Khabar Magazine (February 2020)

Reflections





















NANDINI PATWARDHAN, who grew up in a Mumbai
chawl, now lives in a spacious American home. But
her search for abundance is complicated—and even
its meaning changes over time. The key, she thinks,
is to be thoughtful, open-minded, and intentional.
Here’s a excerpt from Train Friends, a book of essays
she co-wrote with Ranjani Rao.







Carol, one of my closest friends, lives in a smallish use more energy for heating and cooling, more
older house. Although the house has newer vinyl chemicals for the picture-perfect yards and gardens.
siding, everything else about the house spells o-l-d. Second, they are built on land “reclaimed” from killing
The floors are wood—not the polished kind but the old-growth trees—sland that was the domain of deer
well-worn ones that show scuff marks, dust and yes, and foxes and rabbits. In fact, when we first moved in,
scratch lines from when furniture must have been it was not uncommon to see an occasional lone lost
dragged many, many times. The plumbing fixtures are deer loping around in the far woods and wild rabbits
quaint-looking rather than the sleek shiny ones that scampering under the dense under-bush.
are more common these days. The heating system Some of my ambivalence comes from knowing that
is one that uses hot water run through pipes—the the large-living lifestyle exacts its toll in other forms as
registers stand about 20 inches tall along the walls and well. When each member of the family has a room of
make tapping and gurgling sounds as the system goes his or her own (sometimes a room for each activity like
through its cycles. exercising, watching TV, using the computer), it robs the
What a contrast this is from my house and those of family of the feeling of closeness—not just the need to
many of the people that I know. Yes, I am a somewhat rub elbows and share space, but also of a closeness of
ambivalent owner of one of those new, larger homes spirit, a desire to talk to each other, gauge each other’s
that have sprouted up in many suburban locations. mood, find out what’s going on in each other’s lives,
Such homes are called McMansions. The term describes and simply work harder to get along.
a particular style that, as its name suggests, is both large As someone who grew up in a Mumbai chawl, I
like a mansion and relatively cheap and ubiquitous have certainly traveled a long distance in terms of
like McDonald’s fast food restaurants. The term has a “lifestyle.” Considering my own changing attitudes and
pejorative connotation because the homes are seen choices, my take on the issue is not as harsh as the
to be characterized by traditional features without an critical definition of McMansions. If anything, I feel that
understanding of those styles’ underlying logic and my current abode is but one stop in my life journey.
purpose. Also, the homes are generally considered to Before we moved to our current home, like Carol we,
have a negative impact on the environment. too, owned an older house. Over the years we ended up
Each time I return from Carol’s house to my spending ever larger amounts of money on its upkeep.
neighborhood, I feel a mixture of emotions. I feel a One year it was the roof, another year a new exterior
vague embarrassment about living in a neighborhood paint job. The windows were quirky—each winter we
that is marked by wastefulness—for the larger homes had to install new insulation and each summer we had
>>

50 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE

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Change A Life



Chances are that most people know someone who needs or has needed a helping hand in life. There
are millions in the world whose circumstances prevent them from fulfilling their potential. Maybe you have
come across people who could have become well-known singers if someone had helped them. Instead, they
are singing in trains in India, begging for a few coins. Maybe you know someone who possesses excellent
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Close your eyes and imagine that you are a person who is stuck in life. There is no hope, no matter where
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Reflections Providing Optimum Vascular Treatment





Suburban America A chawl in Mumbai
• Varicose Veins/Spider Veins



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It is human nature to crave what we don’t have. It is precisely because my
desire for space and newness was met, I have been able to become more aware
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A handyman friend had told us it was an easy task—a used to, to my friend who lived upstairs in the chawl.
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have spent if we had had the whole job done by a pro. As is precisely because my desire for space and newness
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noses for the promptness, but also for our vulnerability professions. The combination of these twin social
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Heritage



Sanskrit Language:




Dead, Dying, or Dormant?




By Bhagirath Majmudar, M.D.

























Hindus everywhere recite their prayers in Sanskrit, conduct all their ceremonial rituals in Sanskrit,
and give Sanskritized names to their children. But what effort do we make to learn that language
and keep it alive? In a wedding ceremony brochure, when I saw the name Vishnu distorted into Vish
(meaning “poison” in Sanskrit!) and the turmeric-paste ceremony known as pithi spelt as “pity,” the
outrageous neglect of our ancient, sacred language stood startlingly before me.




