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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Vol. 19 No 3 April 2014
www.pittsburghpatrika.com
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
The Quarterly Magazine (Jan, Apr, Jul & Oct) for the Indian Diaspora
Vol. 19 No. 3 www.pittsburghpatrika.com April 2014
4006 Holiday Park Drive, Murrysville, PA 15668
Phone/Fax: (724) 327 0953 e-mail: ThePatrika@aol.com
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Highlights in this issue... ... ...
The Most Populous and the Most Powerful Democracies
By Kollengode S Venkataraman..................................................... 2
Pitt in the Himalayas — A Divine Experience
By Rohan Rambore......................................................................... 6
Preventing/Reversing Diseases Through Changes in Diet
By Uma Purighalla........................................................................ 10
Boating without Life Vests Ends in Tragedy
By Siva Soora............................................................................... 12
South Asian Bridal Show on April 6th
By ................................................................................................. 20
The Greatest Journey: Life
By Puja Shroff............................................................................... 22
On Old Age: A Vignette from Indian Classic
By Kollengode S Venkataraman................................................... 23
Retirement Options for Indian Immigrants
By Balwant Dixit.......................................................................... 26
Things to Think About
By K S Venkataraman................................................................... 32
On the Cover: The majestic, rugged and imposing peaks of the Himalayan
Ranges seen from the foothills in Mussourie. Story by Rohan
Rambore on Page 6. •
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
The Quarterly Magazine (Jan, Apr, Jul & Oct) for the Indian Diaspora
Vol. 19 No. 3 www.pittsburghpatrika.com April 2014
Phone/Fax: (724) 327 0953 e-mail: ThePatrika@aol.com
The Most Populous and the Most Powerful
Democracies
By Kollengode S Venkataraman
It is election season again in India. Recently, the Indian English Media
obsessed with how they stack up against the US, came up with this stat:
In this elections, the Centre for Media Studies in New Delhi estimates
that Indian political parties will spend a whopping Rs 300 billion in the
campaign, equivalent to $ 5 billion. They are gleeful they are catching up
with the US, where, in 2012, the political parties spent $7 billion.
So, it is time to compare the ground realities of the electoral system in
the two countries going beyond the constitutional hyperbole of one-manone-vote
banality and vox populi vox dei embellishment.
India’s democracy is unique. It is a Dynastic Democracy. His socialist
liberal leaning notwithstanding, Jawaharlal Nehru, praised by the
West as the architect of modern India, was no George Washington. Nehru
sowed the seeds for dynastic politics in India. He kept his daughter Indira
Gandhi as his personal secretary and de facto chief of staff when she was
barely 30, giving her political exposure nationally and overseas. He made
her the president of the Congress Party when she was 42. Her Congress
cronies ensured her the premiership. She thrust her sons as yuvarajas
(princes) making sure her retainers would put them on the throne after her.
Sanjay died in a reckless plane joyride when his single-engine craft nosedived
in downtown Delhi. After Rajiv’s untimely ghastly assassination,
his widow Sonia, despite her ambition, did not dare to ascend the throne
because of her Italian citizenship. But her Congress cronies made sure
she became the de facto empress holding court, with Manmohan Singh,
the nominal prime minister, doing her bidding as her compliant diwan.
Simultaneously, Empress Sonia has been grooming her son Rahul for the
throne keeping her daughter Priyanka as the back-up, just in case.
• Once this pattern was set, regional parties replicated it in Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan…
In regional parties, old timers rule the roost, grooming their sons and
daughters, modeling themselves after Congress. In their defense, every-
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
thing in India is hereditary from Bollywood onwards to professional careers
to the corporate world. Even though opportunities are nominally open to
all, established parents — the likes of the Bachhans, Kapoors, the Khans,
the Ravi Shankars, the Lalgudi Jayaramans, the Ambanis, the Tatas, the
Birlas — make sure their wards get huge advantage over others.
• Intra-party democracy is unknown in Indian political parties except
perhaps among the Communists and in the Bharatiya Janata Party. India’s
Leninist or Maoist Communists are like rare biological species that have
become extinct in their natural habitat, but survive on some marooned
islands. China and Russia, the patron saints of Indian communists, have
abandoned Marxism while communism limps along in India with Indian
communists making political alliances with anybody but BJP.
• In the absence of primaries and intra-party democracy, despotic
leaders of regional parties nominate candidates for all elections. Cronyism,
personal loyalty overriding integrity, personal wealth and family connections
are the factors for the selection, not talent or fresh thinking.
