Desi Australia Monthly eMagazine – Issue June 2019 by Desi Australia

JUNE

AUSTRALIA’S MOST POPULAR SOURCE OF SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA

2019

“Keeping you connected”

The Rise of M&M Elections in 2 prominent Democracies- Australia and India page 52

Tete a Tete with the Crème de la crème at Cannes The diversity and exchange of ideas & talent At Cannes Film Festival

page 24

“Believe and you have won half the battle”

Sagarika Venkat’s Salangai Poojai page 30

NEWS I EVENTS I VIEW POINT I LEGAL I TECHNOLOGY I TAROT I FOOD I POLITICS

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WHAT’S INSIDE Mahal 41 Taj ‘To Be or Not To Be’

Sagarika Venkat

Journey of a young classical

Celebration of Diversity at Australian Fashion Week

Mini World Cup 2019 27 Canberra Closing Ceremony

benefits of exercise 36 The on mental health…

High Commission of India (Australia) begins celebration of the 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2019

with Rajni 29 YouGo Yoga for a Mindful You

What is Nesting and is it something that is recommended?

Gandhi’s 150th 19 Commemorating birthday Trees for Peace -

Celebration 42 Sakhi Promoting Womanhood, Friendship and Fashion

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PUBLISHER Desi Media Group (Desi Australia Pty Ltd)

Editor-in-chief Arti Banga

Sales and Marketing: Dimple Deez

Victoria Editor: Garima Dhawan

Queensland Editor: Priya Singh

ACT Editor: Rajni Ghai Malhotra

Western Australia Editor: Ankita Tandon

South Australia Editor: Daljeet Bakshi Address: Desi Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 102, Casula, NSW 2170 Email : info@DesiAustralia.com

Mob: 0433121339

Disclaimer: All rights reserved. Do not re-use any content and photo from Desi Australia without the prior written permission from the editor. All the material published in Desi Australia, including articles, features, fillers, advertisements, and all other contents, are published in good faith, and the editor or the Desi Australia magazine cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions. All material is published on the understanding that it is copyright free, and Desi Australia accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. We also cannot accept responsibility for and do not endorse views expressed by the contributors.

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Hello Everyone, On behalf of team DesiAustralia we welcome the new Consul General Mr Manish Gupta. With his extensive experience in dealing with multilateral issues, such as trade and investment, Mr Gupta brings a wealth of knowledge and diplomatic experience to the new role, and is looking forward to working with everyone. The world is getting ready for International Yoga day which is celebrated around the globe on 21st June. Australia is no exception with the events already lined up and organised by the High Commissioner and CG of Australia. It is said to be an affirmation of the universal acceptance of yoga as a practice for mental and physical well-being. Bollywood superstar, Shahrukh Khan, will be coming to Melbourne to attend the IFFM Awards night on August 8th as a chief guest. With a significant following from the Indian diaspora worldwide, the presence of this prominent icon of Indian Cinema has contributed to making this year ’s festival the

JUNE I 2019

Arti Banga

Editor-in-Chief

most exciting one yet. Thank you for your ongoing support and interest in Desi happening around major cities of Australia. We hope you enjoy reading this issue which has news on Events, Politics, Entertainment, Desi Talent, Health & Well Being, Legal, Technology and much more DesiAustralia.com “Keeping you connected”

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View Point

THE ECONOMICS AND ETHICS OF SHOPPING BAGS.

Writer: Sidd Sharma

t’s been a year since Coles and Woollies brought in their policy of charging for plastic bags. Frankly, they were late to the game. Malta, in Europe, has been charging consumers for shopping bags since 2009. Parts of Africa have placed a decade old outright ban on them. Even in Australia, the German supermarket giant Aldi has been charging people for durable reusable bags since it came to our shores, bypassing the lightweight polyethylene offerings of the other two supermarkets altogether.

The reasoning is sound, of course. Low density polyethylene bags (LDPE) are often treated as single use and disposed of quickly, which then end up in our landfills and take, at the very least, 50 years to breakdown. The environmental impact of this is not to be understated – they add to our growing landfill problem, end up polluting our natural environments, clogging our waterways, and have severe impacts on wildlife, which are often found entangled in or digesting the LDPE waste. And that’s where the behavioural element of the charge comes in – by offering a bag at an extra charge, even if it is just ten cents, fundamentally changes the mindset of the consumer and discourages their consumption. It’s simple loss aversion theory, and it’s been shown to be highly effective – a recent study by the American Economic Journal Economic Policy shows that a five cent ‘tax’ on LDPE bags reduces their consumption by significant 40% overall.

The charge works; bans are even better. But as a consumer, there are a few things to take into consideration in order to make sure you’re not being played. One of the biggest issues with the LDPE charge comes the understated risk of swapping one evil for another; the reusable, thicker shopping bags that the big supermarkets offer are actually much worse for the environment than their free LDPE alternatives, and their negligible ten cent price tag makes them just as disposable after one time use. This doesn’t quite stack up, as these bags are also more expensive and energy intensive to manufacture than the single use. A study by the British government showed that in order to recoup the extra energy needed to manufacture them, high density, thick shopping bags need to be reused at least four times. Simply put, if we want to discourage single use behaviour, perhaps our pricing incentives aren’t high enough! Ten cents is not enough to justify the extra energy needed to make

Via National Geographic

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these bags, and it’s certainly not enough to discourage customers using them once before disposing of them in the same manner. The next issue is slightly less black and white because it relates to the ethics of charging customers for branded shopping bags. The argument was brought to light recently in India when a Bata customer purchased some items for the store and took issue with the extra Rs 3 charge placed on the total purchase. It was claimed that this was the price of the paper shopping bag which was supplied with the purchase, and part of company policy. After escalating the matter, the Indian Consumer Forum sided with the consumer, claiming it was unlawful and unethical for Bata to be charging a consumer for a product that was essentially an advertisement for the company and had no utility relating to the purchase itself. When Bata appealed, the forum justified their decision by postulating that if Bata were honestly worried about the environment, they’d offer their customers environmentally friendly, or at least recycled bags free of charge. But is it really a big deal? Most, if not all shopping bags have their logos on the shopping bags they provide; the advertising is part of the purchase, and the costs are usually built into the product. The American Marketing Association has even shown that logoed shopping bags can enhance the experience of a purchase, especially with the purchase of branded and Veblen goods. Closer to home, Coles and Woollies plaster their branding all over the reusable shopping bags they offer as an alternative. So, is it unethical? Is it out of step with consumer rights to charge for what is in effect free advertising, or are the behavioural and environmental effects justified in the widely adopted extra charge policy? Well, the answer isn’t simple, and will fluctuate based on values and consumer beliefs. In economic theory, this would relate to the issue of externalities. An externality is a hidden cost of an economic exchange, which isn’t addressed or factored for in pricing models. So, the environmental impact of plastic and single use shopping bags was, until recent decades, an externality. With shops charging extra for bags, they’re finally recognising the cost and passing it onto consumers. A

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Via Australian Science Channel

behavioural economist would argue that this, rather than supplying bags for free, still results in greater social good; it attempts to address single use consumption behaviours whilst still preserving fundamental choice, and it makes a consumer immediately cognisant of the value they place on convenience

versus sustainability. And so a year on, it seems as though the shopping bag charge policies are here to stay, and only getting more and more ubiquitous around the world. Take a moment to reflect – has it changed your behaviour?

Via India Today

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Mag Corner

riends and well wishers gathered at The Tea Room in Queen Victoria Building on 24th May to recognise the work and contribution of Mr Zarak Khan Fiji Consul-General & Trade Commissioner to Australia & New Zealand, during his tenure of 3 years in Sydney. Mr Khan performed an amazing job in building business relationships between Fiji and Australia and New Zealand and now he moves to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva as their Director Programmes and Initiatives

MOCE MADA

MR ZARAK KHAN SYDNEY BIDS FARWELL TO MR ZARAK KHAN FIJI’S CONSUL-GENERAL & TRADE COMMISSIONER TO AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND. On Behalf of his wife Zoya and his daughter Zonaira , Mr Khan thanked the Fijian community in Australia & NZ, the Governments of Fiji, Australia & NZ, friends & colleagues for their support. “It’s been a genuine pleasure & privilege serving as your Consul General & Trade Commissioner based in Sydney. We take back with us valuable experiences & a network of wonderful friends whom we will miss very much.” Mr Khan said In the nearly three years that he has been in the role, “We have particularly appreciated Zarak for his personal qualities: his ability to connect with people from all walks of life and his ability to build enduring relationships that will benefit our countries for many years to come. And he has achieved all of this with

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Mag Corner

qualities characteristic of Fijians – a quiet demeanour; an ability to put people at ease; and a lovely, disarming smile” said Barbara Wards

It was also an opportunity to meet Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency, Mr Luke Daunivalu who took up his role in August of last year. ‘We in the Fiji community here in Australia are privileged to have a representative of his Excellency’s calibre representing our homeland. High Commissioner brings to the role more than 20 years of experience working in the national and international arena. Most recently, he has been the Chief Negotiator for Fiji’s climate advocacy work under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change” Miss Wards said.

FIJI’S HIGH COMMISSIONER TO AUSTRALIA, HIS EXCELLENCY, MR LUKE DAUNIVALU AND HIS FAMILY

PHOTO CREDIT: HARMOHAN WALIA

Few of the Fijian products were beautifully displayed and promoted to the wider Australian community. Kava corner was set up which offered great quality KAVA (Fijina drink.) to all present. There were performances by Bollywood and Fijian Dance groups along with Live singing. The evening offered a unique opportunity to discuss, support and promote Australia’s engagement in Fiji and the Pacific.

