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THE ADMISSIONS BRIBARY SCAM REVEALS UGLY SIDE OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

THE ADMISSIONS BRIBARY SCAM REVEALS UGLY SIDE OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

It's time to take a hard look at these so called prestigious universities

By Meena Yeggina

That wealth could get your kids into an Ivy League is a well-known secret. My kids attended a prestigious private school here in the Silicon Valley, but they were different from most of their peers. We were not affluent in the way some students were, we had to work for every penny that earned their education. And about 80 percent of the parents were like us.

That's why, whispered rumors and anguished murmurs about how kids with lower grades got into Stanfords and Harvards solely through their parents "wealth," though distressful, were harsh parts of our reality. "Just donate a couple of millions and you are sure to get in you know where," a parent friend whispered into my ear during a parent–teacher conference once. Though those of us who were from the middle strata of society felt slightly overwhelmed with all the money talk surrounding us, we were hopeful about the college acceptance system at large.

Good grades could never fail. Your kids will have a future at a good college.

These were the beliefs we stood by as hard-working immigrant parents, whose dream was to have their kids study in an invigorating and rigorous university. These notions were only solidified with each new rumor surrounding a promising student who, despite their humble backgrounds, got into good colleges.

However, to my dismay, for every deserving candidate, there was also another not-so-deserving one that got into a top college. To a lot of us who didn't have the affluence or moral ineptitude to buy our kids' acceptances, this was incredibly frustrating. But, what could we possibly do? It's an accepted fact that money speaks; and if you know someone through your money, for example in the board, then it becomes an added bonus. Your child is in (please do remember, all of this is based on the experience I had while my children grew up, observations and rumors that defined their own perspective of college. Maybe a fantastic letter of recommendation, sports, or college essay could have done the trick for some students).

We silently watched as rich-kid after rich-kid, not so deserving, got into top rated universities, but happy that our kids got in too, the hard way.

Keeping this background in mind, I must say, the recent allegations against CEOs and celebrities bribing their kids into college, is a whole new level of low. And a mighty mountain for us commoners to climb.

This corrupt route is well known in India and probably one of the main reasons my generation migrated to the US: to taste equality at all levels. The U.S. is well known for just treatment of its citizens. At the lower tiers and pinnings of society, corruption is at its minimum. Or so we thought. Busting so many parents who are actually paying to get their kids in is extremely shocking to many of us who believed in this country and its principles.

All this being said, hope is not completely lost. By cracking the whip swiftly on the offenders while naming and shaming them, government agencies restored some semblance of justice.

"This case is about widened corruption of elite college admissions to the steady application of wealth combined with fraud," the federal prosecutor announced, to the reassurance of many. "There can be no separate college admission system for the wealthy and I add that there will be not be a separate criminal justice system either."

It's splendid that this bribing machine is busted and many big names have come out in the open. But, the main question that is worrying parents and kids with dreams in their eyes and hard work as their asset is - is it really over? As if the bribing through their noses in addition to "donations" is not enough, the existent bias towards the migrant community is another serious hurdle that is hurting children. As we speak, Harvard is being sued by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) for its bias toward Asian-American applicants who "have consistently received lower scores on soft skills like "likability," "helpfulness," "integrity" and "courage."

If this is not worrisome, what is?
Under these circumstances it's time to have a hard look at these so called prestigious universities as well. How prestigious are they really if they cannot even see beyond money and race? This is something all parents and kids need to think about. We, including myself, need to rework our priorities and value systems to ensure we stand for the justice and meritocracy this country promises us and our children. That, truly, starts with us, not them.



Glorification of Queen Padmavati

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

BJP's Dangerous Polarizing Games

Is glorification of Queen Padmavati's fictional self--Immolation more political than cultural?

By Meena Yeggina

Padmavati, a movie starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali is due on December 1st closely followed by the prestigious Gujarat elections. Gujarat, a closely guarded forte of the irrationally and illiterately conservative right wing Bharatiya Janta Party headed by none other than the RSS Pracharak and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi is recently being dominated by the young Rahul Gandhi, assisted by charismatic trio Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Melvani. The main aim of these three young rebels is to remove BJP from power to curtail the hardships of Patels, Dalits and minorities.

Padmavati
"Though we don't know for sure, Bhansali's
Rani Padmavati seems like a glorified Rajput
wife dedicated to her husband and Jauhar

A POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE GUISE OF PADMAVATI

BJP, currently reeling under severe attack for its failed Demonetization spin, GST, and several corruption charges involving the sons of Amit Shah and Ajit Doval found a life-saving buoy in the movie Padmavati- ripe with Hindu- Muslim power struggle juxtaposed with a solid angle of love Jihad! And the boys in BJP went berserk with it. While BJP leader (an ex-Harvard professor by the way) Swamy said the Pakistani terrorists could be funding the movie, other BJP leaders such as Uma Bharati, Sakshi Maharaj, Chintamani Malviya, Vipul Goel, Raj Purohit, Arjun Gupta clamored for a stay on its release.

Padmavati
Rani Padmavati was a Sri Lankan
Princess as depicted in the fictional
poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi

The center is keeping calm, slyly aiding and abetting the rage, pushing the general public a little more, observing and testing grounds. Definitely this fight is not about historical facts as the story of Padmavati is fictional and is the imagination of a poet 240 years after the rule of Alauddin Khilji. Then why is BJP fuelling this fire? To win Gujarat? To polarize Hindus (note that this is about Rajputs and Brahmins. Other Hindus don't really care about kings as whoever rules from the top, the poor people destiny will remain the same, Hindu or Muslim) and Muslims? Furthering the idea of Hindu pride? Alienating Muslims by portraying Muslim rulers as meat eating, women raping barbarians? By wiping out the real history? Perhaps for all of the above. Winning at whatever cost is crucial for BJP.

 

BHANSALI'S KHILJI

Padmavati
Horror stories of Sati where women were drugged, tied and poked and forced down
on the pyre with sticks to keep them burning live are well documented facts
Padmavati
Hindu right-wing groups protesting the
release of Bhansali's film in Rajasthan

Frankly I cringed watching the trailer of Bhansali's Padmavati where Khilji is shown as a cruel, meat-eating barbarian: He is darkly clad with a ruthless demeanor in contrast to Shahid Kapoor's dignified, regal looks, though a tad meek, yet tolerant and victimized! To be fair, Alauddin Khilji is a handsome and skillful warrior. His aim is to win, just as any king those days. The fact is that there was no united India in Khilji's time. All land is game and whoever was skillful and cunning won; either Rajputs or Muslim kings, they were all fighting for their territories and mind you, with the aid and friendship of many Rajputs (who were on the side of the Muslim rulers) or Muslims. In addition a lot of cross religion marriages and alliances were taking place resulting in mixed raced population. This fact that Rajput kings gave away their women in marriage or alliance to powerful Muslims in exchange to political freedom and security is a well-known historical fact and that always bothered the current generation of "pride-filled" Rajputs. To a casual observer, it would seem horrific that in this age and day we are fighting to celebrate the pride of a woman who was literally forced to self-immolate to save her honor. Instead of blaming the culture that forces women to do so, we should be condemning it, making sure such cultures are not glorified. Maybe instead we should glorify the actions of Rani Laxmibai instead for three reasons: One, she was REAL, not fictional. Two, she actually fought the British, who was in true terms an outside force, bleeding India. And three, most importantly, as a widow, she did not commit Jauhar, to save her so-called modesty. She FOUGHT as a true hero.

