PANCHADIK May 2017 , Spring Issue

Konkani Association of California Panchadik

May, 2017

2017 SPRING EDITION In This Issue

From The President’s Desk Pg 2

What happened when I quit my job to travel Pg 12

Painting – My Hobby Pg 10 Vandana Pai shares her experiences South Asian Diet and Diabetes Pg 3 Subadra Perumal tells us about her paintings and travelling alone in S.E Asia. Dr. Meena Pai takes a look at the high prevalence the inspiration behind them of Diabetes among Indians and the contribution of the South Asian diet to this phenomenon. Youth Section Pg 14

• A prize winning essay from Mihika Gokarn about growing up Indian- American in the U.S. • Congrats Graduates !

Women in Technology Pg 11

Shri Gaudapadacharya Pg 6 Abirami Kamath shares her activities and Sunilkumar Bhattacharjya explores the life and teachings of the first historical involvement with the Women in Technology proponent of Advaita Vedanta. program at her workplace. Copyright © 2017 Konkani Association of California (KAOCA) All rights reserved PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 2

From the President’s Desk delectable food that was unparalleled in quantity and quality! The rest of the year is beginning to take shape – with Sports Day planned for June 17th, KAOCA Picnic on August 12th, and Diwali locked in at CET for November 11th. The success of the events to date are all because of a very effective and fun committee – I am amazed at the talent that we have within our own community to pull together events and activities time and again with great aplomb, After the hand-over in November, and with a sense of flair and fun the committee kicked off the year As we took over the reigns from that makes everything look easy. with a hike on the second Deepa and Arun Rao for leading Thank you team for your support Saturday of every month to the KAOCA 2017 committee, it and commitment and look forward nurture a sense of health while was apparent that we need to to a great rest of the year! also taking the opportunity to continue the excellent work done enjoy the beauty of the Bay area to date by our previous Regards, parks. To commemorate the love president(s) while finding the in the air during the month of opportunity to further expand our Mangala & Venugopal February, we held a Valentine’s community’s needs. Over the last Pai Social that was well attended by 5 years, it seems that the over 125+ folks in addition to a demographics of our community great Karaoke session to entertain have changed to reflect younger the crowd through the evening. FAST FACTS families, kids that are living a fine Our penultimate event for the first balance across the two cultures Upcoming Events half of the year, is of course – (and doing well if I might say so Ugadi. Thanks to the tireless work myself!), an invisible and indelible from the 2017 Committee and a June 17 – Sports Day impact on our daily lives from focus on marketing to increase the social media, and a swath of our August 12 – Picnic reach and value of KAOCA, we colleagues that are facing middle- were able to shatter records with age. I dare to say that I was in November 11 - Diwali the largest attendance to date absolute denial when I received since the inception of KAOCA for a my AARP card when turning 50, Ugadi function with 520 and handled the card like it was on attendees, entertainment that fire! started and finished on time, and

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 3

South Asian Diet and Diabetes By Dr. Meena Pai Types of Diabetes India is now considered the diabetes capital of the world with Diabetes approximately 7 % of the comes mainly population- about 70 million in two forms, affected by the disease. Type 1 and Type 2. Type What is diabetes? 1 is caused by Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in insufficient which the pancreas in the human production of body fails to produce insulin, or is the hormone unable to use the insulin produced insulin in an effective manner. whereas Type So why are Indians so prone? After eating, the pancreas 2 is caused by impaired production automatically releases the required as well as insulin resistance- which While research is still underway, the amount of insulin to move the means that the insulin does not risk for DM is thought to be related glucose present in our blood to our function effectively. to a combination of genetic and cells to regulate our blood sugar Some individuals may have blood lifestyle related changes. The level. Insufficient secretion of insulin glucose levels that are above normal genetic contributors among South by the pancreas results in excess but not high enough to be labeled Asians include a predisposition to glucose levels in the blood stream, as diabetes. This is called "pre- abdominal or central obesity, as resulting in diabetes, which diabetes". It is especially important well as skeletal muscles which do eventually damages various organs for these people to make lifestyle not effectively burn fat. in the body. A person with diabetes changes to change their eating has no control over her blood sugar Diabetes often tends to run in habits, to exercise frequently and to as her body either does not produce families – probably as a result of lose weight. At this stage, with enough insulin, or produces no inherited traits or common lifestyle proper care, the pre-diabetes state insulin or has cells that do not and environmental factors. At the can be turned back to normal. respond effectively to the insulin same time, the absence of diabetes Regular blood glucose tests should produced by the pancreas. This in a family is no guarantee that an be done to monitor progress. This leads to too much glucose level in individual will not get the disease. condition may progress to Type II the blood stream which eventually While people with a family history diabetes if the affected individual damages various organs in the of diabetes are at much higher risk does not make the necessary body. of developing disease compared to changes in his/her way of living. Persons suffering from diabetes those without a family history, show symptoms like fatigue, hazy several people without a family vision, excessive thirst, weight loss, history go on to develop diabetes.

