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APR 2021

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VOL 15 ISSUE 168

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AUSTRALIAN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

A PARK POINT WITH A DIFFERENCE - p.13

IT’S ALL ABOUT WOMEN FOR AIBC - p.14

ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP - p.28

FIRST INDIAN COMMUNITY CENTRE WITH A MUSEUM (AICCT) - p.16

ART AND BEYOND - p.30

BIKING FOR HUMANITY - p.32

SHOW STOPPER - p.26

BACKING A NEW SHRI SHIVA VISHNU TEMPLE HALL - p.15

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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 Disclaimer: Opinions published in G’Day India are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. No advertising design or material is to be reproduced without the written consent of the editor. All copyrights reserved to G’Day India. Articles, pictures, photographs and advertisements accepted by G’Day India Pty Ltd are on the understanding that the supplier of such materials has obtained all the relevant copyrights, permissions and grants permission to G’Day India Pty Ltd to publish them. Any liability arising from failure to obtain such permission lies entirely and exclusively with the supplier. Qualities of products and services advertised in G’Day India are not guaranteed by G’Day India Pty Ltd.

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NEWS VICTORIA

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Melbourne man develops blood clot after getting AstraZeneca vax

MELBOURNE, April 3: A Melbourne man has been hospitalised after developing a blood clot following his inoculation against Covid-19 using the AstraZeneca vaccine. The 44-year-old man received the vaccine on March 22 and was admitted to Melbourne's Box Hill hospital days later with a fever and abdominal pain, Xinhua news agency quoted a report by the Guardian. He was found to have abdominal clots with a low platelet count, according to the report. This is the first blood clot case recorded in Australia after earlier cases in Europe prompted a number of countries to temporarily suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), a regulatory authority, said it is investigating this "rare case". TGA is also working closely with international regulators and is participating in meetings with the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Medicines Agency to discuss these rare cases over the coming

few days. The regulatory body also defended inoculation, saying no cause-and-effect relationship between Covid-19 vaccination and this case or those reported internationally has been established at this stage. Benefits of vaccination against Covid-19

continue to outweigh any risks. According to the latest statistics from Australia's Health Department, 541,761 vaccine doses have been administered as of March 28. (IANS)

Stranded Australians file UN legal action against govt

CANBERRA, April 1: Australians stranded overseas amid the coronavirus pandemic have filed a legal action against the federal government with the UN. A group, called "StrandedAussies.org", said in documents lodged with the UN Human Rights Committee that Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government has "arbitrarily breached their right to return to the land of their birth or citizenship", reports Xinhua news agency The National Cabinet, which is composed of Morrison and state and territory leaders, introduced a cap on international arrivals to Australia in July 2020 to prevent the hotel quarantine system from being overwhelmed. The group said the cap has prevented them from returning home with airlines cutting flights to Australia and significantly increasing prices. "International law recognises the strong bond between individuals and their homeland and no respectable government would impose travel caps to prevent, for over a year, its citizens from returning if they are prepared to do quarantine," Geoffrey Robertson, a lawyer advising the group, said on Wednesday. "Both our political parties have, in the past, done what they can to help Australians overseas but Mr Morrison is behaving as if in a moral vacuum - he does not seem to care very much about the suffering caused to

fellow Australians." Morrison in September 2020 promised to bring "as many people home if not all by Christmas". At the time, 24,000 citizens or residents overseas had registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to return to Australia. However as of late March, the figure had risen to 36,206, more than 4,000 of whom were considered vulnerable. Deborah Tellis, a spokesperson for "StrandedAussies.org", said they were "a group of ordinary Aussies who have been left high and dry by an unfeeling government".

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"The government is responsible for quarantine and has a duty to allow its citizens to return and enter into it - it should force the states to admit us and provide for them to increase their quarantine facilities. What it must not do is to breach international law," she said. "The damage it is doing to many stranded Australians is terrible - they are unable to get back to see dying parents or sick relatives, unable to return to take up jobs or start university courses. By going to the UN, we hope to highlight what an unfeeling government Morrison heads."

(IANS)

NEWS VICTORIA

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Backing Business with New Tech Adoption Support

MELBOURNE, April 6: The Andrews Labor Government is helping small to medium-size businesses implement digital solutions that improve productivity, drive growth and create jobs through a new funding program. Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford launched the $5 million Technology Adoption and Innovation Program, which allows businesses to apply for grants of up to $50,000 for innovative tech projects. The grants fall under one of two funding streams. The first allows small to mediumsized enterprises to partner with a specialised technology provider to improve their productivity and competitiveness. The partnerships may include implementing new e-commerce systems, artificial intelligence or machine learning processes, data analytics, robotics or cyber security technology. The second funding avenue is for companies involved in technology development to create new products and services. Product development could be across areas including micro or nanotechnology, software for business-tobusiness messaging, fintech applications,

healthcare equipment and retail technology. The Labor Government will match contributions from applicants as part of the program, with those applying required to contribute a minimum of $20,000 towards the total cost of projects. The boost is part of the Government’s game-changing investment in boosting the state’s digital infrastructure, capability and

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skills, thanks to $121 million allocated for innovation initiatives in the Victorian Budget 2020/21. Applications for the Technology Adoption and Innovation Program are now open and close on Monday, 19 April. For more information and to apply for support through the program, visit business.vic.gov.au

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Investing in Our Future: Student Festival to Grow In 2021

MELBOURNE, April 5: The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the recovery of the international education sector in Victoria with the expansion of the innovative Future Founders program. Acting Minister for Trade Jaala Pulford announced that Study Melbourne will once again team up with the State Library Victoria’s StartSpace to launch an expanded and revamped $500,000, year-long program in 2021. Delivered across onsite and online platforms, the program will include community roadshows led by industry experts, immersive bootcamps, the Future Founders Festival and Australia’s first international student incubator initiative, with $10,000 venture scholarships on offer for up to eight startup teams. Participants will have the chance to learn from leading business entrepreneurs to bolster their career readiness and build networks in the Victorian business community, and the program will also engage international students offshore

through Victoria’s innovative new Study Melbourne Hubs initiative. The five hubs – to be based in Asia, India and Latin America – are designed to create a pathway for students to study in Victoria and better support overseas students studying online. The investment is part of the Government’s $33.4 million International Education Short-Term Recovery Plan announced in the Victorian Budget 202021, which includes initiatives to reset and stimulate the sector and position Victoria for recovery. There are 90,000 international students currently studying in Victoria, along with

thousands more enrolled online overseas. International education was Victoria’s largest services export in 2019, contributing $13.7 billion to the state’s economy and supporting around 79,000 Victorian jobs. For more information about the Future Founders program go to startspacehq.com/ futurefounders

Development of World Class Underground Lab on Track

MELBOURNE, April 8: The Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL) is on track to become the first lab in the southern hemisphere to conduct research into ‘dark matter’, thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Regional Development MaryAnne Thomas today toured the site within the Stawell Gold Mine as she announced the project’s head contractor and the start of works. Minister Thomas was joined by key representatives including University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor, Professor Duncan Maskell and Centre of Dark Matter Particle Physics Director Elisabetta Barberio. The laboratory will showcase Victoria’s commitment to cutting-edge research as a

globally significant particle physics laboratory, while also importantly boosting the local economy through the creation of 79 full time equivalent direct and indirect jobs over the first 10 years of operation. Ballarat contractor, H.Troon, has been appointed to lead construction of the laboratory. The build is set to create 42 full time equivalent roles and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Dark matter comprises 85 per cent of the mass of the universe, but until now scientists have not seen it and the substance remains a mystery. Australian and international researchers will work together inside the lab, which will be built one kilometre below ground. The rock will act as a shield from naturally

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occurring particles from space, making this sensitive search for dark matter possible. Australian scientists hope to start experiments to detect dark matter as early as this year, with the initial construction of experiments underway. The Labor Government and Commonwealth Government have both invested $5 million towards the project. The Victorian Government’s investment has been provided through the Regional Infrastructure Fund which is part of the flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund. The Fund is key to the Government’s $8 billion investment across regional and rural Victoria unveiled in the Victorian Budget 2020/21. (MEDIA RELEASE)

NEWS VICTORIA

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Call for Victorians To Open Their Door for Children in Need MELBOURNE, April 3: The Andrews Labor Government is encouraging more Victorians to open their homes and their hearts to foster children by making the fostering process easier. Minister for Child Protection and Carers Luke Donnellan today met Vince and Kym – who have been foster carers for more than 20 years. They have cared for more than 70 children and currently provide long-term placement for three teenage boys. While there are challenges and upsand-downs, Vince and Kym believe the experience of caring for a child is always worth it – and there is a lot of support when you get started. The Labor Government has committed $5.8 million over four years to continue the Fostering Connections program to promote the benefits of foster caring and make the recruitment process more accessible for Victorians. Run by the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Fostering Connections provides a centralised service that connects prospective carers with foster care agencies, helping Victorians find the right agency in their area.

Fostering Connections also provides accurate and detailed information about the process of becoming a foster carer and answers any questions people might have about fostering before they contact an agency. At any given time, about 1,700 children are being looked after by foster carers or are waiting for a placement. While the coronavirus pandemic has placed significant stress on many families across Victoria, it has also demonstrated the enormous goodwill of Victorians to support each other during hard times. The Labor Government is working to ensure all children get the help they need -- investing more than a billion dollars in services and supports for children and families in the Victorian Budget 2020/21. This includes $64.7 million over the next four years and ongoing funding for the Home Stretch program, to extend state care and supports for young people in care from 18 to 21 years old. This means young people can stay with their kinship or foster carer for longer, or transition to supported independent living arrangements. The government has also invested $10.3

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million in the Better Futures program, which helps young people in care prepare for life after care, including education, employment advice and life coaching. Training and supports are available to foster carers through the Carer KaFE initiative and Client Support Funding. To sign up or learn more about foster caring, visit fosteringconnections.com.au or call 1800 013 088.

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

A Park Point with a difference

MELBOURNE, March 21: Sushant Point was formally launched, established at the front gardens of Werribee Mansion. ‘Celebrate India’s team members touched by SSR’S life. The gesture was to commemorate the late actor's bucket list projects like education for orphans and homeless children, welfare for army widows and their families and conserving the environment. The team decided to pay a tribute and celebrate the late actor’s work on SSR’S Environment project. Raising funds within the team and then with the support of Aussizz group, the team was able to buy trees/ plants along with a seat for this special project, namely ‘Sushant Point in loving memory of Sushant Singh Project.’ Chairperson Arun Sharma of Celebrate

India not only remembered Sushant Singh Rajput’s brief journey of thirty -four years in his speech but also for his unique vision towards the community sets him at par and unique. Dharmendra Patel from Aussizz group shared his delight to be a part of this project with Celebrate India.

While Adam Smith, Ranger from Parks Victoria shared that they were delightfully surprised of this donation by Celebrate India and the Indian community. He further explained that Park Vic is delighted to establish the SUSHANT POINT at the front lawns of Werribee Mansion, which is a very prominent location, so the Indian community can visit this point and enjoy it for years to come... (GDI News Desk)

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NEWS VICTORIA

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

IT’S ALL ABOUT WOMEN AIBC honours women this International Women’s Day Celebration 2021 Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organisation (FICCI FLO) aiming to boost bilateral trade and business amongst their members. The event was to celebrate the initiative of AIBC, adding another chapter Women in Business (WIB). The main aim is to support women in business from different industries from both India and Australia, facilitating bilateral trade and investment opportunities through professional connections. IWD2021: Australia India Business Council Victoria Women in Business International Women’s Day Celebration 2021. AIBC founded in 1986 is the only national body representing bi-lateral trade and investment relational between Australia and India. The AIBC is a national membership organisation with active chapters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra and maintains close relationships with federal and state government agenciesshowcasing opportunities to the Australian business community through an active program of events throughout Australia. AIBC Victoria came together to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021 by recognising the achievements of 50 professional women from the Indian Community of Victoria. The event was followed by presenting certificates of recognition to women for their exemplary contributions to Women in Business, to the community and their relevant industries. The AIBC WIB chapter also signed a memorandum of understanding with

AIBC Victoria Committee member and Victorian Chairperson for Women in Business chapter, Reet Phulwani emphasised that at this year’s International Women’s Day 2021, AIBC is to celebrate the diverse strengths, achievements and success of outstanding women across various industries. The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is ‘Choose to Challenge’- a challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. She further said that women who are high achievers, problem solvers, and team players could be an inspiration to others to follow in their footsteps. Especially at these challenging times, in the midst of a pandemic that is debilitating and this event will help boost the morale in these crisis times. She also stretched on the fact that celebrating women’s rights is a year-round responsibility but more so on International Women’s Day, the day that we all come together globally to celebrate women. AIBC Victoria President Ranveet Pawha expressed an emotional speech acknowledging that there is no greater pillar of stability than a strong free and educated woman. She even used her speech to draw attention to bring home a point that Hillary Clinton had once

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made about bringing new dignity and respect to women and girls all over the world. Pawha ended his speech quoting Rabindranath Tagore - ‘’We women are not only to the deities of the household fire, but the flame of the soul itself.’’ She also added that today, women are taking up challenges, innovating and inspiring a whole new generation to dream big, envision change and empower each other. “So, let us all #choosetochallenge everything that comes in our way to success. I am confident that together we can and we will achieve not gender parity but also gender sensitivity.” Mrs Sheba Nandkeolyar AIBC WIB National Chairperson also representing Jim Varghese AIBC National Chairperson said, “AIBC WIB has a very clear focus and vision, where half of leaders are women. The AIBC is keen to promote women as business leaders and entrepreneurs in India and in Australia, thus contributing to our 50 - 50 vision.’’ Nandkeolyar added she is confident and optimistic that this new MoU between AIBC WIB and FICCI FLO will fast-track bilateral trade and business between the two countries. Empowering women could lift the GDP of any country by at least 1-2%. Mr Vasan Srinivasan, AIBC Victoria Patron, extended his congratulations to all the women at this event for their contributions and achievements in their relevant fields and the community. The event was extremely insightful and joyful, supported by AIBC VIC Committee members and National Secretariat - truly celebrating the success of Women in Business. (GDI News Desk)

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Backing A New Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple Hall MELBOURNE, April 7: The Andrews Labor Government is backing a new multipurpose hall at the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs to support Victoria’s growing Hindu community. Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence visited the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs last week to pay tribute to the Hindu Society of Victoria’s work over almost four decades and discuss the redevelopment of the temple, which is receiving $500,000 from the Labor Government. The investment is part of the Labor Government’s $21 million towards upgrading multicultural community facilities that was announced in the Victorian Budget 2020/21. It is subject to the Hindu Society of Victoria obtaining the relevant building approvals for the proposed works. Participating in a traditional Hindu ceremony with Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny, Minister Spence thanked the society for their important work in bringing the Hindu community together, particularly over the past year.

The temple serves the Hindu community as a space to connect and to celebrate– which is more important than ever given the challenges brought by the global coronavirus pandemic. Since 2014, the Labor Government has provided nearly $300,000 to support the work of the Hindu Society of Victoria through

various grant programs. This funding has provided upgrades to the temple and surrounding infrastructure, allowing thousands of visitors to attend the Temple’s various Pooja ceremonies and festival celebrations each year. (MEDIA RELEASE)

“We’re proud to support the construction of a new hall to support Victoria’s growing Hindu community. The temple is magnificent, both in its beauty and its purpose in helping Hindu Victorians come together”

- Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ros Spence

The Winner Takes it all Neha Kolape does it again winning 2021 Lalor Women of the year award in the community category. Neha Kolape is not shy to trophies, from bagging the Lalor Hero award in 2019 to Women of Wyndham Champion Award 2019(to name a few), she once more added another crown to her name. Kolape did it again- winning the ‘2021 Lalor Women of the year Award, Community category. Last year was one of the most difficult year but it was very important to continue community engagement despite the challenges. Kolape delivered Lalor’s largest event of the year 2020, a Wyndham Holi 2020. Due to COVID, Ganesh festival was cancelled in September but Kolape ascertained to arrange online offerings and other rituals to many devotees along with free distribution of free mask boxes. Neha is also a RAC (Regional Advisory Council) member of VMC and hence attended many online meetings with VMC commissioners addressing COVID issues and safety measures. Last year, she took responsibility for a new organisation called MOA (Maharashtra Organisation Australia), as a head of Women wing. During the pandemic, her organisations supported some students in the form of financial aid, supply of groceries and masks, Kolape not only arranged a recognition programme for thirty community people who worked hard during COVID but she also arranged a five-hour tour on cruise for one hundred and fifty people at a very low cost.

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The cruise was arranged along with MOA committee as it was very important for many families for community contact. The event was held in Mulgrave and six people from Lalor were recognised in this event with a community award. Federal MP Joanne Ryan, the chief guest, celebrated this event along with other women achievers in the local community in honour of International Women’s Day. She presented the community award to Kolape for not only her outstanding work with local organisations and event but also her work in the prevention of family and domestic violence. Other recipients are Michele Abbott of Truganina Fire Brigade for her work educating the community on fire safety, Sam Johnson won the Business Award for her work running local early education and child care centres and Jo Lally won the Arts award for her service to the local music scene. (GDI News Desk)

NEWS LOCAL

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

The Indian Community Centre with a Museum

proud moment for the Indian community across Victoria as Indian communities across Victoria are set to benefit from a new Indian Community Centre opened by the Hon Alan Tudge MP on the 26th March in Rowville. This is a game changer. The event was officially kicked off with the light ceremony. Chair-person of the Australia India Community Charitable Trust (AICCT), Vasan Srinivasan, said that he was truly excited for the community centre to officially open. The community centre is a hub, a meeting place, a place for learning, for charitable activity and for sharing our rich Indian culture. Mr Srinivasan extended his gratitude towards the Morrison Government and our Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Michael McCormack for the funding and approval of this project, along with Hon. Alan Tudge and Hon. Michael Sukkar for their support to see this project formalised and delivered. The Community Centre is the new home of the Museum India, which will be named in memory of Dr Dinesh Parekh – the collector and curator of the museum’s collection.” The centre is partially funded by the Australian Government with $2.5 million in funding. Federal Member for Aston Alan Tudge, said that once final council approval is complete the two-storey building will be used as Victoria’s first Indian Community

Centre, and include multiple assembly halls, a commercial kitchen, meeting and storage rooms, a carpark, an administration and reception area, offices for three Indian community peak bodies as well as a secure area for Museum India which showcases India’s rich history and heritage. “This was an election commitment of the Morrison Government and I am so pleased to see it up and running,” Mr Tudge said. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Australian Government’s $2.5 million investment in the Indian Community Centre would provide long term benefits to Victoria’s Indian communities and the local economy. “In addition to Indian communities, this investment will produce long-term economic benefits to the region through generating

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increased foot traffic to local businesses,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. The Indian Community Centre is funded by Australian Government under the Community Development Grants Programme.

