2009-11 Sydney (2)

INDIANLINK

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Usha Arvind

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Guneeta Kaur,

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Vivek Trivedi 02 9262 1766

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Priti Sharma 02 9279 2004

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Darren Monaghan

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

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

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

Email: info@indianlink.com.au

ost of us in the Indian community here have chosen, of our own accord, to make our home in Australia. The reasons cited for this decision are varied – lifestyle issues, work, health issues, better opportunities for our children. Whatever motivated us to uproot from our homeland and choose to make a new home here, and however much we may miss our old environment, we do enjoy the many benefits that Australia has offered us. Of this there can be no doubt: because if this were not true, many of us would have packed up and returned home.

In recent months, Australia and its way of life has been called to question in India. Headlines screaming racism have been blasted all over the media. Australians are described as racist, xenophobic, arrogant, brash and rude. They are seen as particularly intolerant towards Indians, and not averse to physical aggressions targeted at them. The Indian media have spewed out a torrent of material that has built on this generalisation. With their barrage, the general feeling has arisen that Australia is not a safe place for Indians.

Those of us that live here though, are amazed at this overgeneralisation. Most of the Australians we interact with on a regular basis - at work, as neighbours, in our street, in our wider social circle, as well as ‘familiar strangers’ such as those

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.

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By PAWAN LUTHRA

we travel with on public transport or who serve us at the shops - are all accepting of us and other new Australians.

Yes, they may be uncertain at first of new migrants, but over time, they accept them for their diversity.

The plurality in the Australian lifestyle is enjoyed by all.

A typical primary school for instance may have, besides the Smiths and Joneses, Singhs, Guptas, Lees, Nguyens, Chans, Khans and Alis, all learning and playing together in peaceful co-existence.

The 450-plus Indian restaurants in Sydney enjoy patronage from a wide range of non-Indian customers. Our festivals such as Diwali are celebrated here - the Parliament House shimmers in Diwali finery for an entire fortnight, and local schools organise Diwali parties. At Holi, an increasing number of Australians join the revellers form the Indian community as they smear themselves silly with coloured powder. Bollywood theme parties are ‘in’, and more and more of these are being enjoyed by the party loving Australians.

Of course, like in any other society, Australia has its share of problems that affects all its citizens. There are law

and order problems, social problems, drug and alcohol related issues, and yes, even racism. But every society has these problems to a greater or lesser degree.

Ambassadors of our new home M

At this time of the year, many in our community are looking forward to that annual pilgrimage to India. Be sure, the question of ‘Australian racism’ will pop up as you catch up with family and friends. The issue of the attacks on the students will be discussed at some length. Expect a fair bit of Australia-bashing as solicitous (and well-meaning) relatives enquire about your personal well-being.

It will be important to relate the more positive experiences of our life here in Australia, while accepting the fact that there are problems that need fixing.

It is up to us to be ambassadors of the country we now call home.

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Letters to the editor

Community Leaders???

I was amazed to see (Indian Link Nov-1, 2009) how many “Community Leaders” we have!

A few months ago before the attacks and robberies on Indian students had started, I had raised my concerns to the local Indian newspapers about the behaviour of newly arrived Indian students on public transport and at local libraries. I don’t only refer to their talking loudly on mobile phones or listening to their ipods blaring loud bhajans and Bollywood songs, but also their breaking of rules like ticketless travel (pushing themselves behind valid ticket holders at the gates etc), kicking seats on trains with their feet and placing feet on the seats, dirtying our pavements by throwing garbage, spitting paan on any wall they find (especially behind Westfeild Parramatta), and lately even urinating in public and writing graffitti in Gujararti on trains!

I received a whole lot of criticism, insinuating that I had become a gora

etc. Of course there was a lot of support. I had only appealed to our local media and the so called “Community Leaders” to use their means to educate our newly arrived students, mainly from rural areas, on some local etiquette. At that time it was clear that all assaults on Indian students were only for robbery. This was clear from the SBS program on the issue. The students themselves admitted that no language of racial hatred was used. The students could have been guided with advice about the safety of getting home late nights and maintaining a low profile. More Australians have been bashed, glassed, stabbed every weekend spending late nights in clubs and pubs than assaults on Indian students over the past one year. One agrees that physical violence of any kind is just not acceptable but it happens and can easily be prevented.

Instead what do our “Community leaders” and students do? They take to the streets demanding protection! Is it possible for any government to provide

protection to each and every member of the society?? Are all governments going to demand an explanation for every foreign girl travelling in India molested, groped at, sexually harrased and even raped? Of course by making the whole issue of assault for robbery into a race issue, sadly today it has turned into one. Equally sadly, I think the behaviour of the students has gone far worse. One has only to go through the Parramatta area and one will see the tell tale marks of this, such as advertising accommodation seeking “Only Indian” or “Only Gujaratis”. Aren’t we asking for trouble?

I don’t think your newspaper has ever brought these matters out in open and in detail besides the token “integrate into the society, understand government systems and mutual respect” angle. And lately there have been quite a few instances of Indian students involved in crime, none of which have been raised by the local media or our media back home which otherwise screams “racial assault” at every opportunity.

On August 8 an Indian student has allegedly fled the country before being sentenced for culpable driving which killed one young Queenslander and seriously injured another.

On September 4 two Indian nationals on student visas had been arrested by cops for the alleged sexual assault of 17-year-old Gosford girl on a train. What about all the sham Indian recruiting agents who have been named by the students on ABC and SBS? I think it’s also time it be brought out in the open that a a lot of these students studying in Vocational colleges are studying subjects chosen by “agents” rather than a genuine interest in the field. Could this just be a way of legal people smuggling???

I think our so called “Community Leaders” will do well to address these issues and really help the students enjoy their education in Australia.

Kashi Mallya Parramatta NSW

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Indian Film Festival 2010: Short Film Competition

The Indian Film Festival 2010 is 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 IndianAustralasian 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.

Details of how to enter at the festival website www.iff2010.com

Yoga at Marrickville

In partnership with NSW Sport and Recreation, Marrickville Council presents a program entitled Sport-aMonth. This encourages children and adults to try sports they never thought they would, under the guidance of local coaches and club representatives. Each month a new sport, a new challenge, is picked for those who are keen to give it a go. For the month of November, the sport picked is Yoga.

