Gday India June 2020 Issue

JUN 2020

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VOL 14 ISSUE 158

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NEWS VICTORIA

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Multicultural communities unite in response to COVID-19

MELBOURNE, June 2: Australia’s multicultural communities are playing a key role in Australia’s response to COVID-19.

Today, acting Minster for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge joined members of the Oceania Federation of Chinese Organisations from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Inc. at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where they presented a donation of more than $37,000 for the hospital’s COVID appeal.

The money will go towards the hospital’s front-line response as well as research into treatment options and vaccines.

Minister Tudge said Australians, egardless of their background, were going out of their way to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe.

“In times of adversity, Australians often shine and we have seen that this year – first with the response to the bushfires and now with the pandemic.

“This absolutely includes the responses we’ve seen from our multicultural communities. I have been blown away by the generosity of multicultural communities in terms of the money they have raised and the support they have provided to their fellow Aussies.”

Oceania Federation President Sunny Duong said the organisation mounted a fundraising appeal after seeing reports of frontline workers facing shortages in protective equipment and other medical equipment such as ventilators.

“Most members of the Indo-China ethnic Chinese community have settled in Australia for over 40 years. We consider Australia our home and wish to do our part when Australia is in need,” Mr Duong said.

“In January this year, we also donated $110,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and $89,000 to The Salvation Army for their

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Australian Bushfire Appeal.

“We hope that this donation today can be spent and used in the continued control and fighting of Covid-19 by the Royal Melbourne Hospital.”

Professor Christine Kilpatrick, Chief Executive, the Royal Melbourne Hospital said the generous donation will be used to support the continued efforts of the hospital staff and researchers.

“The Royal Melbourne Hospital has been involved in clinical trials, science and innovative new technology throughout COVID-19 and this donation will aid our efforts in continuing these programs that are making a difference to the global response to the pandemic,” Professor Kilpatrick said. Minister Tudge said the Government was continuing to support multicultural communities through the pandemic, with key advice being translated into 63 languages and ongoing engagement through virtual round tables and briefings.

“I join with all Australians to thank multicultural communities for all they have done to help our nation gets through this pandemic. Now is a time to come together and support one another.”

(MEDIA RELEASE)

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NEWS VICTORIA

Victoria’s next police chief commissioner appointed

MELBOURNE, June 1: The Victorian Government today announced the selection of a new Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, with current Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton to step into the top job on 27 June.

Deputy Commissioner Patton will take over from Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton AM, whose five-year term comes to an end later this month.

“Shane Patton is a strong leader with more than four decades experience in policing and is the best person to lead Victoria Police over the next term.” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

With more than 40 years’ experience across the full spectrum of policing, Shane Patton has been chosen as the best person to become the next Chief Commissioner and deliver a modern, agile and high-

visibility police force that is engaged with the community and keeps Victorians safe.

His appointment follows an extensive recruitment process that included a search of both local and key international markets.

Starting as a police cadet in 1978, Deputy Commissioner Patton has had an impressive and varied career, rising through the ranks to take on crucial roles in the Victoria Police Executive Command, including Deputy Commissioner – Specialist Operations and his current role as Deputy Commissioner – Regional Operations.

In those roles he has directed regional operations across the state, including through the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent bushfires, set up Victoria Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, and taken significant actions to address serious and organised crime.

Since his appointment in 2015, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton AM has made an extraordinary contribution to Victoria Police, overseeing the single biggest expansion and modernisation of the force in its 167-year history and raising the priority on mental health within the force.

His leadership of the organisation has been exceptional, especially through the recent tragic loss of four Victoria Police members on the Eastern Freeway, the 2019/20 Victorian bushfires and during the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the Victoria Police Act, the Chief Commissioner is appointed by the Governor in Council for a five year-term.

(MEDIA RELEASE)

IVF now fairer and easier to access for all Victorians

MELBOURNE, Jun 4: Victorians now have easier and fairer access to assisted reproductive treatment after legislation passed today, removing the requirement for women and their partners to undergo police and child protection order checks before accessing treatment.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos said the new legislation removes the unnecessary delay, cost and distress associated with these checks.

The change means a woman and her partner, if she has one, and parties to a surrogacy arrangement, will have quicker access to the treatment they need to grow their family.

It will impact an estimated 25,000 women and their partners who access assisted reproductive treatment in Victoria each year.

The changes respond to concerns about the requirements for the checks raised during the landmark independent review of Assisted Reproductive Treatment in Victoria

by Michael Gorton AM, with many patients describing them as unfair, humiliating and a

cause of distress.

Police, clinics, the regulator and advocates were also consulted in developing the legislation.

Assisted reproductive treatment clinics will still need to ensure the welfare and best interests of the child to be born are paramount when deciding to treat a woman.

Removing police and child protection checks is another part of the Victorian Government’s reforms to make assisted reproductive treatment fairer, more affordable and easier to access for all Victorians.

The Government has already implemented several recommendations from the Gorton review – including removing the requirement for women who are separated but not divorced to seek the approval of their former partner to access IVF with their own eggs and donor sperm.

More Victorians will also be able to become parents through IVF with work underway to develop a business case for public IVF services.

(MEDIA RELEASE)

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G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

More Places, More Often: PSOS to drive community safety boost

MELBOURNE, June 2: Protective Services Officers (PSOs) will be able to be deployed to shopping centres, sporting precincts and other highly populated areas to help prevent crime and support community safety, under new laws introduced into Parliament today.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville said the Police and Emergency Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 cemented the Victorian Government’s commitment to expand the role of PSOs so they can be deployed to support the community when and where they are needed most.

The legislation will allow the Chief Commissioner to declare areas such as shopping centres, malls and other crowded areas to be ‘designated places’ – in addition to maintaining their role on the public transport network.

This will allow PSOs to support police in places beyond the transport network where a highly visible police presence can help prevent crime and provide reassurance to the public.

Victorians have embraced the critical role mobile, flexible deployment of PSOs can play across the public transport network and now with Operation Shielding during the coronavirus pandemic - they have been vital in assisting police to slow the spread of the virus.

This is a key commitment of the Community Safety Statement 2019/20 and made possible as a result of the government’s investment in 100 mobile PSOs. The new laws will also give the Chief Commissioner power to deploy PSOs right across the state during disasters or emergencies, supporting police to maintain public order in the event of incidents like fires, floods and other incidents.

Under reforms introduced in the Bill, Sheriff’s officers will trial serving family violence intervention order applications, with officers to receive additional training to support them in this role.

This will support police to focus on family violence victims and holding perpetrators to account, while also delivering on one of the key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

(MEDIA RELEASE)

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NEWS AUSTRALIA

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Australia to toughen foreign investment rules impact on its economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through these measures, all the foreign investment proposals had to be approved by Frydenberg regardless of the amount and a revision period of the proposals extended to six months from 30 days.

The toughening of foreign investment law comes amid a crisis due to COVID-19 that has affected Australian businesses.

CANBERRA, June 5: Australia is seeking to toughen its foreign investment regulations to protect its assets from an overseas entity if it threatens national security, the government said on Friday.

The reform will give more power to the Foreign Investment Review Board to analyse investment agreements in companies that are “sensitive national security businesses” without considering their acquisition value, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

Currently, it only requires the approval of the regulator when the foreign investment is more than A$275 million ($191 million) million or A$1.2 billion if an investment originates from countries listed under Free Trade

Agreement.

The government expects the new measures to be in place from January 2021 and will affect companies related to telecommunications, technology, energy, infrastructure, and supply chains.

Frydenberg, in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, said some cases of foreign investment are “used for strategic objectives not purely commercial”.

He reiterated that the measure of foreign investment is more significant since its establishment in 1975.

In late March, the Australian government had temporarily toughened the requirements of foreign investments to mitigate the strong

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The move is also expected to cause an escalation in tension with China that has criticized Australia over several measures adopted over the concerns related to foreign interference and espionage.

The Australian government constantly denies that the toughening of the regulations are directed towards China.

However, it had previously blocked purchases from the Asian country citing that they were against its national interests.

Of the total foreign investments in Australia that round to about A$4 billion, China makes up for 5 per cent, the UK and Japan add 10 per cent each while the US contributes some 20 per cent, according to Frydenberg.

(AGENCIES)

Airport workers hold demonstrations over recovery plan

CANBERRA, June 4: Australian airport workers held demonstrations, demanding access to COVID-19 welfare payments as well as a national recovery plan to help revive their devastated industry.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) called for more action from the government, including to support the bankrupted Virgin Australia airline and reverse a decision to exclude workers at foreign-owned companies from the “JobKeeper” subsidy.

According to a recent survey of over 1,000 aviation workers in Australia, almost 40 per cent said they have no income at all since being temporarily stood down from their job, and 70 per cent said they were worried about losing their position permanently.

On top of that, 30 per cent had been forced to use their superannuation to cover living expenses and 20 per cent worried they may lose their house.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said the survey served as a reminder for the federal government to take action on behalf of aviation workers, some of whom have had no income for months since the COVID-19 crisis began.

“Workers are protesting at airports and at the offices of federal government ministers to highlight the struggles they face.

“They want the government to hear their stories and to act to save their jobs and their industry,” Kaine said.

“Governments around the world are stepping in and supporting their aviation sectors. Air travel is of particular importance in Australia, yet the government is utterly directionless, with no plan and no policy.”

(AGENCIES)

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Opposition leader slams ‘failed’ bushfire recovery fund

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CANBERRA, June 4: Australian opposition leader Anthony Albanese slammed the government’s “failed” bushfire recovery fund as ineffective.

Albanese, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, described the A$2 billion ($1.3 billion) National Bushfire Recovery Fund as “poorly targeted” after it was learned that only 4 per cent of the residents in areas hit by the fires have received recovery payments.

The fund, welcomed by Albanese at the time, was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in January to help rebuild communities and livelihoods in the wake of fires that devastated much of the country.

Andrew Hocking, the deputy coordinator of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, told a Senate inquiry into the bushfires on Tuesday that only 291,000 of the 7.1 million people living in affected areas have received disaster recovery payments.

It comes after a separate inquiry heard in May that 21,405 out of 640,000 businesses in those areas have received a grant or loan from the government.

“The rhetoric hasn’t matched up with the reality on the ground,” Albanese told Nine Entertainment.

“Scott Morrison said when he made announcements of funding way back in January, that the funding would flow immediately and we know that isn’t the case,” he said.

“When I’ve been on the ground, individuals will tell you and businesses will tell you they simply haven’t been able to navigate the bureaucracy and the government has failed to have people there directly coordinating the process.”

The 2019-20 Australian bushfires left 33 people dead, over 3,000 homes destroyed as well as widespread devastation of local wildlife and habitat.

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(AGENCIES)

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NEWS AUSTRALIA

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Toilsome Journey Back Home

reached Melbourne and reunited with their families. In total they spent approximately 5000 to 6000AUD in this journey back home, but they understand that the human factor involved in this process was more valuable.

Understanding the plight of all involved in this process, the brother and sister thank everyone from their car driver, to hotel staff, to the airplane staff to the governments of both the countries for all their services for making it possible.

(As told to Sanchita Abrol)

B

efore the world came to a screeching halt, brother and sister, Siddharth and Apurva Sharma from Melbourne, Australia, travelled to Jammu, India to assist their relatives in an urgent family matter. They began their journey on 12th March and had planned to return within ten days. However, amid the coronavirus outbreak, this was not possible.

India, like other countries went into total shut down. The siblings were home quarantined for 28 days. “The officials posted a sticker outside their house that read: “Do not visit. Home under quarantine”, said Siddharth.

Desperately missing their families in Australia, Apurva wrote to the Australian High Commission asking for any arrangements for Australian citizens to travel back. The High Commission suggested connecting to other people through social media groups, which she did.

The High Commission shared information and booking links for any upcoming flights.

Limited repatriation flights caused significant web traffic on the booking page, which led to the website crashing. Each time within half an hour, tickets were fully sold. Twice they missed their chance to book seats on flights, but the third time, on 8th May they got lucky.

Phew! They were finally able to get tickets for a 14th May, Delhi to Canberra flight.

The homeward-bound commuters’ plight didn’t end there. They needed permission to travel interstate from Jammu to Delhi. This administrative challenge involved emailing

and requesting people to allow this travel and to organise the travel back for the driver to his home state.

Siddharth and Apurva shared, “this travel was not a picnic. All the way, we had a fear of failing to reach Delhi.” Organic challenges came on the way, as every time they crossed the state borders the police had to check their temperature. Though the intentions of every public servant were right, implementation could be better.”

Safely they reached Delhi and spent the night at Holiday Inn. Social Distancing was well maintained and everything was well organised.

Next morning, they boarded the Qantas flight for Canberra. Masks were worn all the time, but social distancing could not be followed within the flight.

The flight landed in Canberra and again Siddharth and Apurva had to be quarantined.

They were given an apartment to stay in with all amenities. “The social media groups became a lifeline for us in this time of seclusion. We could share our feelings with others. We heard that quarantine centres in other cities didn’t do so well, but thankfully we were lucky to be in a good quarantine centre,” shared Apurva.

ACT Health was calling every day to check upon their health and on the 11th day they were tested for COVID. The test was negative and they were sent home on the 16th day. From Canberra, the siblings drove back to Melbourne.

At last on 30th May, Siddharth and Apurva

Australia and India united in research collaborations

CANBERRA, June 4: Research collaboration between Australia and India has been given a nearly $20 million boost with funding for new projects to advance pandemic research and reduce plastics waste. $15 million will go to extending the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund for another four years, while an additional $4.5 million will support collaborative work led by CSIRO to reduce plastic wastes.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews has welcomed

the commitment following today’s virtual summit between the Prime Ministers of Australia and India.

