastation? It is unbelievable that one group of hu-mans can do this to another group of humans! My intention for compiling these photos and information is not to inflame a sense of revenge or anger but arouse a sense of justice and then apply this sense of justice to what is
happening in the world today. - Compiled by Sujata Lakhe Barnard
Munshi Aziz Bhat with his two sons, Munshi Habibullah and Munshi Abdul Rehman. Kargil, Ladakh.1945.
4 Events Future & Past
A will is one of the most important documents you’ll ever create in your lifetime. Your will can clearly state who will be guardian of your minor children, who will inherit your assets, when they will inherit your assets, and any conditions that must be met for them to receive your as-sets. Yet, according to a legal services website RocketLawyer.com, almost 50% of Americans do not have a will. If you die without a valid will, the court does not have your in-structions to follow, and it has no way of knowing how you may have wanted to distribute your assets. The state where you lived steps in and makes the decisions for you, according to the distribution schedule set forth in its intestacy statutes. The state’s decisions may or may not con-form to your wishes, or do what is best for the people closest to you. And your loved ones will likely have to hire an attorney and incur delays to determine who will receive your assets. Common misconceptions. My assets are so small that a will is not necessary.You are generally worth more than you think. Even if some possessions do not hold great monetary value, they could hold an enormous amount of sentimental value—and that’s something you can’t put a price on. Fail-ing to indicate who receives these treasures in your will can cause friction among family members that lasts for decades. When I die, my spouse will get all of my assets.Maybe, and maybe not. Any assets held jointly with right of survivorship automatically pass to the joint owner. And assets with a beneficiary des-ignation, such as IRAs, life insurance, and annuities, pass as stated on the beneficiary form. What happens when your surviving spouse dies? What happens if your beneficiary form is outdated? Will your children receive their share at too early an age? Does your spouse have the financial skill to manage the family wealth? I can create a will on my own and save the legal costs.“Do-it-yourself” wills often do not contain all of the necessary compo-nents as required by state law. Anyone who might benefit from an invali-dation of your will can contest it, and if the courts decide in his or her favor, your estate may have to pay for all legal costs. The few dollars you save now can cost your loved ones thousands of dollars later.
I don’t want my final wishes to be set in stone. I’ll create a will later in my life.The terms of a will can change as often as needed. Legal experts agree that you should reexamine your will periodically to make sure it is up-to-date. A will should receive a “checkup” whenever there is a substantial change in your life. How to create a will?Drafting a will is difficult and is not an endeavor you want to tackle single-handedly. It’s important that you call on the services of an estate-planning lawyer. A lawyer might help you:• Determine what type of will you need• Make the right choices as to how your assets should pass• Change the terms of an existing will, if appropriate• Save on estate taxes• Take advantage of estate planning opportunities people often over-look Life insurance and wills.How does life insurance fit into the picture? Life insurance is a vehicle you can use to help make sure your estate has the cash needed to pay expenses at your death, such as funeral costs, debts, and estate taxes. Without liquid assets, the estate may be forced to sell assets—securities may have to be sold in a down market and other assets may have to be liquidated at a dis-count. In most instances, life insurance proceeds are paid income tax-free to your beneficiaries. If desired, life insurance can be owned by a trust or a third party and also not be subject to estate taxes. Don’t wait until it is too late!Creating a will forces each of us to come face-to-face with our own mortal-ity—and dealing with death is difficult. But it will be much more difficult for your loved ones if you don’t have a will.
To ensure that your will is legally viable, seek the services of a qualified attorney to draft and refine it.Neither New York Life, nor its agents, provides tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professional before making any decisions.
IMPORTANCE OF A WILL
Erik Brown CFP®, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company provides this educational third-party article as a courtesy. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Erik Brown at 330-708-9384.
Screening of movie of interest FYI the new movie AWAKE, a documentary about the life and work of Parmahansa Yogananda will be shown at the Cleveland Museum of Art on Sunday, Sept. 7th at 1:30 p.m. This film has already won an award during a preview showing. Call CMA for tickets. 1 888 269 7829 Yogananda was the author of the book Autobiography of a Yogi. He came to USA in the 1920's and lived and worked here until his passing in 1952.