• The last factor that makes the India democracy ineffective is the
absence of runoffs in elections. As in track events in sports, the first-pastthe-finish-line
wins. Political parties have perverted elections by placing
“dummy” minority candidates in districts having significant minority
population to scatter the votes. In Mumbai’s Matunga or Delhi’s Karol
Bagh where South Indians live, you will find a Ramakrishnan or a Mudaliar
on the ballot; or in Sowkarpet in Chennai where North Indians live, a
Bhogilal Luthra will be an independent “dummy” candidate. By siphoning
off minority votes this way, established party’s candidates get elected.
The scenario in the US has its own version of Dynastic Democracy.
The Bushes, the Gores, the Clintons, the Cuomos, the Kennedys,
the Rockefellers are well-known names. Our US senator Bob Casey Jr. is
the son of Bob Casey Sr, a state governor. It is not anywhere as bad as it
is in India, thanks to the primaries, but the slate is not clean either.
• In the US, electoral maps are redrawn every ten years. State legislatures
redraw the districts. Since the majority party in the state legislature
appoints the committee for redistricting, the committees redraw the maps
giving maximum demographic advantage to the majority party.
Pennsylvania’s case is illustrative here. In the 2012 elections, this is
how the votes split in state-wide ballots (numbers in %):
President: 52/47 Democrat/Republican
US Senate: 54/45 Democrat/Republican
Attorney General: 56/42/2 Democrat/Republican/Independent
Auditor General: 50/46/4 Democrat/Republican/Independent
State Treasurer: 53/44/3 Democrat/Republican/Independent
Democracies... Contd. on Page 31
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Pitt in the Himalayas: A Divine Experience
By Rohan Lambore, Pittsburgh, PA
Rohan, who grew up in Allison Park, PA, is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh,
majoring in Political Science, Urban Studies and International-Area Studies.
Setting the Scene: In the fall of 2013, I had the privilege
of studying abroad on the “Pitt in the Himalayas”
program in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh
and the Woodstock School based in Mussoorie, India.
Mussoorie is a hill station in foothills of Western Himalayas.
At first I could not believe I would be spending
all four months of fall semester in the shadow of some
the world’s tallest mountains.
Throughout much of the spring 2013 term, I, along with the evergenerous
staff in the University’s Study Abroad Office (SAO), set into
motion what would evolve into the most rewarding experience of my life.
Thus the packing and anxiety began with high anticipation throughout
the preceding summer months as I prepared myself for what would be a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I knew it, I was in the Hanifl Center, the outdoor education
Before facility of the Woodstock International Boarding School in Mussoorie.
Sitting at 6,800 feet above sea level, I looked out of my window
admiring my surroundings: luscious green peaks peering over the misty
clouds, the calls of numerous birds echoing across the valleys, and on
the road below cheerful school children racing home to their villages that
dotted the foothills.
I smiled as I reminisced on the exciting six-hour train journey from
Delhi to Dehradun and then a winding road trip to Mussoorie that had
brought me to such an abode. What was to come in the weeks and months
ahead I could not say. However, I knew that it was this paradise that fourteen
other students from the University
of Pittsburgh and I would call home for
the duration of my stay in India.
Not Your Typical Classes: My
fellow cohorts and I excitedly began
to observe our surroundings and tackle
the lingering jet lag, but academic
endeavors started almost immediately.
On this specific study abroad program,
students could choose from seven
classes, and almost all chose to take
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
five, equaling a full, 15-credit term.
I chose two anthropology courses,
one in creative writing, one in biodiversity,
and one in advanced Hindu
and Urdu. All classes were taught
in the Hanifl Center, except for the
Hindi/Urdu course, which was held
at the renowned Landour Language
School, just ten minutes away. Drs.
Joseph Alter and Nicole Constable,
professors at the University of Pittsburgh,
led all anthropology coursework.
Professor Sindhu Clark of the
Woodstock school convened the biodiversity
class, while Stephen Alter,
an acclaimed Indian writer of fiction
and nonfiction literature, taught the
With the whole group at a Buddhist temple.
writing course.
My classes were specific to the location in which I was living and exploring:
the Western Himalayas. The courses were unique, not resembling
anything at a traditional university campus. The design and structure was
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outstanding: we could essentially
live and learn about the Himalayan,
and pan-Indian picture by reading
and writing about the culture, traditions,
and values of those living in
the hills that surrounded us. Little
did I know that the numerous treks,
day visits, and day-long trips, would
be utterly “divine” experiences.
Exploring the Mountains: I
don’t know where to begin when I
try to detail my journey around Uttarakhand
during those days when
I was not in the classroom in Mussoorie.
How could my 14 fellow
students and I essentially explore the
entire state in only four months?
Our travels took us to Sainji,
a small up-and-coming village an
hour away from Woodstock that
was benefiting from its Gharwal
Himalayas... Contd. on Page 20
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Preventing and Reversing Diseases
Through Changes in Diet and Nutrition
By Uma Purighalla, MD, ABIM
Editor’s Note: Uma Purighalla, born in Nellore, AP, India, grew up in the Pittsburgh
metro area. With her degree from Medical College of Pennsylvania, she is board-certified
in Internal Medicine, and is in private practice with Preferred Primary Care Physicians.
