Anandji of Kalyanji Anandji fame visits the Gandhi Memorial monument site in Jacksonville.

On April 13, Gandhi Memorial Society honored Anandji of Kalyanji Anandji fame at the Gandhi Memorial monument site on the University of North Florida campus in Jacksonville for contributions to the music industry.

Anandji along with his late brother Kalyanji produced such gems as �Saraswatichandra,� �Muqaddar Ka Siqqander,� �Zanjeer,� �Don,� �Qurbani� and numerous others.

Anandji and his team of musicians, who have been touring the United States, also presented �Revival,� a concert of immortal melodies on the university campus. The evening was hosted by the Gujarati Samaj of North East Florida.

For more information on the Gandhi Memorial society, click on www.onobleman.org

The Art of Living organization will hold a training course from May 10-15 at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Temple�s community hall (1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry). The course blends ancient wisdom with healing techniques.

Topics include eliminating stress and toxins from your nervous system; increasing your energy, focus and clarity; improving your relationships, attitude and outlook; eliminating sadness, anger and depression; and filling your life with pure serenity.

Janael McQueen and RoseMarie Toussaint are the teachers. Contact the Orlando team at (321) 939-3533 or email [email protected]

	Dr. Kiran Patel.

Tampa�s Indo-US Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with eight other local Chambers of Commerce to form the first annual International Business Summit (IBS) the weekend of May 18. IBS will begin Friday, May 18, with a series of educational workshops at the Embassy Suites on Fowler Avenue in Tampa. These workshops will focus on international business and trade strategies as well as present perspectives on cultural diversity. The goal is to assist local companies who wish to expand into the international marketplace.

�This event allows each organization and its membership to stand proudly for their achievements, building bridges and relationships with one another,� said new Indo-US President Samant Sharma.

On Saturday, May 19, a Business Expo will be held at the USF SunDome with more than 150 businesses and corporations taking part. The International Business Summit will culminate on Saturday evening with a Cultural Celebration Dinner and Awards Banquet at the Embassy Suites. This year�s featured keynote speaker is Indo-US Board of Directors member Dr. Kiran Patel. The well-known philanthropist will share his entrepreneurial success story and discuss how the next generations of Tampa Bay community leaders are making a difference. His speech will be followed by a question-an- answer session.

�I am extremely pleased to be part of a summit of eight other local Chambers of Commerce hosted at the University South Florida. This summit is exciting both for the Tampa Bay business community and for myself,� said Patel in an exclusive interview with Khaas Baat.

Individual tickets for the May 18 workshops, which include lunch and the participation in the international panel, are $35 and individual tickets for the May 19, Cultural Celebration Dinner are $75. Exhibitor booths are still available for the Business Expo and vary in price. The Business Expo at the USF SunDome is open to the public at no charge for admission. If you would like to purchase tickets or sponsor a booth for the International Business Summit, contact Indo-US Chamber of Commerce President Samant Sharma at (727) 799-5615 or visit www.indo-us.org.

Aakash M. Patel is a policy analyst at Paragon Mortgage and secretary of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee. He can be reached at (813) 936-5100 or email [email protected]

More than $12,000 was raised April 6 in Jacksonville during the fifth annual musical concert to benefit schools run by Ekal Vidyalaya in India. About 500 people packed the Bolles School Auditorium to hear Penn Masala, the world�s first Hindi a cappella group founded in Pennsylvania.

Kudos go to the following Ekal volunteers: Anish Raj, Anita Shroff, Molly Roy, Monika Gandhi, Rupa Mahajan, Shaon Ahsan and Tushar Chakravarty from the Bolles School Desi Club; Jay Vashi, Sejal Shah and Shivalik Bihani from Stanton College Preparatory School; and Vikas Joshi from the Paxon School for Advanced Studies.

The annual Ekal concert series is a medium through which to propel the Ekal movement. This movement aims to have 100,000 schools running in the villages of India by 2011.

For more information, click on www.ekalindia.org

	Garima Gupta, third from left, was among the high school students on the recent Zero Gravity flight.

Garima Gupta, a ninth-grader at Stanton College Preparatory High in Jacksonville, and three other students from Eagle�s View Academy, took off March 17 on a Zero Gravity flight from Kennedy Space Center.

They were able to takeoff and land on the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). The trio became the first students to conduct an experiment on one of the Zero Gravity flights. Their experiment was to study the bone loss astronauts experience when they take long-term trips to space. The experiment, when completed, will fly on a future Space Shuttle mission.