Three local Yoga Schools are participating in Sport-aMonth: Samadhi Yoga in Newtown where some classes are targeted at specific groups such as ‘mums and bubs’, The Yoga Nook in Dulwich Hill, and Yoga to Go in Petersham.

To take advantage of this month’s Sport-a-Month, simply choose a yoga session at one of the three local yoga schools, complete the registration form and hand it in on the day. To register or for more information on Sport-aMonth, phone Council’s Recreation Officer on 9335 2191 or visit www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au

Chinmaya Mission events

20-26 Nov Gateway to the Soul Chapter 15, Bhagavad Geeta. Free talks by Swami Swaroopanandaji. Bahai Centre, 107 Derby St, Silverwater.

20, 21 and 22 Nov Love God Children’s Program with Br Gopal Chaitanya (Grade K - 6), featuring Ganesh, Krishna, and Hanuman. This is concurrent with Swamiji’s talks on Chapter 15 of the Geeta, so while parents go to

listen to Swamiji, kids have fun learning with Br Gopalji and Sevaks.

27 Nov Geeta Jayanthi / Tapovan Jayanthi / Rama Parivar and Chinmaya Sannidhi 5th Birthday, Chinmaya Sannidhi, at 9.00am - 11.30am.

28 and 29 Nov Vision of Life Day retreat with Swami Swaroopanandaji, at Chinmaya Sannidhi, at 9.00am5.00pm daily (includes children’s program).

28 Nov Lord Shiva: The Eye Opener, at Chinmaya Sannidhi, 9.00am - 5.00pm

1 Dec You Ask! HE Answers! CHYK (Youth) program with Swami Swaroopananda at Chinmaya Sannidhi, at 7.30pm - 9.00pm

Details call Chinmaya Sannidhi on (02) 88507400

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

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.

Art Gallery of NSW

Garden and cosmos: The royal paintings of Jodhpur

(Until 26 Jan 2010)

Tours

Daily 1pm, Wednesdays 7.15pm

Excluding 24 December 2009 – 1 January 2010

Free Lectures

Saturday 28 Nov 2-3pm Gardens for divine play: Worship in the palaces and gardens of Jodhpur and Udaipur Carol Cains, curator of South and Southeast Asian art, National Gallery of Victoria Saturday 28 Nov 3-4pm The Nath Cosmos Jackie Menzies, head curator of Asian art

Concert

Sunday 29 Nov 6-10 pm Dr Natesan Ramani, South Indian flute and Manjiri Kelkar, North Indian vocals

Art After Hours

Wednesdays 5.30pm

6 Jan Curator’s talk Jackie Menzies Head curator Asian art. 13 Jan Exhibition talk Dr. Meenakshi Srinivasan

Sydney Sanskrit School

20 Jan Exhibition talk Analiese Treacy, paper conservator AGNSW

Wednesdays 6.30pm

6 Jan Bollywood performance by Mango Dance Studio

13 Jan Sari fashion parade with Sareehaven

20 Jan Yoga demonstration and workshop with Simon Borg-Olivier FOR KIDS

Free Holiday Performances

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in January 1.30pm

Journey into cosmic realms to meet the Hindu deities with Lingalayam Each week we discover a different deity through classical and folk dance, music and stories.

5 – 7 Jan Dancing Ganesha

12 – 14 Jan Shiva the Cosmic dancer and his two consorts

19 – 21 Jan Krishna in his infinite incarnations

Decorative art workshops

Monday 11 – Friday 15 January 2010

Rangoli Demonstration

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 Jan 12noon-4pm Café

Circulation Area

Watch artists from Rajasthan create a rangoli of traditional patterns and symbols from colured rice powder.

Meditations

Soul to soul: Healing music and nada yoga

Fridays 8, 15 and 22 January 9-10am

Saturdays 9, 16 and 23 January 9-10am

Indian music and chant to lift the spirit led by Nirmal Jena and friends. Join exercises in breathing and sound vibrations with vocal and instrumental accompaniment. Garden Walk

Royal Botanic Garden Divine Landscape self-guided tour

Experience the sensuality, tranquillity and beauty of the gardens stopping at locations reminiscent of the maharaja’s palace. Download the self-guided tour from www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/gardenswalk

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India features highly in NSW priorities

Befitting a leading business organisation, the 2009 Premier’s Asia Business dinner was conducted in a professional manner at Four Seasons hotel in Sydney. With a who’s who of the Asian business community networking, the key note speaker, the Premier of NSW Nathan Rees, spoke eloquently about the growing engagement between NSW and Asia. While the 400 plus audience listened to the achievements of the NSW Government in their engagement with Asia, business leaders were given the chance to exchange business cards and discuss issues relating to the global financial crisis amongst themselves.

The Chairman of the NSW Asia Business Council Henry Tsang, welcoming the attendees stressed on the need of this council in promoting better ties between Australia’s most prosperous state and the growing economies of Asia. Continuing the theme, Premier Rees exalted the virtues of the state of New South Wales with a steady property market and the unemployment rate being (at that time) one of the lowest in Australia. He further repeated the statement from Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens, that the current world economic recovery

will be led by Asia. “Even the IMF has released its latest growth forecasts confirming that India will grow between 5.6 – 6.4% in the next year. China’s growth is estimated to be between 7.5 – 9%,” the Premier added.

Premier Rees while pointing out China’s strategic role in the development of NSW also pointed out India’s growing trade with NSW.

“India currently is our 14th largest trading partner and this is increasing rapidly. In 08 / 09 trade between NSW and India grew by 29%”.

“I am particularly excited by the opening of a NSW office in India to better facilitate trade between the two of us. I must add that while Queensland took 12 months to open an India office, we did it in less than half that time,” he said, taking a swipe at our neighbours in the north.

Prominent Indian leaders such as Neville Roach, Arun Jagatramka from Gurajat NRE, Dr Harinath from Cricket NSW, Sheba Nandkeolyar from Multicultural Connexions, Rohitas Bhatta from AIBC were present, flying the banner for the local Australian Indian community.

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Kannadigas congregate at annual event

Sydney’s Kannadigas celebrated the 52nd Kannada Rajyotsava and Children’s Day early this month at the Parramatta Town Hall.