“Science and technology and the innovations that result have never been more important for our wellbeing and prosperity,” Minister Andrews said.

“India is a natural strategic partner for Australia and strengthening that relationship through a shared commitment to science and technology will only serve to benefit both our nations.”

Minister Andrews also announced the

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opening of a special grants round under the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund for joint projects responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These grants will bring together leading research institutions and industry in both Australia and India who are working on solutions such as vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics,” Minister Andrews said.

Applications for Round 13 of the AISRF close on 2 July 2020.

(MEDIA RELEASE)

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

India, Australia sign maritime cooperation in Indo-Pacific region

NEW DELHI, June 4: India and Australia entered into a comprehensive strategic partnership by signing a wide-ranging joint declaration based on a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The momentous decision was taken

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Scott Morrison during a virtual summit on Thursday.

Prime Minister Modi called it a new model of India-Australia partnership and a new model of conducting business, with which both the countries “aspire to achieve yet new heights in collaboration”.

Morrison said that mutual trust, shared values and common interests between the two countries provide a strong foundation for working together even more closely. His Foreign Minister Marise Payne said that the decisions marked a major step forward in Australia and India’s security and defence relationships.

The two sides signed a framework arrangement on cyber and cyber-enabled critical technology cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of mining and processing of critical and strategic minerals.

Canberra and New Delhi signed an arrangement for mutual logistics support and implementing arrangements for cooperation in defence, science and technology in the MoU on defence cooperation.

Other MoUs on cooperation in the field of public administration and governance reforms, cooperation in vocational

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education and training and water resources management were also signed.

Sameer Patil, a fellow at the Mumbaibased policy institute, Gateway House, said that this cyber diplomacy aligns well with Australia’s cyber cooperation programme, under which Canberra helps Indo-Pacific countries in capacity building on cybercrime prevention and prosecution.

Patil also said that the militaries of both the countries require developing defence technologies, such as technologies related to sensors, propulsion and nano-materials.

“They can work jointly on their development by combining the experience of government defence research laboratories and the efficiency of the private sector.

This will also benefit the domestic defence industrial base in both countries.” he said.

India, Patil said, also needs to learn from Australian examples, like the Australian Marine Complex’s Common User Facility at Henderson, near Perth, which offers integrated fabrication and assembly facility infrastructure for its shipbuilding industry -not just defence, but also for oil and gas and ocean mining.

(AGENCIES)

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NEWS WORLD

‘Crashed PIA plane’s pilot didn’t follow ATC instructions’

KARACHI, June 4: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said in a letter to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) that the pilot of plane which crashed in Karachi on May 22 did not follow the instructions of the air-traffic controller (ATC).

On May 22, the PIA A320 plane, en route from Lahore, crashed in Karachi’s densely populated Model Colony area near the city’s airport, killing 97 of the 99 passengers and crewmembers on board. A teenage girl on

New Zealand to mark June 15 as COVID-19 elimination day

2011.

It is also the first time that US astronauts have been sent into space by a private company, signalling an end to the US dependence on the Russian space technology.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the same site used for the first moon landing in 1969.

“I can’t believe it with my own eyes. I’m so grateful they’re up there,” said SpaceX engineer Lauren Lyons, who frequently hosts SpaceX’s mission webcasts.

The journey would take approximately 19 hours. The operational Crew Dragon spacecraft will be capable of staying in orbit for at least 210 days as a NASA requirement.

Upon conclusion of the mission, Crew Dragon will autonomously undock with the two astronauts on board, depart the space station and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

WELLINGTON, June 4: New Zealand has planned to mark June 15 as the COVID-19 elimination day after health authorities detected no new coronavirus case for the 13th day in a row.

The country, which has won global praises for its COVID-19 management, had reported the last positive case on May 22.

A health ministry spokesperson told New Zealand Herald that the last community transmission case of a person, whose source of infection was not known, came out of isolation on May 18.

That could be taken as the reference point for the 28-day coronavirus-free period to mark its elimination day, a health ministry spokesperson said.

That means that the period will finish on June 15.

“Elimination does not mean eradicating the virus permanently from New Zealand. It is being confident that we have eliminated chains of transmission in our community for at least 28 days and can effectively prevent or contain any future imported cases from overseas,” the spokesperson said.

New Zealand has so far confirmed 1,154 COVID-19 cases with 22 deaths.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told reporters on Thursday that New Zealand was in the position now “that is the envy of many countries internationally and that is due to the hard work and sacrifice of so many Kiwis”.

He, however, stressed the need to maintain precautionary measures as the pandemic is still prevalent remains present exist in other countries.

Bloomfield said the international situation was still serious with June 1 marking the day when most cases were reported in a single day worldwide.

“If we want to stay in a good position here, we can’t act as if it’s all over globally,” he said.

The country announced the highest level of alert due to the pandemic in late April, which included strict restrictions and suspension of all its economic activities.

On June 15, the government is expected to announce the last phase of measures against the pandemic.

While restrictions are expected to be lifted, the country is most likely to keep its borders closed until further notice.

(AGENCIES)

(AGENCIES)

ground also died later.

The June 2 letter from CAA official Iftikhar Ahmed to the PIA safety and quality assurance department, while pointing out “non-compliance of ATC instructions” by PK-8303, asked him to “ensure avoidance of recurrence of such situation in the interest of flight safety”.

A PIA spokesperson told Dawn news that the national flag carrier would respond as per regulations

SpaceX sends 2 NASA astronauts to ISS in historic mission

WASHINGTON, May 31: Scripting a historic chapter for the US space programme, Elon Musk-run SpaceX sent two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) onboard the reusable Falcon 9 rocket.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley was on its way to the orbiting laboratory in the space and had safely reached orbit, NASA said.

It is the first time that astronauts have been sent into space from the US soil since

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

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NEWS INDIA

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

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Uttarakhand to produce Aussie Wool

THE mountainous state of Uttarakhand would now spin out high-quality Australian sheep wool in the hills and cater to India’s textile industry that relies majorly on the global market for sourcing sheep wool.

A recent test report of the sheep wool quality compiled by the state’s animal husbandry department corroborated that the wool’s quality is similar to what is sourced from the famed Merino sheep in Australia.

“We had imported the Australian Merino sheep last year and the purebred yielded the same quality and this month the quantity of wool in Uttarakhand as in Australia,” Dr R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, said.

The average fiber diameter is a very impressive 16.88 microns which is the most sought after by the textile industry across the world, Sundaram added.

Under the national livestock scheme last year, over 250 Merino sheep valued Rs 8.5 crore, are housed at a farm in the Tehri Garhwal district for breeding and improving the quality of wool.

The importance of the development can be implied from the data that the Indian textile industry imports 8000 MT - valued over Rs 2,000 crore - of fine wool from the global market, including Australia.

“With very focused breeding programs

for the next seven years in Uttarakhand by linking it with the integrated livelihood projects, we can produce almost 50 % of the total requirement of the textile industry in India,” said Sundaram.

At the sheep farm, high-quality germplasm has been made to available sheep breeders through the use of modern artificial

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insemination in sheep and embryo transfer technology. The state government is aiming to offer sheep farming as a sustainable livelihood opportunity to the migrant population which has returned to Uttarakhand due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

(AGENCIES)

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OPINION

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

China: A trade partner or a threat trader?

BY KARTHIK ARASU President of “Australia India Sports Council

The Chinese Ambassador in Australia Cheng Jingye recently threatened Australia with trade boycotts because Australia wanted an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus.

By way of retaliation, China has suspended imports from four Australian abattoirs and also imposed a substantial 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley imports for five years. China is Australia’s largest trading partner, with our major exports being iron ore, gas, coal and gold. It is also the number one market for Australian beef by volume, accounting for about almost one-third of exports.

However, the Australian Government doesn’t appear to be worried, Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said, “while not desirable, we have dealt with issues of this nature before and are working closely with the Commonwealth.”

So far, the Coronavirus has taken approximately 333,000 lives worldwide. When a single death requires investigation and examinations of processes, there is no doubt of the importance of an independent review the origins of the coronavirus, its transmission modes and the global response.

The World Health Assembly (WHA) has passed a motion this week to conduct an independent review of the global coronavirus response, including the source of the virus and how it was transmitted to humans. The motion, proposed by more than 130 countries including Australia, New Zealand, the UK and EU members, passed with no objections on the second day of the WHA summit.

Unfortunately, China’s intimidation always meets with success. China knows that, of course, which is why it so often gets its way.

But this time it didn’t work against Australia.

It’s a pity though that some Australian politicians and leaders were asking the Government to back off from the inquiry in response to the Chinese boycott of Australian products, but Australia stood tall. This was demonstrated through the backing of 137 countries, including China at the last minute supporting the call for an inquiry.

This issue has also highlighted Australia’s reliance on one country for economic prosperity. But this is Australia’s moment of

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clarity! Australia has allowed itself to become more dependent on Chinese products and trade. We are performing way better in handling a pandemic which has turned the world upside down, so we can easily overcome these unfounded trade threats.

In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, Cheng said “the Chinese public is frustrated, dismayed and disappointed with what Australia is doing now”. This clearly demonstrates that he has no understanding of the enormity of frustration & disappointment the world has with their blockade for an inquiry. Keeping this aside, Ambassador Jingye’s threats & Chinese retaliation through a trade boycott provides a great opportunity to Australia to correct its course.

A recently formed Facebook group “Australian Made Products” has attracted almost 1.6 Million members within 5 months that speaks volume about the sentiments of the local population.

Australia should bring back manufacturing, give benefits to both companies and consumers of Australian made products.

This is the time to wake up and act as we will have no one to blame for our downfall, if we still try to sleep through this matter. Selfreliance for survival is a must not only for current economic prosperity but for the future too.

PROTECTING LIVES

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

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Helping Victorians to sleep peacefully at night BY ABHI NARAYAN

Life Insurance provides a lump sum to your family in the event of death or terminal illness of the life insured.

With so many types of life insurance on the market, how can you be sure that your insurance policy covers everything that you need it to? Quite often, it seems that the differences between insurance policies are minute, leaving you confused over which policy is right for you and your loved ones.

However, to ensure you get the right level of protection, you need to carefully consider your needs in order to guarantee that your policy is a perfect match for the life you live and the family you love.

What factors could influence the premiums of the insurance policy I choose?

Good question. When it comes to choosing the right insurance policy, some of the aspects as a guide you should take into account are How old are you? And of what gender? How much do you earn? Do you smoke? Do you have a mortgage, or any other debts to pay off? What is the track record of your personal health and family’s health? The wide range of factors which can influence the price of your insurance policy means that no two people need be insured in the same way Please remember that, when applying for life insurance, you have a duty of disclosure to your potential insurer. This means that you are legally bound to reveal any information that could influence the policy you are given.

Failure to do so could result in your policy being withdrawn without refunds, while the insurer may choose to pursue further legal action against you.

Should I choose a retail product or put it through my superannuation?

There are a number of things to consider, as both options have their benefits and drawbacks. If you choose to buy your life insurance through superannuation, the positives are that it is the cheaper option generally speaking. However, on the downside, the protection offered by superannuation is often very limited when compared with that offered by retail products and does not include trauma cover.

So, you may think that choosing a retail product as your life insurer is more appropriate for you and your family? Think carefully, for there are drawbacks to this

too. Retail product premiums are generally higher than those of a superannuation, meaning that they are not accessible for all workers. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you against blending your cover through both superannuation and retail products for your life insurance If I think that a retail product is the right choice for me, where do I go next?

If you choose a retail product, your next step is to identify what type of cover you would like from the insurance providers.

There are a number of different types of insurance available to you, the most common of which are: Income protection Insurance – It covers generally up to 75% of your annual income if you become sick or injured and unable to continue working. Statistically, this is also the most claimed policy with the insurers and generally speaking is tax deductible Term life insurance – this is usually valid up until the age of 99. Term life insurance pays out a lumpsum to your beneficiaries in the case of your death, or to you if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Trauma insurance – trauma insurance (Sometimes also called as Critical Illness cover) pays out lumpsum from your insurance company if you suffer from any of the conditions listed in the policy. Generally, Severe conditions like stroke, heart attack, major organ failure or advanced stage cancers are some of the conditions which is covered through Trauma option.

Total and permanent disablement policy (TPD) – this cover can work independently of, or in conjunction with, term life insurance.

TPD is a lumpsum payout if you become completely and irreversibly disabled or are unlikely to ever return to work.

Abhi Narayan is a founder and managing director of Insurance Life Pty Ltd. | E: Abhi.Narayan@inslife.com.au

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PEOPLE

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

LITTLE POWERHOUSE

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Where many adults would give up after a setback in life, six-year-old Ria proves that by staying positive and taking charge nothing is impossible in life

hen was the last time you felt that you had hit a brick wall? Whether it was a series of negative experiences, personal health concerns or hurdles in your career path that you thought you could never cross. We all at some point, would have felt it.

Ria’s family felt the same when at the age of five, Ria was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. However, Ria did not lose hope.

Instead, she became stronger and started building a rock-solid foundation for her aspirations.

This is a story of our little Ria, who is in love with the famous ‘Speechless’ song from Aladdin, ‘Here comes a wave meant to wash me away, a tide that is taking me under… all I know is I won’t go speechless’, and inspires many.

This upcoming singing sensation of Melbourne, Ria, teaches us to dream.

Ria, a happy little child, born in 2011 to a small family in Melbourne, loved playing with her elder brother Kuvam and her many close friends. A very lively and cheerful toddler, Ria had always been effusive and enthusiastic about life.

In her child care centre, Ria made many friends and loved to hang out with them.

Nonetheless, her teacher started noticing small changes in Ria’s routine. Ria started spending more time in the classroom than with her friends playing outdoors. Initially, Ria’s parents couldn’t recognise the reasons and felt maybe it was a phase she was going through.

