Better to Support Major Party Candidates

I could not agree more with Swetha Iyengar in her column on Bobby Jindal (Nov.-Dec., '05) on how "foolish" Indians are in running for U.S. political office. Furthermore, we Indian Americans waste our limited resources supporting these very candidates just because they are brown, tainted or have names that sound Indian.

Our political contributions are better spent if we throw our weight behind major party candidates (Republican or Democrat) who support India in general and immigrant rights in particular.

Indians are better off not donating even a penny to candidates such as Jindal who sold their soul for political gain.

A.R. Sreepathi
Los Angeles, California

'Call of Kailash' Calls Us

I read the article, "The Call of Kailash," in the November-December edition of Indian Life & Style. We live in Denver, Colorado, and are planning a trip to Mount Kailash this
year.
We would very much have liked to talk to Mukta Goel, who was featured in the
article, for more information.

Ashok Bhatt
Denver, Colorado

High Marks for Content and Style

Hearty congratulations for a much awaited magazine like yours. High marks overall for content and style!

One suggestion if I may -- in view of the Indian American entrepreneurial spirit, could you have articles by financial planners, educationists, stock market gurus, etc? That is not an area that gets much coverage among magazines and newspapers that cater to us living in the U.S.

Atul K
Sunnyvale, California

Columnist Makes Me Proud
of My Brown Skin

Indian Life & Style is getting better with every edition -- Congratulations.

I am particularly impressed by the "20 Something" column by Swetha Iyengar (Nov.-Dec., '05).

Iyengar, I must say, has a mature head on her young shoulders. She hit the nail on the head in her piece, "Why didn't Bobby Jindal get rid of his brown skin." She is brave, forthright, and will make a good journalist. She makes me proud of my brown skin.

In three decades in federal employment and two decades in America, I have never distorted my name, Indian image and heritage. How I wish all our folks would think like her.

Congratulations to Iyengar for a very thoughtful article.

Barinder Ahluwalia
San Jose, California

Interesting and Informative

As a journalist from Bangalore who was visiting my son in New Jersey, I happened to read your magazine, Indian Life & Style. It was very interesting and informative.

I invite your readers to visit the web site of the organization I head, Guild of Women Achievers (www.womenachievers.com).

Chaya Srivatsa
Bangalore, India

Skin Color Matters More in India

How important is the color of your skin? I am referring to Swetha Iyengar's "20 Something" column on Bobby Jindal (Nov.-Dec., '05). For me, the article generated indignation coupled with some sadness. The article also contains several unjustifiable claims.

While brown skin does matter in the U.S., it is not the only place where it matters on this planet. As a matter of fact, skin color matters in India much more than we are willing to admit. In India, it is a part of an old culture that still lives on. Consider the following: look at the matrimonial ads in the leading Indian newspapers as well as in the ethnic weeklies in the U.S. Most of the ads contain skin color (wheatish, fair, very fair, etc.), especially in the ''light" sense. The ads unequivocally reflect an underlying preference for light-colored skin. Is it difficult to get a fitting match for a dark-skinned person? You bet!

Another burning example of skin color preference is Sonia Gandhi. An Italian-born is the president of India's Congress Party, and does have the potential of holding the highest office of the country. Was her skin color a factor? I will let you readers decide.

The thing I admire most about this great nation, the U.S., is that in spite of his brown skin, Bobby Jindal won the election. And, he is not the only Indian American to have won election. Other prominent Indian Americans in high political offices are Satveer Chaudhary, Minnesota state senator; Swati Dandekar, former Iowa state representative; and Upendra Chivukula, New Jersey state assemblyman, to name a few.

I won't touch the religion issue, except to say that not all Indian American politicians are Christians. Conversely, let us consider that an African American goes to India and becomes an Indian citizen and contests an election. Would his color matter? I think the answer is 'yes'.

Iyengar also touches on racism in the U.S. As a matter of fact, racism is more of a problem in India than here. The caste system is so deeply ingrained in Indian society that we don't even perceive it to exist. It is prevalent in every facet of society. Again, look at the matrimonial ads for irrefutable evidence.

I am still struggling to understand how God-fearing people can openly discriminate against other humans on the basis of their birth? What is even more appalling is that our religious leaders even take a defensive position on this issue, rather then condemning it.