This is an annual event celebrated by the Sydney Kannada Sangha which gives local Kannada kids, youth and adults an opportunity to showcase their talents and also an opportunity to meet other Kannada speaking families living here.

The program started with Sydney Kannada Sangha Secretary Vinayaka Kallappa welcoming one and all. The Master of Ceremonies for the night was Smitha Karki (Hegde), an executive committee member.

The main attraction of the program was a puppet show which the kids enjoyed thoroughly. In addition to this, the crowds were entertained with cultural items like karaoke, performances of Yakshagana (Karnataka’s famed folk dance), Bharathanatyam, and dances to the tunes of patriotic and Kannada movie songs.

Sydney Kannada Sangha President Geetha Gopinath addressed the gathering. The chief guest Julie Owens (Member of Parliament for Parramatta) mingled with other special guests Raj Natarajan and Srinivas Karkenahalli.

Ms Julie Owens honoured Dr Siddalingeshwara Orekondy for his outstanding contribution to the community in Sydney and overseas. A video presentation by Chandana TV gave the audience a glimpse of Dr Orekondy’s charity work.

Mahabaleshwar (Giri) Bhat, Vice President of Sydney Kannada Sangha delivered the vote of thanks and the celebration came to a conclusion with dinner being served – mouth watering food of Karnataka!

It was a great event with a good mix of entertainment, socialising and food.

Kannada Rajyotsava is celebrated on 1 November in Karnataka, India. It was on this day in 1956 when all the Kannada speaking regions of southern India were merged to form the state of Karnataka.

The Kannada language was given the status of a “classical language” by Union Minister for Tourism & Culture, Ambika Soni last year. Telugu was the other language which was given this honour, bringing both into a league presently occupied by only Sanskrit and Tamil. This is a great honour for Kannada language and Kannadigas, as only languages which have a proven antiquity of over 1,500 years can qualify for this status.

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2009 NSW Premier's Asia Business Dinner

New visa measures for students

The Australian government is introducing new measures to assist overseas students, including many Indians, affected by the closure of an international education provider.

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

Senator Chris Evans said that from Jan 1, 2010, overseas students who require a new visa to complete their studies at another school or college will be exempt from paying the A$540 (approx. Rs.22,500) student visa application charge.

Just this year alone, 12 education providers have closed affecting about 4,700 students.

Evans said that although most students will be able to complete their studies on their existing student visa, some may need to enrol in a new course that finishes after their existing student visa expires and will require a new visa.

“In situations where an education provider can no longer offer a course, the government’s primary concern is the welfare of the student.”

“We understand that these situations are not the fault of the student and the introduction of a fee exemption will ensure they are not shouldered with an additional financial

burden,” Evans said.

Students will be able to apply to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for a refund of their visa application fee if they have been affected by the closure of an education provider in 2009 and have had to apply for a new student visa.

The government is also increasing the minimum financial requirements for overseas students to ensure they can meet their living costs while in Australia.

From Jan 1, 2010, prospective overseas students will need to demonstrate that they have access to at least A$18,000 (approx Rs.748,000) a year to fund their living costs in Australia, instead of the current A$12,000 (approx Rs.498,000).

Evans said: “It is important that students understand these financial requirements are only the minimum amount required for a student visa.”

“International students can supplement their income through part-time work in Australia but the primary purpose of a student visa is to study and students should not rely on part-time work to meet their expenses.”

The measures target parts of the student visa caseload in India, Mauritius, Nepal, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

There are over 500,000 international students in Australia pursuing university education and vocational studies of which about 94,000 are Indians - the second highest after the Chinese. Thousands of Indians are enrolled in vocational courses in government and private Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes.

In recent years, Australia’s education industry has boomed to become the country’s third-largest foreign currency earner after coal and iron ore, generating about $12 billion in revenue in 2008. Indian students in Australia alone contribute $3.5 billion a year to the economy.

An official said since these enhanced integrity measures were introduced, there has been an increase in the number of applications being withdrawn, from five percent in July to 17 percent in September.

“To date, more than 150 agents have had their eVisa access suspended due to evidence of fraud or inactivity.”

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Overseas students who require a new visa to complete their studies at another school or college will be exempt from paying the A$540 (approx. Rs.22,500) student visa application charge

PHOTO: INDIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION UNSW

Assoc Prof. Srikanta Bandhopadhyay of UNSW’s School of Materials Science and Engineering spend much time interacting with Indian students on campus

Marking Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary

Sat Guru Nanak pargatya, mitti dhondh jag chanan hoya

(Guru Nanak Devji’s presence removed the fog and brightened the world)

The Parklea Sahib Gurudwara recently celebrated birth anniversary of the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Devji. The weeklong celebrations included daily Darbar (congregation) where elders Sant Baba

Ranjodh Singhji and his jatha conducted Naam Simran, Shabad Kirtan and Katha, along with Bhai Nirmal Singhji’s Jatha, Giani Iqbal Singh, Giani Santokh Singh and Akhand Kirtaniya Jatha. The Sangat (devotees) attended the Darbar regularly, savouring each moment of the Satsang (prayers). Sri Akhand Path (a forty-eight-hour non-stop reading of the 1430 pages of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book) was attended by thousands of community

and partake of a simple meal – as a means of putting an end to social discrimination. Vegetarian meals are cooked in the community kitchen and consumed for free by people from all walks of life.

Children of different ages enthusiastically took part in the Baba (Gursikh attire) and Bani (reciting excerpts from Guru Granth Sahib) competitions, organised by Guru Nanak’s Punjabi School, Parklea and Australian Sikh Association.

A much-awaited part of the anniversary celebrations, the fireworks spread joy in every heart.

The relentless rain did not deter the Sangat from performing the traditional flag ceremony. Under the presence of the Panj Pyaras, devotees washed the Nishan Sahib flagpost

(Above) Kids participate in Baba (Gursikh attire) and Bani (reciting from the Holy Book) competitions

(Right) The Nishan Sahib (flag) outside the Parklea Gurudwara

(Below) The Darbar

itself covered with fabric, ends with a twoedged dagger (khanda) on top. The emblem on the flag depicts a double-edged sword, a circular chakkar, and two single-edged swords, or kirpans

Guru Nanak Devji, the founder of the Sikh religion, was born on 15th April 1469 in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talwandī, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, Pakistan. Guru Nanak Devji had a contemplative mind, a pious disposition and indescribable musical abilities. He and his companion Bhai Mardana composed tunes in various Indian classical Ragas that reformed tyrants and converted thugs and robbers into saints.