However, in 2016, Ria’s first school year, suddenly the social child became extremely quiet. Ria felt tired and lethargic at all times and didn’t want to go anywhere. When her friends wanted to play outside, she just wanted to stay indoors. Her diet dropped drastically, and she started feeling thirsty all the time. “I felt bad that I couldn’t play with my friends and every day I would throw all my lunch that my mother had packed with so much love”, Ria said.

“Ria started getting constant episodes of stomach aches. I remembered one day Ria was feeling extremely weak and was almost about to faint. She wasn’t herself at all. I knew something was wrong. I called my husband, who was working at the Monash Hospital and asked him to stay there while I rushed Ria to the hospital”, said Ria’s mother who loves to be known as ‘Ria’s mom’.

“After seeing Ria and even before the test results could come, the doctor already knew what she thought could have been the problem. But I, as a mother, did not want to believe and was hoping the results would prove it otherwise and the doctors guess would be wrong. But finally, when the results

came, it was confirmed that unfortunately, Ria had Type 1 Diabetes. That really shattered us,” said Ria’s mum.

This was a tough time for Ria and her family. Poor Ria had to be injected multiple times in a day. Sharing her feelings, Ria’s mom said, “I am not from a medical background, it was difficult for me to see my child like this.

I was a very worried mom, and in the end, I also had to be trained to be able to inject her, which I could not do it initially.”

Irrespective of everything, Ria remained positive. She always had a smile, and she would say to her mother, “Mumma, don’t worry, it’s just a needle. I am a brave girl”.

Hearing such news when many grown-ups would easily lose hope, at the age of five, Ria started self-managing her own health. She learnt how to read labels to keep track of her carbohydrate intake. An astute learner with a strong willpower, Ria truly was not letting anything stop her. The news, the initial

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injections or the dietary changes, the child accepted it all and remained strong.

Then the magic happened….

Just a few weeks after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Ria found her calling.

Wanting to sing all the time, she expressed to her parents her newly found connection with music. A family friend suggested the Jaanz International Singing Academy. From this point onwards, as she turned six, Ria started her magical journey in singing.

Within a year of training and with strong support from her singing academy, her school and her parents, Ria started performing at school and in the community. Ria likes pop and classical music and loves to perform theatrical songs as well.

In 2019, when Ria felt ready, for the first time she entered a singing competition, ‘Fast Track 2019’ Melbourne Singing Grand Final, junior division. With her enthralling performance of her favourite ‘speechless’ song from Aladdin, Ria won the competition and received endless love. She says, “during my performance, I missed my dad the most, who was deployed in Iraq as a health officer (Captain) of the Australian Army.”

Furthermore, Ria has performed for Friends of the Children Foundation many times. Her performances also include the 8th Annual Walk for Monash Children’s Hospital and the annual event of Multicultural Women of the World.

Ria’s achievements are not limited only to her vocal capacities. She has also performed a Chinese solo which touched many hearts.

Ria can now sing in five different languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, English, Chinese and Spanish, and can speak four different languages – Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi and English. Ria is also good in academics, and her biggest dream is to release a lot of albums under her name and travel the world. In this journey, she wishes to explore other creative pursuits like acting and writing as well.

Little powerhouse Ria says, “winning Fast Track 2019 was magical. It was completely unexpected, but I never worry about the results. I have been, and I will always keep working hard and try and achieve my goal in life”.

Therefore ‘it is all magical, and possible.’

When overcoming a health concern can be disheartening for many, little Ria found her contentment in music. Since then, she has been working hard to brush up her singing skills. Her quest for life has begun, and she loves it. Ria teaches us to unleash courage and to dream. She teaches us to smile even in the worst times. This is her story, a story of magic in hopes and dreams.

By Sanchita Abrol

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

GETTING MARRIED IN AUSTRALIA

Marriage Certificate - Just a piece of paper?

Contrary to this popular opinion, getting married is not simply ‘getting a piece of paper’.

Marriage is a legal contract between two people which the Australian Government defines as “the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, entered into voluntarily for life”.

As a consequence, marriage partners are financially, socially and emotionally responsible for each other and any children of their relationship. A body of principles based upon this understanding, underpins an array of arrangements to do with things such as taxation, banking, insurance, wills, social security and laws on property settlement, custody of children, maintenance, inheritance.

Marriage changes kinship relationships. A married couple working together can often provide for each other, and their family, a higher standard of living and quality of life than they may have achieved alone.

So the time, energy and quality of care they put into the relationship and into common resources is huge. It is done willingly in the expectation is that

this relationship will continue to be a source of common benefit for life.

It is because marriage is one of the most important contracts one will sign in one’s life that the Australian Government requires the equivalent of a 30 day ‘cooling off’ period. This is known as the Notice of Intended Marriage.

This is to ensure that anyone entering marriage, no matter how closely they have lived, or are living together, gives due consideration to the seriousness of the commitment they are about to make.

If you have further questions about this issue you can contact me on 0425 853 086

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G’Day Mate

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SOCIAL

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Posting edited selfies on Insta ups eating disorders

Editing and uploading the selfies on the social media platforms like Instagram, in the hopes of getting more likes, may increase the risk of an eating disorder, according to a new study.

The researchers from Florida State University revealed a consistent and direct link between posting edited photos on Instagram and risk factors for eating disorders.

Specifically, digitally-editing pictures to improve personal appearance before posting photos to Instagram increased weight and shape concerns in college students.

The study, found that posting photos (edited or unedited) contributed to greater anxiety and reinforced urges to restrict food intake and exercise compared with not posting photos.

“As more people turn to social media to stay connected, it’s critically important to let others see you as you are.

“Compared with edited photos, we saw no decrease in the number

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of likes or comments for unedited photos on Instagram; knowing this could reduce harmful pressures to change how you look,” said coauthor Pamela K Keel from Florida State University.

Social media use has been implicated as a correlate and a cause of increased disordered eating but little is known about the impact of specific aspects of social media use, such as posting edited photos of the self.

Utilising a two-stage design, the present study sought to determine how posting edited photos relate to eating disorders, as well as anxiety and depression symptoms, in male and female college students.

(AGENCIES)

LEGAL

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

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Pre-nuptial (prenups) Binding Financial Agreements BY GURPAL SINGH

In today’s complex social world, the trust and love have different connotation than previously understood in the Ghazals and emotional Bollywood songs.

While in love, one would say all ‘I have is yours’ turns to a bitter bone of contention at the time of separation.

The prenup is advised for a couple who is expecting to marry or enter into a de-facto relationship (including same sex couple).

There are a number of advantages of entering into a prenup including certainty and finality of the net assets and resources of the matrimony in a way that the legal process cannot negate or alter the agreement.

This implies that the potential dispute as to financial settlement is dealt with by the prenup itself. The prenup is private and confidential, saves time from litigating in court, helps in estate planning and results in tax benefits as the transactions carried out pursuant to the prenup do attract the same benefits as the court orders.

The Australian family law provides for the requirements of the prenups to become binding, vitiating a particular clause to make provision for the maintenance of the party, termination of the agreement by the parties and the scope of circumstances in which the court may set aside a prenup agreement and/ or adjusting the property being a subject of the financial agreement that has been set aside.

The prenup includes a wide variety of matters including an understanding as to: a.

Each party had made no financial contributions as to the assets, resources,

gifts or inheritances of the other; b.

Should the relationship end, each party would be solely entitled to retain their respective assets and superannuation; c.

As to how the joint assets would be held; d.

As to their respective liability for costs associated with, and any liability encumbering any of their assets and expenses; e.

Upon separation, neither party would have any claim against the separate assets of the other and any contribution to order maintenance or upkeep of the separate assets of the other party; f.

Provides for peace of mind and a clear direction for the concerned parties to make better plans for the future without worrying about unknown and uncontrolled consequences g.

The parties who receive or exchange the property can get substantial savings on capital gains tax and state transfer duty in appropriate cases.

The prenup effectively exclude the interference and determination of the financial settlement by the Family court.

However, the question whether a prenup is valid, enforceable or effective is to be determined according to the principles of law and equity which applies to determine the validity, enforceability and effect of contracts.

One need to ensure that each party had received a separate legal advice as to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms.

And understood the nature and effect of the agreement and the obligations and risks involved in signing that they had done so freely, voluntarily and without pressure from the other party.

The grounds on which a court may make an order setting aside a prenup are: a.

The agreement is void, voidable or

unenforceable; b.

Party to the agreement engaged in conduct that was in all circumstances unconscionable; c.

Change in material circumstances resulting into hardship; Special disadvantage rather than a mere difference in the bargaining power may result into setting aside the agreement including poverty, need of any kind, sickness, age, sex, infirmity, drunkenness, illiteracy, lack of assistance or explanation, ignorance, inexperience, impaired faculties, financial need or other matter that would affect a person’s ability to protect their own interest.

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

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PEOPLE

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

LIVING THE DREAM When ethics, hard work, determination, and putting people first is the basic foundation of a company, magic is bound to happen. Sunil Kumar of Reliance Real Estate is living example of this

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here is nothing easy about being an entrepreneur. It takes considerable effort, a strong vision, and a persevering attitude. Sunil Kumar speaks to us about what it takes, and how he got Reliance Real Estate to where it is today.

Award-winning business Reliance Real Estate has built up a great reputation in a short time, so has its founder Sunil Kumar. He attributes his accolades such as the Wyndham Business Awards and Australiasian Real Estate Result Awards to a client-based approach and going above and beyond to include a personal touch whilst maximising results. Beyond business, his approach in life prioritises nurturing young real estate minds and giving back to the community around him.

Sunil first moved to Australia from Kurukshetra, Haryana in India, at the tender age of 22, after completing a degree in economics, in pursuit of a better future. This was back in 2004, and he moved to begin studying for a postgraduate degree in professional accounting.

Never the one to sit still, Sunil began working as a door to door salesman for a company then called ‘Salesforce’ selling Orange Mobile Phones, putting in the first few months without any sign of a paycheck. However, his strong-minded attitude meant it took less than a year to rise from a novice to one of the top-performing salespeople in the company. From there he consistently ranked in the top five sales positions, and moved on to other projects, travelling around country Victoria to sell Telstra to the clients. “I went to Echuca, Horsham, you name it and had to

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stay there for days or weeks at times”, he says recounting his memories of the 2000s.

So how did the jump from door to door sales to real estate occur? Sunil never lost sight of the lifestyle he always wanted and longed, the day where he would wear a suit every day in a successful career. In January of 2008 he began his search for a job in real estate, and by the end of the month was working in the industry, in areas such as Altona and Laverton. Committed to the cause, he hired a coach from Sydney, and attended seminars, which led to honing his skills, which lead him winning many internal awards in the organisation. But this was not enough to feed Sunil’s ambition, as he explains, “I could not see growth there, I couldn’t see a pathway.”

Like many entrepreneurial spirits who feel confined by the limits of the corporate race, Sunil decided it was time to branch out on his own, starting his own Reliance Real Estate business venture in Werribee. “If someone wants to be successful, they really have to find new ground”, he said, in explaining why he ventured into a different area, rather than staying in the same locality and competing against existing market forces he had previously worked for. He prioritised building a values-based business that felt personal to each and every client. This is how Reliance Real Estate was born.

Sunil said: “I always liked the name ‘Reliance’ and was also inspired by the success story of this great company from India.”

The journey to getting Reliance off the ground wasn’t a smooth one. Sunil had a partner who eventually left the business in a years’ time. For around a year Sunil had many challenges, he found himself juggling between work, an almost new marriage, his first child, trying to pay high office rental fees and staying afloat. Although he toyed with the idea of selling the business, he credits inspiration from family, friends and reading inspiring success stories, which kept him on track. Soon, some colleagues he had connected with during his early salesman days believed in his vision and followed him into his new line of work. They had remembered the effort he put into training them while they worked together and believed in his ability to make Reliance the successful company it is today – and that’s where the ‘Magic began to happen!’ They prioritised their approach and focused on the best client experience. “Today we are known for our customer service, staying connected to them”, Mr. Kumar says speaking proudly of his work.

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020 As time went on, Reliance Real Estate made the move to Wyndham and continued to grow. As Sunil states, “We had the goal of being a number one agency, and within 18 months we achieved it.” The vision of the company was to help people fulfil their dreams – sellers getting the perfect price, buyers looking for their ideal home, and professionals making waves in the real estate industry. The overwhelming clear goal to make people’s lives better in any form is evident right down to the structure of the business.

The opportunity has been presented to franchise Reliance, but Sunil has decided against it for now at least. He is concerned about people who want a “quick moneymaking machine.”

Sunil puts considerable effort into training every employee. ’First learning then earning’ says Sunil. For the first 60-90 days at the company, new staff focus on learning, rather than handling clients of their own. This allows him to educate his employees, so they cultivate the same passion and knowledge of the real estate industry ethically. Through this, Reliance has branded itself a learning and development organisation, with an outstanding mentorship culture.

Mr. Kumar doesn’t consider himself above being mentored either. Despite his considerable achievements, his mantra is that everyone should have a coach. “Life is learning,” he says, “if we learn, then we grow.” He has personally utilised the expertise of Real Estate mogul Michael Sheargold, for his growth, the benefit of the organisation, and his employees.

Being such a busy career-oriented man can have its downsides, and the strain on one’s personal life can take a toll. Especially as Sunil, who is only 37 years of age, doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. “We keep expanding our vision, expanding our goals” he says, speaking of his company. Balancing work life and family life is a delicate act.

Sunil aims to spend at least one day on the weekend fully focused on his wife, kids, and reserves Sunday completely for family time.

This ideally consists of waking up early, going for walks and cycling trips, and trying to stay

away from his phone. He admits this can be difficult at times.