The Programme delivers projects identified by the Australian Government to support needed infrastructure that promotes stable, secure and viable local and regional economies. Projects range from new sporting facilities, to upgrading community centres and small-scale infrastructure projects. The Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust are providing the remaining $892,232 of funding towards the project. The Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison could not attend the function due to floods in New South Wales and Queensland. Congratulating the India Australia Community, he praises Victorians, who have done it tougher than most. But he’s encouraged by the way the community has pulled together, and pulled through. Especially our multicultural communities. He further goes on to praise the leaders – like Mr Vasan Srinivasan, and others in the Indian community – giving people hope,

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021 direction and confidence. As part of this place, the Dr Parekh Museum India is a wonderful gift. He pays his tribute to Dr Dinesh Parekh for his generosity in sharing his extraordinary collection, representing so much of India’s rich culture and history It’s a community Australia is proud of. One that has given so much to this country. He points out, this Centre, will give much – not only to this community, but to the wider community, and to everyone who passes through its doors. The Prime Minister foresee many gatherings, full of colour, family, friendship and – of course – food! He extends his congratulations and very best wishes for the long life of the Australia India Community Centre. The Hon Councillor General of India,

Mr Raj Kumar, points out that the official opening of the first Indian Community Centre in Victoria is one of the most important events. He sends his huge congratulations to Australia India Community Charitable Trust, especially to Mr Vasan Srinivasan, for his hard work to make this project a dream come true. This community centre will facilitate a place for bringing the community together and strengthen the relationship between the two countries. It’s a proud moment for the Indian Diaspora in Victoria and he expresses his congratulations from the bottom of his heart.

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Lastly, the Honourable MP Matthew Guy congratulated not only the Australia India Community Charitable Trust but also the Indian Community across Victoria. Coming from a migrant background himself, he tells this country built on migrants has a heart. The heart of the Indian community is the Community Centre and it is indeed a proud moment. Mr Srinivasan on behalf of the Australia Indian Community Charitable Trust and its Trustees concluded the ceremony thanking each and everyone from an electrician to a plumber for their contribution in bringing the Indian Community centre to life. (GDI News Desk)

NEWS AUSTRALIA

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Australia welcomes two-way Trans-Tasman travel

CANBERRA, April 6: Australia’s flightpath to recovery is well underway with the Australian Government welcoming the New Zealand Government's announcement that it will join the Safe Travel Zone between Australia and New Zealand. This announcement will enable quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand on both sides of the Tasman helping to reunite families and friends and giving tourism operators a significant boost. It follows Australia’s opening of a oneway Safe Travel Zone from New Zealand to Australia six months ago, with more than 34,000 arrivals into Australia from New Zealand during that period. This latest major step in the resumption of international travel has only been possible due to the internationally recognised, world-leading responses to the COVID-19

pandemic by Australia and New Zealand. The Federal Government’s decisions to close Australia’s international border early last year, declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic before the World Health Organisation did and working with the States and Territories through the National Cabinet to suppress the virus has ensured we are the envy of the world today. The importance of this announcement is demonstrated by the fact that the Trans-Tasman route is Australia’s busiest international aviation market with more than seven million passengers in the one year ending January 2020 before the effects of COVID-19 hit international aviation. Throughout this pandemic, the Federal Government has supported more than 40,000 flights through various programs and initiatives. As of last month, flights on

common routes in Australia were at 57 per cent of the pre-COVID average, up from a low of 3 per cent at the height of the pandemic and today’s announcement by the New Zealand Government will be a further boost to Australia’s aviation industry. The announcement also represents a major boost to our tourism industry with around 18 per cent of all international air arrivals from New Zealand annually and with visitors to Australia now having the opportunity to travel without having to quarantine at either end of their journey. In 2019, New Zealand travellers spent $1.6 billion on travel and tourism in Australia. Should temporary restrictions need to be applied due to a COVID-19 outbreak, both countries will provide as much notice as possible to Government agencies, passengers, airlines and airport operators affected by any such measures. Given that Australian and New Zealand airlines had already been operating under a one-way Safe Travel Zone to Australia for the past six months operating “green” flights to Australia, we are optimistic that airlines will commence additional services to meet the demand generated by the two-way Safe Travel Zone. Australian and New Zealand government health and border officials will also continue to work together to facilitate the safe and effective introduction of the two-way Safe Travel Zone. (MEDIA RELEASE)

NZ-Aus quarantine-free travel to begin

WELLINGTON, April 6: New Zealand's successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic means quarantine-free travel between the country and Australia will

start on April 19, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced. The conditions for starting to open up quarantine free travel with Australia have been met, Ardern said. "The Director-General of Health considers the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from Australia to New Zealand is low and that quarantine free travel is safe to commence said the Prime Minister. The quarantine free travel "opens up the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and resume Trans-Tasman travel", she said. "One sacrifice that has been particularly hard for many to bear over the past year has been the separation from friends and family who live in Australia, so today's announcement will be a

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great relief for many," she added. The Prime Minister highlighted economic recovery and arrangement of safely opening up international travel while continuing to pursue a strategy of elimination and keeping the virus out. However, she warned that people will need to plan for the possibility of having travel disrupted if there is an outbreak. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said that to be eligible to travel to or from New Zealand on a quarantine-free flight, people must not have had a positive test result in the previous 14-day period and must not be awaiting the results of a test taken during that 14-day period. "When those in Australia decide to come to New Zealand, they will be making a booking on a green zone flight. That means that there will be no passengers on that flight who have come from anywhere but Australia in the last 14 days. "They will also be flown by crew who have not flown on any high-risk routes for a set period of time," he said.

(IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Wipro buying Australian firm for $117M

BENGALURU, April 1: Global software major Wipro announced buying Australiabased Ampion for $117 million (Rs 858 crore), as it provides cyber security, Dev Ops (software development and IT operations) and engineering services. "The transaction is expected to be completed during the quarter ending June 30, 2021, subject to regulatory approvals," said the city-based listed firm in a regulatory filing. The buyout in cash is for 100 per cent acquisition of Ampion's shares. Headquartered in Melbourne, Ampion was formed through a merger of IT services providers 'Revolution IT' and Shelde in 2019. Revolution IT was an IT services firm founded in 2004 and Shelde was a digital IT security company set up in 2010. "Ampion has 500 consulting and technology specialists. It posted US$85.5-million revenue for the year ending June 30, 2020," said the filing. The Australian market is undergoing disruption through the adoption of cloud, DevOps, analytics and resilience related digital capabilities, across enterprises and public

sector entities. "Our combined offerings, powered by engineering transformation, DevOps and security consulting services will bring scale and market agility to respond to the growing demands of customers," said the outsourcing firm on the occasion. Wipro's operating model emphasises strategic investments in focus geographies, proximity to customers, agility, scale and localisation. "The acquisition is an important step for us in this direction and strengthens our commitment to clients and stakeholders in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ)," said. Wipro has been present in the ANZ market for over two decades with client relationships across industry sectors and localised domain and delivery capabilities. "Ampion has a track record with leading enterprises in the region, a collaborative work culture and local expertise. We see it as a complementary force to help us expand our footprint in the Asia-Pacific region," said Wipro Chief Executive for APMEA N.S. Bala in the statement.

No need to panic over slow vax rollout

rollout will not be completed until the end of May, almost two months later than the early April deadline previously set by the government. As of Saturday evening, Australia's vaccination tally was at 841,885, according to Minister for Health Greg Hunt. That figure includes a 44-year-old Melbourne man who was admitted to hospital recently for blood clots about two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. "There is one case which has been under investigation with regards to potential side effects and clotting. That will be determined through the medical processes, but I want to thank our medical experts," Hunt told reporters on Sunday. "We will continue following their advice as we have done through the pandemic." (IANS)

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Ampion Chief Executive Jamie Duffield said clients, employees and the market would benefit from the synergies between the two firms. "We believe our experience, talent, capabilities and client credentials in ANZ, coupled with Wipro's global scale, leadership in technology and understanding of domain and delivery will make us a formidable team," added Duffield.

(IANS)

Bindi Irwin shares adorable pictures of newborn daughter

CANBERRA, April 5: Defence Minister Peter Dutton has called for calm over the delayed rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in the country. Dutton, one of the most senior ministers in the federal government, said that Australia was not in the same "mad panic" as other countries to inoculate the population against Covid-19. He compared Australia's situation to that in the US and the UK, where he said there are thousands of new cases every day. "We haven't lived in that environment, (and) we don't want to," Dutton said. "There will be hiccups from time to time in terms of the rollout of the vaccine, but we'll work with the states, we'll work with general practitioners." His comments came after Nine Entertainment newspapers reported on Sunday that the first phase of the vaccine rollout will not be completed until the end of May, almost two months later than the early April deadline previously set by the government. As of Saturday evening, Australia's vaccination tally was at 841,885, according to Minister for Health Greg Hunt. That figure includes a 44-year-old Melbourne man who was admitted to hospital recently for blood clots about two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. "There is one case which has been under investigation with regards to potential side effects and clotting. That will be determined through the medical processes, but I want to thank our medical experts," Hunt told reporters on Sunday. "We will continue following their advice as we have done through the pandemic." (IANS)

NEWS WORLD

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Myanmar's ousted democratic leaders rescind Constitution

NAY PYI TAW, April 1: Ousted democratic leaders of Myanmar have said that they were rescinding the country's 2008 constitution, which gave significant power to the armed forces. The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), or Parliament, on Wednesday announced the Constitution would be invalid from March 31, reports dpa news agency. It is however unclear whether this move will have any consequences on the ground due to the February 1 military takeover of the country. CRPH is an underground cabinet founded by members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The constitution brought an end to almost 50 years of military dictatorship, but it still gave the army automatically 25 per cent of parliamentary seats and several important ministries. It was introduced by the military and changes to it are not possible without the consent of the armed forces. Due to a constitutional clause, Suu Kyi was never able to become President, but as de facto leader she led the country as State Counsellor. On Thursday, many people in Myanmar celebrated the CRPH announcement, with protesters burning the Constitution on the street. "We must win and the junta must fail. They

have pay for what they have done to civilians," Kyi Min, an entrepreneur, told dpa in Yangon. After Suu Kyi's NLD won a clear majority in elections last November, the military staged the coup, arguing the election had been rigged. Suu Kyi was arrested and has since then been under house arrest. The military has violently cracked down on the ensuing protests. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit, at least 536 people have been killed by military forces since the coup. (IANS)

Foreign tourists to Indonesia drop by 86.9%

JAKARTA, April 1: The number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia was recorded at 117,000 in February 2021, an 86.59 per cent drop compared to the same month last year, a top official announced. Meanwhile, the number of foreigners travelling to Indonesia in February 2021 decreased by 14.74 per cent compared to that in January 2021, the official of the Central Agency of Statistics told reporters. Cumulatively in the January-February 2021 period, the number of foreign tourist arrivals

reached 254,230, or decreased by 88.25 per cent, compared to that in the same period in 2020 which amounted to 2.16 million visits. The number of foreigners entering the archipelagic country by air in February 2021 dropped by 98.74 per cent compared to that in the same month last year. "Almost all airports in the country underwent decreases in the number of foreign holiday makers, except Sam Ratulangi airport in North Sulawesi province that recorded an increase by 10.67 per cent," Setianto said.

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According to him, the lowest decline was recorded at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten province with a percentage of 95.50 per cent. Indonesia closed its borders last year to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Exceptions were granted to those who had special permission from Indonesian ministries or institutions. Authorities are considering to allow tourism to restart in the resort island of Bali from July onwards.

(IANS)

Trump tricked supporters to make unintended donations

NEW YORK, April 4: Former US President Donald Trump's fundraising campaign used deceptive tactics to trick supporters into donating millions of dollars that they never intended, according to a media report. According to The New York Times report, Trump's supporters ended up making more donations than they intended as the campaign used pre-ticked boxes on fundraising emails, tricking them to make repeat donations while they intended to make just one-off payment. As people started complaining that more money was deducted from their accounts than they had made payments for, Trump's

re-election campaign was forced to issue $122.7 million in refunds to supporters in 2020, amounting to nearly 11 per cent of the money it raised, said the report. The Trump campaign and the company that processed its online donations, WinRed, had begun using dark patterns by June 2020. This refers to computer interfaces that the campaign designed to trick people to make repeated monthly and weekly donations by pre-checking the checkboxes for such options, thereby burying the fine print under paragraphs of bold text. Thus unless donors inspected the fine print of an online disclaimer and manually untick the pre-checked boxes, they were forced to pay far more than they intended until Election Day arrived. One Kansas City supporter account got tapped for $3,000 one month when the person intended to make donation of $500. For another supporter, a $990 donation had become $8,000. Playing down the claims of widespread fraud, Trump spokesperson Jason Miller told The New York Times that internal data determined 0.87 per cent of its WinRed transactions were subject to "formal" credit card disputes. "The fact we had a dispute rate of less than 1 per cent of total donations despite raising more grass-roots money than any campaign in history is remarkable," Miller was quoted as saying.

(AGENCIES)

'Job loss a concern for 40% workers worldwide'

GENEVA, April 2: Close to 40 per cent of workers worldwide think their job could disappear in five years, six in 10 are worried that machines would take over their jobs, and by 2025 humans and machines are predicted to spend equal amounts of time at work, according to a report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Based on a survey of 32,000 workers conducted by consulting giant PwC in 19 countries, the report said that half of the respondents were optimistic about their future. The survey also highlighted that 60 per cent of the respondents were worried about the effects of automation and 56 per cent thought that fewer people would obtain long-

term employment in the future. This prompted 61 per cent of the people surveyed, most of them young, to agree that governments should protect jobs. The survey also found that 40 per cent of workers used the Covid-19 lockdown last year to hone their digital skills, and that 77 per cent were ready to learn new skills or to retrain. Furthermore, 80 per cent were confident in their ability to adapt to new technologies. According to a previous WEF report, 85 million jobs may be at risk of disappearance due to the growing reliance on machines and artificial intelligence (AI), but 97 million new jobs might emerge in such a scenario. (IANS)

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G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Indian American activist fights for son's treatment

WASHINGTON, April 5: Jo Kaur, an Indian-American activist and civil rights lawyer, is now fighting for the treatment of her 15-month son, who has been diagnosed with a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder and is reaching out to scientists, researchers and physicians. A report in The American Bazaar says that the fatal disease is extremely rare and affects just about 100 children in the US every year, leaving them with an average life expectancy of three to five years. Currently there is no cure or treatment available for the condition. The New York-based Kaur, an active civil rights campaigner, represented the Sikh Coalition while seeking deliver justice to a Sikh Disney employee who was asked not to appear before company guests because of his turban. She has also worked with the survivors of the 2012 shooting at the Oak Creek gurdwara in Wisconsin, which claimed the lives of six worshippers. The activist and her husband aims to start a research foundation towards finding a possible cure for Riaan's disease and help other similarly impacted children. They have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs for their initiative. According to Kaur, she has received widespread support on social media, with the hashtags #PrayforRiaan and #FightforRiaan. Speaking to The American Bazaar, Kaur said: "We have had an amazing response, people have been so kind and supportive. More importantly, people have connected us to researchers, doctors, and biotech companies, and other parents doing the type of work we're looking to do. "We aren't going to sit back and let Riaan die without doing more. We're committed to finding and doing whatever we can to push the research and create viable therapies for our son." (AGENCIES)

NEWS INDIA

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

How 'chimpanzee poop' is helping prevent Covid-19

NEW DELHI, April 5: The Oxford– AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, a version of which is also being used in India, is made from an adenovirus isolated from chimpanzee poop, which has been genetically changed so that it is impossible for it to grow in humans. Now known as Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, it was formerly called AZD1222. AZD1222 was co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARSCoV-2 virus spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body. The vaccine has been granted a conditional marketing authorisation or emergency use in more than 70 countries across six continents. The Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, is manufacturing a version of the

Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine named 'Covishield' in India. India is stepping up vaccination efforts against Covid-19 amid a renewed surge in the number of cases. The country registered 1,03,558 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest ever single-day spike since the onset of the pandemic last year, taking the total tally to 1,25,89,067 on Monday. On Monday, the death toll increased to 1,65,101 with 478 new fatalities. The number of people who have recovered from the disease surged to 1,16,82,136, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.31 per cent, according to official data. So far, 7.91 crore doses of Corona vaccine have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after the approval for Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The vaccination drive started for healthcare workers on January 16, followed by vaccination for frontline workers from February 2. Later, persons aged 60 years and above and those in the age group of 45-59 years with identified 20 comorbidities were covered from

March 1. Subsequently, from April 1, all persons aged 45 years and above are eligible for Covid vaccination. (IANS)

India has positioned itself as a desired destination for investment and trade

NEW DELHI, April 6: India has already positioned itself and continues to enhance its attractiveness as a desired destination for investment and trade, according to the Doing Business in India report. Whilst its expanding levels of intellectual capital and large English-speaking population are likely to make it a global hub for services, high levels of domestic consumption coupled with significant cost competitiveness, along with a global demand of shift in supply chain outside of China, makes India an ever attractive destination for investments in services and manufacturing, the report said. "Modi government's policies of smart cities, Digital India, single window policy have given the correct signals to all. Also, the government's mantra of "ease of doing business" has brought about many reforms which will work towards changing the perception about doing business in India," it added. The testimony of which is an everimproving rank of India in the annual World Bank's ease of doing business report. More and more ministries are moving towards online access for granting licenses/ approvals/ registrations/ reporting etc. and single window clearance. The report said that while corruption still exists, the continued enhancement and expansion of digitisation and computerisation of numerous public bodies has led to an

increased level of efficiency and institutions such as the RBI and SEBI have become increasingly proactive and professional in dealing with foreign investment into India. Furthermore, some state governments have taken proactive steps to improve efficiency in public offices such as the RoC. "While caution exercised by them may seem draconian; it has helped India tremendously in avoiding any major internal impact of the ongoing financial crisis," it added. India's middle class, its prime consumer market and responsible for over half of Indian economy's GDP in the form of private spending, is estimated to cross 250 million in number. Furthermore, India's population remains largely of working age and relatively young, unlike China, which with its 'one-child' policy has resulted in a smaller working population supporting a growing number of retirees. The report identified that some aspects of the legal system in India continued to be archaic. For example, the labour laws until the enacted of consolidating codes found their origin in the British laws of the early 20th century and have since undergone only minor amendments, even though the same laws in Britain have changed significantly. "As a result, sectors such as manufacturing have been dogged by strikes and lock-outs. Additionally, it is very difficult to terminate the services of blue-

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collared employees in India due to extensive protections under various laws. India's import policies, despite the recent relaxations, continue to remain unfriendly with very high import duties charged on many imported goods. India's tax and corporate laws are complex," the report said. Nisha Biswal President of the US-India Business Council and Senior Vice President for South Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce said that as leaders around the globe reassess their approach to global trade and investment and recover from disrupted supply chains, both nations have the capacity to catalyse areas of growth to achieve the shared goal of $500 billion in two-way trade. This will require a strategic look at market-based reforms, deeper cooperation in research and development and a dynamic assessment of key sectors that need a targeted boost within the bilateral economic relationship, she added. "I congratulate Nishith Desai Associates and Sannam S4 for taking the initiative to author the 'Doing Business in India' report. Investment guides like the 'Doing Business in India' are excellent resources for businesses that are evaluating India as a viable option and are critical towards the achievement of the $500 billion goal in two-way trade," she said. (IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

A travelling exhibition made of recycled material

NEW DELHI, April 4: Denmark-based recycle artist Thomas Dambo, in association with a global travelling entertainment and immersive experiences company, will develop a new touring exhibition featuring Dambo's signature troll sculptures built from reclaimed materials. The outdoor exhibition by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc will build upon the tales surrounding the more than 75 giant trolls that Dambo has already created, while also telling an original story in and of itself. The experience will fuse fairy-tale, whimsy, and incredible art installations to inspire visitors to explore the importance of nature, climate change and other complex issues related to our relationship with the planet, nature, and animals. Dambo is an artist and recycle activist

based in Denmark who carries the title of the world's most prominent "recycle artist". He is best known for his colossal troll sculptures that range in height from 16 to 50 feet and 'live' as semipermanent installations in parks, greenspaces, industrial parks, and in other site-specific locations around the world. Each folklore-inspired sculpture is imbued with expression and character and is built entirely from scrap materials like wooden pallets, fallen branches,

and twigs sourced from the location of the installation. Driven by a mission to inspire people to explore our relationship with the planet, many of Dambo's works have an associated folk tale written by Dambo himself that addresses a complex problem of our world in an approachable, fun way and which ties in with the overarching story of all Dambo's trolls. Dambo says: "I'm constantly working with -- so to speak -- stretching the materials as far as possible, elevating the life and value of recycled materials through art. Doing a travelling exhibition makes so much sense. It is a brilliant way to spread the message about recycling further and to have shorter exhibitions without turning the sculptures into trash again." By Siddhi Jain

India Inc brimming with opportunities for tech jobs: Indeed

MUMBAI, Apr 6: Online job site Indeed said that postings for skilled technical job roles like application developer, lead consultant, salesforce developer and site reliability engineer grew between 150 to 300 per cent with these being top sought-after roles as of January 2020 to February 2021. The continued reliance on tech solutions across organisations and extension of work from home structure, businesses ramping up their technological infrastructures to scale up businesses and ensure smooth operations resulted in soaring number of postings for tech jobs. Indeed data also found out that employers' demand for job roles like field engineer, sales lead and editor that de-grew between 55 to 85 per cent during January 2020 and February 2021.

