Know India - The Indian State of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.)

By Dr. Pratibha Khare

Uttar Pradesh, also known as UP, is in the northern part of India. It is surrounded by Uttaranchal and Nepal in north, Bihar in east, Jharkhand and Chhatisgadh in south east, Madhya Pradesh in south, and Rajasthan, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh in west.

Map of U.P.	Bada Imambada, Lucknow

The capital city is Lucknow, which is famous for its Nawabi culture and monuments. 

It is the most populous state of India, with 80% Hindus, 12% Muslims and 8% other communities.

It is situated in the plains of Ganga and Yamuna rivers, which is also called the Doaab area. It can boast of itself as the seat of the most ancient civilization. Aryans occupied this area and laid the foundation of Hinduism. U.P. is considered to be the birthplace of Hinduism. Two most popular avatars (incarnations) of Hindu religions were born here

Varanasi	Sangam, Allahabad

Ayodhya is the birth place of Lord Ram Chandra, and Mathura is the Birthplace of Lord Krishna. The birthplace of the third avatar, Varah is also near Varanasi, which is known as Sukar Khet.

Many great sages of the Vedic times like Bharadwaja, Gautam, Yagyavalkya, Vasishta, Vishwamitra and Valmiki flourished in this state. Epics of Mahabharatha, Ramayana were written here.

Varanasi (Banaras) is the oldest constantly habitated city. Because of the topography, the Ganga river never changed its course. Thus the city never moved. It is the abode of Lord Shiva. The Shiva Lingam here is one of the twelve Jyotirlingams. This place is also famous for its hand woven saris with gold and silver work.

Many famous musicians like Bismillah Khan, the famous Shahnai player, the famous flute player Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Girija Devi, the Thumari singer and dancers like Birju Maharaj belong to Varanasi.

Famous poet Tulasi Das who wrote Ramayan in Awadhi language was born and lived in Varanasi.

Saranath, near Varanasi is the place where Gautam Buddha had given his first sermon. Kushi Nagar is the place where he had left this earthly body.

Allahabad (Prayag) is famous for Sangam – the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati river. It is one of the places where Kumbha Mela is organized. People from all over the world come to attend and bathe in the Sangam.

U.P. holds much of the heritage of the Mughal Empire, including the world famous mausoleum Taj Mahal built by Shah Jehan, the magnificent tomb of Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great (Salim Chishti’s Makbara) in Agra and Akbar’s capital-palace (Fort) in Fatehpur Sikri.

Kanpur is the industrial city, famous for leather work and Muradabad is famous for the brass work. Bhadohi is famous for its carpet industry. Aligarh is famous for locks and Rampur for its knives.

It was a center of nationalism during the British colonial period and has continued to play a prominent role in Indian political and cultural movements. The first freedom struggle of 1857 started from Meerut and it was mostly fought in this part of the country. Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai is famous freedom fighter along with others.

Eight of India’s fourteen prime ministers have come from Uttar Pradesh including the first one, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and later his daughter, Indira Gandhi.

FESTIVALS:
Janmashtami: Lord Krishna’s birth is celebrated by decorating the temples.  People create beautiful scenery representing Gokul and His birth, which is called ‘Jhanki’.

Dashahara: In UP, Lord Ram’s story is most popular among many stories in other parts of the country. Ramleela is played for nine days of Navaratri, and then Ravan along with Kumbha Karna are burnt. It is a magnificent show with fire works.

Diwali: The story followed here is the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after killing the demon king Rawan and rescuing His wife Sita. In addition, Lakshmi Pooja is done that day in every household.

Holi: Holi is another major festival celebrated in UP. It is a spring festival. The popular story that goes with this festival is the story of Prahalad. It is believed that Prahalad’s aunt Holika burnt herself in fire while trying to burn Prahalad. Holi is also associated with Lord Krishna. Holi of Mathura Vrindavan is famous as that is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. On the full moon night bonfire is lit at several places, often on crossroads. Since wheat and sugarcane are harvested at that time, these things are offered to the Fire God. It is also a harvest festival. Next morning people celebrate Holi by throwing colors on each other and try to forget any animosity with each other.

This is a short description of Uttar Pradesh.

