This is not an easy thing for me to do as we have lost a dear soul amongst us in a shocking and very untimely way. Our sincere sympathies to you, especially Judy and the children, grandchildren and family members.
We have lost a dear friend – a husband, father and brother. His family included the community which he embraced whole heartedly. This is an untimely and heart wrenching loss for all of us.
Ramesh D. Kalicharan, known to everyone as Kali, is known for his exemplary pioneering community service to immigrant communities in New York and for his relentless and selfless service in promotion and preservation of Indian culture globally.
An outstanding community stalwart and humanitarian at heart and in practice – giving and helpful, yet humble. He lived by example, an outstanding example and a mentor to many, including myself.
He was an ardent advocate, cultural activist and promoter, business entrepreneur. He was a prominent and well recognized cornerstone of the community, having pioneered several programs which promoted interests of Indo-Caribbean people in New York and the Caribbean.
Kali loved taking, displaying and preserving photos, advertising on in the magazines and newspapers, a reservoir of knowledge, information, photos, books, magazines, videos, songs. He loved participating in parade floats in New York City, Queens and Long Island. He was very creative in putting together posters, flyers, logos and collages – the ultimate “Cut and paste” long before the advent of computers.
He is widely recognized with several awards as acknowledgement of his commitment and community service. He was an active member of several community organizations and well recognized for his exemplary contributions to his community and the promotion of Indian culture and heritage.
As an outstanding business and civic leader of the Guyanese community in Queens, he generously gave time, talent and resources toward the betterment of his community and the preservation of its cultural heritage. He was an icon among Indo-Caribbean people with a long lasting legacy of selfless service. Sincere gratitude for his valuable contribution to the cultural
I have already started the process of renaming a portion of 169th Street as “Kali Avenue). It is a fitting and well deserved tribute to Kali, his ideals and his legacy.
His humility and extra-ordinary contributions transcend time and place, and made him one of the most admirable philanthropists among Indo-Caribbean people in New York and the Caribbean.
An untimely passing but a lasting legacy of selfless service and goodwill.
Best wishes to Judy and the children and grandchildren and other members of Kali’s family as you cope with this tremendous loss.
NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): Building on the foundation of the City’s historic “women and workplace” hearings of the 1970s which catalyzed a national movement to recognize and address sexual harassment in the workplace, New Yorkers from a variety of industries will testified on their experiences of sexual harassment and challenges in reporting it
The Commission will issue a report in the first half of 2018 with policy recommendations and findings on how the City can better address sexual harassment in the workplace.
New York City announced that the Commission on Human Rights, in partnership with CUNY School of Law and the New York Women’s Foundation, is holding a public hearing where advocates and individuals working in hospitality, retail, domestic work, construction, media and entertainment, fashion and modeling, among other industries, will testify about sexual harassment experiences in the workplace and the challenges they face in reporting it and obtaining justice. Those testifying included advocacy organizations serving some of New York City’s most vulnerable workers, including women in male-dominated industries, women of color, immigrant workers, and LGBTQ workers. The NYC Commission on Human Rights is the City agency that enforces the City’s anti-discrimination law, one of the most extensive civil and human rights law in the nation, which protects individuals against sexual harassment as a form of gender-based discrimination.
“Forty years after I served as New York City Human Rights Commissioner and held the first public hearings in the nation on discrimination against women, I could not be more pleased to see the Commission revisiting the issue, taking on the elusive issue of sexual harassment in the workplace,” said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). “Our country has made some progress since the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission first defined sexual harassment as workplace discrimination when I served as chair, but sexual harassment still pervades every workplace sector in America, including the halls of Congress, where I serve. I appreciate the Commission for once again leading the way on addressing sexual harassment, a significant form of discrimination in today’s workplace.”
This is the first public hearing on sexual harassment the NYC Commission on Human Rights has held since the 1970s when then Chair and Commissioner and now Congressmember (D-DC) Eleanor Holmes Norton, who will travel to New York City today to give opening remarks at the hearing, held the first public hearings in the nation on issues surrounding women and the workplace, which catalyzed a national movement to recognize and combat sexual harassment in the workplace. Held over forty years ago, these hearings led to stronger enforcement on sexual harassment in New York City, the creation of women’s organizations specifically to address and educate communities on this issue and the issuance of federal guidelines recognizing sexual harassment as sex discrimination.
New York City is home to one of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the nation, the NYC Human Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations and also protects New Yorkers against discriminatory harassment and bias-based profiling by law enforcement. The NYC Human Rights Law is interpreted more broadly t than federal law with respect to sexual harassment. Federal courts have required that sexual harassment be “severe or pervasive,” to be unlawful, whereas under the NYC Human Rights include any unwanted sexual behavior such as sexual comments or jokes, gestures, touching, texts, or emails that create a hostile or offensive work environment. Additionally, victims of sexual harassment in New York City may file claims at the Commission even when they are bound by arbitration agreements that prevent them from filing cases in court.
The Commission has the authority to fine violators with civil penalties of up to $250,000 for willful and malicious violations of the Law and can award unlimited compensatory damages to victims, including emotional distress damages and other benefits. The Commission may also launch its own investigations into sexual harassment and discrimination on behalf of the City, in addition to claims brought forward by individuals.
Investigations into sexual harassment have increased by nearly 50 percent at the Commission over the last two years, with 109 claims filed in 2016/15 up from 73 in 2014/13. Commission is currently investigating 340 complaints of gender discrimination, of which 40 percent or 123 are claims of sexual and gender-based harassment, 85 percent of which are in the workplace. Over all, gender-based discrimination claims made up the third largest area of complaint at the Commission in 2016, roughly 12% of all claims.
For more information on the protections against sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination, read a factsheet and brochure on the Commission’s website at NYC.Gov/HumanRights, and these instructions on how to report sexual harassment.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations and U.S. Embassy New Delhi collaborate with “Battery Dance”
NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): Sandeep Chakraborty, Consul General of India in New York, will host a reception at the Consulate on Sunday, January 7th, 2018, providing an elegant send-off for Battery Dance on the day before the lower Manhattan-based company begins a national tour of India, with performances and workshops in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata and New Delhi. The event will be an opportunity to obtain a sneak preview of the India tour.
Battery Dance, founded and directed by Jonathan Hollander in 1976, has been a cultural bridge-builder between the U.S. and India for the past quarter-century. Cross-cultural collaborations have included SONGS OF TAGORE that traversed 17 cities in the Indian subcontinent in 1997 during the 50th Anniversary of Indian Independence; and LAYAPRIYA, which toured six major metro cities in 2001. Hollander and Battery Dance have presented many of the foremost dancers and musicians of India in New York and on national US tours and annually at its Battery Dance Festival in conjunction with the Indo-American Arts Council, an institution that Hollander co-founded and on whose Board he serves.
The current India tour features SHAKTI: A Return to the Source, previously named The Durga Project, which was premiered as the centerpiece of the Company’s 40th Anniversary Season in New York in 2016 and which subsequently toured the U.S. and Sri Lanka. SHAKTI is a collaboration between Indian classical dancer Unnath Hassan Rathnaraju and the 5 principal dancers of Battery Dance – Robin Cantrell, Mira Cook, Bethany Mitchell, Sean Scantlebury and Clement Mensah. The work was inspired by the rendition of Raag Durga as recorded by the Hindustani master vocalists Rajan & Sajan Mishra who have given special permission to use their recording and who will attend the final performance of the tour in New Delhi.
The Consulate General of India, New York will be a co-sponsor in the company’s 37th Annual Dance Festival which is scheduled for August 2018 to be held in New York City where they will continue their tradition of presenting Indian dance with a special performance on India’s Independence Day, August 15th, 2018.
SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES:
Mumbai – January 11, St. Andrew’s Auditorium
Pune – January 13, Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium
Bangalore – January 20, Ravindra Kalakshetra
Kolkata – January 24, Kala Mandir
New Delhi – January 31, Kamani Auditorium
For more information: Jonathan Hollander: jonathan@batterydance.org 212-219-3910
It was on October 31, 1984 that the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi was killed by her security guards. What motivated them to commit the crime has been a subject of discussion ever since. In this piece written in the wake of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, senior journalist Prabhjot Singh tried to peep in to the life of assassin Beant Singh to find an answer to the question. – Editor
Beant Singh was a husband, a father and a police officer with clean records. He and his wife, Bimal Khalsa, a staff nurse at Lady Harding Hospital, had been earning enough to look after their three children and themselves. Besides, Beant Singh had been living at 6, Ashoka Police Lines, a government house.
Born on My 4, 1950, at Maloya village in the house of Sucha Singh, a weaver and a Ramdasia Sikh, Beant Singh had his education at Government schools in Maloya, Teera, Hamirpur and Khalsa School, Kharar, before joining the Sector 23 Government Higher Secondary School in Chandigarh in 1967. In 1968 he passed the Higher Secondary examination of Panjab University in second division.