Can celebrating Jauhar (a mass Rajput ritual of selfimmolation where in several women and children kill themselves to save their virtue from conquerors when defeat in an invasion seem imminent) in 21st century as pride, honor and bravery of women be justified as Hindu culture? As a woman, and as a mother of two, I would definitely say no, definitely not in this 21st century nor in any bygone era.

When director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (of Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, RamLeela, Bhajirao Mastani fame) got slapped, pushed around and his set in Rajasthan ransacked while shooting a scene for his latest venture Padmavati, hell broke lose in both Hindi film industry and outside of it. This assault, led by a local Hindutva group, was based on the assumption that Bhansali was shooting a romantic dream sequence between the characters of Padmavati and the Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji.

The problem to them was that as Padmavati was a "noble and honorable" Rajput queen (she is actually from Sri Lanka, in the poem) who preferred to commit Jauhar than succumbing to Khalji, it would be dishonoring her sacrifice and courage if such a romantic song, even as a dream, is shot between them. In addition, any romance between them would be, according to the protesting Hindutva group, a "distortion" of history.

There are, however, two indisputable facts contradicting the above disputable misguided narrative:

Padmavati

One, Rani Padmavati is a fictional character, a heroine in a poem written in 1540 (See boxed item for her storyon pg 67), a solid 237 years after Alauddin Khalji's Chittor campaign of 1303. This fiction is a tale of the celebration of a Rajput queen's willingness to die rather than give herself over to a "tyrant (sic)," who coveted her. The fiction, titled Padmavat, was told in a long Awadhi-language poem by the 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. It has as its central characters Padmini or Padmavati the queen of Chittor, her husband, Rana Ratansen Singh, and the sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji (also transcribed as Khilji). While all other characters are imaginary why the poet chose to include Khalji's name in his poem remains a mystery.

There are no contemporary accounts of Alauddin's siege that mention Padmavati. While there are still some historians who believe the story of The Padmavat to be true, almost everyone agree that Alauddin's march on Chittor was more an expression of an ambitious ruler's campaign of relentless military expansion rather than a lovesick man's quest for a beautiful woman.

Two, even if assuming Rani Padmavati is historical and the story really took place, what is wrong if a director sees it through a different prism and reinvents a scenario? Shakespearean stories, Christ's life and even the Ramayana were interpreted in several ways by many authors so far. An artist eye travels to places where even the Sun cannot, they say. The thrill of any such creative conflict otherwise would be missing and movies and stories would become religious ceremonies.

However, what bothers me more is neither of the above-misplaced narratives but a more perilous and preeminent third one that has the potential to set a dangerous precedent for us women now, in 21st century. In this age and generation to where women have travelled through decades fighting inequality, sexism, abuse and rape, to view Jauhar and/or Sati, where women are forced in the name of culture and tradition to commit suicide (horror stories of Sati where women were drugged, tied and poked and forced down on the pyre with sticks to keep them from running away from a raging fire of Sati are well documented facts) are lauded as "bravery," "honor" "pride (sic)," not only of the women killed but of an entire community and now to overall Hinduism, is alarming. It is shameful to say the least and undermines the hardships and work done by feminists and women's rights' activists. Centuries of turbulent, tear-filled brave fights against prejudice and abuse is being brought down in a jiffy in the name of 'honor.' Such outrages over woman's "honor" is unnerving because it equates "honor and bravery" with a "pure" body. Rape and sexual assault yet again become a victim's problem and 'loss of "honor,"and hence death' equation is peddled as a better choice than living with this bodily "stigma."

Symbolic interpretations are important to any community's social structure. But by making Sati and Jauhar symbols of woman's bravery, strength, pride you are again pushing her into the world of darkness and sorrow where a woman's body is given more importance than her spirit thus making her a commodity yet again. And Hindu woman raped by a Muslim? Out of question! Shame is doubled instantly and death is advocated as the best option. Remember the same Rajput community would commit atrocities over their women and people; give away their daughters in marriage to powerful kings in exchange of their own survival! Not that there is anything wrong with intra-community marriages. But it is the double standard that is utterly shameful.

When the rich and powerful embrace such twisted and false cultural prejudices equating them with pride of a community, it is trickled down to the masses and embraced by all and sundry and eventually becomes a ritual.

It's a historical fact that Rajputs (who according to the census constitute only about three percent of Indian population) lacked war skills and were easily defeated by the more innovative, stunning military and war strategies of the Muslim invaders. While only upper castes could become captains of the Hindu army, Muslim kings would encourage strength and skill to rise in the hierarchy irrespective of their caste or religion. Hence many skillful commoners including Hindus could rise to the top of the rung in Muslim army whereas it was impossible amongst Hindu armies. In addition, Rajputs were lazy and spoiled. They had several in-fights and many plotted against one another to defeat their own clan members. That they gave away many of their daughters in marriage or in exchange for other favors to stronger rulers including Muslim kings is a well chronicled fact and has been a consistent point of shame to the Rajputs. To counter attack these ignoble deeds it is believed that Rajputs and their poets had many gallant poems written in the name of their valor, turning absolute defeats into pride-filled chivalrous deaths. The Rajputs dramatized almost all losses including that of Prithiviraj Chauhan to make them look like treacherous and deceitful murders by the invaders. They say that best poems come not from the winners but from the losers in war. One such fantasized story is that of Rani Padmavat of Chittor, a poem written by a Muslim poet Jayasi (who was then serving a Hindu king) just as Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. Both of them though well-known fictions loved by all but can't be misinterpreted as history.

History needs to be viewed through the prisms of time and date and move on from there. It's not about Hindus against Muslims those days. It is just about winners and losers and everyone wanted to conquer as much land as possible, all of them, whether Muslim or Hindu. Sati and Jauhar are cruel practices invented by upper caste Hindus in the name of false prestige and pride at the cost of women and children who absolutely had no say in the matter. When have forced suicides become prideful acts? If women were left to fend for themselves they would have probably learned to fight their wars and shed those unnecessary acts of "pride" and "bravery" involving self-immolation and chastity. They would have probably chosen to become brave Rani Laxmi Bais than submissive Satis!

Treating these notorious rituals as those of pride and honor will be doing injustice to the current crop of strong, capable, and educated women who came a long way to be where they are, doing what they are doing. They are still carrying the torch, running for their right, a right to live life their way, strongly, individually, taking one slow torturous step at a time. Hence, now to bring out an evil practice of days gone by such as Jauhar and Sati and call them acts of bravery, pride and honor, will dangerously push the clock back in time where women were just commodities bargained for power. In addition, it will undermine the hard work done to change the same. Women are already fighting modern day murder in the name of dishonor where Jauhar kund (a special well-like chamber for women and children to commit mass immolation) has moved from Rajput palaces to radiologists' ultrasound chambers where the sex of the fetus is revealed and later relieved if it's a female. Bringing back the glory (sic) of Jauhar and Sati would be death knell (pun unintended) to Indian women's fight for freedom. Do we really want this regressive time-travel in the name of misplaced honor, pride and bravery? Hell no!

