Nearly 1,000 snake charmers held a protest in eastern India Tuesday, playing their flutes as they marched through the streets demanding the right to perform with live snakes. (Feb. 17). Watch the video below.

Snake Charmer in India

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mohammedan-sporting-club

Mohammedan Sporting Club

MSC, The First Indian Team to Gain League Honours in 1934 . (Standing From Left) Rahaman, Sattar, Masum, Habib(Senior), Aamir, Habib(Junior), Jaffer, Sabu, Mohiuddin. (On sit) Sheikh, Abdul Samad, Khurshid Anwar, Rashid , Rahamat. (On Ground) Jumma Khan, Siraj, and Abbas.

An exclusive collection of Mohammdan sporting club pictures are available in picasa:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ziaur2k/MohammedanSportingClub02#

Q1. Dr. Mitra when did you come to America?

Ans: Well, that’s a long story; I disembarked at this country on 12^th September 1964.

2 Since then you have been living in Columbia for so many years?

Ans: yes, I have been staying here in Columbia since then. I think 44 years have passed by since I first came to this place.

3. Then Columbia must be a very dear place to you?

Ans: Yes, I liked the place and decided to settle here.

4. I heard that you came here as a Researcher or a graduate student. Tell us something about your experiences as a student back then.

Ans: Well I came here as a student rather than a researcher. As for my experiences as a student. The 1960′s was the era of Hippie culture in the USA. Having high school education with emphasis in English during the British era in India speaking in English was never a problem for me. That gave me the opportunity to mix freely with Americans of the time who were also highly interested in learning International traditions and culture and I on my turn, spoke out freely.

5. Now, after so many years having passed by,  when you look at the present scenario  when a lot of International students are coming to this country for higher education how to you see their perspective, their way of thinking being different from the conventional American manner of thinking and viewing situations? Tell us a few words about the difference between them and the people who disembarked at this country back in your time.

Ans: I think there is a marked difference in views and manners of thinking between us and the International students coming to this country now a day(s). There is a great disparity between us and their points of view, their values (and) manner of speaking are different from ours. I feel it is the modern trend of their ever-changing society that makes them so different from what we were back in our time. When we came here, though most of us never went back to India yet, we never bade adieu to our traditions. Still now we are well aware of our country and we think of her (with deep emotion). The International students I see around in most cases, rear a demeaning attitude towards their country. Their way of thinking reflects their lackadaisical spirit for India. As if all that is bad happens in India. Even if that is not always the case, they perceive it in such a manner in despair. There is also a difference in their attitude and their values too. It is now a “Me” generation. People give more importance to what is happening to their own selves than to the society as a whole.

6. For all these years you have been involved with a gamut of different public services. Not only you are a part of (the) University of Missouri, Columbia; you have (also) been an active participant in many social and community services as well. Tell us something about your experiences as a community worker and your present commitments as a social worker.

Ans: Well, there are a number of student organizations and student government activities at this University. Currently I am chairman of the Student Organizations and Government Activities – a committee that oversees more than 500 student organizations at MU.  Our Cultural Association of India celebrated its 50^th birthday, in 2007, it happens to be the oldest student organization at this University and I am serving as an advisor to it since 1994. Then there is the Vedic Society which I spearheaded to create in 2002 where I am pretty involved as well. These activities keep me busy most of the time. Also I have served as a Community Development Commissioner – one of the six – in the City Government of Columbia.  Then I did some works in preserving our countries culture and heritage too. Well. I shouldn’t say our country in this respect; because different states in India bear a different culture so a “typical Indian culture” is hard to define. We started celebrating Saraswati puja in 1990 – a Hindu festivity around an “icon” for the first time ever in Columbia’s history.  The first Saraswati puja was held in my house in 1990. The venue was shifted to larger rented hall 2 years later and the tradition has been going on since then. After that, some of my friends and I then decided to start a temple. The effort took more than ten years to take root, though unsuccessful in the beginning we did not give up. Three years back, we managed to buy a small church to start the temple in Columbia.

