G'Day India Oct 2022 Issue 186

THE DIVERSE DIPLOMAT

THREE BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS

idea that led three friends to conceptualize Melbourne's first South Asian Wedding & Lifestyle Expo with their brand Aquila

General

India

Melbourne

Dr Sushil Kumar

India’s

Australia

people

CALL: TONEE

Tel:

Mob: 0412 114 383

Email: info@gdayindia.com.au

Postal Address: PO BOX 1500, Doncaster East, VIC, 3109

Dining And Entertainment A Success as Victorians Claim Big

MELBOURNE, Oct 3: Victorians have soaked up the best the state has to offer as the spring school holidays wrap up, with the Andrews Labor Government’s popular dining and entertainment program making days and nights out more affordable.

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll confirmed there have been more than 700,000 successful claims for the Labor Government’s Dining and Entertainment Program – Eat. Play. Cash Back made in the past two weeks.

state’s world-class entertainment scene, with the Melbourne Royal Show, cinema trips, museums, and zoos among the most popular for claims.

Amusement park outings like Luna Park made up almost 20 percent of claims for entertainment while the theatre was also popular with 11 percent of claims used to snap up tickets for shows such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hamilton and Come From Away.

Dining out and take-away also was a hit with almost 80 percent of all claims so far spent on restaurants, pubs, cafes and winery experiences.

Anmol Anand, Debasree Das, Dileep Narayan, Dr Raj Kotharu, Gary Nair, Harpal Sandhu, Manjit Sethi, Narisa Dawar, Sanchita Abrol, Karthik Arasu, Abhi Narayan, Gurpal Singh, Monisha Iswaran, P. Harsora, Nandita Chakraborty, Archita Baweja, Barinderjeet Kaur, Gurpal Singh, Muktesh Chibber, Shivani Prabhu, Payel Ghosh

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The program is putting $25 million back into people’s pockets and boosting thousands of hardworking businesses, with $19 million in claims already paid.

The cash back scheme has supported consumer spending on dining experiences worth more than $85 million across Victoria.

The local government areas of City of Melbourne, City of Monash and City of Moonee Valley take out the top three most popular areas for vouchers claimed with the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Ranges also a hit.

Families spent plenty of time enjoying the school holidays and AFL Grand Final long weekend festivities, making the most of the

Almost 65 per cent of people who made a claim said they made their purchase because of the program or spent more than they otherwise would have.

The Dining and Entertainment Program is part of the Labor Government’s $200 million Victorian Business Stimulus Package supporting local businesses and jobs.

The Program allows customers to claim 25 per cent cash back when they spend $40 or more enjoying the best our state has to offer. Customers can claim up to $125 cash back each and make multiple claims until they reach the cap.

For more information, including how to claim, go to vic.gov.au/dining-entertainment

Taking Victoria’s Education Technology to The World

some receiving a 92 per cent or higher rating from quality standards organisation Education Alliance Finland for the value they provide to customers.

MentorMatch developed and tested its app with the Acsenda School of Management in Canada by matching international students with experienced local mentors who can help them create social and professional networks. The company has since secured a $10 million investment to expand its business.

Cahoot Learning partnered with the University of Anahuac in Mexico to develop and test its product – an educational platform for workforce reskilling and upskilling across Australian and Latin American settings.

Victoria is home to one-third of Australia’s edtech companies, supporting more than 4,000 jobs and contributing more than $700 million annually to the economy.

MELBOURNE, Sep 29: Victorian education technology companies are proving their products around the world as they pursue new contracts, backed by a program supported by the Andrews Labor Government.

A symposium this week heard about progress of nine Victorian companies that received funding under the Labor Government’s $800,000 Global Victoria EdTech Innovation Alliance program to trial their systems in a range of settings, preparing them for export

growth.

The program, managed by industry peak body Edugrowth, connected local edtech companies Cadmus, Cahoot Learning, Edalex, Genix Ventures, Intellischool, Maths Pathway, MentorMatch, Verso Learning and Ziplet with 27 education partners, 165 educators and more than 4,000 learners in 13 countries.

The companies trialled their locally developed learning solutions across the K-12, vocational and higher education sectors, with

Edtech also plays a significant role in the long-term sustainability and diversification of Victoria’s international education sector, as highlighted in the Government’s recently released International Education Recovery Plan 2025. International education is a critical services export, contributing $6.9 billion to the state in 2021.

Read more about the companies participating in the Global Victoria EdTech Innovation Alliance program and their learning solutions at: global.vic.gov.au/edtechalliance.

Protecting Victorians from Thunderstorm Asthma

MELBOURNE, Sep 29: The Andrews Labor Government is launching its worldclass thunderstorm asthma monitoring, prediction and alert system for 2022 to ensure Victorians are notified of high-risk events this pollen season.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced that the Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma Risk Forecasting System will recommence on 1 October, so people at increased risk – such as those with asthma or hay fever – can take action to avoid exposure to the pollen fragments that can trigger asthma.

Grass pollen season, which typically runs from the start of October until the end of December, brings with it a seasonal increase in asthma and hay fever and the chance of thunderstorm asthma.

When large numbers of people develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time, caused by high amounts of grass pollen and a certain type of thunderstorm, it is known as epidemic thunderstorm asthma.

The forecasting system, which will operate until 31 December, forecasts three days in advance and provides a low (green), moderate (orange) or high (red) risk forecast

across the nine Victorian weather districts.

On high-risk thunderstorm asthma risk forecast days, people with asthma or spring hay fever can reduce their risk by avoiding the storms. On these days, at-risk people should go inside, close windows and turn off any air conditioners that bring air and possible pollen fragments in from outside.

Melbourne experienced the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event on 21 November 2016, which resulted in 10 tragic deaths and thousands of people developing breathing difficulties in a very short period.

Those at risk should check the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast daily at emergency.vic.gov.au/respond

World-Leading Aircraft Manufacturer Chooses Victoria

MELBOURNE, Sep 28: A world-leading aircraft manufacturer has chosen Victoria for its Asia Pacific engineering operations headquarters as the Andrews Labor Government continues to back the industry.

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll today visited Bombardier’s new Labor Government-backed multimillion-dollar Melbourne Service Centre at Essendon Fields that will create 65 new high-skilled new jobs.

The new engineering headquarters will deliver maintenance, repair and overhaul services, acting as a central depot and providing ground support for all Bombardier aircraft across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Bombardier has approximately 80 business aircraft customers based in Australia - many of which are based in Melbourne - as well as customers who fly in and out of the country.

The new centre will also deliver opportunities for students and graduates as Bombardier is set to partner with Victorian universities and TAFEs to develop specialised aviation servicing training – enhancing Victoria’s position as a leading international

education destination.

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, specialising in designing, manufacturing and servicing business aircraft. Its worldwide fleet of about 5,000 aircraft are used by a variety of multinational corporations, charter providers, governments and high net-worth individuals.

Bombardier adds to the list of aviation engineering firms the Government has

recently supported, including aircraft composites manufacturer Quickstep Holdings Limited to expand its facility in Tullamarine and the Qantas Group to establish its principal engineering line maintenance hub at Melbourne Airport.

Victoria’s international aviation sector directly employs 6,700 people and supports thousands of other jobs.

PM Modi holds 'productive' talks with Australian counterpart Albanese in Tokyo

"Real progress is possible only if our efforts are inclusive, green, led by communities, and catalysed by agile policies and leadership all attributes of the emerging yet distinct India story," said Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation.

Australia is a key partner of India on many fronts. In the first week of July, Australia confirmed that it would commit the Australian Dollar (AUD) 5.8 million to the three-year India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership.

India and Australia agreed to build a stronger partnership in the field of critical minerals which are crucial for clean energy technologies such as batteries, electric vehicles, as well as mobile phones and computers.

India and Australia have strengthened cooperation on the development of critical minerals projects and supply chains.

TOKYO, Sep 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and noted that both the countries will keep working closely to boost their friendship in diverse sectors.

"Had productive talks with PM Anthony Albanese in Tokyo. We will keep working closely to boost the India-Australia friendship in diverse sectors," PM Modi tweeted. PM Modi landed in Japan on Tuesday morning to attend the State funeral of late Japanese PM

Shinzo Abe which was held today at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Several top world leaders were present at the funeral.

The Australian Prime Minister also said that he discussed the important relationship between both countries.

"Met with Narendra Modi in Tokyo and discussed the important relationship and friendship between Australia and India," he said in a tweet.

On April 2, India-Australia signed the free trade pact, rooted in a desire to reduce its economic dependence on the world's No. 2 economy, China.

The last official visit was from the Australian side when Defence Minister Richard Marles arrived in India on June 20 to strengthen defence and security cooperation between both countries.

Australian govt urges telecommunications company to help protect hack victims

CANBERRA, Oct 2: The Australian government has accused the country's giant telecommunications provider of failing to help customers affected by a major data breach.

Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister Clare O'Neil and Bill Shorten, minister for Government Services, on Sunday called on Optus to help the government protect those affected by the breach, Xinhua news agency reported.

In September, Optus revealed it was hit by a cyber-attack that compromised the information of up to 10 million current and former customers in one of the biggest data breaches in Australian history.

Services Australia has requested the full details of all customers whose information was compromised in order to bolster security

measures, but the government said on Sunday it is still awaiting a response.

"In the face of a breach on an unprecedented scale in Australia, Optus needs to come together with the Australian government to be part of the solution," O'Neil and Shorten said in a joint statement.

"This is a security breach that should not have occurred, but what's really important here is that we row in the same direction and do everything we can to stop financial crime against Australians," said O'Neil.

It remains unknown how many of the 10 million customers had their identity details stolen in the attack, but the purported hackers released those of 10,000 people.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on

Friday launched an operation to protect those victims.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said on Sunday that the breach should act as a wakeup call for corporate Australia, flagging stricter privacy laws.

"Companies throughout Australia should stop regarding all of this personal data of Australians as an asset for them, they actually should think of it as a liability," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television.

"I may be bringing reforms to the Privacy Act before the end of the year to try and toughen penalties and make companies think hard about why they are storing the personal data of Australians.

Century-old ledger on Sikh diaspora found in Australia

Sikhs are known to have arrived in Australia in the mid-nineteenth century and found work as hawkers, cane cutters, and camel drivers. In the early part of the 20th century, they became active with the wrestling circuit all over Australia.

He credited the discovery of the ledger to the Western Australia Museum's search efforts to find old artifacts as a part of its expansion programme.

"Someone found it from the ashes... it didn't get burnt due to their thickness," Singh said.

The Geraldton and Dongara areas were booming regions for the pioneer Sikhs of Western Australia (belonging to the Indian ethnicity), including Sojan Singh, Pola Singh, Ruhr Singh, and Anzac Nain Singh Sailani, who all belonged to these regions.

CANBERRA, Oct 3: In Dongara, some 351 km northwest of Perth, more than a century-old leather-bound book containing entries written in Gurmukhi - the official script of the Punjabi language - has been found.

The discovery was confirmed by Tarun Preet Singh of the Sikh Association of Western Australia (SAWA), who went to Dongara in person to see the newly discovered treasure, which offers rare insight into the largely forgotten Sikh community of Dongara, the SBS Punjabi reported.

"The gurdwara in Canning Vale got an email that some old leather ledger with transactions written in Punjabi script had been found and that the Western Australia Museum wanted help with the translations," Singh told SBS Punjabi.

Singh, who is actively engaged in uncovering Sikh history in Australia, said that the ledger shows that even 100 years ago, Sikh settlers were established businessmen in Australia and carried out their day-to-day transactions in their own language.

Sojan Singh was one of the few early Punjabi settlers of Western Australia, who owned a store and even a holiday home in Donagara. The earliest recorded evidence of a Sikh being in Western Australia was Pal Singh who arrived in Perth in 1886. He was a camel owner and settled in Wyndham, according to SAWA.

Now, the Sikhs form one of the largest subgroups of Indian Australians with 210,000 adherents according to the 2021 census, having grown from 12,000 in 1996, 17,000 in 2001, 26,500 in 2006, and 72,000 in 2011.

'India's greatest moments yet to come'

India's proudest achievement has been its record as a liberal democracy and while the transition from colony to a functioning republic might not have been perfect, the best is yet to come if it's billion-plus citizens are given a chance to achieve their full potential, says a new book that condenses 5,000 years of Indian history from the ruins of ancient civilisations to an emerging global superpower into less than 300 pages.

"India's proudest achievement has been, without doubt, its almost unbroken record as a liberal democracy. When India finally achieved independence in 1947, many foreign commentators believed that the country would not survive: linguistic and regional differences would make Balkanisation inevitable; caste was alien to the concept of equality and therefore democracy, while high levels of illiteracy were at odds with political expression.

"India's transition from colony to a modern functioning republic has not been perfect... Yet over more than seven decades it has successfully conducted seventeen general elections and hundreds of state polls, with participation rates that regularly outstrip that of the world's next largest democratic nation, the United States," Australian author John Zubrzycki, who has served in the country as a diplomat and as a foreign correspondent, writes in "The Shortest History Of India" (Picador India).