COURSE IN RUSSIAN
In 1969-70, he did a diploma in Russian from Panjab University, securing 186 marks out of a maximum of 300. In April 1971, he absented himself from the B.A. (final year) examinations of Panjab University as a student of the Sector 11 Government College for Boys. In September the same year, he cleared the examinations, missing the second division by just two marks.
After graduation, Beant went to Delhi, and in 1972 got into Delhi police as a Sub-Inspector against the reserve quota.
Though his uncle, Mr Bahadur Singh, had got all the children baptized in early 60s, Beant Singh turned a “patit amritdhari” on entering the college in 1968.
MALOYA’S HISTORY
Malyoa a big village on the outskirts of Chandigarh was primarily village of Rajputs. In 1905, a Sikh preacher came to the village. The Harijans of the village, who were until that time called “ad dharmis” embraced Sikhism. It enraged Jhalam Singh, a Rajput, who attacked the Sikh preacher with a burning wooden log. The preacher left the village, but Sikhism stayed. It was during this period that the grandfather of Beant Singh embraced Sikhism. Since then, a majority of the Harijans of the village has been going to a gurdwara, which was built just in front of Beant Singh’s house.
During his childhood, Beant used to play with Sukhwant Kaur, one of the three daughters of Mr Randhir Singh, also a Harijan Sikh and a distant nephew of Such Singh.
Sukhwant Kaur is now married to Harinder Singh, an Indian diplomat in Norway who resigned from the Indian Foreign Service in June 1984. In protest against the Army action in Golden Temple. Harinder Singh’s elder brother, Butshikan Singh, is also in the I.F.S. and now posted in Bahrain.
WELCOME
During his maiden trip abroad with Indira Gandhi. Beant had met Harinder Singh in Oslo in October last year. Initially Sukhwant was reluctant to recognize him. It was a lukewarm reception from Harinder Singh’s family, Beant had told his brothers and father on return.
In fact, Beant’s father and four brothers were annoyed with him when he had gone to attend the marriage of the youngest daughter of Randhir Singh to Sarabjit Singh, an IPS officer allocated to the Karnataka cadre but now posted in Delhi. The marriage took place in 1980. The parents of Beant Singh did have good relations with the family of Randhir Singh, who, in 1955, was appointed to the Punjab Civil Service. Mr Randhir Singh has settled at Ludhiana after retirement. He had left Maloya in early 60s.
LOVE MARRIAGE
Beant’s eldest brother, Shamsher Singh, was also in Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) before he resigned and started his own practice at Kharar, Kurali, Ropar and Chandigarh. He is Marxist and Beant was under his influence.
Gurdarshan Singh, who is younger to Shamsher Singh and older than Beant Singh, is a junior engineer in Delhi Telephones. He is married to Mohinder Kaur, a daughter of S. Darshan Singh, a former head granthi of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. It was an inter-caste marriage as Darshan Singh was a Jat Sikh.
Before shifting to Ashoka Police Lines, Beant Singh lived at Vishnu Nagar. On his way to Ragbhir Singh bus stand. He used to pass by the house of Bimla Devi, the eldest of the three daughters of a carpenter, Gurbachan Singh. Beant fell for Bimla, who after her matriculation examination was doing a course in nursing at Lady Harding Hospital. It was sub-inspector Hardev Singh, a college of Beant, who proposed marriage between Bimla and Beant in 1976. The marriage was performed according to Sikh traditions in 1976 and Beant changed the name of the Bimla Devi to Bimal Khalsa.
Beant and Bimal named their eldest child a daughter. Amrit Khalsa, Bimal was allergic to the drinking habit of her husband. Beant, on the other hand, a carefree man, used to invite his friends home for drinks.
TRANSFORMATION
There was a sudden transformation in the thinking of Beant Singh after the Army action. He started accompanying his uncle, Kehar Singh, an assistant in the office of the Director-General, Supplies and Disposal, to Gurdwara Moti Bagh. In July, a noted ragi from Punjab performed “virag katha” at the gurdwara. Beant Singh was moved and reportedly started crying. It was at this stage that Kehar Singh told him not to cry but to take “revenge”.
RELIABLE PARTNER
The idea appealed to Beant Singh. He reportedly discussed it with his friend, sub-inspector Amarjit Singh Sagi, a clean-shaven Harijan. They conspired to “liquidate” Mrs. Gandhi before August 15.
Beant later told Kehar Singh that Amarjit had let him down. He, however, reiterated his determination to “kill Mrs. Gandhi”, saying he had found a reliable partner in constable Satwant Singh. Satwant then started frequenting his house.
With the passage of time, Beant was turning more religious. On October 10, Beant told Bimal that he would soon become a “martyr”. Bimal could not understand what he was talking about.
A BROTHER’S VIEW
On October 14, Beant left his house in a kurta pyjama and a flowing beard. He went to Kehar Singh’s house, from where he went to Gurdwara Moti Bagh and then to Sector 6 Gurdwara in R.K. Puram for taking “amrit”. He was punished for not maintaining himself as an “amritdhari Sikh” after baptism in childhood. He was asked to sweep the floor of the gurdwara and recite Sukhmani Sahib. Beant Singh promised that he would get his wife, Bimal, baptized within a week. On October 17, Beant took Bimal to Gurdwara Sis Ganj and got her baptized there.
On October 20, Beant, Bimal and their three children reached the house of Kehar Singh in Sector 12, R.K. Puram, early in the morning. Beant Singh had four railways tickets for Delhi-Amritsar sector with him. Kehar Singh and his wife, Jagir Kaur distant aunt of Beant Singh from Maloya village, agreed to accompany Beant’s family to Amritsar by the superfast train a few hours later.
In Amritsar, Beant Singh took a vow at Akal Takht on October 21 to “assassinate Mrs. Gandhi”. An “ardas” was performed and Beant was given five flowers of marigold. Though Beant wanted to meet Satwant Singh at the Golden Temple, the latter failed to turn up. A final meeting was held at the house of Beant Singh and was attended also by Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh.
Whether Beant Singh came in contact with Harinder Singh, again through Sarabjit Singh, is yet to be established. Who other than Kehar Singh provoked him to take the decision to assassinate Mrs. Gandhi has also be found out.
Shamsher Singh, however, maintains that his brother killed Mrs. Gandhi not for money but for religious reasons. Beant, he says, was left with no spirit of nationalism after his return to the fold of amritdhari Sikhs.
“NOT THAT TYPE”
When the police questioned Sucha Singh and his four sons (Shamsher Singh, Gurdarshan Singh, Kirpal Singh and Bhagat Singh), they asked them about the “foreign money” Beant might have received.
Sucha Singh, at 76, works from 6 am to 8 pm on his handloom to earn Rs 15 to Rs 30 to make ends meet. His wife, Kartar Kaur, had been staying with him until September, when Beant came to the village for the last time and persuaded her to go to Delhi to look after his children as he and his wife, Bimal, had to attend to their duties from morning to evening.
Beant had come to the village in June again to attend the marriage of his youngest brother, Bhagat Singh. That time Bimal and his children had accompanied him.
Everyone in the village was surprised to learn about the role Beant played in the assassination of Mrs. Gandhi.
“He was not that type Barring Shamsher Singh, our family had been a Congress (I) supporter. It was because of the reservation policy pursued by the Congress (I) government that Beant got into Delhi police as a “Sub-Inspector” says Kirpal Singh.
NO DIWALI GIFT
“Beant would have been in Punjab Civil Service in 1974 if he had been given the benefit of reservation. I even spoke to Mr Bansal, the then Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, but he expressed his inability to help him as no one from Chandigarh could be considered under the reserved quota”, adds Shamsher Singh.
Beant had refused to draw the Rs 100 as Divali gift given to each member of the Prime Minister’s Security staff.
The plot of “assassinate Mrs. Gandhi” was an open secret among several members of security staff. The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police questioned Sub-Inspectors Balbir Singh, Amarjit Singh, Ajaib Singh and Gurdev Singh and Constable Jagtar Singh, besides others.
POSITIVE RESPONSE
Beant had sounded sub-inspector Balbir Singh, a Ramgarhia, about his intention to kill Mrs. Gandhi and sought his help. Balbir had given a positive response but Beant reportedly did not pursue the matter further.
Meanwhile, Balbir had come in contact with another group of conspirators who wanted Mrs. Gandhi to be “liquidated”. Balbir had reportedly demanded Rs 6 lakh and a dynamite to accomplish the target. One of the conspirators, an industrialist, offered Rs 20,000 in cash. Besides promising another Rs 50,000. The conspiracy, however, fell through.