7. So, this is the Hindu Temple of Columbia and this temple is the open to all. It is not restricted to any particular sect or group of believers.

Ans; Yes, the temple is called the Hindu Temple and Community Center of Columbia, Missouri and I have been the  President of the Board of Trustees since starting this Temple in 2005. The doors of the temple are open to all irrespective of their culture or sect. People from different spectrum of society come and worship and participate in cultural and social activities as they please. There is just one restriction; people are not allowed to have non-vegetarian foods, like meat fish or eggs in the temple.

8. Dr. Mitra till now we have dealt and talked about your social endeavors. Let us now talk about your research work. You have been a professor as well as a researcher. Tell us something about your research work.

Ans: Well, I did my research for my Doctorate of Philosophy, Ph.D degree. My research work dealt with Growth Hormone (GH). The effect of Growth Hormone in hotter climate, the augmentative or diminutive effect of Growth Hormone. Why people and animals hailing from hotter climatic conditions like that of Punjab tend to be robust and big in structure compared to people and animals hailing from milder climatic conditions like that of Bengal. I was always inquisitive about this phenomenon. While doing my research in Growth Hormone I developed a special immunologic technique to measure Growth Hormone using radio-isotope. And, I was the first person in my university to develop this method. The technique I developed earned me  a faculty position in Pathology.

9. So you earned your Doctorate degree for your research in this field.

Ans: Yes, the research I did on growth Hormone earned me my Ph.D degree. But the technique I developed earned me recognition in clinical Pathology. Presently, I am dealing with introduction of different clinical laboratory services and techniques for early detection of various ailments through blood tests and other processes. My job responsibility mostly is in Pathology laboratory services for patient care and teaching Resident-Doctors to prepare for their Pathology Board Certification Exams.

10. Having been a non-resident Indian and living abroad for so many years; when you look back at your country, India. How does India appeal to you? What would you like to say in a few words or advise about the present situation in India?

Ans: India seems to be heading to hell, morally. To tell you the truth, the familial ties, the values that we reared in our hearts during our freedom movement (of which my family and I were a part) are nowhere to be found now. Those values are long gone. All that is left is a stale opposition of those values. While working in India after independence, I came face to face with this disparity and that was a shocker to me. Then, you can say, I ran away. Now, when I look back and see the corruption in the political system, the moral degradation, the money-politics and undue complication in the governmental system, I am saddened.  The politicians there are trying to sell our country to foreign powers. They are vociferous about foreign investment but they tend to forget that, when any foreign country is investing in another country, it is draining away the profit-money to the investor-country and that helps neither the people nor the recipient-country; it acts as the detriment to the recipient-country’s infrastructure but the politicians in India don’t realize that. We have the people-power, the intellect, education and capability to succeed as the Indian Diaspora all over the world have shown. Why, then do we have to cadge for foreign help in developing our own country?

11. So, you think that this realization has not dawned upon people in India.

Ans: Yes. It is very saddening that they – most of the educated people I have talked to – do not realize that.

12. Dr. Mitra did your wife come with you when you came to the USA?

Ans: No. I came here alone. I left my wife, Roma, and my two children in the hands of my brothers and sisters in India. I had a joint family. After eight years of my stay in USA, my wife and children came and joined me in this country. So for eight years I stayed alone in this country as a graduate student, then I became a Post-doctoral fellow and saved some money and then I returned to India and brought my family here.

Dr. Mitra it has been a pleasure talking to you. We learnt a lot of different things from you. We yearn to learn more about your ideas and feeling, about your family and your experiences as a freedom fighter. We hope to get back to you soon with all these questions. Thank you so much for your time.

