Mohini Walavalkar, a student of Nandini Mandal's Nandanik Dance Academy and daughter of Mukta and Sameer Walavalkar had her Bharatnatyam Arangetram on March 26th 2011 at the Boyce Middle School Auditorium in front of a large group of invited guests.

Mohini Walavalkar a gifted junior at Upper St. Clair High School has been learning Bharatanatyam since 1999. She has participated in various dance programs for the Pittsburgh Folk festival, PNC Bank, Mellon Bank, CMU, Point Park College and various Indian Community Programs in Pittsburgh and other locations in the US. Mohini has attended various workshops from reputed dancers in Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, NavNritya, Chhau and Kathak. Mohini has also learned Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary dance.

In school Mohini actively participates in Mock Trial Competitions, Multicultural Club and Kids Helping Kids Club. Mohini has been selected to represent the United States as a Student Ambassador and will be traveling to 6 countries in Europe this summer.

The versatile writer in Dr. Priyadarshan Manohar had a golden year for his writing. His second book, a collection of humorous articles, "आनंदाचा फॉर्म्युला" was published in Dec 2009. This was followed by a highly entertaining musical one-act play "संसार...व्हर्जन 2" written by him and produced by MMPGH in May 2010. His short story "परतली घरा भिरी" won the First Prize in "एकता Short Story Writing Competition" in October. Another of his short stories "सिग्नल" was chosen for the "Editor's Choice Award" in "रंगदीप" Diwali 2010 ank published jointly by Maharashtra Mandal in NY and Marathi Vishwa in NJ. A thought-provoking article drawing parallels between stereotypical and modern female gender definitions "बाईची गोष्ट" was published in "अपूर्वाई" Diwali ank based in Mumbai. And, last but not the least, his musical two-act play "संगीत नाट्यसंभव" was awarded second prize in musical play writing competition organized by one of the most reputed organizations in the field, "खल्वायन", based in Ratnagiri. The year was topped off with articles in "एकता", "बी. एम. एम. वृत्त" and the publication of "वाटचाल", a commemorative book edited by Dr. Manohar that documents the history of the past twenty five glorious years of MMPGH. Congratulations to Dr. Manohar for all his achievements and best wishes for his future projects!

Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Sabrina Bryan, Rondell Sheridan and Richard Kind

Story line: A doctor discovers that he has only 6 months to live. He decides to make a list of 6 friends whose lives he will improve by effecting some match-making and career and personality changes, before he is gone. The more he realizes that his matchmaking is futile and his friends are worse off, the harder he tries to help. He can't stand it that his friends are merely happy, he wants them happier, at any cost, to them, of course. Now the friends are trying to get him. Since he is dying he shouldn't care, right? Or should he?

The movie includes several Hollywood stars: Richard Kind ("The Serious Man"); Sabrina Bryan (from Dancing with the Stars); Rondell Sheridan (who is now active on Bombay TV to direct a 100 episode serial); and Pittsburgh's own Franco Harris (Steeler). Here is a link to Ravi's website for more information: www.ravigodse.com There are two trailers on this website site: one is under "Trailer" tab and the other under "Videos" tab. Please enjoy watching those trailers and the movie when it hits the theatres soon.

Dr. Priyadarshan Manohar's first Marathi book - a collection of short stories is published by Ajab Pustakalaya, Kolahpur (a branch of Mehta Publications). The book contains 16 short stories published over the past 20 years in various media - diwali ank, and several stories were awarded prizes in short story competitions in India, Australia and US - a truely global writing and publishing experience! Congratulations to Dr. Priyadarshan Manohar.

Recently, the research conducted by two of our longstanding Marathi Mandal members Ratnakar and Swati Mujumdar, who really do not need much of an introduction to our members, was featured in the prestigious journal called Cancer Research and also in the bulletin from Hutchinson Center and Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute. As some of you know, Swati and Ratnakar Mujumdar worked as scientists in Carnegie Mellon University. During their research, they developed a number of synthetic chemicals known as fluorescent dyes, the trade name for these is Cyanine dyes. Most of the research conducted in universities remains in the academic world in form of increased knowledge about a given field. However, the research conducted by Swati and Ratnakar Mujumdar has been the subject of many patents and also the technology has been transferred to industry. Congratulations to Ratnakar and Swati on their accomplishments !

Dr. Priyadarshan Manohar was selected as the 2007-2008 Pittsburgh Night Lecturer for the Golden Triangle Chapter of the Professional Materials Engineering Society, ASM International. This Award recognized Dr. Manohar as a younger member of the chapter who has accomplished outstanding work as a metallurgist or metallurgical manager. The Award was instituted in 1951 and has been awarded to such luminaries as H. Paxton, I. Bernstein, J. Lankford, A. Thompson and T. Pollock. The lecture was entitled "Old Wine and a New Bottle: Direct Strip Casting of Steels and New Thoughts in Engineering Education" and was delivered on November 15th, 2007 at a function organized in Oakland.

Jui Joshi, one of our Pittsburgh Marathi community and one of the daughters of Shubha Joshi and Late Dr. Manohar Joshi, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Phipps Conservatory. As a member of this board, Jui is involved in helping Phipps Conservatory raise funds and flourish. Jui’s picture recently appeared in the Pittsburgh Business Times with Honorary Chairs Troy and Theodora Polamolu at the Wines Under Glass event that was held Nov. 6 at Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Oakland. The event featured wine tastings, a tour of the Dale Chihuly exhibition and entertainment. This glass exhibit is now open in the Phipps Conservatory through February and is a must see if you have not yet seen it.

Mr. Girish Thakar, a long time member of MMPGH has been elected as the President of the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) for the period 2007 – 2009. Mr. Thakar and his team will shoulder the responsibility of organizing the BMM convention in Philadelphia in 2009. Girish is actively involved in the Marathi community for past 16 years. He was also member of the BMM Executive committee (1993 to 1997) and Treasurer of BMM from 2005 to 2007. We congratulate Girish and wish him all the best for the many tasks ahead!

MMPGH member Dr. Ravindra Godse debuted in the film industry with the release of his first movie ‘Dr. Ravi and Mr. Hyde’ on July 17, 2007. Dr. Godse wrote, directed, produced and acted in this movie. His second movie is on its way to completion. Hearty congratulations to Dr. Godse and best wishes for his success in the art field.

Granthali Publications, Mumbai published an edited volume entitled ‘Shodh Marathipanacha’ on June 10, 2007. Three of the authors whose essays were accepted for publication subsequent to the panel review are members of MMPGH: Dr. Priyadarshan Manohar, Mr. Sachin Samant and Dr. Arun Jatkar. Congratulations to all three authors for their publication! (Mr. Sachin Samant has recently moved back to India).