2009-10 Sydney (2)

INDIANLINK

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Usha Arvind

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Shivangi Ambani-Gandhi, Shweta Sirohi Gupta, Preeti Kannan, Nima Menon, Shafeen Mustaq, Guneeta Kaur, Farzana Shakir, Vidyadhar Dabholkar, Noel G deSouza, Minal Khona, Hasnain Zaheer, Sudha Natarajan, Graham Sims, Aparna Jacob

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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

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Home away from home I

ndia offers wonderful comforts of family support and hired help. Most Indians who migrate to Australia find it tough in the initial days as they struggle to get used to daily chores which are routinely outsourced in India. The basic chores of cooking and cleaning are all done for you; and you most probably even had the luxury of being driven around by your own driver. Your gardens were maintained, the children were dropped off and picked up from school, and groceries were home delivered. More so, the social support system was strong enough to give you the peace of mind that your brothers, sisters, parents, friends were just a phone call and a short drive away in case of emergency.

The lack of these luxuries are acutely felt when one migrates to Australia. While there are professional and financial challenges, settling into the new environment and lifestyle adds even more pressure. A number of facilities taken for granted in India now have to be carefully evaluated and considered. There is limited, if any, family support; hired help is expensive and one has to endure a steep learning curve to become familiar with the various types of vacuum cleaners, washing machines and fridges. Ikea and Fantastic Furniture are places where pilgrimages are made during the weekends as the home is slowly furnished. Life now has a different direction as the new migrant grapples with the issue of lifestyle in their adopted country.

I am completing my Diploma of Business? What to do?

DiD you know? Enrolment into Certificate iV or higher course is essential for students from Assessment Level 4 countries like india? if you have completed your Diploma of Business, you’d need at least a confirmation of enrollment for a course at a Cert iV level which will be combined with the eCoE for the Certificate iii course at the time of lodging an extension of a student Visa.

What are alternative pathways available to me?

By PAWAN LUTHRA

The advantage which the recent migrants have over those who came to Australia 15-20 years ago, are the wonderful escapes which are now available. Sydney is blessed with a wide range of Indian restaurants in almost all the suburbs. Be it the northern tips of Sydney in Newport or the southern highlands of Bowral, you will find the familiar tandoori chicken and butter chicken shop. Not only are there a huge number of Indian eateries, now the variety of food from the different parts of India can also be enjoyed. The samosa and dosa may be common and the Hyderabadi may be well-known, but you can now enjoy a Gujarati thali or even a Rajasthani meal in a choice of restaurants. If you want fusion, Indian Chinese is rapidly gaining momentum. There are restaurants harbour views; those with great décor, as well as those with $20-all-you-can-eat buffets.

Latest Bollywood releases are now a common thing. In fact, so well organised are these releases that one can see these movies at the same time as friends and family back in India and give a review of Abhishek Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan’s performance in a matter of hours of seeing the movie. Almost every month there is an entertainer of great repute performing in Sydney. Promoters work hard in getting

good talent Down Under and the local Indians get another escape with these performances.

For large community gatherings, there are fun-filled fairs now well entrenched in the Sydney lifestyle – the Holi Mela, the Independence Day Fair and the Diwali Mela. With thousands thronging to these fairs, it is a wonderful opportunity for all to meet and greet one another.

And over the past few years, the Indian Australian community is blessed with a range of religious places now available. The temples, the gurudwaras, all allow the community to flourish and provide another opportunity for all to enjoy their escape from daily chores.

There are also a number of social organisations, set up either through a linguistic or a geographical common denominator, for people to join and meet on a regular basis. These associations form an important bond in the structure of our local society.

While it is difficult to replace the pleasures of enjoying India in all its diversity when actually living in India, the various avenues now available to Indian Australians to experience home away from home and therefore enjoy their adopted country even more, seem to be ever expanding.

* Diploma of Business or Accounting > 1 year Graduate Diploma (26 Tuition weeks)

(Pre Approved by CPA for Associate Membership as Accountant) = 60 Points Skill Assessment, No work experience required ($4200 x 4 instalments)

* no iELTS REQuiREMEnT FRoM inDiA

FunDS CAn BE SHown By AnyonE (including Friends & Relatives)

Requirement: year 11 with English & Maths, 24 years or less of age > Direct entry into year 12 equiv.

Austral Migration Services has a global presence in providing integrated services for your resettlement in Australia & Canada.

Our services include:

• General Skilled Migration (onshore & offshore)

• State Sponsored Visas

• Employer Nominated Visas

• Partner & Family Migration

• Business Migration

• Student Visas

• Advice on various pathways for permanent residency to onshore graduates.

• Advice & Assistance with Professional Year Program.

• MM2H (Malaysia) Program

• MRT Application for Review

• Workplace Assessment & Training in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery, Pattisserie, Bakery & Hair Dressing) in association with accredited Hospitality Assessor

Guidance and assistance in selecting appropriate professional courses based on education and background.

Specialist in International Student Placement.

• Change of Course, University and Education Provider

• Assistance with credit transfers

• Immigration & Visa Advice

• Student Visa and Appeal Matters

• Admission and Visa Assistance for other countries including Canada and New Zealand.

Students demand action on pressing issues

International students called for an Ombudsman to investigate student complaints, a standardised fee refund policy, an increase in the working hour limit and accommodation reference letters, at a recent meeting called “From Here to Where?”, organised by the AISA.

The recently-formed All International Student Association (AISA), comprising mainly of Asian students, reiterated their demands for international students to have a ‘fair-go’ in Australia. Students and officials believe that the recent spate of attacks against Indians have hogged the limelight in Australia and India, effectively sidelining other pressing student issues. They have unanimously sought action from the Australian government and are sceptical about the series of ministerial visits to India and diplomatic talks, reiterating that these would not resolve problems persisting in Australia.

AISA, in a meeting on October 11, outlined the need for an Ombudsman to resolve student issues without resorting to legal channels, an increase of work rights to 24 hours from the existing 20 hours and a full work permit for spouses of all student visa holders, among other things.

“The purpose of this meeting was to outline a solution for student problems from a student perspective. A number of students raised their concerns regarding the 20 hour work limit and we believe this work limit is a licence for business people to exploit international students,” Navjot Singh, president of AISA, told Indian Link. “These

issues concern all international students and are not confined only to Indian students. Therefore, it is appropriate to address these issues on behalf of all,” he added.

AISA, which was formed in July after the Harris Park protests, hopes to represent all international students and provide an equal voice for everyone.

“Racism or discrimination are not the main issues. It is only a smokescreen. The problems of students by now are well-

to provide students with a mechanism to address problems of exploitation at their work places, homes and educational institutions. Also, the quality of education in Australia needs to be upgraded. We have to ensure exploitation-free education,” added Dr Singh.

In light of the hardships faced by students in finding affordable accommodation in Australia, the student body is seeking reference letters from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to ease the process. Following the recent closure of Sterling College, they also demanded a standard policy in all Australian educational institutions pertaining to tuition fee refunds and release letters.

known and it has moved on to the next stage. The question is what is being done?” asked Dr Yadu Singh, an Indian cardiologist and secretary of the Australian Indian Medical Association (AIMA), which will donate AUD $ 500 to AISA.

“International students are being exploited and the process of recourse is not being addressed currently. We need an international students’ Ombudsman

“The attacks have veered the attention away from other issues we face. We need a contact point for our problems. Often students are in the dark as to what to do when they face any problems,” says Raveena Garg, who is pursuing a course in Community Welfare at TAFE, Granville. She added that it was getting increasingly harder for students to migrate to Australia.

Harpreet Singh, vice-president of AISA and a student, says, “A number of Australian political figures have visited India to assure students and families that Australia is safe. We are saying the issue isn’t in India, but it is here. It is all well for future students. But, what about the current ones?” he demanded. However, he

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

RAIN fund-raiser for a senior care centre

RAIN seniors are raising funds for a senior care centre. Their one cent a day project collects $36.50 from donors as charity of one cent per day for ten years (3.65 for one year which works out to be 36.50 for ten years.) Those who wish to donate please contact Sudha Natarajan at 02 9585-9158 for further information.

Hindustani classical music in the traditional baithak style

25 Oct Come along and listen to Bobby Singh (tabla) and Adrian McNeil (sarod) at Kammadhenu, 12 Waters Lane (opposite Woolworths), Neutral Bay, 5-7pm. Details 0411 708 518.

Indian Film Festival 2010 Competitions Design Competition

Bollywood & Beyond invites designers and anyone with a creative urge to create the key art image and font for the festival. The winner will see their design used and name credited throughout Australia and New Zealand in a high profile cross-media promotional campaign: on posters, websites, flyers, database mailouts and festival programs. They will also be rewarded with 3 months of free movies at one of the festival venue cinemas. Entries close 31st October 2009.

Prize: The winning design will be used on the festival website, in festival programs, on posters displayed in participating cinemas and in public spaces in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Auckland, on flyers and in e-mail-outs to the databases of festival cinemas. In all cases the image will include the artist’s name and where possible (at least in festival programs and IFF’s website) the artist will receive an additional credit in the document. The winner will also be granted three months of free movies at one the festival venue cinemas. How to enter: Entry forms and details will be available

shortly from IFF 2010’s website: www.iff2010.com . Queries: Please direct queries via email to lou@ mindblowingfilms.com

Short Film Competition

The Indian Film Festival 2010 is also running a short film and video competition that will see the winner awarded with the IFF 2010 Best Short Film Award, an airfare to India and an internship with UTV – one of India’s leading film and television production and distribution companies. The winning film will also be screened on India’s World Movies television channel. Films must either include content related to India or be entered by an Indian-Australasian writer, director or producer. Shortlisted films will be screened at IFF 2010 in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Auckland. Films/ videos can be shot on any format but must be submitted on DVD or 35mm film and must be less than 10 minutes. Entries close 15th December 2009. How to enter: Entry forms and details of how where to post your entries will be available closer to the closing date from the festival website: www.iff2010.com

Handling fee: There is a handling fee of $25 for this competition. Payment details will be available closer to the closing date from the festival website: www.iff2010. com

Queries: Please direct queries via email to lou@ mindblowingfilms.com

Who can enter? Residents of Australia or New Zealand

Dancing for charity

21 Nov Hema and Sudhakar Rao present their second annual fundraising program for the Mathru Blind School in Bangalore. This year’s event, called Dances of India, will be held at Epping Community Hall, Oxford St, Epping and will feature the community’s leading dance schools. Funds raised will be used by Mathru to strengthen their Braille library. A voluntary donation of

was optimistic a solution could be sought, if all stakeholders came together. “We have to keep trying. It’s good to at least try. However, everyone - all international students, have to unite,” he asserted.

The government, on its part, has been trying to engage with students. The NSW government, for instance, has been holding workshops to discuss and address information needs of students in their home countries.

Students however say that before recruiting new students, the well-being of students in Australia need to be addressed. Travel concessions in New South Wales and Victoria continue to be one of the demands of international students.

About 80 participants including Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese students attended the meeting at Granville Town Hall. Representatives of the Indian Consulate and DIAC were also present at the meeting. For students who want to join AISA, contact details are on www.aisa.asl.au

Preeti Kannan

$25 per family will be appreciated. Enjoy a sumptuous meal cooked by volunteers. Details Hema Rao 02 9868 6942, Mob: 0416 343 577

India Club Diwali

India Club presents Diwali festivity, a grand celebration of prosperity and happiness. Enjoy a spectacular Bollywood show and feast on lavish Indian cuisine. For program details contact Shubha Kumar on 0402 257 588.

Kavi Sammelan and Mushaira

7 Nov GOPIO presents a night of poetry reading (Hindi and Urdu) at 7pm at the Epping Community Hall (9 Oxford St, Epping). Details Harry Walia 0402 842 375.

Nanak Noor Khed Mukabla

8th November, 12.30 onwards at Francis Park, Blacktown. Althletic event for individuals, teams and community. Cash prize for best male and female Athlete. Contact Kirpal Pooni (0409 667 088) or Gurlal Pooni (0410 490 485)

IAAFA workshops

First Saturday in the month, 12noon to 2:30pm, at the Wentworthville Community Centre, Grevillea Room, 2 Lane Street. The Indian Australian Arts and Film Association Association (IAAFA) is conducting a series of free workshops for children from 5 to 14 years. Subjects are Indian music, Australian indigenous music, and creative painting. For registration and information please visit: www.iaafa.org.au

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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Burning the midnight oil

FARZANA SHAKIR catches up with an academic achiever, who works hard to pursue her dreams

Some people go through life giving things a go, working hard, putting in a hundred percent and quietly achieving. And in doing so, unknown to even themselves, they become an inspiration to others and give hope to those who didn’t dare to try. They stand out as a symbol of all things possible; and I found 58 year old Jayanthi Balachandran to be just such a person.

Since 2006, Jayanthi has undertaken studies for a Bachelor of Taxation degree at University of New South Wales, Sydney and has achieved distinctions and high distinctions in all of the 14 subjects she has completed so far. She has received four awards for outstanding achievement in subjects such as The Principles of Capital Gains Taxation (2006), Tax Administration (2007), The Law of Companies, Trusts and Partnerships (2008) and Critical Perspective and Ethics (2008). Her aim is to complete the remaining 8 subjects by 2011.

Jayanthi hails from Kerala, but concedes that she spent the best part of her life in Chennai before moving to Australia in 1988.

She has always been academically inclined, considering that she received her first science degree when she was just 17. She joined public service in 2005 after working in the real estate industry for 17 years. Six months later, seizing an opportunity available to employees, she embarked on a degree program in Taxation Law on a parttime basis with UNSW, while working full time.

So given her age, what was the motivation in going back to studies?

Jayanthi confides, “It was relevant to my work. I really needed a knowledge base in Taxation Law and so when the opportunity presented itself, I grabbed it. I am now studying with 20 year olds. I feel young again. In fact, I have become a mother figure to my classmates, but in return I learn so much from them so really it works both ways.”

As she is studying part-time, the duration of her course is six years and it involves lots of time self-studying. “It requires total commitment and lots of discipline as we are given assignments and taught to develop research skills,” explains Jayanthi

Jayanthi hails from a family of academics. Her father Dr T K Natarajan who passed away last year, retired as Professor from Presidency College, Chennai. He was a great scholar and linguist, and she considered

him as her greatest supporter. Her mother retired as a teacher from Vidyodaya School, Chennai. Her sister Sudha Natarajan retired as the Vice President of Sri Cempaka, a highly regarded educational institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Following in the family tradition, Jayanthi is overjoyed to reveal that her only son Ajay passed his HSC last year with an outstanding UAI of 99.5.

Jayanthi is quick to credit her family for their unwavering support and encouragement in helping her achieve her goals. She says it’s not easy to study and work full time, but she makes the time and has given up socializing much, while her mum keeps house while she pursues her dreams.

On receiving all those awards and how it makes her feel, Jayanthi enthused, “It gives me a buzz, it makes it all worthwhile and makes me realize there’s still life left in the old dog!”

And what are her career goals on completion of her degree? Jayanthi plans to pursue a CPA later, but for now she replies sagely, “It’s all about the journey, you ultimately reach the destination, but it’s the journey that you have to enjoy. I am definitely enjoying it and that is what life is all about.” Beautifully phrased and so true! Keep the midnight oil burning, Jayanthi, we wish you every success and many more awards to come.

On receiving all those awards and how it makes her feel, Jayanthi enthused, “It gives me a buzz, it makes it all worthwhile and makes me realize there’s still life left in the old dog!

Lasting impressions….

People matter, emphasises SUDHA

NATARJAN as she remembers the ones who will remain evergreen, forever

We silently share our moments of missing Father. Every wave that leaves the shore takes a message, and every one that returns brings back a blessing. We know, we feel, simply because we knew so well the person who could never utter a harsh word to hurt anyone’s feelings.

This was the place where we left father’s ashes to become a part of the sea he loved. He was happy to be in Australia, unlike many who yearn for their motherland. He was patriotic and when he talked about India, there was a spark of energy that caught on and kept us wondering at the way he could be happy in a foreign land. But that was father.

We enjoy being there by the sea, thinking and not talking and as seconds prolonged into minutes, there was this natural curiosity, where had the waves taken him? Does the soul stay on this land or leave with the ashes? Strange are the questions and the resulting clouds of thought… but one doesn’t really get an answer. It is time to leave and we keep looking back at the silent sea, gloriously stretched and not willing to be a part of the surrounding clamour of noises or our confused emotions.

As we make our way to the car still unwilling to leave the trail along the sea, a little plant catches our eye. How did this get here, a plant that father always had in our garden, regardless of whether he stayed

in India or in Australia. Till the day he went to hospital, he would ask my nephew to take him to the garden to collect a few leaves which, he said, were rich in Vitamin C; chewing on them prevented mouth ulcers. We had not found the plant in the natural habitat of Australia, but here it is, growing by the seaside. “A coincidence,” says my nephew. Yes, yet a strange one. Why here and does this convey anything? We are searching for an answer….

I can’t help but think that we have been left with lasting impressions.

There are a few dear ones in everyone’s life that leave long-lasting imprints, while there are some who influence your thoughts, and without either of you realising it, they become a guiding light of your existence.

I have been lucky to know a few people with this gift, and my neighbour Lorraine Watson as the first on my list. When I was going through a traumatic time and had secluded myself from my family and my garden, she was there, gently persuading me to look at the outside world. She showed me that taking an interest in the issues that caused concern in the community could channel my thoughts into more positive thinking. Drawing a bigger line next to my line of sorrow made it smaller, and she was a good teacher. With motivation from Lorraine, no one could be a bad student.

Then came along my group, my lovely seniors and my involvement with RAIN gave me a new lease on life. I got to know Pragnabehn Joshi and Ushabehn Sanghvi, two ladies of untiring community spirit, and I could feel their devotion and commitment to activities like bringing friends together, organising meetings, holding spiritual gatherings and loving every moment of it. I could also see and understand that

they would have brought up their families with the same or more intense level of commitment and love. Having lost their spouses would have left them feeling lonely, but they managed to bring up their children fabulously well, as good-hearted human beings, giving them the love to support themselves and the community. I have learnt a lot from these two ladies.

Meet Ujambehn Juta. Over eighty, but her alert mind abounds in practical wisdom as she talks about Bush and Obama, the need for changes for the better and compassion for the poverty stricken. More people like Ujambehn would make the world would be a better place to live in.

Aunty Nirmal silently assists wherever and whenever she can. Unassuming, non-

complaining and being there for me in times of need. A totally non-intrusive, sensitive person who shows me how old age can be ideal and self-respecting.

