You're watching OnQ because these foundations care enough about local programing to help pay for it.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Heinz Endowments, the McCune Foundation, the Pittsburgh Foundation, the Grable Foundation, the Benter Foundation.

Additional funding is made possible by the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and by the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

Helping OnQ showcase thi region's vibrant arts community.

And these corporations also support OnQ: Highmark is proud to support OnQs coverage of the arts, culture, health, public affairs, and civic journalism.

The stories of our region.

Thank you.

No matter what the market does when the economy makes waves.

Where can you find insight?

The Private Client Group at National City where trust is something we earn.

And we couldn't do it without you.

The members of WQED.

Welcome to OnQ, I'm Michael Bartley.

Last night, a new PBS series called The Story of India captivated viewers across the nation.

Here in the Pittsburgh region, Indian Americans watched proudly.

And we can all take pride in knowing Indian Americans are a growing, thriving immigrant population in this region.

Why?

Many reasons, but you have to start in Penn Hills to realize why we have so much of India in Pittsburgh.

The temple is the, place of worship and the house of the God.

Sri Venkateswara Temple means the Lord's temple.

It's quite a sight for those driving along the Parkway East in Penn Hills.

And since it opened in 1976, tens of thousands from all ove the world have stopped to visit.

It's no wonder the white, ornate exterior on top of the hill facing east and the Holy interior was built exactly to model one of the most famous Hindu temples in India, dating back to the seventh century, with the same name too, Sri Venkateswara And it's okay to abbreviate and call it the S.V.

temple.

Is it a fact that the S.V.

temple here in Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, technically was the first temple of its kind in the United States?

Yes.

This is the first authentic Hindu temple built in Pittsburgh.

And before that there was no Hindu temple in in North America.

And since it was built, you have visitors coming from all over.

Yes.

Because since it's built you know, the people coming from not only from the tri state area, from all over United States, Canada, even from abroad, other countries, you know, building Doctor, Srinivasagam who came to Pittsburgh to pursue his medical career, was one of a handful of founders when they broke ground in the mid 70s.

At the time, Pittsburgh's Indian population was small but increasing.

Local Hindus prayed together in the basement of a Squirrel Hill home, then, until they organized to build the S.V.

Temple.

Where did you get the money?

Money, We approach different ways.

You know how to raise money locally as well as approach in India so that we can get some blueprints, how to construct the temple, as well as how to bring the people to construct the temple in Pittsburgh, you know.

So we approached the, there is a sister temple in, India.

We approached to them and, about starting a temple, and they were so generous, giving grants as well as all the help locals pitched in to.

And the roughly $900,000 price tag also included bringing these experts in temple building from India.

What is the book you're holding?

This is the book of the temple was formally dedicated in 1978.

No one at the time expected that not only would the SV temple become a popular place to worship, to experience Indian culture and history, it would become a destination enticing Indian immigrants to settle in Pittsburgh.

Temple plays a big role, in, in the, the religious needs of the Indian community.

The temple is a place, particularly in North America, where people also come for other activities, such as cultural activities.

The temple has a large auditorium where many programs for children and families are held.

There is a large dining room with authentic food served.

This is where you perform weddings, weddings and what else?

There are 68 birthdays and anniversaries all day and anniversaries and baby, baby born, new baby borns.

We get the namin ceremony card, it's the freedom.

SK Reddy is the current temple secretary.

The temple is a Doctor N. Srinivasagam is a trustee.

They take pride in knowing the S.V.

Temple, a holy place, has become a destination for all.

Since in a temple is the only medium wher we can enjoy the Indian culture, art, dance, educational aspects, spiritual education, meditation.

So the temple serves many needs of the community.

Since the temple is built based upon the traditional architecture, it looks so beautiful an it is a very important monument.

The city of the size of Pittsburgh.

It shows the multi-ethnic nature of the city, which is definitely an attraction for people of different faiths to come and settle in the city.

You have to remember for more than 2000 years, or even maybe even before, the people of Hindu faith have practiced the peace all their lives.

Is the faith that promotes and practices universal harmony.

S.V.

Temple members reverently remove their shoes before entering the sacred temple.

Respectfully, we videotape only the entrance way to the Sacred Temple, the holy place of prayer.

When people of our faith enter the temple, they come with an attitude of total devotion for the Lord.

And they invite you to come and see this, the golden chariot.

The gold is donated by the people because that is the most valued item.

And even that they are able to part with as a donation to the temple to beautify the Lord.

And that's one of the, aspects of Hindu tradition.

It's a gift to God.

It's a gift.

The gold is a gift to God.