!!!!Announcing FREE Yoga Lesson!!!!!Saturday, September 6th at 11:00 a.m.!!
AT India Community Center, 12412 Cedar Rd!Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106!!
Call or email to reserve your space!216-791-FICA!
[email protected]!!Neti, Pranayam, Pawanamuktasan and Suryanamaskar.!!
Bring Neti pots if possible.!!Bring your mats.!!
Participants please consult your doctors and will need to sign a waiver.!
5 Community NewsFrom the desk of Sonya Quintanilla, the George P. Bickford Curator of Indian and
Southeast Asian Art, Cleveland Museum of ArtThis summer the art and culture of India is being featured and celebrated like never before at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The special exhibition on view until September 7th is called Yoga: The Art of Transformation, won first place for best exhibition and best exhibition catalogue this year by the American Association of Art Museum Curators. Cleveland was selected by the Smithsonian Institution’s
Freer and Sackler Gallery as the third and final venue of this historic, landmark exhibition of Indian art exploring the visual history of yoga over two thousand year. The 135 exceptional works of art selected from 27 international lenders reveal often surprising facets about the history of India’s extraordinary phenomenon: yoga. In a spacious and unique design, visitors can witness how yogis and yoginis of Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Sufi groups practiced meditation, austerities and asanas, following teachings passed on from gurus to disciples. Images of the goal of the yogic body as interpreted by artists in early India are also on view. In the gallery dedicated to yogini tantras, you will see a dramatic and alluring display of medieval sculpted visions of the Hindu god Shiva as Bhairava and yoginis from South India.
Continuing through the exhibition, you will see how yogis became romantic characters in literary works and among the documentary paintings and engravings made for European audiences. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, when India was under British rule, stereotypes of yogis entered the popular imagination through photography and film. How did the widespread image of the yogi get transformed from exotic ascetic or magician fakir to model athlete? The last section of Yoga: The Art of Transformation lays out the rapid changes that took place in the decades leading up to Independence that laid the foundations for modern yoga as has become mainstream today. Tickets to the exhibition include a free Audio-guide tour featuring me, along with Deepak Sarma, Professor of South Asian Religions at Case Western Reserve University and the exhibitions originiating curator Debra Diamond, Associate Curator of South Asian Art at the Freer and Sackler Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Exhibition is free for members plus a guest.
The world’s first exhibition about yoga’s visual history is a must see! The exhibition includes sculptural masterpieces of historical and divine yogis, Mughal paintings of militant yogis, scrolls depicting the chakras, 19th-century photography, and early films.
Learn about yogis who practiced yoga to gain superpowers and see three monumental stone yoginis from a 10th-century temple that are reunited for the first time. Do not miss a special free screening of the film, Mystical Journey: Kumbh Mela. British actor Dominic West (The Wire) and his childhood friend, Sanskrit scholar Dr. James Mallinson, join approximately 100 million other pilgrims on a trip to the largest devotional gathering in the world, the triennial Maha Kumbh Mela in India. There also will be many lectures covering topics such as relationship between architecture and landscape to Yoga, Tantric and Ascetic traditions of Yoga and lesser-known history of armed ascetics, by well-known Scholars in the field.
Many yoga texts, particularly from the tenth century onward, contain select passages describing ideal settings for ensuring successful practice.
This gallery presentation by Tamara Sears, Assistant Professor of the History of Art at Yale University and contributor to the Yoga exhibition catalogue, will examine the many ways in which such idyllic landscapes and rustic dwellings were beautifully evoked through sculpture and painting, not merely as a backdrop for yoga, but as an essential component of yogic practice. There is also free family yoga experience on the museum’s North Lawn every Wednesday evening from July 2 until August 27. All levels welcome!
Time and day and other details to enjoy all the delectable programing can be found at http://www.clevelandart.org/events/exhibitions/yoga-the-art-of-transformation/
6 Community News
FICA & Lotus seekVolunteer Writers/Reporters, and
Business Managerto help the publication grow.