	Mahatma Gandhi

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA is hosting �The Path to Peace � Celebrating Gandhi�s commitment to humanity� concert on Sunday, May 20 at India Cultural Center (5511 Lynn Road) in Tampa. The multimedia dance, music, drama performance is choreographed by Sridhar Shanmugam with music by Andrew Sterman.

According to Ekal Vidyalaya, the show looks to recall and reconceptualize Mahatma Gandhi�s vision of truth, faith, non-violence, satyagraha, ahimsa, education and freedom in modern times. With the world still deeply troubled by illiteracy, strife and violence, there universal language of art is the most effective way to express Gandhiji�s historical and powerful legacy.

A charitable trust, Ekal (www.ekal.org) initiates, supports and runs non-formal one-teacher schools in India. The movement strives to create a network of non-formal schools and health education that will educate and empower children in rural and tribal India.

Tickets for the 5 p.m. concert are $25 for adults, $15 for children with dinner included. For more information, call Jawahar Taunk at (727) 789-9087, Chandresh Saraiya at (813) 309-0647 or Ram Jakhotia at (813) 962-4172.

More than 600 people are expected to attend a May 11 Dayro fundraiser being hosted by India Cultural Center (ICC) to support repairs and maintenance of the community center. The ICC building is 10 years old and needs new paint inside and outside, an upgrade of sound system, roof repairs and overall maintenance to upkeep the building in decent shape. All the proceeds from the event will be used for the ICC repairs and maintenance.

The word Dayro relates to the world of folk geet sangeet from Saurashtra and Gujarat. For ICC this is a true cultural event. Even though this event is purely in Gujarati, ICC committee is asking other Indian associations to come together and help ICC with sponsoring similar events at the Cultural Center. Contact Ram Jakhotia at (813) 802-4638.

Along with Gujarati sangeet and mimicries, a Kathiawadi dinner will be served during the fundraiser, which will start at 6 p.m. with social hour, followed by dinner and then Dayro. Families with young children will have an option of Special Kids Magic Show and Movie at the adjacent Lotus Hall.

Dayro participates include Jagdish Trivedi, Abhaysingh Rathod, Master Rana, Bhikhudan Gadhvi, Jaishree Bhojavia, Mangal Rathod, Jayanti Kabira, Rajesh Malsariya and Mansukh Bhimani.

Tickets for the events are $50, $100 and $250 for VIP. For tickets, call Pankaj Patel at (813) 789-3005.

	Physician Mohan Shah of Orlando.

Good Shepherd Hospice staff physician Mohan Shah recently received certification by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The Orlando resident took the board-certification exams in November and joins Good Shepherd Hospice Medical Director Stephen Leedy, and Good Shepherd Hospice staff physician Brendan Flynn, as board-certified hospice physicians. Good Shepherd Hospice is the only hospice in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties to have its entire staff of physicians who are board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. About 2,800 U.S. physicians are board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Shah graduated from the University of London and received his medical training at the University of Nairobi School of Medicine. He obtained a master�s degree in Public Health at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. Board certified in Family Medicine, Shah joined Good Shepherd Hospice in September 2005 and is an Orlando resident.

For information, visit www.goodshepherdhospice.org

The Incredibles are coming to town! Singers Asha Bhosle, Sonu Nigam will be live in concert with Kailash Kher and Kunal Ganjawala at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 25 at the University of Central Florida Arena (Building 50, N. Gemini Blvd.) in the Orlando area.

The concert is presented by Shree Balaji Management Inc., Dattani Entertainment and Sky Telecom.

Tickets are $39, $59, $79, $100 and VIP and available at www.ticketmaster.com or call Rhythm House at (407) 859-0111. Also, call (407) 948-6751, (407) 341-0560 or M. Siddiqui at (407) 256-5610.

After celebrating the much-awaited new temple's inauguration, the Hindu Society of North East Florida in Jacksonville is gearing up for its annual India Fest on May 19. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. event at 4968 Greenland Road, site of the new temple building. Highlights include cultural programs by Indian organizations, a Health Fair by the Indo-American Forum of Physicians and a Visa Camp.

Vendors will sell Indian jewelry, clothing, food, arts and crafts. The ever-exciting mehndi (henna tattooing) and games for children are an exciting part of the India Fest.

For more information, call Ravi Sanka at (904) 565-2459, Senthil Kumar at (904) 230-1181, Rajesh Chaudhari at (904) 363-9389 or Uma Eyyunni at (904) 810-7626. Also, click on www.jaxhindutemple.org

	Lord Ganesha

The Pranaprathishta and consecration for the deities in Hindu Society North East Florida�s new temple on 4968 Greenland Road in Jacksonville was conducted March 21-25. Movers shifted the deities to the new temple site Yagashala on March 20. The Yagashala was constructed with five Havan Kundas to perform oblations.