Posted by ks on 03/01/10 at 12:17 AM
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What Public Benefits Are Available To Immigrants?

By Udai V. Singh, Attorney-at-Law

Admitted to practice in State of Georgia, USA since 1982, Mr. Singh practices Accident & Injury, Business, and Divorce only in Georgia. He practices federal immigration law in all immigration offices and immigration courts in USA. Udai Singh can be reached by phone at 770-300-0894 or 404-918-8167 or by e-mail: .

What is a Public Charge?

All immigrants must prove that he or she will not become a “public charge”, that is someone who is likely to need cash welfare or long-term health care.

One way to show that you will not become a public charge is to have someone in the United States be your financial sponsor.  This person, the sponsor, signs an “affidavit of support” for you.

Your sponsor must be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident.  A sponsor must be 18 years old or older.  A sponsor must live in the United States. If someone in your family filed a visa petition for you, that person must be your sponsor.

What is an Affidavit of Support?

An affidavit of support is the sponsor’s promise that he or she will give you money or financial support if you need it for living expenses or for long-term health care.

Can an immigrant whose sponsor signed an enforceable Affidavit of Support get public benefits?

An immigrant whose sponsor signed an affidavit of support can get some public benefits. USCIS focuses on whether the immigrant will need cash benefits for income or long-term health care at the government’s expense to determine if an immigrant will become a public charge.

Following are some types of public benefits that the sponsor does not have to repay US government on behalf of the sponsored immigrant:

• Medicaid and some health insurance and health services (including immunizations, treatment of communicable diseases, and use of health clinics)
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Nutrition programs
• Housing assistance
• Child care services
• Energy assistance, such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Emergency disaster relief
• Foster care and adoption assistance
• Educational assistance
• Job training programs
• Community-based programs (such as soup kitchens, shelters, and crisis counseling and intervention)

Please note that not all categories of immigrants can get all of these types of benefits. Also, immigrants who have been in the United States for less than 5 years are generally not eligible for food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Does the sponsor’s income matter when the immigrant applies for public benefits?

Sometimes an agency will look at the income and resources of the sponsor that the sponsored immigrant can use to determine if the immigrant can get benefits. A sponsor’s income is usually only considered for benefits like food stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). When a sponsor’s income is considered, the immigrant might not be eligible for public benefits because adding the sponsor’s income makes the immigrant “over income” for certain benefits.

But, there are exceptions to this rule. If a public aid agency determines that an immigrant is a domestic violence survivor, or would not be able to get food and shelter without assistance, only the income that the sponsor actually gives to the immigrant will be considered. Immigrants can also get emergency Medicaid without counting their sponsor’s income.

Does the sponsor have to repay public benefits used by the sponsored immigrant?

A sponsor who has signed the enforceable Affidavit of Support Form I-864 must pay the government back for any “means-tested” benefits that the immigrant used. The sponsor pays the government back after the immigrant becomes a lawful permanent resident.

A “means tested” benefit is a benefit that is funded by the state or federal government and has been determined to be a “means tested” benefit by the government that funds it.

If a person sponsors 2 or more immigrants, his responsibility is divided equally between the immigrants who are applying for public benefits.

Which public benefits does the sponsor have to pay back?

Federal benefits that must be repaid are: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, TANF, non-emergency Medicaid, and SCHIP.

If you are concerned about having to repay a benefit, call the agency providing the benefit before you apply to find out if it is considered a “means tested” benefit.

Do sponsors who sign enforceable Affidavits of Support have to repay every public benefit?

Sponsors do not have to repay the cost of emergency Medicaid or medical care, immunizations, or testing and treatment of diseases.  Sponsors do not have to repay benefits under the following:

• Short-term non-cash emergency aid
• School breakfasts or lunches provided by the School Lunch and Child Nutrition Acts
• Head Start program
• Student Financial Aid
• Job Training Partnership Act program

Sponsors do not have to repay benefits that are not based on income or benefits from programs that have not been named “means tested” programs. Sponsors who are using food stamps do not have to repay the cost of food stamps used by the sponsored immigrant.

Is the sponsor responsible for benefits used by the immigrant’s U.S. citizen children?

