By Surekha Vijh
Islamic clergy express outrage at the Taliban's efforts to destroy ancient Buddhist statues instead of seeking relief for a country in the grips of famine and ongoing civil war.
Future historians may puzzle over why the Taliban government of Afghanistan destroyed Bamiyan's majestic fifth-century Buddhas. Was it a political or religious decision?
The world press has reported this iconoclasm as an act of political irrationality. But many Islamic clergy are fuming that it is a result of religious heresy and that the Taliban's idea of Islam has created a false image of Muslim values. The grand mufti of Egypt, Nasr Farid Wassel, says, "It is the duty of the Islamic countries to maintain pre-Islamic monuments as `cultural heritage for mankind.' Egypt is dotted with thousands of monuments, including statues of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses going back 5,000 years. Not a single monument or statue has been destroyed since Islam came to Egypt."
Another leading Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yousseff El-Qaradawi, wrote in a letter to the supreme Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, that his edict requiring destruction of the ancient statues went against Shariah practice, which long has bound Muslims not to destroy pre-Islamic monuments in the lands they have ruled.
The imam of the Afghan community at a mosque in New York, Maulavi Yusuffi, tells Insight there are two kinds of historical religious statues: those that were worshiped and those that were not. "These statues of Buddha were part of Afghanistan's cultural heritage," says Yusuffi, denouncing the destruction. "But I also blame the U.N. sanctions against Afghanistan for this destruction."
Although U.N. sanctions may not directly have led to the decision to destroy all the statues, many Afghani expatriates believe the sanctions helped to strengthen the hand of extremists within the Taliban. Moderates, supposedly led by Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil and the ailing Mullah Rabani, advised restraint on the part of the international community, saying that the Taliban only would get stronger if the country were further isolated.
Former Afghanistan president and mujahideen leader Sebghatullah Mujadedi, who now lives in Denmark, also has expressed horror at the destruction. In an interview with Voice of America (VOA), he noted the founders of Islamic Afghanistan in the early 18th century, Ahmed Shah Baba and Amir Wais Baba, did not destroy these statues or ask others to do so. "It is very sad what happened to the ancient statues in the 21st Century," he continued. "The Bamiyan Buddhas were a lesson of history for our children, which has now been torn. ... There are Buddhists in the world who respect them. There are more urgent issues to deal with than the demolition of stone statues, like dealing with the deadly famine and dying people in the country."
Rashid Naeem, a political-science professor at Georgia State University, agrees. He told VOA that while the razed statues had great historical value, "Taliban are behaving like stubborn children, trying to create problems while running away from the existing one."
There are problems galore, say international observers. Only three countries -- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- have supported the regime. The United Nations even closed the Afghan liaison office after U.N. sanctions were imposed on the country for its refusal to hand over accused terrorist Osama bin Laden, wanted in the United States for the deadly bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa. Since Adbul Hakeem Majahia, the Taliban's last ambassador-designate to the United Nations, closed that office there has been no diplomatic liaison between the Afghani government and either the United Nations or the United States.
Meanwhile, blame bounces like a ball among ancient enemies. Former Afghan ambassador to the United Nations Rawan Farhadi blamed neighboring Pakistan for destruction of the statues. Pakistanis "want to destroy the identity of Afghanistan -- and Talibans were nothing else but Pakistani agents," Farhadi claimed. A handful of Afghani students, fearful of criticizing the Taliban regime, also blamed Pakistan for destroying the ancient statues.
The destruction also is seen as a "plot against the Hazara people," an ethno-linguistic group that has been the most relentlessly hostile to the Taliban. Bamiyan is part of the Hazarat, or Hazara, country and has been the scene of fierce fighting between the Taliban and the rebel opposition. "By destroying these monuments, they want to make sure that the Hazara people don't develop," says Sami, a young Afghan living in Virginia.
But when Taliban leader Omar issued his decree on Feb. 26 to demolish the statues, he said the decision was based on orders from Allah (God) as set down in the Quran, the Islamic holy book. It was explained that the Taliban regard the pre-Islamic statues as "false idols" and ordered their destruction and that of other statues in the territory under their control despite protests from the international community. Never mind that Omar earlier had issued decrees to protect the non-Islamic artifacts, including the tallest standing Bamiyan Buddha, 180 feet high, which the militia's zealous commanders had targeted.
Apparently the commanders won the theological dispute. The decree was issued while a team of Western diplomats visited the Afghan capital to check reports that senior Taliban officials had destroyed more than a dozen pre-Islamic artifacts in the national museum. Kabul Museum has been closed to the public since 1992 after most of its unique collection was looted or destroyed during factional fighting among Afghani warlords.
The report of the destruction of the towering ancient statues first was confirmed by UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) special envoy to Afghanistan, Pierre Lafrance. "I was distressed to learn of this from my special envoy," said Lafrance's boss, Koichiro Matsuura in a statement released by the U.N. cultural organization's Paris headquarters. He called the demolition of the 1,600-year-old figures a "crime against culture" and declared: "It is abominable to witness the cold and calculated destruction of cultural properties which were the heritage of the Afghan people, and indeed, of the whole of humanity."
Meanwhile, a resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives condemning the destruction of the pre-Islamic statues:
"Whereas many of the oldest and most significant Buddhist statues in the world are in Afghanistan, which, at the time that many of the statues were carved, was one of the most cosmopolitan regions in the world and hosted merchants, travelers and artists from China, India, Central Asia and the Roman empire;
"Whereas such statues are part of the common heritage of mankind, which must be preserved for future generations. ... Whereas the religion of Islam and Buddhist statues coexisted in Afghanistan as part of the unique historical and cultural heritage of that nation for more than 1,100 years. ... Whereas the destruction of the statues violated the United Nations Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was ratified by Afghanistan on March 20, 1979: Now therefore, be it,
"Resolved, That the House of Representatives ... calls upon the Taliban regime to grant the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other international organizations immediate access to Afghanistan to survey the damage and facilitate efforts to preserve and safeguard the remaining statues."
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently toured a squalid refugee camp in Pakistan sheltering tens of thousands of Afghans and held meetings in Islamabad with the Pakistani military ruler and with Afghanistan's leaders. Afghani Foreign Minister Muttawakil called the statues issue an internal one and said his talks with Annan focused on removing U.N. sanctions.
The Taliban have been under growing international pressure resulting from their mistreatment of women, support of terrorism and continued focus on military expansion at a time of near famine in the country.
