jÀQ—`[Õ - orissa culture center

@f[Ð, [ÍÒ¯Ð]h jÕ²eZ, LÊcÐe `ËÀàÞcÐ, @Ò Ðae 26, 2013, kÔÊ½_ç

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aÞ»Ê @bÞÒiL LÁ_Ð c¯Ñ ]Ðh 6 bÞlÐ ]c¯«Ñ ckÐ«Þ 7 h¦Þ eË`ÞZÑ cÐ' jÊe\ e\ 8 HZÊ '']ÊÓM'' NÊeÊ QtÍ Ò^ßÐS jÐkÊ 9LÐfÞAe dÐ[ Ae[Ñ _t `[Þ 10 Lf*LÊ ÒcÐe Ae[Ñ _t `[Þ 10 aÒt JXÞA j«Ð_-j«[Þ eOÊ_Ð\ ]Ðj 11 aj« ÍbÐ[Ñ `p_Ð¯L 12 [Òc Ò$eÞ Aj cÑ_ÐlÑ ]r 13 `eÞarà_ cÒ_ÐS LÊcÐe `p_Ð¯L 14 @Á aÞeÐc cÒ_ÐS LÊcÐe `p_Ð¯L 15 S_êÐ½cÑ aÐj«Ñ h[`\Ñ 16 S¯ SN_ðÐ\ _ÞeÊ cÐ Ò]aÑ 17 @cÐ_ÞAÜ _ÞTàe hÑÍc[Þ _ÞeÊ cÐ Ò]aÑ 18 NkêÐ `ÊÒ_BÜ hÍÑ aÞÒaLÐ_t _t 19 bNaÐ_*e c^Ô ÜcÒ_ÐecÐ iX=Ñ 22 $fL Ae[Ñ _t `[Þ 25 dÐB @_ÊLËf hLÊ«fÐ `p_Ð¯L 29 Wedding Ceremoney Surya Narayana Nanda and Sanjukta Pattanaik 31 My Adventures this Year Sumedha Mohanty 34 My Summer Ava Laxmi Dass 35 Sonic vs. Dr. Eggmann Nikhil Sagar 36 The Scriptures Krisha Rath 37 My Trip Back to Washington DC Nishita Kar 38 My Trip to Canada with my Jeje and Maa Anjaneya Kar 39 Thunder Aryan Patra 40 Energy Aryan Patra 40 Road to the Championship Adi Dass 41 My India Trip Anuska Mishra 42 In New Super Mario Bros. World Nilesh Madi Sagar 44 Monster Quest Rishav Mohanty 46 My First Campout Anuj Samal 47 The Ranch Mallesh Maharana 48

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Temples in Orissa Diksha Rath 51 Different Ways of Discrimination Dhara Mohapatra 53 My Confusing Thoughts Shilpita Mitra-Behura 56 Stepping Stone Saswat Pati 58 Colors Saswat Pati 59 Stars Saswat Pati 59 Humans Saswat Pati 60 2013 BSA El Rancho Cima Summer Camp Anuraag Routray 61 Earth in a 1000 Years Shyam N. Panigrahi 64 Amar Bose: a Teacher, Entrepreneur.. Devarun Dass 66 Silver Necklace Ishita (Gini) Patra 68 Ratha Yatra Ishita (Gini) Patra 68 Insecurity Divya Rath 70 Individuality Divya Rath 70 Truth Always Wins Arnav Mohanty 72 A Bunch..... Meha Mohapatra 73 Experience Everything Subrat Mahapatra 74 Lori Goes to College Sangita and Surath Rath 76 PILS Essay Renuka Rege 77 Do You Remember Me? Simba Mitra-Behura 78 Bellatrix : Bella Mohapatra 80 Happy Birthday Mrigaa Alwyn 82 I Bow to Her Amit Kumar Patra 84 The Casualty of Convenience Soumya Rege 88 Why I Drive a High-Value Car? Gopal Mohapatra 90 Houston Ratha Jatra System Raghu Dass 92 Lord Jagannath’s Miracle: A Gift of Life Arati Nanda Pati 94

In Memorium 46 Late Monorama Sarangi Swayamprava Misra 99 Professor Benudhar Pradhan Satyajit Pradhan 100

OCC Accounts details 104Directory 105

Children Directory 105 Telephone Directory 111 Address Directory 115


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`Ío] `p hÞÁÑ: ¯ÊÒ_Ô_ç HaÕ Ò]aÐ_t

Alata

An Annual Magazine of the Oriya Community of the Greater Houston Area

Editor: Arati Nanda Pati

Youth Editor: Rook Sahu

Cover page: Yunuen and Debananda


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Cover Page Description: Front Cover Page: Malisha Pattanaik and Ramakanta Epili’s Wedding. The grand ceremony took place at the Hilton Americas in Downtown Houston on August 17, 2013. Acharya Dr. Surya Narayan Nanda conducted the Vedic rites to proclaim Ramakanta and Malisha as husband and wife in front of an enthusiastic audience. Approximately 500 guests attended the wedding organized by the girl’s parents, Dr. Deepak Pattanaik and Mrs. Sanjukta Pattanaik. The wedding was followed by a lavish reception. It was a unique Odia Madhur Milan that many Odia residents saw for the first time in Houston, USA. The thread of connection between the Epili (Dr. Duryodhan Epili and Mrs. Sabitri Epili) and the Pattnaik’s families drew every Odia closer to the basics of cultural perimeter. Prior to the wedding, Mrs. Pattanaik performed all Odia rituals, Jai Anukula, Mangana, and Dian Mangula along with ladies from the community to establish an Odia village away from home land.

Back Cover Page: Odia Jhoti by Suman Samal. This alpana or chita was created by Suman on the eve of 6th Annual Houston Rath Yatra at the doorsteps of BAPS Haveli, Houston on July 14, 2013. The unique art form on the front courtyard and altar’s of Tulasi plant is made from the rice paste. It is considered to be auspicious and important in odian life style. It brings luck and happiness to every home during Manabasa Gurubars , months of Kartik and Margashir, and festivals and festivities of ceremonial weddings . With the help of the community ladies, Suman created a magnificent alpana this year to welcome guests warmly. Later this alpana was highly appreciated for its size, shape, and designing details. This was published in Houston Chronicle, the leading daily News Paper of Houston on July 15, 2013. The picture of the infant Jhoti was taken by Suman Samal herself.


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cÊMÔ j Ð]ÞLÐ LÊcÐe `ËÀàÞcÐ (@Ò Ðae 26, 2013)

New Born Babies

Risha Tripathy

Daughter of Dibyojyoti Tripathy & Shalaka Kotkar‐Tripathy.Born on January 16, 2013

Daughter of Sambit Satpathy and Jayashree Hota.Born on August 1, 2013

Saachi Satpathy

Son of Sankarsan Sahoo & Tanima Sahoo. Born on 14 June 2011.

Daughter of Bikram Singh & Samina Sahoo. Born on Nov 15, 2012.

Sahil Sahoo

Aarnavi Singh

Congratulations to our Graduates

Subrat Mahapatra Graduated from Memorial High School and joined Trinity

University, is the son of Dr. Shailendra Mahapatra and Mrs. Jochhna Mahapatra.

Smruti RathGraduated from Michael E. DeBakey High School and joined

Washington University in St. Louis, is the daughter of Mr. Surath Rath and Mrs. Sangita Rath.

Priyasha PatelGraduated from Katy High School and joined McCombs School

of Business, at University of Texas, Austin is the daughter of Mr. Pradeep Ku. Patel and Mrs. Josha Manjari Patel.

Renuka Rege Graduated from Rice University and joined Harvard School of Law,

is the daughter of Dr. Ajay Rege and Mrs. Soumya Rege.

This is an illustrated story that Akanksha Acharya (Khusi), daughter of Sontoshi and Aruni had

authored for Houston PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) writer's contest for which she was awarded at

PBS writer's contest award celebration 2013.

The End

Swapnil (Neel) Rao Botu Son of Sunil Kumar & Sudeepta

Kumari

By Harman Tripathy Son of Dibyojyoti & Shalaka

Arpan Dutta Son of Satya & Sushri Sangita

- by Arpan

Page-1

-by Arpan

- by Arpan

-by Arpan

Ishita is 6 years old, goes to Bonnie Holland elementary school in Katy. She is the daughter of Gyanendra and Sarita Patra. She loves to draw, paint, read, sing and dance. She has put everything in her heart map which is close to her heart.

Ishita’s Heart Map

Nikhil Sagar

Son of Bidyasagar & Vanishree

Aryan Singh Son of Bikram Singh & Samina Sahoo.

Siddhant Satpathy son of Sambit Satpathy & Jayashree Hota

Siddhant

Orissa Culture Center (OCC)Cultural Events

2012-2013

Boita BandanaNovember 24, 2012

Photo by Sunil Sahoo

Bhoomi Puja, OCC Land, 2002 DeSoto St.November 25, 2012Photo by Sunil Sahoo

Ratha JatraJuly 14, 2013

Photo by Ananta Patel

Ganesh PujaSeptember 15, 2013

Ram Leela, October 19, 2013

Malisha weds Ramakanta , August 17, 2013


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Mrs. Kalpana Mayee Dash is the sister-in-law of Mr. Mrutyanjaya Pani of Katy. She lives in Minneapolis for the past 30+ years. She worked for the UAS laboratory till this year from where she retired as an office manager. During her spare time she started writing her poems and finally the poems took the form of CD. She is originally from Kamakhya Nagar (Dhenkanal) and her late father was a school superintendent. Last year her CD was released by Prativa Ray and Santunu Acharya in Bhubaneswar.


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Smt. Damayanti Mohanty is Bindi’s Khudi who lives in Urali village near cuttack. She is a member of Sahitya Mahila Samiti.


