khabar CHANDRIKA TANDON: ENTREPRENEUR,
February 2020
www.khabar.com
TRAILBLAZER, PHILANTHROPIST, MUSICIAN
NEW ZEALAND: SPECTACULAR VISTAS,
ADRENALINE RUSH, MULTICULTURALISM
BIOGRAPHER ASEEM CHHABRA TALKS
ABOUT ACTOR IRRFAN KHAN
EDITORIAL: THE NARENDRA MODI
ROLLER COASTER
February 2020 • Volume 25 • Issue 2
The ‘Other’
Indian Immigrants
Behind the veneer of model minority, Indians are
fast becoming one of the largest undocumented
populations in the U.S.
www.Khabar.com
Innovative Treatments. Exceptional Service.
Superior Outcomes.
Buckhead Clinic Now Open
Dr. Dhruti Patel Dr. Bhavik Shah Dr. Vishal Bhalani Dr. Mukesh Patel Dr. Chirag Dave
Buckhead, Gujarati Decatur, Gujarati Johns Creek, Gujarati Lawrenceville, Gujarati Marietta, Gujarati
and Hindi
Dr. Rut Patel Dr. Neal Patel Dr. Jitesh Patel Dr. Dev Mally Dr. Vik Sabarwal
Sandy Springs, Sandy Springs, English Snellville, Gujarati Snellville, Tulu Snellville, English
Gujarati
• Same Day Appointments • Most Insurances Accepted
Book an Appointment Today 678-841-7253
www.advancedurology.com
Locations in
Alpharetta | Buckhead | Decatur | Johns Creek | Lawrenceville | Marietta | Sandy Springs | Snellville
Direct From an Industry Leader With
Over 25 Years of Experience
Digital Video Surveillance Systems
Chooose Bullet or Dome Sony IR Hi-Definition 1080p Cameras!
No Additional Cost!
Complete 4 Camera Full HD DVR System $1075
1080p HD In/Out DVR w/ Four Sony 1080p HD Color
Cameras & up to 260 ft cable Features:
Complete 8 Camera Full HD DVR System $1375
1080p HD In/Out DVR w/ Eight Sony 1080p HD Color * No Monthly Fee
Cameras & up to 520 ft cable * Easy To Use & Maintain
Complete 16 Camera Full HD DVR System $2175 * Central Monitoring Software
1080p HD In/Out DVR w/ Sixteen Sony 1080p HD Color * No Static IP Address Required
Cameras & up to 1040 ft cable
Complete 32 Camera Full HD DVR System $4350 * View From Phone or
1080p HD In/Out DVR w/ Thirty Two Sony 1080p HD Anywhere
Color Cameras & up to 2080 ft cable
All Systems Include:
Bullet or Dome Sony 1080P HD weatherproof cameras of your choice, 1TB HDD for the 4/8 port
system and the 16 port systems come with 2TB of HDD, the 32 port system comes with 4TB of
HDD, 59U Siamese cable with 95% Shield 100% Copper Braided Cables.
CCTV Text Inserter/Overlay/PIR Alarm Camera
POS, Cash Register & ATM Text Inserter/ PIR Alarm Intrusion
Overlay on CCTV Video HD DVR $365 Detection HD 1080P
View From Anywhere Camera $115
Point-of-Sale/License Plate Camera/Smart WIFI Doorbell
Smart HD WiFi Video
License Plate Recognition Doorbell $245
Sony 1080P HD Camera
$215
Cards/Pin Pads Access Control
Products Available
POS Available for all types of
business! Example: Retail,
Restaurants, Liquor & many more!
* Cash Drawer * Receipt Printer*
Scanner * POS Software
* Windows/POS Software
$2165 *15” Built-in Touch Screen
• Prices & availability subject to change • Certain restrictions apply • Surveillance installed price within Metro Atlanta
Ph: 404-939-1998 • www.iLinkPro.com
1703 Webb Drive Norcross, GA 30093
We integrate tomorrows technology... with your business today! Established since 1994
No
REAGAN MEDICAL Urgent Care
Copay
reaganmedical.com or rmc.md
Family Medicine, Urgent Care & Diagnostic Center
Open 365 days No appointment Necessary
RUNNER UP RUNNER UP
LOCATIONS
SERVICES Holter Monitor
Lawrenceville 678-344-8700 Lung Scan
Annual Physicals
Dacula 678-546-9800 Medicare Wellness
Auto Accidents
Johns Creek 678-387-1600 All Blood Tests Nuclear heart scan
Suwanee 770-771-5570 Blood Pressure Mammogram
Grayson Hwy 770-771-5560 Bone Density MRI
CAT Scan Pain Management
PROVIDERS Pap Smear
Cholesterol
Archna Poddar, MD Ronald Hart, MD Cuts & Lacerations Senior Care
Sports Physical
Binh Nyugen, MD Satish Poddar, MD Depression Stress Test
Brad Gould, MD Denise Stemp, FNP Diabetes
Charlotte Ebner, DO John Turner, PA-C Echocardiogram Thyroid Problems
Ultrasounds
David Lentz, MD Linda Collins, FNP EKG
Fractures Weight loss
George Rafeedie, MD Paul Beck, PA-C
Gall Bladder problems Well Woman Exam
Harvey Schecter, DO Paul Saby, PA-C Worker’s Comp
Heart Calcium Score
Mark Majoch, MD Shawn Garcia, PA-C X-rays
Heart Problems
Neela Bakane, MD Stephanie Martin, FNP
Sports Physical $25* Ofice Visit $75* Annual Physical $175* Pap Smear $165*
♦ X-ray $50*
♦ MRI $400*
Best Price Best Price
Best Price est Price
B
♦ CAT Scan $225* Guarantee Guarantee
Guarantee uarantee
G
♦ Ultrasound $150*
♦ Mammogram $125*
♦ Calcium Score $85*
Reagan Diagnostic Center ♦ Echocardiogram $350*
2878 Five Forks Trickum Rd, Ste 1A ♦ Nuclear Stress Test $750*
Lawrenceville, GA 30044 ♦ Treadmill Stress Test $150*
678-
678-221221- -8000 8000
* Some restrictions apply. Please call our ofice or visit our website for more . * Timings, Locations, Providers & Services are location speciic & subject tochange.
CoverFeature @khabarmag
68 @khabarmagazine February 2020
THE SAD SAGA OF THE GROWING
NUMBER OF UNDOCUMENTED INDIANS
For over two decades, Khabar has chronicled
the successes of Indian-Americans, contents
still considered a “model minority.” But
there’s also a dark side to this story. Given
a dysfunctional immigration system,
Indians have become one of the largest
undocumented groups in this country. Columns+
Departments
Contents 6
Editorial 10
Readers Write 14
Events Calendar 16
Desi World 24
Chai Time 80
Spiritual Straight Talk 88
30 36 44 Business Insights 90
CONTEMPLATIONS CHANDRIKA TANDON: INTERVIEW WITH Moneywise 92
ON THE STATE OF THE ENTERPRENEUR, IRRFAN KHAN’S Immigration 96
WORLD MUSICIAN, SEEKER BIOGRAPHER Bollywood 98
The recent solar eclipse, Her $100 million gift to What makes Irrfan
and perhaps the NYU may be seen as her Khan such a great film Around Town 100
tranquility of pristine crowning glory, but it is actor? A biography, Community Newsmakers 108
Kerala, stirs up both music and spirituality recently published in
turmoil and hope. that has her glowing. India, is very revealing. Horoscope 110
Classifieds 111
Business Directory 114
Advertiser Index 118
50 54 60
IN SEARCH OF HOME, DEAD OR DYING? NEW ZEALAND:
THEN AND NOW While Sanskrit remains REMOTE AND
No matter where we indispensable in Hindu BEAUTIFUL
live, the meaning of rituals, elsewhere it Spectacular attractions When you see this
home—be it humble or is in need of CPR— and a vibrant culture symbol, go to
khabar.com
grand—changes over Consistent Persistent that’s hospitable to for additional articles, links,
time, just as we do. Revival. desis. photos, videos, etc.
6 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
khabar
The Community in Your Inbox!
Don’t miss out on the community’s Your Passport to the Indian-American Community
most comprehensive Events Calendar. Publisher Khabar, Inc.
3635 Savannah Place Drive, Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: (770) 451- 3067 • Fax: (770) 234-6115
• In your inbox every Thursday, so that you have a full handle [email protected] • www.khabar.com
on what’s happening in the Indian community of metro Khabar is a monthly variety features magazine serving Indian
Atlanta in the upcoming 2 weeks. Americans in and around Georgia. To request your free
subscription by mail, please visit www.khabar.com
(Geographic restrictions apply)
• From Arts and Entertainment events to Professional,
Community, Spiritual, Religious, and all kinds of events in --------------------------------------------
one easily seen layout. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PARTHIV N. PAREKH
[email protected]
• Includes other important announcements, competitions,
and updates pertaining to the community. MANAGING EDITOR MURALI KAMMA
[email protected]
• Over a hundred community organizations routinely rely on ART DIRECTOR MEHUL PAREKH
Khabar to publicize their events. [email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS & COLUMNISTS
Viren Mayani, Mahadev Desai, Rajesh Jyotishi,
Dr. Gulshan Harjee, Aarti Patel, Humera Subhani,
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Rajnish Sharma,
Gitanjali Chak, Melvin Durai, Sonjui Kumar, Bill Fitzpatrick.
COPY EDITORS SUZANNE SEN,
POORNIMA NARAYANAN
FREELANCE DESIGNERS RITU DILJITH
--------------------------------------------
DISPLAY ADVERTISING SONAL PAREKH
[email protected]
CLASSIFIED ADS & ACCOUNTS HEMA VYAS
[email protected]
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION SONAL PAREKH
[email protected]
--------------------------------------------
Sign up today by going to our home page at Postmaster: Khabar (USPS 016 619) is published monthly by
Khabar, Inc. 3635 Savannah Place Drive, Ste. 400, Duluth, GA 30096.
www.khabar.com (or) email us with your Periodicals postage paid at Norcross, GA and
additional offices. Send Address Changes to: Khabar, Inc.
subscription request to [email protected] 3635 Savannah Place Drive, Suite 400. Duluth, GA 30096
--------------------------------------------
Disclaimers: Opinions expressed are those of individual authors.
Khabar is not responsible for errors and omissions. Khabar is not
liable for products or services advertised. Advertising copy, logos,
photos, and artwork appearing in advertisements are the sole
responsibility of individual advertisers, not of Khabar. Khabar has
the right to deny any advertising at its discretion.
Copyrights 2012: by Khabar, Inc. All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------
Memberships: (i) South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA)
(ii) Magazine Association of the Southeast (MAGS).
(iii) Media India Group: Khabar Magazine, Atlanta, GA and India
Currents, California.
--------------------------------------------
8 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Editorial
Will communalism eventually derail the
Modi roller coaster?
A Hindu chauvinist bent on dividing the country unequivocal: Modi was guilty at least of crimes of omis-
over religious lines … A capable Chief Minister sion, if not commission, that allowed rioters a free hand
who transformed Gujarat with an impressive while police stood by doing too little too late.
focus on development ... A people’s Prime But in a civic society one must ultimately abide by its
Minister who took on much needed initiatives august institutions such as the Supreme Court, despite
such as Swachh Bharat (“Clean India”) and one’s personal reservations.
“Toilets before Temples” ... A bold executive who Moreover, in the span of the 12 years since the 2002
took courageous steps such as demonetization riots, a lot had changed about Modi. While his personal
to clean out corruption (or, depending on who credentials as a Hindu nationalist were never in doubt,
you talk to), a grandiose authoritarian who his public persona had morphed from being a communal
pushed the recklessly executed demonetization politician to becoming a development rainmaker who
experiment that massively disrupted the lives transformed Gujarat as its CM. As a Gujarati myself, I
of common Indians … A so-called business- have had numerous conversations with friends and rela-
focused PM who crashed India’s economy … tives in Gujarat who attested to how he made utilities
A religious ideologue who strong-armed the such as power and water more abundant and stable, and
revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomous how he incessantly courted corporations and multina-
status and gratuitously introduced the tionals to invest in the state, causing a drastic improve-
Citizenship Amendment Act to consolidate his ment in its economy.
Hindu base. As a prime ministerial candidate, Modi was all about
growth, progress, and development. His slogans, if not
The Modi roller-coaster, has been, at times, an his intent, turned distinctly unifying—a far cry from his
exhilarating ride; lately though, it’s gone into communal legacy.
a frightening free fall, weighed down by his It also helped that in a country where corruption
increasingly insidious communal designs. was endemic, Modi, with his spartan, yogic lifestyle,
seemed personally incorruptible. Here was a candi-
By PARTHIV N. PAREKH date who seemed genuinely uninterested in amassing
the kind of obscene wealth that his counterparts like
Mayawati, Karunanidhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and
Any objective commentator who has followed Modi Sharad Pawar, to name just a few, had.
over the span of his political career is bound to have With his passionate speeches about working tire-
had a roller coaster of opinions of this shapeshifter pol- lessly for every Indian, along with his glowing economic
itician. In 2002, I was a harsh critic of him, deeply dis- record in Gujarat, Modi was the first leader in decades
turbed about his role as Chief Minister in the commu- who showed the potential of transforming the nation
nal riots that killed over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims. for the better. In contrast, his contenders were decid-
Yet, in 2014, to my utter disbelief, I found myself prac- edly uninspiring. Arvind Kejriwal had started out with
tically endorsing him for Prime Minister. Why the dra- great promise as a leading crusader against corruption,
matic about turn? but soon exposed his mercurial temperament when he
Modi was subsequently tried for his role in the abruptly resigned from his Delhi CM post in just 49 days.
2002 riots, and none other than the Supreme Court of Leading a massive nation like India needs more than
India exonerated him. I, like many others, were neither good intentions; it needs outsized capabilities and for-
convinced about his innocence, nor happy about the titude as well—which Kejriwal failed to demonstrate. As
verdict. The consensus of scores of independent inves- to Rahul Gandhi, enough has been said about his inepti-
tigative reporters as well as dozens of human rights tude and immaturity. It is generally believed that he was
watchdog groups—domestic and international—was even in the ring only on account of being the scion of the
>>
10 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Walk-In Coolers/Freezers/Doors,
Beer Caves, AND Remodeling
We buy equipment from: Heatcraft, Tuckumsey, CDS, & Anthony.
We offer delivery
and installation lowest prices Office: 1-855-FREZERS (373-9377)
We offer
FINANCING AVAILABLE!!! t Fax: 1-866-282-2186
in the industry.
GUARANTEED!
www.coldstoragepanelsmfg.com Call Dhiren Mody: 706-577-4951
CALL FOR FREE QUOTES TODAY!