Language of the Gods being a complex and rich language, it is also a vehicle
The significance of Sanskrit in Indian mythology, that is capable of conveying sophisticated thoughts.
its religious and spiritual heritage, and its history can- Which other language contains about 60 figures of
not be overstated. It is the language of some of the speech (alankar) and about 600 meters (chhanda)?
most profound scriptures of the land. The spiritual
knowledge it has espoused is timeless without ever be- Which other language
ing pulseless. Sanskrit (Sanskruta) is about 3,500 years
old. One reason it survived this long is its sacred sta- contains about 60 figures of
tus and its multifaceted enfoldments. Over centuries speech (alankar) and about
it has embraced many diverse components of human
endeavor like religion, art, philosophy, spirituality, po- 600 meters (chhanda)?
etry and literature, history, complex and computable
grammar, and multiple sciences. It was therefore aptly Ancient India was greatly influenced by the influx
known as girvana or the language of the elite (devas). of many diverse languages and cultures. In retrospect,
Sanskrit has a flexibility of function and openness this was not entirely detrimental to our development.
of space to accommodate new ideas, concepts, and vo- Among the Mughals, Dara Shikoh, son of Shahjahan
cabulary. This is because it does not erect a rigid build- and brother of Aurangzeb, was a great Sanskrit schol-
ing but provides building blocks, thus rendering it al- ar and an avid follower of the Upanishads, which he
ways contemporary and ready for remodeling. Besides translated into Arabic.
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54 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE



Heritage







Voltaire, the French philosopher, having been pro- exclusive to kings and the Brahmins. As an example,
foundly impressed by the Upanishads, translated these in the classics of Sanskrit literature, such as Shakun-
scriptures further into German, whereupon Germany talam, you see that King Dushyant speaks in Sanskrit,
became the nidus of Sanskrit language! The British while his beloved Shakuntala, a forest raised maiden,
also established Sanskrit schools in England, Wales, speaks in Prakrit.
and Scotland. In fact there are As the use of Sanskrit passed
colorful stories of the penchant into the hands of Brahmins and
some of these Europeans had to concentrated there, they exploited
learn Sanskrit. this advantage to gain power and
Sir William Jones (1746-1794) money. Knowledge became a priv-
was a great English philologist ileged commodity. Characters like
who mastered 28 languages Shambuk in the Ramayana and
mostly on his own. He failed to Ekalavya in Mahabharata illustrate
find a guru who would teach him this discrimination. Brahmins,
Sanskrit, because of a religio-cul- for their own benefit, imparted
tural barrier. Finally, a 90 + -year- a religious hue to the language.
old shastri (“scholar” in Sanskrit) This worked successfully in their
agreed to tutor him, provided Sir favor in the effort to dominate
Jones did not enter his house but the poorly educated masses of In-
kept perched on his porch. He dia. Subsequently, even Brahmins
was humiliated for every mis- could not long retain the power
take he made while learning the and sophistication of this sacred
language, sometimes by the guru language, which now was bereft
throwing his shoes at him. But of all its multiple facets.
he learnt the language neverthe- The tragic outcome of this
less and produced some innova- degradation is evident in the
tive research by drawing parallels prevalent belief of even edu-
between Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit cated Indians that only Brahmins
and connecting their roots to Goth- can perform religious rituals and
ic, Celtic, and Persian languages. He translated San- the medium of their expression should be restricted
skrit literary classics like Shakuntalam and Hitopadesha to Sanskrit—even if they do not understand it and
into English. Not long ago, the University of Texas at have no way to know if the performing priest is suffi-
Austin acquired all his papers from England to pre- ciently equipped with the required knowledge!
serve in its library. Sanskrit grammar is extremely sophisticated, ne-
Now, many American universities have begun of- cessitating years of dedicated study. Lay people do not
fering courses in Sanskrit. have that sort of time available nowadays. Does that
In need of CPR mean we throw away the baby with the bathwater?
In the land of its origin, however, Sanskrit has lost In our globalized world where rapid change is a given
steam. During the colonial era, Lord Macaulay set in and the old is often rudely shoved aside in favor of the
motion the introduction of English as the medium of novel and exciting, I humbly submit that it would be a
administration, education, and a means for livelihood. blunder to relegate Sanskrit to obscurity. To regard this
Britain’s domination brought with it technological language and its scholars as “antiquated” is a common
advances and trade. India’s doors opened to the mistake stemming from a lack of vision.
world at large, English being the global lingua franca. Sushma Swaraj, the late Minister of External Af-
And what about Sanskrit? Today, only 24,821 Indians fairs of India, delivered a stunningly erudite and pen-
and 1,669 Nepalese people consider Sanskrit as their etratingly convincing lecture on the need to preserve
mother tongue! Sanskrit as part of our valued heritage. Her lecture
Historically, too, its elitism has cost some setbacks. on the importance of Sanskrit language (available for
Because of its complexity and precision that left no viewing on YouTube) is a gold standard on the subject.
room for ambiguity, the language subsequently became While I do not see a possibility of Sanskrit
>>