To a casual young observer, it would seem horrific that in this age and day we are fighting to celebrate the pride of a woman who was literally forced to self-immolate to save her honor. Instead of blaming and rectifying the culture that forced women to do so, we should be condemning it, making sure such practices in the name of Dharma are not glorified.

Padmavati
Kangana Ranaut in her
upcoming biopic Rani Laxmibai.

If we really need to glorify a historical woman's actions to inspire the current generations, we should probably glorify the actions of say a Rani Laxmibai instead, basically for three reasons: One, she was REAL, not fictional; Two, she actually fought the British, who was in true terms an outside force bleeding India; And three, most importantly, as a widow, she did not commit Jauhar to save her so-called modesty-she FOUGHT instead as a true hero.

India as a country and Indians as a people need to focus more on economy, education, environment, heath and infrastructure and keep questioning the Government about them. Let not politicians divert us from such real issues to those fringe ones such as Padmavati and her self-immolation, national anthem and standing up for it in theatres(before watching an item number), and beef eating . Culture need to make us better, happy people and not maniacal, self-righteous bullies.

As a widow, Rani Laxmibai did not commit Jauhar to save her so-called modesty-she FOUGHT the mighty British instead as a true hero.

The Myth of Rani Padmini (Scroll.in)

Padmavati
Rani Padmini is not mentioned inany Rajput
or Sultanate annals, and there's absolutely
no historical evidence she existed.

In 1303 AD, Alauddin Khilji, the Turkic Sultan of Delhi, captured Chhattisgarh after a long siege. Two hundred and thirty-seven years later, an Awadhi poet named Malik Muhammad Jayasi composed a poem titled Padmavat about the fall of Chittor. Historians such as the chronicler of Akbar's reign Abul Fazl picked up the tale in succeeding eras.

The story of Padmini varies from one writer to another but the basic contours are similar. A sorcerer banished by the king of Mewar Ratan Singh finds refuge in the Khilji court, where he fills the Sultan's ears with tales of the beauty of Ratan Singh's wife, Padmini. Alauddin manages to get a glimpse of her, and is enraptured. He captures Ratan Singh by deceit, and offers to release him in exchange for Padmini. The Rajputs hatch a cunning stratagem to free their king, but lose several warriors in the process. Alauddin defeats the weakened Rajput army, only to discover that Padmini and all other women in Chittor fort have committed jauhar.

Rani Padmini is not mentioned in any Rajput or Sultanate annals, and there's absolutely no historical evidence she existed. Alauddin Khilji, one of the finest generals in India's military history, certainly required no treachery to subdue Chittor. He repelled successive Mongol invasions while conquering much of Rajasthan and Gujarat. But what has survived of him is the image of a lustful, deceitful, tyrant pitted against chivalrous Rajputs, thanks to misrepresented, fictional poems and narratives.

The Myth of Prithviraj Chauhan (Scroll.in)

Padmavati
A pretty standard give-and-take battle for that
age where Ghuri defeated Prithviraj fair and square.

Prithviraj Chauhan ruled Delhi in the late 12th century AD. In 1191, the Afghan ruler Muhammad Ghuri took the fortress of Bhatinda on the border of Prithviraj's kingdom. Prithviraj advanced towards the frontier, and met and defeated Ghuri's army at Tarain. The next year, Ghuri returned with a stronger force, defeated Prithviraj, and had him executed. Pretty standard give-andtake for that age.

In the hands of Prithviraj's court poet Chand Bardai, and several later writers who embellished the narrative, the chivalrous Prithviraj defeated and imprisoned Ghuri, but generously set him free. The foe returned, attacked unfairly at night, captured and blinded the Rajput king, and took him back to his capital. Prithviraj's companion convinced Ghuri to let the blind king demonstrate his skill as an archer. Instructed by the companion, Prithviraj killed Muhammad Ghuri before ending his own life in a suicide pact.

Many grew up believing this to be historical truth, thanks to the volume of Amar Chitra Katha about Prithviraj's life. I suppose children today watching television serials about Prithviraj and Padmini swallow the same fictions. It is noteworthy that no cases have been filed in any Indian court against these erroneous retellings of Indian history.



False Pride

Can celebrating Jauhar (a mass Rajput ritual of self-immolation where in several women and children kill themselves to save their virtue from conquerors when defeat in an invasion seem imminent) in 21st century as pride, honor and bravery of women be justified as Hindu culture? As a woman, and as a mother of two, I would definitely say no, definitely not in this 21st century nor in any bygone era.

When director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (of Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, RamLeela, Bhajirao Mastani fame) got slapped, pushed around and his set in Rajasthan ransacked while shooting a scene for his latest venture Padmavati, hell broke lose in both Hindi film industry and outside of it. This assault, led by a local Hindutva group, was based on the assumption that Bhansali was shooting a romantic dream sequence between the characters of Padmavati and the Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji. The problem to them was that as Padmavati was a “noble and honorable” Rajput queen (she is actually from Sri Lanka, in the poem) who preferred to commit Jauhar than succumbing to Khalji, it would be dishonoring her sacrifice and courage if such a romantic song, even as a dream, is shot between them. In addition, any romance between them would be, according to the protesting Hindutva group, a “distortion” of history.

There are, however, two indisputable facts contradicting the above disputable misguided narrative:


Rani Padmavati was a Sri Lankan Princess as depicted
in the fictional poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi

One, Rani Padmavati is a fictional character, a heroine in a poem written in 1540 (See boxed item for her storyon pg 67), a solid 237 years after Alauddin Khalji’s Chittor campaign of 1303. This fiction is a tale of the celebration of a Rajput queen’s willingness to die rather than give herself over to a “tyrant (sic),” who coveted her. The fiction, titled Padmavat, was told in a long Awadhilanguage poem by the 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. It has as its central characters Padmini or Padmavati the queen of Chittor, her husband, Rana Ratansen Singh, and the sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji (also transcribed as Khilji). While all other characters are imaginary why the poet chose to include Khalji’s name in his poem remains a mystery.

There are no contemporary accounts of Alauddin’s siege that mention Padmavati. While there are still some historians who believe the story of The Padmavat to be true, almost everyone agree that Alauddin’s march on Chittor was more an expression of an ambitious ruler’s campaign of relentless military expansion rather than a lovesick man’s quest for a beautiful woman.

Two, even if assuming Rani Padmavati is historical and the story really took place, what is wrong if a director sees it through a different prism and reinvents a scenario? Shakespearean stories,

Christ’s life and even the Ramayana were interpreted in several ways by many authors so far. An artist eye travels to places where even the Sun cannot, they say. The thrill of any such creative conflict otherwise would be missing and movies and stories would become religious ceremonies.