PUNISHMENT
It is strange that intelligence agencies were unaware of who was conspiring against the Prime Minister. The turning of Beant and Satwant Singh into amritdhari Sikhs and the refusal of Beant to take his Divali gift should have aroused suspicion.
According to reliable sources the posting at Prime Minister’s house for security is considered a “punishment” for the policemen. No one willingly goes there.
Most of the policemen deployed at 1, Safdarjung Road, had been in police stations before the change in the top brass of the Delhi police in 1981.
The police also questioned Bimal’s father, Gurbachan Singh and her brother, Narinder Singh. All relations of Beant, Satwant and Bimal have been released.
NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): After being the only Indian singer to win the “Grand Prix” in Germany competing with 21 countries, plus singing live at the International UNICEF Concert in Europe, today the loved Indian singer of more than 100 Bollywood songs, well-loved as ‘The Awaara Bhavaren Girl’, Hema Sardesai goes international once again. This time along with the well-known Indian TV star, also known as ‘Datta Bhau’, Mishaal Raheja. Both are creating history, all thanks to none other than the world renowned American music executive and independent film produces in Hollywood, Grammy award winning publisher, Tony Mercedes.
The new American single “POWER OF LOVE”, is the debut single by Hema Sardesai featuring Mishaal Raheja, and is to be released in New York, USA in Dec 2017.
“Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
By Albert Baldeo
“The efforts of these three giants changed the course of history in their countries, and indeed, the world. We must nurture inspiration today to understand what it means to be part of a much more diverse and challenging America, where our challenges will grow daily to preserve the hard-fought victories won against those would want to preserve the status quo. Just as how communities across America are inspired, daily, by King’s, Mandela’s and Gandhi’s approach to inclusion, brotherhood, peace and nonviolence, we must likewise take counsel”, says the author.
Being unjustly plucked from family and society and being tossed in jail for bogus crimes designed to silence them were but mere stepping stones to their individual journeys to greatness for these divine titans. When others would have been broken, they became more resolved to fight oppression and injustice, and inspired the world, making it a better place. We must forever cherish their examples of courage and purpose.
As we celebrate the holidays, and the good things of life, we must pause, and pay tribute to the true people and real icons who made happiness and progress possible in America. The most revered in America is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His life and legacy remind us of the universality of the message of love, peace, brotherhood and the principles of truth and justice. In a letter from Birmingham City Jail, April 1963, Dr. King taught us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”
Dr. King was strongly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s doctrine on nonviolence. Globalization of thought has existed from time immemorial. In March 1936, Mahatma Gandhi shared, “I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and nonviolence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could.” Yet, he defined the soul of human existence.
Similarly, Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid icon and revolutionary leader who broke the shackles of the color barrier to become President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was also inspired by Gandhi’s and King’s common philosophy. After serving 27 years in prison by his oppressors, he became the country’s first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalized racism and fostering racial reconciliation. He conquered the evil system of apartheid by his monumental sacrifices.
Mandela’s teachings will also live on long after his death. He taught us that, “It always seems impossible until it’s done… Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another… The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall… Difficulties break some men but make others, No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end…. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same… I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
So how does this relate to you? New York is a microcosm of America. Our portals are graced by the entry of many different people, whose blood, sweat and tears, oftentimes unrequited, provide the foundations for growth. Its strength is its diversity, in excelsis. The hero who opened that door widest in America is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Be grateful for that.
Yes, it was Dr. King who not only brought together people of color, but also welcomed people from around the world, from all races and walks of life, to follow his dream and work for equality and justice. The celebration of his life is a timely reminder of the ideals for which he stood. Not for a day, but for the rest of our lives, if we are to truly and collectively live the American dream!
To live the dreams and hopes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, communities must unite for a common cause, and unite and participate in meaningful pursuits.
One of the pillars of Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings was to attain freedom and build unity by integrating the principles of Truth and using peaceful methods to advocate self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Our efforts to gain political inclusion have initiated the integration effort, and will continue the process of assisting our fellow human beings, our brothers and sisters.
We must demystify archaic traditions of caste, class and consciousness, and help our neighbors to see us as just another person passing this way but once, and if we stop to help a brother or sister, it must be seen as just that-humanity. If we work together, we will realize our transformative collective potential.
When we build bridges of understanding with our neighbors, we need to address the issues that suppress and divide us. We must applaud and promote service to our brothers and sisters, not detract from them. Service costs money, sacrifice and time. We need to develop our civic consciousness, overcome our petty prejudices and narrow mindedness, and make a difference in the fabric of America. Colloquially, you must rid yourselves of the crab mentality, stop pulling each other down, and criticizing each other. Uplift and progress, not stagnate and destroy.
The efforts of these three giants changed the course of history in their countries, and indeed, the world. We must nurture inspiration today to understand what it means to be part of a much more diverse and challenging America, where our challenges will grow daily to preserve the hard-fought victories won against those would want to preserve the status quo. Just as how communities across America are inspired, daily, by King’s, Mandela’s and Gandhi’s approach to inclusion, brotherhood, peace and nonviolence, we must likewise take counsel.
My fervent hope is that we will understand the issues and get involved to strengthen and empower ourselves, our neighborhoods, our families and communities before it is too late. Walk a few steps in the imprints they left us…just follow the path…it’s already marked out for you!
(The author is a civil rights activist and community advocate. As President of the Baldeo Foundation and Liberty Justice Center, he has continued to fight for equal rights, dignity and inclusion in the decision-making process. He can be contacted at the Baldeo Foundation: (718) 529-2300)
If there is an upside to US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, it is not easily apparent. The blowback has started: all major Arab countries have raised the flag and the US is scrambling to protect its citizens from harm. That may just be the beginning: the second Intifada was triggered by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to Mount Temple, an area sacred to both Jews and Muslims. If a mere visit was a provocation, the US decision will register higher up on the Richter scale of political upheavals. East Jerusalem, penciled in by the Palestinians as their future capital, is not just a contested parcel of land; it also has key religious sites of reverence to Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
To be fair, Trump was fulfilling a campaign promise. Trump’s decision is also rule-based: in 1995, US Congress had passed an Act requiring the shifting of the US Embassy to Jerusalem. A repeat occurred a few months ago. But ever since Israel snatched East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967, successive US Presidents have hung back from recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in order to maintain the fiction of US neutrality. It also undoes the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords that agreed to discuss Jerusalem in the later stages of peace talks. The Trump move has the potential to set the Middle East in flames, stoke Muslim angst against the West and gives a second wind to the down-and-out Al-Qaida and ISIS.
The US also gets knocked out as an impartial mediator in the Israel-Palestine dispute and comes off looking second best to Iran, its biggest bugbear in the region. By this move, Trump has added to global tensions; ties with North Korea are strained; many Middle-East countries are in the throes of civil wars and Afghanistan is not a done deal yet. As is the case with Trump’s move to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, there is a small window: it will take years to construct an embassy. But to reverse both these moves, the US Presidency has to be in more astute hands.
HOUSTON (TIP): Consulate General of India, Houston in association with Indian Association of North Texas (IANT) and all Indian community associations in the region would be organizing a one-day Consular Camp on Saturday, 16 December 2017 from 0930 hrs to 1630 hrs at Chinmaya Chitrakoot, 900 N Beltline Road, Irving, TX 75061.
US passport holders of lndian origin, who are in the process of applying for OCI Card, Visa and Renunciation of Indian nationality, may bring in their applications with the supporting documents to the Consular Camp.
Indian passport holders who are in the process of applying for renewal of their Indian passport, may also bring in their applications with the supporting documents to the Consular Camp.
Officers of the Consulate General of India, Houston will verify the applications and supporting documents. Applicants may thereafter send the approved applications to CKGS, Houston.
Since this is a special drive, Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin may avail this opportunity and meet officers of the Consulate General of India, Houston.
DALLAS (TIP): Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez will resign her office, so she can challenge Greg Abbott in 2018, according to Dallas County Democratic Chair, Carol Donovan.
Valdez has talked about the need for new leadership at the state level.
She was even a featured speaker at the 2016 democratic national convention in Philadelphia.
Donovan told WFAA that Valdez will resign effective next Friday Dec. 8. The deadline to file to be a candidate is December 11.
Dallas County Sherriff’s office on Wednesday night said that Valdez has not submitted any official resignation paperwork and will make a final decision about her political future shortly.
Valdez, 70, is in her fourth term as Dallas County Sheriff.
