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September 2016 - Volume 0916 1
A Monthly Publication of the Federation of India Community Associations (FICA) Since 1967
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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LOTUS TEAMPublishing & EditorialSujata Lakhe BarnardRamesh “Ray” GehaniPriyanka Gopal
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INSIDE1 India’s Independence Day 20163 Indian Ambassador Visits Cleveland3 Hindi and Urdu Poetry A Revival4 Further � oughts on Indian Flag and Its Use5 Art review: ‘Mughal India’ Transports Viewers, Challenges Preconceived Notions6 College Bound; I guess I am not a typi-cal mom. Or, am I?7 Release And Refresh With Twists9 Ganpati, Lokmanya Tilak and India’s Freedom Movement!9 On Children10 Historically Speaking11 Children’s Book by Local Author
India’s Independence Day 2016
Members of the Greater Cleveland Indian community participate in the Parade of Flags at One World Day in Rockefeller Park
Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.com says “People often ask us which groups get the most visitors. We do daily statistics to track visitors and each month” According to Dan the most visited gardens at Cleveland Cultural Gardens in August 2016 was Indian!
The Cultural Gardens were conceived for the purpose of honoring and celebrating Cleveland’s cultural diversity and to symbolize peace, brotherhood and harmony among people of all nations and were built in the early 1900s and are the result of a joint effort between the various ethnic communities, the City of Cleveland and the Federal Government. They represent the fi rst, most comprehensive and fi nest memorial to peace, brotherhood and unity in this country.
Although the plot for the India Garden was given to the community many years ago, it was only in 1997, through the efforts of NetIP, led by Seema Haria
Continued on Page 2
A Thank you note to the following sponsorsFor the Reception for the Hon. Arun Kumar Singh,
Indian Ambassador to USA
www.FICAcleveland.org Wednesday, July 20, 2016; 4:00 to 5:30PMExecutive Caterers, 6111 Landerhaven Dr
Cleveland, OH 44124
Hosted by Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE) in partnership with Federation of India Communities
Association of Northeast Ohio (FICA of NEO) and sister organizations.
Nirmal Sinha,
Dr. Shivangi,
Pragna and Satish Parikh
Dolly & Ratanjit Sondhe
Dr. Sudhir Parikh
Sujata Lakhe and William G Barnard IV
Sudarshan & Swati Sathe
Suresh and Guniya Bafna
Halina and Jag Kottha
Sewa International
Dr. Sudhir Parikh
Sam Janda and Azaadjeet Singh
Dr. Mohan Durve
Lee C. Shapiro
Thank you to all who contributed with time, energy and attendance.
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September 2016 - Volume 0916
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that the India Garden fi rst took shape. In 1999, FICA, under the leadership of then President Raj Pillai undertook the task of building a permanent Garden by mobilizing community support. Then board member (and subsequently FICA president) Vijaya Emani championed the effort.
The India Cultural Garden (ICG) Committee, under FICA was formed in 2002 to choose a design for the garden and to move the project forward. After evaluating several fi rms, the committee invited proposals from 3 architects. The winning design was the one submitted by architect Chester Turner, and it was further developed by landscape architect Jim McKnight. Key features of the design are: a circular walkway with granite pillars carrying inscriptions, a Mahatma Gandhi Statue, a gate reminiscent of the Sanchi Stupa, and steps leading to Doan Brook, the stream which fl ows behind the garden (reminiscent of steps on the banks of many Indian rivers).
The Mahatma Gandhi statue was installed on October 1, 2006. The 10 ft. bronze statue, sculpted by world famous sculptor Gautam Pal of Kolkatta sits atop a 7 ft granite pedestal. The dedication of the statue coincided with the celebration of One world Day, the annual celebration of Cleveland’s ethnic diversity. Ambassador Ronen Sen of India, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., and Cleveland City Councilwoman Sabra Pierce Scott unveiled the statue.
This year our community celebrated Independence Day co-incident with One World Day 2016! About thousand people walked through Indian Cultural Garden, stopping and reading all the plaques, got their “passport” stamped by FICA-Cleveland community volunteers! Volunteers had to work in shifts to draw Tiranga and write names in Hindi as the line for passport-signing was incessant and constant from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, until the exhausted volunteers had to wrap up the tent decorated in Tiranga colors and Jaipur
lamp! Great to celebrate our Independence day with a myriad of ethnic communities of Cleveland!
Science experiments were demonstrated to children (varying in age from 2-years to 12-years), their parents, grandparents, and others during a 5-hour presentation on a very hot and humid day by Stander Singh Puri;. Tornado in a Bottle, Spoon Dance, Applications in Magnetism, Gravity, Motion, and Sound. Mehendi artist Nivi had non-stop work and Palav Fadia enjoyed showing her Indian inspired Jewelery to passerby. Many gathered to walk with Tiranga in the “parade of Flags” to celebrate India’s Freedom and end of colonialism!
Science experiments were demonstrated to children (varying in age from 2-years to 12-years), their parents, grandparents, and others during a 5-hour presentation on a very hot and humid day by Stander-Ji. Tornado in a Bottle, Spoon Dance, Applications in Magnetism, Gravity, Motion, and Sound.
