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FORTNIGHTLY
Vol.26 No.1 (1)
OCTOBER (1) 2018
SYDNEY
indianlink.com.au
25 TH AN N IVERSARY ISSU E SY D N E Y
NATIONAL EDITION
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MELBOURNE
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ADELAIDE
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BRISBANE
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PERTH
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EDITORIAL
PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra
Into our 25th year
ASSISTANT EDITOR Neha Malude
BY PAWAN LUTHRA
MELBOURNE COORDINATOR Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Chitra Sudarshan, Vinaya Rai, Smriti Sekhar, Hamida Parkar, Minal Khona, Nury Vittachi ADVERTISING MANAGER Shriti Sinha 0410 578 146 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Charuta Joshi 02 9279 2004
Indian Link is a fortnightly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Indian Link, may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to:
INDIAN LINK MEDIA GROUP Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005 Email: info@indianlink.com.au
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few of our supporters have picked up on the fact that Indian Link is entering its 25th year of serving the Indian Australian community. “How do you feel?” they’ve asked. An interesting question, because it raises a range of emotions. Happy, satisfied, proud, humbled, honoured to be trusted. Did we expect, when we sent our very first edition to print on 24th October 1994, that in our 25th year we would be printing 72 editions a year, with over 3,200 pages of information and advertisements, that we would boast a 24/7 radio station with over seven hours daily of live programming, and that our social media platforms would have over 20,000 genuine followers? Did we expect our passion for media would reach a stage where it would evolve into a city-based company with a team of employees? And finally, did we expect to have remained true to our core values?
The answer is that we had no idea. We just went on the journey, met some fantastic people, learnt a lot, opened a window into the local Indian Australian community, and helped many micro businesses get off the ground, some of which have become juggernauts. We are proud to have encouraged discussions on issues like gay rights, elderly abuse and community association rules, without the fear of reprisals. It is exciting to note that going forward, we can see our role as observers of the community becoming more important, as the Indian Australian community inches towards 1.3 million in the next 13 years, as per recent reports. There will be successes, failures and challenges as we evolve into our own blend of migrants, adding colour to the fabric of multiculturalism. Our job is to work with the community and ensure that in the next 25 years, we are able to reflect the journeys of our people. We are eager to venture into new avenues. Print will remain our first love, but the thrill of taking a new idea out to the community - whether on radio, social media, podcasts or YouTube - is unmatched. Newer, technologically adept audiences are urging us on, and for that we are grateful.
And underpinning all this is the pleasure we have in delivering a trusted brand, especially in the light of fake news, fake likes and fake print-run invoices. Trust is in short supply in our current world. For all this and more, we are thankful to our team of writers who put in late nights and weekends to be a part of the Indian Link family. They can well garage their journalistic talents and spend time in other leisurely pursuits. Instead, they are a role model to us, their friends and family for their dedication. To our advertisers who trusted us with their money, many who have been with us from our early years, thank you for your confidence in us. We hope we have in some small way been a part of your success too. To our own team in our office, we admire you for your dedication in taking forth the Indian Link brand and for constantly seeking ways to improve it, as well as make our operations more effective in the light of the growing diversity of roles we seem to be taking on. To our readers and listeners and followers, we are deeply in your debt for your trust in us. We’ve grown together in our journeys as New Australians, and we hope to continue this journey together.
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CONTENTS 31
SPECIAL FEATURES 25TH ANNIVERSAY Twenty five years with Indian Link
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Borderless FESTIVAL Gandhi Dancing at the Garbas
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peace equality nonviolence
STAGE Kids of Majestic Brindavan
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GANDHI AT 150 Rare pics in Gandhi exhibition at Perth
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FOOD Straight as a jalebi
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COVER STORY
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We commence our 25th year of publication this month
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‘BORDERLESS GANDHI PRESENTS MAHATMA IN COLOUR’ 2nd October - 9th November 2018
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A photo exhibition at
Parliament of Western Australia
Perth Airport International Terminal 1
Pan Pacific Hotel, Perth
क्या आप अपने पिरवार को ऑस्ट्रेिलया बुला रहे हैं? उन्हें अपने 600 वीज़ा के िलए स्वास्थ्य बीमा प्राप्त कराऐं और तुरंत वीजा पुिष्ट पत्र प्राप्त करें।
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एक से अिधक भाषा बोलने वाले हमारे सलाहकारों से आज ही बात करें।
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NATIONAL EDITION
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YOUR SAY
SABARMATI KE SANT
FOURTEEN SOLID YEARS
Indian Link Radio host ANUP KUMAR clocked up 14 years behind the microphone this month. On his two weekend shows Girmit Link (Sat 1-4pm) and Baaton Baaton Mein (Sun 5-8pm), his gentle style of presentation, well-researched stories, and music from the diaspora have won him many fans. Pavitra Shankar wrote: Anupji, hearty congratulations! Kashif Harrison wrote: Anupji is indeed a colleague, friend and a radio personality who’s inspiring in so many ways. Humble, caring and full on masti bhari personality! I look forward to Saturdays to have that little bit of gupshup with Anupji, as I finish my own show and before he starts his. Always so professional on air and his research without a doubt is on point! Here’s wishing you, Anupji, many more memorable years on the airwaves via Indian Link. Pawan Luthra wrote: Great to hear Anup on air with Charuta Joshi talking about his journey and experiences at Indian Link Radio. I want to thank Anup for his dedication and passion and for all his terrific shows. They are well researched and beautifully presented, and his passion for radio is clear to all the listeners. Anup, wonderful to have you as part of the Indian Link family. Sagar Mehrotra wrote: Congratulations Anup, the rock of Indian Link Radio! Manoj Menon wrote: Great Anup, what a milestone! And many more to come. All the very best for the future. Priyanka Tater wrote: Wow, congratulations Anup! Looking forward to celebrating our star Anup on-air. Neelam Vasudevan wrote: Anup, you are a rock of support, solidarity, a great example to follow and of course an amazing person that we have on our team at Indian Link! Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, great music and fantastic recorded segments that we love to hear on replay any time and any day... they are valuable, precious and a pleasure to hear. Rajni Luthra wrote: Thanks for your programs, Anup! Charuta Joshi wrote: Anup is such a humble and wonderful person. He is a ‘chalta phirta’ encyclopedia on Hindi cinema. I’m not surprised, as he is a great collector of books and magazines. Thank you for entertaining us Indian Linkers! Keep rocking. Rachit Mehta wrote: I love listen to Anupji over the weekend. Please congratulate him on his long journey with IL Radio. Wishing him all the best for the future.
FUNDRAISER
CARL BUHARIWALA reported on a charity concert organised by a Melbournebased community association to raise awareness about Leukodystrophy Leukodystrophy Australia wrote: We are truly grateful to Shirdi Sai Sansthan for raising $10,000 for Leukodystrophy support and research.
SAY IT AGAIN 8 OCTOBER (1) 2018
On Gandhi Jayanti 2 Oct, we posted a video of kids from Darcy Road Public School singing a tribute to MK Gandhi, as part of the memorial at UNSW. The video received close to 1,400 views. Harsh Arora wrote: Wow! Great performance. Rashmi Priyanka wrote: Lovely, both the song and the kids’ performance. Sushila Thakur wrote: Wow. Ekta Chanana wrote: Thank you so much for covering our kids of Darcy Road.
ETHICAL CLOTHING
SHAFEEN MUSTAQ wrote about her resolve to stop buying new clothes to pitch in for sustainability. Petra O’Neill wrote: Buying from stores like Vinnies and the Red Cross has led to some great designer finds, for me at a fraction of the cost. All your old but clean clothing, towels, and sheets can be taken there, and what is unsaleable will be sent off and resorted with the items that are beyond it, sold as rags. But if you do buy new clothing, avoid synthetics as the particles end up in our oceans and they don’t break down. If you have old homeware, pack it off to Vinnies or the Salvos and the Salvos will pick up furniture and large items at no charge. Makes sense. Saves money and reduces waste and landfill.
Congratulations on your nomination @arunaz - so proud to have you as our wonderful colleague! Good luck to you and your husband! Monash Centre for Scholarship in Health Education, on Aruna Kumar and Atul Malhotra nomination for Pride of Australia
Namaste Mumbai, I have loved embracing the incredibly colourful and rich culture of India during my time here. Ben Ungermann, former Masterchef AU contestant during his India tour
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VALE JASDEV SINGH
Indian Link shared the news of the death of Jasdev Singh, the much-loved commentator at Doordarshan and All India Radio, on 25 September. Sanjiv Dubey (sportsman, coach and sports journalist) wrote: May his soul rest in peace. I was deeply inspired by him. Raghu Rajagopalan wrote: I enjoyed his captivating radio commentary during India’s hockey matches with other nations. Inspiring. Rum Jum wrote: A stalwart, with a truly mesmerising voice. May his soul
A TOUCH OF ZEN
Our recent Monday Motivation quote from Zen Pencils (‘Cartoon Quotes From Inspirational Folk’) touched a few hearts Laura Englund wrote: Inspiration for service and well-being Sidharath Jain wrote: Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette Sydney, this reminds me of you guys. Keep it up. Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette Sydney replied: You are very kind Sidharath Jain! Thank you. Shin Chan Nohara wrote: Surely service is a joy when you can put a smile on people’s faces and Zen Pencils Art always do. Thank you.
DANIEL ANDREWS’ TEMPLE GRANT
PREETI JABBAL reported on Vic Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcements of multiple grants to the Indian community (including $556,000 for a temple) in the lead up to the elections. Shally Relan wrote: Great efforts by team and volunteers of Sankat Mochan Samiti. Thanks Labor government, Arvind Shrivastava and team.
It’s an opportunity to reflect on his profound contributions to India as a nation and to humanity as a whole. Laurie Pearcey, Pro Vice Chancellor UNSW, on Gandhi’s Jayanti
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CAPTION CONTEST
Following SHILPA SHETTY’s infamous ‘racism’ incident involving an Australian airline recently, we asked, what’s she saying about her bag here? Vandana D’souza wrote: Does my ego look “big” in this? Raj Saneja wrote: Hey Sydney customs, you recently gave me a hard time with my oversized cabin bag, try stopping this one. Rajni Luthra wrote: Qantas, I’ve given you enough publicity in India - any chance I can be made brand ambassador...? Sahdev Vani wrote: My son put all his stickers on my smiley bag. Java Mukherjee wrote: This is how your lil one can surprise you, look at all the stickers. Vaishali Khodke wrote: Who needs a Gucci bag when I have Emoji bag? Jayanthi Vellore write: Emojis mere bag ka mood bata raha hai. Kala Raghunath wrote: Kya pata is baar bag se kya panga hoga? Falguni Shah wrote: After being accused, I’m here now with my new smiley bag. Ab harass kar ke batao! Vinny ViPs wrote: Trying to send a SORRY to Mel @Qantas.
She’s running for something, we just don’t know what Susan Glasser, New Yorker, CNN journo on Nikki Haley’s resignation as US Ambassador to the United Nations
My years at Monash from 2000-2002 were the best three years of my life. Raghav Sachar, Indian musician, during his recent visit to Monash Uni
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COVER STORY
You’d forgive Indian Link co-founders Pawan and Rajni Luthra for indulging in a spot of trumpet-blowing, considering they’re marking the publication’s silver jubilee
W
e woke up bright and early at 6. We’d only had three hours of sleep, but you wouldn’t have known it. There was precious cargo to be transported, already packed and labelled, which we loaded into the car. This was a large box of A3 sheets of paper, each with bits of text that had been printed off and stuck together manually, to make up a cut-and-paste job of what looked like newsprint. Photos were packed separately, as they had to be converted to bromides and then manually stuck on to the specified spots on each page. The craft work for Indian Link’s maiden issue was nearly ready for press. At press, there was more gluing to be done, and this time our fingers were black with the ink that was everywhere. Some seven hours later, the thrill was unmistakable as the first edition rolled off the presses. It was a sight we had seen many times on film - newsprint hurtling down the conveyor belts - but this of course, was the real thing. That was 24 years ago. Today, it’s press day again. We’ve risen bright and early at 6. We’ve only had three hours of sleep, but you wouldn’t know it. There is precious cargo to be transported: our collective work from the past week, but it’s going to be done digitally, in a few hours from now. While there’s been no cutting and pasting
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this morning, there has been so much else to put together to bring the activities of our busy office into a coherent whole. The Diwali art contest for kids is coming to a close, and just as we expected, the last minute entries are rushing in, with desperate mums calling to ask if they can send in digital copies instead of posting. The phones at Marketing are constantly ringing, as special deals are on for the festive season. Media personnel attached to politicians are getting in touch, with their special Diwali messages. Last minute checks are currently being made on editorial copy. Promotional material is being delivered by couriers - aimed at the upcoming Diwali fairs and the cricket season - having been designed and ordered early this week. The printer is spewing out sheets of information for today’s live reads on radio. Social media posts and replies are being monitored in the background, prompting a chuckle now and then. Someone’s just shouted out about this morning’s coffee run. Some seven hours later, the thrill will be unmistakable yet again, as our latest issue comes alive in its final form.