frequent urination and increase in A combination of a diet rich in appetite. processed carbohydrates and white rice with increasing fast foods also

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leads to a perfect storm when 1. Total calories consumed: most butter, etc. to the rotis then combined with genetic risks. adults need 1800-2200 calories a the calories add up. day. Some need more if they are • 1 cup of cooked white rice= physically active. Our diet is primarily white rice 204 calories with 0.6 gm of 2. How these are divided between based: dosa, idli, iddiyappam, fiber appam, puttu, rice flour based major and minor meals? Three sweets. meals and two to three healthy • 1 cup of cooked brown rice= snacks. 215 calories but has 3.5 gms 3. Relative contribution from Our snacks like samosas, namkeen, of fiber. carbohydrates, protein and fats, and laddoos, jalebees, milk-based sweets the quality of each. • 1 cup of dal= about 200 are high in carbs and fats. calories These are guidelines: Snack on fruits, nuts and Assessing Risk: Carbohydrates: 40 percent from vegetables. A general serving size Indians have a different criteria for carbohydrates, including at least 20- for nuts is a handful- about 7-10 obesity compared to whites or other 35 grams of fiber. Best almonds or walnuts. ethnic groups. A body mass index carbohydrate/high-fiber sources:

(BMI) of 23 or higher is considered fresh vegetables, fruits, beans and Eat Healthy overweight among South Asians whole-grain foods. Eat less of these versus 25 or greater for other ethnic carbs: white bread, white potatoes groups. In addition, an abdominal and Indian snacks. Unrefined circumference of 32 inches or carbohydrates, rich in fiber, like greater for South Asian women and brown bread, brown rice, whole 36 inches or greater for South Asian wheat flour are preferred over men is considered obese (among refined carbohydrates. other ethnic groups, obesity is Protein: 20-30 percent from protein defined as greater than 36 inches for (unless you have kidney disease). women and 40 inches for men!). Best protein sources: fish, skinless chicken or turkey, nonfat or low-fat So what can you do? dairy products, tofu and legumes All of us, whether suffering from (beans and peas). diabetes or not, need all the three Fat: 30-35 percent from fat (mostly main dietary constituents – mono- and polyunsaturated fats). carbohydrates, protein and fat. Best fat sources: olive oil, canola oil,

nuts, seeds and fish. The proportion of these One way to choose fruits and other constituents and their quality varies A healthy diet for someone with high-carbohydrate foods is to check depending on whether an individual diabetes is the same as a healthy the glycemic index (GI). The GI is a is healthy or suffers from a disease diet for anyone else! ranking of foods on a scale from 1 to like diabetes. Try counting calories. Remember 100, with their score indicating how As a general rule, the key they add up fast. For example: quickly they raise blood sugar levels. components of a diet advised for a person with diabetes needs to • 1 cup of wheat flour = 400 High GI foods are absorbed faster address the following issues: calories. If you add oil, ghee, than medium or low GI foods. Low

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GI foods are best for helping control Myths: blood sugar levels. 1. Eating Sugar causes Diabetes It may be a surprise to learn that Eating sugar does not cause most fruits have a low GI. Starchy diabetes. Eating a diet that is high in Exercise vegetables like potatoes and grains fat and sugar can cause you to are more rapidly digested and have become overweight, which a higher GI . increases your risk of developing Examples of fruits low on the Type 2 diabetes. glycemic index are apples, bananas, Sweets can be eaten in moderation berries, avocados, oranges, grapes, by people with Type 2 diabetes, as etc. long as this is incorporated in a structured healthy meal plan and Other factors: combined with exercise. Sweets In addition to controlling weight and often contain not only empty blood sugars keep a check on your calories but a lot of sugar.