Own New Halo 2 at $350/Month INSURANCE SERVICES
Take advantage of special
6 months extended
payment program!!
• No Interest
• Free Delivery and Installation
Nobody beats our ATM prices!
Please Call us!
678-376-1518
• Life • Health • Disability
Dozens of Companies! • Long Term Care • Dental
•
Best Plans & Rates! • Cancer • Accident • Vision
Need EMV upgrade? • • Short Term Medical
Call us to find out about FREE & Fast Quotes!
our EMV Special Program. • Visitor’s and Traveler’s
Health Plan
Call: Chetan Vyas: 770-300-0688
email: [email protected]
3660 Burnette Park Drive Suite A,
Suwanee, GA 30024 http://www.w21099.1wp.com
Editorial
Gandhi dynasty. Otherwise he may as well have been a who trace back their ancestry in India to several centu-
struggling poet or an idle idealist. ries if not over a millennia—but who may not have docu-
With such a background, Modi offered the best hope ments proving their citizenship. This is especially the
for the nation. It seemed that he had learned his lessons case for the large number of poor and uneducated mass-
from his time as the CM of Gujarat: communal misdeeds es, regardless of their religious background. But while an
earned him global censure and brickbats, while a devel- undocumented Hindu (or a Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian
opment agenda earned him praise and popularity. But or Zoroastrian) gets a pass, as per CAA, an undocument-
even in 2014, while admitting so much, my caveat was ed Muslim may be potentially declared stateless in his
that the Modi roller coaster could easily derail if he would own country and be thrown into a detention camp.
let his communal instincts get the better of him. Modi’s affiliation from early childhood with the
Sadly, that is precisely what is happening! I don’t Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu national-
begrudge him so much for the failure of his outland- ist paramilitary organization … the BJP’s rise to power in
ish schemes such as demonetization and GST (Goods the wake of their tearing down the Babri Masjid … Modi’s
and Services Tax)—poorly executed and highly compli- likely culpability in the Gujarat riots … his appointment
cated undertakings that have backfired, at least in the of unabashed Hindu extremists such as Yogi Adityanath
short run. These were in his Ministry … the
well-intentioned, even Some of the most thriving lynching of Muslims by
if grandiose initiatives, cow vigilantes and those
that no politician inter- nations in the world, such as the targeting the so-called
ested in self-preservation ‘love jihadis’—these are
would dare to attempt. Nordic countries in Europe, are just some of a large roster
Nor do I begrudge him of facts that collectively
much for the economy secular democracies; some of leave no doubt that the
that is going south under PM and the ruling party
his watch. While Modi’s the most regressive and strife are no friends of Indian
outlandish experiments Muslims, rightful citizens
may have had some ridden nations are those that of the country.
impact on the slowdown, This distrust and
ultimately the Indian have a religious identity. divide that the Modi
economy is a behemoth camp is instigating be-
influenced by innumerable factors, not all of which are tween Hindus and Muslims should be the work of India’s
in the PM’s control. enemies, not its well-wishers. Not only does this reli-
All this and much that ails India under Modi’s term gious chauvinism go against the age-old Indian ethos
is often cyclical, and can be corrected in due time. What of inclusivity and diversity, but it is also against the
is not so easily reversible is the damage caused by him spirit of India’s Constitution, wherein secularism is
and his party’s fascist targeting of Indian Muslims, which enshrined. And no, unlike what Hindu nationalists
has notched up during his second term. The strong- believe, choosing secularism was not a mistake of our
armed revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status founding fathers like Nehru and Gandhi. Some of the
and the recent Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are most thriving nations in the world, such as the Nor-
being advertised as progressive, and even humanitar- dic countries in Europe, are secular democracies; some
ian steps—but the Modi camp is fooling no one who can of the most regressive and strife ridden nations are those
see the communal designs lurking behind these insidi- that have a religious identity.
ous undertakings. Veiled behind the promise of bring- Modi’s aggressive push towards the vain idea of a
ing investments and jobs to Kashmir is the fact that the Hindu Rashtra will, at best, turn India into another the-
reversal of Article 370 will, in due time, change the ocracy like Pakistan or Iran, and, at worst, could trigger
demographics of Kashmir to increase the Hindu popula- widespread communal riots or terrorist attacks.
tion of the state.
Similarly, CAA, besides being unconstitutional, when
combined with the National Register of Citizens (NRC),
has the potential of disenfranchising Muslims, not just Some portions of this editorial have been previously published in
asylum seekers and recent migrants, but also citizens Khabar in prior editorials, but have been reframed and updated.
12 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Atlanta
April
Georgia World Congress Center
San Francisco
May 6-
San Mateo County Event Center
• Explore your full potential Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary,
• Relieve chronic diseases bestselling author, and foremost
• Eliminate stress authority on yoga. For over 35
• Achieve better sleep years, Sadhguru’s work has
transformed the lives of
millions worldwide.
CME & CE accredited for physicians, No physical agility or previous experience of yoga required
nurses & massage therapists Open to all ages 15+
Isha Foundation,
InnerEngineering.com a nonprofit, 501(c)(3)
organization
6 payments as low as
$ 299 /month!
Visit your ATM Superstore
www.RocketATM.com
• SALES • SERVICES • REPAIRS • PROCESSING
• FREE ATM Placement and Cash Loading!
• FREE EMV Upgrades and Repairs!*
• Lowest Price ATMs! Guaranteed!
• Switch Today and Save!
• NO Long Term Contracts!
• Zero Interest Payment Programs!
Readers Write
The real reason for opposing Benefits of turmeric
socialism in America I’m responding to an article on turmeric in Khabar
(“A Pinch of GOLD,” January 2020). I do eat turmeric ev-
In response to Shashi Tharoor’s opinion piece ery single day without fail. My question is how should,
(“American politics is taking a radical new turn. in what form should one eat turmeric. I slice it, put
Socialism is no longer a dirty word”) in the lemon juice and salt, and then keep it in the fridge so
December issue of Khabar, I must remind him that that I can use it during lunch. We also use a lot in pre-
America has been inching towards socialism since
World War II by enacting Social Security, Medicare, paring Indian food. My question: is it the right way of
welfare, food stamps, and finally Obamacare, similar eating or are we missing something? I am concerned
to many Western countries. that it might be losing its advantage because of boiling
When politicians say they are against socialism, the food and putting salt in raw turmeric. So please
they mean they are against China and Russia, because guide me about this. Thank you.
they want to keep the cold war going on in order to Dasharath C Desai
establish dominance. Also, Democratic presiden- Online comment
tial candidates will throw wild proposals in their
campaign rallies in order to attract voters. However, A dermatologist interested in nutrition responds:
none of their proposals will pass in Congress and Curcumin with black pepper will raise blood lev-
become law. els of curcumin but is not necessarily the healthiest
Rajesh Gandhi option for a supplement, as black pepper causes intes-
Decatur, GA
tinal irritation and [black pepper supplementation]
may cause harmful side effects to the liver. I prefer
curcumin supplements that are oil-based to enhance
How an Indian prince absorption, e.g., Thorne’s product, Meriva-SF. Natural
helped the gay community and food sources are always the best way to obtain
nature’s remarkable miracles and benefits. Nature
packages ingredients we haven’t yet discovered with
I really liked that Manvendra Singh Gohil, India’s the ingredients we already know are beneficial—so
only openly gay prince, was included in Khabar’s cover enjoy! Kind regards.
story “Sex and the Nation.” Gohil also appeared in one Jennifer T. Haley, MD FAAD
of your IndiaScope columns (“Gay Rights: A Giant Leap By email
for India”).
When he finally got the courage to come out to
his parents, while his father outright refused to accept relations in India. It was not an easy journey for him
his son’s orientation as natural, his mother went one to get where he is, but Gohil would certainly be a big
step further and printed an ad in a paper to disown identity for the LGBTQ community of India.
her then 40-year-old son. But the prince did not let this The following piece has also taken a look at his
get him down and instead fought for the LGBTQ and life: “India’s Only Openly Gay Prince Once Had To
worked on being more accepting of himself. The prince Endure Shock Therapy, but He’s Now Opened a Help
even has the Lakshya Trust to create awareness and Center for LGBT People in His Palace,” ED Times India,
educate people about HIV/AIDS and its prevention. January 16, 2020.
He then also launched the ‘Free Gay India’ campaign “Economy Decoded”
in 2014 that fought for the legalization of same-sex Online comment
What’s on YOUR mind?
We welcome original, unpublished letters from our readers. You could either respond to a specific article in Khabar or write about issues
relevant to our community. Letters may be edited for length and other considerations. We’re always happy to entertain diverse viewpoints from readers,
and longer submissions may be considered for the “My Turn” column.
Email: [email protected] • Fax: (770) 234-6115
Mail: Khabar, Inc. 3635 Savannah Place Dr, Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30096.
Note: Views expressed in the Letters section do not necessarily represent those of the publication.
14 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Embassy National Bank is turning dreams into reality with our business
and personal banking options. Our community-based, local approach
helps simplify the paperwork, giving you competitive rates and terms that
work for you including:
SBA Loans Insured Cash Sweep to protect deposits
Business Lending CDARS for smart investing
Business Checking Business Services
Let Embassy National Bank make your dreams a reality in 2020. Talk to us
today about customized banking solutions that are right for you.
Please contact: Tim Green
Retail Banking Officer
[email protected]
770-500-1259 Nitin Shah, Chairman & CEO (right)
Navin Shah, Vice Chairman (left)
Visit us: www.embassynationalbank.com
Stop by our branch: 1817 N. Brown Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30043 SBA Preferred Lender
TAMA TANA CARES Heart
SATURDAY February 1 Health Seminar. w/Dr.
Gangasani. Time: 3pm-6pm – at
(to 5/17) Transcendent Deities DeSana Middle School, 625
of India: The Everyday James Rd, Alpharetta, GA.
Occurrence of the Divine. Art Contact: 678-571-0258
Exhibit. Features work by Raja Ravi Varma
(1848-1906) and contemporary artists Manjari
Sharma (photographer) and Abhishek Singh (2/1-11) Swami
(comic books, graphic novels, animated films) Maheshvaranand Ji at Yugal RADIO
who will both visit Atlanta. Time: TuWThF Kunj. Keertan, meditation,
10am-4pm, Sat 10-5, Sun noon-5 – at Carlos 12-hours Hare Ram Keertan on MUSIC FROM INDIA
Museum, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. 2/8, more. Various times – at 2769 Duluth Sun, 3pm-5pm on WRFG FM 89.3
Contact: 404-727-6118 Hwy, Duluth, GA. Contact: 678-920-6669 Jagan Bhargave, 770-471-4418,
Suvrat Bhargave 770-632-0068,
Yoga SUNDAY February 2 Salim Jetha 404-547-9313,
(2/1, 8, 3/14) Yoga for Success.
By Isha. Ages 7+. Benefits Purandara Dasara www.wrfg.org 404-523-3471
memory & concentration, Aaradhane. By RAMA
relieves stress, strengthens spine. Atlanta. Solo/group songs/ SHUDDH DESI RADIO
Also (2/15, 22, 29, 3/7) Yoga for Beginners. dances. Time: 10am-5pm – at Bollywood + Regional Music,
Time: 9am – at Prime Combat Sports, 4415 Yugal Kunj, 2769 Duluth Hwy, talk, info.
Front 9 Dr #500, Cumming, GA. Contact: Duluth, GA. Contact: 404-939-2833
678-390-4742. 24/7 at www.shuddhdesiradio.com
Also (2/29) Yoga for Success. Time: 1pm – and on Apple devices w/free iOS app
at Alpharetta Library Story Room, 10 Park MONDAY February 3
Plaza, Alpharetta, GA. Contact: HEALTH ISSUES TODAY
678-390-4742 (2/3-- Mondays) Yoga at
Sanatan Mandir. $10. Time: Wed 6:30pm,
Saraswati Puja. 6:30pm – at 1281 Cooper Lake on WRFG 89.3 FM-Atlanta
By Pujari. Time: 9am pujo, Rd SE, Smyrna, GA. Contact: Dr. Asha Bhoomkar
12:30 anjali, 1:30 lunch, 3:30 770-334-7300 [email protected]
cultural programs, 7:45 dinner
– at Berkmar High School, 405 Voices Open Mic. By Asian
Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA. Americans Advancing Justice. GA. Contact: 404-585-8446
Contact: facebook.com/pujariinc Time: 7pm – at Café Rothem,
By BAGA. Children’s vocal, dance, drama, 3585 Peachtree Industrial Blvd #128, Duluth, AAAJ 2020 Base Meeting
band. Time: 10:30am – at DeSana Middle GA. Sign up: tinyurl.com/voicesopenmic2019 Kickoff. Time: 6:30pm – at
School, 625 James Rd, Alpharetta, GA. 5680 Oakbrook Pkwy, Suite
Contact: baga.net Carlos Reads Dothead, 148, Norcross, GA. Contact: 404-585-8446
By Purbasha. Time: 11am puja, 11:30 kids poems by Amit Majmudar. w/
art competition, 1pm Haate Khori & Anjali, Prof Deepika Bahri. $25+ incl February 7
2pm lunch, 4pm cultural programs – at book. Time: 7:30pm – at FRIDAY
Brandywine Elementary School, 175 Martin Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Unmarriageable: An Evening
Dr, Alpharetta, GA. Contact: Purbasha.org Atlanta, GA. Contact: 404-727-4282 with Soniah Kamal. Retelling
By Gokuldham. Vasant Panchami. Time: of Pride and Prejudice in
5:30pm w/mahaprasad – at 2397 Satellite THURSDAY February 6 modern-day Pakistan. $5
Blvd, Buford, GA. Contact: 770-492-4346 suggested donation for Raksha.
By Sanatan Mandir. Vasant Panchami / (2/6--) Immigrant Rights Time: 7:30pm – at Charis
Saraswati Puja. Time: 5:30pm – at 1281 Thursdays. By AAAJ Atlanta. Books, 184 S. Candler St.,
Cooper Lake Rd SE, Smyrna, GA. Contact: Time: 8am – at Coverdell Decatur, GA. Contact: 404-524-0304
770-405-8557 Legislative Office Building, 18
Capitol Square SW, Atlanta,
>>
16 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
ELIMI
ELIMINATE UP TO 100%NATE UP TO 100%
ELIMINATE UP TO 100%
OF YOUR
OF YOUR CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES!CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES!
OF YOUR CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES!
ELIMINATE UP TO 100%
NAB makes i NAB makes it easy to offset your credit card processing t easy to offset your credit card processing
NAB makes it easy to offset your credit card processing
fees with our fees with our non-cash adjustment. non-cash adjustment.