No. The sponsor does not have to repay benefits used by the sponsored immigrant’s citizen child. The sponsor does not have to pay back benefits used by any other family members of the sponsored immigrant who he did not sponsor.

When does the sponsor’s responsibility begin and end?

Sponsor’s responsibility to repay US government for welfare and long term health benefits begin from the date the sponsored person becomes a lawful permanent resident ( i.e. greencard holder), and not from the time of signing the affidavit of support for that person.

A sponsor’s responsibility ends when the immigrant

• becomes a U.S. Citizen, or
• receives credit for 40 quarters (about 10 years) of work history in the United States
• leaves the U.S. with no intention to return
• The sponsor or sponsored immigrant dies
• The sponsored immigrant gets a new sponsor

Posted by ks on 03/01/10 at 12:11 AM
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Dr. Dhariwal embraces Jain Diksha - Renouncing all worldly possessions and family ties

By Drs. Shanta and Vimal

We would like to share a beautiful experience that we had during the recent Jain Diksha proceedings that was held in Raipur, Chattisgarh on November 6th, 2009.  One of our family members renounced all worldly possessions and family ties to pursue monkhood.  He is our beloved Dr. Harakchandji Dhariwal, affectionately known as Dr. Saab.  He and his wife Chandra (Vimal’s sister) established a 25-bed hospital, Sampat Nursing Home, in Mylapore, Chennai, to provide various services.  In his 35 years of medical practice and in her management of hospital, often they have provided selfless service to needy.

1980s Family Picture: Dr. Saab, Chandralekha (wife) and Vardhaman (son)

Before we describe our experience at Diksha function let me just briefly give an introduction to Jainism and Jain diksha.  Any soul which has conquered its own inner enemies of attachment, greed, anger, and ego (moh, maya, lobh, krodh and aaham) achieves the state of Supreme Being and is called Jina.  Jainism lays out a path to achieve this state by prescribing adherence to five principles: nonviolence (both in words and deeds), truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possessiveness (ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha).  Every soul is potentially divine and can achieve the state of Jina.  A Jain is a humble follower of Jinas.  When a person renounces the worldly life and all the attachments to strictly pursue the path of Jainism, he or she is initiated into monkhood (Sadhu) or nunhood (Sadhvi) - this inititation process is called Diksha.  Jain sadhus or sadhvis life is arduous and physically demanding.  They do not cook their food, but go to different Jain or vegetarian households and receive a little food, if available, from each house (Gochari - alm).  They do not take food or water between sunset and sunrise.  They always walk with bare feet (hundreds and thousands of miles) and do not stay more than a few days in any one place except during the rainy season (Vihar).

Dr. Saab’s decision to take diksha and follow the path of Jinas was highly influenced by his religious upbringing.  Both his parents took diksha to follow the Jaina faith – his dad took Diksha when Dr. Saab was 15 years old.  Dr. Saab spent a lot of time listening to the discourses of monks and nuns.  He attended to their health and took special care of many monks and nuns in his own hospital and wherever they happened to be.  When his sister passed away after a very brief illness few years back, he decided he would eventually take Diksha and pursue the path to purify his soul. 

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Posted by ks on 03/01/10 at 12:10 AM
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To my beloved “Rose”

A Short Story by Supraja Gaini

Writer’s note:  “Hello readers, I am Supraja Gaini and also go by the nickname of Pooja. I currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A. and am originally from Hyderabad, India. Although my day is spent coding software, writing is a creative outlet that revitalizes me. I appreciate any input regarding my stories from the readers of Pravasi Herald. My email is !!

What follows could be about, a romantic interlude a heroine by the name “Rose” had. Mayhap it describes a ‘sweet sixteenth birthday rose’ or the one I received on my wedding night! Alas my memory protests, when it comes to events that may or may not have happened two decades back.

This gentle reader, (to your relief I am sure) is about the very first rose that blossomed in my garden of three years. Don’t you dare snigger? For someone who has dreamt of English roses all her life, the first rose in my garden has been a dream come true.