WHO WE ARE
This month, we step into our 25th year of publication. We’ve survived thanks to the community, which was growing by leaps
and bounds at the time we launched. But mostly, we’ve thrived, not just survived, because of two strong principles that have been our cornerstone ever since the very idea of this project took root in our minds. These are a commitment to quality in terms of content, design and regularity of production, and the amassing of a storehouse of talent behind us that we like to call the ‘Indian Link family’. Graduating from a small 24-page blackand-white monthly publication in 1994, produced with next to no resources except the voluntary contributions of a small group of six interested people, Indian Link is now a media group active on many platforms. It produces 72 publications a year, with a team of more than 70 regular contributors and reports from every major city in Australia. Its radio arm broadcasts 24 hours a day and can be heard online, via a smartphone app that has been downloaded some 13,000 times, or on TuneIn Radio. In recent years, our social media presence (via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) has grown exponentially. It has strengthened our online presence, including our e-paper, e-newsletters and website, and allows greater interaction with our print newspaper. A YouTube channel hosts our video stories. We draw from each of these sources to also deliver news directly to the inbox of
subscribers every week. Ever since the Multicultural Media Awards were announced in NSW in 2012, our team has become the mostawarded ethnic media group in the state, bringing home 21 awards and even more nominations, in a whole host of categories. We have been the Best Print Publication and Best Online Publication, have published the Best Print and Online News reports, produced two Multicultural Journalists of the Year, nurtured three Young Journalists of the Year, been rewarded for Innovative Use of Digital and Online Media, recognised for our community work with a Harmony Award, and have won accolades for our Coverage of Community Affairs Abroad and Best Image of the Year. Many of our contributors are well placed and experienced in their respective fields such as in new technology, legal issues, sustainability, creative writing, women’s rights, performing arts, arts review, language teaching and in sport, and provide high quality content, well researched and properly referenced, content fact-checked at their own levels. Commensurate in their role as contributors, are our valued advertisers who help us to stay afloat - community SMEs, corporates, government departments, and businesses from India seeking to enter the market: we couldn’t have done this without you.
www.indianlink.com.au
WHAT WE DO
Primary in our coverage are issues that directly affect community members New Australians - as they assimilate, highlighting challenges as well as achievements which the mainstream media might ignore or deal with only cursorily. Equally, on the other side, we look at challenges and achievements within the wider mainstream, as it grapples with an increasingly diverse population. Our considered commentaries on the changing nature of Australian society as it becomes more culturally diverse, have been widely welcomed. On contentious issues such as immigration policy (eg. citizenship tests, 457 visas, parental visas) we offer a viewpoint that adds to the debate in the mainstream. From within the community, we provide analyses of government and corporate efforts in building bilateral ties; trends in relevant sectors such as health, education and immigration; social and cultural expressions of community members; the prolific performing and visual arts scene, and the increasing trend in fund-raising events as the Indian community becomes more settled and begins to give back to society. We are proud also to feature everyday individuals who shine through with their intelligence and application, and contribute significantly to their adopted home, such as those that are featured in the Australian Government’s Honours lists. We like to cast a regular look at the different layers that make up our community, with dedicated columns for women’s issues, seniors and the issues that concern them, the youth and their
NATIONAL EDITION
particular passions, kids (their lives at school and at leisure), the gay community in their attempts to reconcile their lifestyle choice with age-old tradition, and those outside our community who have strong personal or professional ties with India. Our features on travel, heritage, food, sport, literature, health, fashion, Bollywood and humour are read with interest in both the Indian and the wider communities. When the mainstream has a question about India, or when the community has a story to tell, Indian Link is the first point of contact. Advertising is kept stringently distinct from editorial, and clearly demarcated from it. In the odd instance where a message goes out on behalf of an advertiser, the page is clearly labelled as ‘Advertorial’. Advertising is strictly regulated, with a clearly set out rate card. And yet, while we whole-heartedly embrace new trends such as those in technology, we prefer to be old-fashioned when it comes to separating our editorial content and our advertising. We follow an ethical business model and will not be seduced in any form of “cash for comment”. We have managed to keep at bay the recent upsurge in native advertising (where ads are camouflaged to look like news), supposedly the way to go to survive in a diminishing industry. Social media posts are carefully planned as we suss out what is an acceptable amount of times we appear in your feeds. With multiple awards under its belt, Indian Link has gone on to become the leading observer of the trends in Australia’s Indian community.
INFLUENCE
Observing the trends for over 24 years now has enabled us to draw conclusions about community movements with some precision and objectivity. This was particularly true in the case of the students’ crisis. Our reports were unbiased, taking into perspective the views of all parties involved, and pointed out flaws in the system as well as suggestions for the future. Our take on the issue, considered balanced and mature, made us a leading commentator for both the Australian and the Indian media. At election times, our polls to gauge the mood of community voters have become a long-standing tradition. We would like to go so far as to suggest, that our analysis enables the undecided voters to make up their minds, our coverage significantly influences public opinion. Our reports are not always flattering to community stakeholders, such as when we explored the divisions within community organisations a few years ago, or the debacle that was the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Sydney. Yet the readers out there see the merit in our assessments and in our objective editorial position. They understand better than those purporting to hold community leadership positions, that putting Daniel Andrews on the cover, for instance, does not make us Labor supporters, just as reporting a community poll in favour of the Coalition does not mean we back the Liberals. Indian Link is proud also to have become a valued work experience provider for high school students as well as journalism cadets from university. Internships at our Sydney headquarters have led to full-fledged careers in the mainstream media such as SMH, The Daily Telegraph and SBS.
TO THE FUTURE
In a scenario where community newspapers are spawning even as their mainstream counterparts are dying off, we at Indian Link hope to keep carrying on with the same ideals with which we started. The times ahead are indeed exciting, not only as we reinvent ourselves as our industry goes through an upheaval, but also as the mainstream finally begins to give us some attention. There are deadline pressures to contend with as always, plus the stresses of diminishing revenue and new forms of media that we struggle to understand. Reporting on a community that is beginning to feel some growing pains (health issues, old age issues, bicultural stress in the youth, assimilation issues in new migrants, domestic violence, even a gradual increase in gambling addiction), we have our work cut out for us. In 20 years, we hope to tell our future generations that we were able to help create that perfect blend of Indian and Australian values and lifestyle that has made us a successful multicultural community. We have kept our Indian traditions alive and lasting while learning and integrating from Australian culture the values of openness and fair go. The support of the community, we know, will continue to be with us just as we continue to tell their stories. Check out Indian Link on Facebook at /indianlinkaustralia and online at www.indianlink.com.au
Photos: Celio Agostinho
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COVER STORY
Thinkers and Linkers
Telling stories, they say, is an art. And 25 years on, we can say without a doubt that our writers have created for us a canvas that’s as full of colour as it is of substance. This issue, our valued contributors weigh in on their long-standing association with the publication, and what it has meant to them.
PETRA O’NEILL While dining at my favourite Indian restaurant in Sydney, I’d always read the latest issue of Indian Link that was delivered there. My daughter said to me one day “Mum, why don’t you write for Indian Link.” So I did. I always wanted to be a travel writer and it was Rajni who gave me the opportunity to publish my work. Years later, back at the same restaurant, I watched as one of the customers slowly turned the pages of the new issue, taking it all in. It was with enormous pride that I saw him reach the article I’d written. He paused, then flicked the pages to the movie reviews. Congratulations, Pawan and Rajni, for all that you do. to keep writing.
USHA ARVIND Congratulations Rajni and Pawan. May you grow stronger and achieve many more milestones. For me, it’s a relationship that began nearly two decades ago and one that has shaped my Australian identity. My association with Rajni, Pawan
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and Indian Link was the outcome of a casual phone call by my husband to find out if I could write for them. All these years later, as a loyal Indian Linker, I continue to do just that. Not to mention, roping in every member of my family (including my visiting mother) to also contribute. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to delve into so many personal stories, encounter so many unique individuals and forge so many interesting connections. Always aspiring for perfection, Indian Link’s stellar achievement mirrors that of the community it proudly represents
SHAFEEN MUSTAQ As a contributor to Indian Link for over a decade, I am in equal parts proud and inspired by the growth and journey of the Indian Link family and brand. Since my very first contribution, Rajni and Pawan have been supportive and encouraging of contributions that were diverse, thought provoking, funny and/or serious. In addition to providing my eclectic writing a platform, the Indian Link family also provided me opportunities – the most memorable of which was the chance to not only meet but also interview Rani Mukerji when she came to Sydney. Thank you Indian Link and congratulations on this significant milestone. I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
product that is designed to connect the Australian and Indian communities. My years with Indian Link have been exciting, challenging and fulfilling and on their 25th anniversary I wish to thank them for the wonderful association that has enriched my life. PREETI JABBAL My association with Indian Link is over 15 years old, and I am often asked: Why? Why do I want to stay up late in the night working on stories after a full-on day at my regular job, when I can get a healthy sleep instead? Why do I spend some weeknights and weekends attending events when I can relax and watch Netflix instead? Why do I continue to work for Indian Link when I already have a full-time job? My response is, why not? Why should I not want to be associated with one of the most prestigious, multiple award winning Indian magazines in Australia? Why should I not attend events and learn so much with every experience, get quality updates on what’s going on within our Indian Australian community, get better entertained and connected? Why should I not work with the best team led by people like Rajni and Pawan who I respect enormously? They say the path to progress is when your passion becomes your work, and in this case it is an entire publication/media unit led, driven and fuelled by passion. People and professionals who are dedicated to the dissemination of news, views and analysis with creativity. A dynamic media that thrives on caring for and sharing with the diaspora. A quality
MOHAN DHALL Being of part North Indian heritage I have always celebrated the best of Indian culture in my own life. Of relevance to my calling in education, scholarship is a valued part of Indian culture. That I contribute to Indian Link to the conversation around education, parenting, schooling and the like, makes me feel like I may be able to help families navigate the complexities of education as they raise their children. As scholarship is highly valued, sometimes we can forget about the child and focus too much on their performance or how well they achieve. Indian Link provides an opportunity to bring insight into how valuing effort over outcomes will achieve the same results without estranging our children from themselves. In this way my association with Indian Link means that we can together discuss what we truly value in the pursuit of scholarship within our communities
JYOTI SHANKAR Congratulations on your 25th anniversary, Indian Link! Great to be part of this publication that brings us closer to India and Australia. The professionalism and love that Rajni and Pawan impart to this free magazine’s publication is commendable. They work tirelessly each fortnight to get yet another issue out on time. Being a writer for Indian Link has been an important part of my life in Australia. It gives me a voice to reach out to the community and tell stories of people I meet along my life journey – amazing stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, as well as stories of amazing people visiting Sydney such as Vandana Shiva, Atul Gawande and Madhu Trehan. It feels nice to be introduced, “Meet Jyoti. She writes for Indian Link”. Once an Indian Link writer, you never cease to disconnect from the mindset. Wherever in the world you travel, you see the Australian-Indian links everywhere. I email Rajni excitedly, “Can I write about this”? These chance ‘stories’, triggered by such encounters are my favourite - an Australian who painted portraits of patients in a hospital in Kerala, a Salman Khan poster in Shanghai, a Daler Mehndi song in an Aboriginal performance in Sydney.
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VINAYA RAI The year was 2001. A friend called me from Sydney to say she liked my poem in Indian Link. “What?!” I was flabbergasted. “What poem? I haven’t sent anything to Indian Link. It must be someone else’s.” “No, I’m sure it is yours,” she said. So off we went as soon as we could to get a copy of the paper, and lo and behold, there it was! A few poetic lines that were part of another bit of work! I called up the editor immediately, very indignant that they had published something without my permission. But Rajni Luthra was ever so nice saying they had actually been trying to locate me as they had liked my original work (in a multicultural radio play). They had hoped that this exact thing would happen. That they would ‘find’ me after I saw the issue. Rajni convinced me to start writing for Indian Link and I did. I stopped some time later due to lack of time, but started again a few years ago. I feel very privileged to share my views - and Adelaide news - on Indian Link whenever I can. And very grateful to Rajni Luthra for encouraging and pushing me to keep writing.
ANEETA MENON Being part of the Indian Link family means having the privilege to write for a truly independent news outlet. This is something that young journos both yearn for and find near impossible in Australia’s extraordinarily concentrated media landscape. The success of Indian Link is surely credited to the quality of its content and the integrity of its editors in their pursuit to report, represent and celebrate the world around us.
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LP AYER Congratulations on the occasion of your Silver Jubilee. It is no mean achievement to run a news magazine covering the interests of a wide-ranging community, more so in a foreign country. In a span of 25 years you have already stacked your trophy cupboard with a number of awards. I wish you another 25 successful years.
RITAM MITRA My involvement with Indian Link began in 2009 - to capture, in the furtherance of my own self-interest more than anything, the emotion of my last days at high school. But it quickly became clear that this was not to be a brief dalliance. Over the years, it is the variety and calibre of people I’ve been fortunate to meet that has made my time with the paper truly remarkable. From interviewing sporting royalty in my first year as a member of the accredited cricket media, to speaking with prominent chefs, inventors, an aspiring astronaut and internationally renowned photographers, my experience has been a wealth of diversity at every stage. In many ways, diversity is what makes Indian Link so special; its focus on quality content, creative storytelling and its willingness to embrace new media sets it apart from other community papers. In fact, the high editorial standards – and the team’s innate sixth sense of what will make a good story – has seen the paper edge out even mainstream media outlets at marquee awards functions. Having been part of the family for nearly a decade now, I have no doubt there will be decades more. Happy 25th to us!
SANDIP HOR Congratulations to Indian Link for its 25 years of continued existence, linking the Indian diaspora in Australia with a variety of local and international news and features, ranging from politics, current affairs, business, finance and community matters to sports, food, cinema, entertainment and travel. As a travel writer, I feel extremely proud to be part of this successful team. My journey began in 2010 when a travel feature of mine on Dubai -›The World in a City› hit the printer for the August-2 edition. Since then I have been regularly contributing to this award-winning fortnightly and hope to continue until my pen dries. My writings here connect me with the Indian diaspora in Australia. It’s a big joy for me when I meet someone for the first time, and they say they know me through my writings in the Indian Link. During my time I have witnessed many changes with the publication and surely all for the better, such as print version frequency changing to fortnightly, digital platform expanding, social media strengthening, content becoming trendier, format remaining consistent, paper quality improving and much more. All of this has been possible because of a strong and talented professional team behind the scene which works tirelessly to bring out every edition on time.