Guru Nanak Devji was a reformer as well as a revolutionary. His teachings are practical. They include:

l Naam Japna: Chanting the God’s name at all times (ceaseless devotion to God)

l Kirat Karō: Making an honest living l Vand Chakko: Sharing with others, helping the needy.

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the presence of the Panj Pyaras, devotees washed the Nishan Sahib flagpost clean with reverence and then covered it with new Nishan Sahib saffron fabric

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India’s gay Prince visits Sydney

SHIVANGI AMBANI-GANDHI meets Manavendra Singh Gohil

The first sculpture that I saw when I entered the Indian galleries at the Art Gallery of New South Wales was of the Ardhanareshwara (half male and half female, form of Lord Shiva),” said Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil during his recent visit to Sydney. “I said to my Australian friends, ‘This is India’.”

The Maharajkumar or Crown Prince of the former princely state of Rajpipla in Gujarat, is also the world’s only openly gay royal. He was in Sydney for a seven day visit to increase awareness of the impact that the criminalisation of homosexuality has on HIV prevention work in Asia and the Pacific.

During his visit he addressed a range of mainstream as well as Indian and GLBT media. He also hosted a fundraising night for HIV/ AIDS education and organisation, and addressed a community forum at the Paddington Woollhara RSL.

“There were people from all walks of life at the fundraising. I also met a few Indians – from Assam, Hyderabad, Delhi,” said the Prince. “Since I have come out, I get a lot of emails from gay Indian men in Australia struggling with their identity.”

“The Indian GLBT community here needs a support system. I know ACON developing a network for South Asian men and there are other groups like Trikone and Salaam Namaste, but stronger networks are needed,” the Prince said.

“Some people of Indian origin settled here are even more conservative (than Indians in India). The pressure to get married is immense and they have to succumb.” The Prince would know about succumbing to marriages.

Confused by his attraction to men, but unaware of his own sexuality, the Prince married a woman, hoping that the mental illness would be cured and “after

marriage I will be alright”. After a year of an unconsummated marriage, subsequent divorce and a nervous breakdown, the Prince finally understood he was gay.

In 2006 he came out of the closet publicly to Gujarati media. As it happens, his effigies were burned, and his family disowned and disinherited him.

“I told the media that I may be the first homosexual to come out, but not the only one,” the Prince recollects. “This triggered the response from my parents… otherwise they knew since 2002. My father even gave a statement later that the decision was taken under pressure and in anger.”

The Prince has since reunited with his family.

His tumultuous journey however, he believes can be useful to those embarking on their own difficult search for identity. He also decided to come out to the media because he believed that he could use his celebrity to address the issue of HIV/AIDS.

“I wanted to open up the Pandora’s box. Unless there is discussion and debate about these issues, there can be no solution.”

The Prince has travelled far and wide with his message - from appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2007, to inaugurating the Euro Pride in Stockholm in 2008, and featuring in a BBC Television series, Undercover Princes in 2009

However, it is his work back home in India that he talks about with most warmth and pride. The highlight for every GLBT supporter in India would be the reading down of section 377, by the Delhi High Court on July 2 2009.

Section 377, which penalises “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”, was pronounced unconstitutional and can now be read as referring only to non-consensual sex and sex with minors.

“I did not imagine that this would happen in my lifetime,” said the Prince. “The decision came soon after the Delhi

Pride Parade. The Mumbai Pride held in August after the decision was a huge success. There were a lot of straight people - families and friends - and a few celebrities like Celina Jaitely,” he recollects. “The parade was never disrupted. It went very smoothly and parades have been held in Calcutta, Bangalore, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar. We hope to organise one in Vadodra next year.”

But the process to win against section 377 was hardly a party. Initiated by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Naz Foundation, the campaign was spearheaded by a coalition of NGOs through multifaceted efforts including legal action, demonstrations, advocacy and policy work.

“We all came together,” the Prince said. “I offered to provide an affidavit with my 650-year-old family history documents showing references to homosexuals and transgender people - that they were given a special place.” Representatives from other countries also supported this campaign.

“Australia’s openly gay Judge, Justice Michael Kirby met a lot of judges in India.”

“The Union Minister for Health has made a statement that section 377 is a hindrance to HIV control. The American Psychiatry Association has also removed it from their list of mental illnesses and this list is applicable to the world - and India is part of this world.”

The case against section 377 was fought from all angles - social, historical and scientific. “Even India’s Law Minister had to concede that this was the most well argued case in any court of India.”

The Prince believes that it is only through constant dialogue and sensitisation that his vision of a society that believes in equality can be attained. He participates in sensitisation and advocacy sessions with parliamentarians, ministers and the police forces. “Things which are in our culture - we are just blindfolded to them. If we can open it up, people would understand.”

The Indian GLBT community here needs a support system. I know ACON developing a network for South Asian men and there are other groups like Trikone and Salaam Namaste, but stronger networks are needed

Public School students present a Diwali spectacular organized

inaugurates the new Kings Indian

PEOPLE PARTIES PLACES

PEOPLE PARTIES PLACES

new baby

Parramatta MP Julie Owens

restaurant, jointly owned by Harman Singh and Varun Chaudhry

And the winner is … Anjena Nelson! Raj and Padmaja Reddy of Parramatta’s Hyderabad Travels and Tours with their Diwali bumper draw winner, who took home a 24ct, 30gm gold biscuit

West Ryde

by their Hindi teacher Archana Chaudhary

Indian-origin students of Artarmon Public School celebrate Diwali at school

Intaj Khan and friends at the Melbourne Cup

Khanjan Desai shows off his brand

sister Kynah

Taking flight

The word’s out in Bollywood that there’s a new Baddie in town.

So says the “new Baddie” himself, Nicholas Brown. Nicholas plays the negative role in the high-profile Hrithik Roshan starrer Kites, set to hit the screens early next year.