I admit, I’m a victim of the hangover left behind by the British Raj. Growing up I splurged on a diet of books by ‘Thomas Hardy’ and ‘Barbara Cartland’. And thence began my fascination with roses. Of course being in possession of an imagination that is in constant overdrive, when I look at a rose, what comes to my mind are long walks in the winded lanes of an English countryside, the fresh faced beauty of an English farm girl, romantic interludes and more. But I digress.

The first bud that appeared set my heart racing. The deep hues of dark pink coupled with the tender green leaves made me yearn for an artist’s canvas. Having just paid the bills for all the gardening tools I had bought, I decided against signing up for a painting class. And it was early days yet for this new hobby, as my realist husband derisively pointed out.

Yes my rose bloomed, each petal as perfect as the fingers of a new born baby. My teacup in hand, I sipped and gazed at it alternately every morning, with pride. I forgot in that moment the innumerable hours I had spent digging the hole to put the plant into the ground. I might as well own up to it, I was no respectable gardener, when I first bought this rose plant. While I am at it, let me confess, I chose the sharpest object left behind by the workmen next door, to dig the hole and it took me, lets see, just about three hours to get the plant into the ground.

Having lowered the plant into the hole and filling it with the dug up soil, I gave the earth one final loving pat all around. I was reaching for the watering can, when I realized the bag of potting soil I had bought still remained unopened beside me. If I remembered correctly the potting soil was supposed to go into the hole before the plant.

Yes sire, it was the dream of an English rose garden that kept me going and one kindly neighbor. He told me later he was seriously concerned when he saw me brandishing the sharp iron bar as I said a breathless hello, hunched over the hole in the ground. Looking back, my disheveled appearance and the intense look on my face as I dug with all my might must have been what inspired him to rush over and offer a hoe and a shovel.

Well the blooming rose, evoked in me a sense of accomplishment, elation and success. Wow! All these feelings without a trip to the psychiatrist definitely justified the gardening expenses on my husband’s credit card bill. Or so I tried to convince him. Before my skeptical hubby could vent satirical comments about my tendency to flit from one new obsession to the next and general lack of persistence etc., I racked my brain for ways to store away the memories of my first love.

Braving the amused smiles being cast in my direction by neighbors and family alike, I got my digital camera out. Squeezing through the shrubs to get closer to the rose, I struck a mighty awkward pose, aka ‘Nadia Comaneci’ style and zoomed in and zoomed out a couple of times before I finally snapped a few pictures. While indulging in the throes of my first bloom’s beauty, I decided, to store the pictures of my first rose, a labor or love, a dream realized, on a CD for posterity and beyond.

The story could end here but it would be unjust to all the romantics out there if I were not to mention the common travails of a first love. Yes you guessed right. Like every love story, my villain appeared; a dark, ugly and menacing bug, feeding on the petals of my beloved. It brought with it several more of its kind, clung to her and sapped at her strength while I slept unaware of this treacherous act of the night.

My tea cup shook, the next morning as I saw the petals lying on the ground.
“Japanese Beetles”, sympathized my neighbor, as he laid a kindly arm on my shoulder. My ire knew no bounds and if looks could kill, those big fat beetles holding fast to the remaining petals would surely get the message and not return. But alas, as my husband reminded me sagely, “Life is not a bed of roses”.

That clinched it for me. I read up about the monstrous villains and armed with sprays that claim to kill all villains without discretion, I went to war. While my kids think it is insensitive to kill so many beetles to save a mere rose, I say, “All is fair in love and war”.

And I know in my heart, that while first loves win rave reviews in the excitement department it is the mature second love that is hardy and lasting. So I now wait for the blooming of a second rose, daring the beetles to get past my vigil and the strongest spray on the market of course!!

While the author accepts the charge that she does tend to view the world through rose colored glasses; she requests the readers to join her in her rosy vision of the world. Yes the picture inset is the very same rose she saved from the villainous Japanese beetle.

Posted by ks on 03/01/10 at 12:09 AM
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Holi - Love This Day!

By Neena Verma

My love for this festival traces back to my childhood days. I would not be able to tell exactly when. However, Holi happens to be my favorite.

It brings in so much color and fun. Memories are recalled and new ones are created, as Holi comes bringing in spring.