CHICAGO, IL (TIP): Commemorating its Silver Jubilee, Metropolitan Asian Family Services held its 25th annual fundraising dinner on November 18, 2017 at Ashyana Banquets, Downers Grove IL. The celebration started with the traditional “Deep-Lighting” performed by Swami Mukundananda of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Aurora IL. Prominent dignitaries in attendance were Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Schaumburg Trustee Nimish Jani, Philanthropist Deepak Kant Vyas, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Executive Director CLESE Marta Pereyra, Chairman for Indian Community Outreach Krishna Bansal, FIA Ex-President Sunil Shah, Chandmal Kumawat, Chairman of Manees Media, India, Anis Ahmed, Chairman, AMU of Greater Chicago, MAFS Board members, Dr. Firdaus Jafri, Dr. Rakesh Ashthana, Harish Kolasani, Dr. Sonal Patel, Nikunj Baxi, Sumitra Patel, James D’mello, Sagar Kumar, Sadru Noorani, Asian Coalition, and other community leaders, Narsinhbhai Patel, Dr Rasik Shah and business leaders, seniors and their families were in attendance.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi commended the MAFS team for its exemplary service to the community for 25 long years and said he wishes MAFS will continue to do so many more years in the future. Honorable Consul General of India Ms. Neeta Bhushan also congratulated MAFS for completing 25 years of serving the elderly and other immigrant populations in Chicagoland. She praised the array of services MAFS provides to the community successfully, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle appreciated the MAFS’s commitment & dedication in serving the community and gave good wishes to continue for many more years.
Mrs. Santosh Kumar Executive Director MAFS, spoke about the long journey and the trials and tribulations they faced to come this far. She also remembered all the people past and present leaders of the community, such as Shankerprasad Bhatt, Manohar Manchanda, Ramesh Goyal, Narendra Patel, Yasmin Tiwana, Dr. Firdaus Jafri, Rosemary Gemperly, Marta Pareyra, who have helped to accomplish MAFS’s mission to educate, counsel, assist and empower immigrants to become productive member of American Society. She and her Late husband Mr. Kumar worked very hard to bring MAFS, a pioneer organization, who has changed the landscape of social services in Chicagoland area that far. She requested the community, that MAFS was created for them and want them to take care of the MAFS, a well-recognized, trusted and licensed by County, State and Federal Government. She also assured the community about MAFS’s future and presented both her sons, as future leaders, who will support its mission voluntarily. ”I believe that MAFS will grow more in the coming years, to lead the way, we already have our future leaders- energetic, technically savvy and competent in management skills”, She said. Under this new leadership, MAFS is now better positioned to find new resources to seeks solutions of ever growing problems and appeals the community to support its mission wholeheartedly. She also thanked its sponsors, Dr. Jafri, Board president, board members, MAFS/UMAS staff, Media, Mr. Prashant Shah of India Tribune, Ramesh Soparwala of India Post, Vandana Jhingran, TV Asia and Suresh Bodiwala, Asian Media, USA, Mr. Jain of Ashyana., Kushal Bose, Madhura Sane, Bhupender Singh, Pooran bhai, and other artists, seniors, friends and families for their support and taking time to attend and making it an unforgettable gala celebration.
An award ceremony was performed by MAFS board and dignitaries, Nita Bhushan, Indian Consul General, Ms. Tony Preckwinkle, Chicago Board president, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Chairperson of Minority Ethnic Task force, Chandmal Kumawat, Chairman, Maneesh Media and MAFS Board president Dr. Jafri, Harish Kolasani and other board members, Santosh Kumar, MAFS.
The Pramod Kumar Philanthropy Award was introduced for the first time and presented to Mr. Deepak Kant Vyas Chairman & CEO Redberry Corp, for his extra ordinary philanthropic work throughout the World;
The Partnership Award was presented to Mr. Sean Dunn, VP of WINTRUST Community Bank for his understanding the financial needs of MAFS; Pillar of MAFS Award was given to Ms. Promila Mehta Manager Social work Chicago center for her unconditional love and care to its mission; Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Mr. Prem Jalota Manager Roselle center for his life time commitment to MAFS mission and its family; Employee of the Year Award was given to Ms. Connie Dogaru SOS Coordinator for her dedication to serve seniors, Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Ms. Bhanumati Maheta, a Yoga Teacher for providing 15 years of teaching Yoga for seniors.
A special Award of GSA Outstanding Citizen of the year 2017 given by Shri Pranav Mukherjee, President of India on July 1, 2017, presented by Hon’ble Nita Bhushan, Indian Consul General and Dr Vijay Prabhaker, Chair person of Minority Ethnic Task Force to Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Founder of Metropolitan Asian Family Services, IL USA.
SENATE RECOGNITION – was given by Senator Cristina Castro and presented by Ms. Nazneen to Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Founder of MAFS.
NEW YORK (TIP): A big idea was born in 1974 and every big idea has a small beginning. In 1974, Rotary District 7250 brought a 5-year old named Grace Agwaru on an intercontinental voyage from Uganda to New York. Grace suffered from a hole between the two lower chambers of her small but strong heart. On November 15, 1974 surgeons at Saint Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York successfully operated on little Grace. That is how the Gift of Life was born and today it is a worldwide Rotary International Service Program responsible for approximately 10,000 heart surgeries for children over 30 countries. The Gift of Life includes Rotarians from all over the world, with independent chapters in countries as far away as Korea and India.
The sole purpose of the Gift of Life, India is to secure lifesaving heart surgery for children in desperate need regardless of race, religion, or country of origin. The Gift of Life, India is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation with no administrative costs. All our team members work voluntarily; all the monies are generously donated by caring donors and through the numerous matching grants disbursed by the Rotary Foundation.
Like every good idea, it has grown exponentially. In 2001, Rotary Past District Governor of District 7250 Eileen Gentlecore had a simple conversation with a friend of hers and relayed the altruistic vision of Gift of Life. Her friend, Past District Governor Ravishankar Bhooplapur, with the assistance of Past RI Director Sushil Gupta – Trustee of Rotary Foundation, along with Dr. Rajan Deshpande and many other devoted Rotarians AC Peter, PDG Rajendra Rai, Rtn OP Khanna, DGE Kamlesh Raheja, PDG Sam Movva took up the challenge to provide invasive heart surgeries for the children of India. Dr. Rajan Deshpande & Mr Ashok Bolar took initial efforts in the region similarly Mr. Srinivasan, Mr. OP Khanna, PDG. Rai at Bangalore and Coimbatore. AC Peter and Trustee Sushil Gupta in Delhi made significant contributions. Today, PDG Ravishankar Bhooplapur still serves as an Honorary Chairman of Gift of Life, India. The power of a simple conversation has led to a great achievement.
Dr Prabhakar Kore MP & Chairman of KLE hospitals recipient of Angel Awardee addressing the gathering
In 2002, Ravishankar Bhooplapur expressed this idea to Dr. Prabhakar Kore and wished to conduct the heart surgeries in KLE Hospital, Belgaum. Since then KLE Hospital has completed over 750 surgeries funded by Gift of Life program. Mr. Bhooplapur also went on to Coimbatore, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, New Delhi and established this program. Children were brought from Africa, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh & many other countries. Along with contributing his own generous funds he also manages to collect over $100,000 US dollars in donations ever year as well as matching grants from Rotary Foundation.
On 18th November we are celebrating 15 years of launching the Gift of Life initiative for saving over 6,000 children since then. As founder and chairman of this program Mr. Ravishankar Bhooplapur has taken time to come back to his roots to honor those people who have helped to set up and strived to make this program a success over the years. The event took place at Dharwad India on 18th November followed by Sri Praveen Ghodkhindi Flute concert.
Dr Rajan Deshpande who played key role since inception, addresses
The Angel Award is presented to Dr. Prabhakar Kore for his outstanding commitment to this program. And to Dr Rajan Deshpande, Ashok Bolar, Rajendra Rai, Sameer Hirani, Rtn Durgesh Haritay, Dr Vijay Sadasivam, Mr J. Wilson, and many more for their selfless dedication to the Gift of Life. The Gift of Life continues to grow and there is no limit to this idea if we remain committed to saving children’s lives.
Rotary Club or Jericho Sunrise, Rotary Club of Hicksville South & Rotary Club of Lake Success are involved past 10 years and every year over $250000 dollar is provided by way of matching grants to this project. Rotary Foundation matches equally for this grant. The event received commitment of $150000 dollars from various rotary clubs and districts in India.
CHICAGO, IL (TIP): Harish Bhatt, President of the Association of Indian Pharmacists, Board of Trustees and Volunteers of America (AIPHA), organized an exciting Annual Banquet and Business Expo on Sunday, November 11, 2017 at the Meadows Club, 2950 W Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL to commemorate annual business network opportunities, Diwali and the holiday season with members and their families. The program was a sold-out event attended by many dignitaries.
The evening started with a social hour featuring some tasty appetizers and premium drinks. Masters of Ceremonies for the occasion, Mr. Tushar Mehta, kicked off the program by welcoming everyone to the gala.