But take one look at him, and you’d be sure to think - no, this man can’t be in the same league as the Gulshan Grovers, Shakti Kapoors and Sadashiv Amrapurkars of tinsel townhe’s way too cute! His easy and comfortable gait, those twinkling eyes and that infectious smile, are too far removed from the typical Bollywood “villain” with the scowly face, uncouth exterior and lecherous eyes ...

And then again, he’s too down to earth to be a Bollywood type at all. Where are those starry airs, that treat-me-like-a-celebrity demeanour, that $2000 jacket and expensive cologne, that heavily blow-dried hair?

No, there’s none of that. Nicholas comes across as a regular guy… with lots of obvious passion for his line of work.

And plenty of enthusiasm for his first big break in the Hindi film industry, with one of its largest production houses.

Rakesh Roshan’s Kites, starring his superstar son Hrithik and the beautiful Kangana Ranaut, has been complete for months now and was supposed to be one of this year’s most awaited releases. Delayed many times for untold reasons, it will now open on 15 Jan 2010, to mark Hrithik’s tenth anniversary in the industry. (His debut film, the made-in-New Zealand Kaho Na Pyaar Hai was released on 14 Jan 2000).

The film, from all reports so far, is your typical Bollywood love story. The difference is that it is in Hindi, English and Spanish. And that the star-crossed lovers are not from different social classes, but from two different countries. The film was made in Mumbai, Las Vegas, LA and New Mexixo.

In it, Nick Brown plays Tony, the US-born son of an Indian father played by Kabir Bedi. His sister (Kangana, a salsa dancer) is in love with dance instructor Hrithik, who has eyes only for Mexican beauty Barbara Mori. The two main leads Hrithik and Barbara are passionately in love, but their love has many barriers - language being only the first of them. Are Kangana and her family the other thorns in this love story? Nick won’t tell us: it seems he has been asked to be “tight-lipped” about it all.

However we do manage to wrangle out of him, that he is the baddie who takes Hrithik’s girlfriend away from him.

So why did you pick the baddie role, Nick?

“Perhaps my commendable portrayal of the villain in Miss Bollywood had something to do with it,” Nicholas smiles.

The Shilpa Shetty musical Miss Bollywood was his first job in India. He had played the negative role in it, alongside Wayne Perry and another Indian Australian who has made it big in India, Anusha Dandekar. The musical played to packed houses in Mumbai and across Europe, and ended a huge success at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The role proved to be a stepping stone for Nick as he found acceptance

in India’s entertainment industry. “The word was out on the streets about a new Bad Guy in town!”

Kites came flying his way shortly afterwards.

The film has been in the news for many reasons since it started production. Its delayed release has been rumoured to be due to the lack of an ‘auspicious’ day forthcoming (Rakesh Roshan is well-known for his superstitions, such as movie titles starting with the letter k). And now the buzz is that Roshan might actually release the film in December, so as not to clash with Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots, which releases on Jan 25. (Or then again, perhaps an auspicious date has suddenly appeared in December…)

The other reason the film has been in the news is because of the supposed intimacy between Hrithik and Barbara, that caused some marital issues at the Roshan household. Sources close to the film unit let the word out that some of the scenes between the lead pair were so sensuous that papa Rakesh was asked to leave the sets, and off location, it was obvious to all that Hrithik was very attentive to Barbara.

And so one is tempted to ask Nick what the real story there was.

But all one can get out of him is, “Hrithik is extremely charming… and professional and focused. I had a great time hanging out with him at Las Vegas after work”.

In the film, Nicholas actually speaks three languages – English with an American accent, Hindi and Spanish. With absolutely

no exposure to Hindi or any other Indian languages in Sydney, Nick had to work very hard on the dialogues: he took classes in Mumbai to improve his diction and vocabulary.

“And yet there were remarks on set – ‘Arrey, you speak Hindi like a French man, yaar!’, they laughed at me. But Hrithik explained things to me whenever it was required. In any case, I had gotten familiar with Hindi as I’ve been living in Mumbai for two years now”.

So is Bollywood really as chaotic as it has been made out to be?

“Actually, it is, rather – it’s very different to working on an Australian set with an Australian crew. Having said that though, I don’t imply in any way that Bollywood is any less in comparison to the Australian industry. In fact I was quite taken by the sheer scale of production of Kites. For the very first scene I filmed, I was made to stand on a cliff with helicopters surrounding me – it was amazing”.

On a lighter note he narrated a funny incident that happened while filming his first stunt: he had been asked to drive a Hummer on the wrong side of the road and shoot a gun at the same time. Obviously this mild-mannered “villain” has had no experience whatsoever with guns and needed a quick lesson.

“One of the assistant directors came to my rescue saying ‘It’s easy, just press!’ We did have a bit of a laugh over that”.

Nicholas also claimed to have had a good working relationship with director Anurag Basu who gave him the freedom to work around his role. “Anurag is a very creative person who knows exactly who to cast. He auditioned me quite extensively…”.

Nicholas also believes that his upbringing, training and experience as an actor in Australia

A young Sydney actor returns to his roots and strikes it big in Bollywood. SHRADDHA ARJUN reports

Hrithik is extremely charming… and professional and focused. I had a great time hanging out with him at Las Vegas after work

Nicholas Brown with Shilpa Shetty, Anusha Dandekar and Wayne Perry in Miss Bollywood: The Musical

is different to other Indian actors and that has helped him to contribute something unique and different to the film as well.

What about the dancing in Bollywood films?

“I was a little disappointed about not being able to dance in this particular film. I had a great time dancing with Shilpa Shetty in Miss Bollywood. I am trained in various styles of dancing, but the Bollywood style was new to me. Ganesh Hegde the choreographer helped me out. There are a lot of differences between western dance and the Bollywood style: in the former, the movements need to be direct, whereas with Bollywood dancing the movements are meant to be free. So I was advised to chill out and loosen up, a bit like a monkey!”

He did get a lot of help from Shilpa as well. Apparently Shilpa was petrified about performing on stage as she had never done it before, and was glad to have experienced professional theatre artists by her side for Miss Bollywood

Though Kites is Nick’s first Bollywood film, it is not his first film as an actor. Nicholas Brown is an experienced actor who has done many independent films and has been an active theatre artist in Australia. He has won many accolades in the industry and was even nominated for the Logies for his performance as Sachin in the television series The Cooks in 2005. This made him one of the first ethnic actors to have a lead in a major series in Australia. (His parents are both from India; dad hails from Ooty and mum from Calcutta. He was very young when his family migrated to Australia).