Reddy a retired chemist at Alcoa, and Doctor Srinivasa, a kidney specialist.

Both say they took jobs here in Pittsburgh because of this place and the primary attraction for me, even to accept that position was the location of this temple in Pittsburgh.

Sri Venkateswara Temple.

Really?

Yes.

This temple attracted you to Pittsburgh?

Absolutely no question 100%.

This temple is a magnet for attracting people to come and settle in this town.

This temple is very special.

It just trust them here.

Pittsburgh's Indian population has been on the rise for several decades.

The first wave came in part to be educated at our internationally respected universities, and to work in the medical and engineering fields.

I came here, I like to plac another large wave of immigrants like Ravi Koka came in the 80s and 90s to work in the growing software engineering industry.

Hey, guys, how's the, Whitman Project going?

I was married, I was 38 years old.

I had no money in my bank.

I moved here with, like, $5,000.

My wife thought I was crazy because, you know, how are you going to feed the kids?

We left a fairly stable, home and job in India.

But I think, you know, entrepreneurs are all about taking some risk, and and I think it's, at the end of the day, I'm okay with the decision I made.

He has every reason to smile.

After coming to Pittsburgh in 1988, at the urging of a friend, a Carnegie Mellon professor, Ravi Koka finished some graduate studies.

Then he founded seek, various enterprise software companies selling software to the financial services industry, banks and insurance companies.

The super successful company now has 100 employees in Pittsburgh and India.

I could have gone to the Silicon Valley, to San Francisco, or to some of the other bigger cities.

I have many, many opportunities.

Many times I was asked to move my business to to the Silicon Valley.

But I would say that, what I liked about Pittsburgh is that it's about the right size of city for me.

You continued to raise your family in Mount Lebanon.

Were they happy in Pittsburgh?

Yes, extremely.

My daughter's name is Anjani, and she's doing her second year in medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School.

My son is, his name is Anish, and he is a study in cardiology.

He's also a doctor in Philadelphia.

Koka says he and his wife, Rashmi couldn't have asked for a better plac to raise their son and daughter.

And almost their whole Mount Lebanon neighborhood showed up for their son's traditional Indian wedding at the house last year.

It's a northern Indian tradition where men were, I guess, warriors, that they would normally come on a horse.

They're received by the, you know, bride's by the bride's party.

I bet your neighbors in Mount Lebanon were impressed with that.

Not there were rumors that it was going to come on an elephant.

So even your neighbors were dancing?

Yeah, we taught them how to.

How to do the Indian, dance.

Koka shares these pictures of his mother and father and two brothers in India.

He's a young man in this picture, sitting directly to the left of his mother.

Koka is from southern India.

Most Indian immigrants in Pittsburgh are from the southern region.

He says some came because of the temple, some by word of mouth, invited by friends to continue their education here.

But most came for specialized education and jobs.

More than 100 new Indian students come here every year.

So I think the health care, the the, the medical system here, the universities, companies like Westinghouse, I think they were also a draw.

I think that that's also a factor.

I think the I'm not trying to, you know, underestimate the personal connection, but I do think that these these Pittsburgh, you know, industries or what Pittsburgh is known for is also an attraction.

I came back from my training and Koka will continue his volunteer role of attracting new businesses from India.

Indian immigrants have generated a lot of money for this region.

25 or 30 entrepreneurs that I know.

We have collectively raised about about $400 million in capital, $400,000,400 million in capital and in terms of employee employment, it would run into the thousands.

local Indian-Americans predict the immigrant population will continue to grow.

Indian community is a vibrant community, this growing community in Pittsburgh, we wanted to take part in, all the, part of the Pittsburgh community, also in a lot of other faiths.

And, we want to be good citizens of this country.

By the way, the S.V.

Temple isn't the only Indian temple in the region.

For more informatio about the S.V.

Temple and Indian life and culture over all here in the region, log on to our website wqed.org/OnQ more now on our India series with Tonia Caruso who got what might be the best assignment.

I think so anyway.

Absolutely.

No argument there Michael.

Think of Indian culture and you can't help but think about the food.

So we went to a favorite local spot for Indian cuisine, where the owners are about as popular as the food, and they bring yet another special part of India to Pittsburgh.

Every day is a long line for Usha Sethi and her husband Subhash We generally are here by 9 a.m.

and we stay till 10 p.m.

till the restaurant closes.

We put in 14 hours a day, seven days a week, but you'll never hear them complain.

In fact, it's just the opposite.

They live for and love the Taj Mahal on McKnight road, the restaurant and catering busines they've run for nearly 13 years.

You know, it gives me great pleasure.

