Pittsburgh_Patrika_April_2014

The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 19, No. 3, April 2014

Vol. 19 No 3 April 2014

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The Quarterly Magazine (Jan, Apr, Jul & Oct) for the Indian Diaspora

Vol. 19 No. 3 www.pittsburghpatrika.com April 2014

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Highlights in this issue... ... ...

The Most Populous and the Most Powerful Democracies

By Kollengode S Venkataraman..................................................... 2

Pitt in the Himalayas — A Divine Experience

By Rohan Rambore......................................................................... 6

Preventing/Reversing Diseases Through Changes in Diet

By Uma Purighalla........................................................................ 10

Boating without Life Vests Ends in Tragedy

By Siva Soora............................................................................... 12

South Asian Bridal Show on April 6th

By ................................................................................................. 20

The Greatest Journey: Life

By Puja Shroff............................................................................... 22

On Old Age: A Vignette from Indian Classic

By Kollengode S Venkataraman................................................... 23

Retirement Options for Indian Immigrants

By Balwant Dixit.......................................................................... 26

Things to Think About

By K S Venkataraman................................................................... 32

On the Cover: The majestic, rugged and imposing peaks of the Himalayan

Ranges seen from the foothills in Mussourie. Story by Rohan

Rambore on Page 6. •

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The Quarterly Magazine (Jan, Apr, Jul & Oct) for the Indian Diaspora

Vol. 19 No. 3 www.pittsburghpatrika.com April 2014

Phone/Fax: (724) 327 0953 e-mail: ThePatrika@aol.com

The Most Populous and the Most Powerful

Democracies

By Kollengode S Venkataraman

It is election season again in India. Recently, the Indian English Media

obsessed with how they stack up against the US, came up with this stat:

In this elections, the Centre for Media Studies in New Delhi estimates

that Indian political parties will spend a whopping Rs 300 billion in the

campaign, equivalent to $ 5 billion. They are gleeful they are catching up

with the US, where, in 2012, the political parties spent $7 billion.

So, it is time to compare the ground realities of the electoral system in

the two countries going beyond the constitutional hyperbole of one-manone-vote

banality and vox populi vox dei embellishment.

India’s democracy is unique. It is a Dynastic Democracy. His socialist

liberal leaning notwithstanding, Jawaharlal Nehru, praised by the

West as the architect of modern India, was no George Washington. Nehru

sowed the seeds for dynastic politics in India. He kept his daughter Indira

Gandhi as his personal secretary and de facto chief of staff when she was

barely 30, giving her political exposure nationally and overseas. He made

her the president of the Congress Party when she was 42. Her Congress

cronies ensured her the premiership. She thrust her sons as yuvarajas

(princes) making sure her retainers would put them on the throne after her.

Sanjay died in a reckless plane joyride when his single-engine craft nosedived

in downtown Delhi. After Rajiv’s untimely ghastly assassination,

his widow Sonia, despite her ambition, did not dare to ascend the throne

because of her Italian citizenship. But her Congress cronies made sure

she became the de facto empress holding court, with Manmohan Singh,

the nominal prime minister, doing her bidding as her compliant diwan.

Simultaneously, Empress Sonia has been grooming her son Rahul for the

throne keeping her daughter Priyanka as the back-up, just in case.

• Once this pattern was set, regional parties replicated it in Uttar

Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan…

In regional parties, old timers rule the roost, grooming their sons and

daughters, modeling themselves after Congress. In their defense, every-

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thing in India is hereditary from Bollywood onwards to professional careers

to the corporate world. Even though opportunities are nominally open to

all, established parents — the likes of the Bachhans, Kapoors, the Khans,

the Ravi Shankars, the Lalgudi Jayaramans, the Ambanis, the Tatas, the

Birlas — make sure their wards get huge advantage over others.

• Intra-party democracy is unknown in Indian political parties except

perhaps among the Communists and in the Bharatiya Janata Party. India’s

Leninist or Maoist Communists are like rare biological species that have

become extinct in their natural habitat, but survive on some marooned

islands. China and Russia, the patron saints of Indian communists, have

abandoned Marxism while communism limps along in India with Indian

communists making political alliances with anybody but BJP.

• In the absence of primaries and intra-party democracy, despotic

leaders of regional parties nominate candidates for all elections. Cronyism,

personal loyalty overriding integrity, personal wealth and family connections

are the factors for the selection, not talent or fresh thinking.

• The last factor that makes the India democracy ineffective is the

absence of runoffs in elections. As in track events in sports, the first-pastthe-finish-line

wins. Political parties have perverted elections by placing

“dummy” minority candidates in districts having significant minority

population to scatter the votes. In Mumbai’s Matunga or Delhi’s Karol

Bagh where South Indians live, you will find a Ramakrishnan or a Mudaliar

on the ballot; or in Sowkarpet in Chennai where North Indians live, a

Bhogilal Luthra will be an independent “dummy” candidate. By siphoning

off minority votes this way, established party’s candidates get elected.

