SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., January 6, 2004: American taxpayers making donations this month to aid the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami will be able to claim deductions on their 2004 tax returns under legislation passed by Congress Thursday. The bill sent to President Bush was aimed at encouraging private donations to the tsunami relief effort. Under current law, taxpayers would have…
SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, January 5, 2005: In the 17th Century, 14 Indian women from Daman, Surat and Pondicherry set foot on a speck in the Indian Ocean called Reunion. Four centuries later, their descendants have returned to India to trace their roots before they participate at the third annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas for non-resident Indians. A tiny island in the Indian…
SourceSRI LANKA, January 5, 2005: (HPI note: A series of reports have appeared regarding the relief efforts in Sri Lanka, not all painting the same picture. We start with the most recent.) In a sudden move, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces are manning the refugee camps in Amparai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee since Tuesday. The Special Task Force (STF) in Thirukovil,…
SourceKILINOCHCHI, SRI LANKA, January 2, 2005: Veterans of a long guerrilla war, the Tamil rebels who control northern Sri Lanka moved with military precision to help victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. The speed and efficiency of the massive humanitarian operation showed an administrative capability that underscored the rebels’ demand for Tamil independence from the Sinhalese-dominated southern part of Sri…
SourceUTHUKADY JUNCTION, SRI LANKA, January 3, 2005: The Tidal Wave Task Force headquarters here is not much to look at, but what is happening inside is extraordinary. Inside a crumbling, bullet-ridden building in rebel territory in northern Sri Lanka, low-level representatives of the country’s government and Tamil Tigers rebels – mortal enemies in a brutal civil war – are sitting…
SourceTHAILAND, January 2, 2005: Agitated elephants felt the tsunami coming, and their sensitivity saved about a dozen foreign tourists from the fate of thousands killed by the giant waves. “I was surprised because the elephants had never cried before,” mahout Dang Salangam said on Sunday on Khao Lak beach at the eight-elephant business offering rides to tourists. The elephants started…
Press ReleaseEL SEGUNDO, California–One of India’s two prominent and highly successful spiritual networks, AASTHA Broadcasting, has expanded its reach and now covers the USA. As of December 9, 2004, it affiliated with DIRECTV channel 2005 which gave it access to the USA. Its contents are 90% Hindu and it broadcasts 24/7. It has, in past years, grown to serve Indian…
SourceTHANJAVUR, INDIA, December 10, 2004: More than 100 musical instruments of the stringed, wind and percussion varieties have been mentioned in the Thevaram, Divya Prabandham, Tiruppugazh, Karaikkal Ammaiyar’s verses, the Kanda Puranam and other Tamil works. They are discussed in the recently released book, Alaya Vazhipattil Isaikkaruvikal by Raama Kausalya available from Minambikai Padippakam, Jatavallabhar Illam, 6/78, Tillaisthanam, Thanjavur-613203. Rs.…
SourceKOLLAM, KERALA, INDIA, January 3, 2005: With the biggest relief measure announced so far, the Mata Amritananda ashram in Kerala has announced a US$22 million (1 billion rupees) tsunami relief for the affected states. Announcing this at her ashram in Vallikkavu, Kollam, on Monday, Mata said the sum would be spent in consultation with the Central government. Expressing great regret…
SourceTAMIL NADU, INDIA, January 4, 2005: Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj, the founder and chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation, has personally traveled from Rishikesh (Himalayas) to the Chennai area. His group writes, “Pujya Swamiji is currently near Cuddalore, a town about 3 hours south of Chennai, where horrendous damage took place from the tsunami. We came down on the…