Determinism a film by twin brothers Sanjit and Ranju Majumdar

Determinism is a ultra low budget feature film made by 24 year old identical twin brothers Sanjit and Ranju Majumdar. Sanjit and Ranju were born in Queens, New York to South Asian immigrant parents (father Bangladeshi, mother Indian) and raised in Pompton Lakes, a small, white, working-class town in New Jersey.

Determinism is a story about the dark side of friendship set in racially charged fictional college town in Pennsylvania, where students and drug dealers are often one and the same.

Synopsis

Alec, the film’s anti-hero, is an alienated South Asian. He’s always been an outsider, and he certainly doesn’t fit in here. New York is his Mecca. Tristan, his former best friend and a reformed cokehead, is a white guy, living with Alec’s ex-girlfriend, the beautiful, black Lynn. Tristan thinks he’s got it made.

Broke and cut off from his family after he flunks out of school, Alec sets off to free himself from the stereotypical role of “South Asian Geek” imposed upon him from birth. So opposed to typecasting that he can barely use a computer, he is determined to transcend Determinism — by any means necessary.

MI Indians - Alka Jupudi, professional singer from Canton

Alka Jupudi of Canton, MI is a professional playback singer and Bharathanatyam dancer. Alka teaches Indian classical and folk dances as well as classical and light music in all languages to kids and adults. She performs all over the US and in India.

If interested in learning Indian classical/folk dances please get in touch with Alka at al_rima [at] yahoo [dot] com or you can call her at (734) 340-4715

Here's Alka (Great Voce!!)

Indians in Forbes 400 Richest Americans List

Four men of Indian origin have made it to The Forbes 400 Richest Americans list. They are

• Kavitark Ram Shriram (ranked 281st)
  Net Worth $1.7 billion
  Chennai, India-born entrepreneur started at Netscape 1994. Created shopping site Junglee; sold to Amazon in 1998. Founded Sherpalo 2000, went on to back Yodlee, Zazzle.com (custom T-shirts, mugs, posters, stickers). Early investor, board member of Google still owns 1.3 million shares worth $600 million.
• Bharat Desai and family (ranked 321st)
  Net Worth $1.5 billion
  Born in Kenya, moved to India at age 11. Studied engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, moved to U.S. in 1976 for programming job at Tata Consultancy Services. Founded Syntel with wife, Neerja Sethi, while earning M.B.A. from University of Michigan.
• Amar Bose (ranked 321st)
  Net Worth $1.5 billion
  Started repairing radios in high school after WWII depressed father's import business. Fulbright scholar earned Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. Began research on hi-fi sound. Started Bose Corp. 1964
• Vinod Khosla (ranked 355th)
  Net Worth $1.5 billion
  Green-tech advocate studied engineering at Indian Institute of Technology. Failed at attempt to start soy milk company catering to Indians without refrigerators. Earned biomedical master's at Carnegie Mellon, then Stanford M.B.A. Cofounded electric design automation company Daisy Systems in 1980. Two years later joined Andy von Bechtolsheim, Billy Joy, Scott Nealy to form Sun Microsystems.

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.

Mandy Grewal for Pittsfield Township Supervisor

Please remember Mandy Grewal on August 5th, 2008. She is running for Pittsfield Township Supervisor. Grewal, born in Chandigarh ( India ), came to the U.S. for further studies. She has a PhD in Urban Planning from U-M and has been representing Pittsfield Township on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for the past few years, where she currently serves as Vice-Chair.

Every single vote will count on August 5th – so please take the time to get out, vote and help make history by placing the first South Asian in such a leadership position in Southeast Michigan.

Varsha Sabhnani the torturer gets 11 years in Prison

New York millionaire Varsha Sabhnani was handed down a 11 year sentence today for keeping two Indonesian women as slaves, forcing them to work up to 20 hours a day for years after confiscating their passports.

Indian-born Varsha Sabhnani and her husband, Mahender Sabhnani, were convicted in December of forced labor, peonage, harboring aliens, document servitude and conspiracy in what prosecutors called "a case of modern-day slavery. (more at reuters)

Hey Varsha! guess what you have topped the "Google Hot Trends" list for this hour. Here's a snapshot from my Google Trends page (Note: By the time, you click Varsha might be no longer on the list as it is updated hourly).