Indeed also studied the job postings across sectors in India's key metro cities of Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Delhi that resonated with national findings. All the cities witnessed a growth in tech job roles except Kolkata where the job postings were concentrated in retail and business development sectors. With the continued adherence on social distancing and increasing reliance on online shopping, the job roles that require customer interfacing de-grew significantly. Among the jobs that were least sought after, caller, customer service representative, sales executive and sales representatives saw a sharp decline. Sashi Kumar, Managing Director of Indeed

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India, said data shows India Inc's inclination towards moving to a digital future in the postpandemic world. The relevance of tech jobs continues to remain consistent both pre and post-pandemic. "The continued reliance on technological solutions to meet the needs for shopping, remote working and learning has amplified the importance of tech developers across industries and cities," he said. "Moreover, shifting focus towards scaling up businesses online and developing solutions to connect customers, employees, students and various other entities in the ecosystem has led to an escalated demand for tech jobs post-pandemic as well." (ANI)

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

G’Day Mate

A powerful, compassionate, timely account of rape victims

As the world moves on after expressing outrage, what happens to the rape victims who are left to fend for themselves in an apathetic society and a nonchalant judicial system? In "After I Was Raped" (Pan MacMillan), we meet five individuals: a four-year-old girl, two Dalit women, an eight-month-old infant and a young professional. Through extensive interviews with them and their families and communities at large, author Urmi Bhattacheryya reveals the stories of these victims of sexual violence, as they recount how their lives and relationships have changed in the aftermath of assault. Shamed, ostracized and weighed down by guilt and depression, they continue to brave the most challenging realities. This book picks up where most news reports about survivors leave off - it enters bedrooms and courtrooms, and picks up the threads of their lives today, years after their rape, and in the midst of their continuing wait for justice. At a time when only high-profile, sensationalised cases of sexual violence provoke a public reaction and many stories go unheard, Bhattacheryya's sensitive portrayal of the lives of these little-known victims raises difficult but important questions about our convenient collective amnesia - and

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their struggles for justice and dignity. Bhattacheryya is an independent journalist based in New Delhi. She worked as Gender Editor at The Quint, reporting - almost exclusively - on women and children who have been victims of sexual violence. She currently writes for national and international media, including Boston Globe, Globe and Mail, Caravan and Women's Media Center, on issues of sexual assault, women's health and culture. In 2020, Bhattacheryya won the UNFPA Laadli Award for Gender Sensitivity for her reporting on child sexual abuse.

(IANS)

OFF BEAT

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

90% of US teenagers plan to get an iPhone: Report

SAN FRANCISCO, April 8: Teenagers in the US are going gaga over iPhones as 90 per cent of respondents in a survey revealed that they want their next smartphone to be an iPhone. According to leading investment bank and institutional securities firm Piper Sandler's survey on US teenagers, 88 per cent of respondents said they already own an iPhone. That number moves to 90 per cent when stating what they want their next phone to be. In October, 86 per cent said they owned an iPhone, with 89 per cent saying they intended to purchase one, reports Apple Insider. In a first for the survey, Piper Sandler asked payment-related questions. Apple Pay came in second only to cash as teens' preferred payment method. Venmo was the most used among payment applications. Piper Sandler said Apple's brand is strong among fashion preferences as well. The survey cites Apple as one of the companies with a "positive"

reception in that category. Amazon and frequent Apple partner Nike also made in that list. "If it has a Swoosh on it," the results read, "teens are wearing it." Nike is the top brand in both the apparel and footwear categories. Apple CEO Tim Cook sits on Nike's Board of Directors. In the survey, 56 per cent of respondents say Amazon is their favorite e-com site. App Store favorites Snapchat and TikTok are their favorite social platforms. The poll, which received 7,000 responses from 47 different US states, also revealed that teenagers spend an average of 12 hours per week on social media. (IANS)

GETTING MARRIED IN AUSTRALIA RULES TO GET MARRIED IN AUSTRALIA The Marriage Act 1961 and Marriage Regulations 2017 set the rules for getting married in Australia. For guidance about getting married you may contact an authorised marriage celebrant. To get married in Australia, you must not be married, not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister. You have to be at least 18 years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where 1 person is 16-18 years old. You understand what marriage means and freely agree to marry. You have to use specific words during the marriage ceremony. To get married, you have to give a notice of intended marriage (NOIM) form to an authorised marriage celebrant at least 1 month and no more than 18 months before your wedding. You have to be married by an authorised marriage celebrant. Please ask your authorised marriage celebrant if you need help with the form. You

can complete it if you are overseas and plan to get married in Australia. You don’t have to be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia to get married in Australia. If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia and you want to live in Australia after your marriage, you should find out about getting a visa. The right to marry in Australia is no longer determined by sex or gender. If you have further questions about this issue, you may contact me.

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FEATURE

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

SHOW STOPPER Here comes the hot-stepper, Simran Gulati – Melbourne’s covetous daughter, returning to walk the ramp at the 2021 Melbourne Fashion Festival.

runner-up at Mrs India Australia in 2016, Gulati is not new to fame – so naturally, when she was asked to be the show stopper for the label her reply was no surprise. When asked about the most memorable moment as the show stopper, Gulati’s beautiful eyes widen; her voice mellows when she tells me that walking in front of her daughter and son in a packed room was the best show a model could ask for. It was the mother in her who jumped out to consul the model when she realised she was the stopper and her kids were watching. I think Gulati makes an important point here: age and aspirations have no boundaries. Anyone can do anything if they have the patience and the will to find their niche. Asking on future projects, though she declined an offer to be on this year’s Big Brother, we can still see Gulati soon in Australia’s longest running primetime TV show, Home and Away. So, watch this space. Gulati is inspiring to a lot of young girls, including her beautiful daughter. When I ask her about her message, she poetically quotes: “Whatever you do, do it with your heart. You are a woman; whichever hand you pick, grab and run with it.” By Nandita Chakraborty

t’s a tough gig to look

pretty, be married, be a mother to two beautiful children and walk the ramp to be a show stopper at a fashion week. Meet Simran Gulati, a product of Melbourne. Sitting in front of me, this woman is more beautiful in the flesh – no wonder the camera loves her so much. Having a double degree in Bachelor of Business- Info systems/banking and finance from RMIT, Gulati (40) always aspired to be different. It was her love for movies and acting that made this charismatic woman leave Melbourne to settle in Sydney. Well – almost. After she got married, technically she left for America, later working for Boeing. Choosing Sydney over Melbourne was a marital choice, when they decided to leave America for Australia. She tells me that though she is in Sydney, she will always be a Melbournian at heart. Participating last year on Channel 7’s Plate of Origin with her husband, this lady has been a busy bee, creating the perfect samosa pie with her husband for the ‘Team India’ brand. And whether it’s modelling, television advertisements or acting, she has organically made her own brand. But, what fascinated me

enough to write this piece is the return of the covetous daughter to Melbourne. Just last month, March in Melbourne marked not only autumn but also the gradual opening of festivities that were shadowed by COVID-19. One such event (March favourite) – the Melbourne Fashion Festival – was held on 11–20 March 2021. Gulati represented Sydney-based Aboriginal label Buluuy Mirri’s Queen Honey Ant Collection by designers Colleen Tighe Johnson and Wendy Scully Millinery. It was a proud moment, especially when homegrown Gulati walked the ramp representing South Asian Australian talent at Melbourne Fashion Week. Her journey with the designer began at FOMA 2019 in Sydney and since then there has been no turning back. Though there were plans to take the collection to New York Fashion Week, due to travel restrictions, it has been postponed to July 2022. Gulati explains that Buluuy Mirri connects with her because of the different layers of cultural beats intertwined with colours, stories and the passion behind the storytelling of designs. The collection featured a ready-to-wear corporate collection with splashes of colour, which was exhibited at the ARTZ Runway at George on Collins. Winning Mrs India Global in 2018 and first

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OPINION

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Empathy more than Sympathy is what’s needed – Celebrating Harmony! BY KARTHIK ARASU President of “Australia India Sports Council

In an ever-changing (competing) world, in the name of adapting to the new reality, we are forgetting the basic quality of Empathy and behave as robots to many sufferings (and people) around us. Yes, Sympathy is there, we feel sorry, we talk about it for a minute with friends and may even shed a tear, but we are somewhere somehow losing the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is alarming to see many social media posts, groups openly spreading hate and false information, and even saying vile things to someone who is under stress or suffering. Without any knowledge about the person or their pain, we are making judgments and posting comments. We just celebrated Harmony week from 15th to 21st March, what are we celebrating? Cultural diversity, inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. Does everyone feel they belong? Do they get the respect they deserve? Do they feel included? Many questions, I am pretty sure some would have answered Yes and some No. Just events and programs are not enough to promote Harmony, it has become a tick in the diversity box for any organisation or government. Yes, it makes us feel nice for the day or a week with wearing our traditional dress to work or school, have yummy food from different cultures, and then the week after we go back to reality. It should be more than a day or a week, not the cultural dress and food, but the cultural inclusion. Everyone belongs should not be just a tagline, it should

be a feeling for everyone, down to the newly landed migrant or student. We live in one of the best countries in the world, with the best of services and opportunities, then what is the problem you may ask? Are the opportunities equal for everyone? Just take, for instance, we see a community from an ethnic background receive funding to stop youth falling into crimes, funding channelled through organisations, not for profits, etc. But unfortunately, there is a complete disregard to find out the cause and fix it, generally, it is more of a band-aid fix than a proper cure. If you just speak to any youth from an ethnic background, you will understand their problem, the opportunities are difficult to come by for them, they don’t feel that they belong, this discrimination, bias, or prejudice is a cancer we need to address immediately. People used to fight for causes and issues, but now more than ever many are agenda-driven they mask their hateful agendas with a cover of some cause or organisation and create discord amongst communities for their benefits or ideologies. Recently in Sydney, there were two groups each supporting and opposing a policy of a government overseas, there was nothing wrong with this and everything was peaceful and both groups didn’t have any issues with either of them. But suddenly from nowhere just by a few, it was projected as a religious fight, with one group pitting themselves against anyone opposing them and painting their opponents with religious colours even though it has nothing to do with any religion. The community was over the edge, all this was done just by

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a handful of people behind an organisation cover who were fanning this hate among the communities, unfortunately with some local politicians jumping in to take sides to please the few made matters worse and put the entire community in danger. Australian political leaders must understand that supporting a group with their dangerous divisive agendas will by default mean empowering them to disturb peace in the community and posing a threat to anyone with different views, this generally means opposing the community at large in most cases. Even worse some politicians who have their community advisors affiliated to one section or cause wrongly understand the issue and fall prey to the scheme of things by these groups. Political parties should have a policy team looking into these issues and have a proper understanding of the culture, background of these overseas issues before they make any statements, as these statements from them are sold to the overseas groups generally for the personal benefits of some or even worse to receive financial gains. Harmony will exist only when the community is peaceful and respect one and another. Respect & dignity to anyone regardless of ethnicity, political beliefs, gender, or religion, should be a basic given, should not be a request or privilege. Initially, it was celebrated as ‘Harmony Day’ then changed to ‘Harmony week’, in my opinion, cultural diversity should be celebrated every day. We need to be embracing and welcoming the new without discrimination, as well as acknowledge and celebrate the oldest continuous culture of our First Australians, then Harmony will be there not just for a day but for every day in every household. We all have both ‘Empathy & Apathy’ in us in varying spectrums, if we nurture empathy and promote harmony religiously then we don’t need to look forward to heaven in the afterlife, as we will be living in it in this life.

FEATURE

ESSENCE OF

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

LEADERSHIP

Rohini Kappadath discusses daily life, influences and aspirations working in senior leadership roles that impact humanity, one story at a time.

ohini lives and works in Melbourne, Victoria. She is a dedicated and passionate advocate supporting society and institutions that impact humanity. In her words, “As general manager for Immigration Museum at Museums Victoria, I am entrusted with leading its transformation, to bring life and vibrancy and to tell its stories.” G’Day India's Chief Editor, Mr Tonee Sethi, had the honour of interviewing Rohini and tapping into how this spirited woman keeps motivated and relevant. After dedicating three decades and counting, to working in senior leadership roles, Rohini shares what it takes to be top of your game. Although Rohini was born in New Delhi, India, her story begins in Calcutta. She shares, “I think I’ve been quite fortunate to have had the nurturing of family and friends and a large

community of people where I was raised in Calcutta through their love and care. Really, they have created environments in which I was fortunate enough to be able to thrive. My early canvas was my childhood playground, where I played each day with children from about thirty-six families. So I felt part of a very large, interconnected family. It was an exquisite way to be raised. Embedded in this way of life was a culture of respect for elders and excellence. I think that my background has instilled this rare kind of confidence and resilience and an absolute determination to build a career.” From this, Rohini knew that her intrinsic abilities to seek out opportunities of significance were something special. However, she was determined not to keep it a secret. Her gift was a clear realisation that she

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possesses a fierce determination to impact humanity in meaningful ways. Her motivation led her to seek and find missions where she could help the community from leadership roles. One memorable time was her trip to Toulouse, France, for a sports festival, when she was Public Youth Secretary for the United Nations Youth Organisation and Young Delegation Leader. At 18 years old, Rohini was in her element and although, heavily armed with responsibility, it only grew her resolve and appetite for more. She reflects, “I think that those early leadership opportunities also kind of validated that desire and that sense. And, that inner knowing of leading a life of significance.” Rohini was a risk-taker and approached life with vigour and passion, and at the age of 20, she migrated to Sydney, Australia. But that was not enough to build the career she envisaged. She undertook studies in Computer Technology and landed quality jobs. One being with the American software company SAS Institute, the largest privately-owned software company and a leader in its field. Rohini thrived in an environment of leaders, talented people and commitment to a robust work ethic. Furthermore, this being her number one break in life solidified the importance of “the right work culture.” Break number two came along when she relocated to Mumbai, India, with her husband and young daughter in tow, to set up SAS Institute operations as Managing Director, she built two business units, in local sales and marketing and in the global consulting division. Proudly, Rohini states, “My life’s journey has been very much about seizing these opportunities when they presented themselves. I’ve built a terrific career in technology.” The picture painted so far of Rohini is being work-orientated, success-driven and a high achiever in the leadership sector. However, her aspirations were not singular; she wanted to grow her family. Rohini relocated to Melbourne and embarked on “…my own consultancy operation that focused on crossborder transactions and advisory.” She worked from home for the next eight years, growing a successful business but also “fulfil my desires as a mother and as a woman. So, my journey has been very much about managing both of these aspirations.” Rohini is the first to admit her string of

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

success in managing both family life and her career is not without challenges. In fact, “… holding very senior and executive roles that have required a considerable amount of travel, time away from home, long hours and managing large teams are lifelong challenges.” Knowing this is a constant, Rohini adds, “Life has served up many challenges, but I think the beauty of life has been exposed through those challenges. In overcoming those challenges is when you meet yourself.” With so much enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to both aspirations, Rohini grew her family to 3 children in total and gained her General Manager role for the Immigration Museum at Museums Victoria. At, this point her incredible story is brought to the present. After three decades working in senior positions, she continues to meet the needs of society. In typical Rohini-style, her explanation is profound as much as it is inspiring. She proclaims, “At some point in a leadership journey it becomes a lot less about your own success, but about helping others to succeed and growing other leaders and growing the leadership capacity in others. What I have found is after three decades of a successful career I draw great joy from contributing, enabling and supporting others around me to thrive. I think that’s the essence of leadership. Feeling secure enough in yourself, in your achievements to be able to focus on others.” Front and centre, Rohini keeps being significant in 2021 by ensuring that her leadership style is of relevance to all those around her. To secure this mindset, Rohini gravitates towards dynamic growth, two ways. Firstly, she believes in lifelong learning. Rohini furthered her studies and completed a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Swinburne University in the hope of staying current and influential. She reinforces, “A growth mindset is an essential attribute. I think always studying in parallel to running and working a gruelling work schedule has been a choice I’ve made to invest that time in growth.” Now more than ever, Rohini finds it important to stay abreast of changing times amidst Covid-19, work and life challenges

worldwide. Rohini elaborates, “We’ve come through a time when humanity is challenged through its very core. The ways in which we live and work have all shifted. We’ve all seen how to use technology to be able to bring about a greater balance between our professional and our personal lives. So, I think 2021 is going to be about leveraging that technology, working in ways that have more meaning to your life, aligning with your core purpose and meeting all of your obligations, personal and professional, and thriving.” Second, to lifelong learning, Rohini encourages investing in meditation and selfawareness and finding “…calm in moments of storm and chaos.” This belief system is far-reaching, and Rohini adds, “We are spirits having a human experience. That life is short, and we’re all far more similar than we are different. And, I think holding onto that thought and spreading optimism and hope for others is a really important way to live and to create a good life and to create a good world around you.” There is no way that one can mention Rohini without elaborating on her passion for the Immigration Museum. She reveals, “You know museums hold a mirror to our society, they provoke discourse on the big issues of our times, and ultimately they unite us through an understanding of what we share as humans. Museums Victoria is the largest Museums organisation in the Southern hemisphere entrusted with the care of Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks, Royal Exhibition Building, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the Immigration Museum.” In addition, Rohini confesses, “It’s quite a complex business to run a cultural institution. My job each day is to lead the transformation of the museum and to bring our strategic vision to life.” Without a doubt, Rohini exhibits creative and administrative skills to oversee this multifaceted role. However, she credits success to teamwork and being surrounded by talented and dedicated people, front and backof-house. In line with her outlook, she advocates Melbourne, migrants and Museums Victoria. Her overriding message: “For migrants, it is so important for them to come to the Immigration Museum and to back it, to support it. So that the government continues