And there’s Aunty Vasantha. When one is in pain, it can be assumed that everything else will be forgotten, but no, not with this great, caring, compassionate lady. She lies in a nursing home bed, always surrounded by her loving family or friends, and while everyone is thinking about how she could be made comfortable and how her pain could be reduced, she is concerned about the welfare of the seniors in the community.

She gently stresses on the need of help for seniors, the limitations of families, the community responsibilities…. I am humbled in her presence, I learn and I am amazed. She has lost weight, her body is engulfed in pain, but her mind is thinking of the others and ways to care for those in need. We talk about the senior care centre RAIN is planning, she is encouraging and supportive. She talks to friends who visit her, coaxes her family to take an interest…. I am more often than not, speechless when I am with her.

My list stretches on and on. I feel that I am unable to do justice to the several friends who stake a claim when I think about my past years, and especially the last three years. I would be less than human if I do not mention my mother as the most lasting influence of my life. Even now, hers is the strongest and most positive influence, which has given me the strength to pick up pieces and restructure my existence when the worst breakage happened. I have also learnt multitasking and time management from her.

I am lucky that the influences I value continue to shape my life, and leave me richer and more enlightened.

most positive influence, which has given me the strength to pick up pieces and restructure my existence when the worst breakage happened

Vasantha with son Vijay Kumar and Saro Srinivasan Vice Chair Person of RAIN

Pragnabehn Joshi Ushabehn Sanghvi Dr Badve ????????? Vasantha Ramamurthi

Performers par excellence

The seven students of the Kalashree School of Dance are students of Guru Dhanashree, known affectionately by her students as Kaki. This admirable teacher completed her Bachelor of Performing Arts (Bharatnatyam) from M S University in Baroda. She achieved ‘Nritiya Alankar’ from Ghandarva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi. Dhanashree has travelled all over India to give solo and group performances, and has been teaching Bharat Natyam for over 18 years. The students who made her proud on the night were Gunpreet Kaur (23), Ashwini Sane (24), Ratuja Manjrekar (20), Trupti Deverkonda (16), Shruti Joshi (20), Anuradha Rane (17) and Yashashri Patil (17). These aspiring dancers performed intricate and demanding steps for several hours, without missing a beat or showing visible signs of fatigue.

Arangetram, the graduation performance of a Bharatanatyam student, is a test for the student and teacher, where the talent of the former and knowledge of the latter are judged by the audience.

Each of these talented performers had a different story to relate about their association with Bharatnatyam.

The scintillating seven

Wild weather did not stop the flurry of art lovers as they made their way to Bankstown Hall on the eve of October 8. It was an eventful evening for Kalashree Institute of Performing and Fine Arts and its seven young aspiring dancers. The hall was bustling with activity and community members were there in full numbers to support and bless the dancers. Arangetram is a very important event in the life of a dancer and her teacher. There may be no black robes or caps, but this graduation ceremony is a showcase of the dancer’s talent and prowess for dancing. The young artists danced their way into the hearts of the audience through the different items of the arangetram. The first item was the Allarippu followed by Jatiswaram, Varnam, Padam, Kirtnam, Thillana and finally Mangalam.

The evening began with a beautiful invocation. This was followed by the introduction of the Guru and the Guru Namaskara, where the guru blessed her shishyas, Gunpreet Kaur, Rutuja Manjrekar, Trupti Deverkonda, Ashwini Sane, Shruti Joshi, Anuradha Rane and Yashahsri Patil, and presented them with gungaroos From there, the evening belonged to these seven talented dancers. The Alarippu which symbolizes the ‘awakening’ of the dancer is an invocatory piece. The dancers

performed Gangatharang, praising Lord Shiva who is accompanied by Parvati and Ganga. The cohesion with which the dancers moved was absolutely beautiful and set the hallmark for the entire evening. The next item was Jatiswaram, where the dancers weaved different patterns, a display of pure Nritta. It was purely based on music; there were was no poetry and no bhavas. The energy that the dancers poured into this number was indeed amazing. They moved with such precision that it left the audience gasping at times. In this item the girls took turns to reveal their expertise, the formations were great and the synchronization perfect.

The dancers then moved to Varnam, said to be the most complex, interesting and elaborate item of a Bharatnatyam recital. The performance was an intricate mosaic of bhava, raga and thala. In this recital the devotee was beseeching Lord Shiva for his grace and protection. The seven girls performed complicated sequences creating a mood beauty and grandeur with commendable harmony; there was not a step out of place and every hand gesture moved with clock-wise precision. This was the longest piece of the evening and lasted about an hour. After the speed of the Varnam, the dancers moved to Padam, a slow recital where the dancers got the opportunity to reveal their talent

in abhinaya. The lyric chosen for this particular piece was “Thumaka Chalata Ramachndra...”, where mischievous, little Rama seeks his mother’s attention with his innocent pranks. The girls took turns to portray this and the performance of one dancer flowed into the next dancer’s with smooth deftness, with no breaks or hiccups. Kirtanam, a pure abhinaya item with bhakti rasa, had two parts to it. In the first part the girls told the story of Hanuman meeting Sita in Asokavan, retelling incidents from Lord Rama’s life to gain her trust and to get her to believe him. The second part depicted Krishna’s Raas Leela, his beauty, his frolics with the gopikas, his stealing of maakhan, etc.

The highlight of Thillana was the various poses that the dancers sculptured on stage. The eye movements, the neck movements, the shoulder movements, the innumerable poses were all eloquent and absolutely exquisite. The truly sensational dance recital finished with Mangalam, where the dancers saluted the Guru, the accompanying artists, the audience and God. The evening culminated on a pious note with the guru pooja. The dancers had achieved what they had set out to seek and had made their guru, Mrs. Dhanashree Karandikar proud. It was not the end for them, but just a beginning to the long, enjoyable artistic journey ahead.

Nima Menon

Gunpreet Kaur is a Science graduate from UTS and began dance as a hobby six years ago. This hobby developed into a passion which motivates her to continue refining her skills in the dance form.

“My inspiration stems from my interest in the ancient arts, culture and traditions of India,” said Gunpreet.

Ashwini Sane is studying Business and working simultaneously. Her love of dance and performing has been ingrained from a young age and she has performed at many cultural events. “I love the intimate gestures that can be used to express emotions in Bharatnatyam and some day I want to be able to teach dance myself,” says Ashwini of her aspirations.

Ratuja Manjrekar is currently studying Business and Commerce at UWS and was one of the first students at Kalashree. Her enjoyment of the finer points of Bharatnatyam comes from performing compositions. Trupti Deverkonda is in her Senior year at John Therry Catholic school. She began classical dancing at the tender age of 10 and it has become an integral part of how she expresses her essential personality.

Shruti Joshi is currently studying Sociology and fell in love with Bharatnatyam after exploring other dance styles. Anuradha Rane, student of St Patrick’s College, loves the many styles dance has to offer, and feels that dancing has taught her a lot, including helping her form lasting friendships. Yashashri Patil is in her senior year at Macquarie Fields High School and her interest in traditional Indian arts led to exploring Bharatnatyam. She aspires to expand her skills and knowledge alongside her studies.

If their arangetram was anything to go by, these talented young women will become formidable and passionate dancers whose thirst for knowledge and inspiration from ancient Indian culture will keep them motivated and keep us entertained.

Shafeen Mustaq

Hindu societies unite to

celebrate Diwali

It was singing, dancing and cultural performances all the way at Sydney University, after the Hindu societies of four universities decided they would welcome Diwali in style, reminiscent of the celebrations at home. Dressed to kill, over a 100 young desi girls and boys were attired in their best salwar kameezes and kurtas for the big night of Diwali 2009.

The Hindu societies – Vishwaas at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Om at the University of Sydney, Josh at Macquarie University and Om Shanti at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) came together, for the first time, to host a combined Diwali event on October 8.

In an attempt to recreate the colourful atmosphere of the ‘festival of lights’, the students fused culture and youthfulness, which was reflected in their performances that took off with the ‘traditional aarthi’ and culminated with a DJ belting out popular Bollywood songs. Students from different universities showcased their talent through singing and dancing, and even an antakshri of Hindi songs. Students also formed different teams and played trivia.

“Celebrating an Indian festival helps forge a sense of belonging. The idea is to get together and celebrate such events. Many students are far from home and

can feel homesick when they are living in another country all by themselves. Such festivities hope to help them integrate into society and forms a common base that relate to our culture,” says Deepika Patwardhan, president of Vishwaas at UNSW.

“This is first time we decided to hold a united cultural event. We usually celebrate festivals in our own universities. But this time we decided to be different and celebrate Diwali for students of the four universities, and it has been a great success. We have set the bar high for ourselves now,

2009 were awesome and all of us had a great time. I think the overall feeling was that the event was indeed very enjoyable and well-organised,” says Amritha Subramanian from Om Shanti, who organised the trivia round.

Vishwaas is the oldest Hindu society among the four and was formed in 2006, while the others were formed subsequently. The students meet to discuss the different tenets of Hinduism and the relevance of its principles. “We don’t preach Hinduism. Instead, we discuss the meanings behind different aspects of the religion. Hinduism is a way of life and the idea of the university societies is to encourage debates on the relevance of one of the world’s oldest religions to youth today,” says Deepika

Patwardhan, who is an Australian-Indian. “I have been brought up in a Hindu family and was not allowed to question any beliefs. However, the societies in their weekly meetings, are encouraged to question,” she says, adding that the societies were open for anyone to join and understand Hinduism.

Besides celebrating festivals like Diwali, Holi, Navaratri, the societies also hold cricket matches and cultural nights regularly.

Anjali Chandhok, a student at the University of Sydney, who attended the event, said that the event reminded her of the festivities back home. “Festivals like Diwali always make you wish you were with your family. But it was really great to see the energy of all the Indians at the Diwali celebrations and I felt completely at home. Universities should celebrate more festivals to enhance community spirit and bring students together,” says Chandhok, who was the DJ at the event.

“It was the first combined university event and was great to attend. The entertainment and the food provided were also great. I think more of such events should be organised in the future,” observed Dinesh Ramanan, one of the founding members of Vishwaas.

Preeti Kannan

JP International College Canberra

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A day of feasting for the mind, body as well as spirit

On 17th Oct, Sikhs around the world celebrated Bandi Chor Diwas (prisoners’ release day). Over 8000 people took part in the day long celebrations at Parklea Gurudwara Sahibji (Guru’s abode) in Glenwood.

The story goes that in 1619, Mughal emperor Jahangir approached the Sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji with the intention of utilizing Guruji’s great strength and fearlessness in battles and told Guruji to embrace Islam. Guru Hargobind Ji rejected his proposition. In retaliation Jahangir imprisoned Guruji. Eventually Guruji’s release was ordered, but he refused to leave without the fifty-two captive Princes. Guruji was told that those Princes who could hold onto Guruji’s clothing, could go with him. Guruji had his darzi (tailor) stitch a coat with 52 ribands, holding which fifty-two rulers trailed behind him. Guruji is thus referred to as Bandi-chor (the Liberator). Upon his return to his beloved town Amritsar, people lit the path to Sri Harmandhir Sahibji (Golden Temple) to commemorate Guruji’s undying love for Sikhism.4am, Parklea Gurudwara Sahibji, Sangat (congregation) started praying in the Darbar. International Akhand Kirtaniya’s Gurbani Kirtan which followed was based on Ragas. It was mesmerising and uplifting. In the community kitchen, Langar sevadar family of the morning, Gills along with other Sevadars (volunteers) prepared Guru Da Langar while chanting ‘Wahe Guru’. Small portions of Guru da Langar was placed in a thali

(plate) and taken for ‘Ardas’ (a prayer) to Sri Guru Granth Sahibji (Holy Scripture and Omnipresent Sikh Guru) and mixed with the rest of the Langar to be served. Those present sat in pangat (rows) for Guru Da Langar. It was hard work to feed hundreds of people, but the volunteers absolutely enjoyed it. Guru Da Langar is vegetarian and free. This practice was started by the First Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, to put an end to any kind of discrimination.

Throughout the day the Sangat brought in 350kgs of mouth watering treats like besan pinni, kajju burfi, motichoor laddoo, gulab jamun and jalebi etc, while masala chai, juice and kesar badam dudh (Saffron almond milk) were served at Parklea Gurudwara Sahibji. Manager Giani Jasbir Singhji and Bhaisahib Mahan Singhji were pivotal in providing guidance for the smooth running of the day’s program. Sangat performed a variety of Sevas (service). Some helped the Sunner family by chopping vegetables and kneading dough, while others rolled and cooked the Prashadas (Indian bread). Other devotees swept and cleaned the floor, washed dishes and served Langar. A few youngsters did gardening and kids dusted the shoes of the people visiting the Gurudwara. There was a cheer in the air.

A group of students hailing from different states of India said, “For us, Parklea Sahib Gurudwara is home away from home”.

As day gave way to night, Gurudwara Sahib glowed with thousands of light bulbs. Sangat dressed in their finery did Satsang, offered prayers, sang Shabad Kirtan (hymns) with Giani Iqbal Singhji and Hazoori Raagis Bhai Nirmal Singhji, Bhai Amarjit Singhji and Bhai Harjit Singhji. Gurbani Katha (discourse) by Bhai Ram Singhji was focused on the need to create a positive and proactive society for the new generation by following teachings in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and motivate the next generation towards brighter and beautiful future of Universal Brotherhood. This was followed by Bandi Chor Diwas speech by Giani Santokh Singhji. After Ardas, everyone received Karah Prashad (Sacred sweet).

Much planning was put in by the Australian Sikh Association towards making the day a success. General Secretary ASA, Bhaisahib Jasbir Singh Thind congratulated the Sangat for receiving the blessings of Waheguru Ji on the auspicious occasion of

125 kgs rice, 130 kgs lentils, 100 kgs yoghurt, 12 kgs butter and 360 litres milk.

Throughout the day Guru Da Langar was aplenty. Sangat relished karhi (yoghurt dumplings), dal makhni (lentils), wadi aloo, salad, yoghurt, jeera (cumin) rice, Prashadas (Indian bread), mithe chawal and badam kheer (almond rice pudding).

The moonless night was alive with sounds of laughter and greetings. Sangat lit candles near Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag, symbolic of the Khalsa Panth). Like thousands of other people, I felt in harmony with the fact that Sikhism is a faith of hope and cheer and though it affirms Karma, Sikhism recognises the possibility of the modification of one’s Karma with the grace of the Guru or God. It was a day of feasting for the Mind, Body and Spirit.

Guneeta Kaur

Readers are welcome to witness and be a part of Parklea Gurudwara Sahibji’s Program and Guru Da Langar at 10

New Sydney Kalibari’s inaugural puja

It had been a day of high email traffic, text messages and phone calls, as people from the Indian subcontinent sent out Diwali wishes. The Granny Smith Festival in Eastwood had just finished with dazzling fireworks, and my wife and I were presented with a certificate of appreciation by Neel Banerjee from the famous SydKol Inc in our house. Then in my new Herringbone shirt, I accompanied Neel Banerjee with my wife and daughter to attend the inaugural celebration of Kali puja at the new temple in Wenworthville.

Kali is a Hindu goddess connected with timeless energy. She is considered the goddess of time and change in the Indian civilisation. Mention of her worship as a distinct goddess goes back to 600 CE. The earliest mention of her though is in the Rig-Vedic age. She is known variously as ‘Ratri’ and as ‘Shakti’.

Kali is also a central figure in late medieval Bengal. A significant amount of Bengali literature is devoted to her. Ramprasad Sen (1718-75) and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836-186) are great devotees of the goddess. Kali Ma is one of the most loved and kindest of all Hindu deities. She is even regarded as the Mother of the whole Universe.

This new Sydney Kalibari temple is the brain child of Nrijhar Dutta. With the support of friends across the community, the inaugural Kali puja was held here on 17th of October, 2009. The Kali puja was held in 83, Wentworth Avenue, Wentworthville in Sydney.

Sydney Kalibari is a non- profit and charitable organisation that organises the Kali puja and performs social service within the community. Its principle activities are to run a soup kitchen (vegetarian) for the infirm, meditation sessions and discourses, and care for elder/senior citizens during weekend afternoons (with complimentary lunch). Retirees in the neighbourhood are welcome here to hold socio-religious activities through prayer.

As we arrived at the new Kalibari, that familiar smell

of incense greeted us. Children played outside with sparklers, volunteers rushed around with last minute preparations, and designer saris and achkans floated around. The walls of the new Kalibari were festively draped with colourful saris.

The Kalibari’s own Kali idol, hand-crafted in brass, came all the way from Calcutta. It is accompanied by a Shiva Lingam, made of black marble too. The idol is a beautiful creation of traditional Calcutta art work. To me, it looked very similar to a beautiful Tibetan painting of Kali at the NSW Art Gallery‘s Asian section.

The inaugural kali puja started with a great congregation most of who had fasted the whole day. The chanting of the mantras, ringing of the brass bell, the offering of prayers and the ceremonial rituals all added to the celebration of Kali puja. The priest, who chanted the

mantras in his baritone, didn’t sound like he had travelled all the way from Washington DC specially to attend this event. Sumptuous vegetarian food followed, to end a spectacular night.

For me, the celebration brought back many uncounted memories of the Kali puja celebration in Calcutta.

As night went on, the gathering the people increased to 600 people from all works of lives to celebrate Kali Puja.

I felt this was the first puja I had attended in many years where the true spirit of Kali puja prevailed throughout the night. The kalibari hall vibrated with the strong sense of oneness and brotherhood and doing good for the human society. I feel this new Kalibari, could truly be a platform for confluence of all caste and creed, enhancing the great spirit of multiculturalism in Australia.

Indranil Halder

Hazoori Raagi Jatha and ASA members

Multani family and Sevadars serving with Love

Nearly 600 people gathered at Sydney’s new Kalibari temple for its inaugural worship of Kali

Diwali at BAPS

The auspicious occasions of Diwali, Annakut and New Year were celebrated with great fanfare at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Rosehill, Sydney, on 17, 18 and 19 October respectively. The celebrations took place in the presence of BAPS Sadhus, Pujya Jnanpurush Swami and Pujya Adarshmuni Swami.

On Diwali evening, many devotees took part in Chopda Pujan. Chopda Pujan is a ritual where those involved in trade and business do Pujan (sanctification) of their new financial ledgers to augur success in the forthcoming year. The assembly started with singing of the Prarthana (prayers). This was followed by the Chopda Pujan ceremony. The sabha concluded with Arti and Mahaprasad.