Horror stories of Sati where women were drugged, tied and poked and forced down on the pyre with sticks to keep them burning live are well documented facts

However, what bothers me more is neither of the above-misplaced narratives but a more perilous and preeminent third one that has the potential to set a dangerous precedent for us women now, in 21st century. In this age and generation to where women have travelled through decades fighting inequality, sexism, abuse and rape, to view Jauhar and/or Sati, where women are forced in the name of culture and tradition to commit suicide (horror stories of Sati where women were drugged, tied and poked and forced down on the pyre with sticks to keep them from running away from a raging fire of Sati are well documented facts) are lauded as “bravery,” “honor” “pride (sic),” not only of the women killed but of an entire community and now to overall Hinduism, is alarming. It is shameful to say the least and undermines the hardships and work done by feminists and women’s rights’ activists. Centuries of turbulent, tear-filled brave fights against prejudice and abuse is being brought down in a jiffy in the name of ‘honor.’ Such outrages over woman’s “honor” is unnerving because it equates “honor and bravery” with a “pure” body. Rape and sexual assault yet again become a victim’s problem and ‘loss of “honor,”and hence death’ equation is peddled as a better choice than living with this bodily “stigma.”

Symbolic interpretations are important to any community’s social structure. But by making Sati and Jauhar symbols of woman’s bravery, strength, pride you are again pushing her into the world of darkness and sorrow where a woman’s body is given more importance than her spirit thus making her a commodity yet again. And Hindu woman raped by a Muslim? Out of question! Shame is doubled instantly and death is advocated as the best option. Remember the same Rajput community would commit atrocities over their women and people; give away their daughters in marriage to powerful kings in exchange of their own survival! Not that there is anything wrong with intra-community marriages. But it is the double standard that is utterly shameful.

When the rich and powerful embrace such twisted and false cultural prejudices equating them with pride of a community, it is trickled down to the masses and embraced by all and sundry and eventually becomes a ritual.

It’s a historical fact that Rajputs (who according to the census constitute only about three percent of Indian population) lacked war skills and were easily defeated by the more innovative, stunning military and war strategies of the Muslim invaders. While only upper castes could become captains of the Hindu army, Muslim kings would encourage strength and skill to rise in the hierarchy irrespective of their caste or religion. Hence many skillful commoners including Hindus could rise to the top of the rung in Muslim army whereas it was impossible amongst Hindu armies. In addition, Rajputs were lazy and spoiled. They had several in-fights and many plotted against one another to defeat their own clan members. That they gave away many of their daughters in marriage or in exchange for other favors to stronger rulers including Muslim kings is a well chronicled fact and has been a consistent point of shame to the Rajputs. To counter attack these ignoble deeds it is believed that Rajputs and their poets had many gallant poems written in the name of their valor, turning absolute defeats into pride-filled chivalrous deaths. The Rajputs dramatized almost all losses including that of Prithiviraj Chauhan to make them look like treacherous and deceitful murders by the invaders. They say that best poems come not from the winners but from the losers in war. One such fantasized story is that of Rani Padmavat of Chittor, a poem written by a Muslim poet Jayasi (who was then serving a Hindu king) just as Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. Both of them though wellknown fictions loved by all but can’t be misinterpreted as history.

History needs to be viewed through the prisms of time and date and move on from there. It’s not about Hindus against Muslims those days. It is just about winners and losers and everyone wanted to conquer as much land as possible, all of them, whether Muslim or Hindu. Sati and Jauhar are cruel practices invented by upper caste Hindus in the name of false prestige and pride at the cost of women and children who absolutely had no say in the matter. When have forced suicides become prideful acts? If women were left to fend for themselves they would have probably learned to fight their wars and shed those unnecessary acts of “pride” and “bravery” involving self-immolation and chastity. They would have probably chosen to become brave Rani Laxmi Bais than submissive Satis!


Depiction of Jauhar

Treating these notorious rituals as those of pride and honor will be doing injustice to the current crop of strong, capable, and educated women who came a long way to be where they are, doing what they are doing. They are still carrying the torch, running for their right, a right to live life their way, strongly, individually, taking one slow torturous step at a time. Hence, now to bring out an evil practice of days gone by such as Jauhar and Sati and call them acts of bravery, pride and honor, will dangerously push the clock back in time where women were just commodities bargained for power. In addition, it will undermine the hard work done to change the same. Women are already fighting modern day murder in the name of dishonor where Jauhar kund (a special well-like chamber for women and children to commit mass immolation) has moved from Rajput palaces to radiologists’ ultrasound chambers where the sex of the fetus is revealed and later relieved if it’s a female. Bringing back the glory (sic) of Jauhar and Sati Hindu. Sati and Jauhar are cruel practices invented by upper caste Hindus in the name of false prestige and pride at the cost of women and children who absolutely had no say in the matter. When have forced suicides become prideful acts? If women were left to fend for themselves they would have probably learned to fight their wars and shed those unnecessary acts of “pride” and “bravery” involving self-immolation and chastity. They would have probably chosen to become brave Rani Laxmi Bais than submissive Satis! Treating these notorious rituals as those of pride and honor will be doing injustice to the current crop of strong, capable, and educated women who came a long way to be where they are, doing what they are doing. They are still carrying the torch, running for their right, a right to live life their way, strongly, individually, taking one slow torturous step at a time. Hence, now to bring out an evil practice of days gone by such as Jauhar and Sati and call them acts of bravery, pride and honor, will dangerously push the clock back in time where women were just commodities bargained for power. In addition, it will undermine the hard work done to change the same. Women are already fighting modern day murder in the name of dishonor where Jauhar kund (a special well-like chamber for women and children to commit mass immolation) has moved from Rajput palaces to radiologists’ ultrasound chambers where the sex of the fetus is revealed and later relieved if it’s a female. Bringing back the glory (sic) of Jauhar and Sati would be death knell (pun unintended) to Indian women’s fight for freedom. Do we really want this regressive time-travel in the name of misplaced honor, pride and bravery? Hell no!



Call for Action






Trump, Modi, Pink and Fawad Khan

COMMENTARY

Trump, Modi, Pink and Fawad Khan

September has been very Rangeen (colorful)

All views are personal

By Meena Yeggina

As Martin Luther King, Jr once said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

So here I am crossing the border between silence and safety and the un- known world of controversy, criticism and even rage. Particularly about Trump and Modi - conversations over whom allegedly families, love-lives and friendships have been been shattered). I have noticed several disturbing parallels between the two, and not sharing them to the initiated felt like too big a moral burden. So here goes:

To begin with, it was wonderful watching the presidential debate: To see Trump loosing his cool, mocking Clinton in a slanting, cheesy gerateful posture, not to mention his crumbling on facts and vocabulary, was a treat to my eyes. He completely proved my strong belief that he doesn't deserve to become the President of this great nation, which stands to be the greatest democracy. That's why we all are here, right? To reap that freedom? But here is a man, preying on the fears of some regarding safety and finances, while also harboring a huge hatred for minorities and immigrants wanting to lead this country - an umbrella for many ethnic groups and communities that come here in search of better lives in a free, fearless and equal society. As an Indian Hindu Immigrant, I become extremely scared of Trump and his petty, fear- mongering politics. I don't think he will do any good to my children, or me, by denying access to other hopeful immigrants. And if a man hates one community what is the guarantee the he wouldn't others like us later, once his goal is achieved? Fact is Trump's racial prejudice is a recorded fact. Writes Nicholas Kristof in New York Times:

Frankly, we should be discomfited that many Americans have absorbed the idea that Hillary Clinton is less honest than Donald Trump, giving Trump an edge in polls of trustworthiness.