OF YOUR CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES!
fees with our non-cash adjustment.
REDUCE YOUR CREDIT CARD
ELIMINATE UP TO 100%
NAB makes it easy to offset your credit card processing
fees with our non-cash adjustment.
PROCESSING FEES
OF YOUR CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES!
NAB makes it easy to offset your credit card processing
fees with our non-cash adjustment.
TAMA TANA CARES Heart
SATURDAY February 1 Health Seminar. w/Dr.
Gangasani. Time: 3pm-6pm – at Rates as low as .05%*
(to 5/17) Transcendent Deities DeSana Middle School, 625
of India: The Everyday James Rd, Alpharetta, GA.
Occurrence of the Divine. Art Contact: 678-571-0258
Exhibit. Features work by Raja Ravi Varma
(1848-1906) and contemporary artists Manjari
Sharma (photographer) and Abhishek Singh (2/1-11) Swami
(comic books, graphic novels, animated films) Maheshvaranand Ji at Yugal RADIO
who will both visit Atlanta. Time: TuWThF Kunj. Keertan, meditation, Accept EMV/NFC Pay-at-the-pump Next Day funding with
10am-4pm, Sat 10-5, Sun noon-5 – at Carlos 12-hours Hare Ram Keertan on MUSIC FROM INDIA (Apple Pay, ETC.) EBT, compatible weekend settlement
Museum, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. 2/8, more. Various times – at 2769 Duluth Sun, 3pm-5pm on WRFG FM 89.3 Snap, Checks and more
Contact: 404-727-6118 Hwy, Duluth, GA. Contact: 678-920-6669 Jagan Bhargave, 770-471-4418,
FREE Credit Card Terminal Placement Wireless/Landline/High-Speed/Dial-Uprd Terminal Placement Wireless/Landline/High-Speed/Dial-Up
Suvrat Bhargave 770-632-0068, FREE Credit Ca
Yoga SUNDAY February 2 Salim Jetha 404-547-9313, FREE Credit Card Terminal Placement Wireless/Landline/High-Speed/Dial-Up
(2/1, 8, 3/14) Yoga for Success. Easy setup (w Easy setup (with no setup fees and quick approvals)ith no setup fees and quick approvals)
Easy setup (with no setup fees and quick approvals)
By Isha. Ages 7+. Benefits Purandara Dasara www.wrfg.org 404-523-3471 Seamless inte Seamless integration with your current POSgration with your current POS
Seamless integration with your current POS
memory & concentration, Aaradhane. By RAMA FREE Credit Card Terminal Placement Wireless/Landline/High-Speed/Dial-Up
$295** towards your early termination fee (if you have one) with your current processors your early termination fee (if you have one) with your current processor
relieves stress, strengthens spine. Atlanta. Solo/group songs/ SHUDDH DESI RADIO $295** toward Easy setup (with no setup fees and quick approvals)
$295** towards your early termination fee (if you have one) with your current processor
Also (2/15, 22, 29, 3/7) Yoga for Beginners. dances. Time: 10am-5pm – at Bollywood + Regional Music, Access to Pay Access to Payments Hub – our secure, online merchant portalments Hub – our secure, online merchant portal
Access to Payments Hub – our secure, online merchant portal
Time: 9am – at Prime Combat Sports, 4415 Yugal Kunj, 2769 Duluth Hwy, talk, info. Seamless integration with your current POS
$295** towards your early termination fee (if you have one) with your current processor
Front 9 Dr #500, Cumming, GA. Contact: Duluth, GA. Contact: 404-939-2833 Free paper** Free paper**
678-390-4742. 24/7 at www.shuddhdesiradio.com Free paper**
Access to Payments Hub – our secure, online merchant portal
Also (2/29) Yoga for Success. Time: 1pm – and on Apple devices w/free iOS app
at Alpharetta Library Story Room, 10 Park MONDAY February 3 Free paper**
Plaza, Alpharetta, GA. Contact: HEALTH ISSUES TODAY FREE Credit Card Terminal Placement Wireless/Landline/High-Speed/Dial-Up
FREE NFC & EMV-READY & EMV-READY
678-390-4742 (2/3-- Mondays) Yoga at COMPATIB COMPATIBLE WITHLE WITH FREE NFC
COMPATIBLE WITH
FREE NFC & EMV-READY
Sanatan Mandir. $10. Time: Wed 6:30pm, GAS C GAS CARDSARDS Easy setup (with no setup fees and quick approvals)
TERMINA
TERMINAL & PIN PADL & PIN PAD
GAS CARDS
Seamless integration with your current POS
Saraswati Puja. 6:30pm – at 1281 Cooper Lake on WRFG 89.3 FM-Atlanta WRIGHT EXPRESS WRIGHT EXPRESS OR WIRE OR WIRELESS LESS TERMINAL & PIN PAD
By Pujari. Time: 9am pujo, Rd SE, Smyrna, GA. Contact: Dr. Asha Bhoomkar FLEET CARDS COMPATIBLE WITH FREE NFC & EMV-READY
OR WIRELESS
FLEET CARDS
WRIGHT EXPRESS
$295** towards your early termination fee (if you have one) with your current processor
TERMINA
VOYAGER
FLEET CARDS
12:30 anjali, 1:30 lunch, 3:30 770-334-7300 [email protected] VOYAGER GAS CARDS TERMINALL TERMINAL & PIN PAD
AND MORE…
AND MORE…
VOYAGER
AND MORE…o Payments Hub – our secure, online merchant portal
cultural programs, 7:45 dinner Access t TERMINAL
OR WIRELESS
WRIGHT EXPRESS
– at Berkmar High School, 405 Voices Open Mic. By Asian FLEET CARDS
VOYAGER
Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA. Americans Advancing Justice. GA. Contact: 404-585-8446 Free paper** TERMINAL
AND MORE…
Contact: facebook.com/pujariinc Time: 7pm – at Café Rothem, GROW YOUR BUS OPTIONAL PROGRAMS:
GROW YOUR BUSINESS. PARTNER WITH NAB TODAY!INESS. PARTNER WITH NAB TODAY!
By BAGA. Children’s vocal, dance, drama, 3585 Peachtree Industrial Blvd #128, Duluth, AAAJ 2020 Base Meeting GROW YOUR BUSINESS. PARTNER WITH NAB TODAY!
866.481.460404
band. Time: 10:30am – at DeSana Middle GA. Sign up: tinyurl.com/voicesopenmic2019 Kickoff. Time: 6:30pm – at 866.481.46
GROW YOUR BUSINESS. PARTNER WITH NAB TODAY!
School, 625 James Rd, Alpharetta, GA. 5680 Oakbrook Pkwy, Suite NON-CASH ADJUSTMENT POINT OF SALES SYSTEMS
COMPATIBLE WITH
FREE NFC & EMV-READY
Contact: baga.net Carlos Reads Dothead, 148, Norcross, GA. Contact: 404-585-8446 866.481.4604 WWW. NYNAB.COM
WWW. NYNAB.COM
GAS CARDS
Eliminate up to 100% of your
TERMINAL & PIN PAD
WWW. NYNAB.COM
By Purbasha. Time: 11am puja, 11:30 kids poems by Amit Majmudar. w/ 866.481.4604 Recommendations, Solutions
art competition, 1pm Haate Khori & Anjali, Prof Deepika Bahri. $25+ incl February 7 credit card processing fees! OR WIRELESS & Integrations
WRIGHT EXPRESS
©2019 North American Bancard is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA, and The Bancorp Bank, Philadelphia, PA. .
FLEET CARDS
2pm lunch, 4pm cultural programs – at book. Time: 7:30pm – at FRIDAY ©2019 North American Bancard is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA, and The Bancorp Bank, Philadelphia, PA WWW. NYNAB.COM
American Express may require separate approval. *Durbin regulated Check Card percentage rate. A per transaction fee will also apply. pply.
American Express may require separate approval. *Durbin regulated Check Card percentage rate. A per transaction fee will also a
TERMINAL
VOYAGER
©2018 North American Bancard is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA, and The Bancorp Bank, Philadelphia, PA.
NAB makes it easy to offset your credit card processing
**Some restrictions apply. This advertisement is sponsored by an ISO of North American Bancard. Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc.le Inc.
Brandywine Elementary School, 175 Martin Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Unmarriageable: An Evening **Some restrictions apply. This advertisement is sponsored by an ISO of North American Bancard. Apple Pay is a trademark of App
AND MORE…
American Express may require separate approval. *Durbin regulated Check Card percentage rate. A per transaction fee will also apply.
fees with our non-cash Adjustment.
©2018 North American Bancard is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA, and The Bancorp Bank, Philadelphia, PA.
Dr, Alpharetta, GA. Contact: Purbasha.org Atlanta, GA. Contact: 404-727-4282 with Soniah Kamal. Retelling **Some restrictions apply. This advertisement is sponsored by an ISO of North American Bancard. Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc.
American Express may require separate approval. *Durbin regulated Check Card percentage rate. A per transaction fee will also apply.
By Gokuldham. Vasant Panchami. Time: of Pride and Prejudice in **Some restrictions apply. This advertisement is sponsored by an ISO of North American Bancard. Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc.
5:30pm w/mahaprasad – at 2397 Satellite THURSDAY February 6 modern-day Pakistan. $5 PLEASE CONTACT NEIL SHAH
248-497-1342
Blvd, Buford, GA. Contact: 770-492-4346 suggested donation for Raksha. GROW YOUR BUSINESS. PARTNER WITH NAB TODAY!
By Sanatan Mandir. Vasant Panchami / (2/6--) Immigrant Rights Time: 7:30pm – at Charis
Saraswati Puja. Time: 5:30pm – at 1281 Thursdays. By AAAJ Atlanta. Books, 184 S. Candler St., 866.481.4604
Cooper Lake Rd SE, Smyrna, GA. Contact: Time: 8am – at Coverdell Decatur, GA. Contact: 404-524-0304
www.denvernab.com
770-405-8557 Legislative Office Building, 18 WWW. NYNAB.COM
Capitol Square SW, Atlanta,
©2019 North American Bancard is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Concord, CA, and The Bancorp Bank, Philadelphia, PA.
American Express may require separate approval. *Durbin regulated Check Card percentage rate. A per transaction fee will also apply.
>> **Some restrictions apply. This advertisement is sponsored by an ISO of North American Bancard. Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc.
Galentine’s Day gala with Kamath, Dept of Middle Eastern & South Cumming, GA. Contact: 404-800-1987
Raksha. By Jhumka Events. Asian Studies. Discussing vesham, using
For ladies, in red, pink, gold, clothing and ornamentation, in their fieldwork CAIR Georgia’s 2020 Gala.
black. $35+. Time: and in the exhibition of photography and $65+. Time: 6pm – at
7:30pm-midnight – at paintings. Time: 7:30pm – at Carlos Museum, Renaissance Waverly Hotel,
Gleaming Event Hall, 2569 Peachtree Pkwy, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA. Contact: 2450 Galleria Pkwy. Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Cumming, GA. Contact: 732-485-8230 404-727-4282 CAIRGeorgia.com
SATURDAY February 8 THURSDAY February 13 SUNDAY February 16
12-hour Hare Ram New Americans Celebration. Santram Sthan: Maha
Sankeertan. Time: 8am-8pm – Education and outreach for Purnima Diwali Satsang.
at Yugal Kunj, 2769 Duluth refugees, immigrants, and Time: 10am-12:30pm – at
Hwy, Duluth, GA. Contact: supporters. Free. Time: 7:30am Gujarati Samaj, 5331 Royal
678-920-6669 training – at Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Woods Pkwy, Tucker, GA.
Conception, 48 Martin Luther King Dr SW, Contact: 678-463-5159
Estate Planning Seminar. By Atlanta, GA; then 9:30am to Capitol to speak
Gokuldham. w/lunch, Q&A. w/elected officials at GA State Capitol, 206 FRIDAY February 21
Time: 11am-3pm – at 2397 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA. [email protected] Mahashivratri
Contact: 770-492-4346 (2/21) By Ambaji Shree Shakti
(2/13-16) Inner Engineering Mandir. Time: 8am-midnight –
They See Blue: 2020 Election Total. By Isha. Ages 15+. at 1450 Huie Rd, Morrow, GA.
Kickoff w/ Stacey Abrams and Time: 6:30pm-8pm intro – at Contact: 770-968-3490. SEE
Sheikh Rahman. For South Hilton Garden Inn, 4025 DISPLAY AD
Asian Democrats. Sold Out. Windward Plaza, Alpharetta, GA. Contact: (2/21) By Sadhana Mandir. Time:
Time: 3pm-5pm – at Northwest Unitarian 678-390-ISHA 6:30pm-9pm – at Impact Conference Center,
Universalist Congregation, 1025 Mt Vernon Global Mall 2nd floor, 5675 Jimmy Carter
Hwy NW, Sandy Springs, GA. FRIDAY February 14 Blvd, Norcross, GA. Contact: 770-680-2356
Contact: [email protected] (2/21) By Hindu Temple of Atlanta. Time:
Valentine’s Day parties all day – at 5851 Hwy 85, Riverdale, GA.
SUNDAY February 9 “Celebrate Love” Valentine’s Contact: 770-907-7102
Day party. By Friends of (2/23) By Chinmaya Mission Atlanta. At
Hindu Vivah: Singles Meet. Gwinnett. $35+. Time: 7pm 5511 Williams Rd., Norcross, GA. Contact:
Time: 1:30pm-5pm – at – at Signature Ballroom, 80 678-615-7088
Keswick Park Community Horizon Dr, Suwanee, GA.
Building, 3496 Keswick Dr, Contact: 404-936-0547 ICNA Relief Atlanta Annual
Chamblee, GA. Contact: Valentine’s Party with Bollywood celebrity Banquet. Guest speaker,
hinduvivah.org Rekha Rana. Contact: 404-934-9991 motivational speaker. Silent
auction. $25+. Time: 6pm – at
Children’s Workshop: SATURDAY February 15 Premier Event Hall, 3520
making Paneer with Gauri. Breckinridge Blvd, Duluth, GA.
Ages 8-12. Explore the Hindu (2/15-16) CAMAGA Great Contact: 404-966-9095
deity prints of Raja Ravi Composers Day. Time: 8am
Varma, then make paneer. $15+. Time: 2pm Sat-6pm Sun – at Hindu Temple SATURDAY February 22
– at Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Atlanta, of Atlanta, 5851 Hwy 85,
GA. Contact: 404-727-4282 Riverdale, GA. Contact: TYE University Qualifying
678-463-8729 Round. Free, preregister. Time:
WEDNESDAY February 12 8am-4:30pm – at GA State
Hanuman’s Adventures. Univ – Buckhead Center, Rm
TiE: Get Started: Business Children hear about Hanuman, 1203, 3348 Peachtree Rd NE,
Plan, Proforma, Business then explore the exhibit of Tower Place 200, Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Model. Time: 6pm – at Roam photography and paintings. 404-538-1879
Perimeter, 1151 Hammond Dr Ages 3-6. Free. Time: 9am – at
NE, Dunwoody, GA. Contact: Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Art, Spelling, Math Contests.