To encourage NRI entrepreneurs to set up new manufacturing plants in India, Consul General Mr. Debandhu Bhati explained that “Annual growth of the industry by an average of 15% per year to reach twenty billion to fifty-five-billion-dollar industry from the span of 2020 to 2030, producing world class pharmaceuticals products dwarfs with average of 5% growth of other non-pharmaceutical industries. This phenomenal growth will contribute towards significant contributor to Prime-minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Made by India’ goal. Now, due to availability of 100% approval of FDA for production of medical devices in India”
Rupesh Manek, AIPHA Executive Director and NIPA board member, encouraged all pharmacists in Illinois get involved and become members of National Indian Pharmacist Pharmacist Association (NIPA). He congratulated AIPHA for exemplary work in organizing such a breathtaking social evening . Elaborating the mission of NIPA, he indicated that NIPA is dedicated to the construction of networking opportunities and the promotion of our cultural heritage for pharmacists of Indian origins in the United States of America by ways of interaction through a common forum. The national Indian association is committed to supporting AlPHA in all of their struggles. He congratulated Harish Bhatt and team for this wonderfully planned evening, and the entire pharmacist community practicing in Illinois under some of the hardest times that have been experienced. He informed attendees that NIPA membership now spans over 19 states in the continental United States of America, and looks forward to its presence in all states of the country, as well as increased involvement from Illinois members.
Harish Bhatt, Lifelong President of the Association of Indian Pharmacists took the stage. Welcoming everyone, he elaborated past achievements of AIPHA along with future challenges and goals requiring co-operation of each and every members. We are thrilled to reflect tonight on a year of hard work and accomplishments, all of which would be impossible without the input and encouragement provided by our peers and partners who join us tonight. We are honored by your support and grateful for the impact you have had- giving us strength to face endeavors with drive to survive.
I would like to thank Mr Bhati who is General Counsel from Consulate of India. Nikki Budzinski who is a senior advisor to next Governor of State of Illinois JB Pritzker. Mine and our associations good friends Marcus Evans and Larry Walsh Jr and our own Raja Krishnamurti ,Honarable congressman from 8th district I would like to at this time congratulate Illinois’ Department of Professional Regulation; this summer, they effortlessly conceptualized and put into practice new pharmacy counseling rules proven beneficial to the pharmacy/patient relationship. As health care providers, we are dedicated to maintaining such deservedly high standards of integrity, all the while assuring patient care is our number one priority. This act solidifies the trust our patients deserve, and sets a great example for the entire nation. Working with the objective to set a standard directly impacts the time we have as pharmacists to ensure our patients receive undivided attention, as their health is quite literally in our hands.
Executive Board: President: Harish Bhatt Vice President Ambalal Patel Secretary Mahendra Patel Joint Secretary Manu Patel Treasure Tushar Mehta Joint Treasure Snehal Bhavsar Executive Director Rupesh Manak
DHAKA (TIP): The Vatican defended Pope Francis’ silence in Myanmar, saying he wanted to “build bridges” with the predominantly Buddhist nation, which only recently established diplomatic relations with the Vatican.
Pope Francis demanded on Thursday, November 30, that the international community take “decisive measures” to resolve the causes of the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, breaking his recent silence over what the United Nations has declared to be a textbook case of “ethnic cleansing.”
Arriving in Bangladesh from Myanmar, Pope Francis said it also was “imperative” for world governments to immediately provide assistance to help the Bangladeshi government cope with Asia’s worst refugee crisis in decades.
In a speech before Bangladesh President President Abdul Hamid, government officials and ambassadors from around the world, Pope Francis praised Bangladesh’s sacrifice and generosity in welcoming in so many refugees “before the eyes of the whole world.” He didn’t identify the Rohingya by name, ethnicity or faith, referring only to “refugees from Rakhine state.”
“None of us can fail to be aware of the gravity of the situation, the immense toll of human suffering involved, and the precarious living conditions of so many of our brothers and sisters, a majority of whom are women and children, crowded in the refugee camps,” he said.
“It is imperative that the international community take decisive measures to address this grave crisis, not only by working to resolve the political issues that have led to the mass displacement of people, but also by offering immediate material assistance to Bangladesh in its effort to respond effectively to urgent human needs.”
Pope Francis, a tireless and fearless advocate for refugees, outcasts and society’s most marginal, had drawn criticism from human rights organizations and Rohingya themselves for having failed to speak out publicly about the Rohingya’s plight while he was in Myanmar.
Pope Francis had remained silent out of diplomatic deference to his hosts, who consider the Rohingya as having illegally migrated from Bangladesh and don’t recognize them as one of Myanmar’s ethnic groups. More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar and poured into Bangladesh refugee camps over the last few months amid a scorched earth campaign by Myanmar’s military.
The Vatican defended Pope Francis’ silence in Myanmar, saying he wanted to “build bridges” with the predominantly Buddhist nation, which only recently established diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Spokesman Greg Burke said Pope Francis took seriously the advice given to him by the local Catholic Church, which urged him to toe a cautious line and not even refer to the “Rohingya” by name.
Rohingya have faced persecution and discrimination in Myanmar for decades and are denied citizenship, even though many families have lived there for generations. The situation grew worse in August when the army began what it called clearance operations in Rakhine state following attacks on security positions by a group of Rohingya militants.
Rohingya who are living in camps in Bangladesh have described indiscriminate attacks by Myanmar security forces and Buddhist mobs, including killings, rapes and the torching of entire villages.
“Our people welcomed them with open arms, sharing food, shelter and other basic needs,” he said. “Now, it is our shared responsibility to ensure for them a safe, sustainable and dignified return to their own home and integration with the social, economic and political life of Myanmar.”
The Rohingya crisis loomed large over Pope Francis’ arrival in Dhaka, where huge banners with pictures of the Pope and Mr. Hamid dotted billboards around town.
Security was tight and was of a particular concern after a Christian priest went missing in northern Bangladesh on Tuesday, and his family reported they received calls demanding money. Police said they were looking for the man but would not confirm if it was a kidnapping.
The country’s leading English-language newspaper, The Daily Star, said in an editorial it felt “slightly let down” the Pope didn’t mention the Rohingya crisis specifically while in Myanmar.
“We remain hopeful that given Pope Francis’ legacy of standing up for the oppressed, he will speak out against the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya during this very important visit,” the paper added.
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): “If war does come, it will be because of continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday. And if war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed,” Ms. Haley said.
The U.S. on Thursday, November 29, warned Kim Jong-Un’s regime that North Korea would be “utterly destroyed” if a standoff over its missile tests leads to a war and asked all countries to sever economic and diplomatic ties with Pyongyang to punish it for its “acts of aggression”.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launch, US ambassador to the world body Nikki Haley said Pyongyang had brought the world closer to war with its latest test of a ballistic missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland, its most advanced yet.
The missile was launched from Sain Ni, North Korea on Tuesday, and travelled about 1,000 km before splashing down in the Sea of Japan, within Japan’s Economic Exclusion Zone.
“If war does come, it will be because of continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday. And if war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed,” Ms. Haley said.
“The dictator of North Korea made a choice yesterday that brings the world closer to war, not farther from it. We have never sought war with North Korea, and still today we do not seek it,” she said.
The U.S. along with Japan and South Korea had called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council after North Korea’s missile launch.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday spoke by telephone with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country is an economic lifeline for North Korea, and asked him to put more pressure on Pyongyang. Mr. Trump also asked Mr. Xi to cut off China’s crude oil supplies to North Korea.
In a tweet after the call, Mr. Trump said more punitive sanctions were around the corner.
“As successful as we have been in levelling multilateral sanctions against it, the North Korean regime continues to test new and more powerful missiles. And as it does, it continues its march toward a functional nuclear arsenal,” Ms. Haley said.
She said the development of North Korea’s missile systems demanded that countries further isolate the regime of Kim Jong Un.
“So today, we call on all nations to cut off all ties with North Korea. In addition to fully implementing all UN sanctions, all countries should sever diplomatic relations with North Korea and limit military, scientific, technical, or commercial cooperation. They must also cut off trade with the regime by stopping all imports and exports and expel all North Korean workers,” she demanded.
The White House said North Korea posed a “grave threat” to the world.
“The North Korean threat is very grave. It’s not just a threat to the United States or a threat to the region — or the Korean Peninsula region, but a threat to the entire world and the civilized world,” White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told reporters.
“We’re encouraged that more countries are taking more significant steps to help apply as much pressure as we can on North Korea,” Mr. Shah said in response to a question.
He, however, parried questions on Mr. Trump’s tweet about more sanctions against North Korea.
The British Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, said that the latest missile launch follows 19 previous launches this year, and North Korea’s sixth nuclear test in September.