Volunteer for your love of your heritage,Your community, and the joy of
volunteering.Please write : [email protected]
20600 Chagrin Blvd, Suite #150Shaker Heights, OH 44122-5327
(216) 295-0400www.thesaffronpatch.com
7Community NewsONE SUMMER MORNING
-BY SANJU VINEKARThis morning, the 10-year-old wanted Greek salad for breakfast!
I was confused. He wasn’t! He just does what seems the right thing at the moment, like most 10- year-olds still do, freely, mostly oblivious to conven-tion or expectations or norms. -- Until, that is, an adult or someone else tells him he’s off track. Then he accepts the instruction and gets back on track, whatever “on track,” means, anyway.
Today, I was the one to question his way. My first reaction to his request for Greek salad for breakfast was disbelief that he knew what he wanted. He didn’t realize that Greek salad is not breakfast food. Once he was enlight-ened, he’d change his mind. So, I questioned him. Was he sure? Yes. Really sure? Yes. Absolutely sure? Yes. Wouldn’t he prefer waffles or toast or oat-meal or cereal or fruit or eggs or yogurt ... Nope. People don’t normally eat Greek salad for breakfast. !“I do,” he said.Ridiculous. Greek salad for breakfast. It won’t fill him up. He will be hun-gry soon. He won’t even like it. He won’t finish it. It will go to waste. He’ll ask for something else after the first bite. ... And, so on. Self-talk.
Then, I heard a voice, coming out of my own mouth, say, “O.K., then, why not?”
As we breakfasted together on salad, he never changed his mind or doubt-ed his choice. He enjoyed every lettuce, every red onion bit, every piece of feta ... And complimented my preparation, even. When he finished, he got up, satisfied, cleared his place, and moved on to being busy. (They are busy with this or that all the time.) He ate an entire plate of Greek salad, so he was not hungry again until called for lunch.
During the school year, mornings are always frenzied. The rhythm of our life is set by an external metronome, periodic and unyielding. It doesn’t matter how early we wake up or how conscientious we’ve been in lining up shoes, laying out uniforms, pre-packing backpacks. School mornings do
not allow us to step too far afield lest the day’s work is thrown off course. So, through the course of the year, we grasp at routine, check-lists, repeatability, uniforms, schedules, and habits. We take ex-ternal cues without thinking and we override internal cues. We del-egate decisions to convention and local culture. All of this makes our lives, especially mornings, a tiny bit more streamlined. We avoid questions. We find the most direct route. We avoid detours.
We are executives. Goals are set. We make them happen.
Summer mornings, on the other hand, the natural rhythm of the child’s whims, curiosity, interest, and energy levels re-emerge unrestrained. It is a decadent luxury, yet I cannot think of anything more replenishing for the spirit. The children express their internal callings and the time is now avail-able to patiently listen, to really hear what they are saying, and, often, to follow their lead. When I do, I am always reminded of something important and nascent I had misplaced along the way. In this case, I was reminded that many of the constraints in my life, and that of my family, were placed there for a reason. -- Usually a good reason, even. But these constraints need only remain as long as they serve their purpose and are needed. Why wouldn’t we have Greek salad for breakfast? We explore alternatives. We open ourselves to possibilities within our own lives.
We are inventors and explorers. We are wanderers. Paths are many. At ev-ery junction, we ask, “why not.”
I can’t say what else we will be having for breakfasts this summer. Be it a breakfast suggestion or something else, I hope that voice again says, “why not?”
7Issues that matter8 News of interest
News of interest 9ARUN’S LEGAL CORNER
- BY ARUN J. KOTTHA, ESQ.©
Your Aunt Anjali just received a big promotion and bonus. She has never operated a boat, but fulfills her lifelong dream by purchasing one with her extra cash. She invites you alongfor the maiden voyage of the new-ly (and aptly) named “LAKSHMI”.
You meet at a Cleveland marina to launch the boat and start up the Cuyahoga River with your Auntie at the helm. As you come around colli-sion bend going a bit too fast, Anjali fails to yield to the GOODTIME III and the two vessels collide. Thankfully no one is hurt, but the GOODTIME III sustains some damage.