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eMÞaÊ_Þ ÒcÐÒ[ ÒLÐfÒe Ò[Ðe ?

~~~~~~~ jcÐ© ~~~~~~~~

2013 cÐ LÐfÑ* `ËSÐ D`mÒl HB `ÍÐ\à_Ð VÞ jc`àÞ[ LeÞRÞ Ð


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_ÞS AMÞÒe ÒkÐBRÊ ÒaÐfÞ Ð


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aj« ÒNÐ ! [ÊÒc AjÞa ÒaÐmÞ

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cmâÑ dÊBe cÐ]LbeÐ cf¯ cÒ[ `Ícr LmÐ @Ò`lÐ \ÞmÐ ÒjB @có[ cÊkËràLÊ . . . ;

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aÊTÐBaÐ `ÐBÜ MÐmÞ RÞXÐ ASÞ LÐWNXÐ cÒ^Ô Aj\Òe aÊTÞdÐ@ ÒcÐ' SÑa_e aÞah[Ð

ÒcÐ aÊLÊe ÒLÐk DWÞ [Êc aÊLÊ \eÐH_Þ ÒaÐmÞ c_ [Êc QkmÞ_Þ ÒLÒa . . . ;

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[Êce jcª Òaßba jéÐ\à e bÐÒa mÊVÞRÞ @Ò_L `eÞÒhÐ^e jÊÒdÐN ]Þ@

Aj cÐÒ[Í \Òe ÒcÐ' ]ÊAÒe Mrs. Prabhati Patnaik is from Berhampur, Ganjam. She is the mother of Soudamini Mishra's close friend Dr. Manoj Kumar Patnaik. . Mrs Pravati Patnaik has contributed lot of stories, essays, poems in daily news papers, and different Oriya magazines published in Ganjam area. She has also published an Odiya novel "Srabani", and another is on its way.


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- ccÑ_ÐlÑ ]r (j[Ô ]re cÐ) `WÐCR«Þ JXÞhÐeÊ !


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Crash Course AD Capsule Course Òe ÒhÍZÑNóke jÊy Í[ÞÒdÐNÞ[Ð

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`ÞmÐ* jÐ=jÐ\Þe kÞjÐa _ÞLÐj QÐmÞRÞ Facebook Òe ]ÊAe cÊkÜÒe hÊbÊ_Þ XÐLaÐmÐe QÞkðÐQÞkðÐ jée QÞWÞe cÞWÐ cÞWÐ hv jaÊ

kSÞdÐBRÞ S.M.S., e-mail Òe Ò$Ð_çe VÞÍÕ VÞÍÕ hvLÊ ÒQÐeÐBÒ_BRÞ ÒcÐaÐHmçe @[ÔÐ^Ê_ÞL eÞÕ-ÒVÐ_ç j=Ñ[e hv jÕÒdÐS_Ð mÊQÞdÐBRÞ A^Ê_ÞL[Ðe `ÍÒm`Òe RtbeÐ NÑ[ cËoà_Ð Ò[ÐfÊRÞ ÒLaf @[Ñ[e jê ó[ÞÒe _Ë[_[Ðe ]éÐkÞ Ò]B HÒa j=Ñ[ LeÊRÞ A_c_Ð [\Ð`Þ cÊÜ AhÐaÐ]Ñ... SfQLÍ, F[ÊQLÍ èÞ BH ÒkÐB`ÐÒe HL QLÍ HB èÞarà_eÊ arÞàaÐ `ÐBÜ ÒmÐXÐ LZ AD HL aÞarà_...


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@Á aÞeÐc -XÓ cÒ_ÐS LÊcÐe `p_Ð¯L @[Ñ[LÊ jÐDÜVÞ jÐDÜVÞ aràcÐ_ jk jÐmÞjç LeÞ jtÞkÐ_ ÒkÐBdÐBRÞ baÞiÔ[ jaÊ LÞRÞ N[Ð_ÊN[ÞL eËÒ` QÐmÞ\ÞaÐ ÒaÒf SÑa_Òe @QÐ_L AjÞdÐH ÒVmÞbÞS_ ^ÐeÐaÐkÞLÒe AjÞaÐ èÞ @Á aÞeÐc c_VÐ jÊèÒjÐ_ÞLç ÒSVç ÒaNÒe N[ÞLÒm c^Ô aqÞaÐLÊ kÊH d]Þ, LÞ«Ê, è«Ê c^ÔÒe jc÷Ða_Ð jaÊ `ÐmVÞdÐH `Íhð QÞkð Dre ÒMÐSÊ ÒMÐSÊ c_ ÒkÐBDÒW A_c_Ð `ÊZÞ\Òe SÑa_Òe jqeÞ ]Þ@«Þ hÍÐaZ, $NÊZ AD Ló»QËXÐ `ÍÒ[ÔL `Íhðe cÞfÞdÐH @jÕMÔ Dre, ÒjB Dre jaÊ Ò]B\ÐH ANLÊ aYÞaÐe @$Êe« h¦Þ aqÞaÐe _ËA HL aÐkÐ_Ð Ð SÑa_e ÒafÐbËcÞÒe hÐcÊLÐ jÐDÜVÊ jÐDÜVÊ cÞfÞdÐH @QÐ_L cÊ¦Ð ÊZÞ cÞfÞ\ÐH ÒaÒf ÒaÒf ceÑQÞLÐ

HB kj-mÊk, jÊM-]ÊÓM, AhÐ-jé`ð bÞ[Òe cÞfÞ\ÐH SÑa_e @_ÊbË[Þ ÒjB @_ÊbË[Þ AZÞ]ÞH `ÊZÞ LÞRÞ _ËA LeÞaÐe Ò`ÍeZÐ SÑa_ jÐ` hÞXÞ ÒMf bÞ[Òe AD \Òe aÞhéÐj LeÞaÐLÊ BoÐkÊH ÒjB @]óhÔ h¦Þ, aÞhé_Þ¯«Ð*Ê ...

Dr. Manoj Kumar Patnaik is a close friend of Soudamini Mishra. Currently he is working as a reader, and geologist in Khallikote College, Berhampur.


16

S_êÐ½cÑ - S_ê]Þ_e hÊÒboÐ -aÐj«Ñ h[`\Ñ

Òk Ló» ... ASÞ S_êÐ½cÑ, [Êce S_ê]Þ_ `ÍbË jaÊ ÒmÐL* jkÞ[ cÊÜ [Êc ctÞeLÊ NmÞ [ÊcLÊ S_ê]Þ_e hÊÒboÐ SZÐBaÐ `ÐBÜ bÐeÞ BoÐ ÒkD\ÞmÐ LkÞaÐLÊ 'kÐ Þ aÐ\à ÒX' , bÐeÞ BoÐ ÒkD\ÞmÐ LkÞaÐLÊ "Òc_Þ Òc_Þ kÐ`Þ eÞV_àjç @$ç ]Þ ÒX ' [Êc `ÐBÜ LÞRÞ Ò_B dÞaÐLÊ QÐkÞÜmÞ ]¯Ðc¯ ... cÐ[Í dÐkÐ bÐaÞmÞ Òj jaÊ[ [Êce Ò]¯ `ÍbË ... ÒkÒm ctÞeÒe [ÊcLÊ Ò]MÞmÐ `Òe ÒLSÐZÞ LÐkÞÜLÞ ÒcÐ AMÞeÊ @aÐeÞ[ @hÍÊ ÐeÐ akÞNmÐ WÞLç bÐ]Ía cÐje ÒeÐkÞZÑ aói _l[Í @½cÑ [Þ\Þ eÐ[ÍÞe aiàÐ^ÐeÐ `eÞ [ÊcLÊ LÞRÞ LkÞ `ÐeÞmÞ_Þ LÞRÞ Ò]BaÞ `ÐeÞmÞ_Þ MÐmÞ kÐ[ `Ð[Þ cNÞ\ÞmÞ - Òk cÐ^a, ÒLha, c ÊjË]_ 'JÜ LÞâÕ Ló»Ð¯ ÒNÐaÞtÐ¯ ÒNÐ`Ñ S_ amâbÐ¯ JÜ _ÒcÐ - bNaÒ[ aÐjÊÒ]aÐ¯' HkÞ c§ ÒcÐ [Ê¨Òe [Êc S_ê ]Þ_ `ÐBÜ NÐ_ ÒkD ÍbË Ð 'jÒaà ba«Ê jÊMÑ_ jÒaà j«Ê _ÞeÐc¯Ð ' H hÊÒboÐe c§ jcª* `ÐBÜ [Êc S_ê]Þ_e D`kÐe ÒkD ...

Smt. Basanti Satapathy is Jayashree Hota’s mother-in-law. She is the wife of Prof. Dr. Niranjan Satapathy. She is a devoted social worker and homemaker.


17

S¯ SN_ðÐ\ -hÑÍc[Ñ _ÞeÊ`cÐ Ò]aÑ

LÐkÐLÊ LZ Ò]BR SNÒ[,

Òj L\Ð @SZÐ ÒcÐÒ[ ÒcÐ `ÐBÜ [Êc @$Êe« bÐa @_ÊbÒa @aÞeÒ[ Ð Òj ]ÞH jÐkj H "bajÐNe', DaÊVÊaÊeÊ DwÐe ']]eÐ _DLÐ' ÒbfÐ aÊXÞa_Þ jkSÒe ÒkaÞ `Ðe Ð LkÞÜLÞ '_DLÐ' ]]eÐ LeÞm '[ÊcL'Ê jÞ_Ð [Ð SZÐ cÜÊ MÐmÞ SÐZÞRÞ ^eÞZ '[ÊcL'Ê ÒkaÞ _ÐkÞÜ aÐV aZÐ Ð LeÞaÞ_Þ bÊmç `Ð[e @«e QfÊ\ÞaÐ QfZÞÒe ÒdZÊ '[ÊÒckÞÜ ' @«Òe \ÐB QfÐ@ _Þ[Þ `Í[Þ cËkÊràÒe Ð dÞH ÒdÒ[ LkÊ `l`Ð[ Le cÜÊ SÐZB [Ð j[Ô _ÊkÜ [Êce ]ÑlÐÒe ]ÑlÞ[e kÑ_ bÐa_Ð LÞ`eÞ LÐkÊÜ AjÞa LÊk? QLÍÑ [ÊÒc, QLÍ jc OÊeÐDR H aÞhÐf jÕjÐe Òj jÕjÐe QÒLÍ ÒcÐ jÕjÐe OÊeÊRÞ jÐkÐ '[Êc' bÊS[f Ð `ÍÞ¯ S_ `ÐBÜ NÊkÐeÞLÊ ÒcÐe ÒmÐb ÒaÐmÞ bÐa _ÐkÞÜ [ÐkÐaÞ '[ÊceÞ' _ÞÒ~àÒh LeÊRÞ bËm_Ð HkÐ 'ÒNÐjÐBÜ ' Ð [ÊÒc ÒcÐe "`ÍbË' cÊÜ [Êc ÒjaÞLÐ HkÐ @_Ô SÐZÞ LÞaÐ mÐb? HkÞ bejÐeÊ [ÞÒf _ kVÐ@ LËÒf mNÐ@ "]]eÐ_Ða' Ð


18

@cÐ_ÞAÜ _ÞTàe -hÑÍc[Þ _ÞeÊ`cÐ Ò]aÑ

H c_ HèÞ @cÐ_ÞAÜ jÊ@, cÐÒ_ _ÐkÞ @aLÊf, ÒLÒ[ ÒaÒf Òj ÒLDÜ AÒX dÐH, ÒMÐÒS_Ð A`ZÐ Oe Ð ÒdDÜWÞ \ÐH Òj AkeZ LÒe, ÒjWÐe cÊ¦ à_, jó½Þ LeÞ _ËA _ËA Ò`Íc NÑ[, NÒY hË_ÔÒe SÑa_ Ð QÞWÞ ÒmÒM Òj "@aÞÒ_hée' *Ê bm ct aÐrÐà SZÐB, SN[, kÐm, keL[ç @SZÐ LÞ "[Ð*Ê", [Ð `ÐÒe_Ð _ÞSLÊ aÊTÐB Ð 'LÊt $Êm' Ò[ÐfÞ hÊbÍ cÐfÐ NÊxÞ 'cÐ[Ð' 'jejé[Ñ'*Ê `ÞuÐH, mÊkÒe Ò^ÐB L³fÒaÐfÐ AMÞ, kjÒe c Ê TeÐH Ð "@eÊZ eÐNLÊ' jc÷ÐiZ LÒe, aÐV a[ÐB "ÒNÐ^ËfÞ' e "c¯Ëe'*Ê `QÐÒe "ÒcOe' WÞLZÐ "hÞhÞe' LÊ "LÐLe' e Ð

"$NÊZ" LÊ SZÐH $Êm* DmâÐj '`ÐkÐX'LÊ 'hÞfÐ'e ÒhÍº[Ð 'ÒaßhÐM TÐ&Þ' LÊ aÐÒVÐB AZÞ SZÐH 'aiÐà'e c^Êe[Ð Ð 'cÐO'e hÑ[LÊ A]Òe ÒLÐfB 'AiÐY'LÊ cÒ_ TÊeÞB, "e\dÐ[ÍÐ'e àÞ[Í A_t jÐNÍÒk eÒk @_ÐBÜ Ð aZÒe aÊmÞ "hÐf$Êm' jÐDÜVÞ "TeZÐ' `ÐZÞLÊ ÒMÐÒS LZ ÒMÐÒS Òj A`ZÐ bÞ[Òe _SÐZÞ _ÞÒS Òj kÒS Ð "HBc_' [Ðe @[Þ A`ZÐe aÐÃÞ Ò]a LÞ LÐkÐLÊ Ò_Òa d]Þ 'Òj' kÐ[ `Ò[B ÒLaf Ò]aVÞ "[ÐkÐ*Ê' Ð @aÞhÐÍ« ^ÐBÜ \£Ð cÐÒe _ÐkÞÜ, ÒjkÞ[ cc[Ð c¯Ñ Ð bfÞLÞ bfÞ, A_Òt c³Ê\ÐH "Òj HL `ÐkÐXÞ _C' Ð

hÑÍc[Ñ _ÞeÊ`cÐ Ò]aÑ hcàÑºÐe AC Ð Òj jÊmlZÐ, LÒmS ÒeÐX, ÊeÑÒe jèÞaÐe aÐj Le«Þ Ð


19

NkêÐ `ÊÒ_BÜ

-hÍÑ aÞÒaLÐ_t _t

ÒcÐ aX TÞ@ _Þ_Þ (Ae[Ñ) @_ÊÒeÐ^ LeÞaÐeÊ

NkêÐ `ÊÒ_BÜ aÞi¯Òe ÒcÐÒ[ dÐkÐ SZÐ [ÐkÐ ÒmMÊRÞ Ð kÞtÊ jÕ²ó[ÞÒe [\Ð Ac JXÞhÐÒe aÐe dÐ[eÐ Ò[e ÊÒ_B `Ðf_ LeÐdÐH Ð HkÐ `Ð&Þ NZ_Ð D`Òe A^ÐeÞ[ Ð aÞÒhiLeÞ JXÞhÐÒe ]ÊBVÞ `Ð&Þ `ÍQfÞ[ Ð ÒNÐVÞH ÒkDRÞ SN_ðÐ\ `Ð&Þ J @_ÔVÞ aÞeSÐ `Ð&Þ Ð HkÞ `Ð&ÞÒe [Þ\Þ aÐe, jÕLÍÐ«Þ B[ÔÐ]Þ DÒmâM \ÐH Ð ÒdDÜ @qfÒe ÒdDÜ `Ð&Þ c_ÐdÐH ÒjkÞ @qfÒe ÒjkÞ ]Þ_ cÐ_*Òe àà `Ðf_ LeÐdÐH Ð Ò[Òa ÊÒ_BÜ àà cÐ_ÞaÐ @Ò_LÐÕhÒe yÐ_ aÞÒhiÒe `ÍbÐaÞ[ ÒkÐB DZÐ @ ÞL ALÐeÒe `Ðf_ LeÐdÐH Ð @cÐaÐjÔÐÒe ÒdèÞ jÐaÞ[ÍÑ aÍ[, ]Þé[Ñ¯ÐÒe bÐ[ó ]Þé[Ñ¯Ð, [ó[Ñ¯ÐÒe @l¯ [ó[Ñ¯Ð, NÒZi Q[Ê\àÑ, hÍÑ `qcÑ, hÞ[f iºÑ, cÐO j©cÑ, eÐ^Ð½cÑ, S_êÐ½cÑ, eÐc_acÑ, ]hkeÐ, HLÐ]hÑ, jÕLÍÐ«Þ [\Ð ËÀàcÑ [Þ\Þ jÐ=Òe HjaÊ àà AjÞ\ÐH Ð Ac @qfÒe d]ÞJ cLe jÕLÍÐ«ÞLÊ ÒmÐÒL Òahç SÐLScLÒe `Ðf_ Le«Þ J ^_Ñ WÐeÊ NeÞa `dàÔ« jcÒª _ËA a± ^ÐeZ LeÞ dÐa[Ñ¯ jéÐ]Þ½ MÐ]Ô MÐB\Ð«Þ [\Ð`Þ NkêÐ `ËÀàcÑLÊ c^Ô Òahç A_t DmâÐjÒe `Ðf_ LeÞ\Ð«Þ Ð NkêÐ àà hÍÐaZ `ËÀàcÑÒe LeÐdÐH Ð HkÞ]Þ_ ÒNÐ`ËSÐ ÒkÐB\ÐH Ð HkÞ `ÊÒ_BÜe `ÍªÊ[Þ WÞLç eS

jÕLÍÐ«Þ [Þ_Þ ]Þ_ cÐ_Þ jÐeÞaÐ `Òe QÞ[ÐmÐNÞ @cÐaÐjÔÐeÊ Aec÷ kÊH Ð HkÞ @cÐaÐjÔÐÒe QÞÒrÐD `ÞWÐ MÐB jÐeÞaÐ `Òe Oee ±Ñ ÒmÐL cÐÒ_ _ÞS _ÞS Oee LÐxÒe LfÐ `VÐ èÞ LfÐ e=Òe jSÐB ]Þ@«Þ Ð @cÐaÐjÔÐe WÞLç è `ËÀàcÑ, NkêÐ `ÊÒ_BÜ `dàÔ« ÒjkÞ LfÐ ÒaÐfÐ ÒkÐB\ÞaÐ SÐNÐÒe QÞ[Í @*_ Le«Þ Ð jcª*e QÞ[Í LeÞaÐe @bÔÐj _\ÐH J HkÐ ÒLaf ±Ñ ÒmÐLcÐÒ_kÞÜ Le\Ð«Þ Ð Ò[ZÊ jÐkÞ `XÞhÐÒe ÒdDÜ cÐÒ_ SÐZÞ\Ð«Þ ÒjcÐ_*Ê XÐLÞ AZÞ `Í\Òc MXÞÒe QÞ[Í Le«Þ Ð `ÊZÞ ÒjkÞ MXÞ QÞ[Í D`Òe AÒª AÒª QÞ[ÐmNÞ @cÐaÐjÔÐ ]Þ_ WÐeÊ `ÊÒ_BÜ `Ëaà]Þ_ `dàÔ« @eÊA QÐDfe `ÞÒWÐDÒe jeÊ aÐDÜh LÐWÞÒe jcª QÞ[Í D`Òe cXÐB Ò]B LÐxÒe QÞ[Ð aÐ ÒTÐVÞ [ÞAeÞ Le«Þ Ð


20

NkêÐ `ÊÒ_BÜ aÞÒhi LeÞ afb]Í* S_ê ]Þ_ DÒ~hÔÒe `Ðf_ LeÐdÐH Ð Òj NÐC Ò`VeÊ S_ê ÒkÐB\ÞaÐeÊ Òj\ÞÒe ]ÊBVÞ NÐC QÞ[Í LeÐdÐB\ÐH Ð ÒNÐVÞH `ÐMÒe Nbà bÞ[Òe \ÞaÐ J @_ÔVÞ NÐC jkÞ[ RÊA lÑe `ÞD\ÞaÐ QÞ[Í ÒkÐB\ÐH Ð [Ð D`eLÊ afb]Í, jÊb]ÍÐ, SN_ðÐ\ J @_ÔÐ_Ô Ò]aÐÒ]aÑ [\Ð `hÊ `lÑ, jeÑjó , _ÞhÊZÞ B[ÔÐ]Þ ÒdÒ[ `Ðe«Þ LeÞ\Ð«Þ Ð NkêÐ ÊÒ_BÜ ]Þ_ jLÐfÊ DWÞ NÐÒ^ÐB jÐeÞ Oee ±Ñ ÒmÐLcÐÒ_ LÐLeÐ `ÞWÐ LeÞ\Ð«Þ Ð `Òe ÒjkÞ QÞ[Í D`Òe ÒNÐae, `B[Ð, $Êm, Qt_ B[ÔÐ]Þ Ò]B `ÞWÐe ÒbÐN Le«Þ Ð ÒdDÜ `ÞWÐVÞ ÒbÐN LeÐdÐB\ÐH [ÐLÊ NÐCLÊ MÐBaÐLÊ ]ÞAdÐH Ð JXÞhÐ LóiÞ `Í^Ð_ eÐSÔ `ÐBÜ ÒNÐ ckÞcÐ @RÞ Ð Ò[ZÊ jLÐfÊ `Í\Òc NÐC af]* jÞ=Òe Ò[m jÞtÊe mNÐB $Êm cÐf `ÞuÐB ]Ñ`Òe atÐB mÊZ MÐBaÐLÊ ]ÞAdÐH Ð Òj]Þ_ [Ð*e d_ú c^Ô _ÞAdÐH Ð NÐÜÒe AN NÐCÒNÐeÊ* NÊkÐf NÊXÞL LnÐ Oe \ÞmÐ Ð Ò[ZÊ M[ cÊ[Òe NÐ[ ÒkÐB dÐD\ÞmÐ Ð NkêÐ `ÊÒ_BÜ ]Þ_ cÊeÊc cÐVÞ AZÞ MÐm YÞ` brÞà LeÞ ]ÞA dÐD\ÞmÐ Ð

NkêÐ jaÊ ÊÒ_BÜ c^ÔÒe ÒhÍº Ð Ò[ZÊ ÞWÐ `ZÐ[ kÊH, HkÐ aÔ[Ñ[ jéÐ]Þ½ jaÊ ÍLÐee MÐ]Ô `Ð_Ñ¯ ÒmÐÒL _ÞS _ÞS h¦Þ @_ÊjÐÒe LeÞ\Ð«Þ Ð [ÐRXÐ Òj]Þ_ Ac NÐÜÒe AÒc ÒdÒ[ÒaÒf ÞmÐ \ÞmÊ _ÐWÞc (_VÊ `eÞ LÞ«Ê _VÊ _ÊÒkÜ) ÒMf ÒMfÊ\ÞmÊ Ð HkÞ]Þ_ Ac @qfÒe aÍÐkêZcÐÒ_ ÒdDÜcÐ__*e aÍ[ _ÐkÞÜ d\Ð l[ÍÞ¯ , M¨Ð¯[, [\Ð @_ÔÐ_Ô aNàe ÒmÐL bËAÜ, N¨, cÐkÐ« A]Þ*Ê `B[Ð ÞuÐB LÞRÞ ÒeÐSNÐe LeÞ\Ð«Þ Ð NÐÜÒe A]ÞaÐjÑ ÒhÍZÑe TÞ@cÐÒ_ Òj]Þ_ RÊVÞ \ÞaÐeÊ Oe Oe dÐB c_ DmâÐjÒe NÑ[ NÐB _ÐQ c^Ô LeÞ\Ð«Þ Ð Òj]Þ_ ÒjcÐ_*e c_ MÊaç `Í$Êmâ \ÐH Ð LÐeZ HkÞ jc¯Òe QÐi LÐce hÍcÞL cÐ_*e ÒeÐSNÐe bm ÒkÐB\ÐH Ð ^Ð_ aRÐ jc¯Òe jcÒª cSÊeÑ @Ò`lÐ LÊ[ÞA (WÞLÐ) Ò_B\Ð«Þ Ð dÐkÐ$fÒe ÒjcÐÒ_ cSÊeÑe 3/4 NÊZ @^ÞL ÒeÐSNÐe LeÞ\Ð«Þ Ð HkÞ NkêÐ `ÊÒ_BÜe AD HL aÞÒhi[é @RÞ dÐkLÞ eÐlÑ au_ Ð bDZÑ bÐBLÊ eÐlÑ aÐuÞ ]ÞH Ð jÐcÐ_Ô jË[Ð MÞH LÞ«Ê HkÐe ck[é akÊ[ Ð bDZÑ bÐBLÊ c\ÐÒe Qt_ mNÐB ^Ë`Òe atÐB bÐBe jcª c=f LÐc_Ð LeÞ [ÐLÊ elÐ LeÞa ÒaÐmÞ eÐlÑ aÐuÞ]ÞH Ð [Ð a]fÒe bÐB c^Ô bDZÑLÊ LÞRÞ D`kÐe ]ÞH Ð HkÞ au_ ]éÐeÐ cc[Ð O_Þ½ kÊH Ð


21

NkêÐ `ËÀàcÑLÊ _ÐeÞÒLf `ËÀàcÑ c^Ô LÊkÐdÐH Ð jcÊ]Í _ÐaÞL cÐÒ_ _ÐeÞÒLf jcÊ]Í Ò]a[Ð*Ê

]Þ@«Þ Òd ÒjcÐ_*e dÐ[ÍÐÒe Òd`eÞ ÒLßÐZjÞ l[Þ _ OÒV Ð HkÞ ]Þ_LÊ c^Ô jÕ²ó[ bÐiÐ ]Þaj eËÒ` `Ðf_ LeÐdÐH Ð

Sri Bibekananda Nanda is the father of Dr. Arati Nanda Pati of Houston, TX. He lives at Bolani, Keonjhar, Odisha. He worked as a Foreman; Workman Inspector for the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). He was the secretary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Bolani Branch. With his untiring dedication and leadership, Bolani mines became a part of the SAIL in 1979. He is a social worker and reformer. Currently, he is associated with Basundhara. For preparing this article, he visited his native village Sarei, Keonjhar and took few pictures of the Gamha Purnima celebration on August 21, 2013.


22

bNaÐ_*e c^Ô Ò$Ð_ç @RÞ

- ÜcÒ_ÐecÐ iX=Ñ

AÒceÞLÐÒe ekÊ\ÞaÐ jaÊ JXÞA `Ê@, TÞ@ J

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aÐÒmhée dÞaÐe LÞRÞ ]Þ_ `ËaàeÊ ÒcÐe $ÊmÒLÐaÞ MÐBaÐLÊ akÊ[ BoÐ ÒkD\ÞmÐ Ð ÒkÒm ÒjÒ[ÒafLÊ ÒLÐaÞ @cf F[Ê jeÞ dÐB\ÞaÐeÊ aSÐeÒe AD $ÊmÒLÐaÞ cÞfÊ _ \ÞmÐ Ð Ò[ZÊ cÊÜ $ÊmÒLÐaÞ MÐB`ÐeÊ _ \ÞmÞ HaÕ Òj\Þ`ÐBÜ ÒcÐe c_ c^Ô MeÐ` ÒkD\ÞmÐ Ð [ÒccÐÒ_ bÐaÊ\Þa Òd N` cTÞÒe kWÐ[ç $ÊmÒLÐaÞ ÒLÐDWÊ AjÞmÐ ? ÒkÒm ÒcÐ @_ÊbË[Þ jk $ÊmÒLÐaÞe jcç`Là L'Z Òj L\Ð `Òe SÐZÞa Ð aÐÒmhéeÒe jÊVÞÕ QÐmÊ\ÞaÐ jc¯Òe kWÐ[ç ]ÞÒ_ jLÐÒf SÐZÞmÞ Òd Òj]Þ_ juÔÐÒafLÊ LÞRÞ jÊVÞÕ LÐdàÔLÍc _ÐkÞÜ Ð Ò[ZÊ cÊÜ _ÞÒ~àhL*Ê @_ÊÒeÐ^ LeÞ LkÞmÞ Òd, 'ÒcÐÒ[ juÔÐ Af[Ñ ÒafLÊ ÒecÊZÐe lÑeÒQÐeÐ ÒNÐ`Ñ_Ð\ ctÞe Ò_BQÐm Ð cÊÜ ÒjWÞ @_ð`ÍjÐ] MÐBaÞ Ð d]Þ @_ð`ÍjÐ] _ cÞÒf, [ÐkÐ ÒkÒm cÊÜ AcÞi QÊmÞÒe _ÞeÐcÞi ÒeÐÒiB LeÞ MÐBaÞ Ð " H L\Ð hÊZÞ _ÞÒ~àhL LkÞÒm Òd, 'jLÐÒf @NÍÑc VÞLV _ LÒm @_ð `ÍjÐ] cÞfÞa _ÐkÞÜ Ð cÊÜ [Ð`Òe c_Òe bÐaÞmÞ Òd j[ÔdÊNÒe [ kÐ[Ñ aÞ`]Òe `XÞ c_ Ò$Ð_çÒe `ÍbÊ*Ê XÐLÞ\ÞmÐ Ð `ÍbÊ [ÐkÐ hÊZÞ [[çlZÐ[ç [ÐLÊ LÊc÷Ñe LafeÊ DwÐe LeÞ\ÞÒm Ð `ÊZÞ ]éÐè dÊNÒe a± keZ ÒaÒf Ò]ßÐÍ`]Ñ @jkÐ¯ ÒkÐB ÒjB c_ Ò$Ð_çÒe Ló»*Ê XÐLÊ\ÞÒm J Òj [ÐkÐ hÊZÞ 56 ÒLÐVÞ a± Ò]B [Ð*e B³[ elÐ LeÞ\ÞÒm Ð HÒa [ LfÞdÊN Ð [\Ð`Þ cÊÜ c_ Ò$Ð_çÒe XÐLÞÒm L'Z Arà[ÍÐZ hÊZÞÒa _ÐkÞÜ ? AD d]Þ hÊZ«Þ Ò[Òa [Ð*e kÞÜ ckÞcÐ `ÍQÐe Òka Ð HkÞ bejÐ eMÞ cÊÜ _ÞÒ~àhL*Ê LkÞmÞ Òd, 'cÊÜ bNaÐ_*Ê Ò$Ð_ç LeÞÒ]BRÞ Ð Òj ÒcÐ `ÐBÜ @_ð `ÍjÐ] eMÞ\ÞÒa Ð' juÔÐÒaÒf ÒNÐVÞH NÐXÞÒe XÍÐBbe ÒLaf ÒcÐÒ[ Ò_B ÒecÊZÐe lÑeÒQÐeÐ ÒNÐ`Ñ_Ð\* ctÞe dÞaÐ `ÐBÜ aÐkÐeÞmÐ Ð AÒe ekÊ\ÞaÐ SÐNÐ jÊ_çkV WÐeÊ ÒecÊZÐ `ÍÐ¯ 18 LÞÒmÐcÞVe ]Ëe Ð AÒc ÒjWÞ `kqÞmÐ ÒafLÊ ctÞeÒe juÔÐ

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`ÐBm ÒaÐmÞ cÊÜ ÊZÞ __Ð*Ê `QÐeÞmÞ Ð __Ð LkÞÒm Òd, '@_Ô `eÞaÐ QÐi LeÞaÐ `ËaàeÊ ÒLÐaÞ aNÞQÐ j$Ð LmÐ ÒaÒf ÒNÐVÞH $ÊmÒLÐaÞ ÒLcÞ[Þ ekÞdÐB\ÞmÐ Ð' [Ð`Òe cÊÜ __Ð*Ê 7 V*Ð Ò]mÞ J ÒcÐ `ÐBÜ @_ð ÍjÐ] eMÞ\ÞaÐeÊ [Ð*Ê ^_ÔaÐ] Ò]mÞ Ð [Ð`Òe AD _ MÐB ÒcÐ mÊNÐ LÐ_ÞÒe Òj `ÍjÐ] aÐuÞ cÊÜ ÒjcÞ[Þ mÊk bÞSÐ AMÞÒe ¯Ê_ÞVçLÊ Ò$eÞAjÞmÞ Ð ¯Ê_ÞVçe jcÒª bÐaÞ\ÞÒm Òd cÊÜ ÒaÐÒ^ ÒjcÐ_*Ê \pÐÒe Ò$Ð_çÒe VÞLV LeÞaÐ L\Ð LkÊ\ÞmÞ Ð

ÒkÒm ÒcÐWÐeÊ jaÊ hÊZÞaÐ `Òe J cÊÜ Ò_B\ÞaÐ `ÍjÐ] Ò]MÞaÐ `Òe jcÒª A¾dàÔ ÒkÒm J cÐ_ÞaÐLÊ aÐ^Ô ÒkÒm Òd - bNaÐ_*e c^Ô Ò$Ð_ç @RÞ J c_-Ò$Ð_çÒe XÐLÞÒm Òj _Þ¾Þ[ hÊZ«Þ Ð H\eL `ÐBÜ H[ÞLÞ Ð ÒcÐÒ[ Mae Ò]Òm c_Òe jÐB[Þ eMÞ\ÞaÐ @_ÊbË[Þ Ò`XÞeÊ `ÊZÞ LÞRÞ N` LkÞaÞ Ð

B[Þ [Êce AC

Late Manorama Sarangi was the mother of Swayamprava Misra of Sugar Land. She lived with her husbad Late Dr. Madhabanda Sarangi and seven children in Cuttack, Odisha.


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_ÐÜ VÞ ÒcÐe kÐeÐcZÞ bË ÐÜ Ð ÒdDÜ ]Þ_ S_ê ÒkÐB HB êÐ `óºLÊ AjÞmÞ Òj]Þ_ Ac Oe [\Ð Ac jÐkÞÒe A_t mkeÑ ÒMfÞ dÐB\ÞmÐ Ð @Ò_L aià `Òe jÐkÞÒe cÊÜ HLÊVÞA RÊAVÞH ÒkÐB\ÞaÐeÊ jcª*e ÒNmaje ÒkÐBdÐB\ÞmÞ Ð H ÒLÐfeÊ Òj ÒLÐfLÊ ÒXBÜ ÒXBÜ `Ð] ÒcÐe cÐVÞÒe mÐNÞ _\ÞmÐ Ð HÒLÐBhÐ ÒaÒf ÒSÒScÐ _ÐÜ eMÞ\ÞÒm 'kÐeÐcZÞ' Ð ÒkÒm HÒ[ aX hÊb_ÐcLÊ DnÐeZ LeÞaÐ a]fÒe jÐkÞe jcÒª ÒcÐÒ[ _ÞS c_ `jte _Ðc eMÞ XÐLÊ\ÞÒm Ð LÐkÐ`ÐBÜ cÊÜ \ÞmÞ kÑeÐ [ LÐkÐ`ÐBÜ kÐe Ð cZÞ, aÐ¯ÐZÑ, `ÐNÞfÑ, aÊYÑ, ]Ð«ÊeÑ, kNÊeÑ HBbfÞ @Ò_L LÞRÞ Ð Í\c RÊA ÒaÐmÞ aÐ`Ð cÐ XÐLÊ\ÞÒm '_Þ_Þ' Ð '_Þ_Þ' XÐLVÞ jaàjÐ^ÐeZ ÒkÒmaÞ ÒcÐ `ÐBÜ \ÞmÐ jé[§ Ð ÒjkÞ XÐLÒe \ÞmÐ aÐ`ÐcÐ* @có[e ^Ðe Ð ÒaÒfÒaÒf `XÞhÐ Oe aÊYÐaÐ`Ð ÒcÐÒ[ ÒMÐSÞ ÒMÐSÞ "`ÐNÞfÑ' XÐLÒe AcOe kÊmÊyÊm LeÞÒ]D\ÞÒm Ð NÐÜe jÐkÊLÐe \Òe @Ò^ aÊYÐaÐ`Ð*Ê [ÐNÞ]çLeÞ LkÞ\ÞÒm "kÑeÐ èÞ kÐeÐ' Ð [ÊÒc [ÐLÊ '`ÐNÞfÑ' LkÞ [Ð _ÐÜ LÊ ÒLaf a]_Ðc LeÊR Ð cÊÜ LÊVÐMfÐeÊ Ò]ßÐXÞAjÞ Ò_kÊeÐ ÒkD\ÞmÞ aÊYÐaÐ`Ð [Êc `ÐNÞfÑ XÐLÒe cÊÜ `ÐNf Ð [ÊÒc d]Þ 'kÑeÐcZÞ' aÐ 'kÐeÐcZÞ' LÊk Ò[Òa [Êc jk LVÞ Ð jÒ[ ÒdèÞ jé[§ _ÐcÒe aÔ[ÞLÍc ÒkÒm ÒcÐ @«e @bÞcÐ_Òe aÊXÞ dÐD\ÞmÐ !

^ÑÒe ^ÑÒe aX ÒkmÞ Ð aÊwÞaÞ VÞLÞH ÒkmÐ Ð SÐZÞmÞ Ac èÞaÐe MÊaç NeÑa Ð aÐ`ÐcÐ jÐkÊLÐe OÒe cËm mÐN«Þ Ð aÐ`Ð aÐecÐjÑ bÐÒa QÐiWÊ Aec÷ LeÞ NÐCÒNÐeÊ L\Ð aÊT«Þ Ð cÐ Oe LÐc jk aÐj_ cÐSÞaÐ, `ÐZÞ AZÞaÐ, mÊNÐ j$Ð LÐc LÒe Ð cÐjÒe ]ÊB\e QËXÐcÊYÞ B[ÔÐ]Þ bÐÒS Ð ÒaÒfÒaÒf cÐ _ÞSjk ÒcÐÒ[ Ò_BdÐH jÐkÊLÐe OeLÊ Ð ÒLÒaÒLÒa cÐLÊ VÞLÞH jÐkÐdÔ LÒe Ð cÐ ÒamÐ aÐj_ cÐSÞ jÐeÞmÐ `Òe cÊÜ ÒVLÞÒ_B eMÞ]ÞH WZÐÒe Ð cÊYÞ bÐSÞaÐLÊ \ÞÒm hÊMÞmÐ Acé LÐW $ÐfÒV ÒWmÞ ]ÞH QËmÞ cÊ LÊ Ð ]ÞÒ_ `XÞhÐ Oe aÊYÐaÐ`Ð ÒcÐ `ÐBÜ `ÍªÐaVÞH Ò_B AjÞÒm Ð `ÐM NÐÜ cÊemÑê _Ð¯L* Ê@ XcéeÊ e _Ð¯L* `ÐBÜ Ð XcéeÊ e Òahç kó½`ó½ J `\e b=Ð MZÞÒe LÐc Le«Þ Ð `ÍªÐa `ÐB ÒcÐ ÒSÒSaÐ`Ð* WÐeÊ Aec÷ LeÞ ÒcÐ jÐ_ bÐC cÑ_ÒL[_ `dàÔ« jcÒª eÐSÞ Ð ]Þ_ ^ÐdàÔ LeÞ ÒaßhÐM cÐj hÊLì @½cÑ [Þ\ÞÒe ÒcÐ aÐkÐOe ÒkÐBNmÐ XcéeÊ e* jk Ð héhÊe OÒe aXÒaÐkÊ eËÒ` cÊÜ aràcÐ_ kÐeÐcZÞ _Ð¯L Ð ÒcÐÒ[ HWÞ ÒLkÞ '`ÐNÞfÑ' aÐ 'aÐ¯ÐZÑ' ÒaÐmÞ XÐL«Þ _ÐkÞÜ Ð ÒcÐ _ÐÜ 'kÐeÐcZÞ' ÒaÐmÞ c^Ô jcÒª SÐZ«Þ _ÐkÞÜ Ð ÒcÐÒ[ LÞH "_ËAÒaÐkÊ' XÐÒL [ LÞH XÐÒL "XceÊ bÐeÞSÐ' Ð ]Þ@e XÐL«Þ "bÐDS' Ð hÐhÊ XÐL«Þ "H ÒaÐkÊ' Ð XcéeÊ XÐL«Þ "H¯' Ð ]hÒdÐXÞ _Ðc èÞaÒrà cÊÜ HL _ÐckÑ_ `Í[ÑLVÞH ÒkÐB _ËA XÐLLÊ


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@LÊ¶ÐÒe NÞfÞ Ò]B _ËA cZÞiVÞH `ÐmVÞdÐH Ð HWÞ @bÞcÐ_e cdàÔ]Ð _ÐkÞÜ aÐ 'LVÞ' LeÞaÐe aÔ¦Þ[é _ÐkÞÜ Ð _ËA aÐkÐOe Ð `]ÐLÊ aÐkÐeÞ _\ÞmÞ Ð XcéeÊ jaÊ]Þ_ jLÐfÊ QÐmÞdÐA«Þ `\e MZÞLÊ Ð OÒe ekÞdÐD AÒc hÐh ÊÒaÐkÊ Ð LÞRÞ]Þ_ aÞ[Þ NmÐ jÊyÞÒe Ð ÒkÒm OÒe ajÞ ekÞÒm Ò`V Ò`ÐiÞa_Þ Ð hÐhÊ ÒaÐkÊ cÞhÞ AÒc 'WÊ=Ð' [ÞAeÞ LeÞaÐ Aec÷ LmÊ Ð NÐÜe ²Êm OeÊ [\Ð `ÐM `XÞhÐ NÐÜe \ÞmÐaÐmÐ jÐkÊLÐe OeÊ ÊeÊZÐ Mae LÐNS XcéeÊ Ò_B Aj«Þ Ð hÐhÊ ÒaÐkÊ cÞhÞ AÒc `Í\Òc Mae LÐNSLÊ LÐVÞ bÐ= LeÞ eMÊ Ð Nec `ÐZÞÒe cB]Ð cÞhÐB cB]Ð @WÐ Òe WÊ=Ð [ÞAeÞLeÊ Ð ]Þ_jÐeÐ WÊ=Ð [ÞAeÞ LeÞaÐÒe aÞÒ[ Ð j& ÒkÒm at kÊH Ð `Ðqhk 'WÊ=Ð' [ÞAeÞ ÒkÐBNÒm ]ÞÒ_ dÐB XcéeÊ [ÐLÊ Ò_B Ò]ÐLÐ_ÑLÊ aÞLÍÞ LeÞÒ]B Aj«Þ Ð HkÞèÞ aÒià ]ÊBaià AeÐcÒe aÞ[ÞNmÐ Ð B[Þc^ÔÒe ÒaZÊ ee S_ê Ð ÒaZÊe S_ê `Òe ÒcÐe jéÐ^Ñ_[Ð VÞLÞH aYÞ dÐBRÞ Ð NÐÜ jÐkÞ `XÞhÐLÊ HLÐ HLÐ RÊAVÞLÊ êÞ QÐmÞdÐH Ð _ËAÒaÐkÊe jÕÒLÐQ ÒcÐ `ÐÒM _ÐkÞÜ Ð NÐÜe jcÒª ÒcÐÒ[ HÒa _ËA _ÐÜ "ÒaZÊe cÐ" ÒaÐmÞ XÐL«Þ Ð XcéeÊ c^Ô 'H¯' XÐL RÐXÞ HÒa "H ÒaZÊe cÐ" ÒaÐmÞ XÐL«Þ Ð _ÐckÑ_ "H¯' a]fÒe "H ÒaZÊe cÐ" XÐLVÞ ÒcÐÒ[ Òahç AÒcÐ]Þ[ LÒe Ð ]ÞÒ_ XcéeÊ aÞLÍÞ `ÐBÜ Ò_B\ÞaÐ jaÊ WÊ=ÐLÊ Ò$eª Ò_B AjÞÒm Ð _\ç LeÞ `Þ¨Ð D`Òe ajÞdÐB LkÞÒm "Ò]ÐLÐ_Ñ WÊ=Ð Ò_aÐLÊ c_Ð LeÞÒ]mÐ, HÒa SeÞ aÔÐNçe QÐkÞ]Ð ÒahÞ' Ð cZÞÒi Dne `ÊeÊZÐ Mae LÐNSe N]ÐLÊ Ò]MÞ ÒcÐ AMÞeÊ @SÐZÒ[ mÊk^Ðe ÒaÐkÞ AjÞmÐ Ð HÒa `ÊZÞ LeÞaÐ L'Z ? jÕ^ÔÐÒe ajÞ @Ò_L

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RÐXÞRÞ ÒjkÞ]Þ_WÊ N[ `Ðq aià bÞ[Òe ÒLÒ[ ckZ `\e ÒRQÞRÞ Ð ÒcÐ _ÞhéÐj `ÍhéÐj [\Ð e¦e `Í[ÞVÞ ÒLÐZÒe jÒ[ÒdèÞ ÒjkÞ `\ee @Õh aÞÒhi Ð hÊZÞmÞ SÒZ aXaÐaÊ AjÊR«Þ aÞÒ]heÊ Ð LÐÒeÐ _]ÑÒe ÒNÐVÞH Ò`Ðm [ÞAeÞ LeÞÒa Ð XcéeÊ hÊZÞAjÞ MaeÒ]Òm Òd aXaÐaÊ SZ* bÐeÞ ]¯ÐfÊ ÒmÐL Ð Ò`Ðm jk eÐªÐ jÕ`ËÀà bÐÒa [ÞAeÞ ÒkaÐLÊ ]ÊB aiàeÊ @^ÞL jc¯ mÐNÞdÞa Ð Ò[ZÊ ÒeSÐ LÊmÞ* ÒRÐV RÊA cÐ_*Ê hÞlÐ Ò]aÐLÊ SÒZ hÞlL eMÞÒa HaÕ ÒjcÐ_*Ê DjúÐk Ò]aÐLÊ c^ÔÐkð ÒbÐS_e aÔayÐ LeÞÒa Ð HL\Ð hÊZÞ SN_ðÐ\*Ê cÒ_ cÒ_ @M¨ ªÊ[Þ SZÐBmÞ Ð ÒaZÊ ÒcÐe `ÐW `YÞ aX cZÞi Òka ÒaÐmÞ ÒMÐmÐ AMÞÒe ÒNÐVÞH jé`ð Ò]MÞNmÞ Ð `ÐW `YÞÒm AcèÞ [ÐLÊ cËm mÐNÞaÐLÊ `XÞa_Þ, Ò`V`ÐBÜ `Í[ÞVÞ JfÞ `ÐBÜ QÞ«Ð LeÞaÐLÊ `XÞa_Þ bÐaÞ A[ê jÒ«ÐiÒe aÞÒbÐe ÒkÐB DWÞmÞ Ð j[LÊ j[ ]ÞÒ_ AÒceÞLÐ Ò$e«Ð aXaÐaÊ jÊ^Ñe AQÐdàÔ AcLÊ AjÞ D]çÒaÐ^_Ð Ò]Òm Ð [Ð* D]çÒaÐ^_ÐÒe \ÞmÐ @Ò_L h¦Þ , L\ÐÒe \ÞmÐ cÐ^ËdàÔ, [Ð* jÊhÐ« ÒQÒkeÐVÞ [Ð* jÊ^Ñe _ÐcVÞLÊ `Í[Þ$fÞ[ LeÊ\ÞmÐ Ð Ò]MÊ Ò]MÊ Ò`Ðm J eÐªÐ _ÞcàÐZ LÐdàÔ Aec÷ ÒkÐBNmÐ ]ÊB cÐj bÞ[Òe Ð [Ð jk ÒaZÊ èÞ @Ò_L hÍcÞL* ÒaZÊ* `ÐW `YÐ Ð ÒaZÊe `ÐW `YÐ J @le QÞkðÐ Ò]MÞ "ÒeSÐ' _Ðc `Í[Þ ÒcÐe ÒLSÐZÞ ÒLcÞ[Þ ÒNÐVÞH hÍwÐ SÐ[ ÒkmÐ Ð ÒeSÐ _ÐcÒe cÊ¨Òe `\e ÒaÐÒTB TÊXÞVÞ Ò_BNmÐ ÒaÒf jÊ_Ðe cÊLV `ÞuÞmÐ èÞ mÐNÊ\ÞmÐ Ð ÒLÒ[ÒaÒf BVÐ, ÒLÒ[ÒaÒf `\e [ `ÊZÞ ÒLÒ[ÒaÒf jÞÒcÃ Ò$ÃÐ QÞ`çjç ÒcÐ cÊ¨ `ÐBÜ SN_ðÐ\* Òah èÞ ÒcÐe _ËA _ËA Òah ÒcÐÒ[ Òahç cÐ_Ê\ÞmÐ Ð ÒLSÐZÞ ÒLcÞ[Þ HB ]ÊB aiàVÞ MÊaç hÑOÍ aÞ[ÞNmÐ èÞ mÐNÞmÐ Ð jÊ^Ñe aXaÐaÊ* jÊhÑf

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dÐB @_ÊLËf -hÍÑc[Þ hLÊ«fÐ `p_Ð¯L

D`LeZ - ÒNÐVÐ aÞeÞ, ÒNÐVÐ cÊN, ^Ð_, ÒNÐVÐ kf]Ñ, LDXÞ, Òa]Ñ cÐVÞ, aÐkÐQÞ[Ð, LÊmÐ, XÐmÐ, aÐDÜhÞA, _Þc§Z `[Í, jÞtÊe, kf]Ñ NÊ , NÊA, ]Ñ`, Ë , Lfj `ÍZÐfÑ- `Í\Òc @eÊA QÐDf aVÐ QÞ[ÐÒe HL Òa]Ñ A*Þa Ð Òa]Ñ `ÐhéàÒe, cTÞÒe QÞ[ÐÒe $Êm A*Þa Ð Òkc]ªÐ, hÞf, YÞ*Þ B[ÔÐ]ÞLÊ cTÞÒe eMÞa Ð LÊmÐ, aÐDÜhÞA, XÐmÐLÊ cTÞÒe eMÞa Ð HL Lfj ajÐBa Ð YÐfÒe `ÐZÞ bràÞLeÞ AcéXÐf [Ð D`Òe Ò\ÐBa Ð Acé XÐf D`Òe _ÐjÞmNÐ `BX Ò\ÐBa Ð [Ð D`Òe $Êm Ò\ÐBa Ð ÒbÐN `ÐBÜ Lfj `ÐMÒe HL \ÐfÞA Ò\ÐBa Ð jÐ[ SZ ±Ñ ÒmÐL LÞcéÐ [Ð WÐeÊ @^ÞLÐ ÒkÒm bm Ð `Í\Òc aÞeÞ QLÞÒe OÊeÐBa Ð [Ð`Òe cÊN OÊeÐBa Ð jÐ[ SZ LÞcéÐ @^ÞLÐ ÒkÒm Òj[ÞLÞVÐ kf]Ñ Òkc]ªÐÒe ÒRQÞa Ð ^Ð_ LÊVÞa Ð cÐVÞ AZÞ jÐ[ SZ ÒNÐVÞH SeÞÒe eMÞa Ð Oee LÐxÒe jÞtÊeÒe jÐ[ SZ ÒNÐVÞH aÞtÊ Ò]a Ð ÒjB jÞtÊe aÞtÊ D`Òe aÐkÐQÞ[Ð ÒmMÐÒka Ð LÊmÐ, XÐmÐ, aÐDÜhÞAÒe kf]Ñ, jÞtÊe mNÐBa Ð Lfj `ÐM \ÐfÞAÒe ÒbÐN Ò\ÐBa Ð jÐ[ SZ ±Ñ ÒmÐL Lfj atÐBa Ð ÒbÐN, Ë , ]Ñ` Ò]B Lfj at_Ð LeÞa Ð _Þc§Z `[ÍÒe kf]Ñ, jÞtÊe cÐeÞa Ð NÊA NÊXÞLÒe kf]Ñ cÐeÞa Ð ÒdDÜ aÞeÞ OÊeÐ ÒkÐB\Þa [ÐLÊ ÒNÐVÞH SeÞÒe eMÞa Ð ÒjB aÞeÞ a[ÊeÐB aXÞ `ÐeÞa Ð ÒNÐVÞH SÐNÐÒe ae L_ÞAÜ aXÞ `ÐeÞa Ð [Ð`Òe @_ÔÐ_Ô VÞLÞ VÞLÞ aXÞ `ÐeÞa Ð _ÐmÞ jË[Ð aXÞ D`Òe ÒOÐXÐBa Ð $Êm, ]Ëa, aeÒLÐfÞ `[Í [Ð D`Òe `LÐBa Ð ÒdDÜ cÊN OÊeÐ ÒkÐB\Þa [ÐLÊ ÒNÐVÞH SeÞÒe eMÞa Ð ^Ð_ LÊVÐ ÒkÐB\ÞaÐ ÒjB @eÊA QÐDfLÊ SeÞÒe eMÞa Ð HB cÊN J HB @eÊA QÐDfÒe c=_ ]Þ_ lÑeÞ ÒMÒQXÞ ÒkÐB c=_ kÐ Þ `ÐMÒe ÒbÐN Òka Ð ÒdDÜ kf]Ñ LÊVÐ ÒkÐB\Þa [ÐLÊ aÐkÐOe ]Þ_ `ÐZÞÒe bÞÒSB aÐVÞa Ð ÒjB aVÐ kf]ÑÒe TÞ@ aÐXÊ@ `ÐZÞ NÐÒ^ÐBa Ð ÒdDÜ cÐVÞ SeÞÒe ekÞ\Þa ÒjB cÐVÞ `XÞ Òa]Ñ [ÞAeÞ Òka Ð ±Ñ ÒmÐL cÐÒ_ _ËA QËXÞ, jÞtÊe, @f[Ð J $Êm ÞuÞÒa Ð c=_ jÐ[ SZ ±Ñ ÒmÐL _Þ¾Þ[ Ð jÐ[eÊ @ ÞL Ò]Òm bm LÞ«Ê Lcç Òka_Þ Ð dÞH c=_ kÐ Þ ajÐBa, jÞH ÒNÐX mcéÐB ajÞa Ð _ËA mÊNÐ ÞuÞ\Þa Ð cÊ Òe JYZÐ `LÐBa Ð ÒLÐfÒe HL cÐVÞ kÐ¨Þ eMÞa Ð jÐ[ SZ ÒjB kÐ¨ÞÒe cÊWÐH cÊWÐH `Í\Òc @eÊA QÐDf Ò\ÐBÒa, [Ð`Òe cÊN Ò\ÐBÒa Ð M¨ kf]Ñ jÐ[ SZ eMÞÒa Ð kf]Ñ `Òe jÐ[VÐ LDXÞ eMÞÒa Ð LDXÞ `Òe AeÞjÐ `ÞWÐ


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eMÞÒa Ð jÐ[VÐ aXÞ eMÞÒa Ð [Ð`Òe Lfj D`Òe _XÞA Ò\ÐB _ÐmÞL_ÐÒe aÐuÞÒ]Òa Ð ^Ë`, ]Ñ`, ÒbÐN Ò]B jÐ[ SZ ±ÑÒmÐL c=_ kÐ¨ÞLÊ atÐBÒa Ð c=_ kÐ¨ÞÒe $Êm Ò]Òa Ð dÐB @_ÊLËfÒe eMÞ\ÞaÐ cÊN, QÐDfÒe ÒMÒQXÞ Òka, lÑeÞ Òka Ð dÞH c=_ kÐ¨Þ ajÐBa, jÞH lÑeÞ ÒMÒQXÞ LeÞ c=_ kÐ¨Þ atÐBa Ð c=_ kÐ¨Þ ÒeÐÒiB Oee IhÐ_Ô ÒLÐZÒe ajÐdÐH Ð ÒLkÞ ÒLkÞ WÐLÊe OÒe ajÐ«Þ Ð

aÐkÐOe : ]Þ@Ü c=ÊfÐ LÐ¨LfjÞ - ÒNÐVÞH cÐWÞAÒe ÒNÐVÞH c¯Ëe QtÍÞLÐ `XÞ\Þa Ð jÐ[ SZ ±Ñ ÒmÐL Ò]aÑ* `ÐMLÊ dÐB `ËSÐ LeÞÒa Ð ÒNÐVÞH LÊmÐÒe WÐLÊeÐZÑ* hÐYÑ, h<Ð, jÞtÊe, $Êm, ÒbÐN, ]Ñ`, Ë jaÊ eMÐdÞa Ð TÞ@e h<Ð, QLÞ, aÐ*Þ, ÒLßÐZjÞ HL jéÀà @f*Ðe WÐLÊeÐZÑ* `ÐMÒe `ËSÐ Òka Ð jÐ[SZ ÒjB LÐ¨LfjÞÒe jÐ[ OeÊ `ÐZÞ AZÞÒa Ð [Ð`Òe TÞ@ Òa]ÑÒe ajÞa Ð aVÐ kf]Ñ mNÐBa Ð jcÒª TÞ@ Ò]kÒe, cÊkÜÒe kf]Ñ mNÐBÒa Ð LÐ¨LfjÞÒe \ÞaÐ `ÐZÞ TÞ@ cÊ¨Òe `LÐBÒa Ð `Ð_ `[Í TÞ@e ]ÊB `Ð]Òe, ]ÊB LÐuÒe, cÊ¨Òe Ò\ÐBÒa Ð NÊA Ò\ÐBÒa Ð hÞf`ÊA jaÊ\ÞÒe RÊAÜBÒa Ð ÒhiÒe TÞ@ cÐVÞ jeÐ ÒNÐXÒe bÐ=Þ NÐÒ^ÐBaÐLÊ dÞa Ð NÐÒ^ÐB jÐeÞaÐ `Òe NÊeÊ_Ðc _ÞAdÐH Ð SÒZ `¨Þ[ NÊeÊ_Ðc ]Þ@«Þ Ð aÞaÐk `ÊÒeÐkÞ[ aÞaÐk LÐdàÔ jcç`_ð LeÞÒa Ð

Smt. Sakuntala Patnaik is the elder sister of Sanjukta (Manju) Pattanaik. She has written this article on the eve of Malisha's wedding. Jai Anukula is the first ritual of Odia wedding. Following that, the 1st invitation card is sent to Lord Jagannath of Puri temple. Then the second invitation goes out to bride's mother's paternal family. Then all invitation cards are distributed among friends and relatives. This year, many ladies from our community attended and performed these rituals prior to the wedding. It was a great contribution from Smt. Sakuntala as it created nostalgic moments in everyone's heart while celebrating these traditional Odia activities here in Houston for the first time.


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-Compiled by Acharya Dr. Surya Narayana Nanda and Smt. Sanjukta Pattanaik

The Hindu Wedding ceremony is the thirteenth among the sixteenth samskars or rites that a Hindu observes in his or her lifetime. A Wedding is considered a sacrament. It is meant to unite two persons so firmly that although they retain their two bodies, they become one in spirit. The rituals in the Wedding Ceremony stem from the Vedas, the oldest of Hindu scriptures. Each ritual has a philospiphical and spiritual significance. It involves verses chanted in Sanskrit, the sacred language of Hindu scriptures.

The ceremony takes place in a mandap or a Wedding pavilion, which represents the Universe. The center of the man dap represents the earth, the four corners represent the four directions and four pillars represent the four Parents. The fire represents The God who is divine witness of the union. The flowers used in the ceremony represent the joy in our hearts. The grains offered in the holy fire represent prosperity as well as food to nourish and sustain life. The coconut represents the fertility and the sweets to ensure a sweet life. The recitation of particular mantras and prayers is believed to convey a Message to God for the blessing of the spiritual union.

Baraat or Barajatri (Groom’s Procession) The Groom arrives at the Wedding place with his family and friends.There is dancing and music .The festive procession signifies a celebration of joy for the new relationships of the Bride, groom and families.

Swagat or Baata Baran (Welcoming the Groom) The Bride’s family formally greets the Groom. He is adorned with a garland and escorted by Bride’s father and the Brides mother performs Aarti to ask the divine powers to give their blessing for the ceremony.

Kanya Aagman (Arrival of the Bride) Led by her father, the Bride enters the man dap (Wedding Altar)

Jaimala (Exchange of Garlands) The Bride and Groom exchange garlands as a gesture of their willingness to accept each other as life partners and pledging to respect each other.

Kanyadaan (Giving Away the Bride) The Bride’s family expresses their wishes to give away their daughter in marriage. The father of the Bride places her hand in the groom’s hand saying “We give our daughter in marriage to you”. We pray that Almighty may guide you both in your life together. In Vedic law, Kanyadaan is considered to be the highest form of a pious duty performed by the Bride’s parents.

Hata Ganthi (Tying of Hands)


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The Bride’s father places her right palm on the Groom’s right palm. Bride’s father then asks the the groom to accept the Bride as an equal partner from this day forward. The Groom accepts and the priest prays for the happy Reunion as the priest ties the hands of the Bride and Groom together.

Vivah Hawaan (Invocation of the Fire God) The marriage is solemnized in the presence of Lord Agni, the sacred God of fire, symbolizing light, power and unity. Crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar, rice, ghee, camphor are offered to the ceremonial fire invoking the God’s blessing. Lord Agni is the principle witness of the ceremony; He dispels darkness and leads the couple to eternal light and knowledge.

Panigrahanam (Accepting Each Other) The Bridegroom stands facing the Bride, holds her right hand and they both take vows to love, cherish and protect each other throughout life.

Shilarohana (Stepping On a Stone) Brother of the Bride, helps her step on a stone, which symbolizes strength, purpose, and firmness in the couple’s journey of life. Then the brother offers parched rice to the Bride so that she may offer to God.

Laajaa-homa (Offering of Parched Rice) The couple makes the offering of parched rice to the fire, praying for the prosperity and growth in their Lives.

Mangal Phera (Steps Around the Holy fire) Bride and Groom circle the holy fire four times. The four Feras (circles) represent the four basic goals of Hindu life:

Dharma (religious and moral duties)

Artha (prosperity)

Kama (energy and passion)

Moksha (liberation)

During mangalpheras making offerings to the Almighty, the Bride and Groom go around the Agnikunda, The Bride leads in the first three rounds and the Groom leads the last round signifying their continual journey in spiritual libration. The couple invokes the blessings of God for good luck and wisdom.

Granthi-Bandhana (Tying of the Sacred Knot) Groom’s sister ties a knot between Groom’s stole and Bride’s veil. The knot symbolizes everlasting unity between the couple and their families.

Saptapadi (Seven Steps and Sacred Vows)Saptapadi is one of the most ancient aspects of Vedic wedding. Bride and Groom take seven steps to symbolize the beginning of their journey together for life with God as their guide.These steps represent Seven Principles and Promises to each other.

Step 1: Let us provide for our household, stay in good health and carry out our duties and responsibilities to each other, and our families.


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Step.2: Let us develop our mental and spiritual powers.

Step.3: Let us increase our wealth and comfort by righteous and proper means.

Step.4: Let us acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect and trust.

Step.5: Let us be blessed with contended family of noble and healthy children.

Step.6: Let us be blessed with long life.

Step.7: Let us remain true companions, committed only to each other.

Hridaya-Aalambhan (Mutual Surrender) The Bride and the Bridegroom placing their hand on each other’s shoulder, vow to be one mind and listen to each other with perfect attention.

Sindoor and Mangalsutra The Groom places sindoor (sacred red powder) on the Bride’s hair symbolizing her as a married woman. The mangalsutra signifies the groom’s abiding love and devotion for the Bride. The couple exchange rings here as well.

Kansar Bhojan:

The Bride and Groom feed each other with sweets, signifying their pledge to love and care for each other

Kauri Khela:Kauri khela refers to the playing of kauri (conch shell) by the newly wed couple. It is believed to bring wealth and harmony. The Groom holds a kauri in his fist which the Bride tries to openwith both her hands. In the next round, the Bride makes a tight fist with both her hands and keeps the kauri in side. The Groom tries to open it using his single hand.