Of late the buzz word is to go low-fat plant-based
whole food. From Bill Clinton to Venus Williams,
many people are reversing their diabetes, heart disease
and autoimmune disorders by eliminating or severely
restricting dairy, meat, poultry, eggs, refined carbohydrates
and oils. Instead, they go for whole grains,
vegetables, fruits, beans and legumes. Flowing through
their blood and cleansing their livers are colorful
smoothies, salads, flavorful stews/soups, curries and
even starchy vegetables.
According to recent Adventist studies, low-fat whole food vegan/near
vegan diets are strongly associated with healthy longevity. But, Indians
long ago had already put much emphasis on plant-based diets.
But why then are Indians and Indians abroad doing so poorly today?
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, diabetes is
soaring amongst Indians. The Indian Heart Association finds that Indians
comprise 60% of the world’s heart attack burden, while they are only
20% of the world’s population. Further, 50% of heart attacks among
Indian men occur before they are 50. These risks are high even amongst
the nonsmoking vegetarians who are not overweight.
The great news is that these statistics can be dramatically improved.
Finlanders once also had dire health statistics like Indians today. Over the
past few decades Finland has helped dairy farmers become berry farmers.
They have reduced animal protein consumption and offer a vegetarian
meal option for school lunches. They have greatly improved the health
of their nation as a result.
The reverse corollary: Okinawa Japan was once known as a Blue
Zone, having the largest population of healthy centenarians in the world.
Their diet consisted of 95% brown rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables and
fruit. Only 3 ounces of fish/week and meat only once a month. They did
not consume dairy, and oils were rarely used. It was a starchy diet with
only 7% fat. Funny, they hardly had any cases of diabetes, heart disease,
osteoporosis or other chronic illness. Today, their diet is 30% fat, high
in animal proteins and refined starches. Consequently, obesity and other
Diet and Food... Continued on Page 18
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Film Festival
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Boating without Life Vests Ends in Tragedy
By Siva Soora, Little Rock, Arkansas
e-mail: sisoora@yahoo.com
It was a warm, bright, muggy, summer day in Little
Rock, Arkansas. A few Indian families were making
their July-4th plans—especially those with parents
visiting from India. The “India like” weather was
enticing. But little did one group of friends discussing
a trip to the nearby lake know of the terrible tragedy
that awaited them.
For most urban Indians the only exposure to a
large body of water is getting into knee-deep
waters at the beach. So, when an Indian says he/she
knows how to swim, it is typically swimming in pools.
And very few Indians travel on boats, let alone how to pilot one.
Also, Safety First is an idea drilled into people in American manufacturing
work places. However, many Indians working in offices do not
have this same kind of training.
Two families—one a husband and wife and their friend; the other, a
couple with elderly parents and their four-year old—decided to go on a
boating trip on last July-4th. They chose one of the many large remote
lakes in Arkansas. These young immigrants had lived in the US for barely
five years. The husband driving the boat and his friend had learned swimming
while growing up in India.
It was windy when they rented a large pontoon boat that beautiful
summer day. They were all issued life vests as required by law.
The clerk who handed over the vests told them, “Adults don’t need to
wear it but children under 12 must wear it.” This casual statement was
the Achilles heel for this day of boating.
The parents, not knowing how to swim and fearful of the water quickly
put on the life jackets and the four-year-old was also suited with the life
preserve. None of the others wore a life jacket.
The husband navigating the boat was the only one with any experience
in piloting the boat. In the strong soothing winds on that 90-degree day
they started out. The sole trained driver was trying to train others on how
to run the boat. Along the edge of the lake’s shallow waters, others had
parked their small boats and were swimming or fishing.
The Indians in the pontoon boat did not pay attention to the ski boats
speeding past them at 30 knots and the strong waves created by them. In
about an hour, they were in the middle of the lake, and their initial fear
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
and excitement was wearing off. They parked the boat in the middle of
the lake where the water was 90-feet deep. They could not anchor their
boat in such deep waters.
Taking off his shirt, the man who knew how to swim jumped into
the water and swam for a while. He returned to the boat thinking
that it was safe to swim in the lake. With the engine shut off, the boat
was drifting in the strong wind.
Then his friend decided to jump into the lake with his encouragement.
Swimming back home in a pool was their only experience. Little did they
know what to expect in a large body of water with rolling waves created
by the speeding boats whizzing by. The friend panicked and started taking
in water. Noticing him panic, the boat driver jumped in the water
without his life jacket to help. Any trained person in water rescue knows
you should not be in front of the person you are trying to rescue. But
the driver went in front of his friend who, in his panic grabbed him and
pulled him under the water. The mistake of either of them not wearing a
life jacket was fatal for both. They were drowning. All the others on the
boat were bystanders in shock not knowing what to do.
