2009-09 Sydney (1)

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INDIANLINK

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Usha Arvind

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Preeti Kannan, Shivangi Ambani-Gandhi, Raka Mitra, Mahesh Radhakrishnan, Tejaswini Prabhu, Shweta Sirohi Gupta, Madhuchanda Das, Chitra Sudarshan, Noel G deSouza, Shafeen Mustaq, Ruchi Lamba, Thomas E King, Guneeta Dhingra, Viral Bhayani

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Vivek Trivedi 02 9262 1766

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Priti Bhardwaj

02 9279 2004

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Darren Monaghan

Indian Link is a fortnightly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Indian Link, maybe reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to Indian Link

Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 or GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001

Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005

Email: info@indianlink.com.au

A whole new ball game?

ver the next few months the attention of sports-crazy Australians will shift to cricket. And suddenly, interest in sport will be rekindled among Indian Australians - as the future of Brett Lee is discussed, whether “pup” Michael Clarke can now be moved to take over the ‘top dog’ mantle, whether Sachin should call it quits, or if Ishaan Sharma is the best quick in the world.

It’s as if cricket is the only discipline in sport. Indian Australians need to go beyond this and learn to embrace other forms of sport. In India, cricket is king and top cricketers enter the pantheon of gods. Fighting for space with the gods and goddesses from Bollywood, the Tendulkars, the Dhonis and the Dravids of the cricketing world enjoy privileges offered to no other sportspersons in India. Hockey used to rule the roost but sadly, has fallen away. Soccer seems to have a limited following. Other sports such as tennis, golf, athletics, swimming, chess and A1 GP have their heroes but none of them seem to touch the strathoscopic levels attained by the cricketers.

So, when Indians migrate to

By PAWAN LUTHRA

Australia, they have encyclopaedic knowledge of all things cricket, and little of any other sports. There is a sporting vacuum for Indian Australians when for a number of months local Australians switch off from cricket and join their tribes in barracking for their favourite code of football.

True, they are distracted by occasional sporting events such as the Olympics when other forms of sport tend to hold their attention. But the focus then shifts back to local clubs and codes. Most Indian Australians are lost for these six months as they try to come to grips with Australian football, rugby league and rugby union. These disciplines are alien to them, not having grown up with them in India. Besides, India does not play these sports and so, there is no international team to follow.

And therein lies the big divide. Australians love their sportspeople, if the tabloid society pages or front page exposes of the behaviour of some

players are to be believed. For Indians migrating to a new country to either live or study, it is important that they take time out to understand and learn about these different codes and teams.

After all, all ball games are a fight over a piece of leather skin – it’s just the shape that differs. To see top athletes competing, whatever the sport may be, is always a thrill.

Perhaps it is time we got more involved in mainstream sports. Get local Australian friends to teach you about these ‘new’ game. Adopt a team, be it Collingwood or St Kilda, St George Dragons or Parramatta Eels, the Waratahs or the Brumbies, and go along for the ride.

Join your mates for a game at the local grounds, invite yourself to the Grand Final weekend BBQ at a friend’s house, and become a part of the local cheer crowd.

You might find that being a part of the local sports will make settling into your new home easier, and allow for better integration with the local community.

As an overseas student, you deserve to know the right way to plan your future in Australia. At VisAinfo, we are fully equipped to guide you all the way. We believe in the power of knowledge and information. When you know better, you choose better. Whether you are a new student, mid-course or looking for further education, let us at VisAinfo help you achieve your objective of becoming an Australian resident. The right way.

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Open days for international students

Fridays, 11.00am – 5.00pm The High Commission of India in Canberra, Indian Consulates and Honorary Consuls have designated every Friday an Open Day for students, when any Indian student can walk in, without prior appointment, to meet the High Commissioner, Consuls General, the designated Student Welfare Officers and Honorary Consuls and discuss their problems and grievances.

Free Yoga classes for seniors

The Spirit of India (NSW) Inc. (a not-forprofit organisation) announces yoga classes at Pennant Hills. Details Dhanraj 0424 075 364 or Suresh 0412 202 182

New branch of Maharishi Ramana Ashram

Maharishi Ramana Ashram announces a new branch at 11 / 48 – 54 Shaw Street Bexley North. Meetings will be held on 3rd Saturday of every month.

Applications open for Artist in Residency Program

Marrickville Council is calling on artists from the local area and across the nation to apply for the Local and National Artist Residency Program, which closes on Friday 11 September 2009. The program provides professional development opportunities for artists while promoting cultural understanding and development in communities. Applications from emerging and mid-career artists of all disciplines are

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

welcomed. Details at www.marrickville.nsw. gov.au

OZINDCARE fundraiser

12 Sept OZINDCARE in association with Hamsa Venkat’s Samskriti School of Dance presents Anuragh, the experience of being in love - an expression through the stories of Shakuntala and Meera at the Science Theatre, 14 Baker St., Kensington, 6.30 pm. For tickets contact: Geetha Mahadevan 9624 1314, Hamsa Venkat 9620 6026 or Anita Kurien 9825 6772

Hindi Divas

13 Sept India Club celebrates Hindi Divas at Castle Hill RSL, 4.30 to 6.30pm. The theme is to speak in Hindi. For every word of English spoken, speakers donate 50 cents. Collected funds go towards nominated charity Ekal Vidyalaya. Details Shubha Kumar 0402 257 588.

Seminar for pensioners

15 Sept Centrelink Parramatta and Parramatta City Library jointly present a seminar in Hindi entitled Helping you to understand Australian Pensions. Find out directly from a Centrelink Financial Information Officer everything you ever wanted to know about your finances. Venue: Parramatta City Library (Darug Room), 1B, Civic Place, Parramatta (behind Parramatta City Council). Time: 10.30am-12.30pm. No bookings required. Details Pauline 02 9806 5159.

Durga Puja

19 Sept Charitable organisation Sydney Utshab will perform Durga puja at Croydon public school. Details at www.sydneyutshab.org

Experiencing Inner Power and Protection

20 Sept Teacher and yogi Mr Jagdish Raniga presents a free public program in Hindi at The Max Webber Public Library, Level 1 Function Room, Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown, 5pm - 7pm. Details email: marg.1@ virginbroadband.com.au or phone 8600 0150

Classical music duet

25 Sept – 30 Oct The South Indian Fine Arts Association of Canberra sponsors the visit to Australia of Indian classical musicians Debapriya and Samanwaya, vocal and sitar performers. While in Australia, Dev and Sam are scheduled to perform at various venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Byron Bay. Details email devasaman@gmail. com or visit website www.myspace.com/ debapriyasamanwaya

National Vegetarian Week, 28 Sept – 4 Oct Pledge to Try Veg is the theme of this year’s National Vegetarian Week, as announced by the Australian Vegetarian Society. Australians are encouraged to make a pledge either to try a plant-based meal, increase their plant based

meals or commit to eating vegetarian for the week by visiting www.vegetarianweek. com.au. For every pledge, one dollar will be donated to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to help fund research into protecting the national icon and tourism drawcard from environmental threats such as rising water temperatures and water acidification.

MEFF Eid Festival

11 Oct Sydney’s annual Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF), a family event to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr and showcase Islamic unity in diversity and Australian multiculturalism, will be held at Fairfield Showground. Details visit www.meff.com.au.

Happiness Seminars

12-14 Oct Happiness Guru Sunanda Parthasarathy will present talks on spiritual health and wellness at South Campus, Blacktown TAFE, 1 Main Street, Blacktown. How to Beat Stress 7.30pm Monday, 12 Oct 3 Spiritual Laws of Success 7.30pm Tuesday, 13 Oct

The Secret of Happiness 7.30pm Wednesday, 14 Oct Tickets www.vedanta.org.au or call Mohan on 0412 995 230.

Curries by Candlelight

13 Dec Enjoy a Christmas meal with an Indian feel, at Pennant Hills Community Centre, cnr Ramsay and Yarrarra Rds. All proceeds will be donated to Hornsby Hospital’s Koala Care Cottage. Details Pam 4733 0445 or Shalini 0410 485 522.

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Coming to Australia

Asian students, predominantly Indian, came together for a threehour workshop recently to discuss and address their ‘information needs’. The workshop, facilitated by the New South Wales government’s Community Relations Commission (CRC), comes in the wake of recent attacks against Indian students and is aimed at stepping up information systems and delivery mechanisms for prospective students preparing to come to the state.

The NSW government, on the directives of Premier Nathan Rees, has tasked the CRC to hold consultations with Indian and other international students to discuss and receive feedback on a range of issues. The Commission plans to submit a report, based on the workshop, to the Premier by the end of September and hopes to get a holistic information pack ready for new students from the sub-continent before the next semester commences.

“The Premier has asked the Commission to prepare material so that we can provide accurate, reliable information to international students in NSW from the Indian sub-continent. This is information in terms of their stay in NSW, issues relating to transport, accommodation, health, legal matters, interaction with the police,” said Stepan Kerkyasharian AM, chairman of CRC and president of the AntiDiscrimination Board of NSW.

“We thought that it was most appropriate to ask some of the people, who have gone through the process and come here from the Indian sub-continent. They know what kind of information was available to them and they would know the extent to which it was adequate. Having come and experienced life here, they would also know if there are any

gaps in that information and the best way to provide that information,” he added.

Nearly 15 students attended the workshop. They suggested ways and means on how the government and universities could disseminate information on studying in NSW, starting from before the students left their home countries. Students also pressed for more details to be given to them on living and transportation costs so families are fully aware of the expenses they would incur during their stay Down Under.

Participants termed the workshop as a ‘genuine effort’ by the NSW government to improve services and help international students.

“Many of us are heavily reliant on education agents, appointed by universities, for any kind of information when we decide to study in Australia,” said Harpreet Singh,

vice-president of All International Student Association Inc and a participant at the workshop. “Often, we are not given the full picture on what to expect. This is a good initiative by the NSW government as it will help many in the future to make informed decisions”.

“It may be hard to reach out to all students, planning to study here,

No more cash cows

Hundreds of international and domestic students rallied on 2 Sept demanding immediate action by the New South Wales and the federal governments on a host of educational issues including travel concessions.

A number of Indian students who joined the march, stressed the need for stringent action against colleges and universities that exploited students and demanded strict regulation on the quality of education in Australia. This call follows the recent closure of a few colleges including the Sterling College that left nearly 600 students, mostly Indians, in the lurch.

The rally coincides with Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard’s visit to India, where, according to media reports, she has assured Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, that Australia is taking steps to ensure Indian and international students’ safety.

The student protesters called on the government to re-establish travel concessions for international students on par with their domestic peers, stop racist attacks and exploitation, provide safe and affordable accommodation, cap education fees and release students in detention for breaching visa conditions.

Students from a plethora of private and vocational colleges marched from the University of Sydney up to the NSW Parliament House, stopping only at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) on the way.

faced by international students and said granting travel concessions was a first step in resolving many student woes.

Addressing students outside the Parliament House, Federal Greens Senator Sarah HansonYoung, said, “I believe education is a right. We need to see students’ support improved. I am calling on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister

immediately. However, in due course, students will have access to much more information on their own and hopefully will not have to depend completely on agents to decide for them,” Singh added.

When asked if the workshop was a result of the recent allegations of racial abuse by Indian students, Kerkyasharian remarked, “I don’t know if it is a result of that or not. Obviously there is a lot of public discussion and it is one of the issues that came out of the meeting the Premier had with Indian community leaders.”

Student representatives from the Sydney campus of the Sterling College that shut down recently were also present at the workshop. “Nearly 25 days have passed since the college shut down and we are yet seeking answers on our next course of action,” said Hardeep Kaur, a former student from the college. “We are all so frustrated as we spent so much money to come here. We are just waiting for a decision on the issue”.

“I think this workshop is beneficial and will hopefully help prospective students, if not us,” added a dejected Kaur.

The Commission is trying to assist students from the college access pro-bono legal support and has also provided its office for their use.

The CRC had also held a major forum for international students from India on June 18 at the Parramatta RSL. The forum was a platform for the students, state and commonwealth government agency representatives, business owners and Australian Indian community members to discuss concerns relating to the students and collectively formulate measures.

Preeti Kannan

of Education to have an agreement on a national

“We know international students have had a raw deal from Australia. Julia Gillard is in India today. We need to see her come back and do something and the first step would be a national concessions card,” added the Senator.

Hardeep Kaur, a former student at the Sterling College, also addressed students and urged the government to press ‘criminal charges’ against academic institutions like her own and crackdown on unscrupulous agents, who take

“Nearly 600 students and 35 staff have been left high and dry by the Sterling College after increasing fees by 40 per cent. We were given a 28-day deadline for the issue to be resolved. We are now past that deadline and nothing has been done,” alleged an angry Kaur, demanding that the affected students be immediately transferred to other colleges, their fees reimbursed and academic transcripts be returned. She added they were not ‘cash cows’ and education stakeholders should stop exploiting and discriminating against international students, as many had taken exorbitant loans to study

Students, on the other hand, shouted slogans in an attempt to ‘shame’ the government in to action and signed a petition to stop the discrimination against international students.

Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) was one of the organisations, along with other college associations across NSW, that helped mobilise students for the rally.

“We (want to) provide accurate, reliable information to international students… in terms of their stay in NSW, issues relating to transport, accommodation, health, legal matters, interaction with the police”

Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chairman of CRC

A group of international students in Sydney are helping the CRC come up with an information pack to be made available for future students

PREETI KANNAN joins a protest rally in Sydney

‘Come to Australia, it’s safe’ Julia Gillard to Indian students

Allaying fears that Australia is a racist country, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard reassured the Indian student community of Australia’s safety record and appealed to them to come and study here.

Beginning her five-day visit to India on Aug 31 in a bid to boost bilateral ties in fields ranging from business to education, she met with Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and addressed students of the prestigious Lady Sri Ram College on her first day.

“We welcome Indian students to Australia. We have zero tolerance towards violence. We are more or less a much accepting and safe society,” the deputy prime minister told reporters after her two engagements.

“Australia has zero tolerance towards violence against Indian students... (we want) they should be safe, get quality education and enjoy their stay.”

Her comments come in the backdrop of many alleged racial attacks on Indian students in Australia that forced New Delhi to take note of the situation. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna made a five-day trip to Australia last month to interact with top government officials about the security and safety of students.

Gillard said the Australian police have arrested a “number of people” and they would be brought to justice.

In her meeting with Sibal, the minister briefed him about the steps initiated by the Australian government to provide safety to Indian students.

Gillard said Australia is bringing in legislation that would spell out stricter safety procedures for international students.

The principal aim of her visit, Gillard stressed, was to reinforce Australia’s image as “a culturally diverse, welcoming and safe country for Indian students, business people and other visitors”.

“After the legislation comes to effect, (we will ensure that) any institution providing education will be offering only quality education. The information provided by educational agencies should also be accurate,” she said, adding a hotline had already been set up for aggrieved students.

The Australian government is presently conducting an audit of its rapidly burgeoning vocational sector, one of the biggest education providers for Indian students but which is also widely believed to be misused for gaining permanent residency status.

Policymakers and educationists believe that the over 1,000 vocational institutes in the country, of which 400 alone are in Victoria state, have become moneymaking machines, and many of them compromise on the quality of education by hiring agents who are given hefty commissions.

Also in place, Gillard insisted, was a “visible police patrol”, especially in places from where racial attacks have been reported in the remote suburbs of major cities like Melbourne and Sydney.

“As a national government we are working with state governments to provide quality education to all Indian students. After my visit here, there will be a roundtable with foreign students on difficulties faced by them,” she added.

Australia’s education industry has boomed in recent years to become the country’s third largest export earner after coal and iron ore, generating about $12 billion in revenue in 2008.

Australia-India Institute launched

In what was a highlight of Ms Gillard’s visit, she announced a funding of $8.1 million for setting up the Australia-India Institute at the University of Melbourne.

Gillard said that Melbourne University, along with University of New South Wales and La Trobe University, will invest another $2 million to bring the total investment in the project to $10 million over the next three years.

Describing the institute as a “national epicentre” of information on India, an Australian High Commission communiqué said, “The institute will support research, graduate training, executive briefings and policy advice for the benefit of both countries... It will provide consultancies on issues of national priority, and host international conferences, community engagement and cultural dialogues”.

According to Gillard, the institute will look at several areas of priority research, such as environment, education, regional relationship and health.

It will also work closely with the AustraliaIndia Business Council to support mutual trade and investment.

Indian arm of Australian inter-faith centre launched Australia will improve its understanding of the Muslim world with the launch of an Indian arm of the University of South Australia’s International Centre for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding to leverage India’s

experience in the area, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said during her visit to India.

The goal is to “build a worldwide community of outstanding scholars with a commitment to understanding and exploring the cultural and sociological factors that influence Muslim and non-Muslim relationships,” Gillard said at the launch of the centre on the third day of her visit.

“There is expertise here and in many countries across the Asian region that we can learn from,” she pointed out, adding the international launch of the centre was “appropriate because India is a nation that lives with difference on a grand scale and thrives”.

Gillard said the centre would emphasise international engagement, with an international advisory board and a council of distinguished scholars.

Educationist Pal Aluwalia, who is leading the foundation of the centre, said he hoped Indian candidates would apply for the 10 doctorate scholarships worth nearly Rs.1 million it was offering.

“I am hoping to welcome strong applications from India that can build long-lasting bilateral research relationships between Australia and India in this vital area,” she added.

Australian varsity, IGNOU to train Indian primary teachers

The Deputy PM also saw the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) join hands with the Indira Gandhi National Open

University (IGNOU), to train elementary teachers in rural India and to help the country attain universal primary education.

The teachers training program will be conducted through IGNOU centres across the country, authorities of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) said.

Speaking at the program launch, Ms Gillard said: “This joint collaboration between IGNOU, the world’s biggest university, and QUT will help India attain its goal of universal primary education. It will transform primary school classrooms across the country, as the focus will shift from teaching to learning.”

QUT deputy vice chancellor Arun Sharma added: “We have developed the curricula for the diploma programme on teachers training. Initially we will start our work from Bihar.” Sharma, who hails from Bihar, said while India will benefit from the programme, Australia too will learn new things that can be implemented back home.

IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajsekharan Pillai said: “There is an urgent need for two million new teachers in the country. A big gap exists between the demand and supply for quality teachers. This collaboration would help the cause.”

Both universities also signed agreements for two more courses - the Dual Doctoral Program for Research and Teaching Assistantships and an online programme in Master of Intellectual Property Law (MIPL).

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard poses with children at the Asha Community Health and Development Society in New Delhi, Sept. 1, 2009. Gilliard presented a cheque of Rs.300,000 to the society to provide for the secondary school books to children advancing from primary to secondary education. (AP Photo)

India through the eyes of an 11-year-old

Most eleven-year-olds on holiday need their portable play stations, ipods and hopefully a swimming pool in their hotel to keep them entertained.

Well, that’s not the case with Year 6 student Callum Murray, who on a recent holiday to India, discovered a hidden talent that is bound to become a lifelong passion. Travelling in India earlier this year with his family, Callum played with a small digital camera. He brought home some 1200 digital mementos.

His photos, taken in Delhi, Agra, Chandigarh, Amritsar and in Rajasthan, showcase a wonderful feel for India. In Callum’s India there are forts and palaces, temples and gardens, street scenes and museum exhibits, flowers and trees, statues and doors, food, and of course, the Taj Mahal.

There is also a wedding. The Murrays had planned the trip to attend the wedding of a family friend – well-known Sydney restaurateur Surjit Gujral’s son Rasan.

A small subset of Callum’s photos, nearly a hundred, are currently on display at an exhibition at Woollahra Public School, where Callum is a student.

The exhibition is titled Callum’s India

The images on display are reproduced just as

Callum captured them – they have not been enhanced or realigned in the production process.

The young photographer thinks India is very exciting.

“There are so many different places to go, things to do and foods to eat,” he told Indian Link. “I mean, every different area has its own colours and culture. I think it was the most exciting holiday I’ve had and our family have had some great holidays! In India we stayed in ancient palaces and forts, we had camel rides and stayed in tents in the desert, we even rode in a cantor and searched for tigers in a national park. That’s really exciting”.

He is keen to return to India.

