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Chicago, IL: Dr. Ghanshyam Pandey received UIC Researcher of the Year Award in a special ceremony and reception held on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Chicago Rooms, Student Center West, 228 S.Wolcott, Chicago, IL Ghanshyam Pandey, professor of pharmacology and psychiatry, has combined basic and clinical research throughout his career. “It is difficult to think of anyone who has produced such a broad array of pioneering studies,” one colleague says. The UIC Researcher of the Year Award, now in its third year, is given in four categories: social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, clinical sciences and basic life sciences. Selected by the Campus Research Board and the vice chancellor for research, each winner receives a $3,500 cash prize. For Ghanshyam Pandey, his studies of the neurobiology of the brain have always been closely connected to his concern for the clinical issues facing patients and physicians. Pandey’s research has direct impact on the understanding and treatment of mood disorders, including bipolar disorder and depression. “It is difficult to think of anyone who has produced such a broad array of pioneering studies in the field of biological psychiatry that have had such an impact over such an […]

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Oakbrook IL: Democratic Party of Dupage County organization, (the largest event of the year for the organization) celebrated Presidents Day gala 2011 with great enthusiasm on Sunday February 13, 2011, 5:00PM, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. More than 500 people were present at this exciting program. Prominent Leaders from the Democratic Party present were Gov Pat Quinn, Lt Gov Sheila Simon, Atty Gen Lisa Madigan, David Hoffman, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Madigan, John Cullerton and Don Harmon. The Trustees and Executive Committee Members of the IADO, viz., Dr. Ram Gajjela (President), Dr. Ashish Sen (Vice President), Sainath Reddivari (Secretary), Peter Palaparthi (Joint Secretary), Lakshmi Lakshmanan (Treasurer), Dr. Mridu Sekhar (Joint Treasurer), Pramod Shah(Executive Director), Jitendra Diganvker (Directors) were joined by several prominent community Leaders from Indian-Pakistani community, CIOGC representatives, Project M representative, AIPHA, Islamic Center of Western Suburbs and ICNA Chicago representatives. Sunil Shah (President of FIA), Neil Khot, Mayur Patel, and members of the media including Suresh Bodiwala and Dr. Chandrakant Modi from Asian Media USA. As the Master of Ceremony Bob Peickert, Chair, Democratic Party of DuPage County welcomed the guests and kept the audience spellbound with his wit and wisdom throughout the function. Bob Peickert is […]

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Hoffman Estates, IL: Shri Jalaram Mandir located at 425, Illinois Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL, celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Day with music and masti on Saturday, February 12th, 2011 at 7:00 pm. A sentimental evening “Sur Sandhya” was performed by “Suranjali” in filmy style with old and latest songs, which made the whole atmosphere joyful. More than 200 volunteers enjoyed the special evening. Shree Jalaram Mandir was inaugurated on the March 8th, 2008. It was a dream of many devotees and followers of Jalaram Bapa to establish Jalaram Mandir. With a determination to realize that dream, Jalaram Organization was established in December, 2006. With the help of Generous Donations from many Donors and Volunteers $1.25 Million Dollars worth property was purchased. Saturday, 12 February 2011, was a day to appreciate every single person who had devoted their time towards the Mandir’s progress. In honor of such commitment Jalaram mandir Board decided to have a beautiful way to say thanks to all the volunteers with a Musical night and splendid dinner. At present, Mandir has team of approximately 215 volunteers, who are involved in various activities and perform duties with all their heart. The program was started with Deep-Pragatya by Assistant Priests Shree […]

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Westmont, IL: Valentine day is widely known as the “ Lover’s Day “ Its celebration depicts the signs of love towards the partner or girl friend or boyfriend At this time of the day they exchange beautiful flowers, go for a lunch at the desired hotel or go out for outing when they enjoy reality of life. Valentines’ Day is fast nearing and love is in the air. It is time to have poolside romance, savor the scent of wild flowers and cozy up with the beloved one….. Busy work schedule are set aside as grand plans are being chalked out to make this day sprightly and most memorable. Nightspots and clubs are gearing up for a perfect Valentines’ Day with a wide variety of programs. Love-struck couples are looking for the best spot to make the occasion grand and great. Valentines’ Day was celebrated with much romp and fun in every nook and cranny of the city. Though many couples headed for various clubs and watering holes to make the occasion grand and memorable, several others rushed to ‘Saffron Restaurant’ for a change. The show presented by Shaila Khedkar, professional singer had Music, masti, Hungama and a lot of […]