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Talent

OZ Wins Bhangra World Championship 2019 Bhagra All Stars Sydney was crowned the winner

arents, supports and locals alike, cheered and smiled as Bhangra All Stars Sydney (BASS), a Punjabi folk dance troupe, performed with unparalleled energy under the illuminating lights of the Dorton Arena. Pure passion, creative formations and impeccable choreography captivated the hearts of the audience. BASS was crowned the winners at the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ever Championships of Bhangra competition, held in Raleigh North Carolina in mid-April. Their eight-minute performance was rich in energy, power and performed in perfect unison. It cleverly incorporated the folk elements of traditional Bhangra with the use of props such as khundey, shikke and the joyously sounding ghungroos. Adapting to the taste of western-raised Download Our App

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Talent

were integrated throughout the routine. Director of the competition, Kuntal Shah, said BASS’s “risk taking, passion, unique flavour and work-ethic to deliver memorable and authentic routines” was what attracted the organisers to invite the Sydney-based team. BASS captain Amitoj Thind said “it was amazing to have an international audience appreciate a routine we had spent many months creating, practicing and perfecting. It was also very special to have many of our parents and siblings travelling with us to share and experience the journey with.” Amitoj described his team as “friends who have been learning Bhangra together since childhood and have become close like family through a passion for Bhangra.” audiences, modern elements such as a hip-hop fusion soundtrack and colourful stage lights

Formed in 2011, BASS has since been determined to take their flavour of Bhangra to

an international level. Considered a sport by many in North-America, teams from across the continent compete at many competitions over the course of the year. The North-American has origins dating back to the early 2000s and for many years Punjabi youth from Australia have been following through videos online. The troupe’s journey to Raleigh, was preceded by a competition a week prior in Buffalo, New York, where they happily placed second and won Best Dancer award. When asked about the preparation process, Amitoj said “The process was quite long and tough. We had long and exhausting practices five nights a week which our boys had to balance with work or school. We all grew a lot from the experience and in the end it was very rewarding.” Divjot Mehrok, the youngest performer at age 14, said the tough learning curve and late nights were “in the end all worth it,” as he learned “valuable skills such as time management, teamwork and thinking outside-the-box.” BASS has been competing at a national and international level since 2012, winning many prestigious competitions such as Nachda Punjab, Harbour City Bhangra and Bhangra Down Under, with placings at World’s Best Bhangra Crew New Jersey and Bruin Bhangra in Los Angeles. BASS Queens, the girls team of the BASS academy, has also shared much success as the boys, placing at competitions nationwide. Family, friends and fans alike gathered to live stream the performances back home, not missing a beat of the team’s journey. It is inspiring to see Australian-born Punjabis maintaining a deep connection to their culture and promoting the folk-dance of their ancestors. Amitoj and Divjot credit the parents and families who have “encouraged and engaged the children in their culture from an early age.” “We are so humbled to have the opportunity to display our heritage and passion for Bhangra on the international stage,” Amitoj said. “Our hope is to preserve the Punjabi culture and inspire others to connect with it as well.”

Photo Credit: SP Digital Media, North Carolina

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Life Style

Spreading a Culture of Peace HWPL Australia holds its first, one-of-a-kind Peace Festival in Commemoration of the 6th Annual Declaration of World Peace WPL Australia holds the first one-of-a-kind Peace Festival in Centenary Square, Parramatta, to commemorate the 6th annual Declaration of World Peace proclaimed by HWPL, Seoul, South Korea in 2013.

The afternoon started with a ‘Welcome to Country’ by uncle Bruce Gale of Parramatta Council and a traditional dance from Aunty Peta Strachan and the Jannawi Dance Clan, acknowledging the Darug people, the traditional owners of the land, where the festival was being held.

The week of 25th May marks the 6th annual commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace proclaimed by HWPL in Seoul, South Korea and around the world. On 25th of May, 2013, thousands of men, women and youth gathered and HWPL Chairman, Man Hee Lee, recognised and acknowledged the necessity of peace in the world and the integral role each group could play in making it a reality. On March 14, 2016, an international law framework of 10 articles and 38 clauses, the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) was created to lay out practical steps towards making the dream of world peace a reality. Since then, each year on this day, innumerable people around the world participate in peace walks and world peace initiatives to commemorate the proclamation of peace day by supporting the DPCW. This year, on the 25th of May, the HWPL Australia Peace Festival, ‘Spreading a culture of Peace’, was held to re-iterate and celebrate the Article 10 of the DPCW. The peace festival brought together diverse communities across Sydney and Australia, many of who have experienced conflict, war and terror in their homeland, showcase and celebrate their rich cultural heritage through music

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Life Style

and dance and key speakers, guests, community heads of ethnic organisations, NGOs, media and fine art & performing art groups, supporting and perpetuating the cause of world peace. The festival offered a platform for diverse communities residing in Sydney to interact, socialize and celebrate with lots of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We are Oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; group photos with our HWPL Peace Mascot Kangaroos, henna art & face painting sessions. The peace festival concluded with the guests signing off their support for spreading a culture of peace and harmony on the HWPL Peace Tree painted on canvas with their thumb impression, a symbol of solidarity and inclusivity to be treasured forever.

tered to the United Nations Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) and Department of Global Communications (DGC). Created in 2014, in Seoul, South Korea, by a Korean War Veteran, HWPL is committed to achieving world peace and cessation of war and is now working in 176 countries. HWPL works to achieve this goal through its Legislate Peace Campaign, World Alliance of Religions for Peace (WARP) Office, and Peace Education. More information about HWPL and the work of peace, is available at www.hwpl.kr/en

About HWPL HWPL is an international, non-denominational, peace nongovernment organisation regis-

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Fashion Fashion

Celebration of Diversity at Australian Fashion Week

I Indranil Halder

t is summer in Dubai and winter in my home city of Sydney, Australia. I am on my annual world tour visiting fashion-forward cities, which also happen to have important cultural and heritage stories to tell too. Here in Dubai, I have taken refugee from the Arabian summer and am enjoying a cold drink in the luxury of Armani Hotel, Dubai. It’s a nice way to relax and reflect on the St.George NextGen

2019 Mercedes Benz Australian Fashion Week in Sydney, which I recently attended as a guest of Fashion of Multicultural Australia (FOMA). It was definitely a week of celebration: a celebration of Australian fashion, a celebration of creativity as well as diversity. Several designers presented their Resort 2020 collections in the magnificent venues that comprise Carriageworks, the largest multi-arts centre in Australia, where they showcased their creative designs in front of celebrity guests and fashion followers. It was the event’s 23rd year. Over the past two years, as an Ambassador of Fashion of Multicultural Australia (FOMA), my interest in and passion for heritage and culture has taken me deep into the fashion world. The occasion to attend Australian Fashion Week gave me the opportunity to continue my exploration and, importantly, my promotion of a greater understanding of heritage fashion. I believe Australia’s geographic location, strategically placed between South Africa, South America and Asia, gives us, as a country, an important role as a conduit, enabling heritage and culture between countries and continents to be better promoted. The possibilities to promote heritage and culture, locally and globally, are immense. Heritage fashion has always played a significant role in India. Sonia Gandhi, Director of Sydneybased Gandhi Creations and Founder of FOMA, brilliantly re-articulated Mahatma Gandhi’s conception of mindful luxury when he said, “a harmonious relationship between designer and wearer comes to mind” when she launched the inaugural FOMA event this year. With a renewed emphasis on promoting diversity in fashion, this understanding about heritage fashion has gained momentum in Australia. Talks on heritage fashion and understanding its importance continues to generate discussions. One such talk I recently attended was ‘Fashion and Politics’ by Bandana Tewari (former Editor,

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Fashion

the Australian fashion vernacular. To make this happen, at every opportunity, I choose to wear my Indian clothing. My dhotis or other Indian wears have been seen at events such as 111th Polo International at Windsor (NSW), the Archibald Art Exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW, as well as annual Glaxo Smith Klein corporate event in Melbourne. I am always pleasantly surprised that what I wear is always appreciated and applauded by everyone I meet. I feel fashion does unite people from various cultures. It reduces cultural barriers. Without doubt, heritage fashion plays a significant role in creating respect for diversity as well as creativity within Australia’s multicultural society. And to make this happen, we must begin from grass roots. Vogue India) at the Museum of Sydney. The talk was organised by Dr Gene Sherman, Founder of the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas. Ms Tewari’s talk made me reflect on the power of heritage fashion, something for which I am already raising awareness with a proactive approach - wearing traditional Indian clothing to events I attend in Australia, America, Asia, or wherever I am in the world.

Here are some examples of empowering moments of the celebration of diversity in Australia. I recently witnessed: Meera by designer Poornima Sharma with talented Sydney photographer Balzinder Balz from Wedding Gurus Production, celebrated Indian creativity and heritage fashion with a visually stunning photo shoot. His photographs highlighted the celebration of India’s rich heritage fashion in all its glory.

In 2018, Charlotte Smith, Globetrotting Fashion Anthropologist and owner of The Charlotte Smith Fashion Collection, invited me to wear my own traditional Indian attire in a charity fashion parade that celebrated empowerment and diversity. I escorted Australian television news anchor Deborah Knight. I was delighted to wear a dhoti/kuarta designed by Calcutta-based Indian fashion designer, Agnimitra Paul. The event, Dress for Success Sydney, was televised and my outfit and its story featured across Australia on Channel Nine’s morning show. It was definitely a historic moment for heritage Indian fashion!

At Australian Fashion Week, my favourite designer was Benjamin Garg. Benjamin Garg celebrated Indian Rajasthani Kota Doria heritage hand loomed textiles with his collection Doria. He used over twenty meters of fabric to create layers, volume and pleaded shapes in a rainbow of colours. Benjamin, a Masters Degree fashion student from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), successfully brought India and Australia closer together through heritage, creativity and education through fashion design. Similar to 2018 Australian Fashion Week, which saw the celebration of the Rajasthani-inspired collection by Camilla Frank for her label, Camilla, both Frank and Garg used artistic expression to pay homage to centuries old traditional dress found in the Indian subcontinent. The celebration of diversity, creativity and heritage fashion is becoming an integral part of one of the most glamorous fashion events in the Southern Hemisphere: Australian Fashion Week. It’s just as I had always hoped.

With my vision of making heritage fashion more acceptable, I continue my journey of celebrating Indian heritage fashion in the hope that one day it will become mainstream in Australia and a commonplace form of dress in Download Our App

So did several fashon designers at Australian Fashion Week 2019. It was as if they had been inspired by every element of Indian style and then created collections that would appeal to a diverse audience of fashionistas. And what a celebration of diversity it was!

As ambassador of Fashions of Multicultural Australia (FOMA), it’s time for me to raise a glass of Pol Roger champagne and celebrate my role in adding another layer to Australia’s fashion history by wearing Indian heritage, which in itself is supporting diversity for a multicultural Australia. JUNE I 2019

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Fashion

Look bold and beautiful with belts

Slay n sway in style

Crystal Belt Maybe the most fitting option for a party is the metallic or crystal belt. This is an easy way to add that special sparkle to your evening outfit. With an accessory so loud, you can choose to

By: Abbey Singh

elt is one accessory which alone has the power to transform a look to make it bolder and trendier. Today, I wanted to share some of my favourite ways to master four major belt trends so you can slay n sway in style.

commanding. This is where the chain belt comes into play. Like everything else in fashion, these are cyclical and were huge in the early 2000’s. However, chain belts are back in a much more modern way. I love the ones with dangling medallions when paired with sweater or leather dresses!

wear it with solids so it creates a nice contrast. Or if you like more and think more is better, pair your metallic belt with more metallic!

Waist Belt One of my life mottos, “When in doubt, wear a maxi dress.” If you are still looking for the perfect party look, a long dress or skirt is an easy way to look glam and fashion-forward. Plus, you can take it up a notch by cinching the waist with a belt to pull the whole look together. A simple, classic leather belt always does the trick. You can keep it timeless by opting for a belt in brown or black, or get a bit bolder by opting for a coloured belt. After all fashion is all about being creative and standing out with your outfit. Statement belts shined in 2018 and they will continue to live on in the 2019

Vintage Chain Belt Of course, the powerful combo that continues to reign in the fashion world is a statement belt paired with a blazer. This waist-accentuating, menswear inspired look commands attention and prowess, thus it needs a belt equally as Download Our App

Fanny Pack Belt Another belt trend that continues to circulate is the fanny pack. It’s exactly what it sounds like a hybrid of a classic belt and pouch. I am a big fan of the aesthetics it provides, as well as the practicality! Sometimes it can be a hassle to tote along a handbag, especially in crowded places such as a parties or busy bar. The fanny pack belt is great for storing essentials, while also adding that street style flair to your look. JUNE I 2019

Slowly but surely we’re borrowing trends or looks from the infamous decade that is seriously anything but beautiful-fashion. It’s kitsch, it’s shocking, it’s too much, it’s too bright, too loud, too messy, and I’m kinda loving it.