Five priests from across the country assisted the Pradhanacharya Sri Pundit Kadambi Srinathji. On March 21, a Ganapathi Homam inside the temple building was held, followed by rituals such as Vastu Puja and Havan, Yagashala pravesh with Kalashas, etc. Through Friday, most of the rituals for the ceremony included Havans in the Yagashala, conducted according to Hindu scriptures.

Thursday was highlighted by an arrangement of 75 silver Kalashas, in three sets of 25 each � for lords Ganesha, Vishnu and Shiva).

	Lord Balaji

On Friday, while the Havans proceeded in Yagashala, the idol of Mahavir Swamy was taken into the temple in a procession. By the end of the morning session, Phaladivasam was conducted wherein all the deities were adorned with various fruits such as apple, banana, strawberry, pineapple, pear, plum, etc. That evening, the notable major event was Ratna Nyasa when a large number of sponsoring devotees put navarathnas brought from India in the base of their favorite deities. The Friday event concluded with Shayanadhivasam when all the deities were put to sleep (Shayana).

Saturday�s events began at 5 a.m. A group of devotees performed Suprabhatam to wake up the deities in Shayanadhivasam. Then the deities were moved inside the temple sanctum. That evening was highlighted by the first Abhishekam for lords Ganesha (the presiding deity of the temple), Balaji and Shiva Linga. At night, Bhakti Bhavana and Ghee Bolee were conducted for Sri Mahavir Swamy sthaapana.

The grand finale � Samprokshana and Prathishtapana � was on Sunday, March 25. The deities were decorated beautifully by the priests.

	Ram Parivar was among the deities installed at the Hindu Society of North East Florida�s new temple on 4968 Greenland Road March 21-25 in Jacksonville.

The devotees were served lunch and dinner prashad every day of the event. Members of local Indian associations in Jacksonville helped to sponsor the food.

The ceremony over the five days was a grand success because of detailed planning by organizers with help from more than 250 volunteers.

For more information, call the temple at (904) 269-1155, e-mail [email protected] or click on www.jaxhindutemple.org

Thousands of Indians in Florida will be celebrating Mother�s Day this month, which falls on Sunday, May 13.

The Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay will hold celebrations that day at Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. The event is free for Samaj members. For more information, call Gujarati Samaj President Dinesh Gandhi at (727) 858-4123 or click on www.gujaratisamaj.org.

In Orlando, on the same day, the Association of Asian Cultural Festivals will celebrate Mother�s Day with a dinner/show/dance at Karma Korner (6809 Visitor Circle). Entertainment at the 3 to 10 p.m. event will be by Maya Dance group. Donation is $15 per person (children 10 years of age and under are free). For more information, call Lalman Persaud at (407) 293-6691 or Margaret Bisnauth at (407) 296-2317.

Also, in the Orlando area but on May 11, Giuseppe�s Italian Restaurant (3624 W. Vine St., Kissimmee) will hold Mother�s Day dinner with Indian wear fashion show and dances. Music will be provided by Indian Majestic Sounds. The 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. event has been organized by Indo Caribbean Center to benefit the Saraswati Devi Mandir (1453 N. Pine Hills Road, Orlando) Kitchen Fund. Tickets are $15 per person (children ages 16 and under are free). For more information, call (407) 847-9938 or (407) 944-9717.

In the Melbourne area, the Indian Association of Space Coast will hold a Mother�s Day picnic May 12 from 1 p.m. at Kiwanis Park, Merritt Island. For more information, click on www.iascbrevard.com

More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the 10th annual Islamic Charity Festival on May 6 in Tampa. Organized by the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance, the event will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Riverfront Park, 1000 N. Blvd.

�The purpose of the free event is to feed the hungry, the homeless and their friends,� said organizer Dr. Husain Nagamia. �There will be ethnic foods such as Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern and a great American barbecue.�

Also part of the festivities will be a children�s toy giveaway, games and clowns for children, free clothes, and free medical tests such as blood pressure, blood sugar and more.�

Among the invited guests are Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Congressman Jim Davis, former city councilman Bob Buckhorn, Tampa Police Chief Stephen Hogue and City Councilman Tom Scott.

For more information, call (813) 654-4466, (813) 267-1600 or (813) 936-7878.

	Raj Yajnik

Raj Yajnik, president and owner of Matrix Graphix, a commercial printer at 4333 Silver Star Road in Orlando, has been awarded the National Leadership Award and appointed to the Business Advisory Council by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

Yajnik was previously the vice president of International Business at International Paper, the largest paper company worldwide with operations in more than 50 countries. He is a mechanical engineer from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from IIM Bangalore.