The boat driver’s wife screamed and threw life preservers to them. But
in the 40-knot wind, they drifted away from the two struggling for their
lives. The boat itself was drifting in the wind away from them. Those on
the boat panicked and started the engines of the boat full throttle. The
engine overheated and was shut off automatically.
Untrained for this kind of an emergency, they called 911 from their
cell phone, but could not get a signal as all cell-phone towers were quite
far away in the wilderness of the lake. After several vital minutes, they
reached 911, but help arrived quite late. The two people in the water
drowned. Totally grief-stricken those on the boat returned to the shore.
So, what if anything could have been done differently to avoid such
a tragic turn of events? A marina operator told a journalist from a
local TV station, “Eight out of nine drowning incidents are because people
do not wear life vests.” In hindsight, it is so obvious that everyone should
have worn life jacket whether they knew swimming or not. Boating safely
requires a few simple rules, such as swimming only in shallow waters
closer to the shore. The boat should have been anchored, and at least one
other person should have known how to operate the boat. When it is very
windy, it is critical not to jump into deep waters since the waves created
by ski boats are bigger.
Thus, an otherwise enjoyable boating trip in an Arkansas lake ended
in a tragedy this summer afternoon, changing the lives for many forever
simply because of not taking a few simple safety precautions. •
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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Food and Diet... continued from Page 12
chronic diseases of the West are ever increasing in Okinawa.
After reading this, you may think of changing your dietary habits.
Before you start, check with your doctor to guide you since dietary needs
can vary from person to person depending on body type and medications
one may be on. Here are general suggestions for you to consider:
• Avoid frying and dramatically reduce oils. They get oxidized easily,
become rancid and turn into trans fats when heated. Exercising cannot
remove such toxins from the body.
• Instead bake, roast, or steam food, and dry toast spices.
• Avoid or dramatically reduce dairy and meat.
• Rely more on beans and lentils. Eat whole grains.
• Have more fruits and vegetables -- some raw; and some fresh.
• Add one tablespoon of ground flax seed or a few almonds, walnuts
or chia seeds into your daily regimen for Omega 3 fatty acid.
• Check your vitamin B12 level yearly. Vegans must take B12.
• Check vitamin D and supplement according to your doctors advice.
Too much or too little vitamin D is detrimental to overall health.
For further information on healthy plant based diets and recipes,
checkout www.theplantbasedplate.com; www.21daykickstartindia.com;
www.pcrm.com; www.thefatfreevegan.com; or www.drjohnmcdougall.
com. And review with your doctor. •
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Himalayas ... continued from Page 10
English-medium school recently instituted by the village chief and his
Canadian-born wife. Soon after, we found ourselves overlooking the
Tehri Reservoir and Dam, a hydroelectric project that is seeking to renew
the infrastructure across the Tehri Gharwal region in Uttarakhand.
Among our day trips were Navdanya, an organic farm based in the plains
outside Dehradun, as well as Assan Barrage, a bird watching point next
to the Paonta Sahib Gurudwara in
Himachal Pradesh, which were
simply beautiful and insightful
experiences.
We also visited both Rajaji and
Jim Corbett National Parks where
we saw a variety of animals up
close, including the famed Indian
elephant and quite luckily, an
Indian tiger. These places were
With Dr. Joseph Alter and kids in the village.
incredible complements to our
various day-trips and village visits
as we felt we had finally understood “the wild.”
Nevertheless, our 6-day treks to Har-ki-Dun and Gangotri were on
an entirely different level. The camping, climbing, picture taking, and
for me, praying, were unparalleled experiences as we journeyed up the
valleys to both the source of the Ganga River and the Tibetan border.
Similarly, our week-long home stay in Majhkali, near the small hill station
of Ranikhet, exposed us to the eastern part of Uttarakhand, the intrinsic
beauty of the Nanda Devi mountain range, and the indigenous way of life
in a Himalayan village. We concluded our trip with a rafting adventure
down the Ganga herself, surviving a number of dangerous rapids, not to
mention the freezing temperatures of the green-blue water.
Symbolically, we ended our rafting adventure at Rishikesh, with the
Ganga Aarti on the banks of the river at an ashram, where we were able
to thank the Gods for a truly successful semester. Then it was back up to
Mussoorie to finish up the semester and celebrate. Before we knew it our
journey was over and it was time to say our heavyhearted good byes.
Months later, I still find such experiences transformative: they not
only showed me almost every corner of the region, but also helped me
discover my own capabilities, limitations, and goals.
