Articles
November 16-30, 2011
| Award-winning film "Bhopali" screens at MIT
On the 27th anniversary of the Bhopal chemical disaster, the MIT Chapter of Students for Bhopal along with the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal commemorated the victims of a disaster that was the result of criminal negligence and an insatiable desire for profit with a free screening of "Bhopali: The Bhopal Disaster is Still Happening" on Dec. 3 at MIT.
| | Bhangra Blast
The eighth annual Boston Bhangra Competition is being touted as a wild success by organizers and attendees alike. The event was held on Nov. 12 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston and played to a packed house of 3,000.
| | Connecticut company to offer health insurance in India
Bloomfield, Conn.-based health services company Cigna Corp. and Indian giant TTK Group have signed a deal to sell a range of health, wellness and insurance products across India, making Cigna the first U.S. insurer to apply for entry into India as part of a stand-alone joint venture health insurance company.
| | Dartmouth professor named top-50 most influential thinker
Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business Professor Vijay Govindarajan was named to The Thinkers50 2011 lists this month. Govindarajan came in at number three, his highest appearance in the ranking to date.
The list is the biennial global ranking of the world's 50 most influential living management thinkers. Created and compiled by Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove, Thinkers50 has established itself as the definitive guide of both thinkers and ideas which have shaped strategic management.
| | Diwali shines on in New Hampshire
 At the start of Diwali season this year, the India Association of New Hampshire held its annual “Diwali Festival” at Nashua North High School in Nashua New Hampshire. The five-hour event featured renowned dance and music teachers Jasmine Shah, Neha Parikh, Sujatha Meyyapan, Sheetal Dwaraka, Amulya Deepak, Shital Botadra, Jyoti Sharma and Sumana Sinha. As per tradition, this grand event included delicious Indian food and melodious music and dance performances. The musical items performed in the show ranged from bhajans to Hindustani classical vocals, while the dance pieces ranged from classical Bharatanatyam performances to the ever-popular Bollywood Dances.
| | Edible Arrangements launches in India
 Edible Arrangements has opened its first store in Mumbai. Last year, Hiten Bajaj, Avinash Khemani and Ishna Batra signed a deal for the development of 20 units throughout India. With this opening, Edible Arrangements is now available to consumers in 14 countries outside the United States and Puerto Rico.
| | Immigration groups to hold citizenship clinic in Boston
In collaboration with Citizenship Works, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition is offering a series of citizenship clinics, offering free assistance to eligible green card holders. The next clinic is on Saturday, Dec. 3, at SEIU Local 614 at 26 West St., Boston, Mass.
The clinic will help attendees determine if they are eligible to become a U.S. citizen. Free naturalization information and application assistance will be offered.
| | MIT professor emeritus, Nobel Prize winner dies in Mass.
H. Gobind Khorana, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Biology and Chemistry emeritus, died of natural causes in Concord, Mass., on Nov. 9. He was 89.
A winner of the 1968 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, Khorana devoted much of his scientific career to unraveling the genetic code and the mechanisms by which nucleic acids give rise to proteins.
| | New report shows Indian students still prefer U.S.
A new report published by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs last week revealed an increase in the number of international students studying in the United States over the past academic year – with Indian students making up 14 percent of the total number of international students studying in the United States.
| | Diwali Delight
United India Association wows 400 with festive celebration
The United India Association of New England held its "Diwali Mela 2011" on Nov. 6 at the Charles E. Brown Middle School in Newton, Mass. The annual event, which is often very well attended, had another stellar year with 400 people coming together for the festive occasion.
The event included: a Diwali pujan, a cultural program, a fashion show, standup comedy, shopping stalls, food stalls, children's activities, and dinner with live music and karaoke.
| | Indian American families bring taste of Diwali to Sudbury school
The parents presented in one elementary and two pre-school classrooms. The presentation was beautifully segmented into four components -- an engaging poster presentation, a craft activity, relishing Indian sweets and distributing goody bags.
The children listened as they were explained that Diwali translates into a row of lamps that are lit on the day of the Diwali, and adorn many homes and streets in India. They were thrilled to see the traditional clay lamps, called diyas and explained how they are lit by filling oil and placing a cotton wick inside. "Can we light a diya now?" -- a request came from the audience.
| | Matinee Masala - November 2011
 As the movie world moves into the busy holiday season, Indian film buffs in the region have a few new releases to gobble up. "Rockstar" -- Released on Nov. 11, "Rockstar" is a musical film starring Ranbir Kapoor and debutant Nargis Fakhri, with music composed by A. R. Rahman. Shammi Kapoor makes his last silver screen appearance in this film.
| | Old is gold: a tribute to O.P. Nayyar
Earlier this month, local music enthusiasts held a rousing tribute to legendary music director O.P. Nayyar. Organized by Siraj Khan, the event, titled "Baar Baar OP," featured Nayyar's music and 16 performers singing his songs karaoke-style. The sound was engineered by Jawed Wahid. Performers included 9-year-old Selina Banerjee who opened the evening with "Chota sa Balma" from the film "Raagini." Hits performed ranged from "Ayye Mehrbaan" from the movie "Howrah Bridge" to "Na Jane Kyon Hamare Dilko" from the film "Mohabbat Zindagi." The five-hour tribute was ended with Nayyar's debut hit "Preetam Aan Milo," which was sung by the entire group of performers as well as the captive audience.
| | Sharon Diwali celebration dazzles
The festival of lights, Diwali, is the most significant of the Indian festivals. It cuts across all religions, social and economic differences and is enjoyed by people all over the world. Diwali is a festive and vibrant occasion that offers a wonderful combination of revelry and tradition. And it brings together families and friends with the same sort of earnestness and excited grandeur as Christmas and Hanukkah.
| | U.S. airlines seek to ground Air India loan deal
The Ex-Im Bank recently approved $1.3 billion in U.S. taxpayer-backed loan guarantees for Air India, and is considering an additional $2.1 billion in loan guarantees, to support the purchase of 30 aircraft, including 27 Boeing 787s for delivery between 2011 and 2015. In a suit filed with the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, ATA asked the court to find the Air India loan-guarantee commitments unlawful, to prevent the loan guarantees from being issued, and to order injunctive relief requiring the Ex-Im Bank to comply with its statutory obligations.
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