Ashirvadah (Blessings)The Priest by recitation of Vedic mantras offers blessing to the Bride and the Groom. The newly wed couple at this time seeks blessing from the Priest, family, and friends for a happily married life together. The Priest, family and friends shower the couple with flower petals with blessings.

Shanti Paath (Prayer for Peace) The Priest offers a prayer of peace and tranquility for the newlyweds, as well as peace through out the universe.


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My Adventures This Year -Sumedha Mohanty

Spring break with friends

Over the spring break I went to Corpus Christi. On the first day, we went to a warship and it had some cool planes on the very top of the deck. On the second day, we went to an aquarium. We had lots of fun there. Two days we stayed there and our parents prepared yummy puri, chicken curry, chhena podo and kobi bhoja. There was ice cream in the fridge and we could eat as much as we want. It was a beautiful, beautiful trip.

Trip to British Columbia I first went to Victoria. We had our hotel near the harbor. We went on a bus to the world famous Butchart garden. There were so many flowers in the garden. I ate an ice cream which was so, so tasty. I also rode on a carousel. Next day near by our hotel there was a famous shop of chocolates. We had a sample and that was filled with caramel .Then I bought a milk chocolate that had a smiley face on it. We then went to Vancouver on a ferry. The sea was very beautiful. There, we went on a suspension bridge. My mama

was very scared on the suspension bridge because it was really high, long and shaking all the time. Under the bridge was a waterfall .Then we went to mama's uncle and aunty for dinner. Next day, we went to Whistler on a van and enjoyed the beautiful scenery on the way. In Whistler, we went on so many Gondolas that finally dropped us in the snow. My body was freezing but i felt very excited. It was like another world. On the way back, we also stopped to see a brown baby bear roaming around.

My trip to the world of chocolates I could not wait to go to Hershey. I was very excited to make my own chocolate. They told us how they made chocolate long, long ago. Then, we went on a ride which showed how chocolates are made. It showed cows and how the milk is used in chocolate. Then, I made my own chocolate filled with sprinkles. After that, we went on a bus that had five different chocolates. My favorite one had half white chocolate and half dark chocolate. The next day we went to the pool. After that, I played monopoly with my mom. Then, I bought my favorite chocolate again. Finally, our trip came to an end and we went to the airport. When I get to my next vacation, I want to go again to Hershey. It was the best place I have been to in my entire life.

Sumedha (Lichi) is a 2nd grader at Askew Vanguard Elementary School. She likes math and science. In her free time, she likes to watch cartoon, play and dance. She is the daughter of Asish and Anuradha Mohanty.


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My Summer

-Ava Lakshmi Dass This summer we went to our friend’s graduation in Dallas. We had a sleepover

with them. We went on boat with them. We visited California. We went to a beach with them. My brothers swam in the cold water and I did not. We went to a park. We walked and it was fun.

This summer we also went to a marriage party in downtown Houston. We ate good food and we danced a lot with friends. It was very very very fun.

Ava is a first-grade student at Harmony School of Excellence. She is a Gifted and Talented student. Ava enjoys reading and likes to learn Odissi. She plays with her brothers Dev and Adi.


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Sonic vs Dr.Eggman

-Nikhil Sagar

The first thing about Sonic is that Sonic is the best runner in the planet.But his enemy Dr.Eggman wants to rule the world. But Sonic always stops Eggmans plan. Dr.Eggman sends robots to stop Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic is a very fast runner but his dad shadow can go even faster. And his friend Knuckles can punch really hard and his best friend Tails can fly with his multiple tails.

Nikhil Sagar is the youngest son of Bidyasagar and Vanishree Madi


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The Scriptures -Krisha Rath

The Vedas, Upanishads, Upavedas, and the Bhagavad Gita make up the scriptures. There are 4 Vedas, 4 Upavedas and more than 100 Upanishads. There are 700 verses in the Bhagavad Gita. Okay, now that the introduction is over, we’ll go to Vedas, our first subject.

The 4 Vedas are Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda, and Yagur Veda. The Vedas tell you everything from philosophy to spirituality. Vedas have other knowledge too, though. Whenever somebody asks who he/she is, the Vedas give the answer. The German philosopher Max Miller translated the Vedas so that the rest of the world could read them. Okay, now that you have information on Vedas, we shall proceed to the Upavedas.

The 4 Upavedas are Danur Veda, Gandharva Veda, Ayur Veda, and Arda-Shastra Veda. They stand for medicine, economics, warfare and science. When Kacha, son of Brihaspati, (the mentor of the Devas) went to Shukracharya to get the “sannjivani” (art of resurrection), he also got the knowledge of the Upavedas. Okay, that was the Upavedas. Now, we proceed to the Upanishads!

The Upanishads tell about Bramhan. They are the summary of the Vedas. They also have stories like Nachiketa and Harischandra in them. They are also kind of related with the 2 great Indian epics: the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The most well-known Upanishad is the Katha-Upanishad. Now we will go to the Bhagavad Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita is the summary of the Upanishads. It was written in the Mahabharata. It is kind of unique because everything else in the Mahabharata was written by Ved Vyas, but the Bhagavad Gita was told by God himself. Krishna told Arjuna it and showed him his Vishwaroopa form. If you wanted to go deep into it, you can read Sankya Yoga; since it is the summary of the Bhagavad Gita. Okay, so that’s the Bhagavad Gita.

If you want the description more organized, you could also describe it using cows as an example. The four cows are the four Vedas, with 1 specific cow as an Upanishad. The cow’s legs are the Upavedas, the cow’s milk the Bhagavad Gita, the cowherd as Krishna and the receiver of the milk as Prtha (Arjuna). I hoped that you liked this article and learned a lot from it.

Krisha Rath is the youngest daughter of Kalyan Rath and Durba Mishra. She is 6 years old and in the 2nd grade. Krisha also likes to do classical Odissi dancing, read, and sing classical music.


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My Trip Back From Washington DC -Nishita Kar

After all the fun in Washington DC with Jeje, Maa, Papa, Bui and Dhana, we had to rush to the airport to board the flight to Houston via San Antonio. We were supposed return and go to Debananda uncle’s house for lunch. The Flight to San Antonio was smooth. The flight back to Houston was extremely short yet long scary and awesome. It was a new experience for me.

I had seen and heard a lot about emergency flight landing but never experienced. I wish nobody ever gets to experience this. As we were about to land, I could hear the wheels open and close a couple of times. My Mom said may be they are facing some problem. Lo behold, after couple of minutes I saw the flight Captain and other crew members hovering near the row I was seating. I saw they opened a hole near my feet and checking something. I could see the land!! through that hole. I asked ‘What is going on? Why have they opened the hole?’

A nice hostess standing next to my seat said” Sweetie everything will be alright and we will set it right. There is a malfunction in the landing gear.” The

crew was very nice and consoled everybody in the flight. Maa was really stressed out. Me and my Bui were sitting away from rest of the family. We were asked to move away from that row to a back row. We sat next to a NASA officer. He explained what the problem was and should be alright. The flight took off again without landing as the crew mechanics worked on the gear. The flight went round and round to save fuel while giving some time. The hostess asked us to get to emergency landing position and to leave everything behind when we jump out through the slide. They also showed as how to jump. The officer sitting next to me was continuously talking and making me feel comfortable. I was not scared and was excited.

After sometime the Captain announced that the Gear was giving a green signal and we were ready to land. The flight landed extremely smooth. Everybody in flight clapped and thanked the Captain and crew members. They laughed as the Captain said “Thank you for flying with us and please fly Southwest again”. It was such an irony.

“ All is well that ends well”

“All izz well”.

Nishita Kar is in 3rd Grade in Massey Ranch Elementary School, Pearland. She is the daughter of Jyoti and Sarmistha Kar. She Learns dance and loves to sing and fashion


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My Trip to Canada With My Jeje and Maa

-Anjaneya Kar

I was all excited about my trip to Canada. I could not wait for the day to come when we would fly to Canada. I woke up as early as 4:15am in the morning. I packed my books and my sweater. Then, we loaded our luggage into the car to head to the Airport. We checked in the luggage and went through security checking. We boarded the Southwest Airlines from Houston-Hobby airport. We flew to Greater International Airport Rochester via Chicago Midway. We rented a dark gray seven seat Mazda CX-9 from Avis.

From Rochester we drove to Nepean, close to Ottawa. On the way we crossed Thousand Islands Bridge. It literally has thousand islands big and small. It is the border between USA and Canada. We had to cross 2 bridges. When we reached Nepean Woods, we stayed with my “ Sana Piusi Nani” at 216 Marjan crescent. As we went inside I zoomed upstairs to freshen up with a good shower. I then played with my iPad and table tennis with my cousin Tishanani and Thomas train with my little cousin brother Gablu . We read books and had pillow fight. I enjoyed so much on the very first day. Next day we went to the Water Dragon Park.

We went to the Parliament Hill where they have a historical bell which was remaining from a fire. In Ottawa we saw the Rideau River and the Canal which is man-made and was made by the British. The Rideau Canal in winter freezes and becomes the longest ice skating rink. We also visited Val Morin to see the Ayappan and Krishna temple and the Shivling on the top of a mountain. On our way back we went to Montreal a French colony.

Two days later we went to Toronto and visited the 5th wonder of the World, the CN Tower i.e. the Canadian National Tower. From Toronto we drove to Niagara city and stayed at Embassy suites. I always knew the Canadian view is beautiful and amazing. Lo Behold!!! It sure is. I woke up early in the morning to get a ride on Maid of the Mist that takes us close to the falling water. I was all drenched in water. But the excitement was doubled because I was with whole family with grandparents and cousins.

After the boat ride we had to rush and drive back to Rochester to return the rental and fly back to Houston via Baltimore. The flight being delayed we reached Houston and home at 3:15am slept tight.

Anjaneya Kar is the son of Jyoti and Sarmistha Kar. He is in 3rd Grade in Massey Ranch Elementary School, Pearland. He is a big fan of Cricket and sports


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ThunderAn acrostic poem by Aryan Patra

Tense I become Hearing the rumbling sound Unique sound that comes from the sky No one can bear Dangerous and noisy Extremely Powerful Rapid rumbling which is deafening.

Energy-Aryan Patra

Energy is fun As it makes me run It comes from the sun It gives you food to eat It makes you feel neat It gives you bread which is wheat It helps you swing a bat Not to make you fat And help you play with your cat

Aryan is 9 years old, goes to Bonnie Holland Elementary School in Katy. He is the son of Gyanendra and Sarita Patra. He loves to play basketball, tennis and chess.


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Road To The Championship -Adi Dass

I played basketball in the summer at Cy-Fair Sports Association. My team name was Philadelphia 76er’s. The team had 8 players including me. Their names were Ajani, Santana, Nurpal, Jordan, Favian, Kade, Reed and Adi. Coach Jason taught us how to play. We had eight games and eight practices. We had two practices before we played games. We learned how to make lay-ups and shots from different angles. We also practiced rebounding and the 2-3-zone offense and defense. Then we started playing games.

Our first game was against an All-Indian team. Some of their players were very fast and our defense couldn’t catch up to them. Their team also had some strong players. I was guarding a strong player and he kept on fouling me. The referees wouldn’t call the fouls. I was so surprised! We won 26 –11. The next game we played a team that kept on shooting mid-ranged jumpers and lay-ups. We were shooting all kinds of shots and we were making them. We won 18-16.

We had practiced between games. We had a little extra time. We played Knockout. Then we had a game. This team was good but not great. They could make contested lay-ups and 3 pointers. We beat them 18-9. Coach Jason was a great coach. We practiced the 2-3 zones for the whole practice. We played an undefeated team. We were also

undefeated but their defense and offense was too good. We lost 15-33.

Then we had a game. We played the easiest team in the league. Their offense and defense were horrible. They only made two mid-ranged jumpers and one foul shot with 5 points. We beat them 26-5. We thought they were going to be better than the last time we played them. They were kind of better but we were so much better. We beat them 21-10. Then we had a practice. We practiced the 2-3 zones. Then we had a game. We played the Indian team again. They were worse than the last time. They scored two 3 pointers and one foul shot. We scored 30 points of mid-ranged jump shots and lay-ups. We also scored one foul shot. We won 31-7. We were in the playoffs!!!

Then we had two practices. We practiced everything we learned. Then we played our playoff game. This team was also a team we already played. They scored four lay-ups and two 3 pointers. We scored ten two-pointers. We won 20-15. We made the championship game!!! We played the undefeated team. We thought we were going to lose because the last time we lost. Our defense and offense was great. We tried hard to make shots. They were very fast and stole the ball from us. I stole the ball once. We won 26-11. We won the championship!!! We got our trophies. That was the journey throughout the regular season, playoffs and championship. This was a great summer basketball experience: Road to the Championship.

Adi is a 4th Grader GT student at Harmony School of Excellence. He likes to read and play basketball.


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My India Trip

-Anuska Mishra

Istarted my India trip waking up in the morning. I did my morning routine and got in my uncle’s car. We went to the airport and did the steps and got on the plane and waited for the plane to start moving. As we went, the plane got faster and faster until we started to rise above the ground. It was a good plane trip but there was horrible food, I didn’t know how my parents could eat it, it was plain horrible.

When we got to the pit stop at Amsterdam, I was very excited because I remember being like a mall. But now when I saw it, it looked very different. I went with it and ate McDonalds. I went up the escalator and got a balloon and my food and played until we had to go. It was great, I could hit the big billboard and do as I like because everyone was too busy to notice me. I went with Misti and Gini.

I was sort of in the middle so, I just played my DSi it was the oldest game I had so it must’ve been the 1st one I got so, I was absorbed in the game even though I played it a bazillion times. I was still playing it. We went to the bathroom but I wasn’t very excited because it stunk in there. We made to the next plane and hopped in found our seats and waited. I lived with horrible food again and made it there (Finally).

When we all got there, we finally got to exit the airport. I got to my cousins house and practically fell into bed. I had dinner

but I still fell into bed and immediately fell asleep.

The next morning, I was excited because we were all going to the mall. I loved the mall in India. It is very big with very nice restaurants.

We ate at a restaurant and the first thing I noticed was the chocolate fondue. I wanted some very badly, so I just got a small meal and ate quickly. I decided to have a few seconds but not too many. I had lots of fish and ate it and finally ate some chocolate brownies with some fondue (OK, a lot). I had a couple of stale brownies with lots of fondue.

Then, my little cousin sister did something very funny, she had 2 fondue sticks and one of her little cakes fell on the floor, and she used both of her sticks to pick up the cake into her mouth

When we got back to my cousins house, I found the perfect way to practice my TKD, a bag. It was my cousin’s but I’m sure she didn’t mind that much, but what really bugged me was that she always takes it away from me and sits on it. It really bugged me that she did that all the time. I just went with it because, she was only 3. Then, the next day was the very best day, I left.

I went to the airport and went to Bhubaneswar and hopped off. It was a good flight. We drove to my grandma’s house. I just relaxed because I knew thatwe were going to leave after I ate. We then went to my grandpa’s house. I always have had a good time there, so I looked forward to it. It turned out that my cousin got really annoying.


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I decided I wanted to go home. My cousin was annoying me, I was bored, and, I didn’t have anything good to eat. It wasn’t fair, I actually had to live with that for a month. I was excited when we finally got to leave after 3 weeks. I realized we were going to Bhubaneswar. We all had some fun and went to a couple of really fancy places, like a jewelry store. It was really cool.

I went to Puri but this time, Shristi came to. It was fun when Shristi came because she is very funny. It was great having her in the car because she was always looking at my nails. It was nice having her looking at my nails because she tickled me. We stayed at a really fancy hotel. We went to the beach and had a great time. We went boating and had

great cuisine. We went shopping and did many things.

Then after a long while, it was time to go back to Delhi and prepare to go back to the USA. I was very happy because I wanted to complete my summer reading so I can get a tag. It took a while but I finally got there and went to the car and back home.

It was a very memorable and fun trip and I look forward to my next trip to Odisha.

Anuska Mishra is in 4th Grade. She goes to Holland Elementary School in Katy. She is the daughter of Rajmohan Mishra and Leena Mishra.


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In New Super Mario Bros. World-Nilesh Madi Sagar

Part 1: A Dream comes true

One day I was playing the Wii on the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I was getting the game out of the box when suddenly I saw the cover of the game box and it looked so realistic.Then I wondered to myself could this happen in real life and if it was real then would it be so easy to survive in the game like it is on the Wii. Just then my thoughts were inturuppted when I heard the doorbell ring.I answered the door and saw my neighbor he wanted to play the Wii with me.So I let him in and we both started playing the Wii on the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii.My neighbor wanted to be Luigi when we started to play the game on world 1 I filled him in on my

thoughts and suprisingly he had the exact same wish.After playing Wii for some time I felt sleepy so I took a nap after that. When I woke up I found that I was lying right next to a pink castle.I took a few steps back and looked up and sure enough I knew that it was Princess Peach’s castle.I thought that it was a dream so I slapped myself five times in the face but the castle was still there.Then I tried pinching myself like everybody else does but nothing happened.Since that didn’t work I decided to check out the castle.After I went around the whole castle I found out that nobody was there meaning that Peach wasn’t there.Then I took another round but this time saying Peach’s name. But when I said Peach’s


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name I sounded just like Mario and when I looked into the mirror I looked just like Mario too in fact I think that in the game I am Mario!After taking another round of the castle and not finding Peach , I decided to just Go with the Flow.maybe if I beat the game I would go back home. So I got out of the castle and saw a giant cannon. I knew what to do.I was supposed to blast myself to World 1 and start the game and my adventure.

Part 2: The adventure begins

After I blasted myself into World 1, I found myself face to face with my game brother Luigi. He told me to get up and start the first level. I did not know how to

start the first level so after a ton of boredness, Luigi pushed me out of his way and started the level by going on the red dot and saying “Let’s go”. After that me & Luigi got zapped into the first level. The game looked exactly like how it was on the WII but in a different view. I knew all the secret passage ways in this level but before I could tell Luigi, a Goomba had already killed him. Then I noticed that I have to be very careful in this game and not to die or else I will never make it home safe and sound!

Will Nilesh/Mario ever beat the game……and will Nilesh ever get home safely…..find out next time

maybe…

Nilesh is very active boy. He loves to play the guitar, play soccer and tennis. He also loves to swim and dance. His favorite subject is Math. And of course, he loves to play the Wii.

Photo by Dr. Promoda Mohapatra


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Monster Quest - Rishav Mohanty

There was a legend about a monster living in a village, but no one believed it, except sixteen years old boy. This 16 year old was named Alex and was a gladiator. He wanted to prove everybody that the legend is not a fake but true. They all thought he was crazy and kicked him out. They said he would only come back if he had the “dragon head”, but he did not in a week, he would be banished. He started on his journey.

In the woods it was dark and haunted. There was a lake of blood from people who walked into the woods and were killed. He was scared and gripped his sword as he was walking, a razor came out of nowhere and almost cut his hand off. Then he found a patch of squares, he threw a pebble on one ad the step fell. There were letters and it spelled something. The letters were ADEHT

alvly. He stepped on the D,E,A,T,H,V,A,L,L,Y and he made it to the other side. The last trap was a lake of sharks. He gotto the other side with few scrapes. Finally he got to the dragon. It was sleeping, he crawled up and right when he was going to kill it, the dragon woke up. Slash! The dragon got hit by Alex. It was badly bleeding as it faintly got up. He took many slashes and finally the dragon was lying weakly. Alex jumped upon it and was about to cut off its head when the dragon blew fire but it wasn’t hot enough and so Alex cut the head off from the dragon. He took the head back to the village and proved that dragons were real. Later he was allowed to enter into the village and also became a champion gladiator.

Rishav is in 5th grade. He plays football and basketball. He is a big fan of LSU football team. He is the youngest son of Debasis and Bindi.


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My First Campout -Anuj Samal

A few weeks ago I was leaving for a campout. We were going to Buesher state park. The trip started when my dad and I left for Ranjan uncle’s house. From there we left to the state park. The trip was an hour and a half long. Throughout the trip it was pouring on us. We reached at 10.00 at night. The person who runs the entrance booth wasn’t there so we had to pay the next day. The whole area was very hilly so there was not a major incline change but there was one. When we reached the campsite my tent buddy was trying to fall asleep. But he couldn’t because everyone kept yelling and screaming. At around midnight this scout from another sight came over to ours with his flashlight and started yelling GIMME TAKIS!!! It was so annoying, and since it was past lights out we got in trouble. The next morning at 6 we got up and started making pancakes (I made the best ones whisper whisper…) also we had grapes and sorry to all vegetarians TURKEY SAUSAGE they were only made from turkey but they were delicious. After that we had the flag ceremony which is we say Scout oath, law and the outdoor code and the pledges (don’t even ask). Then they assigned us our punishment for keeping everyone awake (my tent buddy and I were innocent). YAY WE GOT TO CLEAN THE BATHROOMS. But right after that

I went on an 8 mile hike so I got to miss it YAY !!! The hike was tiring and fun. We shared stories went to the bathroom in the bushes and we heard funny stories about our troop guide from his dad. Lunch was the most rejuvenating thing in the world turkey and cheese on 2 slices of white bread. When we got back we had to go and play capture the flag but I was to busy stuffing my face with Doritos. We started to make dinner. We had a veggie tray turkey hot dogs and apple cobbler. The next night the people in the other tent actually went to sleep and we got some sleep too. Next morning we got up and started taking down the tents. Then I went to get my uniform for the chapel service. Then I was heading back Anuraag (a.k.a. Romil) told me they were eating pop tarts without us. So I ran down the hilly concrete road in crocs because YOU DON’T STEAL A MANS POP-TARTS THAT IS ILLEGAL and got a knee covered in fruit punch then I got it covered up and headed back and we had POPTARTS then Romil and I hosted a competition for slim jims (they are made of beef so we didn’t compete). Then we had chapel service and left.

Anuj Samal is in 6th Grade. He goes to Memorial Middle School. He is the son of Aditya Samal & Yamini Naygandhi.


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The Ranch -Mallesh Maharana

