www.indiaparentmagazine.org • November 2017
is glorification of queen padmavati’s fictional self immolation more political than cultural?
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In This Issue
IPM’S INDEPTH REPORT! Why Mercy High excels as all girls college prep school By Rajya Lakshmi Pg 24 SPECIAL STORIES
EXCLUSIVE From the Editor’s Desk is glorification of queen padmavati’s fictional self-immolation more political than cultural? By Meena Yeggina Pg 8
6 India Parent Magazine.org
November 2017
THE DELPHI ROOTS Know why parents are happy!
14
IN FOCUS
W HAT S ATYA N ADELLA CAN TEACH US ABOUT NEED FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK TO BROADEN KNOWLEDGE
by Shiv Vishwanathan
48
OPINION
One Year of Demonitization M ODI GOVT GAVE INDIA ACHHE DIN WITH A BROKEN GST AND FAILED DEMONETISATION T HE PM' S TWO BIGGEST GAMBITS HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REVITALISE THE ECONOMY . Courtesy: Kamal Mitra Chenoy 42
MOVIE REVIEWS Simran, SpyDer By Meena Yeggina
46
34
Stronger By Rishi Ravuri 28
7 India Parent Magazine.org
November 2017
From the Editor’s Desk BJP’s Dangerous Polarizing Games Is glorification of Queen Padmavati’s fictional self-Immolation more political than cultural? By Meena Yeggina
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
charismatic trio Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mel- vani. The main aim of these three young rebels is to remove BJP from power to curtail the hardships of Patels, Dalits and minorities.
irrationally and illiterately conser- vative right wing Bharatiya Janta Party headed by none other than the RSS Pracharak and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi is recently being dominated by the young Rahul Gandhi, assisted by
Padmavati, a movie starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali is due on De- cember 1st closely followed by the prestigious Gujarat elections. Gu- jarat, a closely guarded forte of the
Though we don’t know for sure, Bhansali’s Rani Padmavati seems like a glorified Rajput wife dedicated to her husband and Jauhar
Rani Padmavati was a Sri Lankan Princess as depicted in the fictional poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi
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Hindu pride? Alienating Muslims by portraying Muslim rulers as meat eating, women raping barbar- ians? By wiping out the real his- tory? Perhaps for all of the above. Winning at whatever cost is crucial for BJP. BHANSALI’S KHILJI Frankly I cringed watching the trailer of Bhansali's Padmavati where Khilji is shown as a cruel, meat-eating barbarian: He is darkly clad with a ruthless demeanor in contrast to Shahid Kapoor’s digni- fied, regal looks, though a tad meek, yet tolerant and victimized! To be fair, Alauddin Khilji is a handsome and skillful warrior. His aim is to win, just as any king those days. The fact is that there was no united India in Khilji’s time. All land is game and whoever was skillful and cunning won; either Rajputs or Muslim kings, they were all fighting for their territories and mind you, with the aid and friendship of many Rajputs (who were on the side of the Muslim rulers) or Muslims. In ad- dition a lot of cross religion mar- riages and alliances were taking place resulting in mixed raced pop- ulation. This fact that Rajput kings gave away their women in marriage
Horror stories of Sati where women were drugged, tied and poked and forced down on the pyre with sticks to keep them burning live are well documented facts
is fictional and is the imagination of a poet 240 years after the rule of Alauddin Khilji. Then why is BJP fuelling this fire? To win Gujarat? To polarize Hindus (note that this is about Rajputs and Brahmins. Other Hindus don’t really care about kings as whoever rules from the top, the poor people destiny will remain the same, Hindu or Muslim) and Muslims? Furthering the idea of
A POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE GUISE OF PADMAVATI BJP, currently reeling under se- vere attack for its failed Demoneti- zation spin, GST, and several corruption charges involving the sons of Amit Shah and Ajit Doval found a life-saving buoy in the movie Padmavati- ripe with Hindu- Muslim power struggle juxtaposed with a solid angle of love Jihad! And the boys in BJP went berserk with it. While BJP leader (an ex-Harvard professor by the way) Swamy said the Pakistani terrorists could be funding the movie, other BJP lead- ers such as Uma Bharati, Sakshi Ma- haraj, Chintamani Malviya, Vipul Goel, Raj Purohit, Arjun Gupta clamored for a stay on its release. The center is keeping calm, slyly aiding and abetting the rage, push- ing the general public a little more, observing and testing grounds. Def- initely this fight is not about histor- ical facts as the story of Padmavati
Hindu right-wing groups protesting the release of Bhansali’s film in Rajasthan