Hello? There is no comparison.
One commonly cited example of Clinton's lying is her false claim in 2008 that when she was first lady she came under sniper fire after her plane landed in Bosnia. In contrast, with Trump, you don't need to go back eight years: One examination found he averages a lie or an inaccuracy in every five minutes of speaking. 

(http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/opinion/sunday/how-to-cover-a-charlatan-like-trump.html?_r=0)

Under these circumstances, I was thrilled to watch him fall bit by bit and expose himself to attacks of rage, anger, lies and worse, bad vocabulary. Easily rattled and forced to backtrack several times, he looked petty and defensive. After that debate, I knew no fairminded person could waste their vote on him. Nevertheless, there indeed are several Hindu groups supporting him in the US and in India and that is extremely worrisome. Several studies declare that educated Americans are against him and that it is the scared uneducated who prefer him. That study definitely is confusing, considering the fact that many Hindu engineers and doctors are crazy about Trump. It could be due to his promise of tax cuts and immigration laws or his fascist pull. Fear, nationalism, fascism and religion are like opium, to borrow from the words of Karl Marx, and act as a temporary yet strong forces of vote banks. Even the financial promises of Trump are riddled with controversies, so much so that economists are acutely skeptical of the financial gains of such cuts that will make rich richer and poor poorer.

Trump's theory of "trickle down" economics is hard, if not impossible, to achieve. The millions of jobs under Trump's presidency is just an electoral myth repeated rhetorically to make it seem true
(http://thewire.in/70777/can-trump-create-millions-jobs-dont-bet/).

Unfortunately, like Modi, Trump also has become a prisoner of his own image - the "duplicitous demagogues,"; as such, his fall in the presidential debate thus is a feast to my eyes.

In fact I wondered how he could really come this far! I reveled in the fact that "Donald J. Trump's support has "plunged across the swing-state map over the last ten days, wiping out his political recovery from September and threatening to undo weeks of Republican gains in the battle for control of Congress," as reported in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/06/us/politics/donald-trump-campaign.htmll

Thank God for small mercies, wisdom prevailed! Clinton speaks of equality of all ethnic groups and races, taxing the rich, global inclusiveness and women's rights. She looks confident and knows her facts. She makes me feel safe and secure. For now her promises looks much better than Trump's misplaced fear tactics, misogynistic states, racial rowdiness, fascist sentiments and fake enragement over immigration.

That brings me to our PM Narendra Modi, and the game he is playing with his well-publicized "surgical strikes" through the Indian army under his leadership on Pakistan's terror camps.

Here, one should not forget that Modi is lovingly termed as Mr. Feku by a lot of people from Patels in Gujarat to students in JNU, Delhi. Many doubt the authenticity of his degrees and his claims of Gujarat Model. His ministers themselves are involved in many alleged fake stories.

Just as he did in 2002 as the CM of Gujarat right before elections by raking up Hindu-Muslim riots, thus seemingly becoming the trumped up "Hindu Hridaya Samrat," (winner of Hindu Hearts), he is now notching up the game by raking in the Jammu and Kashmir Uri terrorist attacks and Pakistan conflict just before the prestigious Uttar Pradesh elections. To any objective viewer all this seems a well- planned strategy by Modi-Shah duo, much as they did in Gujarat. Remember the case of Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old student killed in encounter by the police? Those killed in the incident were Ishrat Jahan Raza, a 19-year-old woman from Mumbra, Maharashtra, and three men – Javed Ghulam Sheikh (born Pranesh Pillai), Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar. The police claimed that Ishrat Jahan and her associates were Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives involved in a plot to assassinate the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishrat_Jahan_case). The CBI declared that the encounter was staged, but did not comment on whether Ishrat Jahan was a LeT associate or not. Such alleged planted stories by the wonderful Modi Shah duo, notorious in the la-la land of Gujarat where the police and bureaucracy were misued to benefit the ruling BJP under Modi. (Gujarat Files, Rana Ayyuub) And now, at a time, when the so called Gujarat Development Model is also proving to be a huge myth, according to several reports, added to the failures of Make in India and other such projects, Gau Rakhsak controversies, student, Patidar, Maratha and more strikingly the Dalit agitations, setting Modi on the back foot, Surgical Strikes come as turning of tide of sorts. Recently, several rallies by the BJP headed by Amit Shah were boycotted and shouted out. At this juncture, when the winning UP elections seemed like a distant dream, the BJP upped the ante on terrorists and border security. Uri terror attacks happened where 19 Indian soldiers were killed. Security was questioned but even before proper investigations were conducted as to who attacked Uri, government declared Pakistan as the perpetrator. Pakistan immediately declined and even offered to have an object body such as UN as a non--partisan investigative body to find out who killed Indian soldiers in Uri.

India, curiously refused. Meanwhile, even a month ahead of Uri attack, articles appeared in Times of India proclaiming that BJP is planning some security attacks in Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate UP elections. An overt surgical strike by the Indian Army was announced. And the opposition saw red! Knowing Modi-Shah's strategies well, they took to criticisms of the BJP leadership, while praising the Army itself. Doubts were raised regarding Modi's intentions. See
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/Rajnath-for-CM-chorus-grows-in-UP%20BJP/articleshow/52713712.cms?utm_source=toimobile&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=referral

Modi, is accused of using the tensions in the border to win elections, thus playing up to the gallery of Indian audience.

It's definitely sad and heart wrenching to see the political game played out by the BJP behind the shoulders of the Indian Army.

Yet these controversies couldn't stop both Trump and Modi becoming the heros of many millions!

In the midst of this political drama and tension arrives a wonderful yet disturbing movie on the issue of sexual consent called Pink. I enjoyed every minute of it irrespective of the fact that it was helmed by a man and championed by yet another man. It didn't matter. In fact, that the fight was lead by a strong and reliable Amitabh Bacchan gives validity and credibility to the fight against sexism, chauvinism, gender prejudice and misogyny. His stature in general and his pro-found acting makes all to sit up and listen to a simple message the film wants to knock into the minds of an Indian male that A No is a No. It doesn't matter if the woman is sexually active, if she wears"decent" clothes or not, if she is a wife or a whore, if she is rich or poor or drinks or smokes. A NO IS A NO. That's it, as simple as that. This message came loud and clear through a movie in the US called the The Accused by Jonathan Kaplan in 1988, almost 30 years ago. Jodie Foster was brilliant and won several awards for it. It made a huge impact on my young life at that time and answered many of my questions and explained the fault lines of our society. 30 years from then, India's similar Pink, tries to breakdown the barriers laid down on women. What attracts me to this movie is the simplicity of the narration, without any artificial endowments, pseudo intellect and chest-thumping cigarette- smoking feminists. (Why all female activists are shown smoking and drinking and the victims sari clad and demure is another misogyny that films have corrupted feminism of). The three girls in this movie are simple souls just like yours or my daughter, free, fun loving and wanting to live life to the fullest kind of human beings. They don't know how to deal with police or the law. That's not their domain. Even if they do come across the law they expect fair judgment. But the whole incident perturbs them to the core and get shockingly dismayed at the way their country and bureaucracy let them down. Like Arnab Goswami's illiterate Journalism and wrapped logic, the courts, lawyers and society including their own families judge them, look down upon them and shame them for being what they are and wanting what they want in a seemingly fair and equal society.

