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TAKE THE ‘TOUR’ AT MELBOURNE INDIAFEST FEB. 13-14 By NITISH S. RELE The 14th annual Indiafest will be held Feb. 13-14 at Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne. This year’s theme is “Destination India” as the Discover India booth attempts to take visitors on a “tour of the country. The event is presented by Manav Mandir and supported by the Indian Association of Space Coast (www.iascbrevard.com),
On the agenda is classical and light entertainment, a yoga demonstration and an Indian cooking demonstration, henna and palm reading. Vendors set up will be selling food, clothing, jewelry, arts and crafts. The Indiafest will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 13 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14. Tickets are $4 for adults, $1 for children younger than 12 years of age and kids 5 years old and younger are free. Wickham Park Pavilion is at 3845 N. Wickham Road. For more information, visit www.indiafestbrevard.org ___________________________________________________________________________ HAF TO HOLD FUNDRAISING DRIVE IN ORLANDO, TAMPA Story provided by HAF
The Hindu American Foundation will hold its awareness, fundraising and
membership drive on Feb. 6 in Orlando and a day later in Tampa.
Keynote speakers will be Nikhil Joshi, Esq, co-founder and member, HAF Board of Directors; Mihir Meghani, M.D.; president and member, HAF Board of Directors; and Arvind Chandrakantan, M.D.; member, HAF Executive Council.
The Orlando drive will be on Feb. 6 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Tabla Indian restaurant, 5827 Caravan Court. HAF representatives will be In Tampa from noon to 2:30 p.m. at India Cultural Center, Lotus Hall, 5511 Lynn Road. Lunch will be provided at both the events. Anyone can attend the free events. The non-profit HAF promotes the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism. To RSVP, call (301) 770-7835 or visit www.hafsite.org ___________________________________________________________________
‘THE NAMESAKE’ VOCALIST TO PERFORM FEB. 28 IN FORT LAUDERDALE BY NITISH S. RELE The Association of Performing Arts of India (www.apaiart.com) will present its first musical concert of the year on Sunday, Feb. 28, in Fort Lauderdale. Vocalist Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik, who was featured in the film “The Namesake,” will be accompanied by Pandit Ramesh Mishra on sarangi and Nitin Mitta on tabla. Born in Assam, Bhawmik started her initial lessons in music at an early age from Sri Ajit Dutta. Later, she had the privilege of receiving extensive training of Hindustani classical vocal music from Sri Biren Phukan in Gauhati. She came to Calcutta in 1983 where she initially received lessons from Meera Banerjee, the noted vocalist. Since 1984, Bhawmik was under the tutelage of famous violin maestro Padmabhushan Pandit V. G. Jog. The 4 to 7 p.m. concert will be at ArtServe Auditorium, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. To purchase the $20 or $25 ticket per person, call 1-866-468-7630 or visit www.ticketweb.com
Tom Garrett, executive producer and professor at the University of Tampa, second from left, is seen with Prashant Shah, producer of film such as “Dostana” and “My Name is Khan” in white shirt, along with INDO-US President Francis Vayalumkal and students
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! And everyone walked the red carpet on Jan. 22 at the official opening and VIP gala event with the producers, directors, actors, media and Tampa Bay’s Who’s Who at the first annual India International Film Festival 2010 at Channelside Cinemas hosted by the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce. With introductory comments by INDO-US President Francis Vayalumkal, Chairman Dr. Ram Ramcharran and Paresh Patel, chairman of Homeowner’s Choice Insurance, the main sponsor, the festival officially began. The opening feature was “7 Days in Slow Motion,” directed by Umakanth Thumrugoti, a 15-year veteran of Disney Studios. The movie touched everyone’s heart as it portrayed the complexities of Indian culture. The feature was followed by a Q&A session with the director and producer and continued on to an after party with live entertainment by Melody Makers of Tampa Bay. The next two days (Jan. 23-24) the audience went on an emotional rollercoaster, treated to a variety of feature films, short films and documentaries from different genres. Audiences had the opportunity to give feedback to festival organizers at the end of every