“The latest violation demonstrates, once more, North Korea’s disregard for our collective security and the international obligations, that all of us, as law-abiding states, take upon ourselves,” he said.
The latest North Korean missile launch is a dangerous provocation, he said.
“It demonstrates that all of our Security Council interests are at stake, and this is not just an issue for one region of the world. This affects the whole world now. So, the whole world needs to come together in response,” said the British Ambassador.
Presiding over the meeting, the Italian Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, who is the Security Council President for the month of November, strongly condemned the North Korean missile test.
NEW DELHI (TIP): The black money stacked in beds and pillows has come back to the banking system, thanks to demonetization, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu said on November 30.
The government had scrapped about 86% of the high value currency notes in form of ₹500 and ₹1,000 in November 2016, leading to cash crunch for several months.
Almost 99% of the demonetized currency was returned into the banking system, as per Reserve Bank data.
“Now banks again have money in India because all the money that was there — some that was there in beds and also pillows, bathrooms — has come back to banks. There is a debate going on, I don’t want to get into that political debate because I am not in politics now,” said the Vice-President.
He further said he has retired from politics, but not retired from public life
Mr. Naidu was speaking at a conference on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) organized by WASME in New Delhi.
“The money has come back. Some people are raising questions as to what is the purpose of the so-called demonetization. As an ordinary citizen of the country I understand that was the purpose. The money has come back to banks with address. How much is official, how much is unofficial… that will be decided by the Reserve Bank,” he said.
The Vice-President stressed that banks need to take care of the MSME sector, which is giving maximum employment.
Mr. Naidu emphasized that SME development needs to be centered around sustainability. He added that alleviation of poverty while simultaneously creating employment and wealth by following the principle of inclusive growth was the only way towards a peaceful world.
In the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs), the development of SME sector must be primary development agenda of national governments “so as to address the critical issues around economic growth, job creation, social stability, and environmental protection”.
WASHINGTON (TIP): News reports circulating on November 30 say Trump is contemplating replacing Secretary of State Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
New York Times quoted unnamed senior administration officials as saying Mr. Trump had soured on Mr. Tillerson and was ready for a change at the State Department, probably around the end of the year.
The two men have aired striking differences in public. Mr. Trump surprised many observers when he tweeted that Mr. Tillerson was “wasting his time” pursuing contacts with North Korea, and Mr. Tillerson was quoted as having said — though he denied it — that the President was a “moron.”
The former ExxonMobil executive has also defended the Iran nuclear deal, which Mr. Trump last month disavowed.
Under the plan, which the paper said was developed by White House chief of staff John Kelly, Mr. Pompeo would be replaced at the CIA by Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas and an important Trump ally on national security issues.
That could leave Republicans with another seat to defend in the 2018 elections.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was unaware of any plans to oust him when he spoke to Senator Bob Corker on Thursday, Mr. Corker said.
“He’s conducting business, as is the norm, and is unaware of anything changing, Corker, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters.
Bangalore based startup first in the world to finish all 20 Facebook QA bAbi tasks with 100% accuracy
BENGALURU (TIP): DataVal Analytics Inc, a Bangalore and Chicago-based Artificial Intelligence – (AI) startup is the first in the world to successfully complete a difficult 20-part challenge in AI created by Facebook in 2015. The test, known as the (20) QA bAbi Tasks hosted by Facebook AI Research (FAIR), assesses the ability of AI based programs to perform text understanding and reasoning.
To date, NO organization has been able to solve all the 20 tasks with 100% accuracy. However, using a unique approach, DataVal has successfully completed all 20 tasks with 100% accuracy. The DataVal approach focuses on the human way of understanding Language. It also has integrated multiple processes related to language pre-processing, word sense disambiguation, conjunction processing, preposition association, co-reference resolution and time and space analysis. DataVal focuses on a holistic view of the environment and the ecosystem to reason and understand the situation, an approach similar to the human approach to problem solving.
AI is the new frontier technology of the future with far reaching implications on social, economic and political activities across the world. It will have a significant impact at home, business, factories, banking, government, education, health and lot more. All major global companies and universities have been working on AI for decades. With advances in high speed computing, low cost storage, open source software, cloud computing and smart phones, AI is now in prominence. All leading companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, IBM and a handful of startups have substantial research and development underway on AI.
The success of DataVal in solving QA bAbI tasks offers hope to address a variety of AI applications related to intelligent personal assistance, search engine, voice command & control applications, social media content analysis, and expert systems in fields such as Education, Health, Energy, Environment, Transport, Finance, Manufacturing, Services and Government.
DataVal Analytics Inc has offices in Bangalore, India and Chicago, USA with a small team of highly experienced data scientists and programmers focused on Natural Language Understanding technology & Big Data Analytics.
The company has been founded by veterans from the Indian Army – Lt Col Shashi Kiran (Veteran) and Lt Col Naveen Xavier (Veteran). The team is mentored by the leading entrepreneur, innovator, policy maker and development thinker, Dr. Sam Pitroda as Chairman.
Dr. Sam Pitroda is an internationally respected telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker who has spent 50 years in information and communications technology (ICT) and related global and national developments. Credited with having laid the foundation for India’s telecommunications and technology revolution of the 1980s, Mr. Pitroda has been a leading campaigner to help bridge the global digital divide.
Dr. Pitroda served as Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation, with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He served as the Chairman of the Smart Grid Task Force, as well as the committees to reform public broadcasting, modernize railways, deliver e- governance, and other developmental activities.
Dr. Pitroda is a Founding Chairman of five non-profit organizations including the India Food Bank, the Global Knowledge Initiative and the Institute of Transdisciplinary Health. He is also a founding Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development and Chairman of the International Telecommunication Union’s m-Powering Development Board that looks to empower developing countries with the use of mobile technology.
In addition, Dr. Pitroda is a serial entrepreneur having started several companies in the United States. He holds around 20 honorary PhD’s, close to 100 worldwide patents, and has published five books and numerous papers and lectured widely all over the world. He is also the Chairman of DataVal Analytics Inc. He lives in Chicago with his wife.Lt Col Shashi Kiran BP (Veteran)
Lt Col Shashi Kiran BP (Veteran) is a scientist at heart, known for his unconventional and out of the box thinking. He is a veteran with 20+ years of service in the Indian Army. He has worked in the field of Data Science, Information Technology & Information Security. He has developed many tools and applications for the Army including a Desktop Security tool.
Shashi Kiran is the Director, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of DataVal Analytics. He is primarily responsible for the development of the Natural Language Understanding Technology at DataVal.
Shashi believes that one day the computers can think like humans and will assist us in all walks of life.
Lt Col Naveen Xavier (Veteran)
Lt Col Naveen Xavier (Veteran) is an entrepreneur with a passion to create a globally renowned company in Analytics. He is a veteran from the Indian Army with over two decades of experience across diverse military assignments. He has a hands-on experience in conceptualizing and deploying Big Data Analytics Solution. At the core, he is an IT & Telecom professional with experience in Planning & Operating nationwide networks. He also has rich experience in architecting solution frameworks for national level government IT projects.
At DataVal Analytics, he is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer where he leads a team of dedicated professionals who apply machine learning algorithms to solve complex problems.
WASHINGTON (TIP): It was a historic moment when on Thursday, November 30, Raj Shah, who holds a key position in the White House, gaggled with reporters on board presidential Air Force One, becoming the first Indian-American to enjoy the privilege.
Shah did so in the capacity of Principal Deputy Press Secretary, a position to which he was promoted by US President Donald Trump in September as he restructured his press office by making Hope Hicks Director of Communications.
Shah was accompanying Trump as he flew to Missouri to deliver a major speech on middle-class tax relief and business tax relief.
Mid-way to St Louis, Shah, the highest ranking Indian- American ever in the White House press office, gaggled with the travelling press corp.
“We’re looking forward to the President’s remarks later today. It will be in St. Charles, talking about the need for middle-class tax relief and business tax relief,” Shah said in his opening remarks.
“The focus of today’s remarks is going to be on small businesses. He’s going to feature two specific small businesses. One is a local small business incubator, and the other is a jewelry business — they’re a retail business that also wholesales to about two and a half dozen different retailers throughout the country,” he said.
“So, we’re very excited about these remarks, and we’re excited about the developments on pushing tax reform and tax cuts. And the President is going to make a push for ‘Yea’ votes,” Shah said.
He took questions ranging from the president’s controversial tweets, to North Korea, and tax cuts. The gaggle lasted for about 12 minutes.
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, had listed Shah among the top Indian-American performers working under the Trump administration.
Shah was born in 1984 to Indian parents of Gujarati origin. Shah’s parents moved to Chicago in 1970s and then moved to Connecticut where he was born and raised.