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ransacked while shooting a scene for his latest venture Padmavati , hell broke lose in both Hindi film industry and outside of it. This assault, led by a local Hindutva group, was based on the assumption that Bhansali was shooting a romantic dream sequence between the char- acters of Padmavati and the Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji. The problem to them was that as Padmavati was a “noble and honorable” Rajput queen (she is actually from Sri Lanka, in the poem) who preferred to commit Jauhar than succumbing to Khalji, it would be dishon- oring her sacrifice and courage if such a romantic song, even as a dream, is shot between them. In addition, any romance between them would be, according to the protesting Hindutva group, a “distortion” of history. There are, however, two indisputable facts contradict- ing the above disputable misguided narrative: One, Rani Padmavati is a fictional character, a hero- ine in a poem written in 1540 (See boxed item for her storyon pg 67), a solid 237 years after Alauddin Khalji’s Chittor campaign of 1303. This fiction is a tale of the cel-
or alliance to powerful Muslims in exchange to political freedom and security is a well-known historical fact and that always bothered the current generation of “pride-filled” Rajputs. To a casual observer, it would seem horrific that in this age and day we are fighting to celebrate the pride of a woman who was literally forced to self-immolate to save her honor. Instead of blaming the culture that forces women to do so, we should be condemning it, making sure such cultures are not glorified. Maybe instead we should glorify the ac- tions of Rani Laxmibai instead for three reasons: One, she was REAL, not fictional. Two, she actually fought the British, who was in true terms an outside force, bleeding India. And three, most importantly, as a widow, she did not commit Jauhar, to save her so-called modesty. She FOUGHT as a true hero. Can celebrating Jauhar (a mass Rajput ritual of self- immolation where in several women and children kill themselves to save their virtue from conquerors when defeat in an invasion seem imminent) in 21st century as pride, honor and bravery of women be justified as
Depiction of Jauhar
Hindu culture? As a woman, and as a mother of two, I would definitely say no, definitely not in this 21st cen- tury nor in any bygone era. When director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (of Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, RamLeela, Bhajirao Mastani fame) got slapped, pushed around and his set in Rajasthan
ebration of a Rajput queen’s willingness to die rather than give herself over to a “tyrant (sic),” who coveted her. The fiction, titled Padmavat, was told in a long Awadhi-language poem by the 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. It has as its central characters Padmini or Padmavati the queen of Chittor, her
November 2017 Contʼd on Pg 12: See Padmavati
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The Myth of Rani Padmini (Scroll.in) In 1303 AD, Alauddin Khilji, the Turkic Sultan of Delhi, captured Chhattisgarh after a long siege. Two hundred and thirty-seven years later, an Awadhi poet named Malik Muhammad Jayasi composed a poem titled Padmavat about the fall of Chittor. Historians such as the chronicler of Akbar’s reign Abul Fazl picked up the tale in succeeding eras. The story of Padmini varies from one writer to another but the basic contours are similar. A sorcerer banished by the king of Mewar Ratan Singh finds refuge in the Khilji court, where he fills the Sultan’s ears with tales of the beauty of Ratan Singh’s wife, Padmini. Alauddin manages to get a glimpse of her, and is enraptured. He captures Ratan Singh by deceit, and offers to release him in exchange for Padmini. The Rajputs hatch a cunning stratagem to free their king, but lose several warriors in the process. Alauddin defeats the weakened Rajput army, only to discover that Padmini and all other women in Chittor fort have committed jauhar. Rani Padmini is not mentioned in any Rajput or Sultanate annals, and there’s absolutely no historical evidence she existed. Alauddin Khilji, one of the finest generals in India’s military history, certainly re- quired no treachery to subdue Chittor. He repelled successive Mongol
Rani Padmini is not mentioned in any Rajput or Sultanate annals, and there’s absolutely no histori- cal evidence she existed.
invasions while conquering much of Rajasthan and Gujarat. But what has survived of him is the image of a lustful, deceitful, tyrant pitted against chivalrous Rajputs, thanks to misrepresented, fictional poems and nar- ratives. The Myth of Prithviraj Chauhan (Scroll.in) Prithviraj Chauhan ruled Delhi in the late 12th century AD. In 1191, the Afghan ruler Muhammad Ghuri took the fortress of Bhatinda on the border of Prithviraj’s kingdom. Prithviraj advanced towards the frontier, and met and defeated Ghuri’s army at Tarain. The next year, Ghuri returned with a stronger force, defeated Prithviraj, and had him executed. Pretty standard give-and- take for that age.
