Om Shanti Om comes to Michigan on November 9th, 2007

Om Shanti Om starring Shahrukh Khan and Bollywood Beauty Deepika Padukone will be screened at SR Movies, Novi, MI starting November 9th. For Showtimes keep checking MIMANTRA.

And for an excellent music review of OM SHANTI OM check out DJ Amri's post (Michigan's Best Indian DJ).

(Note: Deepika Padukone is the daughter of former world badminton champion from INDIA Prakash Padukone)

Here's Aneek Dhar (2007 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Champ) singing "Main Agar Kahoon" from Om Shanti Om (He sings this song better than the original)

Mumtaz Haque of Troy, MI appointed to Governor's Advisory Council

This announcement from State of Michigan website:

Mumtaz P. Haque of Troy producer and host of Manoranjan Radio Show, is appointed for a term expiring April 30, 2011 to Advisory Council for Asian and Pacific American Affairs. She succeeds Amy K. Stillman whose term has expired.

The Advisory Council for Asian and Pacific American Affairs is charged with serving in an advisory capacity to the governor and alerting her to pertinent issues within the Asian and Pacific American community. It also makes recommendations about programs and policies for the betterment of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Michigan and helps to promote public awareness of Asian and Pacific American culture and accomplishments.

This appointment is not subject to disapproval by the Michigan Senate.

Congratulations Mumtaz!!

Haandi Cusine of India in Livonia, MI

If you live in Novi, Northville, Plymouth, Livonia then you don't have to drive far for a nice, clean, reasonably priced Indian Restaurant.

Last Wednesday we decided to try out Lunch Buffet at Haandi Cuisine of India in Livonia, MI (Directions). It was worth every penny. We enjoyed it. The Buffet had quite a few items (Chicken Korma, Tandoori Chicken, Chilli Chicken, Panner Rolls, Spring Rolls, Bharta, Rajma, Curry (with Pakora). This in addition to Rice, Naan, corn soup and for dessert they had fruit custard.

I spoke to Rakesh Sabharwal (the owner who by the way is a extremely courteous and soft spoken gentelman) who mentioned that on weekend they also serve goat/lamb meat in their buffet.

The only thing is that the food has "North India" written all over it. In order to attract more people, Haandi owners would might want to consider including other dishes like, vada sambar, dosa, pav bhaji.

Indian Families Flee California Fires

The raging fires in Southern California has forced a lot of Indian families to flee their homes. India West is reporting

Veenu Puri Vermani and her family, along with three other Indian American families, piled into the Vermani van and headed for Anaheim Oct. 22 as the Witch fire, pushed by strong Santa Ana winds, roared toward their homes in San Diego County.

The Vermanis, who live in Sabre Springs north of San Diego along with an untold number of Indian Americans who live in the nearby Rancho Bernardo, Forest Ranch, Penasquiotos and Scripps Ranch communities were forced to flee their homes

Panthic Weekly reports

The Sikh Gurdwara, at 12269 Oak Knoll Rd, Poway, San Diego was evacuated Monday morning. Five swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Scriptures) were safely taken to the residence of Hirdyapal Singh, Carmel Valley, CA.

One Sikh family and 3 other South Asian families have lost their home in Rancho Bernado and over 50 Sikh families are reported evacuated from Poway, Rancho Barnado, 4S Ranch, Saber Springs, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Panasquitos, Carmel Valley, Escondido, Olivenhein, Rancho Santa Fee, Encinitas, Chula Vista, East Lake, Ramona.

NDTV reports

Jagjit Singh Dhesi, 56 who's been a resident of Poway, San Diego for more than 30 years now said he had to evacuate his house in the middle of the night along with his son, wife and parents.

Similarly, Dr. Harjot Singh Gill and Dr Jasbir Singh Deol, who run Animal Hospitals, had to evacuate. ''We had 5 families at our place one night. In the morning there was a mandatory evacuation in our area and we had to move out with our guests to Del Mar'' said Dr. Gill.

Inder Singh, who is the president of Global Organization for the People of Indian Origin or GOPIO and has a wide contact among the community said a large number of India-Americans have left their homes for safer places. ''I have been able to reach most of my contacts except few. We are trying to find out about their safety and whereabouts,'' he said.

Indian Americans living in posh Malibu area have shifted to hotels in safer localities. It is believed that some of the houses owned by Indian Americans were gutted in fire but details were not known immediately.

Our thoughts and prayers are with families who have lost their homes!

Indian Classical Music and Dance event at Ann Arbor, MI

Asha for Education (Ann Arbor Chapter) presents an evening of Indian Classical Music and Dance titled "Rhythms of Hope" on November 3rd, 2007 from 5.00-7.30 pm at Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 North University, Ann Arbor MI, 48109 (directions).