screening. On Saturday during the breakaway sessions, there was cultural entertainment by the young and vibrant student groups of USF at the center podium of Channelside. The entertainment included a variety of shows from the young dancers who took us to the fields of Punjab as they hopped to the upbeat rhythms of bhangra and the romantic songs of Bollywood. The Canadian-born stand-up comedian Russell Peters packed a full house when he arrived to introduce his DVD – “Red, White and Brown.” He posed with fans and signed autographs. Dolce Vita Lounge was the venue for panel discussion on Saturday and Sunday. The discussion on “When art meets business – Film making and Finance in the global market” was well attended with many filmmakers and investors in attendance. The panel included Lindsey Guthrie from Tampa Bay Film Commission, Larry Haber – entertainment industry attorney, Tom Garrett – professor of film and executive producer and distributor of Independent films along with Prashant Shah, Bollywood producer of several movies such as “Dostaana,” “My Name is Khan” and many others. A presentation, “The Magic and Music of Bollywood,” was presented by Kanniks Kannikeswaran, a resident artist at the Center for India Studies at the University of South Florida. The Bollywood music industry is considered the largest in the world and the presentation addressed the global impact of Bollywood music on society, culture and economy. Canadian radio star Prita Chhabra was the highlight of the evening at the after-party on Saturday. Chhabra rocked the house with her beautiful voice. The closing day feature included a Bollywood film “Wake up Sid,” Kannada film “Gulabi Talkies,” Marathi feature “Ghabricha Paus” (The Damned Rain) and “Bombay Summer” with director Joseph Mathew Varghese in attendance. The question on everyone’s mind on the last day: “Will you be continuing this as an annual event?” The INDO-US Chamber of Commerce continues its mission to demystify India and will continue to search for initiatives. Join the INDO-US chamber for free at www.indo-us.org and also be connected to the festival at www.iifftampa.com Information for this story was provided by Ritu Jauhar.____________________________________________________________________________ PROFILE DR. ARUN GULANI HAS A VISION: 20/10 FOR 2010 By NITISH S. RELE editor@khaasbaat.com 20/10 vision for 2010, envisions Dr. Arun Gulani, founder and medical director of Gulani Vision Institute in Jacksonville. With 20/10 vision, a person can read a letter at 20 feet. But someone with normal vision would have to come up to 10 feet to read. “Nobody should be wearing glasses or contact lens in future,” says Gulani, who was selected by Goldline Research as one of the leading laser eye surgeons in the United States for 2009. The list of leading Laser Eye Surgeons was published in the Nov. 30 issue of Forbes Magazine.
Dr. Arun Gulani with wife, Suparana, daughter Aaisha and son, Yash The backbone of work performed by the ‘daVinci of eye surgery’, LASIK specialist, author, inventor (of LASIK surgical instruments) and teacher is vision corrective surgery, laser vision techniques and LASIK.
Originally from Bombay, Gulani earned a gold medal from KEM Hospital. “Even as a resident, I would question the way eye surgery was done,” says the 40-year-old. “To me, it was a question of taking it to the next level. Why not 20/10 vision? I’ve never stopped chasing limits or believed that 20/20 is perfect. For the last six years, I have been teaching my students (fellow eye surgeons) precisely this. Ten years ago, 20/40 was the Holy Grail. It’s a disservice if you don’t strive toward 20/10 vision for everybody.” Back in India, Gulani was convinced that his visionary concepts for eye surgery would pay off one day. And it did when he received an encouraging reply from renowned people in the field. “That instilled confidence in me,” he says. “I’ve always said that glasses are crutches.” In 1995, Gulani arrived in the United States for a fellowship, followed by a four-year residency in downstate New York. He also served as chief of the Cornea service and assistant professor at University of Florida, School of Medicine, in Jacksonville. In 2004, he founded Gulani Vision Institute. “The lesson is to never give up on your principles. If you are good, people will come,” he says. Jacksonville is a good place to raise a family, he feels. “Till today, not many people in Jacksonville knew me. I don’t advertise my services at all. I just make sure that I step up to the plate to keep the patient relaxed.”
