Roshni 7-13 Oxford Dr Latham, NY 12110

Volume 31. December 1-15, 2012

BI-WEEKLY

ROSHNI

ALBANY

Acting Editor, M. A. Waheed (518) 795-5894 waheed48@yahoo.com www.scribd.com/RoshniAlbany

Messiah of Indian Groceries

By M.A. Waheed
While you are savoring the desi meal at home today, chances are either the daal, dhania or dahi may have come from the India Bazaar grocery store on Central Avenue. Very well equipped from fresh vegetables to masalas to anything an Indian kitchen in the US needs to enjoy our cuisine. With the precision of a military general, Mathew departs for New York City every week and stocks his shelves with fresh vegetables and replenishes all other items every Thursday. Sensitive to the consumer demands of our diverse community, Mathew ensures that pricing and products meet the expectations of his loyal customer base. As the desi population has expanded so has India Bazaar. Inaugurated by Dr. Gattu Rao over 17 years ago, the store has weathered the ups, downs and bumps of the economy. This is a tribute to Mathews fair, frank and fearless approach to business. He has not only welcomed competition but even mentored and tutored them. His security is his customer loyalty. Smiling, simple and social, Mathew knows his customers most of them by name, background and preferences. He is a walking-talking-computer storing customer information in his

main-frame mind. Born in Manimala near Kottayam in Kerala, Mathew Varghese has a B.A. degree. Like any computers strength lies at the back-end so does Mathews backstory. Behind his athletic physique lies a broad-frame of philanthropy back in his country of birth as well as in this country of adoption. Students in need, parents struggling to marry their daughters, dwellers wanting to retain a roof over their heads will always find in Mathew the heart of a Pastor, the character of a Mullah, the will of a Sant and the grace of a Vaadiyaar. He is above religious boundaries and refuses to be boxed by pettiness.

It is almost impossible to draw a line between his business mind and a generous soul. And may be that is the secret of his success which no text-book from Harvard or Yale can capture. Mathew Varghese lives with his wife (nurse by profession) and they have two daughters. M.A. Waheed is a freelance journalist based in Upstate New York 518-795-5894 waheed48@ yahoo.com

Can you name the National Flowers of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh?

Answers on page 6

Keramat e Kaki
Khwaja Qutubuddin Baktiyar Kaki was the first appointed spiritual successor to the venerated Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and charged with the mission of spreading the Chisti Order of Sufis in India. His dargahsharif is in Mehrauli, across from the Qutub Minar and is Delhis oldest known dargah . He lived in Delhi during the time of Iltumish, the slave of Qutubuddin Aibak who later rose to become his son in law ascended his throne He was born in Central Asia, in a town called Aush, in Transoxania. His most famous disciple was Fariduddin Ganjshakar who became the Peer of Delhis noted Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, who was the master of Amir Khusro and Nasiruddin Chirag- e Delhi. He lost his father at a very young age and his mother put him through early education and when he was 17 years old, it is said, that he submitted himself to be the Mursheed, or disciple of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. A mystic and a saint who gave away all that he had, he submitted himself to rigorous discipline of prayer and fasting. He gave up his wordliness at a young age. The title of Kaki came about on account of a miracle that took place in his life. He was absorbed in cultivating spiritual capital and did not care about worldly posses-

sions. His wife once had to face the saracastic barbs of a local baker/ provision supplier for whom she did not have the money to pay for the use of their bread/food. When she told her husband about this, Khwaja Baktiyar saab told her that in case she needed bread all she had to do was to go to a niche in their home and take kak a kind of bread from that spot. She would find her requirement of bread from this spot miraculously and henceforth the title kaki from the miracle of the kak bread became a part of Khwajas name. Khwaja Baktiyar Kaki saab was returning from Idd prayers one day and stayed enroute at a place which he remarked to his friends has the smell of love and soon that place was purchased which later would become the spot for

his dargahsharif. A lover of sama, ( Arabic for listening) his dargah is the seat of quawalis where every Friday, you can hear singers pay tribute to their spiritual leader through musical compositions. Witnessing the spontaneous offering of these spiritually guided compositions becomes in itself a tabarruk to cherish the master saint who taught people to love and to share. As he breathed his last, he was wrapped in the ecstasy of Sama listening to a quawwal who sang a composition of Sheikh Ahmed Jams famous Qaseeda which says: Kushtagaan-e-khanjar-e-tasleem raa. Har zamaan azz gheb jaan-e-deegar ast. For the victims of the sword of divine love, there is a new life every moment from the unseen.