FARZANA AHMAD Indian Link will always hold a very special place in my heart. I joined the list of contributors in 2007 after having a sour experience with one of the biggest national
publications of Australia. I was losing hope of ever getting printed and it was a massive shock since I had enjoyed significant success as a freelance writer before migrating to the lucky country. Indian Link gave me a chance to write again and lifted me when I was almost giving up. My confidence in my abilities as a writer was restored, and with the publication of that first article on sun safety, it became a part of my life that I will always treasure. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed immense support from Rajni and the rest of the team. I’ve covered varied topics in my articles, interviewed some interesting characters and felt the adrenaline as I met tight deadlines. Even though I’ve embarked on a new journey recently, Indian Link is never far from my heart and I always look forward to writing a piece or two as soon as I get the opportunity. Thank you Indian Link, for being my literary family to whom I will always be connected, and to whom I’m forever indebted. Power to you and success!
EMIE ROY Of all these 25 long years Indian Link has been active amongst the Indian-Australians, my association is rather short yet most fulfilling. I am just a 5-year-old Indian Linker with only 31 articles behind me. However, what these five years and a few thousands of printed words have taught me, is way beyond these numbers. I have observed the team pioneering a dream – bringing the Indian community in Australia together, while fostering its assimilation with the mainstream society. The second generation is always welcome to join the party too - several innovative initiatives await them. On a personal level, the team at Indian Link empowered me to voice my opinions. The space and comfort my editor, Rajni Luthra, provides me is ineffable. Always open to new ideas, she has given ears to many of my late evening calls. It may not always be ‘yes’ to
some of those over-the-top ideas. But no matter what the answer is, it is always fair and perfectly aligned to the team’s vision. I believe it is this clarity of her vision that keeps Indian Link a champion in its field. Over these years, I have developed a strong sense of bonding with her. Of late, Rajni made a passing comment, “I know how your mind works”. Such a profound comment, it refuses to leave my thoughts even after a few weeks’ time. An editor with the ability to read the mind of the writer – isn’t that the best thing to ever happen in a media house? I wish you never lose this adeptness. March on, Indian Link, to a future well above and beyond these 25 years!
YOGENDRA BHATNAGAR Congratulations to the Indian Link for completing 25 years of success in providing yeoman’s service to the vast Indian community in Australia! Only a dedicated team bonded with passion and devotion, can cross such a long journey and continue to outshine others in business and become the number one Indian newspaper in Australia. Indian Link has become a shining example for serving the community with unbiased, quality, selfless and dedicated services. With your commitment and sincerity, you have time and again proved your worth and have been decorated with much-deserved accolades, awards and fame. I take pride in saying that I was one of those fortunate people to have been with this great institution since its inception. Indian Link has worked against all the odds that occurred in these 25 years to make what seemed impossible, possible! I extend my heartiest felicitations to the team for reaching this Silver Jubilee milestone. May you continue to reach greater heights in the years to come and continue to strengthen the bond between the two truly great democratic and multicultural nations of the world.
OCTOBER (1) 2018 13
COMMUNITY The launch of the Association of Haryanvis in Australia
An AHA moment A new community association was launched this month in Sydney’s Indian community, with members claiming heritage from the northwestern state of Haryana. The Association of Haryanvis in Australia (AHA) was officially launched in the Parliament House of NSW, at an event attended by Opposition Leader Luke Foley and hosted by Member for Granville Julia Finn. Nearly 60 enthusiastic members of the new association were in attendance, some in
traditional gear. Welcoming the guests, the president of Australian Haryanvi Association, Sewa Singh spoke about the growing number of Haryanis in Australia and the need for an association to keep the culture and traditions of the community together. “The Association of Haryanvis in Australia has been formed with a vision to promote the rich Haryanvi heritage, culture and its integration with multicultural Australia whilst promoting camaraderie and a sense of belonging amongst
fellow Haryanvis,” he detailed. “We started informally with a recreation centre where the elders of not only the Haryanvi community but other elders meet once a month. We now have an open day on the first Saturday of the month where we encourage new migrants from Haryana to meet with others so that we can help them in their settlement process.” Speaking on the occasion, NSW Opposition Leader Mr. Luke Foley, a cricket tragic, spoke about the contribution of cricketer Kapil Dev, a Haryanvi. “Kapil
Dev’s 175 runs at the Cricket Word Cup in 1983 sparked the cricket revolution in India,” he recalled. “The fan following at the IPL, and the love for cricket in contemporary India, it was Kapil Dev who began it all.” Mr Foley also promised to visit Haryana on his next visit to India. Consul General of India (Sydney) Mr. Vanlalvawna, in his speech, also claimed to be part Haryanvi, as he finished his senior school years in Gurgaon, one of modern India’s most well-known financial centres.
“Today Gurgaon has changed so much,” he remarked. “All credit to Haryana for the work they are doing in attracting big Fortune 500 companies there.” The host Ms Julia Finn in her speech acknowledged the growth of the Indian diaspora in Australia. “As the community grows, it is important to have organisations which can keep its cultural links together,” she observed. “I’m quite comfortable that a country such as India with its diversity of culture can have so many organisations, as they all have a role to play. Having just one organisation from India, is like having just one European organisation for everything.” She strongly encouraged the local Haryanvis to leverage off their skills to build closer economic and social ties between NSW and Haryana. Haryana being the site of the mythological battle of Mahabharata and where Krishna bestowed his sermon of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjun, a handcrafted model of Krishna’s chariot carriage was gifted to the special guests. Over 25,000 Haryanvis now call Australia home. Pawan Luthra
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Australia heaven for bankers Raj Kiran Rai, CEO and MD of the Union Bank of India in conversation with PAWAN LUTHRA
“U
nion Bank of India has now been in Australia for over two years and the experience has been far better than we expected,” Mr Raj Kiran Rai, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of one of India’s largest public sector banks, the Union Bank of India, says. “In fact, we are looking at opportunities to further strengthen our brand. Australia is a heaven for us bankers.” Minter Ellison, a leading law practice, in their annual Bank Tracker report which details asset growth and progress of foreign banks located in Australia, has Union Bank of India’s Sydney branch in third position among all foreign banks in Australia. Mr Rai was speaking to Indian Link from the bank’s headquarters in Mumbai prior to his maiden trip to Australia to attend the high power SIBOS conference, which is expected to attract the top
bankers from around the world. Below are excerpts from a wide-ranging interview. On his highlights in the last 14 months since he was appointed as the CEO and MD of Union Bank At UBI we are in a strong position as we have consolidated ourselves in the last 14 months. To meet the new capital adequacy requirements set by the RBI, we recently raised Rs 650 crores from the market and we were oversubscribed. This achievement along with the bank working on a strategy to make our internal structures and process better, puts Union Bank in a great position to take advantage of the expected growth in the market. On the government plans to merge Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank to create the country’s third largest lender as part of efforts to revive credit and economic growth These kind of mergers are bound to happen. After the State Bank of India’s rationalisation of six associate banks with
itself, there are now 27 public sector banks. Wherever there are synergies in the banks, these sorts of mergers and consolidations ensure there is no overlapping. The weaker ones will get consolidated and over time, stronger, better and more efficient public sector banks will remain. On Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity analyst reports that private banks are set to emerge as winners over public sector banks, with an expected increase in market share over the next 10 years from the current 30% to 60%, with the public sector being big losers While the retail sector is in a growing phase, private sector banks will do well. There will be leakages from the public sector to the private sector. It is important to note that public sector banks also have a large commitment to infrastructure structure projects. For example, at UBI, we have a 40% commitment to infrastructure and 50% commitment to small and medium enterprise projects. But yes, over
the years, private banks will grow faster. But the market is large, and public sector banks will still command a large part of it. On the biggest threat to the financial markets Some governments feel that they are doing well for their citizens by protectionist policies, but time and time again it has been proven that the welfare of the world is in liberalisation. We are citizens of the world and any protectionist policies in the long term will harm the world. On global trade wars With the trade wars, interest rates in India are going up and the low cost of funding for businesses and consumers have changed. The weakening of the rupee is also not a healthy sign. All in all, it is not a good sign for the Indian economy but we need to note that India has very strong domestic consumption needs. Because of this our growth rates are very strong, in fact stronger than most other world economies. There will be no compromise on our GDP rate, and I expect the economy to grow between 7 and 8% pa. On his 30 years plus in banking The Indian banking system is very strong. It has funded the green revolution, the manufacturing revolution and now the infrastructure revolution. Union Bank has contributed enormously to each of these. From a personal point of view, when I joined, we still worked with manual ledgers but now we have computers in all our 4,200 branches. All our personnel have adapted well to the changes. The Indian economy has integrated well in the international scenario and has a wonderful banking system in the world. On Union Bank in Australia Non-resident Indians have been supporting the Indian economy for years. At Union Bank, through all our overseas offices - and through our Australia office and its CEO Pankaj Kumar - we are keen to support the local non-resident Indians and their businesses here. We look forward to offering our wide range of services to Indians and others in Australia.
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WHAT’S ON FESTIVAL BANSW Durga Puja 12, 13, 14 Oct The Bengali Association of New South Wales (bansw.org.au) has organised Durga Puja at Concord High School, 3 Stanley Str, Concord. Details Sourav Mukherjee 0455 270 821 Navratri 2018 Sat 13 Oct (6:30 pm onwards) Garba and Dandiya night with proceeds to Variety ISKCON, New Gokula Farm and Spunks (Super Parents of Unique Non Neuro-typical Kids Support) Group. Held at Newcastle Basketball, 27 Young Road, Newcastle. Details 0432 324 465. Navratri Garba Sat 13 Oct (6.30pm onwards) Gujarati Brahman Samaj of NSW presents Navratri Garba at Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope, (cnr Sentry Drive and Stanhope Parkway), Stanhope Gardens. Details 0413 806 425 Navratri Garba Dandiya 2018 Sat 13 Oct (6:30pm – 11:00pm) Navratri Cultural Group under the auspices of Shri Shiva Mandir of Minto presents action packed Garba and Dandiya Raas. Venue Menai High School, 40 Gerald Rd, Illawong. This is Sydney’s one and only true “family friendly” Navratri function, organised by a “broad community group for the broad community. Details 02 9543 7000. Durga Puja 2018 Sat 13 - Sun 14 Oct (Oct 13 at 10:00am to Oct 14 at 8:00pm) Bangladesh Puja Association Australia Inc hosts Durga Puja 2018 at James Cook Boys Technology High School, 800 Princes Hwy, Kogarah. Details 02 9587 1770, www.bpai.org.au Mega Bathukamma Sat 13 Oct (1.00pm – 8.00pm) Australian Telangana State Association (ATSA) organises Bathukamma at Northmead High School, 28 Campbell St Northmead. Details www. telangana.org.au Blacktown Diwali Mela Sun 14 Oct (11:00am-7:30pm) Fun filled Diwali at Blacktown Showground, Richmond Road, Blacktown. Lots of entertainment and plenty of food. Details 1300 338 368. IITAA Diwali Sat 20 Oct (6.00pm onwards) The IIT Alumni Association of Australia presents its annual Diwali event at Le Beach Hut, 179 Russell Ave, Dolls Point. Details Saurabh Mishra 0469 787 007. Pink Diwali Sat 20 Oct (6:30pm – 11:30pm) Saheli Club presents “Pink Diwali”, a family event in support of breast cancer, at Lilys Restaurant & Function Centre, Hackney St, Seven Hills. Details Poornima 0435 007 581. India Club: Grand Diwali Celebration Sat 20 Oct (6:15pm – 10:45pm) India Club Sydney celebrates Diwali
20 OCTOBER (1) 2018
with extra zeal, lively entertainment and superb food. Venue Cherrybrook Community and Cultural Centre, 31 Shepherds Ln, Cherrybrook. Details Shubha Kumar 0402 257 588. Deepavali Milan 2018 Sat 3 Nov Mark the tenth anniversary of Deepavali Milan at RSL Club Hornsby with good food, Bollywood dances, raffles, doodies packs. All balance proceeds to War Widows of India. Details Col. Virender Sahni 0416 965 764 AHIA Diwali Sun 4 Nov (6.30pm onwards) Glam Diwali with a twist of masti. Theme: Glitterati. Venue Concord Function Centre, 138-145 Majors Bay Road, Concord. Details Preeti Thadani 0402 034 959. COMMUNITY Grandparents’ Day Fri 26 Oct and Fri 9 Nov (11.00am – 2.00pm) AASHA Seniors and Darcy Road Public School will organise a multicultural intergeneration Grandparents’ Day at Hornsby Youth & Family Community Centre, Cnr. Muriel and Burdett Streets Hornsby. Program includes Yoga, Bollywood dance and music, craft, morning tea and lunch. Details Bijinder Duggal 0412 786 569 Indian Support Centre annual dinner Sat 27 Oct (6.30pm – 10.00pm) The Indian Support Centre presents its 3rd annual dinner and entertainment night at Granville Town Hall, 10 Carlton St, Granville. Details Subba Rao 0411 335 999. SPIRITUAL 2018’s Biggest Kirtan & Sangeet Nite Sat 20 and Sun 21 Oct (7:30pm 12:00am) Siya Ram Cultural Society of Australia is organising the biggest kirtan and sangeet nite of 2018 at Bonnyrigg Sports Club 610 Elizabeth Dr Bonnyrigg. Details Avi 0434 196 420. Sant Nirankari Mission Sydney Weekly congregations held every Sunday 5:30pm to 7:30pm followed by community meals. Venue: Sant Nirankari Bhawan, 166 Glendenning Road, Glendenning. Details Devinder 0403 216 084 Vedanta classes with Arsha Vidya Australia All classes except chanting classes are on Zoom. Details Shankar Arunachalam 0403 059 658 Bhagavad Gita, Sundays 6pm Upanishads, Saturdays 8.45pm Beginners class, Sundays 2pm Vishnu Sahasranama, Sundays 10am Vedic chanting, Saturdays 6.30pm Global Organisation For Divinity Australia: Activities at Namadwaar G.O.D Australia gladly informs that Namadwaar, Chanting and Prayer Centre at 44 Oakes Road Winston
Hills, is fully operational. All members of the community are welcome to have Darshan of the Lord and participate in Nama chanting and other programs during the following times: Monday to Friday 9am10.30am and 6pm 7.30pm; Weekends: 10am-12.30pm and 4pm6.30pm. Details godivinity.org.au Shanti Mission Satsang Sundays 9.30am Held at Shanti Mission Abode of Peace Ashram (one hour›s north of Sydney), 45 Kings Road Coorabong and also in Sydney at the Henley Community Centre, 2 Crown Street, Henley. Details 4977 3300. ENTERTAINMENT Indar Nair, golden voice of Fiji Fri 12 Oct (7:00pm – 11:00pm) Sangam Cultural Entertainment Sydney presents Indar Nair live with Ami Surti & Shraddha Tiwari. A night filled with music by Indar Nair, a wellknown golden voice of Australia and Fiji. Venue 2 Lane St, Wentworthville. Details 0406 452 150. Hinglish Stand-up Comedy Varun Thakur & Kunal Kamra Sun 14 Oct (6:30pm-9:30pm) Fortune World Tours presents stand-up comedians Varun Thakur and Kunal Kamra at Bowman Hall Blacktown, Campbell Street, Blacktown. Details 0430 042 041. Tribute to the Great Composers Sat 20 Oct (6:30pm onwards) Events Entertainment presents a musical Tribute to the Great Composers, at Pacific Hills Christian School, Hall 9 Quarry Rd, Dural. For more details please contact 0410 734 123 YOGA Yoga for beginners Until Sat 8 Dec Sat (7.00am-9.00am) Ryde East Public School (Entry via Badajoz Rd.) 12 Twin Road, North Ryde. Sat (10.00am-12.00noon) Banksia Hall, 2 Lane Street, Wentworthville. Sat (5.00pm-7.00pm) Quakers Hill High School, Performance Space 70 Lalor Road, Quakers Hill. Sun (7.00am-9.00am) Epping Community Centre 9 Oxford Street Epping. Details 0412 202 182. Free Yoga with Divine Life Society (Tuesdays 7pm) Swami Uditramanandaji of The Divine Life Society of Australia offers free Yoga classes every Tuesday from 7.00pm8.15pm at Strathfield Girls High School. All levels of fitness welcomed. Entrance via Oxford Rd. Details Karo 0413 535 157. Yoga: The way of life (Saturdays 8am; Wednesdays 7pm) A retreat for body, mind and soul, join weekly yoga sessions at Glenwood Public School (Saturdays) or Moorebank Community Centre (Wednesdays). Details Meera 0433 125 708.