While visiting the refugee camps, Annan expressed concern about conditions inside Afghanistan that have forced an estimated 150,000 to flee across the border into Pakistan during the last six months, escaping worsening agricultural conditions and a surge in fighting in Afghanistan's ongoing civil war. "Our most urgent priority is to provide the Afghan people, wherever they are, with aid and assistance as soon as possible," said Annan.
The destruction of Afghanistan's heritage from the Buddhist period of nearly 2,000 years ago makes it more difficult to raise aid for the impoverished country, said Annan, urging donors to remember that assistance is not aimed at the rulers.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
WORLD & Innovative Approaches to Peace
By Surekha Vijh
A Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew, all mothers, walked into a room, experienced the Abrahamic family feud, surpassed the Crucifixion crisis, discussed stereotypical allegations and ritualistic dogmas, and ultimately conversed with a priest, an imam, and a rabbi to complete their dream project. In the resulting book, The Faith Club, they convey a message of love, hope, and optimism about living together in harmony.
Rayna Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, confront major questions, among them, is Islam a violent religion, are the Holocaust and the Crucifixion myths, and must the Israeli-Palestinian struggle be an endless cycle of war?
After the destruction of the twin towers, Idliby, a Muslim of Palestinian heritage living in New York, struggled to deal with her identity and to answer her children’s questions about their faith. During her subsequent effort to write a children’s book explaining the three religions, she met Oliver, a Christian, at their childrens’ bus stop and asked her to help with the project. Oliver, a Catholic by birth and now an Episcopalian, recruited Warner, a Jewish acquaintance, to get the other perspective.
Their three-way conversations quickly became deep and serious. Oliver found Warner very sensitive to the story of the Crucifixion and its too-easy association with portrayals of Jews as “Christ killers.” Idliby was angry because the media portrayed “the most fundamentalist side of Islam” instead of the full spectrum of ways to believe in and practice the faith. As she emphasized, “Nowhere in the Quran does it say, ‘Kill and you will be rewarded.’ ”"Once we began exchanging vulnerabilities, there was no going back,” reflects Warner.
The Faith Club details their conversations as they educate one another about their religions and with every debate grow closer in heart and understanding of one another’s beliefs and shared humanness. In the end, they are three sisters, each of whom has found the religion she has learned is her own.
The three women emphasize that “for people who believe there is exactly one way to heaven, described and delineated only by their own faith, The Faith Club may not offer a template.” Yet to such people, they respond with a quote from Idliby’s imam or prayer leader: “There is no temporal judge of faith on this earth.”
The book is refreshingly original, and the trio has done a tremendous job in modeling a positive step toward understanding people of different faiths at a time when the United States is becoming an increasingly multi-religious society. The Faith Club creates peace and strengthens the hope that individuals can take their own similar steps to directly advance that cause. At the same time it provides a good introduction to three major world religions. One final chapter even shows how readers can start their own faith club and initiate interfaith dialogue.•
Sue Vijh is a free-lance writer residing in Washington, D.C.
A Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew, all mothers, walked into a room, experienced the Abrahamic family feud, surpassed the Crucifixion crisis, discussed stereotypical allegations and ritualistic dogmas, and ultimately conversed with a priest, an imam, and a rabbi to complete their dream project. In the resulting book, The Faith Club, they convey a message of love, hope, and optimism about living together in harmony.
Rayna Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, confront major questions, among them, is Islam a violent religion, are the Holocaust and the Crucifixion myths, and must the Israeli-Palestinian struggle be an endless cycle of war?
After the destruction of the twin towers, Idliby, a Muslim of Palestinian heritage living in New York, struggled to deal with her identity and to answer her children’s questions about their faith. During her subsequent effort to write a children’s book explaining the three religions, she met Oliver, a Christian, at their childrens’ bus stop and asked her to help with the project. Oliver, a Catholic by birth and now an Episcopalian, recruited Warner, a Jewish acquaintance, to get the other perspective.
Their three-way conversations quickly became deep and serious. Oliver found Warner very sensitive to the story of the Crucifixion and its too-easy association with portrayals of Jews as “Christ killers.” Idliby was angry because the media portrayed “the most fundamentalist side of Islam” instead of the full spectrum of ways to believe in and practice the faith. As she emphasized, “Nowhere in the Quran does it say, ‘Kill and you will be rewarded.’ ”"Once we began exchanging vulnerabilities, there was no going back,” reflects Warner.
The Faith Club details their conversations as they educate one another about their religions and with every debate grow closer in heart and understanding of one another’s beliefs and shared humanness. In the end, they are three sisters, each of whom has found the religion she has learned is her own.
The three women emphasize that “for people who believe there is exactly one way to heaven, described and delineated only by their own faith, The Faith Club may not offer a template.” Yet to such people, they respond with a quote from Idliby’s imam or prayer leader: “There is no temporal judge of faith on this earth.”
The book is refreshingly original, and the trio has done a tremendous job in modeling a positive step toward understanding people of different faiths at a time when the United States is becoming an increasingly multi-religious society. The Faith Club creates peace and strengthens the hope that individuals can take their own similar steps to directly advance that cause. At the same time it provides a good introduction to three major world religions. One final chapter even shows how readers can start their own faith club and initiate interfaith dialogue.•
Sue Vijh is a free-lance writer residing in Washington, D.C.
Health and Fitness Living it up
By Surekha Vijh
Diet and exercise is key to healthy living and it's better done while you are young
By Surekha Vijh"Your health is what you make of it," so says a famous Italian The importance of healthy living is hardly underscored to young Indian American couples starting their new married lives or young singles hoping to meet their dream partners. your health is what you make of it," so says a famous Italian proverb. As the modern world gravitates toward the hustle of big cities, replete with people engrossed in their daily lives, staying fit and healthy is a challenge, especially for Indian Americans predisposed to many diseases. The often elusive high-quality of life we all aspire for, comes not only with money and high life, but also with physical fitness and healthy living.
The importance of healthy living is hardly underscored to young Indian American couples starting their new married lives or young singles hoping to meet their dream partners. Exercise and fitness can do wonders for you. Besides looking good, it enables you to perform to your potential. And, since what we do with our bodies also affects how we utilize our minds, fitness influences our mental alertness and emotional stability as well. Take for instance, Anju Pathak and Alka, both young students. Anju, 22, is a senior in City College, New York, and Alka, 22, is in high school, and they both share something in common, believing in total fitness and healthy living.
Anju with Friends "I love exercising and the after effect is very satisfying," says Anju. "Being fit doesn?t only make you look beautiful but it also gives you inner strength and stamina." Anju is among a growing number of young Indian Americans advocating the importance of daily exercise and eating healthy. She has a practical use for her workouts and finds time despite her heavy workload at school and weekend work. "I do try to squeeze in some exercises like walking, small workouts? it helps me concentrate better on my studies. I think school, work and fitness all go together for me," she observes.