On Annakut day, over 1,000 vegetarian foods were traditionally arranged in tiers or steps in front of the Mandir deities resulting in a spectacular display. The singing of the Thaal (devotional songs asking the Lord to partake in the Annakut) then occurred. The Chief Guests for the Annakut assembly were Shri Amit Dasgupta, Consul General of India, and the Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cllr Paul Garrard. In his speech to the gathering, the Consul General wished the Indian community a Happy Deepavali and commended the community for their efforts in trying to resolve the Indian students’ issue which had emanated earlier in the year. On his part the Lord Mayor wished all present a happy new year and commended the Indian community in general and BAPS in particular for their

evening assembly, which included speeches and presentations as well as cultural programs. The Chief Guest for the evening was the Hon. David Borger MP, Minister for Housing and Minister for Western Sydney and Asst. Minister for Transport.

The Minister wished the congregation on this festive season and commended BAPS for its organizational skills and community engagement. After Aarti and Annakut viewing, devotees proceeded for

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir PRO, Mr Yogi Savania, said that this year’s Deepavali and Annakut celebrations held a nostalgic charm, as this was most likely the last Annakut at the Mandir building as it currently stands. Parramatta City Council recently granted consent to major refurbishment plans to the current Mandir building, with construction expected to begin very early in 2010.

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Lord Mayor of Parramatta Paul Garrard participates in the Diwali celebrations at BAPS Temple

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Folk with a lot of kfun

It is only fitting that Kartick and Gotam’s (K&G) latest album was created on an airport. After all, Business Class Refugees is electro-folk without borders – a global, collaborative project of local music from around the world.

Taking their base tracks around the world, music producer Kartick (Patrick Sebag) and sound designer Gotam (Yotam Agam) collaborate with local musicians to overlay folk tunes and lyrics with electronica, creating soulful music with zing.

In the opening track, Bonjour, Mahesh Vinayakram’s resounding vocals blend effortlessly with the evocative strains of Armenian wind instrument, duduk, while renowned French bassist Mishko M’ba, converses with flautist Navin Iyer and Yoav Bunzel’s rhythmic drums. K&G’s groovy electronics flow through the track, adding pace and tempo. The musical conversations finish with the Tashi Lumpo Monastery monk’s long horns – a cosmic sound of reverberating power that reaches the depths of your soul, lighting it up as if for an eternity.

Equally evocative are Boye Boye from Tajikistan, Punjabi folk song, Heer and classical Carnatic composition Vellai Thaamarai, reinvented for the modern lounge. Although ‘remix’ and fusion’ have become dirty words in some music circles, K&G are convinced about their work.

“Even if its folk music, it has to keep evolving, so our base is always respectful of the roots and tradition,” says Kartick. “It is my perspective of that actual piece of music… like a chef making a fusion dish of one or more traditional foods, or making it

his way.”

Gotam acknowledges their work may not be understood and appreciated by everyone. “Living in India for so many years I have faced it (criticism from traditionalists), but for every one person who felt offended, I met a hundred who were fascinated, and appreciative.”

No listener could however, deny the rich tapestry of musical traditions and styles the album traverses, propelling the listener into fascinatingly unfamiliar territories, taking the idea of armchair travelling to a whole new level.

The Israeli duo credits the multicultural environment of their early years for this interest in global music. “The old neighbourhoods that we grew up in had immigrants from everywhere, so we got exposed to music from all over the worldRussia, Poland, Morocco, India, Romania,” says Kartick. “I grew up in the desert for 15 years, spending lots of time with nomad tribes, and Israel is a melting pot of culture,” adds Yotam.

“(Traditional music is) old, has a history and culture behind it,” says Kartick. “We’re hungry to know about and explore other cultures, and to know the stories behind the songs and music.”

Their album too has an interesting story behind it. On their way from South India to a remote village in Aceh, Indonesia, they ran into visa problems in transit through Singapore and were forced to wait indefinitely at the airport. While most of us would have complained and sulked, Kartick and Gotam made music on their laptops using recordings of indigenous music they gathered during their journey through Asia.

Thus, Business Class Refugees was born. Although the album was programmed mainly at the airport, the original recordings were done across Israel and India, at times on location. “The thrill is in actually being there as it happens - the smells, hear the children, sweating... it changes the way you hear traditional music in its original environment,” says Kartick. “It’s the difference between theatre and cinema - a real time experience.”

Gotam recollects a special moment recording on location: “Visiting the Sufi musicians in their village and setting up a mobile studio in a tiny house packed with 100 people that all centred on one thingmusic!” It is this freshness of sound and experience in Business Class Refugees that you will not find in other more pristine, studio bound projects.

Collaboration, especially with local musicians,

lies at the centre of their musical practice. Every local artist and traditional source is carefully attributed in their album. “In a way yes, it’s a way to promote lesser known music,” says Kartick. Yotam adds, “Music is the only way to reach world peace.”

And these are not just empty words of a utopian dream, because Kartick and Gotam have lived the cliché of making a difference through cross-cultural collaborations in music. The duo were part of the seminal Laya Project, an audio visual documentary celebrating music from communities devastated by the 2004 Asian tsunami. “It was a different kind of wave that brought us all together to give their best for this project that took over two and half years to record, film and post produce,” says Kartick. “It is a very special project close to our hearts.”

The project has also travelled extensively as The Laya Project Live!, a show of over 24 musicians on stage from diverse music traditions and styles, video art and light design. “(It is) a show that has a long life and relevance,” says Kartick. The show opened the Perth Festival earlier this year.

Kartick and Gotam are looking at future collaborations with Australian artists and will also perform in Melbourne on the opening night of the Australasian World Music Expo on November 19, 2009. Gotam says, “(Performing in Perth) was great, the crowd was very different from the crowd in India, but again music is an amazing bridge and it worked.”

Business Class Refugees is available for purchase via Planet Imports in Australia in stores, and online via iTunes or www. earthsync.com

Kartick & Gotam will perform live on the opening night of the Australasian World Music Expo on November 19, 2009 in Melbourne. For more details visit:

While most of us would have complained and sulked, Kartick and Gotam made music on their laptops using recordings of indigenous music they gathered during their journey through Asia

Kartick and Gotam take SHIVANGI AMBANI-GANDHI on an unforgettable musical journey through Asia and the Middle East.

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Buckingham Palace to swing to Bollywood music!

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

to the hefty rhythms of Bollywood music and dance soon, in what promises to be a boisterous celebration in anticipation of a coming visit by President Pratibha Patil.

British Asian dance group Nutkhut is to stage its massive dance, inside Buckingham Palace in a reception in advance of Patil’s Oct 24-27 visit - a first for the 172-year-old royal residence.

The dance, which played out to audiences of thousands at the Town Hall in the city of Birmingham recently, has been choreographed by dancer Simmy Gupta, whose rehearsals were so loud she blew speakers, she said.

“There were eight ‘dhols’ on the stage. They were really loud, so we had to have the music really loud. We literally blew a speaker during rehearsals. We had it on full blast! We had smoke coming out of it, but it really sounded amazing,” Gupta said. While she has described Bollywood Steps, created two years ago, as “spectacular” and a “really big show”, it remains to be seen if the dance will shake the 775 rooms of Buckingham Palace.

A Palace spokesman would only say the show will run for 15 minutes inside the palace ballroom before a reception for some 250 invited guests - prominent members from among the two million strong British Indian community.

Invitees who will be received by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip include screen actors Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, cricketers Monty Panesar and Vikram Solanki, TV newsreader Krishnan Gurumurthy and Tim Singh, founder of the successful New Look chain of high street fashion stores.

“There will be a cross-section of guests. The reception will be Indian-themed,” said a spokesman for Buckingham Palace. The guests will be drawn from Indian nationals who live or work in Britain, or British nationals with a strong connection to India or those who work for Indo-British organisations.

The Indian food and canapes served at the reception will be cooked by chefs from Buckingham Palace and London’s oldest Indian restaurant, Veeraswamy.

The Palace spokesman wouldn’t speculate if the Queen was a fan of Bollywood music and curry, saying, “I wouldn’t really want to go into it. That’s not really the reason for the reception. It’s a tradition for the Queen to throw a reception in advance of all state visits.”

IITians plan to make India global knowledge hub

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL Pan-IIT Global Conference ended with alumni of the prestigious institutes chalking out plans to make India the global knowledge hub by 2022.

“One of the major initiatives we have planned to reform India’s education relates to Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). They are crucial to meeting India’s manpower needs and creating jobs,” conference chairman Ray Mehra told IANS after the conclusion in Chicago. He said, “Reforming them is part of our agenda to boost vocational manpower in India. Though this initiative is already under way, we are now creating a guidebook for these institutes.”

Mehra added: “We are involving retired IITians in India in our work to reform ITIs. To begin with, we will target major cities across India. “IITians have also decided to support the Akshaya Patra Foundation to bring both education and nourishment to India’s deprived children.”

Promoted by California-based IITian Desh Deshpande, the Akshaya Patra Foundation helps run the world’s largest mid-day meal scheme, feeding more than a million children.

The summit also firmed up its plans to push educational reform in India as outlined in their so-called Panch Ratnas presented to the Indian president in July. “Under the Panch Ratna or five-point plan, we want India to become the global hub for knowledge creation. In our education session

attended by Sam Pitroda and Indian minister D. Purandeswari, we decided to facilitate MoUs between Indian and US universities,” Mehra said.

The MoUs, he said, will boost research collaboration between Indian and US universities and facilitate faculty exchanges. As per its theme of `Entrepreneurship and Innovation in a Global Economy’, the IIT summit was addressed by top guns from energy and health care sectors.

“CEOs and top people from these sectors shared with us where future opportunities lie. Among others, we had CEO Jim Rogers of Duke Energy and Tulsi Tanti of Suzlon Energy,” Mehra said.

Bill Clinton, who was the main speaker at the summit, called the IITians India’s `best and brightest’. Holding a cheap toy lamp which can light two rooms, the former US president urged IITians to innovate to usher in cheap technologies for the common man.

Aneesh Chopra, Obama’s chief technology officer, also touched upon major areas in technology with immense future opportunities. Other prominent speakers at the summit included James Owens, chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc., and Raghuram G. Rajan of the University of Chicago and former chief economist of the IMF.

Canadian parliament celebrates Diwali

THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT celebrated Diwali recently, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other top leaders lighting the traditional lamps.

Immigration minister Jason Kenney, finance

minister Jim Flaherty, public safety minister Peter Van Loan, parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai, opposition leader Jack Layton and parliamentarians were among the 450 dignitaries to attend the festivities Thursday night.

High commissioner Shashisekar Gavai of India and envoys from Pakistan and Malaysia were also among those who attended the evening gala.

After lighting the traditional lamp, Prime Minister Harper said the “growing IndoCanadian community is at the forefront of Canada’s quest to build an even better country for generations to come”.

“From coast to coast our country has been and continues to be immeasurably enriched by your contributions,” he asserted.

After the prime minister, Obhrai and other guests lit the Diwali lamp and participated in a Hindu traditional ceremony conducted by priests from temples in Toronto and Ottawa. Obhrai, who began celebrating Diwali at the Canadian parliament in 1998, thanked the prime minister and other dignitaries.

“Since 1998, Diwali on Parliament Hill (the seat of the House of Commons) has grown in significance and stature, and today can truly be considered as Canada’s National Diwali Festival,” said Obhrai, who is parliamentary secretary to the foreign minister.

The guests were shown how Diwali is celebrated differently in various parts of India. After the ceremonies, a traditional Diwali dinner was laid out and the guests were treated to Indian delicacies.

Science a family tradition for Nobel Prize winner

All work and no play have certainly not made Venkatraman Ramakrishnan a dull boy. As a young lad in Baroda, he would cycle straight back from school to his lab at home, working away religiously on some experiment. His genes were quite literally steeped in science. After all, mum Rajalakshmi and dad CV Ramakrishnan helped found the biochemistry faculty at Gujarat’s Maharaja Sayyaji Rao University. And though she isn’t around today, mum knew that one day her son would get the ultimate prize.

The 58-year-old India born scientist, who migrated to the US in the early seventies, was recently named Nobel Prize winner along with his peers, American Thomas A. Steitz and Israeli Ada E. Yonath for “studies of the structure and function of the ribosome”.

The trio has detailed exactly how information contained in the DNA is translated into life - a process that has benefited the fight against infectious diseases.

An honoured but deeply humbled Ramakrishnan who still cycles to work at the multiple Nobel-winning Cambridge lab MRC, has said that he is “deeply indebted to all of the brilliant associates, students and post docs who worked in my lab, as science is a highly collaborative enterprise.”

“Ribosomes produce proteins, which in turn control the chemistry in all living organisms. As ribosomes are crucial to life, they are also a major target for new antibiotics. An understanding of the ribosome’s innermost workings is important for a scientific understanding of life. This knowledge can be put to a practical and immediate use; many of today’s antibiotics cure various diseases by blocking the function of bacterial ribosomes,” the Nobel committee stated while announcing the award.

“This year’s three laureates have all generated 3D models that show how different antibiotics bind to the ribosome. These models are now used by scientists in order to develop new antibiotics, directly assisting the saving of lives and decreasing humanity’s suffering”, the committee further added.

All three scientists have used a method called X-ray crystallography to map the position for each and every one of the hundreds of thousands of atoms that make up the ribosome.

Inside every cell in all organisms, there are DNA molecules, which contain the blueprints for how a human being, a plant or a bacterium, looks and functions. But the DNA molecule is passive - the blueprints become transformed into living matter through the work of ribosomes.

Based upon the information in DNA, ribosomes make proteins: oxygentransporting haemoglobin, antibodies of the immune system, hormones such as insulin, the collagen of the skin, or enzymes that break down sugar. There are tens of thousands of proteins in the body and they all have different forms and functions. They build and control life at the chemical level.

Congratulating Ramakrishnan, Prime

Ramakrishnan’s basic research on the arrangement of atoms in the ribosome could help researchers to design antibiotics to treat people who are infected with a bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance, for example some of the strains of bacteria that cause tuberculosis.

Minister Manmohan Singh said it was a matter of great pride for the country and also a tribute to India’s educational system and the teaching community.

In a statement, the prime minister said: “I warmly congratulate you on the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2009. This high honour is just and due recognition of your exceptional scientific achievements in your chosen field of study.”

“It is a matter of great pride for India that a brilliant scientist, who has gained the

in our country and the dedication of the teaching community that we are able to nurture such international excellence in the sciences,” he said.

The prime minister said the work Ramakrishnan has done to extend the frontiers of molecular biology “will be an inspiration to thousands of Indian scientists, researchers and technologists, who strive to follow in your footsteps

President Pratibha Patil also congratulated the Indian-born scientist.

The president has said she is very proud to hear of the news and is happy that Professor Ramakrishnan’s pursuit of understanding the structure and function of the ribosome has been recognised, a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.

The president hopes that the work will one day help in bringing better cure for those who suffer from incurable bacterial infections, it said.

Venky as he is fondly known to friends and family is the third Nobel Prize winner from the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Born in the temple town of Chidambaram in 1952, Ramakrishnan is a senior research fellow at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, Britain, since 2008, while Steitz is Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics at Yale University in the US and Yonath is at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.

The MRC has said Ramakrishnan’s research could lead to the development of

on the back of such discoveries that we can continue to drive translation into benefits for human health”, according to the MRC.

According to the World Health Organisation, tuberculosis is spreading at the rate of one new infection every second. In 2007, there were 9.27 million new cases - 500,000 of them resistant to drugs and 50,000 “extensively drug resistant”.

The MRC said Ramakrishnan’s basic research on the arrangement of atoms in the ribosome could help researchers to design antibiotics to treat people who are infected with a bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance, for example some of the strains of bacteria that cause tuberculosis.

“Better targeting of the bacterial ribosome should also help to avoid negative effects on human cells thereby reducing the side effects of taking antibiotics,” the MRC said in a statement.

Ramakrishnan did his BSc in physics from Maharaja Sayajirao University before moving to the US for further studies. He earned his Ph.D in Physics from Ohio University and later worked at the University of California from 1976-78. During his stint at the varsity, Ramakrishnan conducted a research with Dr Mauricio Montal, a membrane biochemist and later designed his own 2-year transition from theoretical physics to biology.

As a postdoctoral fellow at Yale

Prof Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, joint winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

University, he worked on a neutronscattering map of the small ribosomal subunit of E Coli. He has been studying ribosome structure ever since.

Indian Australians would also be excited to note that his family briefly lived in Adelaide in the early sixties.

Nobel for Ramakrishnan: Gujarat’s MSU celebrates

As Venkatraman Ramakrishnan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry along with two others Wednesday, the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) in this Gujarat city - where he did graduation in physics - reacted with pride and joy.

“We knew one day he will win a Nobel prize,” said J.S. Bandukwala, a retired professor of nuclear physics and civil rights activist as he recalled the Tamil boy who grew up in Vadodara, graduated in physics from here and then went to the US for further studies.

While the honour for Venky - as his classmates used to call him - was a matter of pride for students, there were few in the present lot on the campus who could have heard of him.

He last visited the university to deliver a lecture Jan 31, 2005, leaving students and teachers impressed.

“A very simple person of high intellectual calibre,” remembered N. Singh as he talked about the interaction he had at the meet.

Born to academician parents in Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu in 1951, Venkatraman studied in the Rosary High School before graduating in physics in 1971. His father was a well-known teacher in the science faculty and his mother taught home science in the same university. They both retired in 1985 and left to join their son and daughter, who was doing medical research, in the US.

Nobel laureates of Indian origin mostly from Tamil Nadu, Bengal

Is it more than just a coincidence that the Nobel laureates of Indian origin belong to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal?

Like Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, the latest winner, C.V. Raman and Subramanyan Chandrasekhar, who won the prize in 1930 and 1983 respectively, were also Tamils. They were also members of the Tamil diaspora in the US who had emigrated following the rise of the backward caste movement in Tamil Nadu that put the upper castes under social and political pressure.

Of the other winners, the first among Indians was Rabindranath Tagore, who received the prize in 1913. It was not until 1998 before another Bengali won the prize -- economist Amartya Sen.

There were two other winners, however, who were associated with Calcutta, as Kolkata was then known, although they were not Bengalis. Ronald Ross was one of them. He received the prize in 1902 for his work on malaria, which he studied at the Presidency General Hospital (now Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital) between 1881 and 1899. The other was Albania-born Mother Teresa, who won the prize in 1997.

The reason why Tamil Nadu and West Bengal should have produced more Nobel laureates than other provinces is probably due to the fact that these two states had a headstart in the matter of modern education.

The first college imparting Western-style education was set up in Calcutta in 1817. It was called Hindu College and became the

Presidency College in 1855. Similarly, the Presidency College of Madras (now Chennai) was set up in 1840.

What cannot be easily explained, however, is that although Elphinstone College in Bombay was set up at the same time (1856), Maharashtra has not been as fortunate as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in the matter of producing Nobel prize winners.