blood lipid levels, essentially on People often misconstrue sugar- cholesterol - LDL-cholesterol, HDL- free foods to be calorie free. This is cholesterol and triglycerides. Also inevitably not the case. keep a tight control on blood

pressure. Again, both blood Most "sugar free" foods often are pressure and lipids can be very calorie-rich, and one adequately controlled with a unwittingly has large quantities healthy life-style eating a healthy resulting in poor blood glucose diet, being physically active, control. avoiding tobacco and moderating the intake of alcohol. 2. People with Diabetes cannot be active Optimal cholesterol levels are as Exercise lowers the amount of blood follows: sugar, which results in a person feeling better, helps avoid • LDL cholesterol should be < becoming overweight, and reduces 100mg/dl (ideally should not be the chances of developing long- more than 70mg/dl) term complications associated with • HDL cholesterol should be > diabetes. 45mg/dl (ideally should be > 50 for

women and > 45 for men) - - - - o - - - - • Triglyceride levels should be < 150 mg/dl (ideally should not be more * Meena Pai, MD is a practicing than 100 mg/dl) pediatrician in the Bay Area for the last 20 years BP for diabetics should be less than 139/89.

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 6

Shri Gaudapadacharya, the founder of the

tradition of Advaita Vedanta

By Sunil Kumar Bhattacharjya*

Shri Gaudapadacharya was one of the highest intellectuals born in India. It is not exactly known where Rama he was born, and many believe that as his guru he was born in the Gauda desha, life, do not and Sant Tukaram had Babaji as his which may include parts of West understand that you are the guru, who lived centuries earlier. Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. supreme soul, but with the Shuka-muni was the narrator of the Some believe that he was born in dawning of spiritual knowledge Bhagavata Purana and he was a one of the southern states of India. they get to understand the truth, great Advaitin and the Bhagavata According to the tradition of just like a rope appearing as a Purana, like the Upanishads, clearly Advaita Vedanta, Shri snake and then the snake expounds the Advaitavada. The Gaudapadacharya is considered to disappears when the rope is known. translation of Bhagavata purana 10, be the first author, and he is the first Statements like being bound to 14, 21-28 is given in brief as follows: great Advaitin of the Kaliyuga. matter and being liberated are due

to being ignorant of the fact that Lord Brahma says : “O Supreme His guru the so-called binding is only due to Lord, who in the world knows how, the illusion, like there cannot be how many, when and where are Gaudapadacharya referred to the days and nights for the Sun. your leelas with your Yogamaya in himself as “shreeparamahamsa- With true knowledge, arises the the wide world? This world is not parivraajakaachaarya shreemad- awareness of the pure real and is like a dream, devoid of shukamuneendrashisyah : the transcedental soul. How ignorant is awareness and full of miseries, yet disciple of Shuka-muni, the highest the foolish person, who thinks of it appears as real, while the full of the ascetics”. This may be difficult you the original soul to be a consciousness, eternity and to understand, as to how Shri separate to be looked for in the happiness is in you. You are the Shuka-muni, who lived some five outside world. The seeker of inner without a second, without thousand years ago in the truth, the man of discrimination, is beginning or end, the original, Mahabharata times, could have indeed looking for you within the eternal, imperishable, pure bliss been the guru of Shri body, O the unlimited one, without and indescribable or beyond Gaudapadacharya. In India, there negating the unreal snake how can attributes (nirguna) . You are has been the tradition from the one see the rope, which is so close described as soul of all souls, and ancient times, where spiritually to him”. only those who receive the hidden advanced disciples could establish perfect knowledge from an communication with gurus, who His teachings, disciples and enlightened spiritual guru easily lived before his or her times. Sant institutions crosses over this untrue worldly Ramdas had Lord existence. There are those who, Shri Gaudapadacharya taught that because of living the materialistic the ultimate reality is the pure Copyright © 2017 Konkani Association of California (KAOCA) All rights reserved