The movie through its simple dialogues and gripping court drama, which must have taken a few years (you see the girls growing and the wounds vanishing), does justice to the cause. But unfortunately in the real world for many little girls on the GB Road, those working women who would like to simply have a good time, or to those who just sit at home but still are abused, an Amithab Bachchan is difficult to come by to rescue. But through the movie a difficult to understand message in the hugely misogynist country like India is drilled into the heads by the able director.

Last but not the least and completely out of context is my worry about my dear Fawad Khan. My sincere request to all those nationalists of India: Please don't drive away my eye candy with reasonable acting skills from Bollywood. Please. Send away all the others to Pakistan if you must. But let Fawad be. In a world of Bollywood where ugly (Arjun Kapoor), lazy (Abhishek Bachchan), and feminine looking (Tiger Shroff) are ruling the industry (and many more) in the name of family links, Fawad Khan is a rare luxury and women want to see him more and more. Please spare him. In the name of God!



Why Summer Camps are important for your Child

It’s a very common notion among Indians here that summer camp is only for those kids whose both parents work! I thought so too, almost 10 years ago. I heard many moms say, “I dont work. So my kids need not join any summer camp. They can just relax at home. They had a tough school year.”

This notion has been proved wrong by many studies and expert verifications. Various studies seem to prove that kids at home during summer are more likely to play video games, watch TV or just lag before a laptop. With these gismos acting as their baby sitter (how long can a mother or father entertain them?) kids lose study skills and physical stimulation. As neighborhood play is limited to arranged hourly structured sections, they are most likely to stagnate more and play less. Please see page 32 for an expert article on this topic for more information.

Summer camps need not be all study and no play. Fantastic camps which in addition to stimulating a child’s thought process are equally entertaining and fun. Destination Science, Bizsmart, Edventure More, Sara’s Science, Tech Academy, CDM, BADM are only a few very good examples. There are many more. Check this issue carefully foryour interests. These are not just ads but RESOURCES for your child. They are interested in you because they know what most of the Indian Parents want and expect from a camp. We here at the India Parent Magazine carefully selected camps that might be very interesting to all of us. Just us. Because we are very choosy. From music to dance, from science to art, we have all listed here to suit your needs.

What do You and Your Child Want?

This question may sound simple but explore options with your child carefully before you decide and discuss these questions with him/her before you make a decision For all you know a summer experience might change your child’s entire outlook.

  • What do you and your child want to gain from the camp experience ? Learn new skills, develop more self confidence, improving proficiency in certain areas, become more independent?
  • What are other expectations of the camp experience?
  • What are the special interests that your child wants to explore?
  • Are there any physical, intellectual, or social limitations that should be considered?
  • What kind of emphasis will your child profit from the most? For example: Is a lot of structure desirable, is social interaction with members of the opposite sex important, or does your child need a place where he or she is encouraged to develop at their own pace?
  • You should take some time to consider what you can reasonably afford.
  • Ask for references of families who have had their child attend the camp. Speaking with these families can give you valuable insight about the camp and the families that send their children there.

Finally and more importantly, involve your child in the selection process. Review your child's preferences and let you child ask questions too.

We, here at the IPM office, sincerely hope that you find this Summer Camp Special issue helpful. Please send your feedbacks and suggestions and we will post them online at www.indiaparentmagazine.org.

- Meena Yeggina



IS INDIA A COUNTRY OF ONLOOKERS?

The year for us Indians started off with a shocking, offending, depressing and nauseating rape tragedy. However, it was that incident that left a ray of hope upon by the brave victim herself, as the persistent efforts of Indian youth, both men and women, with candles and torches, did not let us down. While the violent gang rape of a young female scientist in a moving bus is extremely disturbing, more horrifying is the fact that after the victim and her friend were thrown out of the bus they became objects of curiosity and discussion by the onlookers. Lying on the road naked and bleeding, they stayed that way for 40 minutes without no one even coming forward to cover them with a piece of cloth! What kind of country is this? Where will we go in the future? One excuse Indians give for noninterference is that we are scared of getting into “cop” trouble. But at what cost is this fear? Such escapism? So what if we die helping others? Is it not worth saving another life? So what if the police harasses us a little bit in the name of justice? (God that sure sounds ironic!) But at least maybe that poor girl would have been saved. Maybe. Frankly until this incident, I would never have believed that human beings can simply stare at another human beings’ misery at no obvious threat to their safety.

A strange incident happened recently (way before the Delhi incident took place) which planted a seed of serious doubt about my Indian clan. It’s very minor compared to what happened in Delhi but it gives a glimpse of our average Indian psyche and how it happened here, in the US.

It has been almost a quarter century since I have been to this country and living in the US. In all these years nothing like this ever happened to me from my fellow Indians. I planned a mothers-and-daughters outing to go to a movie called Jab Tak Hain Jaan. We were eight people in total and, as the kids wanted to eat before the movie, I volunteered to go early and reserve seats at the IMC Mercado. I was able to save great seats, and came almost one and half hours early to do so. Unfortunately, my kids got late and were on their way. When the hall was almost half full and the best seats were taken, came in a young man of about 26 years of age who appeared to have just come from India. He sat right in the middle of my reserved seats, removing my jacket (or whatever I have placed to reserve) with a smirk on his face and giving me a nasty look. I told him that I had reserved those seats and had come almost two hours early to do so. He just smirks and says “My wish, I’ll sit wherever I want, you go tell the management.”

I was shocked. I was tired after a long day’s work, standing in line for this junk movie (my child loves Shah Rukh Khan) and now this punk is threatening to take my reserved, most preciously held seats. I got up from my seat and stood right in front of him and told him to move away or I will ask my kids to just pull him away physically after they come. He didn’t budge. I looked behind. A row of onlookers, a little younger than me perhaps, were simply looking at the tamasha. They too had seats reserved but I was the only one alone in my group, so I had no support. I asked them, the onlookers, to help me and tell the guy to go away. They just stared as if I have committed a crime. They even laughed at me. I had the guts to ask their help. One of them, a woman, by the way said, “Maybe if you had asked nicely, he would have moved!” I was rooted in my spot with shock! I come here like a good citizen, early, reserve my seats, and simply sit there minding my business; comes in a brash loser, late, lazy and demanding to take my seat. If he wanted a good seat all he had to do was come early. And I am supposed to beg him, cajole him and gently request him, ‘Bhayya, please, I beg of you, please give me back my seat. It’s my fault I came early. You are mahapurush, have mercy, please give me back my seat!” I wondered what would have happened if that lady’s seat has been usurped instead! I simply stared, too numb and shocked to respond. My Bharat and my Indians are simply superb. At that minute it didnt strike me that I am the editor of a magazine! All I could have done is take a picture of the lady and the guy with my phone and publish their faces along with this article. After all isn’t media the bane of all law enforcement? Or maybe I should have at least threatened them to do so. Finally looking at my tired yet angry face, the guy went away, throwing me another of his precious smirks.

