Dear Friends,

KATRINA, RITA and now it is WILMA! –   the recent hurricanes that have shaken the US  and have caused huge destruction to lives and property. Millions of people have been rendered homeless, and have lost loved ones. In such moments, it is but humane for the world over to reach out and help those in need.

In  1965 India-Pakistan war, the US govt – which then a close friend of Pakistan  had  threatened India with stopping food-aid. For a food deficient India this threat was serious and  humiliating. So much so that in the middle of war, Prime Minister (Late) Lal Bahadur Shastri went to Ram Leela Grounds in Delhi and appealed to each Indian to observe one-meal-fast every week to answer the American threat.  Many responded to Shastriji's call.

40 years have passed and a great change has taken place. India has started giving aid to USA.  The Indian ambassador in Washington DC handed over a cheque of US$ 50 million to the US govt, two plane loads of food, medical aid and other relief materials. Time to break the fast? With no bad feeling about  the USA, and good wishes for the Katrina victims, every Indian should feel proud of the great stride that India has covered in 40 years.

It has been rightly said “The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border?”

It is a moment for every Indian to feel proud that India has transcended all borders and has sent aid to US and has recently even send aid to the earthquake victims of Pakistan. It’s time indeed to celebrate a “NewIndia!" Times have changed, and the world is changing too. And as individuals too we need to change our narrow way of thinking.

Women Vision brings to you the vibrant, enthusiastic and charming  Hema Chandra, a very popular compere at most of the leading Kannada programmes in the UAE.  Her personal philosophy to life is to encompass difference and diversity, fun and friendship, optimism and openness, trust, tolerance and teamwork, creativity, learning and growth, a commitment to reason and critical thinking, an interest other cultures, and a willingness to embrace change and new experiences.

Hema - the only daughter of  Sidde Gowda and Shantamma was born on the 1st of November and was brought up in Bangalore. She did her schooling at the  St. Ann’s Convent and specialised in Computer Science. Her only brother works in Dubai as the IT Manager in the Landmark Group. Being married to M. Chandran, in 1991, they have been blessed with a son Arjun. Hema joined her husband initially in Bahrain and later moved on to Dubai in 1994.  She has the opportunity of  working for some of  the leading Companies, the last of which was HSBC Bank (Insurance Department). She was awarded the “Best Performer Award for the year 2004”.  Her outgoing nature, her helfpul disposition and above all her nature to place others before her self, has earned her the love ane admiration of all her near and dear ones.

Hema can be seen at many a Kannada function and she steals the show and the hearts of the audience with her adept way of compering. Fluent not only in Kannada, she is also equally versatile in English and mesmerises the audience with her enigmatic smile. Being an active member of the Organising Committee of the Karnataka Sangha Dubai, she is bubbling with enthuasiam and anticipation and looks forward to the mega star-studded event to be held on November 11, 2005 which will commemorate with the celebrations of Rajyostava Day -2005.

“Compering is my passion” and true to her Scorpio traits she is passionate about her interests.  Whatever she does, she does it with her intense determination and perseverance.