According to Gulani, everyone is a candidate. All the cataract patients he has don’t need to wear glasses anymore. “There is nobody who cannot be helped. I always keep the patient’s safety in mind. I read about all sorts of deals for the weekend for vision corrective surgery. But blindness at any discount isn’t a good bargain.” The Jacksonville innovator is proud that he is one of the few eye surgeons who meets with the patient for an hour. “I tell my staff to treat my patients like family,” he reveals. “I personally go out to the patient in the waiting area, shake their hands and guide them in. The patient doesn’t have to wait for more than five minutes.” (Gulani built his current office in 2006) And whenever you meet the good ole doctor, you will find him dressed to the nines. He designs his own suits and wears one to work every day to greet patients. No wonder, Gulani is known as “Dr. GQ” for his fashion sense. The personal touch has meant patients from all over the world dropping in to what could one day be known as the Vision Capital of the World! “I hope never to change,” says Gulani, who has founded Gulani Vision Foundation. Through the charity, he devotes his time and services during visits to India for eye camps to help the poor. If are legally blind, i.e. have some vision in the eye (corneal scarring) or for the majority of patients with LASIK complications, Gulani can take care of them with laser corneoplastique, a super specialty that he invented. Anybody with astigmatism, complications from surgery or cataracts (from 1990 LASIK surgery) can be treated. “Age is no bar for vision correction as long as the patient is over 18 and doesn’t have a disease such as retina, glaucoma, optic nerve damage,” he says. In recent times, he has noticed numerous patients, mostly women, want to fix Pinguecula, which results in a red look to the eye. Sounding philosophical, Gulani says, “We are all too busy doing things in our lives till we lose it, like health. But one must be confident in their work and honestly care for the patient. Do what you are comfortable with but don’t shortchange work for your patient. Dare to be different and then dare to stand by your difference.” Gulani is married to Suparna, a family practice physician who specializes in women’s health. The couple has two children, Aaisha, 13, and Yash, 8. “I am thankful to God for the opportunities he’s given me. My wife is my stability, my anchor factor. She believes in my vision.” And so do we, doc. The Gulani Vision Institute is at 8075 Gate Parkway W., Suite 102, in Jacksonville. For more information, call (904) 296-7393 or visit www.gulanivision.com COLUMN: MOTORING 2010 MAXIMA BOASTS TREMENDOUS POWER By NITISH S. RELE THE RIDE: Four-door, five-passenger 2010 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV midsize sports sedan. DOWN THE ROAD:
A carryover from 2009, Nissan’s flagship sedan boasts tremendous power with
impressive ride and handling. No wonder it can scoot 0 to 60 mph in a little
under 6 seconds.