Recent graduate Neha is starting her new job as a sales executive, but the fear of not being slim haunts her. What should she do to enhance her confidence and achieve the goals?
Lasting Exercise Tips
For overall health benefits, experts recommend 20-30 minutes of aerobic activity three or more times a week combined with some type of muscle strengthening activity and stretching at least twice a week. If one is unable to cope with this level of activity, 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, at least five times a week can achieve substantial health benefits.
Health clubs and yoga instructors recommend that if you have been inactive for a while, you may want to start with less strenuous activities, such as walking or swimming at a comfortable pace. Starting at a slow pace allows you to become physically fit without straining your body and muscles. Once in better shape, you can gradually increase your strenuous activity. The key to a lifetime of fitness is consistency. Here is a sampling of tips to exercising routinely:
Choose an activity you enjoy alone, or with your partner and that fits your lifestyle. Give your body a chance to adjust to your new routine and don?t be discouraged if you don?t see immediate results. Don?t give up if you miss a day; just get back on track the next day or find a little motivation and socialization. Build some rest days into your exercise schedule. Listen to your body. If you have difficulty breathing or experience faintness or prolonged weakness during or after exercise, consult a physician. It?s a good idea to choose more than one type of exercise to give your body a thorough workout and to prevent boredom. Bhangra on the Exercise Floor
From its roots as a celebratory harvest dance, bhangra is now being touted as an intense cardio workout and a viable alternative to aerobics. For South Asians, bhangra classes are becoming viable fitness options. Vicki Virk of dholrhythms, a Bay Area-based studio, has taught numerous South Asian classes and conducted workshops for them.
Sarina Jain?s class is extremely fast-paced, starting with the basic steps and eventually adding six different moves. She says the fitness regime burns about 500 calories in each session. Sheila Jain (Sarina Jain?s sister), who conducts Masala Bhangra Workout at Crunch in San Francisco, is convinced that bhangra presents a great opportunity for getting South Asians back in shape ? a culturally appropriate alternatives to the gym.
Making a Commitment
You have taken the important first step on the path to physical fitness by researching your options. The next step requires a commitment of time and effort. Exercise, experts say, must become one of those things that you do without question, like bathing and brushing your teeth. Unless you are convinced of the benefits of fitness and the risks of unfitness, you will not succeed. Patience is essential. Don?t try to do too much too soon and don?t quit before you have a chance to experience the rewards of improved fitness. The prize is worth the pain for all age groups, especially for young singles and married couples. Remember: starting a consistent fitness regime early in your life is key to quality of life.
Masala Bhangra Workout ? We have the lowest rate of physical activity ?
NY-based Sarina Jain is the creator of Masala Bhangra Workout, an aerobic exercise combining bhangra with high-energy aerobic moves. Mainstreaming her workout, Jain is not only jiving with the South Asian youth, but also Caucasian, Hispanic and African Americans. She teaches everything from cardiosalsa to hip-hop classes, as well choreographing music videos. Sarina hosts bhangra classes at various venues in New York City, including Crunch, Equinox, and the New York Sports Club. Often called the ?Indian Jane Fonda,? Sarina grew up in Los Angeles with her India-born parents. She has been in the spotlight in Cosmopolitan, Fitness, Self and Honey magazines, as well as KTLA Morning News and the WB Channel 11 news programs.
Excerpts of her interview with Desi Match?s Surekha Vijh:
Q: How did you get into bhangra and the fitness industry?
A: As a teenager, four of us started a dance group called dhamaka. As a bhangra team, we won every competition we entered. From there on, it developed and I began to teach kids. I?ve been involved in the fitness industry for the past 15 years, since I was 15. Another reason I got involved was because my father passed away of massive cardiac arrest when he was just 47. When he was 40, he had a mild heart attack and doctors said he really had to work out. I didn?t get into the facts about the lack of fitness in the South Asian community until about two years ago when I started my own business.
Q: How did you pair bhangra with women, especially since it?s traditionally a men?s dance?
A: That?s true but I haven?t changed the moves. The beauty of a woman is that she can add a feminine touch to it; men cannot. It?s a bit more modern than what the average male Indian dancer would do, but that?s because I cater to the average person in the US. In fitness, you always have more women than men in classes. It?s intimidating for men to attend aerobics classes. I think things are different in New York, which is why I came here.
Q: Do you have many South Asians in your class?
A: Most of my students are non-Indians. South Asians may be the highest number of doctors in the US, but we have the lowest rate of physical activity. But it is picking up with my generation.
Q: What is it about bhangra that?s attracting people?
A: I think it?s the music, which is very intoxicating. As much as I teach it, I will still have a blast at Basement Bhangra because of the energy it gives off when people are dancing together. In my class you don?t really feel like you?re working out; you feel like you?re dancing.
Do?s
Eat five fresh fruits and vegetables everyday Eat nuts including almonds and walnuts Drink 2-3 cups of skimmed milk everyday (if you are not allergic), otherwise take soymilk. Eat one or two helpings of low fat yogurt (again if you are not allergic to milk products). Turkey, fish and chicken are good for meat eaters. Tofu, beans and lentils are good source of protein for vegetarians. Use whole wheat bread, preferably in small quantity Cook in olive oil. Drink lots of water (at least six to eight glasses a day). Start your day with water or some fresh fruit juice. Sleep well (at least seven to eight hours a day) Exercises (combined with some aerobic for cardio-vascular) Dont?s
Avoid cooking in butter and fancy vegetable oils. Meat eaters should try to avoid red and under cooked meats. Avoid fried foods. Avoid white bread, cakes and pastries. Avoid processed and canned foods. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes Avoid morning caffeine consumption. It can lead to increases in blood pressure, feelings of stress, and elevated stress hormone levels throughout the day and even into the evening hour. Eat Healthy Live Long Live Long - By Surekha Vijh
Dr. Lalita Kaul, professor Nutrition at College of Medicine, Howard University in Washington, D.C., says starting a healthy diet from an early age is imperative. Young professionals always on the run, she notes, should try to eat fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts and drink a lot of water. A nutritious diet enables one to perform at optimum fitness levels. It?s a good idea to find a healthy diet that fits your needs. Dr Kaul has some suggestions:
Simple facts:1. Choose a diet that you know can be a part of your life style.2.Do not trust diets that promise fast weight loss without any effort.3.Do not trust diets that promise results without exercise and/or changes in eating behavior.