Vandana Singh and Rashmi Jain volunteered at FICA booth and stamped so many passports with India’s fl ag and their name in Hindi.
About one thousand people walked through Indian Cultural Garden, stopping and reading all the plaques, and had their “passport” stamped by FICA Cleveland community volunteers! Great way to celebrate our Independence day with a myriad of ethnic communities of Cleveland!
Independence DayContinued from page 1
Students from Cleveland State University perform a Bollywood style dance in the India Garden at One World Day. From left to right: Shilpa, Sheet, Sayli, Namita, Deepa. Front Row: Mrunmayee and Chandani
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September 2016 - Volume 0916
India’s Ambassador to the US Honorable Arun K Singh along with his wife Maina Chawla Singh and offi ce staff was in Cleveland in the month of July to attend the Republican national convention. During his visit, the Indian-American community of greater Cleveland hosted a reception for the Indian Ambassador.
His Excellency Arun K. Singh was introduced by Dr. Shivani and in keeping with ‘Cavs feaver’ was presented with a wall-art showcasing our basketball team and the National Basketball Association (NBA) trophy they won this year. The food at the reception was excellent and catered by our local Indian restaurant Saffron Patch. Other than a small glitch of music refusing to stop playing as the speaker started to speak, the evening went on smoothly, with pleasant conversation with the very personable ambassador and his wife and excellent talk by Hon Arun K Singh which updated our community about current state of India-US relations and interactions.
Arun K. Singh joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1979 after completing his Masters Degree in Economics from Delhi University and teaching at the University for two years. His fi rst assignment abroad was at the Embassy of India, Moscow from 1981-1982, where he learnt Russian. Later,
FICA StaffBoard of Trustees
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Sister OrganizationsAssociation of Indian physicians of
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Social media has its advantages and disadvantages, but occasionally one makes a discovery that is so exhilarating that it makes up for all the worthless hours spent on it. For me, one such moment was when someone introduced me to Hindi Kavita and Urdu Studio. It is the brainchild of an NRI, Manish Gupta, currently a Mumbai-based fi lmmaker, who decided to make Hindi and Urdu poetry alive and available again.
His idea was simple. Persuade talented folks from the fi lm-industry to recite poems of renowned Hindi and Urdu poets. These videos are available on YouTube as well as on Facebook. When you listen to Manoj Bajpai (https://youtu.be/RTuJ_OFxX3M) doing an impassioned recitation of a Hindi poem you learnt in school, or hear Tom Altar discussing poetry in chaste Urdu one feels a rush of emotions, a pride in languages so pure and rich, gratitude for the poets who leave behind such a treasure trove of riches and amazement at the technology that makes it possible for us to stay connected with our roots and culture with such ease.
Apra Sood works as a physician at the Cleveland Clinic and has studied at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla. Apra lives in Shaker Heights, OH with her husband Ajay, also a physician, and their two sons. She is passionate about Indian literature, music and dance.
Hindi and Urdu Poetry A Revival
By Apra Sood; [email protected]
As you may already know that FICA of NEO, (www.� cacleveland.org, @FICAcleveland) has been recognized by the United Way as a Designated Charitable Organization and is eligible non-partner agency with United Way of Cleveland. I would greatly appreciate if you can reach out to your place of work and friends and request them to consider designating Federation of India communities association of North East Ohio (FICA of NEO, @FICAcleveland) to receive part of their annual donation. United Way will then channel their donations to FICA a� er deducting some service fee. � is will create a revenue stream for FICA to support our mission of promoting the rich cultural heritage of India in greater Cleveland; to facilitate ongoing dialog with civic leaders regarding issues of importance to Asian Indian families in the region; to facilitate the mainstreaming of Asian Indian families by creating a platform for the community’s active participation in the civic life; to collaborate with local organizations to promote goodwill and understanding between diverse communities; to partner with business groups that promote ties between Indian and US � rms and foster economic development.
Indian Ambassador Visits ClevelandBy Sujata Lakhe Barnard
Ambassador Arun Singh and his wife, Maina Chawla Singh
Continued on Page 4
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September 2016 - Volume 0916
Further Thoughts on Indian Flag and Its UseBy Zohra Calcuttawala; [email protected]
Apropos the article Vexillology of Tiranga (Lotus, August 2016), the author posits the question why the Indian fl ag is not fl own with the same abandon as the American fl ag. Notwithstanding the reason of a restrictive Indian fl ag law lifted in 2002, one must turn to larger ideas of nation, nationalism, national identity and indeed of civilization.
In order to begin to understand the conundrum of a people proud of their ancient past but inhibited in the exercise of pride for their country some defi nitions are in order. One has to understand the idea of a nation, nation-state and nationalism. Nation is commonly defi ned as a group of people who share a common identity be that of religion, ethnicity, language or a shared history. Examples are the Japanese, the French, Palestinians or the Nation of Islam. No territory or area is involved in the defi nition. The nation-state is the linking of a separate and distinct people (nation) and a politically organized territory with its own sovereign government (state). The nation-state ideal originated in 18th century Europe, a consequence of Europe’s bloody history, wherein each people (nation) must have its own country (state) in order to be free and govern itself as it desires. Nationalism is pride in one’s national identity and the belief that one’s national interest are more important than all other interests (e.g. personal, local, regional, global) as well as other nation’s interests. It always used to be assumed that in order to become a nation,
the people of a nation should resemble each other as closely as possible. If they looked different, spoke a different language, followed a different religion, then this was considered a threat to the ‘imagined community’ of the nation. Globalization and unprecedented international migration of the past 200 years has weakened the notion of a nation-state.