"The Indian experiment is at once inspirational and flawed. But as a civilisation, India has shown remarkable resilience, tackling challenges such as growing inequality and authoritarianism and providing a model to the world. Visionary leaders and thinkers will emerge who can unite their country's diverse communities and ensure that the benefits of social and economic progress are spread equitably and sustainably. India has produced such individuals in the past, from Ashoka to Gandhi, from Kautilya to Tagore. As the world's oldest continuous civilisation, India has much to draw on, and even more to offer to the world. If its billion-plus citizens are given the chance to achieve their full potential, its greatest moments are yet to come," Zubrzycki writes.

But in all this, he has a major grouse.

"History matters. It should not be manipulated for political ends. I was staggered that Prime Minister Modi did not mention Jawaharlal Nehru in his address on the 75th anniversary of India's independence. It's tantamount to ignoring the contribution of George Washington to the founding of the United States," Zubrzycki said in an interview.

How did he develop such an interest in India that it became a lifetime passion?

"It all started with an overland trip that I started on in 1976. I travelled from South

East Asia to South Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey and finally to Europe. Of all the countries I visited, India fascinated me the most. I decided to study South Asian history and Hindi at the Australian National University. I was fortunate enough to be one of the last students to be taught by AL Bashman, author of 'The Wonder That Was India'. He was an inspirational mentor, someone who still commands immense respect in India.

"After finishing university, I looked for opportunities to live and work in India and finally was able to go there firstly as a diplomat and then as a foreign correspondent. It was while I was working as a journalist that I realised the incredible number of stories in India not only waiting to be told but also waiting to be told. I've now written five books on India and could easily come up with ideas for many more," Zubrzycki explained.

How did the present book come about?

"An Australian publisher, Black Inc approached me asking if I'd be interested. I was in India at the time working on a book on the Jaipur royal family. I thought what a great opportunity to put together everything that's always fascinated me about India and present it to a wider audience. It was an opportunity to revisit India history, to gain a deeper understanding of this extraordinary country and its society and, above all, to tell it in a way that would be accessible and comprehensive," Zubrzycki elaborated.

Considerable research has gone into the book.

"I started with Basham's 'The Wonder That Was India' and then worked my way through other classics such as SAA Rizvi's companion volume on the coming of Islam. After that, I raided my bookshelves for books by writers such Ramachandra Guha, Sumit Ganguly, Sunil Khilnani, Romila Thapar, Judith Brown, William Dalrymple and others. Unlike my previous books this required no archival research but digesting the volumes

that have been written covering various phases of India's history was a challengealbeit a pleasurable one," Zubrzycki said.

It has often been said that the true history of India's freedom movement has not been written and that those who led it, in effect, sold India down the drain instead of standing up to the British machinations to create a Hindu-Muslim divide. What's his take on this?

"It's a complex question. Had the bulk of the Congress leadership not been arrested when Gandhi called the Quit India movement allowing the Muslim League to set the political agenda, the transfer of power might have taken a different course. By the time Mountbatten arrived as Viceroy, the die had been cast.

"The Hindu-Muslim divide that the British had encouraged was too deep to repair. But there was also a strong feeling among Congress leaders that Pakistan would turn out to be a failed state and would come begging to become part of India again. Partition was a tragedy that could have been avoided and India and Pakistan have been living with its consequences for the past 75 years," Zubrzycki asserted.

His previous books on India have been "The House of Jaipur: The Inside Story of India's Most Glamorous Royal Family", "Jadoowallahs, Jugglers and Jinns: A Magical History of India", "The Mysterious Mr Jacob: Diamond Merchant, Magician and Spy", and "The Last Nizam: The Rise and Fall of India's Greatest Princely State". What's his next book going to be?

"After condensing 5,000 years of history into (less than) 300 pages I'll be looking at the behind-the-scenes story of how 562 princely states were integrated into the Indian Union. It's an exhilarating narrative that I hope will shed new light on this overlooked aspect of India's road to independence," Zubrzycki concluded.

By Vishnu Makhijani

Woman leaving husband's home before divorce forfeits right to reside there: Bombay HC

AURANGABAD, Oct 3: A woman who leaves her husband's home pending divorce loses the right to later seek 'right to residence' in the same house even if her plea against the divorce is pending under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the Bombay High Court's Aurangabad Bench has ruled.

A bench of Justice Sandipkumar C. More, while upholding the woman's in-laws' plea in the matter, quashed the order of a lower court permitting her full right to residence along with use of bath, toilet, electricity, etc in their house.

Umakant H. Bondre and his wife Shobha, both of Udgir, Latur, had move the plea challenging the February 2018 order by Additional Sessions Judge, Udgir Court, permitting the right of residence to their former daughter-in-law Sakshi Bondre - who was granted divorce from her husband, Suraj Bondre.

The couple was married in June 2015, but a year later, following disputes between them, she left the home and went to live with her parents.

Later, in November 2017, an Udgir magistrate had granted her an interim maintenance of Rs 2,000 per month and additional Rs 1,500 per month to enable her to make alternative accommodation arrangements.

In their plea, the senior Bondre couple had questioned the lower court's orders particularly since the home stood in the name of Umakant H. Bondre (father-in-law) and Sakshi Bondre's plea against the divorcegranted in July 2018 - was pending before the high court.

Justice More ruled that under Sec. 17 of the DV Act, the right to residence is allowed only when the woman continues to reside in the shared (husband's) household before their divorce.

Accordingly, Sakshi Bondre could not take recourse to the earlier residence order when her marriage was dissolved by a divorce decree passed by the competent court, and especially when she had already left her shared household four years ago.

"Under the circumstances, she is not even entitled for the relief of restraining dispossession since she is not in possession of the shared household," the judge noted.

Sakshi Bondre's lawyers had contended that the divorce decree was challenged in an appeal filed by her citing grounds that it was obtained by fraud, and the plea is pending before the court.

Rejecting her contentions, Justice More noted that Sakshi Bondre had left her matrimonial home much prior to the divorce and failed to produce any material on record to indicate that was forcibly evicted by her husband or in-laws.

Hence, the pendency of her appeal would not come in the way of her in-laws' applications challenging the lower court orders granting her the right to residence, ruled Justice More.

However, the court has permitted Sakshi Bondre to seek alternative remedies from her ex-husband to claim rent for a rental accommodation instead of occupying his home.

Putin in a bunker outside Moscow mulling over nuclear decisions

LONDON, Oct 4: Russian President Vladimir Putin is 'preparing to make key decisions about launching a tactical nuclear strike from a bunker' a long way outside Moscow, the media reported.

Putin -- who will be 70 on Friday -- has warned his closest family including gymnast partner Alina Kabaeva, 40, of the possibility of rapid evacuation, it is alleged.

He believes the bunker to be 'safe' from Western attack and top officials from his security apparatus and government will be moved to the secret location, according to General SVR channel, Daily Mail reported.

The anti-Kremlin outlet -- which claims inside knowledge from Putin's circle -- has long claimed he is suffering acute health problems but offers no proof of its assertions.

Putin is believed to have several bunkers in Siberia, one linked to the massive new liquid case terminal at Sabetta on the Yamal peninsula and the other in the Altai Mountains.

"Relatives and friends of the heads of state will be delivered to the bunker in advance,"

stated a report from the channel today, Daily Mail reported.

"Alina Kabaeva with (the couple's) children and two older daughters with children and cohabitants were warned about the possibility of urgent evacuation.

"But not everyone in the leadership of Russia was lucky.

"For example, Putin ordered, in the event of a nuclear threat, to evacuate the 'necessary minimum' of Russian officials'."

This would include prime minister Mikhail Mishustin, and the speaker of parliament Vyacheslav Volodin.

It would include the prosecutor-general, the leadership of the Security Council -- but not former president Dmitry Medvedev -- as well as key officials from his presidential administration and three security and spy services, the FSB, FSO, SVR with their families, the Daily Mail reported.

His defence ministry has different bunkers including in the Urals.

The supposed evacuation includes his eldest daughter Maria Vorontsova, 36, a geneticist, and Katerina Tikhonova, 35, a high-kicking 'rock'n'roll' dancer-turnedmathematician with their spouses and children.

But an unacknowledged Putin 'love child' Luiza Rozova, also known as Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 19, is not invited to the bunker and nor a mystery son from a previous relationship, it was claimed, Daily Mail reported.

Rumours swirled at the start of the war that Putin had retreated to a bunker in Siberia.

One special bunker is rumoured to fit up to 100,000 people and is designed for him to rule Russia in the event of Armageddon.

As well as a location close to a major Gazprom facility in the far north of Russia, there is also rumoured to be a hi-tech bunker in the Altai Mountains hidden beneath a large dacha.

US, Australia focus on maintaining free, open Indo-Pacific with eye on China

on track to announce the way forward on the submarine acquisition process in the first part of 2023.

He said his nation also sees increasingly aggressive Chinese efforts to "seek to shape the world around it in a way that we have not seen before."

The freedom of navigation in the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and around Taiwan is "fundamentally important to Australia's national interests," he said.

Both leaders discussed the US Marine Corps rotation to Darwin, Australia, "but we want to look at other ways in which we can build upon American force posture and doing that in cooperation with Australia," Marles said.

He said at the heart of the meeting is the strategic alignment between the US and Australia. This has always been the case, "but has never been greater than it is right now," he said.

The US-Australia alliance is one part of the US alliance network.

HAWAII, Oct 2: Amid heightened Chinese aggression, Australia and the US reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment" to a free and open Indo-Pacific, saying all countries in the region are "free to choose their own destinies".

In a joint press conference with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said, "We are deeply concerned by China's aggressive, escalatory, and destabilising military activities in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific." Austin held a Trilateral Defence Ministers Meeting (TDMM) with Marles and Japanese Minister of Defence Hamada Yasukazu in Hawaii on Saturday and called out China's aggressive behaviour in the IndoPacific region.

"We (the US, Japan & Australia) remain focused on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Austin.

Stressing the importance of the alliance system in the Indo-Pacific region, the US Defence Secretary said, "US and Australia have long-standing ties, trust and friendship. We are both deeply dedicated to freedom and democracy. We also share an unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. In this region, all countries are free to choose their own destinies, where states respect international law and disputes are resolved peacefully without coercion or intimidation. They are the foundation of our

unbreakable alliance."

Further, the international, rules-based order is based on the idea that nations should respect international laws and resolve disputes peacefully.

"These shared convictions run deep, and they are the foundation of our unbreakable alliance," said Austin.

"The region and the world face a growing challenge from autocratic countries attempting to change the status quo through threats, coercion and provocative military activities and even naked aggression," he said.

Austin and Marles discussed the steps needed to enhance deterrence and strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific.

"We talked about enhancing our interoperability and expanding our operations and advancing our on-going posture, force posture initiatives," said Austin.

Marles said the two leaders talked about ways to deepen defence industrial base cooperation.

They also spoke about Australia, the UK and the US trilateral security pact that will pave the way for Australia to acquire nuclear submarine technology and for the three nations to cooperate on other advanced technologies.

Marles thanked all those involved in working on the pact and said Australia is still

"Our allies and partners bring significant capability, and -- not only in terms of what they bring to the fight, but the access, basing rights -- all of those things contribute to our overall effort," Austin said. "Quite frankly, it's what our adversaries worry about most -our ability to work together with like-minded partners and allies. That really magnifies our warfighting capability," Marles said.

Alliances and partnerships are critical to deterrence. "That's why you've seen us work hard to strengthen partnerships and alliances in the region," he said.

Marles also commented on the importance of alliances. "Our alliance with the United States is completely central to our national security and to our world view, and the alliance has never been more important than it is now," he said, adding the vast majority of Australians support the treaty with the US.

Marles said the US system of alliances is profoundly essential. "It is the 'edge,' and it matters deeply," he said. "It matters deeply in terms of providing security."

Following the meeting, Austin invited the deputy prime minister to the Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, submarine docks where they toured the USS Mississippi. The Mississippi is a nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine that's armed with cruise missiles, according to a US Department of Defence press release.

Mate G’Day

Getting married in Australia

The solemnisation of Marriages in Australia

Marriage in Australia is regulated by the Marriage Act and the Marriage Regulations. The department administers this legislation. All marriages in Australia must be conducted in accordance with this legislation. The legislation specifies the requirements for the marriage ceremony, as well as matters that arise before and after the ceremony.

The Marriage Act applies to Australian external territories –Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands as per the section 8 of the Marriage Act. The Marriage Act does not apply to the Australian territory in the Antarctica.

Authorised celebrants have an important role not only because of the legal consequence of marriage, but also because of its central significance to the parties, both individually and as a couple. As an authorised celebrant, it is critical to their role to make sure that everything is done according to the Marriage Act and the

Marriage Regulations, and that all necessary steps are taken to ensure the marriage will be valid.

It is important that marriage celebrant understand the boundaries of their role as a celebrant. It is not in their role to assist couples with migration matters, this way they may mislead people in this complex area, but it may be an offence for a person who is not a registered migration agent to do this. It is not a celebrant’s role to obtain documents, or be involved in any legal matter concerning any party’s relationships or past marriages, or obtain court orders.

The Diverse Diplomat

It is an honour introducing our new Consul General of India in Melbourne, Dr Sushil Kumar, whose primary focus is strengthening India's relations with Australia and its people.

cultural events in a very short span of time here organised by our diaspora and delighted to notice the enthusiastic participation of not only Indian community but also ‘Friends of India’ in Australia. Strong peopleto-people connections are reflected in India–Australia multifaceted relationship, and I would like to acknowledge the hard work and contributions made by the Indian diaspora here.