The scenario in the US has its own version of Dynastic Democracy.

The Bushes, the Gores, the Clintons, the Cuomos, the Kennedys,

the Rockefellers are well-known names. Our US senator Bob Casey Jr. is

the son of Bob Casey Sr, a state governor. It is not anywhere as bad as it

is in India, thanks to the primaries, but the slate is not clean either.

• In the US, electoral maps are redrawn every ten years. State legislatures

redraw the districts. Since the majority party in the state legislature

appoints the committee for redistricting, the committees redraw the maps

giving maximum demographic advantage to the majority party.

Pennsylvania’s case is illustrative here. In the 2012 elections, this is

how the votes split in state-wide ballots (numbers in %):

President: 52/47 Democrat/Republican

US Senate: 54/45 Democrat/Republican

Attorney General: 56/42/2 Democrat/Republican/Independent

Auditor General: 50/46/4 Democrat/Republican/Independent

State Treasurer: 53/44/3 Democrat/Republican/Independent

Democracies... Contd. on Page 31

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Pitt in the Himalayas: A Divine Experience

By Rohan Lambore, Pittsburgh, PA

Rohan, who grew up in Allison Park, PA, is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh,

majoring in Political Science, Urban Studies and International-Area Studies.

Setting the Scene: In the fall of 2013, I had the privilege

of studying abroad on the “Pitt in the Himalayas”

program in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh

and the Woodstock School based in Mussoorie, India.

Mussoorie is a hill station in foothills of Western Himalayas.

At first I could not believe I would be spending

all four months of fall semester in the shadow of some

the world’s tallest mountains.

Throughout much of the spring 2013 term, I, along with the evergenerous

staff in the University’s Study Abroad Office (SAO), set into

motion what would evolve into the most rewarding experience of my life.

Thus the packing and anxiety began with high anticipation throughout

the preceding summer months as I prepared myself for what would be a

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I knew it, I was in the Hanifl Center, the outdoor education

Before facility of the Woodstock International Boarding School in Mussoorie.

Sitting at 6,800 feet above sea level, I looked out of my window

admiring my surroundings: luscious green peaks peering over the misty

clouds, the calls of numerous birds echoing across the valleys, and on

the road below cheerful school children racing home to their villages that

dotted the foothills.

I smiled as I reminisced on the exciting six-hour train journey from

Delhi to Dehradun and then a winding road trip to Mussoorie that had

brought me to such an abode. What was to come in the weeks and months

ahead I could not say. However, I knew that it was this paradise that fourteen

other students from the University

of Pittsburgh and I would call home for

the duration of my stay in India.

Not Your Typical Classes: My

fellow cohorts and I excitedly began

to observe our surroundings and tackle

the lingering jet lag, but academic

endeavors started almost immediately.

On this specific study abroad program,

students could choose from seven

classes, and almost all chose to take

Dehradun

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five, equaling a full, 15-credit term.

I chose two anthropology courses,

one in creative writing, one in biodiversity,

and one in advanced Hindu

and Urdu. All classes were taught

in the Hanifl Center, except for the

Hindi/Urdu course, which was held

at the renowned Landour Language

School, just ten minutes away. Drs.

Joseph Alter and Nicole Constable,

professors at the University of Pittsburgh,

led all anthropology coursework.

Professor Sindhu Clark of the

Woodstock school convened the biodiversity

class, while Stephen Alter,

an acclaimed Indian writer of fiction

and nonfiction literature, taught the

With the whole group at a Buddhist temple.

writing course.

My classes were specific to the location in which I was living and exploring:

the Western Himalayas. The courses were unique, not resembling

anything at a traditional university campus. The design and structure was

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outstanding: we could essentially

live and learn about the Himalayan,

and pan-Indian picture by reading

and writing about the culture, traditions,

and values of those living in

the hills that surrounded us. Little

did I know that the numerous treks,

day visits, and day-long trips, would

be utterly “divine” experiences.

Exploring the Mountains: I

don’t know where to begin when I

try to detail my journey around Uttarakhand

during those days when

I was not in the classroom in Mussoorie.

How could my 14 fellow

students and I essentially explore the

entire state in only four months?