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to recognise just how valuable this institution is. I’d like to make sure that every person that comes to Victoria that sets up home recognises that their story of migration is reflected in an institution like the Immigration Museum and that contributing to that story involves being part of this museum’s life.” Rohini’s wholesome approach to life is why she is where she is today and why she will continue as focused and passionate as ever. She combines a mixture of confidence and resilience and backs it with commitment and a solid work ethic. She reiterates, “There’s no point having dreams if you’re not prepared to back them up with work.” Also, Rohini admits that she would never have accomplished so much without the constant support from her father (deceased) and role model. She reflects, “…he has been a central anchor in everything that I’ve done. The memory of him will always remain a source of motivation and strength for me.” When Mr Sethi asked Rohini if she were to be born again, what would she do differently, her response was, “I would still join the technology industry. I have a great love for industries that have such a deep impact on how people live and work. I would follow the same path. Again. I would do it all over again.” By Agata Zema

FEATURE

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

ART AND BEYOND

Melbourne’s Sangam Festival Pushes South Asian Performing Arts in New Directions

ver three sold-out nights Carlton’s Dancehouse theatre hosted Sangam Commissions where local Victorian and international artists performed both classical South Asian and contemporary dance solos. The event was part of a series of performance works for Sangam: Performing Arts Festival of

South Asia and Diaspora. With over 100 artists performing across four locations in Melbourne over four weekends (February 27-March 13, 2021), this is the first festival of its kind to showcase South Asian performing arts in Australia so broadly. The festival is lead by Dr. Priya Srinivasan, Hari Sivanesan and Uthra Vijay – a highly talented and experienced multidisciplinary team passionate about increasing the representation of South Asian arts. Sangam at Dancehouse, Thursday 11th - Saturday 13th March The performances at Dancehouse theatre concluded the festival’s events on a high. Five soloists and a duet across two programs had created new work under the mentorship of renowned dancers Priyadarsini Govind, Mavin Khoo and Dr. Chandrabhanu. The six commissions aimed to explore notions of the contemporary, the complexity of South Asian dance and what the postcolonial context of South Asian dance practice means in Australia. Program two included the compelling work of Sooraj Subramaniam, Shriraam Theivendran and Raina Peterson, and hurdled contemporary and classical dance into new directions. Both Shriraam Theivendran and Raina Peterson are Melbourne based artists while Sooraj

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Subramaniam is currently based in Sweden after growing up in Malaysia and living in Australia for several years. The night began with Sooraj Subramaniam’s contemporary solo Nimbus; a video installation of experimental dance work that explored internal human conflicts. The piece drew on the metaphor of a nimbus, a dark and amorphous cloud. Together with his movements and eerie music that grew heavier and incorporated heartbeats, a sense of foreboding was created. The contrasts of shadow and light and the fluid cinematography enhanced his sweeping movements that gradually built pace. He began with slow poised writhing movements and as the music escalated, his movements expanded and he commanded the space with a more rapid presence. Shriraam Theivendran took to the stage next in Sacred Sensuality, accompanied by a four piece classical Indian band including vocals, string and drums. While this piece was dynamic and contemporary it was also the most traditional of the night, steeped in the form Bharata Nrityam – a combination of the classical South Indian form Bharatanatyam and the techniques of Natya Sastra. The tone and pace of the music and dance shifted back and forth as if in a dialogue and conflict with each other, creating an evocative sense of longing and taking the audience on a captivating journey. Theivendran took charge of the whole space, circling many times in fierce energetic bounds and leaps and transitioning to slower movements more imploring and delicate. The work is said to have explored religious sentiment, love and lust and was framed by an opening monologue that implored, “I crave something more. Nothing short of union will quench this great fire, burning for my Lord”. The show finished with Raina Peterson’s excerpt of Maya that was arguably the most experimental of the night. Peterson began lying on the stage floor covered in embroidered cloths – they slowly awakened, attempted to make sense of their body and then engaged in exploring the world. The piece was intended to explore the self, transgender experience and the cosmos through Hindu philosophy. Peterson’s movements were challenging, experimental, visceral and captivating – contemporary but drawing on classical forms at times. While the piece felt strikingly modern through the experimental electronic music and contemporary style, conceptually the performance alluded to Hindu mythology around the churning of the ocean of milk and the elixir of life. The three performances at Dancehouse Commissions Program Two were a taste of how the whole festival uniquely pushes

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

New Homes Choir directed by Uthra Vijay, photo credit Arun Munoz

boundaries and also speaks to traditions in South Asian performing arts practice. While this event was the last of the festival, it sat alongside a range of diverse festival events that showcased the various creative practices of talented South Asian artists and diaspora. Sangam at Bunjil, Saturday March 6th Sangam at Bunjil Place, Narre Warrren, featured the premier of groundbreaking music and performance work across three acts. The New Homes String Quartet combined the western structure of string ensembles with the Carnatic music style in a quartet of three classical South Asian string instruments (Sarod, Taus, and Veena) and a double bass. This was proceeded by the New Home Choir

Theatre, Harmony Square and Walker Street Gallery were host to a vast array of performance and audience participation works. In a walking tour, audience members could move between locations to experience dance performances from classical South Asian forms, to Bollywood and experimental, as well as musical events and spoken word. Sangam at Abbotsford Convent, Saturday 20th February Abbotsford convent hosted a range of events including panel discussions, Sangam at Convent – Afternoon and Dada Desi. The free afternoon event was entertainment for the whole family consisting of South Asian food and drink stalls and a range of workshops and activities including a Bollywood dance workshop led by Jhoom Bollywood Dance Company. The evening event at the convent, Dada Desi, was a diverse line-up of 18 South Asian artists, emceed by award winning comedian and writer Vidya Rajan. The artists had received mentorship during the COVID-19 lockdown and performed an array of experimental music, dance and screen performances as well as comedy and spoken word.

Each performance by these highly trained professionals demonstrated the strong skill set of local South Asian performing artists whose Carnatic choral performance was and the growing public support and interest written by renowned singer, teacher, and in these forms. From a small three day event composer Uthra Vijay. The show concluded in 2019 to how the festival has developed in with a multi-artform performance called The 2021, we can only say Sangam will continue to Flowering Tree, directed by Hari Sivanesan and grow. This year they were proud to be guided Priya Srinivasan. The piece was a collaboration by Blakdance and supported by Creative between nine emerging artists and took Victoria, Australia Council for the Arts, City of inspiration from an Indian folktale to address Melbourne, City of Greater Dandenong and issues of climate change. Yarra City Council as well as Ausdance Victoria, Peril Magazine and South Asian Today. Sangam at Dandenong – Earth Matters These works were a space to celebrate Walking Experience, Saturday February 27th culture and the arts for an intercultural and OnHomes February thedirected Dandenong’s Drum photo credit intergenerational sharing of knowledge, ideas New String27, Quartet by Hari Sivanesan, Arun Munoz

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and creativity. Speaking on the festival, codirector Dr. Priya Srinivasan states,

“We are so grateful to see the interest and excitement for South Asian Australian artists and artistic practices grow. Through Covid and our severe lockdown we had to innovate connecting the local with global which enabled surprising and beautiful relationships, learnings, and performances that you will see at our festival. It shows how resilient artists of color and how needed new voices are to truly reflect Australia as it is today”. Congratulations on a breathtaking show, we look forward to seeing more from these artists in the future and seeing more South Asian performing arts. While South Asian dance and music forms are not highly integrated into mainstream western society, there is hope that this festival is one important step towards increasing visibility and carving out a space in the local arts scene. www.sangam.com.au www.facebook.com/artsouthasia

By Monique Nair

BA with First Class Honours in creative writing Monique’s interest is in diaspora experience and uplifting underrepresented perspectives

FEATURE

BIKING FOR HUMANITY 32

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

The modern Yogi, his bike and his ride for humanity

nostalgic feeling – the sound of running wells in the middle of lush paddy fields, the cool breeze of the Himalayan ranges and the dust of the highway carried to the foot of my apartment. I call him a yogi because he has all the pathos of a disciplined life, greatly inspired by the life of freedom fighter Shri Alluri Sitaram Raju. Kiran was convinced from a young age that his hero’s self-motivation and belief in his cause was the key to reaching his goals. That comes with discipline; taking up service for humanity comes with those convictions. He was about fourteen when he started thinking like a yogi. Most of his family was or is into politics or social work. So, making this choice was not difficult – only the timing was. What shaped him to be the man he is today? It wasn’t a surprise to hear that his identity starts with him being an Indian. Being Indian encapsulates the core values of compassion, endurance and the spirit of its tradition that encompasses the journey of spirituality. Rightfully, that’s also the core of yogic identity, so, he commits to serve the people. To Kiran, peace means to listen; it’s only when one listens that one can one looks beyond the differences, thus embracing

COVID is continuously pouring itself into headlines and news. It’s 2021 and we are still living in its nightmare. We’ve accepted this existential crisis and learned to live with it. Many have mourned in this crisis, but many others have risen from the ashes, giving birth to new life. I’m stepping out of the kitchen today, travelling back to India to bring you this story in which fragility and physical endurance work together seamlessly for the cause of humanity. This is a special story of one young man who has provided a service to thousands of silent refugees affected by humanitarian crises, fleeing from conflict zones neighbouring India. Meet thirty-two-year-old Kiran Chukkapalli, the modern yogi from Andhra Pradesh, who left his entertainment career in Mumbai to establish the NGO ‘Think Peace’ in 2010. He has lit 230 villages with 11,000 solar lamps in the valley of Andhra Pradesh and is now embarking on a 10,000-km solo motorcycle ride for humanity. His mission is to share the stories of these refugees, utilising their problems to inspire actions. As I sit to write this interview, there is this

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G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

and celebrating other lives. That is the fundamental requirement of a good life. With that thought process, ‘Think Peace’ was born. According to him, poverty is beyond socio-economic barriers; poverty fractures all of society both physically and mentally. There are so many examples of this in India, and one is the tribal community. They are survivors of a dejected society. So, in the last decade, ‘Think Peace’ has worked with these communities in healthcare, education, sports and creating women entrepreneurship. Now, Kiran tells me the foundation would like to expand working to understand the refugees. His first thought on embarking upon his motorbike journey was a mixture of excitement and pride. To him, the refugees are the real heroes, fighting against all odds while enduring physical, emotional and sexual abuse – yet they stand victorious. He says ‘victorious’ because they did not give in to those principles and beliefs, and that’s truly remarkable. This is what inspires him. His main motive for going around India is for justice and equality for these refugees. Wherever he’s travelled across India, he’s been moved by poverty, especially when it couldn’t be overcome by suppression from the wealthy. It’s a basic human desire to have a ‘good’ (or simple) life, and that was inconsistent throughout. The refugees in India were once part of the Indian subcontinent; through Think Peace, he wants people to recognise this and give their due justice. His entire journey has been remarkable; almost everyone he’s met has been inspirational. But the most remarkable story to be told of these refugees is the story of their spirit. Poverty, fear or violence – come

what may, no one’s shattered their spirits. The refugee women are a symbol of strength and liberation. Kiran adds that it is truly commendable what these refugees go through daily, sometimes without food, but they are

still there sharing their stories. I ask Kiran if he is a ‘people person’ or their friend, and like a true yogi he says he is a man with no attachments. So, whether it’s people or work, Kiran is just a vehicle to be a mode of

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transport for those seeking a journey with him. He is just following his ‘Karma’ and ultimately, everything is temporary. Kiran, the person wants to live happily and enjoy the process without the pressure of success. As for the humanitarian Kiran, he will soon launch Refugee Aid Project, an offshoot of Think Peace to serve the refugees in India, to improve their socio-economic conditions. He is positive that he will receive a lot of support, including from the Indian Government and human rights organisations from around the world. Right now, his main focus is on an action plan for 4 out of the 93 camps he has visited. Kiran has spent some time in Australia, and he tells me excitedly he loves the energy of the Indian community here in Australia. It is not only encouraging but there is also a sense of community. With this, he welcomes us to accompany him on his journey for improving the lives of our refugee brothers and sisters. His bike ride across India is not about him doing 10,000+ kilometres – it is about the ride for humanity, bringing justice to thousands of these silent refugees. Sometimes small opportunities lead to bigger acts of kindness, and that’s what life is all about: helping people achieve the dignified life they deserve to live. As I write the last few lines of his interview, I cannot help but think about what he said about peace – listening – and how this yogi has opened his heart to listen to these vulnerable communities who flee their homes searching for a safe life. If it took one yogi to embark on this karmic journey to start a movement, think how ten thousand more modern yogi can do. I cannot help myself, quoting author and motivational speaker Wayne Dyer: “How people treat you is their Karma; How you react is yours.” By Nandita Chakraborty

LEGAL

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Property settlement and special circumstances BY GURPAL SINGH

he property settlement in the event of separation involves a four-step process which the court(s) would generally consider and apply to determine the real dollar figure and percentile in making a settlement order and division of the assent pool. One of the important limbs of the four-step process is to consider the ‘special circumstances’ which may require an adjustment to the property settlement amount. Such adjustment is primarily based on the future needs of the respective parties. A party’s future needs factors are considered by the court while making the orders for spousal maintenance. The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and specifically section 75(2) in the case of marriage and section 90SF (3) in case of de-facto relationship sets out a few (19) considerations to determine the special circumstances in favour of a party to the property settlement dispute. One of the main considerations in such a matter is the age and state of health of each of the parties. Curiously, a few questions would require to be answered in this respect including but not limited to the impact of age and health of a party on the ability to

work or generate income; avenues of the employment; inability to work on account of a disability or medical condition necessitating the medical expenses on a regular basis. Also, the consistency of income, ownership of the property and other financial resource(s) of each of the parties and the physical and mental capacity of each of the wary parties to have a gainful employment. The court would certainly consider the impact of separation on a party having less or no ability to generate financial income. It is quite commonly noted in the long-term relationship/marriage that one of the parties takes up the role of a primary income earner (generally husband) while the other party takes up the role of primary homemaker and carer of the children (generally wife). Such position of the respective spouse/partner results in little or no prospect of employability for the primary home maker given the advanced age and having spent long time away from the working environment. Thus, the duration of the marriage and the extent to which it affected the earning capacity and employability of the party remains an important emphasis for the court to ponder to make a decision which is just and fair. The care or control of a child of the marriage who had not attained the

age of 18 years is the most sensitive and emotional issue that requires consideration of the court(s) invariably in every case involving a child under the age of 18 years. This question creates a lot of sensitive and emotional stress for the parties as no party like to change its position in respect of the children, their needs and the impact of the separation. I may mention that the court is usually not interested in terms of percentage adjustments but is directed to actual dollar value adjustment. The process requires to consider the actual effect of the adjustment and determining the actual dollar amount needed in these circumstances to address the adequacy of adjustment. The issue of re-partnering/marriage/ cohabitation with a new partner and consequent change in the financial circumstances are also relevant concern to determine the future needs. Interestingly the Australian family law jurisprudence relies on ‘no-fault’ jurisdiction which implies that break down of the relationship on account of adultery carries no ramification. The court would not be bothered to investigate such a matter. I must indicate that the effect of the special circumstances on the property settlement has a great deal of relationship and children below the age of 18 years of that relationship. If there are no children, there would ordinarily be no significant adjustment in the relationship. In any case, the contributions of the parties and the future needs with a combination of other factors will be considered by the court who has the overriding duty to reach a just, fair and equitable split in the property and assets.

Gurpal Singh is the principal lawyer of Melbourne law firm, Saundh Singh & Smith Lawyers | W: www.sssl.com.au

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EMPOWERING DESTINY

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Hacks to rewire your brain for success BY BARINDERJEET KAUR

ewire your brain to become more successful—yes, it's possible! As they say – "rips don't drown people, people drown in rips." As the brain responds to how you act, letting your brain run wild will result in spiralling out of control. Learning to take charge of your brain and direct it will help you live a fulfilling life while training your brain to love what is tedious. Motivation happens when your dopamine spikes because you anticipate something important is about to happen. Even though nothing might be happening, but many times anticipating positivity keeps you going. Like a claw machine, kids repeatedly keep trying, even if it drops the toy, they picked up quite a few times; hoping for a reward makes them keep going. For adults' text notifications do the same. The minute you hear the sound go off, you feel tempted to check. But not all the notifications you receive have a positive message. However, it's a state of desire because of the notification sound-triggered dopamine in your brain. When you want to plan for a next-level challenge and reward for yourself, dopamine will not only keep you motivated, but it will also make you look after your needs and desires in the form of rewards because you can rewire your brain to become more successful. The critical thing to learn here is how you avoid what's easy and unproductive from getting in the way of challenging and rewarding in the long run. It is essential to put low-dopamine tasks into your schedule. Planning your day around low dopamine activities and high dopamine activities. Your daily schedule should be a combination of low-dopamine tasks and high dopamine tasks. When your brain gets weaned off high-dopamine activities, it starts to appreciate slower activities such as working on a project, practising a skill, or studying. This way, the brain gets used to doing tasks it finds boring, demanding, or tedious but necessary to raise the productivity level. Being mindful about your daily activities to get the most out of your day from low dopamine to high dopamine activities. Begin your day with the essential task, which is necessary for your growth. Once completed, cross off the highest priority item on your list, then sailing throughout the day gets easier. If you are a person who begins your day with high dopamine activities, like social media or gaming, you will find it challenging to get back to low dopamine activities. Because you might mean to check social media just for a few seconds, but as it's easy to get hooked on it, you end up clicking away for hours. Before you know it, it's lunchtime, and a good portion of the day is gone, and you haven't done anything much useful. So,

filtering your activities based on critical and urgent will support you with this. We can get distracted with many things during the day, so if there's something important that you know is important or urgent, schedule it – allocate a date and time to it. "Knowledge is not power; implementation of knowledge has power," says Tony Robbins. Here's what you can do to keep high-dopamine activities out of reach to boost your productivity: 1. Become aware of the facts or knowledge. 2. Accept or embrace the concept fully; collect evidence and build your trust. 3. Finally, take the required actions; implement what you have learned to achieve your desired results. Implementation is a must. Spending hours on social media, consuming high sugar volumes, playing video games, and eating fatty foods aren't good for you, but if you have them right beside you, the temptation is high, and it's hard to resist. The trick is to make it challenging to reach those high-dopamine activities. The more difficult it is to get those things, the less likely you are to give in. It's all about modifying surroundings in a way that supports you in reaching your goal rather than wasting energy swimming against the current. You can hack your dopamine, but without any extra effort, you can only go so far. When you see it through these lenses, motivation can't just be about increasing dopamine. It is about being strategic and diligent. Plan and record small accomplishments: taking small steps to build momentum and a sense of progress, and keeping a record of those accomplished small steps gives you a more significant dopamine effect. Your brain can be trained to create a dopamine environment, then the brain does the rest. You can set a reward system, like positive reinforcement, to help the brain, so every time you complete a task or meet a challenge – celebrate it. Set micro-goals to complete macro tasks: It is normal to feel discouraged or demotivated when you face a significant challenge or project or a goal that could take hours, days, or months to complete. Having a simple to-do list with micro-goals can make a big difference. And remember to reward yourself each time you accomplish that small goal. As a result of doing this, your brain starts to expect a reward, resulting in dopamine release, which then motivates you to keep going. Your brain links the rewards to completing a task which becomes a motivation factor and supports you on your journey to achieving success. Share your results or achievements with others: Communicating your results means that others will recognise and appreciate your work, resulting in more positive feedback. Praise and having others realise your work can increase your dopamine. Exercise and maintain healthy eating habits: Regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle can boost dopamine activity in more sustainable ways. Exercising stimulates dopamine to put you in the right state to

work and learn. Having a routine of any light form of exercises like going for a walk or jog can make a difference, and if you decide on choosing a short, high-intensity workout, it can propel your dopamine to new heights. Getting Enough Sleep: We naturally have higher dopamine levels during the day, which keeps you alert and focused and lower dopamine levels later in the day to help you rest and sleep, as our natural dopamine cycle. Flagging of your dopamine levels during the day can result from lack of sleep, which in turn drops the motivation to get things done. Quality sleep supports rejuvenating the dopamine levels and put your brain in its alpha wave mode. Listen to Music: Listening to music, especially music that you prefer to listen to, can significantly increase dopamine levels, boosting motivation. Boost your dopamine with a healthy diet: Adding protein, probiotics, velvet beans, cutting down on the saturated fat can boost dopamine into your system. Sunlight has a direct relation to our mood, so sunlight exposure can raise dopamine levels. Utilise the power of Affirmations: Many people use affirmations as they can guide their subconscious mind. Write down affirmations and say them out loud at certain times during the day. Taking this into your daily practice can transform your attitude from pessimism into positive expectation. Visualisation: Visualisation is a powerful tool to retrain your subconscious mind. Using visualisation techniques can change how the brain networks are organised. It helps us create a connection between the brain and body because you get to feel and experience a situation that hasn't happened yet. This provides your brain with a signal, an expectation, and your brain is activated with dopamine, which works in motivation. Focusing on how great the experience would be once your goal or project is completed creates a goal accomplishment system. As a result, driven and focused people are motivated to complete their work. That is the secret to an entrepreneur's success, which others call luck or destiny. But they learn and work on creating their own destiny rather than settling. Are you ready to create your own destiny and design your life? If yes, contact us NOW @ 1800 MY DESTINY.