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 7

consciousness, without any Paramarthika alone is the truth and Shankara. After establishing the attributes. The appearance of the the Vyavaharika is only the four maths, individual Jeeva as separate from appearance. Adi Shankara is said to have retired the Brahman is due to Avidya to the Mokshapuri Kanchipuram, caused by Maya. When one realizes Shri Gaudapadacharya was the where he had a new disciple, and the falsity of this appearance, one guru of Shri Govinda asked Shri Sureshvaracharya to look gets liberated. According to his Bhagavadpada, who in turn was the after this young disciple. Thus the doctrine of the Ajativada or Non- guru of Shri Vivaranananda and Shri fifth math (the Kanchi Kamakoti creation, what is not there in the Shankaracharya. Shri math in Kanchipuram) came to be beginning nor in the end, is also Gaupadacharya established the formed and this math traces its same like that. (in the middle) Kavle (Kavale) math (now known as guru-parampara from Adi Though unreal the objects appear Shree Saunsthan Gaudapadacharya Shankara, followed by Shri like real. This is the Ajativada verse Kavle Math) in Goa. After the Sureshwaracharya and so on. Later 2.6 in the Mandukyakarika and this samadhi of Govinda Bhagavadpada, on, Shri Prithvidharacharya of the also appears as verse 2.19 in the Shri Vivaranananda succeeded as Kudali-Shringeri math wished to Original Bhagavad Gita of 745 the pontiff of the Kavle math. The retire to the Mokshapuri verses. Some of his writings are Kavle math has a long guru Kanchipuram and was accordingly similar to Lord Buddha's highest paramapara and Shri Sivananda relieved by Shri Sureshvaracharya. teachings in Mahayana as seen in Saraswati Swamiji has been the 77th Thus the name of Shri Nagarjuna's pontiff of the math since the year Sureshvaracharya has been linked Mulamadhyamakarikas, He as well 1994. to several of the Shankara-maths. as his grand-disciple All the Pontiffs of these Shankara Shankaracharya have been called On the other hand, Shri maths are called Shankaracharyas. the Pracchanna-Buddha (or the Shankaracharya (also called Adi concealed-Buddha) by Shankara) established four Maths. His date Jamunacharya. However, their These are as follows: The Dwaraka teaching was not exactly the same math, headed by his disciple Shri There is considerable debate about as what Lord Buddha taught. Some Vishwarupa, also known as Shri the date of Shri Gaudapadacharya. scholars are of the opinion that Shri Sureshvaracharya, the Jyotir math Chinese emperor Wu-Ti sent Gaudapadacharya and Adi Shankara in Badrikashrama, headed by his emissaries to India in the 2nd century taught exactly the same, however, disciple Shri Totakacharya, the BCE, for bringing Indian scholars to some like A.G. Krishna Warrier say Govardhana math in Puri, headed China for translating the Indian that while Shri Gaudapadacharya by his disciple Shri religious and philosophical texts. affirms only the immutable Padmapadacharya and the Kudali- Shri Gaudapadacharya's bhashya on absolute, rejecting all else as Shringeri math near Shimoga on the the Sankshyakarika along with the illusory, Adi Shankara on the other bank of the river Tungabhadra, Matharavritti on the Sankhyakarika hand, shows three degrees of headed by his disciple Shri were also among these translations Vyavaharika appearance of reality, Prithvidharacharya (who is also and that shows that Shri such as the illusory, the empirical called Shri Hastamalaka). There is Gaudapadacharya should have been and transphenomenal. Some also the Shringeri math in Shringeri born before the 2nd century BCE. consider these differences as not on the bank of the river Tunga, important because the which too traces its origin to Adi