“I want to go back to India with my

camera again. There are lots of places we haven’t been to yet. I’d even like to go back to the places we’ve already been to, because I think India would be different every time you go”.

“My photos help me remember everything from street scenes to great monuments, even the fog in Delhi,” he added.

The exhibition is a must see for all, as it captures the beauty of India from the eyes of an eleven-year-old who discovered a hidden talent while also discovering part of the story that is India, on his maiden visit to that country.

Callum’s India is on until 30 September at the Woollahra Public School, Forth St, Woollahra NSW.

PAWAN LUTHRA catches up with a budding photographer

Callum Murray

So you think you can dance

The stage was marked by stark simplicity. But the lone Ganesh statue that adorned it, knew it was going to be awash with vibrant colour very shortly.

And what colour and vibrance there was! Marjani marjani, Aaja nach le, Beedi jalaile, Choli ke peeche, Jhumka gira re every hit Bollywood dance number you can think of, had the audience swaying with pleasure, and even allowed a catcall or two!

Australia Hindi Indian Association’s Youth Talent Dance Competition was bigger this year than ever before.

Held for the third successive year, it presented the dancing talent of 16 finalist performances in Solo and Group categories. Over 60 youth in the age range 15-25 participated. Auditions had been held earlier in the month, and the finals took place at the Ryde Civic Centre on 23 Aug.

The lighting was muted and the music loud, as the competition began.

The Solo contest featured Pallavi Nigam (Kehna hai kya, Main albeli, Nach le nach le), Priya Mistry (Beedi jalaile), Prachi Batra (medley of songs from Taal, Hum dil de chuke sanam and Heyy Babby), Mansi Saxena (Silsila yeh chahat ka), Kanika Pathania (Rajasthani influenced Choli ke peechi, Jogan), Natasha Verma (folk inspired wedding song from Sikandar), Ritika Satsangi (Madhur madhur kuch bol, Radha kaise na jale), and Nikita Santosh (Bangle ki peeche, old and new versions).

But it was Anjana Chandran’s Piya tose naina laage re, Jhumka gira re and Kangna re kangna that took the honours that night.

The Group round was a contest between

seven performances. The Vaijayanti Bollywood Dance Group chose a patriotic Sabse aage honge Hindustani and Vande Mataram in a dedication to India’s Independence Day that had just passed.

Platinum Indian Entertainment was more bindaas with Luck luck nakhre, Marjani Marjani and Azimo shaan shehenshah Spirit Group picked Lat uljhe, Rangeela and Twist

The Harmony group emphasised the power of love and peace with Dil se Ring poshwa, while the Mistry girls chose to go Dhadak dhadak

However, it was the Indian Dance Centre’s Aaja Mahi that blew the audience away - their step synchronizing perfectly with the music and their colourful costumes all blending together beautifully.

Ruchi Sanghi’s Ishiq Group was the largest group of the evening with over 20 performers, playing to Mungda and chaplam, with a perfect combination of Marathi, Gujarati and Punjabi dance steps.

Judges Sandhya Bose, Jarmar Pandya, Shwetambara Barar and Naina Purohit picked Platinum as the winners.

An interesting choice of music indeed – spanning many decades. The dances themselves were creatively choreographed, showcasing elements not only of the Bollywood style but also hip hop, Spanish and Middle-Eastern styles. Together, it created a ‘can’t-stop-moving’ kind of feel for the audience!

Julie Owens, Federal MP for Parramatta graced this occasion as the Chief Guest and praised AHIA for taking the initiative and promoting harmony and ‘Bollywood

Culture’, which is very popular in today’s times. David Borger, Minister of Housing and Western Sydney, delivered a message from the Premier of NSW Nathan Rees. Philip Ruddock, Federal MP of Berowra, presented the Prizes to the winners and Judges. Others who attended included Judy Hopwood, State MP for Hornsby, and Mr. Anup Singh, representing the Consul General of India in Sydney, Amit Dasgupta.

Shallu Kundra and Pravesh Babhoota acted as hosts.

Winners in the Solo contest took home cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 each

respectively, whereas 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of Group category received cash prizes of $400, $300 and $200 respectively.

In a special prize instituted by Anupam Sharma of Films and Casting Temple, two participants - Kanika Pathania and Manu Preet Singh - won an opportunity to perform in a Bollywood film.

“For me, the event has been a successful attempt at bringing the community together through the themes of music and dance,” Pravesh Babhoota, President of AHIA, said.

Tejaswini Prabhu

Diehard Bollywood fan takes Antakshari crown

19-year-old Rajshri Roy loves her Bollywood music. A walking encyclopedia on the Hindi music scene, she can regale you for hours with facts about songs, singers, music directors, films, lyricists, lyrics, old songs, new songs, remixes … And of course, she can sing non-stop. If you ever find yourself in an Antakshari situation, she’d be the one you would want on your team. Definitely.

It’s no wonder then that she and her partner Mimansa Rana took the first prize, for the second year in a row, at the Grand Antakshari that was staged late August.

Watching her on stage, is akin to watching a modern-day Meera completely magan in her devotion to the one love of her life. Such is her passion, that she sings completely oblivious to anyone who may be watching. In fact one of the judges on stage mentioned in passing that if she did indeed have such a passion for the art, perhaps she should go take some singing lessons. The comment probably went straight over Rajshri’s head, whose attitude continued to be a nonchalant ‘I feel like singing, and sing I will, whether you like it or not’.

And with that exactly attitude, the young woman had won over the audience. It is her performance that will stick on foremost in memory, from this particular event.

Giving a chance for the likes of Rajshri to sing on stage, has been the idea behind the annual Grand Antakshari. Organised by Avijit Sarkar of Natraj Academy of fine arts and Kedar of Chandana TV, the event attracted lovers of Hindi music to a night of fun and games.

The contest tasks went way beyond the traditional antakshari, of course, in which contestants pick up where the previous team left

off and keep the sequence going. Following in the path carved out by Indian TV’s successful format, many inventive quiz-like questions were incorporated. These included identifying the films from which stimulus songs were picked, their actors, or listing other songs from the same film. Or again, ‘Who am I’ sequences involving different personalities from the Hindi music industry.

These went down rather well.

Avijit Sarkar, a musician of many years’ experience and well-known in the community, acted as host on the night. He took competing

teams of two through quarter final, semi final and final rounds.

The judges, Rachana Bhatnagar and Vinod Rajput, well-known singers in their own right, performed their duties quite diligently - checking lyrics and commenting on the singing styles, even singing along on more than one occasion. Even scorer Pradeep Pandya found opportunity to throw in a witty remark or two, adding to the entertainment in his own way.

The contestants, some of who had never sung in front of an audience before, differed in capability but were all matched in terms of their passion for popular Hindi music. Admittedly, earlier rounds took off slowly, but as the contest drew closer to its end, the answers came rapid fire, even as the quizmaster barely finished his question. And as the tension escalated at times, the audience held its collective breath, such as when Rajshri struggled to come up with the correct lyrics for Chak De India, a rather complicated number – heaving a sigh of relief as she managed to finally get them right.

These moments of sheer entertainment notwithstanding, there were a few technicalities that could have been better handled. Purely by way of suggestion, the video grabs could have been neater; a score board on stage would have helped; a female presence (suitably vivacious?) could have shouldered half the MCing responsibilities with Avijit. A microphone circulating in the audience would have been much appreciated too, as many had got into the swing of things and, knowing the answers, wanted to sing themselves!

And in the end, that was exactly the essence of it all.

Rajni Anand Luthra

Rajshri Roy and Mimansa Rana, winners of the Grand Antakshari 2009, are felicitated by Natraj Academy’s Avijit Sarkar (Photo Kiran Desai)

Roach becomes first Aussie Indian on Global Advisory Council

The India Australia equation may be on a rollercoaster, but Aussie Indians have scored a definitive win with the appointment of Neville Roach AO as member of the prestigious Indian Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council.

Roach replaces Shashi Tharoor (former Under Secretary of State of the United Nations) who has joined the Cabinet as Minister of State for External Affairs. The committee is set to have its maiden meeting on 7 January 2010 ahead of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

The exclusive council which was unveiled earlier this year seeks to draw upon the knowledge, experience and wisdom of the Indian diaspora that today numbers over 25 million in some 130 countries. Headed by the Prime Minister, it will serve as an institutionalised dialogue mechanism between the diaspora and the highest levels of Government.

Roach will certainly be in elite company as the council includes who’s who of expat Indians including Nobel Laureate Dr Amartya Sen, Pepsico Chairwoman Indira Nooyi, Karan Billimoria, steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, management guru CK Prahlad, Citi Group boss Vikram Pandit, and telecom advisor Sam Pitroda to name just a few. The panel will work closely with Manmohan Singh as India tackles core developmental issues and future policy formulation.

“As you can see, the other members of

the council are eminent global leaders”, Roach told Indian Link, “including a Nobel Laureate, several British Lords, management gurus. Clearly, my stature and achievements are seriously modest in comparison. The only area in which I probably match the others is my passion, commitment and effort in relation to India and the cause of Australia-India relations. Realistically, my appointment is more a reflection of the importance that the Government of India, from the Prime Minister down, attaches to Australia than of me”, he added.

Though Roach downplays his importance in the global leadership scenario, his achievements down under can never be overestimated.

Neville Roach is not only the first Australian to be part of the elite advisory group, he was also the first to be honoured by the Indian government with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.

Neville has previously been conferred with the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), one of the Australian Government’s highest honours. He is Honoris Causa of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, which also has a laboratory named after him. In 2007, he won the Overseas Goan Achievement Award from the Government of Goa. In 2005, he was named as Indian Link’s Indian Australian of the Year.

Neville Roach’s lifelong work has seen extensive contributions not

prejudice against non European migrants. His migrant background however has never been a deterrent in his career path.

Roach will forever remain as a path breaker, an illustrious role model.

Usha Arvind

Jiya Sharma gets a special hug from her brother Aniket on her birthday

Nitya-Radhika celebrates

Armaan Sharma turns five

It’s an Independence Day themed party at the Penrith home of Sanjay and Vandana Khanna

Vikas Kalra and

Nidhi and Vishal Kaushik show their parents, visiting Sydney, the city sights

Entertainer Punjabi Virsa performs in Sydney

Meditating for amity

The Power of One is often underestimated. We live in a society and preach ‘community spirit’, yet few of us actually believe that we can singularly make a difference. To resort to the old cliché: “Drops of water make an ocean”, but a drop of water can also cause a ripple in an ocean; and so in reality every single being can make a difference.

In 1993, a study was carried out in Washington DC about the effects of transcendental meditation on the violent crime rate of the city. 4000 people were summoned to meditate for an 8-week period. The results were monitored weekly and an overall 23.3% decrease in violent crime was noted in that period, discounting factors such as police activity, temperature and community initiatives.

Saurabh Mishra from Melbourne has re-initiated this drive to help reduce the crime rate in the Victorian capital city. The concept occurred to Saurabh after consulting with Nithya Shanti – a modern day sage living in Pune, who with the blessings of his teachers, has stepped out of his role as a Buddhist monk to spread the message of peace across the world. With the help and guidance of Nithya Shanti, Saurabh has set up the ‘meditate for a cause’ initiative, with 400 people around the world already tuned in. The concept is simple – a ten minute meditation regime

daily for 12 weeks and to gauge its effects on the crime rates in the city.

In laymen’s terms the idea is that if you are at peace within yourself, you will cause a ripple effect on people around you. Also, if enough people ask the universe to deliver on this cause, their cosmic powers will combine to ensure that their efforts are not wasted.

The Victorian Police release a quarterly figure of crime rates, and Saurabh Mishra hopes to see a significant change in these results. In July when Saurabh began this 12-week initiative, the yearly figure was hovering around the 33,000 mark. Saurabh hopes to see a drop in this at the conclusion of the initiative, around the middle of October.

Saurabh has enlisted his whole family to do the programme, and when quizzed about the effects on them, he laughingly says, “Well, my kids don’t fight everyday!” Even Saurabh’s two young children are meditating daily for ten minutes.

Explains Saurabh, “We as humans, have an impact on the society we live in. We are not simply reacting to situations or are victims of situations, we contribute to them. We shape the reality around us through our minds, hearts and karma.”

To be a part of this initiative, please visit www.lovingsilence.org to register.

Raka Mitra

Saurabh Mishra (inset) has launched a mass meditation program to bring down crime rates in society

News Makers Indian links in Oz media

The media industry is one of the most prolific businesses in the world, with the ability to impart information, shape opinions and even create or destroy destinies. We explore the Indian links of six mainstream media personalities who thrive in this vibrant atmosphere, and contribute to its ever-increasing power.

From AIR to ABC Edmond Roy

AND YOU thought it could never happen.

A current affairs show on TV anchored by an Indiaborn presenter?

Well, it’s true.

Meet Edmond Roy, who until recently anchored the half-hour show Asia Pacific Focus on the Australia Network, Australia’s international television channel.

An offshoot of the ABC, Australia Network is viewed in over 40 countries in Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Pacific. Some of its programs are televised in Australia on ABC and ABC2.

Roy’s half-hour show, acclaimed for its different slant to current affairs, featured quality analysis of world events and interviews with key figures in the region. It put together reports from correspondents in Beijing, New Delhi, Jakarta, Canberra and the Pacific.

Today though, Edmond works on radio, as Executive Producer of the high-profile ABC show World Today

This marks a return to the ABC for Roy, who was for many years a prominent reporter on a number of current affairs shows on radio (AM, PM and World Today well as on TV (Lateline, Foreign Correspondent also the South Asia correspondent of the ABC for three years.

Edmond’s career in the media began in the 1980s at All India Radio Trivandrum, doing political reportage. In 1988, he found himself in Delhi, this time working in the print media. He answered an advertisement put out in India by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for a local reporter. He did not give it a second thought, until his landlord mentioned to him one day that a “phirang” had rung for him. Edmond dashed out to make contact with the “phirang”, Steve Sailah, a well-known name in the ABC.

His Australian innings had commenced.

“For a while I reported on local events from India for ABC radio, such as the Quilon train disaster which Keralites will remember well. In 1990, I came out here for a trip to see how it all happened on ABC. By then, my

reports had aired not only in Sydney on what was then 2BL, but also in Perth, Melbourne and Darwin”.

He moved to Australia with his family in 1991. The ABC took him on as a producer on the international desk. However, they wouldn’t put him on air …

Was that because of his accent, perhaps?

“Yes, it was certainly a drawback,” Edmond says, but laughs when he is gently reminded that he has great advantage with that Anglo name.

But he persevered, and finally, shone through with his

“By ‘93-‘94, I was filing stories on local current affairs. It wasn’t easy, mind you … while doing the Jeff Kennett election, for example, I had to put up with snide remarks such as what was a ‘foreigner’ doing on ‘our’ stories”.

He laughs heartily as he recalls another assignment – the National Party convention, where he was the only

You should be on SBS, he was told; but Edmond’s sights were set much higher – he wanted to be more

“And that’s where the ABC is so good. It’s still going to be a fair while before you see a face and hear a voice like mine on the commercial channels”.

Let’s hope Edmond is wrong there.

What are some of the more memorable stories Edmond

“Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, two of India’s General Elections, India’s nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1999, Mother Teresa’s funeral … but perhaps the most chilling was the time I spent in Afghanistan during the heyday of the Taliban. The fundamentalism was hard to take, and at the end of it all, we were snowed in and we had to walk, yes walk, out of the country”.

And which stories does he wish he could have done? “I wish I was there when the twin towers fell in NY; and when the Taliban was pushed out of Afghanistan. I’d love to have interviewed Prabhakaran of the Tamil Tigers … but the stories that draw me are the ones that are filled with political machinations”.

Bring them on, Edmond.

Rajni Anand Luthra

“I’VE ALWAYS almost magical, somehow,” says Sharon Verghis. “It was something I had a natural affinity and passion for as long as I can remember.”

Not many people can make their passion pay their mortgages, but Verghis has built a successful career as a print journalist - from being a senior writer for the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) Weekend, the SMH magazine.

She has worked only in the print media. “I only ever wanted to be a print journalist on a broadsheet newspaper. I had no interest in the tabloid papers, or radio and TV,” says Verghis. “Print journalism, to me, is such an honourable art form, with so much tradition behind it. I love the immediacy and adrenalin rush of daily news, as well as the more contemplative, leisurely pace of featurewriting.”

Readers will remember a moving column she wrote about the Cronulla riots for riots really hit a nerve with me because of my experiences going to school in the Sutherland Shire from Years 10 to 12,” recollects Verghis. “It was a big Catholic school, and filled with the most narrow-minded, insular, bigoted types you can imagine.”

The experiences at school and in the Shire marred her view of Australian culture. However, that changed after she went to university. “I learnt that there are masses of well-informed, educated and cosmopolitan Australians out there,” she says. “Luckily, the whole of the country is not like the Sutherland Shire. The area has changed now, thank God – more educated, ethnically diverse – but it was pretty vanilla and conservative when I was growing up.”

She recently published an article in Time magazine about the aggressive, nationalistic and often racist way in which the Australian flag is being used today. She is also writing another piece for the prestigious magazine about the recent attacks on Indian students. “I have to say while I do think there’s some racism involved, it’s more a law and order issue,” she says. “Many of the attackers weren’t white Australians. I see it as crimes of opportunity, stemming from an unfortunate perception among these thugs that Indians are soft targets.”

Besides her continual interest in these socio-political issues, Verghis also enjoys doing profiles of well-known personalities.

And for news from the financial markets … Akhilesh Kamkolkar

FOR 33-YEAR-OLD Akhilesh Kamkolkar, media has been a happy coincidence.

Today a regular commentator on business issues, this finance professional has been pleasantly surprised with his recent rise in the media.

It all started when his work as Head of Futures at Halifax Investment Services began to attract attention.

“I trade a commodities fund, and last year, returned phenomenal growth - it got me noticed in the industry. A friend who is part of a media group asked if I would be interested in doing an analysis of the commodities and financial markets on a business show, and I agreed”.

Today Akhi as he is known, is a regular on CNBC Squawk Australia, London and Europe, and a daily Reuters, Bloomberg & Dow Jones Newswire commentator. He also does a regular SKY Business News Australia commodity wrap-up, and is a Trading Matters contributor. He also writes for the Australian Financial Review

endlessly fascinating,” she says.

One of her most memorable interviews was with the American rock musician, Lou Reed. “It was pretty terrifying – he has a reputation for eating journos for breakfast.”

Another challenging, yet exciting interview was with the actor Tim Robbins, who, as Verghis says, “has a fearsome intellect.” However that is no deterrent for her.

“The more difficult the subject, the better – it gets my adrenalin flowing!”

Other prominent personalities she has interviewed include author Oliver Sacks, and actors Bette Midler and Will Smith. However, her favourite assignment so far has been writing the real stories of common people.

“One of my earliest and most memorable assignments was a week-long trip to Taree, north of Sydney, as part of a three-member team to investigate and report on the causes of racism between white Australians and the Aboriginal community there. It was eye-opening stuff, and a fantastic learning experience,” says Verghis.

Akhi’s media experience, as well as his in-depth product knowledge of options/futures and strategies used in utilizing optimal investment in the commodities market, has also seen him become a regular on the speaker circuit.

With his superior communication skills and gregarious nature, Akhilesh seems perfectly suited to a career in the media, but he claims he was never really interested.

“Oddly enough, however, the thought did cross my mind about two years ago when I launched my own company. I tried to market it but budgets were tight. I thought if I got a regular spot somewhere where I could talk or write about commodities trading, it would work

“From tiny country towns to the bigger cities, it was great and documenting the plight of foreign-trained doctors in quite easily now, she had as tough a start to her career as free for any magazine or newspaper she could, including gradually built a portfolio of work, and sat for a test for a months. She did a variety of jobs - a medical receptionist, tutoring English, data entry. However, she never let that break her resolve to be a writer. As she now jokes, even the one-year cadetship, only four of us nine trainees were Verghis has done a double major in English Literature as part of an Arts Degree at the University of Sydney, and followed it up with a Diploma in Journalism at Macleay College in Sydney. “Doing the journalism diploma helped

And her advice for young writers: “Don’t give up, write

Malayalees. They moved to Sydney in 1988 when she was 14. Although she has never lived in India, she admits she feels a strong bond with the country and all things Indian. “The country and culture fascinate me. I’ve always regretted not being able to speak Malayalam or Hindi – the dialect is so beautifully melodic.”