Barinderjeet Kaur is a Life coach and human behavior specialist based in Melbourne. | Facebook page: Empower Your Destiny

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FESTIVALS

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Easter Celebrations

BY ARCHITA BAWEJA

t was a long weekend on Easter and my family and I visited the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. The weather was beautiful, and we could see a lot of people enjoying time with their family. The chocolatier was full of decorations in the form of easter eggs, bunnies, chicks and flowers. My niece participated in the Easter egg hunt and other fun games while we all enjoyed desserts like hot cross buns and pancakes with hot beverages. It was one of those spectacular days which one never forgets. The memory of that day reminds me of the amazing spirit of Easter and the time around it. Easter is traditionally a Christian festival that marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remembering the resurrection of Jesus is a way to renew daily hope that we have victory over sin. The dates of Easter change from year to year but it usually falls sometime between the end of March and the end of April. Easter follows a period of fasting called Lent. For Christians, Lent is a time to prepare for Easter and to think about their relationship with God. It represents the 40 days when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert. During this time, he didn't eat or drink anything. Because of this, some

Christians give up some food or 'fast' for Lent. For some people this is giving up all food and just drinking, but for others, they just give up luxury food like chocolate or cakes. Sometimes this is also called the

'The Great Fast'. Also, the week before Easter is called the Holy week. In many churches around the world special services are held every day and up to and including the Good Friday. A lot of churches start the Easter Sunday celebrations at Midnight on Easter Eve. Candles are used in churches all over the world to start the Easter Day Midnight celebrations. Candles help Christians to remember that Jesus is the light of the world and that when he rose to life on Easter Day, he got rid of the darkness of evil. In some churches, the service starts in darkness. Then twelve candles are lit, and these are taken round the rest of the church lighting the other candles. When a candle is lit the priest says, 'Christ is Risen!' and the congregation respond, 'He is Risen Indeed!'. In other places, fireworks are used to start the service. Easter traditions are different for each community and family but at the end the most important tradition is to be together as a family and to thank Jesus for all he did and how he saved us. This Easter, we place our hopes and lives with Christ, so we march, share meals, donate, worship, pray and proclaim bearing witness to the one who is with all of us.

Archita Baweja of Melbourne is an engineer by profession but a writer at heart

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EXPLORE VICTORIA

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Where to find the

Autumn colours in Melbourne?

BY DEBASREE DAS

ll leaves are falling down, orange, yellow, red and brown. Falling softly as they do, over me and over you! As a kid, I loved singing this song, without knowing how gorgeous Autumn looks like. The magic of regional Victoria comes to life during Autumn, the majestic colours and the extravaganza nature displays are worth the capture. From Late March to late April, you can catch these slow transitions of colours across the Regional Victoria. So, here are my few picks where I will be visiting this autumn to catch the Autumn colours. # Alfred Nicholas Garden, Yarra Valley. Autumn colours are best seen at the Alfred Nicolas Memorial Garden, and this pretty little boathouse is my Insta- favourite. Alfred Nicholas Garden is a hidden gem perched in the Yarra Valley ranges. This little boat house is totally picturesque and during

autumn the colours are worth the capture. A perfect getaway place for a weekend picnic or a mini trail walk in nature. My favourite place is relaxing by the boathouse amidst nature. Their trail walks are equally amazing. Park your car and take any walk depending upon your energy levels.

This popular destination is famous for bike trails and camping in the Mount Buffalo national park. Catch the early sunrise across Alpine national park, chase the colours at the Canyon walk and unwind in the evening over a warm cuppa on Murray mountain trail.

# Mount Macedon A beautiful small town just 2 hours’ drive from Melbourne city, Macedon offers you an extravaganza of Autumn colours. Macedon’s Honour avenue, along with the gardens, put up a great show during this season. The Mt. Macedon Uniting Church, located in the heart of the city is a total eye candy, during this time.

So, what are you waiting for? Now with the $200 travel vouchers being issued again by the Victorian Government, we have more reasons to step out and appreciate our very own state.

#Emerald Lake Park, Yarra Valley As it's school holidays time, what could be a better way than to take the kids to the Puffing Billy, while you spend the day enjoying the gorgeous colours of nature. Whether you decide to boat or go for trail walking around the Emerald Lake, you can’t miss out the gorgeous colours around this place. #Bright, High Country Bright is known to all Melburnians, for its high-country flora and fauna. And you probably will not be satisfied until you have visited the Canyon walk and explored the lanes across the walk. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @travelinstylewithdebs for your daily fashion inspiration. travelinstylewithdebs

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MOTOR REVIEW MOTOR REVIEW

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

BMW 430i Coupe BY AMANDEEP SETHI

t the 4-Series’ release back in 2013, many enthusiasts were left scratching their head at its purpose. Following the first generation 4-Series press release, phrases like “it’s just a 3-Series with two doors chopped off,” and “those rear seats couldn’t fit an infant” could be heard resonating around the web from fans and reviewers alike. Since 2013, those complaints have been justified; the 4-Series really did seem like an impractical and less spacious version of a car that already existed. With the 2021 redesign of the BMW 4-Series comes a rethink of BMW’s coupe philosophy. The new coupe deviates far enough from the current 3-Series that there are serious reasons to consider it over the slightly more practical option. Styling and unique performance options are the primary standouts here, the likes of which cannot be found in any other vehicle in the BMW lineup. In our most recent test, we drove the all-new 2021 BMW 430i Coupe; the middle child of the G22 model range. As the minor-league athlete on the roster, the 430i is meant for cruising comfortably around business parks rather than racetracks. With that being said, the 430i puts BMW’s new coupe theory to the test as a rival city cruiser to the 3-Series. By now, almost everything has been said about BMW’s new controversial design direction when it comes to the 2021 4-Series. Some say that the front end is arrogant and begs for attention while others claim that it is a peek into the future of modern automotive styling; there don’t seem to be many people in the camp between. Depending on the individual, the 2021 430i could either be considered the ugliest vehicle of the year or the prettiest. Luckily, if you do find yourself disappointed by the styling, BMW does offer different – but only minorly different – front bumper options as standard from the factory. Our test vehicle was outfitted with the ‘M Aerodynamics’ package, adding no additional price to the MRLP while invigorating the front and rear end with gaping inlets. While the alternate bumper doesn’t mend the grille size, it does increase the appeal ever-so-slightly. Although the new 4-Series wears a new and groundbreaking skin, the interior is an area where innovation is yet to be seen. As standard in the rest of BMW’s current sedan lineup, the cabin is defined by soft leather, brushed aluminum, and rubberized plastic. The repetition isn’t necessarily a negative, as the interior of the 430i still feels roomy and inviting, if not just a bit sterile. The build

quality of a few interior pieces was brought into question on a couple of occasions while driving, like an audible rattle coming from the leather wrapped sport steering wheel when going over bumps in the road. The 430i is loaded with onboard tech. A 12.3” digital cluster sits front and center, with an additional 10.25” touch control display positioned immediately to the right. Between the two screens, there is plenty of digital real-estate for operating navigation, Apple Car Play and diagnostic systems; all of which come included from the factory. BMW has emphasized new and groundbreaking safety features in most of their modern vehicles. While it is hard to argue against these new features, some of them still need to have kinks resolved before they are truly seamless. The ‘Driving Assistant Professional’ package included in the 430i is BMW’s answer to lane assist – aiding the driver to stay in their lane if the vehicle starts to drift. While a good feature in concept, at this point it is atrociously anti intuitive – forcing you from nearing any dotted lines on the road as though it is made for people who are cross-eyed or suffer from vertigo. Performance is a tricky spot for the 430i. Caught between its bigger brother - the M440i - and the youngest child - the 420i - the 430i is a messy blend between the two. Weighing in at 1545 kg, the 430i lugs around 75 more kilos than the 2021 330i which shares the same engine. This added weight is immediately noticeable and makes the 430i feel sluggish with only 190kW on tap from its twinscroll turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.

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For a daily cruiser, the limited power wont often be an issue especially given its smooth acceleration, but you wont likely win many races. BMW attempted to solve this bloating issue with stiffer and sportier suspension to handle the body roll tendencies that the 430i struggles with around sharper bends. Unfortunately, the suspension is spine-punishingly rigid as a result. Sport suspension paired with the standard low profile run-flat tires adds up to a borderline uncomfortable ride, especially on uneven roads. So, with appearance, interior and performance of the 2021 430i adding up to a 3-series rivaling package, all that remains is an aspect that was a letdown in the previous generation 4-Series: practicality. In terms of sheer statistics, the 430i is well improved on this front. With 440 litres of boot space, the 430i has only 40 litres less in the back than a 2021 3-Series. Not bad for a two door. While the sloping roofline does decrease headroom a bit, the 430i’s rear seats are fitted for average sized humans, not just shopping bags. The 4-Series has clearly carved out a market of its own in BMW’s “refreshed” lineup, giving buyers the option for a fresh, sporty face without much of a sacrifice. When it comes to a luxury cruiser for daily use, the BMW 430i makes owning a two door a viable option.

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

RAJASTHAN OCTOGENARIAN ON RE-KINDLED ROMANCE WITH AUSSIE GIRLFRIEND -’FEEL 21 AGAIN’ Half a century after having to part with the love of his life, a visiting Australian tourist, over the question of where they would stay after marriage, the rekindled romance of an 82-year-old man, only identified as the ‘gatekeeper of Kuldhara’, a “haunted village” in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, has sparked widespread interest from various parts of the world. The man, who shared his story on a social media group without revealing his identity, is ecstatic after his girlfriend, who he identified as Marina and whom he had even travelled to Melbourne to meet in the heydays of their love story, reconnected with him out of the blue, and promised to come soon to meet him. “Ramji ki kasam, I feel like I’m 21 again! I don’t know what the future holds, but knowing that my first love is back in my life and talks to me every day is a feeling I can’t explain,” the excited man said, as per his account on Facebook page of the ‘Humans of Bombay’. His story evoked huge interest from readers all over the world, anxious to know further developments in the long-lost, longdistance romance.

Australian citizen Debbie Jones posted: “Tuning in from Australia. Please do a follow up on this story! I can understand not wanting to leave your incredibly rich culture and the home you love, Sir. Wishing you and Marina happiness in these golden years. Another social media user says: “Please can we know what’s Happening once they meet again... I really need to see photographs of them... I really want to believe they will love again. I am in tears seeing a soul connection that never got fulfilled and I am still hoping it will.” Many others also gave their best wishes to the “couple”.

Nobody had said those words to me before. I can never forget that day - I was feeling so shy that I couldn’t utter a word in response to her confession!” “But she understood and we stayed in touch”. “After Marina flew back, she’d write to me every week. And a few weeks later, she invited me to Australia --I was over the moon! “Without informing my family, I took a loan of Rs 30,000, bought a ticket to Melbourne, arranged for a visa and flew to be with her. Those 3 months were magical--she taught me English, I taught her ‘ghoomar’. But then she said, ‘Let’s get married and settle in Australia!’-- things got complicated.

The man had spent most of his life in Kuldhara working as a gatekeeper and recently shared his first and last love story on social media.

“I wasn’t ready to leave my motherland and she wasn’t willing to move to India. I told her -- ‘This can’t work long term’, and we decided to part ways. She cried a lot the day I left, but I had to let her go.

“I was in my 30s when I first met Marina -she had come to Jaisalmer all the way from Australia, for a desert safari. It was a 5-day trip and I taught her to ride a camel! This was the 1970s -- ‘un dino, pehli nazar mein bhi pyaar ho jata tha (in those days, it used to be love at first sight)!

“Then, life moved on. A few years later, owing to family pressure, I had to get married. After, I took up a job as the gatekeeper of Kuldhara, the abandoned ghost town near my village to fend for my family. But quite often, I’d find myself thinking about Marina -- Would she have gotten married? Will I ever see her again?’ but I never had the courage to write to her,” he says.

“And that’s exactly what happened - for both of us, it was love at first sight. Throughout the trip, we couldn’t take our eyes off each other. And before leaving for Australia, Marina said the three magical words to me, ‘I love you’. I went red!

“As time passed, memories faded; I got busy with family responsibilities. And then 2 years ago, my wife passed away. All my sons were married and had moved out. And here I was, an 82-year-old man, gatekeeping India’s haunted village.” “And just when I thought that life couldn’t surprise me anymore, it did! A month ago, out of nowhere, Marina wrote to me. She asked, ‘How are you, my friend?’; I had goosebumps. After 50 years, she found me! Since then, she’s been calling me every day; we have so much to catch up on! “She told me that she’d never gotten married and that she’s coming to India soon.”

(IANS)

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ARTS

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

WHY KATHAK IS MEDITATION FOR THIS SUFI DANCER

An astute Kathak danseuse of the Lucknow Gharana, Rani Khanam has dared to differ in her dance practice. Integrating Islamic verses and Sufiana Kalam of mystic Sufi poets in her Kathak practice for over 20 years, she has carved a global niche as a pioneering Muslim Kathak classical dancer. She has also used choreographed productions as a medium to raise awareness on causes like HIV/AIDS, rights of women, including Muslim women, and at those time dancing was not pursued persons with disabilities. openly. But with conviction, power and passion I was able to overcome all The founder director of ‘Aamad Kathak Dance Centre’ in east Delhi, Khanam recently these and till today I am working in the society by maintaining performed on the compositions of Bulleh Shah and Hazrat Amir Khusrau. Excerpts from all due respect. interview with her on the sidelines:

How did you take to dancing and Kathak? Khanam: I have been dancing since childhood. Everything I have done so far, is a contribution to this field. In fact, since a very early age I have seen and understood things through dance’s perspective. I pursued Kathak as it is one of the classical dances of the North and carried on with it since then. For me Kathak is like a meditation, a sadhana which is there in my everyday practice. You are a practising Sufi, how do you incorporate it into your dance practice? Please also tell us about the historical research undertaken by you on the Islamic influence on Kathak. Khanam: Sufi is not a practice, it is a thought. To blend with Sufi in one colour without any discrimination is a way to connect with the supreme power above - the almighty. Sufi has a very simple way, let it be through devotion or Sufi, it’s the same thing. Alongside, I have done research and been working on Islamic verses, Sufiana kalam of renowned poets for the past more than 20 years. I have performed on it at an international level and collaborated with international artists and Sufi dancers.

How did you keep refining your practice during 2020’s lockdown? What did it mean to you? Khanam: For the past one year, due to Covid, life has given us time for us to think positively. Being an optimistic person, I believe that if things go wrong there must be a good reason behind it. It needs us to improve. This was a refinement period for me. I took classes, participated in virtual programmes with the kids and other artists. I have been a part of various online discussions. So, last year I tried to be as constructive as possible. You performed ‘Holi Khelungi Keh Ke Bismillah’ by Bulleh Shah at Kathak Kendra.

You have defied many odds during your dance career... Khanam: Every artist, every human has odds in their life and it is very natural. But when you are focussed on your goals you don’t realise when you have surpassed those odds. Being a Muslim, I had little obstacles as

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Please tell us about it.

Khanam: Kathak Kendra’s event ‘Swadheenta Ke Rang, Phalgun Ke Sang’ is a very nice concept where they have invited all the Kathak artists along with artists from other art fields on the occasion of Holi. I performed a few Bandish, one of them was of Hazrat Amir Khusrau’s and is based on Raag Basant Bahar Mishr. The second bandish was by Baba Bulleh Shah’s ‘Holi Khelungi Keh Ke Bismillah’. The way I portrayed was the Almighty is the actual painter who has painted the entire world with the colour of love. He combined all the true colours of love and unity and came with a rainbow. All the colours on the earth like sea, leaves are all given by God. I am glad that people admired my performance during the show. By Siddhi Jain

WELLBEING

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

SKIN PROBLEMS

THAT INDICATE SERIOUS UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES Your skin, the largest organ of the human body, reflects everything that is going on inside your system while also acting as a protective barrier from harmful micro-organisms in our environment. Our skin tells us everything we need to know about our physical and mental health, but not everyone knows how to read these signs that could be pointing out to more serious underlying health issues.