56 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE



Heritage





Coming to our contemporary times, it is wonderful to note
that the 18th World Sanskrit Conference will be meeting
in Canberra, Australia in January 2021. Scholars from all
parts of the world will be presenting papers and discussing
the whole gamut of past, present, and future topics
concerning Sanskrit. On the agenda will be the creation of a
roadmap to impart a global status to the language.



reviving as a common colloquial language in the fore- Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Sir Monier Monier-Wil-
seeable future for reasons of its own, I do believe its liams was published posthumously in 1899, after be-
other salient aspects should be preserved and revital- ing completed by his son in collaboration with multiple
ized. The language connects us not only to our own cul- European authors. The last edition came out in 1990
tural heritage but also to Mid-Eastern and far-Western comprising 1,333 large compact pages accommodating
components of human civilizations. The resuscitation about 200,000 words with no erratum in the book!
team for this noble but gigantic enterprise should, Coming to our contemporary times, it is wonderful
therefore, be composed not only of grammarians but to note that the 18th World Sanskrit Conference will be
also historians, anthropologists, humanists, artists, lin- meeting in Canberra, Australia in January 2021. Schol-
guists, philanthropists, and many others both from In- ars from all parts of the world will be presenting papers
dia and other countries, working as a team. It is an idea and discussing the whole gamut of past, present, and
whose time has come. future topics concerning Sanskrit. On the agenda will
It is said of the Yiddish language that there will be be the creation of a roadmap to impart a global status
an extended period between its dying and death. Of to the language.
Sanskrit, I would say that it will never die because it My hope is that the Sanskrit word ajaramar—never
is deeply seeded in almost all 16-plus regional lan- ageing and never dying—perhaps best describes its
guages of India. A plant that has sprouted conceals timeless quality.
its seeds, rendering them apparently invisible, but the
seeds themselves will reappear in its fruits. And yet, Dr. Bhagirath Majmudar, an Emeritus Professor of Pathology
notwithstanding its embedded presence in Indian and Obstetrics-Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, is
culture, it is my considered opinion that Sanskrit needs also a Sanskrit Visharaga and Jagannath scholar, the highest aca-
to be rejuvenated by a process of CPR—Consistent demic honor in Sanskrit. As a Hindu priest, he has conducted some
Persistent Revival. 400 weddings, many of them interfaith. He is a poet, philosopher, Ve-
Hope on the horizon dantist, actor, and playwright. He can be reached at: bmajmud1962@
Is it impossible? Before we tend towards doubt, it gmail.com
will be worthy to remember that our most complete

Revitalizing Sanskrit



For Indian/non-Indian children understand the meaning of the daily prayers they re-
Simplified translations of stories curated from Pan- cite unmindfully. Sanskrit also contains a vast store of
chatantram and Hitopadesham, enlivened with attractive timeless truths—Subhashitani—or practical aphorisms
illustrations, along with interactive discussions that to inform our daily lives. In an interactive setting, such
link these animal tales with contemporary situations nuggets of wisdom can generate lively and profitable
may be helpful. These ancient stories can also be cho- discussions. Temples and religious institutions can
reographed as Indian dance items for performing and open their doors to initiate and stimulate this vital core
viewing by children. Learning Sanskrit can also be a of our culture.
good lingual exercise for children. Many European chil- For scholars
dren have been known to master the difficult phonetics Sanskrit offers a gold mine to a variety of subjects
of Sanskrit with great accuracy. in science and liberal arts. We should invite, encourage,
For adults and fund scholars from various disciplines to dig our
Adult education in Sanskrit through evening/ ancient well and excavate the rich treasure hidden un-
weekend classes should be made available. Many Indi- derneath.
ans could be persuaded to learn the language so as to