When a customer said, you know, the food was very good, he was satisfied.

So that's my favorite part, a favorite part.

After major career changes for this husband and wife team, they arrived in the United States from New Delhi in 1985.

At that time in India, we were both practicing law.

I had a law degree from University of Delhi and my husband had a master's in law, but he wanted to pursue his doctorate, so we both came here initially for furthering our education.

Usha went to work at the United Nations while Subhash attended school.

In 1992, Usha enrolled at Duquesne University here in Pittsburgh to work on her master's.

By then, the couple had two young children, and balancing work, school and family life became difficult.

I could not really continue the school because of the family.

I had two children, one boy and one girl, and my husband was still practicing in New York, so we tried keeping it back and forth.

Going from Pittsburgh to New York.

The minute we decided that we want to be in Pittsburgh, and we could not both find a job of our choice.

So I thought that I would start the business of the restaurant.

So when your wife decided maybe we should open a restaurant, what was your first reaction?

It, looked fascinating to me.

And, my wife had a flair for cooking.

Our main cuisine here is from North India, but I always wanted to see this restaurant as a place where all the regions of India could find the food of their choice.

So how many different dishes do you make a day?

My menu has 205 dishes.

205.

But to make it very simple, I would say at least 20 dishes a day we make If you've never had Indian food, Usha says the lunch buffet is a good place to start.

Everything in her restaurant is made from scratch every day.

It's very healthy cuisine.

For the reason.

Number one, it's all fresh food.

This is a food which is a very, very balanced food.

It has the our main staple food is rice and bread.

The restaurant makes 24 different kinds of bread.

We cook all the fresh vegetables and of course we cook all non-vegetarian as well.

We cook chicken, lamb, shrimp, fish.

Many of those items are cooke in a clay oven called a tandoor.

The hot charcoal fire gives a unique flavor, as of course, do many spices.

One spice found in just about every dish is turmeric, a plant of the ginger family.

It has value way beyond flavor.

A lot of ingredients that we use in Indian cooking have medicinal value.

Also, say back in home, if somebody gets hurt, you get a wound.

They just make a paste of turmeric and put it on it and it's gone the next day.

But taste is the real reason you go to any restaurant.

So Usha tells us abou some of her most popular dishes.

They include tandoori chicken, which is chicken marinated in yogurt and mild spices, and cooked in the tandoor.

There's chicken tikka masala, which is chicken cooked in the tandoor and served in a tomato cream sauce.

But it's vegetarians who may have the most to smile about.

With more than 30 vegetarian dishes on the menu.

My favorite dish is the spinach in the cottage cheese.

We call it Palak Paneer and the way it is made, it has such good ingredients.

We combine four different types of greens to make that dish.

Do you have a favorite in all of this?

This is one.

Perhaps the real story of the Taj Mahal is not the food, but the folks it brings together.

And the relationships Usha and Subhash have built over the years.

Usha is the premier Indian caterer, not just in Pittsburgh but in the tri state region.

Doing weddings and parties up to a thousand people.

But it's her relationship with her customers inside the restaurant that she's happiest about.

From day one, about 90% clients that are Americans.

We do get new customer every day, but at the same time, I don't think I have ever lost any repeat customer.

There are countless regulars here, like Kerry Kearney from Independence Township, Beaver County.

She comes here 2 to 3 times a week.

Well, I've traveled in India and I am a total fan of Indian food.

And as among the places in the Pittsburgh area, or even in the whole of Pennsylvania that serves Indian food, this is by far the best.

It's hard to believe, but Laurel Webster and James Shearing of Allison Park have Kerry beat.

And so now, how often do you come here?

We come eight times a week.

Seven days, twice on Sunday.

Eight times a week?

Yes.

Seriously?

Seriously?

How did you get to this point?

We had no choice.

It's wonderful food.

We're vegetarian, so there's.

There's such a huge menu for us to choose from.

And we just, we love the food, and we just we love the people here.

They're so nice, and they're became part of our family.

And we just, you know, I mean, this is like what we look forward to.

Laurel says, Ushas warmth, keeps lots of people coming back.

She is like the mother to everyone.

She she's there.

She she knows what your needs are.

She's open, she's kind, she's always happy.

And you just feel good.

It's like you're just going to eat in your mom's kitchen.

Usha and Subhash wouldn't have it any other way.

Is it harder or easier than practicing law?

You just keep going.

You don't keep going.

I think we never get.

You know, so far, I don't know, maybe the age might bring things to a level that I need to stop thinking I need rest.

But so far, we never even missed it.

You do enjoy.