MAINSTREAM Embroidered Relations: From India to UTS 4 Oct - 21 Oct (9.30am – 5.00pm) An exhibition of a collection of embroidered works made in collaboration with embroidery artisans from India. The works on display, although diverse in content, speak to the strong cross-cultural relationship between the UTS (University of Technology Sydney) Fashion and Textiles program and master embroiderers from India. PhD scholarship for project at La Trobe University Professor Angela Taft is offering a PhD scholarship to work on the HARMONY project at La Trobe University. It’s a controlled trial of general practice intervention to control domestic violence in migrant communities. For details, email ann. wilson@latrobe.edu.au. Applications close 31 October. FUNDRAISER Indians for Aussie farmers The Facebook group Indians in Sydney is raising funds for Australian farmers grappling with drought this year. With all funds going directly to Aussie Helpers and Drought Angels, they are aiming to raise $15,000. Details check out the Facebook page Indians in Sydney The Great Australian Curry Challenge The Great Australian Curry is Opportunity International’s annual fundraising campaign where families across Australia are invited to cook a curry, share it with friends and raise funds to help families journey out of poverty. Opportunity uses the funds to provide families in India, Indonesia and the Philippines with small loans to build businesses, earn regular incomes, educate their children and break the cycle of poverty in which their families have been trapped for generations. Opportunity’s microfinance lending partners are assisting 5.8 million families in predominantly rural and remote areas by providing financial inclusion and support, including loans of a few hundred dollars each, to work their way out of poverty. To get involved, head to www. au.opportunity.org and set up a fundraising page. Invite your friends, family or colleagues along to enjoy your curry and show their support by donating through your fundraising page. You can share a spice night at home, host a curry cook-off at work or let the professionals do their thing by heading out to enjoy a curry at a restaurant.
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INDIAN NEWS A car rally organised by the Federation of Historic Vehicles of India, saw 50 vintage vehicles drive the 158-km route from Bangalore to Mysore, in late September. These included a 1909 Wolseley and 1961 Jaguar E-type, Jaguar mk, Mercedes 219, Austin 7, Morris, Ford jeeps, Plymouth, Daimlers, Chevrolet Camaro, Buicks, Dodge, Beetel, Jaguar, Volkswagen Beetle, Willys Knight and Lanchester St 8 among many others. Photo: AP
Wielding the surgical knife at 3,500 metres
Forty-eight-year-old Stanzin Rigzin’s left knee-joint has been aching of late, making it difficult for her to walk with ease. But her village has only a government clinic and no orthopaedic expert. So, one morning, she took the first bus from her village in Turtuk, a little over 200 km from Leh, and arrived at the Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital in Leh. Her only reason for travelling such a distance was to get a chance to consult medical experts from New Delhi’s prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, or AIIMS, who were conducting a week-long camp at the SNM Hospital - as they have been for a quarter of a century. “The experts are here so I came early so that I can get good treatment. I wanted to be among the first to get an early appointment for a medical check-up,” said Ringin, who was quickly examined by a doctor and underwent surgery to relieve her pain. The camp is organised by Delhi-based Buddhist organisation Ashoka Mission in Leh with experts from the premier referral institute. At times, the doctors also set up camp in Kargil. Dr CS Yadav, an orthopaedic from AIIMS who has been coming here for the past two decades, said that nothing is more challenging than conducting surgeries at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level, where even local residents at times gasp for oxygen. “I carry around 400-500 kg of instruments and logistics just for the purpose of conducting surgeries. Due to geographic conditions, the residents, especially women aged above 50, are more prone to health issues related to bones,” he added. Around 24 doctors from different departments visited the camp this year. While the camp earlier had only OPDs, Yadav conducted the first joint replacement in 2013. Since then, more than 80 surgeries have been successfully completed every year. “There are, of course, challenges like lack of proper instruments, OT infrastructure and even low oxygen levels. All this puts extra pressure on us,” he noted.
24 OCTOBER (1) 2018
This year, there have been 27 surgeries, Yadav said, adding that last year his team had achieved the rare feat of 112 knee and hip replacement surgeries. “Time was a constraint this year or else we could have done more surgeries. More than 350 patients were examined in the OPD,” he said. Abdul Hamid of Alchi village, some 70 km away, visited the camp along with his wife and child. “The doctors coming here is a blessing for the people of this region. A majority of these patients cannot afford to visit Delhi. Even at AIIMS, there is a long queue of patients, one has to wait for several days to get a date,” said Hamid, who was at the camp for check up in the gastroenterology department.
India Post honours Narayan Seva Sansthan with postal stamp
The Indian postal services recently honoured the Narayan Seva Sansthan, the Udaipur-based non-profit organisation, by launching their postal stamps. The stamp of Rs 5 includes the official logo of the Narayan Seva Sansthan in bright colours along with the picture of NGO’s Polio Hospital which is situated in Udaipur. The launch of the stamp aims at showcasing the organisation’s work for differently-abled and underprivileged individuals by empowering them physically, socially and economically. Speaking at the stamp launch, Kailash Agarwal, founder and chairman of Narayan Seva Sansthan, said, “This is a proud moment for Narayan Seva Sansthan. We are glad that our hard work and dedication towards the betterment of weaker section of society is recognised by the Indian Postal Services.” The NGO recently announced that it has set up a primary school with digital classrooms for tribal children. Narayan Seva Sansthan has implemented a wellcoordinated transport system. Shelter for orphans, charity for patients, companionship to specially-abled, and round-the-clock availability of nutritious food are some of the amenities provided by the organisation.
First Nagamese language movie screened at Nagaland film fest
Driven by the motto of ‘Promoting Every Child’s Right to Entertainment’, the Nagaland Children’s Film Bonanza began recently at RCEMPA Auditorium in Kohima. Nani Teri Morni, a film by Akashaditya Lama, an Indian film director and scriptwriter based in Mumbai, was launched by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in presence of Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI) Chairperson Swati Pandey. The film is based on Mhonbeni Ezung, the youngest recipient of national bravery award for children in the year 2015, who won the award for saving her grandmother from drowning. It is shot entirely in Nagamese dialect. “This movie is all about bravery and courage with no discrimination based on caste, creed or sex,” the Pandey said. Rio on the launch of first Nagamese film congratulated the CFSI for the initiative, as “A film festival like this gives our students an opportunity for exposure to meaningful films on the large screen and be inspired by the stories as also the art form of cinematography”. He added that “with active involvement of all, we can promote the film industry in Nagaland”.
Babar Ali, world’s youngest headmaster
Walking home from school in a small town in West Bengal, a nine-year-old boy saw some of his friends work as rag-pickers. The thought that his companions were unable to study like him because they were too poor agonised the young Babar Ali so much that he decided to bring school to those who could not afford it. Determined to share his education as a fifth grader at a state-run school at Beldanga town in Murshidabad district, about 200km north of Kolkata, he turned teacher to his poor friends in the backyard of his own home. “I couldn’t tolerate my friends picking garbage while I attended school. So I asked them to join me in the roofless backyard of
my home, so I could teach them how to read and write,” Babar, now a 25-year-old youth, said. That backyard became Babar’s school, Ananda Siksha Niketan (meaning Home for Joyful Learning), in 2002, making him possibly the world’s youngest headmaster. “My school began with a total of eight students, including my five-year-old younger sister Amina Khatun. We sat together under a guava tree for three hours every afternoon learning to read, so that the children who worked as rag-pickers or beedi (handrolled cigarettes made of unprocessed tobacco) rollers could continue to work in the mornings,” recalled Babar. With a population of about eight million, Murshidabad district has a large section of its adults and children working as daily-wage labourers in farms. The district is among the largest manufacturer of beedis in the country. Collecting used-up chalk pieces from his school, Babar continued to teach children in his neighbourhood how to read and write in Bengali along with basic math, science and geography, completely free of cost, while he was in school himself. “Teachers at my school thought I was stealing chalk to scribble on the walls, but after they learnt that I was teaching other children at my home, they began to offer me a box of chalk every week,” shared Babar. The support from his mother Banuara Bibi, an anganwadi worker, and father Mohammad Nasiruddin, a jute trader, both of whom were school dropouts, allowed him to pursue his vision to create an educated neighbourhood, he said. “The children I have been teaching receive very little support from their families and are often left to fend for themselves. With help from my family and teachers at school, I have been able to run my school and provide the kids with uniform, books and other reading material,” added Babar. Despite facing difficulties from their families, Babar said he gradually won the trust of parents as students grew fond of him and enjoyed his classes. Donations from teachers, district officials, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from the region and other individuals have kept Babar’s institution running through the years. In 2015, it shifted into a building near his home, with recognition as a private school from the West Bengal School Education Department. “The focus is on holistic education at Ananda Siksha Niketan, as I want the students to positively impact the society through whatever professions they choose in the future,” he stressed. In a span of about 16 years, from 2002 till date, Babar has taught more than 5,000 children from Classes 1 to 8, a few of whom have even returned to his school to work as teachers. “Six of my former girl students have returned to the school as teachers after finishing their under-graduation courses,”
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An interior view of the 109-yearold historical Minto Hall in Bhopal. Restoration work is in progress at the site, created by Nawab Sultanjahan Begum in 1909. The Mughal and British influenced building is being converted into a convention centre. Photo: AP
said Babar, who holds a MA in English literature from the University of Kalyani, about 50 km from Kolkata. Now, Babar wants to bring about change in the district’s poor female literacy rate, which stands at just above 55 per cent, according to data from the district administration. “Several families are still reluctant to send their girls to a school and prefer to marry them off in their teens, but through continuous effort we are seeing a change in their attitudes. Parents are realising the need for education as children are in turn helping them read, make a signature on paper and write,” he added. “Education for all will remain my life mission and, to realise that, several institutions and individuals need to come together,” said Babar, whose inspiring journey has also made it to the first year English text book of pre-university (Class 11) in Karnataka’s state board and Class 10 communicative English text of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
India’s richest literary prize shortlist ignores veteran writers
Veteran writers, including Nayantara Sahgal, Kiran Nagarkar and Jeet Thayil have been overlooked by the jury of the inaugural edition of the Rs 25 lakh JCB Prize for Literature, whose shortlist, announced Wednesday, features novels by five writers who the jury felt will be read by decades to come. The shortlisted novels are Half The Night Is Gone by Amitabha Bagchi, Jasmine Days by Benny Daniel (translated from Malayalam original by Shahnaz Habib); Poonachi by Perumal Murugan (translated from Tamil original by N. Kalyan Raman); All the Lives We Never Lived by Anuradha Roy and Latitudes of Longing by debutante Shubhangi Swarup. All the five novels are by emerging voices, who are gaining both readership and critical acclaim in recent times. The prize has also recognised the vast spread of literature in Indian languages as two out of five novels are translated works. In announcing the shortlist at the Oxford Bookstore here, the prize further affirmed its commitment to promoting physical bookstores in the face of their prolonged downfall since the rise of e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. But on the flip side, all the novels in the shortlist are from mainstream publishers: two from Juggernaut Books; and one each from Westland Publications, Hachette India and HarperCollins India. Not a single novel competing for the prize is from a smaller press, which, according to several publishing insiders, are on a rapid decline in India. Publishing giant Penguin Random House India, otherwise in the tally of most national and international literary awards,
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did not feature in the list at all. Jeet Thayil’s highly acclaimed The Book of Chocolate Saints, with praise from the likes of Salman Rushdie, too failed to make the cut. The winner will be declared on October 24, and will receive Rs 25 lakh. If the winning work is a translation, the translator will receive an additional Rs 5 lakh.