He will be serving as honorary chairman of the NRCC�s Business Advisory Council from Florida. The council dedicated to ensuring that small business has a voice in Washington, D.C.

The magazine will be mailed directly to homes and also will be available through select local retail and venue distribution. For information on advertising or articles, e-mail editor@sanskarmagazine or call (407) 782-2123.

	Dr. Husain Nagamia.

PART II

In days when there were no radios, telephones, televisions or telecommunications, this word (and the words in the Quran) spread like wild fire across the nations. They crossed boundaries and barriers of race, culture and language as if these did not exist and spread the word of Islam across vast stretches of land and sea. People embraced Islam without coercion. The Quran emphatically states: �There is no compulsion in religion �� (Chapter II v:256) Within 200 years of the Prophet�s death, the religion of Islam had spread from Spain in the West to China in the east and from Mongolia in the north to the Sub Saharan Africa in the south.
Read full story

When I told my friends that I was heading out to New Orleans for the March 24-27 annual convention of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), they warned me, �Don�t go there. They are still cleaning up, crime rate is high and there is too much pollution.� I presume they said it with good intentions, looking out for my health and welfare. But I thought, if more than half a million people lived through the worst hurricane to hit USA, the least I can do is to go encourage them in rebuilding the city, by providing a few tourist dollars.
Read full story

Opening a new store or restaurant? Expanding or relocating? Has your business won an award or a mention in your local newspaper? We want to hear from you to meet the rising needs of businesses and our readers. Call Nitish S. Rele at (813) 758-1786 or e-mail us at [email protected]

KAVERI HANDICRAFTS UP AND RUNNING IN ORLANDO

Kaveri Handicrafts opened it first furniture showroom in the United States recently in Longwood. Stocked with hundreds of intricately carved and richly painted furniture and artwork from India, the store is in a strip mall.

Beautiful Sankeda sets and Rosewood jhulas, rustic bamboo and jute furniture, regal dining sets fit for a palace, marble murthis of Hindu deities, and gold paintings by Meera Mohan are artfully placed to give you a glimpse of the art and crafts of India. The prices are reasonable, in fact �it is cheaper than buying in India, all pieces are purchased directly from the manufacturers and shipped here,� says Ganesh Ramachandran.

The store owners are Ramachandran and Raju Amin, both local IT professionals with a keen sense of appreciation of the rich tradition of handicrafts from India. They teamed up with Manjunath M. Gopal, CEO of Kaveri Handicrafts of Mysore, to open the showroom in Central Florida.

Kaveri Handicrafts is at 360 N. Highway 17-92, Longwood. For more information, call (321) 206-4995 or click on www.kaverihandicrafts.com

Information for this news item was provided by SHOBANA DANIELL.

RAPID REFILL INK OPENS IN TAMPA BAY AREA

	Rapid Refill Inc.

For most people, opening a business that combines everything you are passionate about is merely a dream. However, when Sharmila Roy discovered a company that combined conservation, recycling and community service, her dream became reality. Roy is the owner of Tampa Bay area�s first Rapid Refill Ink at 1265 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. at the Northwoods Center, which has the Super Target as its major anchor.

Rapid Refill Ink specializes in remanufacturing/refilling and retail sales of inkjet and laser toner cartridges for printers, copiers, fax machines and all-in-one machines for both consumers and businesses.

The store at 1265 Bruce Downs Blvd. is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. For information, call (813) 973-3400 or click on www.rapidrefillink.com

SPICES OF INDIA OPENS IN TAMPA

	Spices of India

Heenal Shingala pursued her dream of owning a business for years and now it has come true. The idea for the new store, Spices of India in Tampa, came via a friend in Melbourne. �I did run an Indian boutique from home,� recalls Shingala who is the mother of two children and wife of Mahesh Shingala, a pharmacist.

In September of last year, she came across the 3,000-square-foot facility, formerly a scuba diving place. �Spices is one of the largest stores in the Tampa Bay area,� she says. �I have set up every item in the store conveniently and with the focus on customer service.�

The store sells spices, snack items, vegetables (come in on Friday morning), fresh produce, all grains and rice, nuts, sweets, latest film DVDs, cold and tropical drunks and has �the largest section of frozen foods.�

Spices of India in the Tampa Palms, New Tampa area is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Drop in at 15343 Amberly Drive or call (813) 971-9131.

It is time for the Tampa Bay community to have a forum where voices can be expressed, respected and heard. This column will provide just such a corner. In time, I hope there will be enough interest generated when you, the reader, will begin to request certain topics of discussion.
Read Story

Send your questions and concerns

Read Story