What was the perception of Australia, primarily Melbourne, before coming?

My first foreign posting was in Kuwait, where I also learnt Arabic language as part of the Indian Foreign Service training. During my five years of tenure in Kuwait, where Indian expatriates were the largest in number (about 7.5 lakhs at that time), I had the opportunity to handle consular matters. My last assignment was in Sri Lanka, where I also represented India at the Colombo Plan & South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme and served as the Secretary to India Sri Lanka Foundation. At Headquarters in the Ministry of External Affairs, I have worked in the West Asia and North Africa Division.

When and what made you decide on a career in diplomacy?

Joining the Indian Civil Service was my goal since my school days. During my study at the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi, I had the opportunity to visit a centre on high-tech agriculture being developed through Israeli collaboration. There, I had the opportunity to interact with a few diplomats and thought of becoming a diplomat. Subsequently, I appeared in the examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and joined the Indian Foreign Service.

It's

a new beginning for everything at the moment, including the tenure of a new Consul General of India in Melbourne and Tasmania, Dr Sushil Kumar.

Just two months in office, his engagement with the Indian community in Melbourne is not only thriving but also giving him reasons to assimilate a strong bilateral relationship with Australia.

We at G'day India takes this opportunity not only to thank him for the chance to speak to us on such short notice about the coming years as the Consul General here but also to get to know him as a person.

Dr Sushil Kumar sat down with G'day India, Chief Editor, Tonne Sethi to look at his vision for the Indian Diaspora and the two countries' future.

How long have you been in Melbourne, and how are you finding Melbourne so far?

Firstly, I thank you and would like to convey my greetings to the readers of G’day India. I have been in this beautiful city of Melbourne for about two months now and I have thoroughly enjoyed this place. Melbourne is truly a multicultural city. I have attended more than 30 socio-

Australia being a developed country with the presence of a strong and vibrant Indian diaspora, remains a prestigious posting for Indian diplomats. I am delighted to represent India in Victoria and Tasmania, while being based in Melbourne, which is the cultural, educational and sports hub of Australia.

Before your posting in Australia, tell us about placement around the world?

As the new Consul General of India, what do you see as your primary role?

I feel fortunate to have come here at a time when India-Australia relationship is already strong with our Comprehensive

Strategic Partnership. There is tremendous scope to make this relationship stronger. Some of my primary objectives would be to maintain this momentum and explore more opportunities in the areas of education, research collaboration, trade and investment.

How has your experience affected your outlook as new CGI in Melbourne?

My past experience will certainly be helpful in serving the diaspora better. I have already started actively engaging with our strong diaspora and with their involvement, suggestions and support, we at the Consulate will improve our services further.

What do you intend to introduce more into the Indo-Australian relationship?

We already have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since June 2020 and Economic Cooperation, and Trade Agreement has been signed in April 2022. We see enormous potential in expanding our trade and investment ties. Victorian higher educational institutions have created a niche in the world and India offers a huge market. Indian students here are one of the largest in number and many more Indian students wish to visit Australia for their higher education. I would like to work to strengthen further the partnership between universities, academic institutions, exchanges and joint research collaboration.

What advantages would you reap during your tenure with the now close relations between India and Australia?

India and Australia have a long-standing relationship with deep people-to-people links. Our diaspora is active across all aspects of Australian life and contributes immensely to the partnership between the two countries. I want to take it forward and further enhance our multifaceted ties.

Do you see any challenges in your tenure?

In my last two months of stay here, I haven’t faced any major challenges. Our diaspora is continuously growing and presently Victoria has the largest number of Indian-origin people living in Australia. With the increase in demand for services,

sometimes we face a shortage of manpower at the Consulate. With the support of our Community Associations and diaspora, who have done great community services in the past, as well as with support of the Government of Victoria, hopefully I would be able to overcome any challenge in future.

What is very close to your heart, and what would you like to achieve in your posting to Australia?

I have my higher education in the Agriculture and Victoria has an advantage in high-tech agriculture and dairy sectors. I would be happy to establish greater collaborations between Indian institutions and Victorian institutions in these areas.

What can the Indian community expect from CGI's office under your leadership?

From October 2022, we at the Consulate have started organising the ‘Open House’ twice every month to address grievances of our community regarding consular services. This is being held on 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month between 3 to 4 PM. The objective of Open House is to engage and understand the concerns of our community

and extend all possible assistance from the Consulate. We will continue to work for the improvement of our consular services.

Any Message for the Indians Diaspora of Melbourne and advice to the people of Victoria?

The Indian diaspora, wherever they are, are not only law-abiding but are also known for their hard work and contribution to growth and development. My request to our community is to continue maintaining deep and abiding ties with India and contribute to achieve a better world in the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which means the World is One Family. I would also like to convey my best wishes to readers of G’day for a very happy festive season ahead.

Lastly, how do you relax and unwind?

I love reading, gardening and travelling. I also play lawn tennis, which I have not yet started here as I am still settling down. I'm looking forward to starting it soon as Melbourne provides excellent opportunities for games and sports.

By Nandita Chakraborty

Three Budding Entrepreneurs

An idea that led three friends to conceptualize Melbourne's first South Asian Wedding & Lifestyle Expo with their brand Aquila.

Garba dance and wedding expos.

Kilam elaborates that it's all about attire and jewellery; in these wedding expos, there was nothing that had a collection of everything that makes up a wedding.

The fundamental idea germinated during a friend's daughter's wedding which happened to be in the middle of the pandemic.

Usually, Indians would book a flight to India for the entire wedding shopping, but this time around, it was a unique situation in lockdown, there was nowhere to go, and everything needed to be done in Australia, but where?

Living in South Eastern suburbs of Glen Waverly, there was little to no availability or knowledge. Kilam explained that it was a dire situation as if everything depended on what people said.

A proper Indian wedding requires a lot of planning, especially when it is done with traditions, for example, the bridal kalire,

Aquila

translates to a constellation lying in the Milky Way. Latin word interprets an eagle that resonated with the three budding business entrepreneurs. Monica Kilam, Senior Project Manager with FujiFilm Code Blue, Bhavna Kapoor, Technology Consultant and owns her consultancy and Nidhi Jain, who is a Customer Service team member at Bunnings. As powerful as the eagle spreading its wings far and wide, so is the aim of their first exhibition, a collection of exhibitors from around Victoria and beyond.

On the 2nd of Oct Consul General Dr Sushil Kumar inaugurated the exhibition with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Whitehorse Club Function and Convention Centre at Burwood East.

We sat with Kilam on behalf of Aquila to understand how they came about choosing this niche market about weddings and lifestyles for the South Asian market.

The trio noticed something was missing in the community.

Still, at the same time, there are lots of exhibitions within the community with the start of October, Diwali Melas, Navratri Melas to

Kangana mundri, the garlands, mandap etc and all of those little things and the thought that goes into making a big fat Indian wedding.

So, in essence, Kilam and her friends did manage everything for the wedding, they had to courier some clothes from India, but it wasn't the same, as they missed the whole experience to absorb the wedding rush that left so many unhinged, especially with the budget. It's a different experience!

So, why not link the gap and have everything under one roof as they were sure Kilam, and her friends were not the only ones with this dilemma?

The three friends sat down bouncing ideas in April of this year had a full debrief of their friend's daughter's wedding and to see what was missing.

"Let's do something to bring all of these things together. That's where this whole idea of expo came from!" says Kilam.

But they wanted to do something more creative, interactive and definitely with a purpose because it had to be outside the anomaly of just food and socializing. Hence, the three partners created something more meaningful and purposeful for this niche market.

Though it's a niche market, the vendors and artists they selected were in the middle to upper price tags but still affordable for everyone. The most important thing they wanted was to save people from spending money on an air ticket for a shopping trip to India.

Kilam adds that they researched on Instagram and looked out for designers, their products, reviews, prices, services, artisans and followers as they wanted quality exhibitors.

They looked for exhibitors not just in Melbourne or around Melbourne but also Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane but unfortunately, the time frame was very tight.

Also, the partners didn't realize that these designers started the collections six to seven months for any event and their event was in October due around three to four months.

So, given that tight frame, they had to settle with exhibitors from Melbourne and around Victoria.

For this exhibition, they partnered with vendors displaying apparel, jewellery, and mandap decor. When they saw the quality and the interest coming up from these creatives, they thought of getting vendors from the South Asian sub-continent.

"Let's make it, a community event thing, more widespread.” says Kilam. They had exhibitors from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and Fiji Indians, making it a wholesome community affair.

The community is different these days, especially for millennials when it comes to designers. The clarity for tradition in outfits is more of a fusion for this group, and because the trio were launching their brand, they had to be at par with the community's preference.

Their idea is not just to stop at weddings and lifestyle but to continue into a broader spectrum of fashion and lifestyle and then expand to other states of Australia.

Once Kilam was back from India in May this year, the partners got busy with their brand promotion and marketing campaign. Their aim was for thirty- five vendors, but their hard work paid up and they ended up with thirtyeight exhibitors and more who wanted to join in.

Four hundred and fifty people registered on Eventbrite for the event, but over a thousand-foot fall on the day of the exhibitions spoke about how important this exhibition was to cover the gap in the community.

Patrons were exposed to exhibitors ranging from apparel, bespoke jewellery from Pakistan, garland and floral designers, make-up artists, photographers, food stalls and decorators.

Kilam adds that the idea is also to showcase upcoming new talents brewing here in Australia and give them that chance to highlight their talents.

As this South Asian Wedding Lifestyle expo coincides with a month of festivities for the Indian community and the Melbourne Fashion Week, we were totally in awe of these three budding entrepreneurs for this successful exhibition.

We are sure this is just the beginning of a solid partnership for bringing bigger and better events to Australia in times to come. We wish them all the best for their future endeavours.

The team at Aquila events Melbourne would like to thank all the participant, exhibitors and valued sponsors for partnering with them to make Aquila's South Asian Wedding and Lifestyle expo 2022 a huge success. They were delighted by the flood of appreciative compliments from their exhibitors and patrons.

By Nandita Chakraborty

The Disruptive Artist

Priya Srinivasan’s ‘The Durga Chronicles’, in collaboration with Philippa Rothfield and Uthra Vijay, lit the stage with songs of women’s anguish through the eyes of Durga at the ArtsHouse, North Melbourne.

AsSeptember marks the arrival of spring in Melbourne, it also marks the many festivities around the Indian community, starting with the Ganesh Puja and the must for all Bengalis, the Durga Puja. So, when a fellow ex-pat from Ballyguange, Kolkatta created The Durga Chronicles, I couldn’t resist the invitation from another artistic director to come and see the show.

As soon as I entered, I was transported to India. Twelve women surrounded the stage, a few of them plastered the four

corners of the stage with alpona (rangoli in north India and Kolam in South India), dressed in white sarees with gold borders, some in their tracksuit pants or salwar Kurtis. It set the mood that we were in for a treat.

The lights dimmed and a voice directed us to cover ourselves with the white cotton shawl that lay on the seats as respect to welcome the audience. Then there it was the twelve women from the Keerthana Women’s Choir in their beautiful Carnatic vocals. Cut to a young Srinivasan circling

the stage dancing and the theatre echoes with Srinivasan remembering her parents asking: ‘When are you coming home?’

Priya Srinivasan is an independent artist and co-artistic director of Sangam: Performing Arts Festival of South Asia and Diaspora. With a PHD in Performance studies from North Western University, Srinivasan is also the author of the awardwinning book Sweating Saris: Indian Dance as Transnational Labour. She has choreographed several solos, duets and large-scale projects with various production partners across the globe.

Drawing on the dichotomy between contemporary and classical Indian performance and the Western contemporary, Srinivasan has shaken the misconception in Australia that it is not always Western contemporary style that is needed in a dance or a theatre to be

contemporary.

In India, what is widely considered ‘traditional’ dance is actually modern and contemporary, and what we know as ‘contemporary’ dance in America and Australia are rooted in historic forms, including Indian (among other forms of appropriation including Asian, African, and Native American forms).

When Srinivasan discovered this, she headed for a different route in her storytelling. She asked herself several questions as to how she could continue this journey of the two parallels: ‘traditional’ or ‘contemporary’ Indian?

Durga the Goddess is opulent and in different parts of India, she is known by different names and fragmenting her narrative in any form of art, film or theatre is complex. But so, is history, so why not create the contemporary approach but not let go of the classical technique in which she had been trained.

Srinivasan challenged the perception of ethnic art not being considered as ‘high art’. This has stemmed her activism since moving back to Australia, among other social issues such as climate change, ecofeminism and violence against women.

The Durga Chronicles is rooted in the social issue of violence against women, drawing the parallel between the plight of women then and now with the Goddess Durga with two worlds colliding.

Coming to Melbourne at a young age, and growing up in a white suburban (Melbourne), dance was the only constant truth and source of empowerment in her life. Her dance teacher, Dr Chandrabhanu, opened Pandora’s box of transforming into different characters in one performance.

According to Srinivasan, the turning point in her life and career was when she learned about the Goddess Durga in the dance form, and how this eight-handed

goddess fiercely paved her way on a lion, demolishing the demon god Mahishasur and his army on her own.

That phase of her life was complex and critical. Superheroes create that safe haven that can metaphorically eliminate fear, anxiety, low self-esteem, ego and jealousy. That’s why it became very important to Srinivasan to embrace the brown goddess as her model of womanhood. Dance was her shelter from displacement and racist pressures for assimilation.