It was a Friday evening. I was finishing up some work when Papa got a call from Aditya Uncle. I had no idea what they were talking about. He hung up after few minutes and asked me “Do you want to make a trip to a Ranch?” “What? Are you kidding?” was my first response. Papa said, “Tomorrow morning we are going to a ranch so wake up early and get ready. You are going with Anuj and Romil”.

This was my first trip to a ranch. With lots of excitement, I woke up Saturday a little early. Papa and I ate some quick breakfast and headed for Anuj’s house. I think we were already late. Aditya uncle was waiting with his car in his driveway, and we just hopped into his car. The adventure full of fun had just begun. Oh no… the car came to a halt. Ahh... It was in front of Shipley’s donuts.

We got donuts and left for the ranch. I watched Anuj and Romil enjoy the donuts in front of me. I started to regret eating breakfast. I decided to save my share for later, much later. I waited for Anuj and Romil to finish eating. We all had our DS units so we took full advantage of multiplayer game mode.

A while later, I looked out the window and saw flat plains of land. We definitely weren’t in the suburbs anymore. I looked at the time, and instantly my mouth dropped open, big enough to hold the universe. A whole hour had passed! I got so caught up in playing the DS that I lost track of time! Aditya Uncle started taking a bunch of turns and going onto random roads. Clearly, they didn’t know where the ranch was. Papa was saying

“go right!” And Uncle was saying “No, go left!” I think they were arguing over the misguided GPS. Finally, a slow turn caught my eyes. “Horsegate Ranch” was the sign in front of the gate! Uncle said this is the place we are visiting. We drove inside and in front of me; I saw a gigantic house and about a thousand acres of a ranch before me. We parked; got out of the car. We started wobbling around and falling over. We all felt so dizzy from the car ride here.

A person walked up to us and asked if we were the people that were supposed to come and get a tour of the ranch. We were all super excited when we got there! None of us could wait for what we were about to experience.

First we got in a Golf cart/Jeep and went to go watch a horseback riding lesson in session. The guide was saying that they have monthly horseback riding lessons here. Then we headed to the stables where all of the horses were kept. Romil Anuj and I were amazed by these magnificent creatures. The guide was telling us that each horse cost at least ten to twenty thousand dollars minimum. Some of the horses cost 150,000 dollars! And they even competed in the Olympics! The guide said that we could all feed them carrots. Honestly, I have to


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admit, I was a little scared, but the guide said I had to try, so I took a carrot and closed my eyes. I slowly inched my carrot towards the horse’s mouth, and then, I felt a huge CHOMP! There goes

my hand. I felt no pain at all. I slowly opened my eyes to see a happy horse and a half eaten carrot in my hand. Hmm…That actually wasn’t bad at all!

(I’m feeding the horse a carrot) Our GJV (Golf Jeep Vehicle) roared out to the open field. Suddenly, a gigantic herd of cows started charging toward us, so I squished in the middle seat for safety. There were so many cows! The guide said that the cows got confused and mistook the GJV for their food time. We saw so many different ages of cows. They started to inspect the GJV and then turned back. Phew!

(Cows returning back after the confusion)

The vehicle made a U-turn and headed towards the barn where they kept all the polo equipment and some other horses. The guide showed us the machine

that makes the polo equipment. Polo on this ranch is not at all like what you would think in Marco Polo. In this sport of Horse Polo, a player must (With a team) score goals against the opposing team with a wooden or plastic ball and a long mallet while riding a horse. It’s like soccer, only instead of your feet, you use mallets, and instead of running, you’re horseback riding. We all got to try on some polo equipment. He said that they have polo games out on the polo field every week.

(Say cheese!) We hopped into the vehicle that

was heading out into the woods. I saw a lot bugs and critters hiding in little piles


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of leaves with their huge glowing red eyes. We followed a little path made of sand down to the edge a stream full branches and fish. The guide said that if we look closely, we could spot a turtle. I saw something move in the water. It was too big to be a fish. There! I shouted, pointing at the turtle. “Over there!” The turtle was swimming around minding its own business.

We drove along the river back through the woods, and onto… The Polo Field. At first, I saw two colossal blue things that were shooting water into the mist filled air. The guide said that those were their water sprinklers. I never knew that sprinklers could be so big. Anuj, Romil and I spread out onto the polo field to find some polo balls.

(Can you see the ranch house from here?)

I found 3, and Anuj and Romil found 2 each. We started to play catch with the polo balls. Turns out, playing catch with a rock hard polo ball is harder than you would think. Never try this at home kids! Each one of us got slightly bruised hands. We saw our guide waving at us to come back to the vehicle. We reached the GJV with our polo balls and he quickly noticed our intention. He said with a smile “you can take one ball and please throw the rest out on the field.” Then suddenly, we headed back to the ranch owner’s house. I thought the guide was going to show us something inside. He said, “All right folks. That’s it for the day.” He assured us to show us more in our next visit. Even though our ranch trip had an abrupt ending, I still loved it! Hopefully I’ll make one more trip to The Horsegate Ranch.

(So cool… sorry, I have no more carrots)

Mallesh Maharana is a 5th grader at Bunker Hill Elementary. He is the son of Madhab and Sasmita Maharana in Houston, TX. He likes to read, play basketball, and annoy his sister in his free time.


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Temples in Orissa -Diksha Rath

This summer my family and I visited India. When we went there, my father took my sisters and me to a lot of temples. These temples are all located in various cities in Orissa.

Rameswar Temple The Rameswar temple is devoted to the people of Lord Rama’s family. It has a garden and walking trails for people to enjoy. Many people come to visit this temple. That day many pigeons and parrots were on and near the temple. Across the road was also lak

Dhauli Temple The Dhauli temple is a beautiful place to visit. When we got there, we first went to the park/garden area. There are stone steps leading to the garden. Halfway up, there is a stone statue of lord Ganesh. We spent some time in the garden and took some pictures. Then it was time to go to the Dhauli temple. From the road it looked like a big white tower. We went to the temple, which was gleaming in the bright sunlight. After taking our shoes off, we went up the white marble stairs. The temple depicted different stages of Buddha’s life. They showed when he was in the palace, when he was in meditation, and other various stages. It also gave a good view of Bhubaneswar.

Kalki Temple The Kalki avatar is lord Vishnu’s future avatar. This is the temple that he will go to from Puri. Kalki is basically a war version of lord Jagannath with hands and feet. As we were walking around, I saw some metal circles that looked like they

were made for holding chains on the ground. When I asked about them, I was told they were there to control Kalki with chains when he was in his warrior state, because he would be almost uncontrollable. We also saw that Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subadhra were developing their feet and hands. You could only see their backs because they were going through transformation. There was also an area that held food for all the people who would be staying there during the period when Kalki would be at the temple right before he destructed the whole world.

ISKCON Temple The ISKON temple is a huge temple. It was one of the last temples that we went to. When we went it was night time and they were talking about the Gita. They also had a little area on one side of the room where they were selling different books and idols of gods. In the middle of the room, the Gita talk was going on. On the other side of the room were the idols of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. About fifteen minutes after we came, they closed the doors that were in front of the idols of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. We went and browsed at the books. They had many different books. It was nice.

Rajarani Temple The Rajarani temple had a huge garden with a long passage that leads to the temple. It is for King Dassarath and his three queens. They were Kaikei, Sumitra, and Kausalya. King Dassarath was lord Rama’s father. Queen Kausalya was lord Rama’s mother. The Rajarani temple is very near to the Rameswar temple.


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Puri Temple The Puri temple is dedicated to Jagannath. Many people visit it every year. It is from here that Kalki will go to the Kalki temple. The three raths for the festival of Ratha Yatra are constructed here. The Darshan is usually a crowded

affair, but it was not as crowded when we went this summer.

These were the temples that I visited this summer. I hope that you enjoyed this article.

My name is Diksha Rath. I am the middle daughter of Kalyan Rath and Durba Mishra. I like Oddisi dance, music (instrumental and vocal), reading, and animals. I am 10 years old and in sixth grade. I go to school at Vista Academy of Jasper.



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Different Ways of Discrimination -Dhara Mohapatra

Why do people discriminate? Why do people like to distinguish themselves from others? What makes a person think that they can make the regulations and say who belongs where?

I like to think that people are just jealous of the person they are discriminating against. That is partly true. As I said, why do people want to distinguish themselves from others? Though it is good to be unique, sometimes people abuse this power.

In Lanier, there were many discrimination problems. Sarah, for instance. She came into Lanier as a really sweet person. She would talk to me a lot in art class which made me feel good. As the school year progressed, she started to get less and less pleasant. Sarah started to act like her friends and I weren’t there for her and she just abandoned us. She talked about people behind their back and she put everyone from my cluster into boring (never talk to) and cool (always hang out with). Sarah became Gossip Central. She would judge people on how they dressed even though we had uniforms. If you dressed like her, you were in her good group. If you didn’t, she would not talk to you at all. She would only talk to Orientals, not Indians, Whites or Blacks. I had thought that she went insane. I decided that I shouldn’t even care about her at all. There were so many people who really did not like her because of what she talks about, so I joined the “Don’t Care about Sarah” club.

Another kind of discrimination: the men and women controversy. I have heard SO MANY kinds of opinions about

which gender is better. I’ve even seen uncles and aunties “arguing” over the better gender. Men and women are equal no matter what. Women usually stand up for themselves when guys say they are stronger than females. They think that women only are capable of doing only housework. That was my little impression when I went to Target Hunger and Hess’s back to school help-out for the people who couldn’t afford many things for the school year. The experience showed me that a lot of people still didn’t like the idea of equal genders.

Anyways, we had to bring bags in boxes which contained limes, juice, and other foods, to the line where the bags would go into a car. A lady was standing by while we were lifting the boxes to go to the bagging line. She saw me lifting a box and said to me, “Honey, don’t lift those boxes. Those are for the MEN to carry. You’re not a man are you?” The first thing I thought to myself was “YEESH! This lady is doesn’t care about the fact that men and women are equal.” I never really liked that. One of my friends said that in this generation, the women are not like the ladies in any other generation. The females do more than just cook and clean around the house. They help out with men. Some men are stronger than women, while some women are stronger than men. People say men are the stronger gender. That is not true. I know this because I have beaten many guys at arm wrestling. At the end, they always say, “I let you win.” They just can’t accept the fact that sometimes, girls are stronger than them. Just because people see a couple of strong people from


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the same gender, doesn’t make it okay to generalize.

Now, onto Martin Luther King Jr.’s time and what is has done to affect segregation and discrimination. MLK tried very hard to stop segregation even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been passed a long time ago. Though it was passed, segregation was still very much alive. Whites wouldn’t let the African-Americans go to the same schools, they had to give up their seats for Whites on the bus, they had to live in separate neighborhoods, and much more. Martin Luther King Jr. tried and tried very hard to abolish segregation and a few years later, his hard work finally paid off.

Though the majority of slavery and segregation was abolished, there are still a few things here and there. People still call African-Americans rude words. Some people think that African-Americans are rude people. Well, in reality, the people who think that are rude. You cannot judge a book by their cover. Just because a man is a different color doesn’t make him any different than you. These people who think that were most probably raised in a way of basing people by their pigment. To be honest, I REALLY feel ashamed, when I was little, I used to base people off of their skin color. I had told my parents about what I thought and they replied, “Beta, just because someone isn’t the same color as you doesn’t make them any different. Sure, they may have different personalities from yours, but everyone is human right?” As I said, people think that Blacks are ill-mannered, but most are not different from you.

Another kind of discrimination is having a disability or a disease. I have noticed that people tend to distance away from you if you have a disability. I’m not saying always, but generally, it’s true. In

my vision, people tend to think subconsciously, ‘He is in a wheelchair; I think that I should stay away from him.’ Individuals think that just because one of these people has a disability, they are not Homo sapiens. They are so caught up in thinking about what is wrong with this person; they don’t realize that they are being uncivil. A while ago, I had a friend whose name was Kirsty. She had a brother and a sister, Gemma. Her sister was going to 9th grade at that time. She had a disability which set her apart from almost all the kids in her grade. Kirsty had been through so many discrimination problems concerning her sister, but this one seemed to sting her. We were talking on the bench and one of our friends comes up and says, “Hey Kirsty, Dhara, a fourth grader is being mean to a kid in a wheelchair. Can you come and stop him?” I kept quiet trying to figure out why there was a sudden tension in the air. Suddenly, Kirsty bellowed, “WHY DO PEOPLE DO THAT???? Why is it that whenever it’s a kid with a disability, people pay too much attention? When it’s a kid without a disability, but needs help, people don’t pay any heed. Kids without disabilities are humans too!”

Kirsty did a lot to help out with the problem of discriminating against the disabled. She was used to being bullied about Gemma and hearing Gemma called mean names. One of the names that really caught her attention was the word retard or retarded. We used that word at our school a lot for joking reasons. We never had thought about it being a really horrid word. Especially the boys. They never cared about what they said. Kirsty eventually asked the teacher to purge the word. It was hard for my classmates, especially the boys, to get used to the fact that those words could not be used anymore. I’m really grateful to Kirsty for getting rid of that word, because now, I cannot stand the word retarded or retard.


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It is a really terrible word. What I wonder is why on earth was that word created? I know that if Mother Earth could hear what kind of language we use, she would most probably try to get the world recreated, which is NOT a problem for me.

Now onto another kind of discrimination. Last one people, I promise. Untouchables in India. Now I really don’t get how this came to be, but someone had to start it. I have one thing to say, deranged. Who made this idea, I don’t know. Why people have been called and made Untouchables, I don’t know. Personally, this is the worst choice that India has made. Of all things they could have done, they did this. I feel really strongly about this because it is what a horrid person could make up. This is why I do not like India. Every time we go there, I see Untouchables on the street not getting any money just because of some rank that shouldn’t even been taken into account. It irks me. Humans are humans and NOTHING can change that. These people are used to being neglected

by other humans all their life. I do not believe in the fact that you should have social ranks. It hurts people. You may not see it, but these people have feelings too. No one is doing anything about this problem. It may have been going on for hundreds of years, but it’s time someone actually did something about it.

I wish that there was never any kind of discrimination. Things would have most probably been much simpler. People who start these discrimination problems are the possibly the worst people that could have been born. My mom says, “Discrimination tho chalta rata hai. It ain’t gonna end tonight.” Discrimination will probably end one day, but that day won’t be for a LONG time. Discrimination, prejudice, and segregation are all wretched things that have been created. These things make you a horrible and wrongdoing person. All people are equal. People feel the need of negativity in their life, and this is how they get it. Discrimination.

Dhara Mohapatra is the daughter of Gopal and Reva Mohapatra. She is in 7th grade at T.H Rogers Middle School. She likes dancing and photography. She is impeccable.


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My Confusing Thoughts -Shilpita Mitra-Behura

Our world is an extremely perplexing place. It is filled with wonders and horrors, hope and destruction, and most of all, science. There are many branches of science, but there I am going to focus on only a few. There is the special theory of relativity, string theory, and numerous other theories to try to explain in mathematical terms how our universe turns its gears. Our universe has baffled countless generations of humans. The ancient Egyptians were always trying to understand the cosmos. People with curious minds wondered about how we began, how our universe started, and why. The reason we have gods and goddesses is because we needed and still now need something to explain all the happenings of our world, and a higher being made perfect sense to our still evolving brains. We puny humans finally made great strides in understanding the universe in the 1800s. A peculiar, but brilliant young man, named Isaac Newton, discovered gravity and uncovered the laws governing it. He also created calculus, which is an amazing achievement, considering he was only 19. Later in the mid-20th, a certain Albert Einstein worked for years at a time to finally bring to light the special theory of relativity. While fabricating this particular theory, he realized, after understanding the concept of gravity in more depth, that gravity can bend light, which goes at a marvelous speed of 186,000 miles per second. Einstein rejected the idea thought, because it went against Newton’s laws of gravity. He just put a constant into his equations to make the bending of light impossible. The genius eventually died trying to bring light and gravity together to form the

perfect equation to explain out mind-boggling universe. It has proven to become even more confusing ever since. There is the Big Bang, which scientists suspect started the universe 14 billion years ago. The length of the human existence, 200,000 years, seems puny compared to that, right? Humans deem themselves so important, when in reality, we are but tiny pricks of life in our massive cosmos. There are billions upon billions of massive stars in our universe. Our cosmos is also still expanding rom the Big Bang at an unknown rate. After the Big Bang, the universe rapidly spread and cooled down. The stars settled into vast clusters that are now called galaxies. Stars themselves are interesting things. They use nuclear fusion to create energy and light. Nuclear fusion creates so much energy, but is extremely dangerous on Earth. Nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms of the same element combine to form one atom of another element. In the case of the Sun, and all the other stars in our universe, two hydrogen atoms combine to form one helium atom. When the helium is formed, energy is created. Nuclear fission, on the other hand, occurs when one atom of an element splits to form two atoms of an element with a smaller atomic number. This is what we do on Earth to create nuclear energy easily. We got to the bottom of the periodic table to the radioactive elements. Radioactive elements are radioactive because they are unstable. The second that these elements touch the atmosphere, they separate into other elements that are stable in the atmosphere. Doing this creates energy which is called nuclear fission. Since this happens naturally, without having to expend any energy, we use this to create nuclear energy. The


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element that we usually use for nuclear fission is radium. Radium is so unstable that when it touches the air, it separates into atoms of plutonium, and another element. This separation creates a lot of energy, but it is every dangerous. Bombs can be made out of the energy that is created during fission. Atomic weapons could be the apocalypse of the Earth. There are international laws that prevent any country from making an extensive amount of nuclear weapons. Even so, Iran was discovered to be enriching vast amounts of radium, so the U.S. planted a virus in their enrichment plants that destroyed the radium’s nuclear properties. Now, you may wonder, that if nuclear weapons are so dangerous, why we would not destroy them. The answer is nuclear deterrent. It is an excellent way to prevent nuclear war, but it shows that humans cannot trust each other. Even so, there are many valid reasons for doubting each other, it is sad that humans will never be peaceful with one another. Humans will probably never cease to have their differences, unless the future scientists decide to turn us into unfeeling robots. I cannot fathom why humans would think that it was okay to enslave other humans because of their skin color. As Thor said in The Avengers, “I thought humans were more evolved than this.” But enough about nuclear war and the idiocy of the human race. We have to return to the craziness of space, more specifically, time travel. There have been thousands upon thousands of thoughts about time travel. For this, though, the 4 dimensions that we perceive have to be broadened. Scientists believe that wormholes are the easiest way to time travel. Wormholes have not been discovered though. They are, for now, just a figment of our extensive imagination. Wormholes are basically

tears, or holes, in our universe. To imagine this, it is easier to think of space as a 2 dimensional grid with a hole in it. Then you have to turn it on its side and look at it as a 3 dimensional diagram. If a wormhole actually existed, and we somehow managed to travel to it and get through it alive, then we would have traveled millions of miles in very little time. We would end up in another section of the cosmos. Of course, in the process, we would have been stretched into infinitely thin strings, but the thought of travelling vast distances in mere seconds or minutes is fascinating. But this poses a question about time travel: if it is at all possible, then does that mean that the past and future are always going on? Time travel wouldn’t be possible if the past and future aren’t always occurring. If they weren’t, then does that mean that if we somehow manage to time travel, the rest of the universe would either return to the past or zoom towards the future along with person time traveling and the wormhole? That is one more confusing thought to add to my list of other mind-boggling thoughts. Time travel may never be possible. I have MANY other confusing thoughts, but I think that I will end this here, because I’m just rambling. I actually planned to write more, but I hadn’t realized that I had already written this much. I could continue, but no one is going to read all of that. I could write my confusing thoughts for days on end, but I would get bored after about an hour. My father was the inspiration for this story, because we would go running together, and I would ask questions, and he would answer. He encouraged me to make this piece of writing, even if it is just a bunch of rambles, so I dedicate this essay to my father.

Shilpita Mitra-Behura is in 7th grade. She is the daughter of Somdutt Behura and Shrabanee Mitra.


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Stepping Stone…… -Saswat Pati

I came to river to go across but afraid that I would fall I saw a creaky, ropy bridge but it was very tall

I thought I would use it but my heart said no, no Instead I saw the stepping stone purely just for show

It was large and round in my mind Easy enough for my small feet to find

I jumped and landed I grunted and made it

I saw the next one and starting to regret But I had gotten this far no way was I going to back out of it yet

I leaped, frozen in time I felt sour, as sour as a lime

I landed safely but for how long I heard the first bell go DING DONG

I had one final stone to go I thought, then jumped like a pro

I finished spectacularly I didn’t want to get a tardy

I didn’t hesitate and made my move By the time I landed I was in a groove

I ran and hustled The bag on my back started to bustle