In the hands of Prithviraj’s court poet Chand Bardai, and several later writers who embellished the narrative, the chivalrous Prithviraj defeated and imprisoned Ghuri, but generously set him free. The foe returned, attacked unfairly at night, captured and blinded the Rajput king, and took him back to his capital. Prithviraj’s companion convinced Ghuri to let the blind king demonstrate his skill as an archer. In- structed by the companion, Prithviraj killed Muhammad Ghuri before ending his own life in a suicide pact.
Many grew up believing this to be historical truth, thanks to the volume of Amar Chitra Katha about Prithviraj’s life. I suppose children today watching television serials about Prithviraj and Padmini swallow the same fictions. It is note- worthy that no cases have been filed in any Indian court against these erroneous retellings of Indian history. A pretty standard give-and-take battle for that age where Ghuri defeated Prithviraj fair and square
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Padmavati : Contʼd from Pg 10
Symbolic interpretations are important to any com- munity’s social structure. But by making Sati and Jauhar symbols of woman’s bravery, strength, pride you are again pushing her into the world of darkness and sor- row where a woman’s body is given more importance than her spirit thus making her a commodity yet again. And Hindu woman raped by a Muslim? Out of ques- tion! Shame is doubled instantly and death is advo- cated as the best option. Remember the same Rajput community would commit atrocities over their women and people; give away their daughters in marriage to powerful kings in exchange of their own survival! Not that there is anything wrong with intra-community marriages. But it is the double standard that is utterly shameful. When the rich and powerful embrace such twisted and false cultural prejudices equating them with pride of a community, it is trickled down to the masses and embraced by all and sundry and eventually becomes a ritual. It’s a historical fact that Rajputs (who according to the census constitute only about three percent of Indian population) lacked war skills and were easily defeated by the more innovative, stunning military and war strategies of the Muslim invaders. While only upper castes could become captains of the Hindu army, Mus- lim kings would encourage strength and skill to rise in the hierarchy irrespective of their caste or religion. Hence many skillful commoners including Hindus could rise to the top of the rung in Muslim army whereas it was impossible amongst Hindu armies. In addition, Rajputs were lazy and spoiled. They had sev- eral in-fights and many plotted against one another to defeat their own clan members. That they gave away many of their daughters in marriage or in exchange for other favors to stronger rulers including Muslim kings is a well chronicled fact and has been a consistent point of shame to the Rajputs. To counter attack these ignoble deeds it is believed that Rajputs and their poets had many gallant poems written in the name of their valor, turning absolute defeats into pride-filled chivalrous deaths. The Rajputs dramatized almost all losses in- cluding that of Prithiviraj Chauhan to make them look like treacherous and deceitful murders by the invaders. They say that best poems come not from the winners but from the losers in war. One such fantasized story is that of Rani Padmavat of Chittor, a poem written by a
husband, Rana Ratansen Singh, and the sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji (also transcribed as Khilji). While all other characters are imaginary why the poet chose to include Khalji’s name in his poem remains a mystery. There are no contemporary accounts of Alauddin’s siege that mention Padmavati. While there are still some historians who believe the story of The Padmavat to be true, almost everyone agree that Alauddin’s march on Chittor was more an expression of an ambi- tious ruler’s campaign of relentless military expansion rather than a lovesick man’s quest for a beautiful woman. Two, even if assuming Rani Padmavati is historical and the story really took place, what is wrong if a di- rector sees it through a different prism and reinvents a scenario? Shakespearean stories, Christ’s life and even the Ramayana were interpreted in several ways by many authors so far. An artist eye travels to places where even the Sun cannot, they say. The thrill of any such creative conflict otherwise would be missing and movies and stories would become religious ceremonies. However, what bothers me more is neither of the above-misplaced narratives but a more perilous and preeminent third one that has the potential to set a dan- gerous precedent for us women now, in 21st century. In this age and generation to where women have travelled through decades fighting inequality, sexism, abuse and rape, to view Jauhar and/or Sati , where women are forced in the name of culture and tradition to commit suicide (horror stories of Sati where women were drugged, tied and poked and forced down on the pyre with sticks to keep them from running away from a rag- ing fire of Sati are well documented facts) are lauded as “bravery,” “honor” “pride (sic),” not only of the women killed but of an entire community and now to overall Hinduism, is alarming. It is shameful to say the least and undermines the hardships and work done by fem- inists and women’s rights’ activists. Centuries of turbu- lent, tear-filled brave fights against prejudice and abuse is being brought down in a jiffy in the name of ‘honor.’ Such outrages over woman’s “honor” is unnerving be- cause it equates “honor and bravery” with a “pure” body. Rape and sexual assault yet again become a vic- tim’s problem and ‘loss of “honor,”and hence death’ equation is peddled as a better choice than living with this bodily “stigma.”