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Technology

4G VS 5G By: Sarang Vengurlekar

recent announcement from Telstra launching their 5G network was a big relief for the early adopters. We have been waiting long for this technology to be launched as it provides much faster internet speeds. So, is 5G really better than 4G and how? Let’s have a look at the comparisons of these two technologies. The basic theory about these two networks is that they both provide internet access to your mobile device. 4G stands for 4th Generation network and 5G stands for 5th Generation network. Essentially “G” is the “Generation”. As we go forward perhaps the numbers will keep increasing unless there is a brand-new technology that replaces the 3G, 4G and 5G. However as per the testing conducted by Telstra recently in Gold Coast it is quite evident that the speeds are climbing up very steeply with every Generation introduced. It is said the Telstra trial in Gold Coast were 60x faster than 4G. In comparison this beats the highest tier in NBN by far. 5G will transform the way we all live and work as it will deliver more capacity and faster speeds. This means you will get more things done in less time. This is an opportunity for a new world for all of us as we are heading in to the new era of everything connected. This means IoT will be the major focus as it will essentially connect everything with everything, if you know what I mean. Connected devices will empower us with better knowledge of our surroundings. We are able to

do and achieve many tasks instantly due to the speed and connectivity availability. The new speeds will enable us to look more closely in to our smart homes, smart cars and smart cities with the help of Internet of Things. The entire world will be connected in many ways from watching a streaming channel from another country or to work remotely and providing a service thousands of miles away as there will be no barriers.

Is this the end of NBN? NBN has been rolling out their infrastructure for years and it is still unavailable in many suburbs around NSW. It seems that the speeds promised by NBN have been outdone by 5G already which may mean that it is entirely possible for 5G to power your home internet. We may no longer need the infrastructure laid by NBN as our next home broadband technology

would be purely wireless. This is achieved by buying a router from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone (when available) with a 5G sim support and a home data plan. In fact, Optus is already inviting customers in selected areas to apply towards ‘expression of interest” taking up 5G solution for the home service. Optus has already advertised a 5G hole wireless plan which will cost $70 per month for unlimited data and minimum speeds of 50Mbps. This is cheaper than their currently plan on the same speed. Telstra is also offering the same service but with a limited download limit of 25GB for $70 per month as a comparison. In my opinion Optus is a steal and offers great bang for buck. This whole new technology is looking very promising and it means we will soon be going all wireless and not having any physical lines connected for our home broadband service. The above plans listed from Optus and Telstra will be supplied with a HTC 5G hub that can connect up to 20 wireless devices simultaneously. It can operate via mains power or on battery power for up to 24 hours. It also has a touch screen to show you the vital stats as well as offering media box services. Do give us a feedback on this article so we keep providing you with informative content. We can be contacted on info@desiaustralia.com or sarang@vengurlekar.com

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Community News | Sydney

Mr Manish Gupta New Consul General, Sydney

r. Manish Gupta recently assumed charge as Consul General Sydney and invited representatives from cross-section of the Indian diaspora at the Consulate for an interactive evening on 14 June 2019. High Commissioner of India to Australia Dr A.M. Gondane also joined on this occasion. The consulate also introduced the online passport service with one day turn around on this occasion. Manish Gupta is a career diplomat and a member of the Indian Foreign Service since 1998. He has extensive experience in dealing with multilateral issues. Prior to assuming his current responsibilities, he served in the Ministry of External Affairs as Joint Secretary for Overseas Indian Affairs.

Earlier, he has served as Consul General of India in Istanbul, Turkey (2013-2016) and in Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York (2009-2013). Mr. Gupta holds a B.Tech degree in Electronics

and Communication Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University. He is married to Nimeesha Gupta and has one son. On behalf of Desi Australia we wish Mr. Gupta all the very best for his tenure in Sydney.

Photo credit- Harmohan Walia

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Community News | Sydney

TREES FOR PEACECOMMEMORATING GANDHI’S 150TH BIRTHDAY

By: Harmohan Singh Walia

he free event ‘Trees for Peace’ was hosted by Blacktown City Council, Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur Australia and the Consulate General of India, Sydney at Harpers Bush Reserve, Blacktown on 1st June 2019. Hundreds of trees were planted to celebrate World Environment Day 2019 and to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. “This event is a great opportunity to head outdoors and do something good for the environment,” Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said. “It’s a great event that not only celebrates World Environment Day but also commemorates the global messenger of non-violence, Gandhi. We are humbled to recognise such an important global figure in our city, and are honoured to recognise our Indian community and their leaders in this way,” Mayor Bali said.

peace & non-violence and Gandhian approach as to how we can protect the earth, the air, the land and the water which we have inherited from our forefathers for our children and the next generation. The CG conveyed the message that Gandhi Ji believed that “there is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed”. The Consul General also thanked Dr Geoff Lee, Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Ms Mitchelle Rowland, Member of Parliament from Greenway, Clr Sameer Pandey, Clr Suman Saha, Clr Susai Benjamin, Clr Collins for their support and presence.

Mr Gupta, his wife along with Mayor, Counsellors, children and volunteers planted trees at Harpers Bush Reserve. Plants, materials, entertainment and light refreshments were provided on the day.

This was the first public meeting of the new Consul General of India, Sydney, Mr Manish Gupta and his wife. The Consul General in his address thanked Lord Mayor Stephen Bali and Blacktown City Council for collaborating with the Consulate in organising the Plantation event to celebrate the World Environment Day and the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to convey the message “Trees for Peace”. He also spoke about Gandhi’s message of Download Our App

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Community News | Sydney

WORLD CYCLING DAY

onsulate General of India, Sydney, in association with Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) held “Global cycling event in Mahatma Gandhi’s memory” to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and World By: Harmohan Singh Walia

Bicycle Day at Parramatta Stadium on 8th June 2019. The Consul General of India, Sydney, Mr Manish Gupta, his wife and son along with his staff participated in the cycling event. World Bicycle Day acknowledges the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that, it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health. The bicycle is a symbol of sustainable transportation and that it can serve as a means not just for transportation but also of access to education, health care and sport. Download Our App

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Community News | Sydney

READY TO RUMBLE

-Trains made in India make noise in Australia

By: Joseph F. Kolapudi

riverless trains certainly sounds like something from the future, but it is now a reality in Sydney, where the city has been recently introduced in an effort to provide ease of access to commuters, and usher in a new era of technological advancement in our public transport system. These trains are part of a rollout across the city that will take the city commute to the next level. Being heralded as Australia’s first fullyautomated rail service, Metro Trains Sydney (MTS) has been able to automate the North West Line, linking Rouse Hill to Chatswood. This will be the first of Stage 1, with the line to be extended in the forthcoming months. India has had a part to play in all of the new changes to Sydney, as the 22, six-car Metropolis trains were supplied from the Sri City facility in Andhra Pradesh. Manufacturing company Alstrom has partnered with Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW)

and NRT to deliver the fully-automated driverless metro to the city of Sydney, and has plans for the new network to provide a new level of service previously unsurpassed in the city, with a train arriving every four minutes at each station. Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Transport Minister Andrew Constance joined the community and construction workers to open the rail line and deliver a turn-up-and-go train service from Rouse Hill to Chatswood on 26th May. “This is truly an historic day for NSW with services starting on one of the world’s great metros,” Ms Berejiklian said. Sydney now joins other major world cities, such as Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Singapore that have all introduced driver-

less metro trains. The trains themselves are state-of-the-art, with LED lighting, CCTV cameras, emergency intercoms, and the latest way-finding aids to assist commuters and provide up-to-date, real-time travel information. The metro also has continuous mobile network coverage across the entire line. This new introduction of driverless trains has become Australia’s biggest public transport project, and the first of its kind across the country. This new addition to the city also adds value to the strengthening ties between India and Australia, with more trains set to be rolled out across Sydney over the next forthcoming years. As a result, South India will no doubt have plenty of business with Australia, especially with the extension of the metro line across the city of Sydney. This collaboration between countries will open doors, quite literally, to the next wave of technology in transportation. The new line has provided work for more than 20,000 employees, and is valued at $7.3 billion, over the next three years; with work underway to extend the metro line from Chatswood to Bankstown via the city. It is predicted that approximately 31 metro stations spanning 66 kilometers will add to the already suburban rail network in Sydney. For both India and Australia, this is certainly set to make some noise in the years to come.

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Community News | Sydney

Ramadan Eid Bazaar O n Saturday 1st June, at Whitlam Centre Liverpool, Ramadan Eid Bazaar captured the spirit of the Eid Celebrations, creating a unique and welcoming occasion for the families. It was an open event for everyone without any religious or cultural boundaries. This free event was full of fun for the whole family. The bazaar had various stalls including clothing, jewellery, henna artists, fashion attire stalls and a whole host of catering stalls selling traditional Desi food. Live music and stage performances by various cultural groups kept everyone entertained. Tributes were paid by various singers to the well known voice of Sydney, Mr Riaz Shah, who passed away last year. Mr Shah was a regular participant at Eid Bazaar for years. This is the 10th year since the organiser Ms Sashi Lal has been brining this event to Sydneysiders.

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Mag Corner

Tete a Tete with the Crème de la crème at Cannes The diversity and exchange of ideas & talent At Cannes Film Festival

By: Sanjana Suryawanshi

he Cannes Film festival is probably one of the most awaited events in the modern era, watched with gusto around the world. It is a time when film stars, producers and directors descent on the French Rivera with their entourage of hairdressers, designers, makeup artists and PR staff. Mingling amongst the crème de la crème are the upcoming artists, hidden gems, hoping to be noticed and given a chance, the ground staff who are ensuring no heels are snapped and the photographers who bring the site to the hungry eyes of viewers like you and me. Recognised as an event which provides a platform for films, artists, directors and screen writers that otherwise would go unnoticed, this event is not only a show of glamour but an interesting space to network and build your brand. Desi Australia spoke to three people of the sub continental origins who made their way this year to Cannes to to capture the uniqueness and the vast difference in experiences for people attending the event. We spoke to, Anupam Sharma who has directed movies like UnIndian, Shallu Kundra, a financier from The Big Picture Company and Simran Gulati, winner of the 2019 Global pageant.