58 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE



Travel












ADVENTURES IN



MIDDLE EARTH




Australia and New Zealand were in the news recently for the wrong reasons: raging
fires and an active volcano. Despite these tragedies, the Antipodes have much to offer
today. New Zealand, seemingly remote, has attractions ranging from spectacular,
selfie-friendly scenery to vibrant cities, adventure sports, and a happily laid-back ethos.
The multicultural nation is home to a growing Indian community and sports desi
restaurants in every city. By SUCHETA RAWAL


My first visit to New Zealand in 2007 was un- to explore New Zealand in depth on a two-week tour
der grave circumstances. A close family member had curated by Aroha Luxury Travel Company. Prior to my
passed, and I was summoned for the funeral. Like arrival, German-Kiwi tour operator Veronika Vermeu-
many Indians, my uncle and aunt had immigrated len spoke with me on the phone to discuss my inter-
from north India to Hamilton (the country’s fourth ests and customized a package to the North and South
most populous city) in search of better opportunities. Islands. Having worked with international custom-
As new immigrants, they received subsidized educa- ers for over twenty years, she had deep knowledge
tion, medical, housing, and many other benefits that of different ethnic groups and their preferences for
helped them establish their lives. diets, budgets, accommodations, and even appetite
Though the moment was somber, I met many of for adventure.
my family’s South Asian friends and relatives who We escaped the mainstream attractions and got
were living in different parts of the country. Each per- on a road trip starting in Auckland, and made our way
son shared similar opinions of their life in this remote through rolling hills, sheep farms, isolated beaches,
country. They loved driving through fragrant, wild- pristine coves, and luxurious private lodges.
flower lined highways, scarce traffic, and pure, clean North Island
air. Work-life balance was great, and salaries much Auckland is the largest city in New
higher than those back home. They could also afford Zealand and a good starting point
to live in nice homes, purchase cars, and give their kids to explore the North Island. In
a good education. recent years, Auckland has
Indian New Zealanders or “Indo-Kiwis” are the transformed into a multi-
fastest growing ethnic group in New Zealand. Most of cultural destination with
them are of Punjabi or Gujarati descent, followed by award-winning restaurants,
speakers of Fiji Hindi. One of the main attractions bars, and clubs.
for immigrants is high paying jobs, especially The best way to orient
ones that require manual labor, as the country yourself to the city is from the
has more sheep and cows than people. Farm- sky. Take a scenic seaplane ride
ers can earn as much as six figures and are over the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland
not considered “blue collar” workers. Harbor, Rangitoto crater, and Motu-
A New Perspective tapu, to see how most locals live with-
Over a decade later, my husband in a few minutes of beaches, vineyards,
and I finally had the opportunity and hiking trails.
>>




60 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE

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Travel







local and seasonal ingredients.
Fish and chips, meat pies, roast
lamb, smoked fish, fresh sal-
ads, hokey pokey (honeycomb
candy), and pavlova (meringue
and fruit dessert) are some of
the most popular dishes. Driv-
ing through the countryside,
we would often stop at gas
stations or highway restau-
rants for lunch. Even takeaway
counters offered Indo-fusion
dishes such as chana masala
pies and chili chicken pat-
ties. Staying at private lodges
meant meals were especially
It’s not all work for these kayak-loving employees at a farm. prepared for us and the chefs