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Chicago IL: The Indian American Democratic Organization (IADO) of Greater Chicago-land, with leadership of its current president Mr. Mangrola, organized a sponsorship and grass roots community rally for its favorite candidates for upcoming Chicago Mayoral election Mr. Rahm Emanuel. The event took place at North shore banquet hall on Devon Street at about 1 PM on Feb. 13, 2011. The IADO members and grass roots community rally was joined by several prominent community representatives including Dr. Ram Gajjela (President), Dr. Ashish Sen (Vice President), Sainath Reddivari (Secretary), Peter Palaparthi (Joint Secretary), Lakshmi Lakshmanan (Treasurer), Dr. Mridu Sekhar (Joint Treasurer) , Pramod Shah(Executive Director), Jitendra Diganvker (Directors). Others in attendance were Sadruddin Noorani, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Shajan Kuriakost, Prem Balani Sean Chaudhary, Gladson Varghese, Lakshmi Lakshmanan, Balvinder Singh and Ann Kalayil; and Nasir Jahangir, Sher M. Rajput and Dr.Chandrakant Modi (President of Asian Media USA). Rahm also mentioned that he is truly gratified by the strong support of the south Asian Americans particularly the Indian Americans. He thanked community for their eloquent support with their uniquely appealing ‘community rally’ which he says would help him as she continues to vigorously campaign all across Chicagoland. Mr. Rahm Emanuel discussed briefly about following four […]

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Schaumburg, IL: The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago www.PCSChicago.org (PCS) coordinated a dinner reception for Schaumburg village president honorable Al Larson and the new consul general of India in Chicago honorable Mukta Dutta Tomar. The reception was hosted by Diljit and Mohina Ahluwalia, immediate past chairperson of PCS Chicago. The Ahluwalia family owns industrial businesses in Morton Grove, Illinois. The festive dinner reception by invitation only took place on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at India House Restaurant and Banquets in Schaumburg Illinois. More than 60 guests and PCS officials relished the interesting and educational presentations, Punjabi music, delicious dinner, and the informal evening conversations. Diljit and Mohina Ahluwalia the host family welcomed and thanked the guests and the special guests of honor. Balwinder Singh Girn president PCS Chicago addressed the gathering and elaborated on the mission of the organization and the community service programs like “Rangla Punjab 2011” on April 23, Graduation & Scholarship Award Night on June 12, The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago Sports Festival in August and soon. Rajinder Singh Mago, the convener of the event screened a DVD “Cultural Safari” about the Sikh American community’s culture, spirituality, foods, festivals and performing arts. Mago also made a […]

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Schaumburg IL: Midwest oldest Punjabi organization (PHO) celebrated the festival of Lohri with great zeal and enthusiasm at India House Banquets 1521 W. Schaumburg Rd Schaumburg, IL on Saturday, January 29th 2011. Over 600 plus people from all over Midwest attended the event with friends and families to celebrate this festival in traditional way. Program started with a Thank you note by the President Lakhbir Singh Sandhu who welcomed everyone who attended. Satnam Singh Aulakh-one of the founding member of PHO highlighted the importance of the festival and cultural background. Chief Guest for the evening was prominent businessman from Milwaukee Beant Singh Boparai who attended the event with his family. Grand Sponsor of the evening was famous businessman of Indian community in Chicago Mr. Jasbir Singh Suga of Suga Builders. Highlights of the cultural bonanza were a skit and play themed on the celebration of Lohri as it is back home, directed by Sukhjeet Kaur Kahlon. Ladies- dressed in their favorite traditional attire were glittery and performed traditional folk dance “Gidha” which was liked by all. Cultural performances were performed by “Dhiyan Chicago Diyan” and “Punjabi Girls of Chicago”. Majority of the performers were born and raised in USA and […]