She recollects visiting her maternal grandparents in Madras every summer as a child. “I have fantastic memories of the time – eating ice creams on Marina Beach, chasing chickens and turkeys around the backyard, eating mangoes ripe from the tree... those trips were a wonderful part of my childhood.”

She visited India as an adult with her husband a few years ago. “We went to Mumbai, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to take our two-year-old twins to see the Mother Country as soon as I can. Maybe they and I can learn Hindi or Malayalam together!” she quips.

Shivangi Ambani-Gandhi

well for the business. I didn’t want to be a celebrity or anything – I just wanted marketing exposure”.

(Akhi’s company Orb Investment Management delivers investment education to the retail trading community, with a focus on commodities, financial markets and exchangetraded funds).

But now everything has fallen into place, and Akhilesh admits to feeling “very lucky”.

There are no pre-interviews before he does his regular segments on TV.

“No, I don’t really ‘prepare’ before I go on,” he reveals. “Look, I’ve got about 400 clients to whom I provide full service advice, so I’m always up-to-date”.

Not surprisingly, it is talk of commodities that comes up first, when Akhilesh is asked about his links with India.

“Of course I watch the Indian markets closely, particularly sugar and wheat. And gold – it is fascinating to see how demand goes up during the festive season”.

On a personal level though, this former Trinity Grammar boy claims to be “well-balanced” in his IndianAustralian identity.

“I say the Gayatri mantra every morning; but equally, I have a good understanding of how the western world

Rajni Anand Luthra

Loving the rush of daily news, as well as the leisurely pace of features Sharon Verghis

Making it in a man’s world

Sushi Das

LOOKING BACK, the seminal moment that helped shape my career in journalism was when a few years ago, I worked as transport editor for The Age and Citylink was going into a marketing phase. At that time, I broke a number of stories and my editor, my boss and everyone was taking me seriously for the first time - that gave me a lot of confidence. I felt noticed.

It is extremely hard, even today, for women in journalism to be noticed or get top jobs, and have the same opportunities as men. It is shocking that newspapers write about equality, but they are not equal at all. It’s a man’s world, and being a woman in it, you have to work twice as hard!

I have been professionally influenced by several writers, some colleagues and there are a lot of people whose work I admire. My husband, who is also a journalist, has given me the maximum encouragement, motivation and support than any other person.

Australia has a long way to go in developing an ethnic presence in mainstream media, especially in commercial TV networks. I don’t see many Asian/ethnic faces on commercial TV, as they tend to stick with the formula of having a blonde woman to front their programmes. The Australian mainstream media doesn’t have enough ethnic presence, which is a pity because people from ethnic backgrounds have a lot to offer. Also, not many Asians are putting their hands up to work in the media. I sometimes sit on the panel for selection of cadetships in The Age and I don’t see many people from Asian backgrounds applying for media jobs, but it would be good if they did. However, new Indian migrants coming to Australia are different to those who came earlier. These young ones are not shy to hold back and we will soon see a change. Nowadays, you have young people coming from India who are not satisfied easily, resulting in some angst and where you have angst, you have creativity. These people will bring about a change soon.

The Indian community in Melbourne is growing and there is potential for a lot more growth. I think Indians generally are very creative and resourceful people. A lot of Indians are in significant roles in companies, doing very well for themselves. They just don’t have a public profile. This will change. Indians will want and achieve a lot more visibility.

I regularly look at the Indian newspapers in Melbourne. In fact, some of them have stolen my copy and not even attributed me with my own work! If they had rung me and asked, I wouldn’t have said no, but they didn’t even ask me. I haven’t written for any of them. I am looking forward to a bigger and

Assimilate to get ahead Sam Varghese

MY FIRST REAL JOB was in a small newspaper in Bangalore as a proof reader. I went on to work for the Deccan Herald and Indian Express, initially doing editorial roles, and then sports reporting.

I moved to Dubai and worked for Khaleej Times, one of the biggest English newspapers in the Gulf. I sub-edited on their main news desk then became the Deputy Chief Editor and then Chief Editor. It was the most exciting phase of my career. It was very interesting to be in charge of producing an edition, to meet exacting deadlines and to work in a Government controlled press. You learn a lot under such an environment.

I migrated to Australia and joined The Age as a casual, and then went full time. I’ve now just completed ten years with them. I have done several roles, working in news and then sports. My role also involves a bit of production

vibrant ethnic media. I hope we don’t have to wait too long before we have a quality Indian newspaper and an Indian community that speaks with one voice. I hope to see more Indian faces in mainstream media soon. Sometimes mainstream media does recruit from outside or from the small ethnic media. If some of the Indian newspapers were to produce quality writers, such people would be taken on board.

I don’t think the Indian media overdid the handling the issues of the international students and allegations of racism. It was incumbent on them to cover this issue and they did. They got mad and angry and their indignation drove their coverage. It is very important that the safety issue should be sorted out immediately. No one should go to another country and be attacked or get killed. Another main issue is the shocking quality of education in some of the colleges (some of them run by Indians themselves). Putting things in the public domain is the role of a newspaper. I think the Indian media has the capacity to run articles where they can inform students about their rights. There is hardly any reporting, and students are not complaining to the regulatory bodies. Indian newspapers can play a valuable part in telling people this is where to go to complain and not be afraid of deportation if they haven’t done anything wrong. The Indian media’s coverage was good, but on the other hand, I am disappointed that they haven’t covered the education aspects of it or made a lot of noise about the unfair practices.

The media’s role is to bring this complicated issue out in the public arena. It is about educating the community and that also comes from understanding what the law has to say. Indian newspaper editors to write letters to the mainstream newspapers on these issues and get them printed, because they will carry a lot of weight. It will be empowering for the entire Indian community to get results.

Things have changed for me over the years. I feel closer to my Indian roots because as you get older, you try harder to seek your roots. When you have your own children, you want to pass on what you know to them. The Indian was always there in me; I just had to rediscover her. The best thing that happened to me was that I had a baby. Even if you have the best career in the world, it doesn’t matter. Parenthood is better. I am very optimistic about the time that we will spend together, about what I can teach my daughter, but I will be telling her not to get into journalism!”

Sushi Das, a senior writer and columnist with The Age, spoke to Indian Link’s Preeti Jabbal. Read the full interview on www.indianlink.com.au

Passion for current affairs

Neena Mairata

AS A UNI STUDENT in Western Australia many years ago, Neena Mairata loved watching Indira Naidoo present the news on TV.

“I felt inspired by her; she was everything that I myself was”.

Upon completing her Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies at Murdoch Uni, she set about knocking on doors to get a foot in the media, to emulate her Indian-origin role model. But ABC and SBS were the only avenues open for ‘ethnics’, and even there, opportunities were limited.

“I was quite disheartened, and so gladly accepted a job back home in my home country Malaysia, reading the news in Malay”.

Her husband found work in TV production in Singapore. When Mediacorp launched a news channel in Singapore, Neena began anchoring the news on its flagship bulletin News 5 Tonight

She also freelanced for various publications in the ten years she lived there.

“By now I had had two kids and we wanted to raise them in Australia, so I began to look for opportunities here”.

This time round, with all the media experience behind her, Neena was snapped up by the ABC, presenting news on its Australia Network.

“Meanwhile, an opportunity opened up at SBS,” Neena recalls. “I had always wanted to work with SBS, and although I was enjoying my work at Australia Network, the overnight shifts had begun to get to me”.

Neena replaced SBS newsreader Amrita Cheema in June 2008 on World News Australia

SBS news had gone through a tumultuous time with its star cast of Mary Kostakidis and Stan Grant leaving the network after some widely-publicised disputes. Newcomers Neena and Ben Fajzullin joined Anton Enus and Janice Petersen in bringing in some stability to the news show that has been described as “taking the world seriously”.

Neena has a passion for news and current affairs, and gets a good grip on major world news before she gets into work every day. But ask her the stories she has enjoyed doing, and she will

work and putting the print edition online and as I am a bit of a nerd, that helps in other technical aspects of online work.

Starting from scratch in Australia didn’t demotivate me. Fortunately in journalism you don’t need to fit to an Australian qualification like you do for some other trades like medicine or law. You have to be mentally prepared to start at the bottom and maybe stay there. I was 40 when I came here, and I had already seen the peak of my career. Once you have done that, nothing else can compare.

Journalism is a shrinking field. To stay on top of this or any other field there is a lot of marketing involved. My advice to new migrants is to make yourself visible, keep pushing, make friends with journalists and you may be fortunate or not. It’s like a lottery. One thing that migrants should do is to have someone to guide them about the nature of Australian society. Some things they do back home will not work here or may be considered impolite. Similarly, some things done here may not be accepted in another country. Some kind of cultural grooming helps to assimilate better.

The violence against Indian/international students could have been stopped if Australia had dealt with it properly in the first place. It would have been better if all relevant authorities had called it what it was. Instead they chose to

fudge things and deny the real issues. It’s most likely the attacks were racially motivated. If you go out especially during late nights you see Indians driving taxis, operating petrol stations, even on the 7/11 counter, and they are very visible. Local people who don’t have jobs feel that Indians are taking their jobs. They probably don’t want those jobs, but there is a sense of entitlement here. Many people still see migrants as a threat to their jobs. These uneducated people do not understand that every migrant who gets a job here brings in a whole set of other benefits to the system.

The allegation of Australia being a racist country was a bit over the top, but if something like this was to happen to Australians in any other country they would also create a lot of noise. If Australians were being beaten up with this kind of frequency in any other country the press coverage would have been ten times more, especially in tabloids. Personally, I have not encountered any racism at work. The Age has a good work culture and they accept people from everywhere.

I wrote an article on Indian students in June 2009, which speaks for the culture and not a single word was changed. I wrote that article on a whim, expressing my sense of unease, but then I promptly put those feelings aside, because that is what the perpetrators want you to feel, they

pick the ones with a human interest angle.

“One story that really touched me was on the Cuban child Elian Gonsalves, the sole survivor from a boat carrying refugees that sank midway between Cuba and Miami. I became quite attached to the story as I reported on it over a few days. The diplomatic wrangle that ensued became quite complex, and I felt for the child. I was trying to fall pregnant myself at the time, and when my son was born, I named him Elian”.

Neena takes her motherhood role very seriously. “The kids are in bed when I get home from work by 10pm, but I make sure the mornings are smooth and happy before they go off to school. I do feel guilty that I am not there when they come home form school”.

There’s a home-cooked meal ready for them for the evening, which Neena organises before she takes in the news of the day. And of course, schoolwork - especially those projects and assignments - gets special attention from mum (Neena had been out in the open collecting snails for a science project just before catching up for this interview).

Speaking of her own Indian links, Neena describes herself as a “4th or 5th generation” Indian, with roots in Tamil Nadu.

“My mum is Chinese Eurasian, so I’ve been brought up within both Indian and Chinese cultures. Christmas and Diwali are celebrated with equal fervour”. Neena understands Tamil although she cannot speak it, but loves to cook Indian meals and to wear saris. She has never been to India. And what advice would Neena have for youngsters in the community seeking a career in mainstream media?

“Decide which way you want to go – print, radio, TV or online, but also be prepared to be flexible, as news is going across platforms now. Have a real passion for current affairs. And hone your editorial skills; be impartial, and provide a balanced view”.

Rajni Anand Luthra

want us to be scared. I will continue exactly as I did before and not give them any satisfaction on that count.

We have to accept that some people will always have bad feelings about other people, but that does not mean you go and punch them in the face. The encouragement to punch someone and get away with it comes from the system. It comes from politicians not sending out the right message and if the Government and Police don’t come out and take a strong stand against this issue, this will embolden people and blow it up. India is a global power now and as a lot of money is coming from here, Australia seems to be taking more notice of this issue.

I have lived in several countries and met some very good people, especially here in Australia. I have met people of real calibre and I don’t want allegations of racism etc. to reflect on them. My first editor used to treat me like anybody else and not walk on eggshells because I was from another ethnicity. I liked that. I probably would have felt out of place if I was treated differently.

We shouldn’t ask for special treatment if we are black or brown; we should just ask to be treated equally.

Sam Varghese of The Age spoke to Preeti Jabbal. Read the full interview on www.indianlink.com.au

Janmashthami at Swaminarayan Mandir

Devotees congregated at BAPS

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, last month to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Janmashthami, the birthday of Shri Krishna. The celebration assembly started with dhoon and prarthana and featured cultural programs including bhajans speeches and video presentations. Swaminshri’s aashirvachan at the Janmashthami celebrations in Atladra earlier were relayed to the assembly via video presentation. The highlights of the evening were a drama entitled Aaj Sudhare Avtikal enacted by Sydney Yuvak Mandal and a janmotsav dance by Sydney Kishore Mandal.

Towards the end of the sabha devotees performed the traditional rocking of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj’s cradle to signify the birth of the Lord. The celebrations ended with aarti and mahaprasad.

Parramatta Councillor Mark Lack (representing the Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs) and Hornsby Councillor Dilip Chopra attended the festivities.

Yogi Savania

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Congratulations to the following people who have won prizes in Indian Link Radio’s special India Fair promotion on 9 Aug 2009

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YSR, a Congress icon and a true mass leader YSR was a true mass leader, one who ruled the hearts of people in Andhra Pradesh.

For Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, YSR in short, the end came while serving the very people who had reposed their faith in him by voting him to power for a record second consecutive term in May this year.

A doctor by profession, YSR was very close to the public pulse and carved a niche for himself by taking up revolutionary public welfare schemes, which had become a model for other states in the country.

Undoubtedly one of the most popular leaders Andhra Pradesh ever produced, YSR’s death has not only created a vacuum in the state politics but dealt a major blow to the ruling Congress party.

One of YSR’s main achievements was subduing the ultra-left Naxalite insurgency in the state that had one time gripped 21 of its 23 districts. In the process, the People’s War Group (PWG), once the dominant Maoist group in India, was crushed beyond recognition.

YSR, who turned 60 on July 8, came up the hard way in his public life spanning three decades. He emerged as one of the strongest state leaders and also set new records in the state’s political history. By retaining power in Mah, he became the first Congress chief minister to retain power in Andhra Pradesh after serving a full five-year term.

YSR, whose popularity among

masses is often compared with that of the legendary N.T. Rama Rao or NTR, proved his charisma by winning the elections on the plank of his political and administrative credibility. Without promises of free colour televisions and cash doles and without banking on cine glamour, he proved why he was more popular among masses.

Popular as a “people’s leader” among his followers, YSR was successful despite facing a hostile poll campaign from both the Telugu Desam Party-led four-party Grand Alliance and the Praja Rajyam Party of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi. He emerged as a real hero in the election battle dominated by film stars. Seen by political rivals as an aggressive leader but adored by followers, YSR had always been a winner.

Elected to the state assembly for the fifth time, YSR was also a four time Lok Sabha member and he held the record of never losing an election.

The man who singularly spearheaded the Congress campaign this year not only retained power but also ensured that the party gets 33 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats.

When he took over as chief minister on May 14, 2004, it was a dream came true for YSR. The leader from the badlands of Rayalaseema had come up the hard way.

Born in a middle class family in Pulivendula, a small town in Kadapa district, on July 8, 1949, YSR made a modest beginning. The eldest of five sons of Y.S. Raja Reddy, a dynamic local leader, he evinced interest in politics while studying at the M.R. Medical College in Gulbarga in Karnataka.

After studying MBBS, YSR served as medical officer at the Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital for a brief period. In 1973, he established a 70-bed charitable hospital.

He entered active politics in 1978 and was elected to the state assembly from Pulivendula. He served as state minister from 1980 to 1983 and retained the assembly seat in 1983 even when NTR swept to power with a mammoth victory.

Sensing a potential leader in him, then prime minister Indira Gandhi appointed YSR president of the state unit of Congress when he was only 34 years.

In 1989, he was elected to Lok Sabha from Kadapa constituency and held the seat till 1999, when he shifted again to state politics. From 1998 to 2000 he was president of the state Congress again.

The year 2003 was a turning point in his political career as he undertook a 64-day ‘padayatra’ or walkathon across the state. Covering 1,500 km in the scorching sun, he received petitions from people over their numerous problems, mainly relating to agriculture and unemployment.

It was this ‘padyatra’ which catapulted YSR to power. His experiences during the tour helped him shape up his policies after assuming office, as he implemented free power for farmers, waived off their loans, introduced several welfare schemes like pension for the aged, widows and handicapped, housing for poor, Rs.2-a-kg rice, a ‘Rajiv Arogyasri’ or community health insurance scheme and a massive programme to build irrigation projects.

Even his last visit to Chittoor district -which never materialised as the helicopter in which he was travelling crashed in bad weather -- was to launch another innovative mass contact programme to know the people’s problems.

‘BJP needs to be in touch with aspirations of young India’

INDIA’S MAIN opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is in turmoil and only a leadership overhaul coupled with infusion of young blood can reenergise it, say many within and outside the party as they point to its dismal election performance followed by bitter infighting.

Whatever is happening in the BJPthe second largest party after the ruling Congress - is symptomatic of the

it is suffering from,

Pralay Kanungo, political science professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Continued on page 34

crises

says

Funeral procession of Andhra Pradesh state Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy moves through a street in Hyderabad, 4 September 2009. Thousands of Indians gathered in a sports stadium to pay their last respects to a top Indian politician killed in a helicopter crash. Sixty-year-old Reddy was among the most powerful politicians belonging to the Congress Party that governs India. Andhra Pradesh was in a state of shock with thousands mourning the death of Reddy, whose political career spanned three decades. (AP Photo)

“A leadership crisis coupled with a generational gap kept the BJP away from the aspirations of young India, which led to its election defeat. And then the top brass began passing the buck and nobody, including senior leaders, had the courage to own up the failure,” Kanungo told IANS.

G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, the party’s national executive member, said the BJP needs a leadership revamp and only young blood can make up for the losses the party inflicted on itself.

“The party is well aware of its crises and has decided to undergo a generational transition. The need to evolve with young leaders was discussed at the chintan baithak (leadership meeting) in Shimla last month,” Rao told IANS.

“The party under the leadership of L.K. Advani is drawing up a plan for its revival and we are hopeful we will bounce back,” he said.

BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi agreed that young blood was the need of the hour. Naqvi told IANS: “Yes we need more of young blood in the party to reorgansie the structure and more new ideas to revive the ideological soul of the party.”

Even the members of the youth wing opine that the party needs to take into account the “inspirations and ideas” of the young.

“Party should provide a platform to the students from the youth wing so that their energy can be utilised and an interaction channel established to get a

feedback for the aspirations and the ideas of the youngsters,” said Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (JNU) media advisor Saurabh Dubey.

Other scholars also echo the opinion that along with young leaders, the party of the ideological right also needs new ideologies. “Politics of symbolism and identities is becoming irrelevant in the present times.

Policies and ideas embedded in 18th century are not going to help the BJP. It has to become more receptive of 21st century generation and inclusive to broaden its vote base,” Delhi University’s political research scholar Pradeep Singh told IANS.

An unprecedented turmoil has shaken up the BJP, which in May suffered a huge defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP’s tally fell from 130 in the 2004 polls to 116 this year. The Lok Sabha has 543 elected members.

This was followed by senior leaders like Arun Shourie, Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha criticising the party leadership and asking it to fix responsibility for the defeat.

The party suffered more trouble after it sacked Jaswant Singh for praising Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah in his controversial book - “Jinnah: IndiaPartition, Independence”.

Singh’s expulsion was questioned by senior party leaders like Sinha and Shourie who even called the BJP a “kati patang”(adrift kite). Former chief ministers Vasundhara Raje of Rajasthan and B.C. Khanduri of Uttarakhand also

denounced the party for forcing them out of their positions in their respective states.

Sacked from the party, Jaswant Singh told IANS that if the party wants to remain relevant in contemporary politics, it has to come out of its “19th century obsolete ideas”.

“The BJP should not come across as a 19th century organisation raising obsolete issues. In politics, perceptions are just as important if not more important than reality. Ram Setu and Babri Masjid are non-issues for people now,” he said.