Mandy Grewal - Candidate for Pittsfield Township Supervisor

Mandy Grewal an Indian American from Pittsfield Township (Washtenaw County, MI) is running for the post of Pittsfield Township Supervisor. We now see more and more Indian Americans making a mark in mainstream and local politics. This is Great!! And with Mandy Grewal's impressive work and educational background she definitely deserves our support. So spread the word!!

Mandy Grewal born in Chandigarh, India is a 14 year resident of Pittsfield Township (Wahshtenaw County, MI) and has the privilege of serving township residents as their elected County Commissioner. Mandy is also the Vice Chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and is Chair of the County Planning Advisory Board.

Commissioner Grewal has worked and published extensively in the area of domestic violence. She has worked with the National Organization of Women (NOW) in Washington DC to formulate and lobby policies and to present legislation. She served as Commissioner on the Michigan Women’s Commission from October 2001 through July 2003. Commissioner Grewal worked as a Program Specialist with the Great Lakes Commission to promote the bi-national regions environmental and economic prosperity. She also worked at the Washtenaw Development Council to attract and retain businesses in the region.

Mandy's Impressive Educational Background:
Mandy has a PhD in Urban Planning from University of Michigan and a
Master’s in Trade and Planning from Eastern Michigan University. Mandy is also a graduate of the Senior Executives in Local Government program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a graduate of MSU’s Michigan Political Leadership Program. Mandy did her BA in Economics and MA in Public Adminstration from Punjab University.

DJ Naveen - A Michigan Indian DJ with over 11 years experience

Meet DJ Naveen, a Indian DJ from Metro Detroit area who has over 11 years of experience. DJ Naveen has been trained in an intense program that includes music, voice, and audience participation techniques.

In addition to playing the music YOU want to hear, DJ Naveen is fully trained as a party MC!! He can perform introductions, announce special party activities and initiate audience participation, dances to get the party going.

Besides rocking out the Detroit area and all of Michigan, Naveen also performs in Ohio, Indianapolis, Chicago, the entire Midwest, and has done events as far as central America.

Check out this video Naveen has put together which gives you an idea as to what Naveen can do for your upcoming wedding or event. Contact DJ Naveen at (248-797-9707)

Indian Americans excel in 81st National Spelling Bee Competition

Desis rule in the 81st National Spelling Bee Competition which just concluded in Washington D.C.
Samir Mishra of Lafeyette, Indiana wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2008 after spelling guerdon. He wins $35,000 in cash plus more than $5,000 in other prizes. He is 13 years old. Sameer Mishra spelled "guerdon" to win the title.

Coming in 2nd was Sidharth Chand, 12, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan a Detroit Country Day Middle School seventh-grader. This was his first year at the competition.

Congratulations to Samir Mishra and Sidharth Chand

Richa Gangopadhyay of Northville sets her eyes on Bollywood!

Richa Gangopadhyay, Indian Beauty and Miss India USA from Northville, MI is exploring opportunities in modeling and Bollywood.

This is what Richa had to say to NDTVMOVIES

Currently I am little busy with the many responsibilities that have come with the Miss India USA title. Besides this I am also actively exploring modeling and Bollywood.

I will be playing the lead female role in a Hindi movie being made by an independent Indian Director in the US.

I took this opportunity to explore what is involved in movie making and acting. The movie will give me a chance to play a very versatile role of a young woman journalist, settled in New York.

Apart from this, I have acted in school plays, but plan to take refresher classes as soon as I get more time. I was offered a sponsorship last year to attend Anupam Kher's 'Actor Prepares' school. Hope I can do that some day.

I absolutely love Bollyood films and am a huge fan of Hrithik, who is the perfect man in my mind. He is intense, thoroughly professional; master in his art yet a soft-spoken, non-snobbish person in real life.

Shah Rukh Khan has always been one of my all-time favourites from the first time I saw him in Baazigar.

Yes Richa I agree that Hrithik Roshan is a soft-spoken, non-snobbish person, a quality which is rare at that position. Good Luck Richa!

Congratulations to Nipa Shah of Novi, MI

Congratulations to Nipa Shah, President of Jenesys Group, Novi for being honored with "Top 10 Michigan Business Women". She was given the Global Business Award.

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Greater Detroit Chapter honored the Top 10 Michigan Business Women at the 14th Annual Awards Luncheon which took place on March 13 at the Detroit Yacht Club. (Reuters Link).