TECH & PERFORMANCE: A 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 engine pumps out 290 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 261 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. The front-wheel-drive car is mated to a quite and smooth standard Continuous Variable Transmission with manual-mode capability. Suspension duties are ably handled by an independent strut with coils springs up front and a multilink rear system. The power rack-and-pinion steering system is razor-sharp with an admirable on-center feel. Bringing the quick car to a slowdown or stop are 12.6-inch front and 12.13 rear vented discs. LOOK & FEEL: The Maxima conveys an athletic stance, thanks to a wide grille with the centered Nissan emblem, which is flanked by wraparound L-shaped headlights and a ‘catamaran-style’ hood. Step to the rear and you will notice once again L-shaped “stepped” tail lamps and dual-chrome exhaust tips. Peek inside and you’ll find touches of chrome on gauges, vent rings and knobs, and audio switches. Notable comforts include standard eight-way driver and four-way front-passenger power seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, 60/40 split fold rear seat, power-slide sunroof and power doors, mirrors, locks and windows. The electroluminescent instrument panel of gauges for speedometer, coolant temperature, fuel and a rotated tachometer are large and eligible. The three-spoke steering wheel offers a solid grip to tackle the rigors of daily driving. During long trips, a digital compass in the rearview mirrors will be useful. SAFETY FIRST: Standard features include dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for both rows, four-wheel antilock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control, antiskid system, traction control, Vehicle Dynamic Control, front seat active-head restraints, front/rear crumple zones and a tire pressure monitoring system. OUT THE DOOR: $33,180, plus tax, tag, delivery and destination charges. Go for the $2,030 sport package if you want a sport-tuned suspension, rear spoiler, HID xenon headlights, heated front seats, power tilt/telescopic steering column, paddle shifters, metallic-link trim, among other goodies. BY THE NUMBERS: Tires, 245/40VR19 all season; wheelbase, 109.3 inches; length, 190.6 inches; weight, 3,540 pounds; fuel capacity, 20 gallons; city, 19 mpg; highway, 26 mpg; Web site, www.nissanusa.com WHY DIG IT: Nissan claims that the Maxima has it all: style, performance, comfort, technology and value. We are in full agreement. But paying some attention on making the cabin materials and gloss levels top-notch won’t go unnoticed either. For more new vehicle reviews, visit www.motoringtampabay.com
MAZDA MX-5 AN EXHILARATING, ENTERTAINING RIDE By NITISH S. RELE editor@motoringtampabay.com THE RIDE: Two-door, two-passenger 2010 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring convertible. DOWN THE ROAD: A carryover from 2009, the MX-5 is a fun, entertaining sports car. Top-down motoring enthusiasts will have a blast cruising the highway or tackling the rigors of daily driving, thanks to the convertible’s quick and agile character.
TECH & PERFORMANCE: Power is derived from a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-4 cylinder engine, which makes 167 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 140 pounds-feet of torque at 5000 rpm. Guiding the nimble car toward its destination is a direct and accurate hydraulic power-assist, rack-and-pinion steering system. A front double wishbone and a rear multilink suspension absorb the blows of potholes, isolating occupants from road noise and uneven surfaces. Brake feel is excellent, mainly attributed to 11.4-inch vented front and 11-inch solid rear discs. Grip is solid, thanks to the 205/45R-17 tires. LOOK & FEEL: Sitting on a monocoque, unibody structure are inboard-mounted headlights flanked by a chrome-sprinkled five-point grille, sculpted triangular fog lamp bezels and body-colored bumpers. Keeping true to the MX-5 tradition are the four circular air vents, arched hood over the T-shaped instrument panel and a black center stack. The driver’s seat height adjuster will be a plus point for multiple drivers in the family. Also standard are automatic air-conditioning, power windows and door locks, mesh aero board wind blocker, driver information center, three-spoke tilt steering wheel and a generous rear center console storage bin. SAFETY FIRST: Dual front and side airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution, three-point seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters, side impact door beams, anti-theft engine immobilizer and tire pressure monitoring system are standard. OUT THE DOOR: $26,410, plus tax, tag, delivery and destination charges. BY THE NUMBERS: Wheelbase, 91.7 inches; length, 157.3 inches; weight, 2,480 pounds; fuel capacity, 12.7 gallons; city, 21 mpg; highway, 28 mpg; Web site, www.mazdausa.comWHY DIG IT: The MX-5 is an exhilarating and entertaining car to drive. Open-air motoring fans will be in awe of its snappy acceleration, impressive handling, alert steering and a laudable fuel economy. COLUMN: OUT & ABOUT IN FLORIDA
By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com
Inside Get more in the upcoming events sections, youth highlights, health updates and read book reviews in this edition of Khaasbaat. Read Story
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