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Muslim poet Jayasi (who was then serving a Hindu king) just as Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. Both of them though well-known fictions loved by all but can’t be misinterpreted as history. History needs to be viewed through the prisms of time and date and move on from there. It’s not about Hindus against Muslims those days. It is just about winners and losers and everyone wanted to conquer as much land as possible, all of them, whether Muslim or Hindu. Sati and Jauhar are cruel practices invented by upper caste Hindus in the name of false prestige and pride at the cost of women and children who absolutely had no say in the matter. When have forced suicides be- come prideful acts? If women were left to fend for themselves they would have probably learned to fight their wars and shed those unnecessary acts of “pride” and “bravery” involving self-immolation and chastity. They would have probably chosen to become brave Rani Laxmi Bais than submissive Satis! Treating these notorious rituals as those of pride and honor will be doing injustice to the current crop of strong, capable, and educated women who came a long way to be where they are, doing what they are doing. They are still carrying the torch, running for their right, a right to live life their way, strongly, individually, tak- ing one slow torturous step at a time. Hence, now to bring out an evil practice of days gone by such as Jauhar and Sati and call them acts of bravery, pride and honor, will dangerously push the clock back in time where women were just commodities bargained for power. In addition, it will undermine the hard work done to change the same. Women are already fighting modern day murder in the name of dishonor where Jauhar kund (a special well-like chamber for women and children to commit mass immolation) has moved from Rajput palaces to radiologists’ ultrasound chambers where the sex of the fetus is revealed and later relieved if it’s a fe- male. Bringing back the glory (sic) of Jauhar and Sati would be death knell (pun unintended) to Indian women’s fight for freedom. Do we really want this re- gressive time-travel in the name of misplaced honor, pride and bravery? Hell no! To a casual young observer, it would seem horrific that in this age and day we are fighting to celebrate the pride of a woman who was literally forced to self-im- molate to save her honor. Instead of blaming and recti- fying the culture that forced women to do so, we should be condemning it, making sure such practices in the
name of Dharma are not glorified. If we really need to glorify a historical woman’s ac- tions to inspire the current generations, we should probably glorify the actions of say a Rani Laxmibai in- stead, basically for three reasons: One, she was REAL, not fictional; Two, she actually fought the British, who was in true terms an outside force bleeding India; And three, most importantly, as a widow, she did not com- mit Jauhar to save her so-called modesty-she FOUGHT instead as a true hero. India as a country and Indians as a people need to focus more on economy, education, environment, heath and infrastructure and keep questioning the Govern- ment about them. Let not politicians divert us from such real issues to those fringe ones such as Padmavati and her self-immolation, national anthem and stand- ing up for it in theatres(before watching an item num- ber), and beef eating . Culture need to make us better, happy people and not maniacal, self-righteous bullies.
Kangana Ranaut in her upcoming biopic Rani Laxmibai.
As a widow, Rani Laxmibai did not commit Jauhar to save her so-called modesty-she FOUGHT the mighty British instead as a true hero.
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Why Parents Choose The Delphi School
For nearly 30 years, Delphi Academy has been providing a strong and balanced
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Students love field trips, getting out of the classroom and into the world to explore. Teachers plan multiple trips each month that align with academic lessons and allow students to see how text- book concepts apply in real life. While studying about California history, for example, students may tour a pioneer garden, grind their own grain for biscuits, card wool and try out a spinning wheel. Moving Ahead with Confidence Natural curiosity is encouraged and developed, with an emphasis on learning for application. Students are also encouraged to “take charge” of their education. They are helped to set academic goals, and to plan, organize and accomplish their targets. Delphi’s unique system allows quick students to rapidly move ahead at their own pace without having to wait for others or get bored. This approach helps students develop their own purpose for learning and results in many students studying well above grade level. Summer Camp and Fall Term Delphi Summer Camp is open to children ages 4-14. Campers come from around the Bay Area and even from overseas to expe- rience a fun summer of learning with academics, athletics, arts and adventure! Camping trips, day trips, rock climbing, kayaking and swimming are just some of the many activities. Morning aca- demics keep students’ minds sharp through the summer. Campers can get help in an area of difficulty or explore new subjects. Registration begins in January and is first-come, first-served. More information is available at www.bestsummerever.org. Students attending Delphi for Fall Term have first option for Summer Camp openings and can use the summer to advance in their studies while making new friends, spending time outdoors and enjoying many attractions around the Bay Area. Come to a Delphi Open House from 1-3 pm on
Delphi students are treated as individuals, receiving personalized student programs based on their strengths, weaknesses and interests. Attentive teachers understand each child’s unique abilities and coach each one to greater independence and confidence in their own abilities to study and learn. Delphi graduates are routinely accepted to the private high schools of their choice, and take an honors route if attending their local public high school. Students gain not just academic strength, but a wealth of knowledge and experience in leadership, planning, organi- zation and critical thinking skills. They are also given many opportunities to participate in community service activities, artistic performances, athletic competitions and leadership roles. Delphi’s unique combination of excellent academics, practical activities and a caring environment prepares stu-
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Meena Yeggina Mora Oommen Natalie Daprile Rishi Ravuri Sindhu Shivani Stephen E. Von Till Vanessa Kahlon PHOTOGRAPHY Jill Johnson Suneel Kelkar WEB SITE www.indiaparentmagazine.org 408-964-8708 • e-mail: indiaparentmagazine@gmail.com PUBLISHERS Meena Yeggina CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ashok Swain Gerald Cumings Jacqueline Payne Mary Buxton
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S t e p On e S c h o o l “Starting from the Heart” Find out why.