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 8

The better way for finding the date Secretary to the of Shri Gaudapadacharya appears to Head of be from the date of his grand Sringeri Math, disciple Adi Shankara. Five of the Sarada Shankara mathas claim the date of Peetham, on Adi Shankara, to be 509 BCE. With the present the help of modern Astronomical view held software, Prof. Narahari Achar of by that the Memphis University in USA, Math confirmed that 509 BCE is indeed about the the year of birth of Adi Shankara. date of Sri There are some historical evidences too and one such evidence is that Sankaracharya : Adi Shankara visited Nepal during “Nowhere have the Sringeri the reign of the Lichchavi king Math authorities themselves given Vrishadeva, who ruled Eastern the B.C. or A.D. Period. The record However, Nepal in the early 5th century BCE, of the Sringeri Math says that Rajatarangini tells us about another and Vrishadeva's son was named as Sankara was born in the 14th year Vikramaditya who was living in the Shankaradeva, in memory of Adi of the reign of Vikramaditya.” 6th -5th century BCE and he fits in Shankara's visit to that country. with Shri Harsha Vikramaditya, who Further to this, the dates when Adi However the math has been unable was the son of Shri Govinda Shankara established the five of the to identify the Vikramaditya, in Bhagavadpada (who, according to Shankara maths, are known from whose 14th year of reign the records of the Kanchi Kamakoti the math records, including the Shankaracharya was born. The math, passed away on 17th October, Guruparamparas. The Dwarka period of 788 -820 A.D.(C.E.) 494 BCE). Shri Govinda math, the Jyotir Math, the assigned to Adi Shankara by that Bhagavadpada, was known in his Govardhana math, the Kudali- math is at best a tentative one, as Purvashrama as Shri Chandra Shringeri math, and the Kanchi there was no Vikramaditya, whose Sharma. Shri Harsha Vikramaditya, Kamakoti math were established in reign started in 788 - 13 = 775 A.D. who reigned in the 6th -5th century the years 490 BCE, 485 BCE, 484 (C.E.). In the beginning of the 20th BCE, is different from Shri BCE, 483 BCE and 481 BCE century the math took the Harshavardhana Shiladitya who respectively. All these maths have Vikramaditya to be the one after reigned in the 7th century A.D.(C.E.). the guru parampara from the time whom, the Vikrama Samvat of 57 Alberuni, in Alberuni's India, tells us of establishment of the math to this BCE was started and accordingly that there were two Vikrama day except the Jyotir math, which claimed that the year of birth of Adi Samvats, the first one of these has a discontinuous history. Shankara was 44 BCE. When this started in 457 BCE and the other date was claimed, a big gap of started from 57 BCE. The first As regards the Shringeri (Tunga) about 800 years was shown in the Vikrama-Samvat was obviously math, Swami Tapasyananda writes Guruparampara till 834 A.D. (C.E.) started at the end of the reign of Sri in a footnote in page XVIII of his when Shri Nityabodaghana became Harsha Vikramaditya, who was the book “Sankara Digvijaya” as follows: the pontiff and there were 33 son of Shri Chandra Sharma and this pontiffs between Sri shows that Adi Shankara indeed was “After the publication of the first Nityabodaghana and the present born towards the end of the 6th edition of the book, the following Pontiff Shri Bharati Tirtha, who century BCE. This also shows that letter was received from the Private became the pontiff in 1989. Shri Gaudapadacharya lived in the

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 9

6th century BCE. If we consider this His other works are : (1) Shri Harsha Vikramaditya of the 6th Gaudapadabhashya of the century BCE and this matches the Sankhyakarika, (2) 6th century date of Adi Shankara, as Gaudapadabhashya of the Uttara seen from the Guru parampara of Gita, (3) Subhagodayastuti, (4) the other Shankara maths. Shrividyaranya Sutra, (5) Durgasaptashati, (6) work on As regards the other Shankara Anugita and (7) maths, the Dwarka math, the Nrsimhottaratapaniyopanishad. Govardhana math, the Kudali- Shringeri math and the Kanchi - - - - o - - - - Kamakoti math are presently having the 77th , 145th , 69th and 69th * The author Sunil Kumar pontiff respectively. All these math- Bhattacharjya, is a retired scientist. records support the fact that Adi After the passing away of his wife, Shankara was born in 509 BCE. late Dr. Sunita (nee Golikeri) he has From the above discussions we find been living in the Silicon Valley, with that Adi Shankara's Paramguru, Shri his children. After his Masters degree, Gaudapadacharya was living in the he joined the BARC (Bhabha Atomic 6th century BCE. Research Centre) Training School in Mumbai and then joined there as a No discussion on Shri scientist. Later on he moved to Gaudapadacharya is complete Industry. In his professional career, he without mention of his great produced 32 papers in the field of philosophical and literary science and Technology and has 8 contributions. patents to his credit. After his retirement, he pursued his interest in His contributions in Philosophical Indian Philosophy and Ancient Indian literature history. In 2014, he published the book “The Original Bhagavad Gita, Lord Ram says in the with 745 Verses, including all the Rare Muktikopanishad that if one reads Verses”, with translation and only one Upanishad then that commentary. The 2nd edition of the should be the Mandukya upanishad. book is due to appear. This shows the great importance of the Mandukya Upanishad. Shri Gaudapadacharya had written the Gaudapadakarika on the Mandukya Upanishad. Anandagiri in his commentary on the Gaudapada- karika-bhashya writes that Shri Gaudapadacharya did penance at Badrikashrama and Lord Narayana revealed to him the Karikas on the on the Manduktopanishad.

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 10

While painting the Australian God as I explore and admire his Painting – My Hobby parrot, I was stunned by the bright creation - Nature, through my art. In color combination on the plumes, that way, I am blessed to learn feathers and its beak. How perfectly watercolor painting. By Subadra Perumal it helps them camouflage in the environment of dense foliage!