The European ideal of a nation-state was subsequently imposed on colonial lands often as a prerequisite to gaining independence. Thus, the contours of the Indian nation-state are a fairly recent colonial imposition and were defi ned at the time of Independence on 15th of August 1947. At that time the boundaries of the Indian nation were laid out and the fl ag and national anthem adopted.
Historically, the word India (and Hindustan) connoted a region that lay east of the River Sindh and encompassed lands that ranged from Afghanistan to Bangladesh as various empires expanded and contracted over a fi ve thousand year old history. Even a brief visit to India will make obvious the bewildering array of castes, tribes and language groups present in this vast region. What binds the peoples of this region is a notion of civilization that is ancient. This civilizational notion allowed for an incredible mix of ideas, cultures and lifestyles that, despite their apparent differences, are still part of the overall patchwork. ‘Indianness’ as an identity
and cultural marker has distinguished the peoples of the Indian subcontinent for fi ve thousand years. It was not the fl ag or the national anthem that bound people together but a civilizational continuity– the ox-carts depicted on Harappan seals can still be seen in many parts of rural India albeit with rubber tyres; the daily chanting of the Gayatri Mantra, composed over four millennia ago, by millions of Hindus.
India’s uncontainable diversity also led to the greater fl ourishing of regional loyalties and affi nities. People’s allegiances were bound to their family, kin, caste, ethnic and/or language groups and not to politically defi ned boundaries i.e., the state. Nation-building and creating one out of the many is a task faced by the Indian government. More recently, as the forces of political, economic and cultural globalization weave around the world, India too, like many other countries is witness to a resurgent nationalism undergirded by religious fundamentalism. Terrorism, separatist movements and cultural nationalism all play a role in the rising nationalism. A region that historically owed its loyalty and allegiance fi rst to family, kin, caste or ethnic group are now beginning to defi ne themselves by politically defi ned boundaries and the fl ag and national anthem prove powerful symbols in shaping a national identity.
The United States, a nation of immigrants, also makes an interesting test case in its attempt to deal with this problem
of how to make the many one. As a nation of immigrants with a brief history, defi ning themselves as a unifi ed nation remains one of the core tasks of the U.S. government at all levels. The absence of traditional links to land, history and culture explains why the US has to make an identity for itself out of its liberal state ideology – (democracy, liberty, free enterprise capitalism). All these common values are symbolized by the American fl ag, which fl ies everywhere across the country, planted in every conceivable, possible and even impossible place –front lawns, car windows, the sides of buildings, corporate websites, shirts, and yes, even on underwear. The ubiquitous fl ying of the national fl ag is a distinctly American feature which can be interpreted as a constant search for and a need of a reminder of their identity as Americans.
Zohra Calcuttawala, Ph.D is an adjunct professor of geography at Tri-C’s West Campus. She lives in Shaker Heights and in the brief snatches of time she gets from haranguing her three children to be model minorities, she enjoys reading, writing and the outdoors.
References:
Young, R.J.C. 2003. Postcolonialism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Wood, M. 2007. India. New York. Basic Books.
he served at the Indian Missions in Addis Ababa as Second Secretary from 1982-1985, and in Tokyo as First Secretary from 1985 - 1988. On returning to Delhi at the Headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, he served as Deputy Secretary / Director dealing with East Asia and Pakistan Divisions from 1988-1991. From 1991-1993, he headed the Offi ces of the Foreign Secretary and the External Affairs Minister of India.
Ambassador Singh served at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations Offi ce, New York from 1993-1997 as Counsellor and handled multilateral social and economic negotiations. He served in the Indian Mission at Moscow again as Counsellor / Minister from 1997-2000. During his assignment in Delhi from 2000-2005, he served in the capacity of Joint Secretary dealing fi rst with the United Nations Policy, and then Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Divisions at the Ministry of External Affairs.
Ambassador Singh served as Ambassador of India to Israel from April 2005 to September, 2008; and then as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, Washington D.C from October 2008 to April 2013. Ambassador Singh served as Ambassador of India to France from April, 2013 to April, 2015. He assumed his assignment as Ambassador of India to United States on April 30, 2015.
Ambassador Singh speaks Russian and Japanese and has some knowledge of French and Hebrew. He is married to Dr. Maina Chawla Singh; they have one daughter. Dr Maina Singh,Ph.D has taught at Delhi University and had taught courses on South Asia and Indian Diasporas at American University in Washington D.C. She has written many books and is the author of “Being Indian, Being Israeli” (New Delhi: 2009). and many other books and published articles in this subject area.
Twenty-fi ve million people of Indian origin live overseas. Indian diasporas today exude a confi dence and energy be it in Britain, Canada, the Middle East, Mauritius or Fiji. The 3 million-strong Indian-American diaspora looms especially large in global business, science and innovation. Although Indian immigration to the U.S. dates back to over a century, the current consolidation of this community emerged after the passage of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965, which abolished the “national origins” quota and facilitated the migration of thousands of Indian engineers, scientists and physicians from India. After the 1980s, the tech boom brought in the next infl ux of professionals who were young, urban-educated and highly skilled. Satya Nadella of Microsoft and Sundar Pichai of Google are the icons of this generation!
