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www.pragathi.net The Desi Newsletter @ Drexel University December 2004 India Buzz November 12 2004: Kanchi Seer Manager of Varadharaja Perumal Temple universities in the country with mas- Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati at Kancheepuram. The seer has been re- ters or doctorate degrees, from the was arrested as the prime accused in manded to judicial custody till November annual cap on 65,000 H-1B visas the murder of an official of a Kan- 26 by First Class Judicial Magistrate G Ut- given to foreigners seeking work in chipuram temple. The 70-year-old tamaraj . The murder issue has become a America. The move would benefit senior pontiff of the Kanchi Matth, political controversy with the main opposi- several thousand students, includ- whom the opposition parties in Tamil tion party DMK announcing an agitation ing from India, who failed to figure Nadu accused of having considerable while accusing the state government of on the list of 65,000 H-1B visas is- clout over the AIADMK, was arrested inaction despite information about the sued this year. However, the in- at in Mehboobnagar in Andhra persons involved in the murder. crease is only for foreign nationals Pradesh by a special team from who have received masters or doc- Tamil Nadu armed with an arrest November 22 2004: The US has toral degrees from American univer- warrant. The murder took place on passed the Omnibus Spending Bill increas- sities. The reforms bill exempts up September 3, 2004. Police suspect ing the H1-B visa limit for Indian nationals to 20,000 Masters and PhD gradu- that he has "played a significant" from 65,000 to 85,000. This bill exempts ates of US universities from the an- role in the murder of Sankararaman, 20,000 foreign students, who pass out of nual 65,000 H-1B cap. Special Thanks We would like to thank Dr. T.S. Venkataraman, Professor, Dept. of Physics and Material Sciences and Dr. Som Tyagi, Professor, Dept. of Physics for their support in launching this newsletter. Inside this issue On Modulation Information and Virtue Sharat Chikkerur, Alumni Nasha 2 For those of you who touch it. Noise is annoying. The Interference comes in the Diwali 3 the radio occasionally, you conduct of a gentleman is form of dependence, from would have noticed the conditioned or modulated our ego, from inappropri- Plasma Technology 4 hissing sound in between as compared to the lack of ate inclinations, lethargy, stations. This is due to ran- etiquette visible in a tramp. and indifference - in short dom noise signals. Noise from vices. Conditioning Thanksgiving 6 carries no information and There is one basic trait of requires virtue. What dif- no intelligence. It requires conditioning. Conditioning ferentiates a common man requires sustained effort Event Galleria 7 no effort on part of the from a productive one is radio receiver to pick up and discipline. It requires his virtue which implies effort not only to modulate Digital Gandhi 8 the noise signal. But it conditioning of his mind. does require considerable our behavior; it also re- quires enormous effort to (contd. On Page 6) Drexel Jhalak 10 effort on part of the engi- neer to eliminate or reduce avoid interference. PAGE 2 THE DREXEL DESI WWW.PRAGATHI.NET Pragathi Events Horoscope Sagittarius You’ll be flooded with invitations and November 23 - December 22// YEAR Past Events in November: propositions come April, so your spir- AHEAD OUTLOOK for 2005 Fire + Mu- its will soar. It may be frivolous but it Nov. 6th 2004: -’Pragathi/CRY/ table sign. Enthusiastic, optimistic, will be fun for several months. From Jhoom’ , Charity Show. adaptable, restless. Very talkative, September onwards you’ll be en- frankly outspoken. Thinks and reads a chanted by the new friends you meet Nov. 13th 2004: - ‘Diwali Beats great deal, an armchair philosopher. so your social life will buck up even 2004’ (in association with Rangoli– The Energetic, loves to travel. Your star more. Almost any project you touch Indian Graduate student association at will be in the ascendant. Though it will work out better and more easily University of Pennsylvania). won’t be a perfect year, you’ll still feel than you imagine. So don’t hold you’ve reached a pinnacle with praise Upcoming Events in December: back. The Taurus Solar Eclipse in and respect coming your way for your effect for the months after April will Ice Skating— Date and Venue to be achievements. You’ll be restless about keep you hard at it, with longer hours announced emotional matters, considering mov- and additional chores. Come April, ing home or in a constantly changing you’ll know you need to get fitter, Look out for more updates on domestic situation. The old moments www.pragathi.net more streamlined