Kanungo is of the view that the party ideologues “have to change their view... they should be more futuristic” and not stick to history, which is of no relevance outside academic interests for youth.

“To appeal to youth that form a majority of India’s population, the party needs to come up with ideas like better education, employment opportunities.

“Today’s youth talk about future without caring about the burden of history,” he pointed out.

The party’s ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is now seen as playing a key role in helping rejuvenate the BJP. Asked by the RSS to oversee a transition in party leadership, Advani is set to launch a countrywide tour by Sep 15 to interact with cadres and search for young talent that can be inducted into the party, party sources said.

Pankaj Advani new Billiards world champion

Pankaj Advani finally scaled the last big peak in his path to greater glory on the green baize when he defeated ninetimes champion Mike Russell in the final of the World Professional Billiards tournament at Leeds.

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In winning his maiden professional world billiards title Sunday night, the 24year old Pune-born, Bangalore-based Advani became the only Indian to have won a world billiards and snooker crown.

Advani, winner of the IBSF World Snooker Championship (amateur) in 2003, had previously won the IBSF World Billiards title (amateur) in both the time and points format, besides achieving a similar “double” in the Asian Championship.

In 1997, as an 11-year old, Advani first showcased his talent when he defeated his elder brother Shree in the final of the B.S. Sampath Memorial tournament in Bangalore.

The Karnataka State Billiards Association swiftly enrolled him in their junior development program where coach S. Jairaj worked on the

basics.

Subsequently, Arvind Savur, arguably one of the finest billiards and snooker player India has produced, took over and nurtured Advani. The two developed a near father-son bonding. Spending many hours and often sleeping overnight at Savur’s Bangalore residence, Advani showed rapid improvement and went on to win titles at the National and international levels.

Savur, currently holidaying in Switzerland, was understandably ecstatic when IANS sought his reactions to Advani’s latest triumph. Savur admitted that he was a bit surprised at the result.

“Honestly, I have no words to describe my happiness at Pankaj winning the pro title. I was a bit surprised at the result, because Mike Russell is undoubtedly one of the greats of modern era. Though I knew that at some point, Pankaj would beat Russell, it still was a surprise, a pleasant one at that, to me,” said Savur.

“I had often told Pankaj that Russell is the player to watch. After all, Pankaj had been beating Geet Sethi consistently and that left just Russell as his main opponent. Pankaj has all the attributes of a champion, though even I am at a loss to explain the sudden dips in his performance levels.

“The major problem has been lack of tournaments worldwide and I am sure that the more of competitive play, the better Pankaj will become. Hopefully, we will get to see a 1000 break from Pankaj sooner than later,” Savur added.

In terms of sheer achievements, Pankaj has exceeded all his peers including India’s first ever world champion Wilson Jones (1958, 1964), Michael Ferreira (1977, 1981, 1983), Sethi (1981, 1987, 2001), Manoj Kothari (1990) and Ashok Shandilya (2002).

Of the lot, only Sethi won the world professional title five times (1992, 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2006) after turning professional in the late 1980s.

The purists would no doubt point out that Pankaj, for all the titles he has won, is still to crack the 1,000-break barrier that is often considered a benchmark for a player. Both Ferreira and Sethi, have crossed the milestone that demands not just consistency, but also intense powers of concentration and ball control.

On the plus side, Pankaj is highly rated for his special ability to extricate himself from difficult situations like he was in against compatriot Dhruv Sitwala in the Leeds semi-finals when he trailed initially by a big margin.

“This is a something very special about Pankaj. So many times in the past, he has bounced back from hopeless positions and this I feel is the hallmark of a true champion. I would certainly rate Pankaj alongside Jones, Ferreira and Geet,” opined Savur.

Well-mannered and impeccably attired, Pankaj idolizes Sethi.

“I would like to be like Geet Sethi on and off the table,” Advani said.

The Advani family moved to Bangalore from Kuwait in 1990 after a three-year stay and it was not long before the brothers took to cuesport during the period when the city witnessed a boom in pool parlours.

For what he is, Pankaj attributes all credit to his mother, Kajal, who brought up her sons after her husband, Arjun, passed away in 1992.

“My mother is everything to me and I am what I am today only because of her,” he had said in 2003 soon after winning the World snooker crown in China.

Pakistan’s unwillingness to act is atrocious: Chidambaram

HOME MINISTER P. Chidambaram has said that Pakistan’s unwillingness to prosecute the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed is “atrocious”.

“(While) covering up is a very strong word, there is for some strange reason (an) unwillingness to take investigation forward (by Pakistan),” Chidambaram told private news channel NDTV.

“In the face of this evidence, to let him off, i think, is atrocious...”

The attack on Mumbai Nov 26, 2008, by ten terrorists left 170 people dead. India holds Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Saeed responsible for orchestrating the carnage.

The home minister’s statement comes after Pakistan last week trashed the sixth and latest dossier India gave as being a “rehash” of earlier information on Hafiz Saeed and which Pakistan deemed as inadequate to start a prosecution.

The home minister said that India had shared this dossier with 16 other countries, whose nationals had died in the Mumbai attacks that lasted over 60 hours.

Chidambaram, who leaves for the US Monday on a four-day visit, said he will take up the matter with the Obama administration.

“Yes, so they (the US) know what we have. If there is an opportunity, I will take them through the dossier to point out that there is enough evidence to continue the case against Hafiz Saeed,” he said.

Revealing details of what India had given in the dossiers, Chidambaram said: “We know when (lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Amir) Kasab first met Hafiz Saeed and where. We know what Hafiz Saeed told the trainees. We know at least a couple of places where the training took

place and that Hafez visited those training camps”.

Further, India has said Hafiz Saeed had also given the terrorists aliases as well as tested their skills.

“We know that he (Saeed) was accompanied by a person described as major general sahib. Hafiz Saeed told this person to set up 10 targets. Kasab fired at target number 4,” said Chidambaram.

He added that Saeed had also made the “farewell call” and issued the “final instructions” to the 10 terrorists in the Mumbai attacks.

“So, all this is known. Places, approximate dates, names, visits by Hafiz Saeed. On face of this evidence, how does a prosecutor say that ‘I have no leads to investigation’?” Chidambaram asked.

On the identity of the ‘major general saheb’, Chidambaram said that it is not clear whether he was a serving or retired army officer.

To the question whether it was just a nickname, he said: “Very unlikely. A major general should be a major general somewhere.”

When asked if Hafiz Saeed’s link to a person with connections to army refuted Pakistan’s claims that the Mumbai attack was by non-state actors, Chidambaram said that could only be revealed by further investigation.

“We have never ruled out state actors even though Pakistan has said that only non-state actors were involved. We have not accepted this distinction between state and non-state because both operated from Pakistani soil,” he said.

The Pakistani refusal, he added, was inexplicable in the light of its assurances to “common friendly countries” and to the Indian Prime Minister that it will “spare no effort to prosecute the perpetrators of

Continued on page 56

Anamika Singh

Zodiac sign Aquarius

Personality type Ambivert

RJ-ing style Purely dil se!

Current fav song Dhan tana

nan

Fav actor Aamir Khan, Harrison Ford, Russell Crowe, Sandra Bullock, Catherine Zeta Jones

Latest movie Kameeney

Fav movie moments When the hero fights the villain to save the heroine

Fav song Zindagi kaisi hai paheli (Anand)

I love I me mine

I hate People who criticise just for the sake of criticism

Fashion Comfy Passions My life

Books Biographies; history; in fiction, detective stories.

I’m currently reading IBM: Thomas Watson Jr’s Success Story ; and, Agatha Christie, all over again!

Sports Football, rugby (Go the All Blacks!)

Fav food Anything cooked by my mum

Fav quotable quote

Everything is possible in this world

My favourite Indian Link moment When a listener rang in all the way from New York

I would most like to interview Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, N.R. Narayana Murthy, Larry King, Celine Dion

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CURRY PUFF DADDY

(is set to) release individual tracks and film clips which will be threaded together into a Sacha Baron Cohen-style film featuring his many characters to be released sometime in the next two years.

Curry Daddy’s in da house I

By MAHESH RADHAKRISHNAN

n the quiet streets of Double Bay, worlds away from Harris Park, I previewed the latest offering in the world of Aussie Indian dance and hip-hop, an artist who calls himself ‘Curry Puff Daddy’. His soon-to-be released DVD clip Driving in my Taxi and audio track Harris Park about the recent Indian international student unrest, provide a loud entrance for this enigmatic local artist.

In both tracks, the artist takes on the voice (and guise) of several characters, the main character being the hip-hop gangsta ‘Curry Puff Daddy’ dressed in a pink suit with bleach-blonde short spiky hair. Other characters played by the artist include the turbaned ‘Curry Puff Pappa’ who drives a taxi with the slogan ‘Taxis Mumbained’ and the female character ‘Curry Puff Mama’ dressed in traditional sari!

Driving in my Taxi, a tongue-in-cheek song about Indian taxi-drivers like Curry Puff Pappa in places like Sydney taking in perhaps a bit too much of the local nightlife, makes a good introduction to the range of ‘Curry Puff’ characters played by the artist. The artist switches between the more American rap accents to intentionally overdone Indian accents. The colourful clip (to be released on DVD in October) comes across as a collision of the worlds of R&B dance and gangsta-rap machismo, Bollywood-style glamour (and humour) with retro overtones. It’s not my cup of tea, but it’s catchy and I could certainly see it pumping out of someone’s car, or even taxi.

Hip-hop, for me, is a music genre of resistance and is at its most powerful when it draws attention to injustices. Curry Puff Daddy’s Harris Park anthem is a hardhitting expression of solidarity with Indian international students. It does without the glam of Driving in my Taxi and instead has this almost heavy metal-like edge with distorting guitars evoking the rap metal kings Rage against the Machine. The opening of the song features Curry Puff Daddy screaming “So much bull**** going on, I can’t take anymore!” over distorted

guitars. While the overdone Indian accents persist, it doesn’t take away from the serious energy of the song: I might be a Curry but I want to fight back, I’m sick of your bull**** and your f***ing attacks

All I want to do is study and go home, But you take my laptop and my mobile phone

The song then vents the plight of Indian students here being treated as “second grade” and questions whether local police can be trusted. It borders on an aggressive call to arms before the final verse in which Curry Puff Daddy’s Australianism comes out (Please don’t blame my Australian home) followed by a pacifying note: But as Gandhi said, violence is not the way We don’t need more Gang Wars in Austraili-aye…

Carling Capital Entertainment Group (CCEG), a subsidiary of Carling Capital Partners, helped to secure a venture capital deal for the artist by purchasing Curry Puff Daddy as a brand. I spoke to Jane King, Curry Puff Daddy’s Manager and Media contact with CCEG. She has had a working relationship with the man who calls himself Curry Puff Daddy for about

7 years, when he worked as an audiovisual technician for her and was a “wannabe rapper”. While CCEG are not yet revealing Curry Puff Daddy’s real identity as part of their branding strategy, King tells me that the mystery man is “about 30 years old, of Indian background, grew up in Australia” and added that he is “a really communityminded family man”. His passion and talent for hip-hop apparently comes from years spent DJing at various clubs and dance parties.

King said that the overall plan for Curry Puff Daddy is release individual tracks and film clips which will be threaded together into a Sacha Baron Cohen-style film featuring his many characters to be released sometime in the next two years. Apparently his next track will have a humorous, iconic and sexy Bondi Beach to Bollywood theme.

I am actually quite intrigued (and worried!) about how much over-the-top Australiana will get a look in, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, Curry Puff Daddy is sure to turn a few heads and is worth checking out. The video clip for Harris Park will be released on YouTube in October with the DVD release Driving in my Taxi to follow.

Father dear father

Fathers are very special to their daughters and vice versa, as SHWETA SIROHI GUPTA when talking to friends this Father’s Day

It is astounding how much can transform in one’s life within a year... how superficially everything can appear to be precisely the same, but actually nothing will be the same ever again. Most days glide by overlooked, impeccably flowing as we barely remember them. But this Father’s Day is an occasion for me to revive precious memories and certainly, all the reminiscences and years of recollections come to the fore. Some people demonstrate certain traits that help them stand out in a crowd. When it comes to my father, it was his sanguinity. He might have undergone self doubt during a phase of his life, but then, who hasn’t? It was his faith that actually helped him sail through the most difficult stage of his life, in which he witnessed the biggest cataclysm in his private and professional life. He stood like a rock through all his dilemmas. At the age of 56, when many would unwind and muse over about the life they’ve spent, I’ve seen my father revive his life all over again. And what’s special was that even through the troubled and testing times he has had, he in no way lost his wittiness. Righteous, amusing and amiable - in the present day my father stands elevated before me as my life’s supreme motivation. And ever since I have walked this earth, I’ve yet to stumble upon anyone who can match up to

my father - my hero!

My father is far away from us today. As I sit here alone, I recall memories of him and days spent with him. I think of several birthday dinners, as he loved inviting people over for his own birthday. Of all the cakes purchased secretly from limited pocket money; of the nights I would stay up late as a child, just to have a glimpse of him; of all the hugs that gave me comfort; of all the beautiful letters he wrote to me to ease my heartaches. I remember it all today. I am not even distantly ‘recovered’ from this loss in my life. However, I have stopped being gloomy over his permanent absence now. I know he is watching me from among the stars and his eyes shine when he watches me smile.

Time drifts on, the seasons alter as they should, festivals and birthdays come and go. But life goes on and I remember you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day. Thank you for a lifespan of love. Through easy and turbulent waters, you remain my source of faith, happiness and comfort. Did I ever tell you that your love, like a compass, for eternity leads me home? Although life has stopped us from seeing each other, you’re still and will always be as much a component of my life as ever, Papa . . . and I love you – more than ever.

Manasi Chitranshi

My life’s supreme motivation

Saluting all fathers!

I’m lovely Aanya’s father and she’s my reason for being! It makes a difference when my little daughter wishes me ‘Happy Father’s Day’. The feeling of pride and of responsibility accomplished makes my day. It is not in imitation of the west that attracts others around the world to recognise Father’s Day. What counts is the love, respect and high esteem you hold for your father in your heart, which makes you say, “Pa, we’re always very thankful to God for having given you to as our beloved father....Love you lots”. It is an occasion when I feel doubly blessed by looking at my father and at my lovely daughter. Being Aanya’s father is the best thing that happened to me and I have since tried to bring her up with all the good things that my father did for me. Being a dad is a lot of fun and very educative too. My little one has taught me the importance of patience in life. She is one hungry baby who wants all my attention and she wants it always! It’s frequently aggravating, occasionally maddening. But when she gently coos into my ear as she drifts off to sleep in my arms, it all seems worth it. And isn’t that true of all our most important relationships - they’re tons of hard work and sacrifice, leavened with moments of pure bliss? Father’s Day or just another day, we should be thankful to our parents for leading us here, and now we fulfill the same duty while bringing up our kids, while guiding them into a new world.

Aanya’s dad

Daddy dependable

MADHUCHANDA DAS celebrates the spirit of Father’s Day with a closer look at the role of the parent who is strong, silent and completely dependable

What a beautiful idea!

My parents are visiting us in Sydney and I thought, how about saying ‘Thank you, Papa’ on Fathers Day! But on second thought, well, it is still a western concept in India, so would he be impressed? But my hubby intervened, “Having a day to honour a parent anywhere in the world is a beautiful idea!” Without a doubt this is highly consistent with the Indian attitude of respect for one’s parents, and after all, it is a special day of recognition for being a dad. Just because Indians did not necessarily invent Father’s or Mother’s Day does not mean we cannot celebrate it in our global Indian

Daddy loves me the most!

If it hadn’t been for my father, I would have never come this far in the last ten years. I am sixteen, and have been deaf and mute since birth. I am an achiever in sports and pretty determined to make it big in life. My source of inspiration is my dad. My biggest prize is the pride that’s reflected on his face every time I win a game. Somehow he absolutely knows that I am a special child and I deserve the best in life. He loves me the most, more than my brother, more than mum!

Thank you Papa, for always being my biggest strength, come what may; for making me believe in myself and all my dreams. I remember my birthday when you had bought me that wonderful life-size doll that you thought I always

community. In fact, we as Indians, undoubtedly share the strongest bond with parents.

So thanks Dad, for making me the person I am today; for being proud of me even when I wasn’t the best; for teaching me the difference between right and wrong, and for always being there. You never told me how to live; you lived, and let me watch you doing it. You’re someone to look up to no matter how tall I’ve grown. And yes, if there’s anything I can give you in return it is my love. Love you, Dad.

Pragya Mehrotra

wanted, and I threw it away because I wanted a big metallic jeep like bhaiya had. I remember you skipping dinner and just going to bed quietly after picking up the doll. I also remember you going to the market the next morning and returning with a bigger and more expensive toy jeep and also a helicopter for me. I remember how everyone else would think you were spoiling me with your ever-growing love, and pampering my choices to buy kites and maanja, not dolls and chocolates. You have always told me to choose the biggest pichkari and the most expensive colours on Holi; and the biggest boxes of bombs, phuljhadis, anaars and rockets to burst on Diwali. The reality that I couldn’t hear how loud those bombs were, never discouraged you from indulging me. I always cherish how you learnt sign-language to be able communicate with your special child, just to tell her, “Ghabra mat, tu toh mera achha beta hai. Bas kabhi koi galat kaam mat karma. Hamara aashirwad hamesha tere saath hai.”(Don’t worry, you are a good child. As long as you don’t do anything very bad, my blessing will always be with you). I often sit back and wonder if I can ever thank you enough for giving me a normal life, and making me feel so special!

Countless gallons of tears, be they the Nirupa Roy variety on 70 MM or the Sita- Kaushalya variety on the idiot screen, have been dedicated to eulogise the sacred nurturing maternal instinct that supposedly underpins both family and society. Alas, the man who was always by your side when you had that usual argument with your mum, the man who lifted you on his shoulders so that you could have a better view, the man who fought his tears bravely when you finally made the big move outside the protective cocoon of his love and responsibility, was always happy to remain in the shadows - unnoticed and mostly overlooked.

Probably because he eternally acknowledged his wife’s 24/7 presence in the family, who ungrudgingly embraced all domestic accountabilities on his behalf while he was away facing the harsh, cruel world by himself.

He discussed academics, literature, politics and career choices with you, but there was always that formal distance… He was there to solve all the world’s rocket science problems for you, but simply nodded with pride when you were vindicated. He was a fountain of knowledge and patiently persisted in answering the silliest of questions

it. He was never reluctant to get your bike repaired in spite of a bad day at work, so that you could win the race the next day. It was mum into whose lap you hid your head whether you were sad or happy, while he was a man of few words…yes even when you thought you had committed the gravest of mistakes - but he was never hesitant to give you a second chance. He was always there to protect you and guard you from any harm, so when you unknowingly dozed off into sound slumber after the fever had subsided, he was there by your side all night, gently stroking your head. At times, you would be put off when he stood rock still and never even held out his hands while you embraced mum tightly and wept, on homecoming. But again, he had to be the hero, and heroes don’t break down and weep.

He inspired you to be strong and have faith. He taught you integrity and to be brave and decisive in the face of dilemma. He instilled in you the value of responsibility. He urged you to rise above criticism and demonstrated the value of dignity.

And yes, you were sure that time wouldn’t weaken him. But today when you observe his wrinkled face and his grey hair, see him break into a bout of coughing when a joke is told, or hear him pant on climbing a flight of stairs, it jolts that unswerving confidence in you and makes you wonder whether he’s the same person. Today, when your child kisses her dad and gifts him with a bunch of flowers saying ‘My daddy is the best’ on Father’s Day, it makes you want to run back in time and give

Then and now: Prem Menon with his sons Tushar and Nishant

Standing tall Bollywood dads

AKRITI GOEL hunts through Bollywood in a quest to prove that dads can be just as good as mums in dealing with the nitty-gritty of a child’s life

Adad is the best thing in the world for a child - just like mum, but in a different way. Dads are fun, ready for a laugh and rough-around, but Mums know how to get the right stuff in a lunchbox. Fathers are always underestimated when it comes to actual childcare, like changing a nappy, feeding the little monster, etc. But there are exceptions to the rule, as Bollywood shows us. So here are five reasons why dads match up to mums, courtesy of Bollywood.