Our travels took us to Sainji,

a small up-and-coming village an

hour away from Woodstock that

was benefiting from its Gharwal

Himalayas... Contd. on Page 20

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Preventing and Reversing Diseases

Through Changes in Diet and Nutrition

By Uma Purighalla, MD, ABIM

Editor’s Note: Uma Purighalla, born in Nellore, AP, India, grew up in the Pittsburgh

metro area. With her degree from Medical College of Pennsylvania, she is board-certified

in Internal Medicine, and is in private practice with Preferred Primary Care Physicians.

Of late the buzz word is to go low-fat plant-based

whole food. From Bill Clinton to Venus Williams,

many people are reversing their diabetes, heart disease

and autoimmune disorders by eliminating or severely

restricting dairy, meat, poultry, eggs, refined carbohydrates

and oils. Instead, they go for whole grains,

vegetables, fruits, beans and legumes. Flowing through

their blood and cleansing their livers are colorful

smoothies, salads, flavorful stews/soups, curries and

even starchy vegetables.

According to recent Adventist studies, low-fat whole food vegan/near

vegan diets are strongly associated with healthy longevity. But, Indians

long ago had already put much emphasis on plant-based diets.

But why then are Indians and Indians abroad doing so poorly today?

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, diabetes is

soaring amongst Indians. The Indian Heart Association finds that Indians

comprise 60% of the world’s heart attack burden, while they are only

20% of the world’s population. Further, 50% of heart attacks among

Indian men occur before they are 50. These risks are high even amongst

the nonsmoking vegetarians who are not overweight.

The great news is that these statistics can be dramatically improved.

Finlanders once also had dire health statistics like Indians today. Over the

past few decades Finland has helped dairy farmers become berry farmers.

They have reduced animal protein consumption and offer a vegetarian

meal option for school lunches. They have greatly improved the health

of their nation as a result.

The reverse corollary: Okinawa Japan was once known as a Blue

Zone, having the largest population of healthy centenarians in the world.

Their diet consisted of 95% brown rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables and

fruit. Only 3 ounces of fish/week and meat only once a month. They did

not consume dairy, and oils were rarely used. It was a starchy diet with

only 7% fat. Funny, they hardly had any cases of diabetes, heart disease,

osteoporosis or other chronic illness. Today, their diet is 30% fat, high

in animal proteins and refined starches. Consequently, obesity and other

Diet and Food... Continued on Page 18

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Boating without Life Vests Ends in Tragedy

By Siva Soora, Little Rock, Arkansas

e-mail: sisoora@yahoo.com

It was a warm, bright, muggy, summer day in Little

Rock, Arkansas. A few Indian families were making

their July-4th plans—especially those with parents

visiting from India. The “India like” weather was

enticing. But little did one group of friends discussing

a trip to the nearby lake know of the terrible tragedy

that awaited them.

For most urban Indians the only exposure to a

large body of water is getting into knee-deep

waters at the beach. So, when an Indian says he/she

knows how to swim, it is typically swimming in pools.

And very few Indians travel on boats, let alone how to pilot one.

Also, Safety First is an idea drilled into people in American manufacturing

work places. However, many Indians working in offices do not

have this same kind of training.

Two families—one a husband and wife and their friend; the other, a

couple with elderly parents and their four-year old—decided to go on a

boating trip on last July-4th. They chose one of the many large remote

lakes in Arkansas. These young immigrants had lived in the US for barely

five years. The husband driving the boat and his friend had learned swimming

while growing up in India.

It was windy when they rented a large pontoon boat that beautiful

summer day. They were all issued life vests as required by law.

The clerk who handed over the vests told them, “Adults don’t need to

wear it but children under 12 must wear it.” This casual statement was

the Achilles heel for this day of boating.

The parents, not knowing how to swim and fearful of the water quickly

put on the life jackets and the four-year-old was also suited with the life

preserve. None of the others wore a life jacket.

The husband navigating the boat was the only one with any experience

in piloting the boat. In the strong soothing winds on that 90-degree day

they started out. The sole trained driver was trying to train others on how

to run the boat. Along the edge of the lake’s shallow waters, others had

parked their small boats and were swimming or fishing.

The Indians in the pontoon boat did not pay attention to the ski boats

speeding past them at 30 knots and the strong waves created by them. In

about an hour, they were in the middle of the lake, and their initial fear

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and excitement was wearing off. They parked the boat in the middle of

the lake where the water was 90-feet deep. They could not anchor their

boat in such deep waters.

Taking off his shirt, the man who knew how to swim jumped into

the water and swam for a while. He returned to the boat thinking

that it was safe to swim in the lake. With the engine shut off, the boat

was drifting in the strong wind.

Then his friend decided to jump into the lake with his encouragement.