Around this time last year when he had to close down one of the company’s offices and was fully absorbed in his work.

Even on a standard week, he sometimes has twelvehour days, and is thankful to his family for being understanding.

Looking to the future, Sunil hopes to diversify his clientele. He is immensely grateful for the patronage of Indian clients but hopes to be considered a top real estate agent, across the Melbourne market.

Once the pandemic is over, a goal of his is to move further into investment, helping people to eliminate short term mentality and maximise their financial potential. “There’s a number of people who have the money but don’t know what to do with the wealth”, he explains, noting that this venture could parallel his current business. This is yet another project aimed at bettering people’s lives, this time through their finances.

Coming from an immigrant background, Mr. Kumar wants nothing more than to give back to the society that’s allowed him to flourish. A percentage of the organisations’ earnings go towards “Reliance Foundation”, which supports a number of causes. The money assists schools with ‘The Breakfast Club’, providing morning meals for children who need it in the western suburbs. The charitable outreach also sponsors a leadership program for a special needs school in Werribee, that trains young adults to become part of the workforce.

To top it all off, alongside his other ventures, Sunil has spent three years writing a book aimed at those who want to be better leaders and people. Becoming an author was

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natural having always been inspired by books himself, and Sunil notes “You Can Win” By Shiv Khera as one of his all-time favourites.

He also just finished a book by the CEO of a company whose momentum he admires: Walt Disney. His wish is to pass on the knowledge he has developed throughout his career, to help other young people succeed in their chosen professions.

Does Sunil attribute his success to luck or hard work? Definitely the latter. However, he does consider himself a spiritual person, waking up at five in the morning to collect his thoughts (an impressive feat when you have two young children!) “You need to be internally satisfied”, he says, stressing the importance of doing something that you love, and even referencing a close friend of his who runs a café and loves every minute of it. The choices Sunil makes with regards to his business, and external ventures prove he wants to help others cultivate that same passion for their career and life.

Sunil credits the loved ones in his life for his success as well as his aptitude for combining good people together to make business magic happen. Sunil is passionate about what he gets to do for work every day.

He demonstrates that one can be immersed in business, but still continually exhibit their values in the activities they choose to put energy into and in their interactions with those around them.

By Monisha Iswaran

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PEOPLE

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Having been ridiculed for the smell of curries from her school lunch box in the 1980s, Shyamla now uses a spice box and conducts art workshops for preschool kids to nip racism in the bud.

he oppression of minorities happening all over the world is not just a problem with adults. For many, it starts at a young age. It happens with the name-calling, the snarky remarks, the disgusted faces made by peers.

Unfortunately for some, this discrimination leads to distancing themselves from their own identity and culture. While growing up in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Shyamla Eswaran, was experiencing this discrimination firsthand from her classmates and was too ashamed to embrace her culture.

Shyamla, daughter of a Tamil father and Fiji-Indian mother, remembers the reaction

her lunchbox got at school from quite a young age. “The moment I opened my lunchbox, the aroma of the curries would spread throughout the class and all my classmates would make disgusted faces and comments.” This experience impacted her.

the 1980s, Shyamla was “the only brown kid” in her school and was often subjected to such incidents. As she grew older, she felt she had to distance herself from her roots and her culture as much as she could to be accepted by her peers and by the society.

Shyamla recalls the first time she attended an Indian classical dance performance; she was mesmerised by it. She fell in love with the delicate wrist movements, the beautiful facial expressions, and the elegant postures.

Still, she knew she could never associate herself with her own culture or even attempt to learn this dance form in fear of not being accepted.

Having grown up in a typical suburb during

So, for a long time, Shyamla learnt only Western dance forms and only took sandwiches for her lunch at school. “This was probably the time I started to feel ashamed of my culture and my food.”, Shyamla recalls.

www.gdayindia.com.au | M: 0412-114-383

As she grew up, as she learnt more about the ways of the world and about her own culture, Shyamla knew what had happened to her was very wrong. She started embracing

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020 her identity and her roots.

Since she was a kid, Shyamla was attracted to the glamourous Bollywood and the Indian dances which she started to learn then. She started to infuse those Indian dances with the other western forms she had learnt over the years. But that wasn’t enough for her.

She wanted to make an impact at a grassroots level. After she finished her studies, she started working first as a media advisor and then as a public affairs officer at the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2009. “While I was a part of a team that made a difference, I felt like something was missing.

The process was too slow and I often found myself questioning if this was my true calling.”, explained Shyamla. While she enjoyed her work, she felt a disconnect. So Shyamla went back to the drawing board.

With some guidance from her friend, Adam Hill, who is a First Nations artist, she connected with an artist agent. Shyamla started performing Bollywood acts in schools. She aimed at increasing awareness about Indian cultures and Indian art forms through these acts.

“And then, one day, my agent asked me if I would be willing to perform at a preschool. I was really hesitant at first, but then my agent explained that if I aim at bringing about a change, preschool would be the perfect age to start with,” Shyamla said.

That’s how she started ‘BollyKids’ - A beautiful act introducing Indian culture and Indian spices to preschool kids. Shyamla used this opportunity to introduce the various spices used in Indian food to preschool kids in schools and childcare centres across Sydney.

After performing her dance routine, Shaymla sits with these kids and brings out the show-stopper of her act. The spice box! The ‘masale ka dibba’ or spice box that is found in every desi household helped Shyamla introduce the various smells and flavours associated with Indian food. “Some kids might say ‘ew’, or ‘that smells weird’. But I explain why that is not right to say. Instead, I encourage them to say ‘that is an interesting smell’. Being introduced to the culture and these acts at such a young age will help these kids understand Indian food, Indian art form during the formative years of their life. Hence, there is hope that a brown kid in that class will not be bullied or made fun of for his/her appearance or food. They might be accepted for who they are.”

This hope, this desire to change young minds and her relentless efforts led to fulfilling another lifelong passion of forming a South Asian dance group. By this time, Shyamla had learnt many different Indian folk dances. She then started Bindi Bosses. An amazing dance group with South Asian women who address topics like female empowerment and cultural inclusion with their acts. ‘Bindi Bosses’ don’t just perform dances; they celebrate South Asian culture and folklore with their acts.

“Bindi Bosses gave me an opportunity to connect with such amazing fellow artists. We got together to represent and promote our classical and folk dances. And these artists were not just from India, they were from different regions in the South Asian belt,” Shyamla said. From choreographing for Lilly Singh to performing at the Women’s World Cup 2020, this group of powerful dancers are next level. Shyamla makes sure that the

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platform that she is getting for her group is respected and is used as a stepping stone to tackle the important issues that they have always wanted to highlight with their work.

Finally, this year Shyamla’s life came full circle. From being ridiculed for her culture, to embracing and promoting her culture, to now being awarded for the impact that she has made! Shyamla won the Australian National Maritime Museum Arts and Culture Medal last month.

“The fact that such a category even exists is wonderful for all artists in Australia.” Elated with the win, Shyamla adds, “This proves that art and dance bring people together, promotes social inclusion. I hope all Indians, all South Asians, every person of colour is motivated by this to embrace their culture and proudly present it to the world.”

Shyamla’s journey from being this confused kid to a badass boss is truly inspirational. Shyamla had one parting message for Australian-Indian kids who might be facing the same hardships as she did, “You don’t have to choose. You can embrace both cultures - Australian as well as the culture of your homeland. Be mindful of how you are representing it. So just be yourself and don’t ever feel like you don’t belong to any one community or culture.”

By P. Harsora

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PEOPLE

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

The Perfect Garnish An extraordinary life of a chef - mapping through three continents, a war, surviving homelessness, and now - giving birth to a cooking show during a global pandemic with his daughter, Diya.

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crisp September evening in 2018, my publicist and friend, Aisling Brady and I took an Uber down to the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

We were very excited to meet Abhijit Saha, winner of the ‘Best Chef of India’ at the Indian Restaurant Congress and judge of Indian MasterChef that evening.

We were invited by Melbourne Indian chef Daman Shrivastav 55, who threw an honorary party for Saha that evening. Of course, we were delighted to be there to be in the presence of such a prestigious chef but to be honest, being such a lover of good food - I was there to quench my gastronomic delights.

Sooner rather than later, I was forced to join the others in the patio. For quite some time, I stood pinching myself, a smorgasbord of dumpukht biryani and butter chicken lay in front of us. “What a spread!” I whispered.

Aisling and I looked at each other in disbelief. That was my first introduction to the man and the chef Daman Shrivastav in person, and not one I will easily forget.

Fast track two years into the future - we are now all in the middle of a global pandemic; what didn’t change for the ‘chef ‘is his love for good food, and his continuing being a human that is a tad bit extraordinary.

Every weekend, Daman packs 40 - 60 lunches for the homeless and struggling international students quietly from his kitchen at home.

Daman is very reluctant to take any credit, yet he does this with no financial donations, and this humble gesture is so appreciated by the countless people who have been fed by him.

Born in Delhi, Daman grew up in Munirka in 1981. Daman wanted to join the hotel industry not because it was fancy and it would get him a ticket to see the world - he simply wanted to participate because of the dinner jacket and the bowtie!

As a trainee, Daman started at the Imperial Hotel part of the hotel www.gdayindia.com.au | M: 0412-114-383

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

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management industry release, and in 1983 it did not take him long to become a Commi 3 at The Oberoi Group of Hotels. In that same year, Oberoi bought a 7-star hotel in Baghdad, the infamous Al Rasheed. It did not take long for him to get promoted to Commi 2, and his thirst for ambition landed him in London’s Westminister College in 1985, where a well-known chef called, Jamie Oliver was his junior.

In 1989 after his mother passed away, he gave up his job at Maurya Sheraton as an Executive Sous Chef at the Pavilion only to return to Baghdad to work at Al Rasheed as an executive chef. In 1990, everything changed with the onset of the Gulf. People were leaving Iraq in droves; even the Oberoi Group of hotels had pulled the plug on its hotels in the country. Daman ditched the idea of returning home and stayed in Iraq, not knowing at all that Al Rasheed would soon become the epicenter for all the journalists reporting for that region with the eyes of the world upon them.

Little did we know that behind that hotel wall, Daman fed all these journalists, cooking tasty food to cheer them up and helping to keep them alive as they lived through another day in that horrible war.

In 1991 after the Gulf war had finished, Daman travelled to Amman (Jordan) with a Syrian diplomat. With no

money or food, Daman decided to work as a labourer in an orange farm, little did he know his life was about to change again - the owner of the farm was the cousin of King Hussain. When he found out about Daman working originally as a chef, the owner revealed to him

his plan to open a French Restaurant.

Daman was asked to cook up a ninecourse meal, and the rest was history giving birth to La Coquette after six months. Charmed by Daman’s food, King Hussain presented a Longines watch from his private collection with the king’s signature embossed on the dial.

Amused, I whisper, “What a life!” to that Daman giggled on the other side of the phone.

There is so much more to write in this story, like his first modern Indian Frenchinfluenced restaurant on Hoddle in Melbourne, Bay Leaves, to his teaching at the Box Hill TAFE. These days he has started his own YouTube channel with his young daughter Diya which is streamed live across in a prestigious school in India.

Apparently, during the lockdown, home-schooling little Diya lacked fun, so being the creative chef he is- one idea led to the other finally giving birth to the cooking show. They appropriately called ‘The Dad and Daughter Cooking Show.’

I conclude this extraordinary journey of a humble chef with a quote

by Hemingway.” The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”

By Nandita Chakraborty

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FESTIVALS

Jagannath Ratha Yatra

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

A conflux of our tradition and belief BY ARCHITA BAWEJA

I

ndia is a land of varied cultures, traditions and beliefs which reveal our rich heritage. Amongst these contrasts, what binds us together are countless festivals, with the festive spirit profoundly imprinted in people’s hearts and souls.

Festivals mark those unique times, that connect the dots between our past, present and future. The culture and history from the past touch our present moment in the form of an ecstatic spirit of celebration and creates a distinct legacy for our future generations.

Following this legacy, every year during the rainy season of June and July the air of Puri, Odisha (India) is filled with warmth and affection shown by the devotion of thousands of pilgrims. Millions of people gather in this holy town from all over the world to get one glance of Lord Jagannath – ‘The God of the Universe’ and celebrate the Ratha Yatra.

Going back in time, I remember as a child being mesmerized by the Jaganath temple, especially the wooden idols of the lord and the ecstatic crowd. Till date, nothing has changed and each day in the sanctum of the Jagannath temple, the idols of Jagannath alongside his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are worshipped. And, during the time of the Ratha yatra the triad is brought out of the temple and placed in three huge, beautifully decorated chariots.

The chariots are structured from raw wood by a community of people called the ‘Vishwakarmas’. The artisans then paint and sculpt these structures in beautiful chariots which are carried to Gundicha Temple during the yatra.

Gundicha was the queen of King Indradyumna who built the Jagannath temple after being blessed with the vision of God. It is believed, that Lord Jagannath was pleased with the queen’s devotion and bestowed a blessing upon her, promising to visit her palace (now a temple) once a year for a few days’ stay.

So, every year this carnival takes place and the atmosphere is filled with enthusiasm, energy and praises in the form of shouts of ‘Jai Jagannath’. Even one touch of the Ratha or the ropes carrying it, is considered sacred. It is believed that on touching them all sins are absolved.

This journey is an expression of our diverse background and unique history. Not only that, it is also the divine grace of God in the form of his deities touching us all. The most fascinating part of this feast is that the lord himself goes out of the temple to meet his devotees. In the past, people who were not ‘Orthodox Hindus’ have been denied entry to the premises a few times. But, during this parade, even the followers who are not able to pay reverence to the lord due to religious norms and cultural restrictions can meet him.

