It is International Women Month! We honor and salute all women who embody the mission of courage, confidence, and character, and who make the world a better place. Starting with this issue, we are introducing a new column titled "Women of Influence" featuring some of the prominent South Asian Women who are impacting the world around them. We thank Raj Melville for encouraging us to start this column. We inaugurate the column with Geeta Aiyer, Chief Strategist for investment products at Boston Common Asset Management. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Attorney Trupti Patel)

In 2005, as a member of the Suffolk faculty, Dr. Sushil Bhatia introduced a course on innovation and instituted a competition of ideas with a $5K prize. Now in 2013, the same award has increased to $100K and renamed in his honor as "The Dr. Sushil Bhatia Competition for Innovative Ideas". [more]

(This section is sponsored by Emerson Hospital)

Meeting Hasina Kharbhih, a native of Meghalaya known for her pioneering work in child trafficking and HIV/AIDS in Boston recently, one is struck immediately by her courage, determination and passion in what she does. Threats to her life, and challenges in child trafficking does not deter her determination to do good. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Monique Kornfeld, Esq.)

Esha Gupta is all set to do a item number in Imran, Kareena starrer 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein'. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Masala Art)

On the clear wintry evening of March 9, filmi music lovers reveled in a concert of music featuring the legendary father-son duo of S.D. and R.D. Burman. The sold-out performance in the elegant ambience of the National Heritage Museum in Lexington proved a worthy tribute to the musical genius of the Burmans, whose output in the latter 20th century is now firmly a part of the canon of Indian film music. [more]

(This section is sponsored by Kanan Sachdeva)

"Each year for the past five years, I have looked forward to the week-long leadership trip. During the week, we visit AIF projects and partners on the ground in India to witness first hand the impact we are having and to gain a better appreciation for the challenges and opportunities in front of us"- Venkat Srinivasan, AIF Board member and New England Trustee shares his reflections. [more]

A HBS graduate, Geeta is the founder of a sustainable investment firm with 2 billion dollars in asset. She serves on several boards on environmental, educational and social change. She is fluent in several languages, has completed a marathon and is the mother of two beautiful daughters. A little known fact - she lead the charge to "Gherao" the Vice Chancellor while she was a student at Delhi University!! [more]

Razia Mashkoor and her organizing team, along with a talented cast of 45, paid a befitting tribute to Madhubala by presenting a very engaging and entertaining show. They planned and delivered the event with so much love and care that apparently no details were left out, including memories from Madhubala’s on-and-off-screen life. [more]

A few families from the Boston area experienced a once in a lifetime event in New Jersey on February 23rd when the south Indian music legend Padmabhushan Dr. Ilayaraja, gave his first performance in the North American continent. [more]

Do not miss this fabulous South Asian a cappella show featuring performances from some of the best groups from around the country on March 23 at Morse Auditorium, BU. Sur Ek Veritaal from Yale University, Maize Mirchi from University of Michigan, Suno from Boston University and Raag from Rutgers University will be featured. [more]

Get ready to do the time warp - Bollywood style! On Saturday, April 6 at 5 pm, New England’s hottest live Bollywood band, Din Check, will be celebrating Hindi cinema with a grand show titled “5 Decades of Bollywood: a live musical journey”. Buy Tickets. [more]

The Valentine's Day Dance party is one of Child Rights and You (CRY) Boston's signature events. “Dance Your Heart Out” was the theme of this year’s party and dance they did! Guests danced to foot-tapping music for a great cause while enjoying their belated Valentine’s Day at the Mantra Lounge in downtown Boston. [more]

New England's premiere Bengali association, Bangla-O-Biswa, recently celebrated the Saraswati Puja at Saint Matthews Church, Acton MA, with its full religious fervor, merriment and simplicity. Even with the outpour of intermittent snow showers did not dampen the true spirits of Bangla-O-Biswa members and patrons to assemble together and celebrate the festivity. [more]

WRise, a women-led group to engage the broader community through reflection and action around gender issues, held its inaugural event in the Right to Be Series at MIT on March 3rd. [more]