Iyengar writes of India becoming "an economic force to be reckoned with." Maybe so, but the majority of the population does not have the basic necessities of life -- food, shelter, and medical aid -- even in the 21st century, when the U.S. is able to collect dust from a distant comet.

Iyengar describes Indian democracy by using adjectives such as "the largest" and "serious". Really? In a democratic system of government, every citizen is treated equally and there is one set of laws governing all its citizens. I submit to you the following: religion, race and caste are considered in every facet of the government. There are separate laws for minorities. Due to a big quota system, a large number of unqualified persons are hired by the government, an example of blatant reverse discrimination; the Indian government pays for an annual pilgrimage, but for only one minority. How is this possible in a democracy?

It should be clarified that the foregoing is not a criticism, but rather a delineation of the facts, no matter how unpleasant.

Lastly, I couldn't agree more with Iyengar's statement, "With the wealth and education in the Indian American communities, your life would probably improve when you go to India." I am sure she is planning to return to India soon to improve her life. I wish her luck.

Vijay P. Khasat
Clinton, Ohio

Alluring Magazine

Indian Life & Style is a beautifully designed, well articulated magazine published in eye-alluring font on glossy paper. Most of my friends adore the publication.

Mandhata Chauhan
Via E-Mail

Mikki Singhal Winner of
Mrs. NRI Global '05

There is an error in the recent article on Indian American beauty pageants, "Beautiful People" (Nov.-Dec., '05). You have placed the picture of Nikhat Afza and called her Sarmi Karati and then said she is the Mrs. NRI Global 2005 winner when, in actual fact, Mikki Singhal is the winner. Please make the correction.

Rennu Dhillon
NRI Global Pageant, Fremont, California

Indian Music in Movies
Going from Bad to Worse

This is in reference to the letter from R.P. Kumar entitled, "Indian Music is Happening" (Nov.-Dec., '05), in response to the "Sophomore Speak" column, "Close Encounters of the Teen Kind" (Sept.-Oct.).

Of course, we all have our knowledge and opinion on any subject. But I, at least, do not agree with what Kumar wrote in this letter.

In my opinion, Indian music in movies has been going from bad to worse nowadays. All the importance is given to beats only. The melody is missing in the new songs.

The new generation is being taught how to dance to these songs. Hence, the younger generation is addicted to dancing only, and they like only those songs to which they can dance.

The real music with melody has been missing in our movie songs. All the composers
also make these kinds of songs as only they sell nowadays.

Gone are those golden days when we used to listen to more melody in our songs. I do not know how to be proud of our Indian music in the movies. Yes, our old ragas and music are still appreciated by all those who know what real music is.

S.M. Lal
Santa Ana, California

Palitana Temples Are in Gujarat

I have in hand the Sept.-Oct. '05 issue of Indian Life & Style and have gone through almost all the sections on the various pages, and found it very interesting and informative.

However, I wish to bring to your notice the discrepancy in the "Inquizition."

The options given to question #2 ("In which state are the temples of Palitana located?") are not correct. Similarly, the answer given for that question is also not correct, because the temples of Palitana are located in Gujarat state, not in Madhya Pradesh.

Anant Shah
Woodland, California

Breathtaking Photos for 'Hustle-Bustle'

Thanks for printing the White House party photo with the names (Sept.-Oct., '05), as per my earlier letter to you. Also, I noticed that bright ink has been used where needed, as per my suggestion. You are very prompt in making changes.

This issue also has some very good articles: "Neal's Law," "Fizz of Success," "Code Name Success," "The Color of Religion," "The Benevolent Stranger," "Second Opinion-Am I a Punjabi" by Consul General B.S. Prakash, and the photo feature on Sania Mirza, just to mention a few.

"Hustle-Bustle," an American teen's India trip, though quite a readable personal account, has mostly unflattering photos. You could have included some breathtaking photos of places that abound in India. However, it was probably the writer's choice. Can't quarrel with that.

Keep up the high standard.

Yatindra Bhatnagar
Fremont, California

Hard Work and Persistence

During my visit to Los Angeles, I came across your magazine, Indian Life & Style, and was pleased to see an article on the success story of an Indian American attorney ("Neal's Law," Sept.-Oct., '05).

I myself came to the U.S. in 1972 and after hard work and persistence, I became an administrative law judge with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance in 1995.

I'd like your readers to know how hard work and persistence can help anyone achieve a goal.

Bipin Engineer
Brooklyn, New York