and back onto top of intimacy, of sharing and caring at a form. Responsibilities will drain your (If your organization would like to col- deep level, won’t seem to be there. energy so you need to be sensible laborate with Pragathi for joint events But they will return. And don’t feel you about where your limits are, and find contact: [email protected]) have to be the one doing the constant out what really will re-vitalize you. giving. Demand support in return. Donation Invitation URBAN & BYE REALTOR Dear Reader, Check out our apartments for rent & properties for sale throughout Drexel neighborhoods. Pragathi has been growing in leaps and bounds, and so have its activities. With our great crew, we hope to keep Website/ URL: www.urbanbye.com things running smoothly. However, we are working with Email Address: [email protected] a small budget and need your support to put on a big- ger and better show. We would highly appreciate dona- Telephone No.: 215-222-4800 tion of any amount. To contribute please contact Postal Address: 36th & Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia ([email protected]). NASHA Coming soon, Pragathi’s First ever Annual Cultural show ‘Nasha’. This is Pragathi’s biggest event and it is a color- ful celebration of diversity in India showcased through dances and music from all over India and the world. Pra- gathi hopes to make this event a great success. Looking forward to an enthusiastic response. For more informa- tion please contact Shubham([email protected]) or Bhakti ([email protected]). Visit www.pragathi.net/nasha/intro WWW.PRAGATHI.NET THE DREXEL DESI PAGE 3 Diwali– The Festival of Lights Shubham Bhat, PhD Student, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Diwali is the main Hindu festival cele- of the Diwali festival. purpose of each day in the festival. brated on the fifteenth day of the The goal is to remember these wise month of Kartika. Diwali is derived In a few places, the festival begins sayings throughout the year. from “Deepavali“ which literally with Dhanteras, a day set aside to means "rows of lighted lamps" and worship goddess Lakshmi. In Indian The fourth day of Diwali falls on the hence is often referred to as the Fes- culture, wealth is not viewed as a cor- first day of the new lunar year. On this tival of Lights. During this time, ruptive power. Instead, a wealthy per- day, old business accounts are settled homes are thoroughly cleaned and son is considered to have been re- and new books are opened. The books doors and windows are opened to warded for good deeds of a past life. are worshipped in a special ceremony and participants are encouraged to rise welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of On the second day Kali, the goddess of wealth. Candles and oil-lamps are lit above anger, hatred, and jealousy. On Strength, is worshipped. This day also the final day (Balipratipada) king Bali, to greet goddess Lakshmi. Gifts are signifies abolishing laziness and evil. exchanged and feasts meals are pre- who destroyed the centuries old phi- pared for the family and friends. The On the third day (the last day of the losophies is recalled. However, in addi- celebration means as much to Hindus year in the lunar calendar), lamps are tion to this, he is remembered for be- as Christmas does to Christians. Be- lit and made to shine brightly in every ing a generous person. Thus, the focus cause there are many regions in In- home. The lamps symbolize knowledge of this day is to see the good in others, dia, there are so many manifestations and encourage us to reflect upon the including enemies. It’s the time to Disco Hemang Shah, PhD Student, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering “We Indians must be the worst danc- the rest is the variety of dancers you takes your breath away. Either you are ers in the whole world”- Nagesh Kuko- can identify. I have tried to compile a likely to get punched in the face or noor’s character in Hyderabad Blues 2. list which by no means is complete. stomped by their “bold” movements. This statement was not made at a No wonder, they are usually stags and concert but at a party where pure The Raghu-romeos: These charac- love to invite the dance-watchers in “desi” music was played. I agree with ters love to dance, are generally good their perspiration-filled company. him partially knowing that I am one of dancers and think the best way to the poor dancers myself. The partiality impress a girl is to show off their Gujju/Punju: Apparently to Gujratis comes into play because of the fact moves. The end result: either the girl and Punjabis, Garba and Bhangra are that there are some really good danc- moves with them or far away from the universal dance steps.

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