I was surprised to find an Indian restaurant at
practically every corner, even in some of the smaller
towns. Named one of the best restaurants in the coun-
try for the past three years, Sidart is a cozy Indian-
inspired restaurant using fresh and sustainable New
Zealand produce. Chef and owner, Sid Sahrawat at-
tended culinary school in Chennai, traveled around
the world, and opened three acclaimed restaurants
in Auckland. The five-course Discovery Menu, which
included modern and flavorful treats like Prawn Bal-
chao Tart, Fried Macadamia Crusted Fish, and Shredded
Morel Mushroom Curry, was one of my most memo-
rable meals of the year.
One of the major attractions near Auckland is the
Waitomo Caves, a network of underground limestone
formations that are home to thousands of glow-worms.
There are options for rafting, zip-lining, or hiking
through the dark caves to see these magical creatures You’ll see many Indians working on sheep farms, a
backbone of New Zealand’s economy.
up close, lighting up the dark caves like brilliant stars
in the night sky.
We drove further inland to Lake Rotorua, known would get our dietary preferences prior to arrival. They
for bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers, and natu- catered to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-
ral hot springs, as well as a large concentration of free diets, using homegrown herbs and vegetables. “We
Maori people. The Maori are the indigenous people of also take our clients to the supermarkets, so they can
New Zealand who came from Polynesia in the 1300s. cook at the hotel apartments if they want to,” says Ver-
Today, they make up 17 percent of New Zealand’s pop- meulen about her South Asian clients.
ulation. At the lake, I was welcomed by people wear- South Island
ing feathered headbands and animal skins. They sang For decades, the turquoise lakes of Otago, the mag-
and danced on ancestral Mokoia Island, bestowing a nificent landscapes of Lake Wakatipu, and the clock
powhiri or official Maori welcome. tower of Christchurch have attracted Bollywood films.
New Zealand’s cuisine is based on British, Mediter- Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, I Hate Luv Storys, and Players are
ranean, and Pacific styles of cooking, though driven by some Hindi films that have helped raise the profile of
>>




62 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE



Travelvel
Tra






is the country’s largest wine region, with exquisite
Pinot Noirs to intense Chardonnays, while Central
Otago is the world’s southernmost commercial wine
growing region.

Looking at glow-worms, not the stars! The author and her husband
at Waitomo Caves, a notable attraction.



















Queenstown is idyllic, not just for nature lovers but also for
thrill-seeking adventurers.

New Zealand as a travel destination.
South Island is home to New Zealand’s highest
mountain range, the Southern Alps, which offers film-
ing opportunities at relatively low elevations and quick
access to the peaks.
Snowy mountains, alpine lakes, longest glaciers,
and evergreen forests make Queenstown an idyllic lo-
cation for honeymooners, nature lovers, and adrenaline
seekers. This hip town is known as the adventure capi-
tal of the world and offers a myriad of activities that
can push you to your limits, including jet boating, bun-
gee jumping, rock climbing, canyoning, abseiling (rap-
pelling down a rock face), paragliding (jumping from
a plane or cliff to glide under a fabric sail), heli-biking
(taking a helicopter up and biking down a mountain), Mt. Aspiring National Park: A helicopter or seaplane ride is the best
skiing, and snowboarding. way to get a bird’s eye view of New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery.
One of the most magnificent sights to me was a Around here, you can also sail around the Marlbor-
field of blooming lupin flowers against the backdrop of ough Sounds’ 1,000 miles of coastline, bays, beaches,
the milky, turquoise-colored Lake Tekapo, and-snow and native forests, fishing for green-lipped mussels,
covered Mount Cook towering behind. Part of a UNES- oysters, salmon, whitebait, abalone, and crayfish. The
CO Dark Sky Reserve, this region of Canterbury is also area is abundant with wildlife, from penguins and rare
a good spot for stargazing. At Mount Cook Lakeside Re- King Shags to dolphins and fur seals.
treat, my host family offered a rare opportunity to see New Zealand is a bucket list destination for many
Saturn, Jupiter, the moon, and constellations from their travelers. Even though it’s a small country and a long
6” refractory telescope from a wine cellar observatory. way to get to, it offers a variety of experiences. Wheth-
New Zealand wines have gained international er you enjoy nature, adventure, food, wine, or culture,
accolades, and vineyard tours are a huge attraction there is something for everyone.
for wine lovers from around the world. Marlborough
>>




64 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE

Join us with


your special date and enjoy a

Free Desert


on us!


