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Anupam Sharma with Australia’s leading entertainment lawyer Janine Pearce Art Director - Andrew Raymong Producer Teresa Ticehurst and Exec Producer Shallu Kundra at Screen Australia Cannes Breakfast

Film Producer_Director Ketan Mehta, Producer_Director Anupam Sharma with international guests as the FICCI Cannes Session on globalisation of Indian cinema

While Ms Gulati and Mr Sharma were representing the artist guild, in the midst of all the sections Ms Kundra provides us a glimpse of the technicalities and complexity of the event. Anupam Sharma is a veteran at the Cannes Film Festival. As a filmmaker, The Cannes is an immissable part of his yearly pilgrimage. He represents Australia and Australians at the Cannes Film Festival and credits Screen Aus-

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tralia for their support for Australian artists and film professionals who make it to the festival every year. For Anupam, it is all about networking and Cannes provides a global platform for film professionals from around the world to do just that through their programs like Producer Networking and other side bar conferences and sessions. For him, he represents Australian film industry and the people with sub continental background at Cannes. Anupam is also a regular speaker

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Mag Corner

at the FICCI at the Indian Pavilion and advocates for Australians with Indian origins to go visit and network at the Indian Pavilion if they are to really understand the industry.

which began her journey to the Cannes Film Festival this year. Global Indian Talent is an enterprise which seeks to discover and promote Indian talent on the world screen.

What drives Anupam the most is the diversity at Cannes and as Australia becomes more diverse, he is a strong believer that any Australian film professional, and be it an actor, a director or writer, they are sure to benefit from this diversity of buyers, agents and sellers, but most of all from the diversity and exchange of ideas and talent.

Aspiring to be an actress herself, Simran went to Cannes to promote Global Indian Talent and to also build and promote her brand. She spent her time networking with directors, screen writers & other artists and to find out what the industry looked like and what it had to offer. When asked how the experience was for a first timer navigating this world, Simran said “It was what you made out of it and how you took every opportunity presented to you”.

While also her first time at Cannes, Shallu had a slightly different agenda for attending. Representing The Big Picture Company, Shallu acts as a middle person, connecting actors/directors to investors around the globe. “It is a very technical event, how the money flows, how investors look for and select projects and you help facilitate that conversation” Shallu said. While investors look to invest and film makers look to make film, its Shallu’s job to provide that bridge and ensure that the investors get a return on their money. For Shallu, the event was about attending networking nights and hone her industry knowledge and to make contacts with others in her profession. “Every country has their pavilion set up and is promoting their artists and film makers. It was really interesting to see what different countries are doing” she said.

For Simran, this has been a great eye opener as she not only networked and mingled with Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities but also gained an in-depth understanding of the industry which will be invaluable in her role as an ambassador for Global Indian Talent. While we only spoke to and learnt from 3 people from sub continental origins who went to Cannes from Australia this year, we are sure there were many more experiences, which not only benefit filmmakers and film professionals but also help Australians,

Simran Gulati

When asked if she did get to dress up and enjoy the red carpet, Shallu laughed a little and said yes. For her it was interesting as she said they were all normal people behind the glamour and really easy to talk to and Kangana Ranaut, Huma Qureshi and chef Vilas Khana were the highlights for her. Simran Gulati won the Mrs India Australia 2016, Mrs India Global 2018 and was recently selected as the Brand Ambassador for Global Indian Talent

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Canberra Events

5th Inteernational D Day of Yoga 2019Indica ative calend dar of eventss

HIGH CO OMMISSION N OF INDIA-- CANBERR RA Da ate

Time

Events s

14.06.19 (Frid day)

05:00pm to 6:30pm m

18.06.19 (Tues sday)

5:30 0pm to 7:30pm m

Talks by yoga y experts . 1. Mr. Ala an Goode,Director Yoga Mandir,Canberra. 2. Swami Sunisthananda a from Vedantta Australia. 3. Ms.Pan nna Patel, from Canberra Brah hma Kumaris. Lectures and panel dis scussion by experienced e Yoga Y scholars by GOPIO in association witth High Commission of India, Canberra

19.06.19 (Wedn nesday )

12:00pm to 1:00pm m

Yoga sess sion by Mr. Viijay Arora,Yoga Teacher (Yo oga Australia) in associatio on with UC Student Reprresentative Co ouncil and High Commission of India,Can nberra

21.06.19 (Frid day)

12:00 0pm to 01:30pm

Yoga event by Art of living l in associiation with Hig gh Commission n of India, Can nberra.

Spe ecial Yoga Sess sion 22.0 06.19 (Saturday) 23.06.19 (Sunday)

10:00 0am to 11:30am

Special Y Yoga practice event e and a guided g meditattion session with w Ms.Shikha a Sachar,Alum mnus of Morarrji Desai Natio onal Institute of th Yoga(MDN NIY) to mark the 5 Intern national Day of o Yoga by High Commission of India,Can nberra.

11:00 0am to 12:00pm

Yoga session by Mrs. Rajni Ghai Ma alhotra (Yoga and Mindfulne ess consultant) YouGo Yoga, in associattion with the Indian Studen ntâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Associatio on-ANU and Hig gh Commission n of India, Canb berra Special Y Yoga Session by High Commission of India ,Canberra in associatio on with FICQ an nd GOPIO Gold coast

29.06.19 (Saturday)

8:00 0am to 10:00am m

30.06.19 (Sunday)

2:00 0pm to 6:00pm m

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Special Y Yoga Session by High Com mmission of In ndia ,Canberra in associatio on with Australian School of Meditation & Yoga Y Darwin

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Venue High Com mmission of Ind dia 3-Moonah h Place, Yarralumla, ACT-2600 0 Weston T Theatre, JG Crawfo ord Building #1 132 The Austrralian National University, 1 Lennox Crossing, Acto on ACT 2601 UC Conco ourse University y of Canberra Building 1 1/11 Kirinari Stt, Bruce ACT T 2617. ACT Legis slative Assembly 196 London Circuit, Canberra, ACT 2601 Albert Hall 100,Commonwealth Ave enue Yarralumla, ACT-2601 1 The Dojo,, ANU sports ha all Australian n National Univ versity 19 North Rd d, Acton ACT 2601 Kurrawa Park Broad bea ach Gold coas st Nightcliff foreshore(ADJ ARALIA St, Rapid Cre eek-Darwin-NT

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Community News | Canberra

Canberra Mini World Cup 2019 Closing Ceremony

By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra

he Canberra Mini World Cup 2019 came to a close on 19 May after a series of 55 matches with participation of 15 teams.

The final match was played between teams India and Scotland with Team India winning the cup. India won the toss and gave a target of 133/8 in 20 overs. Scotland scored 123 /8 runs in 20 overs giving India a victory by 9 runs. ACT Leader of Opposition, Alistair Coe congratulated the winning team and players as he handed out the awards and honours: Man of the Series : Jagdish (USA); Best Bowler: Aitsham (West indies) and Best Batsman: Farhan Ali (UAE). The youngest recipients of the trophies were students from YouGo Yoga who had performed a peppy yoga-zing sequence at the Opening ceremony of the Mini World Cup.

Photo credits : Trent Houssenloge (Cowboy Hat Films) and Rajni Ghai Malhotra

Other special guests at the ceremony were Adrian Brunker from Sydney Thunder, Krishna Nadimpalli, Deepak Raj Gupta, Rattesh Gumber, Navleen Malhotra, Ravneet Dhiman, Himanshu Sharma, Gurjant Singh, Shashi Samprathi and Sukhjeet Singh. Download Our App

Organisers Sanjay Sharma and Jasmine Sharma thanked the participating teams, congratulated the winners and announced the start of the next season of cricket - Independence Day Cup commencing 16 June 2019. JUNE I 2019

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Community News | Canberra

By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra

High Commission of India (Australia) begins celebration of the 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2019

Kids Yoga at High Commission of India As declared by the United Nations in 2014, 21 June 2019 is celebrated as the 5th International Day of Yoga the world over. To mark this day, the High Commission of India, Canberra (HCI) launched a month long celebration of yoga with an interactive kids yoga session on 1 June amidst the serene surrounds of the HCI, Yarralumla. The event generated keen interest amongst children who ranged from 3 years to 15 years of age with all of them engaging collectively in yoga asanas on a pleasant sunny morning. The session was led by Yoga and Mindfulness consultant Ms Rajni Ghai Malhotra, Founder YouGo Yoga, Canberra. The High Commission of India, committed to spreading the message of yoga, is organising a series of free yoga events in Canberra and pilot events at the Gold Coast and Darwin to cater to the diverse interests of the wider community ranging from an interactive kids yoga session, lectures, panel discussion, yoga workshops at University of Canberra and Australian National University and the popular yoga and meditation session at Albert Hall. The High Commission welcomes everyone to the upcoming events.

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Yoga

YouGo with Rajni Yoga for a Mindful You

focused inwards, in a state of awareness and learning to strike a balance between your body, your emotions and your energy.

By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra

1st June is the International Day of Yoga as declared by the UN and it is being celebrated across the world with a reverent enthusiasm that it rightly

deserves.

And now seems the perfect time to bring to you this new series of yoga asanas with an approach to achieve mindful living to help you on your journey of physical mental and emotional wellbeing. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root word ‘yug’ which means ‘yoke’ or union. In its most basic interpretation, yoga is a set of physical postures (asanas) breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation performed to unite the body mind and spirit into a state of harmony. In a deeper sense, it means uniting the individual consciousness with the Divine consciousness. Yoga is a way of life; it is being Download Our App

Part 1: Mountain Pose Let us begin with the most elemental yoga asana the ‘Tadasana’ or the Mountain pose. This is the foundation of all standing poses and will prepare you to have the right posture to move into other asanas. Many people prefer to begin their yoga practice with the Mountain Pose. Steps: 1. Come to stand firmly on the mat (or floor) with your feet close together (barely touching). 2. D ig your heels into the ground, lifting your toes, fan them out, and then bring them back down to create a wide, solid base. 3. L et your feet and calves root down into the floor. 4. E ngage your quadriceps (the muscles on the front of your thighs) and draw them upward, causing your kneecaps to rise. 5. R otate both thighs inward, to allow widening of the sit bones. 6. L engthen your tailbone down toward the floor and find a neutral pelvis. 7. D raw your abdomen in slightly and tuck in your tailbone slightly. 8. O pen your chest by dropping your shoulders down rolls them back to release your shoulder blades down your back. 9. E xtend your spine upward by lifting your chest away from the stomach. 10. Relax your arms by your sides, and turn your palms to face forward. 11. Bring your chin parallel to the floor, soften your facial muscles and relax your throat. 12. Get tall from the soles of your feet up and out through the crown of your head. JUNE I 2019

13. R emain in the pose anywhere from 5 to 10 breaths. Tips: 1. You may stand with your feet slightly apart (3-5 inches). 2. S tanding against a wall with your heels and shoulders touching the wall (but not your head) will help align the body in the right posture. Benefits: Strengthens the knees, legs, ankles and thighs, relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet. Mindful practice of the pose: The mountain pose is about rising up, grounding down and maintaining stillness amidst the chaos. Breathing deeply, concentrate on the action of inhaling and exhaling. Explore the sensations of your body as you align it in the Mountain pose. As you inhale deeply and exhale allow yourself to feel a sense of calm. Visualise a mountain and create a sense of stillness, steadiness and rootedness within your body. Off the mat: Tadasana or Mountain pose can be taken off the mat and with you wherever you go. Use this pose to steady and ground yourself on the go while waiting in a queue, just before an interview or meeting. There YouGo! Mountain pose helps us to feel rooted and tall wherever we go. May we face life’s challenges with the steadiness and stillness of a mountain. Yours yogically, Rajni Follow Rajni on Facebook @YogaWithRajni www.DesiAustralia.com