The event will feature one hour of Odissi dance performed by Ms.Sreyashi Dey, followed by one hour of Hindustani music, featuring sitar performed by Dr. Rajan Sachadeva and tabla performed by Mr. Amol Khanapurkhar.

Cost: $12 Students, $25 & $35 General (All proceeds go towards education of underprivileged children in India.) For more info visit the event website.

Sunset - Plymouth, Michigan (10/23/2007)

The spectacular view below captured yesterday evening (10/23/2007) at Plymouth, MI.

Sanjay Dutt goes back to Jail

Sanjay Dutt returns to Yerawada Jail, Pune after a 2 month freedom. His freedom ended when he was handed a copy of the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case judgment by the TADA court.

Sanjay Dutt's acting skill will take a back seat for a while. His new skill which he is acquiring while in jail is cane furniture making. (Sources: BBC, Mid-Day)

Here's a Google Maps View of Sanjay Dutt's new home (Yerawada Prison - Pune, India)

Rangoli Restaurant Reviews at Yahoo Local

If you ever want to find out what others feel about a restaurant, then check out Restaurant Reviews at Yahoo Local.

One of the restaurants I was looking at was Rangoli Indian Cusine, located at 3055 E Walton Blvd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. I will mention couple of reviews here. You can check out more by visiting Yahoo Local.
Positive:

- fantastic and fresh: Good selection and great tasting food.
For those new to Indian food, try the samosas, masala dosa, and chicken tiki masala. Yum!

- Best Indian cuisine I have ever eaten: Paneer chilli and other paneer items are good. Some items are really expensive. We should get coupons in mail.

Negative:

Wrongoli: Small proportions…. High prices… and mediocre at best food…

Unicef India - Award winning advertisements

Take a look at these public service advertisements/messages originating in India and which got a special mention by UNICEF INDIA.

Advertisement/Message targeted towards safe driving, road safety, against drunk driving. (Message in the mirror reads "Objects in the Mirror are closer than they appear")


Advertisement/Message against Corruption (message in circle reads as "I promise NOT to pay the sum or Rupees 500/- as a bribe.)

(This will not happen in my lifetime though. I mean when you have to pay bribe to get a death certificate for your loved one....you can imagine how widespread/deep rooted the corruption is)

Some Advice on Attitude

I get a lot of emails of which some are useful, but this is one of the great emails I received recently. Here it goes...

Attitude
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well", she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,
Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly.......Leave the rest to God

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Bobby Jindal wins Louisiana Governor's Race

Bobby Jindal has become the First Indian American to be elected as a governor of a US State. Bobby Jindal (36) son of Indian immigrants will become Louisiana's first nonwhite governor since Reconstruction and the youngest U.S. governor in office.

Bobby Jindal received 54% of the votes. In his victory speech Bobby Jindal repeated his election pledge to fight corruption in the state of Louisiana.

"They can either go quietly or they can go loudly, but either way they will go," he said, referring to people who were "feeding at the public trough".

This is where Bobby Jindal will now get to stay (Google Maps View of Louisiana Governor's Mansion - Baton Rouge)

Detroit Born Indian American gets a top level position at HHS

Dr. Anand Parekh (31) who was born in Detroit has been named acting deputy assistant secretary for health (science and medicine) at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Anand Parekh is the son of Kamlesh and Deepika Parekh of West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Dr. Parekh graduated with a political science degree from the University of Michigan, where he completed his graduate training in medicine and public health.

Congratulations to Dr. Parekh.

(Source: IndiaWest)

Andrew Symonds subjected to monkey chants by Mumbai Cricket Fans

Andrew Symonds a Australian Cricketer of West Indian Heritage, was the target of racial slurs again. This time it was at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. 4 people were arrested for behaving indecently in public.

Ricky Ponting the Australian Team Captain had this to say

the team was disappointed that the same behaviour had been repeated at various grounds. "Andrew is hurt at the crowd behaviour but we've been told action has been taken," he said. "But some of the stuff that happens is totally unacceptable and leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth. I'm sure there are a lot of people in India that would be embarrassed by the incident."

Yes I am sure lot of people in India must have been embarrassed by the actions of these uncultured folks (look at the faces, they are having a heck of a time enacting monkey chants) (via)

Global Drum Project Event at Michigan State University

Zakir Hussain along with Mickey Hart, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo will be on the campus of Michigan State University on October 20th, 2007.

Date: Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 8 PM
Venue: Cobb Great Hall, Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, MSU Campus
Tickets: $38, $28, $23 for general public, $15 for students
For tickets and more information check out Wharton Center, MSU website.