On March 5th, the Merrimack Valley Sandbox held its Accelerator Awards Celebration in Lawrence. This concluded the Winter Accelerator, a 12-week program that has helped thirteen early-stage entrepreneurs move their businesses forward. During the event, the Sandbox awarded a $25,000 prize pool to its top entrepreneurs. [more]

Celebrate Holi at Best Western in Framingham, MA with Live Music and Dhol, and Special Super Buffet catered by Chinese Mirch on March 23rd. Buy Tickets. [more]

Hit Gujarati film Saptapadii written by Boston based poet, playwright Chandrakant (Chandu) Shah and produced by Amitabh Bachchan's AB Corp is having its Exclusive premier in presence of STAR Swaroop Sampat hosted by Desai Family Foundation in Boston on March 24th at 5:00 PM at Entertainment Cinema Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA. Shailee Shah, of UMAss Amherst and daughter of Chandu and Eshani Shah, plays a key role in the film. Buy Tickets. [more]

Health, Happiness and Energy... The Art of Living course from March 28-31. [more]

VT Seva is organizing Dance for a Cure to support cancer screenings and treatments. Dance for a Cure is an evening filled with performances representing cultures ranging from the East to the West. The evening will culminate with an open DJ and sumptuous food. Henna and Face painting at the event will bring smile to kids and to adults. Buy Tickets. [more]

After the overwhelming response to his "Kishan vs Kanhaiya", Paresh Rawal is back again with a new play and double treat. He will make you laugh, he will make you cry - a thought provoking play. Don't miss it. Tickets are on sale and moving fast. Only show in Boston! Buy Tickets. [more]

Surya Narayanaraju Bhupatiraju, 17, of Lexington, MA, was one of the 40 finalists in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search. His project in mathematics explored the computational complexity of the marginal satisfiability problem (MSP). [more]

“The foreign tax credit is intended to reduce the double tax burden that would otherwise arise when foreign source income is taxed by both the United States and the foreign country from which the income is derived.” IRS, Topic 856 – Foreign Tax Credit [more]

It’s a day most business owners both dream about and dread: retirement. To get to this major milestone, you’ve put in long hours. Sacrificed time with family and friends along the way. Dealt with customers who don’t pay and vendors who don’t deliver. Transitioning out of the business and into the next exciting phase of your life should be the easy part, right? Not always. [more]

Did you take the SAT this past weekend, or do you have your sights set on the ACT on April 13 instead? Is one test better than the other? Should you take both and submit the better score, or submit both scores? [more]

Once, the great sage Narada Muni traveled to the abode of Lord Siva and began to glorify him, saying, “You are very near and dear to the Supreme Lord Krsna. Not only that, you are Krsna’s manifestation; you are non-different from Him. You can give liberation and also Krsna-prema, the rare jewel of transcendental love for Krsna.” [more]

Catch up, register and purchase tickets for the upcoming events and concerts including Holi at Chinese Mirch, Saptapadii, Dance for a Cure, IANH Dawat, LearnQuest Music Festival, Adnan Sami Live in Concert, Din Check - 5 Decades of Bollywood, Dear Father-Paresh Rawal, Akshaya Patra Event Featuring Fareed Zakaria, Shaam-E-Leher, Leela Samson, Sita Haran, and Boston Sargam Music and Dance Competition. [more]

Congratulations to Kishore Balsara, Abhimanyu Bhargava, Aseem Chandawarkar, Timothy Fitzgibbons, Saba Lateef, Samir Mehta and Rajaram Palekar, who were the winners of the last set of puzzles. Here are two puzzles for one and all! [more]

What did the man say to the lion? [more]

(This section is sponsored by Sounds Of India)

This Vivek Oberoi Neha starrer has some nice "valentine" hits composed by Sachin-jigar. [more]

Descartes is sitting in a bar, having a drink. The bartender asks him if he would like another."I think not," he says and vanishes in a puff of logic. [more]

Why is Pomegranate good for you? It is the most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits with potent anti-cancer and immune supporting effects. It is said to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. [more]

At Bukhara - Arent they adorable? [more]

I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way. [more]