His father was a mechanical engineer, but later moved in the business and owned retail stores. His mother was a dentist.
LEXINGTON, MA (TIP): Indian-Americans of Lexington, who account for six percent of the town’s population and their children represent approximately 12 percent of school enrollment, are organizing a free Civic Engagement Seminar on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Lexington Community Center in Lexington, MA.
The event is organized by Getting Involved Group, known as GIG, which consists of 13 Indian Americans who are elected members in town government of Lexington.
“The main goal of the event is to inform, encourage and engage with Indian Americans who would like to give back through civic participation,” said Vineeta Kumar, one of the organizers of the Civic Engagement Seminar and a member of the Lexington town government.
In addition to Kumar, other members of GIG and elected town members are: Narain Bhatia, Dinesh Patel, Aneesha Karody, Anil Ahuja, Anoop Garg, Hema Bhatt, Pam Joshi, Ravish Kumar, Rita Pandey, Sanjay Padaki, Syed Ali Rizvi and Vikas Kinger.
“This is an information sharing session where people can hear about town government, why they should get involved and how they can do so,” Kumar said. “Those interested in running for a position in 2018 can also sign up to schedule focused planning sessions with the GIG team.”
The event will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm on December 2, 2017, at Lexington Community Center located at 39 Marrett Road in Lexington. Keynote speaker at the event is Suzie Barry, Chairman of the Board of Selectman of Lexington. Other elected town officials will be present, including Indian American Town Meeting Members.
Kumar said that there will be a panel discussion with Indian American Town Meeting Members on why they ran, process, time commitment and their experience. It is a free event and refreshments will be served.
“We have a very talented community with diverse skills, many of whom are looking for ways to participate and contribute,” said Kumar. “This is a great event for those individuals to learn about the process and meet those who have traversed that journey.”
Kumar said that this particular event is focused on Lexington and how Lexington town government works, but open to people from other towns.
“Considering the success, we have found in our town, GIG will be happy to share their learnings with other towns,” Kumar said.
GIG consists of 13 Indian Americans who are elected members in town government. Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL) and the elected Town Meeting Members collaborated to create GIG in 2014 with the intent of encouraging and supporting civic participation by Indian Americans in Lexington. The group’s objective is to provide a platform and support system for Lexington Indian Americans to help increase their participation in town government and committees.
“All Indian Americans of Lexington must attend this event but especially those who are passionate about giving back to the community, those who are looking for ways to engage with the town and those who aspire to run for elected office,” Kumar said.
She said the Indian American community has grown in Lexington and accounts for about six percent of the population. Indian American children represent approximately 12 percent of school enrollment.
“With our increasing demographic presence, the town leaders are also encouraging participation to represent this diversity in town governance,” Kumar said.
In 2015, six Indian Americans successfully ran and were elected as Town Meeting Members (TMM), in 2016, six additional Indian Americans were elected to the town meeting, followed by six in 2017. As of now, there are 13 Indian Americans in Lexington Town Meeting, with some having dropped out.
“We would like to build on this momentum going into 2018 and continue our community’s participation in town government,” Kumar said. “Giving back is one of the many common traits between American and Indian societies and civic participation is an effective way to give back to the community. Therefore, we are requesting Indian Americans to participate in this free event and take advantage of the platform GIG provides.”
LONDON (TIP): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has kicked off an international road trip to draw investment and technology sharing into the government’s Clean Ganga Mission in London this week.
The visit had already resulted in ₹500 crore of pledges for investment for the development of the riverfront from a number of U.K.-based Indian business leaders, including Anil Agarwal, the Hindujas, Prakash Lohia and Ravi Malhotra.
“I know how to get this done,” said Mr. Gadkari, Minister for Ganga Rejuvenation, River Development, Water Resources, Highways, Shipping and Transport, of the ambitious program to clean the river. He dismissed criticism over the length of time taken by the project, insisting that doing it as an integrated conservation mission was key to its success. He said he was being “cautious” in his assessment that in two years there would be a considerable reduction in carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide levels.
The government is keen to enlist private sector partners in the four-phase project. During his visit, he held productive talks with a number of Indian-origin business people in London, who had pledged considerable financial support for the initiative. While Anil Agarwal had made a commitment towards the development of the Patna riverfront, Forsight’s Ravi Malhotra will take up development at Kanpur, the Hindujas will lead development of the ghats and other amenities at Haridwar and Prakash Lohia of Indorama will take on Ganga Sagar in Kolkata.
“We wholeheartedly appeal to all Indian companies, NRIs and the diaspora to participate in the Namami Gange,” Mr. Gadkari said.
MoUs signed
During the trip, on which he is accompanied by U.P. Singh, Director-General of the National Mission for the Clean Ganga, Mr. Gadkari also signed memoranda of understanding with five British companies for technology sharing and investment, including Celtic Renewables, a Scottish biofuel company, Lyndon Water, a water treatment firm, Mebifarm, NVH Technologies and Arkatap.
JACKSON, Mississippi (TIP): Sandeep Singh, 21, was shot in the stomach and killed in what police consider a robbery that took place at his house in Jackson, Mississippi on Nov. 27.
According to Jackson Police, the suspects are part of a series of robberies which are occurring in the northwest part of Jackson, suspecting them to be connected.
The suspects are described in a Jackson Police Department press release dated Nov. 28, posted on Twitter, as “2-4 black males armed with handguns” and “The suspect responsible for shooting him (Singh) is described as a black male, last seen wearing a grey hooded shirt, armed with a .9mm pistol,” the police press release said.
“These individuals are concealing their identities by wearing masks, somebody out there knows what’s going on and we’re saying that we need those individuals who know to step forward and help us identify those individuals before any other businesses get robbed,” Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance told MS News Now, and they are also described as wearing bandanas and sweatshirts with hoods, in the press release.
According to police, Singh and two other men were standing outside their house when a man in a mask and a hoodie walked up to them and took their money and cell phones and shot at them while running away.
One bullet hit Singh and he was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he died on Monday, Nov. 27. Police say Singh’s death is the city’s 58th homicide this year.
Singh was from Jalandhar, Punjab and came to the U.S. four years ago on a tourist visa. He had just landed his first job.
Singh’s father told PTC News that he and his friends were closing the store he worked in at 8 p.m. and when his car would not start. The owner told them to stay back.
Singh and his friends left the store at 11 p.m. and returned to their apartment and they were confronted and robbed by three masked men.
When the robbers left, Singh went to go park the car but one of the robbers thought he was going to pull out a weapon, he fired, shooting Singh in the stomach.
Singh’s body is being sent to India where it is expected to arrive by Saturday, December 2.
WISCONSIN (TIP): Four men of Indian origin, were arrested over the last week, suspected of conducting the widespread scam of impersonating Internal Revenue Service agents to bilk innocent taxpayers, many of them Indian-Americans.
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that pursuant to criminal complaints and arrest warrants issued by a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the following men were arrested by local and federal law enforcement – Moin Gohil, 22, of Dunwoody, Georgia, was arrested by local law enforcement authorities on November 24; Pratik Patel, 26, of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, Parvez Jiwani, 39, of Tucker, Georgia, and Nakul Chetiwal, 27, of Dunwoody, Georgia, were arrested on Nov. 28. by federal law enforcement authorities.
All of these arrests were based on charges of violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 1349, 2 (Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, and Aiding and Abetting). Each of these charges carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, Gohil, Chetiwal, and Jiwani were “runners” who used fraudulent identification cards to pick up fraud proceeds for a scheme likely originating from India, authorities said.
Patel aided and abetted at least one of the runners. In this scheme, which is sometimes referred to as an “IRS impersonation scheme,” members of the scheme (likely in India) call victims and make misrepresentations (typically, that the victim owes taxes) and cause the victims to wire money through a wire service, such as MoneyGram.
Other members of the conspiracy (known as “runners”), such as Gohil, Chetiwal, and Jiwani, then use fraudulent identification cards to pick up the fraud proceeds.
According to the complaint, Gohil, Chetiwal, and Jiwani picked up $666,537 sent from 784 victims during the period from January 25, 2016, through August 8, this year. The false identities used by Gohil, Chetiwal, and Jiwani are linked to an additional 6,530 fraudulent transactions totaling $2,836,745.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
What is being courageous? What is being brave? What is being heroic? Please do not rush to a dictionary to find the definition. I have one simple explanation. It is being Dr. Satish Anand.
As Dr. Anand who has turned 75 and the family decided to celebrate the landmark occasion on December 2, I thought about this unsung hero who has immensely proved beyond any shadow of doubt that grit and determination; and faith in God can overcome all obstacles and bring one fulfillment of one’s cherished desires.