This from the MSU Event Site:

New music from the group that brought you the Grammy Award winning Planet Drum. Global Drum Project reunites Grateful Dead percussion heavyweight Mickey Hart with his longtime friend and collaborator, tabla master Zakir Hussain, along with talking drum ace Sikiru Adepoju and the formidable conguero Giovanni Hidalgo. Planet Drum was released in 1991 and went on to earn the first-ever Grammy® in the World Music category. “This is a deep drumming groove. We’re taking the archaic rhythm worlds into outer space. Planet Drum explores rhythm and noise; it’s a sound yoga of processed acoustic percussion headed straight for the trance zone that becomes a dance of ancient and modern worlds. Deep drumming is a skeleton key into these realms.” - Mickey Hart

Michigan India Chamber of Commerce launched

Detroit Free Press is reporting that one of our community members Nipa Shah has just launched Michigan India Chamber of Commerce.

Quoting the Free Press article:

She launched the chamber envisioning a networking organization that would benefit the Asian-Indian community in business and other areas. She has signed up seven members in the first month of operation and hopes to quickly reach 25.

"The Michigan India Chamber is not just for business owners," says Shah, who earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Bombay and an MBA from Lawrence Technological University. "It's also for individuals, homemakers, companies, youth and those who aspire to be entrepreneurs."

She wants her organization to become a resource center to meet the education, mentoring and networking needs of the Asian-Indian community.

Aneek Dhar rocks his way to SA RE GA MA PA 2007 CHAMP!!

Finally we have a winner in ANEEK DHAR, which everyone will be happy with. Aneek Dhar won the SA RE GA MA PA 2007 challenge. I have been watching Indian IDOL and SA RE GA MA PA for last couple of years. I have not seen a singer like ANEEK. He is just beyond words. He is just outstanding. Indians all over the world will be hearing about ANEEK for years to come.

Here's Aneek singing Rock N Roll Soniye:

Indian Businesses in Chicago on Google Maps

Next time before traveling to Chicago check out a new feature on Google Maps called "Street View". In maps.google.com do the following:

• Type in 2576 W. Devon Avenue, Chicago and click on "Search Maps Button". The map will center on W. Devon Avenue, Chicago.
• Zoom in enough and click on "Street View" Button.
• Then click on the street with blue border or the human icon.
• Now you have a Street View
• Have fun - Pan around, Zoom in, Explore
• Then using the arrow keys start heading east or west and you will see tons of Indian owned businesses like "Taj Sari Palace" shown below.

Michigan fall colors

It is October. If you are sitting home and doing nothing, please wake up and drive up north. It is absolutely gorgeous there with peak colors in several areas. I was up in Houghton, MI, which is way way out of the world and the beauty is breathtaking. Picture down - Taken in Houghton, MI, Oct 6th 2007.

The entire drive back until Mackinaw was splendid with vibrant colors. Fall colors in the lower peninsula will be at their peak by this weekend or the next weekend. So, if you are one of those leaf peepers, drive up to Mackinaw and come back, visit the few national parks in the cities along I-75 (Ex: Gaylord, Indian River, Rogers City, Petosky). Picture down - US-41, the most gorgeous road in fall, shot on Oct 6th, 2007.

We took the Michigan.org's advised color route for Keewenaw peninsula and when they say "if you are looking for fabulous fall colors, look no further than Michigan, they aren't lying". The colors are at their best. Pack those bags and run a leisure trip up north. Fall moves fast.

You will be too late for the color route linked above but, the areas in the lower peninsula, on the way to Mackinaw are beautiful at this time. You will hit peak color in most of the places if, you visit any, this weekend and the next.

Fragrant Chicken Curry With Coconut Milk

A reader writes in to Detroit News (Eats and Drink Section) with the following question

How does one cook recipes that call for dairy-based ingredients when you are not to have dairy products

Lynne Rossetto Kasper answers the question

Don't make yourself crazy. Skip those recipes. With all the nondairy recipes out there, you don't have to struggle. I think out this kind of thing by looking at the parts of the world where the food that needs to be avoided (dairy in your case) is rarely used.

Then Lynne, as an example gives out the recipe of "Fragrant Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk" which is a dish from southern India which is based on a "milk" that's never seen a cow and can be made in about 15 minutes.