expert teachers know how to teach to the individual, while at the same time creating a warm, cohesive classroom environment. A low student teacher ratio (ratios range from 1:5 in the Twos program to 1:8 for the 3’s and 4’s to 1:11 for the Transitional Kindergarten) makes that possible. Step One is also set apart by a strong anti-bias curriculum and emphasis that shapes our work. We encourage diversity through exposure to different languages, cultures, family structure, and family traditions. We strongly commit to maintaining diver- sity when accepting applicants and hiring teachers, and are one of the only preschools in the country with a facul- ty composed of over 30% male teach- ers. We were honored to receive this recommendation from a Step One par- ent: “I can say with all sincerity that you will be hard-pressed to find a warmer, more nurturing, or more exciting place for your little one.” Please contact us to learn more about our environment as a fit for your child: Step One, Starting from the Heart.
In addition to an enriching class- room environment, Step One offers an exceptional outdoor space in the beau- tiful Berkeley hills. Along with a large play-yard, Step One has built child- friendly nature areas on our hillside, complete with garden and outdoor kitchen: a complete indoor-outdoor learning environment. On any given day, you’ll find children engineering ways to bring water from the waterfall to the sand box, or practicing their math and measurement skills by planting a spring garden. Step One’s teachers are one-of-a- kind and are at the core of our highly- regarded program. Over 60% of our teachers have been at Step One for 10 years or longer. They are highly edu- cated, motivated early childhood experts.Teachers bring their creative abilities (such as music, dance, Spanish language expertise, art, and photography) to the classroom. Staff also receive on-going professional development, mentorship, and coach- ing. Each child is unique, with his or her own strengths and challenges. Our
With a 35-year history in Berkeley, Step One is one of the East Bay’s best- loved preschools, with a track record of developing children’s curiosity, empathy, and love of learning for a lifetime. For 21st century learning, creativi- ty and collaboration are the name of the game. Step One fosters both through teaching that stimulates both children’s intellectual curiosity and their social-emotional development. Children at Step One are encouraged to explore and discover: to take initia- tive in their learning so that they ‘learn how to learn’. This approach positions them to engage deeply and to find learning meaningful. Step One students are also learn- ing empathy, which is encouraged and modeled by teachers. They internalize respect for self and others while devel- oping close relationships with teachers and peers. The schools our graduates attend praise Step One students as academically well-prepared, strong school leaders, and exceptional class- room citizens.
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November 2017
NEW IN MOUNTAIN VIEW A Sprawling child-friendly Dental Facility that has Certified Specialists
The minute you enter into the facility you will realize that it is a kid friendly place. Children will love the décor, painted walls and friendly staff. Moreover, MV Kids Dentists and Braces is located in Mountain View, in the exact place as the popular and familiar Nalli Silk Sarees has been though in a much bigger and brighter interior. In this special health section we introduce you to MV Kids Dentists and Braces, a dental practice for children spe- cialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. According to the spokesperson of MV Kids Dentists, their place is different from other similar practices, ranging from philosophy to higher standards of treatment and behavior. Let’s explore each one of them carefully. PHILOSOPHY At MV Kids Dentists and Braces, their philosophy is to improve oral health for children in the community using their best knowledge in pediatric dentistry and orthodon- tics. Their office is designed to create a warm and welcom- ing environment for children and their parents. They uti- lize the latest technology in pediatric dentistry and the state-of-the-art equipment to provide the best possible care to the children.