An Apple a day does keep the doctor away
An apple a day provides antioxidants that fight cell damage. Preferably eat apples with their skin since it contains the highest levels of quercetin, so juice is not necessarily the best source. Red apples tend to have more antioxidant than green or yellow ones.
Antioxidants are compounds that counteract the damage done by chemicals known as free radicals -- generated by sunlight, chemical reactions and the stress of day-to-day living. Other foods high in quercetin include onions, blueberries and cranberries.
Food for mind: Being Happy
If you have happy thoughts, then you make happy molecules. Alternatively, if you have sad or angry or hostile thoughts, you make molecules depressing the immune system and making you more susceptible to disease.
Art of living
While the fear of the unknown haunts many, it is pivotal to be prepared for the challenges before and after marriage. Experts say stress-free life is important for a couple to understand each other better. ?Necessity of double income families and hectic lifestyle in the US, and unlike India the absence of strong support system can bring a lot of stressin one?s life,? says Parantap Pandaya, a psychiatric screener who has found a new meaning to life since he joined Art of Living Foundation in 1997. In his quest for happiness, Parantap came to US, got married, bought a house and still felt he was reaching nowhere. ART OF LIVING, he says, helped him realize his goals.
The ART OF LIVING seemsto have a strong following with a good number of young singles, who after marriage are realizing their personal and professional goals. Janael McQueen, Director, Teachers? Training for ART OF LIVING, USA, observes young Indians given their natural heritage are drawn more toward holistic practices. They also find good role models, from all walks of life, at ART OF LIVING who they can relate with personally as well as professionally. Sharing examples of healthy relationships of people art of living attending ART OF LIVING course, she strongly recommends Sudarshan Kriya. Janael says Sudarshan Kriya is learned in six sessions, in a unique social interaction. It involves more than just breathing technique and yoga.
Janael, with ART OF LIVING since 1988, says all ART OFLIVING courses are aimed at offering simple and effective techniques for eliminating stress, resolving conflict, improving health and living life with vigor---essentially a art of living combination of ancient wisdom and modern science. Its founder H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar develops all ART OF LIVING courses. There have been several instances of troubled marriages saved as a result of couples attending an ART OF LIVING course.
Attendees say such workshops also help in understanding the other partner better. For instance, Aparna, a Canada-born dentist married Vikas Chawla, an IT expert born and raised in India. Aparna met Vikas at an Art of Living workshop and calls it a divine interaction. Despite having a vast differences in where they grew up, they accepted each other as another beautiful person, without making any demands. For More information on Art of Living visit: http://ww.artofliving.org/
Gyms and Health Clubs - By Surekha Vijh
The health club culture, around for a while, is now becoming an integral part of young people?s lives. Looking good is of course for them the main attraction. Just a few years ago, working out was only a domain of the men, but now women are equally conscious of their fitness. Second generation South Asians are also not lagging behind in espousing health club culture.
Richard Storch, Director, Hilton Executive Health Club, Woodbridge Hilton, New Jersey, notes that almost 25 percent of his clients at the health club are South Asians or have Indian origins. Richard at Hilton Executive Health Club Richard at Hilton Executive Health Club
"You know Iselin has a large Indian community. Indians who come here are in their early 20's and 30's," he says. The Indians, he adds, use cardio-vascular equipments, bicycles, and stretch and a few older people swim, use treadmill and weight machines.
Our research indicates many South Asians are members of health clubs in New York City. Additionally, they also participate in other physical activities including yoga, bhangra and meditation.
Nitin Chodha, NY, a personal trainer who has taught many Bollywood and cricket celebrities, counts among his clients young potential brides and grooms. He provides six to eight weeks personal fitness training, which includes 45 minutes weight loss and muscle building, diet control and well-being therapy. ?They look and feel their best at their weddings," Chodha notes how his clients feel after the makeover.
Recommending tips for young potential brides, Nitin suggests weight lifting and treadmill twice a week (taking breaks during the week is important for body and muscles to relax), cutting sugar, salts, carbohydrates, fats, rice, potatoes, chips and other junk food snacks, breads, pickles. Pickles and other food items with lots of salt or sodium chloride help in water retention, making people, especially women, put on weight.
Health Club Tips as given by R.Storch, Hilton Executive Health Club, Woodbridge:
Before deciding on which gym or health club to join, make a list of specific things you feel you need and will use They should have machines, which will allow you to work different muscle groups. At a bare minimum, they should have treadmills and bikes, and in addition most will have stair climbers, and elliptical trainers Some will also have rowing machines, step mills, different types of stationary bikes and possibly a variety of elliptical machines. Certain medical conditions reduce libido, performance, or enjoyment. These include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and neurological disorders, and insomnia. TAKING CONTROL By Surekha Vijh
South Asians are discovering that from ayurvedic healing to hitting the treadmill, there are several options to a balanced fitness regime.
The importance of ayurveda and Vedic healing is steadily permeating into the western world, as it realizes the more it?s in touch with cosmic energy the faster it can self-heal.
"If you can wiggle your toes with the mere flicker of an intention, why can?t you reset your biological clock," argues new age guru and Deepak Chopra. He observes that by consciously using our awareness, one can influence the way one ages biologically.
Chopra promises "perfect health? to those who can harness their consciousness as a healing force through ayurvedic methods." Remaining healthy is actually a conscious choice,he explains.
Pratima Mujumdar, a consultant at Balance Lifestyle, and a student of Dr.Deepak Chopra, notes an ayurvedic lifestyle harmonizes the body, mind and spirit, which helps in relieving fatigue, stress and insomnia." Herbal oil massages mobilize toxins in the body tissues," she says. "It should be followed by a steam bath, which liquefy toxins and eventually purifies then adis (body)." While true meditation, she adds, helps one get rid of negative thoughts, a balanced food keeps mind and body healthy.
According to Mujumdar, sounds, colors and environment also affect one?s health. She suggests that just before marriage young men and women can really improve themselves through Rejuvenating Body Treatment. Pratima Mujumdar
Food Tips
Always eat freshly cooked food; avoid leftovers Eat your main meal between 12-1 pm, when the digestive agni is at the highest along with the Sun's position in the sky Dinner should be light and two hours before you sleep.
