Vishwa Hindi Divas Celebrated At Indian Consulate In New York

The Consulate General of India, New York organized a function to celebrate the Viswa Hindi Divas on February 20, 2010, at the New India House.

Around 100 guests including academicians, litterateurs, representatives of ethnic media and people interested in Hindi language and literature attended the event.

Consul General of India, Prabhu Dayal on the occasion, read out the message of Prime Minister of India. In his welcome remarks, Consul General laid emphasis on the need for popularization of Hindi language and exhorted the audience to begin the process by using Hindi at home.

The first session, moderated by Prof. Surindra Gambhir, brought out the efforts for ‘promotion of Hindi’ in USA’. Following presentations were made: Promotion of Hindi in schools by Mrs Sushma Malhotra, Assistant Principal of New York City Department of Education; Status of Hindi teaching in Universities by Dr. Bindeswari Aggarwal of New York University; and Popularization of Hindi in USA by Dr Ved Chaudhary, President of Educator’s Society for the Heritage of India.

In the second session, moderated by Prof. Susham Bedi, patriotic poems in Hindi were recited with a preface of their historical context. Anoop Bhargava recited poems by Mathilisharan Gupta, while Dr.B K Mehta recited work of Ram Naresh Tripathi. Dr P Jayaraman recited poems by

Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and Makhanlal Chaturvedi.

Lively discussions followed after each session. There was unanimity amongst the audience for concerted action to promote Hindi teaching in schools and universities. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by P K Mohanty, Consul (Education).

Discussion Held On Domestic Violence In Memory Of Aasiya Zubair

In commemoration of the first anniversary of Aasiya Zubair’s murder, the Domestic Harmony Foundation (DHF) and Turning Point for Women and Families hosted a joint discussion program

on Sunday February 14, 2010 in Westbury, Long Island. The event aimed to bring a clear and educated understanding of the principles of Islam and address misconceptions about the status and treatment of women. Last year these organizations, both nonprofits providing services for battered women in New York area Muslim communities, strongly condemned the tragic and gruesome beheading of Aasiya Zubair Hassan in Buffalo on February 12, 2009. This year, the two organizations again came together to condemn the latest developments. The alleged murderer, Muzzammil Hassan, former-husband of Aasiya Zubair, has recently hired a new attorney to follow the battered-person defense. The program began with a poetry reading and presentation by the Youth Group of Turning Point, as well as a poetry reading from Domestic Harmony Foundation that moved many to tears. The main presentations were given by Shaida Khan, Executive Director of Domestic Harmony Foundation and by Robina Niaz, founder and Executive Director of Turning Point for Women and Families. Ms. Khan provided a background into the married life of Aasiya Zubair Hassan and Muzzamil Hassan and the history of violence and abuse that pervaded their home life. She shed light on the abusive behavior that Mr. Hassan had inflicted upon his wife and the incidents that created alarm amongst others but never enough to have saved her life. Ms. Niaz followed with an exploration into violence and family life

from the Islamic perspective, which does not condone injustice and violence in any form. The emphasis was put on the utter misconception and untruth assumed by many that Islam not only condones such behavior, but also nurtures it.

The presentations generated a lively discussion, incorporating questions and answers from the audience that lent much thought to various types of domestic violence, patterns of behavior and what organizations can do to engender youth involvement. Consul General of India, Prabhu Dayal

Group Art Exhibition of Diaspora Artists in NJ

The Indo-American Arts Council in collaboration with the Middlesex County College organized, ‘Site of Departure, Source of Arrival’ – a group art exhibition featuring works of diaspora artists who make a connection to their place of origin, expressing their heritage in diverse ways. The opening reception took place in the Studio Theatre Gallery on Thursday, February 25th from 5-7pm. The artists in this exhibition share points of origin and connection in South Asia and the South Asian diaspora - including India, Pakistan, Trinidad and the United States and all presently work in the New York metropolitan area. The artists’ represent new talent among the South Asian artistic community including Sonia Chaudhary, Ruby Chishti, Indrani Nayar-Gall, Asha Ganpat, Nidhi Jalan, Raghava KK, and Satyakam Saha. Amina B. Ahmed, Director of Exhibitions, Indo-American Arts Council said, “We are proud of our mission and the work that we do in educating, building community and promoting awareness of Indian and crosscultural art forms.”

Guest curator of the exhibition, Kathryn Myers, Professor of Art, University of Connecticut elaborated on each artist and the exhibition. She said, “Site of Departure Source of Arrival” is a powerful and
provocative exhibition. It investigates the many ways these artists explore, unveil and reveal difference, identity, religion and culture, expressed through art practice as site and reference. It is an exhibition where a variety of artistic languages, sculpture, installation, video and printmaking invite translation, interpretation and engagement. Many of the works are being shown for the first time. Asha Ganpat, Ruby Chishti have completed works especially for this exhibition. Included are site specific works by Satyakam Saha and Raghva KK a self taught artist, whose recent 2009 solo show in India sold out before the opening night. India’s colonial past and imminent presence provides fresh inspiration for a continuing dialogue about the nature of shifting power relations and identity in Nidhi Jalan’s video “Bangalored”. Sonia Chaudhary’s sumptuous hand-made book evokes the powerful presence of holy books such as the Quran or the Bible. Like Asha Ganpat, Nidhi Jalan and Indrani- Nayar Gall through varying degrees of poignant and potent humor, irony, anger and empathy, are acutely conscious of the gains and losses embodied in the migratory experience.