The Value of Studying Abroad: As an Indian-American, this trip
was a dream come true for me. I learned more about my roots culturally,
linguistically, and spiritually, I explored unimaginable locations, took
amazing courses, made a plethora of friends, and brought home infinite
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
memories. From playing with village children in Sainji to standing atop
the Gomukh glacier in Gangotri, as a human being and as a Hindu, I am
certainly more appreciative of what I know about “incredible India.”
I dream of going back one day, doing it all over again and more. The
people I met and spoke to, and the environments I immersed myself in
were truly more than rewarding. I strongly encourage everyone to travel
abroad, go places you never thought you could and explore as much as
you can. Take it all in for what it is really worth.
Finally, a sincere Thank-You to all of those who made the inaugural
year of the Pitt in the Himalayas program a great success both here at
the University of Pittsburgh, and at the Woodstock School in Mussoorie,
India. Three years of meticulous planning on their part made this happen.
Without them I would certainly not be able to share my story. •
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
The Greatest Journey: Life
By Puja Shroff, Charleroi, PA
Puja was born in New Jersey and is a 20-year resident here. With a BA in Psychology
from Case Western Reserve, she earned an MS in Counseling & Clinical
Health Psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is
a counselor in a private group practice providing psychiatric care in Washington
County. Along with psychology, she’s had a keen interest in spirituality. “I am grateful,”
she acknowledges, “to my family and my Guru in my journey in life.”
“A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet.” — Lao Tzu
We are all travelers who have embarked on this greatest journey,
life. Yet, we travel aimlessly without knowing the destination,
purpose, and value. From the day we are born till the day we die, we go
through numerous experiences. On this journey, we
expect to find happiness, peace, and contentment.
We may even mistake them to be the destination
itself. While the whole universe lies inside of
us, the external world traps us with occasions for
instant gratification. Sant Kabirdas puts this nicely
in a doha: “This world is like a flower trapping a
bee. Don’t get carried away by the fleeting experience
and falsity.” Essentially, we are all in search
of eternal bliss.
Time and time again, Spiritual Masters like the Buddha, Jesus Christ,
Guru Nanak, Krishna, Rama, Mahavir Swami and others have walked
this earth to encourage each of us to ask three crucial questions: 1) Who
am I? 2) What is my purpose? and 3) Where am I to go? When we are
able to answer these questions, no further questions arise.
Human beings by nature are curious and desires to know and explore
the phenomenal world around them. So curious is man that he
has traveled to the moon and back. We have explored the depths of the
ocean. However, we fail to search within ourselves. Great philosophers
have said “Man, know thyself.”
The true self is the consciousness within us, the silent witness (not
spectator). Paradoxically, it is the self, soul, that sustains the body, but
we have subdued it and made the mind our master. Holy Scriptures state,
“God made man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life.” Once that breath of life departs, the body becomes
useless. Thus, our value is dependent on the soul -- the greatest treasure
we possess.
Life journey... ... Continued on Page 32
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
On Old Age: A Vignette from Indian Classic
Puranaanooru is an anthology of the Tamil Sangam literature, written
by both men and women poets belonging to 1800 to 2500 years before
the Common Era. The 398 verses are in classical Tamil with very few
Sanskrit words interwoven, which clearly indicates that Tamil’s history is
parallel to Sanskrit’s. In the verse presented here, the only Sanskrit word
is maayam. The oldest Tamil book available today — dated a few centuries
before the Common Era — is Tholkappiyam, a book on grammar. If you
have a book on grammar that old, it is obvious, the language itself was
sophisticated even at that time with a very rich history.
The Puranaanooru verses deal exclusively with secular themes. They
describe the valor, pride, pettiness, generosity, and even philandering of
kings; they admonish kings to be loyal to their wives; they advise kings
not to let bureaucrats harass citizens; they describe the grinding poverty
of ordinary citizens during wars… ...
But the verse presented here is very different. In this, the poet,
Todittalai Vizhuttandinaar, in his very old age, recalls with vivid
imagery the innocent days of his youth long gone. The sentiment he expresses
is so universal that it transcends time, place, culture and every
other facet that separates humanity into groups. Here is a free-style
rendering of the verse in English:
I feel sad to think about it now.
On the sandy edges of the pond with cool water,
we played with girls who made dolls with the thick soil,
decorating them with flowers plucked from trees nearby.
Holding hands in the innocence of youth,
we hugged each other, swaying this way and that.
Climbing the Marutha (Arjuna) tree on the bank
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
we dived into the deep pond with a thud and a splash.
Reaching the bottom, we returned, showing, to the amazed
onlookers on the shore, fistfuls of sand
grabbed from the pond’s floor.
Where did that innocent youth go?
Isn’t it pitiful that having become old, now tremblingly
I walk with a metal-capped stick while coughing,
barely uttering a few words in between?