The Ambassador recalled an anecdote when he was visiting with the Indian Air Force contingent at Eielson Air Force Base
Alaska for a Red Flag 2016 Exercise. He said majority of doctors in northern most tip of Alaska were Indian! He said, “1 in 7 patients in US are seen by Indian doctors, more than 50%motel owners are of Indian origin and presently India paying in tuition money to Universities is in Billions”. Last year Indian students in the United States contributed in billions to the US economy.
It has been reported in Indian newspaper, Indian Express that refl ective of the positive sentiment about India and the commitment of the GOP leadership to strengthen India-US strategic relationship, Singh was given
the highest level of access given to a foreign diplomat during a political convention. Singh met the House of Representative Speaker Paul Ryan, Senator John Cornyn, Senate Majority Whip and Co-Chair India Caucus and Senator Bob Corker Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Refl ective of the positive sentiment about India and the commitment of the GOP leadership and Trump Campaign to strengthen India-US strategic relationship, Singh has been given the highest level of access given to a foreign diplomat during a political convention.
Continued from Page 3Indian Ambasador
Indian Ambassador to The United States of America, Arun K. Singh, speaks to members of the North East Ohio Indian community at Landerhaven in Mayfi eld Heights, Ohio
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September 2016 - Volume 0916
Art review: ‘Mughal India’ Transports Viewers, Challenges Preconceived Notions
By Anderson Turner - Akron Beacon Journal
It’s easy to forget the important role the arts play in our everyday life. From watching movies to listening to music, too often we forget that an artist has created the thing we are currently enjoying.
Art and Stories from Mughal India at the Cleveland Museum of Art gives us a look into a world very different than our own. To call the exhibit transformative is something of an understatement. “Teleporting” feels like a better descriptor. In this incredible and awe-inspiring
exhibit, we are taken to a time and place full of wonder, where stories and artwork entertained and informed leadership in a very “hands on” way.
According to the museum, the Mughal Empire existed from 1526 until the advent of British colonial rule in 1858, and included large portions of the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan: “The Mughal rulers were Central Asian Muslims who assimilated many religious faiths under their administration. Famed for its distinctive architecture, including the Taj Mahal, the Mughal Empire is also renowned for its colorful and engaging paintings, many taking the form of scenes from narrative tales.”
Walking through the exhibit, you are struck fi rst by the color of the walls and the way in which the exhibit is set up. The space feels different than the rest of the museum, the rest of Cleveland even.
The show is divided into eight sections based on the Persian idea of Nama; loosely translated, it means story or account.
The paintings all come from bound books that tell stories. Most of the works have long been separated from the volumes,
but this exhibit has set them all in their original context. This helps tell the stories, and moves you through the exhibit while giving insights into court life and culture.
Description and photographs don’t really do these pieces justice. These watercolors were painted on cotton and done with incredibly fi nely ground stone and precious metals mixed with gum arabic. The artists would put the pigment into shells and usually painted in a seated position. Though they are from a book, the watercolors are not fl at; they have a depth and intensity of color that needs to be seen fi rsthand.
The Dream of Zulaykha, from the Amber Album (about 1670), tells the story of the wife of the king’s vizier dreaming of Yusuf
(Joseph, of the Old Testament) as her lover. It’s a detailed work, rich in color and pattern, depicting a storyline that may be surprising to Western eyes.
It shows how these rulers wanted to learn and understand other ideas from around the world, so they commissioned court painters to create great volumes to tell these stories. One of the more interesting things to do while looking at the show is to try to place the stories in a Western context, and to enjoy what the leaders and artists of the Mughal Empire found most important.
The process of trying to historically place things really stretched my memory and brought back the two years of theology I took. It also challenged my notions of historical values and understanding. Here, we fi nd ourselves looking at images that depict some familiar Biblical stories, and they were painted by Muslims, who felt that it was appropriate to paint human likenesses. These things challenge our assumptions and help to add the “teleporting” nature of the exhibition.
Wine Cup in the Shape of a Turban Gourd (1620-50), is a dark green gourd carved from stone that helps set a context for much of what you see. The watercolors were meant to be contemplated, like the books they were in, but also like modern television or fi lms. People would sit and look, have refreshments and discuss. It’s hard to understand this level of contemplation without the use of a cellphone nowadays.
This is where the Cleveland Museum of Art steps out a bit. It has a phone app that not only can give you a tour of the exhibit, but also helps to bring out details that might otherwise be missed.
There is some irony working here. Old watercolors, meant to be held in the hand and contemplated, get a modern assist by something we all hold in our hands and contemplate. Entertains me a little, at least.
One of the other great things about this show is it’s free. You can go back multiple times, and it almost screams for that. The detail is truly a bit overwhelming, and I have no doubt that you will see multiple new things on your second or even third visit.
Art and Stories from Mughal India is not for the lazy. While it is beautiful and intense, it is also somewhat dense and complex. It’s not the easiest show to look at and relate to. The museum does a wonderful job of helping to break down some of these barriers with the app and the way it has chosen to display the work.