Diet and exercise is key to healthy living and it's better done while you are young
By Surekha Vijh"Your health is what you make of it," so says a famous Italian The importance of healthy living is hardly underscored to young Indian American couples starting their new married lives or young singles hoping to meet their dream partners. your health is what you make of it," so says a famous Italian proverb. As the modern world gravitates toward the hustle of big cities, replete with people engrossed in their daily lives, staying fit and healthy is a challenge, especially for Indian Americans predisposed to many diseases. The often elusive high-quality of life we all aspire for, comes not only with money and high life, but also with physical fitness and healthy living.
The importance of healthy living is hardly underscored to young Indian American couples starting their new married lives or young singles hoping to meet their dream partners. Exercise and fitness can do wonders for you. Besides looking good, it enables you to perform to your potential. And, since what we do with our bodies also affects how we utilize our minds, fitness influences our mental alertness and emotional stability as well. Take for instance, Anju Pathak and Alka, both young students. Anju, 22, is a senior in City College, New York, and Alka, 22, is in high school, and they both share something in common, believing in total fitness and healthy living.
Anju with Friends "I love exercising and the after effect is very satisfying," says Anju. "Being fit doesn?t only make you look beautiful but it also gives you inner strength and stamina." Anju is among a growing number of young Indian Americans advocating the importance of daily exercise and eating healthy. She has a practical use for her workouts and finds time despite her heavy workload at school and weekend work. "I do try to squeeze in some exercises like walking, small workouts? it helps me concentrate better on my studies. I think school, work and fitness all go together for me," she observes.
Recent graduate Neha is starting her new job as a sales executive, but the fear of not being slim haunts her. What should she do to enhance her confidence and achieve the goals?
Lasting Exercise Tips
For overall health benefits, experts recommend 20-30 minutes of aerobic activity three or more times a week combined with some type of muscle strengthening activity and stretching at least twice a week. If one is unable to cope with this level of activity, 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, at least five times a week can achieve substantial health benefits.
Health clubs and yoga instructors recommend that if you have been inactive for a while, you may want to start with less strenuous activities, such as walking or swimming at a comfortable pace. Starting at a slow pace allows you to become physically fit without straining your body and muscles. Once in better shape, you can gradually increase your strenuous activity. The key to a lifetime of fitness is consistency. Here is a sampling of tips to exercising routinely:
Choose an activity you enjoy alone, or with your partner and that fits your lifestyle. Give your body a chance to adjust to your new routine and don?t be discouraged if you don?t see immediate results. Don?t give up if you miss a day; just get back on track the next day or find a little motivation and socialization. Build some rest days into your exercise schedule. Listen to your body. If you have difficulty breathing or experience faintness or prolonged weakness during or after exercise, consult a physician. It?s a good idea to choose more than one type of exercise to give your body a thorough workout and to prevent boredom. Bhangra on the Exercise Floor
From its roots as a celebratory harvest dance, bhangra is now being touted as an intense cardio workout and a viable alternative to aerobics. For South Asians, bhangra classes are becoming viable fitness options. Vicki Virk of dholrhythms, a Bay Area-based studio, has taught numerous South Asian classes and conducted workshops for them.
Sarina Jain?s class is extremely fast-paced, starting with the basic steps and eventually adding six different moves. She says the fitness regime burns about 500 calories in each session. Sheila Jain (Sarina Jain?s sister), who conducts Masala Bhangra Workout at Crunch in San Francisco, is convinced that bhangra presents a great opportunity for getting South Asians back in shape ? a culturally appropriate alternatives to the gym.
Making a Commitment
You have taken the important first step on the path to physical fitness by researching your options. The next step requires a commitment of time and effort. Exercise, experts say, must become one of those things that you do without question, like bathing and brushing your teeth. Unless you are convinced of the benefits of fitness and the risks of unfitness, you will not succeed. Patience is essential. Don?t try to do too much too soon and don?t quit before you have a chance to experience the rewards of improved fitness. The prize is worth the pain for all age groups, especially for young singles and married couples. Remember: starting a consistent fitness regime early in your life is key to quality of life.
Masala Bhangra Workout ? We have the lowest rate of physical activity ?
NY-based Sarina Jain is the creator of Masala Bhangra Workout, an aerobic exercise combining bhangra with high-energy aerobic moves. Mainstreaming her workout, Jain is not only jiving with the South Asian youth, but also Caucasian, Hispanic and African Americans. She teaches everything from cardiosalsa to hip-hop classes, as well choreographing music videos. Sarina hosts bhangra classes at various venues in New York City, including Crunch, Equinox, and the New York Sports Club. Often called the ?Indian Jane Fonda,? Sarina grew up in Los Angeles with her India-born parents. She has been in the spotlight in Cosmopolitan, Fitness, Self and Honey magazines, as well as KTLA Morning News and the WB Channel 11 news programs.
Excerpts of her interview with Desi Match?s Surekha Vijh:
Q: How did you get into bhangra and the fitness industry?
A: As a teenager, four of us started a dance group called dhamaka. As a bhangra team, we won every competition we entered. From there on, it developed and I began to teach kids. I?ve been involved in the fitness industry for the past 15 years, since I was 15. Another reason I got involved was because my father passed away of massive cardiac arrest when he was just 47. When he was 40, he had a mild heart attack and doctors said he really had to work out. I didn?t get into the facts about the lack of fitness in the South Asian community until about two years ago when I started my own business.
Q: How did you pair bhangra with women, especially since it?s traditionally a men?s dance?
A: That?s true but I haven?t changed the moves. The beauty of a woman is that she can add a feminine touch to it; men cannot. It?s a bit more modern than what the average male Indian dancer would do, but that?s because I cater to the average person in the US. In fitness, you always have more women than men in classes. It?s intimidating for men to attend aerobics classes. I think things are different in New York, which is why I came here.
Q: Do you have many South Asians in your class?
A: Most of my students are non-Indians. South Asians may be the highest number of doctors in the US, but we have the lowest rate of physical activity. But it is picking up with my generation.
Q: What is it about bhangra that?s attracting people?
A: I think it?s the music, which is very intoxicating. As much as I teach it, I will still have a blast at Basement Bhangra because of the energy it gives off when people are dancing together. In my class you don?t really feel like you?re working out; you feel like you?re dancing.