This signifies, however much the power of a divine being be associated to a place of

worship, that power has a wider reach as well.

And likewise, this festival is not only restricted to India but is celebrated with equal gusto and passion in USA, South Africa, Italy, Tokyo, Russia and many other places

where there are temples of Lord Jagannath. A flavor of the Ratha Yatra can also be seen in Australia in cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, some of which are led by ISKCON. This year the yatra is scheduled to start on June 23. But, amidst all the chaos and uncertainty of the present times, it is not sure if the Ratha yatra will take place or not. While the authorities decide what is safe for the people of the city, we must stay hopeful and keep our fingers crossed.

Even if it comes to the most unfortunate times of the yatra being cancelled, we need to remember that - ‘Our beliefs can outshine our traditions for a while.’

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

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EMPOWERING DESTINY

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

How Life Coaching Can Help You Achieve Success

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BY BARINDERJEET KAUR

L

ife coaching is an opportunity for you to invest time and energy in becoming the best version of you.

You won’t be alone in this journey as you will have a life coach by your side who will guide you through a cognitive process to uncover your values, identify your goals, and create an action plan.

What results can you expect from this investment in you? Through coaching, you are placed on the fast track to enhance your personal skills, improve your managerial style, become a more powerful communicator or influential leader, achieve a balanced life, increase self-awareness, or boost motivation.

Life is like a tightly bound rope and the strands are intimately intertwined. Each strand represents a different aspect of life such as health, wealth, work, relationships, and much more. If you have experienced a time in your life where you felt unhappy in one of these categories, you may have also knowingly (or not) also experienced dissatisfaction mirrored in another part of your life. This spill-over effect happens when lack of satisfaction in a relationship impacts other areas like work, health or social life.

Albeit difficult, it is okay to acknowledge when you have hit a roadblock and need help moving forward. This is not a sign of weakness, but instead represents the strength needed to be vulnerable and the ability to self-reflect. This is where a life coach comes in. A coach may work with an individual on a professional or personal level and oftentimes these two strands merge into

one.

By definition, a coach is ‘a bus used for longer journeys’ or ‘a railway carriage.’ In other words, a coach takes a person from point A to point B. The role of a coach is to help you overcome obstacles, elevate skills, and build momentum. Similarly, life coaching occurs through a series of conversations in an individual or group setting aimed to help individuals achieve results by moving from a current situation to a desired state.

Life coaching unlocks personal potential to maximise performance, boost self-esteem, improve communication skills, enhance work performance, build great relationships, and achieve balance between work and life.

The process of coaching works by setting a goal-based objective, identifying

desires, describing in detail what you truly want to live a fulfilled life and what matters to you. The attention and commitment you receive during a coaching conversation can rarely be experienced elsewhere. Coaches deliver a curiosity to understand who you are, what you want, where you want to go, your thinking style, and how you experience the world to uncover what is preventing you from achieving the life you want. Your success, your happiness, your goals, your relationships, your health, your mental wellbeing are the only objectives for a coach.

You never know when you may need to activate life coaching as a resource in your toolkit for success. Whether you have a goal in mind, or you are not quite sure if life coaching is right for you.

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

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MOTOR REVIEW MOTOR REVIEW

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

BMW 218i Gran Coupe BY AMANDEEP SETHI

I

f BMW of the last decade can be characterised by one overarching plan of attack, it might be their insistence on creating flashy new models to fill a supposed hole in their product line that might not need to exist. First, we had the 4-series which, while a solid addition to BMW’s fleet, made the 3-Series formula that much more impractical. We then saw the introduction of the X2 which supposedly bridged BMW’s small X3 SUV with their even smaller X1 crossover. The X2 is a decent entrylevel commuter, but one that still makes me scratch my head in terms of its presence in BMW’s already cluttered utility lineup.

So, in 2020, we have a new addition to BMW’s puzzling array of semi-necessary vehicles: the 2-Series Gran Coupé. Designed to transport middle-class professionals and fussy first-time luxury buyers, the 2-Series Gran Coupé is meant to satisfy the small niche between the 1 and 3-Series, providing the tried and true BMW experience without emptying your savings account. The real question is, does it do it well?

Upon first approach of the 2020 218i Gran Coupé, we are introduced to the polarising styling of the new BMW middle child.

Equipped with the M-Sport styling package, the front facade is, for lack of a better term, shark-ish. Its gaping front gills make it appear as if it’s about to unleash an unrelenting attack on unsuspecting highway prey. The menacing stare of the angular LED headlights only adds to the sinister frontal appearance of the 2-Series GC. In a side profile, however, the Grand Coupe loses a bit of its intimidation factor. It is a rather stubby vehicle with a wheelbase of only 4526 mm. The sloping roofline only adds to the styling intrigue.

While the headroom is unquestionably stifled by the free-flowing roofline, some might find the seamless lines of the 218i GC visually pleasing. In the end, it boils down to personal preference.

While the 218i GC’s external looks are divisive, the interior is universally attractive. Before we climb into the GC, the presence of comfort access entry is made known with a tug on the door handle of any of the doors, allowing entry without taking the key out of your pocket. While this is a somewhat costly addition, it is worth putting in a few dollars past the base price to increase the premium feel. Beyond the door gizmos and in the driver’s seat, you are immediately met by an aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically sound cockpit. I do not say this lightly, the interior of the 218i has a way of coddling

you in more ways than one. It is always a treat when the user barrier in a new car is nearly non-existent and all of the buttons, switches, and dials are right where they should be.

The no-nonsense feel of the 218i interior highlights the German engineering and design that BMW is known for. Looking around, many of the accented features are more business than pleasure. The ‘Illuminated Boston’ interior trim looks sterile and elegant until the backlighting is switched on; A quick reminder that the 2-Series GC isn’t completely executive.

The standard cloth ‘Trigon’ bucket seats squeeze tight and introduce another colorful flair to the cabin. The steering wheel provides plenty of hefty grip from sturdy leather construction and accented stitching. While all of the wheel-mounted buttons are placed in the correct places, the tactile feel of them, especially the scroll wheel, could certainly be improved with more resistance.

As with most BMW’s of the newest breed, the 218i GC comes equipped with an array of technological goodies that would put the International Space Station to shame.

BMW Live Cockpit introduces a 10.25-inch fully digital speedometer and tachometer with vehicle diagnostics and navigation accompaniments. If driver attentiveness is a must, the 9.2-inch heads up display option is the way to go, allowing you to never move your eyes from the road. All of the infotainment and onboard tech is powered

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by BMW’s new I-Drive 7.0 which supports Apple Car Play. As with the interior itself, the technical inclusions in the 218i GC are easy to navigate and master; A rare quality not found in many other luxury brands with mazelike software systems.

In practice, the storage space of the 218i GC is square in the middle of the 1 and 3-Series models that bookend it. The 2020 2-Series Gran Coupé has 50 more litres of usable storage space than the 1-Series and 50 fewer litres of boot space than the 3-Series. All in all, you are left with a very respectable 430 litres of room, ready for all the necessary accoutrements for a nice weekend trip.

Combined with BMW’s signature 40:20:40 split-folding seat design, you will rarely find yourself needing more space.

Perhaps most shocking about the new 218i GC is just how much performance BMW has been able to squeeze out of meagre hardware.

Looking at the GC on paper, it is hard to imagine that a 103kW coupled with a 1.5 litre 3-cylinder could move a car under its own weight, let alone be somewhat peppy, but that is exactly what BMW has done. While the 8.7 second 0-100km/h time is not going to win you many drag races, the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox puts the humble amount of power seamlessly with quick up and downshifts as needed. It would have been nice to see the inclusion of steering wheel mounted paddle shifters for a bit of sporty flair, but at the end of the day, that isn’t what this car is about. We also see this lack of sporting pedigree with the standard brakes; they have good bite, but it is evident that they were not meant for the racetrack.

While the 218i Gran Coupé occupies a unique niche that might not be understood by some, it is a welcomed addition to the BMW fleet. Upon first glance and even deeper inspection, the 218i GC does not appear to be the entry-level vehicle that it is advertised as. In fact, priced at $47,990 plus on roads, it will certainly serve you right if you are dipping your toes into the German luxury segment.

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

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FASHION

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Dressing up for Melbourne Winter:

5 Must have Winter Wardrobe Essentials BY DEBASREE DAS

H

ow would life be post Isolation be? How would we be feeling socializing yet again? What would it be feeling being myself and wearing something that I always wanted?!

There are so many questions that need answers in our head? But before we start socializing yet again here are some trendy picks for your Winter wardrobe.

Melbourne winter is harsh and sometimes layering is not always trendy though it’s a norm. So, here are my trendy picks for Melbourne winter 2020.

Transitioning is always tricky, as you don’t wish to give up comfort for style, but there is always a way to balance both and yet be trendy.

Melbourne winters though harsh, windy, and unpleasant, so layering on is the only game, but the question is how do we keep this stylish and still have the fashion game on? Answering all your questions “what to wear this Winter”?

You’re top 5 Winter styles:

#Colourful Knitwear’s:

# Accessorizing the Scarfs

I swear I can style knitwear the way I want, be it with a dress or with a humble denim. This is my go-to style every day and especially with the different color options available, you can always add that zing to your otherwise gloomy winter day.

#Dresses with Knee-length Boots

Dresses are for all season and I always end up with a reason to flaunt one. Style your favorite Floral/printed/block color outfit with a Knitwear or long coats and let your Boots do the talking.

Sometimes we are blessed with few hours of sunny winter days, wherein a dress can be easily styled with a pair of your favorite stockings and white boots.

Let the layering game this winter take a trendy turn, style your scarfs to re-purpose an old boring outfit.

This is one trend I would be following this Melbourne winter and give a new look to my old boring outfits.

Style it with a trendy belt or wrap it like a shrug to give a different look to an old dress or even this goes well with a denim.

#Colour block Coats

Coats does most of the talking for your winter wardrobe, bring out that flamboyant side of your style.

Block color trench coats are trendy and always goes for your 9-5 and beyond.

I am a big fan of fur coats too, for your warm and cosy winter evenings.

#Knitted Dress/Buffer Jackets

Cosy and warm Knitwear dresses are totally in trend, love the versatility of the outfit, especially in Melbourne winter. This is one trend you should follow, work to casual this is one Melbourne winter must-have in my wardrobe.

Brands like Zimmerman, Kookai, Country road have some amazing winter styles to replicate this winter.

Departmental store brands like Target and K-mart also have some amazing color and styles to choose from.

Buffer Jackets are saviors especially in Melbourne winter and can literally go along with any outfit.

Whatever, you choose to wear, remember to keep it comfortable, warm and stylish.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @travelinstylewithdebs for your daily fashion inspiration. travelinstylewithdebs

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ARTS & CULTURE

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

33

Ephemeral pause in art:

time for personal development BY SANCHITA ABROL

A

breather for artists, a silver lining in the dark.

In music, silent pauses always have a purpose. They help in understanding different sections of the score, let listeners travel from one syntactic unit to the next, and help us lay down memory for our favourite tunes.

Similarly, throughout the history of plagues and pandemics, its significant to notice the influence on arts. After any slight pause in a functioning society, arts have come out to be even stronger. Thus, in the history of arts as well, pauses play a significant role.

In the current situation, yes, the coronavirus has thrown challenges upon the arts industry in a scale and nature we’ve never experienced before. The safety measures to tackle the spread of the coronavirus may have put a break in proceedings of cultural performances and community gatherings, but this comes with a slim silver lining in the dark – an opportunity for all artists to self-improve and self-develop.

As life gets busy, an artist gets busier.

With many events to perform or to attend, rehearsals to prepare, organisers to meet and media interviews to appear in, in these modern times an artist’s life can quickly become cluttered. However, to make sacred art pieces, it is more important to declutter and simplify life with simple pauses. And what better opportunity to do this than the COVID time.

Mindful decluttering requires time for personal development and growth. Often, we ask, why artists need personal development as much as the development of the skill, the musicality, or stage presence. The answer is that simple art development and personal development go hand in hand.

For constructive thinking and rethinking of your art to make it your own, an artist needs to divulge in the activities to support personal development. Here, constructive thinking is a way of thinking constructively about the world and environment. So instead of reacting to the most recent events, by a social media obsession, an artist can choose to interpret and then respond to in ways that will support personal growth and development and minimize friction with the external environment. This conscious pursuit of personal growth is dependent on few simple steps.

The very first step is about selfawareness. The conscious knowledge of one’s own individuality, values, beliefs, strengths and lacking is crucial in understanding the dilemma in becoming a world class artist.

Gathering information from the first step, then comes the establishment of a personal vision. Planning out an artistic vision is essential for an artist and the art to grow. Based on this vision, is the process of personal development. A personal artistic vision can be indifferent from the existing order of art or it may be rethinking a part or the whole process of making art. This

personal vision is what defines an artist.

After these initial steps, begins the process of personal development which requires skill enhancement, mental conditioning and habit creation. Skill enhancement for an artist includes time management, project management, and personal and interpersonal relationship building skills.

In this process, the body and mind should be aligned to work together to achieve full potential. Hence the exercises for strengthening of mind and body both are necessities. Sometimes in the cluttered lifestyle, bad habits enter the routine of an artist. These can work as distractions from the artistic vision. Therefore, the final step of establishment of positive habit creations help produce the best outputs to the maximum potential and aids in enriching the art and the artist’s life.

While continuously learning and performing, many times artists also loose the difference in the aesthetics of an art as commanded and aesthetics of their own body and space. Therefore, such pauses in time supported by the personal development assist in finding similarities and variances in the two.