Still, this show transports you to a time and place that is extremely different from the one we call home and asks you to give up preconceived notions of a culture about which most of us only have a limited knowledge.
Oh wait, isn’t that what museums are supposed to do?
Contact Anderson Turner at [email protected].
The dream of Zulaykha, from the Amber Album, about 1670. Mughal India. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; 32 x 24.4 cm (page); 21.9 x 15.4 cm (painting). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, 2013.332 (recto).
Wine cup in the shape of a turban gourd, 1625–50. Mughal India. Nephrite. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J485. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
The Annunciation, from a Mir’at al-quds (Mirror of Holiness) of Father Jerome Xavier (Spanish, 1549–1617), 1602– 4. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569–1627). Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper; 26.2 x 15.4 cm (page); 20.6 x 10.2 cm (painting). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 2005.145.2.
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September 2016 - Volume 0916
I couldn’t cry a tear even if I wanted to as I gave my 18-year old a hug at the end of the most eventful Saturday of our lives two weeks ago. Surely that last hug before we pulled away from the curb across her dorm couldn’t have been any tighter, or my heart any heavier, but there were no tears. Funny I should mention tears, but I have been asked if I cried on the occasion only about 68 times in the last couple of weeks. So, you can understand why they’re on my mind.
Between impossible spills, uncommon dress-ups, constant cleanups, unending chores, recurring instructions, typical tantrums, usual work, everyday homework, elusive grades, fantastic vacations, ineliminable wants, testing tryouts, pesky competitions, visible disagreements, untold brooding, and so much more that kept us busy over the last 18 years, I have not for one moment been unaware of the strong bonds of love and respect we were developing as mother and daughter, or the inevitable good-byes I’d have to say at various occasions in our lives. I had close to two decades to prepare for this event,
and even then, I knew I’d be challenged at every step by a young woman who refuses to perceive the world as anything less than a continent of possibilities, and her existence, built for the sole purpose of exploring it. In addition, I’d have to learn, more consciously than ever before, to keep an open mind about everything, if I cared to keep this fragile relationship from eroding. No one ever said that it would be easy, but the good news was, everyone agreed, even if only tacitly, that this could be handled, and handled reasonably well. So, here I was. This was it.
As she picked up the stack of brand new textbooks that dad had procured at the end of a grueling wait at the bookstore, and hugged the three of us before rushing off to another orientation, my minds-eye imagined a 2-year old in a purple tutu pirouetting in place, while the reality of a charming young woman in a fl owy yellow dress walking away into the distance, unsure yet determined, belied my motherly expectation that she would run back into my arms any second. In a way, it was what I needed. Regardless of how she felt at that moment, my little girl had made her choice. Eyes still animated, she gathered her stride, and walked away with a puckered smile on her lips, quietly confi rming that she was ready. At that very instant, I felt the mountain of overachiever-friendly goals and last-minute advice that I wanted to offl oad, dissipate in a hurry. All I wanted was for her to be safe and healthy. I hoped she realized how incredibly proud we were of the beautiful girl she’d grown up to be, and that we’d always be there for her.
Like so many friends we know, we are an On-The-Go suburban unit of four, that had had its fair share of disappointments
and successes. We work hard each day to make ourselves better, and one another happy. We make a conscious effort to spend time together, share our feelings, and seek support as needed. We take care for our families, friends and strangers alike, because we care. We continue to discuss Truth, Love and Excellence to death over family meals and during car rides, and are convinced we don’t need any more reminders as to why they are important. We don’t always shy away from challenges – we know that failure is an option, and that we will be judged not merely by outcomes, but by the sincerity of our attempts. We have a lot of friends, and adore their company. We keep things simple, and are easy to please. We realize how priceless perspectives can be, and know better than to discard an opinion or trivialize feedback. We do all this and much more together, and quite seamlessly too, but as a mother, the biggest challenge I’ve faced is being a friend and mom at the same time. Helping my little girl discover the beauty and strength within, while inspiring her to learn to empathize, communicate, critically think, problem-solve, give back, etc., always keeping the big picture in mind. Fortunately, I have had some exemplary moms whose paths have and continue to cross mine, and from whose distilled experiences, I’ve gathered many a golden nugget to help me along the way. At the end of the day, I know this – it’s a balancing act, the secret to which lies in keeping it real at all times. Voice of reason, story teller and cheerleader on one side, and psychologist, task master and sentry on the other. Between us, there are no straitjacket suggestions, elephants in the room, or taboo topics. Just reasonable conversation with our conscience as our alibi, and humor as our retreat.
For example, just from keeping our conversation open-ended, I have learned so much about how she or kids of today see the world, and how different and priceless their perspectives were. To keep this channel somewhat open for both of us, I have started writing her little notes on Facebook that she can read when she fi nds a leisure minute. Sometimes, they speak to what I am going through, and at some others just a pat on the back or a reassurance that all will be well. I started with likening the college experience
to a run-on sentence – ‘gasping for proper punctuations, lacking in appropriate pauses, defi cient in transitional vocabulary, and unaware of its approach towards the fi nish line, yet abundant in expression, sincere in intention, time-tested in living proof, rich in rewards, and ultimate in unspeakable joy.’ With technology on our side, I am hoping that the text messages and group chats will continue, and I’d have little to worry about getting out of touch.