Do?s
Eat five fresh fruits and vegetables everyday Eat nuts including almonds and walnuts Drink 2-3 cups of skimmed milk everyday (if you are not allergic), otherwise take soymilk. Eat one or two helpings of low fat yogurt (again if you are not allergic to milk products). Turkey, fish and chicken are good for meat eaters. Tofu, beans and lentils are good source of protein for vegetarians. Use whole wheat bread, preferably in small quantity Cook in olive oil. Drink lots of water (at least six to eight glasses a day). Start your day with water or some fresh fruit juice. Sleep well (at least seven to eight hours a day) Exercises (combined with some aerobic for cardio-vascular) Dont?s
Avoid cooking in butter and fancy vegetable oils. Meat eaters should try to avoid red and under cooked meats. Avoid fried foods. Avoid white bread, cakes and pastries. Avoid processed and canned foods. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes Avoid morning caffeine consumption. It can lead to increases in blood pressure, feelings of stress, and elevated stress hormone levels throughout the day and even into the evening hour. Eat Healthy Live Long Live Long - By Surekha Vijh
Dr. Lalita Kaul, professor Nutrition at College of Medicine, Howard University in Washington, D.C., says starting a healthy diet from an early age is imperative. Young professionals always on the run, she notes, should try to eat fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts and drink a lot of water. A nutritious diet enables one to perform at optimum fitness levels. It?s a good idea to find a healthy diet that fits your needs. Dr Kaul has some suggestions:
Simple facts:1. Choose a diet that you know can be a part of your life style.2.Do not trust diets that promise fast weight loss without any effort.3.Do not trust diets that promise results without exercise and/or changes in eating behavior.
An Apple a day does keep the doctor away
An apple a day provides antioxidants that fight cell damage. Preferably eat apples with their skin since it contains the highest levels of quercetin, so juice is not necessarily the best source. Red apples tend to have more antioxidant than green or yellow ones.
Antioxidants are compounds that counteract the damage done by chemicals known as free radicals -- generated by sunlight, chemical reactions and the stress of day-to-day living. Other foods high in quercetin include onions, blueberries and cranberries.
Food for mind: Being Happy
If you have happy thoughts, then you make happy molecules. Alternatively, if you have sad or angry or hostile thoughts, you make molecules depressing the immune system and making you more susceptible to disease.
Art of living
While the fear of the unknown haunts many, it is pivotal to be prepared for the challenges before and after marriage. Experts say stress-free life is important for a couple to understand each other better. ?Necessity of double income families and hectic lifestyle in the US, and unlike India the absence of strong support system can bring a lot of stressin one?s life,? says Parantap Pandaya, a psychiatric screener who has found a new meaning to life since he joined Art of Living Foundation in 1997. In his quest for happiness, Parantap came to US, got married, bought a house and still felt he was reaching nowhere. ART OF LIVING, he says, helped him realize his goals.
The ART OF LIVING seemsto have a strong following with a good number of young singles, who after marriage are realizing their personal and professional goals. Janael McQueen, Director, Teachers? Training for ART OF LIVING, USA, observes young Indians given their natural heritage are drawn more toward holistic practices. They also find good role models, from all walks of life, at ART OF LIVING who they can relate with personally as well as professionally. Sharing examples of healthy relationships of people art of living attending ART OF LIVING course, she strongly recommends Sudarshan Kriya. Janael says Sudarshan Kriya is learned in six sessions, in a unique social interaction. It involves more than just breathing technique and yoga.
Janael, with ART OF LIVING since 1988, says all ART OFLIVING courses are aimed at offering simple and effective techniques for eliminating stress, resolving conflict, improving health and living life with vigor---essentially a art of living combination of ancient wisdom and modern science. Its founder H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar develops all ART OF LIVING courses. There have been several instances of troubled marriages saved as a result of couples attending an ART OF LIVING course.
Attendees say such workshops also help in understanding the other partner better. For instance, Aparna, a Canada-born dentist married Vikas Chawla, an IT expert born and raised in India. Aparna met Vikas at an Art of Living workshop and calls it a divine interaction. Despite having a vast differences in where they grew up, they accepted each other as another beautiful person, without making any demands. For More information on Art of Living visit: http://ww.artofliving.org/
Gyms and Health Clubs - By Surekha Vijh
The health club culture, around for a while, is now becoming an integral part of young people?s lives. Looking good is of course for them the main attraction. Just a few years ago, working out was only a domain of the men, but now women are equally conscious of their fitness. Second generation South Asians are also not lagging behind in espousing health club culture.
Richard Storch, Director, Hilton Executive Health Club, Woodbridge Hilton, New Jersey, notes that almost 25 percent of his clients at the health club are South Asians or have Indian origins. Richard at Hilton Executive Health Club Richard at Hilton Executive Health Club
"You know Iselin has a large Indian community. Indians who come here are in their early 20's and 30's," he says. The Indians, he adds, use cardio-vascular equipments, bicycles, and stretch and a few older people swim, use treadmill and weight machines.
Our research indicates many South Asians are members of health clubs in New York City. Additionally, they also participate in other physical activities including yoga, bhangra and meditation.
Nitin Chodha, NY, a personal trainer who has taught many Bollywood and cricket celebrities, counts among his clients young potential brides and grooms. He provides six to eight weeks personal fitness training, which includes 45 minutes weight loss and muscle building, diet control and well-being therapy. ?They look and feel their best at their weddings," Chodha notes how his clients feel after the makeover.
Recommending tips for young potential brides, Nitin suggests weight lifting and treadmill twice a week (taking breaks during the week is important for body and muscles to relax), cutting sugar, salts, carbohydrates, fats, rice, potatoes, chips and other junk food snacks, breads, pickles. Pickles and other food items with lots of salt or sodium chloride help in water retention, making people, especially women, put on weight.
Health Club Tips as given by R.Storch, Hilton Executive Health Club, Woodbridge:
Before deciding on which gym or health club to join, make a list of specific things you feel you need and will use They should have machines, which will allow you to work different muscle groups. At a bare minimum, they should have treadmills and bikes, and in addition most will have stair climbers, and elliptical trainers Some will also have rowing machines, step mills, different types of stationary bikes and possibly a variety of elliptical machines. Certain medical conditions reduce libido, performance, or enjoyment. These include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and neurological disorders, and insomnia. TAKING CONTROL By Surekha Vijh
South Asians are discovering that from ayurvedic healing to hitting the treadmill, there are several options to a balanced fitness regime.
The importance of ayurveda and Vedic healing is steadily permeating into the western world, as it realizes the more it?s in touch with cosmic energy the faster it can self-heal.
"If you can wiggle your toes with the mere flicker of an intention, why can?t you reset your biological clock," argues new age guru and Deepak Chopra. He observes that by consciously using our awareness, one can influence the way one ages biologically.
Chopra promises "perfect health? to those who can harness their consciousness as a healing force through ayurvedic methods." Remaining healthy is actually a conscious choice,he explains.