What we do need to do is watch our skin closely to pick up early indicators of an underlying internal medical issue that needs immediate attention.

been too clumsy? If you’re bruising often and very easily, it could. sometimes be a sign of Leukemia. It is a known fact that a low blood platelet count can make you more susceptible to bruises. Of course, Simal Soin, founder of AAYNA Clinic, this doesn’t have to cause worry, but if the points out a few of these tell-tale signs: problem persists, you must visit a doctor and get your blood cell count tested. Skin eruptions In some cases, skin eruptions like acne, Itchy Skin rashes, itching and swelling, pigmented Cirrhosis, a liver disease, is another spots and patches could be signs of cause for itchy skin that is not related to allergies, liver diseases, hormonal pregnancy. Early damage to the organ imbalances, drug reactions or certain often has zero symptoms. Later, however, auto-immune conditions. For example, people have reported experiencing a butterfly rash across the face is often constant itching all over their body the first sign of Lupus. It could also be accompanied by a yellow cast to their either rosacea or contact dermatitis, skin often associated with jaundice. nevertheless, it must be checked by a Luckily, after diagnosis, you can prevent medical practitioner. Itchy, violet rash on further damage by eating healthy and the wrist is called Lichen planus and is exercising. made up of reddish-purple, flat-topped itchy bumps. This usually appears on the A Leg Plaque wrists or ankles but could also erupt in the It can first appear as a dull, reddish mouth or on the lower back, neck, legs, coloured patch that then becomes shinier and genitals. If you find this on your body, with a distinct border. Sometimes, the you may need to get liver tests done as it affected skin may crack and become is often linked to Hepatitis C. itchy or painful. Doctors call it necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. As the name Discoloration suggests, it is a distinctive but rare sign of You might suddenly find diabetes. discolorations dotting the skin on your According to Soin, not all skin conditions legs. Is this are cause of concern! “A majority of skin a leg rash problems do not reflect serious health or have conditions and can be cured with an you effective skincare routine, healthy diet just and exercise. You can take care of your skin by gently cleansing daily, keeping it hydrated, using a broad-spectrum sunscreen and periodic mild exfoliation to get rid of the dead skin build-up. It is, however, advisable to always get tested if a skin issue is troubling you over a period of time. Prevention is better than cure and early detection is key to staying healthy,” says Soin. Note- Use only dermatologistrecommended/ approved skincare products for a home-care regimen. By Puja Gupta

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FEATURE

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

MOCKED FOR SHIFTING TO DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION:

CHHAVI MITTAL

Chhavi founded ‘Shitty Ideas Trending’ (SIT) in 2015 with her husband Mohit Hussein of 16 years now. SIT is a popular YouTube channel which focusses on the content based mostly on funny real-life situations of a husband-wife relationship. It has over 1.85 million subscribers.

Actress Chhavi Mittal, who broke away from the silver screen to dive into the digital world six years ago, says, “Initially we had fellow industry veterans mocking us saying that shifting to digital content creation is a downgrade and we were probably out of work.”

to also finally create the content that we wanted to create, not what the networks decided for us.

We found freedom of expression in content creation. We pioneered content in the husband-wife relationship space and since a 100 per cent of the people around the world have had some experience or the other in Spoke to Chhavi to discover the community she is the dynamics of this relationship, our part of. Read excerpts: content flew from the very first video. And with virality as one of the Q: How has your journey been till now? best forms of addictions doing A: We started six years ago with the need to do the rounds, the bug hit us quite something out of the box -- something the heart wants. early on! We did not think of it as a business to begin with, and I think that became our strongest point. Mohit and I Q: What made you shift both feel that something which comes from the heart from the silver screen to reaches the heart. Hence, we were able to instantly the realm of digital video connect with our audience, and still continue to do creators? so. The journey has been full of ups and downs, and A: Like I mentioned new learnings along the way. The new tools that earlier, it all began with Facebook comes up with every now and then makes it the question, “what impossible to become complacent and that becomes next?”. But once the one of the most exciting part of the journey. virality bug hit us, there was no turning Q: What was your inspiration to begin with? back. Initially we A: When we started, Mohit had been a film-maker and had fellow industry television director for almost 15-20 years, and I had veterans mock us been an actor for around 12-15 years. We wanted to saying that shifting break away from what we were doing at the time, and to digital content literally just wanted to float and experiment without creation is a putting too much thought into it. We felt that it was downgrade time to take our respective crafts to the next level, and and

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G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021 probably we’re out of work now. But slowly and surely when the videos started reaching out, we had the same people call us to ask us how we did it. And now of course you have the Netflix and the Amazons of the world in the same business. You know that it’s no longer the future, it is the present. But I must mention that the popularity, the recognition and most importantly, the love that we receive on SIT, we did not receive in even the biggest of TV shows that we had both been a part of, respectively. While it is relatively easy for actors as they are visible on screen, for people like Mohit, who is behind the camera; to know that people know him by name as the creator of SIT just proves the power of digital media. Q: Given that you are also a part of Facebook’s ongoing ‘More Together’ campaign which focuses on the power of connections, how do you relate to it? A: SIT is a combined effort. Mohit thinks of ideas and scripts, he picks the topics that we incorporate, we bring in actors and all of us collaborate to put into execution the script which is on paper. I think of ways to market it and drive engagement and curiosity around it. We all do our bit of sharing to help the content reach out. We sit down and brainstorm at times and the whole process is so therapeutic. I couldn’t think of any other campaign where SIT fits so aptly. Q: How do you feel about the community that you are part of? How has it evolved with time? A: Our community is our strength and that is what drives us day in and day out. We have a very immersive and a very loyal community who have been a part of our growth journey. We take their feedback very seriously, as they have been nothing but kind to us. From the time we began, the community was mostly newly married couples or couples in relationships, but now it seems as though their lives have moved forward with ours and now even the community is settled in their relationships, have kids, have settled jobs etc., just the way we have. Q: What were some of the challenges that you faced when you started, and how did you overcome them? A: Well, the biggest challenge was generating revenue. We knew that we loved doing this. But it was also a question of sustaining SIT by generating returns. The next big thing was understanding social media. We had never been active on any platform and this was all so new to us. We just kept the faith that if the videos are getting viral, it is only a matter of time before we find a

way to monetise them. And platforms like Facebook are so user friendly that it is almost like somebody giving you a tutorial. We still continue to hit roadblocks now while thinking of novel ideas to script the next video, though. But we believe that we pull through each time. Q: People resorted to social videos for entertainment -- what do you have to say to that? A: When Covid-19 hit, the first thing that worried us was that collective shoots were no longer possible. Which meant, it was just Mohit and I. Luckily for us, the two of us were able to pull through with content production. We own most of the equipment that is required, we write our content ourselves, and Mohit knows how to handle the camera and other technical aspects. So, we started shooting as a two-man army. Scripts were written with me as the solo actor, and we got other actors on the phone. We collaborated with a new member, who is our neighbour and roped her in as an actor. And when things started opening up a bit, one more crew member, Karan V Grover started coming home for shoots considering we all live in the same apartment complex. The bigger challenge was the post-production. Uploading of the footage on the servers and downloading by the editor who was working from home became very time consuming. Besides that, some of our other staff also quit. I would say Covid-19 made

us much more efficient in that sense because we learnt that the show must go on. Q: Has this journey affected your silver screen presence in any way? A: It has only made it better in the sense that it has given us the power to choose what we want to do. There are still a lot of offers that pour in on a regular basis but somewhere to be able to choose to associate with the projects that resonate with us was never there before SIT happened. I think happiness is to be able to wake up and decide what you want to do every day. And that sort of happiness, we only experienced with SIT. . By Puja Gupta

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TECH

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

SMARTPHONE CAMERA MEASURE PULSE, BREATHING RATE Researchers have developed a method that uses the camera on a person’s smartphone or computer to take their pulse and respiration signal from a real-time video of their face. The development comes at a time when telehealth has become a critical way for doctors to provide health care while minimising in-person contact during Covid-19. The University of Washington-led team’s system uses machine learning to capture subtle changes in how light reflects off a person’s face, which is correlated with changing blood flow. Then it converts these changes into both pulse and respiration rate. The researchers presented the system in December at the Neural Information Processing Systems conference.

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Conference on Health, Interference, and Learning. “Every person is different,” said lead study author Xin Liu, a UW doctoral student. “So this system needs to be able to quickly adapt to each person’s unique physiological signature, and separate this from other variations, such as what they look like and what environment they are in.” The first version of this system was trained with a dataset that contained both videos of people’s faces and “ground truth” information: each person’s pulse and respiration rate measured by standard

instruments in the field. The system then used spatial and temporal information from the videos to calculate both vital signs. While the system worked well on some datasets, it still struggled with others that contained different people, backgrounds and lighting. This is a common problem known as “overfitting,” the team said. The researchers improved the system by having it produce a personalised machine learning model for each individual. Specifically, it helps look for important areas in a video frame that likely contain physiological features correlated with changing blood flow in a face under different contexts, such as different skin tones, lighting conditions and environments.

Now the team is proposing a better system to measure these physiological signals.

From there, it can focus on that area and measure the pulse and respiration rate.

This system is less likely to be tripped up by different cameras, lighting conditions or facial features, such as skin colour, according to the researchers who will present these findings on April 8 at the

While this new system outperforms its predecessor when given more challenging datasets, especially for people with darker skin tones, there is still more work to do, the team said. (IANS)

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VIRTUAL

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

45 45

1 IN 4 ONLINE USERS ALLOW APPS ACCESS TO MIC, WEBCAM

Almost a quarter of online users always give apps and services permission to access their microphone or webcam, according to a global study of 15,000 people. However, overall awareness of webcam security is promisingly high, with nearly six-in-ten worried that someone could be watching them through their webcam without them knowing, and 60 per cent concerned that this could be done via malicious software, said the study conducted by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. But the results come at a time when there is higher usage of video conferencing platforms amid the pandemic. Understandably, with these technologies and apps helping people to navigate the events of the past year across work, social and entertainment needs, people have expressed a willingness to allow app access to their microphone and camera. These tools have served as an enricher and facilitator of everyone’s sudden

consumer behaviour like taking preventive actions and checking permissions before allowing video and microphone access.” The best way to balance sufficient caution, while continuing to benefit from modern means of communication, would be to exercise mindful consideration around the apps and services people are using and what permissions they request. digital transitions, leading to 27 per cent of people aged 25-34 always permitting access, according to Kaspersky research. This is less common among older age demographics, however, with 38 per cent respondents aged 55 years and older revealing they never give apps and services such access. “For sure, many people aren’t instantly familiar with security protocols related to webcam usage and cybersecurity processes. However, what we are observing now is a strong positive trend of increased awareness around online safety and potential threats,” Marina Titova, Head of Consumer Product Marketing at Kaspersky, said in a statement. “This leads to more proactive

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For example, if a video calling app has camera permissions that would make sense. But if there is an app without any relevant functionality requesting access to a person’s mic for no justifiable reason, it might be better to investigate and explore permissions. Users can take various measures to feel safer while using webcams. Some of the measures recommended by Kaspersky include investing in a simple, dedicated webcam cover to provide peace of mind when the tool is not being used and using an effective security solution that offers advanced protection and covers multiple devices including PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. (IANS)

RELATIONSHIPS

With changing times, the dating scenario has also witnessed major shifts. According to a recent survey, various old-fashioned trends are making a comeback in the dating community and there are various notable changes in the behaviour and ideology of both men and women daters. Dating platform QuackQuack’s survey says that 60 per cent users seek emotional attachment in a relationship while 83 per cent prefer meeting the prospective partners in person rather than dating virtually. It adds that 58 per cent users consider the meeting to be the decisive element for committing to their partner and the relationship. The key highlights of the report are: 4No more casual connections Majority of the users (60per cent) seek emotional attachment whereas 40 per cent look for physical connection. While 73 per cent females find an emotional connection with their partner to be important, 55 per cent men give preference to emotional attachment whereas 45 per cent males are inclined towards physical intimacy. Women daters crave all the more for emotional attachment as compared to male daters. Urban areas (63 per cent) daters give preference to emotional attachment whereas more than 40 per cent users from small cities and towns are upfront about their priority for physical connection

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Dating revisits old school trends

person to develop genuine connections. 72 per cent daters comprising of the users between 21-30 age group prefer the same. On the contrary, 46 per cent of the young generation below 20 years age group, are fine with virtual dating. Seventy-eight per cent men and 60 per cent women users choose meeting in person over virtual dating. Seventy-three per cent users from both metropolitan cities and towns no longer worry about the pandemic and express their desire to meet their date in person and only 27 per cent keep virtual dating as an option 4Old-school physical meeting essential before committing Majority (58 per cent) of users in the 18-30 age category are of the opinion that virtual date is not sufficient and that they look forward to having a physical date to meet their partner. A startling 61 percentage of both men and women daters desire to meet their date before taking the big step. However, out of these, 39 per cent daters are flexible and can consider virtual dates to be the decisive factor for the relationship as well. Despite living a modern lifestyle, 61

4Meeting in person critical to developing genuine connections Majority of the users (80 per cent) look forward to meeting their partners in-

per cent of people from metros and top cities prefer the old-fashioned way of physically meeting before committing to their partner for a relationship Finding the partner putting an end to app usage-Majority of the daters (70 per cent), continue using the app despite finding the partner and want to keep their options open whereas only 30 per cent delete the app. Seventy-three per cent of male users and 54 per cent of female users continue using the dating app. Men daters openly express that it is highly unlikely of them discontinuing the usage of the app. On the other hand, 46 per cent women daters delete the dating app once they have found a partner. Despite possessing modern values, 64 per cent users in metro cities delete the dating once their partner search comes to end whereas 70 per cent of users from small cities continue using the app.

To summarise, the report suggests that the dating ballgame is ever evolving and is witnessing major changes with many old school trends making a comeback. Physical dates are given preference despite the pandemic situation and are the deciding factor for the daters for committing to their partners. In the present fast-paced life, users crave emotional attachment while physical intimacy is secondary for them. By Puja Gupta

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LIFESTYLE

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Early TV time not linked to Is your dog attention problems in kids a cardiac patient?

Challenging the findings of an earlier research, a new study claims that there is no evidence to show that exposure to television in toddlerhood causes attention-deficit problems in school-age children. The new research, published in the journal Psychological Science, re-examined previous work that claimed to show a direct link between early screen time and attention problems in children.

“The findings from the original study, upon further scrutiny, are not borne out. We found that there is still no evidence that TV, by itself, causes ADHD or any kind of attention problems in young children,” study co-author Wallace Dixon, Professor of Psychology at East Tennessee State University in the US, said “Our research also tells us that it’s important to be sceptical of earth-shattering findings that come in the form of ‘something that everybody is doing harms our children’.” The newly-reported research involved looking at the same data as the 2004 study and using multiverse analyses -- a technique that involves asking a research question hundreds of different

ways to determine if the answers are similar each time. This method was used to create 848 analyses to find out if early TV viewing causes later attention problems. A vast majority of results showed no link between the two. The few that did, the authors believe, reflect some oddities in the data set that are not likely to represent the real world. “What excites us about the research is that we can ease up on blaming parents or making them feel guilty for letting their children watch television when they are very young,” said Dixon.

6 out of 10 people may lose jobs to machines by 2025

At least 6 out of 10 people worldwide are likely to lose their jobs by 2025 as humans and machines are probably to spend equal amounts of time at work, reveals a new report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The report was based on a survey of 32,000 workers conducted by the consulting giant PwC across 19 countries. While nearly 40 per cent workers globally think they would lose their jobs in five years, 56 per cent feel that fewer people would obtain longterm employment in the future, the survey showed. More than 60 per cent demanded that governments must work to protect their jobs.

(IANS)

The survey also showed that 40 per cent of workers used the Covid-induced lockdown in 2020 to hone their digital skills, while 77 per cent were ready to learn new skills or to retrain. Further, 80 per cent were confident in their ability to adapt to new technologies. According to a previous WEF report, the growing reliance on machines and artificial intelligence have increased the risk of loss of 85 million jobs. At the same time, they are also likely to generate 97 million new jobs in such a scenario. (IANS)

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Stress has become the most widely used term which is engulfing not only humans but also companion animals. Although in pets, stress is linked with ageing, compromised immunity, change of weather, among various other factors, informs Prachi Kshatriya, Veterinarian, who also consults on Practo. “Talking about the most stress sensitive organ, heart, it not only fulfills the requirement of every body tissue but also acts as a support system during the pressure phase.” 4Usually large breeds like 4Doberman Pinschers 4Labrador Retrievers 4Boxers 4Great Danes 4German Shepherds, etc and middle aged dogs are more prone to cardiac ailments like congestive cardiac failure, heart valve insufficiency, pericardial effusion and many more, says the doctor. Don’t ignore your dog if you notice the following: 4regular coughing 4 exhausted after short walk or playful activity 4lying down for long 4reduced appetite 4reluctant to climb stairs 4dull appearance and sitting alone “Approximately, 10 per cent young and 65 per cent of older dogs suffer from various cardiac problems and end up dying either due to negligence or unawareness of the owners.” The expert advises: “Consult a vet if you find any changes in your pet’s behaviour or routine activities, the vet will perform some blood work and imaging tests like x-ray, echocardiography, electrocardiography, etc to confirm whether your pet is suffering from any cardiac malfunctioning or not.” By Puja Gupta

HEALTH

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Benefits of fish oil ay depend on genotype Should you take fish oil? It depends on your genotype, say researchers as they have found that taking fish oil only provides health benefits if you have the right genetic makeup. The study, published in the journal PLOS Genetics, focused on fish oil (and the Omega-3 fatty acids it contains) and its effect on triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood and a biomarker for cardiovascular disease. “We’ve known for a few decades that a higher level of Omega-3 fatty acids in the blood is associated with a lower risk of heart disease,” said researcher Kaixiong Ye from the University of Georgia. “What we found is that fish oil supplementation is not good for everyone; it depends on your genotype. If you have a specific genetic background, then fish oil supplementation will help lower your triglycerides. But if you do not have that right genotype, taking a fish oil supplement actually ncreases your triglycerides.”

For the study, the team examined four blood lipids (fats) -- high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and triglycerides -- that are biomarkers for cardiovascular disease. The data for their sample of 70,000 individuals was taken from UK Biobank, a large-scale cohort study collecting genetic and health information from half a million participants. The team divided the sample into two groups, those taking fish oil supplements (about 11,000) and those not taking fish oil supplements. Then they performed a genome-wide scan for each group, testing for 8 million genetic variants to compare. After running over 64 million tests, their results revealed a significant genetic variant at gene GJB2.

increased their triglycerides. (A third possible genotype, GG, was not evident in enough study volunteers to draw conclusions.)

Individuals with the AG genotype who took fish oil decreased their triglycerides. Individuals with the AA genotype who took fish oil slightly

(AGENCIES)

CAFFEINE INTAKE DURING PREGNANCY LINKED TO SMALLER BABIES Pregnant women who consumed caffeine as little as half a cup of coffee a day on an average had slightly smaller babies than pregnant women who did not consume caffeinated beverages, a new study revealed. The study found corresponding reductions in size and lean body mass for infants whose mothers consumed below the 200 milligrams of caffeine per day -- about two cups of coffee -believed to increase risks to the fetus. Smaller birth size can place infants at higher risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes later in life. “Until we learn more, our results suggest it might be prudent to limit or forego caffeinecontaining beverages during pregnancy,” said researcher Katherine L. Grantz from the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. For the study, published in the JAMA Network Open ,A the team analyzed data on more than 2,000 racially and ethnically diverse women at 12 clinical sites who were enrolled from 8 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. From weeks 10 to 13 of pregnancy, the women provided a blood sample that was later analyzed for caffeine and paraxanthine, a compound produced when caffeine is broken

down in the body. Compared to infants born to women with no or minimal blood levels of caffeine, infants born to women who had the highest blood levels of caffeine at enrolment were an average of 84 grams lighter at birth (about three ounces), were 0.44 centimeters shorter (about .17 inches), and had head circumferences 0.28 centimeters smaller (about 0.11 inches). Based on the women’s own estimates of the beverages they drank, women who consumed about 50 milligrams of caffeine a day (equivalent to a half cup of coffee) had infants 66 grams (about 2.3 ounces) lighter than infants born to non-caffeine consumers. Similarly, infants born to the caffeine consumers also had thigh circumferences 0.32 centimeters smaller (about 0.13 inches). The researchers noted that caffeine is

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believed to cause blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to constrict, which could reduce the blood supply to the fetus and inhibit growth. Similarly, researchers believe caffeine could potentially disrupt fetal stress hormones, putting infants at risk for rapid weight gain after birth and for later life obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

(IANS)

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

ASK DR. RAJ… This months Q: WARTS:

Q: Hello Dr Raj, My wife has developed several knob like growths on her face, arms etc in the last one year. Initially we noticed 2 such growths, one on the chin and other at the tip of the nose. These were freezed first and then laser burned when they reappeared later within 3 months. Now these growths are multiplied and we are greatly concerned that these may continue to spread and about health implications. This started shortly after my wife went for an aid camp as a volunteer. Mr. A.