I could see the school and the gates were about to close I tried and tried and so did my toes

But alas it was not meant to be I spent my day by the outside tree I came back home on the wagon

I wish in the morning I had a flying Dragon

I wept and wept And sadness crept and crept

I came home and told my tale A journey over hill and vale

I still remember the stone The helpful Stepping- Stone

Saswat is in 7th grade. He is the son of Arati and Debananda Pati.


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Colors-Saswat Pati From Black to RedTo green and blue

These are not things to dread And they are just for me and you

Sprinkling, Dancing, Springing and more Riding, Playing, Jumping with love These are more than a petty chore

They’re elegant; reaching to the stars above

Burning, Cooling, Setting a goal Popping, Inspiring further many Shining Sparkling Just Like gold These things can in tiny pennies

Color, Color all above Swirling Styling in all majesty

Color, Color in a dove For they are just for you and me

Stars-Saswat Pati

When I look up what do I see I see the stars revolving and wonder

I wonder how they come to be

Did they climb? Did they swim?

Was it a pantomime?

Why are they there Are they to keep the ghosts away?

Are they really that fair?

Did they come to the world? Or did the world come to them?

Are they shining pearls?

I imagine the many who have looked For some inspiration of mind And one look was all it took


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What would I do without them? What would they do without us?

Would they leave or stay?

I would be lost without them I wouldn’t know where to look

Left right up down

It is a simple sequence Of misfortune

But one look is all it takes

To change face and look far To be inspired

It takes one look when you look at the stars

HumansSaswat Pati

Have you ever pondered why in this huge multiverse (universe for those who don’t believe) it seems we are alone? How are we the only ones out “there” and all our attempts to find someone else have come back in dead static. What made Earth the special place? How are humans the only sentient civilized beings out there? How was it that a Human made a car and not a Tiger? How were we the ones that evolved and not a Shark? All these questions made me contemplate about how humans ended up as Alpha. George Orwell once said in his famous book Animal Farm. “Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.” Why do we hold such power over our fellow animals? My

answer to this question is that Humans are innovators. We persevere even in the toughest of times. These days people complain about not having enough data on their electronic devices yet with 10mb of data, we could send astronauts to the Moon. In all of our history we have proved that we can do things if we tried. Even though we are innovators, we are whiners. But that is okay. In our mental hardware we are programmed to whine. Every human wants to get work done as fast as possible. Why do we complain against each other when we are all the same? Humans may have evolved over 12000 years ago yet now we are evolving as a society. Evolution did not give us any physical embellishments. All it gave us was a smaller jaw size and a bigger cranium. That’s the only thing that separates us from monkeys. Either there is some higher power watching over us or it is pure luck. Humans were meant to do great things so let’s get them done.


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2013 BSA El Rancho Cima Summer Camp

-Anuraag Routray

DAY 1: SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

“That’s the last of it”, I shouted to my dad as I threw my chair into the troop trailer. I ran to my tent mate, Andy. Everyone was bubbling with excitement, especially me. None of us knew that when we got back home, sleeping on a real bed would be valued in our minds like a million bucks. We finished loading the last remaining items and got into our driver’s cars. On the way to Cima, we discussed all the fun stuff we would get to do. Time seemed to pass by very, very, very slowly. But we did finally get there. We each claimed tents at the camp. This time, the goal was to get a tent with little or no infestation with daddy long legs. I found one with just a couple so I started unpacking. I set-up my cot and the mosquito net. Then we took a tour of the whole camp which includes the shooting range, aquatics area and the dining hall among others. We took a 20 minute hike up a hill to have dinner. Then we headed back to camp and got ready to sleep. That’s the time we all realized that the week was going to be harder than we thought.

DAY 2: MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013 “Already?”. I shouted as our SPL went around shaking our tents to wake us up in the morning. I ran to the bathrooms to brush my teeth and change out of our nightwear to get ready for the hike up to the breakfast. I hastily threw on my uniform and headed to the front of our

campsite. I led our troop through the morning flag ceremony. The moment we were done, we headed up the Devil’s Backbone (the trail to the dining hall up the hill). We did a camp-wide flag ceremony. We got picked to go first because we were serving breakfast. I slipped on gloves, put on a hair net, and brought the kolaches from the oven to serve. When we were done serving, we ate like we hadn’t eaten in years. Then we trekked down to our campsite, took our Class A uniform off, and got ready for Day 1 of the merit badges.

My first merit badge was Chess. My chess teacher Dakota, was from Chicago. We went over the basics like how the pieces move and which ones are which. We played couple games of chess and then I left for my next merit badge, Geocaching.

In Geocaching our teacher, Katie, taught us all about Geocaching first-aid. From basic scrapes, to serious bleeding. We finished quickly and then I left for the Swimming merit badge.

In Swimming MB, we learned first-aid for drowning and choking. After Swimming, I went back to our campsite for lunch. I had a veggie burger for lunch. It wasn’t the greatest but I was hungry so I ate it with joy.

My last MB class, Archery, was up the hill. We learned about archery history and got to shoot a bit. On my first round, I got 17 out of 50.

After our MB classes, we had free time! We could do any activity we want and I


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chose swimming in the river. It was fun because all my friends were there. I swam a mile for practice for the mile swim. Then we hiked up the hill for the camp flag lowering ceremony and dinner. We had baked potatoes and beans. I was stuffed and I fell asleep right away.

DAY 3: TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2013 I woke up and got dressed in my Class A uniform for the troop flag ceremony. I ran the flag ceremony and then we headed up for breakfast up the hill. When we got back to the camp I took off my Class A and headed down to play a quick game of ERS. At 8:30 sharp, we headed to chess. We played couple games of Chess and learned few things. In Geocaching, we learned how to get our GPS receivers up and running. We located a small geocache just about half a mile away. We found the box but there was nothing in it. We packed up and then I headed to swimming. At swimming, we did 150 yard races and rock diving competitions. 150 yard races is where you swim 25 yard free, 25 yard side, 25 yard racing back, 25 yard breast, and 50 yard elementary back. Rock diving is where you dive down to the bottom of the lake and try to grab a rock.

At lunch I had a chicken sandwich with a bag of chips and a cookie.

At archery we made our own arrow.

In my free time, I decided to compete in a Chess tournament. After blundering my queen, I somehow still beat an 8th grader in the first round but lost to the eventual champ, a 10th grader.

Dinner was great. We had fajitas with everything. We went back to camp and got ready for bed.

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013 I woke up still a bit sick but 10 times better than I felt yesterday. I took it easy as we hiked up the hill for breakfast. I

was declared healthy after I showed that I could keep the food in without throwing up. During my merit badge classes, I felt light headed but I managed to last through them. Nothing really happened today. We did the Order of the Arrow ceremony but that was really it. I’m just happy that I was feeling better

DAY 5: THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013 I woke up feeling great! I ran the flag ceremony smoothly and we folded the flags perfectly. Believe it or not, we were early to breakfast. We ate like pigs and stayed after for CPR training. In my last day of Chess, a scout from Troop 925 challenged me to best of 3 matches. I beat him in 2 straight games. It felt great

In geocaching we went, well, geocaching! We got lost so that sucked but it was fine.

In swimming, we actually got to go swimming. We did snorkeling and diving we learned survival techniques in the water. We did races and tag. That was fun. We had turkey subs for lunch.

In archery, I finally managed to get a qualifying score. I got 169 point even though I only had to get 150 to qualify. I discovered that I really had a talent for archery.

In my free time I went to another chess tournament. I lost in the first round but it was fun.

Dinner was nice and warm to keep us from freezing in the night. For the first time I didn’t stay awake the whole time.

DAY 6: FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013 At 6:30 in the morning, I went down to the river to do the mile swim. I did finish and was rewarded with an excellent breakfast of biscuits and jam. I was also competing in the aqua fest but I did in part help us get disqualified by diving in instead of just jumping. After dinner we


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left for campfire. They presented awards and did skits and songs. We did the OA callout and left for camp. The rest of the day was for packing up.

When I went to sleep that night out in the open, I reflected on the fun filled week I had experienced. The week had come to an end.

DAY 7: SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2013 We woke up late and packed up the cots and sleeping bags. We had a quick breakfast and left for Katy.

I was excited to see my mom waiting for me at James Williams Elementary.

Summer camp had come to an end.

Anuraag Routray is the son of Ranjan Routray and Chetana Samal.


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Earth in a 1000 Years -Shyam N. Panigrahi

Have you guys ever thought as to how the Earth will be after 1000 years? Will there be aliens?

Will there be prehistoric monsters? Will mankind have come to a level of development beyond one’s imagination? Will the red hyper giant V Y Canis Majoris create a Nebula, the most beautiful sight ever discovered?

There might be another thousand variations in the earth’s future. There could be a world war III.

Anything is possible. Either way it is our choice. We can choose to continue pollution which is a death trap lay by us only or we could learn to suffice our need in some or the other way. To reach the farthest ends of the constantly expanding universe might be the future of Earth (chance of only 1%). Earth might be attacked by aliens or wage the so called world war ‘3’ or immerse itself in pure meditation. The geographical structure of Earth of: The water level might have risen and/or the soil would have been eroded (most probable). The dormant or even the extinct volcanic mountains might erupt anytime. The industries could have possibly reached a dramatic standstill. The rivers and the perennial sources of water would either have been dried up or contaminated.

The time bomb is ticking away, tick tock tick tock tick tock tick …….. We


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ourselves might have been transformed into a different class of species by mutations. All of these are either advantages or disadvantages (obviously!). We can now see the future in a combination (or combinations) of all

the factors, some good, while others bad. Humans are an extraordinary race and we can choose the future for ourselves.

Shyam N. Panigrahi is a 7th grader. He lives with his parents Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi and Bharati Nanda in Mumbai, India. He is Saswat Pati’s cousin brother.

OCC Booth at the Janmastami Celebration, George R. Brown Convention Center, September 7, 2013


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Amar Bose: a Teacher, Entrepreneur and Innovator-Devarun Dass

Childhood

Amar Gopal Bose was born on November 2,1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Noni Gopal Bose and Charlotte, an American mother. His father was an Indian freedom fighter from Calcutta. Bose’s father arrived in the U.S with only $5 dollars in his pocket. His mother was a schoolteacher of a French and German descent. Bose’s mother was a strict vegetarian and was interested in Hinduism. When she would cook food, Bose could smell the freshly grounded spices. The Bose family lived in a white neighborhood. Amar Bose was always bullied in his childhood.

He learned many life lessons from his father that made him a fighter in life. His father advised him to learn boxing in his teens. Bose was mistreated by peers due to his color. It was difficult for the Bose family to rent a house in a white neighborhood and dine in restaurant. Bose learned to play classical violin. Bose’s father had an electronics repair shop. He learned to repair model trains and home radios, and helped his family income. At thirteen, he was running a full-fledged shop. He was the only Indian

kid in his block. Bose had a rough childhood. The Bose family went through severe racial discrimination and humiliation. He gained good values from his parents.

EducationBose was a brilliant student. He graduated from Abington Senior High School in Philadelphia. Due to his interest in electronics, Bose studied Electrical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He received a scholarship to go to MIT. He finished his Bachelor’s, Masters, and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering. He worked with famous professors at MIT. In his school days, Bose learned to be self-sufficient. Bose kept on playing violin and developed interest in classical music. He relaxed while playing violin. Bose chose to buy a hi-fi speaker system instead of wasting time on game devices. He liked to listen to classical music using audio speakers. The quality of the speakers was bad. He wanted to improve the quality of the speakers.

Bose spent a year in Eindhoven, Netherlands in a research lab at Phillips Electronics. He pursued his study of the mathematical side of communications theory. He reached his goals of academic


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brilliance. Bose finished his PhD working under the guidance of Norbert Wiener, one of the greatest mathematicians of 20th

century. Bose completed his PhD by writing a mathematical thesis of non-linear systems of communication theory. After Bose finished his Doctorate he began to teach at MIT. He was also conducting research on physical acoustics and psychoacoustics.

Profession Bose got a Fullbright scholarship to go to India after his graduation. Bose met his first wife Prema Parthsarathy there. He worked in Calcutta and New Delhi for one year. Teaching at MIT gave him enormous pleasure. Mostly he taught courses on Electrical Engineering and Acoustics. Students flocked to his classes as he taught students independent and critical thinking in his courses. Students admired him as a great professor and an effective teacher.

Bose kept on doing research to improve the quality of audio sound. He put a tremendous emphasis on mentoring graduate students. Throughout his teaching career Bose maintained high standards. He has inspired generations of engineers. He was a great mentor. He received many awards for his wonderful teaching and pioneering work. His peers and students called Bose a “legend”.

EntrepreneurshipBose was not happy with the quality of the available speakers. He did his research on the audio speakers to improve the quality of the sound. His passion for speakers helped start his business with the help from his colleagues. Bose borrowed $10,000 from Professor Yuk Wang Lee to start Bose Corporation. He started Bose Corporation with former MIT graduate Sherwin

Greenblatt. Bose’s first product was the 901 Direct/Reflecting speaker systems. Bose Corporation was privately held. Bose Corporation has 12,000 employees now. Bose products were sold globally. Bose Corporation surpassed big companies like Phillips and Sony. Bose Corporation became a successful company. Bose made noise canceling headphones and wave radios. Bose Corporation put speakers into top automakers including Mercedes and Porsche cars. Bose encouraged employees to do many great things.

LegacyAmar Gopal Bose breathed his last on July 12, 2012 at his home in Wayland, Massachusetts. He was first and foremost a teacher. Bose was a famous professor and the owner of Bose Corporation. Bose was known for his success as an inventor and businessman. Amar Bose taught at MIT for 45 years. In 2011, Bose donated major shares of Bose Corporation to MIT. The shares are supposed to help with further education and research. But it is Bose’s passion and dedication to scientific research in the area of acoustics that have had the greatest impact on society. Amar Bose is one of America’s great pioneers and innovators. Thanks to his dedication to teaching and innovation, his work will continue to bear long after his passing. While he’s best known for founding the globally recognized audio company that shares his last name, Bose holds a number of patents for acoustics, electronics, and communications theory. His acoustical products are used in Olympic stadiums, Broadway theaters, and landmark buildings such as the Sistine Chapel, and mosques in Mecca. Amar Bose’s life is worth emulating by the students of the 21st century.

Devarun Dass is in 7th grade. He is the son of Raghunath and Arunima Dass.


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Silver Necklace -Ishita (Gini) Patra

In 5th grade I took my favorite silver, starfish necklace to school, to show all of my friends. That day, when I came back home, I had to tell my mom that I had lost it. This is the story of how I lost my necklace at school, and never found it.

When I came into homeroom, I put my backpack in the hook and then showed my friends my silver, starfish necklace. They all “oohed “and “aahed” suddenly the bell rang, and we all scattered to our seats to get ready for announcements. After announcements, my teacher Mrs. Anderson put us to work on our daily writing, everybody groaned. Suddenly Mrs. Anderson clapped her hands, and we all looked up, she asked the class if one person could help her take a note to the front office. Hands shot up as fast as the sound of thunder, since no one wanted to write, they all wanted Mrs. Anderson to pick them. Fortunately for me, I got picked.

Walking as slowly as I possibly could, I trudged my way to the front office. My necklace was kind of pinching me, so I put it in the front of my pocket. I then gave the note to the front office, and walked to class. The day went by fast, and the next thing I knew recess was in 5 minutes. The bell rung signaling the start of recess, my friend Eve wanted to see the necklace, because she wasn’t able to see it in the morning. I reached into my front pocket and was confused to see that nothing was in there. I looked into my other pockets to see if I may have stuck it in any other pockets, but they weren’t there. Noticing the worried look on my face, Eve asked if I lost it, and I nodded yes. She suggested that we go search the school.

The first thing we did was retrace our steps, we went through everything. My backpack, my desk, my lunchbox, we even checked the bathroom. Then Eve suggested we search the school.

The first thing we did was retrace our steps; we went across the hall looking for anything that sparkled in the sunlight. We went asked the front office f they have seen it and they shook their head no, and offered us the lost and found box, but we didn’t find my necklace. The bell rang for us to go back to the classroom. That day I didn’t get to find the necklace. The lesson is from now on I would not bring necklace anywhere except to parties. I regretted my choice to bring my necklace to school, and hopefully it won’t happen again.

Rath Yatra 2013 -Ishita Patra

This year’s Rath Yatra was one of the best that we have ever had. The day

started out with me helping in the information booth. We did all sorts of things in the information booth like


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asking people to take surveys, answering people’s questions, and selling tickets to the show. After helping in the info booth I watched my fellow classmates practice Keki Khantha. They did really good; the only thing that they needed to do was smile. After watching them practice we went to get a drink water because they were getting hot. When we got a drink Bhainya Uncle made us play a game to win these different prizes. Dhara got a soccer ball for a prize, I didn’t get anything, but I didn’t care. We went back to the room so Dhara, Sumi, Diksha, and Divya could get ready for their performance. After they got ready we ate food. It was delicious, and then they practiced and performed. Their performance was amazing, and I thought that was the best that they ever did. We talked and laughed and had fun. Then me, Dhara, Sumi, Anish and Meha helped Sarita Auntie take down the flags. It was hilarious because me and Meha had so much trouble to fold the flags. After a

little help from Anish and Dhara we finally finished folding the flags. After we took down the flags we ate again. The food was yummier than the food we had a while back. We had a paneer tortia, biriyani (veg) and lots of other dishes. After eating our second dinner me, Sumi, and Dhara walked around the complex talking. We watched the adults take down the Ratha. It looked so beautiful in the night, with the moon shining on its exterior. I was really sad when we had to take it down, but I knew that next year I would see it again. Pretty soon Sumi had to go, so it was only me and Dhara. We walked around the complex again until Dhara left. After Dhara left I walked around until I met my mom. I found my mom talking with Satya Uncle. After waiting a few minutes she finally finished talking to Satya Uncle. Then we told my dad it was time to go, and he agreed that it was getting pretty late, so we needed home.

Ishita Patra is a 7th grader at Beckendorff Junior high. She aspires to be a scientist or a doctor. In her free time she likes to read or practice her viola. She is the only child of Dillip Patra and Subhashree Pradhan.


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Insecurity- Divya Rath

Casting shadows over me, Blinding my mind, You smirk at my unsteadiness, Leaving me yearning to see.

I try and escape your from your grasp, But am caught in your clutches. I’m never good enough, Always my nemesis.

You work your magic wand and POOF!The confidence is gone.Constantly showcasing my cons in the light,The pros covered with your veil.

I dart from place to place, Masking the weakness inside of me, That I want no one else to see.

Who are you to judge who I am,

What I’m supposed to be? I may not be a beauty queen, a smart word machine, Or a person from the TIME’S magazine, But I am me.

I am happy with who I am, And cherish all my flaws. Your words don’t mar me.

So, insecurity, you have nothing on me. Because it doesn’t matter what you think. Your comments and thoughts will no longerHave an effect on me.

Leave me and flee somewhere else, I won’t need you anymore. No longer will you dictate my life, Wicked insecurity.

Individuality- Divya Rath

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” This comment made by Dr. Seuss is bona-fide statement. Although showing your true colors may be tough at times, in the end, it pays off to just be yourself.

The “Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Andersen is a wonderful example which shows the benefits of being yourself. When the duck realized that he was unlike his siblings, he ran to different places to try and discover to which place he truly belonged. The little

creature traveled from place to place, attempting to fit in at farms and houses, but was met with failure every time. One day, the duckling glimpsed at a flock of swans and vowed to look as handsome as them. After experiencing a treacherous winter, he waddled to the riverbanks and a beautiful swan’s image was reflected back at him. The moral that this tale conveys is that people should embrace themselves, and not hide behind a mask of deceptiveness. Another reason why we should be ourselves is that there won’t be any secrets, or anything about you, which will


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come and bite you in the back. If you have already shown people the real you, then will not be anything that will cause you to take harmful decisions in the future. One example of this is the book “What Happened to Good-Bye”. In it, the main character, Mclean, is trying to deal with her mother’s marriage to a famous basketball player while living with her father, who has to move many times due to his job. Every time they move, Mclean “re-invents” herself, giving herself a new name and personality. But when she moves to Lakeview, she finds that she is acting like herself for once. One day, her friend Deb finds several accounts on a social networking site which have the same information as Mclean, but are listed as people with different names. Fearing non-acceptance, she leaves to go to her mother’s new home. There, she writes about the different personalities she impersonated and why she did so. At the end, Mclean’s friends still accept her as they did before with no harsh feelings on either side. The maxim this novel tries to convey is that you should be who you are, not what someone else thinks that you should be. As John Mason says, “You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.” Even though being yourself is an ideal thing to do, no one said it would be easy. There will be some criticism towards “non-conformists”. When one person doesn’t follow a current trend or “style”, they can be labeled as “weird”, or “odd”. In general, it is human nature to shun people who rebel against conformity. For example, if someone came to a social gathering dressed in rainbow colored chinos and a loose fitting band shirt, then there would be a