Swimming back home in a pool was their only experience. Little did they

know what to expect in a large body of water with rolling waves created

by the speeding boats whizzing by. The friend panicked and started taking

in water. Noticing him panic, the boat driver jumped in the water

without his life jacket to help. Any trained person in water rescue knows

you should not be in front of the person you are trying to rescue. But

the driver went in front of his friend who, in his panic grabbed him and

pulled him under the water. The mistake of either of them not wearing a

life jacket was fatal for both. They were drowning. All the others on the

boat were bystanders in shock not knowing what to do.

The boat driver’s wife screamed and threw life preservers to them. But

in the 40-knot wind, they drifted away from the two struggling for their

lives. The boat itself was drifting in the wind away from them. Those on

the boat panicked and started the engines of the boat full throttle. The

engine overheated and was shut off automatically.

Untrained for this kind of an emergency, they called 911 from their

cell phone, but could not get a signal as all cell-phone towers were quite

far away in the wilderness of the lake. After several vital minutes, they

reached 911, but help arrived quite late. The two people in the water

drowned. Totally grief-stricken those on the boat returned to the shore.

So, what if anything could have been done differently to avoid such

a tragic turn of events? A marina operator told a journalist from a

local TV station, “Eight out of nine drowning incidents are because people

do not wear life vests.” In hindsight, it is so obvious that everyone should

have worn life jacket whether they knew swimming or not. Boating safely

requires a few simple rules, such as swimming only in shallow waters

closer to the shore. The boat should have been anchored, and at least one

other person should have known how to operate the boat. When it is very

windy, it is critical not to jump into deep waters since the waves created

by ski boats are bigger.

Thus, an otherwise enjoyable boating trip in an Arkansas lake ended

in a tragedy this summer afternoon, changing the lives for many forever

simply because of not taking a few simple safety precautions. •

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Food and Diet... continued from Page 12

chronic diseases of the West are ever increasing in Okinawa.

After reading this, you may think of changing your dietary habits.

Before you start, check with your doctor to guide you since dietary needs

can vary from person to person depending on body type and medications

one may be on. Here are general suggestions for you to consider:

• Avoid frying and dramatically reduce oils. They get oxidized easily,

become rancid and turn into trans fats when heated. Exercising cannot

remove such toxins from the body.

• Instead bake, roast, or steam food, and dry toast spices.

• Avoid or dramatically reduce dairy and meat.

• Rely more on beans and lentils. Eat whole grains.

• Have more fruits and vegetables -- some raw; and some fresh.

• Add one tablespoon of ground flax seed or a few almonds, walnuts

or chia seeds into your daily regimen for Omega 3 fatty acid.

• Check your vitamin B12 level yearly. Vegans must take B12.

• Check vitamin D and supplement according to your doctors advice.

Too much or too little vitamin D is detrimental to overall health.

For further information on healthy plant based diets and recipes,

checkout www.theplantbasedplate.com; www.21daykickstartindia.com;

www.pcrm.com; www.thefatfreevegan.com; or www.drjohnmcdougall.

com. And review with your doctor. •

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Himalayas ... continued from Page 10

English-medium school recently instituted by the village chief and his

Canadian-born wife. Soon after, we found ourselves overlooking the

Tehri Reservoir and Dam, a hydroelectric project that is seeking to renew

the infrastructure across the Tehri Gharwal region in Uttarakhand.

Among our day trips were Navdanya, an organic farm based in the plains

outside Dehradun, as well as Assan Barrage, a bird watching point next

to the Paonta Sahib Gurudwara in

Himachal Pradesh, which were

simply beautiful and insightful

experiences.

We also visited both Rajaji and

Jim Corbett National Parks where

we saw a variety of animals up

close, including the famed Indian

elephant and quite luckily, an

Indian tiger. These places were

With Dr. Joseph Alter and kids in the village.

incredible complements to our

various day-trips and village visits

as we felt we had finally understood “the wild.”

Nevertheless, our 6-day treks to Har-ki-Dun and Gangotri were on

an entirely different level. The camping, climbing, picture taking, and

for me, praying, were unparalleled experiences as we journeyed up the

valleys to both the source of the Ganga River and the Tibetan border.

Similarly, our week-long home stay in Majhkali, near the small hill station

of Ranikhet, exposed us to the eastern part of Uttarakhand, the intrinsic

beauty of the Nanda Devi mountain range, and the indigenous way of life

in a Himalayan village. We concluded our trip with a rafting adventure

down the Ganga herself, surviving a number of dangerous rapids, not to

mention the freezing temperatures of the green-blue water.

Symbolically, we ended our rafting adventure at Rishikesh, with the

Ganga Aarti on the banks of the river at an ashram, where we were able

to thank the Gods for a truly successful semester. Then it was back up to

Mussoorie to finish up the semester and celebrate. Before we knew it our

journey was over and it was time to say our heavyhearted good byes.