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Skokie IL: Inspired by the spirit of patriotism and intensified by a show of heartwarming unity, the Federation of Indian Associations-Chicago (FIA) a premier registered community’s umbrella organization of 30 years, hosted their flagship Republic Day gala banquet that was packed to the capacity of the Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn in 5300 West Touhy Avenue, Skokie, Illinois on Friday, January 28, 2011. Buoyed by large attendance, enthusiasm and energy, the FIA’s 62nd Republic Day celebrations were distinctly enhanced by a series of colorful patriotic dance presentations made by young Radha Krishan RK-Group and melodious musical selections of Rohit Parikh singing to patriotic themes which were interspersed with inspiring remarks from prominent guest speakers which augmented the festive spirit of the Republic day. Iftekhar Shareef, FIA’s Trustee Chairman in his key note remarks paid rich tributes to India’s majority Hindu population for their magnanimous secular ethos which, he added, enabled them to elect members of the minority communities to India’s highest offices including the office of the Prime Minister, the President and ruling-party coalition chair. Iftekhar Shareef complimented the members of the media including Asian Media USA, Five Star Tribune, India Tribune, India Post, Hi India, Desi Talk, TV […]

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Chicago, IL: On Wednesday, January 26, 2011, Honorable Consul General Mrs. Mukta Tomar celebrated 62nd Republic Day with leading Chicago-land entrepreneurs and citizens to honor the sacrifices our freedom fighters have fought and to remember the work of our Founding Fathers, for giving to us a country where our dignity and individual freedom is assured. She also extended her warmest greetings to all across the country and also to those living abroad at the Indian Consulate located in the heart of downtown at 455 North City Front Plaza Drive, NBC Tower. Over 100 guests gathered from citywide to celebrate this occasion. The event began at 10am as the Honorable Consul General saluted the Indian Flag as she held the rope to release the Indian Flag called “Dhhwaj Vandan” to respect and honor the Indian Flag followed by singing an Indian National Anthem. She also recited the speech given by honorable president of India SMT. Pratibha Devisingh Patil on the eve of republic day on 25th January, 2011 in India. Consul General Tomar was the perfect hostess and radiated with hospitality, courtesy and humbleness along with the entire Consulate General team. 26th January is a very significant date in our nation’s […]

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Bensenville, IL: Urdu Times Presents “Shaam-e-Ghazal a Tribute to Ghazal Maestro- Mehdi Hassan” was held at the Monty’s Banquet hall, 703 South York Road in Bensenville, IL on Friday, January 21, 2011. Mehdi Hassan! A master in music such as Mehdi Hassan deserved the spectacular tribute he had received as not one member of the audience was displeased by his three sons’ performances. His very loyal sons, Kamran Mehdi Hassan, Imran Mehdi Hassan, and Faizan Mehdi Hassan performed wonderfully for their father showing him their love and devotion to him and by helping the audience relives the legendary career of Mehdi Hassan. The gesture was no small act as they showed him the beautiful music he had raised them with and what they have made of it in their lives. The event was stunning as the classical music played by the trio was accompanied by applause for a considerable amount of time while they played. The audience was not only pleased with the performance, but appalled by the very elegance of each word sung, each note hit, each pounding of the Tabla, and each keystroke. Each member of the audience knew what to expect, but received much more than what […]

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Chicago, IL. The Rhythms of Rajasthan presented a fabulous folklore at the Hamdard Center located at 1542 W. Devon Ave Chicago, IL on Thursday, January 20, 2011. Over 50 attendees gathered to discover the magical Rhythms of Rajasthan. The Rhythms of Rajasthan performer consists of 5 members who dazzled the audience with their vocal and instrumental talents. Men were dressed in exotic and colorful attire with multi-colored Paghdis accompanied by Ms. Sevadevi, the dancing queen of the Rhythms of Rajasthan group. This project has been conceived in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, by Nitin Nath Harsh, a folklore promoter. Nitin Nath Harsh has been working with more than 100 folk artists of Rajasthan for the past nine years. He began his career in folklore of Rajasthan with the late legendry folklorist Padam Bhushan Komal Kothari. The vast unending expanse of burning hot sand that makes up the Thar Desert of Rajasthan hosts one of the most vibrant and evocative music cultures of the world. The Rhythms of Rajasthan have been evolved from an idea to create an exciting fusion of traditional rhythms and melodies from this culture. The group captures the romanticism and heroism of the north Indian desert in a visceral hypnotic […]