The restaurant is open every single day of the year.

The Sethis have never missed a day, except for when they traveled to India for their daughter's wedding.

And Michael, wonderful people, wonderful food.

I couldn't get of your photographer out of there.

We're all hungry over here now, my friends, Tonia, great story.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And joining us, two leaders of the Indian community here in Pittsburgh, Harish Saluja is the founder of the Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival here in the region.

He's the subject of an OnQ story next Tuesday night OnQ and K. S Venkataraman.

Is that all right?

See, I did all right on that.

I've been rehearsing pretty good.

Yeah.

Thank you.

He is the editor of the Patrika magazine.

Is that right?

Patrika is the local publication of all things India.

These are some of the copies right here.

And tell us what.

And, you know, you have a heavy subscription.

Lots of people, want this magazine.

Yes.

This magazine.

I started 14 years ago, in 1995.

It was 15 years old.

Because, I mean, because of the I mean, as you as we discussed earlier, I mean, off camera, Indian immigrants here are overwhelmingly white.

Got it.

Professionals like engineers, scientists, physicians, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, because they are scattered all over the six counties around the point.

And in the Indian context, we are a polyglot, you know, even though we have a common ethos which binds us together.

Sure.

So you have all sorts of listings and cultural happenings and restaurants and advertising.

Yes.

And several Indian immigrants here they are also very talented in Indian performing arts and also visual arts, like painting.

Harish Saluja is a good painter, you've got some nice paintings in his house and he's a great filmmaker too, among other things here.

Speaking of good, I paid you guys to say good here.

It works.

So in Pittsburgh, outside the temple at least 15, 20 cultural program are feature.

Lots of stuff going Yes, some of them by leading, visiting artist from India, many of them from artists from living in and around Pittsburgh itself.

So we use the magazine as a platform for in this transition, in where we slowly assimilate ourselves into the American mainstream, covering the whole gamut of the problem.

And it's great and popular and just the one I picked up.

Guess what has the Pittsburgh skyline on the cover.

Page 36.

Harish Saluja gets Arts Council award.

You'r just in the middle of everything I know Indians are coming.

Oh, and you know, you got to take pride.

You know, the PBS program is remarkable.

So many people watching it.

But why in your mind is Pittsburgh so attractive for Indian immigrants?

Well, as Ravi and others mentioned earlier, it is a welcoming town, wonderful town.

Colleges are a big attraction.

And the hospital.

So the two main professions engineering, higher studies, medicine, are a good cause, for, for people to come here.

And you see, as you well know, one of the best places in the world to live.

People are nice.

We have, a wonderful football team, good cultural season.

We have a hockey team.

One of these days, we'll even have a baseball team again.

You know, things, things can happen.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

That's gonna.

They're going to be okay.

And, you know, you have to consider this also, look at, you know, the Pittsburgh population has been declining for years, particularly in the city.

We welcome immigrant populations.

Well, we are the new immigrants.

In 100 years ago people came from Eastern Europe.

Now the new immigrant are coming from India and China, and they're generally professionals.

You know, they're coming from Asia.

And our hope is through my film festival and other arts and cultural organizations that will put Pittsburgh on the international map in a new way and get even more immigrants to this wonderful, lovely, fantastic, beautiful city.

And I know our time is short here tonight, but we're going to explore so much about your life and career next Tuesday as well.

But K.S., we have about one minute left.

Will this, immigrant population continue to grow in southwestern Pennsylvania?

I think so.

Why is that?

Even though the youngsters come to see you, My daughter when she went to Carnegie Mellon.

But she prefers to go and work in DC and she's in news media looking at the newspaper, I mean television, ABC news.

But youngsters tend to move out more this year.

But a lot of people are also moving in.

Yeah.

Either seeking jobs or hospitals, education, research and development and also entrepreneurs.

So because of that, the net influx will be a positive among the Indian, immigrant group.

I hope you keep talking about it, about Pittsburgh and the magazine.

Yes, we do.

And it's called the Pittsburgh Patrika.

The name is Pittsburgh.

Patrika means magazine.

Pittsburgh Magazine.

Great for great to have you, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Thank you for inviting us.

Always.

We'll talk to you again next week.

Okay.

K.S.

what a pleasure.

Thank you very much.

A reminder you can catch the next airing of the PBS series The Story of India next Monday night, beginning at 9 p.m.

and then next Tuesday.

We continue our OnQ series India in Pittsburgh.

And that airs, of course, at 7:30.

That'll do it for us tonight for Tonia Caruso.

So all of us at OnQ.

I'm Michael Bartley, thanks for watching.

Good night.