Major Floods in Bihar, India

The Kosi river, a tributary of the Ganges in the Indian State of Bihar did something earth shattering this monsoon season. It burst through its banks to flow into a channel it had abandoned more than 200 years ago. The flooded channel swept over a region not accustomed to flooding and forced more than a million people from their homes.

These images below explain what exactly happened:

Here's a Google Maps View of The Kosi River during normal times:


Here's another image from NASA Earth Observatory taken on August 8th, 2008 (before the disaster)


Here's a image from Nasa Earth Observatory taken on August 24th, 2008 showing River Kosi changing its course and flowing through the channel which was abandoned 200 years ago. Looks like more water is flowing through this channel.

Michigan Indian Community Group on Facebook

The Michigan Indian Community Group created by me on facebook has grown to over 150+ members. The group is open for anyone to join.

The Michigan Indian Community Group on facebook is a great opportunity for you to

• express your views and ideas
• Announce upcoming events (Desi Parties/Culturual Events/Religious Events/Charity Events etc)
• Sound off with your views on local and national political issues
• share your experiences on great Indian Dining experience or
• Lousy Indian Dining Experience
• let the folks know of great travel deals
• or any thing else on your mind

So please join the group and start writing on the community WALL or start a DISCUSSION Board as to what's on your mind.

(Note: Unlike other Desi Forums in the area, you cannot post anonymously at MI Indian Community Group on FACEBOOK)

Debojit Dutta from Kokata, India on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2009 - Very Talented!!

Debojit Dutta, participant in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2009 competition is unbelievably talented. I suspect Debojit if not the winner will reach the top 2 in the competition. He sings from the heart. Very talented....

Detroit ranked in "America's Hard Drinking Cities"

Forbes is out with its list of "America's Hard Drinking Cities". Austin, Texas tops the list and Detroit is ranked at #15. Click here for a look at the entire list on Google Maps.

Have you ever wondered as to who is GOOGLING for say "Scotch, Rum, Margarita..." around the Detroit Area?. Check out this Google Maps Mashup of Alcohol related searches for each of 50 US State.

Here's a screen shot of Alcohol related searches in Michigan. Looks like West Bloomfield, Traverse City, Plymouth are the top 3 cities where the search is originating for "Scotch".

The Private World of India's Mughal Emperors

There's an exhibition opening at the Detroit Institute of Arts from Aug. 23 to November 16th, 2008 titled "The Private World of India's Mughal Emperors".

This exhibition features 86 outstanding miniature paintings, calligraphic examples and albums from the libraries of the Great Mughals of India: Akbar (r.1556–1605), Jahangir (r. 1605–1627) and Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1666).

For more details visit Detroit Institute of Arts Website.

"South Asians for Obama" looking for interns

Just got this note on Facebook from Meg Rao of "South Asians for Obama". Thought I should share it with MI Indian Community

If you are interested in applying for an internship with South Asians for Obama, please contact Detroit SAFO Coordinator Nikhil Parekh at npem06@hotmail.com. Please include a resume and brief statement as to why you wish to get involved. No previous political experience is required.

An internship is a great way to network, build connections, make lasting friendships, and learn more about the Obama Campaign and the South Asian community.

India - Happy 62nd Independence Day

Wishing my fellow Indians in Michigan, United States and rest of the world a "Happy 62nd Independence Day". On this occasion I bring to you a Google Maps View of some of the Indian Celebrities which includes Freedom Fighters, Astronauts (Kalpana Chawla), Olympic Stars (Abhinav Bindra), Presidents, Prime Ministers, Cricketers, Bollywood Stars.

Raj Bhavsar - Asian Indian in US Mens Gymnastics team for 2008 Olympics

Well, I just watched the US mens gymnastics team perform and win a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And one individual that made up the US mens gymnastics team was Raj Bhavsar. Raj Bhavsar is a 27 year old gymnast from Houston whose parents are Jyotindra and Surekha Bhavsar from Gujarat, India.

Raj was an alternate for the 2004 Olympics and was supposed to be an alternate for the 2008 Olympics too. However, when Hamm, a star gymnast withdrew due to an unrecovered injury to his hand at the nth hour, Raj Bhavsar made it on the team.

Well, Raj, good for you and good work, I watched you perform and was impressed. I have read articles that had pretty much written off the mens gymnastic team when Hamm withdrew. You showed them! Congratulations!

To view Raj on the 2008 Olympics floor, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT-GZK1PVuo

Arjuna’s Dilemma a cross-cultural show in the New York area

If you are in the New York area on August 22nd, 23rd or August 24th, or if you know anyone in the New York area then pass this along to them.

Music-Theatre Group is thrilled to present three special preview performances of ARJUNA’S DILEMMA at the Pepsico Theater at SUNY Purchase in Purchase New York, August 22, 23 and 24 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $20. Click here for more details.

Arjuna’s Dilemma is a cross-cultural chamber opera adapted from the Hindu epic, Bhagavad Gita, and composed by Douglas J. Cuomo. The work centers on the moral and spiritual conflict of Arjuna, the warrior prince, on the eve of civil war, and the powerful spiritual counsel he receives from the Hindu god, Krishna and features a rich score melding classical, jazz and traditional Indian musical idioms. This is surely a story for our own times.

Scored for Indian singer (Humayun Kahn), Western tenor (Tony Boutte), female chorus and twelve instrumentalists including Badal Roy on tablas and Bob Franceschini on saxophone, the ethnically diverse cast reflects the universal nature of the story. The musical and dramatic conversation reflects a basic message found in the Bhagavad Gita: life is fundamentally dualistic and eternal unity comprises the play of opposites. Below is a brief outline of the story of Arjuna’s Dilemma.

Congratulations to Mandy Grewal

Congratulations to Indian American Mandy Grewal on becoming the new Pittsfield Township (Washtenaw County, MI) Supervisor. Mandy won the elections on August 5th.

Jeev Milka Singh - highest ranked Indian Golfer visits Michigan

Jeev Milka Singh, India's highest ranked GOLFER is in Michigan taking part in the PGA Championship currently underway at Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Township, MI.

Jeev Singh started off well but currently (as of 08/08/2008) has dropped down to 7th position. Click here to follow Jeev Milka Singh's progress.

Here's a interesting bit of trivia. Jeev Singh is the son of India's famous athlete Milka Singh.

Pre-Party to India Day 2008 Celebrations

Just got word that there's a "Pre-Party" to India Day 2008 Celebrations to be held on Friday August 8th at SIPS located at 30555 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Hills, MI. This event will start at 9.30PM.

Related: India Day 2008 Event

Click on the image below for "Pre-Party" event details:

Michigan's Dashana Menon in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009

Michigan's Darshana Menon's winner of "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa USA 2008" starts her journey in the prestigious Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2009 in India.
I just watched a episode of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2009 on ZeeTv. They have some unbelievable talent this year. One of the female participant "Asma Mohammed Rafi" is a Omani National who speaks broken Hindi. She sang real well but the answers she gave to some of the questions were hilarious. One the questions which was asked "Aap ko gana kisne seekhaya.." (translation "Who taught you to sing"). Her answer - "Mere baap ne.." (Don't know how you would say that in English...is it "My old man...." or "My Pa...."). One of the judges corrected her by saying "Beti hamare Bharat mein 'Baap' nehi bolte..."Pitaaa ji" bolte hain. Here's Asma Hindi bolta hai :)