ISW President's Message
Years of planning and hard work are culminating in the launch of the new ISW India Center. The past weekend some of the donors and supporters got a preview of the almost ready site. Thanks to all the supporters who made this possible. If you haven't yet pledged, please join the select group of India Center's inaugural donors at: iswonline.org/donate
The ISW calendar is filling up fast even as we wait for formal opening of the center. As you can see in our newsletter and on the website, we have many exciting events planned for you. We look forward to hearing from you about how we can make this new center a community asset. Please feel free to reach out to me at president@iswonline.org
Puneet Kohli, President, India Society of Worcester
|
|
|
An Ode to the ISW India Center
by Neeta & Sandeep Shah
Visiting the ISW India Center at the soft opening, longtime supporters of ISW Neeta and Sandeep Shah memorialized the event with a poem they wrote.
क्या बात बने, जो हम सब मिल जाए
लहरें रुके और पत्थर हिल जाए
कुछ साल पहले जो था एक छोटा सा ख़याल
… आज सबके पसीने से बन गया बेमिसाल
Kya baat bane, jo hum sab mil jaye
lehare ruke aur patthar heel jaye
kuchh saal pehale jo tha ek chhota sa khayal
... aaj sabke paseene se ban gaya bemisal
हमने भी देखा था एक छोटा सा सपना
यहाँ वुस्टर में बन जाए एक घर अपना
जहाँ हो हर हफ़्ते दिवाली हर इतवार को रंगोली
आके सब पंजाबी, सिंधी, गुजराती, मराठी, द्रविडी ... मिलके खेले होली
|
|
Hum ne bhi dekha tha ek chhota sa sapana
yahan Worcester mein ban jaye ek ghar apna
Jahaan ho har hafte Diwali, har itwar ko Rangoli
Aake sab punjabi, sindhi, gujarati, marathi, dravidi ... milke khele holi
बच्चे आके सीखे बुज़ुर्गों से रामायण और महाभारत
और सीता, मीरा, झाँसी जैसी भारत की महान औरत
यहाँ अमेरिका के हम रहेंगे भारतीय BROTHER और SI-स्टर
जय हो जय हो जय हो INDIA सॉसायटी ओफ़ वुस्टर
Bacche aake sikhe bujourgon se Ramayan aur Mahabharat
Aur Sita, Meera, Jhansi jaisi Bharat ki Mahan Aurat
Yahan America ke hum ranhenge Bharatiya Bother aur Sister
Jay ho Jay ho Jay ho India Society of Worcester
Thank you Neeta and Sandeep for your support!
|
|
UPCOMING ISW EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES |
|
College Application Process: Let's talk! Keeping the lines of communications open
March 20, 2021, 3:30 pm
Led by Shubh Agrawal, School Counselor, Worcester Academy and IYG Advisor and the Chauhan Family, we will delve into how to keep sane and maintain family relationships on an even keel during the college application process, with emphasis on students in high school. Details on the website.
Mayank Jaiswal & Poonam Hingorany
|
|
|
ISW Maha Shivratri
March 20, 2021 6 pm to 7.30 pm
Prayers will be followed by performance and bhajans. Any questions contact nishabawa60@gmail.com Chair, ISW Religious Committee.
Thanks to Sastry Polya, Ganesh Krishnan & Rama Nouduri
|
|
ISW Student Awards Program
Deadline April 15, 2021
India Society of Worcester is inviting and accepting applications for the annual ISW Student Awards for 2021. If you know any high school students that might be eligible, please let them, or their parents, know about these awards and encourage them to apply. Applications open March 1st and are due by April 15, 2021. Details are on the ISW Student Awards page.
Awards Chair: Rashi Khanna
|
|
ISW Art Competition
Saturday April 24, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Application Deadline April 13, 2021
A unique virtual art competition - compete live, in person online! Open to artists of all ages. You will be placed in an age appropriate category. Applications close April 13th! Entry fee: $10. Click here to register. Hurry before registration closes.
Competition Planning Team: Shivangi Dasgupta, Anupama Debroy, Shiamin Melville, Sarita Deshpande
|
|
ISW Antakshari 2021 – Sure'ely fun for Everyone!