few eyebrows being raised at the albeit unusual attire. But, if those specific clothes are that persons’ every-day wear, then by all means, they should have the right to clothe themselves in their chosen apparel. Despite the setbacks mentioned above, the price of non-acceptance is more costly than that of individuality. People have the right to be who they are. There are no rules or regulations preventing them for exercising this right, so why hide from what is always there?

After reading this, there may still be a few doubts lingering in your mind. One of those might be, “Why?” The answer to this question is: Why not? What will you have to lose for being yourself? Yes, there may be a few people who shun or stick their nose up at your quirkiness. In comparison though, the price of this is much less than that of constantly trying to cover up who you are. No one on this Earth, in this world, in any era, has been given the exact same persona or qualities you have. You are a unique individual, an original person. There is no point in trying to be someone else, because otherwise, no one is going to be you.

Being who you are can be difficult at times. You might face criticism and disdain. You may question if this decision was the right path to take. At the end of the day though, just being you is what counts; what others think of you doesn’t. After all, as Marie Chaidez said, “To truly love yourself is beautiful, but to change yourself for someone, just means that they never truly loved you for you.”

I, Divya Rath, am Kalyan Rath and Durba Mishra’s oldest daughter. I am 12 years old and in the 8th grade. My hobbies include dancing classical Odissi dance, singing, and playing the piano. I love to read, write, and run. Jasper Texas is my home. I don’t know exactly what I want to be in the future, but I do know that I will try and look out for others whenever I can.


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Truth Always Wins -Arnav Mohanty

The vast and raging sea was wrecking my miniscule boat. Suddenly, my boat caved in and I started drowning in the sea of my

lies. I was lost in myself.

“How was School?” my father asked. It was the infamous question. I looked at the big, red, melancholy C – on my quiz paper. I replied with a lie and said yeah well. Suddenly I felt a knot in my stomach. In my mind, I also felt my sea of lies grow vaster and my boat of truth grow petty.

We reached home and had a silent dinner. I went to bed early. I was busy tossing and turning in my bed. I sprang out of bed and trudged downstairs for a cup of water. I thought I could wash my guilt away. When I was pulling out a cup, I heard a loud crash. I turned on the light and looked at the debris. The dinner plate looked like as if I had applied strenuous

force to destroy the plate. I turned off the light and ran into my room. I used guilt as my blanket. My alarm clock blared and I rolled out of bed. I trudged to the restroom and brushed my teeth. I went downstairs looking like a zombie. I found myself face to face with my parents. My brother came to my side still in Pajamas. My father asked, “Who broke the plate?” Both of us looked confused and said that we did not break it. My parents sent us to our rooms. Inside my mind, my boat of truth caved in and I started drowning in the sea of my lies. Fortunately, I found a glowing life raft. I swam to it and got on. The life raft was being pulled up and I was on my parents’ yacht of truth. My parents told me always speak the truth for it can help you avoid disastrous consequences. As I regained my consciousness and ran to my parents who were busy solving the mystery of the broken plate, I confessed and they were a little less angry that I expected. I learned that speaking the truth makes you more trustworthy and maks your life much better.

Arnav is in 8th grade. He plays violin and is a black belt in Taekwondo. He loves boys scout camps and music. He is the son of Debasis and Bindi.


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A Bunch… -Meha Mohapatra Pimple Boys Boys are like pimples They are things every girl hates Horrible timings too

And it takes time to get rid of them. Always popping up in groups, It’s sooo annoying!!

DecisionsChose Carnegie Very stressed out Picked 3 instruments Don’t really practice Want to do well in dance? To lazy too Try to ace every test Watch Korean dramas Do my homework Didn’t do it right Study for a test Studied the wrong stuff Make a goal Has never reached it

YouI have a problem with you, You have no respect for anything And you don’t say please or thank you It really makes me mad Cause you see yourself as the top, I as the slave. I do the heavy lifting

You criticize I try to do something good But you don’t recognize And that’s why I’m at the barn away from YOU!

TexanTexan much is what I am, I ride horses Just like any other human. Man I say ya’ll a lot But it ain’t a Texan thing Cause that’s just me.

My Generation My generation, Has no appreciation. Everything’s for free That’s what they think. Latest model is what their stuff is But I gotta use mine till it dies. It ain’t fair To those who work hard And do more But I guess that’s life And this is what I work for.

I Don’t Care I don’t care for what you say. Cause all I know, Is you’re thinking about me. And during that time, I feel so famous Cause everyone knows me For something outrageous.

I, Meha Mohapatra, am the daughter of Gopal and Reva Mohapatra. I’m a 9th grader in Carnegie Vanguard High school 3 more years and I’m out!! ^^ I don’t do sports anymore but I love to play soccer, volleyball, badminton and bike. For fun of course! Ok so I play the guitar, piano and violin. No that’s not a lot. I’m also senior Girl Scout, who does SPURS (Girl Scout horseback riding). Oh I almost forgot…I do Odissi dance too, sorry. Ummm I guess that’s all you need to know. By the way, don’t forget to gossip about me cause I love to be the center of attention. -.- You know who you are.


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Experience Everything -Subrat Mahapatra

Human nature dictates that the average human is never satisfied with what he has. He or she will always want more. This definitely fits with my core personality. Though this quality may lead to unhappiness, stress, and overall feelings of inadequateness, with careful control and actions this leads us to fully achieve the zenith of our potential. Ever since I was a child I always wanted more. When it came to food, I would clean the containers. When it came to athletics, I wouldn’t back down until I was all but limp with fatigue. When it came to helping others, I would go out of my way to help even at my own detriment. This was my talent and my fervent hunger.

In elementary school in Virginia, having recently come from India, I was more concerned with getting to know the customs and language of the elementary school. I was eager to make friends and have a lot of them. I was excited to play soccer, having never played in India. Friendship was a major theme in my elementary life so I dedicated my life in those times to fully get as many friends as I could. Every year I would make more and more until I was satisfied but when the next year came I would strive to make even more friends. Academically, I functioned in elementary school only because of my background from the Indian education I came from and my own natural intelligence.

Yet when we moved to Texas to start the second semester in 6th grade I gradually changed my focus. It seemed to me that I was fully capable of having as many friends as I wanted. I was fully

capable of creating and secluding myself in a sphere of social happenings. Yet I grew tired of this Subrat. I wanted add academic genius to my repertoire. I wanted to dig deeper into my roots. I started reading more. I would finish around 1-2 books a day. I would read in all my classes. All my teachers would get mad at me when I would take my book out but it didn’t matter because I would ace all the tests. I got into the top of my grade as I worked my way into many prizes and medals. Yet when high school came around I wanted to recreate myself once again having grown bored with my academic-only focus.

In high school I wanted to get into athletics. I wanted to learn new things about myself. All my life I wanted to challenge myself in different ways. I felt academically superior and socially content. I had to find a new way to challenge myself. So I got into athletics. I felt if I could combine a steady club soccer practice, school soccer practice, karate, and gym and picking the hardest classes my school had to offer therefore creating the most hectic schedule I had previously never encountered, I would fully be in control of myself and be fully tapped into my potential. So I had decided to act so that I could experience everything I wanted to experience in my childhood.

So now I look critically upon my future in college. Who do I want to become? How shall I change? How do I want to experience my life? Whatever I pick I know there is no stepping down from that path. The one quality that I think defines me the most is my own


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brand of stubbornness. I will not back down if I choose to do something. I will not let go if I want something. Academically, socially, and athletically I will strive to be unique in the only way I know how. I will be the best. I know that whatever experience I gather they will

permanently be with me. Once mine, always mine. I will always be like this.

Memorial High School, College: Trinity University Prizes: Computer, Writing, Science, and Soccer awards, Honor roll

Slogan: Every great dream starts with a dreamer.


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Lori Goes to College -Sangita and Surath Rath

Houston became Lori's home since we moved here several years ago. Between then and now there are changes and memories of our living in Houston that binds us with the past. Lori grew up pretty much here after spending the very first month in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It has been a great journey for us. Back then there were just so few children in our community. That situation has changed dramatically now and this year we saw several High School graduations in our community. One was that of Lori. Lori has graduated from Michael E. Debakey high school and has taken admission in Washington University in St. Louis. She plans to do her higher studies in medicine and/or related fields. Lori moving away from home has changed our lives to some extent but that has been smoothened due partly to the help from texting and facebook and largely to the presence of so many other children in our community.


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PILS Essay -Renuka Rege

Thesummer before my senior year

in college, I had the opportunity to intern at the Tahirih Justice Center, an organization that provides free legal services to immigrant women fleeing gender-based violence. During this inspiring experience, I formed meaningful connections with clients and grew motivated to pursue a career in public interest law.

What I liked most about interning at Tahirih was that I had the chance to interact with clients on a direct, personal level. I communicated with clients throughout the progress of their cases, from answering their first phone calls and conducting initial screenings to meeting them in intake interviews and collecting their documents. Hearing about the immense difficulties the women had faced was heartbreaking, but these conversations enabled me to develop unique relationships with the clients. These connections made me feel very invested in the work I was doing, and I was constantly reminded of the impact I could have on the women’s lives. What stood out the most to me was the high level of trust the women placed in me and the rest of the staff at Tahirih. Despite all the hardships they had experienced, they still believed in the goodwill of people who could and would help them improve their lives. Being entrusted with some of the women’s most personal information motivated me to do my best to aid them in their fight for justice. Because Tahirih has finite resources and is not able to

assist every woman who calls, it was especially rewarding to hear the hope in a client’s voice when I told her we would take her case.

From a legal perspective, I was fascinated by the ways in which Tahirih maneuvers the law to defend women who are effectively excluded by our legal system. For example, gender-based persecution is not an official condition under which people can apply for asylum in the United States. However, Tahirih has creatively molded gender-based violence cases to fit under asylum law by arguing that its clients have fled persecution based on their membership in a particular social group. Now, asylum law is evolving through the courts to include gender-based persecution as legitimate grounds. Tahirih’s innovative application of the law showed me that while the law is sometimes deficient, it is a tool that can be used to set precedents for what is right. Law is a dynamic institution that can be interpreted towards the betterment of society, and I plan to dedicate my career to this endeavor.

In the future, I hope to do work that motivates me as much as my internship at Tahirih did. I hope to play a part in the type of creative application of the law that Tahirih is involved in with the aim of making access to justice the norm for all people. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to help those who have been less fortunate than I have through the provision of legal services. In this way, I plan to contribute to the improvement of society through a career in public interest law.

Renuka Rege is a 1st year law student, 1L, at Harvard Law School. She wrote the essay when applying to Law School. PILS stands for “Public Interest Law Scholar”.


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Do You Remember Me? -Simba Mitra-Behura

Hello. I am Simba. I have been in writing hibernation for some years now. I was busy growing up, moving and adjusting to some life changes. Now I am settled and have the time to write. The theme of this article is the changes in my life and how they have affected me.

Time in the rented house First of all, I was not ready to vacate out of my old house (now destroyed). I ran back to it from our temporary new place. It was my way of getting my Mom to run. It was a nice run! One day, a little get black creature appeared with Masi. Oh my God! Masi had a new baby!! Bella tried to play with me… not really knowing that I was a teenager and I had better things to do than play with a baby. She was annoying… ate up my food, tried to catch Masi’s bird that I was taking care of, and peed and pooped in the house a few times. Poor Masi. I am sure she was thinking why Bella is not as good as me.

Time in the apartment For some reason my family moved to an apartment. The place was like heaven. Each time I stepped out there was some barbequed bone outside. I think I gained most of my weight there.

Time in the new house Then came the big switch. Yes, it was big. We were back to the first house, except it was bigger and better. It had stairs and lots of closets and windows. I was proud at such a good job my Dad had done. Since the apartment had fed me well, it took me sometime before I started going up the stairs. First few days I slept

in the closet. Coming from the apartment, the closet was quite big as is!

Then came the real scary day. One Sunday morning, Bappa was in Bella’s house. Mummy and my sisters were in Korno’s house. I heard a crash in the living room and saw a few men coming into the house. The glass was all over. I barked and was so shocked I do not remember what I did. I love people, but not from windows. The house alarm was not on and I had to watch these guys take all our valuables. I felt helpless and sad. When my dad came I was under the bed.

Friends?Thanks to Masi I am being trained to be a social dog… not to humans but to other dogs. I think I am doing fine. First she brought Bella to her home to give me constant training. With Bella it is mostly about how I can reach the food bowl without being watched. Masi sometimes sets up a separate bowl inside the pantry and stands guard while I eat. I love Bella’s food. Bella still tries to play with me. I am not sure how many years it will take that thing to respect me.

Then I met Alwyn. Cutie pie. Does not bother me. But I have to be careful when he and Bella get together. They get so engrossed in playing they do not even bother to look where they are running. They are a safety hazard to me. Once when all three of us were at Masi’s, we decided to run away and made the Mohapatra ladies have run of their lifetime. Meha didi went out to get something from the car, not realizing that all three of us were looking for an opportunity to have some fun. We ran to the main road. Meha didi ran and talked


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to us, coaxed us to come. Then we saw Dhara didi come to her rescue (Meha didi needed help in rounding three of us). Then Dhara ran to the house, and eventually we saw Masi and Dhara coming out. Between both of them they had carrots, some treat and chips. Well, I the healthy got a carrot and walked home. Alwyn got the treat and was promptly picked up by Masi. Bella got a chip and was picked up by Dhara didi. Since then we are never allowed outside without leashes. That was a lot of fun. They all got fresh air and some cardio. We are a woman’s best friends.

And then there is Chocolate, who is in India right now. He decided that I was his role model and would never stop following me. Even if I growled he was fine. He was one determined dog. But he and Bella got along very well. They would run and run and play on the couch. Never ever did they stop to see if they

were hitting me or coming in my space. As long as they gave me space I would just watch them play – wondering why are they wasting their energy like that. Thankfully when it was time to sleep they were put in the cage (they were little at the time) and I got the rest of the place to myself.

Then I met Korno a few months ago. His mom teaches my sisters Odissi. Bella and I had gone to pay a visit to him one day over the summer. Bella was her usual playful and kept him busy, while I went and ate his food. His food was good too! It was a good visit. I will be happy to go again anytime.

This is my life currently. If you like this article please let me my Mummy know so she can hand me pen and paper (before the deadline) for the next year’s Alata.


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Bellatrix: Transported from Harry Potter to OCC

-Bella Mohapatra

When I came to my family I thought there were only three people. After a few weeks, came a very pretty lady to our house with a suitcase. She talked very nicely to Meha and Dhara and looked like she was in love with my daddy. She let me inside the suitcase while she unpacked. She has not left since then. I assume she is the Mom of the house, though she rarely behaves like one. Those were my first few weeks with my crazy family. My name is Bellatrix and I am now the limelight of the Mohapatra family.

We were in the apartment for about one year. That apartment has fond memories. My morning meditation, watching the traffic light change from the apartment dog park was a good way to start any stressful day. I made many friends there... played in that park. I was dog-dog before I came to my new family – playing with other dogs, chasing squirrels and cats. The wall behind the rocking chair in the apartment was my laboratory. I chased shadows there. My silly family thought I was chasing a bug. Little did they know that I had a little playground for myself in that little space. My mummy used to trick me to go out by starting to chop imaginary things on the chopping board. Yes, I used to jump up and be right by her side every time she did that. What a fool I was. I celebrated my first birthday with my friends. Meha didi made a cake and we even had goodie bags for my friends. Let us not talk about the dogfight we almost had that day!

In the chewing arena, I not only did shoes and pencils and toys, but I was one step further. I chewed up a wall by Meha's bathroom. My daddy had to pay a fine. But it was tasty. My daddy was very worried to bring me to our new home….all wood, in case I ate up the house inch by inch! But I have been good. I have ripped apart comforters…actually only Dhara's comforter. Look, I get bored at night and need something to do. So, I take the stuffing out. I have even taken the stuffing out from pillows. My grandma (Nani) repaired it once last summer and I got a long lecture while she was doing it. Nana thought she was talking to the air. My Nana called me a princess…. he recognized that!

I have more space in the house, although I only need a pile of washed clothes, a cozy human comforter or a human. I spend most of the school day upstairs on Dhara's bed. Dhara didi is very nice to me… lets me share her comforter and does not turn on the lights too bright when she is getting ready for school. I even have my own pillow, just like Dhara's. I come downstairs eventually when my parents call me for a walk. When I am too sleepy my dog instincts turn into human ones and I ignore their calls.

I get cleaned up almost each week. Meha didi used to give me a shower and now she has graduated me to the laundry room sink. My mummy wraps me in a towel and dries me up… sometimes I take a nap when she is doing that.


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I have adjusted to the environment and only walk as much as is needed. I much prefer to run around and play- rather than go for a boring walk. My daddy takes me for morning walk. I think the short walks are helpful then. Nowadays Meha and Dhara take me for walk, I actually like that. I should not be the only kid going out – that is not fair!

I do like laser pointers, flashlights, reflections etc. I loved having Boodima home. Early in the morning she would start taking pots and pans out. There was a routine I was adjusted to… the reflections of the sun from fridge door opening/closing to the walls, reflection from the backdoor opening/closing to the wall, the steam from the chai pots and pans shining in the sunlight. Now that is a way to do Surya Namaskar. My shrieks and barks … you must come one morning to hear that! Even though I am dark skinned I do sunbathing. My obsession to flashlight is so bad that my Mom has made me take two long walks with a flashlight in her hand – in broad daylight. Did I not say she is not normal? I am very well entertained by aluminum foil as well. Just tear it open and I am happily shrieking and barking.

I love playing in the sprinkler as well. One day I spent almost 30 min playing in the neighbor’s sprinkler. After it was

closed I noticed my Mom standing there with a towel, a leash and a piece of cheese that was melted over. I suppose she was there all throughout. But I had a blast. The sad thing about this obsession is that my neighbor, Peach, loves water too. We fought over it, in her yard and she won! Since then I am not good friends with her anymore.

One thing my Mummy is proud of me about is that I usually do not play with boy dogs if I haven’t known them for a while. I make friends easily with girl dogs. I do not have too many friends in the neighborhood. I suppose if I got out more I would make friends. My best friends are Alwyn and Chocolate. When Alwyn is there I get a lot of exercise and food. I am still working on breaking in Simba. I think there is hope there. I did try to be friends with Yoshi. She looks like fun and I think I can play with her in my home. I met Korno too.. he is a nice shy dog. Wish he would play more. But when it comes to food, I am still the boss with everybody. Mummy has tried many ways to teach me to be a good hostess but I have a long way to go. She sets up bowls for guests in many places but I am fast! I think I will get there eventually, I hope.

Arati aunty is waiting for the article so I must stop here, otherwise this will not get published.


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Happy Birthday Mrigaa -Alwyn

This morning my Mummy woke me up with a big jolt. She said I was to write an article for Alata and that Bella and Simba had already turned in theirs. I was shocked. I am only 2 and I was to write an article? I will talk to Bella about this high standard. Anyway, I quickly got my hugs and kisses from my Mummy before Mrigaa woke up and got started on this article. Please excuse me for any grammatical errors, since I am a 2 year old puppy dog writing for the first time. I dedicate this article to my sister Mrigaa who will be turning one this weekend.

I was really really tiny when I joined the Oriya Community. I was the real center of attraction to all – old and young. I used to have sleepovers. Bella came for a few days once and we had a ball. She ate my food, I ate hers. She ran after the water, and I watched. She took over my bed, and we played late at night. That was a glorious time.

Last year, in September, my Daddy left me in Bella’s house. Her Boodima was visiting at the time. I spent a few days there, playing and basking in the attention. Then my Daddy came to pick me up, I was happy to be going home. When I reached home, I had a funny feeling that something had changed. There were weird smells and new things in the house.. small things but the smell was all over. I then heard a cry and a small bundle. My Mummy had replaced me for some other cutie pie! I was very upset. I would have left but did not want to leave the AC and carpet. So, I stayed by the door. It seemed like I made my point. Mummy and Daddy tried to feed me, talk to me, play with me, but I did

not want to leave my “strike” spot. Then an interesting thing happened. Gini didi came and took me to her house and gave me food with her hands. I was so hungry I could not resist. That was very sweet of her. I resisted a little more at home and then gave up. The cutie pie is none other than my sister Mrigaa. After that, I have assumed the role of the big brother. And I think I am good at it.

I celebrated my 2nd birthday with a big bang. My mummy made a lovely cake and invited Simba and Bella. Our parents and sisters had fun - standing by taking pictures, videos. When it was time for them to leave I placed myself in their van, so I could extend my birthday into birthdays. My mummy and Daddy understood enough to let me spend more time with my friends. Thank you, Mummy and Daddy.

I still go and visit Bella. We are constantly running, taking rest and running after each other. We have an understanding that she sleeps with Dhara didi and I with Meha didi. I sometimes like to rest on the staircase. Her family is getting a little too comfortable with me, Last time I got picked up and “coocheed poocheed” so many times. And let us not talk about how many photos were taken. And walking? When I am done walking I just stop, I don’t bark since barking is rude.