What is the legal standard applicable to this situation?The federal maritime law (versus Ohio state law) will apply to the subse-quent lawsuit for property damage. The maritime law was born out of an ancient set of rules for mariners who sailed the high seas on wooden sail-boats at great peril to life and property. It provided a uniform and fair way to handle common seafaring situations such as sinkings, collisions, salvage, contracts, injuries, and procuring supplies. The United States maritime law was born out of that of England, which has a rich and long-standing heri-tage of maritime commerce spanning the globe.
Maritime law applies to this case because the accident occurred on the navigable waters of the United States of America (here, the Cuyahoga River) and the accident had a “nexus with traditional maritime activities.”
The “traditional maritime activity” is the GOODTIME III carrying ticketed passengers for pay.
Under the maritime law, you are held to the standard of the “reasonably prudent navigator.” That is, what a reasonable operator would have done under the same or similar circumstances. From the outset, Anjali has some issues. A “reasonably prudent navigator” would have learned the right of way rules for a shipping channel before traveling in one. And a reasonably prudent navigator would control her speed in that shipping channel, espe-cially in an area known as collision bend! Anjali is held to the standard of a reasonably prudent navigator even though it was her first time operating a boat.
While your Auntie should have learned the rules of the sea before setting sail, we can be thankful that no one was hurt. Since your Auntie “prudently” obtained marine insurance before launching, she will not be financially worse off for the experience.
###
This article is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem
Arun Kottha is an attorney with Tucker Ellis LLP in Cleveland, Ohio. He focuses on the defense of personal injury and commercial lawsuits. Contact: [email protected].
Feel free to contact Arun to submit a topic for a subsequent article.
The very nature of our lives has to be dedicated to something, for life means to have something definite to do (as wise men and women have always been reminding us, almost since the dawn our beautiful human civ-ilization). Gandhi Ji (1869-1948) lived exactly the way very nature of human life dictates. Primarily because of his efforts and dedication, India is 67 years young this year and moving fast, 24/7, on the path of progress in ev-ery discipline known to mankind today. India is one of the few emerging new economies these days. Not only highest number of quality business schools (3,800), India of today also has highest number of Universities (8,407, Private and Public Universities combined), followed by opted home of most of us, The United States of America, with 5,758 Universities, and Argentina is at#3 in the World with 1,705 Universities. Out of top 100 Uni-versities of the World, Ladies & Gentlemen, 10% are situated in India today. For a young nation like India, with population pressure of nearly 1.25 Bil-lion, 26 official languages, where all Religions of the World get worshipped & are protected under India’s Constitution, and a small size (just 2%, of the earth, physically speaking), it is a remarkable feat. A matter of pride for all Asian-Indians (and many others). Young graduates from a number of In-dian Business Schools are in demand all over the World these days. That is one of the reasons as to why 80% of 500 Fortune Companies have theirOutsourcing Offices based in India at present. India, the largest democracy in the world, has just completed its most expensive General Election which was spread over five weeks period or so. Political Parties have spent nearly $5.2 Billion on 2014 Election there. This amount is 2nd only to the 2012 Election of the largest economy of the World (since 1872), the United States of America, which cost the Political Parties about $7 Billion. India’s recent Election was the 2nd most expensive in the World to date. Regime change took place in India with the overwhelming majority of BJP. Some prominent Bollywood Movie Stars (I grew up their films with) won on BJP tickets with huge margins. Hema Malini won from Mathura (Uttar Pradesh State) by 330,747 votes, Vinod Khanna won from Gurdaspur (Punjab State) by 140,000 votes, Paresh Rawal won from Ahmedabad (Gujarat State) by 330,000 votes. Some prominent Bollywood Movie Stars lost also but they were not BJP candidates. For example, Jaya Prada lost from Bijnour (Uttar Pradesh State) by 462,565 votes, on Rash-triya Lok Dal ticket, and Raj Babbar lost on Congress ticket by 567,000 votes from Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh). However, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi won her elec-