After being a professional dancer with the Bharatam Dance Company, she travelled overseas. She earned a Masters and PhD, later becoming a Professor of Dance at the University of California – all whilst being an artist. She also became interested in political and social justice issues.

Srinivasan was very moved by the protests and outpouring of grief, rage, and the calls for social justice that emerged in 2012–2017 from the Nirbhaya case in Delhi, and the deaths of Jill Meagher and Eurydice Dixon in Melbourne – and so

many other cases. She began to draw the metaphorical idea that, on the one hand, goddesses like Durga are worshipped in India, and on the other hand, we destroy real women every day in small and large ways.

She wanted to use women’s voices to question how the “me” becomes the “we”. This was the birth of the idea, a Carnatic choir (a classical south Indian form usually only performed as a solo).

Srinivasan began collaborating with the highly talented musicians Uthra Vijay and Hari Sivanesan, and the brilliant artist and co-artistic director Philipa Rothfield, to explore these unsettling apprehensions.

The lighting and the powerful vocals moved everyone that day at the theatre, including me – especially when the metaphorical Durga played by Srinivasan hugged the vocalist Uthra. I couldn’t resist being all teary myself, but that’s what theatre does; it’s fresh and in your face.

The Durga Chronicles was five years in the making with an incredible team of artists, including international folks from India (Priyadarsini Govind) and Malaysia (Govin Ruben), and videographer Marcus Salvagno, as well as the incredible contributions of a Kalari Master (Lalita Yagnik) for martial art training and Matangi Prasan for chari training. The Durga Chronicles is a world first in many ways, as it brings together South Asian music, dance, theatre, and visuals from a decolonial framework and expresses them in contemporary forms.

If ‘The Durga Chronicles’ returns, make it a must watch and be inspired with the ‘nartiki’ (dancer) and her ‘natya’ (theatre) of Goddess Durga, and be a part of this ethos where the art becomes disruptive and the artist takes its shape.

By Nandita Chakraborty

Saving Traditional Music

Ragaamrutha Music School is on a mission to Preserve the traditional Carnatic music art form.

Marcus, Cr. Sahana Ramesh, Mr Bob Fairclough not only proudly supported this event along with Councillors but welcomed Ragaamrutha’s initiative. They congratulated the Guru and students for their dedication.

The concert ended with the distribution of Mementos for the participants, guests, sponsors and coordinators and concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mr Deepak Vasa.

The concert was made possible with the support of Sponsors (Metronest Homes, Shubodayam Group, Dennis Family Corporation & Manor Lakes, Key Lending, Soni Beauty, Suprema & Mossfiel medical centres, Spice Pack, and Snack India) and with great support provided by all the Parents and well-wishers, who have come together to make this concert a grand success.

Ragaamrutha Music School runs weekly classes in person and online. For more information, please visit https://www. ragaamrutha.com/

Ragaamrutha Music School has been a result of efforts invested in teaching the Carnatic art form to the Indian Australian community in the Western Metropolitan region of Melbourne by Artistic Director Madhuri Vasa.

Ragaamrutha celebrated its eleventh Annual Music Concert on 25th September 2022, at Wyndham Cultural Centre, Werribee, with vibrant music and compositions to keep the rich cultural tradition of music.

The musical concert was meticulously planned, organised and well-received by the audience.

Vasa’s vast experience in having interacted with her gurus in the traditional Gurudisciple custom for many years, provides the school with a forum for a systematic and authentic way to learn Carnatic Music in a formal setting.

The Music concert was attended by five hundred elite audiences who enjoyed melodious and popular varnams, swarajathi, and keerthanams. The ragams Mohana, Khamas, Anandbhairavi, Ragaamalika, Shankarabaranam, and Kalyani were performed by a group of young and enthusiastic students whose energetic approach was perceived by an atmosphere of a music festival (Katcheri format).

The many music dignitaries applauded an exceptional performance by the Guru in ragam nattai - Tyagaraja Pancharatna composition.

Also, there was an outstanding

performance by the Ragaamrutha Choir in celebration of the 75th Indian Independence - Azadi ki Amrith Mahotsav.

According to Vasa, the Ragaamrutha annual concert is a platform for students to showcase their learnings and to sing talent. Over the past two years of the pandemic, Ragaamrutha has successfully conducted yearly concerts virtually.

In 2022, students were excited to be back on the stage and present a stunning performance.

The Chief Guest, Mayor Cr. Peter Maynard lauded the Vasa for her musical performance and appreciated her effort and commitment to preserving traditional art forms.

Wyndham City Councillors Cr. Heather

IS PLANT-BASED MEAT BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Remember the times when the sky was more clear and the stars shone brightly? Do you recall the days when we were content to drink water from natural sources rather than chasing after packaged mineral water? No? We can’t either, actually.

This is due to the fact that, over time, we became unaware of the fact that our luxurious lifestyle comes at a high cost to the environment because we were too caught up in the perspective of rapid development, affluent lifestyle, expensive modes of convenience, mouth watering cuisine, and other such things. It is crucial that we take some time to reflect on how to keep our world prominent and lush for an extended period of time.

In this situation, adopting a plant-based diet is becoming a deliberate action to help poor nations achieve their climate-related objectives. And, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop enjoying mouthwatering Mutton Korma or zesty Butter Chicken. The goal is to replace traditional meat made from animals with a healthier, more environmentally friendly option. There is now plant-based beef, a groundbreaking invention that has made it simpler for everyone to support environmental preservation.

Plant-based meat vs traditional animalbased meat Seventy-three per cent of people globally are omnivores, according to a 2018 survey by the Ipsos Global Advisor platform (eat both animal and non-animal products). Did you know that 80 billion animals are killed annually to satisfy the meat-eating preferences of these 73 per cent of people?

You might be surprised to learn that there are other factors at play in this situation besides animal cruelty.

According to several studies, conventional beef is responsible for 60 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions from food production - the same greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s rays and significantly increase global warming.

Furthermore, we must not overlook the enormous amounts of land and water needed for animal agriculture.

According to a survey by the Water Footprint Network, 2422 Gm3 of water are needed annually for livestock production worldwide. The study asserted that the production of animal products uses a significant amount more water than that of crops.

Similar to this, other reports claim that only 71 per cent of the planet’s land area - the other 29 per cent being ocean - is suitable for human habitation. Additionally, only 50 per cent of this area is suitable for cultivation. The interesting thing about this, though, is that animal farming occupies 77 per cent of this vast agricultural area, although producing only 18 per cent and 37 per cent of the world’s calories and protein, respectively.

Contrarily, 82 per cent of the calories and 63 per cent of the protein consumed worldwide are provided by crops grown on 23 per cent of all agricultural land (excluding feed). Therefore, it is crucial to consider whether we are spending a lot of our precious resources in order to receive little in return.

The aforementioned statistics pose the question: Why are we still eating an animalbased diet since it is well established that animal agriculture plays a significant role in the accelerating rate of climate change and the worsening of environmental conditions? Isn’t it time to popularise plantbased meat as a healthy, nutrient-dense, and high-protein alternative?

Yes!! Plant-based meat is better for the environment

Every meat lover may lessen their carbon footprint while still enjoying the foods they

love thanks to the continually expanding nature of food technology that makes it feasible to produce faux plant-based meat. There will be less need for animal agriculture as long as there is less demand for meat made from animals. Additionally, studies have shown that plant-based beef emits significantly fewer GHG gases than conventional meat because the majority of it is combined with protein and nutrients from soy, pea protein, and other carefully chosen ingredients.

Naturally, you should not worry about compromising your taste buds for the benefit of others. Foodtech businesses of today are working hard to make sure that consumers may continue to enjoy their favourite non-vegetarian food with a sustainable, healthier, and plant-based twist. The best part is that these meat substitutes for the environment have high protein, nutritional value, and no cholesterol. To put it simply, switching to a plant-based diet that includes meat enables one to have a guilt-free, healthier, sustainable, and ecologically responsible lifestyle.

Remember that a single, deliberate modification in nutrition might set off a domino effect that finally lowers the number of animals grown for consumption. This will make the planet a better, greener, and more sustainable place for both humans and animals to live in.

By Sohil Wazir

Fraudulent Mortgage - Indemnity claim against the Registrar of Titles

BY GURPAL SINGH

Section87 A of the Transfer of Land Act 1958 (VIC) (TLA) requires the mortgagee of a mortgage to take reasonable steps to verify the authority and identity of a mortgagor to ensure that the person executing the mortgage as mortgagor was the same person who was the registered proprietor of the land which was subject of the mortgage. The verification of a mortgagor is mandatory under the law and the mortgagee is obligated to ensure that it took reasonable steps to verify the authority and identity of a mortgagor to ensure that the person executing the mortgage, or on whose behalf the mortgage is executed, as mortgagor is the same person who is, or is to become the registered proprietor of the land that is security for the payment of the debt to which the mortgage relates. The failure of mortgagee to comply with its obligations under the TLA will result in the Registrar of Titles to remove the mortgage from the title by declaring the mortgage void.

The mortgagee is considered to have taken steps to verify the authority and identity of the mortgagor if the steps consistent with any verification of identity and authority requirement as set out in the rules have been complied. The verification of identity standard) VOI standard) to be undertaken by specialised

The instances in which a person may sustain a loss or damage including the deprivation of land or otherwise by reason of bringing any land under TLA or by the creation of a provisional folio; failure by a legal practitioner to disclose in the legal practitioner’s certificate a defect in title or the

existence of an estate or interest in the land, any amendment by the registrar, any error, omission or misdescription in the register or the registration of an other person shown as a proprietor. The law provides to indemnify the person who sustains loss or damage by reason of the indefeasibility of title provisions.

In a court of appeal case, the person concerned alleged that an imposter had fraudulently obtained a loan in his name from the financial institution and secured the loan by a registered mortgage over his land. The person concerned commenced a proceeding against the Registrar of Titles seeking an indemnity for the loss suffered because of the registration of the mortgage. The Registrar of Titles successfully applied for summary dismissal on the ground of estoppel as it was not a party to the proceedings. The court of appeal however, overturned the summary dismissal and held that the Registrar had not complied with the Model Litigant Guidelines which govern the behaviour of the State and its agencies in litigation. The court noticed that there were several serious difficulties in relation to the Credit code for its potential to undermine the doctrine of indefeasibility.

The court of appeal further held that the litigant was not attempting o assert a proposition inconsistent with

the order in the initial proceedings. The first proceeding determined the enforceability of the mortgage, and it was at that point that the litigant suffered loss and the Registrar of Title could not undo the loss by showing in a subsequent proceeding that the mortgage was unenforceable. It was observed by the court that ‘it was puzzling hat the government agency entrusted with administering the Torrens system would advance he Credit Code issue. Also, the Registrar appears to have forgotten that he is administering a beneficial fund. The purpose of the fund is not to accumulate money but to provide compensation to persons who are deprived of an interest in land by operation of the indefeasibility principles. The primary role of the Registrar of Titles is to ensure that the persons entitled to the compensation receive the same. The responsibility to protect the fund from unmeritorious claims is not paramount. The Registrar of Titles has no legitimate private interest of the kind which often arises in civil litigation but to act only in the public interest’.

It is important that the practitioners take proper care of the compliance obligations and perform a thorough check including the 100-points identity check, bankruptcy check and litigation check in respect of the people/ company(ies) involved in the transaction. The ramifications could be on the party for a careless approach or negligence at the time of identifying the parties without any ambiguity.

THE SPIRIT OF DIWALI

BY ARCHITA BAWEJA

It’s

autumn again in India, the weather is perfect and it’s time to get together and indulge in delicious and authentic Indian food and sweets, shop for traditional clothes, decorate the house with lights and have lots of fun as its DIWALI again.

In a true testament to unity in diversity, Diwali is celebrated quite differently across India. One thing that remains common though is that every village, town and city is lit up with thousands of lamps everywhere. This lighting of lamps symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

Diwali has a strong religious sense for Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. And although it is a common festival to all these religions, the main divinity in Diwali is Goddess Lakshmi who symbolises beauty and good luck as well as prosperity and wealth of its people. The reason why every house and place are lit up at this time of the year is because of the legend of Prince Rama, a prince that saved his wife and his village from the demon Ravana, after having gone through many twists and turns. After defeating this demoniac creature, the inhabitants illuminated the whole city to show the god the way back. That’s why thousands of people light their homes and surroundings hoping that light will triumph over darkness and fill the coming year with peace and joy!

As a child, I remember my excitement for unwrapping the presents received during the festivities. Having a sweet tooth, the part I cherished the most was when my relatives and friends brought me assorted chocolates and sweets. Me and my elder sister created

intricate Rangoli art at the entrance of our house either with rice or coloured powder. We lighted the whole house with candles and diya’s and then visited the temple for the prayers in the evening. It is believed that goddess Laxmi visits the home that is clean and tidy and thus blesses the entire family. Our family also had a tradition when it came to food, and my mum made delectable Pulaoh (rice mixed with potato, peas and other veggies) and a curry for dinner on the night of Diwali every year.

Diwali is celebrated throughout the world by Indians, the centre of the celebrations being India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In Melbourne, Australia every year the Fed square is lit up during

Diwali. There are various food stalls, folk and traditional dances and Indians in huge number turn up to celebrate their favourite festival. There also a huge celebration in Knox which is organised by Shree Swami Narayan temple. The fair includes Rangoli competitions, cooking workshops, music night, cultural performances and a lot more.