I do like to have fun. The other day Simba, Bella and I ran out from the house when Meha was going to the car for something. I was taking Simba and Bella to my home, but Meha didi kept trying to stop us and get us back. Dhara didi came and tried to do the same thing. Then Masi


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came and destroyed the whole plan – she brought my favorite treat!! And for Bella and Simba she had carrots and corn chips. Well, then we three were caught and brought back home with a big lecture. Now I am never let out without a leash. I am sure they will forget this incident in a few months and I can try something new.

I did try to make a new friend last month – Yoshi, thanks to Masi and Meha didi. Yoshi is half my age, but four times my size. I protected myself under a chair while Bella wagged her tail from the

couch! I became brave and came to the couch. As soon as Yoshi saw me she barked a friendly “come and play with me”. That was too loud for me and I hid behind Arnav’s grandma. I do have to say that Yoshi was gentle and the humans were on standby all the time during our interaction. But I did not want to take a chance. I think next time (in Masi’s home) I will be braver.

If you like my article please tell my Mummy. I am sure she will be proud of me. I will make sure Mrigaa writes too next year. Till then, woof woof!

Drawing by Shruti Misra, daughter of Somnath & Suchana. She is in 9th Grade.


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I Bow to Her -Amit Kumar Patra

I was railing from

Bhubaneswar to New Delhi. I saw a temple through my window. I bowed down. A girl sitting next to me asked, “do you believe in god?” a young man lying in another berth replied “I don’t believe in god, in this 21st century I believe in science, but there’s no God.”

A scientist of ISRO was also travelling in the same compartment. He replied, “Science can’t prove the existence of god. Which you can’t sense, it means there’s no existence of it.”

Not only there, but this is a common debate in today’s era- “Does God exist?” God became a figment of imagination. Beliefs became superstition. Traditions became myth. People question the faith. But I have faith. I have trust. I have my own beliefs.

Science proposed the Big Bang theory. It says, “Universe was originated from void after a great explosion.” – people believed this without any question. My ancestors said: “Universe originated from void and will collapse in void.” – people said these are the words of an astute who didn’t know anything. Those who believed are known as blind believers.

My Ancestors said: “There are 4 eras. Satya, Treta, Dwapar, Kali (Yugas). They repeat in a cyclic way.” – people said this is just a legend from a book, written by the one’s who didn’t even know how to calculate time.

Science proposed: “Universe repeats itself. The probability of repetition is 99%.” – People say science is ameliorating.

My legend says that- “A guy got cured from leprosy when he stood under sun for the whole day worshipping, meditating.” – people laughed and said this is nonsense.Science is using radiotherapy (using lights) to cure leprosy. They say science has invented a cure. But what they forget is that the sun is the ultimate source of light and heat. (They use Roentgen rays to cure leprosy and sunlight produces Roentgen rays)

My ancestors said: “Shiva gave Shakti to Brahma to create Universe, because without Shakti it’s impossible to create anything.”- people said this is just a story. Science said- “Energy is associated with every object whether its living or non-living.” Can you imagine a single object without energy? There must be some kind of energy it is associated with, potential energy, kinetic energy, atomic energy, any kind.

My holy books say: “A guy called Sri Rama has arrows which could dry the oceans.” – people says it’s a story. Science has nuclear warheads which can dry this ocean. People call it Hydrogen bomb.

My Holy books say: “Once they had vehicles that could fly in the speed of thought. (They can reach before one can think.)” – people ignored naming it an imagination. Science has Jets which can fly faster than the speed of sound. (They


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can reach before you hear.) - people call it technology.

My ancestors said : “Sun rides on it’s vehicle(They never said, Sun moves around the Earth on its vehicle.)”. – people laughed when Science said Earth revolves around the Sun.But no one noticed that, Sun is not stationary too. It also moves in this Milky Way galaxy. My ancestors said : “People could do works by chanting spells, like they can call their vehicles, they can fire an arrow. ” – people say it’s crap, nobody can. Science invented sensors that follow the sounds and operate. People call it advancement of technology.

No one ever went to the summit of Mount Everest till Tenzing Norgay climbed it on 1953. First satellite launched in 1957, till then no one had ever seen what’s there on the top of Himalayas. But when my ancestor said that on the top of mount Himalaya there’s a lake called Mansarovar and My Lord lives there– people asks question about the presence of Lord. They ask questions, if anyone has ever seen God. But they never wonder that if Lord Shiva is the figment of imagination, then how come lake Mansarovar is real !!!!

When my ancestor said: when a lady named Darupadi called Krishna in Hastinapur, Krishna was at Dwaraka. Miles awayfrom Hastinapur. But he listened to her words and helped in no time. – people questions this.

But when I can listen to my mom, who is on the other side of the world, without even a second delay, I never wonder how it’s possible.

My ancestor said: “Ancient people can fly. They can make things fly.” – people say it’s crap.

They probably don’t know about levitation (production of zero gravity field). They don’t know about psychokinetic energies, psychokienesis , para-psychology.

My ancestors called it magic, and we call it science. In fact we forget that it doesn’t matter if we write “0” after turning it upside down.

Science says: “Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can only be transferred from one form to another. ”- people call it “Law of Conservation of energy”. My ancestors said: “Shakti is boundless, birth-less, endless, death-less. No one can beget her, no one can destroy her, and she can take any form when she wish. Without Shakti nothing is possible. Nothing exists. Nothing can survive. She is the mother (creator), she is the nourisher, and she is the destroyer. I bow to that Shakti.” – people start thinking who is this lady???

Does she exist??? Who is she?? Where does she live???

My ancestor says: “Nature is the mother. She created everything. She nourished everything. She destroys everything in need. This nature is my mother goddesses. I bow to her.” – people start questioning my Goddesses. They ask me- “Do you believe in God?”

It’s like a man pondering, whether the tree came first or the seed. You will never end with a conclusion. Just think once. The computer, laptop or cell phone any device we are using, are just working because of energy. Its electrical energy coming from battery. If we will go further from where does energy came to battery. Then we will know that it came from my power outlet. From my electric


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supply. That electricity comes from a generator, which converts the mechanical energy of turbine to electrical energy. So now I know that in fact I rely on electrical energy, which relies on mechanical energy, which in turn relies on kinetic energy of water. This in turn relies on the potential energy of water, which was on the top of the mountain. Then I start wondering how does water come on the mountain ????? Maybe rain, but rain happens only when water gets vaporized. So it’s the water from the ocean. But ocean gets water from the rivers, which are originated from mountains. Now I again ended up where I started.

My logical brain doesn’t have the capacity to conclude how nature does all these things. From where did this energy come? From where did this matter come? Matter and energy are interrelated. (E=MC2). Even mathematics, physics, and any science are unable to answer this because whatever science says has a limit. Even when we calculate everything using limits. Integrals, differentials everything has a limit. Everything we know has a limit.

But how can we bound the boundless? How can we limit the unlimited? How can we measure the limitless? How can we differentiate what is differentiable? How can I integrate who is non-integratable? How can I infer about her who is non-inferable? How can I distinguish something who is in-distinguishable?

My ancestors said: “My lord is in omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.” – people argue. I say: “Energy is there everywhere. In every single bit, in every single thing, we can’t imagine anything without energy.”- Omnipresent.

We don’t know from where did this energy came from? We just know that nature works in this way. According to a particular set of rules. Science is the study of laws of nature. It’s not the study of controlling nature. We just study something which happens. Which is already there. We are not regulating it. I say- “you are trying to bind the boundless. You know it’s impossible. You are trying to limit the limitless. You are trying to find logic to illogic. You know but you ignore. You know but you don’t agree. We know just what’s there. But we don’t know how it came to be there? We know the laws of nature, but we don’t know who set these rules. If you will say nature has set these rules so be it. But whoever it is. The one who can make rules, can break the rules. One who can create, and can destroy. One who starts can end. You know everything but you still question. You have the answers but you still argue. You have eyes but you don’t want to see. You have ears but you don’t want to listen. You have senses but you don’t want to sense.”

They say: “Humans are the only creatures with brains..”

I say- “Humans are the mere creatures only with brains…”

You know logic, limits, science, and range don’t work. So don’t use them. You know all your reasoning’s fail, so don’t use them.

You use something more than that, use something beyond logic, use something beyond reasoning, use something beyond your thought. You have that, and only you have that. Use your FAITH. Use your TRUST. Use your HOPE.


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Just think retrospectively. You use this when everything fails. You HOPE for the best in the worst. You wish and BELIEVE that everything will be okay, when nothing is okay. You have FAITH that everything will be get right, when you know that nothing is right.

Use this tool. I think you will get your answer. After you use this, you don’t have to question anymore. You will have all the answers. You don’t need to worry about anything. You start believing everything.

I bow to that unlimited, illogical, boundless, limitless, non-differentiable, non- integral, un-begetable, indestructible, surreal, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient cosmic energy which is the life and lifeless, which is bound and boundless, which is present and absent, which is universe and which is void.

I call her my LORD. Universe bows to her.I bow to her.

Amit Kumar Patra is currently studying Masters in Computer Science at the University of Houston, Main Campus. His interested fields of research are in Mythology, Archeology, Philosophy, Fiction, and History.

Alata patron Mrs. Swadha and Mr. Pradeep Rath of Las Vegas, NV


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The Casualty of Convenience-Soumya Rege

Recently I flew to Rochester, upstate NY to visit my daughter at school. I booked my ticket, my room, and my rental car online. The day before the trip, I printed my boarding passes. On the appointed day, I drove to the airport, fed my credit card to the machine in a parking lot, the gate arm lifted, I drove thru, and parked. A shuttle bus came by, picked me up and deposited me at the appropriate terminal. I went thru security, and boarded the flight to Detroit where I was going to change planes. Smooth, no problems.

In Detroit, when it came time to board the plane, the people at the gate announced a slight delay, “because the truck that powers the aircraft on the ground is not working. We are trying to get another truck”. 15 min later, they started pre-boarding. Some people went thru the “door”. Then they closed the “door”. We were left wondering what was going on. 10 min later the people who had gone in thru the “door” came out, and they announced that they were still looking for another truck. “A few more minutes” they said. It was 10:30pm and people were beginning to get frustrated. I was getting frantic texts from my daughter asking for status updates.

Some time later, the problem apparently got fixed because they boarded us and the flight took off. The pilot announced that the additional delay was because he was checking some things out, and he would rather check them out on the ground than “feel” the problem in the air. Amen!

What helped me during this tiring, late night wait at Detroit airport were memories of my earliest childhood trips to my grandfather’s village every summer. It sort of put everything in perspective.

Our annual trip to my grandfather’s village was truly an adventure. First there was an overnight train journey to the nearest city, Cuttack. Then you went by bus to a remote location outside the city (I don’t remember if this little stop even had a name). The bus stop had a tea stall, a small garage to fix basic stuff, and a wooden bench for people to sit on. The bus driver would help unload our luggage from the roof of the bus, and then we would wait.

After an undetermined amount of time, 3 people would show up. They would be sent by my grandfather to escort us to the village. One of them would carry the luggage, and the other 2 would carry my sister & me on their shoulders (we were little); my parents would walk behind us, and the walk would begin. After about a couple of miles of seemingly aimless walking thru sand & scrub, we would arrive at a river.


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There was a “ferry” to take us across the river. It was small wooden boat with a boatman who poled his way across the river. If there were any passengers other than us, they would be asked to wait, and the boatman would take us & our luggage on the boat. The boat couldn’t fit everyone.

Across the river was the most exciting part of our trip because we were allowed to put our hands in the water. On the other side, we were back on the shoulders of the men, and more walking. We passed thru bamboo forests, rice fields, and women walking home with pitchers of water from the pond. After about a mile & a half of this, we would approach the village; we’d meet up with some of the village kids, everyone in the village knew we were coming, and it provided excitement for the village kids.

There is a small but deep river just outside the village, with a swinging bridge over it, the kind that you see in movies. Crossing that bridge was one of the scariest things for my mother. Once over that bridge, we were in the village.

It took a whole day to travel from the city to the village, a distance of approx. 22 miles. And here I was traveling 1550 miles in a few hours, with everything going smoothly for the most part, and complaining about a delay of 40 minutes.

It demonstrates how we have come to take everything we have for granted and keep wanting more. It demonstrates how all the technological advances that we enjoy have changed our concept of time, and consequently, we have become more intolerant and more impatient. I can go on a trip, take a picture on my smart phone and instantly upload it to Facebook where all my friends can see it within minutes……how marvelous! But, on the flip side, if the smart phone doesn’t work or we lose signal, we become oh so frustrated!

Instead of going through the process of getting dressed, finding transportation, and going to a movie theater to see a movie, we can now stream movies on demand and watch them in the comfort of our homes in our pajamas! But when Netflix doesn’t stream we curse irritably!@#! When the laptop doesn’t boot up fast enough we are just as upset.

As we get used to the wonderful advances in science, technology & medicine, and get carried away by the momentum of progress, what we ignore is the loss of a sense of perspective and balance, leading to a sense of well-being. Our state of well-being has become fragile.

I call this - The Casualty of Convenience.


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Why I Drive a High-Value Car? -Gopal Mohapatra

My first car was a Honda Civic hatchback. I bought it from someone for 2200 dollars twenty years ago when I was making a monthly salary of 800 dollars at University of Arizona, Tucson. It was a manual-shift car with 120,000 miles on board. The air-conditioning was not working. The seller said that it was because he was too busy to put Freon. I believed him – how could someone say such a blatant lie knowing that I could ask him right then to put it in! Later on when I took it to a Mechanic, I came to know that the car had a bad accident, it was refurbished and the wiring had been maneuvered in a way that it would be best to leave it as is. The anxiety of driving a car with no air-conditioning in a hot dry climate of Arizona sent a shiver through my body, but it was too late. I reminisced about riding in non-AC cars in hot and humid climate of Odisha and consoled myself on the fact that I had too much experience to get worried about driving without AC.

It was a great car. It did not give me any trouble for the whole time it was with me. Three years later I sold it for 1800 dollars to a young lady with whom I was honest about the health of the car. That little Honda civic brought me to Houston twice where I experienced the unbearable summer heat and humidity. It also took me through mountains, deserts, and Indian reservations of Colorado, Utah and Arizona without breaking down anywhere. My friends would borrow it to do their groceries, do their girlfriends’ shopping, and fetch incoming students from the airport. The car did not just serve me; it served many other fellow students. When I sold it, I felt like I was

losing one of my own. I missed it for a long time, but I was grateful to it and sincerely wished it the very best for its onward journey. I am sure that it now must be resting in peace in some junkyard or have been scrapped away into pieces. It was my first car and it was a great one.

Three years after I sold my first car, I felt the need of another. I was then married and we were expecting our firstborn. Reva’s car, which was a used Toyota Corolla bought during her graduate school days and came to me as a dowry(!!), was still running well and carrying us everywhere without fail. However, we became a little chicken-hearted to put our newborn into an old car and drive on the crazy highways of Houston. We decided to buy our first new car, a Honda Accord V6 with leather (big deal!!), which arrived a week before Meha was born. Even today I can still smell the smell of the new Honda Accord in which Meha was brought home from the hospital. Putting our first born in a brand new car and bringing her home was a thrill, and in a way the car became synonymous with Meha.

Meha is fourteen now and so is the Honda Accord. It is now 8,000 miles shy of the 200,000 miles mark. During these fourteen years it has had issues and at times I have contemplated of selling or giving it away and buying a new car. There has always been the temptation to get into one of the expensive brand-name cars – Mercedes, BMW, Lexus; you name it. But again something has always held me back from selling the Honda Accord that I have been driving for fourteen years. For me it has been a very high value car that I would like to keep as


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long as I can, and take care of it as well as I can until it can drive no more.

When you drive a new car out of the dealer’s parking lot for the first time, the car loses its value by a few thousand dollars right away, but when you drive your firstborn in that new car, the value goes up by thousands you cannot count. For almost four years, it was the car for Meha. I would be the driver without a navigator because Reva would sit next to Meha in the back seat and keep her entertained. After Dhara was born, she would be placed side by side with her older sister in the back seat and Reva would keep entertaining them from the passenger seat. A year after Dhara was born, we bought the family vehicle – a minivan, Honda Odyssey. We would end up using this for the whole family most of the times, mainly because it had a DVD player which kept the girls occupied during short and long trips. The Accord now became more of a commuting vehicle from home to work.

The Accord not only served my family but it also served the community and earned a reputation for carrying people of artistic repute. It carried Odishi gurus like Kelu Charan Mohapatra and Gangadhar Pradhan. In that car, I would hear from Guru Pradhan about his dream to take Odishi to Himalayan heights and how NROs could help him. That dream never took the full shape as his expectation from NROs itself remained a far-fetched dream. The Accord carried Odiya film singers like Prafulla Kar and Subhash Dash. In that car I have heard stories about the famous feud between Prafulla Kar and Akshay Mohanty. There have been numerous other artists, vocal and instrumental, from Odisha who have been ferried in that car. When I was actively volunteering for Indo-American Association, then too I had the pleasure of transporting many great artists. One time, Zakir Hussein was in town for a

concert. At that time India was playing a one-day series against either Pakistan or Australia, and he wanted to see the live telecast. After the match ended early in the morning, I had to drive him back to the hotel. On the way, we talked about cricket and I came to know that during his school days he played cricket with Syed Kirmani, one of the best wicket keepers of all times. We also talked about various other tabla players and life in general, and I was touched by his humility. Previously, I had the fortune of watching him with his father at the Spring festival at IIT, Kharagpur, and now I had the pleasure of driving him in my little Honda Accord on the highways of Houston. It was quite an experience!

Among Bollywood artists, the two most famous ones who have sat in the Accord are Naseeruddin Shah and Paresh Rawal. Paresh Rawal’s personality in real life was pretty much like it was on screen; he was easy to talk with whereas Nasseruddin Shah was quieter. One time they both were in town for the play Khel, and I had gone to the airport to pick the artists up. At the airport, I saw Naseeruddin Shah coming down in the escalator and I kept staring at him. I did not even notice that Paresh Rawal was not too far behind. When he got close to me, he said “Gopalji, namaskar”. It was very embarrassing. He probably remembered me from his last couple of trips. On the way from the airport to the hotel, I apologized to him. In one of the scenes in that play, Naseeruddin Shah fired a shot and it made a loud sound. Meha was about two or three years old and she cried out loud too at that shot. Later on in the hotel room, Naseeruddin Shah would tell the troupe about how he lost concentration during the play when a child suddenly cried out so loudly. I just did not have the guts to tell him that it was my daughter, Meha. When the troupe left Houston, I


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had to drive him to the airport. At the check-in counter, the agents were asking a lot of questions. So he asked me – yeh log kya puchh rahe hain? I had to explain to him about security concerns in the airports those days, and I believe that was the longest I had talked to him. But it really was a thrill!

The Accord is now old. For last few years, it has been helping me to get to the places where I must go . I don’t drive it long distance even though I know it still can. I drive it to places in Houston but gently and at 65 or 70 mph maximum so as not to stress it out. I am mentally prepared for it to break down at anytime, but touch wood, so far so good. I am

indebted to it, for it has carried me, my family and guests as faithfully as it could. It has never bumped into anyone else. It has been a good bro to all other cars on the road too. It has stayed humble, not a bit arrogant even though it has ferried so many great personalities. In that way it has been a great teacher to me. The Accord has been so valuable that the temptation of driving a new posh car has never been strong at all. I hope it will stay with me as long as it can, at least until Meha goes to college. It brought Meha home from the hospital, and I hope it lives with us for another four years so that it can take Meha to the airport on her way to college.

Houston Ratha Jatra Systems – An Experimental Observation

-Raghu Dass

The first weekend of October brought a cold spell to Greater Houston this year. It was a breath of fresh air agog with fall festivities in temples: an auspicious beginning of Sharad Navaratri, Mahalaya and Durgapuja. Gandhiji’s birthday and a wait for Nobel Prize announcements from Sweden coincide with the fall. Odias are not far behind in Houston. This is a great time to be part of Annual Dasahara/Deepavali Mela in Skeeter Stadium show-casing diversity to celebrate Ram’s return to Ayodhya. Odias are taking major interest in Ramleela this year. Dramatist Gopal is busy recruiting Asura characters from Odias to be part of Ravana Sena.

This year my interest is in the original Ratha being short-listed to show case Odia identity in the parade. It has been a phenomenal journey to celebrate Lord Jagannatha’s best pastime Ratha Jatra in Houston. Every year Houstonians look forward to this vedic parampara with religious fervor here far away from Jagannath Puri. For me it is very special. I visit Ratha Jatras around the world starting with my first US Ratha Jatra in Nashville in 1992. Austin Rath Jatra kick-started Houston Ratha Jatra. I remember working together with Odia culture enthusiasts. It was a defining period in 2008 when Houstonians gathered together in the newly constructed India House venue to see a piece of Odia Culture amidst the bejeweled eyes of budding Odissi


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dancers. People came to know about the energetic Odias marshalling the jatris with single-minded devotion to Lord of the Universe. All are united. It was a marvelous feat. Chakadola led OCC.