With all that being said, I neither have newfound worries nor extraordinary relief on account of our daughter being away. My feelings are just the same as any mother’s, who learns to let go while secretly wishing that she could still hold on, as she leaves her precious little package to deal with her impish self while acclimating to the new normal. Raising my baby girl has been an utter joy. Wait! As I say that, I realize I don’t have to say in past tense because she and I nowhere near done. There’s so much more for us to talk, experiment with, argue about, and accomplish together, hand in hand, just like always.
So, for now, no tears. Just hope, and lots of love. Ice cream-sundaes-for-no-reason, and fall break can’t come soon enough….
Sravanthi Vallampati is a mother of two, and lives in Aurora, OH, with her daughters and husband. She works in Data and Analytics realm at Progressive Insurance.
A 20+ year resident of Cleveland, OH, Sravanthi is passionate about Service, Education, Diversity & Inclusion, Communication & Public Speaking, and above all, community involvement, and enjoys opportunities for lifelong learning and meaningful giving. Currently serving or having served as a Board or Committee member and core volunteer of several organizations, she brings her experience and perspectives to the table as a leader and a team member.
When not at Progressive, chauffeuring her girls or playing homemaker, she enjoys volunteering, writing, gardening and sharing her time with friends.
College Bound; I guess I am not a typical mom. Or, am I?By Sravanthi Vallampati
Apoorva Vallampati ,Shravanti’s daughter who received the highest mark of accomplishment in Bharatnatyam student with her Arrengetram in 2014 under the auspices of Shri Kalaa Mandir Bharatnatyam school and blessing from her Guru Sujatha Srinivasan.
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September 2016 - Volume 0916
Release And Refresh With Twistsby Vishali Gupta
Tone the belly, massage your internal organs and release back pain with twisting yoga asanas.
Twists are a favorite among many yogis including myself. There are myriad number of twists. Let’s explore a few with the benefi ts and alignment tips.
TYPES OF TWISTS
RECLINING - These twists are done laying down on the backs. Upper body is stabilized so most of the twist happens in the lower body. See photo 1
SEATED - These twists are done sitting with both sitting bones grounded and spine lengthening with core engaged to keep the lower back safe. The entire spinal column revolves like a spiral staircase. (Ardha Matsyendrasana) see photo 2
BELLY - Some twists are done with belly down and most of the twist happens in the upper body such as twisting Ek pada raj kapotasasna. See photo 3
STANDING - These twists are done from mountain pose or entered through downward facing dog pose such as Parivrtta Trikonasana. See photo 4
BENEFITS OF TWISTS
1. Twists stretch the musculature of the spine. This helps to restore and retain the spine’s natural range of motion. It lubricates the vertebrae of the spine.
2. Twists aid digestion by creating motility and mobility around the internal organs. They strengthen the digestive agni and ease constipation and bloating.
3. Twists detoxify because of the squeeze and soak action. The internal organs are
compressed as we twist pushing out the old blood and when we release the twist fresh blood can fl ow in the organs.
GETTING INTO SOME OF THE ABOVE NAMED TWISTS
We have discussed Ardha Matsyendrasana in the previous issue of lotus. I will be explaining the following in this article.
CAUTION
1. ALIGNMENT IS THE KEY IN TWISTS. A twist done wrongfully can create pain in lower back or sacroiliac joints. Please perform twists under the guidance of a Yoga teacher.
2. No twisting in pregnancy
3. Avoid twists with spinal disc injury.
RECLINING TWIST
Lay on your back on the mat. Bend the knees and place the feet hip width apart. Place right thigh bone over the left stacking both knees. Inhale to lengthen the spine, exhale drop the knees to the right and look left. This is a deep spinal twist
REVOLVED EK PADA RAJ KAPOTASANA
Getting into this pose. From downward facing dog, bring the right shin forward behind the two wrist creases. Press the palms under the shoulders to elongate the spine. Then, bring left forearm parallel to the front of the mat and press it down. Take right hand out to the right and twist the belly, rib cage, and heart to the right. Keep heart higher than the navel.
PARIVRTTA TRIKONASANA
Place your mat in front of the wall perpendicular to the wall. Step the left foot forward in front of the left about 31/2 feet in front. Make sure legs are not on a tight rope. Back foot heel presses into the wall with toes turning inward about 3o degrees. Pelvis is even to the front of the room. Navel points to the center right under the sternum. Place the back of the left hand on sacrum. Lengthen the spine taking right arm up with an inhale. With an exhale, initiate the twist to the left. Place hand on the block or fl oor whichever is convenient. Belly, heart, lungs and left side ribs rotate towards the sky. Make sure the weight on the front foot is on the big toe and inner heal. Left knee cap lifts into the quadriceps muscle. Back leg is fully engaged. Keep jaw soft and gaze soft. Smile for a yogic glow.
Refresh and tone your body with these yummy twists and enjoy a still mind.