At that time no gang rape nor protests had taken place in Delhi yet - the discussions, the prejudiced comments of out leaders and swamis blaming the victim see featured-article.php?id=17), and the dreadful night of onlookers-are not known. Now if I think back, I realized how easily our desi men and women can sit or stand simply looking at a horrifying scene or not so horrifying incident (in my case), doing nothing but just blaming the victim. They simply can, whether watching a simple seat-theft incident or a serious gang rape, with same aplomb. In fact a Swami ji even said the same thing that the woman advised me to do “If the victim had begged the rapist to show mercy and call him bhayya, she would have been spared!” Blaming the victim again.

Why? I have no idea. If this seat-snatching happened to me by another man/woman belonging to another country or race, I could have found a hundred reasons to explain it away. But my own country persons! Maybe it’s the fear, or imbedded in their culture (that preaches dont meddle with other people’s issues even if they are dying), or maybe we are a bunch of bad, mean people always wanting to usurp other people’s belongings, be it dignity or kind, or even a seat!

What happened in India is horrific. But more horrific is the fact that such incidents continue to occur if we remain a country of onlookers with the “Rang de Basanthi” candle syndrome. India now desperately needs people who can respond to a tragedy not merely by lighting candles but by revolting, forcing the law into serious action, helping victims and raising a loud voice at the culprit. Culprits should not be feeling that they can get away with inappropriate behavior either in public or private. For a country with one billion people, we are a meek bunch–– swelling with false pride, stuck in prejudices and religious fanaticism, making rounds to swamiji ashrams, and having no value to human dignity at all.

I am ashamed to see a young Indian that usurped my seat with such substandards. I would expect decent behavior from a young man, who traveled all the way from India and living in a foreign country in the hope of making a living and better his conditions, to at least be cautious and kind. Forget about etiquette, most young men and women coming fresh from India lack even the basic decency. They are so absorbed with themselves. Now, it looks like they think rowdy behavior is okay too! And we older generation just watch them, taking it in our stride, sometimes secretly enjoying the other person’s plight and discomfort. God! If two or three people in support of each other can raise a voice against such ruffians, they will dare not repeat such behavior. Interestingly, same ruffian will not behave so with a Caucasian or Chinese. They know they cannot get away with it!

What we as a community of Indians should learn is that we cannot tolerate bad, inappropriate behavior. And standing up to bad behavior should not be considered deviant and out of place or honor. And most of all support each other in times of need –– without fear or favor!

- Meena Yeggina



Being a Judge at the CCF Dance Competitions

Why me? Was my first thought. Why not? Was my daughter's query. My skepticism confused her. “You've been affiliated with dance since I was three. You know all the ins and outs, watched hundreds of performances, analyzed another million and learned, theoretically, several formats. You read so much about it. I think you can be a very knowledgeable judge,” she said analytically. “Anyways, I am not competing. So objectivity will not be a problem.”

I was not convinced. For the past three years, Vinod Patel, coordinator of the CCF Dance Competitions, has been sending me the application forms. Somehow though, I could not bring myself to fill it out. This is the question of giving knowledgeable judgement to tons of kids working so hard. Vinodji was confused with my hesitations: “Meenaji,” he said. “Why are you so hesitant? You will be given all the training that will make it very easy for you. We just want honest people. The guidelines will tell you how to judge accurately.”

I finally filled up the form with a lot of doubt, skepticism, and hesitation (I know they all mean the same, just trying to be categorical), but also with determination. My son, too, had assured me that I have a good eye for dance. “You were my worst critic, I mean the best are,” he said, hiding a naughty smile.

The dreaded day arrived. It was truly dreaded because a couple of months ago I signed up a booth at Ed Rev 2012, an event sponsored by the Parent Education Network, to distribute my magazines and take e-mail sign-ups, little knowing that it would coincide with CCF. This was happening at the AT & T Park, San Francisco. Unfortunately, I was supposed to report at CCF by 12:30 for the judges meeting. My daughter was going to perform a guest item at CCF and my husband was out of town attending his uncle's 70th birthday party, so no help from that end was provided. Being the stubborn woman that I am, I wanted to successfully attend both events and be on time for each one. Consequently, I woke up early, drove to SF by seven in the morning, got my table ready, placed my magazines, and worked a couple of hours at my booth. Feeling happy and motivated, I managed to come home by 11:30, get ready, get my daughter ready and rush to the CCF competitions. I was fifteen minutes late, and hurriedly ran inside the hall while stumbling on my silk saree. Subhash Desai, the judge coordinator looked at me from the top of his glasses as if I just committed an immense crime. “Another five minutes and we were going to look for an alternative,” he said. I felt like a child at the admonishment. Gosh, I am too old for this, I thought depressed.

After seating all 12 of us – three judges per category, thus creating a total of 12 – he stood in front again and gave us our categories. I am to judge Bollywood, both junior and senior groups. I breathed a sigh of relief. This is my forte.

With all of us seated, he stood directly in front of me while declaring the rules and regulations of how to judge properly. He detailed the judges' point system and how we should begin with 100 points and cut them down for every single mistake. He drilled into our heads information about CCF, honesty, integrity, and the hard work of all 700 kids. At that minute, I felt as if I was judging not dance competitions, but a case where I have to make a crucial decision about life and death. After his inspirational speech, we all had tight lipped, straight backed, well determined clipped faces that said, "We will do this right, come what may."

Eventually, Desai ended the workshop with “Remember, these kids worked diligently, and depend on each one of you to give them justice. And if I feel that any of your judging sheets clash with the others very evidently, I will have to remove your sheet and ignore your marks. And if I feel you are being partial to a specific group, I will have to ask you to not judge anymore.”

His speech not only inspired me to be extra careful and punctilious, but also a bit edgy. I hoped to God that I'll be able to do the right thing. I recapitulated the main points in my head: No discussing with other judges, no clapping, no showing any emotions and submitting points to Subash after each item with my name and item number on it.

We were given a sheet for each item with ten categories to judge for ten points each. The items were categorized so well that it was easy to judge accordingly. But still I was on pins and needles. This has to be done right, I thought, as so many kids worked hard and depend on this, at least for today, to make a difference in their lives. As my first item began, I focused, examining each dancer, observing each step meticulously, yet feeling comfortable in the fact that there are two more judges doing the same. Children danced in aplomb, and I did my job conscientiously. Still after each judgement paper I submitted, I dreaded making mistakes, worried that Subhash might come to me, tap on my shoulder and declare, “This is done wrong, I request you to please step out of your judgement chair!" Fortunately, nothing like that happened, and they all said that I did a great job. I finally sighed in relief of a job well done and to the best of my judging capabilities without any fear of favor!!

CCF is what it is because of its fairness, objectivity and strict observation for culture through dance. It is very prestigiously done and extremely well preserved in honesty and character. No wonder the CCF Raas-Garba competitions are top notch in the Bay Area and no other organization can come close to its credibility.

On that day, however, I realized that judging is not my cup of tea. So much pressure, so many hours of keen watching and observing, deciding on each point and to do it just right is too much to bear. I am sure being a legal judge and deciding the fate of one person would be easier than judging these sweet little kids who come in with each item with so much vigor, vibrance, skill, innocence and, above all, hope. No, definitely not my cup of tea.

- Meena Yeggina



An Exciting Year Ahead!