Art, like spoken language, can become ‘muddy’, therefore silence can add colours to phrases by removing the clutter. Epidemics have always altered societies, affecting personal lives, artists and intellectuals work, and the environment we live in. However, art responds to the environment and keeps on growing. Therefore, rather than being worried about the changing times, or publishing unpolished works on internet, an artist can use this opportune time for self-growth and learning. This is the time when artists can build upon their existing knowledge and assets to acquire more. A time to rethink and redesign, a time to constructively think and respond.

Sanchita, a renowned choreographer, Indian Kathak dancer is known for her exquisite interpretations of literary pieces and also a Public Policy Specialist

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RELATIONSHIPS

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G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Coping with a break-up amid

social distancing T

here is no right time for break-up and we guess there will never be one. Throw in an invisible potentially fatal virus that is spreading at an expeditious rate globally, lost jobs or workfrom-home shifts, economic uncertainty, being isolated in lockdown, worrying about daily essentials, and the normal breakup stress level multiplies by a thousand.

BeejalGosai Psychologist, Mpower - Cell lists what one going through a breakup should expect and how to cope during this unparalleled time.

Difficulty in letting go This is the most difficult step that comes with any normal breakup - be it holding on to the person or memories. In these times when we are forced to isolate ourselves from the outside world to add on to that woes of a lost relationship, are bound to make one feel lonelier than ever. We may tend to hold on to the memories that we

created with a person more than ever which may help us feel less lonely. It is important to know what you deserve and who you want to become from the lessons learned in this relationship. Focus on building a relationship with yourself.

Feel your feelings Please allow yourself to grieve. You will grieve the person you once were, the person who was less heavy with this kind of feeling. You will grieve the future and the memories that you had thought you would make with them by your side. You are allowed to grieve loss of your relationship you once had. So accept it and allow yourself to feel the hurt, pain and in certain cases also the feeling of being wronged. In the times when we are not allowed to have a physical social support, make the utmost use of the technology to receive support from your friends and families who will be ready to be with you from afar. Use apps like Skype, Zoom, Team link, Google duo, FaceTime.

Let this situation sink in When in a relationship, we often tend to be dependent on our partner or at some point in time, his or her presence helps us regulate our emotions or help us

manage our lives in a more organized way and when that person is gone, it is very difficult to come into terms with the reality. After the initial pain and shock subsides, it is important to try and put things into perspective. Maybe several issues had been festering within the relationship and a breakup had always been a distinct possibility. It is important to ponder over the lessons you learned from this relationship and to also take care of your emotions which are probably all over the place at the moment. Treat yourself with compassion and kindness but most importantly, be there for yourself.

Stop over thinking The last thing that you would want to do post break up is overthink. Don’t overthink about things like what if your old flame gets a partner and you don’t? After breakup, it’s highly possible that you will think, rethink, rewind, replay, analyze and dissect past moments. Do not get trapped in questioning yourself �what-ifs’ in your head. That is a vicious cycle and will just led you in spiral downward cycle. Instead, focus on what made you leave the table or relationship at the first place, what unhealthy signs you ignored just because you were too afraid of losing the person, did you notice any red flags in the relationship, what you do not want to allow in your future relationships.

It is always important to remember that a break-up can actually make up for all the lessons that you never thought you needed. So keep the eyes open.

Bottom line Even when they are the right thing to do and probably the most important thing to do, breakups are painful.

If you follow through with your plan to breakup, make sure you stay focused on good self-care.

Whether your turn to journaling, reading self-help books, or online therapy by seeking help to a professional, use this time to focus on your own healing process.

By Siddhi Jain

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LIFESTYLE

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

35

To boost happiness explore new, diverse experiences

R

esearchers have found that new and diverse experiences are linked to enhanced happiness, and this relationship is associated with a greater correlation of brain activity.

The results, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, reveal a previously unknown connection between our daily physical environments and our sense of well-being.

“Our results suggest that people feel happier when they have more variety in their daily routines--when they go to novel places and have a wider array of experiences,” said study co-author Catherine Hartley from New York University in the US. “The opposite is also likely true: positive feelings may drive people to seek out these rewarding experiences more frequently,” Hartley added.

Previous studies using animal subjects had shown similar results.

The researchers, who conducted the study prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, recognise that current publichealth guidelines and restrictions pose limits on movement.

However, they noted that even small changes that introduce greater variability into the physical or mental routine--such as exercising at home, going on a walk

around the block, and taking a different route to the grocery store or pharmacy-may potentially yield similar beneficial effects.

For the current study, the researchers investigated the following question: Is diversity in humans’ daily experiences associated with more positive emotional states?

To do so, they conducted GPS tracking of participants in New York and Miami for three to four months, asking subjects by text message to report about their positive and negative emotional state during this period.

The results showed that on days

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when people had more variability in their physical location--visiting more locations in a day and spending proportionately equitable time across these locations-they reported feeling more positive: “happy,” “excited,” “strong,” “relaxed,” and “attentive.”

The research team then sought to determine if this link between exploration and positive emotion had a connection to brain activity.

To do this, about half of the subjects returned to a laboratory and underwent MRI scans.

The MRI results showed that people for whom this effect was the strongest--those whose exposure to diverse experiences was more strongly associated with positive feeling (“affect”)--exhibited a greater correlation between brain activity in the hippocampus and the striatum.

These are brain regions that are associated, respectively, with the processing of novelty and reward-beneficial or subjectively positive experiences.

“These results suggest a reciprocal link between the novel and diverse experiences we have during our daily exploration of our physical environments and our subjective sense of well-being,” Hartley noted.

(AGENCIES)

36

HEALTH

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

2-3 cups of coffee daily linked to lower body fat in women

T

his news may make coffee-lover men depressed a bit as new research has revealed that women who drink two or three cups of coffee a day have been found to have lower total body and abdominal fat than those who drink less.

The study indicated that some compounds in coffee may have anti-obesity properties.

Overall, the average total body fat percentage was 2.8 per cent lower among women of all ages who drank two or three cups of coffee per day and the findings were consistent whether the coffee consumed was caffeinated or decaffeinated, and among smokers/nonsmokers and those suffering from chronic diseases when compared to those in good health.

In men, the relationship was less significant, although men aged 20-44 who drank two or three cups per day had 1.3 per cent less total fat and 1.8 per cent less trunk fat than those who did not consume coffee, according to the study published in The Journal of Nutrition.

“Our research suggests that there may

be bioactive compounds in coffee other than caffeine that regulate weight and which could potentially be used as antiobesity compounds,” said Dr Lee Smith, senior study author from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. To reach this conclusion, researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,

organised by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the US, and looked at the relationship between cups of coffee drunk per day, and both total body fat percentage and abdominal or ‘trunk’ fat (adiposity).

They found that women aged 20-44 who drank two or three cups of coffee per day had the lowest levels of adiposity, 3.4 per cent lower than people who did not consume coffee.

Among women aged between 45-69, those who drank four or more cups had an adiposity percentage 4.1 per cent lower.

“It could be that coffee, or its effective ingredients, could be integrated into a healthy diet strategy to reduce the burden of chronic conditions related to the obesity epidemic,” said Smith, adding that it is important to interpret the findings of this study in light of its limitations.

Coffee naturally contains a variety of compounds including caffeine, antioxidants and diterpenes. These contribute not only to the unique flavour but also to the wellresearched physiological effects of coffee.

(AGENCIES)

Childhood obesity may increase bladder cancer risk

A

dults who were overweight in childhood may be at greater risk of developing bladder cancer, according to a new study.

Published in the journal Annals of Human Biology, the study based on more than 315,000 children in Denmark, shows body size is associated with getting the disease later in life. A body mass index (BMI) increase above average during childhood, high/low birth weight and below-average height also increase the odds. Identifying causes that arise early on could lead to a new understanding of the disease which is the 9th most common cancer in the world, has high recurrence rates and is more likely to affect men aged over 65, the study said.

“These results suggest that the higher levels of overweight and obesity in children today may contribute to an increased burden of bladder cancer in future,” said lead author Dr Kathrine K Sorensen from Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital in Denmark.

“Our study contributes to the understanding of how body size early in life may indicate a risk for bladder cancer,”

Sorensen added.

The link between bladder cancer and lifestyle factors such as obesity is already established. However, little is known about whether this association has its origin in

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childhood. The findings were based on information relating to 315,763 children born between1930 and 1989 and aged from seven to 13.

This data from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register included BMI, birth weight and height, and was crossreferenced with the Danish Cancer Registry.

The number of individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer as adults were 1,145, including 839 men.

The risk of developing the disease later in life was, for example, 10 per cent higher for a 13-year-old boy of average height (154.5 cm or 5ft) whose BMI increased 5.9kg above normal (the equivalent of 42.5kg). Conversely, a boy the same age and 8cm taller than average (162.5 cm or 5ft 3ins) had a six per cent lower risk of being diagnosed, according to the research.

“To put our results in perspective, for two 13-year-old boys of average height (154.5 cm), moving from a weight of 42.5 kg to 48.4kg equates to a 10 percent higher risk of bladder cancer in the heavier boy,” said senior author Dr Jennifer L Baker.

(AGENCIES)

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

This months Question strengthen muscles and bring about well being.

Yoga – to see promising results with improvement in joint health, physical functioning and mental/ emotional well-being.

Q: What types of exercise are most suitable for someone with arthritis?

A: Following are some of the types of exercises that can help people with arthritis: Light dancing and Tai Chi - to improve joint movement and relieve stiffness.

Aerobic or endurance exercises – to improve fitness and control weight.

Cycling and Walking – to

Warm water exercise is an excellent way for those with arthritis to build up strength, ease stiff joints and relax sore muscles. Waters buoyancy greatly reduces the pressure on your joints, making it easier to perform needed range of motion exercise.

Health tip:

37

Studies suggest that walnuts help reduce the risk of prostate and breast cancer

Diet rich in fruits and vegetables may protect heart health

People are increasingly turning to Homeopathy for an effective answer for arthritis.

Not to mention side effects that follow. Homeopathy is also one of the easiest and most convenient remedies.

In initial stages there is more probability of cure compared to in later stages.

By Raj Kothuru

Please send any of your health related questions to drraj@aurahealth.com.au with Ask Dr Raj as the subject line or ph: 94788649 / 0425761826. The questions will be published with your identity protected.

A

diet rich in fruits and vegetables given over a relatively short period of time was associated with significantly lower levels of markers for subclinical cardiac damage and strain in adults without pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD), say researchers.

Observational studies show that a healthy diet is linked to a reduced risk for CVD events, leading many to advocate for stronger public policy to promote healthy food choices.

Critics, however, point to a dearth of evidence to support the hypothesis that adopting a healthy diet directly reduces CVD injury or is effective for the primary prevention of CVD. For the findings, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in the US, studied data and stored serum specimens for 326 participants of the original DASH trial to compare the effects of diets rich in fruits and vegetables with a typical American diet in their effects on cardiac damage, cardiac strain, and inflammation in middle-aged adults without known pre-existing CVD. The DASH diet is a lifelong approach to healthy eating that’s designed to help treat or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension).

The DASH diet plan was developed to lower blood pressure without medication in research sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health.

It includes lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.

The DASH diet also includes some fish, poultry and legumes, and encourages a small amount of nuts and seeds a few times a week.

The study found that after eight weeks, participants in both the fruits and vegetables and the DASH diet groups had significantly lower concentrations of the biomarkers for subclinical cardiac damage and strain compared with control group.

The authors hypothesize that dietary factors common to both the DASH and fruit-and-vegetable diets, such as higher amounts of potassium, magnesium, and fibre, may partly explain the observed effects. These findings strengthen recommendations for the DASH diet or increased consumption of fruits and vegetables as a means of optimising cardiovascular health, the researchers noted.

By Puja Gupta

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38

HEALTH

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Food to keep your heart healthy

I

t has been proven that eating certain kinds of food every day can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

“Eating food in its natural form as whole foods and unprocessed food is good for your body.

Naturally occurring food like nuts, whole grains, fruit, green vegetables, fish(occasionally), and red wine should fill up your plate for both variety and good health,” states Dr. Bipeenchandra Bhamre, Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, said.

Whole grains: Opting for oats, barley, rye, buckwheat and quinoa can be beneficial for your ticker. They are loaded with fibre and can help you lower bad ‘LDL’ cholesterol. Moreover, eating them on a regular basis can allow you to keep heart diseases at bay.

Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are jam-packed with antioxidants namely anthocyanins that help in protecting against the oxidative stress and inflammation and keep away the heart disease.

Nuts: Eating walnuts (that contain magnesium, copper and manganese) and almond (having heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and fibre) are good for your heart.

Fish: Eating fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids

can be helpful for your heart. opt for salmon, tuna, pomfret and mackerel.

Olive oil: It is rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids that can enhance your heart health.

Other foods: Green vegetables like spinach can be beneficial for the heart. Likewise, carrots, sweet potatoes, green/red chillies, tomatoes,

oranges, papaya, sunflower, dried beans, sprouts, lentils can be included in your diet.

The doctor’s take-home message? Quantity plays a vital role. How much you eat is equally important as what you eat as controlling body weight is important to prevent heart disease.

Furthermore, do not forget to exercise daily.

currently supported by adequate human studies and are based on findings from studies that did not specifically examine this area.

Claims of a link between vitamin D levels and respiratory tract infections were also examined by scientists.

Previous studies in this area have found that lower vitamin D status is associated with acute respiratory tract infections, however, limitations of the findings of these studies were identified.

Findings from the majority of studies were based on data gathered from population groups in developing countries and cannot be extrapolated

to populations from more developed countries due to external factors.

Scientists believe that there is currently no firm link between vitamin D intake and resistance to respiratory tract infections.

“Although there is some evidence that low vitamin D is associated with acute respiratory tract infections, there is currently insufficient evidence for vitamin D as a treatment for COVID-19 and over-supplementing must be avoided as it could be harmful,” study researcher Carolyn Greig.