High standard dental treatment The dentists at MV Kids Dentists and Braces practice honestly and ethically. Their pediatric dentist is board-cer- tified by American board of Pediatric Dentistry, and both their pediatric dentists and orthodontist are highly experi- enced treating children with a wide range of behaviors. They have many different treatment options that are suit- able for children of all ages that have different oral and behavioral needs. Their affiliation with the academic envi- ronment allows them to stay up-to-date on the latest tech- nologies in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. They only offer treatments that they would use on their own children. Certified by American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Not all children's dentists are specialists. Their pedi- atric dentists and orthodontist have spent an additional 2- 3 years to become specialists in their fields. Their pediatric dentists are also Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Not all pediatric dentists are necessari- ly board-certified. To earn the title of Diplomate, a pediatric dentist is required to go through multiple steps of certifica- tion process to verify his/her proficiency and excellence in Pediatric Dentistry. In addition, to maintain the Diplomate status, the pediatric dentist needs to renew annually by
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Dr. Yang is an active member the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry, the Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry, the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society, and the International Association for Dental Research. She is board-certified and is a proud member of the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Community wise, Dr. Yang serves as one of the six board members of the UCSF Pediatric Alumni Board of Directors, and as a com- mittee member at the UCSF Children’s Oral Health Research Center, the world renown research center dedicat- ing to children’s oral health. Dr Yang loves photography, drawing and painting, Zumba, Yoga, traveling around the world to experience new cultures, and spending time with her husband and family. Quat “Charles” Tran, DDS, Orthodontist Dr. Tran has been creating beautiful smile since 1999. He received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree with high honors from the University of the Pacific Dental School in San Francisco. Following dental school, Dr. Tran earned a Post-Doctoral Certificate in Orthodontics from New York University. When asked why he chose this pro- fession he said enthusiastically: His involvement in dental profession and the local community has been extensive since establishing his San Jose office in 1999. Dr. Tran is passionate about his work as an orthodontist, he truly enjoys and love spending time with his patients and his team. Dr. Tran is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, California Dental Association and Santa Clara County Dental Society. By providing the highest-quality treatment using the latest and most comfortable technologies in orthodontics, he continues to exceed the expectations of his patients and parents. While not doing what he loves best, Dr. Tran enjoys ski- ing, golfing, listening to music and spending time with family. Their office is conveniently located just a few blocks from downtown Mountain View. They are currently accept- ing new patients with the special promotion (as noted in the ad). They open Monday-Thursday and some selected Saturdays. For more information please visit: http://www.mvkidsdentistsandbraces.com/ "I love orthodontics. I love doing what I'm doing. I love working and interacting with my patients!"
demonstrating that his/her knowledge is up-to-date and meets the high standard of clinical excellence.
Child-friendly environment The office is designed with children in mind. The office uti- lizes many glass doors, windows and walls to maximize natural light. The whole office is surrounded by ocean-blue walls and fun aquarium-themed paint done by talented local artists. The waiting area is spacious and filled with toys as well as iPad stations and places to watch movies. All of their chairs are equipped with TV’s and headsets with the newest selection of movies so that children can relax during their treatment. They welcome you and your chil- dren for a free-of-charge, non-dental office tour in order to familiarize you with their office. Needleless Injection As an option for young, apprehensive children, they have the latest technology and tools to offer needleless injections to deliver local anesthesia that is painless for your child. Their office is proud to be selected as the recipient of the “2016 Best of Mountain View Award” in Pediatric Dentistry. They are very honored to be the only Pediatric Dental Practice selected by City in Mountain View. They constantly strive to provide the best possible services to their patients, parents and the community, and they sin- cerely appreciate all of the support they have received. Dr. Yang is passionate about providing the best quality dental care to children of all ages while creating a reward- ing and stress-free experience for the parents and their chil- dren. Dr Yang completed her Pediatric Dentistry Specialty training from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry, and her doctoral degree from University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry. Dr Yang has extensive years of experiences not only in pediatric dentistry and hospital dentistry, but also in the dental research and academic communities. She stays at the forefront of pediatric dentistry by being an active contributor in dental research publications, book chapters, journal reviews, as well as learning the innovative clinical approaches. Dr. Yang is the recipient of the prestigious UCSF Pediatric Dentistry Excellence in Dental Care of Pediatric Disabled Patient Award, awarded to only one recipient each year. Additionally, she is awarded numerous research awards from UCSF, USC, and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She holds the UCSF Medical Center Hospital Privileges and is a Health Science Clinical Assistant Professor at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and UCSF School of Dentistry. 2016 BEST OF MOUNTAIN VIEW PEDIATRIC DENTIST THE DOCTORS’ TEAM Rungnapa Yang, DDS, PhD, Pediatric Dentist
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November 2017
IPM’S INDEPTH REPORT!