India Parent Magazine has entered in 18th year in business in March 2011.  It’s been born along with my now college freshman son and continued to grow along with him, like a twin child.  I started off as IndZine, my husband’s idea of mixing India and Magazine together and calling it IndZine.  Even now, a lot of people remember it by that name and fondly talk to me about its contents. I changed the focus from general to parenting ten years ago, and began calling it India Parent Magazine.

These 18 years I remember every cover, every editorial, and every change.  Just as my son, it has gone through ups and downs, lows and highs, joys and sorrows.  Whatever the growth line of the magazine has been, one factor has remained consistent: Parents loved the magazine.  The comment has always been the same: “Very informative, energetic and to the point.  We love it.”

As an editor, I never felt bored or repetitive.  I love my magazine and every issue is like a new-born baby.  I cherished every cover and each e-mail in praise or in criticism.  One of the first letters of praise I have received was from Harikrishna Majumdar, one of the most respected senior citizens of the Bay Area.  I felt that was very nice of him, and highly objective.  The letter gave me a strange sense of confidence.  I was all geared up to make my publication informative and interesting. 

Today, India Parent Magazine is a trusted and respected magazine and has about 52 private schools advertising in it.  It had FOUR Open Houses for schools at Sunnyvale Hindu Temple with three Mayors of three cities in the Bay Area honoring each event and is gearing up for the FIFTH one in March 2012.  It will be a fun-filled FREE event. Please bring your family and enjoy the schools, dances, speeches, and free gifts.  Parents can come and check out several schools that are offering excellent curriculum for children. About 100 children perform in each of these events and about 45 private schools participate.  Each previous event was a joy to watch and I was extremely proud.  I am also very proud to say that India Parent Magazine is the only Indian Publication in the Bay Area to provide such events FREE to its readers. 

The upcoming year is extremely exciting and eventful as well.  The January issue will focus on informing the readers about several private schools and their Open Houses in the Bay Area. In February we will have a School Special featuring the Best of the Best private academic schools, Dance, Music and Swim schools in the Bay Area. In March, we will have Summer Camp Special, enlisting several Summer Camps that are interested in having Indian kids in their camps.  So we do have an exciting editorial for 2012 planned for you.  Please come to all these events and check out the Special Editions and utilize our FREE services as a “Give Back” to our readers. Also, In January we are bringing out TWO SPECIAL ISSUES in addition to the regular issue titled Health Professional Special and Realty/Mortgage Special. More than 40 professionals will be featured in each Special. These are copies to be kept and referred to when needed.

You can find a free copy of India Parent Magazine in any public library through out the Bay Area, most private schools, dance and music schools ( both Indian and mainstream) swim schools, YMCA’s and so on. We try to avoid Indian grocery stores for lack of proper placement in the racks available. If you have a favorite store/school/restaurant/learning center that you want to see IPM at, please inform us and we will be glad to add it to our distribution list.

We are Online Too!

Please visit www.indiaparentmagazine.org and check weekly updates on movies, calendar listings, coupons and even to just read the monthly magazine online. Read it in the privacy of your laptop.

Thank You, and have a wonderful and prosperous New Year! -

Meena Yeggina



A New Direction

This month in India Parent Magazine, you will see a wide range of ethnic groups advertising and writing in the magazine.  Indian- Americans, Caucasians and Asians showed open interest in Indian Parents and wanted to share/acquire knowledge from each other. This I felt is a great achievement hat only India Parent Magazine, a primarily Indian-reader based magazine is able to achieve. Sharing and needing other cultures is not a new trend.  It has happened throughout history through amalgamation and assimilation.  What’s new now is the deliberate intention to share without losing your self: By acknowledging the need and importance of each other’s (ethnic groups) existence in the well being of the other.  This is an amazing trend.

I am especially very impressed with the Chinese community who are truly professional to the core.  I met people like Simon who is in insurance business, young, dynamic, kind and eager to do business with the Indian community.  Gone is the prejudice among each other cultures.  So is Jevons Feng,  an extremely soft-spoken and highly sophisticated realtor, who is always available to his clients.  He impressed me most with his soft spoken yet gritty manner.  Also meet Chaochin and Helen.  They are highly qualified and one conversation with them will drive away any stereotypes you might ave had about Asians not liking Indians.

Another gentleman I met who is an Indian – an old, traditional kind of way Indian: Samuel Victor.  One need to meet him just to know what true Indian gentlemen are made of.  Who wouldn’t want to do business with him?  Or a Guy Caputo, a humorous lawyer who knows all the mannerisms of Indians and knows xactly how to work with them.

As a publisher of this prestigious magazine called India Parent which is acting as a bridge connecting a wide variety of cultures, I am floored to meet all these mind-blowing people who along with their business are making us aware of their culture and its true nature: Enrichment through ssociation.

Thanks,
Meena Yeggina
Editor/Publisher
India Parent Magazine

Website : www.indiaparentmagazine.org
Phone : 408-964-8708
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Celebrations Represent Unity and Joy

Come Fall and along with back-to-school business, Indians are also busy with celebrations and festivities. Beginning with Lakshmi Puja and Rakhi in early August and September, and then Ganesh Chaturdhi in mid September, we all get warmed up for the major celebrations in October––Navrathri, the festival Kali, as well Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Diwali is celebrated by all Indians with gusto in one way or another.  In this fashion, Diwali, like Holi, is an all-India event irrespective of the religious base of those participating in it. Like Christmas, Diwali in the past few years has become an internationally celebrated event too, due its joyous nature involving lights and the arrival of good days.  During Christmas, we, again irrespective of our religious base, put up a tree with lights, invite families over, and exchange gifts. Christmas acts more as a celebration of good times than as a religious event.

Festivities, more than the religion and religious ceremonies that they represent, act as a unifying force.  They bring families and groups together, which is and should be the underlying factor of any celebration.  God in any form, however, will always be there, in any celebration, lurking as a strong force in whatever form––Allah, Ram, Jesus––having fun in all the festivities.

Long time ago, in our native land where we have shared and enjoyed such festivities without any bomb scares and religious bigotry, sharing our sweets with our neighbors and friends, it was definitely not religion we were thinking of, but of the joy such events bring in sharing that is intensely and exquisitely fulfilling.

Now here in the US, in our second home, which most of us have subconsciously made it our first, it’s with that  same joy and happiness we await this festival season.  In addition, almost all the cities here in tha Bay Area celebrate Diwali, or the Festival of Lights. From the City of Cupertino to Fremont, several cities come forward to join in the fun.  At such events, more than religion, it is the culture and unity that makes these events so special.  

This year, for the first time, the Children Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM) joined hands with the Indian community to celebrate Diwali in its premises with much fanfare.  In addition to story-telling,  dance, music, fashion show and classical performances, CDM, in association with ICC, is also having a food gallery exhibiting Indian delicacies, dandia stick-decorating, dandia dance step-learning and other craft extravaganza. A not-to-miss event, this Diwali celebration at CDM will be an excellent family get-together and stroy-telling time, a time to share and enjoy.  It’s on Oct 9, from 1 to 5 pm, and you all should try not to miss it.

I am proud of my roots and can never forget my culture.  However, it gives me extra joy and pride that my second home also takes pride in my culture and is equally happy to share and enjoy it.   -Meena Yeggina