India’s first dolphin research centre to come up soon in Patna
The much-awaited National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) in Patna, India’s and Asia’s first, will be a reality soon. The centre will play an important role in strengthening conservation efforts and research to save the endangered mammal. An expert on Gangetic river dolphins, R K Sinha, who is currently Vice Chancellor of the Nalanda Open University, said the NDRC will prove a boon for research and conservation of dolphins. It is going to be a positive development for much-needed dolphin research,” Sinha, known as the Dolphin Man for his research on Gangetic dolphins as professor in Patna University, said. He also added that the dolphin habitat has been threatened and disturbed in the river. “The water level has been decreasing and the flow has slowed down. Besides, siltation is increasing in the river. All this is not favourable for dolphins,” Sinha explained. He said the Gangetic river dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal but frequently falls prey to poachers and is sometimes killed inadvertently after being trapped in plastic fishing nets and hit by mechanised boats. Gangetic river dolphins fall under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act and have been declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Gangetic river dolphin is one of the four freshwater dolphin species in the world. The other three are found in the Yangtze river, the Indus river in Pakistan and the Amazon river. The Gangetic river species found in India, Bangladesh and Nepal is almost completely blind. It finds its way and prey using echoes with sound being everything
for them to navigate, feed, escape danger, find mates, breed, nurse babies and play.
How an IKEA app is helping Maharashtra farmers boost cotton yield
Forty-year-old cotton farmer Nivrutti Ghule feels more in control of his crops today. If he has to leave his village for work, he just uses his smartphone to water his plants. With a simple click on his android phone, he feeds in the time and duration he wants the cotton saplings to be watered, automatically activating his water pump. The Cotton Doctor app, an Android and web-based Decision Support System (DSS), has been introduced by World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) in collaboration with Swedish multinational IKEA and is enabling cotton farmers in Maharashtra’s Jalna district to derive the maximum benefits and returns from cotton cultivation. The app alerts farmers about weather vulnerabilities and assists them in making informed and effective decisions on cotton growing. Ghule, who hails from Wakhari village, some 25 km from Jalna, explains that a sim card has been fixed in an Automatic Irrigation Switch (AIS) attached to his motor pump. With the app, he can activate the pump from anywhere. “I also get an SMS that the command has been successfully carried out,” he said, adding: “Apart from this, I receive regular SMS alerts with weather updates and how to monitor soil nutrient throughout the growing stages of the cotton crop.” The infestation of pink bollworm, a common pest that attacks cotton plants, devastated cotton production in the state last year. “Cotton farmers lost between 60 to 90 per cent of their total produce last year,” claimed Ghule. “But with this app, we are informed when pink bollworm is likely to attack our plants and at what temperature the infestation can occur. The SMS alerts I receive recommend appropriate medicines/ sprays I should apply to eliminate the pest.” Advisories relating to adverse weather conditions have been especially helpful to the farmers. “Earlier, I would delay cotton picking, but with alerts that rains are
coming, we pick the cotton on time and store it safely indoors. I also used too much water earlier which destroyed the crops, but with the information provided by this app, I have cut down tremendously on water wastage, besides unnecessary manpower.” Sumit Roy, Associate Director of WWFIndia’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP), which is implementing the project, said AIS is a smart switching device consisting of a micro-controller and soil and water moisture sensors. It has a pumping motor that can be turned on and off for the detection of moisture content in soil on earth. The sensors have been installed in seven villages including on Ghule’s farm. “So far, we have registered 4,864 farmers on the dashboard,” Mukesh Tripathi, WWF’s Coordinator in Jalna district, said. The dashboard is being managed by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), a renowned Indian NGO and WWF’s partner in the project.
Gandhi’s portrait at NGMA permanent sculptural exhibition
A bust of the Father of the Nation features in a permanent sculptural exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) that has been mounted to provide equal limelight to the genre rather than just focus on painting. “With his closed eyes, calmness prevails on his face which stands in communion with the significant representation of three monkeys in a garlanded manner encircling his neck,” NGMA director Ritu Sharma said of the bronze bust titled Hey Ram and created by the late SG Shrikhande. The exhibition, titled Chehre, opened recently and features rarely-seen portrait pieces cast in metal, stone and wood by noted Indian sculptors. Put together by NGMA’s in-house curatorial team, the theatrically-placed portrait sculptures seem to be in conversation with each other. NGMA, established in 1954, houses modern and contemporary works by artists and sculptors from India’s major art movements. IANS
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BOOKS
Dragons and elephants Making sense of the tectonic shift that is causing the economic world to tip eastwards BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN
T
he world has been transfixed by the rise and rise of China, the ‘Dragon’. There’s been a plethora of books written on it; ABC and BBC radios have broadcast a series of programmes and interviews; The Economist has brooded over how ‘we got China so wrong’, and the inimitable Kishore Mahbubani’s numerous books including The New Asian Hemisphere: the Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East have presaged a new international order. Almost all of these commentaries have made attempts to make some sense of this tectonic shift in world economic and political power. The books on the challenges and opportunities that the new China presents are far too numerous, and we cannot even begin to look into this vast and expanding literature. We thought we will get a handle on the subject by exploring some books that look at both China and India, and use the words ‘Dragon’ and ‘Elephant’ in the title (no marks for guessing which one is the elephant). Lo and behold, we found quite a few books matching that criterion. Never mind that the Indian economy is still a few decades behind China in terms of development, and of course, the Chinese leadership has haughtily elevated its own claim to the status of a global superpower as ‘manifest destiny’ and dismissed Indian claims as that of an upstart. Indeed, China has worked quite assiduously in some ways to undermine Indian claims in that regard, but that is another subject altogether. We will press on, in the hope that India’s economic growth will gather steam and catch up with China’s in the not so distant future. Many economists believe it will, so we will assume that will be the case. The first book that caught this reviewer’s eye was one by David Smith, the economics editor of The Sunday Times, called The Dragon and the Elephant: China and India in a New World Order. In a nutshell, Smith argues that the rise of China and India will be seen, in hindsight, as the defining development of the 21st
28 OCTOBER (1) 2018
century. The world is already tipping eastwards, and Smith alerts us to the implications of a shift in global power to Beijing and Delhi. Smith’s comparisons of the two are interesting. How aggressive a superpower will China be? Will India’s growing population and economic prospects place it in a more advantageous position? The book combines sharp analysis with a highly entertaining writing style, and engages the intellectually curious reader thoroughly, even if he or she is not particularly literate in economics. The second book is called The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What It Means for All of Us, by Robyn Meredith, a journalist (Forbes magazine, Hong Kong) like Smith, but American. Like Smith’s, this book too examines the rise of the two powers and how they are reshaping the world already. The two countries have embraced capitalism and globalisation, and this has startling consequences for the world: huge buildings are going up in India, housing workers who work exclusively for US companies; huge manufacturing corridors in China produce goods for the US market; US companies employ engineers in India to design goods which are then used as blueprints and produced in China for the US market. This cycle is drawing more and more people into an integrated world economy which is benefiting everyone. Being an American, Meredith enjoins fellow Americans to take stock of the changes, understand them and adapt to the new environment. She believes the US should respond by being innovative in their job-creation strategy in the face of global competition. I was also surprised to find a monograph produced by the National Research Council in the US, titled The Dragon and the Elephant: Understanding the Development of Innovation Capacity in
GON A R D E TH HANT P E L E THE Reforms d Rural n a l ra u India Agricult ina and \ in Ch
China and India (2010) authored by Stephen Merrill, David Taylor and Robert Poole. They argue that there has been remarkable growth in innovative capabilities in a number of countries that 30 years ago were classified as developing economies. Taiwan and South Korea, followed by China and India, are the leading examples of this phenomenon. How well China and India succeed in this endeavour will have a huge bearing not only on the welfare of their own populations, but global economic welfare as well. Yet another book titled Dragon and Elephant, co-authored by Ashok Gulati and Shenggen Fan, looks at agricultural and rural reforms in the two countries. It also provides policy insights for the
mm. n Edited by ggen Fa and Shen ti la u G Ashok
continuing reform processes there and in other developing economies. Does the sequencing of reform and an agricultureled package matter? How can the two largest countries cooperate in agricultural economic development, and work together in multilateral organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, to address concerns of developing countries? These and other question are addressed in the book. Unlike others writing on the subject, Gulati and Shenggen look at ways the two giants can learn from each other.
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FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL
Dancing at the Garbas When dance is a form of worship, and the rotations and revolutions make you one with the universe
everyone to in, joinI in, was shown I didn’t started recognising me the Garbh literally means womb. object everyone to join wasI shown how how to to I didn’t knowknow started recognising me the Garbh literally means womb. The The object it. With onetwo or singers two singers I made friends. of worship an earthern pot with a lamp do it.do With only only one or and aand a next next year)year) and Iand made new new friends. It It of worship is anisearthern pot with a lamp for accompaniment, we danced wasone the Garba one Garba for many inside pot with a coconut on top, dhol dhol for accompaniment, we danced everyevery was the for many yearsyears untiluntil inside or a or potawith a coconut on top, the the the nine nights of Navratri. someone else decided to organise another kumbh, kumbh, signifying life. Placing BY BY nightnight of theofnine nights of Navratri. UntilUntil someone else decided to organise another bothboth signifying new new life. Placing we could dance no more. blistered one…one… and another and another, the centre (as opposed to end one as end as VINAYA we could dance no more. SolesSoles blistered and another one…one… and another, it in it theincentre (as opposed to one VINAYA RAIRAI butSoul the Soul was exhilarated…. There asGujarati the Gujarati population increased. deities signifies but the was exhilarated…. There as the population increased. mostmost oftenoften deities are) are) also also signifies the the is definitely something mesmerizingly Overseas artistes began be invited. Mother Goddess ascentre the centre around is definitely something mesmerizingly Overseas artistes began to betoinvited. But But Mother Goddess as the around to the playGarba the Garba uplifting the Garba that makes always onweekend. the weekend. which everything revolves. uplifting aboutabout the Garba that makes the the always on the which everything revolves. finallyfinally learntlearnt to play and and Dandiya my 20s. Soneeded we needed weekends!! to have any great spiritspirit soar.soar. So we moremore weekends!! Yes, Yes, You You don’tdon’t havehave to have any great Dandiya in myin20s. It is always “playing” the Garba, So, my when 30s when I came to Adelaide we just we needed just needed weekends. spiritual revelations She So, in myin30s I came to Adelaide moremore weekends. NowNow spiritual revelations aboutabout how how She is theis the It is always “playing” the Garba, if if correctly translated the Gujarati. and made and made few Gujarati friends, I looked instead instead of ‘Nav Ratri’, we probably should centre centre the universe or how it isabout all about a fewa Gujarati friends, I looked of ‘Nav Ratri’, we probably should of theofuniverse or how it is all correctly translated fromfrom the Gujarati. the Garba as some forward to Navratri, the festival the ninecall itcall it ‘Nav Saptahaant Goddess is there, stories to Navratri, the festival of theofnine ‘Nav Saptahaant Ratri’Ratri’ (yes,(yes, that’sthat’s Her. Her. The The Goddess is there, with with stories of of You You don’tdon’t ‘do’ ‘do’ the Garba as some HindiHindi forward speakers say, and you definitely don’t nights. Now don’t get me wrong, I grew up what weekends are called). And so that’s Her destroying evil, emerging victorious nights. Now don’t get me wrong, I grew up what weekends are called). And so that’s Her destroying evil, emerging victorious speakers say, and you definitely don’t ‘dance’ the Garba, though having fun during the Janmashtami whatwhat we have Overseas artistes during Navratri and Vijaya Dashami, greatgreat fun during the Janmashtami we have now.now. Overseas artistes during Navratri and Vijaya Dashami, also also ‘dance’ the Garba, eveneven though that’sthat’s whatwhathaving it looks and Ganesh festivals for more singing for Garba nights weeks before of granting victory to those and Ganesh festivals oftenoften for more thanthan singing for Garba nights weeks before the the talestales of granting victory to those who who pray pray it looks like. like. it is alike a game you play it! That’s nine 9days daysand andnights. nights.SoSofestive festivefun funwas was not actual actual Navratri. It is great! toespecially her especially during 10 days. Navratri. It is great! Did IDid sayIIsay wasI was to her during thesethese 10 days. Lots Lots So itSo is like game – you– play it! That’s it ismuch so much around not something somethingnew. new.However Howeverhundreds hundreds of disappointed? Not