Only their shrill voice Birds are the wonderful and colorful gives away their presence. I creations of Nature. They are very tried to bring out its beauty in fascinating and inspiring. my painting. Particularly interesting are parrots

which come in variety of sizes and Water color is a versatile hues. When I paint these colorful medium to express the birds, I am overwhelmed with a moods and views of an sense of awe and the greatness of artist. I selected this God. medium to explore the Pictures of parrots in a wide range of colors. I newspaper drew my attention and I love the way they blend tried to bring out their beauty and dry quickly. through

When I was young, life was busy with doing the household chores and raising family. I would manage to pursue embroidery and reading - - - - o - - - - as my hobby. With age, my eye sight is not as * Subadra Perumal, B.Sc. lives in sharp as before and I Cupertino with her daughter, son-in- took to painting. law and grandkids. She is an avid After retirement, the watercolor painter and active once elusive time is member of the Cupertino Senior now on your side. Center. Hobbies help me spend time fruitfully and satisfyingly. There is no time to brood or blame anyone. watercolor

painting. Each painting moment is joyful and

pleasant. I can communicate with

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 11

IT sector is where there is an invite leaders across the industry, unspoken expectation to put in long through the speaker series, to share Women in Technology hours and 9-5 work hours seem to their inspirational life journey. We be non-existent. In the era of digital give fair opportunity to women in By Abirami Kamath* connectedness, as a conscious the hiring and promotion process. choice, women at workforce Working in IT sector especially for seem to opt out of staying almost two decades, I notice competitive over something remarkably consistent. It commitments to take care is the fact that the number of of family. Hence number of women in Engineering and women moving up the Technology roles are pretty low. corporate ladder starts Nothing has changed significantly dropping. since my days in Engineering college when women made less Diversity at workforce than 5% of the class and the fact can be promoted in that there were practically no two ways, faculty represented by this gender. a) creating a It is therefore a no brainer that healthy pipeline of women are not significantly talent, represented in Technology roles in b) promoting a the corporate world. healthy work environment that retains Take a look at the chart below talent and improves diversity. Every small . I am an active member of the step we take now in Women in Technology forum empowering women helps in at my workplace. creating a fair and just world for our We hold several activities daughters in life and at work. to promote diversity and inclusion at work. - - - - o - - - -

We conduct outreach * Abirami Kamath works in eBay as programs like Girls Who Chief of Staff, Critical Infrastructure Code, Girls in Tech, Engineering. She has an undergrad coding camps for degree in Petrochemical Technology middle schoolers, to and a Masters in Chemical promote coding among girls. Engineering from Indian Institute of We provide mentorship, where Science in Bangalore. In her spare The gender gap seems to young girls can have role models time, she loves to cook and paint. She have been bridged in Science and who shape a positive perception of lives in Cupertino with her husband Medicine however sadly the gap Women in Tech. Ramesh and two daughters, Nivya seems to be widening in Computer We also have “Lean-In” circles for and Tanvi. Science. women at work, promote policies to foster healthy work life balance. We

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 12

What Happened When I i Quit my Job to Travel By Vandana Pai*

Many people dream about traveling the world. I was one of them. After diligently saving up, in November 2015, I quit a great job, filled up a 45-liter backpack, and boarded a one-way flight to Asia to embark on a 7-month solo journey. I traveled through 11 countries: India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. Needless to say, it was an adventure of a lifetime, a and doubt (“This is bad for your house. I had no idea what would tremendous learning experience, career.” “Will you be able to get a happen. I had no plan. The and one of the best decisions I have job when you return?”). uncertainty of the future made me ever made. almost change my mind, but deep I had no idea what I was getting down I knew to embrace that fear When I initially told people about myself into. I surprised others, and and just go. I wanted to prove to my intention to quit my job and even more so, myself— I hated myself that I could do it. travel, I was met with one of two being alone. I had never traveled reactions: awe and envy (“I’m so anywhere on my own long-term and After two weeks in India with family, jealous of you!” “I wish I had the had never even lived more than an I boarded a flight to Kathmandu, the guts to do it.” “You’re so brave.”); hour’s drive from my parent’s capital of Nepal. Of course I was nervous— but my excitement and curiosity far outweighed that. Within a week I took one of the most dangerous flights in the world to walk through the Himalayas with a 20kg backpack on my back trekking for 13 days to the base of Mt. Everest in the beginning of a wintery December. I was taken in and fed home-cooked meals by the local people and made friends from all over the world. I spent 4 days in the mountain region of Sa Pa, Vietnam living in a remote village. I lived almost entirely on street food, encountering the most delicious food I’ve ever had. I watched Copyright © 2017 Konkani Association of California (KAOCA) All rights reserved