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Chicago, IL: To celebrate the great leader Martin Luther King Jr. and his message of equal rights for all Americans, Compassionate Care Network (CCN) hosted the Albany Park Neighborhood Council (APNC) at a breakfast meeting to discuss their shared goal of providing access to affordable health care for everyone. The meeting was held at the Muslim Community Center (MCC), 4380 N. Elston Ave, Chicago, IL on Sunday, January 16, 2011at 9:00 AM.. Compassionate Care Network (CCN) meets with Albany Park Neighborhood Council (APNC) to discuss shared goals to provide access to affordable health care. The CCN-APNC meeting brought together those from various faiths and backgrounds to discuss each organization’s initiatives to expand their combined network of affordable health resources to better serve all Illinois residents. Both organizations discussed potential collaboration in programming and goals. APNC shared its progress on developing a “Charity Care” program that would offer hospitalization and in-patient care to the underserved, while CCN introduced its new program of health education workshops for minority communities that suffer from above average incidences of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Both organizations agreed to support each other in their initiatives and that a shared goal was to develop volunteers within the […]

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Medinah, IL: This year also Lohri was celebrated with great fanfare at Hari Om Mandir located at 6 North 20 Medinah Road, Medinah, IL on Thursday, January 13, 2011. More than 300 people attended the function. The weather during the day didn’t deter excitement of the devotees. Lohri was celebrated with traditional food of Saag (mustard) and Makki (corn) ki roti and lassi (buttermilk), bonfire, tappes, and songs suitable for the occasion. Lohri function has been celebrated in the North India in winter in the month of January. Families get together around bonfire to celebrate Lohri of the new born & newly married and eat foods such as dates, peanuts, bhuga (traditional India sweet and made of milk products) good for health during the winter season. Peoples in the North have migrated to other parts of India and abroad, therefore Lohri festival is celebrated throughout India and even in the foreign lands. Surinder Kalsi, Hansa, Shobaben, Vithal bhai, Naveen bhai and Sarkar family along with the temple priests created a beautiful exhibit of traditional Lohri items. There were models of Charkha, well with utensil to draw water, front of a house with traditional paintings of Diyas (tea lights) and cut […]

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Without an education, the distance you go in life can be measured. With an education at the new Furqaan Academy located at 519 East Briarcliff Road in Bolingbrook, the distance you go in life will be vast and immeasurable. Its new location’s Grand Opening was held on January 15th at 1 pm to 3 pm, and was open to Dignitaries from various Islamic Organizations, media, students, and parents. The Furqaan Academy’s new location is held at a three-story building that contains 18,000 square feet neighboring a Baptist Church. The Furqaan Academy moved to its new location on January 3rd. What a great way to start the New Year for the Al-Furqaan Foundation! The Grand Opening ceremony began with prayers and was then accompanied by a recitation of the Quran by one of the Academy’s very own students, Obaid Razi, a great speaker! Obaid sent Asian Media USA a summary of his speech that was translated to make it easier to for our readers. “There is a verse in the Holy Quran that states: “You will never attain righteousness unless you spend from what you love; and whatsoever you spend, Allah is fully aware of it.” [3:92] The Arabic word for […]

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Chicago, IL: In a building of Muslim Community Center (MCC) Chicago located at 1480 Elston Avenue,Chicago, IL the least expected to happen would be that a group of people have gathered to help save a battered underwater portion of Pakistan. Yet that is exactly what took place, and it was extremely successful as Helping Hand USA for Relief and Development (HHRD) explained how they were going to tackle the ongoing chaos in Pakistan that was caused because of the 2010 flood. Though the floods were six months ago, that doesn’t mean the destruction it caused is over. HHRD explained that the sections of Pakistan that were confronted and engulfed by the floods are still in a horrible position. People are still in need of long term projects from relief agencies e.g.: water filtration plants, house construction, hospitals, medicines, schools, Orphan support, interest free micro-financing etc. HHRD through the heartfelt donations of compassionate donors from across the world set out to provide necessary aid to the people of Pakistan by launching their “Relief for Pakistan” campaign. Their efforts provided food, In Kind donations, medical relief and shelter to the millions of affected people. Furthermore,HHRD launched www.reliefforpakistan.org website as a tool to […]

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