anymore. and of lots of stories different disappointed? Not anymore. NowNow I canI can and lots stories fromfrom different partsparts of of why why it is so fun. fun. You You whirlwhirl around imitating others around and then people dancing together, sorryplaying playing dance my Goddess weekend. IndiaIndia that worship Her in many different of people dancing together - sorry dance with with my Goddess everyevery weekend. that worship Her in many different imitating others around you, you, and then you start adding flourishes, together… it a different of Before Ganesh comes down, before and names. together - makesmakes it a different kind ofkind game Before Ganesh comes down, before eveneven formsforms and names. you start adding youryour own own flourishes, or arm waves. Waists game altogether. Krishna the Raas Garba But tonight is here as a Mother altogether. Krishna doesdoes the Raas Garba with with his his But tonight she isshe here as a Mother wristwrist flicksflicks or arm waves. Waists and and hips can sway a little differently, you can But in Adelaide, it was disappointing gopis, my Maa and me, we are playing our – who creates, nourishes, protects But in Adelaide, it was disappointing gopis, my Maa and me, we are playing our - who creates, nourishes, protects and and hips can sway a little differently, you can a pirouette half turn and even because because we could the Garba Garba. destroys. go round and round, almost we could only only play play the Garba one one Garba. destroys. You You go round and round, almost add aadd pirouette or a or halfa turn and even experiment jumps and leaps. or nights. two nights. Notnine. all nine. What’s you have started swaying hypnotised by whirlpool that whirlpool of power or two Not all What’s this?this? OnceOnce you have started swaying and and hypnotised by that of power in in experiment with with jumps and leaps. All All among few hundred people Weekend Garba? When the Goddess dancing like everyone looked the Centre. the Centre. It iscentre the centre of your universe Garba? When the Goddess had had dancing like everyone else, else, havehave looked It is the of your universe among a fewa hundred people who who may may all all Weekend be strangers! waiting to play meyear?! all year?! around and seen the main dancers now now as whirl you whirl around beenbeen waiting to play with with me all around and seen how how the main dancers as you around it. it. be strangers! There is something unique A couple of nights onweekend, the weekend, are improvising, you look tocentre, the centre, are with one with the universe A couple of nights on the are improvising, you look to the You You are one the universe - like- alike a There is something very very unique aboutabout the Gujarati the Garba. I watched Adelaide Adelaide would organise the Garba. the pivot around which youcircling are circling planet planet orbiting around, rotations would organise the Garba. Live Live the pivot around which you are orbiting around, with with rotations and and the Gujarati gracegrace at theatGarba. I watched a couple of occasions as a teenager singing singing by local community members and focus your focus The focus revolutions, reflecting Her light and music, by local community members - and–your shifts.shifts. The focus is nowis now revolutions, reflecting Her light and music, it onita on couple of occasions as a teenager butIfelt had left twobodies left bodies brought the fervour and devotion the centre, the axis around which Her movement and grace… brought the fervour and devotion in. in. the centre, the axis around which you you Her movement and grace… but felt hadI two whenwhen I I to in. joinAnd in. And in a small Old young and young joined in, the andclose the close are revolving: the kumbh, the deity, It is almost trance-like, this state as you Old and joined in, and are revolving: the kumbh, the deity, the the It is almost trance-like, this state as you triedtried to join then,then, in a small encouraging community where community feel kept me going Mother Goddess, is now the centre of yourwhirlwhirl around, as play you play community feel kept me going back.back. Me, Me, Mother Goddess, is now the centre of your around, as you with with Her. Her. Or isOr is encouraging community where therethere non-Gujaratis and they wanted a non-Gujarati a non-Gujarati was always welcome (those Universe. Universe. She playing was always welcome (those She playing with with you?you? werewere manymany non-Gujaratis and they wanted
II
32 DECEMBER (1) 2015 NATIONAL EDITION
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STAGE
It’s Majestic Brindavan, right here at Regents Park The students of Gopa Kuteeram explore the life and teachings of Krishna
BY SMRITI SEKHAR
J
ust one of the many paths to the attainment of the Supreme, Bhakti is the practice of love and devotion towards God. A simple way to do so is to reflect upon the various Leelas, or divine plays of the Lord. Audience members were treated with an opportunity to do just this recently, through a spectacular theatrical production presented by 32 enthusiastic young Indian-Australians. Held on 6 October at Durga Auditorium Regents Park, Majestic Brindavan was a stage play enacted by the students of Gopa Kuteeram (GK), the educational wing of the Global Organisation for Divinity (G.O.D) Australia. G.O.D is a spiritual organisation with the prime objective to popularise Nama Kirtan for universal peace and love as advocated by their spiritual master His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji. The event began with appropriate invocations, to the traditional custodians of the land as well as to the gods of the Hindu pantheon. The dance number
32 OCTOBER (1) 2018
that followed, set the backdrop for the evening: to the lyrics of one of Sri Sri Swamiji’s compositions, the Rasika Dance Academy dancers expertly explored the divine and blissful possibilities of Nama Kirtan through their Bharatanatyam routine. Then as the stage lights came on, the student actors of GK took us straight to the time of Krishna. Masterfully punctuated with wellexecuted song and dance sequences, the play’s scenes presented a collection of short stories which brought Krishna’s boyhood in Brindavan to life. The script felt like a refreshing departure from the usual with its unconventional yet extraordinarily welcome and appropriate focus on the lived experience of the gopas and gopis. In illuminating (literally!) these characters as an aspect of the Krishna Leela, director and co-writer Dinesh Ramanan reminds the audience of the enduring divine effect that Krishna had on those He surrounded. The stage had been transformed to Brindavan with an exceptional intricately painted backdrop and similarly well-used props. A play’s script remains a script until it is breathed life into by the work of the actors. My appreciation extends to every individual child on stage who not only delivered their lines flawlessly but also understood their
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A grand finale dance sequence to the lilting and catchy Marathi bhakti geet of ‘Za Ga Ma Ga: Krishna Janmala’ concluded the entire show in a rightly ‘majestic’ manner. The presence of all the members of the cast and crew of the play on the Durga Auditorium stage served as a fitting reminder to the power of a communitydriven platform for talent showcase. To illustrate the life of Krishna in play form (just as He would have!) was indeed noble and a true delight for the audience.
The ‘Rasa’ theory from the ancient treatise Natyashastra outlines that the goal of Art is not only to merely entertain audiences, but to elevate them to a higher realm of their own conscience where they are able to contemplate spiritually and morally. I am proud to say with full confidence that the Gopa Kuteeram students along with the support of their parents and the organisers made that possible for me, a joyful member of the audience.
Masterfully punctuated with wellexecuted song and dance sequences, the play is a collection of stories which bring to life Krishna’s Brindavan boyhood
Photos: Karthikayan Venkataramani, Abhishek Ranasheshan
characters and emoted appropriately. A scene that left me stunned and poignantly moved was the soliloquy of Yashoda as her teenager Krishna prepares to return to Mathura. The character tearfully lamented her child’s departure then while gradually reflecting upon his life in Brindavan ultimately gained courage from her son’s strength of character. The adept actress portraying Yashoda closes the scene by declaring ‘Life was simple. We were complete’.
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ver the last decade or so, the Indian community has become an integral part of Australia’s multicultural tapestry. Its rich cultural heritage and diversity have captured the fancy of Australians and other communities in the country. Indeed, the heart of Sydney - Parramatta - is now home to a little India, also known as Harris Park. The Council of Indian Australians Inc. (CIA), a not-for-profit community organisation and a strong supporter of multiculturalism, has a vision to put Harris Park on the event map of Sydney as a tourist destination in Australia. It’s easy to see why. Harris Park is the only suburb in Sydney where a majority of local businesses are from the Indian subcontinent. From Indian cuisine to fashion stores, the area bustling with Indians and non-Indians offers a local Indian flavour that no other place does. Back in 2017, the CIA team lead by President Mohit Kumar, consisting of Nitin Shukla, Praful Desai, Shail Wadhwa, Keyur Desai, Dr Balu Vijay, Ashish Desai, Simmi Wadhwa, Tony Colaco, Amit Tripathi and event director Sanjay Deshwal gave flight to the idea of Little India Fair. Despite its challenges, The Little India Fair 2017 was a grand success. Local MP Dr Geoff Lee has personally lobbied with Parramatta City Council to support the event. And Mark Taylor MP, Member for Seven Hills, has recommended Multicultural NSW to support this vision.
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COMMUNITY
The Mahatma like we’ve never seen him before Borderless Gandhi, a foundation set up by the Perth-based Nilesh and Lene Makwana, launches a new exhibition
BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA
“T
here’s more to life than increasing its speed.” This MK Gandhi quote at a tube station in London stood out to a young Nilesh Makwana, an Indian student at Cambridge newly arrived from India. Perhaps seeing a familiar name so prominently displayed, offered him some comfort in his new environs at the time. But the effect it had on him would set
38 OCTOBER (1) 2018
into motion a course of action that would change his life forever. Today a Perth resident, Nilesh and his artist wife Lene have just launched their second artistic exhibition based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, as part of the activities of their foundation Borderless Gandhi. In the exhibition entitled Mahatma in Colour, the Makwanas present a collection of rare photographs from Gandhi’s life, digitally restored and coloured. Launched on 2 Oct 2018, the exhibition is located at three centres: at the Parliament of WA, at Perth Airport International Terminal 1, and at the Pan Pacific Hotel. “The photos belonged to Gandhiji’s son Devadas, and many were taken by him in the early 1900s until the end of his life in
1948,” Makwana told Indian Link. They encapsulate the essential elements of Gandhiji’s philosophy of peace, equality, tolerance and nonviolence, values that need to make a come-back in our contemporary lives in the modern world. The restoration work was commissioned by the Berlin-based GandhiServe Foundation, which has been collecting Gandhi memorabilia since it was launched in 2002 by Peter Ruhre. Selections from their 4,500 images have been seen in UK, India and Canada. Earlier in 2016, the Makwanas’ Borderless Gandhi presented its first exhibition Mahatma in Me, featuring the work of Delhi artist Vibhor Sogani. Large sculptures in stainless steel presented to
viewers the visage of MK Gandhi: the intent, according to the artist, was that in the reflection, people would see the world as it passed by, or their own selves, possibly find their souls, and act to realise the Mahatma within. And that, in a nutshell, is at the core of Borderless Gandhi - to feel inspired by the principles that ruled Gandhi’s life. Nilesh admits that he himself has found much solace and motivation from the man’s teachings, especially “at times when life’s challenges became less than sweet.” Very early on, for example, bogged down on a particularly stressful day at his first job at Heathrow Airport, a chance encounter with another Gandhi quote brought him back on track:
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ss Borderile Gandh peace
equality
UNSW’s annual Gandhi tribute
nce
nonviole
IN CO H AT M A
LO U R ’
S MA belongs EtoNallThumanity.” S E R P r 2 018 e m b e hope ‘To lose patience N D H I bThe that this very idea if ic H ote l, P e rth A th N o v 9Makwanas G r S e S E c to n Pac
n a t the people who seeP a RL lose the battle’. 2n d O will oresonate with e x h ib it io R D Eto Omeans rm in a l 1 B ‘ A p h to a l Teparticularly a “As a young man in the UK, I found their latest exhibition, the rn ti o n
A ir p o rt
In te
P e rt h3,000 primary school kids who are due to Gandhi propping up a lot in my daily a A u s tra li rn te s e life,” Nilesh reminisced. “Not just in visit Parliament in the coming weeks. W 1 e nt o f P a rl ia mquotes that strangely struck the random “Special activities have been planned a chord, but also in the classroom, in to engage the youngest visitors, with the biographies I had begun reading of competitions and prizes earmarked for world and business leaders, even in the them,” he divulged. conversations I would have with casual Of course Gandhi features in Nilesh acquaintances, for who Gandhi was the Makwana’s daily life and work as well. most well-known Indian. There were As an IT entrepreneur, he delivers tech many discussions not just about his services for social impact, working on philosophy of equality and non-violence projects with disability services, aged care but also his particular take on civil rights, providers and Indigenous education. as well as his views on the economy. Which of the photographs in the Growing up in India, Gandhi had been current exhibition holds particular appeal in front of me all the time, but he had not for Nilesh? affected me at a deep level.” He replied after a moment’s ponder, Finding himself drawn to the man, he “I love the image of Gandhiji having the began to devour information on Gandhi morning newspaper read to him, late in from libraries and museums. When he his life. Did you know, he had assigned met the Norwegian-born artist Lene, this job to a Harijan, one of the ‘lower he found she was deeply influenced castes’, in a bid to integrate them into by Gandhian values herself. As they normal society.” travelled to India visiting Sabarmati and And which image, we ask, does he find discovering historical sites and rare books non-Indian viewers drawn towards? related to the man, the idea of the setting “The ones that show Gandhiji up a foundation for Gandhian thought interacting with Winston Churchill.” began to take shape. Now that’s an interaction that can be the “Lene came up with the name subject of an entire exhibition in itself. Borderless Gandhi,” Nilesh revealed. “She observed rightly that Gandhi’s The exhibition Mahatma in Colour messages transcend borders, and that he runs until 9 Nov 2018.