For these who are interested in classical Tamil, I give below the
Tamil verse. Even if you know Tamil, the Tamil you read in
today’s weeklies and dailies may not help you to appreciate the Tamil in
this verse on first reading. But if you persist in reading it, you will get a
glimpse of the language’s pristine beauty.
இனநிைனந் இரக்கம் ஆகின் ; திணமணல்
ெசய் பாைவக் ெகாய்த் ைதஇத்,
தண்கயம் ஆம் மகளெரா ைகபைணந்,
தவழித் தழஇத், ங்வழித் ங்கி,
மைறஎனல் அறியா மாயமில் ஆயெமா
உயர்சிைன மதத் ைறறத் தாழ்ந்,
நர்நணப் பேகா ஏறிச், சீர்மிகக்,
கைரயவர் மளத், திைரயகம் பதிர,
ெநநர்க் ட்டத்த் ெமனப் பாய்ந்,
ளத்மணற் ெகாண்ட கல்லா இளைம.
அளேதா தாேன! யாண்ண் ெகால்ேலா-
ெதாத்தைல வத்தண் ஊன்றி, நக்ற்,
இமிைட மிைடந்த சிலெசால்
ெப தாளேராம் ஆகிய எமக்ேக?
Tamil, Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Chinese are the world’s
classical languages. India is the only country having given birth to World’s
two classical languages — Sanskrit and Tamil. — By KSV •
Traditional, Contemporary Styles for Every Occasion
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A large collection in different regional styles and designs
in both pure silk and art silk.
Please come and see our collection. Contact
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(412) 488 9742 or 412 480 0896
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Renuka Roy Wedding Specialist
Making Dream weddings come true
Phone: 412.414.2373 e-mail: rxroywedding@gmail.com
www.greatindianweddings.com
27
The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Retirement Options for Indian Immigrants
By Balwant Dixit, Fox Chapel, PA
(412) 963-8023. E-mail: bdixit@pitt.edu
In recent years whenever seniors among Indian immigrants (65+)
meet, either in small groups informally or at large gatherings such as
at national conventions, one topic that always comes up is “What to do
when we retire?” Such discussions usually end up by saying that Indian
immigrants in USA must have their own retirement facility or community
where all of us can enjoy our retired life with camaraderie seeing Indian
movies, eating together Indian cuisine and arranging outings together,
praying the way we always wanted to do and spend the remaining years
in a an atmosphere truly Indian. However, such discussions rarely try to
address or discuss many serious aspects of such a dream plan for retirement.
I am 81 years old and I just retired after 50+ years working at the
University of Pittsburgh in various capacities; from being just a teaching
fellow to being an effective Dean of one of Health Science Schools. I
have spent over five years looking into this retirement conundrum each
one of us who is close to retirement or who has just retired find himself
or herself. Retirement presents a myriad of issues that must be looked
into in a serious manner. After collecting information for over five years
I have written a comprehensive paper on “Retirement Options for Indian
Immigrants to USA.” A copy of my paper is available for a minimum
donation of $5.00. All proceeds will be donated to a residential school,
Dhayari Karna-Badhir Moolanchi Shala run by Suhrud Mandal, Pune,
India (http://www.suhrudmandal.in/) that is “transforming life of hearing
impaired” by providing them education from K2 to the 12th grade. The
following is my personal story, which is repeated by so many who came
to USA to build their careers in various fields.
When I arrived in USA in 1962, I was one of about 4,000 persons
of Indian origin who were in USA then. Initially my plans were
to go back to India since in those days persons from Asia were neither eligible
to becoming US residents nor were they allowed to own any property
(Ref: Immigration Act of 1917 blocking further immigration from Asia).
So questions regarding where to retire were far away on the horizon.
Years went by fast. With a special arrangement with the US Immigration
I was able to accept a faculty position just for three years at the University
of Pittsburgh. The future looked uncertain since I had very little chance of
getting permanent residency status because of the 1917 legislation. On the
advice of a colleague I decided not join the retirement plan offered by the
University since I, as an Asian, I would not have been able to stay in USA
on a permanent basis and I will not be allowed to take my retirement ben-
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
efits to India.
However,
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2/25/14 1:08 PM
to India. After getting married, my wife had hoped that we will return to
India in a few years. Years went fast, and promotions at the University
also came fast. With the appointments as the Head of the Department,
coupled with the failure to get any meaningful position in India we decided
to stay in USA for a few more years. Further promotions as Associate
Dean followed by an appointment as the Dean of a Health Science School
and the birth of two children made it difficult to return to India. Since my
primary expertise was in pharmacology and because of outdated requirements
for academic appointments in medical schools in India, attempts in
early seventies to return to India also were not successful. Ultimately, a
US Citizenship became a prerequisite to get a strong foothold in American
way of life. With increasing success in the University, thoughts of retirement
did not enter my mind. My wife also adapted to the American way
of life, which was very necessary and helpful.