2179 Lawrenceville Hwy. #A • Decatur, GA 30033
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Travel



Tips for traveling to
New ZealanD


Don’t bargain
The Kiwis are very friendly people and
pride themselves in paying high wages to
quality guides and tour operators, and bar-
gaining will cause angry reactions. You don’t
need to pay tips, but accept that there’s a set
price for goods and services.

Be punctual
One of the things that South Asians strug-
gle with, according to Vermeulen, is leaving on
time for tours and activities. Even if you have
booked and paid for a tour, they won’t wait A field of lupins near Lake Tekapo, which is a big draw for
for you if you arrive late. Indian filmmakers.

Get away from the crowds Shredded Morel Mushroom
Recently, overcrowding at tourist loca- Curry is just one of the
tions has become a huge problem, leading to delights at Sidart, rated as
one New Zealand’s top
long lines, congested trails, and frustrating restaurants for the past
photos. To enjoy nature in all its glory, book three years.
private tours with smaller companies that of-
fer similar experiences.
Account for weather disruptions
The South Island is especially suscep-
tible to high winds and frequent rain, which
can cause interruption of helicopter and boat
tours. Be prepared for not everything going
according to plan and if time permits, stay for
a few extra days. Precautions Recommended

New Zealand offers stunning scenery, from for-
ests and glaciers to beaches and waterfalls. Being in
the Pacific Ring of Fire, it has a high frequency of vol-
canic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. A recent
eruption on White Island killed 16 people, including
Mrs. Mayuari “Mary” Singh from Atlanta. Though most
adventures are organized safely with ample warnings
and weather tracking, natural forces are unpredictable
and travelers must check multiple sources for any advi-
sories or closures, before embarking on tours to certain
at-risk areas.






A rousing traditional welcome from the Maoris, New Zealand’s
indigenous people. Sucheta Rawal is an Atlanta-based food and travel writer,
author of Beato Goes To series of children’s books, and founder of
the nonprofit Go Eat Give. Follow her on Instagram @SuchetaRawal





66 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE

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CoverStoryoverStory
C















The ‘Other’




Indian Immigrants


















































Behind the veneer of model minority, academic excellence, high paychecks

and stable jobs, Indians in America are fast facing a parallel reality—that of

being one of the largest undocumented populations in the U.S.

By ZOFEEN MAQSOOD







68 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE

In the spring of 2015, 26-year- an immigration policy that al-
old Amisha Singh, a shy woman lows those who were brought to
from the small city of Kanpur, In- the country as children—either il-
dia, made her new home in the legally, or who, after entering the
bustling metropolis of Santa Clara, country legally, lost status due to
California. Singh got married to an visa overstays or other reasons—
Indian IT professional in a typi- to receive a renewable two-year
cally arranged marriage where period of deferred action from de-
she got to know her groom on portation and become eligible for a
long-distance calls over a period work permit. However, considering
of a few months. Once in America, the current administration’s heavy-
while she enjoyed the initial mari- handed stance against immigrants
tal period, differences soon began like her, Akriti fears her status may
cropping up in her relationship. be revoked at any time.
Trapped in an abusive marriage, Akriti admits that she had a
she went through depression and tough childhood, where her par-
betrayal before consulting a di- ents, living without any federal
vorce lawyer. The attorney assured aid or insurance, had to crunch ev-
her that it was fine to get a divorce ery penny to afford the basics for
while in the U.S. Neither the lawyer her and her sibling. She says that
nor the client consulted an immi- despite having been a stellar stu-
gration attorney. Once the divorce dent, she has been mocked about
was finalized, to her utter dismay, the situation she never created.
Singh fell out of status and became She now works part-time in a gro-
an undocumented immigrant. cery store, and her plans of pursu-
While Amisha got trapped in ing a degree in medicine seems like
an immigration quagmire owing to a wishful dream.
ignorance, 19-year-old Akriti Patel’s Both Amisha and Akriti rep-
undocumented status was more resent a subsection of immigrants
due to circumstances she played in America whose undocumented
no role in. The Patel family came to status is the direct result of circum-
the U.S. during the ’80s from Guja- stances and a broken immigration
rat, India. Akriti, who was 8 years system rather than illegal intent.
old at the time, assimilated into Model minority no more?
American life, and gradually lost Indian-Americans, thanks to
most memories of her motherland. their outsized success in the cor-
A few years ago, when she had to porate world, in academics, entre-
submit some documents for attain- preneurship, and other fields, are
ing a scholarship, her parents broke known for having aced the Ameri-
the news that the family had over- can Dream. But as per recent data,
stayed their visitor visa and were Indians in America are fast facing
undocumented in America. a parallel reality—that of being one
Today Akriti is on Deferred Ac- of the largest undocumented popu-
tion for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), lations in the U.S.