PANCHADIK | 2017 Spring Issue 13

countless sunrises, from hot air It’s difficult to put into words what fastest it had ever been in my entire balloons rising above the ancient this journey meant to me and how it life. temples in Bagan, Myanmar, and changed me. My most prized monks walking across Angkor Wat, possessions were my passport, Many people have told me they to midnight treks up volcanoes with journal, and SD card— in essence, wished they had traveled at my age. blue fire in Indonesia. I camped on They live with that regret. Even my the most pristine beaches and dove peers wish they could do what I did, through WWII and to that I say— you can, just let shipwrecks in go of the excuses. It does not the have to be expensive (one month Philippines. I in Vietnam cost me $900 total lived on a for everything, and overall my boat near the trip was under $10k). It’s not eastern unsafe. You will get hired when Indonesian you get back. Your career will islands for not be over. You don’t need a almost a week, man to travel as a woman. scuba diving all You don’t have to follow day to swim with society’s expectations to live huge manta rays, my your life a certain way. You turtles, and whale memories. They document my will figure it out. Society and our sharks. growth to complete self-reliance communities drill into us that there and independence, overcoming the is a ‘right’ way of doing things, but There was no itinerary. I never fear of being alone and enjoying it, the reality is everyone’s journey is bothered booking things more than and the ability to live with less. No, different. Perhaps the right thing to two days in advance. If I liked a it wasn’t always easy or a vacation, do is to accept that your path place, I stayed, and if I didn’t, it was despite what the scenic photos I involves leaving it for a while, or time to move on. I would posted on social media made it that you must go in a completely spontaneously decide to join a seem like. I occasionally felt lonely different direction. My journey off group of people I had just met on a and homesick. The 30-hour car rides the path only made me, my road trip to another city (or across borders and cockroaches in personal life, and my career a country). I would arrive in a town the uncomfortable hostel bed were thousand times better. overnight where no one spoke not glamorous. I wore the same - - - - o - - - - English to find lodging in a random things everyday out of a bag. I was a hostel. Everywhere I went, people budget backpacker sometimes * Vandana Pai is a product designer were shocked and concerned for spending no more than $5 a day. It me, as if it was sad to be a woman at Box and a UC Berkeley graduate. only helped to build character. I look She loves to travel, explore the alone. I was reminded by the doubt back and can trace my growing at home, the constant “it’s not safe outdoors and connect with people. confidence, flexibility, curiosity, to travel alone as a woman,” I heard fearlessness, patience and courage. over and over again. This I learned so much about the world empowered me. I used my common and myself, more than I ever had sense and intuition. I pushed myself even in four years of college. My far out of my comfort zone every personal growth rate was the single day. I did things I never thought I could do. Copyright © 2017 Konkani Association of California (KAOCA) All rights reserved

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Youth Section awareness, Growing Up Asian in highlighting America - Letter to the the various cultures of Senator Asia as well as the many By Mihika Gokarn* religions there like As an Indian-American who Sikhism, grew up in the Silicon Valley Buddhism, surrounded by regionally similar Hinduism, ethnicities, it was hard to imagine and Islam myself as a “minority” until I moved among many to a city where a majority of the others, that population is Caucasian, which is often get where I really started to notice racial misrepresent differences. ed in the After the recent racially- mainstream motivated shooting of two men of media. Indian descent in a Kansas bar, it I also would be foolish to not try and propose address the lack of gun control in working with the United States. As of late, the leaders of United States has one of the highest cultural rates of gun violence in the world. I groups to wondered whether my family could parts of my life. I didn’t anticipate help that this may also include jobs and be next, should we decide to leave make textbooks more accurate with California’s liberal bubble. This promotions, no matter my own their representation of non- merit. The New York Times event also highlights the racial European cultures. Last year, my tensions and misrepresentation of discovered that the same résumé history textbook emphasized the with more ethnic sounding names various brown peoples as well as the outdated and offensive caste Muslim community, of which many were getting less callbacks than system as the main takeaway from ones with more Anglicized names. I Asian-Americans are a part of as the ancient Indian cultures. It never well. President Trump’s quick reflex propose that, at least in the résumé talked about the positive, more stage, that the names be replaced to talk about imaginary incidents long-lasting legacies like the like what happened in Sweden, as with identification numbers, in number zero, Arabic numerals, order to reduce racial bias from the well as his lack of a response to the Ayurveda (complementary Kansas bar attack and Quebec hiring process. medicine), and yoga. This reform If I were to talk to the mosque shooting by a white could help to lessen many of the nationalist is, quite frankly, senator, I would ask her to put forth biases seen against people of Asian a bipartisan plan forward in order to alarming. Similar to Black History descent. Month, I believe that Asian- help make these changes. The I learned early on that my uniting factor is that this is simply Americans should have a period of race may interfere with arbitrary Copyright © 2017 Konkani Association of California (KAOCA) All rights reserved