(AGENCIES)

High doses of vitamin D may not prevent or treat COVID-19

T

here is currently insufficient scientific evidence to show vitamin D can be beneficial in preventing or treating COVID-19, say researchers.

Following unverified reports that high doses of vitamin D could reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and be used to successfully treat the virus, the new study, published in the journal BMJ, Nutrition, Prevention and Health, investigated the current scientific evidence base on the vitamin and its use in treating infections.

Vitamin D is a hormone, produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight, and helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

“An adequate level of vitamin D in the body is crucial to our overall health, too little can lead to rickets or the development of osteoporosis but too much can lead to an increase in calcium levels in the blood which could be particularly harmful,” said study lead author Sue Lanham-New, Professor at the University of Surrey in the UK. Examining previous studies in this field scientists found no evidence of a link between high dose supplementation of vitamin D in helping to prevent or successfully treat COVID-19 and cautioned against over-supplementation of the vitamin, without medical supervision, due to health risks.

Scientists said that assertions about the benefit of the vitamin in treating the virus are not

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(AGENCIES)

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

39

High-strain exercise linked to early pregnancy loss

I

n women with history of miscarriage, higher levels of physical activity have been associated with a greater risk of subclinical, or very early pregnancy loss, warn researchers.

The study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, found that there was roughly a two-fold higher risk of very early pregnancy loss for women who were highly active compared to those who were less active.

“Risk related to physical activity is different for pregnancy failure close to the time of implantation compared with that for later, clinical pregnancy loss,” said study lead author Lindsey Russo from the University of Massachusetts in the US. “The implantation period may represent a time of vulnerability, when high-strain activity could pose a risk for subclinical, or very early pregnancy loss,” Russo added.

Subclinical pregnancy loss can be difficult to detect because they may occur before a woman is even aware that she’s pregnant.

For the findings, the research team

recruited women between 18 and 40 years old with one or two pregnancy losses who

ore than half of mums-to-be who are at risk of the dangerously high blood pressure condition pre-eclampsia are missing out on preventive aspirin treatment, say researchers.

Pre-eclampsia is the leading cause of premature birth, restricted fetal growth, and stillbirth and it increases the risk of hospital admission for the expectant mother before birth.

According to the study, published in the journal Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, making aspirin available from local pharmacies could help ward off the condition, “The UK national guidelines recommend that women at risk of pre-eclampsia should begin to take preventive low dose aspirin at 12 weeks of pregnancy,” said study researcher Joanna Girling of West Middlesex University Hospital, London.

“So why is it that despite compelling evidence for its benefit and safety, more than 50 per cent of eligible pregnant women never start aspirin?” the author asked.

Concerns about taking any drugs during pregnancy and logistical issues, such as midwives in most maternity units not having legal powers to prescribe or supply aspirin, may account for the figures, she suggested.

When midwives can’t prescribe, they advise mums-to-be to see their local doctors

to get a prescription, but this obviously takes time, risking delays in the start of preventive treatment, or not starting it at all, the researchers said.

The easiest option would be to enable at-risk women to obtain supplies of low dose aspirin from their local pharmacy.

“It could be a lot cheaper than the unnecessary branded pregnancy-related nutrients and supplements that many women choose to buy,” Girling suggested.

were trying to conceive from 2007 to 2011.

The study participants used home pregnancy tests that were combined with information from laboratory tests for pregnancy confirmed by a rise in the hormone hCG, which is one of the earliest indicators of pregnancy.

Among 785 women who became pregnant, 188 (23.9 per cent) experienced pregnancy loss, including 55 subclinical losses detected only from hCG testing in biospecimens.

The researcher noted that, according to recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “women with uncomplicated pregnancies should be encouraged to engage in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises before, during and after pregnancy.”

The study suggests that women who have lost a pregnancy may want to avoid high-strain activity in the earliest stage of a subsequent pregnancy, or around the time of trying to become pregnant.

(AGENCIES)

Why pregnant women with high BP miss out on preventive aspirin M

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But, according to the researchers, the problem is that many pharmacists can’t legally sell aspirin to ward off pre-eclampsia because it is not officially marketed for the treatment of the condition.

While some may be concerned that this suggests the use of aspirin for pre-eclampsia is unsafe, the absence of an official license for this indication is most likely for commercial reasons, because it’s unlikely to be financially worthwhile, explained Girling.

(AGENCIES)

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

40

‘Hera Pheri’ with Ranveer Singh on Arjun Kapoor’s wish list

A

ctor Arjun Kapoor wants to work on remake of the iconic comedy “Hera Pheri” along with Bollywoods livewire Ranveer Singh.

Asked which movie he would love to remake with his “Gunday “co-actor, Arjun said: “I would love to do ‘Hera Pheri’ with Ranveer and Paresh Rawal. Similarly, ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari’ is another film that I would love to remake with him.”

Priyadarshan’s “Hera Pheri” released 20 years ago, and has attained a cult status among the buffs over the years.

The film starred Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal as three goodnatured men struggling in life, who get rich thanks to a freak twist of fate involving a wrong telephone number and a sinister kidnapping gone haywire. Tabu also played a pivotal role in the entertainer, which set the template for new-age comedy in Bollywood.

During the interaction on social media, Arjun went on to say that his uncle and actor Anil Kapoor inspired him to pursue his passion in acting.

“I used to spend a lot of time around him and on-sets and get inspired from him,” Arjun said, adding that he has also always looked up to stars like Jackie

Shroff, Govinda and Suniel Shetty.

The actor also confessed that if he were to play a superhero, he would like to play Wolverine.

Looking back at his journey from ‘fat to fit’, Arjun said he had to quit things like rice and sugar to be in shape and worked hard to prepare himself to get into acting.

He encouraged his fans to take up some physical activity.

He feels the lockdown is “a fantastic opportunity to reinvest and reinvent in our health because jaan hai to jahaan hai”. GDI)

I am living my dream:

KRITI SANON

K

riti Sanon made her Bollywood debut with “Heropanti” in 2014 on this day, and since then her career has only been on the rise. Completing six years in the industry on Saturday, the actress took to Instagram to thank the cast and crew members of her first film, which also introduced Tiger Shroff.

“This was my first ever bollywood poster that released. and the feeling was surreal!

I woke up earlier than usual, jumped out of bed and ran out to see the front page of the newspaper!! From that day till now I’m living my dream,” Kriti happily expressed.

She added: “Forever Grateful to @nadiadwalagrandson #SajidSir @wardakhannadiadwala & @sabbir24x7 sir for getting me into this magical world of movies.

For giving me the best launch ever... and @tigerjackieshroff I’m so glad I started my journey with you. Happy 6 year anniversary Tigy.”

Kriti also shared how badly she is missing the film sets during the lockdown.

“I absolutely love what I do... and I just can’t wait to be back on a filmset in front of the camera doing what excites me the most- Acting, performing and just BEING#6YearsOfKritiSanon,” Kriti wrote.

(GDI)

Definition of a heroine has evolved: Bhumi Pednekar

A

ctress Bhumi Pednekar feels the definition of a heroine has changed, with the audience open to stories that they can relate to.

“All the films I have been a part of or the roles I have played are all so different from each other. They may have few overlapping similarities like for example my characters tell the stories of women in the heartlands,” Bhumi said.

“I am proud of the cinema that I have done so far as they are the films that have worked well for me and have helped me connect to my audience. In today’s time the definition of a heroine has undergone change and evolved, nowadays the audience is open to stories that they can relate to,” she added.

The actress continued: “It need not always be the typical perfect story but even those which are flawed or imperfect that connect with the audience. If I can tell them an honest story or give them a character they can relate to, I have succeeded as an actor. So, while my journey so far has been quite eventful it has also been a good one so far.”

She has impressed the audience with her acting skills in films like “Dum Laga Ke Haisha”, “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha”, “Shubh Mangal Saavdhan” and “Saand Ki Aankh”.

Talking about the challenges that came with the role of a 60-year-old in “Saand Ki Aankh”, Bumi said: “This character no doubt came with its own set of challenges, the beauty however of it was in the fact that it was a fruitful role – something that was in a way inspirational.”

“Saand Ki Aankh”, also starring Taapsee Pannu, is based on the lives of India’s oldest sharpshooters Chandro Tomar and Prakashi Tomar. It will air on &pictures on May 30.

(GDI)

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G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

41

NORA FATEHI to donate PPE kits to govt hospitals across India

A

ctress-dancer Nora Fatehi is donating personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to government hospitals and has urged all to pitch in similarly and help the medical fraternity amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Nora made her appeal in a new Instagram video.

“Namaste! The world is battling a global pandemic among other crazy things and we are going through some difficult times. We have the privilege to be able to self-isolate at home and stay safe. However, there are people out there who have to leave their homes on a daily basis to go to work and be at the frontlines battling the coronavirus pandemic. These people are our medical workers... Our medical workers come in contact with coronavirus on a daily basis and it’s a scary thought,” she says in the video.

Must have been a witch in some past life:

RICHA CHADHA

A

ctress Richa Chadha has a hilarious reason for liking lightening. She says she must have been a witch in a past

life.

Richa took to Instagram Stories, where she shared a photograph of herself with a face pack and sipping on a coffee mug.

“Someone said storm? Must’ve been a witch in some past life because I feel energised by lightning and look forward to storms! Praying for no damage to life and property though,” she captioned the image.

Earlier, Richa, an ardent animal lover, shared a photograph where she holds her cat Kamli.

Richa has taken to gardening with great interest amid lockdown. She feels at a stressful time like this, an activity like gardening could be therapeutic.

On the acting front, the actress was last seen in the court room drama “Section 375”.

She currently awaits the release of her upcoming films “Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai” and “Shakeela”.

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Nora added that medical workers have the right to be protected while treating patients, who are battling the dreaded coronavirus.

“They also have the right to treat their patients and go to work while they are protected. They have the right to have the resources that will protect them from the virus while they are working in the hospitals.

Unfortunately, there are limited resources of PPE Kits. Our medical workers deserve to have access to these kits. There should be no limited resources to PPE kits,” she said, adding: “I am personally going to donate PPE kits to government hospitals across India.”

Nora also urged everyone to help her by donating PPE kits to the health workers.

In the clip, she also mentioned that all information regarding the PPE kits will be completely transparent.

(GDI)

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

42

Sonakshi Sinha wants people to ‘behave like animals’

S

onakshi Sinha is angry with people ill-treating animals and says that animals are far better than humans because they are not “sick in the brain”.

“Why do people relate behaving badly to ‘behaving like an animal?’

Please behave like animals. Because animals don’t kill for fun, or for their entertainment or because they’re just sick in the brain. Humans do,” tweeted the actress.

This tweet by Sonakshi comes as a reaction to the brutal incident of a pregnant elephant being killed by humans who fed her with pineapple stuffed with firecrackers. The firecrackers exploded in her mouth and the female elephant died while standing

in a river.

Sonakshi also shared a statement

by World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF India) condemning the gruesome crime.

The statement reads: “WWF India condemns the gruesome death of a pregnant elephant near Malappuram, Kerala on 27 May, 2020.”

“WWF India strongly requests the Kerala Forest Department and local authorities to thoroughly investigate this matter and ensure that those responsible for this gruesome act are held accountable under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and any applicable law so that such practices are not repeated in the future.

(GDI)

I belong to no religion: URVASHI RAUTELA A

ctress and former beauty queen Urvashi Rautela says love is her religion.

The social media sensation took to Instagram, where she shared a photograph of herself dressed in a bright yellow blazer, green top and paired it with a chunky neckpiece.

“I belong to no religion. My religion is love. Every heart is my temple. I LOVE U ALL,” she captioned the bright image.

Urvashi also shared a video of herself jumping into the ocean in a white and neon green bikini.

“I jumped back into ocean again and saw the giant fish swimming straight towards me. ... with my GoPro until it disappeared into the darkness of the deep ocean,” she wrote.

Urvashi, who made her Bollywood debut in 2013 with with the film “Singh Saab the Great”, was last seen onscreen in the multistarrer film “Pagalpanti”.

Now, the actress, who has a whopping fan following of 26.3 million on Instagram, and 631.2K on Twitter, is waiting for the release of her upcoming film “Virgin Bhanupriya”, which is set for an OTT release.

The film also features Gautam Gulati, Archana Puran Singh, Delnaaz Irani, Rajiv Gupta and Brijendra Kala, Niki Aneja Walia and RumanaMolla.

(GDI)

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CINEMA

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

43

Pandemic’s impact on the film industry and what lies ahead BY ADARSH KANDY

How does the entertainment industry operate during a pandemic? What does the future of cinema look like in a post – Covid world?

A

cross the globe, the cinemas have been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has not only taken countless lives, it has also caused an economic crisis.

One such industry that has been adversely affected is the film industry. Talking about movies and TV, when the world is going through a pandemic may sound trivial, however thousands of people’s livelihood is attached to it. It is not just the people who work for the production houses, but it’s the supporting businesses as well. For example: paparazzi, stylists, hair and makeup, chauffeurs, caterers etc. It’s the daily wage workers who will be affected the most.

Especially in India where most film production workers get paid by the day and not a set monthly income.

According to film trade analyst Komal Nahta, ‘’The pandemic has likely cost India’s film industry more than $330 million in lost box office revenue and cancelled production shoots’’. Research and analytics firm Ampere Analysis states in a report that globally $160 billions of growth will be lost in the next five years. With everyone looking at huge losses, one sector has seen growth in these trying times. In the same report by Ampere Analysis a 12% growth is forecasted in streaming services as many new subscriptions have been added during the lockdown period.

During the lockdown, people have found solace in the movies and tv shows the entertainment industry has provided.