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I
t was just over eight years ago that the bust of Mahatma Gandhi arrived at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. A gift from the Government of India facilitated by the then Consul General Amit Dasgupta, it came at the height of the international student crisis: through this special gesture, the Indian government acknowledged the work being done by UNSW as a safe environment for international – particularly Indian – students. Eight years on, the Library Lawn where the bust of the Mahatma sits, has gone on to become the venue for Gandhi Jayanti celebrations for the local Indian Australian community. This year, the event was particularly significant, as it marks the onset of year-long celebrations for the 150th birthday of the most wellknown Indian in the world. 2 Oct being a university working day, many curious students stopped by to get a peek at the festivities. The Patron of the Australia India Institute at UNSW Dr Neville Roach pointed out that Australia, due to its geographical positioning is one of the first countries in the world to celebrate this milestone Indian event. Prof Laurie Pearcey, who leads UNSW’s global partnership team and who also happens to be the youngest ProVice-Chancellor in Australia, confirmed that the UNSW views India as a key
strategic partner in its 2025 strategy. He also spoke of the importance given to education as part of the bilateral trade between the two countries in the recently released economic strategy for India. He expressed his delight at the doubling of the number of Indian overseas students at UNSW, from 600 last year to 1,200 now. Speaking on behalf of the Indian government, Consul General of India (Sydney) B Vanlalvawna thanked the UNSW for hosting such an important event and also shared that the Indian government had made plans to have a series of celebrations over the next two years to celebrate the 150th birthday of the Mahatma. This includes planting of 150 trees in collaboration with local councils and an increased discussion of khadi, as more than just clothing. Hymns were presented by Usha Sridhar and young Tanaya Kumar. The littlies from Mala Mehta’s IABBV Hindi School enacted Gandhiji’s famous Salt March around the Library Lawns, with Akash Venkataraman channelling the Mahatma. Students from Darcy Road Public School, guided by their teacher Ekta Chanana, sang the hymn Sabarmati Ke Sant. UNSW’s Gandhi tribute this year also included a fortnight-long illumination of the Library tower in Indian colours, and the digital display of Gandhi’s silhouette. Pawan Luthra
OCTOBER (1) 2018 39
FOOD
As straight as a twisted jalebi The crooked swirls of this street-side delicacy are the perfect euphemism for a sarcastic remark about someone’s (lack of) straightforwardness BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA
O
ne afternoon not so long ago, as I drove home from work, I felt an irresistible urge for - jalebis. I’m just tired, I told myself, and probably looking for a sugar kick. I could stop by at a petrol station and get myself a bar of chocolate instead. Or I could ring the husband and get him to bring some jalebis home tonight. Or, I could turn towards the Indian shops right now, and get some for myself. I picked option three. Surprising for me, since I am not usually prone to such acts of impulsive behaviour. ‘Nor so long ago’ was actually nearly twenty two years ago, when I was eight months pregnant with my first child. As I sat back in my car and devoured – I am loath to admit this – three whole jalebis, I wondered what my husband would think. He had known me thus far as someone who shunned desserts of most kind, Indian mithai in particular. I’m not going to tell him just yet, I decided, because he’ll rush down to the shops and buy me a bucket full. Only last week, when I had particularly enjoyed the sambhar at an Indian restaurant, he had asked the owner-chef if he could buy 2 litres of it. (“We don’t usually sell sambhar by itself, Luthra saheb, but
40 OCTOBER (1) 2018
seeing as your wife…”) As I sat licking my jalebi-sticky fingertips (I am loath, again, to admit this), I wondered what my brothers back home in India would think. Every so often, they would bring home fresh hot jalebis from the local shops, in brown paper bags. They would eat them with hot milk poured over. I would never fail to go “Eeeeewwww”. They would always reply, “You should try some”. Of course they would both understand if they saw me now, I consoled myself, blaming my ‘loathsome’ behaviour on my ‘condition’. We all know there are strange cravings during pregnancy. Once I’m back to my ‘normal’ self, I’ll never eat jalebis again. Umm, I never got back to my ‘normal’ self. Someone - nutritionists, physiologists, whoever - should do some research into this: some of the new behaviours/tendencies that come into play during pregnancy, linger on postpregnancy. Just like the fat we gain while carrying the baby… The baby. Blame the baby. The baby turned this jalebi-hater, into a jalebirelisher. I wouldn’t describe myself as a jalebi-lover, because I am not one really. Jalebis can be sickly sweet, and while I do enjoy them around Diwali, it seems my system has its full then to last a whole year. Thankfully. You see, in Punjabi families, it is tradition to have jalebis as prasad (blessed food). So there’s always some jalebis in my fridge during the week of Diwali. I like them with hot milk poured over.
JALEBI For batter ½ cup plain flour 1 tsp chickpea flour (besan) ½ tsp sugar ½ tsp oil ½ tsp yeast ½ cup luke warm water
For syrup 1 cup sugar ½ cup water 1 tbsp lemon juice Pinch cardamom powder Pinch saffron
Method To prepare batter, dissolve yeast in a tsp of water inside a deep bowl. Add the plain flour, chickpea flour, sugar and oil. Mix well. Then pour in the lukewarm water and mix to a smooth consistency. Make sure there are no lumps. Cover and set aside for about an hour, in a warm place like an oven maybe. When the batter is ready, pour into empty sauce bottle. To prepare syrup, mix all ingredients and boil on medium high, stirring intermittently to ensure sugar does not collect at bottom. Keep warm.
I
t was not long after the baby was born, that I tried making my first jalebis. The recipe I had found was a quick-fix one, which used yoghurt to ferment the plain flour batter. I used an empty plastic sauce bottle to squeeze the batter down into hot oil in round shapes that piled over each other. Not bad for a first attempt. I omitted the red food colouring, but not just because of that, my jalebis did not really look like the store-bought variety! I have learnt now that you should always
For frying 1 tbsp ghee Oil
To prepare for deep frying, heat oil and ghee. Keep flame medium-high, not high. Test heat by squirting a bit of batter in - it is ready if the batter rises to the top immediately. Squeeze batter into the oil in concentric circles into the oil. Turn over after a minute; they should be done when they look gently browned. Drain on kitchen paper briefly and then dunk into the syrup. Give them a good soak both sides, a minute each maybe, and then remove. Best served hot.
do a ‘dry run’ first - a trial squirt on to an empty plate, to get the movement right. Those halwais at the front of the sweet shops back home, had made it look so easy… I present here a simple jalebi recipe that would be well worth a try. There are many variations of it; for instance, rice flour can be used in place of the chickpea flour, or fine-grained semolina, or even urad dal soaked for a few hours and then blended to a paste.
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MATRIMONIALS SEEKING GROOMS Brother based in Sydney seeks suitable match for 39-year-old Mumbai-born, never married Gujarati girl, 5’4”, well cultured, medium built, B.Com and working for international shipping company in Dubai. Hindu grooms please contact on 0416 475 948 or komaldxb@gmail.com Seeking professionally qualified, well-settled match for girl, Sydney based, never married, Hindu, Kayastha, 35, 5’ 2”. Girl is MBA and is working in a reputed MNC. Please send details with photo to 6january@live.com Seeking professionally qualified settled match for Sydney based, never married Australian citizen, Hindu, Punjabi Khatri 45-year-old, 5’3” slim, fair, attractive girl. She is a postgraduate and is working on a good position in a government organisation. Please send details with photo to Indsyd2016@gmail.com.
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FORETELL
OCTOBER 2018 BY MINAL KHONA Minal Khona has been reading tarot cards for the last two decades. She uses her intuition and connect with the cards mostly to help people.
TAROT
ARIES March 21 - April 19
TAURUS April 20 - May 20
GEMINI May 21 - June 20
CANCER June 21 - July 20
The number six card drawn for you indicates the ability to transcend difficulties; remember that because troubles could multiply this month. Trips get postponed and work issues frustrate immensely. Insomnia could cause health problems and financial losses too are indicated. However, things will work out and difficulties in relationships will wither away due to a bond of destiny that you share. Proceed with caution in everything. Go with the flow, have faith that everything will work out in your favour.
A major arcana indicates an important event that is about to begin or culminate. You focus on hope and faith, spiritual growth and happiness. If on the brink of a relationship, you proceed with caution. A new work initiative gives you a chance to work with a larger audience; and some of you might consider changing jobs. Money expected will come in. Trust your gut instinct and be wary of all interactions that demand your trust, as someone could cheat you.
A month of stress with depression and discord, stalled projects and worry about the future dominating. A separation from a loved one is temporary as your fears are baseless. A reunion is on the cards. Success at work is on the anvil despite all the hurdles. Stomach-related health issues could besiege you. Spiritual guidance from the universe will change your perspective. What looks like a setback is an opportunity for growth and wisdom. Wait for things to resolve themselves.
You yearn for more but you don’t know what. Work, meetings, new projects keep you busy this month. Health issues come up due to emotional stress and you could have problems with your legs or feet. A need for love and companionship occupies you but now is not the right time. The work environment could suffer due to disturbing influences, unforeseen obstacles etc. But you will succeed through your ability to take decisive actions and positive responses from colleagues.
LEO July 21 - Aug 22
VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22
LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22
SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21
Emotions dominate this month for Leos, and relationships, reunions and reconciliations will take up your time. If in love, you have to be clear about what you want before you can take things further. A short trip proves fruitful. You aim higher at work and financial problems get resolved. An unexpected source will help you in your profession. Success comes through following your path and communicating your needs effectively. A love affair goes nowhere if you are involved.
If you wish to give up on a habit, start now, as the stars align to help you along. A change of lifestyle, perhaps enforced by circumstances is foretold. A relationship is likely to end though your feelings for the person remain. A sudden loss of income might shake you out of complacency so start saving. A negative situation will work out positively and you should let go of situations that no longer assist in your spiritual evolution.
Tarot denotes a Leo-type personality for you this month: family gatherings, spiritual pursuits, love affairs and seeking personal fulfillment will keep Librans busy. A passionate love affair is in store for singles, or someone will reveal how they feel about you. If a relationship is going downhill, you might just want to end it. Impulsive purchases will be wise buys in retrospect; and money is on its way. You will attract whatever you need and true guidance will come to you.
Whatever you may be experiencing this month, remember that you have divine protection. Practical concerns like family ties and daily life occupy your time. New developments make the future look better. Money can be blocked but it will come even though living expenses will be high. Anxiety about your inability to forge a strong bond, and a falling out or misunderstanding with a friend or employer, is also predicted. In the end, you will be grateful for resolution of conflicts.
SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21
CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19
AQUARIUS Jan 20 - Feb 18
PISCES Feb 19 - March 20
You will exhibit Taurean traits such as being realistic, practical and patient while unexpected developments take centrestage. You will want to walk away from a painful situation but will be unable to do so. A lover returns unexpectedly. Beware of emotional problems affecting work. Maintain a detached demeanour in spite of turmoil. Start organising your finances if they’re in disarray. Success will come through effort, gradual growth and opportunities. Your pessimism will vanish when things get better.
A time of introspection and decisions, besides reaching a plateau in your life, making you question - what next? Spiritual growth is indicated for those seeking insights, but you clam up when it comes to sharing your deeper feelings for fear of being vulnerable. Slow down or you risk falling sick. Outstanding debts owed to you will get cleared. Success come through perseverance in spite of obstacles. Work on your inner net to ensure smooth sailing in the outer world.
In a difficult situation, bide your time and wait for destiny to play out the future. Do your best no matter how tough the situation is currently. Business is good and your skill set helps you make money. Any new age or metaphysical ventures will be successful. A health issue could be misdiagnosed so seek a second opinion. Major changes in the way you handle problems are indicated. Go it alone for the time being and focus on your goals.
New ideas and beginnings, along with anxiety and pressure, will keep you preoccupied this month. You seek satisfaction and recognition in your career. A new love affair could sweep you off your feet while a marriage could be on the rocks. Some tense moments in your financial life could frustrate you. However, this is all temporary and you will move into an easier situation. You will get what you want; remember to have faith because your work speaks for itself.
. NATIONAL EDITION
OCTOBER (1) 2018 43
ENTERTAINMENT
cineTALK OF RAGAS AND RETRIBUTION
ANDHADHUN
DIRECTOR: Sriram Raghavan STARRING: Tabu, Ayushmann Khurrana, Radhika Apte, Zakhir Hussain, Ashwini Kalsekar, Manav Vij, Chaya Kadam, Anil Dhawan, Gopal K. Singh
HHHHH
Take a deep breath. Now, brace yourself for an experience that simultaneously defies and defines all the rules of the suspense genre. The last time director Sriram Raghavan took us on a similarly clenched suspenseful roller-coaster ride in Ek Haseena Thi, the moral compass was far less askew. Here in Andhadhun, every character barring Radhika
Apte’s, is prone to bouts of shrill moral discrepancy that leaves us stunned. Now where did that come from? I found myself asking this question at least a dozen times as I sat frozen in my seat resigned to the frenzied flurry of fate and serendipity that guides this utterly unpredictable tale of unhampered hankerings and unstoppable calamities But hang on. How do I review this film without giving away the plot? Andhadhun is a spoiler’s paradise. There are so many twists in the plot that a more apt title according to me, would be Aao Twist Karen (for the record, the director confirms this was a title seriously considered). And none of these twists and turns in this sharply curved
thriller is a red herring. Everything and nothing makes sense in the morally unhinged world of Sriram Raghavan. People kill, maim, hoodwink and betray the unsuspecting at the drop of a hat. The film’s hero is a blind pianist, played with eclectic aplomb by Ayushmann Khurrana. We soon get to know the blind pianist is not blind after all. Though mercifully he remains a pianist right until the bitter battered finale when his nemesis is no longer willing to stay huddled in a corner. Raghavan’s talented team of co-writers Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti and Yogesh Chanderkar take the kinetic plot all over the place without losing its bearings. Just when we are getting to know the blind pianist, the narrative introduces a smouldering femme fatale, played by the resplendent Tabu, and her aging superstar-husband whom she may not want around for too long. Casting the 1970s star Anil Dhawan as the fading superstar Pramod Kumar is a masterstroke. Dhawan has the hits and his character is as emptied of heft as an artiste as Dhawan was in his heydays. Raghavan loves to adorn his thrillers with retro embellishments. In Johnny Gaddar, he used the 1970s hits with telling impact. This time in Andhadhun, the filmmaker pulls out all the stops to envelope Anil Dhawan’s character with a swirling retro-heat. Songs, scenes from Anil Dhawan’s starrers swish by in tantalising glimpses. And to hear Ayushmann sing and play Guzar jaaye din from the Anil Dhawan-starrer Annadata is a joy that the grey-black characters cannot thwart. This cannibalization of cinema history with fiction is in keeping with the narrative’s mood of yoking personal details from the characters’ lives with
flights of fictional fantasy. We know the pianist-hero is not what he seems. But just how far his deception goes, comes as a shocker. No one except the surprisingly insipid Radhika is to be trusted. There is a game-plan behind the seeming placidity that every character demonstrates. The remarkable fusion of colours and moods lends a blended brilliance to the frames. In one sequence, the blind pianist plays on as a dead body appears in the frame. Red wine and blood mingle on the floor. Elsewhere, an old woman is hurled to her death from a skyscraper. As investigations go on, an abandoned school bag lies on the floor. Probably some child who was hastily bundled back home after the crime. Death is never far away from the characters. They live with the fear of losing their lives. But they do not allow that fear to overrule their avarice and ambitions. This feeling of entrapped trepidation runs deep into the script. Even when the second-half becomes less elegantly chaotic than the first the narrative never fails to keep us on our toes. We never know what may happen next in this saga of the raga and retribution, told with a verve and velocity that the suspense genre has never experienced before in Hindi cinema. So if you’ve been wondering why suspense films in Indian cinema seem so amateurish, think no more. Andhadhun is everything that a murder mystery should be. Filled with morally reprehensible characters including an absolutely debauched cop (dazzlingly slimy Manav Vij), it doesn’t try to impress us with the right moral values. God is on leave. And goodness is on a hunger strike in this film about greed, passion and nemesis. Subhash K. Jha
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OCTOBER (1) 2018 45
ENTERTAINMENT
The BUZZ UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON WHAT’S HOT AND HAPPENING IN BOLLYWOOD
KAJOL
THREE INDIAN FILMS AT THE AACTAS
Three Indian films are among nine films shortlisted by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) in this year’s Best Asian Film category. These are Newton, Sanju and Gali Guleiyan. Asian films are finally being recognised as worthy of a look here in Oz. In the last 12 months, Asian films have contributed $36 million to the Australian box office, signalling the immense popularity of Asian cinema in Australia as the region’s film industries continue to boom and produce highquality, internationally lauded titles. Anupam Kher and Shabana Azmi will be returning as jurors. The 8th AACTA Awards Ceremony will be held in Sydney on Wednesday 5 December 2018. Last year the Aamir Khna starrer Dangal took the honours in this category.