This strange regional imbalance where two states in the east and the south are the only ones from where scholars and scientists of distinction have emerged, must arouse curiosity.

Only historians can offer some clues by probing the past periods of these two regions in terms of ascertaining their intellectual legacies along with sociologists who try to identify the factors responsible for the academic achievements.

Arguably, the distinction which the British made about martial and other races in India may include a grain of truth after all even though such assessments were later criticised as another attempt by a colonial regime to divide and rule.

It has to be noted that apart from those Tamils who won the prize, there were also others who eminently deserved it, such as the mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, who, incidentally, was the nephew of the great astrophysicist Subramanyan Chandrasekhar.

In Bengal, too, there were at least two others who could have won the prize. One of them was Jagadish Chandra Bose,

who pioneered the investigation of radio and microwave optics, as the Internet wikipedia says, and also made “significant contributions” to plant science.

The other was Satyendra Nath Bose, who is known for his work on quantum mechanics, which led to the Bose-Einstein theory. The subatomic particle, Boson, is named after him.

Not surprisingly, two other scientific terms recall these Indian scientists. One is the Raman effect, which is named after C.V. Raman, and the other is Chandrasekhar limit, which is named after the astrophysicist.

The other Indian scientist who won the prize is the molecular biologist, Hargobind Khorana, another resident of America. He was born in that part of Punjab which is now in Pakistan.

Then, there is Rajendra Pachauri, also from north India, who won it in 2007 for his contributions in the field of climate change. He was also the first to get the Nobel prize for peace after the Dalai Lama, who received it in 1989. Though not an Indian, the Tibetan pontiff can be regarded as an honorary citizen of the country.

V.S. Naipaul is the second person of Indian origin who won the prize for literature after Tagore. But his links with India are no more than tenuous despite his keen interest in its history and the social scene. He was born in Trinidad and is now a British citizen.

Amulya Ganguli, IANS

India celebrates Diwali, 32 die in Tamil Nadu DIWALI, THE FESTIVAL

celebrated across India Saturday with prayers, fireworks and frenzied shopping but it was marred by tragedy in Tamil Nadu. With the economy slowly recovering from the recession that badly hit Diwali last year, people celebrated the festival with fervour and with greater enthusiasm.

Many thronged temples, distributed sweets and wished friends and relatives, with SMS messages - which seem to have replaced the traditional greeting cards - going to and fro throughout the day.

Innumerable homes across the country witnessed colourful rangolis and flowers on doorsteps. There were prayers to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity.

In the evening, millions of lights from tiny earthen diyas and dazzling strings of electric bulbs lit up homes, factories and offices from one of the country to another.

Tragedy struck Tamil Nadu’s Pallipatu village, some 90 km from Chennai, when a devastating fire engulfed a godown packed with shoppers for crackers, charring 32 to death. Most victims were from Andhra Pradesh.

Barring this tragedy, it was a joyous day everywhere.

Marketing professional Radhika Mishra said in New Delhi: “I got up early and went to the temple with my family. Like every year my sister and I decorated the courtyard with rangolis and diyas.”

Many extended their Diwali weekend to take a small vacation.

“I took the opportunity to go to Jodhpur with my wife,” engineer Prateek Shah told IANS.

In Karnataka, victims of the recent floods too joined the celebrations.

“I am going to enjoy Diwali fully. I want to forget all the sad incidents and welcome a new beginning,” Santosh Nair, a techie, told IANS.

Reports of Diwali celebrations also came from Tripura and Assam in the northeast.

In Udaipur in south Tripura, a large fair was organised at the 14th century Tripura Sundari Temple with the government contributing over Rs.3 million.

Two buffaloes and hundreds of goats and pigeons will be sacrificed Saturday night in the presence of hundreds of thousands of devotees, said Subrata Deb, chairperson of the Udaipur municipality.

West Bengal celebrated Kali Puja and Diwali, with the police keeping a close vigil to prevent use of banned sound-producing crackers.

At the famed Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, Diwali celebrations began with the auctioning of valuable offerings made to its coffers.

Most households also prepared sweets and

savouries and the special ‘Diwali Leghium’, a herbal jam.

For newly married couples, it was the first Diwali post their wedding.

Instead of account books, these traders pray to computers this Diwali

THERE ARE PROBABLY few things more sacred to traders than the account book and so traditionally on Diwali, they have been praying to it. This year however, a group of businessmen prayed to their computers instead.

Since Diwali is associated with the goddess of wealth Lakshmi, the business community considers it as an auspicious time to start a new accounting year.

Praveen Khandelwal, president of the Confederation of All India Traders said that this time they were praying to their computers.

“In view of rapid computerisation, most traders across the country have changed their accounting system from traditional Bahi-Khata to computer system. Therefore, on the occasion of Diwali, the trading community is worshipping their computers,” Khandelwal said.

According to him, a special puja was organised at Karol Bagh, a busy business district in the capital, with vedic mantras being recited by priests.

“We are offering our prayers to one computer and a laptop, since the latter is now being used in our shops as well,” said Harish Kumar, a trader who participated in the ceremony.

While the ceremony was attended by around 25 traders and shop keepers of the area, it attracted scores of other curious onlookers.

“Generally we see shopkeepers praying to their account books on Diwali, but this is the first time I am seeing puja being done to computers and laptops! I had come out of my house to buy some flowers and stopped by to see what they were doing with the machines,” homemaker Gauri Sharma said.

Northeast frets, but India can do little on China’s Brahmaputra dam

WHILE CONCERNED OFFICIALS of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have asked for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention, India may not be able to make much noise over China’s hydro project on the Brahamaputra in Tibet, said officials.

Sources said that it was India’s assessment

that the Zangmu hydropower project would be a “run of the river” hydro project, which will not violate any international laws.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said, in response to a media report, that India will be trying “to ascertain whether there are recent developments that suggest any change in the position conveyed to us by the government of China”.

The spokesperson said at earlier meetings of India-China experts on trans-border river issues “the Chinese side has categorically denied that there is a plan to build any such large-scale diversion project on the Brahmaputra river”.

According to the sources, India will be inquiring about the Zangmu project at the next bilateral meeting of water experts. China’s reported plans to build a dam across the Brahmaputra river and divert water to its arid provinces have been opposed by the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments. “Large-scale diversion of water would adversely hit the state’s economy and could even lead to environmental problems and affect the surface water table in the (Indian) northeast,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

The 2,906-km long Brahmaputra is one of Asia’s largest rivers that flows the first stretch of 1,625 km in Tibet region, the next 918 km in India and the remaining 363 km through Bangladesh before converging into the Bay of Bengal.

“We are going to seek the prime minister’s intervention to ensure that China does not construct the dam. It would have devastating impact on Assam,” the chief minister said.

“It would be a gross violation of international protocol if China arbitrarily constructs the dam,” Congress MP from Arunachal Pradesh Takam Sanjay said. Experts feel that a dam on the Brahmaputra would have a cascading impact in the northeast and even in Bangladesh.

“We are worried as many areas in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and even Bangladesh would go dry if the Chinese went ahead with their plans. This move would severely affect water flow to the region which in turn would adversely affect agriculture,” said Sapna Devi, a geologist.

According to media reports, China was planning to divert 200 billion cubic metres of water to feed the Yellow River in an attempt at easing acute water shortage in Shaanxi, Hebel, Beijing and Tianjin.

The Brahmaputra is the lifeline for a vast majority of the people in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Bangladesh. Most of them depend on the river to irrigate their fields, fishing and transportation of goods.

Agriculture forms the backbone of the economies in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with nearly 80 percent of the 28 million people in the two states eking out a living through farming.

There has been no official reaction from Beijing to India’s concern about damming the Brahmaputra.

IIMs get more autonomy, collegium to appoint directors

GIVING FURTHER autonomy to the country’s premier B-schools, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Friday said a 13-member collegium will appoint institutes’ directors and board members.

“The collegium will suggest names for appointment of the board members and the directors,” Sibal said after a meeting with directors of all IIMs.

Currently, the IIM director and board members are appointed by the central government.

The minister told reporters that the

The Golden Temple in Amritsar stands bedecked in lights at this year’s Diwali

directors have opposed the setting up of a pan-IIM board as suggested by the R.C. Bhargava committee but have agreed to the collegium-based appointment idea.

Sibal said the collegium will have academics and members from industry. While each IIM will have its own board, the collegium will suggest names for appointment of director and board members at all seven IIMs.

Reacting to the announcement made by Sibal, IIM-Kozhikode Director Debasis Chatterjee said: “We are happy about the development. The minister has assured us that there will be no interference in our functioning.”

During the meeting the minister assured the directors that he is in favour of greater autonomy to these premier business schools and asked the directors to prepare a vision document for the next five years.

“The directors will submit their vision document keeping in mind both quality and inclusiveness,” Sibal said, adding that it must be done by January 2010.

The idea of the IIMs opening off-shore campuses was also discussed at the meeting. Earlier, the ministry had rejected a proposal of IIM-Bangalore to open campus(es) abroad.

Climate deal to deliver solar power to 20 mn Indian households

INDIA’S AMBITIONS to roll out a massive solar energy project is set to receive a strong boost as part of a climate change deal in Copenhagen at the end of the year, a senior British minister has revealed.

British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliand’s comments, made to IANS, came ahead of a Major Economies Forum (MEF) meeting in London Oct 1819, set to be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Special Envoy Shyam Saran.

Although the prospects of India being offered free green technology have receded in favour of what is being described as a “collaborative and cooperative” approach to technology development and sharing, India’s technology needs will be at the top of the agenda at the Copenhagen summit this December.

Miliband said he and Saran have held discussions about how to expand India’s solar energy programme as part of an overall financing deal in Copenhagen.

“India have a strong ambition on going solar,” Miliband told IANS, describing Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh as a “visionary person”.

Miliband said solar energy will deliver electricity to 20 million new households as part of an overall financing agreement in Copenhagen. Currently 450 million Indians do not have access to electricity.

British negotiators say current thinking on technology transfer - in New Delhi and London - has shifted to favour “horizontal cooperation” on technologies like carbon capture storage, knowledge sharing, and “getting our scientists and engineers to learn form each other”.

This shift is an acknowledgement of changed ground realities, with India and China leading on the development of many green technologies and even exporting them to developed countries, negotiators said.

“The long-standing discourse of [free] technology transfer fails to recognise how far India already is down the route of developing its own technologies,” one senior negotiator said.

Miliband had strong praise for domestic actions taken by China and India to lower their carbon emissions, and said it was up to developed countries now to respond.

“What’s changed in the past couple of

months is that India have said ‘we will also pass domestic laws’,” Miliband said. “The new Indian environment minister is frankly an incredibly visionary and imaginative person, who has come into his job and said, ‘Right, we’re going to pass a domestic law to help get an agreement and it’s going to be clear and domestically binding on India’.”

The MEF comprises Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the US.

Sweden as the president of the EU, Denmark as host of the December summit and the UNFCCC - the UN’s climate change agency - will also participate.

The London MEF meeting is to be followed by a High Level Conference on Technology Development and Transfer in New Delhi Oct 22-23 aimed at advancing the “international policy dialogue on technologies needed to address climate change”.

More Bollywood, less couture at India Couture Week

WITH TOP NOTCH Bollywood celebrities sashaying down the ramp or making for a dazzling audience, the second edition of the HDIL India Couture Week (HDIL-ICW) was high on glamour and less on couture.

Despite the inaugural show by designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla - where the Bachchan family was expected to walk the ramp - being cancelled, the HDIL-ICW week was still a star studded affair.

All the Khans of Bollywood - Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Zaayed Khan and Imran Khan - sashayed down the ramp. Giving them company were other Bollywood newsmakers Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Sridevi, Gauri Khan and Shruti Hasan.

Sitting in front rows and cheering for their friends were Bollywood stars Preity Zinta, Kajol, Dia Mirza, Amisha Patel, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Farhan Akhtar, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, Dino Morea, Farah Khan, Uday Chopra, Anupam Kher, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor among others.

The Bollywood presence definitely took attention away from the designers and their clothes.

This was clearly indicated when a journalist pointed out at one particular show that made an exception: “There are no celebrities walking the ramp or sitting in the front row at all. Huge disappointment!” Fashion critic Sathya Saran said: “When stars become the highlight of the show, designs take a backstage and the focus gets shifted to celebrities and not on clothes. We should get rid of this star struck frenzy, otherwise it’s the designers’ loss.”

The second edition of the HDIL-ICW was by all means better than its first edition in terms of arrangement and decor. With couturiers like Pallavi Jaikishen, Manish Malhotra, Varun Bahl, Manav Gangwani, Suneet Varma and Monisha Bajaj participating in it, one couldn’t have asked for a better line-up. There too, filmmaker Karan Johar made his presence felt. Lotus-like cutouts hanging from the ceiling and three lounges went well with the ambience. The only drawback was the lack of waiting area.

The lounges took up most of the space leading to a cramped waiting area. So there were crowds before the start and after the end of every show, resulting in a lot of pushing and shoving.

Also, one thing universal to fashion shows

in India - which was true at this event toois that they start fashionably late.

Despite having two shows every day and one main show area (MSA) being allocated to each designer 24 hours prior to the show, giving enough time to deck up the ramp according to his or her theme, the shows always started late.

Unlike the previous year when designers had given special emphasis to ramp decor, this time except Suneet Varma, all others failed to impress with their catwalk creativity.

In terms of clothes, while most designers stuck to heavy bridal wear as their couture collection, designer Monisha Jaising came up with a fresh collection of bustier dresses and fishnet gowns for her couture line.

Also, this was the first time HDIL-ICW had a couture jewellery show by designers Farah Khan, Maheep Kapoor and Queenie Dhody.

“Jewellery is an important aspect of couture wear. One can’t ignore the importance of high-end jewellery. This show gave everyone an idea of what high-end jewellery is all about,” said Sunil Sethi, president of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), which organised the event. HDIL-ICW had a lot of bling and high-end couture - but what really dazzled in the end was star power.

Half of India’s children malnourished, says NGO report

AS THE WORLD observes World Food Day, India, with 47 percent of its children under the age of six malnourished, ranks below countries like Bangladesh and Nepal on the state of hunger, a report says.

According to the report by ActionAid, an international NGO, India stood at the 22nd spot amongst a list of 51 countries, like Australia, Britain, the US, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Anne Jellema, ActionAid’s international policy director, talking about the report, said: “It is the role of the state and not the level of wealth, that determines progress on hunger.”

India’s case showed a lot of contrasts. While the country ranked amongst the first three developing countries on the indicator for social protection, because of poor implementation over 30 million Indians have joined the ranks of hungry since mid1990s, the study revealed.

Babu Matthew, country director for ActionAid India, said: “The dark side of India’s economic growth has been that the excluded social groups have been further marginalised, compounding their hunger, malnutrition and even leading to starvation deaths.”

Meanwhile, China has been able to cut numbers of its hungry people by 58 million in ten years through strong state support for small farmers, the report said.

India ranks sixth among developing nations in terms of legal framework for addressing hunger and food rights. Brazil is ranked first under this parameter.

The ActionAid report said that India has some of the best legislations for social protection amongst the developing nations on nutrition, free school meals, employment guarantee, and food subsidy for the poor and pension for vulnerable groups. However, talking about poor implementation of laws and schemes which results in them becoming futile for the common man, Amar Joyti Nayak, food rights head of the NGO, said: “Implementation remains a massive challenge in the absence of recognition of rights of the poor”.

“Entitlements have to be delivered on the ground by empowering the communities and

enforced earnestly with greater political will by the government,” he said.

“In a year when poor are reeling under crop loss due to droughts and floods in India, focus must be on supporting agriculture, especially subsistence and women farmers,” Nayak added.

The report said that although the farm loan waiver enabled a boost in investment to agriculture in 2008, longer term interventions are required. Delay in payment of wages through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) further ails those who have been already starving.

Jellema said: “Massive and urgent support to poor farmers, and social welfare programmes for vulnerable groups, are needed to reverse growing global hunger. At the World Food Summit next month, donor countries need to announce an additional 23 billion dollars to support these measures.”

Karnataka on austerity drive to aid flood-hit people

KARNATAKA CHIEF Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa announced a blanket ban on foreign jaunts by ministers and officials and directed them to fly only economy class in a move to mobilise funds for flood relief.

“As an austerity measure, there will be a blanket ban on foreign jaunts by ministers and officials during this fiscal. Ministers and top officials will fly in only economy class hereafter,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after a high-level meeting here.

The state government decided to cut nonplan expenditure by 10 percent this fiscal (2009-10) to mobilise resources for relief and rehabilitation work in the flood-affected districts.

Yeddyurappa also requested the prime minister to waive farm loans and enhance crop insurance amount to the affected farmers in the flood-hit areas.

“I have also written to the prime minister to sanction about 200,000 houses under the Indira Awas Yojana central scheme and central assistance to shift and rehabilitate the people living in the 220 low-lying villages that were worst affected in the floods,” Yeddyurappa said.

Rain havoc and flash floods Sep 29-Oct 2 in 15 districts of north Karnataka claimed 226 lives, destroyed about 501,400 houses, 7,800 head of cattle were lost, 4,290 villages were affected and 1.13 million hectares of crop land damaged.

In a related development, contributions to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund from various social, religious and private organisations and individuals have crossed the Rs.1,000 crore mark.

“The state government employees have donated Rs.160 crore to the relief fund, comprising four months of dearness allowance and a day’s salary,” Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy said.

Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa has decided to visit the flood-hit Raichur district Saturday to monitor relief and rehab works and spend a day or two during the Deepavali festival with the affected people.

“The chief minister will visit the relief camps in the district and issue relief cheques to the affected people personally,” Reddy added.

Festival of Smiles

Scenes from the Hindu Council’s Diwali Mela, held at Parramatta Stadium on 11 Oct 2009

Yes, despite the vagaries of the weather, the mood at the Diwali Mela 2009 remained cheerful and upbeat. Smiling faces everywhere were testimony to the wellorganised and entertaining cultural program, the variety of food and the events, which had something for everyone.

The Parramatta Stadium saw thousands of people, for a change enjoying the festive atmosphere, instead of a game.

The food stalls were hugely popular as always, and fashion shows and Bollywood dances marked the lively onstage entertainment.

Said Laurie Ferguson, representing Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, “I hope this festival stays in Parramatta, a more central site for the large Indian population of Sydney.”

Phillip Ruddock, representing Malcolm Turnbill, Federal Leader of the Opposition said India has always been a very special place for him. And the Mela was indeed a glimpse of the vibrancy and colour of India. Also present were David Lawrence Borger, Representing NSW Premier Nathan Rees and the member for Granville, and Barry

O’Farrell, Leader of State Opposition, among others.