Indian festivals have an ingenious way of cultivating a spirit of togetherness and celebration in the larger society. Many traditions that are followed on this auspicious day have a deep-rooted spiritual significance. This exuberant festival of lights enables one to approach the most profound aspects of life joyfully and as a celebration. I sincerely hope that this Diwali brings you peace, prosperity, success, health and great happiness. May the festival of light bring with it the power to ward away evil and brighten the path for the future.

Cybertruck will ‘serve briefly as boat’, says Elon Musk

All-electric aircraft prototype takes off on its first flight in US

A prototype of an all-electric airplane, named Alice, took its first flight in central Washington state in the US.

According to The Seattle Times, the plane took two wide turns around the airfield, climbing to 3,500 feet. It took off at 7.10 a.m. on Tuesday 27th September and was designed to accommodate nine passengers and two pilots.

People on the ground could hear the propellers in the back of the aircraft whirring and buzzing as it went directly overhead. Just 8 minutes later, the aircraft made a safe landing, the report said.

The plane was designed and built by Arlington-based start-up Eviation to demonstrate the potential for an electric commercial commuter aircraft flying a few hundred miles between cities at an altitude of around 15,000 feet.

With a weight of a little over 4 tonnes, it is powered by slightly more than 21,500 small Tesla-style battery cells, which account for more than half of the carbon composite airframe’s weight.

The technology is pioneering and puts this region at the forefront of efforts to develop a zero-emission, sustainable era in aviation. But whether it can deliver the economic returns necessary to become a commonplace mode of air travel remains highly uncertain, the report said.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the EV maker’s upcoming Cybertruck will “serve briefly as a boat” that will help in crossing rivers and other water bodies.

According to Musk, the objective is for a Cybertruck to be able to traverse the sea between SpaceX’s Starbase and South Padre Island in Texas.

“Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes & even seas that aren’t too choppy,” he tweeted.

“Needs be able to get from Starbase to South Padre Island, which requires crossing the channel.”

During the quarter’s earnings call, Musk said that Tesla could start deliveries of its upcoming Cybertruck in mid-2023.

“We will bring another level of simplicity and manufacturing improvements with Cybertruck and future products that we are not quite ready to talk about now, but I think will be very exciting to unveil in the future,” he told analysts earlier.

The tech billionaire also said that with Cybertruck and other products, the company will add a new level of production efficiency and simplicity.

He believes that the Cybertruck will be the company’s “best product ever”.

The name of the aircraft was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s fantastical stories of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland.

Elon Musk unveils Tesla humanoid robot named “Optimus”

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has showcased a prototype of a humanoid robot that, for the first time, “walked without a tether on stage” during the company’s AI Day 2022.

Named “Optimus”, the robot has the same artificial intelligence (AI) software and sensors present in Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system called ‘Autopilot’ and may cost around US $20,000. According to Musk, it was the first time it was working without “any support, cranes, mechanical mechanisms or cables”.

Musk told the audience that the humanoid robot is made for mass production in the “millions” of units. The robot contains a 2.3 kilowatt per hour battery pack which is “perfect for about a full day’s worth of work”, runs on a Tesla chip, and has Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity, reports The Verge.

The human-like hands are a “Biologically Inspired Design” that will make the robot suitable for picking up objects of various shapes and sizes at factories and other facilities. “It’ll be a fundamental transformation for civilisation as we know it,” said Musk.

He said the robot could be priced “probably less than $20,000”, as his team moved a non-walking prototype offstage behind him.

Initially called ‘Bumble C’, the robot will evolve into Optimus in a later stage.

It will be able to carry a 20-pound bag, use tools and have a precision grip for small robots. The supercomputer used in Tesla vehicles is also being used in the robot.

It is also equipped with wireless connectivity as well as audio support and hardware level security features.

Twitter rolls out new ways to make video experience better

iPhone 14’s ‘Crash Detection’ feature may not always detect collision

The Crash Detection feature, which is present in iPhone 14 models and an Apple Watch, has undergone a new test that reveals when it correctly fires and when it does not.

In a video from the Wall Street Journal, a demolition derby driver repeatedly rammed two distinct cars. He had a Google Pixel in the vehicle, which can also detect crashes, and an Apple Watch Ultra with an iPhone 14 model, reports AppleInsider.

To enhance user experience, microblogging site Twitter has announced that it is rolling out new ways for users to experience videos on the platform.

The platform introduced two new ways -- immersive viewing and easy discovery and showing more videos in Explore -- for users to watch what’s happening on the platform.

“Videos are a huge part of the public conversation... To help make it easier to find and watch what’s happening, we are rolling out two new updates to how you experience videos on Twitter,” the platform said in a blogpost.

Twitter’s updated immersive media viewers can expand videos to full screen with a single click. To activate it, tap or click on a video in the Twitter app.

“Once the video has been launched in full-screen mode, we have made video discovery easier as well. Just scroll up to start browsing more engaging video content. If you want to exit the viewer and go back to the original Tweet, click the back arrow in the top left corner,” the platform said.

The immersive media viewer will be available in the coming days to people using Twitter in English on iOS.

With our new video carousel, users can now easily find more videos they like alongside Tweets and Trends that might interest them. They can open the Explore tab to discover some of the most popular videos being shared on Twitter.

The video carousel is currently available to people in select countries using Twitter in English on iOS and Android.

Next, an iPhone 14 and Google Pixel were also placed side-by-side in each vehicle.

Testing showed that the Apple Watch worn by the driver was successful at detecting crashes. However, the iPhone didn’t detect any of the impacts inside the first car, the report said.

The Google Pixel did detect one crash inside the driver’s vehicle, but neither phone went off inside the car that got crashed into.

With car number two, the testers

drove it around before crashing to make the smartphones think it was legitimate. But again, the crash did not trigger the smartphones.

When WSJ contacted Apple and Google with the results, Apple said a lack of data could be why the iPhone 14 didn’t detect the crashes. Perhaps it was because it wasn’t connected to CarPlay, or the tester didn’t drive around the vehicle long enough.

Google will notify you if your personal info appears in Search

Google said that starting early next year, it will notify users if their personal information like phone number, email and home address appear in Search results.

The ‘Results about you’ tool will make it easier to make removal requests of personal information from Google Search, said the company.

“Early next year, you’ll also be able to opt into alerts if new results appear with personally identifying information, so you can quickly request their removal from Google Search,” said the tech giant.

Apart from the new tool, the removal requests can also be done globally by anyone using Google’s form-based system.

The feature has already started appearing for some Search users.

With this new tool, if you find your personal information like home address, email address, phone number or any other information on Google Search, just click on the three-dot overflow menu that appears in the top-right corner of each result.

Currently, to remove any personal

identifiable information (PII), you need to go to a Google Support page and fill out a form containing the URL you wanted to be removed from the search results.

Removing contact information from Google Search doesn’t remove it from the web, “which is why you may wish to contact the hosting site directly, if you’re comfortable doing so”.

Earlier this year, Google updated its policies around removing personally identifying information.

10 Things Men Find Attractive About Women

There are simply not enough things that entice you to your particular someone in terms of attraction and beauty.

Even if beauty is subjective, there are many things that might make a guy feel strongly drawn to a woman, especially when it comes to their first impressions. This can vary based on a variety of factors, which is why Gleeden, dating app, performed a poll among 15k users in prominent cities in India to identify the key characteristics or factors that influence men’s feelings of intense attraction towards women.

“Both men and women have many interesting choices on how and why they are attracted to a certain type of person. Although this may vary for everyone, we were intrigued to dig deeper into understanding what a man in the current times looks for when he is attracted to women. This was a general survey that included men from different walks of life and the results have been quite interesting on how there has been a slight shift in the traits a man gets attracted to,” shares Sybil Shiddell, Country Manager for Gleeden, India.

Men are innately more visual seekers than women are, even though women are more drawn to a man’s demeanour. The first thing a man would notice about a lady is her physical characteristics, which gradually helps him to comprehend her personality and communication style. Many men have also changed their perspectives on how to better understand women in the aftermath of feminism, and the survey shows the top 10 qualities a modern man finds appealing in a woman.

Embracing your style

Men love to see women wear the best clothes and that gives them the first impression of the woman they potentially are interested in. Outfits speak a language of their own, so whether it is a pretty sundress, a sexy evening outfit with heels or even a casual outfit, dressing up well with hair and makeup makes a lasting impression on a man.

Being an equal

Although a man’s natural instinct to

pamper his woman is something that cannot completely be washed away, there are still areas that have changed. Our modern society is all about equality and things like splitting the bill into equal on your dates and taking decisions in a relationship as equals is definitely a huge reason why a man would be attracted to a woman.

Taking the lead

Let’s be honest, it is difficult for men to keep taking the lead, whether in conversations or decisions while you are together. Having a woman who does not shy away from taking the lead and initiating at different levels is a major turn-on for a man and makes a woman instantly more desirable in his eyes.

Being Confident and smiling

Nothing shines brighter than confidence and being more than comfortable just the way, you are. Watching a woman be confident in her own skin is something that a man just cannot look away from. Not to forget - a good smile goes a long way!

Laugh at their jokes

Let’s accept it - men LOVE to make women laugh. They will come up with multiple things only to bring a smile to a woman’s face and you appreciating that will definitely make his heart flutter.

Passionate Women

Women are fierce and strong, and men are always excited to see them do - what they do best! They appreciate a woman having a strong sense of passion and a

thrilling zest for life that keeps her grounded and rock solid at the same time.

Maintaining eye contact

Probably one of the most intimate things that can ever exist in the world - is the power of eye contact. Nothing can beat the spark an eye contact creates and when a woman holds that with her man, it makes him go weak in the knees.

You keep him intrigued

Men really value the thrill of the chase and the ability of a woman to keep them intrigued and excited to know more about her. This is something that most men find absolutely desirable.

Living life to the fullest

Whether it is the smaller activities like an impromptu baking session or exhilarating plans like hiking and doing something new with him, a man loves when a woman is interested in new activities and is always up for an adventure.

Being a good listener and having intellectual conversations

Although for any man, the primary attraction has a lot to do with the way a woman looks, it is equally important for him to be able to converse with her on an intellectual level. Being with a woman who truly appreciates what a man has to say and values him for that, is something every guy is looking for.

9 in 10 Indian leaders question employees’ productivity in hybrid work

While 93 per cent of employees in India say they are productive at work, a whopping 91 per cent of leaders feel the shift to hybrid work has made it challenging to have confidence in employees being productive, a Microsoft study showed.

This hyper-focus on productivity is impacting health and wellbeing as 47 per cent of employees and 58 per cent of leaders in India report that they’re already burnt out at work.

Nearly 93 per cent of leaders in India say getting employees back to the office in-person is a concern. The data makes it clear that hybrid work has created a growing disconnect between employees and leaders.

They’re at odds about what constitutes productivity, how to maintain autonomy while ensuring accountability, the benefits of flexibility and the role of the office, according to India findings of Microsoft’s ‘2022 Work Trend Index Pulse Report’.

However, more than 9 in 10 (91 per cent) of Indian employees are willing to work from the office if they can socialise with co-workers.

To bridge the gap, “a new approach is needed that recognises work is no longer just a place, but an experience that needs to keep

employees engaged and connected, no matter where they are working from”, said Bhaskar Basu, Country Head-Modern Work, Microsoft India.

The data showed that only 44 per cent of companies rarely, if ever, collect employee feedback.

Only 56 per cent of employees in India can confidently say that their company solicits

employee feedback at least once a year. “This means that just under half of the companies in India hear about their employees’ experiences at work (44 per cent versus a global average of 57 per cent),” the findings showed.

Nearly 60 per cent of employees in India say there are not enough growth opportunities in their company to stay long term, according to the report.

CAN NOISY ENVIRONMENTS UNLOCK SOME PEOPLE’S LEARNING POTENTIAL?

Though most of us seek solitude, a quiet place to study, researchers now reveal that noise may play a key role in helping some people improve their learning potential.

A team of researchers found that the transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) technology could have many applications for some people with cognitive difficulties.

“The study showed tRNS has promise as a tool to assist people with compromised learning capabilities”, said Dr Onno van der Groen, the lead author at Edith Cowan University in Australia, adding that “the effect on learning is promising: it can speed up learning and help people with neurological conditions.”

The study, published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, said that the tRNS doesn’t utilise auditory sense of the word but rather it sees

electrodes attached to the head so a weak current can pass through specific parts of the brain.

The tRNS technology works by allowing the brain to form new connections and pathways, a process known as neuroplasticity.

“It had two effects on the brain: the acute’ effect, which allows a person to perform better while undergoing tRNS, and the modulating effect which saw lasting results”, Dr Groen said.

The idea of expanding one’s learning potential via tech such as tRNS raises questions like whether a neurotypical person can take their intelligence to new levels, to which Dr Groen replied, “The potential is there, but there are also signs it won’t create an enew level’ of intelligence.”

Though the technology is still in its infancy and people are only able to access tRNS by entering controlled trials, its practicality and apparent safety meant there was a lot of potential for a range of applications, said researchers.

Scientists worldwide are also investigating tRNS’ effects on perception, working memory, sensory processing and other aspects of behaviour, with the technology showing promise as a treatment for a range of clinical conditions.