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not only an issue of race but also of humanity. The lack of government response to racially motivated attacks on people, as well as statements made by Steve Bannon insinuating that too many Asian CEO’s in the Silicon Valley won’t allow a “civic” society is not okay at any level, much less the federal. Overall, the changes I’m suggesting would not only help out Asian-Americans but other Congratulations Graduates! minorities as well, and these issues should be addressed immediately.

- - - - o - - - - Medha Acharya, daughter of Ram Shruthi Kamath, daughter of and Aruna Acharya of Fremont, CA Murlidhar and Leelavathi Kamath * Mihika Gokarn is a sophomore at will be graduating from Irvington HS will be graduating from Adrian the California High School in San and will be attending Georgia Wilcox HS and will attend San Jose Ramon, CA. Her interests include Institute of Technology in Atlanta State University in the fall. reading, world politics, music and this upcoming fall, majoring in quiz shows (Jeopardy). She actively Biomedical Engineering. Medha is Shreya Kulkarni, daughter of participates in Model UN (MUN) at an avid singer, dancer, debater and Parimal and Jaya Kulkarni will be various contests in the Bay Area. She athlete and she has performed at graduating from Cupertino HS and has a twin brother (Tejas) and a many KAOCA events in the past. pursuing undergraduate studies in younger brother (Aalok). Her essay Over the last two years, she raised Biology at UC Davis. Her activities published here won an award in a over $54,000 for the Konkani during high school were Red Cross, contest conducted by the Asian Charitable Fund through “Arpana”, Psychology Club and NHS. Pacific Fund. her fundraiser Bharatnatyam dance show. Medha plans to pursue drug The Pai twins, Ashutosh Pai and FAST FACTS development and to move back to Aishwarya Pai, children of Rajesh the Bay Area after her studies are and Tanuja Pai will be graduating over. from Cupertino HS and embarking FAST FACTS FAST FACTS onto new horizons. Besides being Maya Kalbag, daughter of Anil and passionate in music and having FAST FACTS Seema Kalbag will be graduating played the piano for over ten years, from Leland HS this summer and is both were fortunate to be accepted headed to UCLA to pursue her into the College Now program that undergraduate studies in Molecular allowed them to take all their senior Cell Development Biology. She is a year courses at De Anza College. National Merit Scholar and has a This fall, Ashutosh will be joining passion for arts and crafts. She loves Marshall School of Business at the to handcraft personalized greeting University of Southern California to cards and has been volunteering at major in Business Administration the Senior Care Center. with a minor in music. Aishwarya

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will be pursuing a BS/MS degree at Santa Clara University with a major in Computer Science and Engineering and a minor in Business Administration.

Krithi Pai, daughter of Eknatha and Shanthi Pai will be graduating from Dougherty Valley HS, San Ramon. She will be joining University of California with plans to major in clinical psychology. She has been learning Bharatnatyam since the age of 5 and recently completed her Arangetram. In addition to dance, she pays the piano and has been an active member of the Hindu Swayam Seva Sangh (HSS). Here she helps organize activities and leads community service events. At her HS, she was an active member of the California Scholarship Federation and the National Honor Society. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, painting, baking and spending time with her family.

Sachi Shirali, daughter of Kedar and Kshama Shirali will be graduating from Homestead HS, Cupertino and going to UC Santa Barbara to pursue undergraduate studies in Global Studies and Economics. She is a Kathak dancer and also actively participated in the activities of the Animal Welfare Society in high school.