Amitdas Gupta, Consul General of India, in his speech, took the opportunity to touch upon the issues the community has faced in recent weeks, particularly with the students. He added however, that he was encouraged by the support the community had received from the government in the matter.

On an optimistic note Tanya Gadiel, Member for Parramatta said, “This celebration is a timely reminder for us to focus on good things in our life and stop dwelling on those which disappoint us and leave us wanting.”

As dusk fell, the crowdstired by this time by all the merry-making and stuffing themselves silly with mithai and snacks - settled down to watch the big baddie Raavan burn and crash to the ground. The Hindus gathered there rejoiced - all the evil in the world had been symbolically brought to an end, and the world was rid of all negative energies. To celebrate, the night sky lit up in bright colours, and brought even greater cheer. Happy Diwali!

Photos Shweta Sirohi Gupta

Light up!

NIMA MENON traces the global origins of the festival of light, its rich symbolism and universal message of goodwill

ead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step is enough for me.”

The symbolism of light and darkness is ancient and cross-cultural. While many believe that there can be no light without darkness, others believe that light is all there is and the absence of light is darkness. The coexistence of light and darkness are not just physical, but spiritual and metaphorical too. Darkness is often associated with gloom, cold, despair, death, chaos, danger, night, etc.; while light is seen as an antidote to it all. It is thus associated with rejoicing and relief, with safety and warmth, with awakening and sight and with life itself. Light makes it possible to see all things clearly. An enlightened person is one who has the light of wisdom and understanding shining within him. And as we celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of light, we all hope that the diya of wisdom, tolerance and camaraderie burns bright within each one of us. Research revealed to me that Indians are not the only ones who celebrate the festival of lights. It is interesting to note that the festival of light of a different kind, but with almost similar symbolism is celebrated by the Burmese, Jews and Thais. In Sweden, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Germany and Austria too, people celebrate their own festival of light. The people of Myanmar celebrate ‘Thadingyut’, the festival of light in the month of October. This festival is celebrated over a period of three days; the day before full moon, full moon day itself and the day after. They celebrate this festival to commemorate Buddha’s return to earth from heaven. Streets and houses are brilliantly illuminated and stalls are filled with various kinds of candles, colourful paper lanterns, electrical lighting and fireworks. In small towns people light diyas and

there are many street dances and musicals. The festival is also a time for thanksgiving, with the younger generation paying their respects to their parents, teachers and elders and asking their forgiveness for any wrong doings. They can be seen walking with candles and gifts paying their homage to the elders.

‘Hanukkah’ is the Jewish festival of lights. It may not fall on the same date every year, as it is decided according to the Jewish calendar. It starts on the Hebrew date of the 25th of Kislev and goes on to the 2nd of Tevet, lasting eight days.

In Hebrew the word ‘Hanukkah’ means dedication. It is celebrated to commemorate the great victory of the Jews over the Syrian Greeks in 165 BC. After the Maccabees won the battle, they entered the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, which according to them had been desecrated by the Syrian invaders. After cleansing it, they once again dedicated it to the service of the Lord and

celebrated the first Hanukkah. The most important Hanukkah ritual is the lighting of candles, and each night one more is added.

In November, the people of Thailand celebrate their festival of light, ‘Loi Krathong’. On the night of the full moon, traditional banana leaf boats called ‘krathong’ decorated with flowers and containing candles and incense sticks are set afloat in a river or waterway. Coins are also placed as offerings. These ‘krathong’ are generally in the shape of a fully bloomed lotus. While for some people the setting afloat of the ‘krathong’ is casting away the grief and misfortunes in their lives, to some others it is the time to pray for happiness and success. While there are many stories surrounding the celebration of this festival, the most popular is that it is celebrated as a mark of respect and thanksgiving to the Goddess of Water, for providing water for their livelihood and also asking her forgiveness for polluting the waters. Music, dance, drama and an impressive display of fireworks are all a part of the celebration. In Sweden, Norway and Finland, St.Lucia’s Day is celebrated on December 13, to honour Saint Lucia who was killed by the

Romans in 304 AD. She is believed to be one of the earliest Christian martyrs. It is their festival of light, celebrated with candlelight and candlelit processions. As a part of the church service, women sing songs describing how Saint Lucia overcame darkness to find light. As a part of the tradition, the eldest girl in the family wears a white robe

The festival is also a time for thanksgiving, with the younger generation paying their respects to their parents, teachers and elders and asking their forgiveness for any wrong doings

and a crown of lighted candles. She is said to symbolize Saint Lucia. In Scandinavian countries this marks the beginning of the Christmas season and is meant to bring hope and light in the long days of winter. On November 11, streets of Netherlands, Germany and Austria are lit up as they celebrate Saint Martin’s Day. It is a lot similar to Halloween, but here children go from door-to-door with lit paper lanterns and candles, singing songs about St. Martin, in return for a treat. Often the procession is led by a man on a horse dressed as St. Martin. The main delicacy eaten during this festival is goose. Legend has it that when Martin was reluctant to become a Bishop he hid in a stable amongst geese, but was soon found out because of the noise made by the birds.

So, it doesn’t matter which part of the world, lights are lit to celebrate hope, gratitude, respect, dedication and life. The next time we light a candle, a diya or decorate our houses with coloured lights, let’s all remember that more than anything else, it is important to brighten our lives and of those around us with joy, while thanking providence for all that we have been blessed with.

Ben Sweetland said, “We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own. So, during this season of the festival of light, let’s become the light that will light the lives of others, in turn lighting our very own.

English, as she is (no longer) spoke

GRAHAM

the modern day tendency to warp the English language into an offshoot of techno-babble

ike all of us, I have my biases, and, perhaps with the onset of that dreaded nemesis called “old age”, mine are starting to show.

Having taught and loved languages most of my life, I respect and admire the beauty of language used well, and despair when it’s used badly. At the risk of being labelled (once again) a cranky old man, language, and in particular, English is being used more and more badly. (I’m sure I could now get away with “badder and badder”.)

It’s galling enough that some people are seriously suggesting that “text-speak” (R U 2 C me 2 nite?”) should be accepted in the HSC examinations, in essays etc, on the facile grounds that it’s “modern English”. Literally every day, and without even wishing to, I see, hear and read journalists, reporters and a variety of public figures mangling and misusing English, with neither correction nor comment.

I’m sick to death of hearing and reading “one in five Australians are (sic) too fat/rich/ dopey etc.” (One in five IS, please! One is singular!)

“Whom” now seems to replace “who, even when “whom” is demonstrably incorrect. One leading newspaper recently stated “....Joe Tripodi, whom (sic) Labor sources suspect is leading a move ...”. It’s not “whom”! “Who” is the subject of “is leading”. Omit the “Labor sources suspect” bit, and it’s “Joe Tripodi who is leading...”. It’s basic grammar, not rocket science!

A few weeks ago, a certain (blonde) ABC newsreader pronounced “scintillating” as “skintillating”! A TV reporter, in defending his source (for a story that turned out to be false), claimed “My source is impeachable!” (I wonder on what charge his source is going to be impeached. He meant, of course, “impeccable’!)

The recent editorial in my local newspaper bore the (supposedly smart-alec) headline: How a couch effects our seats.” The editor, who should know better, means “affects”, not “effects”. “Effect” is usually a noun, meaning “result”. When it is used as a verb, “effect” means “to influence”. The distinction was once known and understood by primary school students.

Malcolm Turnbull’s now ex-P.R. man, on camera, had to look up “concocted” to see what it meant. He soon found out.

We have the laughable, if it were not so serious, dichotomy between a leading employer group, stating that too many résumés reveal sloppy and careless writing, lousy spelling and virtual illiteracy, while the popularist Principal of a private school fatuously states that spelling is old-fashioned and doesn’t matter.

I am unashamed in my belief that the clear, unambiguous, conventionally correct and accurate use of a language, be it English, Hindi, or whatever, does matter. It has long been one of the benchmarks of an educated, articulate member of any society which values such standards.

Are we on the brink of a purely technology-driven society which no longer values traditional standards? If, as I fear, we are, what has caused this collapse? What are its ramifications? And does anybody, except old fogeys like me, really care?

If a school Principal, supposedly an educational leader, actually believes that spelling and grammar are “yesterday’s standards”, what other standards are tacitly being allowed to decline in his school?

l Numeracy? (Because electronics can calculate for you?)

l Knowledge of History (Because today and tomorrow are all that count?)

l Dress and deportment? (Because fashion is set by the young?)

l Conduct and morality? (Because the individual is all-important?)

If our leading newspapers and our public broadcasters no longer seem interested in setting the language standards for which they were once respected, and if neither organisation (one of which you and I help to fund) even bothers to answer correspondence pointing out repeated errors

the end of World War II, and just prior to unleashing the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the U.S. Allies sent an ultimatum to Japan, to the effect that if she did not surrender, a terrible and devastating new weapon would be launched against her. The Japanese government, wishing to buy precious time, responded to the effect that, for the time being, Japan chose not to act upon this ultimatum.

The U.S. translator used a secondary, far less common meaning of the expression “not to act upon”, and the translation read as “Japan chooses to ignore your ultimatum”. The atomic bombs were dropped forthwith. Whoever said that correct use of language is unimportant?

Of course, language is dynamic. It evolves and changes over time; but despite what technocrats may think, it does so in general accordance with criteria and within parameters of which, as individuals, we may be unaware, but which do apply. The most obvious advantage of this is that, over the centuries, and despite many changes, there is some overarching continuity of form, structure and usage which enables us to have access to the language, and therefore the culture, of our forebears.

Traditionally, at least, there also needs to be communication and understanding between and across generations ... or do we now tacitly accept that only today’s generation matters?

It is now very challenging to get students to read and study a novel(s), especially one of the Classics. They see it as hard, boring and “irrelevant”.

Poetry and its appreciation is the province of a select few, and much of what now masquerades as poetry is mere doggerel, or arbitrarily divided prose.

It is a truism that, among migrants, the first generation struggles to adapt to their new environment, the second either “has survived” or not, and the third tends to yearn after the language and culture they have left behind.

If only the present, with its techno-speak, information and entertainment driven pressures, and the sloppy use of English by those who should know better, appears to count, will future generations even know what they have missed?

in language usage, does this mean that their senior management no longer even cares?

The correct, clear and unambiguous use of language is not “pedantic” or “academic”. Surely, in a world of increasing complexity and internationalism, language awareness, usage and communicative accuracy need to be enhanced, not glibly simplified as a mere tool of technology.

There is a documented story that, towards

It is, after all, remarkable and significant that, in 2009, English speakers can still read and understand Shakespeare, and that, admittedly with some effort, the great works of Hindi, Sanskrit, Latin, Greek, German, Russian etc can still be accessed and appreciated by those who wish to, with lessons to be learned from their timelessness.

Even before I retired as an educator, (if one ever does retire), I began to worry that the cult of immediacy and of instant gratification would impede, and eventually preclude our young people from having, or even wanting to have, such access.

It is surely not enough that today’s kids can communicate with each other. Kids have always been able to do so.

SIMS bemoans

Surely, in a world of increasing complexity and internationalism, language awareness, usage and communicative accuracy need to be enhanced, not glibly simplified as a mere tool of technology

A life in exile

NOEL G DE SOUZA comments on the life of migrants who, continents away from their homelands, recreate their familiar pasts in Australia

Diwali, a time for a new beginning, commemorates the return of Rama and Sita from exile as was told in Valmiki’s stupendous Sanskrit poem (24,000 verses) the Ramayana. Many of us migrants have, to a lesser or greater extent, a feeling of being in exile; it represents a pain of separation from the familiar (family, friends and landscape) of the old homeland to the unknown of the new country. This can lead to nostalgia and ultimately to melancholy, which the poet Keats characterised as “an anguish of the soul.”

to take whatever jobs were offered to them. They also longed for their old homelands and brought the flavour of their foods and their architecture to Australia. They brought multiculturalism, albeit European, to Australia. Some groups tried to recreate their festivals here like the Italians in Leichhardt and the Greeks in Newtown; the Germans celebrate Oktoberfest. Germans and Italians contributed to the establishment of the wine industry (such as the Italian de Bortoli family).

Rama and Sita suffered that pain of separation from Ayodhya, and later the anguish of separation from each other. Rama had done no wrong. His father King Dasaratha had generously but naively given two boons to his third wife Kaikeyi, who had made two demands: the first was that the king’s heir Rama be banished to a forest to live as a hermit for fourteen years and, second, that her own son Bharata be enthroned instead.

groups tried to recreate their festivals here like the Italians in Leichhardt and the Greeks in Newtown; the Germans celebrate Oktoberfest

Some

Rama had done no wrong, but accepted his father’s decision. Rama wanted Sita to continue within the safety of Ayodhya but she refused, and decided on a life of banishing herself to a forest with its hazards and its loneliness. The major part of the Ramayana deals with the story of this exile.

The feeling of exile and deprivation would have been particularly strong for the convicts from Britain and Ireland who were forced away from their families, friends and homes and transported, often for life, to distant Australia, then a forbidding land with strange animals, plants and people. Some of those sent here were young children who had committed petty crimes or even no crimes, but were found guilty by harsh courts. Sent in chains and then subjected to discipline by the whip aptly summarises their sad situation. Their longing for their old homeland was so strong that they contributed to replicating its character as much as possible within the new landscape.

There were volunteer migrants who came after the convicts such as during the gold rushes. Lured by stories of rich pickings or grants of rich cultivable lands, they were mostly to eventually experience disappointment, but they contributed to building a new and modern Australia, which was British in character.

After World War II there was a rush of European migrants to Australia. Fleeing Europe which had been beset by wars, they came with hope to a distant land. They were also to feel the sense of exile. Many of them were non-English speaking and had

Some East European migrants who were virtually refugees, such as Sidney Myer, Victor Smorgon, Sir Arvi Parbo and Frank Lowy, stand out as significant entrepreneurs who overcame major hurdles to set up businesses in Australia. The next migration wave came from Asia. Some came dramatically as “boat-people” from Vietnam venturing through perilous seas risking hazardous weather and pirates, to their selfimposed exile. They extended the meaning of multicultural to include Asian cultures.

In comparison to the earlier waves of migrants, Indians have not been as disadvantaged. They have come to an already developed Australia. They are Englishlanguage educated and many have useable tertiary qualifications. However, despite new telecommunications and cheap air travel, many still feel the sense of exile. This may be somewhat alleviated by associating with their ethnic groups which recreate their festivals such as Diwali.

Migrants from around the world who pine for their old countries and cultures need to put such longings behind them and rather work to establish themselves in their new country. Their Australian grown children cannot be expected to have a similar sort of attachment to the old countries because they do not have a feeling of living in exile; Australia is their home as the descendants of the convicts have shown. Migrants may be bewildered seeing their children grow up in an unfamiliar environment of social freedom and individual independence.

When in exile, despite trials and tribulations, both Rama and Sita adhered to their high principles. Rama had honed his skills during his exile and this prepared him to take up his reign as a just ruler in Ayodhya. They returned triumphantly to their rightful destiny in Ayodhya. Most migrants, in contrast, are here to stay on a permanent basis. Every migrant needs to banish any feelings of being in exile from within themselves.

Their Australian grown children cannot be expected to have a similar sort of attachment to the old countries because they do not have a feeling of living in exile; Australia is their home as the descendants of the convicts have shown

Guide to buying a netbook

Ihad presented a guide to buying a PDA (personal digital assistant)/ handheld computer and PDA phone in this column more than 2 years ago. On perusing that piece again today, I realised that changes in mobile devices are taking place so fast that any article on this topic needs to be revised within a few months. A few developments in the past couple of years that have transformed the way we work and communicate on the go, are the arrival of the iPhone with its hundreds of applications, as well as the advent of netbooks, the popularity of internet access via mobile internet, and a few others.

I will dedicate the next couple of issues with updates on the latest choices in mobile devices for (mainly) business and personal use. Let’s start off with a guide to buying a netbook.

What are netbooks? These are simply very small laptops that are cheaper, better looking but less powerful than a regular laptop. However, they are more powerful than PDAs (personal digital assistants)/ handheld computers and can run a full-sized operating system and applications such as Microsoft Office.

In basic terms, a netbook allows you to have a richer experience than smart phones and PDAs, but it does not come with a DVD drive and mostly is unable to run large applications such as video or audio editing software. It can run large multimedia files or office documents, but with a lot of strain. Most people use a netbook to browse the internet on the train or anywhere outside. They generally

don’t replace their laptop or desktop with a netbook. It’s a very convenient way to be productive when out and about.

The operating system runs your computer. While a choice between Linux and Windows XP is available, you may stick to Windows XP if you have always worked in Windows. Linux is a great system and light on the computer, but you need to be prepared to learn an entirely new way of interacting with your computer. You may also have to learn how to install new programmes and learn all about drivers to get new devices to work with it. Because of the overwhelming use of Windows, most applications are pre-configured to work with this programme in the first instance. Go in for at least 1 GB of RAM and 160 GB hard disk to ensure that your netbook works.

Let’s look at the physical aspects of your new netbook. Most come with an Intel Atom processor which is built for the purpose of the netbook. Most experts recommend sticking to it. As the keyboard is smaller, it can be cramped to type for a longer time. Ensure you test it out and buy the one that you are most comfortable to type on. Similarly, buy a larger screen if you like to read larger font sizes and want more information in a screen. Screen sizes vary all the way from 8 to 12 inches.

Storage is one of the most important aspects. Most netbooks come with 3-cell batteries that can last for 3 hours between battery charges. Some new models come with 6-cells and that may last for 6 hours –enough to last half the journey to India!

However, ensure that you buy features and power in a netbook that you need. If you only browse news on a train journey to the city, one with a 3-cell battery and a slower processor will suffice.

What’s available in the market? In Australia, prices start at $300 with Acer Aspire, one range which provides the basic configuration at a low price. ASUS EeePC comes next, which has a 6-cells battery in addition to a 1.6 GHz processor, closely followed by MSI Wind.

At the higher end, netbooks look better, come in different colours and sport a more familiar brand. At above the $500 mark, machines to look for are Lenovo IdeaPad S10, Sony VAIO W and Dell Inspiron Mini series.

I hope that you now have basic information to go hit the market to buy your netbook.

Check out different features, prices and models available at one of the online price comparison websites such as Shopbot (www.shopbot.com.au), Shopping. com hhtp://au.shopping.com or Yahoo!7 Shopping hhtp://au.shopping.yahoo.com).

Netbooks are very convenient and popular, but if these are not for you, don’t worry. Read my guide to buying a smartphone in the next piece in this series. And yes, it will cover the iPhone.