With millions worldwide stuck at home, the uncertainty of the future ahead looming over our collective consciousness, it’s the artists who have provided the muchneeded emotional break. With technological disruption in the form of the OTT (Over the top) platform, it has allowed audience to watch any piece of content in the comfort of their homes. The ability of watching movies and tv shows on your laptop, tv, mobile devices has resulted in its rising popularity.

Especially in a time where going to the theatres has become very expensive. Buying popcorn and drinks for a family of four in the cinema halls sometimes equals to the

monthly subscription of a streaming platform.

Due to technological advancement in the distribution of movies made by the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime has in a way rescued many production houses. Many high-profile films slated for release have opted to release directly on streaming services rather than waiting for the theatres to open. Amazon Prime India has recently bought 7 new films from Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada languages to stream on the platform directly, circumventing the theatrical release window altogether. This has resulted in multiplex owners worried about going out of business.

The bosses of PVR Pictures and INOX have all raised concerns. Understandably so.

So, what does the future hold once lockdowns are eased? Even when the cinemas halls open up, we will think twice before going out and watching a film in a room full of strangers. The multiplex association of India have set out their action plans. This includes social distancing, body temperature checks, mandatory masks and use of hand sanitizers. The cinema going experience seems to be completely changed for the foreseeable future. Theatre owners and their staff until a vaccine is found for COVID-19, appears to have troubled times ahead. In the meantime, streaming seems like the way to go. However, some films are made for the big screen, for example Tenet, Wonder Women, the new James bond film for example.

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ seems like it will be the first major release after lockdown

is lifted, they are eying for a July 17th release. Though Warner Bros insiders say they need 80% of the world theatres to be open. Otherwise they will delay it further. It all seems to be a waiting game. Theatres will be packed as the blockbusters are rolled out, it’s just a question of when.

Change is the only constant. The question is, who makes the change worth it? Currently it looks like streaming services are. Many disruptions have come to theatre industry.

These include Video cassettes and DVD’s.

Just as the theatres have survived them, they will survive the influx of the streaming platform. They will survive because watching a movie as a collective, as a big screen experience cannot be replaced. The first day, first show euphoria of watching a Rajinikanth, Salman Khan film in the theatres is unmatched. Many small – medium budget films will go directly to streaming. First day first stream you could say. However, superstar actors will be the saviour for the theatres and will bring the audiences back to the theatres. That is once normalcy in our lives is found again.

Adarsh Kandy is a Movie buff from Melbourne, when he is not working, he is watching films

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44

FOOD

bon appétit

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Did you know:

Broccoli contains high levels of both calcium and Vitamin K, both of which are important for bone health

OIL PULLING:

AN IMMUNITY BOOSTING MEASURE

Oil pulling is regarded as an ancient Ayurveda treatment that dates back to more than 3,000 years.

Considered as a detoxification therapy, it is done by taking a spoonful of cold pressed virgin oil (preferably coconut oil) and swishing it in your mouth for about 5 minutes, similar to using a mouthwash. The purpose of oil pulling is to swish the oil around in your mouth, between the teeth to get rid of bacteria in the mouth, spit it out and immediately rinse with some warm water.

Nutritionist Sheryl Salis shares how oil pulling that can help improve your immunity, uses of virgin coconut oil and the method of oil pulling: Oil pulling is an alternative health practice gaining traction in recent times not only for oral health but also as an immunity boosting measure. As the mouth is a home to millions of microbes including bacteria, the oil pulling process helps get rid of these bacteria through swishing oil in the mouth and in-between the teeth. Swishing the oil for a prolonged period cleanses

the mouth and decreases the bacterial load. Not only does this promote oral hygiene, this technique aids in overall health and well-being.

With the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, it is recommended to build and maintain a strong immune system to help combat the risk of being infected. While external precautionary measures like sanitizing and washing hands are essential, maintaining basic hygiene measures and eating healthy to build one’s immunity is of utmost importance.

Using virgin coconut oil to build immunity Cold pressed virgin coconut oil is a superfood recommended for its myriad health benefits; it is a rich source of naturally occurring Lauric acid and contains Vitamin E which helps to improve body’s immunity. The medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs) that contain lauric acid and caprylic acid strengthens the immune system and has anti-viral properties. Therefore, Adding 2 spoons of virgin coconut oil

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to the diet every day can help improve the immunity and maintain a healthy, holistic lifestyle.

In most Indian household’s, virgin coconut oil is a staple for consumption and beauty practices and is slowly making its way in the mainstream wellness community for oil pulling.

Known for its immune boosting properties, virgin coconut oil can be introduced as an effective technique into your heath regime.

How to do it?

4 Start by swishing it in your mouth on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning 4 Take about 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil in the mouth and swish it for about 3-5 minutes.

4 Discard the oil by spitting it out. Do not swallow the oil as you will ingest the toxins with it as well 4 Rinse the mouth with warm water and brush your teeth as usual 4 Repeat the process 3-4 times a week.

(ANSlife)

FAT FACTS

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

All about fats...!

45

BY DEEVYA GUPTA

G

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 its 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 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, butters, 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 butters, 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 practicing dietitian.

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 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 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!

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

RECIPE

Chatpata winter warmer soup

Tomato and lentil soup in under 20 minutes, reduced fat and delicious!

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

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46

FOOD

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Get power-packed with

WALNUTS!

P

lanning meals in advance isn’t just for the times when we’re able to be out and about. There are many benefits to meal prep while you work from home as well.

It saves your valuable time and allows you to be mindful about your eating habits.

Making use of California walnuts - a versatile, nutritious ingredient e is an excellent way to start experiencing the benefits of meal prepping. Whether you use raw walnuts, pre-toasted walnuts, or seasoned walnuts, their uses are limitless.

Walnuts are a single-seed fruit that provide healthful fats, protein, copper, manganese, and other essential nutrients.

Here are some simple and easy ways to plan meals with these dynamic nuts that will help you get started on your meal prep journey.

Flavourful Toasts One of the common complaints heard when people begin to consider meal prep is the amount of time involved. The idea of setting aside an entire weekend just to prepare a week’s worth of healthy meals, for example, is quite daunting. One can utilize versatile ingredients to make each week’s meals much more comfortable to prepare. Walnuts are a good example. They are delicious and extremely versatile. If you

toast walnuts ahead of time and chop up some fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, pears, or tomatoes, you can create a variety of easy sweet or savoury breakfast toasts to be enjoyed throughout the week. Making a delicious toast is as simple as topping your toasted bread with your favourite fruits/ vegetables and crushed walnuts.

Sensational Salads Did you know adding a handful of walnuts on top of your salad adds 4 grams of powerpacked protein and 2.5g of plant-based omega-3 to your meals?

Skip the croutons and chop up some walnuts instead. Not only are they a nutritious alternative, but they also add some delightful crunch! By chopping up fruits and vegetables and making a large batch of fresh salad dressing ahead of time, all you have to do during your lunch break is throw the ingredients together in a bowl and mix them up! Or to shake things up (literally), pack all the ingredients in a mason jar.

Flour it up Add grounded walnuts to your weekly stock of flour - a great way to add a healthy dash to your rotis, bread, muffins and pancake recipes. With the goodness of walnuts, even a simple recipe can turn out

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flavourful and full of nutrients. Remember, walnuts are best when freshly ground, so make sure to make your weekly batches.

When grinding, be careful as they turn into butter very quickly.

Smoothies with a Twist Making a creamy protein shake or breakfast smoothie is a great way to kick off your day! If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding walnuts to your smoothie. Not only is it a fun way to switch up your classic recipe, but it also adds a unique texture and flavour to your beverage. Prep your smoothie ingredients over the weekend by chopping up various ingredients, such as berries, bananas, and walnuts, and placing them in the freezer. Using frozen fruit in your smoothie instead of ice will ensure your smoothie won’t taste watered down. And throwing a handful of walnuts into the mix will add a delectably rich, creamy and nutty flavour to your smoothie.

Incorporating nutritious ingredients such as walnuts, into your meal plan lets you enjoy great-tasting food without hassle and a huge time commitment. Their amazing flavour and versatility will allow you to create a variety of dishes that’ll help keep you full and focused throughout your day.

By Aditi Roy

RECIPE

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

Southern Fish Curry

Ingredients: 450 gm white fish fillets 2 tbsp olive oil or ghee 1 tsp aniseed 1/2 tsp fenugreek 3 tbsp coconut, grated 2 med onions chopped 4-5 curry leaves 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste 2 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 2 tbsp coriander powder 2 small tomatoes chopped 1/2 cup coconut milk 2 tbsp tamarind paste (opt) salt to taste

This Southern Fish Curry is one of my specialties with authentic south Indian spices; it is a treat to the taste buds. Enjoy with Basmati rice or Brown Rice, Roti Chanai or bread of your choice.

Tip: Serves 2-4

Use a firm fish of your choice. The curry always tastes better the next day.

Garnish:

Method: Clean and cut the fish fillets into big slices.

Heat 1 tbsp oil and roast aniseed, fenugreek, grated coconut, onions and curry leaves until light brown. Blend to make a paste Heat oil in a pan, add ginger-garlic paste, coriander powder, turmeric, chilli powder and salt. Mix well and stir in the tomatoes along with a little water. Boil for 1-2 minutes.

Stir in the paste along with the coconut milk and allow to boil stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low.

Gently add fish pieces with the tamarind paste if desired and simmer until the fish is tender. Serve hot.

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fresh chopped coriander leaves

Serve:

With choice of Roti, Rice, Bread or Appam

recipe

BY MANJIT SETHI

from the private collection

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ASTROLOGY

G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

By D. Narayan (Tantracharya) Mesha (Aries)

Vrishabh (Taurus)

Mithuna (Gemini)

M: 0425 660 220

Karkat (Cancer)

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. This month the prospects for your family welfare look quite bright, you can look forward to celebrating an auspicious event in the family with much fanfare and merriment.

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, in fact, some of you may well get a windfall. The circumstances and your own drive and self-confidence would combine to ensure success for you in fairly quick time.

This month, dame fortune is quite favorably disposed towards your health. Sun would impart extra ordinary vitality and strength to you, making for a sound constitution. Despite being in the pink of health most of the time, there is a note of caution which must be rounded. Yet, despite all your efforts, there would be little chance of success.

There is nothing very encouraging about your health prospects this month since the stars are quite unhelpful. Any carelessness on your part, could bring about a state of general debility and weakness compounded by nervous trouble. The sole cause of this could be over-exertion and exhaustion. Your financial prospects does not look too good this month.

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)

Vrishchik (Scorpio)

Your financial prospects look good this month, since you will get several notable opportunities, for profit. Those of you who go in for speculative activity or even gambling may look forward to, making handsome profits. Further, for some of you there is a distinct possibility of an unexpected windfall. This month all examination results of most of you would be below expectations.

A fairly beneficial month for your health, during which you should stay quite fit. A note of caution should, however, be sounded about refraining from over- exertion. This could create all kinds of health problems for you.

Therefore, draw out a reschedule of activity, well in advance, that does not put undue strain on your system.

As your financial prospects are concerned. You would surely miss even the normal self-confidence and the ability to take initiatives, and this would tell adversely on your progress. The situation would be further compounded by a near total lack of opportunities at work. There would be relief from functional disorders of the digestive system, provided, at least, normal caution is maintained.

There would be a dearth of opportunities for all of you, simply not enough to go around, as they say. But speculative activity could turn a difficult situation into an impossible one. There are chances that some of you would suffer serious losses from gambling and such-like activities. You may, therefore, desist.

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

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

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

Best days: 1, 3, 4 Lucky Colour: Red, Orange

Dhanu (Sagittarius)

as your financial prospects are concerned. There is the distinct possibility that some of you would undertake to do other people’s dirty work in order to make a fast buck. This would be a serious error because the circumstances would surely put them in an undesirable position, with luck of course nowhere in sight. Others among you would be prone to indulge in speculative activity again, for quick profit.

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

Makara (Capricorn)

Kumbha (Aquarius)

Meen (Pisces)

A month that has little of an encouraging nature for your professional prospects since the stars are not in an obliging mood. You would work quite hard and display a certain sense of dynamism, and yet the anticipated gains would still evade realization. Further, the satisfaction which comes from association with learned people, would be missing for some reason.

This month your financial prospects don’t look good at all, since the stars have a foreboding look about them. Any anticipated gains from Government are going to cause disappointment, since the outcome would in all probability be unfavorable. In fact, most of you might see your efforts wasted without getting any nearer to your objectives. Lack of opportunity would worsen the situation.

The outlook for financial gains, is fairly bright this month.

Practitioners of the fine arts would have an extremely satisfying time.

Writers, painters, musicians, sculptors and the like can look forward to substantial gains. Those dealing with government can similarly look forward to big profits. The realization of expected gains is a virtual certainty for all of you.

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

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

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

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Strange but True

HAVE A LAUGH

A lady and her 7-year-old son are eating in a restaurant.

same tranquillity returns to his table without a word.

In a moment of playfulness, the boy swallows a coin and chokes.

The mother tries slapping his back, rubbing his neck, shaking him hard and everything she could think of, without success.

Soon, the mother calms down and approaches the gentleman to thank him for saving her son’s life.

The boy begins to turn blue.

The desperate mother starts screaming for help.

A man gets up from a nearby table, and with astonishing tranquillity, without saying a word, lowers the boy’s pants and squeezes his testicles.

The boy yells and spits out the coin. The gentleman with the

She asks, “Sir, are you a doctor?”

“No, ma’am,” comes the reply.

“I’m an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax” “We are trained to squeeze everyone’s balls to make them cough up the last penny.” *Reminder to file and confirm your tax returns*

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G’DAY INDIA | JUN 2020

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