Cover Story

Sagarika Venkat

Journey of a young classical dancer

Poornima Koonath

ancing is always connotated with joy and happiness. “She danced for joy”, or “she is so happy, she has a spring in her steps”, are all commonly used expressions because dancing is quite instinctive. But to take up a form of dance and to keenly learn all the fundamental nuances of that dance form asks for commitment, discipline and a whole lot of hard work. Mastering footwork, moves, and routines does not happen overnight, it involves hours of dedication, practice and repetitive learning until one is thorough. And ultimately, dance becomes a way of life. Dance has become a way of life for nine-year-old Sagarika Venkat, daughter of Manjula Viswanath and Venkat Parthasarathy. And with her mother being a famous and accomplished dancer herself, dancing came quite naturally her. Though professionally Sagarika’s foray into the world of dance started when she was six, even as a toddler she grew up with dance and to the sound of the dance

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The audience were totally spellbound with her expressions in portraying the different characters through her Natyam. Many a times, all of us felt we were watching a seasoned dancer and not a child performing her salangai poojai. From the demanding Varnam piece, or bringing all the puranic characters to life through her bhava-rasa, or the bhakti filled Pibare Rama-rasam, Sagarika captivated the entire audience with her intricate expressions.

SriKumar Nambiar anklets. And so it is not surprising that at this very young age she is already one of Australia’s best and upcoming dancers in her age group. Sagarika’s chosen dance form is Bharatanatyam, an ancient dance style from South India, known for its grace, expression, spirituality and sculpturesque poses. Be it a cold winter day, a hot summer day, a wet rainy day or a long weekend, when girls her age are making plans with their friends for a play date or sleep overs, Sagarika is ready in her practice tights and costumes, to accompany her mother to regular practice sessions that are three to four hours long. All her weekends are completely dedicated to Bharatanatyam. Her mother Manjula believes and has inculcated in her daughter that, “Practise does not make you perfect but

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I was privileged to attend Sagarika’s incredible, flawless performance. She is so talented – not just performing but also choreographing her solo performance at such a young age. In years to come I will be able to proudly tell people that I went to Sagarika’s first solo show. She has a very big future ahead of her and I wish her all the best for the years to come.

Julia Finn MP, State Member for Granville removes imperfections”. A student of her mother’s Rasika Dance Academy, Sagarika, by the age of seven was dancing with her mother, matching every complicated step and feeling every rhythm in her body. Sagarika has travelled and performed alongside her mother in venues all across Australia, California (USA), and South India. Manjula has always believed that, “Dance is our heritage passed down by our gurus.” Sagarika has surely and steadily realised that dance is not just an art form. She has seen dance taking her confidence to the next level with a natural boost to her self-discipline. She has seen a sharpening in her leadership skills and is quite comfortable speaking in front of large audiences. Soon dance as a

way of life started to make sense as she was learning about arts and about life. Two years ago, she participated in her mother’s dance production that helped raise over 20 thousand dollars for charity and she hopes to continue supporting charity using dance as a platform.

Sagarika’s Salangai Poojai performance was exemplary. With such energy, motivation, expression and flawless performances, she stunned the audience. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is just a beginning for her, I believe. Sagarika is a prodigy.

Chandru Appar -Deputy Consul General of India to Australia Download Our App

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Cover Story

both her Bharatanatyam and her studies very well. She believes that dance has taught her time management and discipline. Learning Bharatanatyam has enhanced her acting skills too and she finds it easy to emote expressions as it is an integral part of her dance routines. She plans to take up acting as one of her careers in the future, but “I’d like to continue dancing, maybe as a teacher or even as a professional, and give back to our society”, she says. 2019 is a special year in the life of Sagarika, the dancer. Sagarika performed “Her Dream”, her debut solo performance in Bharatanatyam on 18th May with a supporting ensemble of musicians from India

Inspiring. Courageous. Resilient.

Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO MultiConnexions

and Australia.Most importantly the performance was choreographed by her mentor, and mother Manjula Venkat. The houseful audience was blown away as Sagarika rendered complex dance items for two and half hours and gave the well deserved standing ovation at the close of the event. A third generation Australian Indian, she is one of the youngest to feature

We wish this budding dancer all the very best in all her future endeavours.

Photo Credit- Dream Factory Production and VB Images

– Sonia Gandhi, Director Gandhi Creations

“Her performance was simply spell binding. My prediction is that she will reach heights like never before and the world will be at her feet.

in her debut solo, “Salangai Poojai” When asked about this, Sagarika says, “Believe and you have won half the battle”. Very mature words for a nine-year-old. She has also been chosen from the Govt of India as a youth ambassador to represent NRI Indians in China for an International Festival in July. This is through the Government of India and China. Sagarika is the first one going from Australia

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Honours

The Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours were awarded to the following people of Indian origin.

Prof. Winita Hardikar AM Victoria has been recognised for significant service to medicine, particularly to paediatric liver disease and transplantation.

Shashi Kochhar on his OAM Victoria has been recognised for his selfless services to the Australian community, and notably for raising millions of dollars for Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Children’s hospital.

Jayshree Ramachandran OAM Victoria has been recognised for her illustrious service and contribution to the performing arts through Indian music and dance.

Prof. Dharmendra Prakash Sharma AM ACT has been recognised for significant service to higher education, and to computer science. Download Our App

Prof. Jayashri Kulkarni AM Victoria has been recognised for significant service to medicine in the field of psychiatry.

Dr Krishna Nadimpalli OAM ACT has been recognised for his service to multiculturalism in the Australian Capital Territory.

Maha Sinnathamby AM Queensland has been recognised for significant service to the building and construction sector, and to the community. JUNE I 2019

Professor Arun Kumar Sharma AM Queensland has been recognised for significant service to computer science and information technology. www.DesiAustralia.com

Legal

What is Nesting and is it something that is recommended?

By: Mittu Gopalan

esting is traditionally referred to as a transitional arrangement where parents, though separated, continue to share the family home and take turns to look after the children by residing at the same family home. This is simply because both the parents will not be considering the family home as their home, but in order to keep the routine and other activities as it was for the children, they will continue to reside at the family home, so that it gives the children more time to adapt to the other changes occurring. Invariably, the parents find separate residences or stay with family or friends, but they will take turns to live at the family home to stay with the children. The goal is usually to provide a stable home for the children while there are other issues to deal with. They will be an ideal opportunity to tease out issues relating to communication, schedules and finances. ‘Sharing the nest’ is generally a temporary solution until further long-term solutions are in fact made. Some parents agree to nest until a milestone is achieved; for example, a child finishes his or her HSC. It is generally a successful arrangement as long as parents live harmoniously and communicate with each other respectfully. Research has confirmed that in order for the nesting to be successful, both parents will have to remain in the area and be available for their ‘on duty parenting presence/ time’. It works best when both parents remain actively involved with the children.

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Both parents have to work harmoniously in order to create a stable home for the children. This is also most suitable when you can share the offsite location with your exspouse. Parents will have to work methodically in order to work on a schedule basis so that each family member always knows which parent is ‘on duty’. However, the children will have to be notified that you are attempting to make things work and easier for them and not to have high hopes that you could reconcile with the other parent in the future. It is essential that the parents explain to the children that nesting is temporary and that you will let them know as decisions are made relating to future arrangements.

holidays. Seek financial and psychological professional help if that is suitable to the family and the spouses. This is indeed a great temporary resolution. Please do not hesitate to contact Freedman & Gopalan Solicitors if you have any further questions on (02) 8917 8700 or by email to reception@freedmangopalan.com.au

It is imperative that a written agreement be made about communication, house rules, household responsibilities and other arrangements relating to birthdays and JUNE I 2019

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Mental Health & Well Being

The benefits of exercise on mental healthâ&#x20AC;Ś

By: Sumeet K Chawla

e all know that regular exercise is good for the body, but what we also need to remember is, exercise is also one of the most effective ways to improve our mental health. No matter what your age or fitness level, exercise or simply moving, helps to improve your well-being and in feeling better. In addition to the physical and longevity benefits, people who regularly exercise, experience improved mood & memory, better sleep and energy. The endorphins being released make one feel more positive and promote feelings of calm and well-being. When you are under stress, your body muscles become tense and cause headaches, back and neck pain. The worry and discomfort of all these physical symptoms can exacerbate stress, creating a vicious cycle of tension between your mind and body. Exercising is an effective way to break this cycle, relax the muscles and relieve tension in the body. Exercise can also serve as a distraction, allowing you to find

some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts. Exercise can help you cope in a healthier way, instead of resorting to alcohol, drugs, or other negative behaviours, which are likely to make your symptoms worse. Overcoming mental health obstacles to exercise Many of us find it hard to motivate ourselves to exercise even at the best of times. So when we experience emotional problems or are stressed, it is likely to going to be much harder to remain motivated to engage in physical activity. Try to start small and set achievable goals. Schedule your activity at the time of day when you have more energy. As you move and

start to feel a little better, you will experience a greater sense of control over your well-being. Focus on activities you enjoy (ex: dancing to some music) or make the exercise social, by exercising with a friend, loved one, or your kids. Companionship is equally important for your well-being and mental health. If you are experiencing chronic pain, have a disability, arthritis, illness or injury that limits your mobility, speak to your doctor about ways to safely exercise. You should not ignore pain, but rather do what you can at your pace. Movement in water (ex: hydrotherapy) to reduce joint or muscle discomfort may be relieving and beneficial. Getting the help you need: If you are unsure, ask your doctor about the best options for you. Obtain a referral to a psychologist to address your mental health issues, motivational interviewing and relapse prevention methods. Check for various fitness activities in your local area, either online, via your local library or through your local council/ community centre. Every step counts! Sumeet K Chawla Psychologist Email: sumeet@strathfieldpsychology.com

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Recipe

Scrumptious Salmon

Fishcakes Getting kids to eat fish can be tricky. It’s a great source of protein with lots of omega 3 oils which are great for brain development.