Finals – Sun, May 22
Times have not been normal, but coming together, singing a few songs, and showing off your Bollywood musical knowledge in a fun, competitive environment will surely help. As most of you know, we have done Antakshari in-person AND we have done Antakshari virtually. This year, we aim to do a hybrid (dependent on state COVID regulations). Prelims will be held virtually, via Zoom. And 2 weeks later, we aim to do Finals in-person at India Center in Shrewsbury. For more info and to Register click here.
Key Dates are: Registration deadline – Wed, May 5. Prelims – Sat, May 8 and Sun, May 9 Finals - Sun, May 22
Amita Rao, Cultural Chair
|
|
Unpacking Stigma and Breaking Barriers: Mental Health in the South Asian Community
by Tharegha Manoharan, ISW Youth Reporter
On March 6th, Mrs. Usha Verma, Mr. Sathvik Sethi, Dr. Kamolika Roy, and Dr. Uma Chandrika Millner, mental health professionals and community advocates, joined Ms. Shubh Agrawal and Ms. Achint Singh in a conversation about mental health in South Asian communities.
In many South Asian families, there is a common preconception that mental health is “not a problem.” Communities place significant importance on societal opinions and undue emphasis on societal acceptance. The pressure to succeed is also much higher among the South Asian community and youngsters feel stressed about living up to those high standards. The discussion centered around how as a community, we could normalize situations and conversations around mental health. Read the rest of the summary on the website.
|
|
ISW CULTURAL & LANGUAGE SCHOOL NEWS |
|
|
|
ISW School celebrated Saraswati Puja
We are fortunate to have Sarita Deshpande, ISW Music Teacher welcome the students. The session began with a rendition of 'Hey Ram' followed by 'Sharde Sharde', with several of the school students participating. Anju Shukla explained the rituals of Saraswati Puja and it concluded with 'Ya Kundendu' sung by Soumya Warty, View the details on the ISW Website and on the YouTube video.
Ruchi Chauhan, Shiamin Melville
|
|
ISW Tutoring Match Program
Looking for Homework Help? The ISW Tutoring Match Program can help. If you are looking for help with your child’s online homework or course work in any school grade, please fill out the info at this link.
If you are a student in grade 9 to 12, who is interested in being a volunteer teacher,
Mansi Gera, Krishnaa Amin, Shubh Agrawal, Ruchi Chauhan & Shiamin Melville
|
|
Happy and Kind
By Tharegha Manoharan
Good mental health,
Is equal to having immense wealth,
Because the happier we are,
The more we can shine like a star.
Happiness is not measured
In the number of treasures,
But the simple, full, feeling of satisfaction,
After achieving a difficult action.
Mental health should be treated,
Just like physical, when it’s needed.
There should be no excuse
For anyone to recluse.
....
Inspired by the webinar on "Mental Health in the South Asian Community", Tharegha Manoharan penned this emotional poem. You can read the rest of the piece on on our website.
If your child is interested in showcasing a piece or writing for eSandesh, please have them email newsletter@iswonline.org with a sample writing piece, their areas of interest and their grade and school.
|
|
ISW COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS |
Is there life on Mars?
By Diya Sadhu, ISW Youth Reporter
Has life ever existed on Mars? That is the question asked by a host of scientists, particularly a team of them working on the Perseverance mission. This new initiative, established by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is meant to explore the possibility that there was, or still is, life on Mars. It is particularly fortunate that technology has advanced to the point where cosmic robotic exploration can help scientists test this thesis on Mars, the closest planet with a substantial chance of life.
The world watched as Perseverance completed its first drive on the surface of Mars on February 18, 2021 exploring the Martian landscape- more specifically Jezero Crater. What will it find and how will it do that? Click here to find out.
This is a first of hopefully many articles from our team of ISW Youth Reporters who have volunteered to write for ISW eSandesh Newsletter. If your child is interested, please have them email newsletter@iswonline.org with a sample writing piece, their areas of interest and their grade and school.
|
|
|
|
Contact Information
India Society of Worcester
Mailing Address: PO Box 136, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
|
|
Answering Machine: 508-842-9795
Website: www.iswonline.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