14ELL059_PittsburghPatrika_3.8x4.5_FINAL.indd 1
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
However, as I approached 65, and having experienced serious health
problems, I started thinking about retirement, since in those years
mandatory retirement for faculty was 65. When to retire, where to retire,
how to support the family after retirement, what type of health insurance
will be available were some of the questions that came to my mind. However,
retirement accounts did not show the needed accumulations. With
proper medical care heart disease was under control. Age limit for retirement
was also removed so a decision to retire was postponed for a few
years. As the first generation of Indian Immigrants there was no tradition
to follow; there were no examples to look for the answers.
As 2005 arrived, I realized I had worked for over 40 years at the University.
Our children were also growing up with all associated problems.
Thoughts of retirement became prominent but not compelling. We once
thought of relocating to India. What will happen if I decide to go back to
India after retirement, would it be possible to spend part of the year in
India and the remaining in USA, what would happen about our relationship
with our children if we permanently moved back to India? Would situation
in India be comfortable for us? After a lot of discussion, and with some
trepidation we ultimately decided to make USA our permanent home.
To know about retirement options available to us, we started looking
into the retirement situation sometime around 2004. We collected a lot
of information, attended seminars, visited a few retirement communities,
and collected information about retirement communities in other states.
When discussing our ideas about retirement with our friends we noticed
that a denial syndrome. Most did not want to face the situation. Several
times during this period forceful statements were made to the effect that,
“It is imperative that Indian Immigrants must have their own retirement
community in the Pittsburgh area.” When confronted however, everyone
agreed that no objective feasibility studies have been conducted.
Collectively, the information we collected formed the basis of our decision
to stay in USA after retirement and to join an American Retirement
Community of unique nature in the Pittsburgh area called Longwood at
Home. Longwood at Home is a program that allows one “to age in one’s
home.” In this paper I attempted to put forth the information we collected
and those who read it will find the information useful. Information about
various types of American retirement communities as well as information
about several Indian retirement communities is included in this paper. A
useful web site for NRIs (US citizens or Green Card holders) who might
be thinking of retiring to India is (http://www.retire2india.com/). No efforts
were made to gather information about retirement communities in
Canada, since its National Health Care System has a significant impact
on how medical problems faced by older persons are addressed.
Retitrement... Contd on Page 33
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Democrcies... continued from Page 6
So, one would expect that Pennsylvania’s 18 Congressional districts
would be split 55/45 with Democrats having a slight edge over the GOP
— 10D to 8R, or 9D to 9R. But in the 2012 elections GOP won 13 seats
and Democrats only 5. That is how the gerrymandered redistricting perverts
elections in the US.
• Further, in the US Congress with 435 seats, in 19 of the last 25
biennial elections, over 90% of incumbents were re-elected. In 15 of the
25 elections, over 94% were reelected. That is how strong the hold of
incumbency is in the US. The Congressmen representing the highly partisan
gerrymandered districts have no obligation to respond to national crises,
or make reasoned decisions on various big issues. They are answerable
only to their districts’ highly partisan voting blocks.
• Yet another corrupting factor is the Super PACs funded by rich
individuals having personal likes and dislikes for candidates; or business
interests with large bank accounts determined to defeat candidates whose
policies may be good for the public, but bad for their businesses. These
Super PACs with their secret list of donors (some of them overseas) pump
money to congressional districts or states of their choice to tilt the elections
in close contests.
• Also, defeated/retired congressman/senators become lobbyists and
use their connections trying to maintain the status quo.
• Yet another mischievous trick is Republicans trying to block
poor, rural and elderly citizens from voting by creating the bogeyman of
voter fraud where practically none exists. Remember Penna GOP’s Mike
Turzai’s famous quote in the 2012 elections? “Voter ID [Law we passed]...
is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania...”
Luckily, the courts stopped this corruption and Romeny lost in Penna.
So, in both the most populous democracy (India) and the most powerful
democracy (USA), vested interests have spread their roots deep
and their tentacles wide. It is very difficult to reform the electoral system
to resemble what the original architects of the countries intended.
In China too, in recent years, communist political bosses have badly
corrupted even the single-party political system to give enormous political
and monetary advantages to their sons, daughters, and clan members.
Similar is the story in Iraq, Egypt, Greece, Pakistan... ...
No wonder, political changes in the world — even radical upheavals
and revolutions — eventually end up with rearranging of the
deck. The old system native to the culture, and often even the same old
faces of power brokers of the land, reincarnate themselves becoming part
of the new system. Along the way, they morph and mutate slightly along
the edges here and there. •
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Life journey... ... Continued on Page 24
Obtaining a human birth is the best boon because it is the only birth
in which we have a higher level of consciousness, and are able to obtain
spiritual knowledge, and ultimately unite with the Almighty. God created
Maya (illusion), this world, and us, and because of Him, we can experience
His creation.