KAJOL: COOL MUM?
NAME THEM AND SHAME THEM
I
t was bound to happen. Tanushree Dutta may have opened a floodgate with her sexual harassment allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar. Only weeks ago in Melbourne, actor Richa Chadha had told Indian Link’s Preeti Jabbal on the sidelines of the IFFM, that the Indian industry is rife for its own version of #MeToo. Today she is one of the many newgeneration film professionals who has come out in strong support of women like Tanushree and Vinta Nanda, as their story of harassment and intimidation - not to mention pushing out of the industry - comes to the fore more and more clearly. Stalwarts such as Rajat Kapoor, Alok Nath and members of comedy collective AIB, have been named and shamed among others. Some of the other men, though, have finally begun to act like responsible adults, severing ties with those against whom allegations have been laid. Good on you, Hrithik Roshan, for proclaiming loud and clear that you will quit working on your film Super 30 if its director Vikas Bahl is found to be guilty. Some old-timers have chosen to remain silent, sadly even when pointedly asked. (We’re looking at you, Mr Big Amitabh Bachchan, at your lame, pussy-footed reply to media).
46 OCTOBER (1) 2018
The social media backlash has been strong, and this class of ‘privileged’ Bollywood-wallahs seems now to have learned some lessons. Everyone one must be taking instruction on how to answer that inevitable question from the press this past week: what do you think of the Tanushree Dutta allegations? A gamut of stars like Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna, Hansal Mehta, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vir Das, Swara Bhaskar and Anurag Kashyap have spoken out strongly in support. Meanwhile industry bodies such as The Producers Guild of India and Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) have extended their support to the movement to call out and report sexual harassment and abuse, whenever and wherever it occurs in showbiz. “We believe that there is an urgent need to set up a robust process to ensure the highest standards of safety for employees and crew members at the workplace. We are instituting a committee within the Guild to lead this effort, and we are determined to stay the course till workplaces in the industry are safe spaces for everyone,” read an official statement from the Producers Guild of India. There’s no stopping the tsunami now.
This new film’s going to strike a chord with many sections of our community here in Oz. And not just because Kajol is back on the screen! Kajol plays the role of an overprotective mother in her upcoming film Helicopter Eela. Directed by Pradeep Sarkar, it also stars Riddhi Sen, who plays Eela’s teenage son. Kajol says that the film is not “just a mother-son story”. “The film is about relationships. I think in every relation be it mother-son, husband-wife, best friends or even brother-sister, if one person becomes over possessive then there is a sense of suffocation,” she observed. Of course, as a real-life mum of two, she couldn’t resist dispensing some gyan about the parent-child relationship “Somewhere down the line, we underestimate our kids. They know this world much better than us in a lot of ways. Today, our main duty is to disseminate the information in the right way,” Kajol said at a promotional event. Modern-age parents need to discuss morality, ethics, compassion, dignity with children, she said. She revealed in response to a question that she herself is a mix of an overprotective and a cool mother in real life. Produced by Ajay Devgn and Jayantilal Gada (Pen), the film is set to release on 12 October.
CRICKET SAGA FOR NETFLIX
Netflix’s India Original Series Selection Day, a story based on the novel of the same name by Booker Prize-winning author Aravind Adiga, will launch globally on 28 December.
A story about ambition, love and acceptance, the series is a coming-ofage drama about two brothers who are raised by their strict, obsessive father to be star cricket players in India. The cast includes Mahesh Manjrekar, Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajesh Tailang and introduces Yash Dholye and Mohammad Samad as brothers Radha and Manju Kumar. “Selection Day is an amazing opportunity to expand our array of programming after the exciting debuts of Sacred Games and Ghoul,” said Simran Sethi, Director, International Originals, Netflix. Producer Anand Tucker added, “When I read Aravind Adiga’s beautiful and brilliant book, I felt that this was a story that deserved a global stage. I hope audiences from Minnesota to Mombasa and Mumbai will all love this show.”
PALLAVI SHARDA IN GURINDER CHADHA’S PERIOD FILM
Actress Pallavi Sharda has joined the team of Gurinder Chadha’s India-set drama Beecham House, playing the role of a princess in the period drama. “It has been an absolute joy to work with Gurinder Chadha, someone who has inspired me since I first watched Bhaji on the Beach as a young girl,” Pallavi said in a statement. “She has pioneered the representation of South Asian identity on mainstream screens globally and as a child of the diaspora her work impacted me greatly.” “It is so fulfilling to have a female leader with so much courage, gumption and a shared goal of bringing South Asian perspectives out of the shadows in the western world,” she added. The series takes place on the cusp of 19th century in Delhi, and follows the life of residents of the titular mansion. It will be filmed in India as well. It also stars Tom Bateman, who has featured in films like Murder On The Orient Express and Snatched, and Marc Warren, known for shows like The Vice and State Of Play, and Lesley Nicol of Downton Abbey. Pallavi plays Chandrika, who is bold, proud and clings viscerally to her roots. “She is close to John Beecham (played by Bateman), but no one in the house
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understands why. She is like a gallant and warrior-like Indian woman who is prepared to fight for what she believes in. I didn’t have to think twice when I got offered the role.” Pallavi was last seen in Lion with Dev Patel.
JALEBI AS A SYMBOL OF DELHI
Now this is a film for die-hard Delhiwallahs. First-time director Pushpdeep Bhardwaj’s upcoming movie, titled Jalebi, captures the nuance of “beautiful” Delhi from an insider’s point of view. “I tried to share my view on Delhi through the eyes of my protagonist Dev. He is a Delhi guy who takes tourists to food and heritage walks to unveil the other beautiful side of Delhi. And is also about how he cannot let himself out of the city as he holds everything of the city close to his heart,” Bhardwaj said. He added, “I was born and brought up in Delhi. So the way I know the city Delhi is way different from a touristy view. In the film Jalebi, I have offered that story of Delhi.” Jalebis of course are a specialty food item in Delhi’s walled city. Being a theatre actor and director before joining the film industry, Bhardwaj did a lot of street theatre in the nooks and corners of Delhi. Bhardwaj worked under the
mentorship of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, with debutant actor Varun Mitra and actress Rhea Chakraborty. The film releases on 12 October.
BABY SHOWER AS PROMOTIONAL GIMMICK
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana and the makers of Badhaai Ho will be hosting a baby shower for 50 expecting mothers on 10 October. The baby shower is part of promotional activities planned for the film, which is about an elderly couple expecting a child. The Badhaai Ho team has planned a fun evening for the ladies, which includes music, games and candid interactions with the expecting mothers. Actor Neena Gupta, who is essaying role of the elderly woman expecting a child, will also join the activity. “It’s a special moment for any woman to experience motherhood, irrespective of the age. Surrounded by my closest family and friends, there couldn’t have been a better celebration to ring in our good news,” Neena said in a statement. Ayushmann added, “India is a country that celebrates family ties like none other. The idea was to treat these special ladies to some signature Kaushik hospitality. This was a completely out-of-the-box concept and we are excited we could pull this off.”
WHO WORE IT BETTER? ROBIN WRIGHT or SHILPA SHETTY in REEM ACRA? Share your views + with us on our
Facebook page /IndianLinkAustralia
NATIONAL EDITION
Gaon: The Village No More will release on 26 October, director Gautam Singh has announced. The film is inspired by the true story of Singh’s own village in Jharkhand, India. “Once in this remote and isolated community, villagers coexisted like members of a large extended family where they maintained a unique way of life - mellow and harmonious, celebratory and united,” Singh said in a statement. “In this film, the village Bharatgaon, is itself the protagonist, serving as a metaphor for the state of India. (It represents) diametrically opposed interpretations simultaneously residing within one nation.” Gaon... features Gopal K Singh as Vaidji, Neha Mahajan as Sango, Rohit Pathak as Mangla, Shadab Kamal as Bharat and Omkar Das Manikpuri as Sambhu. Meanwhile, the film Uri is based on the Indian Army’s surgical strikes on the intervening night of September 28-29, 2016, eleven days after terrorists from Pakistan attacked a military base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir leaving 19 Indian soldiers dead. Some parts of the film, which is high on action, were shot in Serbia. Yami Gautam, Vicky Kaushal and Kirti Kulhari star in this Aditya Dhar directorial, which releases on 11 Jan, 2019.
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Match the following tars to their tweets below: Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra Not much of a koffee person but the only time I make an exception, as @ karanjohar knows how to brew it to perfection. Was super fun sharing the couch with @RanveerOfficial #KoffeeWithKaran A new chapter for me! I am so excited to partner with @bumble and @ holbertonschool as an investor. I’m honoured to join two companies that strive to expand gender diversity in the tech space, and make a social impact for the greater good... let’s do this!! It is impossible for me to work with any person if he/she is guilty of such grave misconduct. I have requested the producers of ‘Super 30’ to take stock of the apparent facts and take a hard stand if need be
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Vandana D’Souza, NSW Congratulations, Vandana! You win a movie ticket! For more caption entries see YOUR SAY Page 8
OCTOBER (1) 2018 47
BACKCHAT
Get your summer beach bod Simple diet and fitness tips that should get you beach-ready in weeks BY NURY VITACHI
M
y wife’s pick of magazines makes me laugh. On the cover, one headline is always something like “Learn To Love Yourself As You Are”. Another is “Lose 5 kg In Two Weeks”. And a third: “New Pasta Recipes”. It seems these days we all want to be slim. One colleague shared a motivational tip that is “guaranteed” to make one eat less. “You put a large mirror by your dining table and eat all your meals naked.” Nice idea, but it would be hard to get buy-in from the wife and children. Googling for better advice led me to stumble on an interesting true story. A guy called Mike Lee, due to have a beach wedding, decided
to get in shape. A fitness trainer handed him a pencil and a book of numbers, telling him, “Add up the calories of everything you eat, and deduct the calories of everything you burn in physical activity.” Ding! Mike had a flash of inspiration. Being a nerd, he wrote a programme to do it automatically, called it “MyFitnessPal”, and later sold it for something like half a billion US dollars. A colleague who swears by this app explained its magic. “You don’t have to keep typing in foods because it learns your eating habits, and you don’t have to type in your activity level since it takes the information from how much your smartphone moves around every day.” In other words, it is a fitness app for people who think a bit of typing is way too much hard work. Ooooo-kay. My kind of people. Fun fact: did you know that the Germans have a word for comfort eating? “Kummerspeck” literally
means “griefbacon”. If you point at a German’s bulging midriff, he or she will say, “My life is stressful so what you see is the bacon of grief.” One colleague said we should all buy that Samsung Galaxy smartphone which has a built-in filter that makes you skinnier in photos. I said, “But the downside is that you can never meet your relatives faceto-face again.” “How is that a downside?” he asked. Good point. Tip for husbands: if you ever walk into a bathroom and see your spouse weighing herself, you say, “Ignore the weighing sales. They don’t measure sexiness.” (Seriously. They totally like this.) This columnist used to just stick to Ms. Piggy’s Rule of Nutrition, which says, “Never eat anything that you can’t lift.” But lately I concocted a threepart dieting plan. * Get rid of all the bad food
from your fridge. (I did this. It was delicious.) * If you eat illicit snacks, always eat the whole bag of chips at once because if you save half for later that’s two failures instead of one. * When you weigh yourself, always deduct 3 pounds or 1.4 kilos as it would be wrong to count your amazing brain against you, right?
In the end, this columnist decided to skip the diet and take a philosophical stance instead. I shouldn’t complain about carrying a couple of extra kilos because it would be unfair to everyone else if I was this intelligent, cute, warm and slim too. And if anyone comments, I shall simply point to my stomach and tell them, “I have children. This is the bacon of grief.”
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Parramatta Park
The story of Deepavali
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