Kalyani Giri Honored with Distinguished Journalism Award by Hinduism Today
By Ravi Raghavan

Kalyani Giri and her family visiting the Hinduism Today office in Kauai recently. Photo: Krishna Giri.

HOUSTON: Good journalism can make our world a better place is the unspoken refrain that inspires many budding journalists. What separates the wheat from the chaff is not just their commitment to objectivity, but also their creative flair and perspicuity of their thoughts. It was verily to honor such finest torchbearers of journalism and writers of excellence that the Houston Indian community came together as one and duly recognized a rare gem in their own midst.

Distinguished journalist Kalyani Giri received the Distinguished Service Award - Through Journalism from Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, the pioneering Hawaii-based publisher of Hinduism Today magazine at an impressive ceremony held at the India House on August 30, 2009. The award, instituted this year, is a prestigious recognition by the largest Indo American organization, Hindus of Greater Houston and will be given once every four years to one illustrious person, in various fields of work/service. Giri is the first and sole recipient of the Distinguished Service Award 2009.

While Giri is no stranger to the Houston community, she is in fact, a fourth-generation Indian born in Durban, South Africa. Her parents Nadarajan and Kanthimathi Naidoo are respected lifelong cultural activists residing in South Africa along with the rest of her extended family. Giri was educated at the St Anthony’s School, a Catholic school in Durban. Hailing from a Hindu family steeped in the Indian cultural arts, with music taught to her by her mother from a very young age, Giri was inspired to study Carnatic music of southern India, which was not offered in South Africa during the apartheid years because of the cultural embargo. To accomplish this, she left for India and enrolled at the Queen Mary’s College in Chennai. While studying in India, she discovered a natural aptitude for writing and became a contributing editor with Pondicherry’s Youth Age magazine. When the opportunity to leave India for the United States came up, she began her career in the USA by writing for the Houston-based Asian Woman Magazine, which accorded women an effective forum for expression on women’s’ issues.

Soon journalism became her primary vocation, and she has since written articles for local and international publications such as Hinduism Today, Indo American News, Voice of Asia, India Herald, and India Post - to name a few. Her interviews with people, their lives and achievements, and community events documented with a uniquely personal touch, make for fascinating reading. In 2002, the Asia Houston Network, an affiliate of the Houston city Mayor’s office, conferred the Asian Women in Media Award to Giri in recognition of her contribution to the community through media.

“Kalyani is a wonderful writer, who writes with tremendous passion and empathy,” said Pramod Kulkarni, editor of Indo-American News, a weekly newspaper based in Houston, Texas. “We feel very privileged that Kalyani writes for us on community and cultural programs that reveal her in-depth knowledge of religion and the fine arts.”
It was a sentiment reiterated by journalist Jacob David, Giri’s colleague at Indo American News.

“Kalyani is a professional in her own right, whose quest is excellence. She is a lover of the arts, and focuses on knitting the community together through her insightful reports,” said David.

Community activist and media liaison Vijay Pallod, who has collaborated with and guided Giri for over 15 years on thought-provoking issues facing the Hindu-American community, lauded the significant role played by her and spoke from his heart at the award ceremony.
“Kalyani Giri has made a significant contribution to the Hindu community through her profession of journalism. She has interviewed many great Hindu saints and leaders. She has a passion to cover both the major points and the seemingly minor details and has the talent to bring out the best in the person,” said Pallod.

“She has also covered many youth events and various social issues. When an Austin night-club portrayed Lord Krishna and His divine consort Radha in a way that was hurtful to many Hindus, Kalyani covered the sensitive story in very professional way. Her article about the late Akhil Chopra contributed to making Akhil a local hero and touched many peoples’ hearts. We are indeed fortunate to have her in Houston,” added Pallod.

Pallod was alluding to the prolific community activist Akhil Chopra who was murdered in broad daylight while meditating in an area park in this city four years ago.

Many prominent Houstonian community leaders have spoken loudly in praise of Giri’s talents and professionalism. Complimenting Giri for her inspiring and incisive articles, Subhash Gupta, President of the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA, was vocal in lauding Giri.

“I want to underline the fact that an outstanding journalist like Ms. Giri is deserving of the many more concomitant accolades that are destined for her,” said Gupta.

World-renowned Bharatha Natyam and Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer, guru, and author, Dr. Rathna Kumar has been a mentor and an inspiration to Kalyani Giri. They have collaborated together on many cultural events and programs locally over the years.
“The first thing I noticed about Kalyani, when I met her, twenty-seven years ago, was her extraordinary felicity of phrase, and her capacity to translate her thoughts into words so eloquently and beautifully. It is not surprising that with her gift for writing, she has taken to journalism and has given us excellent articles on a variety of subjects. That she was recently recognized for her journalistic contributions is indeed further confirmation of her caliber as a writer par excellence. I must also add that I am extremely proud that she is my sister-in-law,” said Dr. Kumar.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, the globally celebrated author of books such as Arranged Marriage, The Mistress of Spices, and more recently, the critically acclaimed Palace of Illusions. She is also the Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Houston.
“Kalyani is a wonderful journalist and an amazing writer. I have enjoyed reading her thoughtful pieces over the years in Indo American news and other magazines,” said Divakaruni. “It has been my privilege to have been interviewed by her as well. Congratulations to her on a well deserved award!”

Rachel Varghese, President of the Indo American Charity Foundation was eloquent about Giri.

“To say that Kalyani Giri has the gift of communication is truly an understatement. Her ability to create phrases that are both poetic and powerful is what makes her words unforgettable. Her commitment to quality is apparent in her use of words and her ability to carry the reader onto the paths where she dares to tread,” enthused Varghese.

Vijay Bhuchar, a former president of Pratham USA Houston-Chapter, who continues to work tirelessly for the cause of literacy in India, was happy to share her thoughts about the award.

“I am delighted that Kalyani Giri has been awarded the Distinguished Service Through Journalism Award this year. Her literary skills are a breath of fresh air in Houston’s journals. We are truly privileged to have a journalist/writer of this caliber amongst us,” said Bhuchar.
Renowned musician David Courtney who along with his wife Chandrakantha, a Hindustani classical vocalist of note, have known Giri for the past 26 years, also talked of her loyalty to her vocation.

“Kalyani is like the invisible glue which has held together countless endeavors of the last couple of decades,” said Courtney. “Her involvement in numerous ventures both before the programs as well as in follow up reporting afterwards has often made the difference between a venture’s success and failure.”

Underlining the important role played by Giri was Nellie Naidoo, a fellow South African and Houston resident who was present at the awards event. “Kalyani will no doubt continue to promote our rich Indian culture as she has done for all these years and we all, especially our children, will be the better for it,“ said Naidoo.

Kalyani is married to Krishna Giri, a managing partner at Indo American News. The couple has one daughter, Anushka, 17, a senior at the Micheal Debakey High School for Health Professions.

Hindus of Greater Houston is very thankful to India House and especially to its Chairman Ravi Arora who delivered the vote of thanks, for extending their hospitality and hosting this event to honor Kalyani Giri who has truly become a remarkable role model and unique Indo-American pioneer.