Months later, I still find such experiences transformative: they not

only showed me almost every corner of the region, but also helped me

discover my own capabilities, limitations, and goals.

The Value of Studying Abroad: As an Indian-American, this trip

was a dream come true for me. I learned more about my roots culturally,

linguistically, and spiritually, I explored unimaginable locations, took

amazing courses, made a plethora of friends, and brought home infinite

20


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memories. From playing with village children in Sainji to standing atop

the Gomukh glacier in Gangotri, as a human being and as a Hindu, I am

certainly more appreciative of what I know about “incredible India.”

I dream of going back one day, doing it all over again and more. The

people I met and spoke to, and the environments I immersed myself in

were truly more than rewarding. I strongly encourage everyone to travel

abroad, go places you never thought you could and explore as much as

you can. Take it all in for what it is really worth.

Finally, a sincere Thank-You to all of those who made the inaugural

year of the Pitt in the Himalayas program a great success both here at

the University of Pittsburgh, and at the Woodstock School in Mussoorie,

India. Three years of meticulous planning on their part made this happen.

Without them I would certainly not be able to share my story. •

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show just for Desi Brides in Pittsburgh!

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The Greatest Journey: Life

By Puja Shroff, Charleroi, PA

Puja was born in New Jersey and is a 20-year resident here. With a BA in Psychology

from Case Western Reserve, she earned an MS in Counseling & Clinical

Health Psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is

a counselor in a private group practice providing psychiatric care in Washington

County. Along with psychology, she’s had a keen interest in spirituality. “I am grateful,”

she acknowledges, “to my family and my Guru in my journey in life.”

“A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet.” — Lao Tzu

We are all travelers who have embarked on this greatest journey,

life. Yet, we travel aimlessly without knowing the destination,

purpose, and value. From the day we are born till the day we die, we go

through numerous experiences. On this journey, we

expect to find happiness, peace, and contentment.

We may even mistake them to be the destination

itself. While the whole universe lies inside of

us, the external world traps us with occasions for

instant gratification. Sant Kabirdas puts this nicely

in a doha: “This world is like a flower trapping a

bee. Don’t get carried away by the fleeting experience

and falsity.” Essentially, we are all in search

of eternal bliss.

Time and time again, Spiritual Masters like the Buddha, Jesus Christ,

Guru Nanak, Krishna, Rama, Mahavir Swami and others have walked

this earth to encourage each of us to ask three crucial questions: 1) Who

am I? 2) What is my purpose? and 3) Where am I to go? When we are

able to answer these questions, no further questions arise.

Human beings by nature are curious and desires to know and explore

the phenomenal world around them. So curious is man that he

has traveled to the moon and back. We have explored the depths of the

ocean. However, we fail to search within ourselves. Great philosophers

have said “Man, know thyself.”

The true self is the consciousness within us, the silent witness (not

spectator). Paradoxically, it is the self, soul, that sustains the body, but

we have subdued it and made the mind our master. Holy Scriptures state,

“God made man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils

the breath of life.” Once that breath of life departs, the body becomes

useless. Thus, our value is dependent on the soul -- the greatest treasure

we possess.

Life journey... ... Continued on Page 32

24


On Old Age: A Vignette from Indian Classic

Puranaanooru is an anthology of the Tamil Sangam literature, written

by both men and women poets belonging to 1800 to 2500 years before

the Common Era. The 398 verses are in classical Tamil with very few

Sanskrit words interwoven, which clearly indicates that Tamil’s history is

parallel to Sanskrit’s. In the verse presented here, the only Sanskrit word

is maayam. The oldest Tamil book available today — dated a few centuries

before the Common Era — is Tholkappiyam, a book on grammar. If you

have a book on grammar that old, it is obvious, the language itself was

sophisticated even at that time with a very rich history.

The Puranaanooru verses deal exclusively with secular themes. They

describe the valor, pride, pettiness, generosity, and even philandering of

kings; they admonish kings to be loyal to their wives; they advise kings

not to let bureaucrats harass citizens; they describe the grinding poverty

of ordinary citizens during wars… ...

But the verse presented here is very different. In this, the poet,

Todittalai Vizhuttandinaar, in his very old age, recalls with vivid

imagery the innocent days of his youth long gone. The sentiment he expresses

is so universal that it transcends time, place, culture and every

other facet that separates humanity into groups. Here is a free-style

rendering of the verse in English:

I feel sad to think about it now.

On the sandy edges of the pond with cool water,

we played with girls who made dolls with the thick soil,

decorating them with flowers plucked from trees nearby.

Holding hands in the innocence of youth,

we hugged each other, swaying this way and that.

Climbing the Marutha (Arjuna) tree on the bank

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we dived into the deep pond with a thud and a splash.