HEALTH

Four cups of black or green tea daily can cut diabetes risk by 17%

A moderate consumption of black, green or Oolong (traditional Chinese drink) tea is linked to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a study involving over a million adults from eight countries has revealed.

The findings suggest that drinking at least four cups of tea a day is associated with a 17 per cent lower risk of diabetes over an average period of 10 years.

“Our results are exciting because they suggest that people can do something as simple as drinking four cups of tea a day to potentially lessen their risk of developing type 2 diabetes”, said lead author Xiaying Li from Wuhan University of Science and Technology in China.

The study, to be presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Sweden next week, scanned 19 cohort studies.

While it’s long been known that regularly drinking tea may be beneficial for health because of the various antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic compounds tea contains, less clear has been the relationship between tea drinking and the risk of diabetes.

Overall, the new meta-analysis found a linear association between tea drinking and diabetes risk, with each cup of tea consumed per day reducing the risk of developing diabetes by around 1 per cent, said the study published in peerreviewed journal Diabetologia.

When compared with adults who didn’t drink tea, those who drank 1-3 cups daily lowered their risk of diabetes by 4 per cent, while those who consumed at least 4 cups every day reduced their risk by 17 per cent.

The associations were observed regardless of the type of tea participants drank, whether they were male or female, or where they lived, suggesting that it may be the

amount of tea consumed, rather than any other factor, that plays a major role.

“While more research needs to be done to determine the exact dosage and mechanisms behind these observations, our findings suggest that drinking tea is beneficial in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, but only at high doses (at least 4 cups a day)”, said Li.

It is possible that particular components in tea, such as polyphenols, may reduce blood glucose levels, but a sufficient amount of these bioactive compounds may be needed to be effective.

Despite the important findings, the authors noted that the study is observational and cannot prove that drinking tea reduces the risk of diabetes but suggests that it is likely to contribute.

Alkaline water for the fit and fabulous

Health tip:

Try melting some coconut oil into a cup of tea: it will soothe your throat while providing a boost to your immunity

4 Reasons for Root Canal Treatment

Since the epidemic, people have become more concerned with maintaining a fit and toned body, which has improved dietary practices. Hydration is the easiest and most efficient way to maintain healthy, glowing skin. One of the fanciest trends that is currently sweeping celebrities is black water.

Black water is ideal, as it provides the skin with all the nutrients and alkaline energy needed. Bollywood celebrities are leading the way when it comes to leading a fit and healthy lifestyle. They manage to maintain their regimens despite their demanding schedules.

They put extra effort into their food and water intake because they care so much about how they look. Kajal Aggarwal, a South Indian actress, and Karan Johar, a filmmaker, were recently seen holding bottles of alkaline water.

This distinctive black alkaline water brand has travelled extensively over the world and is currently making waves in the South and Bollywood film industries. The South Indian film

industry is renowned for its masala films as well as for its culture, content, drama, humour, and rigid health-conscious programme. Stars like Dinesh Karthik and Shruti Hasan have even been seen converting to black water.

Big Indian athletes like Hardik Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav, Dhutee Chand, and many other top Olympians have made the muchdiscussed Black Alkaline Water brand ‘Evocus’.

It has added minerals, a pH of 8 or higher, ultra-hydrating, detoxifying, and anti-aging properties. This calorie-free water is also well known for its advantages such as improved detoxification, increased immunity, metabolism, and gut acid preservation.

Seen drinking black alkaline water are celebrities like Malaika Arora, Karishma Kapoor, Gauri Khan, Rapper Badshah, Tiger Shroff, Manish Malhotra, Tara Sutaria, Urvashi Rautela, Sonam Bajwa, and many others.

structure of a tooth is made up of various layers. The innermost part is made up of a soft substance and is known as pulp. This pulp is connected to a nerve which further gets attached to the sensory network of nerves transmitting sensations. The outer layer of a tooth envelopes both these inner components and protects them from harm.

The

But in case of tooth decay, the acids produced by the bacteria go past the protective layer and reach the pulp of a tooth. That’s when endodontists prefer to go for a root canal treatment. Let us read the cases when root canal treatments are a must.

THE REASONS TO CARRY OUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT ARE:

Deep decay

Tooth decay is the worst enemy of our teeth. Bacteria enter the cavities in our teeth causing considerable damage as tooth decay. Anti-bacterial medications prove futile as the inflammation caused by the bacterial infection hinders the blood supply to a tooth.

As mentioned above, when the decay reaches deep down to the nerve of a tooth, a root canal treatment is the call of the hour. When left untreated, deep decay can spread to gums and other parts of our bodies such as the lungs or the brain.

Cracked or chipped tooth

Our teeth are fragile enough to crack or chip-off when subjected to trauma. This can also occur while chewing hard foods such as nuts, ice, corn on the cob, rock candies, etc. Cracked teeth can or cannot be painful, but they can always hold room for food particles to get stuck which is a breeding ground for tooth caries.

These damaged teeth need to be repaired to fill the cracks and chipped off parts. Root canal treatment makes sure the decay does not reach to the pulp.

Repeated procedures

The process of degeneration of our natural teeth is a continuous one and any laxity in their care can result in decay time and again. What follows are extensive dental restorative works. In cases where not much of the tooth structure is left, dentists prefer to put on a dental crown on the tooth after performing root canal treatment.

Injury to pulp

Tooth decay is not the only culprit to harm dental pulp. There are times when the dental pulp gets damaged due to trauma. It can be

an extremely painful condition and requires to be treated as soon as possible. Dentists often prefer root canal treatment for such injuries as they can be deep and cause much harm to the pulp.

THE PROCEDURE OF ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Measuring

This is the preliminary stage where a dentist first sedates the patient with light sedatives to numb the area around the damaged tooth. The tooth is then drilled up to the pulp chamber. Measurements of the root canal are then carried out to know the extent of decay and possible treatment options. This measurement is done with the help of X-rays or Apex locator.

Cleaning

The decay or damage to the pulp is removed from the measured tooth. The root canal inside the tooth is then thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic solution. The hole is filled with a temporary filling and left as such for a few days to ascertain any sensitivity.

Filling

Once the tooth is free from all the infection, the temporary filling is replaced with a permanent filling.

Additional Treatment

If the tooth structure is still found fragile, it can be capped with a dental crown. Otherwise, the above three steps are enough to cure a tooth.

To know more about root canal treatment, visit our Healthy Smiles Dental Group Blackburn clinic. You can also call us on 03 9877 2035 to book an appointment

Consuming refined grains may up risk of premature heart disease

Higher intake of refined grain may increase the risk of premature coronary artery disease (PCAD), finds a new study.

The findings indicate that eating refined grains was associated with increased risk of premature heart disease and whole grains consumption with reduced risk.

“A diet that includes consuming a high amount of unhealthy and refined grains can be considered similar to consuming a diet containing a lot of unhealthy sugars and oils,” said author Mohammad Amin Khajavi Gaskarei from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

For the study, to be presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Middle East 2022, the team involved 2,099 people with PCAD from hospitals with catheterization labs in different cities and ethnicities throughout Iran who underwent coronary angiography.

In total, 1,168 patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the control group, while 1,369 patients with CAD with

obstruction equal or above 75 per cent in at least a single coronary artery.

Participants were given a food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessments to evaluate dietary behaviours and evaluate the association between whole grain and refined grain intake and the risk of PCAD in individuals without a prior

diagnoses of heart disease.

After adjusting for confounders, a higher intake of refined grains was associated with an increased risk of PCAD, while whole grain intake was inversely related to reduced risk of PCAD.

DIETARY DRINKS CAN UP HEART DISEASE RISK: STUDY

A new study has found a link between consumption of artificial sweetener, generally found in dietary beverages, and increased cardiovascular disease risk like stroke.

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose emerged as an alternative to added sugar that enabled the sweet taste but reduced the calorie content.

“Aspartame intake was associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular events, and acesulfame potassium and sucralose were associated with increased coronary heart disease risk,” said the researchers.

The study was based on volunteers aged 18 and above from the NutriNet-Sante e-cohort, launched in France in May 2009.

The main objective was to investigate

the relations between nutrition and health over the years. It studied early markers of cardiovascular health like weight status, hypertension, inflammation, vascular dysfunction, or gut microbiota perturbation in association with consumption of artificial sweeteners or artificially sweetened beverages, the researchers revealed.

“The main vectors of artificial sweeteners are products that are generally consumed on a regular basis as part of daily dietary habits, including artificially sweetened beverages, table top sweeteners, and dairy products,” said the researcher.

Previously, several studies have linked the consumption of artificial sweeteners to potential adverse effects while others suggested it to be neutral or beneficial. Although the results were mixed, artificial sweeteners currently represent a $7200m market globally, with a 5% annual growth projected to attain $9700m by 2028.

Artificial sweeteners remain a controversial topic and are currently being re-evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority, the World Health Organisation, and other health agencies.

Walnuts for a Healthy Heart

In 2016, according to the WHO, India reported 63 per cent of total deaths due to noncommunicable diseases, and 27 per cent were attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Of those, heart attack and stroke are two of the most common causes of death in our country. Now those are pretty scary numbers, and they are only growing by the year. Blame it on our family’s medical history or the fast-paced lifestyle that’s leading to complaints of high cholesterol, but you and I, too, are at the risk of developing heart disease. Fortunately, several factors help us lower our risk of CVD and take the high road to a healthy heart. In anticipation of World Heart Day, let’s deep dive into how you can lower the risks with Ryan Fernando, Celebrity Nutritionist and Founder of QUA Nutrition -- Signature Nutrition Clinic

Q: How do walnuts help your heart health?

A: According to research, an important move is to consume a handful of California walnuts as part of a healthy, nutritious diet and couple it with physical activity. This may help lower your risk of heart disease and hence, deserves a spot on your plate. The polyunsaturated fats, aka good fats, and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) in these wonder nuts may improve cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure, which are two major contributors to heart disease risk.

In addition, these nutrient powerhouses are known to help reduce inflammation and improve

blood vessel function.

A recent scientific review published in Advances of Nutrition also suggests that food sources high in plant-based omega-3 ALA, such as walnuts, should be part of a heart-healthy eating pattern.

Not convinced yet? The American Heart Association (AHA) has found that including four or more servings of nuts, including walnuts every week and other foods, may help lower one’s risk of heart disease. And that’s not it, AHA has also certified walnuts as a hearthealthy food through its ‘Heart Check Mark’ programme.

Q: What is the ideal portion of walnuts one should consume?

A: A handful of walnuts, which is nearly 28 g, is advisable for daily consumption. This amount contains 2.5g of essential plant-based omega-3, 4g protein, and 2g fibre, all essential for overall wellness.

Q: What is the best time of the day to eat walnuts?

A: While walnuts can be eaten throughout the year, at any time of the day, I believe the best time to eat them is in the evenings. These contain PICO melatonin, which goes into your brain and increases serotonin levels, eventually promoting sleep.

Q: Five simple ways to include walnuts in your daily diet

A: Make snack time healthy with a handful of plain California walnuts, or you can amp up the flavour by sprinkling your favourite spice mix over them

4Mix coarsely grounded walnuts with a portion of hung curd and turn it into a delicious creamy dip

4You can also grind walnuts and add them to your curries, which are a good source of plantbased omega-3

4Poha, upma, or kachumbar, walnuts add a perfect crunch for any time snacks

4Walnuts are the perfect accompaniment for a low-calorie diet, and another great idea to consume is by blending them into your morning smoothie

We all deserve to choose what’s best for us. And for making such decisions, you need the right information. Now that you’ve read about the health benefits of walnuts, it’s time to go nuts about these nuts!

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

MANUKA HONEY MAY HELP CURE DRUG-RESISTANT LUNG INFECTION

A combination of natural manuka honey with a widely used drug can treat a lethal lung infection and greatly reduce side effects of one of the current drugs used for its treatment, according to a study.

Manuka honey is known to have medicinal properties and is popularly used as a natural ointment for wounds of all kinds. Recently, scientists have found that it can kill a number of drug resistant bacterial infections such as Mycobacterium abscessus, which usually affects patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or bronchiectasis.

“So far treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary infections can be problematic due to its drug resistant nature and severe side effects,” said Victoria Nolan from Aston University in the UK.

“However, the use of this potential treatment combining amikacin and manuka honey shows great promise as an improved therapy for these terrible pulmonary infections,” he added.

The findings, published in the journal

‘Microbiology’, show that scientists were able to combine manuka honey and the drug amikacin in a lab-based nebulisation formulation to treat the harmful bacterial lung infection Mycobacterium abscessus.

The study was based on the samples of the bacteria Mycobacterium abscessus taken from 16 infected Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. They then tested the antibiotic amikacin, combined with

manuka honey, to discover what dosage was required to kill the bacteria.

The team of researchers nebulised manuka honey and amikacin together, to find that they could improve bacterial clearance, even when using lower doses of amikacin, which would result in less life-changing side-effects to the patient.

Until now Mycobacterium abscessus has been virtually impossible to eradicate in people with cystic fibrosis. It can also be deadly if the patient requires a lung transplant because they are not eligible for surgery if the infection is present.

“By combining a totally natural ingredient such as manuka honey with amikacin, one of the most important yet toxic drugs used for treating Mycobacterium abscessus, we have found a way to potentially kill off these bacteria with eight times less drug than before,” Jonathan Cox from Aston University in the UK.