At a count of over 600,000, Indians are now one of the largest undocumented immigrant
groups in America. (Photo courtesy of Diwali at Times Square)

>>




KHABAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY• 2020 • 69

CoverStory





While the total number of un- “For Indian nationals, there are back-
documented immigrants may have logs in both the family-based immi-
gone down in recent times, it may gration system and in the employ-
be ironic to know that number of ment-based system. This means
undocumented Asians and par- that family members may have
ticularly Indians is on the rise. Ac- to remain apart for many years.
cording to a study entitled Inside Sometimes they come to the U.S.
the Numbers: How Immigration Shapes to join other family members on a
Asian American and Pacific Islander temporary or nonimmigrant visa,
Communities conducted by Los Angeles- such as a tourist visa or a student visa,
based civil rights organization and when their status runs out,
Asian Americans Advancing Jus- “Because the U.S. continues to provide they may overstay their visa for a
more H-1B visas than there are green cards
tice (AAJC), out of the 10.7 million available for Indians on H-1B visas to adjust variety of reasons.”
undocumented immigrants as es- their status, many Indian families are stuck However, immigration ex-
timated by Center for Migration in temporary nonimmigrant H-1B status,” perts maintain that the issue of
Studies, 1.7 million are Asian. This says Megan Essaheb, director of immigration undocumented status is not re-
means that approximately 16% of advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing ally black and white. Essaheb
undocumented immigrants in the Justice (AAJC). (Photo courtesy of AAJC) also explains how the ongoing
high-skill immigration delays
More staggeringly, there was a 72% increase in may be contributing to the crisis. She says, “One ex-
ample is the case of H-1B visa holders. Because
the number of undocumented Indians between the U.S. continues to provide more H-1B visas than
2010-2017. As per South Asian Americans Leading there are green cards available for Indians on H-1B
visas to adjust their status, many Indian families
Together (SAALT), a national South Asian civil are stuck in temporary nonimmigrant H-1B status.
rights organization, there are now over 600,000 When the child of an H-1B visa holder turns 21, they
lose their H-1B status and if they do not leave the U.S.
Indians who are undocumented. they may become undocumented.

“Other people make the decision to stay for a vari-
country are from Asia, making them the third largest ety of reasons such as medical needs, conditions back
group of undocumented immigrants in the country, home or a lack of support network back home. Some-
preceded by Mexicans and Central Americans. times, people are waiting in line to get a green card
The study also reveals that at 37%, In- and their sponsor dies causing them to fall
dia tops the list of undocumented im- out of the line.”
migrants from Asian countries. For Sunayana Dumala of Olathe,
More staggeringly, there was a 72% Kansas, the problem sounds all too
increase in the number of un- familiar. In 2017, Dumala caught
documented Indians between national attention when her hus-
2010-2017. As per South Asian band Srinivas Kuchibotla was shot
Americans Leading Together in a mindless racist attack. Follow-
(SAALT), a national South Asian ing this traumatic experience, she
civil rights organization, there are faced another blow—the fear of be-
now over 600,000 Indians who are ing rendered out of status. Recount-
undocumented. More visa overstays ing her horror, she says, “The moment
were from India than any other country. the officer who came to my house that
[See the Sidebar for more statistics.] night shared that Srinu was no
Perpetrators or victims? Highlighting the fact that most South Asians more, I knew that my status in the
enter the country legally, Amy Bhatt, a
On why there is a rising num- professor and a researcher on transnational U.S. would be in jeopardy—this de-
ber of undocumented Indians, Me- migration who has written books on South spite the fact that I had studied,
gan Essaheb, director of immigra- Asian migration patterns, says, “The line lived, and worked in the country for
tion advocacy at AAJC, explains, between ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ is a thin one.” several years.”
>>