Reason 5

Akele Hum Akele Tum : Tu mera dil, tu meri jaan.. Oh I love you, Daddy. Tu masoom, tu shaitan, .... But you love me, Daddy.

And why won’t daddy love you when you’re naughty, particularly because most times he is your partner in crime. Yes mummy makes us yummy food and treats us like her sweet babies all the time, but daddies are our friends who climb trees with us and let us into the kitchen to help them cook (‘coz they don’t know how to!).

Reason 4

Rishtey

Okay, so mummies can teach you to put on your shirt properly and tie your shoelaces correctly, but there’s one thing that anyone’s dad does better than anyone’s mum and that is throw a good punch!

Let’s be realistic, we can be peaceful and calm but some people just need to be punched in the face and that’s where fathers take the cake. Good thing ‘My daddy strongest’, yeah?

Reason 3

Waqt

Dads need to be good people for their children, cool people, friendly people, understanding people, love them when they make mistakes and teach them how to stand up and walk again after they have fallen… but is there such a thing as ‘too

good a Dad’? A dad who has loved his son into becoming a lazy man who is used to getting everything he wants before he even asks? This movie tells the story of one such dad, who wants to change his son before it’s too late.

Reason 2

Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum

Just because dads don’t say it all the time doesn’t mean they don’t love their kids. Mothers are just good at this stuff, showing love, caring for their kids, saying it out loud again and again. Fathers teach us very subtly the importance of silence …

Not everything has to be said, some things just have to be meant and shown.

The act of your dad smiling at you across the table is love, of him being upset when you are rude is love, of him expecting you to do your best at everything, is love.

Reason 1

Virudh

There is a reason why Bollywood’s tallest dad has made it to this list so many times….. he has much to teach!

Virudh is a movie that moves you. Both parents love their children, and loving your child is never a competition. But somehow, mothers always win. It could be because of their undying devotion to their child, it could be all the attention they give to their babies. It could be because their child’s pain is their pain, or because mothers would do anything to protect their kids from the big bad world out there.

Fathers never stood a chance. Or did they? So fathers don’t flinch when their kids fall off the swing, they just dust their knees and tell them to get back up there. They don’t ‘ohh’ and ‘ahhh’ at every word their children utter, they just frown and ask their kids to say something that makes more sense. Fathers don’t feel their child’s pain, they understand it; they help them get through it and are the strong pillar that makes their children stronger as well.

Amitabh Bachchan in Waqt and in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham

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it comes to astrology, Sunil ji's skills are simply incomparable. He has enabled me to see a clearer picture of life and gain peace of mind. Thank you Sunil ji, for your guidance and wisdom."

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Festivals in Sep/Oct 2009

September

Thiru Onam - 2nd Sep

Bhadra Poornima - 4th Sep

Pitra Shradh start - 5th Sep

Ashwin Sankrant - 16th Sep

Pitra Shradh end - 18th Sep

Navratri Begins – 19th Sep

Durga Ashtami – 26th Sep

Maha Navami – 27th Sep

Vijaya Dashami – Dussehra – 28th Sep

October

Aswin Purnima - 4th Oct

Karva Chouth – 7th October

Dhanteras - 15th Oct

Deepavali, Kartik Sankrant – 17th Oct

Bhaidooj - 19th Oct

Annakut – Gujarati New Year – 18th Oct

Vishwakarma Puja - 20th Oct

Chhat Puja - 24th and 25th Oct

Tulsi Vivah – 30th Oct

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Of politics and principles

With the world’s attention on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the new term “Afpak” in vogue coupling the two countries together in terms of policy making, a few timely and very informative books have been published recently on the subject, that deserve attention. Zahid Hussain’s Frontline Pakistan (IB Taurus, 2008) is one of them: it is a candid account of factors leading to the rise of fundamentalism and radical Islam in Pakistan. It is a well written, easy-to-read, dispassionate book which chronicles Pakistan’s ‘path to catastrophe’ with events begun in the 1950s, accelerated under Zia ul Haq, which have led to that country hurtling towards disaster.

The third and the fourth chapters are by far the most informative: they deconstruct, layer by layer, the numerous Jihadi organisations in Pakistan; their objectives; their power base; their leaders; the madrassas that spawn them; their targets, and most important of all, the ubiquitous Pakistani Intelligence organisation ISI’s relationship with them. The chapter on Kashmir explains the ‘tight-rope’ that Pakistani leadership has to walk –increasingly tilted in favour of the Jihadis. The ISI’s unwillingness to sever their ties with those Islamist-Jihadi groups fighting in Kashmir or Afghanistan make plain the fact that the ISI and the military in Pakistan are a law unto themselves, and are beyond civilian government control.

Ahmed Rashid’s Descent Into Chaos and William Dalrymple’s review in NYRB Feb 12 2009 (www.nybooks. com/articles) is another thought-provoking book on Pakistan today. Rashid – a well known journalist with several books on the Taliban, Afghanistan and Central Asia under his belt –pulls no punches when it comes to Pakistan’s duplicitous policies towards Afghanistan and India. Over the years he has seen Karzai turn increasingly bitter at American failure to invest in his country; and at Pakistani attempts to destabilise it. He watched with utter disbelief the Americans’ inability to prevent Bin Laden’s escape into Pakistan, as well as America’s tacit approval to Pakistan to fly some of the Al Qaida leadership out of Kunduz.

On Pakistan, the land of his birth, Rashid is scathing. The Taliban make no secret of their safe havens across the border in Pakistan; there are suicide bombers trained at Pakistani madrassas; mullahs across the border who commission the murder of women in public life… It is common knowledge, and Afghan and NATO officials complain bitterly that elements in

The situation in Pakistan has incited strong views by authors which reflect the country’s current status quo, discovers CHITRA

SUDARSHAN

the Pakistani military and the intelligence service, ISI, protect the insurgents.

Pakistan’s policy in Afghanistan is tied in with its great rivalry with India. The military sees Afghanistan as offering a hinterland, “strategic depth”, and also training facilities for a future conflict. India’s huge aid programme in Afghanistan, Rashid points out, adds to Pakistan’s paranoia. However, it is not just Afghanistan, but Pakistan itself that has been damaged in the process. Rashid reminds us just how much the west, America in particular, was culpable in creating this incendiary scenario, with their unstinting support for generals who deposed elected governments, imprisoned politicians and nurtured fundamentalist Islamist parties. Billions of dollars were sent from Washington to the Pakistan military as supporters in the Cold War, and significant funds went to Muslim fundamentalists.

General Musharraf, Rashid points out, was just the latest military strongman successfully to manipulate Washington. He received huge funds and weaponry while being portrayed, by both himself and the US, as a staunch ally in the “war on terror”. It was only belatedly that US officials cottoned on to the fact that Pakistan was not only doing little to pursue Al Qaida and the Taliban – but its senior officials were complicit in harbouring them.

Rashid believes that the emergence of civil society in Pakistan and a dilution of military power may help to heal the violent fractures in the region –however, there is little even in his own book to support such optimism. Rashid points out, for instance, that 90% of the $10 billion in aid that the United States has provided Pakistan since 9/11 has gone to the military rather than to development; months after the elections, Pakistan remains in leaderless drift while the military and ISI carry out their private deals with the Islamists at will. It is therefore difficult to see how Pakistan can rout the Taliban – as Rashid suggests as a first step.

Afghan and NATO officials complain bitterly that elements in the Pakistani military and the intelligence service, ISI, protect the insurgents.

Shuja Nawaz’s books, Crossed Sword: Pakistan, Its Army and the Wars Within (OUP June 2008); and FATA: A Most Dangerous Place, (2009), based on 30 years of research and analysis, is a systematic and historical analysis of the nature and role of the Pakistan army in the country’s politics. He examines the army and Pakistan in both peace and war, using many hitherto unpublished materials from the archives of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army. In the process he sheds light not only on the Pakistan Army and

Shuja Nawaz concludes that the military domination of Pakistani society has stunted the country’s political growth … as long as the military dominate this fractious society, its desire for parity with India will skew internal politics.

its US connections, but also on Pakistan as a key Muslim country in one of the world’s toughest neighbourhoods. In doing so, he lays bare key facts about Pakistan’s numerous wars with India and its many rounds of political musical chairs, as well as the Kargil conflict of 1999. He concludes that the military domination of Pakistani society has stunted the country’s political growth, and that the army’s obsession with Indian hegemony has perverted relations with neighbours and allies. He then draws lessons from this history that may help Pakistan end its wars within and create a more stable political entity. This is easier said than done: as long as the military dominate this fractious society, its desire for parity with India will skew internal politics; as long as the Islamists are pandered to, they will continue to call the shots; and as long as the political leadership remains weak, the military will dominate. This brings us to the crux of the matter that is addressed through William B Milam’s

(Frontline Pakistan) is a well written, easy-to-read, dispassionate book which chronicles Pakistan’s ‘path to catastrophe’ with events begun in the 1950s, accelerated under Zia ul Haq, which have led to that country hurtling towards disaster.

book Bangladesh and Pakistan: Flirting With Failure in South Asia. That at the heart of both countries’ problems is their fundamental inability to settle on a national identity: more than 60 years since its inception, this issue is particularly acute in Pakistan. Was it created simply as a homeland for Indian Muslims who chose not to live in a Hindu-majority country? Or was it always meant to be a messianic flag bearer for pan-Islamism, the world’s first modern nation formed on the basis of faith alone? The former interpretation, favoured by the nation’s Anglicized founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah and by many of the country’s Englishspeaking elites, is broadly compatible with contemporary ideas of democracy and human rights. The latter view leads naturally to one of Pakistan’s most fraught internal debates. Why demand a country for the Muslims, argue the Islamists, if not to implement divinely ordained Islamic law? In just how this basic debate is resolved, lies the key to Pakistan’s future.

of all China. Japan’s export of technology as well as aid has helped. However, this has not erased those countries’ wartime memories of Japan. Memories in Asia can be long indeed!

The most important post-World War II event in Asia is the emergence of China and India as industrial and military powers. These fast urbanising and industrialising billion-people nations need foodstuff and minerals, particularly metals, coal and uranium. Australia is well placed geographically with its abundant resources to supply these raw materials. It is also well placed geographically to provide higher education and for tourism.

But geography is not enough. Australia needs cultural engagement with these countries, which it has promoted since the 1970s. Progress was initially slow; the way Asian countries were portrayed in Australian schools and in the media had to be overhauled, and that has been achieved, to some extent. However, recent troublesome events demonstrate that more needs to be done in the relationship with the two Asian giants: China and India.

China has experienced a spectacular change in Australian perception. Once regarded as the “yellow peril”, it provided the impulse for Australia to enact its White Australia policy. After World War II, the “yellow peril” gave way to “red peril” when communism was entrenched in China. Today, a resurgent modernising China is being looked upon as the

school in Sydney, given that India has a large civil aviation industry?

Ironically, Australia which once regarded China as an adversary is prepared to sell it uranium ore. On the other hand, India, always considered as a democratic friend and fellow Commonwealth member, is being denied this privilege on the ground that India has not yet signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Hopefully, the treaties signed by India with the United States and other major atomic suppliers like France and Russia will help Australia to change its mind.

Australia and several countries are wary of China in the long term. Its military strength is increasing by leaps and bounds. Australia is modernising its navy at a huge expense so that it can deploy vessels in both, the Pacific and Indian oceans. The interests of Australia and India converge in the Indian Ocean. The value of the Indian navy has been vividly demonstrated in recent times by its intercepting of some Somali pirate vessels which menaced shipping from all nations close to the horn of Africa.

India has recently reached a free trade agreement with the ten-nation ASEAN bloc. Tariffs will progressively be reduced on most items to just 5%. Australia is also moving in the same direction. Australia’s and India’s strategic interests converge in Southeast Asia. There has to be a far greater canvass for the Indian-Australian relationship than just that of a student market. A sensitive approach on all sides is called for.

(India) produces high quality scientists and graduates in the humanities, and yet one only hears about Indian students coming to Australia and nothing about Australians going to India to study

Interest Rates put on hold yet again

What’s the future?

By Navjeet Singh Matta Full Accredited Member of Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia; also Director, Gain Home Loans

For the fourth month in a row, the reserve bank left the cash-rate unchanged at 3%. It’s good news for the public; however, it remains to be seen how long the Reserve Bank will wait to lift the rates. Most economists are predicting that there will be at least two rate increases before the end of this year, but they are also predicting that the rate increases will be small ones which will not impact too much on the monthly repayments. In the last few weeks, all lenders have been increasing their fixed rates creating panic among home loan borrowers. They are under the impression that the variable rates are going to go up, so they are tossing up whether they should start fixing their mortgages. I personally think this panic is un-called for. The economy has not improved much; people are still losing their jobs. But having said that, the next move in the interest rates is definitely going to be an increase. However it won’t jump from 5% to 7% straightaway; rather, it will be a slow and a gradual climb. It might take upto 2 years to reach that level. So if you have to pay 7% after 2 years then why pay higher rate now? But again, everybody’s situation is different and some people might be better off with the fixed rates depending on their financial situation or other factors. You are free to discuss your situation by calling me on 02 9676 3417 or emailing me on nsmatta@gainhomeloans. com.au. Our services are absolutely free.

Will House prices be affected after the grant ends? There is no doubt that the extended grant has pushed the house prices up however the other two major reasons

why property prices have gone up are, low interest rates and high rentals. High rentals have prompted people to buy homes to get rid of their landlord and also investors have joined the bandwagon to get high yield on their investments. We all know Australia has not been affected as much as US and some European countries. The outlook is much more positive here. I don’t really see property values going down, they might remain stable though. We provide free RP Data property reports; please send me an email on info@ gainhomeloans.com.au and a free report will be emailed to you within 24 hours. Please mention the property address or the suburb you are interested in and your contact number too.

Why the structure of your Home Loan is the most important part

I can’t emphasise enough, that the home loan structure is the most important part of it. Yes, in most instances you are allowed to make extra repayments, which reduces the loan term but you should make every dollar and cent work for you rather than for the bank. We at Gain Home Loans specialise in structuring the mortgage to suit everybody’s

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Disclaimer: Any advice given in this article does not take into account the personal needs and objectives or financial situation of the reader. The reader should consider the appropriateness of this and seek professional advice before making a decision whether to acquire or continue the products and services mentioned.

A sacred time

SHAFEEN MUSTAQ on the significance of Ramadan

Ramadan is here again, the month of immense blessings and reward. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this holy month, Muslims around the world spend daylight hours fasting from sunrise to sunset, and abstaining from food, drink and other physical needs. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint”. Qur’an 2:183

Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance, to make peace with those who have wronged us, to strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits – in essence, to clean up our lives, thoughts and feelings. The Arabic word for “fasting” (sawm) literally means “to refrain”, and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words. Most Muslims try to get home before sunset so that they can break the fast with family and friends.

Ramadan in 2009 started on August 22 will continue for 30 days, ending on September 19, which is a day of celebration marking the end of Ramadan, known as Eid-ul-Fitr. These dates are dependent on the sighting of the moon, as the Muslim calendar goes by the cycle of the moon.

There are several Islamic radio stations which you can tune into to hear the azaan at iftaar time, daily lectures, Islamic messages and news. Tune into Sydney’s Voice of Islam radio station 87.6 Fm (www.sydneyislamicradio. com) and Sydney Islamic Radio 92.1 FM (www.2mfm.org)

Let us keep the following things in our mind when we observe this month:

Intention Remind yourself that you are fasting in obedience to Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whosoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and seeking Allah’s reward, all his past sins are forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 37)

Sunnah (The way and manners of Muhammad) Observe the Sunnah in fasting. As much as you can, try to fast as much like the Prophet Muhammad fasted. Wara (Avoiding everything haram or makruh) Fasting is not just avoiding food and drink. Fasting is to learn how to avoid bad words and bad deeds. The Prophet said: “Whosoever does not leave bad words and bad actions, Allah does not care if he leaves his food and drink.” (Al-Tirmidhi 641)

Qur’an Read the Qur’an every day. Try to complete a personal reading of the Qur’an at least once during this month.

Prayer or Salah, Du`a’ and Dhikr Pray on time and observe all the prayers. Do more dhikr (remembering Allah) and du`a’ (supplication) for yourself and for others. This is the best time for devotion and seeking Allah’s forgiveness. Seek the Night of Qadr by special devotion during the last ten nights of this month.

Zakah, Sadaqah and generosity Ramadan generates the spirit of giving and sacrifice. When we deprive ourselves of food and drink we realize the pain of those who cannot have the basic necessities of life. Be very charitable and generous.

Family Goodness must begin at home. Spend more time and quality time with your family members. Break your fast and pray together. Allah’s special mercy comes on

The Arabic word for “fasting” (sawm) literally means “to refrain”, and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

the families that are united, harmonious and peaceful.

Good Conduct Try to be extra kind and courteous during this month. Forget your quarrels and disputes. Reconcile and forgive. Do not get involved in backbiting, lying, cheating and anything that is wrong. Be good to your friends and neighbours. Let your non-Muslim neighbours and coworkers know that this is your blessed and sacred time.

Tafakkur (reflection) Think, reflect and plan to improve the moral and spiritual condition of your own self and your family. Think about any wrong things and sins you might be doing and decide to correct yourself.

Be cheerful and happy Ramadan is not a time of mourning or sadness. It is a time of thankfulness to Allah. In a Hadith it is reported that the Prophet said, “When you fast, anoint yourself. Let not the signs of fast be seen on you.” (Al-Bukahri, Al-Adab al-Mufrad) Do not feel tired and miserable. Feel alert and relax. Take things easy. This time is for your own good.

May Allah swt grant us all the taqwah tawfiq and sabr to attain the spirituality we seek this month and continue our good deeds till the next Ramadan. May we attain Allah swt’s barkat and rahmat on us, our families and the Ummah at large.

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Maliha Qablawi of Granville sits down with her family for Iftar dinner on September 2, 2009, to break the day-long Ramadan fast.

(Photo Adam Qablawi)

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Posing as ‘Indians’ on Sept 11, 2001

RUCHI LAMBA recounts how India came to the rescue on a holiday which, given the unexpected circumstances, could have turned unpleasant for two young female tourists

Most people wouldn’t forget a boat cruise on the Nile river in Egypt. But few would classify it under tragic memories the way my friend Mona and I do. It was September 2001, and we were on a holiday. Mona is Indian, but raised in the United States and our families have known each other for a long time. I was still living in Sydney in those days, and travelling has always been a passion. Mona and I decided to meet up and travel through Egypt together.

After we were done with the sights in Cairo, Luxor and Abu Simbel, we took a four-night boat cruise from Luxor to Egypt which stopped at smaller towns on the way. One night, when our boat was docked outside a remote town near the Sudanese border, I took the opportunity to wander through the local market and pick up a few trinkets. As I got back to the boat around sunset, I noticed everybody congregated around the television set in the bar area. I dismissed what looked like an action film on screen, until I noticed the concerned look on Mona’s face. Some of the other tourists on the boat were weeping. It was then that I noticed that they were watching a CNN news flash. But the reception was poor and we could barely figure out what had happened.

One of the boat’s waiters told me that the belly dancing party scheduled for that night

had been cancelled due to the war.

“What war?” I asked.

“The American war,” he said. “Military planes are flying over all US cities dropping bombs.”

It was at that moment that the second tower of the World Trade Centre went down on the screen.

“Who is attacking the US?” was the question on everybody’s mind that evening.

“Egypt,” another waiter told me. “Those pilots were Egyptian, so you see, Americans think that Egypt has attacked America. It is not safe for you to be here now, if they found out you were an American, well, who knows what would happen to you.”

“But I am not an American,” I thought, but I knew what he meant. I was even more concerned for Mona, who was traveling on an American passport and had a sister who lived in New York, quite close to the Towers. Mona’s own flight back to New York was cancelled, as were most of the flights in the region.

