Wishesh magazine march_2018

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VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 8
.NET
WISHESHMARCH 2018
Sridevi Boney Kapoor
# W O R L D N E W S A N D E N T E R T A I N M E N T M A G A Z I N E
IndianYoga
WeirdKinds
OfYoga
Lifestyle
12Lawsof
Karma
In focus
NiravModi
IndianEvents
BALARAMAYANAM

It has been an incredible month and we have our electrifying and
eclectic Wishesh magazine for this month ready at your devices.
This edition brings you some gripping details into the values
Hinduism has imbibed in us to the importance of Religious symbols
and their meanings. Don't forget to check out the marvelous cover
story for the month, on “An Era Is Over”: Bollywood Icon Sridevi
Boney Kapoor Dies. And pamper your taste buds with varieties of
Popular Indian Sweets Around the World reading the lifestyle and
relationship details.
Our hopes and promises of bringing informative, entertaining
and exhilarating pieces from the past few weeks have kept us
enlightened all through. I am gratified by the Feedbacks and
support you have shown, over the years. Wishesh Magazine is not
just a news update on events from India but it is a way of life for
Indians and everyone else. Everything you may have missed or
have wanted to follow with captivating and gripping details, are
compiled and presented hence forth.
Fall in love with Indian culture, tradition and delicacies as we
bring you some spectacular details on things which are close to our
hearts and our souls.
Enjoy reading through and don't forget to share your views.
Best!
Kiran..
Read, Relax, Rejuvenate
and Enjoy!!!
-KIRAN E, EDITOR IN
CHIEF
Contact me at
kiran@wishesh.net
Editors Page
Namaste !

Special thanks to
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for making this magazine
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kiran@wishesh.net
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-KIRAN E, EDITOR IN CHIEF
Contact me at
kiran@wishesh.net
Special thanks to contributors, our
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CONTENTS
Indian Diaspora
16-31
works from Assam
Hindu Wedding Ceremony
Religious symbols
Story for Kids
38-45
Sudama
and Krishna
Healthy Living
Indian Food
46-49
50-53
Offbeat exercises to get in
shape
Popular Indian Sweets
Around the World
NRI Profile
Desi News
54-59
76-77
Meera Nair
Grand And Auspicious
Sri Goda Ranganatha
Kalyanam
Cover Story
32-37
Bollywood Icon Sridevi
Boney Kapoor Dies

In Business
78-83
Justin Trudeau
India Visit Highlights
In Focus
84-89
Nirav Modi
and the
Freedom Fighter
90-95
Tipu Sultan India’s First
Freedom Fighter
Indian Yoga
96-101
Weird Kinds Of
Yoga
LifeStyle
Relationship
102-105
116-121
12 Laws of Karma
Sexless Marriage
Romance
106-115
Powerful And Interesting
Valentine’s Day Facts

CONTENTSIndian History
Indian Spiritual
Automobiles
Indian vasthu
Technology
130-133
150-157
134-139
140-143
144-149
Rani Padmavati
of Chittor
Contrast and
Comparison
Between Spirituality
Top 15 Safe CarsRight Now
History of
Vastu Shastra
Latest Facebook
Updates
Which Are Too Much
Travelogue
122-129
Lakshadweep

Indian Events
158-159
Bala Ramayanam
Special Movie
Star Gazing
Movie Review
Hollywood Tea News
Fashion
166-173
186-187
174-181
182-183
160-165
Raid
Rangasthalam
Bharath Ane Nenu
Aiyaary
Tholi-prema
Touch-Chesi-Chudu
La-La-Anthonys
Vanessa-Hudgens
Selena Gomez
Pushbutton Spring -2018

CURRENT AFFAIRS
SARAS- Light Transport Aircraft, Completes The
Second Test-Flight Successfully:
SARAS - India’s indigenous light transport aircraft on February 21, 2018, was positively test flown
for a second time. The flight took off for a text book flight from HAL’s airport in Bengaluru.
The flight test was commanded by Wing Commander U.P. Singh, Group Captain K.P. Bhat and
Group Captain R.V. Panicker of Indian Air Force- Aircraft and System Testing Establishment.
This was the second of the 20 test flights scheduled for SARAS PT1N, before confirming the
production version. The first successful test was reported after it was carried out on January 24,
2018.
The highlights of the SARAS Aircraft are:
• CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) is doing the design and development of the
aircraft.
• The production model design of the aircraft is likely to be ready by June-July 2018.
• NAL has integrated various design modifications and enhancements on the aircraft like 2x1200
ship engines and 104-inch diameter propeller gathers to cater to second segment climb gradient
requirements.
• The aircraft also features better-quality flight control system, rudder area, main wheel and brakes
to cater to 7100 kg AUV, indigenously technologically advanced stall warning system, etc.

ICC Rankings: Virat
Kohli crosses 900
points in Tests,ODIs
• Virat Kohli , the India captain became
only the second batsman after South
Africa’s AB de Villiers, in the history of
Cricket to cross the 900-point mark in
Tests and ODIs, as per most recent ICC
ODI player rankings.
• Pacer Jasprit Bumrah snatched the
joint-top position among bowlers.
• Kohli consolidated his top position
with 558 runs in the 5-1 series win over
South Africa, during which he banged
three centuries.
• Virat Kohli is now a good 22 points
ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, whose ODI
career high was 887 points which came
against Zimbabwe in January 1998.
Union Agriculture Ministry
launches six new user
friendly features of e-NAM
Platform:
The Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,
on February 21, 2018, Radha Mohan Singh launched
six new features of National Agriculture Market
(e-NAM) Platform with a purpose to make it additional
users friendly.
The new and user-friendly features of the e-NAM
platform are MIS Dashboard for improved analysis,
BHIM payment facility by traders, mobile payment
capacity by traders, greater features on Mobile App,
integration of farmer’s database, eLearning element in
e-NAM website, etc.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
Newborn baby mortality remains high:
According to the UNICEF’s new report on newborn mortality, there have been
worldwide deaths of newborn babies which has remained frighteningly high,
predominantly among the world’s poorest countries.
Babies born in Japan, Singapore and Iceland have the best chance at survival, while
newborns in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central African Republic (CAR) face the
worst chance.
Although pointing out the global condition for new born, the UNICEF told that the
number of deaths amongst children under the age of five in the past quarter century
have been halved, but then again similar progress have not been made in ending
deaths among children less than one month old.
The UNICEF in its report said that since majority of these deaths are inevitable, and
hence, we are failing the world’s poorest babies.
World is failing newborn babies: UNICEF
As per the UNICEF’s new report on newborn mortality, worldwide deaths of newborn
babies remain frighteningly high, particularly among the world’s poorest countries.
Babies born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore have the best chance at survival, while
newborns in Pakistan, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Afghanistan face the
worst chance.
While pointing out the global condition for new born, the UNICEF said that the
number of deaths among children under the age of five in the last quarter century
have been halved, but similar progress have not been made in ending deaths among
children less than one month old.
The UNICEF in its report said that since majority of these deaths are preventable,
and therefore, we are failing the world’s poorest babies.
UNICEF Report
“As per report, in low-income countries, the average newborn mortality rate is 27
deaths per 1,000 births all across the globe.
However, In high-income countries, newborn mortality rate is 3 deaths per 1,000.
Newborns from the riskiest places to give birth are up to 50 times more likely to die

than those from the safest places.
The report highlighted that more than 80% of newborn deaths are happening due to premature
birth, infections such as pneumonia and sepsis or some complications during birth. These deaths
can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives, along with proven solutions like clean
water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact and good nutrition. The
report also notes that 8 of the 10 most dangerous places to be born are in sub-Saharan Africa,
where pregnant women are much less likely to receive assistance during delivery due to poverty,
conflict and weak institutions. If every country brought its newborn mortality rate down to the high-
income average by 2030, 16 million lives could be saved.”

India 7th most targeted nation for Web
Application Attacks:
In the list of targeted countries for Web Application Attacks (WAA), India has been placed at the
seventh spot - according to a new report titled ‘Akamai State of the Internet Security Q4 2017’ that
was released on February 21, 2018.
The report states that nearly 40 per cent of over 53,000 cyber-attacks in India occurred in the
financial services sector during 2017.
Key Highlights
• The report tells that security happenings such as phishing, website interruptions and
defacements, virus and ransomware have targeted the fast growing of the Banking, Financial
Services and Insurance (BFSI) segment in India.
• It also indicated that the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack frequency in the BFSI sector
has amplified by 50 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017 as compared to the last quarter.
• It also located India seventh in the list of the top source nations for WAA.
• While India continued the same position in the third quarter last year, the attacks sourced saw a
fall of approximately four million in number as equated to last quarter.
Type of Attacks
DDoS Update / Circulated Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks: These attacks can take down
websites, interrupt businesses, and divert resources, sometimes aiding as cover for more insidious
data or systems breaches.
Web Application Attacks Update: In comparison to DDoS attacks, web application attacks usually
target application vulnerabilities in order to steal data or otherwise negotiation the underlying
system. These attacks are way more common than DDoS attacks, with attackers often just
scanning the Internet for susceptible sites to victimize.
CURRENT AFFAIRS

WWW.WISHESH.NET | MARCH 2018
16
“Terracotta” is an English word. The word Terracotta has
been derived from Latin and Italian words. ‘Terra’, which
is Latin word-means ‘Earth-Soil’ (specially indicates the
‘mud’) and ‘Cotta’, which is Italian word-means ‘Statue’
(it may be noted here that ‘Cocta’, which is also a Latin
word-means also statue). In local dialect of Assam it is
called Pora Matir Shilpa.
works from Assam
Terra-cotta
INDIAN DIASPORA FINE ART

MARCH 2018 | WWW.WISHESH.NET
cups, incense ? sticks holders
and many more items.
The clay modeling industry
that had occupied a prominent
position in field of art and
culture in ancient and medieval
age, by degrees handed over
to generation after generation,
old and new by these people
having knack in iconology. To
meet the daily necessities,
these potters make various
materials for household-
works, religious-purposes,
children’s toys et cetera.
Especially, these terracotta
articles made of clay has
wide range of usefulness and
bear great importance in the
villages that is, rural life. In
every household, both men
and women use these earthen
articles.
At the initial stage, the artisans
did not know how to make
these articles. To make clay
models, images and earthen
articles, the potters are
needed to follow the following
procedures. At first they collect
the soil (that is, a special type
of glutinous clay for loaming
“Terracotta” is an English
word. The word Terracotta has
been derived from Latin and
Italian words. ‘Terra’, which is
Latin word-means ‘Earth-Soil’
(specially indicates the ‘mud’)
and ‘Cotta’, which is Italian
word-means ‘Statue’ (it may be
noted here that ‘Cocta’, which
is also a Latin word-means
also statue). In local dialect of
Assam it is called Pora Matir
Shilpa.
Assam has two different
communities? hira and
the kumar in the clay and
terracotta craft. Both have
two different methods of
working. The hiras follow
the compression method
and prepare the household
articles and this craft is carried
out by the women of hiras. .
The kumars follow the wheel
method and produce beautiful
pottery articles which are first
made on the wheel, dried and
cooked in the bhattis or the
ovens. The most commonly
used pottery products include
plates, earthern lamps, clay
dolls, chains, diyas, pitchers,
soil) from the riverbank side
and then mixed up with
water the clay-modelers
shape the different types of
figure without the help of any
mould with their uncovered
soft hands. After that, these
goods or models are dried
in the sun and burnt in fire
and finally different colours
are used to decorate them.
In previous time, the clay
modelers did not use colour
on their earthen goods.
In fact, they were totally
ignorant of this. Later on,
they used only red and black
colour to decorate these
earthen materials. However,
the modern artisans have
started to use new technique
and new colour to make this
art attractive.
This wonderful handicraft
is originally a ‘woman’
creation. When the male-
heads of every family remain
engaged with cultivation and
small trade or business, the
womenfolk used to spend
spare time in making different
utensils, toys etc. with mud
and clay. Consequently the
women who were wise and
thoughtful started to translate
their imagination into different
images of clay, pillar, even
clay fort. As per Hindu
Shastra, the earthen utensils
once used in any ceremony
or festivals are not allow to
be used again and so, glaze
is not use in the materials
for religious bigotry. This is
why; these terracotta articles

18
bear crudity. In fact, this crudity
helped to increase its attraction
and demand too.
During the rule of the Hindu
rulers, like Chandra Gupta
Maurya to Chandra Gupta-II,
et cetera the use of terracotta
articles were vehemently in
vogue. The people of that
time made utensils, playing
materials, images, religious-
establishments, statues et
cetera of terracotta. There
are still many houses and
buildings, temples, forts, pillars,
monuments where there are
immense specimens of using
things made of clay. Even, it
bore equal importance during
British period.
The appearance of various
metals and mental made goods
brought decline in terracotta
articles. The incident also
happened in India. But after
independence (that is, 15th
August, 1947), its importance
began to increase when the
‘West’ inclined to its use.
In India, the state of West-
Bengal became a great patron
of terracotta articles. The
potters of West-Bengal took the
leading part in this culture. The
articles of Bankura in Bankura
district under West-Bengal
State, the relief images of
Rajasthan State and the Dhubri,
Goalpara districts of Assam
State have occupied a pivotal
position in terracotta market of
the world.
Even, terracotta an art
of earthen ware or clay
modeling came into existence
from the rational art look
and faculty of imagination
of our forefathers, who had
exhibited their excellence
of intellect in building city
or town found at Horappa
in Sindh province, now in
Pakistan country.
Terracotta as a medium has
dominated the handicraft
scene of Assam since time
immemorial. The tradition
itself has been handed
down from the generation
to generation without break.
Assamese terracotta products
are exquisite examples of
immaculate craftsmanship.
Household articles, toys,
dolls and images of worship
are the main products.
Gauripur is the centre
for terracotta products in
Assam. Today we have the
descendent of such families
engaged in improvised
terracotta versions of various
common figures of gods and
goddesses to mythological
characters, while toys, vases,
etc have also found a new
life.
Dhubri in Goalpara district of
Assam State have occupied
a pivotal position in terracotta
market of the world. The
Assamese terracotta art
and culture took its birth at
Asharikandi, a small village
near Gauripur town in Dhubri
district. More than 80%
families of this village are
engaged in this ethnic-art
(handicraft) and pass their
life after sell these Terracotta
products in the national and
international market. Who
have originated from the then
East-Pakistan, that is, East-
Bengal, popularly known
as, Purba-Bangla or Purbo
Bango, presently, Bangladesh
and they live upon pottery.
Most of these people belong
to ‘Pal’ community. In Assam,
pal means Kumar (that is,
potter). Of them, 10 to 15 per
cent family get themselves
attached with terracotta art
and culture. The people
of this village plunge into
great distress during rainy
season when flood occurs
in Gadadhar, a tributary of
the river Brahmaputra blows
beside this village. The
Government has declared
this village as a model village.
As per Hindu Shashtra, the

earthen utensils once used in
any ceremony or festivals are not
allow to be used again and so,
glaze is not use in the materials for
religious bigotry. This is why; these
terracotta articles bear crudity. In
fact, this crudity helped to increase
its attraction and demand too.
In fact, this art and culture
grew especially at the help and
inspiration rendered by the famous
‘Baruah’ family of Gauripur Raj
Paribar. As this place is situated
on the Assam – West-Bengal
interstate border, so the influence
of Bengali terracotta art and
architecture is marked here.
But the story of terracotta art
and culture of this region will
remain incomplete unless and
the people speak anything
about Saralabala Pal and her
son, who are at the root of ups
and downs of this Assamese
ethnic art, terracotta in this
connection.
Forms of Clay and
Terracotta works
in other states of
India:
Longpi Coiled
Pottery of Manipur
Manipuri pottery is unique in
style and technique. Unlike in
other parts of India, the craft
is practiced both by men and
women. The potters of this
area do not use a wheel and,
instead, use the.
Blue Pottery of
Jaipur, Rajasthan
The Persian Art of blue pottery
came to Jaipur from Persia
and Afghanistan via Mughal
Courts.Blue Pottery is made
from quartz and not clay.
Materials that are used
include quartz, raw glaze,
sodium.
Terracotta of
Kutch
Terracotta of Kutch is
famous for its lovely craft
workmanship. Artists here
dry the clay in the bright
sunlight and later these
articles are painted and
baked. Thanagarh is famous
for ceramic items.
Clay & Terracotta
of Delhi
Delhi artists who have
migrated from different
parts of the states produce
traditional terracotta craft in
the most traditional way. A
variety of earthen objects
such as cut-work lamps,
money banks.

20
This wonderful
handicraft
is originally
a ‘woman’
creation. When
the male-heads
of every family
remain engaged
with cultivation
and small trade
or business, the
womenfolk used
to spend spare
time in making
different
utensils, toys
etc.
Clay & Terracotta
of Uttar Pradesh
Among the clay products
of Uttar Pradesh, pottery of
Gorakpur is very famous. The
potters of this region make
animal figures like horses
and elephants with hand-
appliqu?d ornamentation.
Figures of.
Clay & Terracotta
of West Bengal
The finest patterns of terracotta
panels can be found in Bengal
towns of Murshidabad,
Birbhaum, Jessore, Hooghly and
Digha. The theme is generally
folk and the patterns are fairly
highlighted with.
Clay, Terracotta &
Ceramics of Haryana
Haryana produces a large
variety of terracotta products
such as lamps, pitchers,
flower vases, pots, musical
instruments, clay toys, goblets,
human and animal figures,
plaques, medallions, and wall.
Clay & Terracotta of
Goa
Goan artists design attractive
earthen ware, with its deep, rich,
red surface. Water flower pots
are the main items and are the
hot selling item. Panels are also
made here in a unique artistry
way.
Clay, Terracotta,
Pottery of Jammu &
Kashmir
Of the two distinctive types of
pottery available in Ladakh, one
comprises of large images and
icons painted in bright colours
which are made for Buddhist
monasteries while the other
comprises of.
Hukka Crafts of
Haryana
Hukka, chillums or the
smoking pipes are very
commonly used by the men
and the women folk of this
state. These hukkas are
made out of clay and has
an earthen pot in the centre
where the smoking.
Votive Terracottas
of Molela,
Rajasthan
Murtikala, the art of making
votive murtis or idols of gods
with terracotta, exists in
Molela, in Rajasthan. While
the murtis were originally
standing idols of local deities
and various Vishnu forms.
Terracotta &
Ceramics of Punjab
The main centres of
attraction for this craft are
Mohali, Ropar, Ludhiana
and Hoshiarpur and the
products include matkas,
flower pots, diyas, miniature
temple structures and toys
that are beautified.
Clay & Terracotta
of Himachal
Kangra, Mandi, Kulu,
Chamba, and Shimla have
many migrated potters who
have been living here since

decades. These potters are
locally known as kumhars. The
products commonly made include
pots, toys.
Glazed Ceramics
of Tamil Nadu &
Pondicherry
Southern India has its own
distinctive glazed pottery. Vellore
in North Arcot district has a
tradition of black and red pottery.
Usilampatti in Madurai district has
black pottery painted over with.
Maharashtra
Dharavi in Bombay and
Bhadravati in Chandrapur district
are concentrating on artistic
pottery on co-operative lines.
These units manufacture a
large variety of painted and truly
elegant black pottery.
Andaman & Nicobar
The earthen pots of Chowra
are hand-shaped by the
women, with clay taken from
the neighbouring island of
Teressa. These are low fired
using sticks and leaves. The
finished pots have a smooth,
shining.
Madhya Pradesh
The age old craft of clay and
terracotta art is practiced even
today in its traditional way
and with passion. Tribals of
Madhaya Pradeh region make
traditional clay temples called
dhabas which has a.
Pottery &
Terracotta of
Karnataka
In south India terracotta
pottery has maintained
its traditional as well as
commercial value. Food
cooked in the pottery is
considered good for health.
Red clay is commonly used in
designing images.
Meghalaya
A number of pottery units in
the Garo Hills are engaged
in the production of clay
utensils”;” these occasionally
produce toys and dolls as
well, particularly at the time of
various festivals and.
Clay & Terracotta
of Andhra
Utilitarian items of daily
use are made in clay and
terracotta with Chittoor being
the main centre for the work.
Clay & Terracotta
of Assam
Assam has two different
communities? hira and
the kumar in the clay and
terracotta craft. Both have
two different methods of
working. The hiras follow the
compression method and
prepare the household.
Clay & Terracotta
of Bihar &
Jharkhand
The potter?s community
known as Kumhars is
generally found in large
settlements of Jharkhand.
There are wide varieties of
items made for household
use to decorative items. A
large size pot is very.

22
Key components of a
Hindu Wedding Ceremony
INDIAN DIASPORA TRADITION
Weddings are a celebration of love and commitment, and can
also be a celebration of the couple’s religion and culture. One
such ceremony that you might not be so familiar with? A Hindu
wedding. Whether you’re invited as a guest, attending as a member
of the wedding party, or are simply curious, there are a few key
components you’ll see time and again. Here, our experts break
down a Hindu wedding ceremony for you.

Marriages, according to
Hindu beliefs are made
in heaven, and once you
are married, the bond is
supposed to last for seven
lifetimes. It is considered
to be a turning point in an
individual’s life as he enters
the second important phase
or ashram of his life – the
‘Garhasthyaashram’. A lot of
importance is associated with
marriages in Hinduism as it is
considered to be one of the
most important duties of a
man’s life. Through marriage
he is paying his debt to his
forefathers, by procreating
children and ensuring
continuation of his family’s
lineage. Hindu weddings are
long processes, with various
rituals that may take days to
be executed. Every single
custom and practice in a
wedding ceremony has deep
philosophical and spiritual
significance. Throughout
the world the Hindus adhere
to these set of rituals and
continue on the traditions
of marriage that is unique
amongst those in the world.
Traditional Hindu weddings
fall, generally, along two
lines: North Indian Hindu
weddings and South Indian
Hindu weddings. While both
ceremonies are incredibly
colorful and might require
taking a few days off of
work to attend the full range
of festivities the rituals
themselves vary. Here are
a few rituals you may see if
you’re celebrating a Hindu
union.
Types of Hindu
Weddings
according to sacred
texts:
According to Hindu sacred
texts like Asvalayana
Garhyasutra and
Atharvaveda, eight different
types of marriages are
recognized by the ancient
Hindu society. Four of
them were categorized
as ‘Prashasta’ or proper
marriages conducted by
following appropriate religious
customs.The various types of
Prashasta marriages are as
follows -
Brahma– It is the marriage
that takes place upon
receiving mutual consent
from both bride and groom’s
families. It is considered the
most appropriate form of
marriage in Hindu society.
Daiva – The daughter is
dressed up with fine clothes
and ornaments and is offered
as a sacrifice fee to the
Deity. This type of weddings
was prevalent during yajna
sacrifices in ancient times.
Arsha – The father gives away
his daughter in exchange
for a cow and a bull from the
groom’s family. The groom
takes an oath to effectuate his
commitment towards the bride
and her family.
Prajapatya – Here the
couple get married by uttering
Sanskrit verses promising
eternal love in presence of
their families. This is similar to
a modern day civil ceremony
where neither priest nor
religious rites are performed.
Variations in Hindu
Weddings across
India
Weddings among Hindus
in India are a set of
complex customs and vary
considerably from region to

24
region. Each community has
their own spin on the basic
Hindu wedding ceremony
based on geographical
location and cultural
influences. While in some
communities, it is a simple
but elegant affair, in others,
weddings spell grandeur
and pomp. In North India the
wedding proceedings are
generally termed as ‘Vivah
Sanskar’ whereas in most of
South India it is referred to as
‘Kalyanam’. Hindu weddings
are basically a Yajna ritual
with the Fire Deity or Agni
as the primary witness. The
rituals are primarily handled
and carried out along with
Sanskrit Mantras, according
to guidelines laid down
thousands of years ago by
sages who created the Vedas.
In some cultures weddings
take place during daytime,
while in others they are held
only after sunset. In some
communities like the Kerala
Nairs weddings are matrilineal
instead of patriarchal which
the norm is almost everywhere
else. While most north Indian
weddings are big on fun,
frolic and colors, weddings in
South India are comparatively
demure and modest.
The Wedding
Mandap
The wedding mandap
is a temporary structure
constructed for the purpose
of the marriage ceremony. It
may appear on an elevated
platform, and is decorated
with anything from flowers
and greenery to fabric and
crystals.
Mehndi
During the mehndi ceremony,
henna is used to apply
intricate designs to the bride’s
hands and feet. The mehndi
ceremony usually takes place
one day before the marriage
will be held, as the application
can take hours!
Jai Mala
This is the part of the
ceremony during which the
bride and groom exchange
floral garlands. The exchange
of floral garlands is particularly
important in South Indian
Hindu weddings.
Kanyadaan
Otherwise known as the
moment when the bride’s
father gives her away, the
father of the bride symbolically
places his daughter’s hand
into the hand of her fiancé. He
may also pour water into the
bride’s hand, which will flow
through her fingers and into
the hand of her groom.
Saptapadi
An important ritual in North
Indian Hindu weddings, at
this point in the ceremony, the
bride and groom have their
garments tied together, then
take seven steps together (or
make seven circles around a
ceremonial fire) as they make
vows to one another regarding
the happiness and success of
their marriage.
Sindoor
This is the red-orange
powder applied to the part of
a woman’s hair, symbolizing

Each community has their own spin on the basic Hindu
wedding ceremony based on geographical location and
cultural influences. While in some communities, it is
a simple but elegant affair, in others, weddings spell
grandeur and pomp.

26
that she is married. It is
applied to her part for the
first time during the marriage
ceremony.
Dhruvadarshan
At the conclusion of the
ceremony, the priest directs
the newlyweds’ eyes to the
pole star, which remains
steadfast in the sky though the
stars around it move across
the sky. So shall their new
marriage be steadfast, though
others may change around
them.
Vivah-Homa: The sacred
fire ceremony ascertaining that
all auspicious undertakings
are begun in an atmosphere of
purity and spirituality.
Pani-Grahan: The groom
takes the right hand of the
bride in his left hand and
accepts her as his lawfully
wedded wife.
Pratigna-Karan: The
couple walks around the
fire, the bride leading, and
take solemn vows of loyalty,
steadfast love and life-long
fidelity to each other.
Shila Arohan: The
mother of the bride helps the
bride to step onto a stone slab
and counsels her to prepare
herself for a new life.
Laja-Homah: Puffed
rice offered as oblations into
the sacred fire by the bride
while she keeps the palms of
her hands over those of the
groom.
Parikrama or
Pradakshina or
Mangal Fera: The
couple circles the sacred fire
seven times. This aspect of
the ceremony legalizes the
marriage according to the
Hindu Marriage Act as well as
custom.
Saptapadi: Marriage knot
is symbolized by tying one
end of the groom’s scarf with
the bride’s dress. Then they
In some
cultures
weddings
take place
during
daytime,
while in
others they
are held
only after
sunset.

take seven steps representing
nourishment, strength,
prosperity, happiness,
progeny, long life, and
harmony and understanding,
respectively.
Abhishek: Sprinkling of
water, meditating on the sun
and the pole star.
Anna Praashan: The
couple makes food offerings
into the fire then feed a
morsel of food to each other,
expressing mutual love and
affection.
Aashirvadah:
Benediction by the elders.

28
INDIAN DIASPORA CULTURE
In fact, some religious symbol
means can also shock. So in
the holy signs of a religion,
we can sometimes find traces
of its history. Symbolism
thus works by popularity and
interpretations. Sometimes,
old holy symbols acquire
a new meaning in the light
history.
1 Swastika
The Swastika is a Hindu
symbol of peace and
prosperity. All home entrances
and the ‘Kalash’ that stands
for Goddess Lakshmi is
adorned with this symbol.
It represents everything
auspicious and pure.
2 Star of David
The famous 6 pointed star is
called the ‘Star Of David’. It is
an emblem of the Israeli flag
and marks Jewish graves.
The interlocking of the lines
represents the joining of
David and Benjamin.
3 Trident
The trident is a Greco-Roman
symbol of power as it used to
be held by Poseidon, the god
of Oceans. In Hinduism, it is
seen as the symbol of Lord
Shiva. In Christianity, the
trident stands for the Devil and
is called a ‘fork’.
4 Christian cross
The cross is the most popular
signs of Christianity. It
represents the suffering of
Christ who purged the sins of
Mankind with His own blood.
This is perhaps the best known
religious symbol on the planet
because of its simplicity.
Although the Christian cross
represents that cross on
which the religion’s leader
was put to death, it is also a
common symbol that predates
Christianity. The cross
represents the unity of two
Religious symbols
and
Their Meanings
Religious symbols and their meanings are sometimes lost
on us. Very often, we see a holy symbol and don’t really
know what it means. In other cases, some common
religious symbols become so popular that their actual
meaning is lost in history.

opposite lines, and in some early religions
represented fire as it can be seen as two
sticks being rubbed together. Although
the graphic design logo is associated
primarily with Jesus Christ, as you can see
it has significance that goes beyond this
meaning.
5 Khanda
Khanda is a Sikh religious symbol and its
meaning is related to power and purity.
The Khanda has a crossed kirpan in it that
represents political power. The double
edged sword repents belief in a single god.
6 Star and
Crescent
The star and crescent is the best-known
symbol used to represent Islam. The
symbol is not Muslim in origin, it was
a polytheistic icon adopted during the
spread of Islam, and its use today is
sometimes controversial in the Muslim
world. The crescent and star are often
said to be Islamic symbols, but historians
say that they were the insignia of the
Ottoman Empire, not of Islam as a whole.
The words “Allah” in Arabic script or
characters can be regarded as visually
representing Islam as a symbol.
7 Om
‘Om’ is a Hindu symbol that stands
for the entire Universe. This symbol is
actually a mantra that is pronounced
from the core of your soul and represents
Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe.
The Omkar is a symbol of the syllable
‘Om’, which is significant in the Hindu
religion as well as many other Asian
religions. This word is written in Sanskrit
in this symbol, which is the language
used for sacred Hindu writings. This
graphic design logo defies description,
using none of the archetypical shapes
and symbols seen in other religions,
which establishes Hinduism as
Trident
Star of David
Swastika
KhandaMenorah
Ahimsa Hand
Om

30
fundamentally different
from other world religions,
a positive impression for
modern people who are
always looking for something
different and better.
8 Pentagram
A pentagram is basically a 6
pointed star surrounded by
a circle. This symbol stands
for the Holy Feminine, but is
also used in occult practices.
9 Fish or
Ichthus
INDIAN DIASPORA CULTURE
Star and Crescent
Christian cross
Fish or Ichthus.
Buddhist Lotus Flower Logo Design.
Sikh Khanda Logo
Design
Wheel of Dharma
Yin and Yang

The ichthus or fish is the
earliest symbol for Christ.
This could be because all the
12 original Apostles of Christ
were fishermen.
10 Menorah
The Menorah is a Jewish
symbol that looks like a
candle stand. Apparently,
God revealed the design of
the Menorah to Moses in His
dreams.
11 Yin and Yang
This Chinese sign basically
symbolized the balance of
Nature. It is also seen as a
representation of male and
female energies. The circle
is a symbol of unity, while the
dark and light symbolize the
marriage of opposites, such
as male and female, dark
and light. The small circles
of opposite color within the
larger color sides represent
that all things have a little bit
of their opposite characteristic.
It is impossible to see the
symbol of Taoism without
understanding the role that
duality plays in this religion.
12 Ahimsa Hand
This is a Jain symbol that is
very common in India. Jains
believe in total non-violence
and the stopping gesture of
the hand is a reminder of the
pledge against violence.
13 Wheel of
Dharma or
Chamaru
In Mahayana, Buddhist
figures and sacred objects
leaned towards esoteric
and symbolic meaning.
The Mudras are a series
of symbolic hand gestures
describing the actions of
the characters represented
in only the most interesting
Buddhist art. Many images
also function as mandalas.
Mahayana and Vajrayana
Buddhist art frequently
makes use of a particular
set of eight auspicious
symbols,ashtamangala, in
domestic and public art.
These symbols have spread
with Buddhism to the art of
many cultures, including
Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese,
and Chinese art. Wheel
of Dharma or Chamaru in
Nepali Buddhism represents
knowledge.
14 Buddhist
Lotus Flower Logo
Design
The lotus flower represents
many things to Buddhists and
other Asian cultures, including
the purity and symmetry that
are universally associated with
blossoms. Because the petals
unfold and eventually give birth
to fruit, the lotus flower and other
flowers represent the growth
and unfolding of the self, as
well as one phase of life giving
way to another. This graphic
design logo is heavily symbolic
to Buddhists while also an
attractive image for any religion
to portray.
15 Sikh Khanda
Logo Design
The Sikh Khanda features
several symbols that are
important to the religion as
well as one more commonly
recognized symbol. First, the
graphic design logo is in a
generally circular shape, with the
circular Chakkar in the center,
which shows the harmony and
all-encompassing nature of
the religion and culture. In the
center is the double edge sword,
a common symbol in this warrior
culture. The two swords on
either side represent the dual
nature of the guru that leads the
religion.
Pentagram

32
COVER STORY

Bollywood Icon Sridevi
Boney Kapoor Dies
“An Era Is Over”:
Sridevi was in Dubai along with husband Boney
Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi, to attend
the wedding of nephew Mohit Marwah. As per
the report, Boney Kapoor, who had left Dubai
for Mumbai, came again on Saturday evening
to surprise his wife. He supposedly woke Sridevi
around 5.30 pm and the couple chatted for
around 15 minutes, the report says. Then Boney
Kapoor asked her to dinner.
The 54-year-old bollywood star went to
the washroom to get ready. When she
did not come out for some time, her
husband knocked the door, then forced
open to see the actor “lying motionless
in a bathtub full of water”, according to
the Khaleej Times.
The report says, quoting a source on
Sunday, February 25, 2018 “He tried
to revive her and when he could not,
he called a friend of his. After that, he
informed the police at 9pm.” She could
not be revived. Her shocked family says
she never had any heart condition.
The funeral of superstar Sridevi, who
died in Dubai on Saturday evening, is
expected to take place in Mumbai. Her
family, in a statement said, her body will
be brought back to India today. Sridevi,
54, collapsed in her hotel room in Dubai
on Saturday evening and a medical
team had failed to revive her. She was
affirmed dead when she was taken
to the hospital, Indian ambassador in
UAE Navdeep Suri told NDTV. Sridevi’s
brother-in-law and actor Sanjay Kapoor
said she had no history of heart ailment.
The sudden death left her legions of
fans and the film industry shocked and

heartbroken. Many people
from Bollywood visited
Sridevi’s brother-in-law’s
home in Mumbai on Sunday.
Shock and sorrow hit the
country today as Bollywood
icon Sridevi, loved by millions
for her roles in movies like
“Mr India”, “Chandni” along
with “Himmatwala”, died of a
cardiac arrest in Dubai. The
54-year-old, who had taken
a long break from the movies
after her marriage to Boney
Kapoor, had returned to the
silver screen six years ago
with “English Vinglish” and
worked in three films since
then.
Sridevi’s sudden death has left
millions of fans in India and
elsewhere in complete shock.
In countless tributes, she
was billed as the first female
superstar of Indian cinema.
Older daughter Jhanvi, who is
debuting in films, stayed back
in Mumbai for a shoot.
The family waited on February
25 for the legendary actor’s
body as Dubai authorities
carried out an autopsy. The
body will be flown to Mumbai
today for the funeral.
About Sridevi
Sridevi Boney Kapoor
(born Shree Amma Yanger
Ayyapan; 13 August 1963 – 24
February 2018) was an Indian
actress and film producer.
Sridevi’s mother was from
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
Her father was a lawyer.
She has a sister and two
stepbrothers.
In 1996, Sridevi married
Boney Kapoor, a film
producer who is also the
elder brother of actors Anil
Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor.
They have two daughters,
Jahnvi and Khushi. Sridevi
starred in Tamil, Malayalam,
Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada
films. Regarded as Hindi
cinema’s first “female
superstar”, she was the
recipient of five Filmfare
Awards. Sridevi ranked
amongst the highest-paid
actors in the 1980s and
1990s and is considered to
be the most popular actress
of the era. Sridevi started
her acting career with M.
A. Thirumugam’s 1969
devotional film Thunaivan at
the age of 4, and continued to
act as a child artist in Tamil,
Telugu, Malayalam and
Kannada films. She made
her Bollywood debut as a
child artist in Julie (1975) and
played her first adult role at
age 13 with the Tamil film
Moondru Mudichu (1976).
Sridevi established herself as
one of the leading actresses
of Tamil and Telugu cinema,
with leading roles in 16
Vayathinile (1977), Sigappu
Rojakkal (1978), Varumayin
Niram Sivappu (1980),
Meendum Kokila (1981),
Premabhishekam (1981),
Moondram Pirai (1982),
Aakhari Poratam (1988),
Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka
Sundari (1990) and Kshana
Kshanam (1991).
Sridevi’s first starring role
in Hindi cinema came with
the 1979 drama film Solva
Sawan, and gained wide
34
COVER STORY

attention with the 1983
production Himmatwala. She
went on appear in a series
of commercially successful
films, including Mawaali
(1983), Tohfa (1984), Naya
Kadam (1984), Maqsad
(1984), Masterji (1985),
Nazrana (1987), Mr. India
(1987), Waqt Ki Awaz (1988)
and Chandni (1989). She
also received praise for such
films as Sadma (1983), Nagina
(1986), ChaalBaaz (1989),
Lamhe (1991), Khuda Gawah
(1992), Gumrah (1993),
Laadla (1994) and Judaai
(1997). Following the role of
the titular protagonist in the
television sitcom Malini Iyer
(2004–2005), Sridevi returned
to film acting in 2012 with the
successful comedy-drama
English Vinglish. She then
starred in her 300th film role
in the 2017 thriller Mom. She
earned critical acclaim for her
performances in both films.
In 2013, the Government of
India awarded Sridevi the
Padma Shri, the country’s
fourth highest civilian

accolade for her contributions
to the entertainment industry.
Honourary awards were also
conferred on her by the state
governments of Tamilnadu,
Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
Sridevi was also voted ‘India’s
Greatest Actress in 100
Years’ in a CNN-IBN national
poll conducted in 2013 on
the occasion of the centenary
of Indian cinema. She was
married to the film producer
Boney Kapoor, with whom
she had two children. Sridevi
died of cardiac arrest on 24th
February 2018 in Dubai.
Sridevi started her career
as a child actor at the age
of four in the Tamil movie
Thunaivan playing the role
of young Lord Muruga and
acted in many Tamil and
Telugu movies from then
on. Sridevi made her debut
in Tollywood as a child
artist with the 1970 telugu
film Maa Nanna Nirdoshi.
Baby Sridevi’s performance
in Poompatta (1971) in
Malayalam won her the
Kerala State Film Award for
Best Child Artist. Kandan
Karunai (1967), Nam
Naadu (1969), Prarthanai
(1970), Babu (1971), Badi
Panthulu (1972), Bala
Bharatam (1972), Vasantha
Maaligai (1972) and Bhakta
Kumbara (1974) are the
most notable films of her
career as a child artist. In
1975, Sridevi debuted in
Bollywood with Julie, where
she played younger sister
to the protagonist Lakshmi.
She acted with Jayalalitha
in Thirumangalyam, Kandan
Karunai and Adi Parashakti.
Sridevi’s body scheduled to
arrive in Mumbai at 4.30pm.
Rajinikanth arrives in Mumbai
for Sridevi’s funeral at 11.03
am. Same time, Dipti Naval,
Farah Khan and Farhan
Akhtar with his mother Honey
Irani arrive at Anil Kapoor’s
residence.
Rajnikant tweeted “I’m
shocked and very disturbed.
36
COVER STORY

I’ve lost a dear friend and the
industry has lost a true legend. My
heart goes out to her family and
friends. I feel the pain with them
#RIPSridevi... you will be missed.”
Kamal Hassan tweeter “Have
witnessed Sridevi’s life from
an adolescent teenager to the
magnificently lady she became.
Her stardom was well deserved.
Many happy moments with
her flash through my mind
including the last time I met her.
Sadma’lullaby haunts me now.
We’ll miss her.”
Amir Khan tweeted “deeply
disturbed and saddened by the
untimely and tragic passing away
of Sridevi, I have always been a
huge fan of her work. Equally I
have always been an admirer of
the grace and dignity with which
she conducted herself”

38 Sudama
and Krishna
STORY FOR KIDS
Indian mythology proliferates with colorful tales and lore,
each having a hidden moral or lesson to learn from. While
some of these stories deal with valor and heroic deeds;
others relate in detail, instances of love and friendship.
In this present day a true friend is one who is the most
difficult to find and keep.
Eternal Bond of True
Friendship

while also enjoying the beauty
of their environs. It started
getting quite late and Krishna
got hungry. Sudama, in the
meantime, had some grams
with him. However, he felt
embarrassed to offer this
simple food to his friend, who
hailed from a royal family.
Krishna kept telling him how
hungry he was and asked his
friend if he had anything at all
to eat. Sudama denied taking
along anything to eat.
Krishna knew very well that
his friend had some food
with him. He also knew that
the boy too was hungry, so
he dozed off for a little while.
Sudama immediately opened
his little pack of food and
stealthily ate up some of it.
Krishna noticed all this but
said nothing. Both the boys
then collected the brushwood
and left for their homes.
After finishing with their
studies, they lost touch
for several years. Krishna
moved away from Vrindavan
and went on to Dwaraka,
where he got married. He
then became the King and a
military leader of great repute.
Sudama, though, remained
as impoverished as always
and stayed on in the same
village; continuing to dedicate
his life to religious austerities,
mantra, japa and developing
a spiritual attitude toward life.
He also continued thinking
of Krishna and loved him as
always.
Sudama’s Life after
Marriage
In due course of time, Sudama
got married to Susheela
and became a householder.
However, he never had any
interest in accumulating
wealth. He was happy to
live frugally, desiring no
material gains. He accepted
his financial status and
preferred to spend time in the
contemplation of the Supreme
Godhead. He had not much
money to spare for his wife
and children. There were many
times when the family did not
even get two square meals.
The children often cried out
due to hunger and drank a
lot of water to try and satiate
themselves.
Sudama’s wife repeatedly
requested her husband to
visit his old friend Krishna and
beseech him for some financial
assistance. She would remind
him that he being a true
Brahmin, a devotee and long-
lost close friend of Krishna,
the latter would be only too
willing to help him in his time
of trouble. Susheela, like her
husband, was not bothered
about acquiring material
treasures; but she was
concerned about the health of
her family, especially that of
her children.
We have several hundreds
of friends, both online and
offline, but only the really
lucky ones get to meet that
one friend and companion
who will stay by their side, no
matter what happens in their
lives.
Sudama: Early Days
Sudama, who was also
known as Kuchela in South
India, was a childhood friend
of Lord Sri Krishna. Legend
has it that Sudama was
Narada, who took birth on
Earth in order to enjoy and
participate in the many lila’s
of Krishna. Narada is a divine
sage and eternal devotee of
Lord Vishnu.
Sudama was born in a poor
Brahmin family, to Matuka
and Rochana Devi. Krishna,
on the other hand, hailed from
the royal family and hence,
enjoyed the highest possible
social status. However, this
difference did not in any
way hinder their friendship
- the two were inseparables
all the way through the
tenure of their schooling
while in Vrindavan. They
studied together at Acharya
Sandipan’s ashram.
A Visit to the Forest
Krishna and Sudama once
went to the forest to gather
brushwood. They stayed on
there for long, walking and
chatting with each other,

40
Sudama Defies the
Arrogant Knight
An arrogant knight lived in the
same town as Sudama. He
hated Krishna’s popularity and
the fact that so many were
devoted to him. Since Sudama
was one of the most ardent
devotees of Krishna, the knight
hated him too. He once called
Sudama and told him that the
latter would get anything he
wished for, if he would only chant
the former’s name. However,
Sudama chose to defy the vain
man and firmly stated that he
would chant only the Lord’s name
and no one else’s. The knight
kept threatening him with dire
consequences if he continued
with his defiance, but Sudama did
not waver and stood firm with his
beliefs.
In the meantime, Susheela kept
begging her husband to visit his
old friend Krishna, knowing that
he would help in their time of
need. Sudama was reluctant to
ask such a big favor of Krishna.
Besides, his view was that,
Krishna being God, he would
already know everything and
would be aware of their suffering,
without them having to go and
complain to him.
The knight was further enraged
by Sudama’s utter lack of regard
for him and decided to teach him
a lesson. He went over to the
latter’s home and began hitting
him. At the very moment,
Krishna, sitting in his palace
with his wives Rukmini
and Satyabhama, felt the
actual physical pain of the
knight’s attack on Sudama.
He knew all that Sudama
was going through, but
kept silent, wanting the
latter to approach him first.
Each time the knight hit
Sudama, Krishna bore the
brunt silently. His wives
wondered why he was
repeatedly wincing, but he
nevertheless kept mum and
did not explain the reason
for his strange behavior.
Sudama Visits
Krishna
The knight continued
punishing and hitting
Sudama for days, but
the latter yet refused to
visit Krishna. Finally, not
able to take it anymore,
Susheela ordered him to
leave forthwith and request
help from the Lord. He
eventually agreed to visit
his long-lost royal friend
at Dwaraka. He realized
that it would not be nice to
go empty-handed to visit
the King and so, he asked
his wife to prepare some
foodstuff that he could
present before Krishna.
Having nothing to eat in the
house, she picked up some
flattened rice or “poha” and
packed it in a little piece of
cloth. Sudama took it and
happily left for Dwaraka.
Reaching Dwaraka,
Sudama stared in
amazement at the
massive gates of the
palace, and then entered
therein, passing through
several military camps
and residential quarters
on the way. Once inside,
he saw Krishna seated
with Rukmini. The Lord
immediately got up and
warmly received Sudama,
fondly embracing him.
The palace attendants
were shocked to see their
King behaving in such a
fashion with this humble,
obviously very poor
Brahmin. Sudama was
completely overwhelmed by
the rousing welcome that
Krishna gave him.
STORY FOR KIDS

The Lord asked him to be
seated and, in traditional
fashion, washed Sudama’s
feet, as a mark of respect for
a Brahmin. Krishna then took
some of the water used to
wash his feet and sprinkled it
over his own head. He then
offered Sudama food and drink
to refresh him after his long
journey.
Krishna and Sudama
Relive their Childhood
Days
Krishna then seated Sudama
on his own plush bed and then
both settled down to remember
their days of childhood.
The latter was thrilled by
his friend’s memory of the
wonderful days gone by; of all
the adventure they had had
together during their time at
their Guru’s ashram.
The Lord recounted several
incidents during their time
together, including one where
the boys entered the forest
to collect dried wood, on the
order of their Guru’s wife. They
got lost in the forest and could
not find their way back. All of
a sudden, there was a vicious
dust storm and then thick
clouds covered the sky, with
thunder and lightning making
the entire atmosphere even
more eerie and unsettling.
Sunset arrived all too soon
and the dense forest stretched
never-endingly before them.
It soon started to rain heavily;
flooding the entire area.
The young boys were
dismayed by the devastation
all around and decided to
stick very close to each other.
Holding each others’ hands,
they tried in vain to find their
Guru’s home. They were
trapped in the forest all night
and the next morning, the Guru
sent his other disciples to look
for them. After a long search,
they found the boys, utterly
shaken, tired, sleepy and
hungry. The Guru was very
touched by the boys’ devotion
to him and blessed them with
all goodness and knowledge.
Krishna talked in detail about
the incident, relating how
lucky they were to find such
a spiritual master and how
his blessings had helped
them achieve much in their
own lives. Sudama was
wonderstruck by the Lord’s
own humility and how simple
he was, in spite of being the
Lord God; the Controller of the
whole Universe. They talked
for a long time, after which
Krishna finally asked Sudama
what the purpose of his visit
was and the reason why he
had come to see him.
Sudama Offers Puffed
Rice to Krishna
Krishna’s mood turned jovial
and, with a mischievous glint
in his eye, he asked his friend
what the latter had brought
him as a gift and if his wife had
packed some nice eatables.
Reluctantly and feeling very
embarrassed, Sudama offered
him the packet of flattened
rice. Krishna, knowing what
his friend was thinking,
enthusiastically opened the
packet and was very happy
when he saw the contents
inside it. He decided he would
partake of the rice and then
richly reward Sudama for the
same.
The Lord grabbed a handful
of the foodstuff and happily
ate it up. When he tried to put
in a second mouthful though,
his wife Rukmini, the Goddess
of Fortune, held his hand
and shook her head ever so
slightly. She meant to tell him
that with one handful of the

42
STORY FOR KIDS
rice, Sudama would become
extremely wealthy in his
present life. But with a second
handful, he would continue to
reap riches even in his next
life. She was already obliged
by Sudama’s offering, to
stay in this Brahmin’s house
and shower her grace in his
present birth. She did not wish
to continue doing so in his
next birth as well.
Krishna understood what
Rukmini was trying to tell
him and, with a gentle smile
on his lips, kept aside the
packet of rice. He then fed his
friend a lavish meal, asked
him to rest for a while and
then spent some more time
talking with him. Sudama,
in the meantime, was in a
state of transcendental bliss
and so, actually forgot the
reason why he had come here
in the first place. He spent
the night at the palace and
left for his home early next
morning. Krishna lovingly
bade him farewell, though he
did not offer him anything in
material terms. On the way,
he was completely happy
and absorbed thinking of the
wonderful time he had spent
with the Lord.
He thought that Krishna had
desisted from giving him
money and other material
things, as he probably thought
that those things may spoil
his own attitude and make
him too proud and arrogant;
finally making him forget God.
Thinking thus, he continued on
his way back home.
A Palace of Gold
Awaits Sudama
As he neared his home,
Sudama was dismayed to
see that his humble little
cottage was missing. In place
of that was a large, gleaming
palace, made of gold, stones
and jewels. His poor and
shabby neighborhood had
been converted into beautiful
gardens and parks with lovely
lotus-filled lakes, filled with
flocks of different multi-colored
birds! Regal-looking men and
women were strolling around
the parks and divine music
was playing somewhere in the
background.
Sure that he had come to
the right place, Sudama
wondered where his little home
had disappeared, virtually
overnight. As he stood there
taking in the sights, his wife ran
out of the palace to greet him.
She was dressed in opulent,
rich silks and heavy gold
jewelry and seemed to him
like the Goddess of Fortune
herself. She affectionately led
her amazed husband inside
the palace. Its chambers
were beautiful and ornate,
fit for Indra, the King of the
Gods. The palace consisted of
several ornamented columns
and pillars, with rich silk and
velvet canopies hanging from
the windows.
Sudama then understood that
all of this was Krishna’s doing.
The Lord had been silently
watching him and his suffering
for all these years. But his
small, seemingly meaningless
offering of the poha had paid
rich rewards. He had been
bestowed wonderful and
incomparable riches and
a palace, beautiful beyond
human imagination.
Sudama then prayed to
Krishna, promising that he
would never forget his Lord

in the midst of all this wealth
and opulence. He accepted
Krishna’s grace as prasadam
and also resolved to use the
money on serving the Lord. He
lived peacefully with his wife
and spent the rest of his life in
luxury. However, he did so with
a permanent and unwavering
sense of gratitude and devotion
toward the Lord, never once
falling into the trap of ego
and greed that wealth, power
and position invariably bring
with them. The Lord’s grace
proportionately increased day
after day, bestowing more well-
being, happiness and peace on
him.
Sudama and Akshaya
Tritiya
It is believed that Sudama
met Krishna at Dwaraka on
the sacred day of Akshaya
Tritiya. This day occurs just
once a year and falls on the
third day of the bright half of
the Vaishakh month, during
April-May, according to the
English calendar. On this day,
the Sun and the Moon are in
exalted position and shine at
their brightest.
The word “Akshaya” signifies
unending, imperishable
or eternal. It is considered
that valuables bought or
new beginnings made on
this day bear fruit and bring
immense success and good
fortune to the doer. This
is why people traditionally
purchase gold, silver and
other valuables on this
day. Akshaya Tritiya is also
considered an auspicious
day for conducting weddings,
begin new business ventures
and even undertake long-
distance journeys. On this
day, many Hindus bathe
in holy rivers, conduct
elaborate Poojas, make
charities, and offer barley in
havans (sacred fire rituals).
Lord Ganesha, the Elephant-
Headed Lord and Devi
Lakshmi, the Goddess of
Wealth are also worshipped
on this day.

44
Why Sudama
Suffered Poverty
Sudama suffered immense
poverty for most of his life.
This suffering was due to
his karma. As mentioned
earlier, during their childhood,
Sudama had once eaten
his food on the sly, without
sharing the same with a very
hungry Krishna. Sudama,
being young himself, had not
known the omnipotent and
omniscient nature of Lord
Sri Krishna and so, had not
understood that this was all a
mere lila or divine play on the
part of Krishna. The latter had
known all along what his friend
was doing, but he had kept
silent, only so that Sudama
could finish his life’s karma by
way of this incident.
However, when Sudama
offered Krishna a handful of
poha; Krishna, the Supremely
Benevolent One and the
caretaker of his devotees;
immediately rewarded him
with unimaginable wealth and
riches that would last him a
lifetime. Since Sudama had by
then realized Krishna’s divinity
and started spending his new-
found riches on charity, the
latter kept showering him with
even more grace and wealth
that lasted all his life.
Moral of the Story
The story of Krishna and
Sudama contains several
hidden lessons that we could
learn from. Some of them are
as follows:
All are equal in the eyes of
the Lord and He does not
differentiate between people
based on petty caste, wealth
and social status. We too
should learn to respect each
individual, as each one is
a creation of that Supreme
Being.
God always rewards good
deeds; however, He is also
bound by the Laws of Karma.
He knows when to bestow
His grace on us. It may take
a while for us to reverse
negative karma and start
enjoying the fruit of our good
deeds, but it is bound to
come to us in time. Till such a
time arrives, we merely need
to keep up with good karma.
Bhakti or devotion toward
God is the only thing that
will lead us to His grace.
Also, praying and conducting
elaborate Poojas expecting
material gains in return will
never help us attain the
Lord’s grace. Instead, being
pure of thought, word and
deed and offering our heart
and soul to Him will give us
everything we would ever
need.
Sudama’s Gift of the
Poha
Some may wonder how
a handful of flattened rice
would be enough to grant
COVER STORY

good karma spanning over
several lifetimes. Here is an
explanation for the same:
It is said that Annadaan or
the act of offering food is
the greatest ever charity
man can perform in his
lifetime. By offering the Lord
a handful of poha, Sudama
had unknowingly done the
greatest deed of feeding the
Universal Form of the Lord
Himself. With this handful
of the rice, Krishna, in his
Universal Form, fed all the
creatures of the world. This
act of Sudama wiped out all
his negative karma in one
single moment of time; while
also earning him enough
good karma to last several
more lifetimes!
Sudama was extremely poor
and could not afford even that
packetful of poha. His family
would go hungry for days on
end, sometimes drinking only
water in an attempt to satiate
their hunger. In his case,
therefore, the fact that he took
the trouble to feed the Lord
in spite of his own destitute
condition was enough reason
for him to earn a tremendous
amount of good karma.
Was Sudama’s
Friendship eternal?
As mentioned above, it was
extremely difficult for Sudama
to afford even a small packet of
rice to offer to his friend Krishna.
Krishna, on the other hand, was
a King and so, bestowing so
much wealth on Sudama was
easy for him. Looking at the
story from this angle, Krishna
was only returning Sudama’s
favor.
Sudama had come to Krishna,
merely to express his love
toward him. He had nothing
to offer and yet, he did not
beg for anything. Instead, he
actually ended up feeding the
Lord Himself. Krishna too knew
very well that true, selfless
love and friendship such as
Sudama’s would only give and
never take. The Lord himself
was impatiently waiting for his
poor friend’s arrival, so that He
could liberate him from all his
negative karma.
While Krishna’s gift was rare
and precious, Sudama’s gift
was invaluable and priceless.
The Lord knew the amount of
difficulty his friend would have
gone through in bringing the
packet of poha to him. Knowing
Sudama’s pure and undiluted
love and devotion for him,
he had to respond with much
greater love and affection.
This shows that a true
devotee’s love invariably
forces God to bestow several
times more love and grace
on him. While God is in no
way committed to respond to
everyone’s prayer, He simply
has to respond to a devotee
who showers this level of love
and bhakti on Him.

46
HEALTHY LIVING
When it comes to physical fitness, I’ve always
opted for the tried, true and traditional. I’m
perfectly happy with my light weight-training
and a good jog in the park. The weight-training
makes me feel buff and invigorated and the
running helps me clear my head and get my
heart rate going.
Offbeat exercises
to get in shape
Images by: http://www.straitstimes.com

But apparently I’ve been
missing out on a whole new
wave of inventive, fun and
sometimes hilarious workout
routines — from “aerial yoga”
to “booty ballet!” I had no idea
that hula hoops were back,
and I certainly didn’t know that
bouncing across the room
like a kangaroo — on “jumping
shoes,” no less — would earn
me anything but strange
stares.
And those are just a few of the
unusual new fitness trends
that have workout enthusiasts
across the country twisting,
twirling and bounding their
way to better bodies and
better health.
Of course, fitness crazes
are nothing new. Ever since
Jane Fonda released her hit
workout series in the ‘80s,
experts have been inventing
new ways to get in shape.
Sometimes it’s just a matter
of modifying an existing sport
into a fitness routine — like
spinning, boxing or rock
climbing — but other times
the ideas are a little more
creative.
So, if traditional workouts
have run their course for you,
take a look at some of the
more unusual fitness trends
we found that are inviting
folks to have a little fun while
breaking a sweat. Who
knows? Maybe one of these
workouts could be your ticket
to fitness.
1 Parkour
Also known as “freerunning,” this
French import has you climbing,
jumping, and maneuvering over
and around whatever obstacles
that stand in your way. It’s an
awesome total body workout—
and you’ll be more than ready for
the zombie apocalypse.
2 Sandbags
The unwieldy heft of a sack
filled with sand forces primary
movers and stabilizing muscles
alike to fire like no other. It’ll get
you ready for a mud or military-
inspired race, and it’s great
preparation if you’re ever called
on to aid in a flood. Make your
own bag and put it to good use
with our DIY sandbag guide.
3 Vertical Climber
Similar to a neverending ladder,
it’s the absolute toughest cardio
machine out there, training the
core and back muscles and
torching calories like no other,
with virtual no impact on the
joints. Hunt around the gym floor
for this tall, angled apparatus
(likely made by Versaclimber),
politely unhook the treadmill
dude’s coat from its handle, and
give it a whirl.
4 Aerial Yoga
The fabric sling supports
whichever body part you have
resting in it, so it’s easier to get
a good stretch even if you’re
not naturally flexible. Not
to mention: bendy chicks
in tight clothes. Look for it
in your area under its other
pseudonyms Unnata Yoga
and Antigravity yoga
5 Barbell
Landmine
A barbell anchored at one
end to a pivot point on the
ground is ideal enhanced
core training, while allowing
potentially greater loads
than you can safely control
with free weights. Check the
far reaches of the gym for
a landmine base collecting
dust, or simply wedge the
end of 45-pound barbell in a
corner and go to town.
6 Oddlifting
Creating fitness tasks to
do with heavy objects like
rocks, cinder blocks, and
full kegs preps the body to
handle any circumstance in
which strength may be called
upon; after all, how often are
you deadlifting or overhead-
pressing heavy objects in
your day-to-day with perfect
gym form? Think Strongman
competition and you’ve got
the idea. Wait, did you say
“full keg”?!
7 Outdoor Rock
Climbing

48
Scrambling, reaching, pushing,
and pulling your way over and
up craggy terrain challenges
your core, coordination, grip
strength...and sense of fear.
Take it outside and skip the
ropes and harnesses in favor
of bouldering, which trains your
body laterally, a movement
pattern no one does enough of.
8 Krav Maga
The Israeli martial art teaches
hand-to-hand combat skills that
inflict maximum damage. All the
while, you’ll get in crazy-good
shape, thanks to calisthenics
drills that begin every class.
Look for a training center near
you.
9 Snowshoeing
Trudging through the snow
wearing soles the size of tennis
rackets is both aerobic and
strength training and it makes
bad weather no excuse for
skipping your workout. Plus,
you can tell yourself it’s the
scenery that’s actually taking
your breath away.
10 Battle Ropes
Who’d have guessed that
whipping a super-thick rope
as hard as you can into the
ground would work not just
your arms and shoulders but
your entire body, and leave
you panting for air? It’s also
aggressively loud, and who
doesn’t love to make some
noise?
11 Underwater
Running and
Aqua Cycling
The water added resistance
without impact, for heart-
pumping cardio and killer
calorie burn without day-after
soreness. Both are great
cross-training for marathoners
and triathletes as well as for
anyone who’s rehabbing from
injury.
12 Tractor Tire
Flips
It may seem super-weird,
but think about it: In order
to launch these enormous
tires end-over-end, you have
to squat, deadlift, row, and
overhead press, all in one fluid
motion. It’ll also prep you for a
side gig with the pit crew at the
monster truck rally.
13 Gymnastics
Rings
Used in CrossFit and making
their way into mainstream
gyms and even for sale on
Amazon, the rings offer
instability that allows for
intense bodyweight strength
training. And no matter one’s
opinion on gymnastics as a
sport, everyone thinks the
iron cross is totally badass.
14 Chi Running
This unexpected blend of
the Chinese martial art tai
chi with jogging, chi running
emphasizes posture,
alignment, stride efficiency,
and yoga-like breathing to
improve running form and
prevent injuries. ‘Cause
let’s face it: No matter your
age, you’re not getting any
younger.
15 Weight Sled
Pushing or pulling a loaded
contraption against the
friction of the ground trains
the whole body for sheer
strength and power. And
who knows when you might
need to be your own tow
truck? Find a sled at your
local gym, rig one up by
flipping over a box and
stacking it with weight plates,
or MacGyver your own from
Ever since Jane
Fonda released
her hit workout
series in the ‘80s,
experts have been
inventing new
ways to get in
shape.
HEALTHY LIVING

stuff you buy at the hardware store.
16 Capoeira
This Brazilian art of self-defense
was disguised by African slaves as a
traditional dance so its practitioners
could get away with becoming
killing machines. You’ll work on your
coordination, flexibility, and strength
by kicking, chopping, and flipping
through the air.
17 A Zombie Race
What better way to encourage
yourself to run harder than being
chased by the undead? Some of
these races also throw in mud-
run-type obstacles for an added
challenge. All told, it’s probably less
life-threatening—and more amusing—
than running from those Spanish
bulls.
18. Wood Chopping
Grab an axe and get ready to do
your best Paul Bunyan impression.
Splitting wood isn’t just a way to
have fireplace reserves for winter: It
forces your muscles to work in total
synergy—the definition of functional
training—and shred your arms,
shoulders, and abs in the process.
And who knows, if you get good
enough, you could test your mettle
at a lumberjack competition

50
Weddings. Festivals. And any happy occasion, really. Indians sure
know how to indulge their sweet tooth. What else could explain the
sheer number of sweet treats that have their origins in India? Most
Indians are known for having a sweet tooth. When it comes to having
‘something sweet’, we are all equally guilty.
INDIAN FOOD
Popular Indian Sweets
Around the World

That is why there is an
amazing variety of popular
Indian sweets. These Indian
desserts are in high demand
all over the world. All the
different popular Indian
desserts hail from various
parts of India. Almost every
state in this country has its
own variety of ‘mithai’ or
sweetmeat.
The list of popular Indian
sweets is almost never-
ending. Some of these mithai
enjoy global popularity. For
example laddoos and jalebis
are famous in very corner
of India. Each of these of
Indian desserts come in many
different varieties. Laddoos
can be made of boondi, atta,
sattu etc. Here are some of the
most popular Indian sweets
that enjoy legendary status
all around the world:
Gulab Jamun:
Gulab Jamun is a delicious Indian
version of donuts immersed in
warm sweet syrup. As India’s most
popular dessert, gulab jamun is a
staple in most parts of the country.
Gulab jamuns are served for almost
every celeberation. Gulab jamuns
can be served warm or at room
temperature. From west to east and
north to south Gulab Jamuns are
a one of the most favorite Indian
sweet dishes due to its silky texture,
its dripping sugar syrup and its soft
crust. The best Gulab Jamun recipe
takes time to cook with the process
involving milk solids or khoya to be
cooked on slow burn until the water
content has evaporated. Then the
remnants are kneaded into soft
dough out of which small balls
are made out and then deep fried.
Finally, the small balls are then
soaked in sugary syrup which is
flavored with saffron or cardamom.

52
INDIAN FOOD
Payasam:
Kheer, payasam, payesh or payasa,
these are the many regional varieties of
the same dessert. In Kerala, Payasam
gets a dedicated space in the traditional
thali during festivals like Onam or
during the traditional Malayalam feast
popularly known as Sadhya. In Tamil
Nadu, payasam is served during
most festivals like Gokulashtami and
others. Traditional payasam includes
ingredients like jaggery and coconut
milk over sugar and dairy milk that is
used predominantly in the North Indian
variants. There is a wide variety of
payasams: from the traditional recipes
that include rice, vermicelli and moong
dal to other preparations like jevvarisi
payasam, thengai payasam, rava
payasam.
Petha:
Petha and Peda are an out and
out Uttar Pradeshi dessert which is
gorged upon by millions with great
joy. It goes without saying that
the best dessert found in Agra is
Petha and that in Mathurais Peda.
Pethas are like soft, sweet, white
rectangular candies made out of
white pumpkin. Mathura is credited
with the origin of Pedas. They
are circular semi soft discs made
out of khoa, sugar and traditional
flavorings, including cardamom
seeds, pistachio nuts and saffron.
Agra ka Petha and Mathura ke
Pede are to die for.
Rasgulla:
A very attractive way of eating
carrots, gajjar ka halwa is another
very popular Indian sweet dish in the
northern and central parts of India.
Originated in Punjab, it is usually
made during the winter months
and is a delight to have. Made out
of carrot, milk, sugar and nuts it
is cooked on a slow burner until
the milk dries out leaving a mouth
watering sweet dish to have post
meal. Gajjar ka Halwa is a North
Indian specialty with Punjab being
the best place to have Gajjar ka
Halwa on a cold winter evening.

Jalebi
A dessert among street foods of
India, jalebi or imarti as it’s known
across India, is a sweet gorged
upon by millions every evening on
Indian streets or at homes with a
cup of hot tea. Imarti or jalebi is
made out of Urad flour batter which
is deep-fried and then soaked in
sugar syrup. A gift of the Mughals,
a jalebi causes an explosion of
sweetness in your mouth.
Shahi Tukda or
Khubani ka meetha
The earliest visitors to India called it the land
of milk and honey. Marut Sikka whips up a
rich, saffron infused shahi tudka from Awadh.
The recipe of Shahi Tukda is believed to
have been invented out of a way to use
up unused bread in the nineteenth century
Mogul cuisines. ect
Rasmalai:
Ras malai or rossomalai is a dessert
originating from the Indian subcontinent.
The nameras malai comes from two words
in Hindi: ras, meaning “juice”, and malai,
meaning “cream”. It has been described
as “a rich cheesecake without a crust” Ras
Malai is dumplings made from cottage
or riccotta cheese soaked in sweetened,
thickened milk delicately flavored with
cardamom. Serve it chilled and garnished
with slivers of dried fruit.

54
MeeraNairThe Complete Profile
Mira Nair (pronounced Mee-ra Ni-eer) is the writer,
director, and producer of award-winning films such
as Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala , and Monsoon
Wedding . Her films are studies in cross-cultural identity as
her characters negotiate the complexities of life while also
honoring their heritage.
NRI PROFILE

Born in India, educated in the
United States, and having
lived in Africa since 1991,
Nair is intimately aware of the
conflicts and joys associated
with nostalgia for home
and outsider status. She
explained to David Sterritt of
the Chicago Tribune , “I’m
interested in marginal people,
or people who are considered
marginal…. I’m interested in
capturing the complexity of
people and the complexity of
life.”
The youngest of three
children, Nair was born
on October 15, 1957, in
Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India.
The small village in eastern
India was, as she described
to Alex Perry in Time
International , “Even in Indian
terms, it’s really remote.”
Her father, Amrit, was a civil
servant and her mother,
Praveen, was active in social
welfare which included
organizing a home for the
children of lepers. Growing up
she was noted for her interest
in the people around her
and her energy. The village
elders nicknamed her “Pagli”
which is Hindi for “mad.” Her
father described her role in
the family to John Lahr of the
New Yorker: “Even though
the boys were older, she was
the leader.”
Highly motivated and
dedicated to whatever she
put her mind to, Nair taught
herself to type and play
sitar. She also painted,
wrote poetry, and acted in
the local street theater. An
excellent student, Nair was
determined to get into a better
school than the local one she
attended. The teachers there
expected her to do so well
that they never noticed when
she started putting nonsense
in the middle of her written
reports. With the help of her
former headmistress she was
able to convince her father
to send her to an exclusive
boarding school similar to the
ones her older brothers were
attending.
Upon graduating from high
school, Nair went to the
University of Delhi but she felt
a need to expand her horizons
and began applying to schools
in Europe and the United
States. In 1976, she jumped
at the full scholarship offered
by Harvard even though
she’d never even visited the
campus. She started out
in the theater department
acting, but was bored with the
staid productions of familiar
musicals. She also found
acting too restrictive to her
need to have control over
her creativity. Moving out of
the theater department she
turned to photography and
eventually to documentary
filmmaking.
She made four
documentaries. Her first was
Jama Masjid Street Journal
, made in 1979. Nair took a
camera to the streets around
a mosque that is the center
of life in the city of Delhi,
India. The film contrasts
traditional life and how it fits
into the structure of a growing
modern city. So Far From
India , released four years
later, shows the journey of
a young Indian man as he
travels to New York for work
and his reluctance to return to
India afterward. India Cabaret
revealed the normal lives
of strippers who work in a
suburb of Bombay. Her final
documentary, Children of a
Desired Sex , exposed how
the medical diagnostic tool
of amniocentesis was being
used to determine the sex of
fetuses, and how those that
were female were aborted.
Nair spent a great deal of

56
NRI PROFILE
time traveling on her own to
show her documentaries. She
eventually tired of answering
irrelevant questions about her
nationality as well as the lack
of creative control that comes
with documentary filmmaking.
She still wanted more control.
Discussing her primary
frustration with documentary
film, she told Ann Kolson of
the Philadelphia Inquirer ,
“Life controlled the film.”
Working from the inspiration
she found in the street
children she met making her
earlier films, she decided
to make her first fiction film,
which was called Salaam
Bombay! . Her experiences as
an actor, as a documentary
filmmaker, and her respect
for the children all came
together in the film which had
no professional actors. The
actors were all taken from
the pool of children found in
the streets. She explained
to the Chicago Tribune ‘s
Sterritt why she used non-
professionals: “It couldn’t
be made with any other
children … the inspiration that
came from them was their
spirit…. Also, their faces and
bodies were a kind of map
of the journey that they had
traveled.”
Making Salaam Bombay!
called on Nair to pull together
all her resources. There were
logistical problems involved in
trying to film the movie around
the schedules of pimps and
prostitutes. As producer of the
film, Nair had to pull in finances
from three continents in order
to keep creative control. And
finally, there was organizing
and filming with a troupe of
actors who had never acted
before in their short lives. The
final product was a film that
received the following review
from Desmond Ryan of the
Philadelphia Inquirer , “Nair
has contrived the extraordinary
feat of treating this blameless
degradation with compassion
while never turning mawkish
or milking the more appalling
moments…. This detached,
almost matter-of-fact approach
to a way of life … is devastating
in its cumulative force.”
In 1988, Nair’s first feature film
went on to win the coveted
Camera d’Or for Best First Film
at the Cannes Film Festival,
the first Indian film to ever
win the prize. Its premiere
at Cannes was followed by
a standing ovation from the
audience. Other awards
included the Prix du Public at
Cannes, Jury Prize and Most
Popular Film at the Montreal
World Film Festival. Salaam
Bombay! also received a
nomination for Best Foreign
Film from the Academy
Awards.
Three years later she was
challenging audiences again
with the story of Ugandan-
born Indians displaced to
Mississippi in Mississippi
Masala . Instead of working
with amateurs she had
the luxury of working with
names and faces familiar
to audiences in India and
the United States. The cast
included Roshan Seth, who
had starred in feature films
such as the epic Gandhi
and My Beautiful Laundrette
, as the father longing to
return to Uganda. Sharmila
Tagore, a famous actress in
Hindi films as well as many
films by the Indian director
Satyajit Ray, was cast as
the mother. American actor

Denzel Washington had the
role of Demetrius William, the
love interest of Meena, played
by Sarita Choudhury, in her
debut acting role.
While making Mississippi
Masala Nair met Mahmood
Mamdani, who owned one
of the locations in Uganda
where they shot scenes
for the film. Nair ended her
marriage with Mitch Epstein
whom she had met in 1977
and married in 1981, and
moved to Uganda to be with
Mamdani. Their son, Zohran,
was born in 1991 and Nair
began making adjustments to
her life on three continents.
She and her husband teach
at Columbia University
through the school year. The
family spends holidays in
India, and then the rest of the
time in Kampala, Uganda.
Nair told Carrie Rickey of the
Philadelphia Inquirer , “My
clothes hang in three places,
but I have a garden only in
Kampala…. Where you plant
your garden is your true
home.”
From 1993 to 1999, Nair
made several films but none
of them really seemed to
hold the energy of her first
two films. She made her first
all-star film with 1995’s The
Perez Family which included
Anjelica Huston, Marisa
Tomei, Alfred Molina, and
Chazz Palminteri. Although
the theme of displacement
was one she had grappled
with before, the film was not
as well received as her others.
In 1996, instead of dealing
with negative critical reviews,
Nair spent months fighting the
censorship board of India to get
them to release her film Kama
Sutra: A Tale of Love , the story
of two strong women celebrating
their sexuality. When it was
finally released in India, she
insisted that movie theaters that
showed it reserve three times a
week for women-only viewings
to encourage women to see it.
By the late 1990s, Nair was
burned out on the films she was
making. She wanted to return
to her roots, and also prove a
point to her students that a good
film could be made without a
huge amount of money. On her
summer vacation she took off
for India with a small crew and
enlisted the help of many of
her relatives and acquintances
to take roles in the film. The
result was Monsoon Wedding
, which was made for one
million dollars in the course of
30 days. Susan Stark of the
Detroit News described the film
about a Punjabi wedding and
events surrounding it as “[s]
wirling, loving, and brilliantly,
sensuously colorful. [It]
celebrates love, family, a culture
that comfortably accommodates
past and present.” The film won
numerous awards and went on
to make $30 million worldwide—
the most money ever made by
an Indian film.
In 2002, she released Hysterical
Blindness . The made-for-HBO
film starred Juliette Lewis and
Uma Thurman. The members
of the cast of the film won
three Emmys and a Golden
Globe. In discussing her work
with Time International ‘s
Perry, Nair stated, “My feeling
is that I do what I do, then I
offer it to the world. I hope
people will be affected by it,
watch it and are impressed….
I don’t think about the fruits of
my actions. I just do the work.”
In 2004, she was the creative
force behind the remake of
the classic novel of social
aspiration Vanity Fair . The film
starred Reese Witherspoon
and took a different approach
to the subject matter, casting
humor and joy into situations
that had previously been
portrayed as dark and ugly.
Nair also took liberties to add
some Bollywood (popular
Indian film) style to the film,
introducing song and dance
numbers to enliven the period
piece.
Never one to slow down,
Nair began working on her
next project while finishing up
Vanity Fair . She described
the situation to Amaya Rivera
of Mother Jones , “I’d shoot
Vanity Fair during the day—
elephants, carriage, Reese
Witherspoon—and at 6
p.m. I would say, ‘Goodbye,
everyone, I’m going to my
room.’ And I read and reread
The Namesake .” The film
was conceived during those

58
NRI PROFILE
readings and within ten
months she began shooting.
Her cache with Hollywood
had grown so much that she
was asked to direct the 2007
installment of the series of
films based on the Harry
Potter books. She turned
it down to continue work
onThe Namesake which was
released the same year. Nair
next planned to direct the
film Shantaram and produce
Gangsta M.D. , both of
which were scheduled to be
released in 2008.
About Meera Nair:
Mira Nair is an internationally
accomplished film director,
writer and producer born in
India and currently based in
the U.S.A. She has directed
award-winning documentaries
such as So Far From India
and India Cabaret. Her
debut feature film, Salaam
Bombay! was nominated for
an Academy Award for Best
Foreign Language Film in
1988. It won the Camera D’Or
for the best first feature film
and the Prix du Publique for
‘most popular entry’ at the
Cannes Film Festival besides
25 other international awards.
Her next film Mississippi
Masala won three awards at
the Venice Film Festival. Her
most recent film, The Queen
of Katwe, which got released
in October, 2016 in India, is
about the journey of a young
Ugandan woman who aspires
to be a chess champion.
Personal Life
Mira Nair was born on 15
October, 1957 in Rourkela,
Odisha. Her father, Amrit
Nair, was a civil servant and
her mother, Praveen Nair, a
social worker. Nair moved with
her family to Delhi at the age
of eleven due to her father’s
transferring posts. She is the
youngest among her siblings.
She left home at the age
of thirteen to attend Loreto
Convent Tara Hall, an Irish-
Catholic missionary school in
Shimla, where she developed
interest in English literature.
Later, Nair went to Miranda
House at Delhi University and
earned her graduation degree
in Sociology. She was offered
a full scholarship to Cambridge
University, but accepted a
similar opportunity at Harvard
University.
Mira Nair met her first husband,
Mitch Epstein, in 1977 at
Harvard University. They
divorced by 1987. Nair met her
husband Mahmood Mamdani
in 1988 while researching for
her film Mississippi Masala in
Uganda. Their son, Zohran,
was born in 1991. She lives in
New York City near Columbia
University, where she works
as an adjunct professor
in the Film Division of the
university’s School of Arts.
Apart from teaching and films,
Mira also takes interest in
yoga. In fact, when making a
film, she makes sure that her
cast and crew begin the day
with yoga.
Career
Mira Nair began her career
with small-scale films. With
time, she developed interest
in direction and made a
number of documentaries
for television. Her first film,
Jama Masjid Street (1979)
describes the life of Muslims
in Old Delhi. Her other
noted film, India Cabaret
(1985) revolves around the
lives in Mumbai nightclubs.
Salaam Bombay! (1988) is
a critically acclaimed movie

that won numerous awards in
international film festivals. Her
1991 film Mississippi Masala,
starring Denzel Washington
and Sarita Choudhury, won
rave reviews. The Perez
Family, which starred Alfred
Molina, Marisa Tomei and
Angelica Huston, was released
in 1995. She also directed
a movie called Kama Sutra:
A Tale of Love Story, which
narrates the story of love life
in India in the 16th century.
Her movie Monsoon Wedding
in 2001 was a major success
and won her several awards,
including the prestigious
Golden Lion award at the
Venice film festival. In 2006,
she made The Namesake,
adapted from Pulitzer prize
winner Jhumpa Lahiri’s award
winning novel, and it also drew
positive response from film
critics.
Awards and
Recognition
1985: Best Documentary
Film, Global Village Film
Festival for India Cabaret
1986: Golden Athena,
Athens International Film
Festival for India Cabaret
1988: Audience Award,
Cannes Film Festival for
Salaam Bombay!
1988: Golden Camera
(Best First Film), Cannes Film
Festival for Salaam Bombay!
1988: National Film Award
for Best Feature Film in Hindi
for Salaam Bombay!
1988: Jury Prize, Most
Popular Film and Prize of the
Ecumenical Jury at Montreal
World Film Festival for Salaam
Bombay!
1988: New Generation
Award, Los Angeles Film Critics
Association Awards
1991: Golden Osella (Best
Original Screenplay), Venice
Film Festival for Mississippi
Masala
1991: Critics Special Award,
São Paulo International Film
Festival for Mississippi Masala
1992: Best Director
(Foreign Film), Italian National
Syndicate of Film Journalists
for Mississippi Masala
2001: Golden Lion (Best
Film), Venice Film Festival for
Monsoon Wedding
2002: UNESCO Award,
Venice Film Festival
2012: Padma Bhushan by
Government of India
Philanthropy and
other contributions:
Wherever she goes, Nair
also lends whatever support
she can. After the making of
Salaam Bombay! she created
the Salaam Baalak Trust, which
is run by her mother, to help the
children of Delhi who have
been forced into prostitution
and other horrible situations.
In 2004 she launched the
film lab called Maisha, based
in Uganda. Set up similarly
to the Sundance Institute,
the lab is a home for East
African and South Asian
filmmakers to gather and
learn new skills. In 2005,
they hosted a screenwriting
workshop and the following
year a directors’ workshop.
In 2007, they collaborated
with the Full Frame
Institute, which focuses on
documentary filmmaking.
Nair is passionate, driven,
and creative. She travels
the globe from New York,
where she teaches at
Columbia University, to
Uganda, where she tends
her garden. Despite all that
she is well-grounded in her
work. In discussing how she
approaches her work she
told Ethirajan Anbarasan and
Amy Otchet of the UNESCO
Courier , “You do extensive
research about a theme, feel
it and then create a story that
could become universal….
I believe in intuition. I follow
my intuition absolutely in
finding and developing
stories to tell…. But finding
a subject is not enough.
The trick is to create a work
situation in which intuition is
allowed to reign.”

60
Merit- Based Immigration
Amendments Moved
To Immigration Bill
In an attempt to improve existing high-skilled, merit-based immigration
laws, amendments are moved to a White House-backed immigration bill
by a top Republican lawmaker named Senator Orrin Hatch. The proposal
for merit-based immigration laws could be of a big benefit technology
professionals from countries like India.
Hatch aims to eliminate
annual per-country cap for
employment-based green
cards, which helps skilled
employees from the populous
countries like India and
China. This does not allow
unfairly discrimination against
applicants from other less
populous countries.
After moving the amendments
to Senate Immigration Bill
Hatch said, “I have long said,
high-skilled immigration is
merit-based immigration,”
“It’s immigration targeted at
the best, the brightest, and
the most highly educated. The
amendments, I filed today,
are focused, common sense
reforms that will make a real
difference for our economy,” he
said.
The amendments would
increase worker mobility for
individuals seeking green card
approval.
The workers can change jobs
without getting out of the line
for the green card.
Existing regulations get
codified regarding spousal
work authorisation as well as
the post-education practical
training.
As per the statement, the US
master’s degree holders or
others being sponsored for
green cards are exempted
under the amendments
from the annual numerical
limitations on H-1B visas. The
amendments also penalize
employers who do not employ
an H-1B worker for more
than three months during the
individual’s first year of work
authorisation.
Amendments also updates
1998 law exempting H-1B
dependent employers
from non-displacement
requirements and other
recruitment.
The amendment raises the
H-1B salary level to USD
100,000 from USD 60,000
where the salary-based
exemption comes to effect,
eliminate exemption for super-
dependent employers and
lessens education-based
exemption to H-1B hires with a
US PhD.
“In particular, they will help
streamline the process by
which a worker with in-demand
technical skills can obtain a
green card and will cut back on
some of the troubling abuses
we have seen with the H-1B
programme.
“These are important reforms
that can attract broad support,
and I intend to pursue every
opportunity to include them in
the pending immigration bill,”
the lawmaker said.
NRI IMMIGRATION

White House Announces
End Of Green Card Backlog

62
NRI IMMIGRATION
The White house has
announced that the
immigration framework of
the US President Donald
Trump will end the green
card backlog of high-skilled
workers by ending the
diversity lottery visa. The
announcement comes amid
the growing demand by the
Indian H-1B visa holders for
the removal of allotment as
per the country-limit.
In a fact sheet titled ‘ending
the economic harm caused by
our immigration system’, the
White House said, “President
Trump’s framework would end
the visa lottery programme
and reallocate some of the
visas to help reduce backlog
of high-skilled, employment-
based immigrant cases.”
Trump called for ending the
visa lottery system later in the
evening nad tweeted:
“Time to end the visa lottery.
Congress must secure the
immigration system and
protect Americans.”
Most Indian-Americans
are highly skilled and enter
the country on H-1B work
visas. They were the most
sufferers due to the the current
immigration system with a
cap on green card allotments
or permanent legal residency
per country. The current wait
period can be as long as
70 years for Indian skilled
immigrants for green card.
Raj Shah, White House
Deputy Press Secretary,
told reporters during his first
ever White House press
conference that, “I think
the president wants to see
legal immigration reform. He
wants to see us move from a
process that currently exists
in law of extended family
chain migration toward
merit-based immigration
reforms,”
“We want to look at the
educational backgrounds,
ability to contribute to the
workforce in a way that
helps American workers.
So the president wants to
see reforms that improve
America’s economy,” Shah
added.
As per the Senate
Republican Policy
Committee, an average
of 50,000 green cards are
alloted through lottery for
people across countries who
do not enter US through the
merit-based employment
visas
n a fact sheet
titled ‘ending
the economic
harm caused by
our immigration
system’, the
White House
said, “President
Trump’s
framework would
end the visa
lottery programme
and reallocate
some of the
visas to help
reduce backlog
of high-skilled,
employment-
based immigrant
cases.”

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