Vishali is a certifi ed Yoga teacher who lives in Solon with her family. Yoga is her passion. She learned Yoga while growing up in India and also completed a 200 level teacher training at Chagrin Yoga. She teaches group classes in Chagrin Yoga and Solon Recreation Center. She offers an inspiring and powerful combination of asana, breath, meditation, and chanting that leaves students uplifted and empowered. Vishali specializes in Yoga and meditation techniques to promote overall wellness strengthen the core muscles to bring agility and alleviate back pain. She also helps private clients and also does instruction for individuals training to be Yoga teachers at licensed Yoga Schools. She can be reached at [email protected]
Photo 1 - Reclining Twist
Photo 3 - Ek pada raj kapotasasna
Photo 2 - Ardha Matsyendrasana
Photo 4 - Parivrtta Trikonasana
8
September 2016 - Volume 0916
ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN PHYSICIANS OF NORTHERN OHIO
INVITES YOU TO ATTEND the 33rd ANNUAL DINNER &
4th RESEARCH SHOWCASE
October 22, 2016
Cleveland Convention Center
Global Center for Health Innovation, 300 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114
Research Showcase Co-Chairs: Dr. Beejadi Mukunda & Dr. Mona Gupta
RESEARCH SHOWCASE 4:30 PM
COCKTAILS 5:30 PM
PROGRAM & ENTERTAINMENT 7:00 PM
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS & AWARDS - Dr. Ravi Krishnan
DINNER & DANCINGIMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PROGRAM
Black Tie Optional ~ Complimentary Valet parking at the 300 Lakeside Ave. Entrance
Register at www.aipno.org—click on ‘events
9
September 2016 - Volume 0916
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of beloved Ganesha, the Hindu deity who is believed to lend his power in allowing a project to begin without any glitches and to eliminate all obstacles in its path forward. Ganesh is regarded as the patron saint of Maharashtra and over 6000 idols are commissioned in Mumbai alone every year.
The origin of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, Maharashtra is traced back to Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler who kept the fi rst wave of Mughal invasion from north at bay. It was he who initiated the festival to instil nationalistic feelings and promote cultural harmony in his subjects. Since 1882, the festival got a fresh breath when Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a well respected Indian patriot, revived it as a perfect platform to spread the message of freedom struggle by going against the British ban of public assemblies. People
from all communities participated in it and the festival transformed into a religious as well as social function, thus playing a vital role in unifying the Indians and reviving the spirit of solidarity during colonial rule. The festival was often used a medium to deliver motivational speeches and thus arouse people to resist the British rule and pave way for India’s self rule.
Tilak was born in a Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family in Ratnagiri as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, as mentioned above. in headquarters of the eponymous district of present-day Maharashtra (then British India) on 23 July 1856. His ancestral village was Chikhali. His father, Gangadhar Tilak was a school teacher and a Sanskrit scholar who died when Tilak was sixteen. Tilak graduated from Deccan College, Pune in 1877. Tilak was amongst one of the fi rst generation of Indians to receive a college education. In 1871 Tilak was married to Tapibai (a woman belonging to Bal family) when he was sixteen, a few months before his father’s death. After marriage, her name was changed to Satyabhamabai. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in fi rst class in Mathematics from Deccan College of Pune in 1877. He left his M.A. course of study midway to join the L.L.B course instead, and in 1879 he obtained his L.L.B degree from Government Law College. After graduating, Tilak started teaching mathematics at a private school in Pune. Later, due to ideological differences with the colleagues in the new school, he withdrew and became a journalist. Tilak actively participated in public affairs.
(extracted from Wikipedia)
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On ChildrenBy: Kahlil Gibran
Poem for parents who’s children are leaving the nest behind! - ed.
Your children are not your children.They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.They come through you but not from you,And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts.You may house their bodies but not their souls,For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.You are the bows from which your childrenas living arrows are sent forth.The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infi nite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;For even as He loves the arrow that fl ies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Ganpati, Lokmanya Tilak and India’s Freedom Movement!
Bal Gangadhar Tilak also known as Lokmanya (respected by people) Tilak
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September 2016 - Volume 0916
Historically SpeakingBy Om Julka
At one time India was said to be a jewel in the crown of Britain’s overseas empire for 200 years. During the earlier days of my life I observed the various ups and downs of relationships between India and Britain. While Churchill, the Prime Minister of England was doing all he could to ensure continued British rule over India, Mahatma Gandhi defi ed death, and dedicated his whole life for the liberation of India from British rule by peaceful and non-violent means, he called Satyagraha.
During the earlier stages, Mr.
Churchill is said to have once announced that if India became free, “Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low caliber & men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fi ght amongst themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles. A day would come when even air and water would be taxed in India.”
I wish he were alive to see now what happened after India gained freedom. His predictions proved wrong. Mahatma Gandhi was able to gain India’s liberation. Churchill’s rivalry later destroyed British Empire. Independence of India, though somewhat tarnished by carving out a part of it as Pakistan, still did not go into the hands of rascals and rogues. On the other hand, despite having no access to high level equipment and wealth, India has produced superb brainy people in physics, mathematics, medicine, chemistry and even in space technology. Thus India progressed by leaps and bounds. Political stalwarts such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad and all great leaders unifi ed India. Some of those who raised the status of India in the world are :-
Dr. Koti Hari Narayana c o n t r i b u t e d to India’s fi rst indigenous built combat aircraft.