404-538-1879 Atlanta, GA. Contact: 404-727-4282 By Access Life America-
Atlanta. For grades K-5. Time:
Transcendent Deities: TAMA 11th semiannual Chess 9am art, 10:15 spelling, 10:45
“Guising as God.” w/Prof Tournament. Time: 10am-5pm math – at Fulton Science
Joyce Flueckiger, Emory Dept – at Big Creek Elementary Academy, 3035 Fanfare Way, Alpharetta,
of Religion and Dr. Harshita School, 1884 Peachtree Pkwy, GA. Contact: 678-799-7521
>>
18 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Galentine’s Day gala with Kamath, Dept of Middle Eastern & South Cumming, GA. Contact: 404-800-1987
Raksha. By Jhumka Events. Asian Studies. Discussing vesham, using
For ladies, in red, pink, gold, clothing and ornamentation, in their fieldwork CAIR Georgia’s 2020 Gala.
black. $35+. Time: and in the exhibition of photography and $65+. Time: 6pm – at
7:30pm-midnight – at paintings. Time: 7:30pm – at Carlos Museum, Renaissance Waverly Hotel,
Gleaming Event Hall, 2569 Peachtree Pkwy, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA. Contact: 2450 Galleria Pkwy. Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Cumming, GA. Contact: 732-485-8230 404-727-4282 CAIRGeorgia.com
SATURDAY February 8 THURSDAY February 13 SUNDAY February 16
12-hour Hare Ram New Americans Celebration. Santram Sthan: Maha
Sankeertan. Time: 8am-8pm – Education and outreach for Purnima Diwali Satsang.
at Yugal Kunj, 2769 Duluth refugees, immigrants, and Time: 10am-12:30pm – at
Hwy, Duluth, GA. Contact: supporters. Free. Time: 7:30am Gujarati Samaj, 5331 Royal
678-920-6669 training – at Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Woods Pkwy, Tucker, GA.
Conception, 48 Martin Luther King Dr SW, Contact: 678-463-5159
Estate Planning Seminar. By Atlanta, GA; then 9:30am to Capitol to speak
Gokuldham. w/lunch, Q&A. w/elected officials at GA State Capitol, 206 FRIDAY February 21
Time: 11am-3pm – at 2397 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA. [email protected] Mahashivratri
Contact: 770-492-4346 (2/21) By Ambaji Shree Shakti
(2/13-16) Inner Engineering Mandir. Time: 8am-midnight –
They See Blue: 2020 Election Total. By Isha. Ages 15+. at 1450 Huie Rd, Morrow, GA.
Kickoff w/ Stacey Abrams and Time: 6:30pm-8pm intro – at Contact: 770-968-3490. SEE
Sheikh Rahman. For South Hilton Garden Inn, 4025 DISPLAY AD
Asian Democrats. Sold Out. Windward Plaza, Alpharetta, GA. Contact: (2/21) By Sadhana Mandir. Time:
Time: 3pm-5pm – at Northwest Unitarian 678-390-ISHA 6:30pm-9pm – at Impact Conference Center,
Universalist Congregation, 1025 Mt Vernon Global Mall 2nd floor, 5675 Jimmy Carter
Hwy NW, Sandy Springs, GA. FRIDAY February 14 Blvd, Norcross, GA. Contact: 770-680-2356
Contact: [email protected] (2/21) By Hindu Temple of Atlanta. Time:
Valentine’s Day parties all day – at 5851 Hwy 85, Riverdale, GA.
SUNDAY February 9 “Celebrate Love” Valentine’s Contact: 770-907-7102
Day party. By Friends of (2/23) By Chinmaya Mission Atlanta. At
Hindu Vivah: Singles Meet. Gwinnett. $35+. Time: 7pm 5511 Williams Rd., Norcross, GA. Contact:
Time: 1:30pm-5pm – at – at Signature Ballroom, 80 678-615-7088
Keswick Park Community Horizon Dr, Suwanee, GA.
Building, 3496 Keswick Dr, Contact: 404-936-0547 ICNA Relief Atlanta Annual
Chamblee, GA. Contact: Valentine’s Party with Bollywood celebrity Banquet. Guest speaker,
hinduvivah.org Rekha Rana. Contact: 404-934-9991 motivational speaker. Silent
auction. $25+. Time: 6pm – at
Children’s Workshop: February 15 Premier Event Hall, 3520
making Paneer with Gauri. SATURDAY Breckinridge Blvd, Duluth, GA.
Ages 8-12. Explore the Hindu (2/15-16) CAMAGA Great Contact: 404-966-9095
deity prints of Raja Ravi Composers Day. Time: 8am
Varma, then make paneer. $15+. Time: 2pm Sat-6pm Sun – at Hindu Temple SATURDAY February 22
– at Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Atlanta, of Atlanta, 5851 Hwy 85,
GA. Contact: 404-727-4282 Riverdale, GA. Contact: TYE University Qualifying
678-463-8729 Round. Free, preregister. Time:
WEDNESDAY February 12 8am-4:30pm – at GA State
Hanuman’s Adventures. Univ – Buckhead Center, Rm
TiE: Get Started: Business Children hear about Hanuman, 1203, 3348 Peachtree Rd NE,
Plan, Proforma, Business then explore the exhibit of Tower Place 200, Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Model. Time: 6pm – at Roam photography and paintings. 404-538-1879
Perimeter, 1151 Hammond Dr Ages 3-6. Free. Time: 9am – at
NE, Dunwoody, GA. Contact: Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Art, Spelling, Math Contests.
404-538-1879 Atlanta, GA. Contact: 404-727-4282 By Access Life America-
Atlanta. For grades K-5. Time:
Transcendent Deities: TAMA 11th semiannual Chess 9am art, 10:15 spelling, 10:45
“Guising as God.” w/Prof Tournament. Time: 10am-5pm math – at Fulton Science
Joyce Flueckiger, Emory Dept – at Big Creek Elementary Academy, 3035 Fanfare Way, Alpharetta,
of Religion and Dr. Harshita School, 1884 Peachtree Pkwy, GA. Contact: 678-799-7521
>>
BAGA Table Tennis Carnatic 2.0 Live in Atlanta.
Tournament. Time: 10am – at Experimental project, Mahesh
Atlanta Recreation Club, 2711 Raghvan and violinist Shravan
Pine Grove Rd, Cumming, GA. Sridhar, Carnatic compositions in
Contact: baga.net MARCH 2020 modern style. $10-40. Time: 5pm
– at Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill
Surti Ponk & Undhiya & Rd NW, Lilburn, GA. Contact:
Jalebi ni Ujani. By Gokuldham. facebook.com/carnatic2.0
$10. Time: 1pm-8pm – at 2397
Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA. SUNDAY March 1 Holi. By Ambaji Shree Shakti
Contact: 770-492-4346 Mandir. Holi Puja Thali and
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj colors will be available. Time:
Kali New Moon Sound Jayanti Celebration. By 7:30pm – near Sumant Center
Immersion w/ Shivaji Maharaj America Ground, 1450 Huie Rd,
Mantra by Ian Parivaar. Leadership Morrow, GA. Contact:
Boccio. $20+. Time: 7:30pm – development, dhols, lezim, 770-968-3490. SEE DISPLAY AD
at Stillness Yoga & Meditation dance drama, more. Free. Time: 11am-4pm –
Center, 3115 Roswell Rd 103, Marietta, GA. at Gokuldham, 2397 Satellite Blvd, Buford,
Contact: 404-401-0060 GA. Contact: 470-504-5154 MONDAY March 9
Voices Open Mic. By Asian
Tour de Indian Forts. By
SUNDAY February 23 Shivaji Maharaj America Americans Advancing Justice.
Parivaar. Children present the Time: 7pm – at Café Rothem,
Sunday FUNday: Amar fort they have made. Free. Time: 11am – at 3585 Peachtree Industrial Blvd #128, Duluth,
Chitra Katha. Explore the Gokuldham, 2397 Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA. GA. Sign up: tinyurl.com/voicesopenmic2019
comic book “immortal picture Contact: 404-906-4690
stories” scattered throughout March 11
the galleries, then the Hindu Transcendent Deities WEDNESDAY
deity prints of Raja Ravi Product Market Fit. By TiE.
Varma, and photos and modern Lecture: “Marketing Divinity
in the Bazaars of Banaras”
Hindu art. Free. Time: 1pm-4pm – at Carlos about Brand India for tourism, Free, $35. Time: 6pm – at Roam
Perimeter, 1151 Hammond Dr
Museum, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA. Contact: and the local bazaars, by Andy Rotman, Prof
404-727-4282 Religion & South Asian Studies at Smith NE, Dunwoody, GA. Contact:
404-538-1879
College. Free. Time: 4pm – at Carlos Museum,
MONDAY February 24 Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA. Contact:
404-727-6118 THURSDAY March 12
Asian American Advocacy (3/12-4/27) Census 2020.
Day. By AAAJ Atlanta. Time: March 6 Census Public Service
7:30am – at Floyd Rm, Floyd FRIDAY Announcements available in
Bldg 20th floor, 200 Piedmont (3/6-8) CBCT Compassion Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Nepali,
Ave SE, Atlanta, GA. Contact: Training: Spring. Time: 7pm and more. Contact: AAAJ Atlanta,
404-585-8446 – Contact: compassion.emory.edu 404-585-8446
(2/24, 3/2) Carlos Reads The
Palace of Illusions, by Chitra SATURDAY March 7 FRIDAY March 13
Banerjee Divakaruni
(Mahabharata through the eyes Interfaith Peace Symposium (3/13-6/28) Jitish Kallat Art
of Draupadi) w/Prof Joyce (Women's Only Event). Exhibition, featuring a brief
Flueckiger. $40+ incl book. Time: 7:30pm – Hosted by Ahmadiyya Muslim letter written by Mahatma
at Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Atlanta, Community-GA Chapter. Free. Gandhi to Adolf Hitler – at
GA. Contact: 404-727-6118 Time: 10am – at Baitul Ata Mosque, 1800 Frist Art Museum, 919 Broadway, Nashville,
Willow Trail Pkwy, Norcross, GA. Contact: TN. Contact: 615-244-3340
[email protected]
SATURDAY February 29 11th annual ChantLanta
2020, Sacred Music Festival.
BAGA Badminton SUNDAY March 8 Benefits The Learning Tea. For friends of
Tournament. Time: 10am – at chanting: bands, workshops, vendors, silent
Atlanta Recreation Club, 2711 (3/8, 21) Gita Chanting auction, more. Time: 7pm – at Church at
Pine Grove Rd, Cumming, GA. Competition. Time: 4pm 3/8 Ponce & Highland, Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Contact: baga.net CMA; 1pm 3/21 HTA – at [email protected]
CMA, 5511 Williams Rd, Norcross, GA.
Contact: 678-615-7088; HTA, 5851 Hwy 85,
Riverdale, GA. Contact: 478-213-6103
>>
20 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
BAGA Table Tennis Carnatic 2.0 Live in Atlanta.
Tournament. Time: 10am – at Experimental project, Mahesh
Atlanta Recreation Club, 2711 Raghvan and violinist Shravan
Pine Grove Rd, Cumming, GA. Sridhar, Carnatic compositions in
Contact: baga.net MARCH 2020 modern style. $10-40. Time: 5pm
– at Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill
Surti Ponk & Undhiya & Rd NW, Lilburn, GA. Contact:
Jalebi ni Ujani. By Gokuldham. facebook.com/carnatic2.0
$10. Time: 1pm-8pm – at 2397
Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA. SUNDAY March 1 Holi. By Ambaji Shree Shakti
Contact: 770-492-4346 Mandir. Holi Puja Thali and
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj colors will be available. Time:
Kali New Moon Sound Jayanti Celebration. By 7:30pm – near Sumant Center
Immersion w/ Shivaji Maharaj America Ground, 1450 Huie Rd,
Mantra by Ian Parivaar. Leadership Morrow, GA. Contact:
Boccio. $20+. Time: 7:30pm – development, dhols, lezim, 770-968-3490. SEE DISPLAY AD
at Stillness Yoga & Meditation dance drama, more. Free. Time: 11am-4pm –
Center, 3115 Roswell Rd 103, Marietta, GA. at Gokuldham, 2397 Satellite Blvd, Buford,
Contact: 404-401-0060 GA. Contact: 470-504-5154 MONDAY March 9
Voices Open Mic. By Asian
Tour de Indian Forts. By
SUNDAY February 23 Shivaji Maharaj America Americans Advancing Justice.
Parivaar. Children present the Time: 7pm – at Café Rothem,
Sunday FUNday: Amar fort they have made. Free. Time: 11am – at 3585 Peachtree Industrial Blvd #128, Duluth,
Chitra Katha. Explore the Gokuldham, 2397 Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA. GA. Sign up: tinyurl.com/voicesopenmic2019
comic book “immortal picture Contact: 404-906-4690
stories” scattered throughout March 11
the galleries, then the Hindu Transcendent Deities WEDNESDAY
deity prints of Raja Ravi Product Market Fit. By TiE.
Varma, and photos and modern Lecture: “Marketing Divinity
in the Bazaars of Banaras”
Hindu art. Free. Time: 1pm-4pm – at Carlos about Brand India for tourism, Free, $35. Time: 6pm – at Roam
Perimeter, 1151 Hammond Dr
Museum, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA. Contact: and the local bazaars, by Andy Rotman, Prof
404-727-4282 Religion & South Asian Studies at Smith NE, Dunwoody, GA. Contact:
404-538-1879
College. Free. Time: 4pm – at Carlos Museum,
MONDAY February 24 Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA. Contact:
404-727-6118 THURSDAY March 12
Asian American Advocacy (3/12-4/27) Census 2020.