The choice is ours: do we want to spend our life indulging in worldly
matters only to receive temporary happiness and go through the cycles
of birth and death? Or do we want to realize the purpose of our existence
and progress towards liberation? We have forgotten our divine nature
under the influence of Maya, and live our life in ignorance. Therefore,
the purpose of our life is to realize we are spiritual beings and experience
the divinity within us. In doing so, we escape from being ensnared by the
web of Maya. Our destination is to merge into the Cosmic Energy from
which we were created.
Theoretically, the part always desires to merge with the whole: all
rivers flow into the ocean; flames of a burning fire always go towards
the sky because fire is a result of fuel and oxygen; and a child always
runs to his mother. Similarly, we are children of God and are parcels of
that Cosmic Energy.
Lastly, Sanatana Dharma in Sanskrit has been referred to “as the path
or journey to the light.” The Bible also states, “The Kingdom of God
is within you. “ Thus, the path has always been the path of meditation,
through which we can experience the Kingdom of God.
The human life is unique. It is the only birth, in which we can understand
and experience our soul. Thus, the human body becomes a
vehicle for the soul to return back to its source -- Almighty, God, Cosmic
Energy, Creator, or however you name It.
Nonetheless, the soul’s journey can only be completed when we recognize
and realize our divine nature. Once we recognize that, we cease
to suffer and live in darkness. When we experience that energy through
meditation, we will see the sameness in all and overcome differences.
We will then realize that it is the same energy that governs the entire
universe. Ironically, we go through life searching for happiness without
comprehending that the treasure is within us. Seek and you shall find,
knock and it shall be opened to you!
“When the road ends, and the goal is reached, the pilgrim finds that he
has traveled only from himself to himself.” — Sri Sai Baba •
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Fresh Carp and Buffalo are delivered
every Monday to
Wholey's Market
Please visit us in the Strip
where we will be happy
to assist you,
or order online at your convenience.
We will hand select your order with the greatest care.
Open seven days a week
1711 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
1-888-946-5397
www.wholey.com
Subhaashitaavali on Servitude
The master laughs, he laughs with him;
The master weeps, he wails aloud.
The master runs, he girds his waist and sprints, sweating profusely;
The master censures some unblemished merit, he condemns it;
The servant, bought for a bit of money, dances to his master’s tune.
Retirement... ... Continued from Page 29
A word of caution on the financial solvency of the retirement communities
in USA and in India. There are over 80,000 retirement communities
of all sorts in USA. Many of these in USA are operated as private
profit making and some as not-for-profit businesses, and are subject to
economic adversities as any other enterprises. The situation in India is
particularly uncertain because of nearly a total lack of supervisory role
of any governmental agencies or by any autonomous non-governmental
bodies, making it very difficult to assess the financial stability of most of
the retirement communities. As far as I know, a few have already gone
bankrupt leaving the tenants who paid hefty sums of money uncertain
about their future. •
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The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014
Things to Think About
It is not washed away in floods. Fire does not incinerate it.
Even kings can not grab it, and thieves can not steal it.
Nor is it reduced by giving it away.
When these assets of education are obvious,
Why do people travel all over the world seeking wealth?
t
A bright, conch-like white lotus in a pond.
Water is her mother; and sun, her father.
Once it is pulled from its roots, the very water will make it rot;
Toss it on the ground, the very sun will scorch it in no time.
When condition changes adversely,
Even your benefactors are your enemies.
-- Viveka Chintamani, a 16th Century (?) Tamil Literary anthology
How to call the news item below — Grotesque, incongruous, outrageous,
irresponsible, bizarre, morbid?
In international flights where we change planes in two or three places,
our bags not reaching our destination is not unusual. We get our bags
in a few days delivered. When the courier delivers bags that do not belong
to us, we become irritated and curse the airlines for their ineptness.
What should people do when an airline delivers a wrong dead body?
You may say it can never happen these days with bar codes and traceability.
But that is precisely what happened for a family in India. The air
carrier is Air India, India’s flagship carrier.
Air India recently delivered the dead body of an Indian worker who
died in Dubai. The deceased persons’ relatives somberly took possession
of the body at Lucknow airport and were driving back to their hometown.
A few kilometers later, one of the relatives noticed that the name tag on
the casket had a name different from their departed relative.
When they opened the casket, much to their horror, they realized they
had taken possession not of their relative’s dead body, but that of a wrong
person. They returned to the airport and angrily protested to the airlines
on how they could do such a senseless and totally insensitive goof up.
Here are the details of the story:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/body-blow-to-ai-reputation-after-it-delivers-wrong-person-s-body/article1-1195205.aspx
•
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