While accepting the award one of the thing Nipa said was

I strive to be a leader and a mentor. For all the women out there, whether you think about starting your business or want a career change, use me as a resource because I'm sure there is something that I can help you with.

Indian American Couple murdered in their Troy, MI home

This is a real tragedy!. Brij Mohan Chhabra, 65 and his wife Aasha, 55 were shot to death in their home located on Delaware Street in Troy, MI. Two suspects have been arrested and will be arraigned on Thursday, March 13th.

According to Troy Police

To our knowledge the couple did not know the suspects. But we think the suspects sought them out in their home. We don’t know the motive, but we know this was not a random crime.

Observer and Eccentric Newspapers report

Madan Kaura, a longtime fellow yoga teacher of Brij Chhabra at Troy’s Bharatiya Temple, said Chhabra was devoted to a yoga movement that aims to achieve self-realization.

"He was a very special person," said Kaura, of Farmington Hills. "He was a spiritual person."

He said Chhabra enjoyed going to the Detroit Center of Self-Realization Fellowship ranch near Gaylord where retreats, classes and meditation are held. "He used to go there often."

"He was totally clean in every way," he said of his friend’s conduct and life.

Neighbors, meanwhile, said that Aasha Chhabra had multiple sclerosis and so could not leave the house much. She had caregivers come in during the day to take care of her.

Our Deepest Condolences to the friends and family of Brij and Aasha Chhabra.

Indian American is the top winner in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search

Shivani Sud an Indian American who attends Charles E. Jordan High School in Durham, North Carolina won the top prize in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. The winner was announced last night in Washington DC. Shivani Sud won a $100,000 scholarship.

Shivani had submitted a bioinformatics and genomics project to Intel Science Talent Search that focused on identifying stage II colon cancer patients at high risk for recurrence and the best therapeutic agents for treating their tumors.

A versatile student, Shivani Sud is a Teen Court student attorney, a Durham Rescue Mission volunteer and performs classical and modern Indian dance.(via)

There were a total of 40 Finalists from schools across United States as shown in this Google Maps Mashup. (Note: Indian American Shravani Mikkilineni from Michigan who attends Detroit Country Day School was one of the finalists.)

Sita and Manisha Kaura of Bloomfield Hills devise a quick way to learn English, expand vocabulary

Detroit News is reporting that the Indian American, Dad and Daughter duo (Sita and Manisha Kaura) have come with a method to

revolutionize education, to expand vocabularies, to increase understanding, to help everyone feel as passionately about words as they do.

There approach to vocabulary and spelling improvement revolves around 1,500 word parts, most derived from Greek or Latin, that they have identified as the most useful.

According to Dad

If you spent two weeks with us, you would have words coming out your ears.

In fact they have a manuscript ready. It contains 377 pages covering probably 20,000 words, fleshed out to 550 or 600 pages with illustrations.

Dad and Daughter contend that

We should not simply be memorizing words . We should be trained to recognize the fragments that form it, one of the 1,500 word parts they have determined to be key

Here are some examples:

sesquipedalian (I have no idea what this means, but lets follow Sita and Manisha Kaura's approach)

You can break up sesquipedalian into 3 parts: Sesqui, meaning one and a half; remember when Michigan celebrated 150 years of statehood with its sesquicentennial celebration in 1987? Ped, meaning foot. Alian, as in pertaining to words.

Sesquipedalian: as a noun, the word that means, "a long word."

Let's try another word: incommensurable

Sita Kaura pieced together in (not), com (together or consistent with) and mensura (measurement) and correctly defined it as disproportionate, or impossible to measure or compare.

Sita and Manisha!! If you are reading this blog post, do let us know your book title. I am sure lot of us would find it very beneficial.

Note:

Sita Kaura is a doctor who grew up in northwest India, lives in Bloomfield Township and runs a general practice in Southgate. Manisha Kaura is a sophomore at Detroit Country Day who likes tennis, go-karting and mountain biking, and bragged to her close friends about her fifth-grade graduation present -- the 2,662-page, 4-inch-thick, 12 1/2 -pound Webster's Third New International Dictionary.

Congratulations to Narendra Sheth on the 34th Anniversary of "Geetmala" Radio Program in Michigan

Today March 1st 2008, Narendra Sheth completes 34 years of hosting "Geetmala" an Indian Radio Program. Geetmala can be heard every Saturday on WPON 1460AM from 11 AM - 1 PM.