Nobody seemed to have any exact details about what had happened and most of our news was being filtered through the Arab perspective. President Mubarak of Egypt was being quoted as denying responsibility for the attack, people were celebrating the decline of the US empire in the street, and there was a sense of mistrust in the air. There were fears of American retaliation,

even talk of an atomic bomb being dropped on Cairo or Luxor. The possibility of western tourists in Egypt being arrested also seemed very real. We realized that we might be stuck in a nation at war. To avoid any possible trouble, we decided to underplay our western upbringings and tried to pass as Indians. We put on Indian accents and kept dropping names like Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in every conversation. We changed our accommodation in Cairo from our five-star resort to a more modest hotel instead. We sipped hibiscus tea at the local tea shop and smoked hookah with elderly burkha-clad women. We smiled sweetly at the young men who pledged their love for us, and we promised them that we would

pass on their marriage proposals to our parents. We ate local breads baked right in front of us, and told our hosts it reminded us of our grandmother’s roti.

A few days later, it was obvious that there wasn’t much to be worried about, and that there wasn’t really a war between Egypt and the US. But we continued to embrace our Indian identity, because being Indian opened up a lot more doors for us than being Australian or American ever had. We saw the real Egypt, beyond the usual tourist fare. People were a lot more welcoming and the shopkeepers gave us better bargains. It made the trip a lot more memorable, and despite the tragic memories of 9/11, we were able to enjoy a real holiday out of it.

Military planes are flying over all US cities dropping bombs

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Community Relations Commission

For a multicultural NSW

2009/10 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS PROGRAM EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

The 2009/10 Community Development Grants Program is now open. The Commission is pleased to advise that we are introducing a new direction in our grant applications with the creation of three grant categories in order to focus particularly on new and emerging communities. This will enable the Commission to better support the work of not-for-profit incorporated community organisations and to work in partnership with local government councils to address the needs of newly-arrived and emerging communities.

General grants – Expressions of interest from not-for-profit incorporated organisations are invited for projects that promote cultural expressions, enhance community development or minimum capital purchases. Funding of up to $18,200 is available in this category. Closing date is 2 October 2009.

Sponsorship grants – Expressions of interest from not-for-profit incorporated organisations are invited for special events such as annual festivals and major cultural events. This category will open again in December 2009 and April 2010. Expressions of interest must be submitted three months before the scheduled event. The Commission will not accept sponsorship grant requests outside these funding periods. Funding of up to $5,000 is available in this category. Closing date is 2 October 2009.

Local Partnership – Expressions of interest are invited from local government councils to enter into partnership agreement with the Commission to address the specific needs of newly-arrived or emerging communities. The Commission may also approach community organisations and local councils during the year to initiate projects.

Funding of up to $60,000 is available in this category. Closing date is 18 September 2009.

For more information and to obtain the Expression of Interest Form, visit the website www.crc.nsw.gov.au/grants or any of the CRC offices below.

Expressions of interest must be submitted in the prescribed form.

Sydney Wollongong Newcastle

84 Crown Street

Level 8

175 Castlereagh Street PO Box 363

Sydney Wollongong NSW 2500

PO Box A2618 Tel: 4224 9922

Sydney South NSW 1235

Tel: 8255 6779

Fax: 8255 6868

Fax: 4224 9933

117 Bull Street

Newcastle NSW 2300

Tel: 4929 4191

Fax: 4929 7369

Expressions of interest must be received at any of the CRC offices above or by email at eoi.grants@crc.nsw.gov.au by 5.00 pm on the closing dates mentioned above.

Late Expressions of Interest will not be accepted. 727525v2

Continued from page 35

Mumbai attacks”.

“In that context, letting off Hafiz Saeed is unacceptable,” said the minister.

Accepting that India was losing patience, Chidambaram said: “After a point, it (sending dossiers) will be a charade. I just don’t want to give them any quarter that answers are not forthcoming and therefore investigation is not starting.”

Scientists to review India’s moon mission saga

TOP EUROPEAN AND American space scientists will join their Indian counterparts to review the performance of India’s maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-1 that was aborted prematurely last week, a senior space agency official said.

“Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences will review the performance of their payloads (scientific instruments) that were onboard the spacecraft along with our payloads,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director S. Satish told IANS.

Chandrayaan was launched Oct 22, 2008 from spaceport Sriharikota, about 90 km northeast of Chennai, with 11 scientific instruments, including three from ESA, two from NASA and one from Bulgaria. The remaining five were from the Indian space agency ISRO.

“At the day-long closed-door review meeting, to be presided over by ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair, the scientists of the respective space agencies will present the results, consisting of data, pictures and analysis for a detailed discussion of the 10-month-old mission, which had scientific and technology objectives,” Satish said.

The ESA’s three payloads were the imaging x-ray spectrometer (C1XS), the smart infrared spectrometer (SIR-2) and sub kiloelectronvolt (keV) atom reflecting analyzer (SARA).

Similarly, the US payloads were the 6.5kg mini synthetic aperture radar (MiniSAR) and the moon mineralogy mapper (M3).

Similarly, the scientific objectives such as the chemical and mineralogical mapping of the lunar surface using sophisticated sensors, conducting high-resolution remote-sensing of the moon in visible, near infrared, low-energy and high energy x-ray regions and three dimensional atlas of the near and far sides of the moon were accomplished.

We

Decriminalise sports betting

cricket, or at least the ones in which India is involved, is fixed. The outcome is predecided, a bit like WWF.

At my local grocery store, I recently stumbled upon a movie called 99. It is one of those movies which, for most people, may disappear off the radar even before the weekend is out. Having said that, the likes of Boman Irani and Soha Ali Khan do add a little glamour to it.

The storyline revolves around the game of cricket and the illegal betting (satta) market operating in India. Nothing new you might say, the cricket and bookie nexus is all too well publicized; however, in the current climate, where an Australian player was sent feelers by a bookie on the eve of the fifth and final Ashes Test, this movie assumes added significance. In it, Sudesh Beri, a one-time wannabe of Indian cinema but now reduced to bit roles like the one in 99, says that India has two religions. In no particular order, they are ‘Bollywood’ and, drum roll……. ‘the game of cricket’ (now isn’t that cliché getting a bit tired?) He adds that a movie may at times (how about most times?) have no direction, no script, or so it may appear, but cricket has, and always will, follow a definitive script. To put it simply, he says that every game of

Now to compare Dravid and Dhoni with the likes of John Cena and Batista is perhaps pushing the envelope a tiny bit too much, but neither is this assertion completely fanciful or pie in the sky as some would have us believe. Former South African captain Hansie Cronje, Shane Warne and Mark Waugh are perhaps the only cricketers to have confessed their association with bookies, but names such as M Azharuddin and A Jadeja are just as badly tainted, and will stick on in memory forever.

This brings us to the issue, why is sports betting in India considered illegal and criminal? The authorities have failed and are powerless to stop it. I mean, if you consider it a sin, you would concede that a known devil is better than an unknown one. As mentioned earlier, bookies tried to get in touch with one of the Australian players prior to the start of the deciding Ashes Test in England. Australia, by all accounts, did the right thing and reported it to the ICC. There were reports that punters in India had wagered a staggering US$ 80m on the fifth Ashes test alone. Even a sideshow like Sri Lanka versus New Zealand being played in Galle around the same time, drew bets of over US$ 4m. The message coming out from this is loud and clear: there is a

tremendous appetite from punters in India to bet on sporting contests.

Why then is the Indian government disinclined to legalize it? No doubt, the culture police and self proclaimed custodians of Indian values and ethos will be out on the streets burning effigies, calling it a sell-out and tagging supporters of such moves as traitors who must smolder in hell for ever. Several politicians may have us believe the fabric of our nation is being torn apart, the country is being consumed by the West.

The government of India can choose to look at it differently, though. Imagine if the government actually decriminalized sports betting. They could invite bids from both domestic and foreign players and grant half a dozen licenses to various operators. The potential of the Indian market cannot be lost on the likes of Ladbrokes and Betfair who no doubt yearn for a slice of the pie, and would be quick to throw their hats in the ring. These companies could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign investment. The government could recognize it as a genuine, for-profit industry and tax the earnings appropriately. Imagine how much it would contribute to the Finance Ministry coffers. Further, the industry will employ hundreds of thousands of people, thus creating new jobs in a hitherto non-existing industry. More jobs means even more in tax earning and certainly the Indian economy could do with a bit of a hike in tax revenues, what with the billions of rupees the government intends to borrow, as announced in the recent budget. It really could be a win-win situation for everybody.

Once again, their will be doubters and those who mourn the demise of Indian culture, values and morality. Let’s not get started on that though, in a country whose black market economy usurps the white economy by 3:1; while it perennially languishes in every aspect at the bottom of the Human Development Index. It yet continues to grow more and more corrupt each year, and is hardly sacrosanct. So that argument does not hold any water. The fact is that illegal betting on sports continues to thrive and no amount of policing would curb it, let alone eliminate it. Resisting it is not an option; it is the forbidden fruit that always tastes the yummiest. So if the practice has to continue, why have it run by shady underworld characters and drug dealers? To legalize it and grant it industry status could perhaps even assist in weeding out the criminals. As a punter, I would rather place a bet through my local TAB than through the goons of Dawood or Chota Shakeel running a murky betting house.

There is precedent to it in other parts of the world. While marijuana is illegal and banned in several parts of the world, in Holland the use of soft drugs is allowed and even ‘sold’ at coffee shops. This policy exists to prevent the marginalization of soft drug users, thereby exposing them to more harmful drugs. Although there is always a constant debate if the current practice is the right one, the authorities decided to take a middle path until they could come up with a more acceptable solution.

India seems to have its head firmly buried in sand on the issue of sports betting. It is time to come out in the open and feel the sunshine.

SHWETA SIROHI GUPTA on the tremendous financial clout of the bookie bazaar in India

Even a sideshow like Sri Lanka versus New Zealand being played in Galle around the same time, drew bets of over US$ 4m.

As a punter I would rather place a bet through my local TAB than through the goons of Dawood or Chota Shakeel running a murky betting house

Will the phoenix rise?

SHAFEEN

MUSTAQ analyses

Australia’s loss of the prestigious Ashes trophy with suggestions of how the team can rise again

The Ashes are lost once again. Is anyone surprised? I know I’m not. Australia had safeguarded the urn since 1989, that’s 8 Ashes test series and 16 years in all. In the summer of 2005, England bowled Australia over and dramatically won back the 5 test match series 2-1 at home, only to lose it again in 2007. But if anyone thought that the win was a one-off blunder on behalf of the Australian team, the players or selectors, they were mistaken. Australia has lost the Ashes once again in a 2-1 series win.

Australians have basked in its cricket team’s dominance of the game for the better part of two decades. Who do we blame? Like the embittered Indian fans who burn effigies of their heroes at the Indian team’s losses, the Australian public are looking for someone to blame, and who better than the first Australian captain in more than a century to lose two Ashes series in England? While Ricky Ponting has the full support of his teammates there are a handful of cricketing greats whose comments are escaping through the solidarity of support for the captain. These are people who recognise that the loss of Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist and Hayden have seriously impaired what was once a golden side.

Former Australia batsman Dean Jones suggested the selectors coax Shane Warne out of retirement to replace Ponting. “If the selectors ... want to go to someone else for the captaincy, if they’re thinking of that, (the options are) maybe give it to (vice captain) Michael Clarke straight away… Ask Shane Warne to come out of retirement just for two years, then give it to Michael Clarke. ..A lot of people might be thinking that’s stupid but it will take him two months, three months to get himself fit, just let him play the test matches and, I tell you what, he would do it in a heartbeat.”

Australians are still looking to our historical greats to resolve our current cricket crisis, rather than the dearth of talent that plays at regional and national levels. And why shouldn’t we? We are used to being the best. Australia was officially the best Test side in the world since Mark Taylor led them to a historic win against the West Indies in the Caribbean in 1995. But the Ashes series loss slips Australia to number four in the rankings, and South Africa is the new number one.

If we accept the support for Ponting and alleviate blame from him, who do we blame? Former Australia opener Michael Slater and former captain Ian Chappell led the chorus for the selection panel, chaired by Andrew Hilditch, should be made accountable. The selection of part time spinners and a disregard to cultivating growing talent has led to our imminent slide.

Australian selectors need to be more mindful of cultivating new talent and providing opportunities, rather than relying on the experience of older players.

To look at the players in the current Australian side individually, each is talented in their own way. It was not who was sent out into the field, but how they were mismanaged that should be reflected upon. Stuart Clark (4 wickets at 44) went into the series as the only Australian bowler with a strong record against England, but did not get to bowl until the fourth Test. He had immediate success, then struggled in the second innings and on the dusty Oval pitch. Phillip Hughes (57 runs at 19) struggled with England’s short-pitched bowling in his three innings and was dropped after two Tests. He remains a massive talent, and should be brought back soon.

Shane Watson (240 at 48) found himself opening the batting after being included as Australia’s only backup batsman on the tour. Barely bowled, but didn’t let the selectors down with three halfcenturies, a 34 and a 40. And Michael Clarke (448 at 64, two centuries) was outstanding with the bat, and should replace Hussey at No.4 and Ponting as captain following this series. Players who failed to perform and contributed to our loss include Hussey and his less than perfect batting despite a century at Lords, Haddin’s frequent sloppiness behind the stumps, and Johnson’s struggle with the ball.

Still, our side has players whose talent could easily have overtaken the English. Despite the performances of Flintoff, Strauss and Swann, Peterson’s non-performance and injury was a disappointment, Bopara did not live up to the expectations created by the hype surrounding his appearance, and Panesar’s poor bowling was saved only by his batting in his only match of the series Who do we blame? Our players need to wake up. They need to analyse their strength and play more cohesively as a team

to bring out their individual capabilities for a united win. Australian selectors need to be more mindful of cultivating new talent and providing opportunities, rather than relying on the experience of older players. The team as a whole needs more experience in adapting to playing overseas and the palpably dry pitches.

2009 has seen Australia lose to South Africa, New Zealand and even Bangladesh. September will bring the ICC

Championships Trophy and then Australia plays India, Pakistan and the West Indies to end the year. The Australian team and the selectors should accept lessons learnt from the Ashes and stop looking to the past to rectify the current cricket crisis. There is a dearth of new talent on Australia’s pitches which, given the right amount of cultivation and exposure, will help Australia rise once again to its former glory. If not, the phoenix will definitely fail to rise out of the Ashes.

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Australians are still looking to our historical greats to resolve our current cricket crisis, rather than the dearth of talent that plays at regional and national levels.

Finnish Finesse

By THOMAS E KING

As production budgets surge and audiences become more demanding Bollywood’s movie moghuls continue their search for even more exotic film locales. As South Asia and the Middle East are passé and even scenes of Australia have been seen on Indian screens it’s time for Finland to take centre stage in an allsinging, all-dancing epic.

Throughout this month a crew from Vishesh Productions will be on location in this hi-tech Nordic nation bordered by Sweden, Norway and Russia. Tentatively entitled Love in Finland, the Mahesh Bhatt production is scheduled to star Emraan Hashmi.

No doubt at least some of the scenes filmed in the Finnish capital of Helsinki will be set in Senate Square, the heart of the historic city and the starting point of a grand tour for many visitors. Senate Square

was the epicentre of Helsinki when the 460 year old city founded as a trading centre by Swedish King Gustaf Vasa became capital of Finland in 1812.

Big, classy and out of the ordinary, this seasoned square is the cream on any cinema czar’s cake. Back dropping a sweeping stretch of stone steps is Helsinki Cathedral. With its series of five onion-shaped domes, the 150-year-old glistening white building is a standalone shimmering stunner and the focal point of the 7000 sq m. square.

Stylish trams rumble before the grand Luthern cathedral. In my mind’s eye, I can easily visualise the star struck hero and heroine of the upcoming blockbuster grasping the moving vehicle while a cast of thousands execute a series of syncopated gyrations in the cobblestoned square.

Even after the blitz of the Bollywood circus leaves town the city will still continue to pulsate. Just south of Senate Square is Market Square, a place that’s a hive of activity throughout the day.

If the classy surrounds of Senate Square fail to impress then the bargains of Market Square most certainly will. It’s just a block between squares so walk as I did on one occasion or take the tram as I also did on a

repeat visit.

In this colourful area between squares where quaint pastel-painted buildings line narrow streets, dodging trams is a national sport! Cosy little bistros and alfresco cafes beckon the intrepid traveller to pause and ponder a city where the finesse of Eastern and Western influences are seen in architecture, cuisine and culture. Enjoy the break or just keep walking to the market place.

This outdoor bazaar – Helsinki style – is tourist central. I saw people from many lands as I wandered past booths where uniquely Finnish handicrafts like gorgeous glassware, silver and gold jewellery, kitchen items crafted from wood and kitted items being woven as I watched were on sale. Locals on the other hand were on the look out for just-caught salmon as well as the freshest of summer vegetables and delicious berries. Listen carefully and you’ll hear the tongue-twisting and vowel-vaulting Finnish language spoken here. (Most Finns, however, are fluent in English.) A lone accordionist busker added musical accompaniment to a friendly setting that could well find its way into the forthcoming Bollywood offering.

Throughout this month, a Bollywood film produced by Mahesh Bhatt will be filming on location in this hi-tech Nordic nation

Vendors sell their own handcrafted creations in the carnival-like atmosphere of Helsinki’s harbour-hugging market.

Market Square is at the edge of South Harbour, an animated quarter where commuters arrive for the start of their daily grind in nearby offices and visitors happily depart for summer excursions. The operative word is summer because in this city of 600,000 where the temperature can plummet to – 25° C during the depths of winter, the window of opportunity for short sleeve tourism is rather limited.

With sunshine streaming through an intensely blue sky my wife and I boarded a small ferry from South Harbour this past July for the brief trip to a set of small islands that have strategic significance far beyond their size.

Spread over six diminutive isles within sight of South Harbour, Suomenlinna is one of the world’s largest maritime fortresses. Built by the Swedish in the mid 1700s to protect their interests from Russian attacks, the ‘fortress of Finland’ is one of the best examples of European military architecture of the time.

Ringed by some 6 km of restored defence walls, Suomenlinna oozes with history that’s colourfully retold during guided walking tours. Photographic opportunities abound and not all pictures are of cannons and

Visited throughout the year, Suomenlinna – Fortress of Finland – has been listed as a world treasure since 1991.

fortifications. The most popular visitor attraction of Finland is also home to some 850 residents. Many of these are artists who prefer to live and work in history-saturated surrounds that have been the base for the armies of Sweden, Russia and Finland.

The only way to reach this veteran stone sentinel is by ferry or waterbus. If brief encounters with Finnish waters have whetted your appetite for a longer voyage then you’ll enjoy skimming across the calm azure waters of the Finnish Archipelago as you journey to Porvoo.

Finland’s second oldest town is only 50 km from Helsinki which is the northernmost capital city within the European Union. It’s just an hour by bus using the modern motorway – a convenience for daily commuters or time-tight tourists – but there is a relaxing option. During the fleeting months of summer the Royal Line operates a full day cruise.

After slowly sailing through the idyllic archipelago visitors have a few hours to

Finland’s second oldest town and an important trading centre in the Middle Ages, Porvoo is a popular day trip from Helsinki.

(Photos

explore the old town centre of Porvoo. A modern city prospers beyond the dozen or so winding streets and constricted lanes that were laid out in the 14th and 15th centuries when Porvoo was gaining importance as a trading centre. Many of the now restored buildings and homes, however, are from the 18th century as they were rebuilt after a devastating fire.

Situated on Church Hill the stately Porvoo Cathedral towers over an old town where vendors – some dressed in period costume – sell their wares from push carts. It’s a romantic setting that could well conclude a film. Hopefully this little Finnish gem won’t be overlooked because Bollywood audiences like nothing better than a fairy tale ending.

Travel Notebook Finland

FLIGHTS

Thai Airways International has three flights a day from Sydney to Bangkok and a daily service linking Bangkok and Stockholm. From late October, THAI will reintroduce Royal First Class on two of the Sydney flights served by 3-class Airbus A340-600 aircraft. For information and bookings contact THAI Reservations on 1300-651960 or www. thaiairways.com.au

TRAVEL

While there are frequent flights between Stockholm and Helsinki, I found that the leisurely overnight Viking Line cruise between the two capitals to be an exceptionally pleasant way to travel. Celebrating 50 years of service

in 2009, the state-of-the-art liner offers comfortable accommodation and sumptuous buffet meals. See www. vikingline.fi/index.asp?lang=en

PACKAGES

For booking any travel arrangements in Helsinki or Finland contact Nordic travel specialist MyPlanet, tel 1800 1800 221 712. Visit www.myplanetaustralia.com.

au

TIP

Available from numerous outlets including hotels and the info-packed Helsinki City Tourist Office, the Helsinki Card provides substantial discounts on purchases, a free audio city tour and admissions to some museum as well as unlimited use of public transport and a free guide. See www.helsinkcard.com

INFORMATION

For specifics on Helsinki visit www. visithelsinki.fi or www.visitfinland.com/ au

India won a gold medal in field hockey and a bronze in wrestling during the summer Olympic Games held in this stadium in 1952.