Reaching the bottom, we returned, showing, to the amazed

onlookers on the shore, fistfuls of sand

grabbed from the pond’s floor.

Where did that innocent youth go?

Isn’t it pitiful that having become old, now tremblingly

I walk with a metal-capped stick while coughing,

barely uttering a few words in between?

For these who are interested in classical Tamil, I give below the

Tamil verse. Even if you know Tamil, the Tamil you read in

today’s weeklies and dailies may not help you to appreciate the Tamil in

this verse on first reading. But if you persist in reading it, you will get a

glimpse of the language’s pristine beauty.

இனநிைனந் இரக்கம் ஆகின் ; திணமணல்

ெசய் பாைவக் ெகாய்த் ைதஇத்,

தண்கயம் ஆம் மகளெரா ைகபைணந்,

தவழித் தழஇத், ங்வழித் ங்கி,

மைறஎனல் அறியா மாயமில் ஆயெமா

உயர்சிைன மதத் ைறறத் தாழ்ந்,

நர்நணப் பேகா ஏறிச், சீர்மிகக்,

கைரயவர் மளத், திைரயகம் பதிர,

ெநநர்க் ட்டத்த் ெமனப் பாய்ந்,

ளத்மணற் ெகாண்ட கல்லா இளைம.

அளேதா தாேன! யாண்ண் ெகால்ேலா-

ெதாத்தைல வத்தண் ஊன்றி, நக்ற்,

இமிைட மிைடந்த சிலெசால்

ெப தாளேராம் ஆகிய எமக்ேக?

Tamil, Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Chinese are the world’s

classical languages. India is the only country having given birth to World’s

two classical languages — Sanskrit and Tamil. — By KSV •

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Retirement Options for Indian Immigrants

By Balwant Dixit, Fox Chapel, PA

(412) 963-8023. E-mail: bdixit@pitt.edu

In recent years whenever seniors among Indian immigrants (65+)

meet, either in small groups informally or at large gatherings such as

at national conventions, one topic that always comes up is “What to do

when we retire?” Such discussions usually end up by saying that Indian

immigrants in USA must have their own retirement facility or community

where all of us can enjoy our retired life with camaraderie seeing Indian

movies, eating together Indian cuisine and arranging outings together,

praying the way we always wanted to do and spend the remaining years

in a an atmosphere truly Indian. However, such discussions rarely try to

address or discuss many serious aspects of such a dream plan for retirement.

I am 81 years old and I just retired after 50+ years working at the

University of Pittsburgh in various capacities; from being just a teaching

fellow to being an effective Dean of one of Health Science Schools. I

have spent over five years looking into this retirement conundrum each

one of us who is close to retirement or who has just retired find himself

or herself. Retirement presents a myriad of issues that must be looked

into in a serious manner. After collecting information for over five years

I have written a comprehensive paper on “Retirement Options for Indian

Immigrants to USA.” A copy of my paper is available for a minimum

donation of $5.00. All proceeds will be donated to a residential school,

Dhayari Karna-Badhir Moolanchi Shala run by Suhrud Mandal, Pune,

India (http://www.suhrudmandal.in/) that is “transforming life of hearing

impaired” by providing them education from K2 to the 12th grade. The

following is my personal story, which is repeated by so many who came

to USA to build their careers in various fields.

When I arrived in USA in 1962, I was one of about 4,000 persons

of Indian origin who were in USA then. Initially my plans were

to go back to India since in those days persons from Asia were neither eligible

to becoming US residents nor were they allowed to own any property

(Ref: Immigration Act of 1917 blocking further immigration from Asia).

So questions regarding where to retire were far away on the horizon.

Years went by fast. With a special arrangement with the US Immigration

I was able to accept a faculty position just for three years at the University

of Pittsburgh. The future looked uncertain since I had very little chance of

getting permanent residency status because of the 1917 legislation. On the

advice of a colleague I decided not join the retirement plan offered by the

University since I, as an Asian, I would not have been able to stay in USA

on a permanent basis and I will not be allowed to take my retirement ben-

28


efits to India.

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2/25/14 1:08 PM

to India. After getting married, my wife had hoped that we will return to

India in a few years. Years went fast, and promotions at the University

also came fast. With the appointments as the Head of the Department,

coupled with the failure to get any meaningful position in India we decided

to stay in USA for a few more years. Further promotions as Associate

Dean followed by an appointment as the Dean of a Health Science School

and the birth of two children made it difficult to return to India. Since my

primary expertise was in pharmacology and because of outdated requirements

for academic appointments in medical schools in India, attempts in

early seventies to return to India also were not successful. Ultimately, a

US Citizenship became a prerequisite to get a strong foothold in American

way of life. With increasing success in the University, thoughts of retirement

did not enter my mind. My wife also adapted to the American way

of life, which was very necessary and helpful.