By: Dr Sne

hen children are young the palate can be more accepting of this fishy flavour than when it is introduced later in life. So early introduction of fish can be a good idea, but how do we make it in a way that’s not just smothering parsley sauce all over it or deep frying it in batter? These fish cakes are super yummy, really nutritious and have everything kids need in each mouthful. These too can be frozen (in portion sizes in resealable bags) and I often use them for the kid’s lunch boxes at school, accompanied by some veggies. Salmon and sweet potato fishcakes 42 large salmon tail fillets skinned

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4100ml milk 41 garlic clove peeled 41 cup chopped fresh baby spinach 4300g sweet potato 4100g grated pumpkin 41 cup tinned drained corn 41 brown onion diced small 41 tablespoon olive oil 41 egg whisked Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees Wrap the potato in kitchen paper and bake in the microwave for 8 minutes (or until soft) turning half way to ensure it is cooked through. Peel the baked sweet potato and place in a large mixing bowl. (Alternatively chop into pieces and cook until soft in boiling water then drain and set aside) Season the salmon fillets and place in a microwaveable bowl with the garlic clove. 4Add the milk 4Cover with cling film 4 Poach in the microwave for 6 minutes 4 (Alternatively this can be done in a pan on the stove in simmering milk) 4 Drain the fish and garlic from the milk and add to the potato 4 Fry the diced onion and pumpkin in a hot frying pan until pumpkin is soft and onion is

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transparent 4Add this to the sweet potato and salmon 4 Mix the poached fish, baked sweet potato and onion and pumpkin with your clean hands, mashing the potato and garlic, and flaking the fish with your fingers, ensuring all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed 4 Add the spinach, corn and whisked egg mixing with a metal spoon to ensure all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed 4 (Make sure the mixture has cooled before adding the egg) 4 Mould the mixture into fish cakes using your hands, with 1-2 tablespoons of mixture for each fish cake. 4 Lay the fish cakes out onto a baking tray lined with baking paper Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes turning half way 4 They can be served warm or cold and are just scrumptious! 4 For a veggie option omit the fish and use boiled and drained (or tinned drained) puy lentils instead. Enjoy

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Community News | Adelaide

International Yoga Day 21st June 2019, by Art Of Living (SA ) chapter ‘Yoga for Heart’, is this year’s theme

By: Daljeet Bakshi

s you are aware, with with the efforts of India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, the entire world is observing International Day of Yoga, or commonly referred to as Yoga Day on June 21. This year’s World Yoga Day theme is Yoga for Heart. Yoga has become an important aspect in the life of the people, which

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is an honourable achievement for the country that has given Yoga to the world

Multicultural community project. Art of living SA team has shared the following schedule for this year event:

An international day for yoga was declared unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly. Consulate General of India along with Art of Living in association with Adelaide Council has been organising widely acclaimed International and multi-cultural Community event every year on this day in Adelaide too.

Event Venue: North Adelaide Community Hall Event Date: Sunday, 23rd June, 2019 Event Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. In India, this year main event is planned in Ranchi and expected to draw about 50,000 Yoga enthusiasts. AYUSH ministry is encouraging every individual and institutions like educational institutions, business firms, industry and cultural organisations in this endeavour of making Yoga a mass movement as people can benefit from Yoga. ‘Pradhan Mantri Yoga Puraskar’ is given for outstanding contribution in promotion and development of Yoga. Four awards are given in two categories .

As per AOT’s Virendra Nath Tripathi, State Coordinator – SA , Art Of Living believe in “Samgacchadhwam Samvadadhwam” (ÀfÔ¦f¨L²UÔ ÀfÔUQ²UÔ), translating to: “May we move in harmony, speak in one voice”. Art of Living welcome all the Community Associations to participate in this incredibly valuable International,

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Entertainment

GLITZ

AND GLAM AT RED CARPET

BOLLYWOOD NIGHT

he duo Sarika and Dolly organised the Red Carpet Bollywood Night fourth year in a row and it is growing year after year. 1st June 2019, Blacktown Workers club was transformed into the land of Bollywood. Dolled up in their best cocktail dresses, high heels and clutches, the dazzling beauties looked

no less than Bollywood Stars. The red carpet photo booth at the entrance captured the elegance and style of all present. While few caught up with old friends, some met their Facebook friends in person for the first time; others walked around the spacious venue to make new friends and danced the night away. Music, Masti and endless selfies wrapped up

the glamorous night.

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Arts & Culture

TAJ MAHAL ‘TO BE OR NOT TO BE’

people on their personal land.

By: Harmohan Singh Walia

he white marble monument, Shah Jahan’s, Taj Mahal, with its sprawling gardens, took more than 15 years to build, whereas in “Taj Mahal Ka Tender”, a play staged at Bryan Brown Theatre, Bankstown on 8 June 2019, took the current corrupt system 15 years to complete the paper work at a tendering stage. Both for its content and style, it is a combined effort of multifaceted media, Om Production and Victoria International migration and education services.

These mal practices delayed the construction of Taj Mahal and the emperor Shah Jahan, enslaved by Aurangzeb could not see any light at the end of the tunnel. Mumtaj Mahal appeared several times in Shah Jahan’s dreams to remind him of his love, Taj Mahal. The play conveys a good message that corruption affects us all. The budding artists of the play did full justice to their roles and two beautiful dances kept the audience on their toes.

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of Taj Mahal was supervised by Ustad Ahmed Lahouri. The Taj Mahal is so special because of its enormous beauty. The UNESCO world heritage site is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World because of its immense beauty. The symbol of love was made by Emperor Shah Jahan in the loving memory of his wife and the most loved Queen in his Harem, Begum Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1628 to 1658. The period of his reign is widely considered to be the golden age of Mughal architecture.

The play centres on a corrupt chief Engineer Mr. Gupta, where his local social activists appear time and again to reap the benefits of the project. The lame reasons were “Late Ke Andolan” - to hinder the construction work, relocation of homeless, pollution (dangerous gases) from the chimneys (Minars) of the Taj Mahal and colonisation of the dislocated Download Our App

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Entertainment

Sakhi Celebration Promoting Womanhood, Friendship and Fashion

akhi Celebration aims to embody and celebrate sisterhood within the Indian community in Sydney. They hold great pride in the ambitious women who have been role models as successful mothers, sisters, wives, while being established

women in their careers. “A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.” This quote by Isadora James is what defines the fundamental fibre of the Sakhi spirit.

Organiser Malti Kumar

The goal of Sakhi celebration team, is to make these beautiful women thrive on each other’s strengths and to make Sakhi culture all about flourishing connections, and cultivating an environment of confident feminine energy, a

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breath of fresh air away from monotonous daily routines. The organiser Malti Kumar and her team invite you all to be the part of the Sakhi family and celebrate with your Sakhis on 28th July 2019. You can now start prepping up with the hunt of your best dress and hair look. This year’s theme is East Meets West. So get ready to Live It Up, Break The Dance Floor and Party Harder!

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Sydney Events

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Ayurveda

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.

Dr Naveen Shukla

Dr Vishal Sharma

editation is the journey inwards, a journey of selfdiscovery . Meditation is time taken for quiet reflection and silence, away from the hustle and bustle of daily living. There are many different techniques of meditation; each technique has specific

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Meditation functions and benefits, and each is a part of the framework for bringing our mind to a more realistic view of the world.

Meditation helps you to learn how to cope with every challenge and how to live well in every situation.

One of the most influential texts of classical Hindu Yoga is Patanjali’s Yoga sutras, which outlines eight limbs leading to kaivalya (“aloneness”). These are ethical discipline (yama), rules (niyama), physical postures (asana), breath control (pranayama), withdrawal from the senses (pratyahara), one-pointedness of mind (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and finally samadhi.

Common misunderstandings about meditation Meditation is not just activity of the body: it is not simply a matter of sitting in a particular posture or breathing a particular way, nor is it done for the purpose of experiencing pleasant bodily sensations. Rather, it is an activity of the mind, and is done for the purpose of transforming the mind, making it more positive.

Why meditate? In our modern world, the pace of life is growing ever faster and we are losing touch with our true inner peace and power. When we no longer feel grounded, we can experience ourselves pushed and pulled in many different directions. It is at this point that we start to experience stress and a feeling of being trapped. Gradually, over time, this feeling leads to illness and disease, as our mental, emotional and physical health is thrown out of balance. You can’t always change situations and other people. The only thing you can change is yourself.

How to meditate? According to the raja yoga system, the first step in the concentration continuum is dharana, which literally means “holding.” In dharana, you take some object and attempt to concentrate your awareness on it. The object of focus could be anything: the breath, a sound, a visualization, a flower, a person. When your attention wanders, which inevitably it will, you gently bring it back to the object. When it wanders again, you gently bring it back again, over and over. This act of bringing the attention back each time it wanders is called

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Ayurveda

dharana. We are making an effort to hold on to the focus object. The second step in raja yoga’s concentration continuum is called dhyana. Within the context of raja yoga, dhyana is what comes after we’ve brought our attention back over and over again to our object of focus, and finally, the attention doesn’t wander, but stays, gently resting on that object. The third and final step in raja yoga’s concentration continuum is samadhi, which refers to unitive experience. Again, there is a possible confusion in terminology here, because samadhi often refers to any level of concentration, from the lightest to the deepest. When you can meditate? In the morning Morning is often considered to be the best time to meditate, since the mind is quiet and fresh. Morning meditation sets a calm and productive tone before the

day’s activities and distractions begin. At night Before you sleep is a good time for your final meditation of the day. Close the ‘files’ of the day’s activities and put them away in your mind, so you can bring the day to a close and allow yourself to slip into sleep, untroubled and at peace. Anytime When frustrated, lonely, tired or happy, uplifted, optimistic – all these are moments to find power to deal with negatives and times to enjoy and enrich the positive – anytime is time for a moment of meditation. Taking short peace breaks for the mind gives us a chance to re-focus our thinking, and helps to put the mind back into the right gear to create a positive flow of thoughts and feelings. By doing this, we will find that our day will run more smoothly and peacefully. Common problems while learning meditation 1. Negative feelings, self-sabotage and selfcriticism. Become aware of your negative self-talk. What excuses do you make for not practicing? For example I’m not good at this. - This is not a competition. I’m just doing what I know is good for me. “I’m feeling bored with my practice.” — “Meditation is not supposed to be exciting. Feelings of boredom may come, and I can sit through them. This boredom cannot prevent me from practice.” 2.Meditation is not going well If your meditation itself is not going well, don’t let that stop you. Continue doing your practice to the best of your ability,

3. Expectations There are some results from meditation that are immediate. You immediately feel better, more at ease, after most practice sessions. And some deeper results may come as years Download Our App

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pass by. In any case, don’t get attached to expectations. This is one of the main reasons why people quit. Benefits of meditation Health Benefits: 4Reduces stress 4Reduces signs of aging 4Relieves migraines 4Positive changes in the brain Mental & Emotional Well-being: 4Reduces symptoms of depression 4Improves emotion and mood regulation 4Increases positive emotions Social Benefits: 4Increases feelings of social connection 4Makes you more helpful and cooperative Meditation and the brain: 4 Meditation practice for many years produce may forms some characteristic folds in cerebral cortex of brain. This process (called gyrification) may increase the brain’s ability to process information. 4 Meditation may slow or stall changes that take place in the brain due to normal aging. 4 Meditation can affect activity in the amygdala (a part of the brain involved in processing emotions and memory). Nature Care Ayurveda Yoga Detox & Rejuvenation is the only Sydney based Ayurvedic centre where you can experience a complete range of Ayurvedic therapies like Panchakarma, Shirodhara, Detox, Abhyanga Body massage, Back Care, Chronic Disease management, consultation from experts. The team is highly professional and working under the direction of Dr Naveen Shukla (Vice President Australasian association of Ayurveda for NSW), Dr Vishal Sharma (Member International Academy of Ayurved) & Dr Nikhila Venugopal (Female Health and Marma Specialist).