Pratima Mujumdar, a consultant at Balance Lifestyle, and a student of Dr.Deepak Chopra, notes an ayurvedic lifestyle harmonizes the body, mind and spirit, which helps in relieving fatigue, stress and insomnia." Herbal oil massages mobilize toxins in the body tissues," she says. "It should be followed by a steam bath, which liquefy toxins and eventually purifies then adis (body)." While true meditation, she adds, helps one get rid of negative thoughts, a balanced food keeps mind and body healthy.
According to Mujumdar, sounds, colors and environment also affect one?s health. She suggests that just before marriage young men and women can really improve themselves through Rejuvenating Body Treatment. Pratima Mujumdar
Food Tips
Always eat freshly cooked food; avoid leftovers Eat your main meal between 12-1 pm, when the digestive agni is at the highest along with the Sun's position in the sky Dinner should be light and two hours before you sleep.
Echoes of a summer of living dangerously
By Surekha Vijh
The Boston GlobePublished: November 26, 2006
Doug Marlette's "Magic Time" is a touching memorial to the spirited young activists who paid the ultimate price in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964. In a remarkable portrayal of the intricate lives of his characters, the prize-winning master storyteller knits a beguiling tale of love, idealism, family, mystery , and long-awaited triumph of justice.
"Magic Time" vividly captures the spirit of an era of epic change that energized thousands across the North and the South who were part of an unforgettable chapter in American history. It was the summer that rewrote America's destiny, and Marlette , in a fair and accountable effort , brings the people from that period alive.
The book, the second novel by Marlette, a Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist, is a complex blend of historical details, mysterious family relations, greed for power and dominance , and tragic anecdotes. It reopens the murder case of four young civil rights activists, members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee .
The story revolves around Carter Ransom, a New York Examiner columnist who grew up in Troy, Miss., during the Shiloh Baptist Church bombing. Carter had been in love with one of the victims of the bombing, Sarah Solomon, a Jewish civil rights worker from New York . His father, Judge Mitchell Ransom, presided over the murder trial . Now, three decades later, after a terrorist group bombs a Manhattan museum and Carter suffers an emotional breakdown, he comes home to recuperate.
Carter has never fully come to terms with Sarah's death, and he is drawn to the reopening of the Shiloh bombing case. An ambitious young state prosecutor, Sydney Rushton, finds evidence that the trial was faulty , even fraudulent. Two men were convicted, but the instigator, Samuel Bohannon, Ku Klux Klan imperial wizard, along with his second-in-command , Glen Boutwell, had escaped conviction . Boutwell has died, but Bohannon becomes the target of the second trial, with Lacey Hullender, a former Klansman, testifying against him. Sydney is bent on collecting all evidence against Bohannon and anyone who gets in her way, including Carter's father, who supposedly covered up the crime . Carter, meanwhile, discovers many more unpleasant secrets about his father's life and develops a tense relationship with him.
In "Magic Time," Marlette paints a detailed picture of a unique time in a town in the Deep South . He moves back and forth between the events of 1964 and the second trial, in the early 1990s , reinforcing his place as a writer of Southern fiction , after his debut novel, "The Bridge." He has an understanding of the region in the tumultuous days of the civil rights movement, and of its reshaping in the aftermath.
"Magic Time" is a page-turner , its intricate plot matched by the profundity of its moral vision. It is a compelling legal thriller, touching tribute, and zesty love story, rolled into one . Marlette has crafted an exceptional work of Southern fiction.
Surekha Vijh is an award-winning poet and journalist based in New York
The Boston GlobePublished: November 26, 2006
Doug Marlette's "Magic Time" is a touching memorial to the spirited young activists who paid the ultimate price in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964. In a remarkable portrayal of the intricate lives of his characters, the prize-winning master storyteller knits a beguiling tale of love, idealism, family, mystery , and long-awaited triumph of justice.
"Magic Time" vividly captures the spirit of an era of epic change that energized thousands across the North and the South who were part of an unforgettable chapter in American history. It was the summer that rewrote America's destiny, and Marlette , in a fair and accountable effort , brings the people from that period alive.
The book, the second novel by Marlette, a Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist, is a complex blend of historical details, mysterious family relations, greed for power and dominance , and tragic anecdotes. It reopens the murder case of four young civil rights activists, members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee .
The story revolves around Carter Ransom, a New York Examiner columnist who grew up in Troy, Miss., during the Shiloh Baptist Church bombing. Carter had been in love with one of the victims of the bombing, Sarah Solomon, a Jewish civil rights worker from New York . His father, Judge Mitchell Ransom, presided over the murder trial . Now, three decades later, after a terrorist group bombs a Manhattan museum and Carter suffers an emotional breakdown, he comes home to recuperate.
Carter has never fully come to terms with Sarah's death, and he is drawn to the reopening of the Shiloh bombing case. An ambitious young state prosecutor, Sydney Rushton, finds evidence that the trial was faulty , even fraudulent. Two men were convicted, but the instigator, Samuel Bohannon, Ku Klux Klan imperial wizard, along with his second-in-command , Glen Boutwell, had escaped conviction . Boutwell has died, but Bohannon becomes the target of the second trial, with Lacey Hullender, a former Klansman, testifying against him. Sydney is bent on collecting all evidence against Bohannon and anyone who gets in her way, including Carter's father, who supposedly covered up the crime . Carter, meanwhile, discovers many more unpleasant secrets about his father's life and develops a tense relationship with him.
In "Magic Time," Marlette paints a detailed picture of a unique time in a town in the Deep South . He moves back and forth between the events of 1964 and the second trial, in the early 1990s , reinforcing his place as a writer of Southern fiction , after his debut novel, "The Bridge." He has an understanding of the region in the tumultuous days of the civil rights movement, and of its reshaping in the aftermath.
"Magic Time" is a page-turner , its intricate plot matched by the profundity of its moral vision. It is a compelling legal thriller, touching tribute, and zesty love story, rolled into one . Marlette has crafted an exceptional work of Southern fiction.
Surekha Vijh is an award-winning poet and journalist based in New York
SEVEN ASTRONAUTS
By Surekha Vijh
Wetravel in an orbit, through space: we think— we know –– we control— we brag about our mortal bodies— skin, hair and eye color, private mansions, exclusive neighborhoods safe--- until object disintegrates into a million parts just like the Shuttle Columbia giving back to Mother Nature within the fold of five elements. Where do we learn who we are? No barricades, no boundaries or borders in Space. Earth looks a tiny marble, its inhabitants invisible. Only visible is blue water and brown land, celebrating the unity of earth and sky, humanity and cosmos. Seers and sages throughout time and now the astro-explorers narrate the lesson clearly— We are only visitors We are not owners.