Talking of his early years, Nick says, “I started performing and acting when I was a kid

in school; I went to Newtown High School of Performing Arts. I auditioned for NIDA when I was 17, in fact on the day after my HSC and was lucky enough to be selected”.

NIDA is the foremost acting and theatre college in Australia which has produced stars such as Mel Gibson and Cate Blanchett. Over thousands apply and Nicholas was one of only 24 who got selected in his year.

He is also a talented singer, who writes his own songs and has recorded several songs with India’s finest jazz musician Louis Banks. He recently collaborated with Pia Sukanya and Michael E Ward for the soundtrack of an upcoming cross-over Indian film. In Australia, he was lead singer with Sydney based disco funk band Modernists. Their 2005 album Big Score garnered much attention and radio airtime in Australia.

Nicholas, whose voice has been compared to George Michael’s, began his singing career at the tender age of seven as a boy chorister with The Young Sydney Singers. He was a regular performer on national television on the Ray Martin Show and has performed with some of Australia’s leading vocalists such as Olivia Newton-John, Dame Joan Sutherland, Kamahl, Normie Rowe and John Rowles. Did he do anything with music for Kites?

“I would have loved to contribute to it and was initially considered by Anurag Basu to sing a few tracks. But there were too many people involved in the process already - Barbara Mori’s brother is likely to have contributed a bit towards the soundtrack as well. Hopefully I’ll do something in the music industry in India in the long run”.

He’ll sing readily for you if you ask him: Kajra re, Nach baliye and other peppy numbers

is in the early stages of funding. The script touches upon the topic of racism in Australia –although it doesn’t point the blame at anyone.

It is an honest film and different. Australian producers are afraid to touch such subjects, and hence the delay in it getting off the ground”.

Nick is currently in Australia to focus on this project. Coincidentally, he won a role in an episode of City Homicide called Aussie Aussie

Nicholas feels very strongly about the Indian students’ situation here.

“Though it was completely sensationalized in India, it was quite disgusting and terrible that it had happened. The problem with racism in Australia is that when people are not directly affected by it then they don’t care.”

Being in the entertainment scene in Australia, Nicholas has been affected by it as well, however indirectly.

“It was tough even after graduating from NIDA. As a young actor, I had to struggle a lot and yes, it was difficult getting the breaks with a brown skin. One has to work harder to get behind the ‘coloured line’ casting. Majority of all roles, even in commercials, are for blonde and blue eyed people”, he says.

In the American scene there is much more diversity, he notes, quoting the example of the television series Grey’s Anatomy. “America is comparatively forward when it comes to this, and the Australian industry has a long way to go - it needs to be more open in terms of casting people of different ethnic backgrounds”.

It was essentially this that led him to move to Mumbai, looking for work.

Funnily enough, it was an Indian project, made in Australia with an all-Australian crew, that turned him towards India. He was picked to play a role in a Motorola ad for the Indian market but made here in Sydney, a few years ago. (Check it out on youtube – it is sure to bring a smile to your face). It turned out to be a sign to head to Mumbai!

With Kites, we wait with bated breath to see if Nick’s career takes wind and soars to success, but we can be sure of one thing: just like the dor (kite-string), this talented young man will continue to remain down-to-earth and tightly focused, and will reach heights denied to him here in Australia.

Nicholas was nominated for the Logies for his performance as Sachin in the television series The Cooks in 2005. This made him one of the first ethnic actors to have a lead in a major series in Australia

(Channel Ten, 2005) Phtoto: Collage Communications

1 & 2 Nicholas Brown in Kites

RYDE AUCTION

EXTRA LARGE BLOCK

49 Gardener Avenue

Well maintained 4 bedroom home in sought after location close to all amenities and refurbished top Ryde shopping centre, separate lounge, modern kitchen + bathroom, huge family area, garage and more. Set on a 874sqm block this property is ideal for the first home buyer, investor or to build your dream home.

TOONGABBIE

WHEN SIZE COUNTS

21 Derbyshire Avenue

AUCTION

Extra large 4 bedroom home with separate lounge, big eat in kitchen, huge rumpus

GRANVILLE AUCTION

WALK

14 Queen Street

This home is ready for the family to move straight in, features include 3 double size bedrooms, large modern timber kitchen with dishwasher, separate large lounge, separate dining area, modern bathroom, large covered entertaining area, large tandem lock up carport which accommodates 4 cars plus lock up garage. This property is located in a prime spot in only short walking distance to trains, schools, tafe & shops.

station is this 4 bedroom home with separate lounge, large eat in kitchen, second shower + toilet set on North facing 696sqm Block, potential duplex site (subject to council approval). GREAT INVESTMENT.

Auction: Saturday 12th December 2009 on site at 4.30pm Open For Inspection: Saturday 4:00 - 4:30pm Liang & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 CONTACT Alan Fowler 0413 057 699

WENTWORTHVILLE AUCTION

RARE FIND

1/21-23 Fullagar Road

Well presented modern townhouse is sought after location. Features 3 large bedrooms, ensuite to main, separate lounge, large bright & airy kitchen with gas cooking and double garage. Set in a small quality development, close to all amenities don’t miss this one! Auction:

PARRAMATTA $289,950

ROOTY HILL $359,950

PENDLE HILL AUCTION MOVE STRAIGHT IN 2 Boyne Avenue

This property is very neat & clean featuring 4 good size bedrooms, modern bathroom, 2 toilets, modern kitchen with gas cook top, separate lounge, dining area & family area, well maintained yard great for entertaining, lock up garage & carport area, all set in an ideal quiet location.

Open For Inspection: Saturday 11:30-12:00pm

Auction: Saturday 12 December 2009 on site at12:00pm

Laing & Simmons Toongabbie 9631 5555

Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw 0414 790 887

WENTWORTHVILLE AUCTION

WOW – WHAT A HOME

50 Craddock Street

This home sits on the high side with a wonderful northerly aspect featuring 4 bedrooms, polished floorboards throughout, modern kitchen with granite bench tops and new stove + dishwasher, modern bathroom with 2nd toilet & shower in laundry, large separate lounge & dining area with reverse cycle air conditioning, large sundrenched veranda out the front and huge entertaining area out the back, remote tandem lock-up garage, extra features include alarm, storage, shutters & walk to all amenities This home will be gone before you know it so don’t miss this opportunity!