For more information /to see a doctor/ for specific health concern visit our website www. naturecareayurveda.com.au or call us on 02 9572 6990

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“ VANHI - THE SMILING STAR ” A big thank you to all the kind hearts, who helped us to raise 111 units of blood saving 333 lives since our launch of campaign last year in July. We are truly grateful to you for being with us to pay tribute to our brave angel. July coming again, 4th year since she left us and in her memories, we are again requesting everyone to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. Our beautiful star fought bravely against Leukaemia in her short life, please be with us to pay her tribute and donate blood, here is how you can get involved in this noble cause : • Join Vanhi the Smiling Star ‘s Red 25 group either by registering on (http://www.donateblood.com.au/red25) or by calling 131495. • Contact group coordinator Vishal Kaushik/ Nidhi Kaushik on mobile 0433823668 for your suitable time and it will be booked for you under the group name. • Kindly share and support. Lets get together to save lives .

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Mag Corner

2019 ACCF Inaugural Women’s Conference & Celebration Dinner

ustralian Chinese Charity Foundation (ACCF) Women’s Conference and Celebration Dinner was held on Tuesday, 11 June 2019 at NSW Parliament House and Amora Hotel, Sydney respectively. The primary focus of this Conference was to meet and engage in conversations with women from all walks of life who share common background as a migrant and each has a unique and inspirational story to tell. Their experiences and contributions in politics, business, academic, arts, home-making, community services and many other industries in Australia provided valuable insight on how to rise above challenges related to their integration into society to reach Download Our App

the heights of success. It is also a community initiative of ACCF to promote multiculturalism as being one of the objectives of the Foundation. A celebration dinner followed in the evening at Amora Hotel Jamison Street, Sydney. The night included multicultural performances and opportunities to meet, network and be inspired by migrant women who have played a significant role in today’s multicultural society.

Beazley AO QC, Governor of NSW and Mr Dennis Wilson was the guests of honor and keynote speaker at the Celebration Dinner. Mrs Monica Chu, ACCF Chairman expressed sincere gratitude for the support ACCF received from various corporate and individual sponsors.

The Foundation was much honored to have the presence of Professor The Honorable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO, former Governor of NSW as the Keynote speaker at the Conference. Her Excellency The Honorable Margaret JUNE I 2019

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High Tea with a

Desi Twist

A way of giving back to the community

ansi Khanna Bhatia from Mesh Accessories has been organising a yearly charity event through The Indian Tea room for the past 4 years.

The Indian Tea Room is when east meets the west. With an aim of creating an unique experience with fabulous Indian food in a different style The Indian Tea Room is High Tea with a Desi Twist. While offering a unique experience to the patrons, the Indian Tea Room picks one charity organisation every year and raises funds to support it. It has supported Pryaas and Lisa Harnum Foundation in the past.

Mansi shares the story of their last visit to India, when Jai saw little kids begging on the streets and wondered why they are not at school. When asked, one of the children replied that his parents do not have money to send him to school. For a child born and brought up in Australia, it came as a very strange answer and Jai asked his mum to support these under privileged kids. 19th May, saw women across Sydney coming together to share laughter with friends over some delicious food and Tea. While women had fun taking photo, shopping, playing games, enjoying Live music & Fashion Show, they weren’t there to only have fun but because they cared. This year’s event also inspired a young teenager Anchal, who drew a sketch and donated it for the raffle

Jai Bhatia

This year was special as Mansi’s 10 years old son Jai, inspired her to choose AASRAA Trust, a trust which she had already supported as a

student of Welham Girls, Dehradun.

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of 5 street children with the objective to keep children off the street and provide them with basic literacy through art, craft, music and audio visual medium. Today, AASSRA Trust works towards empowering 1400 street and slum children.

draw as her way of giving back to the community. Keeping the standard of the event high and classy, The High Tea was served in Royal Albert tea pots and Jashn events did justice to the theme by providing semi rustic look highlighting the floral arch for all attending. Scrumptious & yummy food by Taj Caters, Desert bar by Twenty Three Sweet Creations and Waffle Station by Tella Balls Castle Hill

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was surely enjoyed by all. The beauty and essence of the whole event was very gracefully captured by Mitcy photography. With the support of all involved $2,500 were raised for AASRAA Trust. AASRAA trust was established in 2009 with the focus on educating underprivileged children. Aasra started Project Street Smart in 2011 with a group

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Community News | Sydney

Diversity and Multiculturalism only adds to the richness of Australia Friendship and Dialogue Ramadan Iftar Dinner 2019

ffinity Intercultural Foundation’s 2019 Friendship and Dialogue Ramadan Iftar dinner marked its eleventh annual Iftar this year at the historic NSW Parliament House and was co-hosted by The Honourable John Sidoti Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans and Ms. Sophie Cotsis- Shadow Minister for Women, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Shadow Minister for Ageing, and Shadow Minister for Disability Services.

Ramadan is a month dedicated to self-discipline, spiritual renewal and togetherness. It is a time when Muslims recommit themselves to their faith, following days of discipline with nights of gratitude for the gifts that God bestows. It’s a time of spiritual renewal and a reminder of one’s duty to our fellow human beings: to serve one another and lift up those less fortunate.

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NSW Parliament Iftar dinner brings together people from all over NSW. Everyone comes from a diverse range of backgrounds, yet at the end of the night, everyone leaves the dinner with a wonderful experience. Over 300 distinguished guests from various diverse backgrounds were there to celebrate this eventful evening. Amongst them were business people, members of the Parliament, members of the media, members from the Royal Australian Navy, NSW Police Force, United Nations Association of Australia, youth and education leaders, community and religious leaders, school principals, captains and students, government officials, former diplomats, academics as well as Consulate Generals. The team at Affinity believes that diversity and multiculturalism only adds to the richness of Australia.

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Kumi Taguchi, an exceptional presenter and a broadcaster on ABC, was the MC for the evening. Acknowledgement of Country was given by Walangari Karnatawarra, an Australian Aboriginal Artist and Aboriginal Elder from Alice Springs and Pauline Wright, the president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties & Affinity Advisory Board Member, gave the Welcome Speech to all the guests. Fast is broken when hearing the call to the early evening prayer from mosques around the

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Community News | Sydney

horrific acts of terror in Sri Lanka that took over 350 innocent lives. The Consul General of New Zealand in Sydney, Mr Bill Dobbie reflected upon the recent tragedy in New Zealand.

world. This is the signal to begin the Iftar dinner. Bilal Kilic, from Amity College, performed the evening call to prayer or Adhan. Mr. Abdul Raheem, Consul at the Sri Lanka Consulate in Sydney, spoke about the recent

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Prof Mary Sponberg, Prof Monica Attard, Professor and Head of Journalism at the University of Technology Sydney, Dr Kathy Egea, Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, and Affinity developed an award, the “Peace and Solidarity Award”. This year, the award went to Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Investigative Reporter at the ABC & Lucy Carter, Researcher at Four Corners ABC for their work on the Four Corners

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episode titled, ‘Under the Radar’ following the Christchurch terror attacks which claimed the lives of 50 innocent people. Bill Dobbie, New Zealand Consul-General in Sydney presented them both with the ‘Peace & Solidarity Award’. Ahmet Polat, the Executive Director of Affinity Intercultural Foundation acknowledged the presence of all present.Craig Foster, Former Socceroo and Broadcaster was the Key note speaker and gave a beautiful and an inspiring speech. The Vote of Thanks was presented by Chin Tan, Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

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Politics

The Rise of M & M Elections in 2 prominent Democracies- Australia and India

t was a coincidence that election results were only couple of days apart in Australia and India. Battle lines were drawn Liberals and Nationals Coalition on one side and Labor supported by Greens on the other. Finishing line meant 76 seats to gain majority in house of 151 seats. The senate election was for 40 seats. By: Rahul Jethi

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Australian election results were out. After nearly 6 weeks of hard-fought campaign, 3

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weeks of pre-poll followed by compulsory polling on 18th May. In five hours, around 11 pm Bill Shorten, leader of Labor Party conceded that Labor wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to form the Government. This was a shock and reality check for Labor supporters, of some who took a head start with celebrations! Clearly the were not the only ones, bookies had written off the Liberal & National Coalition, the odds were heavily against them. The entire time in campaign LNP were trailing behind Labor. The silver lining was

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approval rating of PM Scott Morrison better than Labor leader Bill Shorten. But for Liberals, they had anticipated the result for they had worked to ‘A Plan’ which was scripted meticulously by their ever industrious and meticulous Campaign Team. They were happy to lay low, under the radar and work hard on the ground for seats they needed to win based on policy matters which are ever dear to Australians. Labor Party went on to the extent of calling a section of the society as big end of town and went hammer and tongs with financial policies of scrapping negative gearing for existing properties , halving the CGT, Ending Franking credits for retirees. Their assessment was that people with an investment property are ultra-rich and they should not be allowed to get any tax concessions if they buy an existing property for investment. They were completely oblivious to the fact that middle income Australians which include teachers, nurses, emergency workers, tradesman etc. etc. all have investment properties and if they don’t have one, they are aspiring to have one as they are not that financially savvy to invest in other instruments like managed funds and listed securities.

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Also, there always have been acknowledgement in Australian society that selffunded Retirees who have worked hard, paid taxes and saved as per Government rules of that time, should not be deprived of the concessions available to them. The Franking credits policy of labour annoyed a section of the society which proved their undoing in some seats. Australians’ perception of Labor’s dismal record in managing Economy, border security, poor spending habits, lack of infra structure development and proximity to unions flexing muscles to small business (minimum wage guarantee) made the voters to keep the status quo of siding with Liberals. But it was not just Labor’s election to lose, it was still to be won by PM Scott Morrison and his team. The plan was simple to show unity, clarity in policy and assurance of good management (Economy, Border security). Since PM Scott Morrison has been in the jobs as Treasurer and Immigration minister, his credentials and delivery in the past reassured people that he is the right man for the job. People and core Liberal supporters were disgruntled and annoyed with revolving door Prime Ministers and continuous

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in-fighting before PM Morrison took over. But he acted as a unifying figure and did the impossible which not many political Pundits thought about. #IstandwithScott sent the message loud and clear. PM Scott Morrison and LNP coalition has now a great responsibility to make sure that Economy keeps moving in the right direction, job Growth, Lower electricity prices and trade deals to progress so they can deliver their promises. On the other hand in India, there is always an election in some state or the other so the leaders are always sparring. The exercise includes 900 million voters and was done in 7 phases for 543 seats. The finishing line was 272 seats. The battle was between ruling BJP Led alliance of NDA and Congress led alliance of UPA. The last phase being finishing on 19th May. The vote counting was on 23rd May 2019. Even though the election created lot of hype and hope for Congress led alliance, it was clear to by Exit polls that BJP led alliance was winning. The exit polls in India were announced after the last phase of election and 3 days before the vote counting started. Some of the Indian Media and political analysts were citing the Australian exit