DEATH OFA ROSE
A rose arrivedin early summer without a buzz, a murmur. Nature played adroitly, its finest symphony. Splendor touched the mundane. The raindrops fell gently on leaves, buds and flowers. Composing an aria. And a new cavatina. My heart beat stopped, absent for awhile. Then the bud turned blue its acceptance questioned. My rose was depetaled--- by strong winds.
FACE OF EARTH
Eachday they crucify the messiah
inthe name of color, race and religion.
Eachday they find reasons to fight wars on Earth,
forpower, greed or just for fun:
Alexander,Darius, Babar, Caesar, Napoleon
andothers fought the wars for
destructionof evil, for bringing unity, for
religiousbrotherhood, or for colorless continuum.
Iswar a necessity or only an occupation?
Butthis war is another story.
Youexplain I will try to understand….
ROHANAND ROHINI
Fromthe stars you arrived – crossing the cosmos, the atmosphere, then touching the peak of the Himalayas,
soakingin the pure and purple Ganges, you arrived in my prayers, as if emerging from the sacrificial fire of Maha Yajna, from fire
she,Dropadi, who rose to the history and became a Queen. From earth, she, Sita, who rose to the height of the sky,
theLady. From a child of negligence, he, Prahlad, became the pathfinder and guide and others who found a nourishing place.
Isay all this to give you strength and meaning. You too, most cheery, most sparkling sought a virtuous vision within my heart.
Yourwishful presence, although cut short, enlivened my being. Was I to pray along for your stay? Should I cry for your loss?
Twogentle essence in human form. Will I eventually arrive at my destination to rock you? Or will I seek forgiveness
fromyou. The song you started still hums its wondrous tune, although my eyes never saw you blossoming, all that magnificence,
seeingchange a seed into a plant, watching your tender gestures, glorious pranks, pure ragas when cried - I miss the companionship
betweenmother and children— The whole of that experience. The majestic lapses of “life” in my lap.
Mahayjna: grandfire sacrifice Raga: Indian classical notes Sita, Dropadi and Prahalad: characters from Indian mythology
Born in India, Surekha Vijh was educated in India, England and the USA, receiving her master’s degrees in English Literature, journalism and bachelor’s degree in sciences. A published and award winning author, she concentrates on domestic and international affairs and human-interest issues. Her journalistic career has involved work for The Washington Times, Capitol Hill, United Nations, The Times of India, and the BBC while also contributing to various local newspapers, magazines and TV and radio programs. She leads poetry workshops and readings internationally at various universities, colleges and book festivals. Her published works include poetry books Without Echo, Until the Next Harvest and Uttrarddh Kavita and poetry anthologies. Surekha’s works are often a reflection of her travels, and the cultures she encounters, prompting her works to be translated into many languages. She lives in New York City and Washington DC.
Wetravel in an orbit, through space: we think— we know –– we control— we brag about our mortal bodies— skin, hair and eye color, private mansions, exclusive neighborhoods safe--- until object disintegrates into a million parts just like the Shuttle Columbia giving back to Mother Nature within the fold of five elements. Where do we learn who we are? No barricades, no boundaries or borders in Space. Earth looks a tiny marble, its inhabitants invisible. Only visible is blue water and brown land, celebrating the unity of earth and sky, humanity and cosmos. Seers and sages throughout time and now the astro-explorers narrate the lesson clearly— We are only visitors We are not owners.
DEATH OFA ROSE
A rose arrivedin early summer without a buzz, a murmur. Nature played adroitly, its finest symphony. Splendor touched the mundane. The raindrops fell gently on leaves, buds and flowers. Composing an aria. And a new cavatina. My heart beat stopped, absent for awhile. Then the bud turned blue its acceptance questioned. My rose was depetaled--- by strong winds.
FACE OF EARTH
Eachday they crucify the messiah
inthe name of color, race and religion.
Eachday they find reasons to fight wars on Earth,
forpower, greed or just for fun:
Alexander,Darius, Babar, Caesar, Napoleon
andothers fought the wars for
destructionof evil, for bringing unity, for
religiousbrotherhood, or for colorless continuum.
Iswar a necessity or only an occupation?
Butthis war is another story.
Youexplain I will try to understand….
ROHANAND ROHINI
Fromthe stars you arrived – crossing the cosmos, the atmosphere, then touching the peak of the Himalayas,
soakingin the pure and purple Ganges, you arrived in my prayers, as if emerging from the sacrificial fire of Maha Yajna, from fire
she,Dropadi, who rose to the history and became a Queen. From earth, she, Sita, who rose to the height of the sky,
theLady. From a child of negligence, he, Prahlad, became the pathfinder and guide and others who found a nourishing place.
Isay all this to give you strength and meaning. You too, most cheery, most sparkling sought a virtuous vision within my heart.
Yourwishful presence, although cut short, enlivened my being. Was I to pray along for your stay? Should I cry for your loss?
Twogentle essence in human form. Will I eventually arrive at my destination to rock you? Or will I seek forgiveness
fromyou. The song you started still hums its wondrous tune, although my eyes never saw you blossoming, all that magnificence,
seeingchange a seed into a plant, watching your tender gestures, glorious pranks, pure ragas when cried - I miss the companionship
betweenmother and children— The whole of that experience. The majestic lapses of “life” in my lap.
Mahayjna: grandfire sacrifice Raga: Indian classical notes Sita, Dropadi and Prahalad: characters from Indian mythology
Born in India, Surekha Vijh was educated in India, England and the USA, receiving her master’s degrees in English Literature, journalism and bachelor’s degree in sciences. A published and award winning author, she concentrates on domestic and international affairs and human-interest issues. Her journalistic career has involved work for The Washington Times, Capitol Hill, United Nations, The Times of India, and the BBC while also contributing to various local newspapers, magazines and TV and radio programs. She leads poetry workshops and readings internationally at various universities, colleges and book festivals. Her published works include poetry books Without Echo, Until the Next Harvest and Uttrarddh Kavita and poetry anthologies. Surekha’s works are often a reflection of her travels, and the cultures she encounters, prompting her works to be translated into many languages. She lives in New York City and Washington DC.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Hostelling International Poetry Sessions
3rd Tuesdays every other month (odd-numbered months only) at 7:30 pmHostelling International, 1009 11th Street NW (at K St), DC. (202) 737-2333 ext. 107.Featured readers and open mic. Hosted by Surekha Vijh. Free Admission. http://www.hiwashingtondc.org/
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
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