New Stage for Mrs. Ismat Alam

Schenectadys Commissioner of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Ismat Alam moves from City Hall to Proctors Theatre as their Chief Financial Officer. Hailing from Pakistan, Mrs. Alam is an alumni of SUNY. Before joining the City, she worked for GE. Professional, precise and personable, Mrs. Alam is a role-model and a source of inspiration for those who aspire to overcome obstacles and succeed in a competitive environment.

Traditional yet modern, homemaker yet corporate, eastern yet western, social yet reserved, Mrs. Alam is a perfect blend of perfect proportions of perfect perfections.

Mrs. Ismat Alam said in a news release, Proctors is the jewel of Schenectady and I look forward to being part of the team that brings Proctors to a new level of achievement.

Breaking the Barriers of Public Speaking With Humor

Tuesday, December 4th, 6:15PM - 7:30PM
Muslim Community Center, Schenectady Join us in honoring Munir Hussein and Zubair Ahmed for representing our club and community in Toastmasters public speaking contests

Keynote Speakers: Munir Hussein & Bill Daisak

The event will be a demonstration of an actual Salaam Toastmasters club program with a humorous tone! Join us to learn how Toastmasters can help people build confidence in public speaking and grow leadership skills. Free Event But RSVP required: RSVP by emailing Edgards@gmail.com Complimentary Refreshments Served. Salaam Toastmasters Club
Publisher: Waleed Ahmed Khan | Acting Editor: M. A. Waheed waheed48@yahoo.com Publishers Address: 7-13 Oxford Drive, Latham, NY 12110 Telephone: 518-596-6911 | Email: aik.roshni@gmail.com | www.scribd.com/RoshniAlbany

FishSING Sensation
Pakistani born Muhammed Shahid Nazir who sells fish in East Londons Queens Market in Upton Park has netted over 3.6 million views for his song over UTube. Just a year ago he moved to the UK and found himself in a famous fish market, Directed by his boss to shout out loud to attract his customers he chose to sing to them instead. His marketing strategy has made him an overnight star not necessarily selling fish for a a pound which he has been touting through his self-composed lyrics. Warner Bros. has reportedly signed him up and he is being overwhelmed with visitors from Australia, and other countries who are paying him a visit after viewing his performance online.

Redemption Of Azharuddin
has no plans to play cricket. However this is a sweet revenge and removal of dustings on his record as a magnificent craftsman on the cricket pitch. Hailing from a humble background in Hyderabad, Azhar blasted his way on the national scene by sheer artistry of his batting skills knocking three centuries against Englandthus earning the nickname of Hazaruddin for his prolific running between the wickets. Azharuddin, who made his international debut in 1984, scored 15,593 runs for India in 99 Tests and 334 one-day internationals, the last of which came in June 2000. He shot into the limelight with a record three hundreds in his first three Tests against England, and also scored a hundred in his last Test innings. Azharuddin joined politics in 2009 and is now a Congress party MP from Moradabad in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Albany Telugu Association Hosts Sankranthi Sambaralu

Mohammad Azharuddin one of the finest fielder, polished batsman and successful cricket captain India produced was banned for match-fixing allegations. A court has now overturned his ban. At age 49, Azhar

ATA is celebrating the Sankranthi Sambaralu 2013 on Saturday, Jan 19th, 2013 at Hindu Cultural Center. The cultural programs are scheduled to start at 4:00 PM. Inviting talent for songs, skits, dances, comedy and other cultural performances from the community. For details: Albanytelugu@gmail.com

Bal Thackeray...Feared or Revered?