Thomas King)

By Devna and Manan Luthra

SOMETHING ELSE FOR DINNER, MUM?

Dal

Avocado

Spinach

Yoghurt

Olives

Dal

Milk

Sweet chilli sauce

Peaches

Custard apples

Dal

Kheer

Oysters

Clams

And I nearly forgot to mention, Dal.

Meat (how cruel can you be?)

Paneer (too mushy)

Fizzy drinks (too fizzy)

Fizzy lollies (too fizzy)

Cauliflower (bleached out version of broccoli)

Broccoli (who painted the cauliflower green?)

Dates (horrible aftertaste)

Plain warm milk (God never intended milk to be warm) Orange in chocolate (how can these two be friends?)

Vadas (they taste of the oil in which they’ve been fried!)

FOTO CORNER

I love turtles

My favourite sea creature is the turtle. Its hard shell helps it protect itself from predators. It has four flat flippers and a triangular shaped tail. Its head is oval shaped like a soccer field. It swims as gracefully as a swan in the deep blue water. When it comes on shore it lies on the bright yellow sand, all wet and shiny! It lies there on the sand and smiles at me, the widest smile ever. It looks as cute as a teddy. I wish I could have a turtle as a pet.

Sneha Arora

I LEARNT A NEW WORD

Pacifism Opposition to war or violence DL Onomatopoeia The formation of words that imitate the sounds associated with what they mean, example cuckoo, boom, rustle, buzz.

POEM

SEASONS By Sneha Arora

Winter window through the glass I see White frost on the grass, cold around meeeeee.

Spring time window through the glass I see Tiny flowers in the grass, joy around meeeeee. Summer window through the glass I see, Brown paddocks, brown grass, thirst around meeeee.

Autumn window through the glass I see Gold leaves on the grass, peace around meeeeee.

DID YOU KNOW...

Perspiration is odourless. The smell comes from the bacteria on the skin.

In Pacific Grove, California, it is illegal to kill butterflies.

The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

Coca Cola was originally green.

Smartest dogs: 1) Scottish border collie; 2) Poodle; 3) Golden retriever. Dumbest: Afghan hound.

The shortest complete sentence in the English language is “I am”.

Click clack front and back

Foods we HATE to eat

Forget your power… you can have Perfect Vision!

Approximately 17 million people in India are blind. More than half the world’s blind are Indian. 20/20 vision is not a characteristic common to Indian people. These statistics are further emphasised by the research indicating one in twenty-five Indian school children wear spectacles.

Diseases such as Myopia are often considered to be passed on genetically; however, there are also environmental factors that influence their onset and development. Ophthalmologists have reasoned that many children’s refractive errors (short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism) are

increased due to long hours spent sitting in front of computer and/or television screens.

“The genetic traits of refractive errors in people with Indian backgrounds make them a perfect candidate for iLASIK surgery. The results have been astounding when these procedures have been undertaken,” Dr Con Moshegov of Perfect Vision Laser Correction states.

iLASIK, the most advanced laser eye correction procedure, can fix the problem and save you thousands of dollars.

Approved by NASA and the United States Department of Defense for their astronauts and Top Gun pilots, iLASIK is proven to

achieve consistent results of 20/20 vision or better.

“iLASIK exceeds all established standards of safety and effectiveness [in laser eye surgery]”, says Steven Schallhorn MD, a retired U.S. Navy Captain.

153 million people in the world live with uncorrected refractive errors, a disappointing statistic considering, through treatments such as iLASIK provided exclusively on Australia’s east coast by Perfect Vision Laser Correction, 75% of the world’s blindness can be prevented or treated.

Professor Amar Agarwal, the highly awarded and respected eye specialist, has

stated that accuracy in surgery is extremely important due to the small area of the eye available on which to operate. iLASIK stateof-the-art technology, CustomVue, tailors the treatment to the unique condition of each individual’s eye, ensuring the most precise and accurate result.

PerfectVision.com.au provides detailed information on all aspects of Laser Vision Correction by Dr Moshegov, one of Australia’s most respected and trusted refractive surgeons.

www.perfectvision.com.au

info@perfectvision.com.au

13 13 40

If you feel you suffer from a refractive error, please don’t hesitate to contact us for your Complementary Consultation to assess your suitability. Dr Con Moshegov

Picking the right wines for Indian cuisine

referring to mildly spiced, fresh, home-made Indian food.

By RAVI ANAND

Let us admit that for many of us Indians, approaching a glass of wine is an intimidating experience. In the twenty years that I’ve spent in the food and beverage business, I have been able to read almost every Indian’s mind when they have either been offered a glass of wine or when they have had to choose a wine for their table – especially with Indian food. Some seem to say, “Gee, I don’t know what I am in for!” or “I hope my tummy won’t go bad like it did last time…”

Some succumb to peer pressure while others think it is cool to drink wine, and some just experiment. But the sensible always prefer beer or spirits or a mocktail to go with an Indian meal.

Very few actually ask for advice, though I feel that a conscientious and well-equipped wait person would and should always provide assistance for you to make a choice. A few clients are now beginning to either ask for recommendations or have begun to understand the basics of pairing wine with Indian cuisine. A word of warning, though: it is not always rewarding to solicit advise – as you could be sold wine that just needs to be got rid of because they are ‘end of line’, or the wait person or the manager could be in for a fat incentive to sell particular brands. So it’s always beneficial to understand the concepts and chemistry between Indian food and wine for yourself. Here are some tips on how to make the right choice.

Since I have written this as a guide for beginners, the choices of wine I suggest are the ones easily available from bottle shops around Australia and New Zealand. And I am

There are no established traditions to match Indian food with wine. This cuisine is very vast, complex and varied from across a huge subcontinent. It is almost impossible to devise blanket rules and concoct wine suggestions on an index-card for this cuisine. Food from the subcontinent, when cooked in different regional styles, could vary to a great degree in terms of heat, spice and ingredients. A simple addition of mustard seeds in the sauce or gravy (like in Bengal) instead of cumin (like up north) can altogether alter the taste of the curry. Also, the dominant flavors in Indian dishes always come from the sauce and spices rather than from the main meat or vegetable. Moreover, an Indian meal will invariably consist of an array of dishes on the table – dal, roti, rice, curry, dry vegetables, raita, salad, papad and pickles etc. And most of us usually have a scoop of all of these dishes on our plate at the same time. We literally mix two or more of them with each spoonful that we put into our mouths. Now, that is a very, very complex composition to match a wine with.

There is also an enormous disparity between fresh home-cooked Indian food and that served in any Indian restaurant. The masalas or spice blends in restaurants are always cooked in bulk and stored to be used for weeks – thereby necessitating the addition of preservatives like vinegar, lemon and oil in larger quantities, which make the dishes have a pronounced aftertaste - and leaves layers of fat sticking to your palate. This makes it even trickier to match wines with them. As such, I find that home-cooked Indian cuisine with its freshly ground spices and mild sauces are more of a match with wines, than with food from any restaurant.

The interplay of residual sugar, acid (and tannins), ph and alcohol determine the taste of a wine. All wines are acidic and these acids create the ‘structure’, lend flavours and the aftertaste (also called the ‘finish’) to the wine. They are mainly Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid,

Lactic Acid and Citric Acid.

Residual sugar is the sugar in grape juice which has not been converted into alcohol and remains in the wine. Wines with moderate or high levels of residual sugar are ‘Sweet’ wines. Wines which are ‘Dry’ and have absolutely no residual sugar but are powerfully fruity, can still convey a palate memory of sweetness. But if the wine is highly acidic, then the acid will neutralize the sugar and the wine will not taste sweet. In terms of residual sugar, wines are classified as Sweet, Medium-Sweet, Medium-Dry and Dry.

Most grains, beans, lentils, dairy foods, fats and oils, and animal proteins are acidifying foods, but Indian spices and sauces are alkaline, and hence Indian dishes tend to be low acidic foods – so a low acidic wine will synergise with it. But at the same time the spices are hot in taste and when they blend with the acids, high alcohol would only accentuate the heat, hence the search for a low alcohol wine which is ‘fruit forward’ (dominated with a fruity taste) as a touch of sweetness, can be very soothing. (Goans and Bengalis add a bit of sugar to their spicy dishes for precisely the same reason).

Red Wines

Red wines also contain tannins which are a group of phenol compounds (acids)

There are no established traditions to match Indian food with wine. This cuisine is very vast, complex and varied from across a huge subcontinent

Ravi’s Quick Guide to wine for desi food

AVOID Heavy red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlots and Pinot Noirs

PICK Sweet aromatic wines like Gewürztraminer, Reisling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc

TO ACCOMPANY

Mild vegetarian dishes

Highly aromatic preparations cooked with spices like cardamom, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon (such as biryanis)

PICK

wines that are grassy, light bodied or have herbal flavours like Unoaked Chardonnay, Dry Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc.

Rosé or Medium Sparkling wines.

Chicken and fish Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc are the best.

Meat dishes with mild tomato based gravies Low tannined Pinot Noirs

Fried foods

A crisp, dry, fruity wine, white or red Yoghurt-based sauces or light creamy curries Unoaked white like Chardonnay

found in plants. They are found in red grape seeds and skins. These are non-hydrolyzable tannins – which means that these compounds do not break up in water. They provide colour to the wine. Tannins tend to bind with certain proteins in foods and keep them from being dissolved as it normally would by your saliva. Heavy spices simply accelerate this process when reacting with tannins.

Tannins are bitter, drying and puckery (tend to dry and pull your tongue together). They are also astringent or cutting, just like rubbing a swab of cotton down your throat.

Heavy tannins may mean more acid –because tannins are basically acids

Do not drink heavy red wines with spicy foods. The spices will exacerbate the acid and tannins in the wine, making it coarse and unpleasant to drink. Almost all Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlots and Pinot Noirs fall into this category.

Having said that, most Pinot Noirs from central Otago with their silky approachable tannins (though rather high in alcohol 12.5% to 14%) always seem to go well with north Indian meat dishes with mild tomato-based gravies.

Also a good mate for your mild Tandoori chicken (cooked in an actual tandoor) could be a St Hallett from Barossa, an Australian blend of Grenache and Shiraz – it’s a full flavoured medium red, with soft peppery tannins of the shiraz, combined with the juicy berry flavors of the Grenache.

White Wines

The delicious

Gewürztraminer with its lychee-laden, spicy-sweet notes is a treat with the clean, crisp, ginger-coconut milk-garlic-chillicoriander flavours of certain south Indian cuisine. This wine though high in acid, is very sweet and aromatic due to its very high sugar content.

Like the Gewürztraminer, other aromatic wines like Reisling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, though brightly acidic, are also a little over fruity and have a lush texture, and are most suited for mild to heavy sauce, and spicy Indian cuisine. Choose sweeter aromatic wines. Dry aromatic wines are also available, but these are not the ones you want.

For mild vegetarian dishes like saag paneer or any mild green vegetables, pick wines that are grassy, light bodied or have herbal flavours like Unoaked Chardonnay, Dry Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc. (‘Grassy’ refers to taste and aroma akin to fresh cut grass, sometimes redefined as capsicum, gooseberry or lime zest. Many light New Zealand whites are termed grassy. ‘Body’ refers to the feeling in the mouth - this weighty feeling is influenced

by the alcohol and extracts contained in the wine. Wines are considered light, medium, or full bodied,)

For tandoori dishes which are often marinated with yoghurt, ginger-garlic and other spices, I find that there is a balance in the taste of the main meat and the spices. Hence I always suggest low tannined Pinot Noirs and milder lighter Shiraz with red meats like lamb and liver. For chicken and fish, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc are the best. As for fried foods, acid also cuts the fat in dishes. Plant-based fats and oils work well with wines that are moderately high to high in acidity. Any crisp, dry, fruity wine, white or red should go well here. For cream or butter (dairy fats) the significance of body match (fullbodied wine with full-bodied food) has more weight than the acidity/ fat relationship. An unoaked white like Chardonnay is preferred when paired with yoghurt or light creamy sauces, since they are high in acids compared to oaked Chardonnays. Oaked Chardonnays on the other hand tend to be fullbodied and thereby work well with high-fat, buttery sauces by matching body to body, as well as bring out the butter flavour in each. (Oaked Wines: The chemical properties of oak can have a profound effect on the wines that are aged in oak barrels. The phenols within the wood impart certain flavour notes to the wine. They could be wood, vanilla, caramel, smokey, spicy, cinnamony or toasty. The wood also lets the wine breathe during ageing –whereby, a portion of the wine evaporates, condensing the wine with its flavours and creating a fuller body or texture for the wine.)

Almost all floral Rosé wines and mediumdry/sweet sparkling wines intermingle well with dishes which are very aromatic with the use of dry spices like cardamom, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. The classical Hyderabadi biryani is a good example.

Combining the ingredients, spices and flavours with wine should be akin to a good healthy relationship where each participant holds their own, adds to the other, but does not overpower, overshadow or overwhelm.

So, in general, if you want to marry Indian food with the amalgamation that is wine, you need to find a partner which is low in alcohol (preferably below 12-13% by volume), not too acidic, has a bit or a bit more than a touch of sweetness, is low in tannins and is fruity.

Remember, good wine is simply one that you enjoy drinking, so go on, experiment, and the world is your oyster.

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I find that homecooked Indian cuisine with its freshly ground spices and mild sauces are more of a match with wines, than with food from any restaurant

Ravi Anand is the Managing Director of F&B Hospitality Solutions Pvt Ltd based in Auckland, New Zealand. The company specializes in F&B marketing, menu engineering, training, recruitment and coaching for independent restaurants, bars and caterers.

Bollywood’s enfant terrible Salman turns activist

Salman Khan has just finished a series of 30 short films in which he raises awareness about a number of social issues such as drugs, crime, the elderly, etc. The series will air on TV this month, only days before his new film Wanted is slated for release.

The campaign seems to be an effort by his producers to rid him of his “spoilt brat” enfant terrible image, and project him as a responsible citizen and as an icon wellversed with his social duties.

And now Madhur takes on award ceremonies

We mock them, love them, hate them … but we sit glued to the TV when award functions are on. So why not a movie based on them? Enter Madhur Bhandarkar. After Jail which releases this year, Madhur is gearing up with a film based on Bollywood awards functions. He will bring us the spicy side to it all - the behind-the-scene corruption, the scandals and all the glitter. Buzz is that Priyanka Chopra - who elsewould play the lead.

Priyanka in Guinness?

No, not quite immersed in Guinness, we’re talking about the book! Sizzling hot Bollywood diva Priyanka Chopra plays twelve different characters in the upcoming flick What Is Your Rashee?, and has been officially entered in the Guinness Book of Records. Producer Sunita Gowarikar confirmed that she sent Priyanka Chopra’s name to the officials of the Guinness book to be included in the records, as no other actor in any language has ever played so many roles in a film. Priyanka Chopra has not only played twelve different characters in this Ashutosh Gowarikar directed comedy flick, but is also said to have done so without the help of any prosthetics. Ashutosh Gowarikar, who had earlier criticized Priyanka Chopra during an awards ceremony, is also said to very happy with the actress for infusing life into all the twelve characters that she essayed on celluloid. Naturally, Priyanka’s elated that her hard work has paid off and is eagerly waiting for the film to be released, to gauge the audience and her fans reaction to her roles. What Is Your Rashee? revolves around the character of Hurman Baweja, who has always wanted to have a love marriage. But circumstances force him to marry quickly, to save his family’s respect in society. Hurman meets twelve girls (all played by Priyanka) in an effort to fall in love before marrying one of them. Before Priyanka, it was veteran Tamil actor Kamal Hassan, who enacted ten characters in his megabudget flick Dashavataram The film was also released in Hindi and was fairly popular with the audience. In Bollywood, it was versatile actor Sanjeev Kumar who enacted nine roles in his film Naya Din, Nayi Raat. In the international arena, only

A nod from AR Rahman worth much more than Rs 50,000

Rising music star ishQ Bector, the Indo-Canadian singer of Aye Hip Hopper fame, was on his way to meet AR Rahman for a new project. He was on the train, like a regular Mumbaikar, and when he got off, his wallet was missing. Before he could place blocks on his credit cards, the thief had bought booze worth Rs. 50,000!

“But the day was still worth it”, says ishQ. “Rahman Sir loved my work - it was such a nice feeling to see him head-banging to some of my tunes on the iPod.”

Great work, ishQ! But take a taxi next time, what say?

Eddie Murphy played eight roles in The Nutty Professor, much below Priyanka’s landmark of twelve characters. Well, that’s Bollywood for you, way ahead of Hollywood!

Bips on British TV show?

After Shilpa Shetty making a mark in the UK, Bipasha could be the next big Bollywood thing there. She was earlier featured in Indian-origin musician Jay Sean’s video Stolen which won a spot in the UK Top 40. Now the actress has been approached to judge a major reality show on a mainstream British network. The obvious move is to woo the Asian audience there, no doubt. The Bong beauty is yet to give her final consent. She will also be

judging the desi version of America’s Next Top Model for an Indian channel, produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Production.

Zeenat ready to chura liya again

Remember Zeenat Aman’s super glam look in the song Chura liya from Yaadon Ki Barat? It was a look that she immortalized and in which she is best remembered. And now, it’s being relived - by none other than Zeenie herself! And hey, it’s not just the look, but also the strumming of the guitar that is being revisited in the film. Zeenie Baby plays a glam mom in the film, and poor girl, she even had to embark on a stringent exercise regime to lose weight to

VIRAL BHAYANI and ABHILASHA SENGUPTA bring us up-to-date on what’s hot and happening in Bollywood

ISHQ BECTOR

PRIYANKA CHOPRA

play the character. And what with stylists relooking at her hair and wardrobe, it’s no wonder that Zeenat was a wee bit apprehensive about the project. Besides, it’s not just a glam role, because Zeenie also plays a woman of substance, supporting her entire family on her own after being estranged from her husband. The movie is all set to bring back the glory of the family drama genre, popularized by greats like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chaterjee.

To be shot in Mumbai and Goa, the film will also star yesteryear glam doll Helen, Rituparna Sengupta, Yuvraj, Hazel, Asha Sachdev and Maradona Rebello. This one is promises to be a family feast!

Salman’s song and dance

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan arrived almost two hours late, but made up to his audience by dancing for them and even crooning a song from his forthcoming film Wanted. He responded to the crowd’s persistent chant of “Salman, Salman”, setting the stage on fire with Love me, love me from the film, while shaking a mean leg.

The actor was at the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) to promote Wanted, releasing in mid-September. Produced by Boney Kapoor, it has been debut-directed by choreographer Prabhu Deva. It also stars Ayesha Takia in the lead. Known for his macho image, Salman, who is foraying back into an all-action film with Wanted, also promised “mindblowing” fight sequences in the thriller.

“There is a lot of action in the film and it is going to be mindblowing. Mind you, it has all been done by me and not by a body double,” Salman said proudly. “We haven’t even used the usual cable work that much, so it has been very difficult and I even pulled a hamstring during one of the running sequences that took three months to heal. But it has all been worth the effort,” he added.