Hasnain Zaheer

Netbooks are more powerful than PDAs (personal digital assistants)/handheld computers and can run a full-sized operating system and applications such as Microsoft Office

A tale of two rivers

VIDYADHAR DABHOLKAR

shares experiences of a waterway exploration trip that covers many historic and natural wonders

During World War II this peninsula was the site of active combat against the Japanese, as evidenced by the remnants of an army bunker.

The city of Sydney that everybody knows bustles with commerce, has renowned hospitals and reputed research institutions, amongst many other organisations. But this very city is also strewn with many waterways and a few National Parks, resplendent with many varieties of flora and fauna. It then merges into the extended city of Gosford and its suburbs.

Parramatta is called ‘The river city’ for good reason, as it ferries thousands of commuters day in and day out to their place of work or for leisure. Apart from the Parramatta river, the Lane Cove and St. George rivers are popular too, as are their smaller counterparts. But the HawkesburyNepean river complex blending into the Tasman Sea is unique, as it is the longest river within the entire East coast of this vast land, stretching for about 360 kilometres from Broken Bay.

One can approach this river through Palm Beach, at the Northern-most suburb of Sydney. Scenic Cruises charter the Merinda II, a ferry which plies from this “countrysuburb” through Cottage Point to Bobbin Head. As the ferry leaves the Palm Beach wharf, Pittwater Lighthouse can be seen on the right. Built in 1788, this monument

is named after Sir William Pittwater, the then prevailing Prime Minister of Great Britain. Pittwater Lighthouse is located up the hill at a height of about 200 metres and shines its light to help navigate the myriad ferries, yachts and boats which traverse the waters of Broken Bay. Proceeding upstream is a township called Patonga, only 8 kilometres from the city of Sydney by water. However, driving to Patonga from Sydney will take over an hour, with a distance of around 130 kilometres. It was a fishing village in the century before last.

The waters traverse through Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, the third oldest of its kind in Australia since 1894. The forest is named after Ku-Ring-Gai, an aboriginal tribe which existed in this bushland for nearly 40,000 years. It spans 15,000 hectares of land with protuberances of earth making tiny hills which shelter wild life and wild plants. One can see koalas, wallabies and lyre birds in their natural habitat, but try not to wake them up from their repose.

A few kilometres further, Magpie Beach appears to the left. On the right is Broken Bay and even further ahead is the Tasman Sea, by which one can cruise ahead to New Zealand, ploughing 1200 miles through its salty waters.

Further ahead is Lion Island, so named for its shape like a crouching lion, and which is a refuge for over 600 penguins. The view from the top of the hill is spectacular. Moving on, one can see the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers with nearby Patonga with its lofts of oysters to offer. Across the delta is Mullet Island, renamed as Denga Island. Its small uninhabited beaches extend for about 50-100 metres, with creamy white sand like talcum powder and clean, clear waters. Proceeding upstream is a view of the Hawkesbury river railway bridge, and then the ferry enters Cowan Waters.

The Ku-Ring-Gai National Park is embellished with lush green hills covered by trees of eucalyptus, Angofora, Banksia, Grass Tree and Kangaroo Tail. The entire

volume of water is lined by a saw-tooth shaped row of hills a couple of hundred meters tall, leaping into the sky. The soil of these hills is sandstone, which was in existence from 220 million years ago.

An hour away from Palm Beach is Cottage Point, which boasts of a good inn and restaurant. A lot of houses, 30 to 40 years old, can be seen in all their dignified grandeur.

Next is Waratah Bay where houseboats were moored from 1938 to 1952. On approaching Bobbin Head a view of Cotton Tree Bay can be spotted, where wild cotton from the Hibiscus family is grown even today. In the good old days, this cotton was used to make fishing lines. Just short of Bobbin Head is Lords Bay, where Grass Trees grow apart from other plants and trees. The Grass Tree can grow to a height of one foot when it is nearly 100 years old, and 3 metres when it turns three hundred. Some of the Grass Trees are 1800 years old!

Bobbin Head at last, with its two famous restaurants, the Empire Marina and Bobbin Head Inn. The food at the Inn is homecooked, delicious and reasonably priced, while the Empire Marina at least looks expensive.

Four hours and a good meal later, one is back at Palm Beach after a satisfying cruise that covers so much of nature’s beauty and natural resources. The entire journey from Palm Beach to Bobbin Head is thirty kilometres, which can take just over two hours on the dark green waters of the river, with a cool breeze gusting around the top deck of the Merinda II

The Ku-Ring-Gai National Park is embellished with lush green hills covered by trees of eucalyptus, Angofora, Banksia, Grass Tree and Kangaroo Tail

Pittwater Lighthouse is located up the hill at a height of

about 200 metres and shines its light to help navigate the myriad ferries, yachts and boats which traverse

the

waters of Broken Bay

We automatically reach for our sunscreens before wearing moisturizer, no matter where in Australia we are. Here are some details on sun protection, SPF, UV rays, which will convince you to use sunscreen daily, no matter what the season or weather.

MINAL offers facts on sun protection and reasons why using sunscreen every day is essential

UV rays

The sun emits harsh ultraviolet rays – UV A and UV B – which damage the skin. Both these rays penetrate the skin and can cause irreversible damage to the skin in just a few minutes. So even if it is not sunny, these rays are still affecting your skin. The amount of UV reaching the earth’s surface varies depending on factors such as the time of year, the time of day, the weather, the amount of ozone in the atmosphere and the altitude. But the fact to remember is that there is no safe time of year when it comes to UV radiation

UV-A rays

UV A exists throughout the daylight hours and during the winter months too, so we end up being exposed to it more than UV B.These radiate deeper into the dermis layer than UVB. They penetrate deep into the skin, where they trigger melanin production, leading to immediate tanning of skin

These rays also damage the skin structure, underlying tissue and collagen, leading to premature ageing

The rays cause a chemical reaction to the melanin cells, which then lead to rapid melanin cell multiplication that in turn produces a tanned look very quickly

UV A rays have lower energy than the UV B rays

UV-B rays

Penetrate only up to the epidermal layer

Exposure to UV B rays makes the melanin cells only of the epidermis multiply

Skin tans slower than when it does after exposure to UV A rays

However, the UV B rays have much higher energy than the A rays – hence, they cause sunburn

UV B is a shorter wavelength radiation that mainly affects the outer layers of the skin. It is responsible for causing sunburn which is significantly linked to skin cancer and is mostly present during the summer months

UV B rays are also responsible for causing an increase in the melanin pigment, resulting in delayed tanning

u The best way to protect your skin from sun damage is to use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. You can also use a hat and sunglasses while outdoors and wearing loose clothes. That is because even 15 minutes of exposure to the sun with no sun protection can cause extensive skin damage.

u Most of us use sunscreen daily and ask for SPF 15 or 30 or a higher grade

at times. But how many of us really know what a sunscreen is or what is SPF and how is it calculated. So I have listed facts about sunscreen and SPF so you know why it is so important to use it daily and also how a sunscreen protects our skin.

Sunscreen

A Sunscreen is any substance or material that protects the skin from UV A and B radiation.

u Sunscreens are available in the forms of topical lotions, creams or sprays that can be applied to the skin. Even sunglasses that protect the eyes and the tinted film screen that can be affixed to the windows of a car, room, or office can be construed as a sunscreen.

Sun Protection Factor [SPF]

u SPF is an abbreviation for Sun Protection Factor. The number next to the SPF -- 15, 20, 30 or 40 indicates how long the sunscreen offers effective protection against the harmful UV A and UV B rays of the sun.

u The SPF rating of a sunscreen is essentially a measure of how effective a sunscreen is. SPF is scientifically calculated by comparing how long it takes for sunscreen-protected skin to get sunburnt against the amount of time needed to produce sunburn on unprotected skin.

u It indicates the amount of time a person who has applied sunscreen can be exposed to sunlight before getting sunburnt. If a person normally suffers a burn in 10 minutes without wearing sunscreen, she can be protected for

150 minutes if she applies a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 –the calculation is -- 10 minutes multiplied by the SPF of 15.

u However, according to the Skin Cancer Council of Australia, the SPF number should be used as a guide only to the level of protection a sunscreen offers, not to determine how long a person will take to become sunburnt.

Other factors that determine how long a sunscreen will protect a person from UV radiation are:

The amount of sunscreen applied

Whether it is reapplied and how often

Whether the sunscreen has waterresistant qualities

The user’s skin type

The activities performed after wearing sunscreen -- because swimming removes the sunscreen from the skin faster than walking does

Now, there are sunscreens that offer a higher rating and go upto SPF 50 and SPF 60 too. So does that indicate double the protection or longer hours outdoors without reapplying sunscreen? Actually, no sunscreen offers 100% protection and even with sunscreen applied every 2-3 hours, it is not advisable to stay outdoors endlessly because even the most effective sunscreen does not completely block UV radiation.

u The recommended SPF by experts is 15 and it gives upto 93% protection and Factor 30 gives upto 96% protection. Therefore, using a higher SPF of 30 does provide greater protection, but if you don’t apply enough of it or don’t reapply it after a few hours, it can result in lower protection than claimed by the product. If you have

to stay out in the sun for long hours, use other sun protection measures like a hat or an umbrella and sunglasses along with the sunscreen.

u Other factors to keep in mind are that sunscreen should not be used to extend time in the sun or to achieve a suntan and sunburn and skin damage can occur even when sunscreen is applied, Skin damage occurs even though the skin does not appear to be sun burnt.

u Indian skin is a little more resistant to sunburn as compared to Caucasian skin but the damage caused in terms of premature aging can be no less. Experts do say that typical Indian skin does not need more than 30 SPF. Also, even if you are dark skinned or are staying indoors all day, you still need to use sunscreen.

So if you haven’t already made a sunscreen a part of your daily skincare routine, I suggest you head out and get a sunscreen right now.

Basking in Bollywood

After five years of living in Sydney, MINAL KHONA finally understands why Bollywood movies are so popular overseas

s long as I lived in India, I never understood why friends, cousins and extended families of friends living abroad had this unending fascination with Bollywood.

They would wait with bated breath for the latest blockbuster to hit foreign shores, simply so that they could watch it and make costumes similar to what the heroines wore. Girls would come down every winter and want outfits that Rani Mukherji wore in a particular movie and guys would want t-shirts sported by Shah Rukh Khan in another. They would hound me and other friends from the media for gossip on the stars, that we may have heard through the grapevine.

Then I came to Australia. And I understood.

I moved there after my marriage, and interacting with the Indian community in Sydney was a mixed bag of insights. On the one hand, while I was amazed at how they were star-struck to the extent of learning Bollywood dances; on the other, some of them were living in a time warp where, according to them, the India they left behind decades ago was still the only one in existence. Even changing themes, costumes, dialogues and music in the very movies they waited for, did not convince them that India and Indian society had moved with the times, while they had not. Anyway, it took living in Australia to give me an understanding of why Bollywood matters so much when you are an Indian living outside India.

Firstly, there is a sense of connecting with one’s roots that one misses when you live in a country that has a culture alien to your own. The western, more impersonal method of interacting is neither better nor worse than the warmth and highly personalized way of interacting in India; it is just different. Just as Hollywood movies are different. So the

colour, the music, the songs, the larger-thanlife scenarios so effectively played out in our blockbusters, when watched abroad, reiterate in some way, the warmth and bonhomie of living in India that we miss.

For second generation Indians who have not experienced growing up in a neighbourhood where everyone knows you, your parents and grandparents, it is a window into India, and the stars become idols for them to emulate or admire. Because let’s face it, how many second generation Indians who have even grown up in Australia, avidly follow football or rugby? And how many actually join the sport on a professional level? So given their notvery-sporty lifestyles, they also watch what their parents watch – Hindi movies. And watching these movies gives them a sense of their Indianness, even if it is not a realistic picture that they see in the movies. The songs and dances, costumes, even the language – though definitely not the real India –all contribute to creating that sense of connectedness. And in the case of many second generation Indians, helps them learn Hindi too.

And of course, girls and guys abroad also become huge fans of our superstars.

People like Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan and the other current lot of stars have a huge fan following abroad. But I think, living abroad also makes you less discerning. Most people there will watch every Hindi movie that gets released, whether it is a good one or a really bad one. On my part, I have never understood how movies which have non-actors like Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai get people to go ga-ga over them. While these stars have a fan following in India too, a lot of people here will readily admit that Aishwarya and some other assembly line actresses whose names I cannot recall, cannot act at all. However, I would get my head almost

bitten off among my friends in Sydney if I criticized her or other beauty pageant products for their lack of talent.

I personally think it is a good thing that Indians abroad like watching Hindi movies. It is heartening to know that most Indians do not have the chee-chee attitude towards all things Indian. Then of course, there is also this whole trend of movies made with an eye to capturing audiences abroad. Some movies that don’t do well in India do extremely well overseas.

In my case I have always been a movie buff and don’t suffer from the snobbish, look-down-on-Hindi-movies syndrome. I thoroughly enjoy Bollywood movies and watch the good ones repeatedly. Of course, having been a journalist before moving to Australia, I had the privilege of meeting some of the very stars I would watch, so it would bring back happy memories of those meetings. I still remember, every time I got extremely homesick, I would watch Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham – the ultimate NRI movie. To date, I cannot fathom why I liked watching it so much. Especially since the same movie, watched in my apartment in Bombay, doesn’t give me the same warm, fuzzy feeling that it gave me in Sydney. Another reason why watching Indian movies is huge abroad, especially Bollywood ones, is the costumes and looks. While our dusky complexions and black hair make it a bit hard to emulate the cool blonde/ brunette beauty of a Scarlett Johannson or a Hannah Montana, it is easier to wear what a Kareena wears in Jab we Met, or sport the bridal look of Preity Zinta in Kal Ho Na Ho. And as most designers will tell you, as

will bridal make-up artists, the most popular among NRI brides are the looks and style of Indian actresses in movies. In fact, a lot of designers who do bridal wear have a busy calendar catering to moneybags brides from foreign shores.

If you talk to Indians abroad, I am sure you will get a host of reasons why they watch Bollywood movies. From their entertainment value to ideas for lavish weddings, from over-the-top acting to really great performances of the more talented actors, there is no denying that when you are living overseas, these movies do more than just help you kill time. They make you laugh, they make you cry, and in some cases, they even help you fall asleep in front of the TV, like I did.

While the music and songs are a part of our consciousness, specially for those of us who grew up listening to the best songs of the time, when you are abroad, the latest item number becomes one you can dance to at all the Indian parties, and hum while driving to work. Dhan Te Nan becomes more than just a toe-tapping, hip-swinging tune to which you can let yourself go. It becomes a part of who you are in a country where your identity may be vulnerable because of the colour of your skin or where you feel outnumbered by the majority.

I think it would be safe to say that for many Indians who live abroad, we carry a bit of Bollywood in all of us. Be it humming a popular tune or collecting a set of DVDs with subtitles because we don’t completely understand the language or the current slang, these movies are an integral part of being an Overseas Citizen of India.

The songs and dances, costumes, even the language – though definitely not the real India – all contribute to creating that sense of connectedness

Season’s specials

SHERYL DIXIT has been experimenting with this season’s produce - broadbeans, mangoes, artichokes and strawberries

As wintry chills give way to warmer weather (hopefully), the farmers’ markets in the city are flooded with luscious strawberries and juicy mangoes. Definite signal that summer isn’t all that long now. Also in season are English spinach (palak) and fresh broad beans (sem ki phalli). This neglected legume offers a robust flavour and

goodies like phosphorous, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamins A and C and is notably rich in protein too. Another much maligned but back in vogue veggie is the Mediterranean artichoke. Quite like our desi banana flower (Vazhaipoo) artichokes are fiddly all right but not as difficult to prepare and eat as may appear. Simply cut off the stem and remove any tough outer leaves. Brush all

soak in lemon and water to prevent browning. Cook whole, discarding the fuzzy centre or ‘choke’ either before or after cooking. The base or ‘bottom’ of the artichoke is the most succulent part. They can be stuffed, added to stews, casseroles, soups, sauces, dips, salads or served as a vegetable.

Savour the season’s offering with hearty old fashioned recipes from

672 g cream cheese, softened

1 can sweetened condensed milk

60 ml lemon juice

3 eggs

15 ml water

Broad Beans Curry

15-20 broad beans/sem ki phalli

7-9 baby potatoes (halved)

1 tomato

6-7 garlic pods minced

¼ tsp cumin seed

¼ tsp turmeric powder

¼ tsp ted chilli powder

¼ tsp coriander powder

salt - to taste

Wash, string, trim ends and cut broad beans into 1 inch pieces. Heat the oil in a pan.

Now toast the cumin seeds.

to a boil for 2 minutes. Set aside 1/3 cup strawberry sauce; cool. Cover and refrigerate remaining sauce for serving. In a mixing bowl,

Then add the crushed and finely chopped garlic pods until they turn golden brown.

Than add chopped tomato and fry until cooked. Stir in baby potatoes. Cook for 2 minutes on high flame.

Then add the broad beans pieces and mix it well. Cook for another 2 minutes. Then add all the dry spices like red chilli, coriander, turmeric powder and salt.

Cover and cook on medium-low for about 10-12 minutes or until tender. Serve hot with rice or with chapatti.

Optional: Sprinkle amchur powder on top.

layer. Carefully spoon remaining cream cheese mixture over sauce. Gently pour remaining strawberry sauce by 1/2 teaspoonfuls on top.

Mango Mousse

1 kg ripe mangoes

100 sweet white wine or water

1 tablespoon clear honey

½ lemon, grated zest and juice

1 large orange, juiced

1 teaspoon orange flower water, optional

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons caster sugar

Peel and deseed the mangoes and purée it in a food processor or with a hand-held mixer. Bring wine or water, honey, lemon zest and juice, orange juice and orange flower water

of pan. Thin chilled strawberry sauce with water if desired; serve with cheesecake. Store in the refrigerator.

to the boil, until the liquid has reduced to about 3 tablespoons. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then stir it into the mango purée. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then gradually whisk in the sugar until they are shiny and stiff. Fold the egg whites into the mango mixture. Spoon into individual glasses or one large serving bowl. Chill for 2 hours, or until set.

Palak paratha

1 big bunch spinach

3-4 green chillies (chopped)

4 cups atta

½ cup Oil / ghee

Salt to taste

Clean, wash and finely chop the spinach (palak) leaves. Now mix the flour, spinach, salt, green chilli and 1 tbsp oil. Add enough water to make a soft dough. Cover it and keep aside for few minutes. Then make small balls and roll them like parathas. Heat a tawa/pan and cook on both sides till evenly done. Brush with ghee. Serve with curd or chutney.