Day. By AAAJ Atlanta. Time: March 6 Census Public Service
7:30am – at Floyd Rm, Floyd FRIDAY Announcements available in
Bldg 20th floor, 200 Piedmont (3/6-8) CBCT Compassion Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Nepali,
Ave SE, Atlanta, GA. Contact: Training: Spring. Time: 7pm and more. Contact: AAAJ Atlanta,
404-585-8446 – Contact: compassion.emory.edu 404-585-8446
(2/24, 3/2) Carlos Reads The
Palace of Illusions, by Chitra SATURDAY March 7 FRIDAY March 13
Banerjee Divakaruni
(Mahabharata through the eyes Interfaith Peace Symposium (3/13-6/28) Jitish Kallat Art
of Draupadi) w/Prof Joyce (Women's Only Event). Exhibition, featuring a brief
Flueckiger. $40+ incl book. Time: 7:30pm – Hosted by Ahmadiyya Muslim letter written by Mahatma
at Carlos Museum, Emory Univ., Atlanta, Community-GA Chapter. Free. Gandhi to Adolf Hitler – at
GA. Contact: 404-727-6118 Time: 10am – at Baitul Ata Mosque, 1800 Frist Art Museum, 919 Broadway, Nashville,
Willow Trail Pkwy, Norcross, GA. Contact: TN. Contact: 615-244-3340
[email protected]
SATURDAY February 29 11th annual ChantLanta
2020, Sacred Music Festival.
BAGA Badminton SUNDAY March 8 Benefits The Learning Tea. For friends of
Tournament. Time: 10am – at chanting: bands, workshops, vendors, silent
Atlanta Recreation Club, 2711 (3/8, 21) Gita Chanting auction, more. Time: 7pm – at Church at
Pine Grove Rd, Cumming, GA. Competition. Time: 4pm 3/8 Ponce & Highland, Atlanta, GA. Contact:
Contact: baga.net CMA; 1pm 3/21 HTA – at [email protected]
CMA, 5511 Williams Rd, Norcross, GA.
Contact: 678-615-7088; HTA, 5851 Hwy 85,
Riverdale, GA. Contact: 478-213-6103
>>
SATURDAY March 14 TUESDAY March 17 SUNDAY March 22
TAMA Volleyball Immigrant & Refugee Abhishek Upmanyu Stand-
Tournament. Time: 2pm-8pm Education & Advocacy Day. Up Comedy: “Jealous of
– at Atlanta Extreme Volleyball W/AAAJ-Atlanta. Learn about Subjiwala.” $25-60. Time:
Club, 811 Brogdon Rd, pending bills. Time: 9am-noon 6pm – at Duluth High School, 3737 Brock Rd,
Suwanee, GA. Contact: – at GA State Capitol, Room NW, Duluth, GA. Contact: 425-786-7475
404-800-1987 125, Atlanta, GA. Contact: 404-585-8446
SATURDAY March 28
(3/17-4/21, 5:30pm) (3/19-
SUNDAY March 15 4/23 8am) Transcendent
Yoga. w/Anna Leo who studied Bharat International Fair /
Hunger Walk/Run. w/Hunger at Ramamani Iyengar Women of the Year awards.
Mitao! Time: noon-4pm – at Benefits breast cancer patients.
The Home Depot Backyard, 1 Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune. $65+ for 6 Vendors, food, entertainment.
weeks, Tues or Thurs. – at Carlos Museum,
Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA. Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA. Contact: Time: 11am-8pm – at
Contact: 404-892-FEED Gokuldham, 2397 Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA.
404-727-4282
Contact: 732-791-6546
Holi Refugee Act. A panel will
(3/15) 15th annual Color/Holi discuss the impact of the Miss South Asia World 2020.
Festival. By Sewa International refugee act. Free. – at Jimmy By Rashmi Bedi & Mydream
USA-Atlanta. Time: 1pm – at Carter Presidential Library and Entertainment. For Pre-teen,
Cumming Fairground, 235 Museum, 453 Freedom Pkwy Teen, Miss, Mrs, Mr,
Castleberry Rd, Cumming, GA. NE, Atlanta, GA. Contact: Grandmom. India, Pakistan,
Contact: 708-872-7392 404-865-7109 Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal,
(3/15) Holi. By CMA. at 5511 Williams Rd, International. Time: noon – at Gokuldham,
Norcross, GA. Contact: 678-615-7088 2397 Satellite Blvd, Buford, GA. Contact:
SATURDAY March 21 770-310-4652
Ubhya Ubhya Vinod, Marathi
comedy. $15+. Time: Trinity Drama on the lives of Bollywood Beats 2020. By
2pm-4pm – at Berkmar High the 3 Great Composers. By Access Life America to support
School, 405 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA. Carnatic Music Association of kids battling cancer. Time:
Contact: [email protected] GA (CAMAGA). Time: 4:30pm-7:30pm – at Mountain
3pm-7pm – at Hindu Temple of View High School, 2351 Sunny
ATW 10th-year show. By Atlanta, 5851 Hwy 85, Hill Rd, Lawrenceville, GA.
Atlanta Theater Workshop. Riverdale, GA. Contact: 678-463-8729 Contact: 678-799-7521
Time: 3pm-7pm – at Red Clay
Music Foundry, 3116 Main St, Sangam 2020. Traditional &
Duluth, GA. Contact: original music from across the EVENT SUBMISSION DEADLINE
770-335-6338 globe with modern rendition, 15th of each month
also contemporary Jazz, with
Check our website calendar for more Souryadeep Bhattacharya et al. To
items, and check with organizer to verify $25+. Time: 6:30pm – at Rialto, 80 Forsyth St
time and venue, in case of changes. [email protected]
NW, Atlanta, GA. Contact: 404-413-9849
MAK & ASSOCIATES, LLC
Certified Public Accountants
MAK & ASSOCIATES, LLC
SERVICES OFFERED:
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
• Financial Compilation
• Sales Tax Reporting
Rozy Makhani, CPA
• Payroll And Payroll
1244 Beaver Ruin Rd, Ste B301
Tax Reporting
Norcross, GA 30093.
• COAM Reporting FREE
Ph: 404-333-7153
Fax: 888-490-0935
• New Corporation Set Up Initial
www.makandassociatescpa.com
Consultation
• Business/Property Loan
We take care of all accounting and tax needs
Planning & Preparation
22 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
• Quickbooks Consulting
• Tax Preparation: S Corp,
LLC, Partnership,
Individual
Rozy Makhani, CPA
Practice Location: Lilburn, GA
Ph: 239-200-2944; Fax: 888-490-0935
[email protected]
LUCY LU & ASSOCIATES
- Attorneys At Law-
IMMIGRATION | CORPORATE
IP | STARTUP
FAMILY | LITIGATION
BUSINESS TRANSACTION
* FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION *
Appointment Hotline: 404-343-7166 X 0
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 404-920-8598
Tue: ARA Office | Wed: Atlanta Office | Sat: Macon Office
IMMIGRATION
EB-5 Investor Green Card
EB-1C Multi-National Manager Green Card
L-1A and L-1B Intra-Company Transfer
H-1B and TN Work Visa
E-1 and E-2 Treaty Visa
U Visa and Religous Worker
EB-1, NIW and Removal Defense
EB-1, NIW and Removal Defense
CORPORATE
Incorporation and Business License
Selling or Purchasing Business
Employment and Trademark
ABC, Tobacco, Food Stamp License LUCY LU PHILIP SHEPHERD JEANNETTE FREEMAN
Lottery, Food License ATTORNEY ATTORNEY ATTORNEY
Retail Pharmacy, Franchise
FAMILY AND ESTATE PLANNING
Divorce, Legal Custody, Adoption Atlanta Office: The Lenox Mall @ Buckhead
Name Change
Wills, Trust, Estate Planning 3475 Lenox Road NE Suite 730 Atlanta GA 30326
STARTUP
Founders’ Stock Purchase
Equity Compensation
Employment
Technology A Law Firm dedicated to your full service legal needs.
Financing and Venture Capital We invite you to experience our personalized
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS and excellent service.
Sale of Goods Agreement
Vending Supply Agreement
Management Service Agreement
Attorney’s Disclaimer: The content of this ad shall not be construed as legal
LITIGATION AND PROPERTY advice on any specific fact or cicumstance.It was designed for general
Commercial/Residential Property information purposes only. Our attorneys are licensed in CA, GA, TN and NY.
Civil Litigation Attorney Lucy Lu is admitted to TN. She practices federal matters exclusively
Criminal Defense in GA The Firm provides services through its independent affilaites.
WWW.LUCYLULAW.COM
Atlanta Office: 3475 Lenox Road NE Suite 730 Atlanta GA 30326
Phone: 404-343-7166 | Fax: 404-920-8598 | Email: [email protected]
Atlanta | Silicon Valley | New York | Macon | Chattanooga | Beijing
Desi World
Compiled/Written by MURALI KAMMA
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, & WHY
Payal Kadakia is off to a great start in 2020, not just here but in 28 nations. In 2013,
she founded ClassPass, the first fitness aggregator. Based in New York, with over 300
employees, the startup became this decade’s first unicorn. Worth over a billion dollars in
valuation, it’s just one of a handful of unicorns founded by women. ClassPass members
can book from a selection of over 5 million fitness and wellness experiences.
Anjali Nair, the daughter of immigrants with ties to India and Sri Lanka, won the
National American Miss Junior Teen 2019-2020 title. A Virginia resident, she won the
Payal Kadakia state’s American Jr. Teen title in 2016. Now a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for
Science and Technology, she’s an animal welfare advocate who has worked to prevent
euthanasia and find secure homes for abandoned animals.
Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari may head to the moon as a NASA astronaut. It’s not clear Anjali Nair
how many astronauts will be picked for the Back to the Moon program, but Chari, having
completed the first phase of training, is on the shortlist of 11 astronauts. That number
is no coincidence, given the historic importance of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. Chari’s
mother is from the U.S., while his late father had immigrated from India.
Taranjit Singh Sandhu will take over as the Indian ambassador to the U.S., replac-
ing Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who was incidentally his classmate at St. Stephen’s College
in Delhi. A veteran diplomat who previously served in Washington, D.C., though not as
Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari
an envoy, Sandhu’s last stint as an ambassador was in Sri Lanka. He opened the Indian
embassy in Ukraine. His wife, Reenat, is the Indian ambassador in Italy.
Tiara Abraham is following in the footsteps of her brother, Tanishq. A child prod- Taranjit Singh Sandhu
igy, Tanishq graduated from American River College in 2015 with three degrees at the
ripe old age of 11. Tiara is no slouch either. Having finished high school with a 4.0 GPA,
the 13-year-old is now a student at, yes, American River College. Tiara is also a MENSA
member and an accomplished singer, with a music album to her credit.
Kshama Sawant is not your typical Indian-American, even among those holding
public office. An immigrant from Pune, she abandoned IT for a Ph.D. in economics be-
cause she wanted to tackle inequality in America. She won a seat on the Seattle City
Tiara Abraham Council as a socialist—twice. This was despite Amazon’s support for her opponent. And
now, in this bastion of capitalism, Sawant is also taking on the tech giant.
Rangan Chatterjee, a British Indian physician known for his Four Pillar plan, Kshama Sawant
drew attention on BBC One’s Doctor in the House, a documentary series in which he visits
families in their homes. His 360 degree approach focuses on Food, Movement, Sleep,
and Relaxation. Having written several books (The Stress Solution, How to Make Disease
Disappear, Feel Better in 5, etc.), he is also gaining traction in North America.
Asheen Phansey is not Iranian-American, as some folks mistakenly thought. He is
Indian-American. Phansey, who was an adjunct professor at Babson College, discovered
the limits of free speech when he responded to Trump’s tweet about targeting cultural
sites with his own comment about targeting cultural sites (as a joke, he said) on his
Rangan Chatterjee personal Facebook page. His employer, rejecting his explanation, fired him.
Asheen Phansey
>>
24 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Desh-Videsh PROOF
Hello Desh Videsh Customer,
Here is a PDF document of your advertisement as it will appear in next issue of Desh-Videsh.
To save the space in your inbox, we are sending low resolution file. The final print in magazine will
be using High resolution file. This is a copy to proof for spelling, size, color and accuracy of layout.
Please send us changes or approval as soon as possible. All corrections must be indicated via
email. Sooner you send us the approval, better the ad position you get in the magazine.
DESH VIDESH Graphics Dept.
[email protected]
Desi World
ECONOMICS, NOBEL PRIZE,
SANSKRIT, AND CHEMISTRY
How many married couples have won the Nobel (November-December
Prize? Six, including last year’s winners in econom- 2019), was influenced by
ics: Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo (Michael Kremer Pa¯nini, the great Sanskrit
.
was a co-winner). Among these six couples, it turns grammarian who lived
out, there was another economist—and he also wrote over two millennia before
extensively about tackling poverty in South Asia. That Mendeleev. In their article,
was Sweden’s Gunnar Myrdal, who, along with Fried- Abhik Ghosh and Paul Ki-
rich Hayek, received the economics Nobel in 1974 (Alva parsky argue that Pa¯nini’s
.
Myrdal, his wife, was a co-winner of the Nobel Peace “generative grammar,” in which the rules of language
Prize in 1982). Marie and Pierre Curie were, of course, were efficiently compressed into meaningful units
the most famous Nobel couple, winning the physics with the help of symbols and abbreviations, inspired
prize in 1903. Marie Curie won again in 1911 (for chem- Mendeleev. The use of Sanskrit numerals eka, dvi, and
istry), while her daughter and son-in-law won the tri (one, two, and three) as prefixes for still-undiscovered
chemistry Nobel in 1935. The other two couples won elements is a clear sign of the influence. “Pa¯nini’s order-
.
the physiology or medicine Nobel in 1947 and 2014. ing of the sounds by place of articulation and aperture
Speaking of chemistry, the first tabular display of parallels Mendeleev’s ordering of the elements by their
chemical elements, devised by Dmitri Mendeleev, is increasing atomic weight,” the authors note. While
150 years old. This periodic table’s classification, ac- Pa¯nini analyzed the roots of language, Mendeleev
.
cording to a fascinating cover story in American Scientist turned to nature for his “chemical grammar.”
IN MEMORIAM 2019: CONTINUED
In the December issue of Khabar, given our Sonny Mehta, the legendary
printer’s deadline, we couldn’t mention the pass- editor at Knopf, was 77 when he
ing of a few notables in 2019. Veteran actress died on December 30th. He was
Shaukat Kaifi (aka Azmi), actress Shabana Azmi’s also the chairman of the Knopf
mother, died at the age of 93. Others included Doubleday Publishing Group. Ajai
cartoonist Sudhir Dar, actress Gita Siddharth, Singh Mehta, to use his given
educationist Suresh Gundu Amonkar, and ac- Sonny Mehta name, was the son of one of inde-
tor Shriram Lagoo. Then there was Ram Dass, pendent India’s first diplomats.
who died in Hawaii at the age of 88. Born Richard After his distinguished publishing stint in the
Alpert, he was a clinical psychologist at Harvard in the U.K., where he published Salman Rushdie and Jackie
1960s before his life took an improbable turn. Swept Collins, among many others, Mehta came to New York
up in that era’s hippie culture (or counterculture), he and took over at Knopf in 1987. The authors he
switched paths after a trip to India, where he met his published included Nobel laureates—V.S. Naipaul, Toni
guru, Neem Karoli Baba, who named him Ram Dass. Be Morrison, Orhan Pamuk, Kazuo Ishiguro—and highly
Here Now, which sums up his approach to life, is the popular writers like Michael Crichton, E.L. James, and
title of his popular spiritual guide, a Hippie Bible that Steig Larsson. He won Lifetime Achievement Awards
remains in print. Dass was partially incapacitated by a for publishing in the U.S., Britain, and India. His widow,
stroke in 1997, but he continued to teach and write. Gita Mehta, is a notable writer of fiction and nonfiction.