Here is a man, I said to myself, who has proved himself to be a successful professional and an extremely fine human being, aware of his responsibilities and priorities despite odds of all hues in his life. A man born with an inhibiting affliction called Polio for which no treatment existed then.The family, Dr.Anand narrated to me, moved to India in 1948. His father, Manohar Lal Anand, and the rest of the family got separated during partition and were lucky to reunite after some time.
Dr. Anand was three years old when he suffered from Polio in the left lower extremity. That was in 1945. In 1948 when the family started their journey to India, his mother had him in his arms. The family was traveling in a truck which got stuck in the River Ravi. A Pakistani soldier suggested to my mother that she could throw me away in stead of carrying me with so much difficulty. Also, he said it will reduce weight in the truck which could then come unstuck. And, on top of it, he said she had 3 more children; so, she should have no hesitation in getting rid of a disabled boy of 5 years. Dr. Anand quoted his mother as saying, “I will die with him if my “OM” wishes. But you will know one day he will become a big person”. She could easily have got rid of her disabled son, but she was not an ordinary woman. She was courageous, brave and heroic- qualities which Dr. Anand inherited from her.
Another great gift to him from his mother is the unflinching faith in “OM”. “She instilled in me power of Faith”, said Dr. Anand in one of his conversations with me recently. She told Satish, “Have Faith in your OM and do your karma (work/ duty). Everything will follow”. It is this valuable lesson of life which has helped Dr. Anand all the way in his life.
Thereafter, he read a few books by great minds, including Swami Vivekananda. He recalls how profoundly he was influenced by Swami Vivekananda’s words: “To do your duty with honesty, sincerity and faith in Almighty is the biggest worship of God”. He has always kept the golden words in his mind. He told me that since then he printed them on the front page of each of his books to always remind himself of the inspiring thought.
Dr. Anand’s first passport picture taken in 1967
Another incident that Dr. Anand recalled to me was when he was being sent to England for studies in 1968. He said theirs was a middle-class family and he was the youngest of the four brothers. “My mother coordinated with my father to pull resources for my travel to UK. In one Havan at home, one of my mother’s friends said to my mother why she was sending me to England since I have a physical problem of Polio. My mother replied: “Problem is with you. See he became a doctor after all the hard work despite polio. And, he is not going alone. My OM is going with him”. Dr. Anand added: “This taught me the power of Faith and Karma and this power never ever failed me at any point in my life. I owe it all to my mother. Hope, there are mothers, like my Mom who held my hand firmly and inspired me to go forward in life with Faith in OM”.
“The values I cherish today as an Arya Samajist have come to me from my mother”, says Dr. Anand.
Gitanjli Anand and Dr. Satish Anand after marriage in 1976
Dr. Anand spoke about another woman in his life who was the second most powerful influence on him. This woman is his wife, Gitanjli with whom he got married in 1976. “Ever since she came in my life, Gitanjli has been a rock-solid support and partner at every step in my life”. Well versed in teaching, Gitanjli was a professor of Home science in India. She proved to be an admirable mother to their two daughters -Aikta and Vaishali. Aikta is a Psychologist and School Counselor and the younger Vaishali is a pharmacist. Both are happily married and have families.
Gitanjli became the first woman President of India Association of Long Island (IALI) in 1995. She is a great volunteer. Be it an association or the Arya Samaj, she is absolutely dedicated to whatever work she is doing. She has been associated with quite a few organizations. Presently, she is Vice President of Association of Indians in America (AIA).
Dr. Satish Anand himself has been socially and professionally involved. He has been a member of AAPI – QLI since 1995. He was its President and now sits on Board of Trustees. He was President of Federation of AAPI NY/ NJ/ CT. He is a member of Rajasthan Medical Alumni Association. Earlier, he was president of Gajra Raja Medical College Association.
Dr. Anand’s contribution has been hailed by various organizations and institutions. In 2013, Rotary International honored him with Humanitarian Award.
Dr. Anand was born in Rawalpindi (now Pakistan) ion October 21, 1942 to Manohar Lal Anand and Krishna Kumari. He studied for school at Mhow, near Indore in Madhya Pradesh, India. He got his Medical education at Medical College, Gwalior to become a physician in 1965. In 1968, he went to UK to do his residency program and finally got his MRCP in 1973. He came to the US in 1975 and worked as full-time internist. He took retirement in 2009.
Oldest daughter Aikta Anand-Sethi with husband Mukesh Sethi and two daughters Aksha and Mukta Sethi.A 2016 family picture. Gitanjli Anand, Vaishali Deshmukh, Aikta Anand-Sethi, Dr. Satish Kumar Anand
Married to Gitanjli, the couple has two daughters, Aikta and Vaishali and are blessed with five grandchildren- Manav, Meera, Milan Deshmukh, Mukta and Aksha Sethi.
The eldest child of Anands, Aikta, who says proudly she is Dad’s daughter, has this to say about her father: “Dad is the rock of our family, he is my heart my soul without whom I am nothing. He is indeed the biggest blessing in my life. God made humans, but I don’t consider my father human. He is from a different universe a totally different breed of humans. People say they have lived to feel god or even see god, but I have felt and seen god in my father. If I could accomplish 20% of what my father has I would feel as if I did something good in my life”.
Picture with grandkids from October 2017. From left: Dr. Satish Kumar Anand, Mukta Sethi, Aksha Sethi, Gitanjli Anand, Manav Deshmukh, Meera Deshmukh, Milan DeshmukhGrandparents Gitanjli Anand and Dr. Satish Kumar Anand with Youngest daughter Vaishali Deshmukh with husband Amit Deshmukh and three kids Manav Deshmukh, Meera Deshmukh, and Milan Deshmukh
Do not forget to join the family at the celebration of Dr. Satish Anand’s 75 years of grit and determination; faith and karma; and hope and love.
CHESAPEAKE, VA (TIP): Rich tributes were paid to Harkesh Chhabra of Nakodar, Punjab on his death anniversary at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Foundation here on November 26. Late Harkesh Chhabra was an eminent social activist, dearly loved and respected. He was an institution in himself who shaped the fortune of many from Punjab. Many Punjabis abroad owe their present career to Mr. Harkesh Chhabra.
Treading the path shown by his illustrious father, Paul Chhabra who lives and owns his restaurant business in Virginia, has earned goodwill, love and respect of the Indian American community, besides being a popular person with the local administration and the mainstream Americans. The large presence of people from far and near was a good enough indicator of the goodwill Chhabra family enjoys.
The head priest of the Gurdwara Giani Hushnak Singh reciting hymns from GurbaniTime for Ardaas. Paul Chhabra is seen with a shawl, to the right.
Devotional hymns singing, and prayers marked the major part of the event. The head priest of the Gurdwara Giani Hushnak Singh recited hymns from Gurbani with elaborate expostulations which brought the congregation close to the Divine for a while.
Paying tributes to late Harkesh Chhabra ji, Chief Editor of The Indian Panorama, Prof. Indrajit S Saluja recalled his meetings with him in Jalandhar in 1997 and observed that he found Chhabra ji an admirable and loving person. It was the time when his son Paul Chhabra who is a close friend of Prof. Saluja was neck deep in organizing the Punjab NRI Sabha with the founder Chairman and Commissioner of Jalandhar Division, B. K. Srivastava. The vast real estate and travel agency business needed Paul to be around to assist his father, but Harkesh Chhabra ji allowed Paul the freedom to be away from business for some months, keeping in view the interest of his son in bringing up a great institution. And, surely, Punjab NRI Sabha became the first organization in India for NRIs.
Prof. Indrajit S Saluja paying tribute to Harkesh Chhabra JiDr. Baljit Singh Gill speaking to the congregation
Eminent Sikh scholar Dr. Baljit Singh Gill described the family’s strong ties with Chhabra family and recalled how genial and sweet natured Harkesh Chhabra ji was. He was a treasure house of information on real estate and NRIs trusted him for getting them good deals. Dr. Gill also spoke about the message of Sikhism and exhorted parents to instill the values of Sikh religion in their children. He reminded congregation of the supreme sacrifice the Ninth Master of the Sikhs Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji made.
Mrs. Jagdish Singh, a prominent community leader and a friend to Paul Chhabra’s family also paid tribute to Harkesh Chhabra Ji.
The gathering included Guru Nanak Foundation Chairman Raj Singh Rahil, Punjabi Society President Neelam Grewal, Lal Singh Kahlon, Nishan Singh Sidhu, Baljit Dulea, Rakesh Kampania and many more, besides the family members Paul Chhabra, his wife Kiran Rani and children.
Sangat at langar
Langar followed the prayers in the memory of Harkesh Chhabra Ji. Family members lovingly served langar and earned Guru’s blessings as also the congregation’s.
(Text and photos by Surinder Dhillon, journalist. He can be reached at sdhillon@hotmail.com)
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