WENTWORTHVILLE $385,000

TOONGABBIE $389,950

TOP LOCATION

Close to Parramatta CBD is this unit which has lots to offer. Featuring 2 bedrooms each with its own balcony, separate lounge and dine, lounge also has a enormous balcony with great afternoon shade for your enjoyment, air conditioning, lock up garage with remote control access and transport. Situated in a security block this unit is sure to please. Be the first to inspect!!

Liang & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 CONTACT Jim Malams

TOONGABBIE $429,950

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Situated in a quiet tranquil location is this 3 bedroom corner block home featuring 3 bedrooms with built-in’s, separate lounge and dining area together with ducted air conditioning, modern kitchen with Gas cooking and bathroom and extra toilet and lock up garage. All conveniently located close to shops, school and transport. DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!

Laing & Simmons Toongabbie 9631 5555

Contact Jim Malamas

MODERN TOWNHOUSE

Well presented 4 bedroom townhouse with ensuite to main, spacious living area, granite benchtop kitchen with gas cooking and dishwasher, ducted air conditioning and ducted vacuum system, garage with remote and more. A must to inspect!

Laing & Simmons Toongabbie 9631 5555 Contact Alan Fowler

GIRRAWEEN $349,950

DETACHED VILLA

This 3 bedroom detached villa is located in an ultra-quiet street close to schools, shops and trains, features separate large lounge, kitchen with eat-in dining, large yard including storage shed, lock-up garage and low strata fees!

Laing + Simmons Toongabbie 96315555

Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw

FREESTANDING VILLA

Seldom found 3 bedroom villa in small block of 10, spacious air conditioned living areas, bright and airy kitchen with dishwasher, modern bathroom with separate toilet, internal access to garage, private courtyard, easy walk to station + shops. Inspect Now!

Liang & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 CONTACT Alan Fowler

WENTWORTHVILLE $299,950

SPACIOUS APARTMENT 6/107-109 Lane Street

This two bedroom apartment situated on the middle floor is very spacious, featuring large lounge and dining area, main bedroom with air conditioning, huge north facing balcony, security intercom and large lock up garage (enough room for extra storage) This unit is in easy walking distance to Woolworths, local schools. shops & trains. BE SURE TO INSPECT! Open For Inspection: Saturday 10:30- 11am Liang & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 CONTACT Leanne Ollerenshaw

GREAT STARTER Situated in quiet residential street you find this clad and tile home with separate lounge, large eat in kitchen, 3 spacious bedrooms, garage which has been converted to

Reconciliation through art

Mahatma Gandhi had once famously said, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”.

A new exhibition by Multicultural Arts Victoria reinterprets the Mahatma’s philosophy in response to the recent media discussions about racial attacks and other challenges faced by the Indian community in Melbourne.

An Eye For An Eye, currently on at Melbourne’s City Library, highlights the diversity of artistic insight that Indian communities bring to visual arts in Victoria, through the photographs of Sudeep Lingamneni and the paintings of Maitreyi Ray. In a show of support for the Indian communities in Victoria, the exhibition was opened by the Indian Consul General Anita Nayar.

Lingamneni’s photographs document common sights seen on an Indian street – a labourer carrying a disused audio player perhaps to be recycled; in another image a performer dressed as Krishna poses for his camera. These photographs are a product of a lifealtering journey that Lingamneni made in India after the death of his father.

“In 2004 my father died, just before my 27th birthday, so I decided to travel through India for a year and discover the country of my birth.”

Although he was born in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, Lingamneni was raised in Boston and Melbourne. He recollects that visit to India thus: “I found myself walking for hours, photographing what I saw. The hours became days, which became months. When I wondered what I was doing, I realized I was seeking some sort of truth, in relation to myself.”

In photography, he found a way to understand his motherland and her

people, although he did not speak their language.

“Photography was connecting me in the most intimate, emotional way with the landscape around me, and the people that inhabited it. India was teaching me to watch, and wait on life.”

Through his photographs then, viewers can relive his undiluted emotions.

“The images I took in India were nothing more than my emotional experience, my interaction with the people I met along the way.”

Meanwhile, in Maitreyi Ray’s nostalgic paintings, Indian immigrants can perhaps relive memories of this own childhood.

“My (sic) first ten years of life were spent in carefree wonder under the sheltering skies of Bengal, in a home which seemed to be a strong, beautiful palace,” says Ray as she recollects her happy childhood in Calcutta. Her paintings are a child-like representation of the many joyous traditional ceremonies Ray witnessed in her home-city: women giggle away at a bawdy joke during wedding preparations, a young girl rehearses for a traditional dance performance. Ray recollects, “All these years later those times still exist for me, still redolent with the fragrance of stolen

fruits and flowers and pungent with the odour of burning charcoal, coconut husks, fat, frangipani and fried fish.”

Shivangi Ambani-Gandhi

An Eye For An Eye will continue to show at the City Library, Melbourne until November 29, 2009

Photography was connecting me in the most intimate, emotional way with the landscape around me, and the people that inhabited it. India was teaching me to watch, and wait on life

Sudeep Lingamneni

(Above) Krishna Blue by Sudeep Lingamneni (Below) Bawdy Joke at Pishi’s Wedding by Maitreyi Ray

Sustainable for the community designs

is then analysed and translated into design by Peter.”

Greenacre residents are familiar with a recent work of public art at McGuigan Place, in the form of a ‘3’written in the Arabic script. Located in a play area near the town centre it is part of the functional art piece 1, 2 and 3. Its clever design addresses the need for public seating while providing a piece of professional art to wow at.

Called Arabic ‘3’ Mural Seat, this is one among many such works which has helped its creators win a coveted award this month.

Peter and Rina Day of Environmental Art +Design (EA+D) recently received the 2009 Business Achievers Award in the Professional Services Category. The company specialises in public art such as murals, sculptures, banners, ceramics, mosaics and playgrounds.

The designs that they have achieved acclaim for, are rooted to the community for which they are intended, and this is one of the reasons for their success.

“We aim to create sustainable designs and by involving the community we give them a sense of ownership of the finished product,” artist Peter Day says.