>>
26 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Desi World
BOOK MATTERS
Small Days and Nights (W.W. More to the Story (Salaam Reads)
Norton) – by Tishani Doshi. Poet, – by Hena Khan. Little Women, the
dancer, and journalist Doshi, born recent film based on a beloved
to Gujarati and Welsh parents, lives 19th-century novel, won wide praise
in Chennai. Author of The Pleasure and six Oscar nominations. For a
Seekers, among other novels, Doshi South Asian angle, readers can pick
has ties to Pondicherry as well— up Khan’s 2019 novel for middle
and her new novel, an Irish Times graders. It was inspired by Little Wom-
Book of the Year 2019, is set in both en. Like the March family in Louisa
these cities. Prompted by marital woes and her moth- Alcott’s novel, the Mirza family has four sisters who
er’s death, Grace returns from the U.S. to a changing share a tight bond. What’s more, Khan’s novel is set
India. Following her mother’s cremation in Pondicherry, here in Georgia. Jo from Little Women becomes Jameela,
Grace discovers that she now owns an isolated beach a budding journalist who enjoys writing for her middle
house near Chennai. More important, she discovers school newspaper. Her immediate problems include a
an older sister, currently living in a facility for disabled demanding editor and the intriguing boy she wants to
residents. Along with her sister, Grace carves out a new write about for a national media contest. Khan “nim-
life, though it’s not easy. Other characters in this kalei- bly incorporates details of modern life and allusions
doscopic novel include a housekeeper, an aunt, and the to Alcott’s classic,” notes Publishers Weekly in a starred
dogs they adopt. As Phil Baker points out in The Times review, adding that the story is “fittingly, strongest in
(U.K.), “Doshi ranges over family secrets, trying to do the moments when family dynamics are on display.”
the right thing, and the sheer contingency of life in all Khan, who also wrote Amina’s Voice and other books for
its richness and uncertainty.” Muslim children, is a Pakistani-American author based
in Maryland.
Night Theater (Catapult) – by
Vikram Paralkar. Name a desi Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
filmmaker who churns out psycho- (Random House) – by Deepa Anap-
logical thrillers that take a surre- para. In India, ordinary bazaar life
al turn, giving us the chills. That’s can inspire extraordinary stories. So
easy, because you don’t have to look it’s not surprising that Anappara, an
beyond M. Night Shyamalan. For award-winning journalist who has
fiction, we could turn to Paralkar, focused on children’s education,
a UPenn physician-scientist who’s poverty, and religious violence,
drawing wider attention with his speculative fiction. In takes the reader to Bhoot Ba-
this novel (he also wrote Affliction), the Mumbai-born zaar in her novel, which the author Ian McEwan
author takes us on a creepy yet thought-provoking called “a brilliant debut.” It features Jai, a 9-year-old
ride, as he “braids philosophy, magical realism, and the boy who helps at a chai shop, and his friends Pari
complicated facts of health care in the modern age into and Faiz. Jai, addicted to cop shows like Police Patrol,
a compact and compelling story,” according to BuzzFeed. becomes a detective when a schoolboy goes missing.
A disgruntled surgeon retreats to a backwater clinic Jai and his companions explore rough neighborhoods,
after getting some negative publicity. His life changes going as far as the Purple Line’s last train station. But
when a teacher walks into the clinic with his pregnant as more kids vanish, the mystery deepens, drawing the
wife and son. They’ve been robbed and murdered, they plucky trio into a dangerous netherworld. Is a ghost
say, but if the surgeon can fix their wounds by daylight, on the loose, or is it something more sinister? After
they’ll live again. Will the surgeon get a second chance her journalism stint in India, Anappara, who grew up
as well? Both Paralkar and Shyamalan, in a curious in Kerala, earned an M.A. in creative writing from the
coincidence, live in Philadelphia. University of East Anglia in Britain.
28 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Happ
V alentin ’
Da
Join us with
your special date and enjoy a
Free Desert
on us!
© 2020 Mehul Designs
4305 State Bridge Road • Suite 108 • Alpharetta, GA 30022
678-393-3131 • 678-393-0044 • www.madraschettinaad.com
Musings
Optimism
Eclipsed
or Rising? movie because we were in Cherai Beach, at a resort
some 45 minutes north of Kerala’s Cochin Internation-
Contemplating an impossible world, al Airport (COK). We were having a reunion of sorts,
with family in India coming from Hyderabad, Kolkata,
and a world of possibilities—from the and Pune, and family from outside of India coming
tranquility of “God’s Own Country” from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United
By RAJESH C. OZA States. It has been a time of great joy, but I find myself
reflecting on the past “dumpster fire” of a decade.
I’m usually a hopeful sort, but as I look back over
On a hopeful day after Christmas in Kochi, I am the past ten years, the metaphor that haunts me is a
reflecting on what a solar eclipse means to me. While heartless fire. I smell this place that I call home burn-
I can focus on the darkness, given the many blessings ing. Home is India. Home is America. Home is Earth.
that have come my way I prefer the light. Perhaps it Our planet is literally on fire. According to nasa.
is merely the spirit of the season that has given me gov, “The world is getting warmer. Whether the cause
hope in what otherwise has been a rather dispiriting is human activity or natural variability—and the pre-
close to the past decade for far too many humans and ponderance of evidence says it’s humans—thermom-
animals suffering from man-made crises. Or perhaps eter readings all around the world have risen steadily
because, here in Kerala, I’m reminded of the diversity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.” The
that has long been India’s strength. website proceeds to ask (and then answer), “But why
This inclusive sense of all religions sharing In- should we care about one degree of warming?” I think
dia as a welcoming home is reflected in a favor- each of us must answer that question in our own way.
ite ditty of mine from Manmohan Desai’s film For me, it’s not just the earth science, although
Amar Akbar Anthony: that, too, is vitally important. It is about the world
Anhoni ko honi kar de honi ko anhoni that my granddaughter, Eshni, will inhabit long after
Ek jagah jab jama ho teeno I am gone. Already, I am distraught about the fact that
Amar Akbar Anthony while she was in New Delhi, Eshni was smoking nearly
We make the impossible possible and the 50 cigarettes each day. Okay, my daughter and son-in-
possible impossible! law’s nine-month-old baby wasn’t actually dragging
Together in one place, we three stand united: on several packs of Marlboros or Charminars, but she
Amar Akbar Anthony might as well have been. The smoke in the capital
This is the first time in nearly two decades that of the country of my birth is intolerable and getting
I have not spent Christmas Eve at the Stanford The- worse. I can barely imagine what is worse than intoler-
ater on University Avenue in Palo Alto, California. able. Unlivable?
My family has made a tradition of going to see a film And the United States is not much better. Al-
quite different from Amar Akbar Anthony, but one with though we Americans don’t have the daily visual clues
a similarly hopeful heart: It's A Wonderful Life, the to tell us that our planet is burning, I as a Californian
holiday classic directed by Frank Capra. can attest to the fact that the blue sky is a false harbin-
My family missed seeing our favorite Christmas ger of things to come if we don’t manage the change
>>
30 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Musings
Optimism
Eclipsed
or Rising? movie because we were in Cherai Beach, at a resort
some 45 minutes north of Kerala’s Cochin Internation-
Contemplating an impossible world, al Airport (COK). We were having a reunion of sorts,
with family in India coming from Hyderabad, Kolkata,
and a world of possibilities—from the and Pune, and family from outside of India coming
tranquility of “God’s Own Country” from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United
By RAJESH C. OZA States. It has been a time of great joy, but I find myself
reflecting on the past “dumpster fire” of a decade.
I’m usually a hopeful sort, but as I look back over
On a hopeful day after Christmas in Kochi, I am the past ten years, the metaphor that haunts me is a
reflecting on what a solar eclipse means to me. While heartless fire. I smell this place that I call home burn-
I can focus on the darkness, given the many blessings ing. Home is India. Home is America. Home is Earth.
that have come my way I prefer the light. Perhaps it Our planet is literally on fire. According to nasa.
is merely the spirit of the season that has given me gov, “The world is getting warmer. Whether the cause
hope in what otherwise has been a rather dispiriting is human activity or natural variability—and the pre-
close to the past decade for far too many humans and ponderance of evidence says it’s humans—thermom-
animals suffering from man-made crises. Or perhaps eter readings all around the world have risen steadily
because, here in Kerala, I’m reminded of the diversity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.” The
that has long been India’s strength. website proceeds to ask (and then answer), “But why
This inclusive sense of all religions sharing In- should we care about one degree of warming?” I think
dia as a welcoming home is reflected in a favor- each of us must answer that question in our own way.
ite ditty of mine from Manmohan Desai’s film For me, it’s not just the earth science, although
Amar Akbar Anthony: that, too, is vitally important. It is about the world
Anhoni ko honi kar de honi ko anhoni that my granddaughter, Eshni, will inhabit long after
Ek jagah jab jama ho teeno I am gone. Already, I am distraught about the fact that
Amar Akbar Anthony while she was in New Delhi, Eshni was smoking nearly
We make the impossible possible and the 50 cigarettes each day. Okay, my daughter and son-in-
possible impossible! law’s nine-month-old baby wasn’t actually dragging
Together in one place, we three stand united: on several packs of Marlboros or Charminars, but she
Amar Akbar Anthony might as well have been. The smoke in the capital
This is the first time in nearly two decades that of the country of my birth is intolerable and getting
I have not spent Christmas Eve at the Stanford The- worse. I can barely imagine what is worse than intoler-
ater on University Avenue in Palo Alto, California. able. Unlivable?
My family has made a tradition of going to see a film And the United States is not much better. Al-
quite different from Amar Akbar Anthony, but one with though we Americans don’t have the daily visual clues
a similarly hopeful heart: It's A Wonderful Life, the to tell us that our planet is burning, I as a Californian
holiday classic directed by Frank Capra. can attest to the fact that the blue sky is a false harbin-
My family missed seeing our favorite Christmas ger of things to come if we don’t manage the change
>>
Musings
Amidst the pristine beauty of Kerala, the author ruminates about the depressing trajectory of the world—from global warming to global
leaders who seem to be competing with each other to tear down our humanitarian values.
of climate change. For two weeks last year, I could not atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
step out of my home without tearing up. Yes, I’m an anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”
emotional sort who is easily moved to tears in senti- If this were baseball, I would be shouting, “Hip, hip,
mental Bollywood and Hollywood movies. Both Trump and Modi hooray! Let’s put the UN
But these weren’t filmy tears. No, the sun Secretary-General into the
in my gray sky was eclipsed by smoke from remind me of those Hall of Fame!” I would
fires burning thousands of acres over 100 afflicted with the disease throw a parade for our col-
miles away. The sting of the smoke caused of hubris that has them lective grandchildren’s
the tears and required me to wear a mask looking directly at a solar happy future world. Well,
so that I could breathe. And if we can’t it seems that the UN does
breathe, our world becomes unlivable, eclipse as if their retinas throw parties of a sort. Year
acre-by-acre. California’s thousands of could withstand fire. after year since 1995, there
charred acres have now given way to Aus- has been a Conference
tralia’s millions of scarred acres. I take in the smoky of the Parties. And year after year, the climate gets
air and choke at the impossibility of doing anything hotter and hotter. Protocols such as the Paris Agree-
substantial about climate change. ment are ratified and rejected by the countries of my
When troubled by national and international is- birth and citizenship.
sues, I look to good governance to save the day. Surely America and India’s positions on the protocols
the United Nations or the Prime Minister of India or are quite telling and put one nation firmly in a disqui-
the President of the United States have the foresight eting Hall of Shame and the other in a disorienting
to envision a world that is habitable for my little Es- Hall of Mirrors.
hni. Hooray for the UN. The United Nations Frame- Trump’s United States is a rejecter of the pro-
work Convention on Climate Change has a fine objec- tocols. Modi’s India is ostensibly a supporter. Both
tive to “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the Trump and Modi remind me of those afflicted with
>>
32 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
The nature of Every business of every size faces legal issues,
our business processes, transactions and challenges. We
nurture businesses through those legalities and
is to nuture inspire confidence in our expert legal counsel. The
nature of our business law practice reflects four decades
yours. of collective and diverse experience advocating for local,
national and international organizations – at every point
across the business life cycle. You can find us in four
states. We also speak nine languages, maintain a global
reach for multinational businesses and provide value
through a flexible cost structure. At KPPB LAW, the
nature of our business is always to nurture yours.
Contact us at 678-443-2220 to learn more.