14ELL059_PittsburghPatrika_3.8x4.5_FINAL.indd 1

29


However, as I approached 65, and having experienced serious health

problems, I started thinking about retirement, since in those years

mandatory retirement for faculty was 65. When to retire, where to retire,

how to support the family after retirement, what type of health insurance

will be available were some of the questions that came to my mind. However,

retirement accounts did not show the needed accumulations. With

proper medical care heart disease was under control. Age limit for retirement

was also removed so a decision to retire was postponed for a few

years. As the first generation of Indian Immigrants there was no tradition

to follow; there were no examples to look for the answers.

As 2005 arrived, I realized I had worked for over 40 years at the University.

Our children were also growing up with all associated problems.

Thoughts of retirement became prominent but not compelling. We once

thought of relocating to India. What will happen if I decide to go back to

India after retirement, would it be possible to spend part of the year in

India and the remaining in USA, what would happen about our relationship

with our children if we permanently moved back to India? Would situation

in India be comfortable for us? After a lot of discussion, and with some

trepidation we ultimately decided to make USA our permanent home.

To know about retirement options available to us, we started looking

into the retirement situation sometime around 2004. We collected a lot

of information, attended seminars, visited a few retirement communities,

and collected information about retirement communities in other states.

When discussing our ideas about retirement with our friends we noticed

that a denial syndrome. Most did not want to face the situation. Several

times during this period forceful statements were made to the effect that,

“It is imperative that Indian Immigrants must have their own retirement

community in the Pittsburgh area.” When confronted however, everyone

agreed that no objective feasibility studies have been conducted.

Collectively, the information we collected formed the basis of our decision

to stay in USA after retirement and to join an American Retirement

Community of unique nature in the Pittsburgh area called Longwood at

Home. Longwood at Home is a program that allows one “to age in one’s

home.” In this paper I attempted to put forth the information we collected

and those who read it will find the information useful. Information about

various types of American retirement communities as well as information

about several Indian retirement communities is included in this paper. A

useful web site for NRIs (US citizens or Green Card holders) who might

be thinking of retiring to India is (http://www.retire2india.com/). No efforts

were made to gather information about retirement communities in

Canada, since its National Health Care System has a significant impact

on how medical problems faced by older persons are addressed.

Retitrement... Contd on Page 33

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Democrcies... continued from Page 6

So, one would expect that Pennsylvania’s 18 Congressional districts

would be split 55/45 with Democrats having a slight edge over the GOP

— 10D to 8R, or 9D to 9R. But in the 2012 elections GOP won 13 seats

and Democrats only 5. That is how the gerrymandered redistricting perverts

elections in the US.

• Further, in the US Congress with 435 seats, in 19 of the last 25

biennial elections, over 90% of incumbents were re-elected. In 15 of the

25 elections, over 94% were reelected. That is how strong the hold of

incumbency is in the US. The Congressmen representing the highly partisan

gerrymandered districts have no obligation to respond to national crises,

or make reasoned decisions on various big issues. They are answerable

only to their districts’ highly partisan voting blocks.

• Yet another corrupting factor is the Super PACs funded by rich

individuals having personal likes and dislikes for candidates; or business

interests with large bank accounts determined to defeat candidates whose

policies may be good for the public, but bad for their businesses. These

Super PACs with their secret list of donors (some of them overseas) pump

money to congressional districts or states of their choice to tilt the elections

in close contests.

• Also, defeated/retired congressman/senators become lobbyists and

use their connections trying to maintain the status quo.

• Yet another mischievous trick is Republicans trying to block

poor, rural and elderly citizens from voting by creating the bogeyman of

voter fraud where practically none exists. Remember Penna GOP’s Mike

Turzai’s famous quote in the 2012 elections? “Voter ID [Law we passed]...

is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania...”

Luckily, the courts stopped this corruption and Romeny lost in Penna.

So, in both the most populous democracy (India) and the most powerful

democracy (USA), vested interests have spread their roots deep

and their tentacles wide. It is very difficult to reform the electoral system

to resemble what the original architects of the countries intended.

In China too, in recent years, communist political bosses have badly

corrupted even the single-party political system to give enormous political

and monetary advantages to their sons, daughters, and clan members.

Similar is the story in Iraq, Egypt, Greece, Pakistan... ...