Why Mercy High excels as all girls college prep school By Rajya Lakshmi
The Kohl Mansion, home to Mercy High School, is located on 40 acres of land in the Burlingame hills. The 63 room rose brick mansion was to be the central building in a grand estate which would include ten- nis courts, green houses, a rose garden, a large carriage house, and a 150,000 gallon reservoir. In 1924 the Sisters of Mercy bought the Kohl Mansion as their Motherhouse and opened the high school in the Kohl Mansion in 1931 after building a new Motherhouse on the lower campus.
Each year 98-100% of Mercy's graduates pursue post-secondary education, a percentage far in excess of the national average. Mercy girls continue a legacy that began over 80 years ago...a legacy of young women inspired to achieve great things, and go on to change the world! At an all-girls school like Mercy, and a 11/1 child- teacher ratio, a girl occupies every role: every seat on student council or Kairos, every position on every team, every club leadership role. Every day, a Mercy girl sees girls learning, growing and achieving - and takes advantage of the myriad of opportunities to do the same. Students at all-girls' schools learn how to take on challenges, elo- quently and fearlessly express thoughts and opinions as well as participate in new academic, artis- tic and athletic experiences. Single gender schools take a lead role when it comes to providing an accepting and encouraging atmos- phere. This environment creates a sister-like bond and sense of com- munity that helps students flour- ish. We've seen this truth evi- denced firsthand over many gener- ations of graduates. Once a Mercy Girl, always a Mercy Girl! Method and Schedule Its method of education is unique. Mercy girls benefit from challeng- ing courses, in a small classroom environment lead by passionate and talented teachers. Students are enriched by its holistic educational
building confident leaders are the hallmarks of a Mercy Education. A Mercy High School graduate is a woman of faith, a woman in pur- suit of academic excellence, a woman of influence, a woman of compassionate service, a proactive global citizen. Mercy offers a single gender education which encour- ages each young woman to grow in faith, envision her future and discover her talents through a chal- lenging and motivating academic and co-curricular program. As a Catholic college preparatory of 375 young women, we have created a unique community on the San Francisco Peninsula in which each student is known by her teachers and classmates and each girl is invited to achieve her dreams.
Talented teachers, high acade- mic standards, faith formation and
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November 2017
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their willingness to accept and observe the school's policies. Students of Mercy High School are expected to be women of character who exhibit and uphold the Christian values set forth in its mission statement at all times. Students of Mercy act as ambassadors of Mercy High School 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and as so, they are expected to con- duct themselves in accordance with school policy at all times, regardless of whether they are on or off cam- pus. Students will be held responsible for all of their actions that contradict either the values set forth in its mission statement or the policies and procedures set forth in its student/parent handbook. Students will be held accountable for their actions and words, both written and verbal, through punishments deemed appropriate by the school's administration. Impeccable Teachers Mercy's faculty and administration are exceptional- dedicated to working together to create a nurturing environment that balances freedom with responsibili- ty; challenging academics with spiritual growth; tra- ditional values with cutting-edge curriculum; athletic 1/3 of all students participate in some form of leader- ship. 90% of Mercy Girls are involved in at least one extra-curricular activity. Through student govern- ment, one of its 22 clubs or an educational travel opportunities, Mercy produces leaders in action. Summer Specials Mercy offers Tools 4 Schools during the summer, a 4- week long program designed for rising 6th, 7th & 8th grade girls. Classes consist of math skills, reading and writing groups, beginning computer coding, design tinkering, musical theater, drama, dance, swimming and cooking. The first three weeks will include a field trip for further exploration every Friday. Tools for School is designed to encourage creativity, build con- fidence, learn new things and meet new friends. 6th, 7th & 8th graders, join us for Girls on the Green - - a day of Mercy athletics and activities including vol- leyball, robotics, swimming, basketball, art projects, lacrosse, cheer and more! Parents are welcome to stay for a campus tour. Open House Sunday 11/19th 12pm excellence with sportsmanship. Well-rounded Students UPCOMING EVENTS/OPEN HOUSE Girls on the Green -- 10/2/17 3:30-5pm