70 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE

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*You aren’t eligible to participate in a workplace publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other
retirement plan, but your spouse is eligible and your professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised
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Citations.
1. irs.gov/retirement-plans/ira-year-end-reminders [11/08/2019]
2. irs.gov/retirement-plans/traditional-and-roth-iras [12/04/2019]
3. irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits [12/04/2019]
4. irs.gov/retirement-plans/amount-of-roth-ira-contributions-that-you-can-make-for-2019 [11/18/2019]
5. irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/amount-of-roth-ira-contributions-that-you-can-make-for-2020 [11/08/2019]
6. irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-required-minimum-distributions-rmds [10/25/2019]

Moneywise is hosted by Rajesh Jyotishi with Shalin Financial Services, Inc. Rajesh Jyotishi is a registered representative of Dempsey
Lord Smith, LLC, which is a registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services are offered through Dempsey
Lord Smith, LLC. Rajesh has been a resident of Atlanta since 1975 and in the financial services industry since 1991. For questions,
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94 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE

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Immigration




New Policies for 2020, Part 1

Provided by HUMERA SUBHANI

H1B registration update as early as December 2020, although no start date has
The USCIS is announcing the implementation of the been announced. DHS has remained silent on how exactly
H-1B registration process for H-1B cap-subject petitions. the testing will change, but there may be pilot testing in
The initial H-1B petition registration period will begin the fall with volunteers. Based on the comments of the
on March 1, 2020. Starting then, USCIS will require H-1B Trump administration, applicants can assume that the
cap-subject petitioners, including those eligible for the testing will be more challenging than in previous revisions.
advanced degree exemption, to first register electronically Dec 2019 guidance details 15 examples of “unlaw-
with USCIS and pay the associated H-1B registration fee ful acts,” such as drunk driving, bank fraud, not filing or
before being eligible to properly file an H-1B cap-subject paying taxes, and lying to the government.
petition for Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B numerical allocations.
USCIS intends to close the initial registration period APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES—FEBRUARY 2020
on March 20, 2020 and will announce the actual end FAMILY India Pak/Bangladesh
date on its website. After the initial registration period 1st 22Aug13 22Aug13
closes, USCIS will conduct the initial selection process, 2A Current Current
2B
22Aug14
22Aug14
and petitioners with selected registrations will be eligible 3rd 22Nov07 22Nov07
to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for those selected 4th 22Nov04 01Jul06
registrations during the associated filing. Petitioners EMPLOYMENT India Pak/Bangladesh
must register using an online account. USCIS will provide 1st 01Jan15 01Dec18
step-by-step instructions on its website at www.uscis.gov. 2nd 19May09 Current
USCIS fees increase 3rd 08Jan09 Current
The January 2020 Khabar column laid out the Other 08Jan09 Current
fee increases to take effect this year. Some significant 4th Current Current
increases include an 83% increase for Citizenship (N-400) 5th 01Sep18 Current
application—from $640 to $1,170. The cost to file an
adjustment application with ancillary benefits (work/trav-
el permits) will increase to $2,195 from $1,225 and there DATES FOR FILING VISA APPLICATIONS—FEBRUARY 2020
will be new fees for DACA and Asylum petitions, which FAMILY India Pak/Bangladesh
were previously filed at no charge. Employment-based 1st 22Mar14 22Mar14
cases are also facing large hikes in fees. 2A 01Dec19 01Dec19
The earliest that the fee increase can take place is in 2B 22Apr15 22Apr15
March 2020, so many applicants are filing before the new 3rd 22Jul08 22Jul08
4th
22Jul07
22Jul05
rates will be effective.
Citizenship testing—also moral character EMPLOYMENT India Pak/Bangladesh
A DHS memorandum released in May 2019 and titled 1st 15Mar17 Current
“Revision of the Naturalization Civics Tests” announced 2nd 01Jul09 Current
01Feb10
01Jan19
3rd
there would be changes in the exam questions about U.S. Other 01Feb10 01Jan19
government and history, as well as the oral test of knowl- 4th Current Current
edge of the English language. The change could take effect 5th Current Current





















96 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE