Desi Talk - page 14

By Ela Dutt
C
ongressman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., a
frequent presence at Indian-
Americans events, held a roundtable
discussion with some leaders to discuss
issues like immigration and hate crimes
April 20, in a temple in Edison, N.J. He
promised to pressure the Trump adminis-
tration to do more to prevent hate crimes.
The meeting was organized by Amit
Jani, Pallone’s former Congressional aide.
Jani told Desi Talk there was discussion
about concrete steps that could be taken.
Among those steps, the need for sensitivity
training for the community and law
enforcement, and “shooter training” in
places like temples and mosques, that have
been subjected to attacks around the
country.
“The hate crimes we have seen in recent
month are completely unacceptable and
this bigotry must strengthen our resolve to
work towards tolerance and provide justice
and protection for victims who have been
targeted,” Pallone is quoted saying in a
press release. “I will also push the Trump
administration to do more to combat the
growing number of hate crimes through-
out our nation and step back from the
toxic rhetoric on immigration, race, and
religion that is
dividing our
nation.”
Pallone, a
co-founder of
the
Congressional
Caucus on
India and
Indian
Americans,
called it an
honor to
interact with
community
leaders and
praised the
South Asian
communities
for their
“tremendous contributions” to the country.
The attendees included Edison
Councilwoman Sapana Shah; South
Brunswick Board of Education Member
Deven Patel; Kanu Patel, CEO of
Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam
Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS); BAPS rep-
resentative – Vinay Limbachia; Indian
Business Association (IBA) President
Dhiren Amin; – South Asian Registration
Initiative (SARI) Chairman – Ritesh Shah;
Sudhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus –
Board Member – Savith Sampath; Sikh
American Legal Defense and Education
Fund representative, Raj Groomer; South
Asian American Caucus (New Jersey
Democratic State Committee) Co-Chair –
Satish Poondi; TV Asia Senior Vice
President and News Director Rohit Vyas;
New Jersey South Asian Bar Association
President Bhaveen Jani; South Asians for
America (SAFA) Co-Chair Neha Dewan;
Association of Indian Americans in North
America (AIANA) President Sunil Nayak;
Rutgers Indian American Group Leader
Priya Kantesaria, a student leader; Edison
Indian Senior Citizen Association President
Ghansyam Patel; Bengali American
Women’s Development Initiative (BAWDI)
Founder Nadia Hussain; and Bengali com-
munity leader Kumud Roy.
– that’s all you need to know
Rep. Frank Pallone Tells Indian-Americans He Will Pressure
Trump To Push Back Against Hate Crime
14
April 28, 2017
CITY VIEWS
Congressman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., speaking at a round table with Indian-American and
South Asian community leaders, about hate crime and immigration issues, April 20 in
Edison, N.J.
(Photo courtesy Amit Jani)
By a StaffWriter
aughter filled the air at the Forest
Hills High School in NewYork City,
April 22, and again at E Hotel in
Edison, N.J. on April 23, as veteran
poet Ashok Chakradhar and local artist
Abhinav Shukla of California, entertained
the crowds with comedy acts and poetry.
Well known Bharatanatyam exponent
Sneha Chakradhar performed at the events
as well.
Indo-American Festivals, in collabora-
tion with & TV, and Zhilmil USA organized
a Hasya Kavi Sammellan in NewYork and
New Jersey attended by among others,
Nasrin Ahmed of Hempstead, N.Y., Ashok
Vyas of ITV NY, Edison Mayor Thomas
Lankey, and Dr. Sudhanshu Prasad
For the past four decades Prof.
Chakradhar, recipient of India’s
Padma Shri award, has been work-
ing for radio and television and is
considered to be a pioneer in pop-
ularizing poetry on mainstream tel-
evision.
He touches on topics ranging
from politics, to home issues and
messages of hope and patriotism.
Shukla, an engineer by profes-
sion, a young poet, has followed his
passion for poetry even while in the
U.S., competing in poetry competi-
tions at the national level. His
“Patni Chalisa” which touches on
current political issues in U.S. and
India is particularly popular.
Sneha Chakradhar, in a never-
seen- before performance, blended
the poetry of her father and Hindustani
classical music with the rhythmic elements
of Carnatic music, producing a unique
take on the traditional south Indian dance
form.
A Hasya Kavi SammellanWith A Twist
L
MoneyGram Cricket Bee Contest Returns in 2017
By a StaffWriter
T
ouchdown Media Inc., a multicultur-
al marketing firm and MoneyGram, a
global money transfer service, have
announced the return of the Cricket Bee
initiative where fans get to show off their
knowledge of cricket and enter for a
chance to win $10,000.
The MoneyGram Cricket Bee Contest
tests the knowledge of cricket enthusiasts
across the country on the history of the
game, its glorious moments, as well as dif-
ferent teams, players and other general
knowledge of the game. Open to those 18
and older, the contest will begin with
regional rounds in San Francisco Bay Area,
Dallas, Chicago, New Jersey and Toronto,
each testing participants’ general cricket
knowledge.
The regional contest will have two com-
ponents, a written test and an oral test. In
the written qualifier, contestants will be
asked 25 questions. They must get at least
15 correct to advance to the oral round. In
the oral round, the contest will be held on
a miss and out basis;
simply if a contest-
ant misses the right
answer, they are
eliminated.
Registration dead-
lines for the regional
rounds begin on July
7.
This year, the top two finalists in each
regional round will move on to the final
round, to be held on Aug. 12 in New Jersey.
Unlike quiz shows, the Cricket Bee will be
conducted so that contestants are actually
competing with themselves and the ques-
tion posed to them as opposed to their
peers.
Contestants can register and watch a
video detailing and explaining the contest
at cricketbee.com/explain. A sample set of
questions and sources will be provided for
the participants.
“Cricket is a passion point for many
immigrants and whether one plays the
game or not, one always knows a lot of
trivia. We hope to bring all cricket lovers
together on this platform and encourage
the spirit of the game,” said Rahul Walia,
the brains behind the initiative.
Rahul Walia, founder of
the MoneyGram Cricket
Bee Contest, left, with TV
Asia Chairman H.R. Shah,
fourth from left, and
winners with their checks
from the sponsor at the
first edition of the
MoneyGram Cricket Bee
in 2016.
Veteran poet Ashok Chakradhar and local artist Abhinav Shukla of California perform at a Hasya Kavi Sammelan organized by Indo-American Festivals
in collaboration with &TV and Zhilmil USA in New York and New Jersey.
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