Musings
the disease of hubris that has that are Hindu-centric rather
them looking directly at a so- than Hindustan-centric?
lar eclipse as if their retinas Perhaps the Modi Ministry
could withstand fire. could benefit from a reread-
In his first year in of- ing of Section 420 in the In-
fice, President Trump said, dian Penal Code to clarify its
“The Paris accord will un- disambiguation in how Mus-
dermine (the U.S.) econo- lims are treated as a source of
my,” and “puts (the U.S.) at terror. Certainly a unified In-
a permanent disadvantage.” dia would be more influential
Donald Trump moved the on the world stage if her fis-
needle from intolerable and siparous tendencies did not
unlivable to unthinkable. distract from the real terror
Midway through Trump’s of global warming.
term, The Atlantic Monthly Imagine an earth with
listed some 50 unthinkable the blood-red skies of Aus-
acts that characterized the tralia where people flee to
Trump Presidency. In es- beaches to escape bushfires
sence, while the earth burns, racing towards the coast. In
Trump fiddles on his many Kerala, my hope is that we
incendiary interests includ- are not required to retire to
ing the following from the The author with his granddaughter, Eshni. backwaters houseboats to
past 12 months: building a escape the fires of climate
wall at the US/Mexican border, adding trillions to the change; my hope is that we are not all sidetracked
fiscal deficit, overseeing a contraction of domestic by our “Distractors-in-Chief;” my hope is that with a
manufacturing, threatening and waffling on tariffs, Surya Namaskar, we salute the sun as it rises; my hope
recklessly executing an unethical—if not illegal—as- is that hope is not eclipsed.
sassination of a foreign official to gin up a war to win While it has been lovely to celebrate time with
votes, and responding to the inquiry of impeachment family on the tranquil waters in what Keralites call
with a multitude of distracting lies. “God’s Own Country,” inevitably all of us want to re-
On paper, Prime Minister Modi is the anti-Trump, turn to our wonderful lives in Pune, Melbourne, Lon-
almost an exemplar of climate change leadership. He don, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and California. None of us
has done much to champion India as a global green desire a world where we, or our brothers and sisters,
leader; indeed, one can see solar panels floating on are climate refugees, or refugees of any sort seeking
acres around COK, making Kochi’s airport the first in to escape home due to persecution of our race, reli-
the world running fully on solar power. But despite gion, or sexual identity. How about we convey our be-
his laudable renewable energy investments in solar lief in the art of possibility and translate “Amar Akbar
and wind farms, the Prime Minister was a reluctant Anthony” for the next generation of (grand) children
signatory to the Paris Agreement; he has argued that making Planet Earth their home?
as a developing country focused on giving her citizens We make the impossible possible and the
a better life, India must not be constrained from in- possible impossible!
vesting in coal and other dirty fossil fuels. There is Together in one place, we three stand united:
much truth to the position that emerging economies Eshni, Ayesha, Emily.
merit dispensations not afforded to countries which
developed during the Industrial Age’s plunder of the
earth; but one must ask questions about Narendra Dr. Rajesh C. Oza, a Change Management Consultant,
Modi’s commitment to giving all Indians a better life. envisions 2020 as a transformative year. His vision: Replace
What is the Prime Minister’s philosophy of so- shortsighted politicians with clear-eyed leaders like Greta
cial justice? What are his intentions to make India Thunberg (climate strike activist and Time’s 2019 Person of
not only a global green leader but also a moral lead- the Year) and Varshini Prakash (challenger of climate change’s
er? Why does his office in Delhi encourage policies status quo and Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement).
34 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
People
Chandrika Tandon—
In Search of a
Higher Way
Entrepreneur, trailblazer, philanthropist,
musician. Wife, mother, grandmother. Above
all, a seeker of the light. Chandrika
Krishnamurthy Tandon is that rare blend—a
woman of substance and spiritual
enlightenment. While the Tandons’ $100
million gift to the New York University School
of Engineering is a milestone contribution of
her life, it is the music and spirituality (Photo: Yassine El Mansouri)
that defines and consumes her the most
these days. By LAVINA MELWANI
Success stories from the Indian-American com- of only eight women in her batch at the Indian Institute
munity are par for the course, but Chandrika Tandon, of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A).
with her rich and varied immigrant experience, rede- At 24, Tandon arrived in America to interview for
fines the word “successful” and adds multiple nuances a job at McKinsey & Co. She had no American degree,
to it. Balancing traditional roles of daughter, wife, and no green card, not even a coat or a Western outfit. She
mother with the demands of blazing a trail in the busi- interviewed at McKinsey in a sari and chappals, wearing
ness world, she’s also an ardent spiritual seeker, mu- a borrowed coat. Yet, not only did she land the job, but
sician, and a passionate educational philanthropist. within a few years she went on to become a partner
Above all, her every pursuit has been imbued with the at this prestigious company, the first Indian-American
search for a higher way of living. woman to be selected for the position.
Like many immigrants, Tandon grew up in a mid- But there’s more to life than the next big business
dle-class family where both parents and children were deal. Tandon was the first woman partner at McKinsey
deeply invested in the value of education. Her sister, In- to give birth. She’s come full circle now, as her daughter
dra Nooyi, has been the high-profile President and CEO Lita, also an executive at McKinsey, has given birth to
of PepsiCo and her brother, Nandu Narayanan, heads her first child, making Tandon a recent grandmother.
Trident Investment Management. In the early 1990s, Tandon risked her savings to
Nevertheless, growing up the first girl child in a found Tandon Capital Associates, a financial advisory
traditional Tamil Brahmin family in Chennai, con- company that restructured preeminent financial insti-
servatism ruled. She was told that an early arranged tutions worldwide, creating billions of dollars in market
marriage was her destiny, with her mother collecting value for her clients. About why she left a lucrative posi-
stainless steel utensils for her dowry from birth. She tion with McKinsey to branch out on her own, she says,
went on a hunger strike to be allowed to go to college. “In 1986 I worked with a failing bank in Brazil. It was
Eventually, in 1973, she made it to business school, one a very intensive, holistic restructuring deal involving
>>
36 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
People
Chandrika Tandon performing Shivoham at the Kennedy Center. (Photo: Yassine El Mansouri)
every part of the bank simultaneously, in a very short from NYU Stern School of Business for representing the
period of time. I ‘lived’ with the CEO and the manage- highest ideals of business, service, and integrity—prior
ment team—and restored the bank to profitability, recipients include John D. Rockefeller, Alan Greenspan,
which made waves in the market. That was exhilarat- and Jack Welch. In 2016, she was awarded the Gallatin
ing for me personally as I was struck by the very con- medal, NYU’s highest honor. Last year, she received
crete and dramatic impact that one could create with the 2019 Horatio Alger Award, which honors outstand-
focused attention and the extraordinary opportunity ing leaders who have accomplished great successes in
financial services presented, as it was a very ineffi- spite of adversity.
cient industry with a history of regulation. My goal At a personal level, Tandon has pursued her artis-
in leaving McKinsey was to solely focus on this idea tic talents through tough situations. She grew up in a
and invest in the institutions I worked with to create home that thrived on music but never followed that
value, either in the form of equity, phantom equity, or path, engaged as she was with building a career. Tan-
performance-based incentives. I saw a major entrepre- don eventually overcame the constraints on her time,
neurial opportunity.” and found noted gurus to learn classical music even as
Her early belief in education as a game-changer she grew her business and nurtured her family. Thanks
made her take a proactive role in higher education, to that passion for music, Tandon is now a Grammy-
especially for those in need. Through the Krishnamur- nominated musician, whose albums of chants have
thy Tandon Foundation, she and her husband, Ranjan transformed many lives. These compositions repre-
Tandon, have donated to many educational causes, in- sent her continuing journey into the light. Her fourth
cluding a transformative $100 million to the New York album, Shivoham—The Quest, is a collaboration of over
University (NYU) Tandon School of Engineering, which 275 world-class musicians living across four conti-
was named after them. nents, recorded largely in London, and mixed in New
Chandrika Tandon is Vice Chairman of the Board York. As she says, “Music is what I am, everything
of Trustees of NYU, Chairman of the NYU President’s else is what I do.”
Global Council, and Chairman of NYU Tandon School A firm believer in meditation, Tandon says, “It took
of Engineering, and serves on the Business School and me into the deepest parts of myself and let me experi-
Medical School/ Hospital Boards. The Tandons’ commit- ence my own light. Once you even glimpse that place,
ment to education extends to leadership faculty chairs you are on a new journey.”
they have established at the Harvard Business School, Spirituality and chanting have been the twin
Yale, IIM(A), and Madras Christian College in India. graces of Tandon’s life, be it starting the day with
In 2009, she received the Walter Nichols Medal pranayama or creating a musical choir for seniors at
>>
38 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
People
Chandrika Tandon performing Shivoham at the Kennedy Center. (Photo: Yassine El Mansouri)
every part of the bank simultaneously, in a very short from NYU Stern School of Business for representing the
period of time. I ‘lived’ with the CEO and the manage- highest ideals of business, service, and integrity—prior
ment team—and restored the bank to profitability, recipients include John D. Rockefeller, Alan Greenspan,
which made waves in the market. That was exhilarat- and Jack Welch. In 2016, she was awarded the Gallatin
ing for me personally as I was struck by the very con- medal, NYU’s highest honor. Last year, she received
crete and dramatic impact that one could create with the 2019 Horatio Alger Award, which honors outstand-
focused attention and the extraordinary opportunity ing leaders who have accomplished great successes in
financial services presented, as it was a very ineffi- spite of adversity.
cient industry with a history of regulation. My goal At a personal level, Tandon has pursued her artis-
in leaving McKinsey was to solely focus on this idea tic talents through tough situations. She grew up in a
and invest in the institutions I worked with to create home that thrived on music but never followed that
value, either in the form of equity, phantom equity, or path, engaged as she was with building a career. Tan-
performance-based incentives. I saw a major entrepre- don eventually overcame the constraints on her time, MASALA RADIO HUM FM ANDHRA MIRCHI
@ 98.7 FM
@ 1050 AM
@ 106.1 FM
neurial opportunity.” and found noted gurus to learn classical music even as Every Thursday Every Tuesday Every 2nd Saturday
Her early belief in education as a game-changer she grew her business and nurtured her family. Thanks 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. 4:10 - 4:40 p.m. 2:00 - 2:30 p.m.
made her take a proactive role in higher education, to that passion for music, Tandon is now a Grammy- Https://masalaradio.com Https://rdo.to/humfm
especially for those in need. Through the Krishnamur- nominated musician, whose albums of chants have
thy Tandon Foundation, she and her husband, Ranjan transformed many lives. These compositions repre-
Tandon, have donated to many educational causes, in- sent her continuing journey into the light. Her fourth
cluding a transformative $100 million to the New York album, Shivoham—The Quest, is a collaboration of over
University (NYU) Tandon School of Engineering, which 275 world-class musicians living across four conti-
was named after them. nents, recorded largely in London, and mixed in New
Chandrika Tandon is Vice Chairman of the Board York. As she says, “Music is what I am, everything
of Trustees of NYU, Chairman of the NYU President’s else is what I do.”
Global Council, and Chairman of NYU Tandon School A firm believer in meditation, Tandon says, “It took
of Engineering, and serves on the Business School and me into the deepest parts of myself and let me experi-
Medical School/ Hospital Boards. The Tandons’ commit- ence my own light. Once you even glimpse that place,
ment to education extends to leadership faculty chairs you are on a new journey.”
they have established at the Harvard Business School, Spirituality and chanting have been the twin
Yale, IIM(A), and Madras Christian College in India. graces of Tandon’s life, be it starting the day with
In 2009, she received the Walter Nichols Medal pranayama or creating a musical choir for seniors at
>>
People
QA
&
with
Chandrika Tandon
Receiving the Gallatin medal, Tandon checks out the innovation of the students at
NYU’s highest honor Tandon School of Engineering. At a recent performance of
Shivoham at the Kennedy Center,
the Hindu Temple Society of North America. She has Chandrika Tandon spoke to Khabar
also founded the Hindu Community Outreach Initia- about life, music, and spirituality.
tive for youth and seniors, donating buildings and How do you reconcile your business world and
program support for after-school classes, health, and spirituality?
community building. Naturally, my view of business is altered by spiri-
“My family belonged to the Samaveda lineage, tuality, but the two worlds are not in conflict except in
where ancient Vedic mantras are sung with a tune and terms of time commitments. Business, social, and phil-
meter in a most breathtakingly beautiful way,” she re- anthropic commitments occupy a lot of my time, and
calls. “Chanting was all around me. We grew up in a it’s often very hard to allocate that.
very simple home in a very old city, where Vedic tradi- On the other hand, my spiritual practices have
tions are performed to this day. All the major prayers changed the way I view people, problems, and rela-
like the Vishnu Sahasranamam were chanted in our tionships; they have altered my view of success and
home every day.” perfection in both life and business. I have become a
Business, arts, and philanthropy have all perco- lot more centered and able to let go of outcomes and
lated into Tandon’s life and she has embraced each of concentrate on the work and the journey. My spiritual
them into a balanced lifestyle. She serves on the Board practices also make me realize viscerally how much
of Trustees for the Lincoln Center for the Perform- the Divine is of everything we do.
ing Arts and the President’s Advisory Council for the How is music a spiritual practice for you?
Berklee College of Music. She has opened new musi- The best music comes when I don’t exist. I see this
cal worlds for students through the Berklee Tandon again and again—in myself and others. I am on a quest
Global Clinics that offer workshops, artist residences, to lose myself. It is accelerating the inner transforma-
scholarships, and courses in contemporary music— tion to find the light inside, and stay in. And it affects
many pilots have occurred in India, impacting thou- all parts of my life—my business, my family, my friend-
sands of students. ships, everything.
For Tandon, the joy is in being able to mentor so Music harmonizes me as a person. It is hard to be
many young people in the schools and colleges she down when you are singing. Intensive practice is medi-
supports. She points out that NYU Tandon, with over tation. It is like quieting one’s mind and internal chat-
5,200 students, has many students from first genera- ter for concentrated periods of time. It permeates all
tion immigrant families, many students on aid, and aspects of my being. Keeping a focused, calm, and cen-
many female students. She says, “We are changing not tered mind is, to me, the most important attribute of
just individual lives but we are changing generations.” living my everyday life. Music enables me to get there
For this high achiever, nurturing a rich inner life is most of the time.
as important, if not more so than material accomplish- Music has made me understand perfection in a
ments. “If I had to rewind my life, I would add more wholly different way. Having spent a lifetime striving
compassion to it. For me, it’s become almost a medita- for perfection, you really understand you are perfection
tion. I try to apply it in everything I do. It really changes today, right now, right here—that different people make
the way you think about people, how you spend your different forms of music, and they are all beautiful and
time. It changes relationships within the family and it perfect. If the forest were only filled with nightingales,
changes the relationship with yourself. Compassion al- it would be a very boring forest indeed. This has be-
lows you to give completely of yourself.” come the prism with which I view my whole life and
>>
40 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
SERVICES AVAILABLE
• Acute and Chronic Care
• Physicals (Well Child Checks, Annual, School,
Employment, Sports, DOT), Immigration Physicals
• Minor Surgical Procedures
• Immunizations Including Flu Shots
• Allergy Testing & Treatment
• Depression/Anxiety/ADHD
• Diagnosis Testing:
(Echocardiograms, Ultrasounds,
ABI, Nuclear Stress Test, Body
Scan, Nerve Conduction Testing)
• Birth Control Including
IUD Insertions
• Medicare Wellness Exams
• Biometric Screening
• Weight Loss Management
• Smoking Cessation... and more!
• Workers Compensation
• Affordable Lifeline Health Plan Available
• We Accept Kaiser Insurance
Offering Dr. Safia Pirani Dr. Aziz Pirani
Special Injections
for Knee Pain We provide high-quality, affordable care at convenient locations-
Lilburn
(Arthritis) 4025 Lawrenceville Hwy NW, A • Ph: 770.559.3501 OPEN ON SAT: 9AM - 5PM
Norcross
3330 Peachtree Corners Circle, H • Ph: 678.775.9344
HOURS Clarkston
Monday-Thursday 3660 Market Street • Ph: 470.355.7896 OPEN ON SAT: 9AM - 5PM
Duluth
8:30-5:30 4855 River Green Parkway, 700 • Ph: 770.545.8332
Friday-Saturday
9:00-1:00 www.lifelineprimary.com
Sunday: Closed Most insurances accepted. Walk-ins welcome.