AISHWARYA RAI

HAS STOLEN EVERYONE’S HEART, SAYS VIKRAM

ALIA BHATT SAYS HER BABY ‘RELENTLESSLY KICKED’ DURING HER ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

It seems like actor Vikram is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s huge admirer. The actor, who will be seen sharing screen space with Aishwarya in ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, recently spoke about how the actress has stolen many hearts with her beauty and work.

“She has stolen everyone’s heart. Ash has always been symbolic of that picture of perfection we always look up to. I have seen her films, I have watched her. It was not just about beauty, but what she stood for in everything. She is always under a microscope. It’s so difficult being her. She is constantly being watched. She always needs to be perfect, and let me tell you, she has done it in style,” he said at an event in Delhi. Vikram has earlier worked with Aishwarya in films including ‘Raavanan’ and ‘Raavan’.

He added, “I sense in her that confidence, that poise, that grace. Even today when you go to Chennai, or wherever in south India, there will be jewellery stores and saree stores with her picture. Finally, when I got to work with her, I saw the other side where there is a professional. Actually, I am lucky it’s 3 films actually with her.”

Talking about their chemistry in films, the actor said, “It’s so nice working with her. Enjoying that chemistry... All our fans keep saying it’s so nice to see you guys together, but the only thing is, I never get her in the movies.”

Vikram confessed that he was lost after seeing Aishwarya’s dance.

The 56-year-old actor said, “When she was doing a shot, I was holding a glass of wine, I think. She is dancing and I was watching her, the shot was ready, suddenly I realised I need to do something. I actually, literally the only time I have forgotten myself in a shot. It’s an honest confession.”

In the film, Aishwarya will be seen in dual roles. She will play queen Nandini, the princess of Pazhuvoor, who is on a mission to seek vengeance, as well as Mandakini Devi in the historical drama.

On the other hand, Vikram will portray the role of Aditya Karikalan. Apart from Aishwarya and Vikram, the film also stars an ensemble cast of south actors - Trisha Krishnan, Karthik Sivakumar and Jayam Ravi.

‘Ponniyin Selvan-Part 1’ is a cinematic adaptation of author Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Tamil novel of the same name which was released in the form of a series during the 1950s. It marks the second collaboration of Aishwarya with south actor Vikram after their critically acclaimed film ‘Raavan’ in 2010.

The A.R Rahman musical is all set to hit the theatres on September 30, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. The bigbudget period film will be released in multiple parts.

Bollywood star and mum-to-be Alia Bhatt said that her “little one kicked” her “relentlessly” while she was giving an acceptance speech.

Alia was honoured with the Time100 Impact award for her outstanding contribution to cinema. She wore a dusty shimmery cape gown as she accepted the award.

While giving her acceptance speech, Alia mentioned her “little one” and said: “I am immensely proud to be here tonight as a representative of my country. A country that has built both me and my career. India as a country has its core value as diversity above anything else and it’s a song, I hope to sing all over the world.”

“Lastly, when it comes to making an impact. I hope I continue to do so in whatever way possible but for now, tonight, this award has genuinely made an impact on me and my little one who has relentlessly kicked me through the speech. Thank you so much, have a good night,” she said.

On the acting front, Alia was last seen on screen in Ayan Mukerji’s ‘Brahmastra Part One: Shiva’. She will next be seen in ‘Heart Of Stone’ and ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’

BHUMI PEDNEKAR TALKS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN LATEST VIDEO

Bhumi Pednekar urged the youth to raise their voice against pollution as she shared a video, on social media.

Sharing the video, she wrote, “The climate crisis is happening NOW. We need action FAST. I’m joining @undp’s #DearWorldLeaders campaign to demand urgent and bold action from world leaders. I am committed to doing my part. Will you do yours?

#DearWorldLeaders.”

The 33-year-old actor has consistently advocated conservation and protection of the environment and she has started a pan-India campaign called Climate Warrior, which aims at raising awareness about climate change and environmental conservation.

Climate Warrior is a concerted online initiative that Bhumi used to focus on awareness building and engage the people of our country to become more conscious of climate and environment-friendly life choices. It also highlights the work done by tireless environmental activists and citizen groups across India to bring about sustainable change to the environment.

Now, Bhumi has become a part of this campaign on climate change aimed at galvanising the youth for the important United Nations Climate Change conference - COP27. United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) is aiming at creating an impactful initiative to bring citizen and celebrity voices directly to world leaders and decision-makers as a lead up to COP27 happening in Egypt from 6th-18th November.

The ‘Badhaai Do’ actor asked people to raise their voice against pollution and promote recycling. She said, “I’m here to urge you to take climate action now. Heat waves, droughts, floods, tsunamis, wildfires are ravaging our planet and pushing millions of people across the world into deeper poverty. Pollution is damaging our health and our wellbeing. We are at a tipping point and cannot afford to lose any more time.”

Bhumi added, “I’m committed to do my part. I recycle water, say no to single use plastic, live a sustainable life. But we need more from you.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Bhumi has several projects in her kitty. She will be seen in Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Bheed’. Also in her kitty is Ajay Bahl’s ‘The Ladykiller’, a suspense drama, which revolves around a small town playboy who falls in love with a self-destructive beauty as they embark on a whirlwind romance. The film also stars Arjun Kapoor in the lead role.

She has Shashank Khaitan’s ‘Govinda Aala Re’, ‘Afwaa’, Gauri Khan produced ‘Bhakshak’ and a couple of more unannounced projects. (ANI)

DEEPIKA, RANVEER SHUT DOWN SEPARATION RUMOURS WITH FLIRTY EXCHANGES

Bollywood star couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh put all rumours about their separation to rest by sharing flirty exchanges on social media.

Ranveer shared a picture of him on Instagram, where he is seen dressed in a bubble gum pink suit. He completed the look by keeping his hair untied.

He captioned it with a pink heart emoji.

Putting a full stop to speculations about their split, Deepika dropped a flirty message on the comment section.

She wrote: “Edible.”

To which, Ranveer replied with a smirk and a kiss emoji.

This is not the first time Deepika and Ranveer have engaged on PDA on social

media. The power-couple keep sharing pictures and loved-up comments on their social media for each other.

Ranveer and Deepika tied the knot in December 2018 after falling in love with each

other on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela.. Ram-Leela’, which released in 2013.

‘WOMEN WHO TEND TO FIND THEIR OWN WAY ON AND OFF THE SCREEN INSPIRE ME’: DIA MIRZA

It is a myth that strong female characters have emerged only in recent times. As actor, producer, investor and climate champion, Dia Mirza points out, they have been around since the inception of Hindi cinema. She says, “I remember watching V Shantaram’s 1959 film ‘Duniya Na Maane’ on Doordarshan as a child and being mesmerised by the great Shanta Apte. She played a rebellious young woman who refuses to accept a forced marriage to an older man and does not sacrifice her happiness despite being pressured to do so. Films like ‘Arth’, ‘Bhumika’, ‘Subah’, ‘Sparsh’ and ‘Mirch Masala’ further expanded the space occupied by a Hindi film heroine. Even in a purely commercial space, stars like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, and so many others have commanded equal footing as their male counterparts and played strong uncompromising characters.”

In recent times too, Dia has loved many female protagonists on the big and small screen and says, “The reason why I like them is that they are strong-willed and invincible no matter what life throws at them. Women who tend to find their own way on and off the screen inspire me.” Here is her pick of some memorable female characters:

Sulu from ‘Tumhari Sulu’: Dia says, “Vidya Balan is one of the bravest actors we have and I can vouch for it because she worked in my production ‘Bobby Jasoos’ and played one of Hindi cinema’s few female detectives. In ‘Tumhari Sulu’, she plays a very ordinary homemaker but what makes her extraordinary is her self-belief because that is what transforms her life. The scene where she dances to a Sridevi song very subtly

shows how women can inspire each other to realise their dreams. It was such a lovely, empowering moment.” Vidya Vincent from ‘Sherni’: “As someone who has worked over many years for the environment and is deeply concerned about issues like deforestation and compromised animal habitats, this film touched me deeply,” says Dia and adds, “The themes of ecofeminism and environmental empathy in collision with entrenched patriarchy and administrative corruption are very new to Hindi cinema. Vidya played a straight-backed idealistic forest officer in the film and I rooted for her and the tiger mom she was trying to protect, all through.”

Shabana from ‘Naam Shabana’: This film is about a tragedy-scarred young girl who becomes a field agent to deal with her past and

manages to avenge the murder of a loved one.

Dia says, “I loved working with Taapsee Pannu in ‘Thappad’ and ‘Naam Shabana’ was one of the first films of hers that I watched and loved. I really liked the fact that she is not treated as a victim but a hero in the film. Issues like eveteasing and domestic abuse were also dealt with so well and the film powerfully showed how much courage women are capable of even in the most horrific circumstances.”

Kainaaz from ‘Kaafir’: This web television series on ZEE5 told the poignant story of a displaced woman played by Dia herself, and the actor says, “I play Kainaaz in ‘Kaafir’, a woman from Pakistan-administered Kashmir who ends up on the Indian side of the Line-of-Control (LOC), is mistaken as a militant and imprisoned. She spends seven years in incarceration and even gives birth to a daughter and her courage astounded me because women, though most vulnerable in volatile situations, also display the most resilience. It was an absolute honour to play this character and to live and breathe her extraordinary journey.”

Piku: “I know from experience that after a certain stage in life, the roles of parents and children are reversed and you end taking care of those who once devoted their lives to you,” says Dia and adds, “This is why I loved ‘Piku’ because it explores this shift with such affection, wit, ease and simplicity. This is not a film that preaches subservience to parents or guilt-trips children. In fact, Deepika Padukone’s Piku is such an irreverent daughter, and yet her devotion to her father is unshakable. This was such a realistic film that makes you laugh and cry and makes you see life through the gaze of a very spunky and yet sensitive woman.”

ISHA KOPPIKAR EXPLAINS THE RELEVANCE OF DIFFERENT COLOURS DURING NAVRATRI

power of intellect and compassion respectively.”

Isha has been part of several Tamil, Telugu Kannada and Hindi films including ‘Dil Ka Rishta’, ‘Kyaa Kool Hain Hum’, ‘Fiza’ and others.

She said: “As we all know, each day of Navratri stands for a particular colour and has some significance, so I try to coordinate with the colours defined for each day. Each day of the Navratri festival has a dedicated colour and significance attached to it.”

According to her, each colour has a different meaning. She explained: “The nine colours namely orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow green, grey, purple and pink signify energy, purity, fearlessness, prosperity, happiness, growth, strength,

She opened up about her celebration plans, saying: “The festival brings with it a different level of joy and beats in the air, infecting people of all ages. This year, I will definitely take time out to go and enjoy the traditional Dandiya and Garba nights with my friends. I am excited to dance my heart out and celebrate Navratra this year. Isha will be next seen playing a politician in her next project titled ‘Love You Loktantra’.

‘Ek Vivaah... Aisa Bhi’ actress Isha Koppikar discussed her plan of celebrating the auspicious occasion of Navratri and also briefed about different colours that are linked with each day of the festivity.

bon appétit

Did you know:

In moderation, ginger is one of the best foods for acid reflux

5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLENDED COOKING OILS

Recently there’s been a lot of conversations about multi-source or blended cooking oil and fats in general, as we are becoming more and more conscious about our lifestyle and food, especially our fat intake. Contrary to the popular notion of just focusing on reducing the amount of fat in our diet, we also need to remember that fat is a macronutrient that is essential for the proper functioning of our body. Instead of just focusing on reducing fat, the conversation we should be having is about how to increase the quality of fats in our food. One lesser known and great example of this is including Blended oils in your diet.

Personally, I have been using blended oil for the past 5 years and noticed some positive changes in my body. My blood test reports have shown improvement in lipid profile and lesser inflammation. Good fat percentage is obviously a common one when you switch to a healthy oil, but I loved seeing the less obvious ones like better mental health, better recovery, more energy, and better skin and hair health.

Before further explaining blended oils, understand that fats have important functions in our body like storage of energy, insulation, protection for our vital organs, and production and regulation of hormones. Additionally, essential fatty acids help regulate cholesterol levels, and blood clotting and control inflammation in the joints, tissues, and bloodstream. And that’s not all, fats also help in sustaining nerve impulse transmission, memory storage, and tissue structure. All in all,

the importance of fats is underrated!

Although some percentage of fat is present in most foods, to fulfill our recommended daily requirements of good quality fatty acids, they need to be added to our diets in different forms. One of the best and a convenient source of these essential fats are blended edible vegetable oils. Blended oils are simply a combination of two or more types of edible vegetable oils where the proportion by weight of any edible vegetable oil is not less than 20 per cent.

Essentially blended oils give you all the goodness of two or more oils in one! Apart from being a great source of fatty acids, they have multiple other benefits which are hard to obtain by using single seed oils, like:

Healthier Fats for Maintaining Heart Health: Numerous studies have been carried out to identify the type of fat that correlates with heart disease. We now know that excess intake of saturated fat increases bad cholesterol and causes blood pressure. We all have heard about trans fats and their ill effects. In blended oils, the ratio of poly and monounsaturated fatty acids is adjusted to ensure better heart health.

Higher Smoke Point for versatile cooking: Indian cooking requires high temperatures at various durations depending upon the dishes. Blended oils are known to have high smoke

points, ensuring not just safety but even keeping the nutritional value of oil intact.