Health tip:

an available opportunity. A detailed case study is required for effective treatment. Homeopathy has a proven track record in treating warts and also preventing their recurrence. The ideology behind this is not everyone exposed to the virus get warts. This is because of the strength of their immune system and its response. Homeopathic remedies will stimulate a similar response in the affected person’s immune system, thus the warts gradually dry drop off and in most cases do not reoccur.

Freezing of warts is called Cryotherapy. The wart is sprayed with liquid nitrogen at very low temperatures allowing the wart to drop off. Side A: Dear Mr.A, Warts are common, effects include pain, swelling, scaring and are caused by a viral infection and the results are not permanent. (viruses in the human papillomavirus Laser treatments burn off the wart but (HPV) family) and are contagious once again, may not be a permanent when in contact with the skin of the solution because the virus which causinfected person. Warts usually disap- es the wart is still well and truly alive pear after few months however can within your body. I have heard the also last several years and reoccur. continuous use of Apple Cider Vinegar Warts can grow on various parts of the on the wart surely helps the wart to body, face, inside the mouth, genitals, disappear but would not recommend hands, fingers etc. Also warts are of the use of such treatments by yourself different types such as flat and filiform without medical supervision when you warts (more common on the face), have available natural therapy alterplantar warts, mosaic and genital natives. warts etc. By Raj Kothuru Please send any of your health related questions to Your wife could have picked up the drraj@aurahealth.com.au with Ask Dr Raj as the subject virus in her travels or the virus could line or ph: 94788649 / 0425761826. The questions will have been dormant and manifested at be published with your identity protected.

Beetroot’s health benefits, includes improved blood flow, lower blood pressure, increased exercise performance and also helps prevent constipation since it is high in fibre content

4 Reasons for Root Canal Treatment

he 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. 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

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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 Dr Ved Berani BDS(Mum), ADEC(Aust), MBA(Melb), FIADFE, MFGDP(UK) Principal Dentist & Clinical Advisor Healthy Smiles Dental Group 150-152 Canterbury Rd, Blackburn South VIC 3130 Call us: (03) 9877 2035 www.healthysmiles.com.au

HEALTH

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

DAILY EXERCISE MAY BOOST BETTER HEALTH IN KIDNEY PATIENTS

Optimal amount of physical activity in patients with kidney disease may boost better health, says a new study.

Patients were divided into three groups according to weekly physical activity assessed with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) questionnaire -- highly active (WHO minimum or more), low-active (less than the WHO minimum), or inactive (no activity).

The findings indicate that compared to an inactive group, the highly active group had a 38 per cent lower risk of death, 17 per cent lower risk of end-stage renal disease, and 37 per cent lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.

A total of 1,915 patients were classified as highly active, 879 were low-active, and 1,714 were inactive.

“Our results suggest that physical activity should be integrated into the clinical care of patients with kidney disease,” said researcher Der-Cherng Tarng of Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity (e.g. walking) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity (e.g. jogging) weekly physical activity, or an equivalent combination, for health benefits in adults. For the study, published in the

Chronic kidney disease affects around 700 million people worldwide. Muscle wasting results in physical inactivity which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease -- the main cause of death in these patients.

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the team involved 4,508 patients with chronic kidney disease who were not on dialysis.

GUM INFECTION

LINKED TO ELEVATED BP Adults with periodontitis, a severe gum infection, may be significantly more likely to have higher blood pressure (BP) compared to individuals who had healthy gums, a new study revealed. The findings, published in the journal Hypertension, indicate that diagnosis of gum disease was associated with higher odds of hypertension, independent of common cardiovascular risk factors. “Patients with gum disease often present with elevated blood pressure, especially when there is active gingival inflammation, or bleeding of the gums,” said lead author Eva MuAoz Aguilera from the University College London in the UK. “Elevated blood pressure is usually asymptomatic, and many individuals may be unaware that they

Once chronic kidney disease progresses to end-stage renal disease, the risk of cardiovascular death is 10-20 times higher compared with the general population, the study indicated. (AGENCIES)

gum disease, all of whom were otherwise healthy and had no other chronic health conditions. The median age of the participants was 35 years, and 52.6 per cent were female. All participants underwent comprehensive periodontal examinations including detailed measures of gum disease severity, such as full-mouth dental plaque, bleeding of the gums and the depth of the infected gum pockets. Blood pressure assessments were measured three times for each participant to ensure accuracy.

are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications. We aimed to investigate the association between severe periodontitis and high blood pressure in healthy adults without a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension,” Aguilera added. Periodontitis is an infection of the gum tissues that hold teeth in place that can lead to progressive inflammation, bone or tooth loss. For the study, the team included 250 adults with generalized, severe periodontitis and a control group of 250 adults who did not have severe

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Individuals with gum disease were twice as likely to have high systolic blood pressure compared to people with healthy gums, the researchers said. The presence of active gum inflammation (identified by bleeding gums) was associated with higher systolic blood pressure, they added. Participants with periodontitis exhibited increased glucose, LDL (“bad” cholesterol), hsCRP and white blood cell levels, and lower HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels compared to those in the control group. (AGENCIES)

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

How chronic stress leads to hair loss

Researchers have identified the biological mechanism by which chronic stress impairs hair follicle stem cells, confirming long-standing observations that stress might lead to hair loss.

remain quiescent without regenerating new tissue. The researchers studied a mouse model of chronic stress and found that hair follicle stem cells stayed in a resting phase for a very long time without regenerating tissues.A

In a mouse study, published in the journal Nature, the researchers found that a major stress hormone puts hair follicle stem cells into an extended resting phase, without regenerating the follicle or the hair.A The researchers identified the specific cell type and molecule responsible for relaying the stress signal to the stem cells and showed that this pathway can be potentially targeted to restore hair growth. “The skin offers a tractable and accessible system to study this important problem in depth, and in this work, we found that stress does actually delay stem-cell activation and fundamentally changes how frequently hair follicle stem cells regenerate tissues,” said researcher Ya-Chieh Hsu from Harvard University.

A major stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands, corticosterone, was upregulated by chronic stress; giving mice corticosterone reproduced the stress effect on the stem cells.A

The hair follicle naturally cycles between growth and rest, a process fuelled by hair follicle stem cells. During the growth phase, hair follicle stem cells become activated to regenerate the follicle and hair, and hairs grow longer each day. During the resting phase, the stem cells are quiescent and hairs shed more easily. Hair loss can occur if the hairs shed and the stem cells

LESS SUGAR MAY ASSIST IN

MUSCLE REPAIR

The equivalent hormone in humans is cortisol, which is often referred to as the “stress hormone.” Under normal conditions, hair follicle regeneration slows over time -- the resting phase becomes longer as the animals age. But when the researchers removed the stress hormones, the stem cells’ resting phase became extremely short and the mice constantly entered the growth phase to regenerate hair follicles throughout their life, even when they were old. (IANS)

potential to boost biomedical research on muscle repair. For the study, skeletal muscle satellite cells were multiplied in petri dishes. While higher levels of glucose had an adverse effect on the cells, lower glucose led to a larger number of cells. This seemed counterintuitive as glucose is considered to be essential for cellular growth, the researchers said. It is converted into ATP, the fuel that drives a lot of cellular activity. The team added glucose oxidase, a glucose digesting enzyme, to get to even lower levels of glucose, and grew the satellite cells in this glucose-depleted medium. Shockingly, the cells seemed to fare just fine, and proliferated normally, the researchers said. (IANS)

A diet low on sugar may help keep our muscles healthier for longer, suggests a study. Healthy muscles are an important part of a healthy life. With the wear and tear of everyday use, our muscles continuously repair themselves to keep them in top condition. Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan found that skeletal muscle satellite cells, key for muscle

repair, rapidly increases in low glucose environments. They produced pure cultures of skeletal muscle satellite cells in ultra-low glucose environments. This is contrary to conventional wisdom that says mammalian cells fare better when there is more sugar to fuel their activities. The findings, published in the Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, has the

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G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

WOMEN NEED GOOD REPRESENTATION IN THE CINEMA:

BHUMI PEDNEKAR

Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar spoke about the importance and need for a good representation of women in cinema and how through her work she has always strived to bring light to the real women of our society.

The ace actor, who has repeatedly shown that she tends to choose social entertainers through her versatile performances in films such as Toilet – I Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Bala, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, among others, talked about why women need good representation in cinema. She said: ‘I often choose films with a strong social message, but I also think about choosing projects that will do commercially well. This is important because such films have to reach out to many people to drive the message and intention home. I try to go to the cinema, which balances both. ‘ Bhumi talked about her film Toilet – I Prem Katha, and added: ‘When you think of Toilet, it’s one of my most commercial, socially relevant films. But the kind of reach the film had or what kind of impact the film had, I was amazed. After the film was released, there were

campaigns where fathers and mothers came to the fore and said, ‘no toilet, no bride’.

It was honestly fantastic. She went on to talk about her other films and said: ‘Ayushmann and I made a film together – Shubh Mangal Saavdhan – that talks about human sexuality and that is something that is not talked about. I did Lust Stories that talk about the gender gap, class divide, and female sexuality, something that is not talked about at all. Women are shown as people who have no desires – no ambition, no sexual desires, and that’s something I want to change again.” ‘Through my cinema, I try to portray women who exist, women who are real. Women need good representation in cinemas. I see women do not have the right representation on screen. It really touches me,” Bhumi concluded. (IANS)

You need to see the lows to become a better performer: Arjun Kapoor

Arjun Kapoor insists he does not let hits and misses affect him. Life, he says, has been about highs and lows, and that’s not just in his career as an actor. “Of course, I have seen a lot of highs and lows and that’s a part of every actors’ journey. If you are only going to see highs, you won’t be able to be the performer you want to be,” Arjun said. “You need to see the lows also, to become a better performer. My life has been with highs and lows, and not only my acting career. I think that’s what defines me as a person and as an actor,” he added. Arjun made an impact with his 2012 debut role in “Ishaqzaade” and impressed in a couple of early films such as “Aurangzeb” and “2 States”. However, subsequent releases -- notably “Mubarakan”, “Tevar”, “Finding Fanny” and “India’s Most Wanted” -- did not match box office expectations. He takes a diplomatic line when you ask if he is happy and content with his run in Bollywood. “Being happy and content as a human being is very difficult to explain because it is constantly evolving. For being an actor, I am grateful for where I am,” he replied. “Lockdown happened and I completed a film during it and I am starting two films. I have a film coming on a digital platform and so, of course, I am grateful and I am happy,” he added. “Am I content? Actually no. I am excited because I feel it is a new start for all of us including me and I want to make the most of it,” declared producer Boney Kapoor’s son. By Durga Chakravarty

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G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

PARINEETI CHOPRA SHARES TIPS ON HOW TO BE THE BEST FAN Actress Parineeti Chopra has shared what she expects from her “super fan”,

if we are stepping out from somewhere, be it an airport, public events or restaurants, and fans close in for a selfie without asking -- I think that is a sign of disrespect. You know, all of us, we love our fans and if you ask me, ‘Parineeti, can I take a selfie with you?’ mostly I say ‘yes’, unless I am genuinely in rush. But the best way to be the best fans is to be respectful towards us, by maintaining lines of privacy and space. If you randomly point the camera at us and click pictures, it makes us uncomfortable and that is not cool,” she continued. The actress added: “In fact, I have a group of super fans and I interact with them on social media. Another thing I would like to mention is, do not follow everything blindly that stars do, because every individual is different, their lives are different.” “Films are an influential medium, so are the face of the film -- the actor. We cannot be irresponsible with our words, the way we conduct ourselves in public, and the stories we choose to be a part of. We tend to copy what our favourite stars do, right? That is the reason, as a celebrity, we can be real and responsible at the same time!” Parineeti signed off. (IANS)

When Ayushmann goes back to being himself Ayushmann Khurrana looks dapper in and up on her post priority is that a his high new Instagram on list Wednesday, fan give hisblack-andfavourite in ashould black know T-shirthow and to a printed celebrity sufficient white muffler. The space. actor describes his mood in the frame as “being myself”. “I love my fans not just because they watch my films and appreciate my efforts. “There are days when awareness of I read their substantial feedback that at things around me sharpen. And then I just times turns out valuable. So, on one hand go back being myself,” Ayushmann wrote they should keep loving me the way they as but caption. do, I would share a few tips to be a good fan of any celebrity,” Parineeti said. The actor recently started the reading of “Doctor G”, Rakul Preet “Respect our which spacealso thatstars at times a tiny Singh. Thesection film is a campus and part of the forget. Forcomedy instance,

will be directed by Anubhuti Kashyap. He recently wrapped up the Northeast schedule of Anubhav Sinha’s upcoming thriller “Anek”. His upcoming release is “Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui”. The love story is directed by Abhishek Kapoor and co-stars Vaani Kapoor and was shot in Chandigarh over just 48 days amid the pandemic. (IANS)

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G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Would ‘love to achieve’ filmography like Irrfan Khan: Rajkummar Rao Actor Rajkummar Rao says he is a big fan of Irrfan Khan and adds that he would love to achieve something like the filmography the late actor had. “I am a huge fan of Irrfan sir. The kind of filmography he had, the work he has done and the performances he has given -- I would love to achieve something like that. That would be great,” Rajkummar said. Irrfan is one of many actors he would love to take a masterclass from. However, although Rajkummar regularly garners accolades for his roles, he feels he is not in a position to give masterclass to aspiring actors. “Trust me I am not in a position to do that, and honestly I don’t feel that I have done anything special to give a masterclass. I think

Disha Patani shares what makes her different from others

there are way better actors, there are way more people out here from whom I would like to take a masterclass,” the actor said. Rajkummmar, who was recently seen in the horror comedy “Roohi”, will next be seen in “Badhaai Do”, a follow-up to the 2018 comedy film “Badhaai Ho”. The film co-stars Bhumi Pedenkar. (IANS)

I still believe I am struggling:

John Abraham

Bollywood diva Disha Patani, who is currently gearing herself up for her upcoming movie ‘Radhe’ with Salman Khan, hosted an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for fans, where she replied to some of the witty questions. The ‘Baaghi 2’ actor took to her Instagram stories and shared a couple of pictures in which she was seen answering some of the questions asked by her fans. While many asked the fitness diva about her workout regime and the secret of her toned body, one fan asked the ‘Malang’ star to mention one thing that makes her different from others.

John Abraham says he still considers himself an actor who is yet to make it big in Bollywood. He adds that he is still “struggling” and “trying to make a mark” in the industry. “Honestly, at the risk of sounding humble -- which I don’t want to -- I still believe I am struggling and trying to make a mark. I have told everyone on set that I am grateful to be on a film set. I have become more cognizant of it today than what I was back then,” he said. The actor adds that he has grown a lot during these years in the industry. “There was a sense of frivolity and a sense of casual callousness about my behaviour at the start

of my career, where I wasn’t scared of failure. Today, I am not scared but grateful for my journey. It teaches you a lot,” he says. The “Mumbai Saga” actor adds that he has been able to make it so far due to his conviction. “Someone said only that I am the only model who has made it. But today, when I think about it, I think that’s true and it’s because of my choices and sense of self conviction. I only give myself a pat on my back and credit for where I have reached,” he says. (IANS)

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Quick to reply, Disha hopped on to her Instagram stories and revealed that she has “a mole under her eye”. She posted an extreme close-up picture of her eye and circled the mole to highlight it. On the work front, Disha is gearing up for the release of Salman Khan starrer ‘Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai’. She will also be seen in ‘Ek Villain 2’. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film’s first instalment was released in 2014. It follows (Sidharth Malhotra) Guru, a gangster whose life changes after he falls in love with (Shraddha Kapoor) Aisha and decides to mend his ways. When Aisha is murdered by a serial killer (Riteish Deshmukh), Guru begins to search for the murderer to seek revenge. (ANI)

Being an actress in film industry is not easy: Rani Mukerji Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji, who has worked in Bollywood for 25 years now, says it is challenging to be a part of showbiz.

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Never too late to start training in martial arts: Vidyut Jammwal

She says her advice to newcomers would be to understand that there are a lot of expectations in this industry. “My only advice would be that being an actress in the film industry is not easy. It’s a very, very difficult profession to be in, as there are a lot of expectations that the audience has from you once you become an established star. Also, to be able to work in different conditions is not easy,” she says. “Of course, on screen it all looks glamorous and easy and nice. It looks serene and beautiful, especially the locations where we shoot at times, but actually working in the industry is very very hard,” she adds.

Bollywood action hero and fitness enthusiast Vidyut Jammwal says it is never too late to start anything, including martial arts.

She urges people to only join the profession only if they are passionate about their craft. “So, if you are ready to work really hard and you really love the craft of acting then you should be here, not for any other reason because success, glamour, name and fame come only when the audience loves you. The first and foremost thing is to work sincerely so you gain loyal fans for

life,” she says. The actress will be seen in the upcoming films “Bunty Aur Babli 2” and “Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway”. . (IANS)

I want to stay in Bollywood: Sunny Leone It has been nine years now for Sunny Leone in Bollywood, almost all of it in the spotlight and, of course, she wants to stay here.

Chase shared: “We (Chase and his brother) just found Jackie Chan movies and Power Rangers and all the martial arts movies so exciting when we were kids. We decided we were going to go out and learn how do it.”

Vidyut shared: “I’m asked very often, ‘Am I too late to start training or to be a martial artiste?’ My answer is it’s never too late to begin. I want to emphasize the fact that the notion of limitations is in the mind.”

“I think it has been absolutely amazing. I do feel that I can follow my dreams and be in a place that is just so amazing. It is one of India’s most amazing places,” Sunny said.

Sunny is all set to make her debut on the digital space with the fictional web

His discussion with the British stunt performer is replete with nuggets for those who would want to test the limits of their body.

He added that they had no training in gymnastics and no facilities. “We just had a local school sand pit. After school, we would get together and train in acrobatics. It all kind of got started from there,” Chase said.

After appearing in “Bigg Boss” season 5 in 2012, she made her Bollywood debut with”Jism 2” the same year. Sunny describes the stint so far as “amazing”.

