Dr. Prakash Sharma and his group will continue to conduct Bal Vihar (Hindi classes) at the new Auburn University Student Center through the summer and beyond. Recently, the Bal Vihar celebrated the second anniversary of Hindi classes in Auburn with a parent-teacher conference. A picnic is planned for September.

Please contact Dr. Sharma for details.

Bal Vihar was the idea of current President of ICAEA, Mr. Sunel S. Merchant which supposedly will encompass wide variety of Kids related activities.  It has been noticed for past two decades that Indian kids, residing in USA, get very little exposure of Hindi and Indian culture. Dr. P.C. Sharma is committed to help and teach students who want his help. The following objectives of Hindi classes were set by the committee.
* Develop basic communication skills
* Learn speaking and instill Indian culture and values through stories and poems
* Writing and reading
* Develop interest and affinity for Hindi
                                     
We will definitely need more volunteers and teachers in the Fall of 2010, as we may hold more classes for beginners and advanced level students. 

Mr. Sunel Merchant of Philly Connection and past president, ICAEA, is a 9/11 survivor of the World Trade Center attack. For the fourth year in a row, Merchant has honored members of the Auburn Safety Department (including Fire Fighters and Police) and the armed forces (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines) by providing free food throughout the day. He has enlisted the support of his daughter Saloni, who will donate her hair as a “Good Deed” for the day in support of the Safety Department.

Philly Connection co-sponsored the 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive at Sam’s Club in conjunction with Lee County Red Cross. The business also sold their “5 inchers” for 99 cents, with the proceeds donated to the Volunteer Firefighter team.

The Annual Garba Dance program hosted by Ms. Niranjana Nayak will be held at the new AU Student Center Ballroom between 7 and 10 PM on September 20, 23, and 24. All are welcome, and encouraged to bring family and friends. Please contact Ms. Niranjana Nayak for more information at rajeshnayak@bellsouth.net. She can also be reached at (334) 821-4632.

Ms. Mousumi Bhandari of Columbus, GA, is interested in starting a dance school in Auburn for Kathak and Folk Dances. Check her website http://www.kala-anjali.com/video.htm to watch some of her dances. You will get a chance to meet her after her performance at our Diwali program on October 11.

Smt. Padmaja Kelam of Atlanta has agreed to conduct Bharatanatyam classes every Saturday, starting September 19 at 11:00 AM at the Auburn University Chapel, at the intersection of S. College Street and Thatch Avenue. To find out more about Ms. Kelam, please visit the Kalaivani Dance School at kalaivani.org. Please contact Jayashree Jagannathan at jayashree@rocketmail.com for details.

We have a date! A long-awaited Auburn event is happening finally! A new Indian restaurant, India Gardens, is scheduled to open in October. Check out its location on Opelika Road next to the U-Haul Center, and opposite the Raceway Gas Station close to K-Mart.

Roy, the chief chef who is originally from Goa, is an experienced cook and has worked at various Indian restaurants in West Virginia and Cayman Islands. His partner Inder owns many Indian restaurants in Virginia.

ICAEA, along with ISA, celebrated Indian Independence Day on August 15, at Auburn University. The Indian tri-color was hoisted by the chief guest Major Vittal Rao, a retired military official who is visiting Auburn (and the father of our vice president Ms.Vatsalya Rangari). It was a beautiful Saturday morning, which witnessed a few nationalistic tears when the Indian flag was hoisted. The flag hoisting was followed by the Indian national anthem. Soniya and Sunel Merchant distributed 'burfi' thoughtfully prepared in tricolor.
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Congratulations to the Indian Student Association for winning the regional cricket tournament at Mississippi State University. Learn more about this winning team through a video set to 'Jai Ho' at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9vkCeWryp0
ISA also recently held a great freshers' party to welcome more than 20 new Indian students to AU, and bid good bye to graduating students.

Thanks, Dr. Srikanta Rao! - ICAEA gratefully acknowledges his generous contribution of $250 to the association. Despite being retired and being away from Auburn, Dr. Rao must truly be commended for his kind gift to help nurture the activities that support the Indian community.

Thanks, Sunel! - Mr. Sunel Merchant, our former President, was in India recently and got a beautiful banner done for the association. We thank him for this thoughtful gesture.

We have a new Sikh temple in Opelika. The Gurduwara Singh Sabha is located at 10 Lee Road 189. Opelika, AL 36804 (Tel - 334-745-0796).

Directions to the Gurudwara: From Auburn, go north on Interstate 85, take Exit 62, take 280 heading towards Columbus. The Gurudwara is located 2 miles from the exit, behind an unmarked gas station. For more information, please contact Kawaljit Kaur - 334-559-3783 or Manjit Singh - 334-703-1632.

A Shabad Kirtan is held every Saturday between 10 AM and 12 noon, followed by Guruwani. Langan (lunch) will be served at noon. Every one is welcome. There is a special event this Saturday, June 20th, to commemorate the sixth Guru, Hargobind Singh.

U.S. News has listed Auburn in the top 10 best places to live in the country. The cities listed in alphabetical order are:

1. Albuquerque, N.M.
2. Auburn, Ala.
3. Austin, Texas
4. Boise, Idaho
5. Durham, N.C.
6. La Crosse, Wis.
7. Loveland, Colo.
8. San Luis Obispo, Calif.
9. St. Augustine, Fla.
10. Upper St. Clair, Pa.

You can read all about it at:

http://www.usnews.com/business/best-places/listing/alabama/auburn