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels: The ratio of fatty acids in blended oils helps reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase the good cholesterol (HDL), which in turn keeps you and your heart healthy!

Improved Anti-Inflammatory properties: Blended oils can increase the anti-inflammatory properties of the final product, by adding to the overall potency of the final product, studies have shown successful results with blends like rice bran oil and safflower oil.

Improved Nutrition: Apart from the balanced ratios of fatty, blending 2 or more oils provides several health-promoting phytonutrients in one oil. Oryzanol, Tocopherol, and Tocotrienol to name a few, provide health benefits that are beyond basic nutrition. They help in preventing chronic diseases like cardiovascular impairments, and metabolic disorders such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, and hypertension.

At the end of the day, we need to pick an oil that best suits our health requirements and taste buds but thankfully now we have a larger variety of blended oils to choose from, everyone gets to choose the oil that works best for their family’s needs.

By Nidhi Mohan Kamal (Certified Nutritionist and Fitness Trainer)

WHY DO OUR BODIES CRAVE JUNK FOOD?

There is no way to justify unhealthy junk food, then why do we still crave it? We keep reading about how harmful junk food can be for our health, it can lead to cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, obesity, high blood pressure, and a myriad of other health problems. But most of us are unable to control these cravings.

A lot of research has been done in this arena, Kajal, and Bushra, Dieticians, and CO-Founder of Healthy Steady Go have to say this about why you crave junk food:

4Beliefs around food: A lot of us believe that healthy and nutritious foods cannot be tasty and delicious! People don’t like eating healthy food like fruit and veggies as they did not like it as kids. Good news! You aren’t 5 anymore.

Don’t let these old beliefs stop you from trying healthy food! Did you know you’re your taste buds change every 5-6 years and that it takes up to 10-12 tries before you develop a taste for certain foods? We know junk food is tastier, but healthier versions can be made with it being tasty!

4Not sleeping enough: A lot of people view sleep as a sign of weakness. Research shows that sleeping less then required, leads to more cravings- and unhealthy foods. A recent study which analysed brain activity and compared those who sleep 9 hours v/s 4 hours, found those who slept less the areas associated with pleasure lit up more when subjects viewed pictures of ice cream, and pizza compared to veggies and yogurt. “Sleep

deprivation adversely affects all systems in our body, leading to an increased craving for comfort, whether it’s from a warm hug or junk food.”

4 Stress: In a stressful situation our body releases a stress hormone known as “Cortisol”. Fats and sugars have been scientifically proven to make one feel better and give comfort. As a result, our body ends up craving more of such foods. A study backed this up by concluding: Sugar seems to lower cortisol and quiet stress signals in the brain.

4Eating too quickly: Ever wondered why everyone says to chew your food 32 times before you swallow? Well, 32 is a far-fetched number, cause nowadays people target to finish their entire meals within a span of 5-10 mins! (That’s how busy our life and schedule have become) It’s time we all reconsider this habit now. Eating too quickly can create miscommunication between the gut and the brain, whereby signals of satiety to the brain can be missed leading to overeating.

4Hormonal imbalances: Be it your

monthly menstrual periods or when a lady is pregnant, hormones in your body can create complete chaos. Namely, hormones like Leptin and Serotonin which are involved in the co-ordination between your gut and brain can lead to super strong cravings at weird hours.

4Insufficient water & protein intake: Many times, thirst signals are misinterpreted as hunger signals by our minds. If we don’t drink enough water or our meals lack protein, these hunger pangs will make us reach out for all the unhealthy junk food lying around the house.

4Nutrient deficiencies - An underlying nutrient deficiency can also lead to cravings for specific foods. Such as, magnesium deficiency causes you to crave chocolates, nuts, or beans. Sugar drops or deficiency of chromium or phosphorus can lead to sugar cravings. Similarly, a basic sodium deficiency will make you crave salty foods like chips.

4Friends/ family/ colleagues: It’s pretty natural, when one person starts to crave some junk and he voices it out, the other person starts craving it too. Both of them then together enjoy their meal with good company. Did you know- “PICA” is a condition in which people crave non-food items, such as chalk, dirt, coins, and ice chips?

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

‘Old is Gold’ -following our ancient traditions tohelp with Diabetes

BY DEEVYA GUPTA

Looking

into some traditional Indian dietary practices, the principles align somewhat with today’s recommendations of prevention and treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

Over time, the Indian diet has changed to a more westernised type of diet, to include more processed foods and drinks that are usually high in sugar, salt or fat.

If we take a look back to some ancient practices, we may be able to help bring down the risks associated with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Using the thali as a guide

If we take into account a traditional Indian thali or plate; we should aim to include a balance of the food groups that we need to consume at a meal time.

This would include a source of: Grains, proteins and vegetables, usually accompanied by yoghurt, pickles or better yet some salad!

An example for vegetarians could be:

1 small section with a daal variety

1 small section with a cooked sabji

1 small section with yoghurt/salad (cucumber, tomato etc)

1 larger section with 1-2 rotis or 1/2 – 1 cup rice (Depending on your body’s requirements)

An example for non-vegetarians could be:

1 small section with a non-vegetarian curry (chicken/fish more often than red meats)

1 small section with a cooked sabji or daal

1 small section with yoghurt/salad (cucumber, tomato etc)

1 larger section with 1-2 rotis or 1/2 – 1 cup rice (Depending on your body’s requirements)

Other tips for maintaining your health with diabetes:

• Avoid eating larger meals that are late at night, especially if you will be the least active at this time

• Reduce your overall intake of extra added fats, salts and sugars to meals

• Choose water as your main drink of choice, you can flavour water with lemon and fruits of your choice if you don’t like it plain

• Spread your meals throughout the day, include snacks if you feel you feel too hungry by meal times (examples of snacks include fruits, nuts, seeds and plain yoghurt)

• Keep active regularly; even walking helps to maintain blood sugar levels

• Sleep can play a part in all of this, if you are a night owl; consider going to bed

early to wake up fresh in the morning Enjoying the festive season ahead

With the festive quarter of the year ahead, it doesn’t mean that you need to cut everything out or be afraid of certain foods. Be mindful of what foods you are eating and try to set an amount you will eat for yourself, perhaps you may go for half of the usual amount or give your body some time to digest the foods before you go for more. Enjoying foods together is a very important part of our Indian culture and we don’t have to give it all up. If there are a few consecutive days where you know you will be eating out or there will be numerous boxes of sweets perhaps distribute them as best as you can

and enjoy (a little) for yourself. Remember that processed foods (high in sugars, fats and salts) are SOMETIMES foods and the example of the meal we gave above in the thali is what we should be aiming for everyday foods, an abundance of fibres and vegetables along with our grains, proteins and dairy.

From our team we wish everyone that celebrates a very happy Diwali to all.

Please note this advice is of a general nature. If you have any concerns or queries you should get tailored advice from an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and always consult with your General Practitioner before making and changes.

Soya Nuggets Masaledar

INGREDIENTS

2 cups soya nuggets

tbsp olive oil

tsp cumin seeds

large onions, chopped

tbsp ginger paste

tbsp garlic paste

med tomatoes, chopped

tsp turmeric powder

tsp chilli powder

tsp garam masala

to taste

1/2 cup frozen peas, defrosted

small red capsicum, diced

METHOD

Soak Soya nuggets in hot water for 5 minutes.

Drain and squeeze out excess liquid.

Heat oil in non stick pan, fry cumin seeds and onions.

Sauté till light brown.

Stir in the ginger and garlic paste. Add chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli, salt and garam masala. When the oil separates, add the soya nug gets and half a cup of water. Cook for 10 mins.

Allow the mixture to boil. Add the peas and capsicum, mix well and cook for a few mins.

GARNISH: Fresh coriander leaves

recipe from the private collection

BY MANJIT SETHI

Mesha (Aries)

Despite association with several gifted people of learning, most of you would be struggling to achieve planned goals, and would even then not achieve much suc cess. Any pending loan application or a proposal for a fresh advance from banks or financial institutions is unlikely to be successful. Expansion plans or plans for a new venture should be shelved for the moment, since the circumstances are hardly propitious for such purposes.

Best days: 3, 12, 30

Lucky Colour: Red, Orange, Cream

Simha (Leo)

You should do extremely well finan cially, during the ensuring month, since you face a favourable configuration of stars. Those dealing with or having foreign or interstate commercial connections or so would prosper and gain considerably. For most of you, the existing operations would enable you to realize planned gains during this period.

Best days: 5,3

Lucky Colour: White & Orange

Dhanu (Sagittarius)

This month you would have excellent opportunities for professional advancement, though the work-load would increase. You may look forward to realizing expected gains. The working climate would also be free of tension and remain quite pleasant. Further, there are chances the a female colleague or associate would do you a good turn advancing your career prospects. This should help in a fairly big way.

Best days: 9, 18

Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Vrishabh (Taurus)

Those deal ing with the government would have to face a rough patch as would people having deal ings with foreign countries, or inter state dealings. In short, most of you would have to work quite hard and struggle to achieve planned targets, in which task, despite your best efforts, no significant success would be scored. Pending loan applica tions, or steps for fresh advances to banks of financial institutions are unlikely to meet with success.

Best days: 9, 18, 27

Lucky Colour: Green, Blue

Kanya (Virgo)

Existing oper ations would fail to deliver anticipated or planned results, despite a great deal of hard work put in by you. Nor are the signs at all favourable for launching any expansion or entirely new venture. Those seeking loans from a bank or financial institutions would probably see their projects drag along and get obstructed. There is the further likelihood of those having deal ings with parties overseas or even in a different status having rough sailing and even suffering losses. Best days: 3, 12 Lucky Colour: Orange, Green

Makara (Capricorn)

This month there are ex cellent chances that you would have a number of opportuni ties to advance your finan cial prospects. Writers, painters, sculptors, and practitioners of the other arts would have an extremely satisfying time not only in times of financial gains but also in terms of creative output. Traders in general, would also fare well, and be able to realize their profits in full.

Best days: 1, 3, 4

Lucky Colour: White, Green, Blue

By D. Narayan (Tantracharya)

Mithuna (Gemini)

Nothing particularly helpful is like ly to happen regarding your financial prospects this month. Those dealing with foreign counties or interstate associations would have to go through a rough patch this month. In fact, most of you could well find themselves working quite hard to achieve planned objectives which may remain elusive despite all this effort.

Best days: 2, 7, 9

Lucky Colour: Red, White, Yellow

Tula (Libra)

This month would be far from favour able for your financial prospects. There are distinct possibilities that most of you would have to struggle quite a bit for the realization of your goals, and even then you would not be able to achieve much success. Any pending loan application, or a proposal for fresh advances to banks or financial institu tions would have little chance of approval.

Best days: 9, 18 Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Kumbha (Aquarius)

Traders of all sorts would fare poorly or at best, not be able to earn as much as expected. Writ ers, painters and other practitioners of the arts would do well to make provisions for an extremely lean period, because that is just what they would face this month. Most of you would have to struggle to derive your planned objectives, and even then not achieve much success.

Best days: 5, 3, 6

Lucky Colour: White, Green

Karkat (Cancer)

Your ed ucational pursuits may have rela

tively rough going during the coming month, since the stars are not in a particularly favourable mood. Most of you would have to struggle quite a bit to achieve your goals. The situa tion would not be helped much by the fact that most of you would be negatively influenced in that you would become self-assertive and headstrong in your behaviour.

Best days: 9, 18

Lucky Colour: Red, Blue

Vrishchik (Scorpio)

There is a distinct chance that some of you would be influenced by a mean streak and be goaded into severely exploiting your workers, subordi nates, or just people below you in the social strata, for selfish ends. These efforts of yours would be met with stiff resistance and could well create an extremely unpleasant sit uation for you. Therefore, curb such tendencies with a firm hand.

Best days: 1, 3, 4

Lucky Colour: Red, Orange

Meen (Pisces)

This month progress on the educa tional front may be slow and tedious, Most of you would have to virtually slog it out to get to your objectives. This would particularly apply to those pursuing dance, dra ma, music, painting, sculpture and the other fine arts. People studying languages and journalism would be similarly affected. Those sitting for any competitive examination should go in for refreshing it.

Best days: 2, 7, 9

Lucky Colour: Red, Yellow, White

Have a laugh

Reality Is Stronger than fiction...

What is "GENERATION GAP"?

**Father used to walk 20 Minutes to save 20 Rs.

Son spends 20 Rs. to save 20 Minutes. (Surprisingly, both are correct...!!!)

**CULTURAL GAP

If electricity goes in America, they call the power house.

In Japan, they test the fuse, But in India, they check neighbour's house, "power gone there too.... then ok!"

**SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY

A man goes to library n asks for a book on Suicide..........

Librarian looks at him n says: "hello... who will return the book ????"

**GRANDFATHER TO GRANDSON:

Go hide! Your teacher is coming as you bunked school today!

GRANDSON: YOU go hide... I told her YOU PASSED AWAY!!

**SISTER TO BROTHER: What r u going to gift grandma on her b'day?

Brother: A football Sister: But grandma does not play! Brother: On my b'day she gave me Bhagavat Gita.

**COOLEST MSG....*

"If we sleep on flowers, it’s called our First Night" "If flowers sleep on us, it’s called our Last Night"

Reality of life.