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polls and gave Congress led Alliance a shot in the Arm for 3 days. There was lot of speculation on how many seats BJP will win and social media was abuzz with lot of permutations and combinations. Some were even going to the extent of a possible third front led by Non-congress and Non-BJP allies. The results starting out at around 10 am and by mid-day it was clear the BJP led National Democratic Alliance will gain absolute majority. Actually, BJP on its own ended up on 303 seats and NDA in total ended up as 353 seats up from last time. The election results were a clear referendum on PM Modi and his development agenda for the Indian People. He declared before elections that he is the “Chowkidar” (Watchman) of Indian Public meaning that he will look after their security, govt resources and won’t allow any corruption in his government. Opening of the bank accounts for poor, making toilets, Swatch Bharat (clean India), distributing Gas Cylinders, electrification in all villages, Micro financing and Mudra Yojna, Insurance for the poor, Health services reform through Ayushman Bharat and being tough on Cross border

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terrorism and air strikes on Balakot (Pakistan) ..all played on people’s mind when they went for polling. There was no corruption charge on his Government and opposition Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to call him “Chor” meaning thief ( Slogan was Chowkidar Chor Hai) backfired miserably. He even lost his seat of Amethi which was won by the Gandhi family for decades. The Congress had no match for BJP’s superior organizational structure and dedicated volunteers on the ground. Also, Congress Party’s loyalty to Gandhi’s also made sure that young voters in India won’t connect to them. The projection of Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also backfired as she could not sway voters . The Prime Minister Modi and his team swore in on 30th May 2019 in a Grand ceremony where more than 6000 people attended from all over the world. It is a significant mile stone for BJP as it won the 2nd term with full majority. Immediately after elections PM Modi spoke about having Sabka saath, sabka Vikas and sabka Vishwas (every one’s cooperation, everyone’s development and everyone’s trust). BJP Led alliance has a lot of work to do now to make sure that

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reforms in various sectors, job Growth, infra structure developments, housing for poor, Terrorism in Kashmir and getting all sections of society to prosper. The elections in both countries brought out some plain truths for politicians. Mere Rhetoric, pitching sections of society/ communities against each other, trying to appease just one section of the society and bad past performance will never win you Government. Voters now are smart and enlightened. they understand things much better and will always vote for things which matter to them most then being told by politicians. Australia and India, both countries have a lot to gain from each other in trade, maritime cooperation, shared commonwealth values and changing world order. India being the youngest country with a very young skilled work force is fastest becoming the biggest economy. Australia has huge untapped opportunity in India as Indian Middleclass is growing at a rapid pace. The resource rich, innovative Australia can ride on Indian growth for decades to come. It will be a defining few years for both countries under leaderships of Scomo and Namo !!

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Tarot

TAROT JUNE FORECAST Sanjivani Kalsi

Aries (March 21- April 20)

Adjustments made at this stage will bring better results. Compromise, by all means, but do not surrender your ethics, your core and your dignity. Finance is improving and you’ll see slow changes. you need to put full focus on what you want to do with your goals. Few of you looking for a stronger career path this looks good for you, But it’s also slow growth here. Keep implementing things now to have comfort in your future. It’s time to thrive. Invest now for your tomorrow. Relax and reflect on all that you’ve achieved with an open, positive attitude. You are not failing- you are learning!! #AFFIRMATION: “My hard work will pay off It just needs time to reap”

Cancer (Jun 22- July 22)

The past is in the past and a bright future is beckoning. However, before you take your next step, make sure that both you and the situation feel healed - this is not the time to paper over cracks or to simply pretend that everything is okay. It’s a reminder to go a little bit easy on you. Give yourself the time you need.It’s time to cherish the past memories and give gratitude to all the good things they brought in and all the lessons they taught you. It’s also time to look back and remember where you came from and how far you have come. #AFFIRMATION: “I embrace my inner child and cherish my past memories.”

Libra (September 24- October 23)

If you currently feel stuck or blocked in any situation, it could be you are overthinking/over-analysing things or being too critical. It’s time to release those negative behaviours and think and do more for others so you are in the vibration of giving to receive at a later tune. Pay attention to the small details for overall success. Be of service to others, and love and money will follow. You have a strong desire to find your life purpose but have no idea what is it. Taking a peaceful break from society. Searching for Enlightenment. #AFFIRMATION: “Enjoy the energies and the beginnings of a new cycle!”

What's your #Astrology sign? Select your Astro sign and read below.

Taurus

(April 21- March 20)

It’s time to let go of things that no longer serve you and move forward with confidence. Often times we may be hesitant to take steps to improve or to go out of our comfort zone because of fears, worries, and anxieties. It’s time to step out on faith. Release people, fears, and anything that is not supporting you on our journey at this time. Some of you may find yourself; your relationship may lack the passion, dried up emotions... Take out some time with your loved ones to bring back the passion...!! There is a success ahead for you, especially if you follow your instincts at every turn. #AFFIRMATION: “I am ready to move forward with that which lights my life!”

Leo (Jul 23 - August 23)

Nothing to worry about; it signals a challenge is now coming to an end. Both that a domestic matter or private issue will soon come to a head, and that it’s a great time to move house. The answer to your question lies in being a kind leader. This is the time for you to step up and agree to overcome your insecurities. Meditate to soothe heightened emotions. Good news is on the way, News is bound to be happy and exciting. Listen to what your heart is saying. You have a friend who needs your support or should to cry on. #AFFIRMATION: “I listen to my inner voice and follow my gut instincts.”

Scorpio (Octo. 24-Nov. 22)

You can expect plenty of good things and a positive outcome this month, but you may find there’s a lot of emotion to deal with too. It’s all about true balance in your life, it’s important to realise how your feelings will impact your career, relationship, health and power... It’s time to analyse about your current situation verses future plans...Coming to a crossroads and needing to choose a direction. When faced with two choices, do not take the easy way, rather take The road with the better long-term benefits. New partnership, change of house or office will be on your mind... #AFFIRMATION: “ I m balancing my emotions.”

Capricorn

Aquarius

( December 22 - January 20)

(January 21 - February 18)

Gemini

(May 21-Jun 21)

Communicating what you want to others or the universe will help manifest what it is you’re asking for. Clear communication is the key today. It may help you to write things out, organize your thoughts, see them on paper. If there’s an issue with a family member or neighbour there’s an opportunity for a fresh start here. Overcoming hurdles, having clarity, good health and vitality, a new wholeness feeling, warmth in relationship, birth of child...A thrust of new energy and confidence...!! #AFFIRMATION: “I am filled with golden light and can reach out in confidence that I will succeed.”

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 23)

Have faith that what is happening is for the best. Try to accept the way things are now, and give you and others time out to relax. Things will become easier for you. Be honest with yourself if you feel bad about your current situation and then remind yourself that life goes in cycles. The time is now for any creative insight one may have. Be prepare too not expect advice or counselling from others. Trust you’re on intuition, even though your mind will distract you from trusting your gut. Be prepared for things to move in a rapid way. #AFFIRMATION: “I am where I am and it’s okay.”

Sagittarius (November 23 - December 21)

It’s time to be really honest with yourself, and what has led you to this current situation. Pay attention to the details. Hard work brings results. De-clutter your life, your home and your office. Worrying too much will attract more things to worry about. Stop second-guessing yourself and Also stop being overly critical. You need to make the right choice and right decision for yourself... About your partner, a new relationship or marriage, a new house or moving to new place... Situations are never as confining as they may seem. #AFFIRMATION: “I m the truth!!”

Pisces (February 19 - March20)

You need to pay attention and make a concerted effort to move towards your goals – the more practical steps you can take, the better. It’s time to find an inner balance between your responsibilities and your dreams. Meditate every day and see what comes to you. Answers will come. Follow your intuition, it won’t let you down. You are ready to move forward and leave behind the old baggage that has weighted you down.

This month is the start of a new cycle for you, when you’re going to look and feel more gorgeous, more in the spotlight, more like you have something worth showing off. Shine your light! A great omen if you’re asking about a creative project you’re working on. You may uncover a lie this month, or meet with someone whose motives prove to be disingenuous. So be mindful of your delivery and be prepared to stand by your words.

A wish you made may be about to come true. It’s make-or-break time. You may need to forgive someone to release negative energy. It’s time to let go of the past and move on. Don’t worry about how your prayer will be answered. Let God figure out the details. Be willing to ask for help. Release tension and the need to control, and things will go better. Avoid power struggles in your Relationship. Simply own your power and you won’t have to fight for it. Temptation might not be good, self control and balance needed. Learn where to draw the line.

#AFFIRMATION: “My desires are within reach”

#AFFIRMATION: “I speak what i want into existence and manifest it though my unique creative expression”

#AFFIRMATION: “I’m getting the answer I need”

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Entertainment

elebrating its tenth anniversary this year, The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) is taking place from 8-17 August. The 2019 Festival theme is ‘courage’, a central tenet that reflects the growing inclusivity and diversity of the Indian film industry. The very special guest of this year’s annual celebration of Indian films is Indian actor and superstar Shah Rukh Khan. “King Khan”, as he’s admirably referred to globally, will be attending the IFFM Awards on 8 August and officially opening the Festival on 9 August along with other special Festival guests, and Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange. Speaking on being appointed as the chief guest for the festival, Shah Rukh Khan, said, “I’m honoured and delighted to accept the invitation from the Victorian government and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne to open their festival as their chief guest. An industry of our magnitude and diversity deserves to be celebrated with great passion and fervour, which is what the festival embodies. I’m particularly pleased with the theme of the festival this year which is courage, an emotion that resonates with storytellers who really have the right to change the society and the world. I have had great memories of shooting for Chak De India in Melbourne and look forward to being back again, this time to celebrate Indian cinema”. Announcing the news, the Victorian Pre-

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mier, the Honourable Daniel Andrews said: “The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is a much-loved event that celebrates the strong relationship between Victoria and India and our own vibrant Indian community. This event has grown significantly over the past decade and with the extraordinary Shah Rukh Khan here, this year’s festival is shaping up to be the biggest and most exciting yet.”

the State’s cultural calendar. In 2016, the festival was honoured with the much respected Melbourne Award for contribution in Multiculturalism. IFFM is proudly supported by the Victorian Government via Film Victoria - principal partner of the festival.

Festival Director, Mitu Bhowmick Lange said, “We are so elated with the news of Mr. Khan joining us to be our chief guest. He’s truly an icon of Indian cinema internationally, a person millions follow and look up to. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has always strived to bring the best Indian cinema here in Melbourne and bridge a gap between the fans and the actors whom people love and admire. We are looking forward to hosting Mr. Khan in Melbourne.” The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is the southern hemisphere’s greatest annual celebration of Indian cinema. Established in 2010, and rebranded as IFFM in 2012 as an initiative of the Victorian Government, it is recognised as an important feature of

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Advertisement Roop – Mard Ka Naya Swaroop now on Colors TV. Content charges apply.

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