The actress, who is a mother of children Nisha, Noah and Asher, is looking for a brighter future. “I have really put in a lot of time on myself being here, and I want to stay here. Looking forward to many many more good experiences,” said Sunny, who is currently busy with “MTV Splitsvilla”.

Vidyut made his observation during a chat with actor and parkour specialist Chase Armitage, in a segment titled “X-Rayed By Vidyut”.

Vidyut found his conversation with Chase “awesome”.

show “Anamika”, which is billed as a ‘gunfu’ action thriller and is directed by Vikram Bhatt. (IANS)

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He said “The highlight of the conversation for me was Chase’s philosophy of treating the body like a temple. He has inspired people by experimenting with varied movements. Chatting with him was awesome.” (IANS)

FOOD

bon appétit

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Did you know:

Adequate intake of vitamin C found in onions is needed for maintenance of collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair

A taste of history - through recipes NEW DELHI, March 25: Have you ever wondered what the first meal was on the Moon, or the last one on the Titanic? Was a stuffed turkey actually part of the first Thanksgiving dinner, and did Queen Marie Antoinette really say, 'Let them eat cake!' during the French Revolution? Featuring a brother and sister duo and a cutting-edge app that allows them to timetravel to 15 important junctures in history, "History Dishtory" (Hachette) includes an easy-to-do recipe inspired by each event, from the Renaissance in Italy to the first men landing on the Moon to the Salt March and more! With the WayBack App, trivia-crazy Siya and budding chef Sam, discover a secret ingredient in Sir Edmund Hillary's Camp IX tent just before he reached the top of Mt Everest, take a peek into the royal court at Calicut as explorer Vasco da Gama spices up

the proceedings.... and get a taste of history like never by savouring the real flavour of these adventures through the yummy, easy recipes inspired by key historical moments that are sprinkled throughout the book! Authors Ranjini Rao and Ruchira Ramanujam are two best friends who have been reading, writing, travelling, cooking and eating together, since 2007, from Chicago to LA to Bengaluru. They come from very different professional and cultural backgrounds e Ranjini is a writer and teacher from South India, and Ruchira, a techie from the North. They received the FICCI-Flo Women of the Year award in 2016 and have also won quite a few little and big hearts along the way, especially with their previous book, Bookworms and Jelly bellies (Hachette India, 2017).

(IANS)

Dubai Food festival is back again!

ith breath-taking architecture, sophisticated hotels, spectacular vistas and a vast culinary landscape, Dubai certainly never disappoints! Keeping safety at the forefront, Dubai is back with its annual event, the Dubai Food Festival -- a city-wide extravaganza that promises the best gastronomical offerings. From luxury dining to homegrown concepts to hidden gems that are light on the pocket, DFF takes you on a lipsmacking journey through diverse cuisines. Here's a sneak peek into all that's happening at the first ever mega event that is on till April 17: Foodcations -- the new trend: Clubbing food and holidaying, DFF presents a gourmet getaway! Below are some opulent stays, you can experience while attending the festival. Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights: An interesting fusion of traditional culture and modern sophistication, Hyatt Regency Dubai

Creek Heights offers splendid views of Dubai Creek and urban cityscape. Get ready to take your staycation a notch up with complimentary breakfasts and free upgrade to the Deluxe Room. Choose lunch or dinner at La Tabilta -- the Mexican restaurant, and also attend a masterclass from the house chef to learn the art of preparing Latin American vegan dishes. Armani Hotel Dubai: Five-star Armani Hotel offers designer luxury, high class restaurants and eateries and a remarkable view of the Dubai Fountain. In your two night stay here, this DFF, you can dig into a gourmet breakfast, curated three-course menu for lunch and a Chef's Table experience with the skilled Chef Giovanni. The H Hotel: Located at a short distance from the city's popular landmarks, from the Burj Khalifa to the Dubai Frame, The H Dubai promises its guests an extraordinary gourmet staycation. A free breakfast, Indian-Parsi delicacies with a contemporary touch at Moombai &co., flavourful bites at the award-winning PLAY and a two-hour class masterclass with the hotel's pastry chef -- so much to do and taste!

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Top Foodie Experiences: They say, food is a way to a person's heart. And DFF will surely sweep your heart away with immersive experiences. Choix Patisserie and Restaurant: Taking you straight to Paris from Dubai with its delectable premium delicacies is Choix Patisserie, from the world-renowned chef, Pierre Gagnaire -- the proud owner of three Michelin stars! Enjoy the best afternoon-tea especially curated by Gagnaire himself, along with finger sandwiches, heavenly pastries, and cakes -- all things yum and French! The Hai High Tea: Revamp traditional teatime snacks with Spice Route in an extensive three-level menu by famous chocolatiers presented by chocolatiers Mirzam and Asian speciality grocery store, 1004 Gourmet. Experience thrilling new flavours and rare ingredients with this fusion food heaven with a luscious selection of limited-edition drinking chocolates. By Puja Gupta

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

2021 will bring renaissance of Indian regional cuisines

e've been moving toward a regional renaissance in Indian food over the last decade, that 2020 accelerated, says a new report. The fourth edition of the Godrej Food Trends Report 2021 lists down the top 12 trends predicted for 2021 in Dining-in, Dining-out, Beverage, Dessert, Kitchen Design, etc. within the food industry. The report covers over 200 experts who have shared their insights, top picks, and detailed opinions which are combined and analysed to finally arrive at the evident predictions for 2021. The top food trends predicted for 2021 are: 1. Breakfast Will Be Served, Reimagined The experts predict increasing innovation in the category, from ground-breaking packaged solutions to innovative artisanal offerings from home entrepreneurs and restaurants. 2. Burgeoning Interest in Flavour 2021 will see the consumer exploring flavours and nuances thereof in a quest to keep feeding the hunger for new flavours. From ingredients, spices, cooking fats, ferments, coffee, tea, alcohol, to investing in the acquisition of knowledge around particular topics via cookbooks, cooking videos, LIVE discussions, cooking classes, discussion groups and more. 3. Deeper Explorations of Indian Ferments Traditional wisdom and the perceived health benefits of fermentation and a rising interest in the cuisines of north east India are all fuelling a deeper exploration into the rich repertoire of fermented foods in India. 2021 will bring a lot more Indian ferments into home kitchens, on the shelves and on restaurant menus. 4. Ghar Ki Rasoi Will Take Centre Stage In 2021, the home kitchen will rule dining decisions both in and out of the home. From restructured mealtimes to ingredient sourcing, menus and how food is cooked and served, to dictating the design of kitchens, dining areas and home gardens. Beyond that, the home kitchen will also govern what the food industry will offer in terms of innovations in appliances and products and offerings on restaurant menus. 5. Home Delivery Will See Unprecedented Innovation 2021 will bring unprecedented realignment in this sector across the food industry as it works to survive and adapt to the new order. It will also be the year delivery will become premium, experiential and personalised as hospitality players polish in-home dining experiences, and

technology is stirred into the mix to track diner preferences and arrival time of orders, provide for WhatsApp assistance, and more. 6. Homegrown Will Rule as Mindful Eating Gains Traction Conversations around health, sustainability and, farmer welfare that brought millets into consumer focus in the recent past have sparked a similar interest and revival of all things indigenous, from ingredients to flavours. Consumers will be 'vocal for local' to support homegrown food producers and businesses. 7. Indian Food Will Find Brag Value on Instagram In 2021, social media will continue to be a popular marketing channel, and all things Indian-regional cuisines, indigenous ingredients, traditional cookware and stories about food -- will enjoy brag-value or shall we say become instagrammable. 8. North-east Cuisines Will Offer

Homegrown Exotic The culinary culture of north-east India has been consistently garnering interest in the past few years. With a unique flavour profile and indigenous ingredients unlike the rest of the country, the cuisines of the North-East offer homegrown exotic we are only just learning to value. 2020 accelerated the discovery of the region with the emergence of home-cooks, small businesses and culinary experiences, offering us a chance to explore these unique flavours through offerings that were a click away. The cuisines of Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram are already creating conversations and 2021 will see Indians exploring north-east Indian cuisine like never before. 9. Proactive Wellness, Food as Self-Care will Drive Individual Diet Choices A growing interest in Ayurveda, rising curiosity in nutrigenomics and personally optimized diet options show that consumers will look for solutions that best align with individual lifestyle choices in 2021. 10. The Renaissance of Indian Regional www.gdayindia.com.au | M: 0412-114-383

Cuisines 2018 was the year of Indian regional cuisines, 2019 was about micro-cuisines and 2020 sparked a cooking revolution, inspiring exploration of Indian cuisine like never before. With our sphere of activity drastically restricted, Indians learned to appreciate 'homemade', gained a newfound respect for 'local', and acquired a heightened awareness and interest in 'regional flavours', Home kitchens rediscovered and reclaimed their histories through their community cuisines while restaurant chefs used this time to travel and discover ethnic cuisines of different microregions. 2021 will bring the renaissance of Indian regional cuisines with the legion of home chefs and mini enterprises poised to unleash a smorgasbord of offerings. 11. The Rise of Culinary Self Reliance DIY Time, curiosity, and a need for individual expression led to investment in elaborate DIY projects. Everything from roti to sourdough, kombuchas to rai-paani achaar, perfecting culinary skills to DIY kitchen decor, aquaponics to urban gardens were explored. The year 2020 prompted a pivot to culinary selfreliance and DIY across the board, and it's a habit that will stay with us through 2021 and beyond. 12. Take Me Halfway -Home Kitchens Will Want Mindful Convenience Convenience cooking has shown a steady rise in adaptability and respectability over the last few years. There is industry-wide innovation underway to provide solutions for readyto-cook, ready-to-eat and everything in between to support new work-life systems in 2021. Speaking about the report, Sujit Patil, VP and Head Corporate Brand and Communications Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies, said, "The Godrej Food Trends Report is a unique compilation of trends and insights that is collated basis inputs from some of the best food experts in the industry consisting of top chefs, restaurateurs, chroniclers, reviewers and thought leaders. Thanks to the continued support of close to 200 regular and firsttime respondents, the report has been steadily growing over the years with deeper and more diverse insights. The Godrej Food Trends 2021 Report aims to be a key addition to every food professional's reading list and is available for download at Vikhroli Cucina." By Puja Gupta

DIET

All about fats!

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

BY DEEVYA GUPTA

hee, butter, olive oil or margarine…what should we use? The debate is everlasting. Living abroad, we are exposed to a variety of other choices that traditionally wouldn’t be there. So, what advice do we take on to help us decide, and how much should we consume? Should I completely cut out fat? Our body needs fats to work at their best. We should never completely cut out fat. At the same time, we don’t want to have too much fat. The amount of fat your body needs will vary from person to person. For adults, the recommendations could be anywhere between 14-40g (e.g., 2-8 teaspoons of oil) of fat per day depending on your age and gender. Men under the age of 70 usually need more fats than women. Usually when it comes to oils, butter, ghee etc. we look at the types of fats -good and bad. The good fats: Good fats can protect the heart by reducing cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. They are usually found in plant oils such as olive, canola and sunflower or other plant-based spreads such as margarine or even peanut butter. These are also naturally found in nuts, seeds and fatty fish (like salmon) and avocados. It is important to also make sure that even from this group we want to have a moderate quantity. Not so good fats: These are known as saturated and trans fats. In larger and regular quantities, these may be harmful to your health and may lead to a higher cholesterol level. Generally solid at room temperature. Fats that contain higher levels of saturated fats include animal fats such as meats, butter, cream, coconut oil, palm oil, fried/baked foods and ghee. What are some easy changes I can make? For regular daily use you can make these swaps which can reduce your ‘bad fat’ intake by up to 75% in each tablespoon! Swap: • Ghee/coconut oil/butter/vegetable oil for frying→ olive oil/canola oil/sunflower oil • Cream in cooking→ evaporated milk • Spreadable butter→ peanut or nut butter, low-fat ricotta or cottage cheese spreads • Full cream dairy→ low/reduced-fat dairy For fats that are used occasionally, these

are fine occasionally in small quantities. It’s important to make the main change to what affects your daily use. Please note this advice is all of a specific nature and if you have any concerns or queries, you can get tailored advice from an accredited practising dietitian. By Deevya Gupta

tomatoes or canned tomatoes) 1 chilli (optional), chopped 1 teaspoon haldi (turmeric) Herbs: parsley chopped, coriander, basil Lentils 1 can or 2 cups soaked overnight, rinsed, drained and cooked until soft Dash of skim milk 1/4 can light coconut milk

Optional links to include: https://nutritionaustralia.org/fact-sheets/ australian-dietary-guidelines-recommendeddaily-intakes/ https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Hearthealth-education/Fats-oils-and-heart-health

Method: In a pan/casserole: 1. Cook up onion and garlic in a dash of olive oil, if onions are sticking to the pan you can add extra water while cooking 2. Add water and haldi, vegetables, chilli and cook until soft 3. Add passata/tomatoes 4. Add cooked lentils 5. Add dash of milk and coconut milk, coriander 6. And serve!

CHATPATA WINTER WARMER SOUP Tomato and lentil soup in under 20 minutes, reduced fat and delicious! Ingredients: 1 Onion, chopped 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 Garlic, chopped 1 Capsicum, chopped 5 mushrooms sliced 6 cherry tomatoes, chopped 1 jar passata (crushed

Tips: for extra flavour you can add any extra herbs and spices you like such as methi or garam masala

Deevya Gupta is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian in Melbourne | W: www.abcofnutrition.com.au

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RECIPE

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

Soya Nuggets Masaledar Soya granules, nuggets or chunks are by far the most popular meat substitute. It is known for its high protein content and is low in calories. Being such a versatile ingredient it can be mixed with other vegetables or enjoyed on its own.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups soya nuggets 3-4 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp cumin seeds 2 large onions, chopped 1 tbsp ginger paste 1 tbsp garlic paste 2-3 med tomatoes, chopped 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp garam masala salt to taste 1/2 cup frozen peas, defrosted 1 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 nuggets 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.

Serves 4

GARNISH:

Fresh coriander leaves

recipe BY MANJIT SETHI

from the private collection

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ASTROLOGY

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

By D. Narayan (Tantracharya) Mesha (Aries)

Vrishabh (Taurus)

Mithuna (Gemini)

M: 0425 660 220

Karkat (Cancer)

You should fare quite well financially & have an extremely satisfying time both in terms of financial gains and also in terms of creative output. There would be a good deal of hard work, but even this would not ensure realization of expected gains. Those of you who shake a few sojourns for purposes other than business may also find this to be a wasteful exercise.

You must not allow yourself to be swayed by anger and refuse to be provoked into any confrontation. This could go a long way in keeping you out of trouble. The family atmosphere would remain tension-ridden practically throughout the month. Pay special attention to children since their affairs might call for closer security, devoting more time and energy to this.

A month that is not helpful at all, and one that will force you to pay a great deal of extra attention to your health, you may also be led to some unpleasant places and your health may suffer as a consequence. Do not let this happen. Stay away from unpleasant people and places. This is important since your health would depend to a large extent upon this.

This month there are excellent chances that you would have many opportunities to advance your financial prospects. Professionals 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 do fare well, and be able to realize their profits in full.

Best days: 3, 12, 30 Lucky Colour: Red, Orange, Cream

Best days: 9, 18, 27 Lucky Colour: Green, Blue

Best days: 2, 7, 9 Lucky Colour: Red, White, Yellow

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

Simha (Leo)

Kanya (Virgo)

Tula (Libra)

There is nothing very encouraging about your financial prospects this month. Traders of all sorts would fare poorly or at best, not be able to earn as much as expected. People in the world of performing arts, would do well to make provisions for an extremely lean period. Not a very favourable period, during which you should maintain a low profile.

The prospects for your educational pursuits this month look good. Persons related to Performing Arts can look forward to an extremely productive period. During this time, some of you may will go on to score notable success. Those studying languages, journalism, and other forms of mass communication would also fare extremely well.

Traders and those engaged in overseas trade would also fare poorly, or at best not do as well as anticipated. This would apply to most of you, who would have to struggle quite a bit and even after that, not achieve much success. Further the climate would not be congenial for investment or the launching of new ventures. These could easily get stuck.

Best days: 5,3 Lucky Colour: White & Orange

Best days: 3, 12 Lucky Colour: Orange, Green

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

Dhanu (Sagittarius)

Makara (Capricorn)

Kumbha (Aquarius)

This month you would have fairly useful opportunities for career advancement. In an atmosphere completely free of tension and politics, you would carry out your pursuits and realize the expected gains. In fact, some of you would go on to make a mark with your contribution in social or religious work. Overall an excellent month, during which you could achieve much.

Quite a helpful month, Only one important note of caution needs to be sounded, and that is to caution you against over exertion. A rational schedule of activity should be drawn up, which does not unduly tax your system, and yet allow full play to all activities. A fairly helpful month, during which it is extremely unlikely that you will be faced with any serious health problems.

A profitable month, during which your financial prospects look good. Some of you could literally expect to reap an unexpected windfall while others can look forward to gains from speculative activity. In addition, there is a distinct possibility of a favour being done to you by a member of the female sex.

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

Best days: 1, 3, 4 Lucky Colour: White, Green, Blue

Best days: 5, 3, 6 Lucky Colour: White, Green

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Vrishchik (Scorpio)

You must work hard to get the decision deferred on any such dispute to a later and more favourable period. There is every chance that any pending loan applications or a new proposal for fresh advances from a bank would not be approved or delayed on one count or the other. Artists of all descriptions are unlikely to fare very well, and it would be a wise policy for them to make provisions for a lean period. Best days: 1, 3, 4 Lucky Colour: Red, Orange

Meen (Pisces)

A month full of opportunities for advancing your financial prospects. Most of you would carry out your pursuits with a touch of boldness, quickly going on to score successes. You will be helped in this by good fortune, which will favour speculation. In fact, some of you may well get a windfall. Your own drive and self-confidence would combine to ensure success for you in fairly quick time. Best days: 2, 7, 9 Lucky Colour: Red, Yellow, White

Have a laug h

G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

HAVE A LAUGH

GETTING OLDER

Don't ever ask me to bend down and touch my I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. toes. If God wanted me to touch my toes, He People get out of the would have put them on way much faster now. my knees. Gone are the days Last year I joined when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now a support group for procrastinators We they drink like their haven't met yet. fathers... I didn't make it to the Of course, I talk to gym today. That makes myself; sometimes when I need expert advice. five years in a row. I decided to stop calling the bathroom the 'John' and renamed it the 'Jim'. I feel so much better saying "I went to the Jim this morning".

At my age "Getting lucky" means walking into a room and remembering what I came in there for. Actually, I'm not complaining because I am a Senager. (Senior teenager)

Old age is coming at a really bad time. When I was a child, I I have everything that thought “Nap Time” was a punishment. Now, as a I wanted as a teenager, grownup, it feels like a only 60 years later. - I don’t have to go to small vacation. school or work. - I have a driver’s The biggest lie I tell license and my own car. myself is..."I don't need - I get an allowance to write that down, I'll every month. remember it." - I have my own iPad (although I can't recall I don't have grey where I kept it) hair; I have "wisdom - I don’t have a highlights" I'm just curfew. very wise.

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G’DAY INDIA | APR 2021

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