environment created by the cross-curricula efforts of their faculty and staff. Establishing learning outcomes throughout each class session ensures the students displaying mastery of the discipline. Mercy gradua- tion requirements exceed the University of California entrance standards and prepare its students for accep- tance into prestigious colleges and universities throughout the country. Mercy operates with a block schedule, alternating between A & B days to better prepare its students for a typical college schedule once they matriculate. School starts at 7:55 and concludes at 2:30. On A days the students will have 4 80-minute classes with a 15 minute break in the morning and a 40 minute lunch period. On B days students will have 3 80-minute classes, a 15 minute break in the morning, 40 minute lunch followed by an 80 minute collaboration period where students can have study sessions, meet with teachers, hold club/council meetings or all-school events such as rallies or speakers. The primary goal of Mercy High School is that its students follow in the footsteps of Catherine McAuley and serve as examples of the spirit of Mercy in their daily lives. Mercy High School places the highest pri- ority on fostering students' spiritual, moral, intellectu- al, and physical development by providing various opportunities for personal growth, self-reflection, ser- vice learning, academic rigor, and athletic and co-cur- ricular programs. Students, parents and guardians, and the faculty and staff of Mercy High School are called to create a community and climate that are defined by respect, personal integrity, pride in one's work, and achievement. By registering at Mercy High School, students and their parents/guardians indicate
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November 2017
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November 2017
Mov ie Re v iew
STRONGER
By R i shi Rav ur i
comparing himself to a wheelchair bound man from Forrest Gump. His resilience and optimism ultimately prove cru- cial to his recovery. Stronger pulled away from the cliche of homing in on Jeff's physical journey and focused more on his mental and emotional growth. Other films in this vein put heavy emphasis on the physical pain and struggle of the trauma and the subsequent overcoming of the debilitation. However, Stronger displays very few scenes portraying Jeff's training, practice, and dif- ficulty in using his prosthetic legs. Rather, it chooses to show how his accident has taken a toll on his per- ception of himself due to his new limitations and its influence on the relationships with the people around
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson, Clancy Brown Direction: David Gordon Green Music: Michael Brook ****/5 Only when we realize and accept that we are weak and broken can we then become strong and whole. Stronger, directed by David Green, is an inspi- rational film cataloguing the journey of Boston Marathon Bombing survivor Jeff Bauman (Jake
Gyllenhaal) after losing both his legs below the knee. The film manages to hon- estly capture the beautiful and ugly feeling of accepting our weaknesses to find our strength. By witnessing Jeff struggle and grapple with his hurdles, we can gain per- spective on how evolve beyond our own shortcomings as well. Jeff Bauman was grievously injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. In an attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend Erin (Tatiana Maslany) and show his support, he was waiting by the finish line while she com- peted in the event. He experiences the blast firsthand. Both his legs were lost bellow the
him . It focuses on his life without his legs and his struggle to stand as a man, as well as the mental toll it takes on him. His apathy to their struggle, his loss of self-identity, and his subsequent PTSD all arguably crippled him more than the injury itself and are the true debilitations he must conquer. Stronger spends much time exploring Jeff's battle with himself and reconciling who he was before the accident and who he is now. The film makes it clear that some of Jeff's problems were existent prior to the accident; not all that he has to conquer is induced by the bombing.
It is also important to note that Stronger emphasizes that Jeff is not the only hero of the story. Even though he was the one to bear the most superficial facet of the burden, the loss of his legs, his family and girlfriend nowmust come to grips with bearing the burden of Jeff's situation. His girl- friend and mother are just as powerful as Jeff, and the movie displays their struggle with his situation with hon- esty. His girlfriend in particular did not pull any punches in her assessment of the difficulty of having a relationship where one partner must be the caretaker. In conclusion, Stronger was a very powerful film. Gyllenhaal's acting, along with Maslany's, was fantastic. The film is thoughtfully shot and directed and fill the film with heartwarming vibe. Stronger was raw and exposed in its portrayal of its characters and their story. Authenticity is often hard to come by, and films of this ilk find themselves employing shortcuts in order to facilitate the narrative. Stronger avoids this and is a refreshing take on the tired "true story drama" that saturates Hollywood.
knee, but with the help of his family, friends, and loyal girl- friend (they get back together after his accident), he pulls himself up by his bootstraps and managed to walk again with the aid of prosthetic limbs. He also heroically man- aged to identify one of the bombers. His story is arduous, heartbreaking, and inspiring. Stronger at first may seem daunting due to its dark source material but the film quick- ly assuages those fears by getting off on a light foot. Costco chicken roaster Jeff, 28 at the start of the film, is funny, warm, and kind. I found myself growing fond of him with- in the first few minutes of the film. Jeff is a good friend with a good heart; although he does have his shortcomings such as lack of motivation and structure in his life, he quickly captured my affection. It was easy to empathize with him from start to finish, through the ups and downs of his saga. A wholesome man, Jeff's first question after awaking from his attack is to ask if his Erin is ok; his second statement is a joke about his situation comparing himself attempts to find the silver lining to every thundercloud, comedically
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November 2017
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