Tune into Geetmala to hear the latest Bollywood hits or yesteryears Bollywood Classics. In addition he does at times interview local Indian personalities.

Once again congratulations Mr. Sheth!! Your radio show has to be the longest (34 years, WOW!!) running Indian Radio Program in Michigan.

Mumbai Beauty Shagun Sarabhai wins Miss India Worldwide Pageant

Mumbai beauty, Shagun Sarabhai, wins the Miss India Worldwide Pageant which was held in Johannesburg, South Africa on February 23rd. Now Shagun Sarabhai has her eyes set on Bollywood.

Michigan Indian Beauty, Richa Gangopadhyay of Northville, MI who also took part in the pageant, unfortunately came up short. Great effort though, Richa!!

Shagun Sarabhai	Richa Gangopadhyay

Thanks to Mumtaz Haque, Rajiv Sanghvi and Subhash Kelkar

Last week was my wife Alka's Birthday and I wanted to surprise her.

So I sent out emails to Michigan Indian Radio Hosts Rajiv Sanghvi (Swar Bahar), Subhash Kelkar (Geetanjali) and Mumtaz Haque (Manoranjan) requesting them to play my wife's favorite song - "Uthe Sab Ke Kadam..." from Bollywood Hindi Movie of 1979, "Baton Baton Mein".

Subhash Kelkar, Mumtaz and Rajiv sent me a prompt reply, agreeing to play the song.

I am glad I did what I did because it had a very positive effect on her. When they announced her name and played the song, there was no pain visible, there was smile and happiness all over.

Once again our thanks and appreciation to Subhash Kelkar (hear him every Saturday from 9 AM - 10 AM on WPON 1460 AM), Mumtaz Haque (hear her every Sunday from 9 AM - 11 AM on WPON 1460 AM) and Rajiv Sanghvi (hear him every Sunday from 11 AM to 12 Noon on WNZK 690 AM)

You can contact them at
Subhash Kelkar - indianradio [at] yahoo [dot] com
Rajiv Sanghvi - mydesimusic [at] gmail [dot] com
Mumtaz Haque - mumtaz1460 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Subhash Kelkar can be heard 24/7 on the web

Michigan's Top Rated Indian Radio Host Subhash Kelkar, also known as "Amin Sayani of Indian Radio in United States", now can be heard 24/7 on the web. (You can also hear him every Saturday from 9AM - 10AM on 1460 AM)

To listen to Subhash Kelkar 24/7 visit eprasaran.com

eprasaran.com has 2 channels, Hindi and Marathi. On the each of the channels, one can hear Hindi/Marathi music "on demand", i.e. click on any active link and the program plays. One can also fast forward & rewind songs at will.

At eprasaran.com Subhash Kelkar's voice can be heard 24/7 in programs without commentary i.e., his voice is heard at the beginning of the hour to introduce the theme of the program followed by non-stop music for an hour.

Youth Leadership Development Program for Indian-American youth

Michigan India Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Youth Leadership Development Program for Indian-American Youth. The purpose of this program is to prepare youths to deal with the challenges and opportunities of working in the global economy.

The classes run from February 23rd thru April 26th 2008. It will be held on Saturdays from 1-2.15 pm.

The Program Brochure states

By participating in this program, youths will develop or enhance their skills in:

• Communication
• Public Speaking
• Team Building &
  Problem Resolution
• Decision Making
• Collaborative Thinking
• Leadership

Check out miicc.com for pricing and other details

Indian Doctors returning back to India

Surendra Garg a Detroit based interventional cardiologist who has over 24 years of experience, is returning back to India. Dr. Garg is joining Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital in Vaishali in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital has been set up by another Indian-American Doctor, Dr. Dinesh Bhargava who decided to return to India. Dr. Bhargava went to Albany in 1974 and did his residency and training at the University of Rochester and the Westchester County Medical Centre. Dr. Bhargava is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Garg tells Times of India

"It is good to return to the motherland. I am really thrilled to be back with a mission to serve people in India that offers you equally promising opportunities. Things have changed a lot over the years,"

S.N. Mishra, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the apex body of Indian doctors has this to say

"Indian health services are witnessing manifold growth in terms of quality and size and they are financially viable too. As a result, many Indian hospitals offer very attractive packages to doctors."

(more at Times of India)