Almas Momin, FNP-C Rozina Allibhoy, FNP-C Gayathri K. Kumar, MD Payal Brahmbhatt,PA-C Martha (Elia) Caldwell, FNP-C
FULLY BOARD-CERTIFIED, MULTILINGUAL STAFF
Kiran Sayani, FNP-C Jennifer Mandhai, FNP-C Rucha Dalsania, FNP-C Joslin John, FNP-C
People
with musicians, most of whom I
had already worked with.
You had many performers on
the album and recorded it on three
continents—how did you manage
to fine-tune it for the stage? • LASER HAIR REMOVAL
The original album was com-
prised of 279 musicians and artists • SKIN REJUVENATION
from different genres and countries. • VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT
Adapting it for the stage at the Ken- • TOE NAIL FUNGAL TREATMENT
nedy Center was a complex reimag-
ining. We had to think of how to
simplify complicated arrangements
and produce similar sounds with
fewer instruments.
“Music is what I am, everything else is what I do,” says Tandon.
If the forest were only filled with
others around me—there is no judgment!
Shivoham has been your passion for several
years. Can you share with us the journey, beginning nightingales, it would be a very
with the idea and its birth?
The album is really the musical expression of my
fested in bits and pieces, based on what I was experi- boring forest indeed.
personal journey over the last twenty years. It mani-
encing in my life at different phases.
I would keep notes about melodies and lyrics on When recording the album, we used an extensive Full Body
little pieces of paper everywhere. For example, “Song of string section, and instruments like a harp and viola da CALL FOR
Blessings” emanated from a ten-day silent Vipassana gamba, as well as over 100 choir members from both
FREE
retreat, and “Song of Compassion” was originally com- Kolkata and London. I wanted to keep the essence of t
posed for the Hindu Community Choir, which I found- the music for the stage but also highlight the talent of CONSULTATION $999
ed and led for many years. the musical maestros with whom I collaborated for this
While the Sanskrit prayer, “Om Namah Shivaya” production—the likes of Kenny Werner, Snehasish Mo-
was part of my first album, for Shivoham, I added sev- zumder, Jamey Haddad, and our musical director, Mat- Full Legs, Arms, Face
eral lyrics in English to express the important idea that thias “Teese” Gohl. As we worked through rehearsals, and Bikini
chanting these five syllables—Na mah Shi va ya—also different ideas emerged about what worked on stage. It
known as the Panchabhootam or five prime elements was an iterative and very collaborative process, which
of the universe (earth, water, fire, air, and space), can was extremely rewarding.
help get rid of negative emotions. What place will Shivoham hold in your heart as
You took many performers from New York, Lon- you move on to other things?
don, and India. How did you decide which performers This kind of journey is really about searching for
went to Kennedy Center? something, getting a glimpse of it, and trying to stay in
Choosing a great sounding choir was really impor- that space for as long as possible. It’s something that
tant. We auditioned intensively and ultimately select- happens once in a lifetime. Bhavin Patel, MD Aakar Thaker, MD Dhara Patel, PA-C Binny Virk Farhat Haseeb Khyati Patel
ed a mix of students, faculty, and alumni from NYU, My hope is that with the narrative that accom-
as well as a few other talented singers from New York panies this album, I will be able to help others start
City. They hadn’t necessarily sung together before, their own journeys, in finding the light much sooner
so we needed a lot of rehearsals. I appreciated how than I did. STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY, WE WILL MATCH ANY
much each singer grew vocally throughout our jour- SAFE, PAINLESS AND FAST COMPETITOR'S PRICE
ney and how the group created a joyful common 20 years of operating experience!
experience for themselves and the audience. Once Lavina Melwani is a New York-based journalist who blogs at INCLUDING GROUPON
we had the arrangements figured out, I collaborated www.lassiwithlavina.com.
Hours: Walk-ins: 10 am - 2 pm, Monday - Saturday. Extended Hours with appointments.
3993 Lawrenceville Hwy. Suite 140, Lilburn, GA 30047
42 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE 678-995-3610 • depilexaesthetics.com • [email protected]
• LASER HAIR REMOVAL
• SKIN REJUVENATION
• VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT
• TOE NAIL FUNGAL TREATMENT
t Full Body
CALL FOR
FREE
$999
CONSULTATION
Full Legs, Arms, Face
and Bikini
Bhavin Patel, MD Aakar Thaker, MD Dhara Patel, PA-C Binny Virk Farhat Haseeb Khyati Patel
STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY, WE WILL MATCH ANY
SAFE, PAINLESS AND FAST COMPETITOR'S PRICE
20 years of operating experience! INCLUDING GROUPON
Hours: Walk-ins: 10 am - 2 pm, Monday - Saturday. Extended Hours with appointments.
3993 Lawrenceville Hwy. Suite 140, Lilburn, GA 30047
678-995-3610 • depilexaesthetics.com • [email protected]
Biography
A Prince among
Performers
Aseem Chhabra, a New York-based film festival
programmer and journalist, has written the
biographies of actors Shashi Kapoor and
Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Now he is out with Irrfan
Khan: The Man, the Dreamer, the Star. Peppered
with interviews from Hindi film actors like
Naseeruddin Shah and directors like Tigmanshu
Dhulia, Meghna Gulzar, Ritesh Batra, and Ang
Lee, the book is not just a peek into the life of
the much loved, National award-winning actor.
It’s also an insight into the world of Bollywood,
narrated in Chhabra’s inimitable conversational
style. Chhabra spoke to BAISAKHI ROY.
The book was released by
Rupa Publications India.
I was delighted that you picked Irrfan for your collaborators, his process, his selflessness as an actor,
new book and particularly pleased that you called all these instances in the book give you an insight into
him “one of the sexiest and coolest actors working the enigmatic man behind the actor. With Shashi Ka-
in Hindi cinema.” After Shashi Kapoor and Priyanka poor, I didn’t want people to forget his legacy and hoped
Chopra, how did you land on Irrfan? that my book would encourage younger generations
His sex appeal was revealed to me in Piku (laughs). to seek out some of his fantastic performances—he’s
What a wonderful character and such a real romance done some great movies. With Priyanka, she was this
between Deepika and Irrfan! Speaking of this book, my amazing success story, an achiever whose career arc
publishers suggested a lot of names, but they didn’t ex- was quite phenomenal and whose story I felt needed
cite or interest me enough. But when they mentioned to be told. People who like Irrfan’s work will enjoy the
Irrfan, I immediately said yes! I am a huge admirer of book. Hopefully, the book will also encourage people to
his craft and frankly I started liking him even more discover his cinema and to revisit his many nuanced
during the process of writing this book—the anecdotes performances. As I mentioned in the book, we are lucky
I heard about him from his close friends and artistic to be living in the times of Irrfan Khan.
>>
44 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Biography
Getting Irrfan to talk matters to him. Tillotama Shome, who acted with
at length for this book Irrfan in the 2017 hit comedy-drama Hindi Medium, told
was a challenge— me about that phenomenal scene where she’s trying
Unfortunatel y, to pacify him after his child doesn’t secure admission
around the time I agreed into a school. That scene was completely improvised,
to write this book, Irrfan there was a lot of give and take, and that’s Irrfan’s big-
announced that he was gest asset. Naseeruddin Shah was telling me about that
unwell. His manager in- scene from Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool where Irrfan’s
formed me that in the character is holding a gun to Naseer’s character’s head.
past he had been dead According to Naseer, Irrfan had the upper hand in the
against any biographies or scene but he played it so evenly—he doesn’t overshad-
even an autobiography— ow his co-actor he’s sharing screen space with.
but maybe he was in a
different place now and
might agree. So I spoke to
him. I had already sent an
Biographer Aseem Chhabra is the email detailing my pro-
festival director of the New York
Indian Film Festival. In Sita Sings posal. He declined to be
the Blues, Nina Paley’s acclaimed interviewed for the book
animated film, he is the voice of because he wasn’t in the
Shadow Puppet #1.
right space just then. But
he pointed me to several interviews and articles that
he said I could use as reference material. Also he gave
me names of people I could speak to about his early
acting years, like his friend from his theatre days in
Jaipur, Varun Gautam.
The book has a fairly comprehensive account of
his professional life and gives the reader so many
insights into his personality. What more do you think
you could have uncovered, had you interviewed him
for the book?
I would have loved to delve deeper into his child-
hood years but also talk to him about some of his key A still from Dubai Return. (Courtesy: Sourabh Kanti Dutta)
roles. I was speaking to his Life of Pi director, Ang Lee, It’s been a two-year process almost, writing
who told me how he briefed Irrfan about his role (he this book. You must have some great memories and
plays the adult Pi Patel) in the film. Irrfan’s character experiences.
is never on the boat with the tiger (actor Suraj Sharma It was such an amazing journey. I combed through
who plays the young Pi is there) but that scene where he the National School of Drama graduate list where I
is talking about how Richard Parker (the tiger) doesn’t tracked down Irrfan’s batchmates, one of them being
look back and just walks on into the forest, and there Mita Vashisht, who gave some great stories about their
are tears in his eyes...it gets me every time! I would’ve time together at drama school. There was so much joy
loved to talk to Irrfan about how he interpreted that in revisiting some of his landmark films like Asif Ka-
scene and how he performed it. padia’s The Warrior, which someone sourced for me as
You call Irrfan a “prince among regular perform- it’s unavailable to watch anywhere. Catching up with
ers.” What sets him apart from the others? theatre director Barry John whom I caught up with at
His generosity as an actor. Many people spoke to the Dharamshala International Film Festival just as we
me about it. Govind Nihalani who directed Irrfan in were rushing in to see a film, serendipitous meetings
Dhrishti (1990) noticed how Irrfan was engaging with that led to interviews, getting the structure of the book
his co-actors in a play directed by Ramgopal Bajaj. together was all such a satisfying process. But I will say
While the other actors looked at the audience for vali- that chasing some of the directors and actors who had
dation and accolades, Irrfan was immersed in the play. worked with him was a challenge. I know some of them
That’s him—he thinks of the larger picture; every scene so well, but they still make you chase them (laughs).
>>
46 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
Biography
A still from The Lunchbox. (Courtesy: Guneet Monga) A still from D-Day. (Courtesy: Vivek Rangachari)
Rumor has it, you are on to your next one? for the next book.
Actually I’m taking it easy for a bit, prepar- Anyone we know?
ing for a film festival, promoting this book. I was in I’m not saying! I’m not giving away my ideas!
Kolkata recently for promotions, and I visited legendary
actor Soumitra Chatterjee and gave him a copy of my Baisakhi Roy is a Toronto-based writer and editor
book since I knew he is a fan of Irrfan’s work. He’s so who loves to write about ordinary people and their
down-to-earth and easygoing, still as charming as ever. extraordinary stories. A lifelong fan of Hindi movies, she
I also happened to visit Satyajit Ray’s home and met his cohosts KhabardaarPodcast, a weekly podcast on all
lovely family. But I am looking at some potential names things Bollywood.
Excerpt
“Directing Irrfan was like working with a friend.” – Mira Nair
“He could tell by looking at my face if I was happy otherwise serious role. “That brief touch cracked
or not with a shot,” she says. She remembers shoot- Ashoke’s dignified veneer,” Mira says. “It gave the audi-
ing one of the most beautiful scenes [in The Namesake] ence a sense of his vulnerability.”
when Ashoke and Gogol are in a car and the father Mira also has this observation about how Irrfan
explains the significance of Nikolai Gogol to his son. takes direction. “You talk to him and you notice a qui-
“He did that scene very nicely, but I was looking at him et moment, when he just reflects on what he has to
like a puppy after that,” she says. “And he asked, ‘Kuch become. It was not like fatak sey (instantaneously).
chahiye naa, tujhe (You need something else, right)?’ And There is always contemplation. He’s not winning
I said, ‘Haan, halka sa ankh mein ansoon, magar neeche nahi a popularity contest on the set. Tabu does it more
ana chaiye (Yes, a slight tear in your eye, but it should effortlessly on the surface. She doesn’t have any acting
not roll down your cheek).’ And he said, ‘Theek hai, Mira training and it’s amazing. Irrfan does it more quietly,
(All right, Mira).’ I usually don’t talk to actors like this but he never gets it wrong.”
to programme their tears, especially tears that don’t The Namesake shoot was the first time Irrfan visited
fall. And that’s the scene we have from the second take. the U.S. And Mira invited him to New York City during
That scene required fine-tuning. It looks effortless, but the prep time for the film and put him up in a hotel in
I am sure it wasn’t.” Times Square. “He was completely like Ashoke Ganguli.
At times Irrfan would also surprise Mira, like in He was like a beautiful child. ‘Main to study kar raha hoon
the scene when Gogol brings his girlfriend Maxine yaar (I am studying everything).’” Mira also felt leaving
(Jacinda Barrett) to meet his parents for the first time. Irrfan in the midst of Manhattan was helpful for him to
In one brief moment, the otherwise reserved and fairly get into the Ashoke Ganguli character. “We didn’t mol-
conservative Ashoke Ganguly gives an appreciative lycoddle him, inviting him over every day,” she says.
once-over look to Gogol’s American girlfriend. Sooni
had not written that in the script, and neither had Excerpted from Irrfan Khan: The Man, the Dreamer,
Mira discussed anything of this sort with Irrfan. So the Star with the permission of Rupa Publications India.
that was all Irrfan, improvising a little humour into his
48 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE
The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
A Magazine Like No Other
At a readership of over 90,000, Khabar is one of the largest publications in the U.S. for Indian-Americans
and South Asians. Started in 1992 (going on 24 years), our robust, 140-plus pages, full-color print magazine
is a dynamic force in the community we serve.
Besides being cited in the “Best of Atlanta” annual issue of Atlanta magazine, Khabar has received several
awards for its content and design from publishing and journalism organizations.
Original, exclusive interviews of significant and relevant Indians and Indian-Americans is a dominant theme
in the magazine. Here is a partial list of our many interviews.
Our content has three broad categories: (1) The Indian community of metro-Atlanta, (2) The national Indian-
American diaspora, & (3) Broad (macro) themes from India and Indian culture and society.
Even though based in metro-Atlanta, our print magazine serves a readership of about 90,000 readers in
Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
The website (www.khabar.com) offers the content of the print magazine with additional reports and details, a Digital Edition of the print version, an Events listing and calendar for the metro area, community press
releases, and more.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search