K . Radhakr i shnan with his team of 14 scientists - made the Mars Orbiter Mission - Mars-Craft (Manga lyaan ) ; this program by space research organization is a low cost but highly functioning space missions to date. India is the only nation to reach Mars orbit on its fi rst attempt.
Mylaswamy Annadurai (ISRO) is the brain behind Chandrayaan 1, India’s fi rst moon probe vehicle. It successfully went into lunar orbit in 2008 and is almost same as NASA. It also discovered presence of water molecules in the lunar soil.
Suneet Singh Tuli has built the Aakash Tablet empowering millions of Indians with tablets to study and
access the internet, the low cost but with tremendous amount of educational material.
Vijay P. Bhatkar contributed India’s fi rst supercomputer called PARAM 800 in 1991.
U.R.Rao is the man behind Aryabhatta, the fi rst satellite launch.
It was fascinating to see that Gandhi statue was unveiled in Parliament Square in London, next to his old enemy Churchill on Mar 14, 2015 - The British Prime Minister unveiled this statue of leader of Indian Independence.
This statue is in the close vicinity of the statue of Churchill, who must be turning in his grave to watch his own people honoring his old foe.
Shiksha DaanThe Gift of Education
Shiksha Daan (SD) was started in July 2013 as a new initiative of FICA to get the Indian community more involved with the education and development of under-privileged youth in the Greater Cleveland community. We have had a strong support from the community and are participating in education programs through other organizations as well as doing our own tutoring program.
shikshadaan.fi [email protected] ; www.shikshadaanusa.orgVolunteer Appreciation Lunch
And Open HouseSept. 10, 2016, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Old India Community Center Bldg.12412 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights
Come and learn about how you can help and also meet our dedi-cated volunteers who have been working with the local area youth through the year.Please RSVP by Sept. 5: (Please be in time to be seated by 12:10)
Sanjay Garg 440-590-1261 shikshadaan.� [email protected]
Akhilesh Chowksey 440-645-5819 [email protected]
Hemant Kanodia 440-503-9345 [email protected]
Gita Gidwani 440-646-9163 [email protected]
Meera Kansal 440-572-3857 [email protected]
11
September 2016 - Volume 0916
Mother Teresa of Kolkata Canonization Ceremony in Albanian Garden. FICA Past-president Asim Datta was born and raised in Calcutta (Kolkata) India and sang a song that was a favorite of Mother Teresa and was written and set to music by Rabindra Nath Tagore, 1913 recipient of Nobel Prize for Literature. It was also sung at her canonization in Rome earlier in the day.
Kiran Badola says “I have taken delight in drawing cartoons and caricatures since I was fi ve years of age.” Her story in this book is an adaptation from some of her past experiences. Kiran Badola is a textile designer and illustrator and lives in North Canton, Ohio. She has graduated from National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi in textile design and development and has completed a Jacq-CAD textile weaving course from Kent State University, Ohio. She even co-authored a book on textiles titled Eri Silk Cocoon to Cloth with Dr. Richard Peigler.
Buy this book by September 13th, 2016
to enter into a promotional give away where your odds for winning are 1:50. Please buy it on Smile.Amazon and don’t forget to select FICAcleveland as your favorite charity for part of the proceeds to be donated to our non-for-profi t community organization.
We are sorry if your number is not picked this time, however you are still a winner as you supported FICAcleveland by making this purchase Smile.Amazon and picking FICAcleveland as your favorite charity. In addition you have enriched a mind by buying Kiran Badola’s amazing children’s book based on her past experience, many of them were at Indian home.
Children’s Book by Local Author
12
September 2016 - Volume 0916
If you enjoy this FREE Newspaper, and feel that you get great value from it, please consider making a donation to help us continue to o� er this service. � e Lotus is presently supported by FICA of NEO, advertisements and donor support. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated.
� e monthly newspaper is � rst Asian community Newspaper in USA and the only nonpro� t Indian Community newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio, started by CWRU students in 1967. � e newspaper is printed in Sandusky and mailed to over 2000 households and businesses. we distribute stacks to libraries, grocery stores, museums and other cultural institution which show interest in South Asian Indian ethnic cultural. Our sta� and writers are all unpaid voluntary contributors. � e Lotus is a monthly newspaper that reports on the Indian Community and its activities.
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Please send donations to FICA/Lotus at:
FICA of NEOPO Box# 39474
Solon, Ohio 44139Don’t forget to include your name, address and contact info for our records
and so we can thank you for your donation.
FICA-Cleveland Tennis Tournament 2016
www.FICAcleveland.org
Singles & Doubles Adults Only
Friday, September 30th; 6:00 PMSaturday, October 1st;8:00 AM
Where: Solon Tennis Courts35000 Portz Parkway, Solon, Ohio-44139
Win prizes, Winners will be announced in The Lotus!50/50 Raffl e
Sign up with name, email & phone number, include partner name if signing up for doubles. Participation Fee per Team: $10
Balls, water, light refreshment providedRain date: October 2nd; 8:00 AM
We are not responsible and liable for injuries or damages to players during the tournament
Micheal Sreshta 216-403-3012 [email protected]
Kishore Dokiburra 240-449-6728 [email protected]
Devender Reddy 330-283-1003 [email protected]
Abhijit Nath 440-749-0512 [email protected]