tion from Raibarely (Uttar Pradesh) by 352,713 votes on Congress ticket (although Congress Party, previous regime, did lose the recent Election). BJP is led by none other than Hon. Narendra Modi (well known for his highly successful Gujarat State Business Model, when he was Chief Minister of the State and Government at the Center was Congress, previous regime). Under Congress, Indian Economy did grow pretty well in the beginning but, then, everything started slowing down. It was quite inline with the global trends (since late 2007 onwards). However, fresh energy and fresh minds are in place now at the Center. Let us hope, Indian wealth nearly doubles in next five years. It sounds difficult but since Hon. Narendra Modi has already proved his might in the past, I think it is doable. You see, Ladies & Gentlemen, moving with time is the name of the game in today’s high tech world. Global markets (including, of course, In-dian markets) are going to keep evolving and competition is going to be-come intense, as the time will go by. With constant changes in technology, past practices of any business in this world is not going to remain a viable option for its staff, owners, and other business associates. Whether one is in retail, marketing, or manufacturing, what one knew year or two years ago and which became backbone of one’s business, is not going to remain so in view of constant changes taking place in technology. One has to move with the speed of time (Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s First Prime Minister used to say), in order to survive and succeed in any business. No business anywhere in the world can be an exception to this rule, as I have personally understood. And I am positive that today’s India is quiet aware of these changing trends and necessities. As a matter of fact, India’s mastering the Art of Information Technology is going to be a huge plus when it comes to global competition. A well qualified and highly engaged workforce is go-ing to be vital for the success of any Business, any State, any Nation. India has already shown tremendous foresightedness over last 67 years when it comes to building its Educational Institutions, Variety of Industries, Tech-nology, Agriculture, Healthcare, Energy Sector, Travel, to mention a few. India seems to be quiet ready to reap the harvest of ‘digital age’. Because the World is quiet interconnected now, success or failure of one nation might depend on other nation(s). And our cultural histories clearly suggest that one culture can be very different from the other. There-fore, it also becomes vital that we thoroughly educate ourselves about cul-tures of other nations, other people. Because what we think dictates how
RUNAWAY THOUGHTS, ON A SLEEPLESS NIGHT - BY INDER SUNEJA
Community News10we do business. Because of lack of our knowledge about other nations’ cultural values, can hamper our chances of doing business with those regions or expand our business in those countries. I personally consider it to be one of the reasons that Retail Giant of our Times, Wal Mart with nearly 44,000 Stores around the World, has not succeeded in India to date. You see, Western attitude we are used to here, ‘Get the Job Done’ may not work in India because of our cultural differences, the way we perceive certain issues, way we think about the person or enterprise we are doing business with. That is one of the reasons that the Retail Sector of India ( $500 Billion Industry today) is over 85% in the form of ‘Mom-and-Pop Busi-ness’. A variety of cultures with deep histories exist on all major Con-tinents. In order to succeed, especially globally, we must educate our-selves about cultures of others, as much as possible, I feel. Asian Indians are already well known for their hard work, dedi-cation to their families, and for their saving for the rainy day. Let us not forget, even in our dreams, as to what is the meaning of human life. Let us make sure to do something definite and positive with our lives and dedicate it to something special. Let us think beyond ourselves and be always ready to help all those around us who are in genuine need. Let us keep lighting up, Ladies & Gentlemen, faces of all those in need around us with our smile and caring.
Please email Sujata at [email protected] with any questions regarding anthem(s) singing, bhangra participation, volunteering at the water table or traffic flagger for parade, performing on the stage, FICA membership enrollment booth, reception committee at Gandhi statue and Cultural Gardens of Cleveland, game organizing.
Great opportunity for culturally Indian organizations in Greater Cleveland area, Akron/Canton to participate in the parade with your banners and get a boost in your membership enrollment by getting a booth at the City Gardens during India’s Independence day celebration on August 17th. Email Sujata at [email protected] .
Continued from Pg 9
Community News 11
Vishnu Vishvarupa, c. 1800–1820. India, Rajasthan, Jaipur. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; 38.5 x 28 cm. ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Given by Mrs. Gerald Clark IS.33-2006.
Come see the first exhibition to explore yoga’s rich visual history and its
transformation over time and across communities.
Yoga: The Art of Transformation is organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
ClevelandArt.org
Yoga: The Art of Transformation June 22 through September 7
ART MENTOR FOUNDATION LUCERNE The Ebrahimi Family Foundation