Strawberry Sorbet

1 punnet strawberries

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup honey

2 egg whites

1 tbsp honey

Clean and hull the berries. Blend the berries, orange juice, milk, and honey till smooth. Pour mixture into 9x9x2-inch pan. Cover and freeze 2 to 3 hours or till almost firm. In a mixer bowl beat egg whites with electric mixer on medium speed till soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining honey, beating on high speed till stiff peaks form. Break frozen mixture into chunks; transfer frozen mixture to chilled large mixer bowl. Beat with electric mixer till smooth. Fold in egg whites.

Return to pan. Cover; freeze 6 to 8 hours or till firm.To serve, scrape across frozen mixture with spoon and mound in dessert dishes.

Chikkudukaya Tomato Recipe

(Broad beans Andhra style)

1/2 kg chikkudukaya/sem/broadbeans

(parboiled2 medium onions, finely chopped

1 slit green chilli

2 tomatoes finely chopped

Pinch of haldi, turmeric

1 tsp red chilli

1 tbsp grated jaggery

Pinch of garam masala pdr (optional)

1 1/2 tbsps grated coconut (optional)

Salt to taste

Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

For tempering/tadka

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

2 dry red chillis

3-4 crushed garlic cloves (optional)

few curry leaves

1 tbsp oil

Mango Shrikhand

½ cup mango pulp (sweetened kesar mango pulp)

1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup sour cream (low-fat is good too)

½ cup finely chopped walnuts and cashews

½ cup sugar

½ tsp cardamom powder

½ tsp saffron soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk. Drain the water from the yogurt by tying it in a soft muslin cloth and hang it over the sink for at least 2 hrs. Once all the water is drained from the yogurt, it gets a creamy texture. Mix the yogurt and sour cream thoroughly in a serving dish. Mix in the mango pulp and sugar. Check the sweetness and the flavor; add more sugar or mango pulp if needed. Ensure that the texture of the dish remains creamy and not watery. Mix in the chopped nuts, cardamom powder, and soaked saffron along with the 2 tbsp milk. After mixing thoroughly, chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before servin

Heat oil in a cooking vessel, once hot, add the mustard seeds and let them pop, add the garlic, cumin, red chillis and curry leaves, stir fry for a few seconds. Add the slit green chilli and onions and saute till soft. Add turmeric and tomatoes and saute further for a minute. Add spice powders, mix, cover and cook on medium heat for few minutes. Now add the par-boiled beans, jaggery and salt and cook for another 2-3 mts. Add a small cup of water and let it cook covered on medium heat till the beans are cooked and soft.

Stuffed Artichokes

4 medium artichokes

2 cups breadcrumbs

½ cup Parmesan cheese

½ cup minced onion

½ cup chopped parsley

½ tsp minced garlic

½ lemon

1 cup olive oil

serving plate and pile vegetables on leaves.

Easy Creamy Artichoke Pasta

1/4 cup butter or margarine

2 tbsp flour

1 1/2 cups veggie broth

1/2 cup soy milk juice from one lemon

2 cans artichoke hearts, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, fresh

8-10 oz pasta

Cook pasta in large saucepan or pot. While

the pasta is cooking, simmer the butter or margarine, flour and vegetable broth in a small saucepan until it thickens, forming a roux, mixing well. If the mixture does not thicken, turn up the heat and add more flour. Add remaining ingredients, except for pasta, turn heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing flavors to blend and cheese to melt. Drain pasta when done cooking, toss with sauce and enjoy!

Artichokes in Garlic and Olive Oil

4 fresh, firm artichokes

1 lemon, cut in half

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons minced garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Lemon juice or balsamic vinegar (optional) To prepare the artichokes, first remove the stem. Pull off any small loose leaves at the bottom. Cut about 1 inch off the top and rub with the lemon. This prevents browning. With a kitchen shears, cut the points off all the leaves. Rub additional lemon over the entire artichoke. If desired, you can stuff some sliced garlic into some off the leaves. Heat the olive oil over mediumhigh heat in a pot large enough to hold the artichokes in one layer and cover them. Add the minced garlic and sauté about 1 minute. Place the artichokes, stem-side down, in the pot. Baste with the garlic and oil. Add enough water to come up about 1 inch. (The less water you use, the tastier it will be. However, it will also take longer to cook.) Cover; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the leaves pull off easily, about 1 hour depending on size and freshness of the artichokes. Baste occasionally with the liquid. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. To serve, place each artichoke on a serving plate. If desired, sprinkle with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

Trim

4 medium artichokes and cut top 2cm off. Cook and drain. Remove choke. Mix 2 cups soft breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup each Parmesan cheese, minced onion and parsley and 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic. Fill centre of each artichoke and place in a shallow dish. Sprinkle with lemon juice and olive oil and bake in moderate oven (180C) for 15 minutes.

Spring Salad

2 medium potatoes

750g broad beans, shelled

2 small zucchini

200g baby green beans, topped

1 clove garlic, crushed

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

100g baby salad leaves

Cook potatoes in boiling water until tender then drain. When cool enough to handle, peel and cut into large dice. Cook broad beans in boiling water for about 2-4 minutes or until tender. Drain and peel.

Cook zucchini in lightly salted boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water and cut into matchsticks.

Cook baby beans in lightly salted boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain and refresh under cold water. Combine cooked vegetables in a bowl. Combine garlic, olive oil and vinegar in a small bowl, season with salt and pepper and whisk until smooth. Pour dressing over cooked vegetables and toss gently. Scatter salad leaves over a large

Your immigration questions answered

I am Bharat Bhushan Verma from Sydney. I am on a subclass 572 visa. My visa is about to expire - I have to extend it for a year. I am from India and at the time of making an initial application for a student visa I had gone to an agent in Punjab who did all the paperwork for me. At that time I was married with one child but did not want to bring my family to Australia as I wanted to come and settle here by myself. Now I am settled and approached my agent in India to ask him to organise my wife’s visa. After much dilly dallying, the agent did not do anything. I have managed to get hold of my initial student visa application with great difficulty from the agent. It came as a great shock to me that the agent has not mentioned my correct marital status in the application form for a student visa which shows me as a single person. I want to invite my wife and child here in Australia as dependants. Please guide me on what to do.

Bharat Bhushan Verma, Sydney

Dear Bharat

Please note that it is essential that

By Amit Baijal

all information that is provided to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on any departmental form has to be accurate. If you forget to mention something on the application and realise it later on you must bring it to the attention of the Department using the appropriate form for Notification of Incorrect Answers.

You must also understand that it is a requirement for the applicant that they continue to update the Department about any change of circumstances that occur during the time period when they have lodged the application for a visa and till the time a decision is taken on the Visa application. For example if when you lodge the application for a student visa, your marital status is single but you get married during the time your application is in process, this would require you to notify the department about the changes in your circumstances. There is a form available from DIAC called “Change of Circumstances”.

In your case your agent has failed to diligently fill the form but in the end the entire responsibility resides

with you as you are the main applicant for the visa. It is you who has signed the application form and declared that everything in that application form is true. As you have also mentioned that your current student visa is about to expire, I suggest that in the new student visa application that you make, you advise the Department of Immigration and Citizenship about your correct circumstances and also ensure that the new visa application contains all the correct details.

You may not be able to apply for your spouse and child to be added to the application that you are about to lodge for your extension of the current student visa as your family is currently offshore and you are making an application for a student visa in Australia. In order for your family to be included in your student visa application, your family must be onshore at the time of lodgement. In your case once you are granted an extension of your student visa you would have provided the Department the correct details about your family structure.

Subsequent to the grant of your student visa you may then apply for a separate application to get your family to join you in Australia as your dependents.

Please note that individual circumstances may differ and the above information is generic in nature. It is strongly recommended that you speak to a registered migration agent prior to taking any decision based on the above information. Please visit MARA website www.mara.com.au for a list of Registered Migration Agents.

If you would like your specific question to be answered please email us at amit@visainfo.com. au

You may contact Amit Baijal for further information on | 02 9233-3128 or 02 9231-2651

Level 9, Suite 3A, 428 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000

MARN: 0746261 MMIA: 3143

QEAC: D019

WE PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM ALL MAGIC

Just for a ring

Repartee and counter-repartee is the norm for a marriage made through everyone’s approval, says RAJ

When a struggling journalist, Idontsmile Khan met accountant Sadme Sharma ten years ago at roadside chaiwala stall in Delhi, it was love at first sight, followed by, to be politically correct, a love-arranged marriage.

Idontsmile’s father Lalgosht Khan, was a butcher by profession. But he had heart of an angel and people from all religions respected him for his nobility and humility. Sadme’s father, Sharradh Sharma was a local Hindu politician, and .both families agreed to the marriage. I don’t know why, that’s what we call magical realism, something you can’t explain. Idontsmile Khan and his lovely wife Sadme migrated to Sydney in 2004 with their three year old son, Firstkhan Sharma. That was the past. Today is Sunday. It’s a nice, sunny day, about 32° in the West. Idontsmile is standing on a bar stool, hammering nails into the wall to hang the picture of his revered father. Sadme, just out of the shower and drying her wet locks, watches him in bemusement.

Sadme asks, “What are you doing?”

Idontsmile looks at the nail, “Is that a trick question, my dear?”

“Be careful! I don’t want you to break the barstool.”

“Sorry, Sadme. I’m busy right now, can I ignore you some other time?”

”Okay then ,why don’t I leave you alone?”

Says Idontsmile, “That’s no good. The last

SANDHU

, in this short story

time you left me for a week on a trip to India and I felt so miserable without you, it was almost like having you here.”

Sadme retorts, “Ha, ha, that’s funny. I’m smiling…that should scare you!”

Idontsmile pensively replies, “Light travels faster than sound. That’s why some people appear bright until they speak.”

Sadme counts to ten in her head and says, “You should learn from my friend Ronika and her husband; they are a happily married couple.”

Says Idontsmile, “Yeah I know she’s happily married - but her husband isn’t!”

“Are you even listening to me?”

“I’m pretending to listen…that should be good enough for you.”

“Ok, go to hell, I don’t want talk to you!”

“I’d tell you to go to hell, but I work there and don’t want to see your nakli face every day!”

Sadme huffs over to the TV and turns it on. Says Idontsmile, “I find TV very educating. Every time you turn on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”

Sadme retorts, “I think you should write a book that people can read. You call yourself a writer!”

Idontsmile steps down from the barstool, “If you wrote down every single thought you ever had, you would get an award for the shortest story ever.”

“You’ve delighted me long enough. Now

why don’t you leave me alone?”

“The trouble is that you lack the power of conversation, but not the power of speech.”

“That’s because I’m one in a million…”

“If you’re one in a million, there are six thousand people exactly like you!”

Sadme looks annoyed, “Why can’t you be nice to me for a change!”

Says Idontsmile, “Sadme, friendship is not possible between men and women. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship.”

“It is written in the Vedas, thou shalt love your wife dearly.”

“Also, thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator!”

Sadme rises and faces Idontsmile squarely, “With whose permission are you calling me fat?”

believe I married you, you’re so insensitive! You’ve even forgotten that today is our tenth wedding anniversary.

Idontsmile smiles, “How can I forget? You tattooed that date on my arm with a hairpin.”

“Last year you promised to buy me a diamond ring. You just don’t care anymore…”

“I bought it last week. I don’t break promises or barstools.”

“Are you acting or just lying?”

“Look on your dressing table…”

Sadme squeals with joy, tears instantly forgotten. “Why didn’t you tell me!”

“You didn’t give me chance, baby!” sighs Idontsmile.

Sadme hugs Idontsmile, “You silly! When will you understand me?”

Idontsmile says, “So all the drama was just

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High school musings

Elation? Nostalgia? Relief? How would you describe the moment in your life when that final school bell rang, on your very last day of school, and you’d found yourself looking back on the 13-year long journey, wondering where all that time went? The truth, as I have just recently experienced, is a bitter-sweet reality.

It is the high school days in particular that many of us will cherish and remember forever. Six years ago, I took my first small steps into a huge hall, full of boys much older and much bigger than me, almost looking down on me as they carried out the now fairly popular tradition of “clapping in” the new Year 7 students. Everything was a blur, and although the words did not strike me at the time, I now vividly remember the school captain’s words of advice, “You won’t believe me when I say it now, but the next 6 years of your life will go by in a flash ... Do you want to feel regret or satisfaction when you’re standing where I am?” And of course, as he had promised, none of us

did believe him at the time. But last week, after being “clapped out” of the school, I found myself repeating these very words to a Year 7 student, taking me back to my first day at the school and what had been said to us then - if only remembering what my maths teacher said came back to me so impulsively!

So, first let’s take a look at the “bitter” half. There are so many things a student reminisces about at this stage of life – but what do we miss most? Memories? But these are supposed to stay with us forever! Our friends – but surely we’ll see them after school, and meet up often (besides, there is always Facebook!) The place? Hey, what’s stopping us from coming back here? After much deliberation I have decided that it is a more collective feeling of loss that we experience. Never again will it be the same group of friends, in the same place at the same time, with so many things uniting us all so tightly – like that unmatchable feeling of school spirit, the six years of memories we have shared in each other’s company, but as a friend recently

told me, it is the little things that count. Like, for example, excusing yourself from class to “go to the toilet” (read: escape for five minutes) and meeting another kid along the way – you might not have talked to them in your life, and you probably only know them by sight – but all the same, you will exchange smiles and perhaps, as has become custom in boys’ schools of late, a “high-five”. In university, or even in the big world out there for that matter, smiling at someone you barely know may probably earn you a punch on the jaw. Perhaps you’ll miss that great rush of adrenaline you get when you skip class, opting to go to the local kebab shop instead - after these 6 years, skipping class will only set you back, and there will be no detention notices to complain about with your friends after. As

is aptly put in the prescribed HSC English text Bladerunner, “All these moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain”.

It is not until you reach the twilight days of your school life that you look back and realise what a huge journey has just come to an end. Mathematically speaking (as we have been forced to do for much of the last year), 13 of my 17 years have been spent in school - this equates to more than threequarters of my life up till now! And this brings me, finally, to the “sweet” half – and it is a very generous half as many adults will tell you; this is just the beginning. The orientations are over, the characters have been introduced, now it’s time to write our own plots, resolve all our complications and live happily ever after. The journey is just beginning...

Year 12 student RITAM shares his perspective on leaving his comfort zone, as he gets ready to step into the real world

In university, or even in the big world out there for that matter, smiling at someone you barely know may probably earn you a punch on the jaw

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An Indian wife and an Indian bike

APARNA JACOB chronicles the time when her husband became an accepted member of the clan through initiation on an Enfield motorbike

Igrew up in a Malayalee family where every dad, uncle, brother or cousin worth his salt owned an Enfield. I grew up watching them ride around with a distinct air of Malayalee machismo, shirtsleeves rolled up, clad in jeans, trousers or even lungis. Owning a motorbike, especially a Royal Enfield, has always been an essential rite of passage for the men in my family. It marks that heartbreaking transition when boys with their downy upper lips become men, go to college, give rides to girls, make quick trips to the market on their Enfields to procure milk or chicken for aunts, wives or mothers.

Royal Enfield, now synonymous with motorcycles, was originally a British engineering company that also made rifles. “Made like a gun, goes like a bullet,” was their motto and hence Enfield Bullet, their oldest and best known model. Royal Enfield continues to be the oldest motorcycle company in the world and is now based in Chennai, South India. And this should explain my family’s Enfield connection. I still remember the qawwali ad for Enfield Bullet...

”Yeh Bullet meri jaan

SEEKING BRIDES

Sister seeking a suitable bride for her handsome Hindu Khatri brother. 28, 6’1” working as Service Manager, Sydney, studying Masters of Accounting. Please respond with details and photo at rashi. sethi@hotmail.com/ 0433 059 618.

Seeking very slim educated match for a very handsome, slim Jat Sikh boy, 28, 5’9” innocent divorcee, IT professional, Australian citizen. Please respond with details and photo to mrhs09@yahoo.com

Australian citizen, 36 year old male, employed full time, 170cm, nonsmoker non-drinker, never married, from Baha’i faith seeks female of Indian background for marriage. Please reply to mills_35@yahoo.com.au

Caring, sincere, slim, youthful looking, male divorcee, Hindu, India-born, 50-year-old, Australian citizen, in professional government job seeks a suitable match. Caste and religion no bar. Looking for caring lady with family values. Call 0416099177. Only genuine enquiries please.

Australian citizen, 36 years old, hospitality professional working in Sydney. Seeking girl between ages 27-36, no caste bar. Please contact 0416398869 or for other details and photo mail me at satishsingh_2009@yahoo.com

Seeking alliance for a 28 year, 5’11”, Gujarati boy. Working as a Database Analyst in Melbourne, Australian citizen. Looking for a well educated, preferably

Manzilon ka nishaan

Zindagi ek safar

Chalna shaam-o-sahar

Enfield Bullet...Ghazab ki sawari.”

Every word has been imprinted on my memory forever, because my father owned a red Enfield when we were young. My brother now owns a black Enfield Bullet, frequently takes road trips across the country and occasionally ends up in the hospital.

But as much as I love the men in my family, I harbour a secret aversion to men with exaggerated egos and biceps, excessive testosterone and motorbikes. And that’s why I found myself an Australian husband who was soft spoken not loud, who loved origami not footy, who rode a bicycle not a motorbike.

All this was to change when I took him to meet my Indian family in Mumbai for the first time.

I distinctly remember walking through immigration at Mumbai airport and prepping my husband for the meeting with his inlaws, “Promise me you won’t get on my brother’s bike.”

“I promise!”

“He’s not a very careful rider. He goes really

fast,” I lied as an added precaution.

“Don’t worry. I don’t even like motorbikes. They are too dangerous,” he assured me.

But then a week later:

“I think your brother’s bike is brilliant.”

And then:

“I wish I had a motorbike.”

And finally:

“I want a bike! I want a bike! I want an Enfield Bullet!”

All resistance was futile. I never stood a chance against the primordial instinct that lies dormant in every male, no matter how metrosexual or sensitive, awakened by the deep thumping sound of a Royal Enfield Bullet.

After two years of protestations, tears and endless arguments, my husband found himself a red Royal Enfield Bullet which was preloved and based in Melbourne. After lengthy negotiations and paperwork, the bike was delivered to our place late one winter night. We stood shivering in our pyjamas as the freight guy offloaded the bike from his delivery truck. My husband stood nervously beside me, wincing slightly at every bump and thump. And in the moonlight glinting off the shiny fuel tank where it said Royal Enfield Bullet, I saw a big smile break out across his face.