No wonder, political changes in the world — even radical upheavals

and revolutions — eventually end up with rearranging of the

deck. The old system native to the culture, and often even the same old

faces of power brokers of the land, reincarnate themselves becoming part

of the new system. Along the way, they morph and mutate slightly along

the edges here and there. •

31


Life journey... ... Continued on Page 24

Obtaining a human birth is the best boon because it is the only birth

in which we have a higher level of consciousness, and are able to obtain

spiritual knowledge, and ultimately unite with the Almighty. God created

Maya (illusion), this world, and us, and because of Him, we can experience

His creation.

The choice is ours: do we want to spend our life indulging in worldly

matters only to receive temporary happiness and go through the cycles

of birth and death? Or do we want to realize the purpose of our existence

and progress towards liberation? We have forgotten our divine nature

under the influence of Maya, and live our life in ignorance. Therefore,

the purpose of our life is to realize we are spiritual beings and experience

the divinity within us. In doing so, we escape from being ensnared by the

web of Maya. Our destination is to merge into the Cosmic Energy from

which we were created.

Theoretically, the part always desires to merge with the whole: all

rivers flow into the ocean; flames of a burning fire always go towards

the sky because fire is a result of fuel and oxygen; and a child always

runs to his mother. Similarly, we are children of God and are parcels of

that Cosmic Energy.

Lastly, Sanatana Dharma in Sanskrit has been referred to “as the path

or journey to the light.” The Bible also states, “The Kingdom of God

is within you. “ Thus, the path has always been the path of meditation,

through which we can experience the Kingdom of God.

The human life is unique. It is the only birth, in which we can understand

and experience our soul. Thus, the human body becomes a

vehicle for the soul to return back to its source -- Almighty, God, Cosmic

Energy, Creator, or however you name It.

Nonetheless, the soul’s journey can only be completed when we recognize

and realize our divine nature. Once we recognize that, we cease

to suffer and live in darkness. When we experience that energy through

meditation, we will see the sameness in all and overcome differences.

We will then realize that it is the same energy that governs the entire

universe. Ironically, we go through life searching for happiness without

comprehending that the treasure is within us. Seek and you shall find,

knock and it shall be opened to you!

“When the road ends, and the goal is reached, the pilgrim finds that he

has traveled only from himself to himself.” — Sri Sai Baba •

32


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Subhaashitaavali on Servitude

The master laughs, he laughs with him;

The master weeps, he wails aloud.

The master runs, he girds his waist and sprints, sweating profusely;

The master censures some unblemished merit, he condemns it;

The servant, bought for a bit of money, dances to his master’s tune.

Retirement... ... Continued from Page 29

A word of caution on the financial solvency of the retirement communities

in USA and in India. There are over 80,000 retirement communities

of all sorts in USA. Many of these in USA are operated as private

profit making and some as not-for-profit businesses, and are subject to

economic adversities as any other enterprises. The situation in India is

particularly uncertain because of nearly a total lack of supervisory role

of any governmental agencies or by any autonomous non-governmental

bodies, making it very difficult to assess the financial stability of most of

the retirement communities. As far as I know, a few have already gone

bankrupt leaving the tenants who paid hefty sums of money uncertain

about their future. •

33


Things to Think About

It is not washed away in floods. Fire does not incinerate it.

Even kings can not grab it, and thieves can not steal it.

Nor is it reduced by giving it away.

When these assets of education are obvious,

Why do people travel all over the world seeking wealth?

t

A bright, conch-like white lotus in a pond.

Water is her mother; and sun, her father.

Once it is pulled from its roots, the very water will make it rot;

Toss it on the ground, the very sun will scorch it in no time.

When condition changes adversely,

Even your benefactors are your enemies.

-- Viveka Chintamani, a 16th Century (?) Tamil Literary anthology

How to call the news item below — Grotesque, incongruous, outrageous,

irresponsible, bizarre, morbid?

In international flights where we change planes in two or three places,

our bags not reaching our destination is not unusual. We get our bags

in a few days delivered. When the courier delivers bags that do not belong

to us, we become irritated and curse the airlines for their ineptness.

What should people do when an airline delivers a wrong dead body?

You may say it can never happen these days with bar codes and traceability.

But that is precisely what happened for a family in India. The air

carrier is Air India, India’s flagship carrier.

Air India recently delivered the dead body of an Indian worker who

died in Dubai. The deceased persons’ relatives somberly took possession

of the body at Lucknow airport and were driving back to their hometown.

A few kilometers later, one of the relatives noticed that the name tag on

the casket had a name different from their departed relative.

When they opened the casket, much to their horror, they realized they

had taken possession not of their relative’s dead body, but that of a wrong

person. They returned to the airport and angrily protested to the airlines

on how they could do such a senseless and totally insensitive goof up.

Here are the details of the story:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/body-blow-to-ai-reputation-after-it-delivers-wrong-person-s-body/article1-1195205.aspx

•

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