By M.A. Waheed
Lines between fear and reverence are generally blurred in many cases and this axiom is more believable with reference to the founder of Shiv Sena Chief, Balasaheb Thackeray who passed away on November 17, 2012 at the age of 86. Surrounded by Bollywood elite, Mr. Thackeray used drama and dialogue to instigate, castigate and propagate a brand of politics that ruled the hearts and ruined the minds of an international cosmopolitan city and the financial hub of India. While he earned the stature of a living God for some and Godfather for many, Mr. Thackeray roasted, toasted and heated emotions on his political grill at will. Even Balasahebs 1967 cartoon the news of his death sent shivers amongst concept of Valentines Day as the office-goers and vendors in alien to Indian culture, but invitMumbai who sprinted to their ed Michael Jackson to perform abodes as though a tsunami was in Mumbai. Only the critics and closing on them. Suave and sopundits will scan and audit the phisticated in private interaction actions of this powerful figure he projected an image of a Hitand score the contradictions deler-clone in the public domain. pending on the density of their Mr. Thackeray straddled two saffron robes. different and opposite worlds at Even though Mr. Thackeray lived the same time. While he hostin an artists Bandra enclave ed Javed Miandad he opposed and moistened his lungs with Pakistan playing in Mumbai. He white wine he must be admired was instrumental in re-branding for his marketing skills in cap(unsuccessfully in my humble turing the moods and dreams opinion) Bombay as Mumbai, of the Marathi Manoos. His Mr. Thackeray himself had a Lifebuoy-style-campaigning colonial last name Thackeray endeared him to the rural segtaken from the English novelist ments and eventually boostWilliam Makepeace Thackeray. ed his political constituency. He vehemently opposed the Without a tweeter account, one phone call from the leader could freeze the city. Whether his Sainiks went beyond his brief or exceeded the expectations of Balasaheb is a riddle that will remain unsolved. Mr. Thackeray commands respect for rising from a cartoonist to an unchallenged politician uncrowned by any official titles. He deserves credit to voice the voice of a common man born, bred and besieged in poverty in Mumbai... he gave an identity to the sons of the soil. In a secular country whether the Muslim bashing or South Indian chasing or Gujarati lashing were the right tools to seek redressal will be a question mark an asterisk and an exclamation that will haunt posterity and taunt the present.

Answers to Can you name the National Flowers of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh? Water Lily Bangladesh The beautiful water lily of the nymphaea represents the many rivers of Bangladesh and said to be the flower on the official coat of arms. Lotus India The lotus is the official flower for India. It represents spirituality, steadfastness, purity and illumination. The lotus maintains its purity and elegance even amidst being in the muddiest of waters. Jasmine Pakistan Pakistans chameli represents beauty and purity and has been the subject of many well known poetic expressions.

Dr. Padma Sripada, MD Dr. Padma Sripadas solo Primary Care/ Internal Medicine practice in East Greenbush/Castleton provides timely, efficient and quality medical services. E-mail in your questions to her at mawcomm@yahoo.com Q: My daughter, age 23, is going to India/Sri lanka for a month in late Dec. Does she need Typhoid/Yellow fever shots? A: I am glad your family has started the process of seeking immunization advice well in advance of the trip. To have the most benefit, your daughter should see a health-care provider at least 46 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see a health-care provider for needed vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and other medications and information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling. Diseases to protect yourself from: 1. Malaria 2. Typhoid 3. Hepatitis A 4. Travelers diarrhea 5. Dengue Yellow fever is not a disease risk in Sri Lanka and certification/vaccination is not required for travelers from the US. Vaccinations/ preventive measures recommended: 1. Routine childhood immunizations including measles, and a tetanus shot 2. Hepatitis A shot at least 4 weeks prior to departure. Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection where exposure might occur through food or water. 3. Typhoid vaccineshots or pills. Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in South Asia, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water. 4. Malaria prevention: Areas of Sri Lanka with Malaria: All areas, except none in the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, and Nuwara Eliya. Anti malarial medication is taken weekly, starting 2 weeks before departure and continued for 4 weeks after returnavoid in people with major emotional problems 5. Medication for travelers diarrheaCarry a course of antibiotics with you to use in case you develop this infection. 6. No preventive medications or vaccines are available for Dengue, therefore mosquito bite prevention is important Ways to prevent mosquito bites: Using insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves to prevent mosquito bites Sleeping in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms or using bednets Lightweight long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat to wear outside, whenever possible. Flying-insect spray to help clear rooms of mosquitoes. The product should contain a pyrethroid insecticide; these insecticides quickly kill flying insects, including mosquitoes. Bed nets treated with permethrin, if you will not be sleeping in an air-conditioned or wellscreened room and will be in malaria-risk areas. Overseas, permethrin or another insecticide, deltamethrin, may be purchased to treat bed nets and clothes. Be Careful about Food and Water: Diseases from food and water are the leading cause of illness in travelers, often causing vomiting and diarrhea. Follow these tips for safe eating and drinking: Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol). Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, learn how to make water safer to drink using Iodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. Do not eat food purchased from street vendors. -Make sure food is fully cooked, watch for uncooked condiments, juices, salads etc. Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized. I wish your daughter a safe and healthy travel experience! Warm regards, Padma

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