Here's the recipe:

Curry paste:

1 large onion, cut in half
5 large garlic cloves
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon, salt and black pepper
2 medium-sized ripe tomatoes, or 3 to 4 canned tomatoes
Bottom 2 inches of a lemon grass stalk, trimmed of rough outer leaves (optional)
1 to 2 jalapenos, stemmed and seeded (or not, if you like it hot)
1/2 cup water

Chicken:

Cold-pressed vegetable oil
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces (organic if possible)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup water
1 cup canned coconut milk
2 tightly packed tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped

In a food processor, puree together half the onion, all the garlic, the ginger, spices, salt, pepper, tomatoes, lemon grass (if using), jalapeno and the 1/2 cup water. Set aside.

Thinly slice the other onion half. Film the bottom of a straight-sided 12-inch saute pan with the oil. Heat over medium high, add the onion, and saute until it begins to color. Add the curry blend, reduce the heat to medium and saute 10 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spatula, until the oil separates from the curry. Don't rush this step; it sets up the foundation of the dish.

Stir in the chicken and 1 cup water. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a slow simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

Lift the chicken out of the pan with a slotted spoon into a serving bowl. Raise the heat until the sauce is boiling. Boil it down until once again it is so thick that the oil separates from the curry paste. Taste the sauce for seasoning, stir in the coconut milk and heat another 3 to 4 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle it with the mint and serve hot. Serves 4.

Per serving: 488 calories; 32 g fat (17 g saturated fat; 59 percent calories from fat); 14 g carbohydrates; 124 mg cholesterol; 437 mg sodium; 38 g protein; 4 g fiber.

Bharatiya Temple in Troy, MI to double its size

Detroit News is reporting (story by reporter Catherine Jun) that

A $9 million expansion of the temple on North Adams and South Boulevard is finally scheduled to begin within a week, with final building permits in hand that will allow excavation and foundation work on 17 acres.

The project has been in the works for nearly a decade. By the end of 2009, builders will erect a 60,000-square-foot structure, with a grand rotunda, a sky-lit worship hall and three shikharas, similar to steeples, pointing to the sky.

The new structure will fuse architectural styles of northern and southern India, in keeping with the temple's inclusive approach to worship, rather than focusing on one region's religious traditions.

Local Desi Restaurant to start a Monthly Meal Plan

India Spice Restaurant located at 30701 W 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (PH: 248-381-5449) is starting a "MEAL PLAN" from October 16th. Here's what it is.
For $100.00 a month (excludes Sunday/Monday) they will provide you with 1 Vegetarian Meal a day which includes (Appetizer, Rice, Variety Rice (whatever this is?), Veg. Curry (2), Naan, Dessert). This averages out to $4.54/meal.

Non Vegetarian Lovers can pay $120.00 a month (excludes Sunday/Monday) and you will get 1 Non-Veg meal a day which includes (Non Veg Appetizer, Plain Rice, Variety Rice, Naan, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Curry, Dessert). This averages out to $5.50/meal.

If you want the meals delivered then you have to pay $20.00 extra a month (delivery limited to Farmington/Farmington Hills). (via)

Aishwarya Rai to star as Mumtaz Mahal

BBC is reporting that Aishwarya Rai will play the role of Mumtaz Mahal in a major movie on Taj Mahal. Oscar winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley who is the producer of this movie will play the role of Shah Jahan.

Bipasha Basu will be playing the role of Shah Jahan's daughter, Jahanara.

This film is scheduled to be shot in India in 2008. (more at BBC)

Diwali Celebrations in Michigan - 2007

Indian Organizations throughout the Metro Detroit Area and in Michigan are finalizing plans for Diwali Celebrations. Here are some of them that I know of. (If you know of any more please post it in the comments or email me.)

UPAD (Uttar Pradesh Association of Detroit) hosts a Dinner and Cultural Program on October 27th (starts at 5.30PM) at the Costick Activity Center – (Door A - 28600 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI (East of Middlebelt) 248-473-1816.

Donation requested as follows: (make cheques payable to UPAD)
Members $16 per Person
Non-Members $ 20 per Person
Seniors (>65) $ 12 per Person
Participants (<18) $10 per Person
Children (<10) $10 per person
Children (<5) Free!!!

For more info visit UPAD website.

Detroit Telugu Association
Saturday, November 03, 2007 5:30PM to 10:30PM at Novi High School, 24062 Taft Road, Novi, MI 48374. Check out there Detroit Telugu website for more details.

Michigan Konkani Association
Diwali Gala is tentatively scheduled for November 17, 2007 at the Southfield Civic Center. Keep checking there website for more details.

Gujarati Samaj of Detroit
Diwali Celebrations is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 28th at Sea Holm High School, Birmingham. Visit there website for more details.

Maharashtra Mandal of Detroit
Maharashtra Mandal is celebrating DIWALI on November 17th. Check out there website for more details.