Interview Translated to English by Barnali S. Banerjee / Interview and Video courtesy:  Mita Das and Ujjal Sarkar

We all are in a very deep economic condition all over the world. The United States, often considered being the wealthiest and prosperous country in this world, is also facing severe economic depression in 2008. The economy in the United States started to become worse slowly for last few years. The economic situation became traumatic during and after the presidential election in the USA. The “economic agenda” was one of the greatest winning factors for Barrack Obama. However, the economic condition in USA does not seems to improve very much even after a month from the election. The three big auto industries in USA – the Ford, the GM and the Chrysler are broke. They are asking the government to help. This is called “bailing out”. There is a big controversy about the “auto bail out” in USA as it will be peoples’ tax money that will be used to buy those auto companies.

Economy

The 401K plan savings has dropped more than 44% for many people over last one year period. So, if you had 100 dollars in your account in January, you have 66 dollars in December, 2008. Now think about the millionaires and billionaires. If they had 100,000 dollars in their 401K plan just 12 months back, they now have 66000 dollars today (possible). Many would say that with improvement of economic condition, most of the people would get back their money. Well, that may be true for young folks who have time to wait for a better economic time. But what about older people who are about to retire? The unemployment rate was highest in November in USA and there is no sign for a quick improvement.

The economy of one country is now well connected to the economy of other countries. If a small bank in a very small country may fail, it could potentially impact some other banks in far distant countries. So we talk about “global economy” all the time. The inflation is also alarmingly high for many countries, for example England – 4%, India – 11% and so on. Chances of no job creation are minimal. The credit market is frozen!

In September, the USA company Lehman Brothers went bankrupt which shattered the Wall Street. With wrinkle effect, the share market for many other countries like Japan, India, England has dropped alarmingly. Various countries are trying to solve the economic depression in various ways. “Short sale” of shares is now banned in England.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial-services firm active prior to its bankruptcy and sale in 2008. The firm did business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales, research and trading, investment management, private equity, and private banking. On September 15, 2008, the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; the filing marked the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history. Immediately following the bankruptcy filing, an already unstable market began an uncontrollable tailspin. What was resulted was what many have called the “Perfect Storm” of economic distress factors, from Wall Street layoffs to a spike in durvexity, and eventually led a $700B bailout package (Troubled Asset Relief Program) prepared by Henry Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, and approved by Congress. (Reference)

“Short Sale” is a known culptrit for such ecomonic diasester which can potentially decides the value of a share and change it overnight! A short sale occurs when the proceeds of a real estate sale fall short of the balance owed on the property. In a short sale, the bank or mortgage lender agrees to discount a loan balance due to an economic or financial hardship on the part of the mortgagor. This negotiation is all done through communication with a bank’s Loss mitigation department. The home owner/debtor sells the mortgaged property for less than the outstanding balance of the loan, and turns over the proceeds of the sale to the lender, sometimes (but not always) in full satisfaction of the debt. In such instances, the lender would have the right to approve or disapprove of a proposed sale. Most Short Sales leave a deficiency balance for which the Mortgagor / Borrower is still liable. In 99% of all cases it is not a settlement-in-full. A deficiency balance will remain while the mortgage broker, real estate agent / broker, loan officers, title and closing agents retain their profit. No regulatory agency governs this hybrid transaction. (Reference).

Lehman Bros. bankrupt, B of A buys Merrill Lynch watch the exclusive video


So, what is the answer to out economic trouble? When will the economy be back to normal?
We don’t know the answer yer. Many thinks it will be better soon but no sign of quick recovery can be seen at present. We all think that the economic situation will get better but sure it will take some time.

When even Sourav decides to retire from cricket, Leander pase is still shining with his racket! He believes fitness is the most important thing in sports. If you are 100% fit even at 35, they why would you not play? Leander Pase is someone who can win his eighth glamsam (US open, mixed glamsam  champion). He has always been hard working in his life. In a country like India, where enything other than cricket is hardly considered to be “sports”, he established the importance of Tennis.