Looks like Wanted will showcase the three avatars of Salman – as a singer, dancer and fighter. Interesting…

Rishi Kapoor feels ‘blessed’ as an actor

From his first film Bobby way back in 1973 till now, Rishi Kapoor has had a smooth

journey in Hindi films, and admits that he has been a blessed actor as compared to many others. “I’m very satisfied with my career graph. I have been a blessed actor. My first film as a hero, itself was a hit and then I went on to play the leading man for 27 years. More than 25 heroines have made their debut opposite me,” said Rishi recently, while promoting his newly released film, Chintu

Ji - Naam Ka Neta! Hai Yeh Abhineta. He will make his presence felt with a fullfledged role in the comedy, which is partially based on his real life. Produced by Bobby Bedi, the laugh riot is the directorial debut of writer-turned-director Ranjit Kapoor, who has scripted movies like Halla Bol, The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Lajja. The title of the satirical comedy is inspired by Rishi’s real life nickname, Chintu. “The film’s script has been done quite innovatively because it’s quite a difficult task to build a story around a real life personality, add on elements of fiction to it and make it a cinematic engaging experience as well,” he said.

“Even though it’s a small film, it comes with a good idea...it is part fiction, part reality and part illusion,” said Rishi. The movie also stars Priyanshu Chatterjee, Saurabh Shukla and TV actress Kulraj Randhawa. So is our no-longer-chocolatefaced hero of the ‘70s and ‘80s able to draw in the crowds, a la Bobby? Let’s wait and see….

Shatrughan and Hema team up again

Actors-turned-politicians Shatrughan Sinha and Hema Malini have teamed after 20 years for the grand finale episode of Sony TV’s game show Dus Ka Dum. In the episode shot recently, host Salman Khan

ZEENAT AMAN

brought two of his favourite stars - Sinha and Hema, both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders - together for what turned out to be quite a show of strength.

“When it’s me and Hema, it cannot be anything less,” Sinha said confidently. The last time they were seen together on screen was in Manoj Kumar’s Santosh in 1989. Talking about the show, Sinha said, “I was asked, which is your favourite party? I said when I’m invited to Hemaji’s home, I love the tea party that we have. When I’m invited to her other half Dharamji’s home, I love the drinking party there. So it’s all very flexible.”

And we can guess which one you enjoy more, Mr. Shotgun Sinha!

Suniel is daddy cool!

Actor-producer Suniel Shetty whose film Daddy Cool recently hit the screens, claims he is a very cool father and is just like a friend to his children. “I think I am a very cool daddy because my kids are more like

my friends. I was always aware of the fact that I didn’t want to get stuck with the problem of any generation gap, so I sort of grew up with them,” says Suniel. “I spend a lot of time with them. Showering them with affection, but at the same time being very particular of what I want. So I think we are friends and that’s why we share a fantastic relationship,” he added. The 48-year-old actor has two kids, Ahan and Athiya. Wonder what his kids think?

What’s the chitchat between Anil Ambani and Amitabh Bachchan here?

Send in your responses to info@ indianlink.com.au and win a surprise prize

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What’s Saif saying to the world in this old photo?

This is the look that made Amrita leave me! Sadaf Shaad Sadaf wins two tickets to the new Hindi film

SALMAN KHAN

BIPASHA BASU

CINETALK

A sensitive depiction of life in Kashmir

Film: Sikandar

Cast: Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Suri and Arunoday Singh

Writer-Director: Piyush Jha

Love and tenderness during times of distress and terrorism. Piyush

Jha’s film goes down that dark and treacherous road with a gentle grace, echoing the leisurely pace of a people whose lives once were tranquil.

Now the sound of bombs and guns breaks the serene quietude of the valley, reminding us that paradise is on the verge of being lost.

Jha keeps his narrative purposely intimate. The characters seem more representative of the moral and ethnic conflicts that colour the verdancy than make strong socio-political statements on the plight of the violent Valley.

Wisely the narrative picks two talented children to play the protagonists. Parzaan Dastur, the cute little sardarji from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, plays a gawky adolescent wannabe footballer who for reasons that appear

more circumstantial than metaphoric keeps getting repeatedly hit in the head by the football, nozzles, hands and feet.

Ayesha Kapoor, whose startling turn as the blind and mute girl in Black is still fresh in our minds, is quiet thoughtful Nasreen. Veiled and tragic carrying her schoolbag like an existential burden she walks the coniferous splendour with a quiet restlessness.

There aren’t too many characters in this film. The politicians, terrorists and clerics form a muffled circle of cleaned-out conflict, and that suits the film’s purposes fine as long as the drama doesn’t get diluted. Sadly the reservoir of resonances and echoes gets progressively smothered in the will to create a neat twist at the end of the tale that would work in A Wednesday, but not in a film that purports to draw a line of morality between terrorists and civilians in the Kashmir Valley. However, the stillness that surrounds the scenic splendour of Sikandar is never compromised. The director is discernibly in love with Kashmir though not to the extent of dwarfing the character when juxtaposed against the immense

natural beauty of the Valley.

Somak Mukherjee’s camera kisses the vales and streams without getting servile and soppy.

The two child actors are natural as far as the unnatural disturbances guiding the plot allow them to be. Sanjay Suri as the deceptively suave politician smiles mysteriously through an underwritten role.

R. Madhavan amply and intelligently fills the very limited space offered to

him to play the soldier. Newcomer

Arunoday Singh as the not-so-reluctant terrorist has a watchable screen presence.

But somewhere in this short and sweet look at a paradise subverted you miss that elevating quality which defines socio-political reality in cinematic terms. Nonetheless Sikandar is a sensitive and gentle depiction of life in an idyllic place where guns have overpowered the roses.

And Sharad Saxena is deadly in his stillness as the dead man.

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This farcical funeral is deadly uncool

Film: Daddy Cool

Cast: Suniel Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Javed Jaffry, Rajpal Yadav, Prem Chopra, Aarti Chabria, Kim Sharma, Sophie Chowdhary

Director: K. Murali Mohan Rao

Interestingly, daddy has a secret in his closet. And that’s Rajpal Yadav, his gay lover.

“Isska matlab tum dono gay ke bete ho!” squeals Aarti Chabria to her screen-husband Suniel Shetty and his brother Ashish. Ironically after copying everything in sight in the original - from the characters to the dialogues - the desi adaptors get cold feet and decide the gay lover was an imposter.

Need an employment with a salary around 80K.

Australians are still looking to our historical greats to resolve our current cricket crisis, rather than the dearth of talent that plays at regional and national levels.

Data warehousing now in MODL (Migration Occupation Demand List)

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Project mentoring could be given to achieve the high level of standard to do the projects. Only a limited intake for the projects.

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Why remake a shoddy, tasteless British comedy? Why be so fixated on Western entertainment when we’ve so much literary and pulp talent out here?

Just leave aside these vital questions and focus on the ensemble cast of Daddy Cool that sparkles with borrowed wit. The Goan setting and the quaint rooms housing distraught emotions, keep us smiling.

The setting is a Christian funeral. But at times the funeral jokes have us coughing in embarrassment. The dead man has two sons - a responsible, young bespectacled householder (Suniel Shetty) and a carefree cassanova novelist (Ashish Chowdhary) who flies in jetlagged just in time for daddy’s funeral.

To be fair to this feisty farce, Daddy Cool makes you smile, specially Aftab Shivdasani as a drugged-out goofy lover-boy. He is better than the actor who played the role originally.

Shetty as the responsible son, who is a little tired of shouldering family responsibilities but nonetheless determined to see the show through, is controlled and comically karmic. His climactic speech in praise of his father is rousing. Rajpal Yadav as the gay lover is superbly restrained.

And then there’s Sophie Chowdhary as the suitably sexy airhead.

Blessedly this farce doesn’t opt for desperate measures. It keeps it cool most of the way.

Sohail Khan stands tall in rural Punjab

Film: Kisaan

Cast: Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Jackie Shroff, Dia Mirza, Nauheed Cyrusi

Director: Punit Sira

Sohail Khan is the most underrated Khan in the film industry. But Sohail knows his craft and he uses it with transparency in comic roles and in this intense melodrama called Kisaan

Sohail had earlier done a fairly watchable take on the question of Indianness in Proud To Be An Indian with the same director. In Kisaan, Sohail champions the cause of rural life with a plot that nudges Manoj Kumar’s Upkar It’s a nudge that doesn’t topple the patriotism over.

Set in Punjab, this is the story of a wizened father (Jackie Shroff, sufficiently wise in look and makeup) and his two sons. The elder Aman Singh (Arbaaz) goes to the city and eventually marries Priya (Dia Mirza) who’s blessedly not the urban predator-vamp. The other son is a quiet faithful Jiggar Singh (Sohail) who lives with his father ploughing not just the land but also goons who dare to cross their path.

The authentic Punjabi locales replete with lush stretches of sarson ke khet (mustard fields), handpumps and sugarcane juice give the film a rugged and credible climate. However, many of the peripheral characters, specially the corrupt villainous caucus, are purely caricatural. If subtlety is your big cinematic turn-on, then Kisaan may not be your cup of tea... or should that be glass of lassi?

Kisaan is like a tall spiced-up glass of

lassi, without cream. It’s an unabashed celebration of old-fashioned melodrama with dollops of bone-crunching action in the last 30 minutes that leaves us wondering if Manoj Kumar ever imagined that the fight to hold on to the land could ever get so violent and bloody.

The principal characters seem to inhabit rural Punjab with comforting familiarity. The ambience is conducive to a demonstration of flamboyant emotions. The direction is often ramrod straight and literal. The film’s charm lies in its ability to be an old-fashioned cliche without getting wobbly.

However, the Punjabi songs and the hideous remix of Mahendra Kapoor’s Mere Desh ki Dharti get on the nerves. But Sanjoy Chowdhary’s background music is first-rate in its ability to replicate the characters’ emotional graph.

Among the actors Sohail stands tall, quite often taller than the material given to him.

Govinda brings the house down

Film: Life Partner

Cast: Govinda, Tusshar Kapoor, Prachi Desai, Fardeen Khan, Genelia D’Souza

Director: Rumi Jaffrey

Some of the writing invested into this notbad comic look at the roller-coaster called marriage, is surprisingly sharp.

For example, there’s this Gujarati family lorded over by a tycoon (Darshan Jariwala) in Cape Town who remains rigidly rooted to conventions that ended 50 years ago. Back home in Gujarat a modern business family run by a liberal patriarch (Vikram Gokhale) ends up giving his daughter

(Prachi Desai) to the NRI tycoon’s mousy son (Tusshar Kapoor). The conflict that ensues is likeable and in a fully filmy way, believable.

Elsewhere a spoilt rich girl (Genelia) with a father (Anupam Kher) who never bothered to discipline her, gets herself a domesticated husband who does all the work while she attends to various disastrous hobbies.

Genelia as the destructive daughter gets to sink her teeth into a meaty part.

Witty and sometimes genuinely funny, Life Partner is a light bubbly take on the pitfalls of various kinds of marriages, arranged or otherwise, and how to avoid perils of getting into a marital alliance where the partners know nothing about the future.

While Genelia is happily over-the-top, Prachi in the rounded sensible part of a Gujarati girl standing up to her autocratic

father-in-law does well for herself. Of the two young leading men, Tusshar as the timid believer in virginity as a gift to his bride suits his part and does at least one sequence when he bursts into tears after Prachi accepts his proposal with tonal correctness.

But it is Govinda as the frazzled divorce lawyer who brings the house down. Govinda gives the kind of tongue-in-cheek performance that once made him the number one choice for roles that required comic interpretations of social problems. He works well in combination with every actor in this film, wooden or hammy.

Rumi Jaffrey’s direction is most of the time even in tone. But the last half hour with its screeching sermonizing gets on to slippery ground. Nonetheless Life Partner is a decent inoffensive marital comedy mostly free of double-meanings.

Tarot predictions for August 2009

ARIES January 20 – February 18

Tarot indicates new beginnings which will bring good results. A hand is seen emerging from the cloud holding a kindled wand, which symbolises great physical energy. The card indicates your energy and enthusiasm to put your plans into action. It marks the beginning of a journey –and represents creation, invention, enterprise and birth. Tarot suggests the beginning of a new relationship. It can also suggest travel, perhaps connected with a relationship. You may feel spiritually awakened and enlightened.

TAURUS April 21 – May 21

Ongoing strength and courage will be needed in order to continue the fight for what’s right. In business terms, Tarot foretells the act of entering overseas deals. The physical energy and effort that you put into achieving your heart’s desire would be worth it. The card for you represents valour, discussion, difficult negotiations and competition in business. You should not only concentrate on external challenges but also on those from within. In a relationship, challenge is experienced as the level of commitment deepens.

GEMINI May 22 – June 23

You are not feeling at peace with yourself. Perhaps you are at a loss spiritually. Responsibilities, tensions and pressures seem overwhelming. Perhaps you are being overambitious or you are trying to attain a goal which once achieved, is not likely to give you much happiness. It is important that you ponder on what is important in your life at this point of time. Prioritise things and rather than trying to do everything by yourself, delegate a few responsibilities to others in order to achieve better results.

CANCER June 23 – July 22

There is a focus on relationships and matters of the heart. Tarot indicates the simple union of two people in love. A good partnership or bond is suggested here. It is a time for harmony and unity. Tarot suggests that matters can be healed and peace can be restored. This month brings represents love, passion, friendship, affinity, union, sympathy and harmony. There is a spiritual connection where there is an equal partnership which benefits both the parties. In a relationship reading, Tarot foresees deeper commitment.

LEO July 23 – August 23

Tarot indicates the need to acknowledge what you really want and decide how to achieve the same. You may find yourself fantasising about the way you want things. You are likely to be presented with an offer par expectations. The card for you represents favours, imagination, reflections and a time to acknowledge the path of spiritual fulfilment. Basically, this card indicates that you will take time out for yourself and reflect on inner fulfilment

VIRGO August 24 – September 22

This month your focus will be on your ambitions. Tarot indicates that you will have a favourable encounter with an assertive person who will support you during a difficult time. He/she will be good looking, well built, honest, kind, and good with people. He/she will be a helpful sort of a person, though he/she may not be emotionally involved in the situation. Tarot suggests that it will be beneficial for you to you adopt the same qualities. You will do well in a career in sales or in any goal-oriented position.

LIBRA September 23 – October 23

You may find situations or circumstances challenging, but now is not the time to give up. You have to make adjustments and decide on your plan of action. You would need a different approach to obtain better results. Be patient, yet wary of hidden motives. Successful people don’t do different things, they simply do the same thing differently. Your approach towards your goal needs to be re-examined in order to get better results.

SCORPIO October 24 – November 22

Tarot foresees a focus on relationships. It is a good time for romance and compatibility on a personal level. Tarot indicates harmony, romance, peace, concord and prosperity. Gatherings will be happy and congenial. Monetary success is suggested. Purchase of property can be contemplated. Tarot indicates a quiet time spent with friends and family in a favourite place. It is a time when you are successful in feeling at home in a relatively new situation.

SAGITTARIUS November 23 – December 21

Tarot indicates that your circumstances are likely to improve. Work situation is congenial, new projects may take time to materialise, avoid being anxious. You should avail the opportunities present before you. There is a need to decide between two alternatives. A decision regarding money or efforts may be required in some project. In a relationship reading, Tarot signifies a decision regarding a new stage in a relationship that may require spending some money.

CAPRICORN December 22 – January 19

Your focus is likely to be on learning. You are likely to receive a favourable result for the examination/interview in which you have appeared. You may receive some positive news or a message. The time is right for research and study. Advancement is seen through learning. You are likely to meet someone who can be of assistance in promotion or further study. Studies related to commerce or business management will hold attraction for a young person who is focused on long-term goals through proper planning and commitment.

AQUARIUS

January 20 – February 18

You need determination and fortitude to succeed. Once you are successful, you shall be respected for your achievements and be the source of inspiration to others. Have faith and confidence in your abilities as you have the inner resources to come out from any situation as a winner. In a relationship reading, it is a positive time as people involved are ready to listen to each other. Communication is the primary factor in the growth of a relationship.

PISCES

February 19 – March 20

Now is the time to put plans into action. The idea is one of co-operation and business opportunities. Tarot represents established effort, enterprise and strength. Worries are likely to be lessened. Travel connected with career is also suggested. There is a feeling of happiness and optimism as aims are likely to be realised in the future. Tarot suggests a relationship which is growing. The relationship may be centred around travel.

Dear Auntyji

All I see in the news at the moment is older men with younger women. Everywhere are men who seem to be 40-50 with young looking girls half their ages – is this normal and right? It seems to be more acceptable these days. I don’t actually mind – my question to you is how can I get one? I’m 52 and would really like a special (younger) person myself.

Cradle Snatcher, Penrith

Dear Cradle Snatcher

Shame on you, you cradle snatcher. According to our philosophy you should be contemplating the meaning of life after having gone through brahamcharya and family life for the first 50 years of life but you seem to be traveling in a different direction! But the spring season is in and all things take people’s fancy, and who am I to give you lectures. I give enough to Uncleji, whose eyes I will gouge out even if he looks at other women. But uhmmm, you want a younger woman.

The best way to ensure you get a younger woman to like you, seems to be to go into politics. For some reason younger women like older politicians (Bill Clinton and Monica; Silvio Berlusconi and the 18-yearold girl, and now our very own politician, Della Bosca and the blonde girl).

If politics is too painful for you, then you may want to become a movie actor. These film-wallahs seem to have girls around them all the time… So do rock stars – want to try a career in music? How about property development (I’m thinking Donald Trump)?

If none of these vocations appeal to you and you are really a nikamma (good-fornothing), then you can try Bollywood. Saif Ali, Salman, You-name-a-Khan, they’ve all got younger women

I’m sure cradle snatching can be fun for

Ask Auntyji

a while, but Della Bosca doesn’t seem to be having fun at the moment – the younger ladies sure can be sneaky! Hell hath no fury … etc etc, especially a younger woman with too much imagination and not a lot to lose. When choosing your younger woman, make sure that she’s not the vengeful type, because when it ends badly, you don’t want to end up like the politician who didn’t know when to quit when he was ahead.

Dear Auntyji

My mother-in-law has been on “holiday” and staying with us for the past 11 months. What started as a 4 week trip turned into almost a year of butting in and insults under her breath. Nothing is ever good enough for her – she berates me all the time and has even started doing it in front of my kids. How do I get rid of her?

Dragon-lady Killer, Campbeltown

Dear DL Killer

There are many messy ways to get rid of her. We have to ensure she is so annoyed by you that she digs her own grave. Little things can often turn into mountains. Do

all kinds of annoying things in front of her. Scratching yourself is always a sure way to annoy any woman, including a mother-inlaw. Sniffing, snorting and gargling are all good options too. Be very careful, though, not to indulge any of your annoying habits in front of other family members, or you’ll be caught out. At the same time, take your wife out to romantic dinners and be the best husband you can be. Spend time with your kids and win everyone in the family over with your most charming self. And finally, while alone with your mother-in-law, make lewd comments about other women, which of course no one will be ably to verify except the crazy lady who’s imagining things.

Dragon Lady will start complaining about you to your wife, who will be blissfully unaware of anything. She’ll start seeing your mother-in-law for the whining, nitpicking and unfriendly person that she is and will start defending you. This will drive the wedge between them that will ensure mommy-in-law is kicked out sooner than she can say “put the seat down”. While this happens, be very supportive of your wife

and play the trump card: offer to pay for therapy for the old girl – this will ensure that Dragon Lady not only leaves, but won’t be back soon. And then you can live happily ever after...

Dear Auntyji

I’m going bald...very quickly! My wife doesn’t seem to mind, but I’m devastated! No one else in my family looks like a billiard ball except me and my brothers and friends are teasing me all the time. I laugh along, but I really wish I can do something about it.

Shiny Head, Liverpool Dear Shiny Head

It comes in very handy – when your wife needs to fix her makeup, she can just tilt your head so that she can see herself. When your baby cries, just shine some lights on your head and that will keep her busy for hours. Single friends can check their teeth in your shiny head before talking to girls.

A lot of girls think bald men are sexier. It’s all about confidence! If you can be confident with no hair, then girls wonder what you else you have hidden that’s making you so confident.

There are always the treatments you can try. If it’s good enough for Shane Warne, then you might as well try it. Who knows what it will do for your cricket game, or your sms-ing skills...

Some old wives’ cures are rubbing olive oil and ginger on your head, first thing in morning. Or sleeping with a wet cloth over your head. Uncleji actually, has had a yoghurt wash every alternate Tuesday for the past 45 years, and his head is filled with more hair than mine.

Whatever you decide to do, wear it with a smile – if your forehead goes all the way down to your back, you cannot afford to have frown lines.