Every year new volunteers and groups became part of this glorious tradition. It was a great observation to see temples were as eager as Houstonians to offer service. Odias are passionate about their culture to flourish in a foreign land. A few great Houstonians became integral part of this vedic culture. Every year they came eagerly to offer service forgetting their origin to be part of a universal culture with global vision. Rath Jatra became a melting pot of cultures. It is very popular. People want to glorify Him.

An Odia devotee envisioned Lord Jagannatha in her unique way. She convinced her husband to construct a Chardham temple to have place of pilgrimage in one place. To their surprise, another two Ratha Jatras added to the

original one comfortably. For me, it is a great blessing to see Ratha Jatras were observed different days to get Lord’s bounty of blessings. I knew that it was not easy to pack Odias together during the formative years. Now I see Odias are charged up with good spirit, devotion and tan-man-dhan to contribute this great cause. Now-a-days, I enjoy observing the evolution of body, mind and spirit in this unique community development endeavor.

Youth add to the energy and our kids are having their fair share of culture. Odias are not holed up in their cocoon any longer. Odia culture is in full display. Wrinkles in human emotions are reality in community work. Positive understanding, gregariousness and fellow feeling spark friendship and make our journey lighter. Two heads are better than one. I am marveled at the human potentialities and possibilities. Jai Jagannath!



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Lord Jagannath’s Miracle: A Gift of Life -Arati Nanda Pati

“Arati, look who has come to our house.” an ecstatic Debananda insisted in waking me up from my deep sleep.

“Who?”

“Who can be in the middle of the night?” I ignored while holding my sleep dearly.

“Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan, the entire family has come to our house right after the Ratha Yatra.”

“What?” “Is it possible?” Before I realized, I fell deep into the cosmic romance!

The bitterness of the separation at my mother’s death in December 2010, I shrank into my snail’s shell. I was not attending any family gatherings or public events in Houston. After six months, on Saturday, July 16, 2011, Lord Jagannath was on His Celestial Chariot. I was deep into my personal loss and did not join the Rath Yatra, the most desirable event of the year. Instead with blissful devotion wrote a poem “Puni Phula tie Kara” and offered at His lotus feet miles away from His glorious celebration. And at mid night, He is at my door! Impossible!

A subconscious relinquishment sped within me at lightning speed and prostrated towards His divine feet. I ran into the garage to discover the entire Jagannath Parivar had been tightly secured by the modern car seat belts. Sister Subhadra was at the center protected by brother Balabhadra on right

and brother Jagannath on left. Lord Sudarshan was standing next to Jagannath’s left arm. They were completely fit for the back seats of the car to drive home on the Houston freeways. No physical tardiness was perceived in their SriAngas instead they were juvelant with radiant dresses, glittering crowns, sparking ornaments, and fresh garlands. The entire garage smelled pious with His enduring presence. I offered my humble obeisance for giving me His Arcadian Darsan on the Ratha Jatra Day while fastening himself on His mechanical chariot.

Debananda was like a mad mother, who lost her child recently. Seeing the Lord of the Lords, the ruler of the Universe, he was instantly transformed from the petrified Ahalya to mother Yashoda. With his unconditional tender love he held each one of them in his semicircular Kangaroo pack while ascending the seventeen, baisi pabaccha. Instead of the Ratna Singhasan at Puri Bada Deula now bhakta Debananda offered the Lords to hold the dais of love in the north east corner of 2728 East Glen Haven, library. Now onwards, dazzled with their ceremonial dress, they are stretching forward their arms eager to hug their devotees. From a distance, while climbing the baisi pahacha, Lord Jagannath’s geometrical circular eyes attract the first glance of a self-seeking devotee from His high raised Singhasana. Now, this temporary home of Lord Jagannath has become the most anticipated pilgrimage to observe some of His important celebrations like Chittou Amabasya, Gamha Purnama, Boita Bandana, New Year’s Eve, Dola


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Purnima, Pana Sankranti, Utkala Divas, Akhaya Trutiya, and if no specific day then just to assemble for His glorious Naam Sankirtan.

Every once in a month or two, devotees flock to invoke their Jagannath Culture. Infants and children join them too. Devotees like Satya, Surath, Somdutt, Gopal, Madhab, Aditya, Atasu, Mrutynjaya, Nirad, Ramani, Nrusingh, Dillip, Ashis, Rajmohan, Bidya, Jyoti, Narayan, Debasis, Duryodhan, Raghu, Gyana, Somnath, Kalyan, Pramoda, Abinash, Sushri Sangita, Julee, Sangita, Arati Rani, Lily, Anu, Leena, Sasmita, Subhashree, Reva, Shrabanee, Bulu, Sabitri, Vani, Yamini, Arunima, Sarmistha, Suchana, Durba, Swapna, Bindi, Sarita, and above all Smita are the regular devotees to offer their love to the Lord of the Universe. Sometimes visiting parents love to get a glimpse of Lord Jagannath in the land of the West. Yamini’s mother, Debasis’s mother, Satya’s parents, Sarmistha’s parents, Bidya’s father, Jyoti’s parents, Abinash’s parents, Gopal’s parents, Nirad’s father not only join the sankirtan but also appreciate the cultural convergence of the odia elements. Kunti Mausi (Arati Rani’s mother) is the most pious lady whose presence brings radiant energy to the crowd. Every time she visits covering a long distance with her son-in-law, Nrusingh, brings the most delicious pithas and mithas for her darling Jagannath. The satsangs are followed by the potluck menus of manda, enduri, kakara, khiri, poda pitha, chittau, gaintha, rasabali, rabidi, rasogolla, laddu, besara, mahura, and shabari’s fruits. At the time of departure, devotees exchange their homegrown vegetables with their tender words of farewell. These cultural settings bring the children to value the universal brotherhood of Jagannath

culture to carry to a next level of generation in the West.

Boita Bandana is my personal favorite. The month of Kartik is one of the finest and sacred months in Jagannath culture. When I was little, my Grandma used to tell that even a "heron does not touch fish in the month of Kartika". I believed her whole heartedly. It was not because I was naive but because I was deeply in love with her. I never tried to justify her wrong by collecting data scientifically. I was moved by her innocent belief and participated in celebrating the rituals of "Panchuka", the final five days of Kartika, at the age of ten. Early in the morning, before the sun rise, I was walking through the dew dropped street with her to the village pond to take a deep in the cold water. The initial touch of water was electrifying and creating a greatest moment of spark of divine love. I was more and more involved in seeking an eternal shelter by the magical attraction of the unsullied dawn air, the departing birds' lullaby, and the lavish tree branches with fresh flowers. I was fully engaged with Grandma in drawing muruja in front of the Tulasi plant on our courtyard. On the final day, the Kartika Purnima Day, I was gravitated by the community event in celebrating the most illuminated Boita Bhasana. The complete pond was sparkling with little stars. It was a spectacular event that I preserve in my most sacred memory of my village beauty.

With the arrival of Lord Jagannath, I loved to reiterate the blossomed scenes of my girlhood while walking down the memory lane. Many drove on the same lane. Together we walked on the banks of Mahanadi to pay homage to our ancestors and celebrated the first Boita Bandana on Nov 5, 2011. Over 70


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enthusiastic devotees including children joined the celebration. Kids were captivated by the artistic designs of muruja on the altar of Tulasi plant. The second Boita Bandana was observed on Saturday, Nov 24, 2012 during the Panchuk week. That was the Thanksgiving weekend. The most important week of the year to express gratitude. There were three community events on the same day with lunch, dinner, and Boita Bandana in the evening. At around 7PM, Kunti Mausi performed the Tulasi puja, devotees circled around the Tulasi altar chanting the Mahamantra Hare Krishna, Hare Rama with the rythms of Satya’s mrudangam. Leena made boitas for every child from the branches of banana tree. While migrating from one end of the Texas size Houston road ways to other, to attend all three events of the day, our members showed the unending endurance.

The next morning was the most celebrated morning of my life. On Sunday, Nov 25, 2012, the Orissa Culture Center (OCC) was performing Bhumi Puja, the ground breaking ceremony to build a Jagannath temple and cultural center on the acquired two acres land at 2002 DeSoto Street, Houston. The auspicious moment was set in the early hours of the day. Debananda left home early to pick up the priest, Pandit Ji from his distant residence. Saswat and I went with Somdutt to the land of permanent residence of Lord Jagannath. While driving we talked about Endeavor, the NASA’s retiring space shuttle in the Houston sky on September 19, 2012.

Soon we arrived at the beautiful land. It was an open, clean, and even land with sparsely raised old trees. The quite morning was impeccable with divine serenity. Cold breeze was sprinkling the

aura of spirituality. Pandit Ji performed the rituals to invite the Gods to shower good wishes to build a Jagannath Temple that will one day be the Jagannath Dham of the USA. Every member poured his or her best wishes to build the 12th century Jagannath temple of Puri in Houston. It was a well-orchestrated puja followed by a vegetarian lunch sponsored by OCC. After the Puja, Debananda drove the priest his home along with Saswat. His car was full with Puja Samagri. I was left out to return with Somdutt.

By now, my material body was very exhausted. The previous day’s Boita Bandana preparation and celebration at our house brought me some fatigue to my body. After long hours of standing while helping during Bhumi puja, my body was totally debilitated. After seeing off few of our friends, I wanted some rest. So while waiting for Somdutt, I decided to sit on the ground.

I was cold. I choose a clear open space in the sun far away from any obstruction, especially cars. Cars were parked quite far behind me. I sat down there and talked to several people while they were wrapping up their stuffs to return home. Among them, I talked to Subhashree just minutes back. Somdutt waved his hands and told he would be ready in just few minutes.

I do not recollect what happened next. Only thing I remembered that I was shouting “Narayan!” “Narayan! “with the top of my voice and as strong as possible. I was hit by a red car on the driver’s side. My leg was under the driver’s side wheel. The more it was accelerating and pushing me down on my back, the more I was crunching to the word “Narayan” as if the elephant was calling for His Supreme mercy. At the near death situation, I was calling Him so


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dearly that even I could feel the depth of my own helplessness. Later, I remembered Kunti Mausi and Arati Rani giving me water in my mouth.

I was sitting on the ground several yards away from the parked cars. The car was far behind me. While packing up his stuff, the driver crossed me three times. I do not remember when and which direction the car came and hit me. With the glass windows closed, the driver was

inaccessible. With my scream, the people on the ground responded very quickly. Seeing me under the car and struggling for life all members were helplessly struggling to save me. They pulled my right leg from the front left wheel. The entire event was unfolding in front of everybody. They could not believe what they were watching live except accepting the miracle of Lord Jagannath as a gift of my life.


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In MemoriamI hold it true, whate'er befall;I feel it when I sorrow most;

-Alfred, Lord Tennyson


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A few words about my mother(Late Manorama Sarangi):

-Swayamprava Misra

My mother was born in Cuttack in a middle class family. At an early age, she was married to Late Dr. Madhabanda Sarangi, a famous pathologist who had done his MD under the supervision of Dr. Sachs, the Nobel Prize winning pathologist and discoverer of the polio vaccine. While my father was very busy, it was my mother who raised her seven

children. Whatever we have become in our life is due to her persistent encouragement. My mother was writing stories and devotional poems in her spare time. That was her relaxation from constant work in raising us as well as many of our relatives.


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Remembering My FatherProfessor Benudhar Pradhan

-Satyajit Pradhan

My youngest sister, Subhashree asked me if I could send her a small write up about our father who passed away on 25th

January 2013 at the age of 82 years at Varanasi. Our son Shobhit (Babuni) was at Rice University for his summer internship this May to July 2013. He had written a mail to me, ‘.....So I went to this Barnes & Noble bookshop a few days ago. And started thinking about how much those DK encyclopedias, those Encarta CDs and some of those other books enriched my childhood. I guess those must be among the wisest investments you ever made. :) It's sad to see kids don't really read encyclopedias anymore. ...’ In reply to his mail I had written something like this....

.....“Coming to books, Jeje also had a great fascination for books. He had a set of Book of Knowledge (about 12 volumes) for us when we were children and a set of volumes of India's Cultural Heritage. I remember that he would arrange for all books that we needed. In those times there was no Amazon.com or Flipkart.com. If we needed a particular book and it was not locally available he

would collect the address of the publishers like Oxford University Press, Allied Publishers, Macmillan and write to the regional offices and we used to get the books by VPP(Value payable post). The postman would come with the parcel and we would give the money to the postman who give the parcel and arrange for sending the money to the sender through money order”....’

The magnitude of the true personality my father I realized only recently when we were in Odisha for his final rites. Following the day he passed away there was coverage in the Oriya newspapers till about 11 days and a number of condolence meetings were held at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kendrapara and finally our village Dihabalrampur. The meeting in the village was the best, attended by one former cabinet minister and two present minister and MLA from Orissa, apart from the crowd that had gathered from very far flung villages and these people had gathered for a 82 year old man who had been away from the state for nearly 22 years. He must have touched so many


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hearts and lives or else why should many people gather.

Younger of two sons and second of four siblings, my father was born to Late Shri Keshav Chandra Pradhan and Late Smt. Kamla Devi on 16 April 1931 in Dihabalrampur, one of thirteen annually inundated villages in rural Odisha, lying between the rivers Luna and Karandia. After his schooling he had joined Ravenshaw College and later went to Allahabad University for his post graduation in Political Science. Later on he passed his MA in Economics and also History from Utkal University and obtained Ph.D and D.Litt from Utkal University.

He started his career as Assistant Editor of Eastern Times (an English daily being published by Prajatantra Prachar Samiti of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab) when Mr. J.B. Patnaik(former Chief Minister of Orissa with Congress government) was the editor, before leaving it to be the Founder Principal of Kendrapara College. Dr. Mahtab did not want that he leave but he went on to join Kendarpara College. However, he remained in touch with Dr. Mahtab. Once, I remember when we had been to buy a shoe for me when I was in School, we met Dr. Mahtab in the Bata shop near station square, Bhubaneswar and he addressed Jeje as "Benudhar, How are you?". Even he was known to and close to Mr. Biju Patnaik and Mr. Rajkishore Nayak (who represented our constituency of Kendrapara). Some of his students from Kendrapara like Mr. Srikant Jena and Mr. Bijay Mahapatra have been MPs and ministers in state and centre and they were in touch with him.

The Kendrapara College had a humble beginning and when the buildings of the Engineering School were vacated once the school moved to Cuttack, the buildings were given to the

College. In the initial period he arranged for cultivation of the college lands so that the proceeds from selling the crops could be used for building up the college. The Kendrapara College is today one of the bigger colleges in the state. He, his staff and students were seriously involved in the flood relief operations during the annual floods in nearby areas.

From Kendrapara he moved to Utkal University in 1969, and retired from the PG Department of Political Science in 1991. Thereafter he moved to Wardha where he remained till 2011 when he suffered a stroke, was hospitalized, recovered miraculously and thereafter remained with one or other of my siblings and spent the last part of his life from March 2012 with us at Varanasi.

Amongst all my siblings I think he liked me the most and he wanted me to be an example for the other children. He had tried to inculcate good habits in us. I remember one childhood experience which I am sure was recounted to me rather than me remembering it on my own. I was a very small boy, may be had not even gone to school, and we were at Kendrapara where he was the founder Principal of a local college. A guest had come and I had not done namaste to him. My punishment was that I was sent outside the gate and it was already dark. My grandmother scolded him as to how he could send a small child outside in the dark, got me inside and comforted me.

An incident that is an indication of his strong determination and attempt to correct himself is shown by the following incident. Every day he had his morning coffee over the newspaper. That day the servant Kalindi got the coffee a little late and he got angry and threw the cup and the hot coffee spilled on Kalindi. On this my grandmother scolded him, "Aree Chandala! How could you burn


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somebody else's son. This is not right". From that day he took a resolve not to drink tea or coffee.

He was one person who could not have his daily meals without non-veg food but then some years later he became a strict vegetarian. He was a simple man with a strong determination who led a simple life and always walked the straight path however difficult it may be and had a lot of dreams to bring out a change in society. He had been deeply influenced by Socialistic principles, was a Gandhian scholar and had infinite faith in the Almighty and goodness of human beings. He was a strong devotee of Baya Baba and Sri Sathya Sai Baba. If something good would happen he will say it was because of God and if something would not happen as per our plans he would say that may be God had other better plans for us. So many times our applications have been placed in our Puja room before being posted and many a times an appointment letter or result on receipt has also been placed in the Puja room.

I remember how many times me and one of my cousin, who was with us for some years, have taken his shoe to the cobbler for resoling and repairing the worn out sole and he would not consider buying a new one till we pressed him hard after 4 or 5 resoling. But if we said that we needed a book he would immediately arrange for it. My grandparents stayed with him till their end and he was concerned about them. Our house was a great meeting place for all our relatives as my father commanded a lot of respect among his relatives. Our mother was is a simple lady who sacrificed her own career (as a head mistress of a local school at Kendrapara) so that our education would not suffer. So many relatives have stayed at our place while pursuing their school and colleges.

Although he was well connected politically he never used it for his personal gains. During one of his interview for selection as a Professor, the interview of which was held twice or thrice as the experts could not concur on the candidates, the Janata Government was in power and a powerful cabinet minister Shri Prahalad Mallick was from our constituency and he addressed my father as Bhai and time and again when he was a minister he had been to our house for dinner. My father’s elder brother who was a one time school teacher and a social worker in the village and also closely associated with Shri Mallick, told my father, “Benu, should I go and tell Shri Prahalad Mallick for your interview. He will ensure your selection this time”. My father’s reply was, "Bhai, if you go to Prahalad, I will not go for the interview". He could become a Professor only a few years later. But, he stood by his principles of righteousness for which people respected him a lot.

He was closely associated with the ‘Total Revolution’ movement of Shri Jayaprakash Narayan, had stayed with him for a week with him at his Kadam Kuan residence at Patna when my father had visited him for the foreword for his book, “The Socialist Thought of Jawaharlal Nehru”. For his association with Shri Jayaprakash Narayan and his regular visits to Gandhi Peace Foundation at Bhubaneswar, it is no wonder that he was under intelligence surveillance during the emergency days.

He had a lot of regards for his teachers. In the period 1990-93 my wife Shampa was a faculty at the MLN Medical College, Allahabad and I visited Allahabad on weekends and holidays. He once told me to try to go and meet Prof. AD Pant, his teacher post-graduation days at Allahabad during the period of early nineteen fifties(incidentally my teacher during my MD days at BHU was


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also one Prof. Pant, not related to Prof. A.D. Pant). I traced out Prof. Pant who stayed at Mumfordganj, Allahabad and one evening me and Shampa visited him and his wife. I introduced myself and he was happy to see us. He said, “Benudhar was one of my favourite students, and I am happy that he remembers me. I am an old man now and do not know how I can help you”. I simply said, “We only seek your blessings”. When I had joined my PG course at BHU we received a salary and from my first salary I had purchased a silk shirt piece and a pant piece for my father, some time in 1986-87. Later, I learnt that he had presented it to his former Professor and Head at Utkal University and also former teacher, Prof. Shriram Chandra Dash (who had been given a compulsory retirement during the emergency). My father visited Prof. Dash long after his retirement and even after his own retirement and touched his feet as a mark of respect. I felt a little saddened and angry and when he learnt of this from my mother, he told me “When you have given it to me it now belongs and I can decide what to do with it. I respect Prof. Dash a lot and has his blessings not only for me but also for you”. Even before my marriage he had told me to get silk clothes for Prof. Dash and saree for Mrs. Dash.

My father, Prof. Benudhar Pradhan passed away at 9.30am of 25th January 2013 in the ICU of Sir Sunderlal Hospital, BHU. He would have been 82 years on 16th April. After his recovery from a stroke in April 2011, both my

parents had been staying with one or other of us brother and sisters and since January 2012 with us at Varanasi. He was first admitted to the hospital on 23rd November till 8th December and was then at home. He was again admitted on 14th January following cardiac arrest in the emergency ward when he had gone for a CT scan. He was immediately rushed to the ICU, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was done and he was put on a ventilator. In 3-4 days he had shown signs of being weaned off the ventilator but then he was detected to have developed ventilator associated pneumonia, the condition deteriorated and he finally breathed his last. I had earlier discussed with family regarding his eye donation in the event of an adverse outcome and had contacted my colleagues in Ophthalmology and they had told me to inform in about 2 hours of the adverse event. I contacted the Ophthalmology dept. at about 10am and they did the job by about 11am. My father was then moved to our residence at about 12 noon. The vehicle to take him to the burning ghat came at about 2pm and we went to the Harischandra Ghat by the banks of Ganges at about 2.30pm. The cremation was over by 6.30pm and after collecting the ashes I returned home by about 7pm. Satyajit Pradhan is a Professor in the Department of Radiotherapy & Radiation Medicine,Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University,Varanasi-221005, UP, India


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Orissa Culture Society (OCC) Accounts Details (20012-2013) as of 10/21/13

INCOMEContribution from community for Rathajatra $20,669.11

Contribution to OCC from other resources $83,998.70 Houston Arts Alliance $5,720.25 Exxon Mobil Matching Amount $1,250 Misti Birthday $251

EXPENDITURE

Rathajatra Expenses - $53,794.52

Alataa 2012 Total Contributions $680.00 Donation by Swadha and Pradeep Rath $100 Expenditure $615.52 --------- --------- --------------------------------------- Balance $164.48 Previous years balance $553.43 ---------------------------------------------------------- Total Balance after 2012 $717.91

Kumar Purnima 2012 Total Contribution= $3,235 Total Expense= $3,042.49 KP2011 DVD sale= $42 KP2011 Rental Deposit fine= $200 Previous years balance= $1,067.30

Total Balance after 2011 KP=$1,101.81

OCC Short Term Interest Free Loan & Donation from the community members $25,950 OCC Expenses Singer Debasish Mahapatra concert $825 Center for World Music Aruna Mohanty @ Miller Theater $2,000 Maintenance of OCC land at Desoto $1,265 Hindus of Greater Houston Janmastami $501 Development of OCC land at Desoto $5,720.69

Current available balance $114,965.65

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