Since acquiring his bike, my husband’s become a Royal Enfield aficionado. He’s an eager ambassador for the brand and is upset when people mistake it for the betterknown Triumph Bonneville. He proudly acknowledges the looks he gets from other men on the street when he rides his bike – grinning kids giving him the thumbs up, those his age nodding in approval, middle aged men in the early throes of midlife crises with barely disguised envy in their eyes, even bums who call out, “nice bike, mate!” My father and brother are chuffed, of course. As far as they are concerned, he is now part of the clan.

“You now have an Indian wife and an Indian bike,” I remind my husband.

“I’m not surprised,” he replies thoughtfully. “They look different and have so much personality and history. The sound they make coming down the street can make your hair stand on end. They are temperamental bastards and refuse to start on cold mornings, and if not treated right when kickstarting, will kick you right back. Not unlike my dear Indian wife.”

I think I’ll take that as a compliment.

Matrimonials

Gujarati girl with family values. Please email with biodata at mayurimodi@ hotmail.com or ring 0400 872 333. Bharat Matrimony id: G549338

a convent school in India and enjoys the simplicities of life. She possesses good family values. Please contact (02) 98322056 or email dollysigler@gmail.com

Sister-in-law

seeking a suitable bride for her handsome Sikh Khatri, clean shaven, 28, 5’9 inch Australian citizen brother-in-law. Business Manager, Melbourne, Masters in Finance Has a perfect mix of east and west cultures. Contact matrimonial.mb@gmail.com

Australian citizen, 27, 168cm, handsome Punjabi Hindu Khatri boy. Masters in Accounting & Finance. Own business. Well established family in Sydney. Seeking good looking and qualified match. Caste no bar. Please contact: 0401057224 or send details with photo to: matriaussyd@gmail.com

Seeking well qualified match from good family background for handsome, well settled Gujarati boy 31, 5’7”. Raised in India, living in Sydney since past 9 years. MBA from Sydney, CPA ongoing. Working with leading FMCG as accountant. Please respond with details and photo. email: kdsydney@gmail.com

SEEKING GROOMS

Seeking alliance for 44yrs, simple, caring, never married, hardworking Christian orphan lady. She works for

Avery warm simple hearted, caring, extremely hardworking, attractive, never married, 40yr old Christian seeks groom. Working for an MNC in India. She is very family-oriented with good moral values. She’s a blessing. Please contact 0425253501 or email angelina2003@ gmail.com

Professional qualified match for 38/165, never married, fair, slim, Punjabi Arora engineer, Australian citizen, in Govt job. Early marriage. Can relocate. Parents well-settled in India. Educated family. Caste no bar. Respond with photo. Contact mr15840@yahoo.co.in

Sister and brother-in-law seeking a suitable groom for a lovely 24 year old Fiji born H,indu girl, independent, fair, lovely girl. Australian citizen, professionally qualified currently working in an Australian company. Family wellsettled in Australia. Family seeks a qualified match for suitable 25 to 29 year old boy with strong family, cultural values and good family background. Please email bio data and recent photographs to arieso@ rediffmail.com

Sydney-based Hindu girl (never married, 36, 160 cm), occasionally non-veg, speaks Hindi, Fiji-born, plans to settle in Australia, completing PhD (mid2010). Seeking a qualified professional for marriage (35-41, 165+). Caste no bar. Please send details/recent photos: youdee02@yahoo.com.”

Seeking professionally qualified and well settled match for 34/165cm slim fair beautiful engineer, Australian citizen, girl working as Project Manager in IT in Melbourne. Girl innocently divorced after brief marriage, without issue. Please respond with complete details to sanjuus@ rediffmail.com or 0414901508.

Alliance invited for a Sikh girl, June 74/ 5’2”, working in Delhi. Seeking educated Sikh/Punjabi boy. Call brother on 0432020068, email: matriprofile08@gmail. com

Punjabi Arora parents invite well-settled/ professional match for never married fair slim beautiful 36/ 165, Information Technology professional. Working in MNC. Australian citizen. Status family, caste no bar. Early marriage. Respond with photo. Em: sydgirl09@gmail.com

Bachchan Jr. into politics

After doing chic and cool in Dostana, Abhishek Bachchan is going in for a drastic makeover in R. Balakrishnan’s Paa. The actor will be seen mostly in white kurtapyjamas in most of the movie, in which he plays a politician. Abhishek was quite content with the clothes he was made to wear for the movie. “It was a welcome change to not have so many different costumes. And most importantly it was the requirement of the film”, said the actor. To ensure that Abhishek’s clothes look sparkling clean, the director had ordered 10 sets of kurta-pyjamas “Abhishek plays a young forwardthinking politician who follows in the footsteps of his father (played by Paresh Rawal),” said director R. Balakrishnan, fondly called Balki. Paa is a sensitive story about the relationship between a father and son, who suffers from Progeria, which causes premature ageing. The movie also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan in key roles. So will Abhishek look like his Pa, the ex-politician? Let’s wait and see.

Preity cheers them on

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta played the role of a perfect cheerleader for dear friend Salman Khan whose Being Human show at the HDIL India Couture Week saw many celebrities strutting down the ramp. Dressed in a Being Human sleeveless T-shirt and sporting a new look with fringes falling perfectly on her forehead, the actress looked as ravishing as ever.

Sitting with her friend choreographerturned-director Farah Khan and fashion designer Manish Malhotra, the actress began calling, “Wow, Salman, wow!” from the moment Salman started the show and sashayed down the ramp. The actress cheered for other celebrities like Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Katrina Kaif, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan with equal enthusiasm. With Farah Khan and Manish Malhotra joining her, Preity pepped up the atmosphere.

“I’m sure to lose my voice! I was so happy, all the shouting and cheering just happened. The show was all about being human and being together. It celebrated togetherness of the industry and this is what incited me to do all the shouting. But it was worth it,” said Preity after the show.

Commenting on Aamir Khan’s ramp debut, she said that the actor looked cute.

“I think he was looking very cute on the ramp. He is already so charming and you

can’t take that away from him,” she said. Well, you certainly can’t beat Preity for enthusiasm.

Suzanne blows kisses at Hrithik

Together they make a picture perfect couple and are very much in love. This was proved when Suzanne Khan blew kisses at Hrithik Roshan while she sashayed down the ramp at the inaugural show of HDIL

jewellery designer Farah Khan. Contrary to recent rumours that talked about the couple’s split because of Hrithik’s equation with his co-star Barbara Mori in the upcoming film Kites, the duo looked very much together. Dressed in an off-shoulder black gown by designer duo GauriNainika, Suzanne’s entry on the ramp was acknowledged by hooting and clapping by an array of Bollywood stars, including her hubby and her brother Zayed Khan. While Hrithik kept looking at her and clapped continuously while she was on the ramp, Suzanne acknowledged him by blowing a kiss and turning her head towards him till she finished the walk. The surprise element of the show was Bollywood actress Genelia D’Souza who walked the ramp for Farah Khan. Prominent in the front row were several Bollywood stars like Dimple Kapadia, Boney Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna, Sanjay Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Dia Mirza, Zayed Khan and Karan Johar. After the show Zayed Khan admitted that it was a wonderful feeling to have both his sisters walk the ramp. “It feels good when you watch your sisters walk hand in hand on the ramp. Looking at Farah’s collection, all I can say is that she is the best,” he said. Its great to see such family feeling among Bollywood’s best and brightest.

Remo makes Jermaine dance

Bollywood choreographer Remo D’souza

Michael Jackson, but his wish remained unfulfilled with the singer’s death. The dance master is nonetheless excited that he made the king of pop’s brother Jermaine dance to his steps. “’I can’t dance like MJ’, Jermaine told me when I first met him for the dance rehearsal,” said Remo.

“I knew no one can be better than Michael Jackson, but Jermaine is very dedicated and a good learner. He used to rehearse till he could perfect the step. On the personal level, he is a very down- to-earth person,” he added.

Jermaine, singer and elder brother of Michael Jackson, is in India to shoot for a song with Pakistani singer Adnan Sami. The song is Jermaine’s tribute to all Jackson fans in the country. It is titled Go to Mumbai City and is being choreographed by Remo. Asked about the treatment he has given to the song, Remo said: “It’s a song on Mumbai; so we haven’t shot at a particular place. It’s more of moving around and covering the major landmarks of the city. In between, I have incorporated a few steps that were suitable. I have tried to make it as Indian as possible.” In the video, Jermaine will be wearing a suave khadi jacket, while Adnan would be seen in a kurta. Let’s get ready for a chart-busting hit from this unlikely, yet enigmatic trio.

Sridevi mesmerises on the ramp

The moment she stepped on the ramp,

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

PREITY ZINTA

the main show area filled with cheers as Bollywood actress Sridevi confidently strode along, looking stunning in a black gown. “She is looking so stunning. Just look at her, she is so beautiful,” said a mesmerised member of the audience. As soon as she started walking the ramp, someone from the audience called, “Come on Sridevi, you are the best!”

Her colleagues in Bollywood, including doting husband Boney Kapoor clapped and cheered her on. “She looked like a diva. Just look at her, it seems that she is getting younger day by day. The way she has maintained herself is amazing,” said an amazed Raveena Tandon after the show. Looks like Sri’s ready to step back into the spotlight permanently. Good on her!

Sallu’s got a fe(male) superfan

Of all the bizarre situations Salman is confronted with, this has got to be the winner. Azad Ansari is a fan of Salman Khan, but he dresses up like a woman in salwaar kameez, earrings and the works, and firmly believes that he is the superstar’s “girlfriend”. Anzari has been been living like a “girlfriend” of Salman Khan for the last 12 years and dreams of getting married to the Bollywood actor. “I am in deep love with Salman. He is my life... For him (Salman) only, I changed myself completely. I can do anything for him,” revealed Ansari, who left his parents and wife to remain faithful to the star.

isn’t Shilpa going great guns? You bet!

Rap to sufi music, Rahman eshtyle

From rap to fusion, carnatic to sufi, double Oscar winner A.R. Rahman used every genre to keep his audience mesmerized at a live concert held recently in Chennai. The show, held at Seekinankuppam village near Mahabalipuram, was organised to raise funds for Shakti Foundation that works for the welfare of the disabled. The concert, which was a part of Rahman’s world tour, brought an eclectic mix of songs right from his debut film Roja to the forthcoming release Blue. Billed as a crowd-puller, the event drew close to 75,000 fans.

Khanna to unbutton his jeans on the ramp. But this time the Bollywood actor made sure that the same mistake was not repeated. This time he sashayed down the ramp for Salman Khan’s Being Human show, dressed casually in slim fit jeans and a smart jacket with aviator glares. Akshay then stopped on the ramp, posed in front of Twinkle and smilingly cautioned her not to unbutton his jeans again. It was a cheeky gesture, but luckily his wife does have a sense of humour. “I didn’t know that the gesture would create such an uproar. I don’t want to go to jail again, so no such retakes for that shot,” said a smiling Twinkle. In April, Akshay had got Twinkle to unbutton his jeans for a fashion show when he walked the ramp as a brand ambassador. The act had put the couple in trouble - Akshay was summoned by police while his wife had to spend a few hours in jail. Twinkle, an actress-turned-interior designer, was later released on bail. That’s Akshay for you, still the Kiiing!

Birthday wishes cause mobile jam

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan received 1,207 SMSes on his 67th birthday from fans, family and relatives. He says that the deluge of messages jammed his

cellphone. “I feel blessed to have so much love and affection from others. It is the greatest debt that I shall carry to my grave and one that I shall never be able to pay back... Family and friends called me and 1207 SMSes jammed the mobile,” Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com, recently.

Big B, as he is fondly called, also had a hordes of fans waiting outside his residence to greet him on the occasion. “It was rough from the early hours of the morning - meeting and receiving the love and affection of the hundreds that were at the gates. Moving out and driving in to our own houses was a mini riot. But the faces that slammed against the walls of the car (windows) were happy ones, excited ones and ones that merely wanted to express love,” he posted.

Amitabh also apologised to those “who came with wishes; that came with a desire to meet and greet, that had through great pain and perseverance kept vigil and then lost out on an opportunity to wish me.”

“To the hundreds that thronged the three locations Prateeksha, Jalsa and Janak and bore the pushing and shoving of the police and the security, to them I give my gratitude and thanks for taking the trouble to show their affection and love,” he added. Always the gentleman, is our Big B! Next year, throw a huge party!

CAPTION CONTEST CAPTION CONTEST

a sex change, provided Salman promises to marry him. Ansari, who makes his livelihood from the rent he gets from his parents’ house, claims that he has written over 1,000 letters to Salman and the actor responded to one of them with “I love you, jaan”. Well, such is the price of fame! Poor Salman….

The original Taj for Shilpa and Raj

Shilpa Shetty and her London-based beau Raj Kundra visited the Taj Mahal recently, and spent close to an hour exploring the monument to love. According to tourist guides, a huge crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of Shilpa, but was kept at bay thanks to the 34-year-old’s personal security guards. Shilpa too, chose to keep away from the media, so their romantic musings are not public property. Shilpa met Kundra after her win in the reality show Celebrity Big Brother in 2007 in London. The two have formed a successful business partnership. Their business empire includes a $16.2 million (10 million pounds) stake in the Rajasthan Royals Twenty20 cricket team and a recently acquired food and beverage company, Gourmet Creations. So

Khalbali, a song from Rang De Basanti was a rather laid back starter, but soon the maestro who is often called the Mozart of Madras pepped it up by choosing a couple of hits from Sivaji-The Bos. The rocking fast numbers were followed by a series of rock and crossover hits and with each rendition the cheers kept growing until they nearly drowned Rahman’s voice out. Other singers like Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam and Benny Dayal too treated the crowd by belting hit numbers composed by Rahman. An intense performer, Rahman showed no signs of tiredness and smiled through to the very end. And four hours later, the crowd still couldn’t have enough of his music. The maestro’s Oscar winning song Jai Ho brought the curtains down on what turned out to be one of the biggest musical events the region has witnessed in recent times.

“If music makes you think, moves you to action; then I think the music is working,” Rahman told the crowd. Once again, Rahman and his heart of gold won the day.

Stay buttoned, Akshay!

Last time there was a big controversy when Akshay Kumar got his wife Twinkle

What are Asha Parekh and Waheeda Rahman saying to each other?

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

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What thoughts are the Bachchan boys thinking?

“If both of us Bachchans are sitting here, then who is stealing the show? Who else is the public looking at”?

Dixit (DJ) Thakkar

Dixit wins two tickets to the new Hindi film

All the Best

Another good one

Amitabh is thinking, “Meri

Keep it up, Aish!”

Abhishek is thinking, “Yaar, ye Aish kya saare awards lekar jayegi? Ekadha to mere baap ke liye chod, meri maa!!”

Deepali Thakkar

SHILPA SHETTY AND HER LONDON-BASED BEAU RAJ

TWINKLE KHANNA AND AKSHAY KUMAR

bahu hi saare awards leke jayegi.

CINETALK

Stylish action, but loses the plot

Film: Acid Factory

Cast: Irrfan Khan, Manoj Bajpai, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea, Aftab Shivdasani, Danny Denzongpa, Dia Mirza

Director: Suparn Varma

By the time the chemicallyzonked characters trapped in a padlocked factory realise who they are and what they are up to, we couldn’t care less about the outcome of their violently vivacious life. Our disdainful indifference for the characters of Acid Factory comes from the enforced cool quotient. Everyone behaves he was born in a posh retreat and has spent the majority of their lives driving in swanky Porsches.

But the actors lack the charisma to carry off the posh characters with elan.

These, however, aren’t the only reasons why we give up on these lost souls. Mainly, the game is up because the film turns out to be an almost frameby-frame copy of a Colombian film, Simon Brand’s Unknown.

Like many of the films produced by Sanjay Gupta, Acid Factory seeks direct inspiration from a foreign source and adds a sheen of extra-ruggedness to the original proceedings. After a point, it doesn’t matter what the original reference point is. These are people who’ve lost their bearings.

But director Suparn Varma remains pretty much in control, specially when the chase sequences take over. That’s when the narrative really lets

its hair down. The skidding wheels, exploding cars and crashing dreams of characters, who are as amoral as they are adventurous, signify the complete takeover of the film’s universe by forces that rule the realm of video games.

Long before they became fashionable, Sanjay Gupta has been making video games on celluloid. The background music by Amar Mohile totally supports the vibrant rugged and macho visuals.

Women are objects of classy but lustful adoration in Gupta’s scheme of things. Dia Mirza makes her athletic entry midway through the film when the characters locked up in an acid factory have just begun to figure out their raison d’etre. By then we’ve begun to lose our bearing vis-a-vis the askew plot.

To their credit the actors seem to exude an energy beyond that provided by the adrenaline-motivated visuals. Each character comes across as an individual. Manoj Bajpayee is wacky, Aftab Shivdasani is restrained. Dino Morea is wry and Fardeen tries hard to come to terms with his amnesiac character.

Danny Denzongpa and Irrfan Khan remain peripheral, never quite entering the domain of the damned, remaining above the pyrotechnics even while indulging in them.

Technical qualities of Acid Factory deserve a special mention. Sahil Kapoor’s camera captures the bends of Cape Town effectively.

Acid Factory is overall a stylish action film.

comicality.

As for the actors, they’re largely over-thetop, hammy and embarrassing. Govinda, who seemed to have rediscovered his funny bones in Life Partner, is hysterical rather than amusing in Do Knot Disturb

Ranvir Shorey

Director: David Dhawan

When this parody is mid-way through, two questions strike us - what is the otherwiseclassy Sushmita Sen doing in this atrocious homage to the spirit of revelry, most of it situated in the lobbies and corridors of a super-luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi?

And then the second question strikes us almost immediately - what are we doing watching all these wonderful actors making fools of themselves in a plot that seems to have been written with the express purpose

Whoever thought infidelity is an adequate formula for farce should see what a hash and trash David Dhawan has made of the actors as they parade across the screen in the posh ambience and clothes. Alas, their morals match those of alley cats. Worse still these people are abhorrent in their failure to connect their physicality with any worthwhile emotions.

The scrambled comedy includes a couple of bumbling spies played by those two wonderful comic actors - Manoj Pawa and Ranveer Shorey, one of whom has to play a corpse after half the film.

The plot matches Ranveer’s cadaverous

The plot has room for an army of characters including an ailing mother (Himani Shivpuri) and her coquettish nurse (Rituparna Sengupta), both of whom watch Riteish do Amitabh Bachchan’s scenes from Deewaar

Govinda seems to have lost the plot. Lara makes so many faces you fear for her favourite makeup artiste. Riteish is in far better shape. He’s quite funny in parts. But the funniest actor in a minuscule role is Sohail Khan as Lara’s jealous and overemotional lover who after a crash-course in anger-management, desists from hitting any of the characters.

Skip it.

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