I wish and pray for spreading prosperity for everyone around that applying colors symbolizes the real meaning of the colors made up of turmeric, saffron and milk. I wish for all incarnations of Hiranyakashyap to perish – be it poverty, anger, pride or pain.

Food happens to be close to my atria this day and I try doing as much justice as possible. Maal puaa and daal kachori are the delicacies that every Bihari family indulges into.

It makes you a child with the naivety to smear color on others without any fear. It helps the other person forgive and forget and laugh aloud in the color of joy. I would love for my child to learn to live life and enjoy the small little things that it has to offer.

I wish to tell you aloud, “do me a favor, let’s play Holi…..”

Posted by ks on 03/01/10 at 12:07 AM
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Steve Jobs turns 55 - The world of Steve Jobs through his most personal public speech

Feb. 24, 2010
We bring to you the most personal public speech Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, an intensely private person has ever made: his commencement address to the Stanford University class of 2005.

“Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories…”

Posted by ks on 03/01/10 at 12:06 AM
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Festival of colors - The celebration of Holi - on NPR

Posted by ks on 03/01/10 at 12:01 AM
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Ugadi Festival

By Meena Sthanam
Feb 18, 2009 (republished this year on the occasion of Ugadi)

Ugadi comes from a word Yugadi, which means ‘the aadi’ (beginning) of new (Kali) Yuga.  It was the day when Kali Yuga started. The Sanskrit verse by Maharishi Vedavyasa says that ‘Yesmin Krishno Divam Vyathaha, Tasmat eeva pratipannam Kaliyugam’. It means the Kali Yuga started on the day when Lord Sri Krishna attained Nirvana. Some Indian historians date the beginning of Kali Yuga to 3102 BC.
   
Hindus celebrate Ugadi festival marking the beginning of the New Year, since it brings happiness with the onset of Vasantha Ruthuvu (spring) after a long dreary winter. In lunar calendar, this festival falls on Chaitra Shuddha Padyami, which comes generally in the months of March or April of the Gregorian calendar. This year Ugadi falls on March 27. Sixty years make one cycle and each cycle starts with names like Prabhava, Vibhava, Shukla etc., and ends with Akshaya. This year’s name is going to be Virodhi, which is 23rd year out of 60. 

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Posted by ks on 02/19/10 at 05:44 AM
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Who are you? Identity Theft in the Age of Information - A Security Officer’s Perspective

By Terrell Herzig

Terrell Herzig is the Information Security Officer for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System and HIPAA Security Officer for UAB. He holds a faculty appointment of Adjunct Professor for the UAB School of Health Professions – Health Informatics program. Terrell is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.  He is the primary author and editor of a new Health Information Systems Society (HIMSS) book to be published this fall entitled: “Information Security in Health Care: A Prescription for Success”.

Do you receive calls from collection agencies regarding accounts you don’t have or thought were up to date? Do bills and statements not arrive when they are supposed to? Do your bank account statements or credit card statements show withdrawals, transfers or charges you didn’t make? Have you received calls from creditors notifying you that you have been approved or denied credit?  If you answered yes to these questions, you may be an unwitting victim of identity theft.

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Posted by ks on 02/11/10 at 06:40 AM
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Republic Day Celebrations

Each year, 26th January is a day on which every Indian heart fills up with patriotic fervour and immense love for motherland. There are many significant memories as it was this day when the Indian Tricolour was first unfurled in January 1930 at Lahore, by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and the declaration of an independent Indian National Congress was made.

26th January, 1950 was the day when the Indian republic and its constitution came into force. It was this day in history in 1965 when Hindi was declared as the official language of India.

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Posted by ks on 01/20/10 at 10:30 PM
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1. Great Turnout for the Callahan Lecture by Prof. Larson at the Birmingham Museum of Art
2. March 2010 Anniversary Edition
3. Holi - Hindu Festival Of Colors
4. Amy Singh named by Obama on Arts Body
5. Editorial March 2010
6. Jan/Feb 2010 Edition
7. My prayers this Spring
8. In the spotlight - Deepa Bhate
9. Rahul’s Rave Reviews - “The Hunger Games”
10. Hindu Scriptures – The Smritis