Peter owns the award winning EA+D and generously credits his Indian-born wife Rina for being the key support behind their success.

“Rina looks after the marketing side of the business, acting as client liaison and public relations officer,” says he.

“And... she cooks great food and Indian curries,” he adds playfully.

Further explaining her own role Rina says, “We have to apply for tenders to get the public projects. I help in preparing them and give my comments so it is very much a partnership. Peter is the artistic director while I do the text bit.

Sometimes the clients ask for community consultation in which case I go with Peter to the consultations and prepare the community engagement plan. I collect information which

Rina moved to Australia from Calcutta in 1995. Armed with a Masters degree in Clothing and Textiles and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare, she has great expertise in relating to ethnic groups, and helps with the company projects by engaging the community, gathering ideas, asking for suggestions and giving presentations.

An artist in her own right, she has been creating art for the past 20 years and has participated in many exhibitions here and in India. Making quilts is a particular passion (she is a member of the NSW Quilt Guild). Of course, she incorporates elements of Indian embroidery into her art.

Lace is another passion. Rina creates traditional as well as contemporary bobbin lace and has coordinated two exhibitions, Open Fabric: Traditional & Contemporary Australian Lace in 2001 and Lace from the West at Fairfield City Museum and Gallery in 2008. She also dabbles in collage and works on paper using textile materials. Rina has given lectures on Indian textiles and embroidery in various institutions in India and Australia including the University of New South Wales, Australian Academy of Decorative Arts, University of the Third Age and many guild groups.

Since 1980, Environmental Art + Design has created 170 pieces of public art including notable commissions such as the King George V Activity Centre Mural for Sydney City Council. This piece is the largest community mural in the Southern Hemisphere.

Another work, Gift Given, created for the Robyn Webster Sport Reserve in Tempe, is the biggest mural in Australia. Other pieces include Swimming in Duck Creek for the Granville Swimming Centre, Arabic Three in Greenacre, and Recycle, a multi-purpose seating and bicycle rack for the Ku-ring-gai Council. Rina explains the rigorous process they had to go through in order to win the Business Achievers award. “There were three stages of which the first was to garner support from our clients and ask them to vote for us, than we had to answer a lengthy questionnaire which was

followed by a mystery shopper who reported back on our services.”

She admits, “Winning this award has given a great morale boost to us. It was an acknowledgement of what we do. It has made us realize that we are good and that our services are of the highest standards.”

But will they participate next year? Rina is not sure. She concedes they will have to wait and see the impact of it on the business and then decide whether to participate next year or not.

EA+D was in the running for the 2009 Professional Services award with five other finalists including Bankstown Airport, Mai Home Loans, Hands On Wheels, Paul Burgess Legal Services and Canterbury Bankstown Physiotherapy.

The Australian Business Achievers Awards has been an initiative of the Cumberland Courier Newspapers for the past 15 years. The awards are hosted for 19 regions across Sydney and Central Coast and aim to acknowledge and celebrate the local businesses success in their communities. The program is designed to promote community growth and encourage the potential of local businesses. The major sponsors for this year’s event were the ORS Group, NSW Business Chamber, Gosford City Council and Lake Haven shopping centre. Businesses competed for awards in over 34 categories including Adult Community and other Education, Cafe/Coffee Shop, Business Services, Clubs, Beauty Services, Fashion Retail, Florist, Children’s Services etc. The award ceremony was held at the Bankstown Sports Club.

Meanwhile, the Days are busy preparing for the opening of Peter’s new studio on 21 November and waiting to begin their new public projects.

Environmental Art + Design has created 170 pieces of public art including notable commissions such as the King George V Activity Centre

Mural for Sydney City Council

FARZANA SHAKIR meets with award-winning artists Peter and Rina Day

(Above) EA+D’s mural for the King George V Activity Centre

(Right) Rina and Peter (Below) EA+D’s Arabic ‘3’ Mural Seat at McGuigan Place, Greenacre

One year on…

QUAID NAJMI meets two families still carrying the scars of 26-11

An uncut birthday cake and four bullets

Life and death, celebration and mourning... it all came together in a bewildering flash for the Sharma family that Nov 26 one year ago when terrorists struck Mumbai and Sushil Kumar Sharma crumpled to a hail of bullets on his son’s 13th birthday just as the party was under way.

The 48-year-old assistant chief ticketing inspector with Central Railway (CR) joined duty at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), promising to be back before son Aditya cut his cake. But that was a date never to be kept.

Regret and a continuing sadness shadow the lives of his 45-year-old wife Ragini and their sons Aditya, now getting ready for his father’s first death anniversary and his 14th birthday, and 16-year-old Siddhant.

As the nation remembers the 170 who died when terrorists laid a three-day bloody siege over India’s financial capital, the Sharmas remember the husband and the father. And they replay in their minds his last conversation, his last moments, his last goodbye.

“He had bought two cakes that day and wanted to have a small party with friends and neighbours. Usually, he would take an off on our children’s birthdays, but that day he had some urgent work so he went to office with a promise of returning early,” remembers Ragini, fighting back her tears.

The mood that evening, she recalls, was celebratory. In a party mood that whole evening, the family watched a cricket match at their home in suburban Kalyan, blissfully unaware of the terror drama unfolding in the city -- and at the CST where an estimated 60 people lost their lives in just a few hours.

Just before 9.30 p.m., Sharma called home, asking for the latest score and instructed the family to go ahead and cut the cake. But Aditya insisted on cutting the second cake in his dad’s presence.

Ragini has been able to piece together his last moments.

Sharma was on his usual rounds on the suburban platforms when he heard the sounds of bullets soon after 9.30 p.m. Mistaking it for a gang war, he immediately informed the Railway Control Room and requested them to halt trains coming towards CST to prevent the loss of innocent lives.

As he waited, a colleague informed him of the terror attacks. And Sharma decided to go out and see what he could do to help.

As he went near platform No. 1, Sharma saw a small girl called Pooja running towards him, screaming in terror and pain as she had been hit by at least four bullets. He tried to whisk her to safety, but four bullets hit him too and he fell to the floor, life ebbing out as the bloody terror drama continued all around him.

Back home, the first inkling of something

Living with shrapnel

Ten minutes of terror and a lifetime of pain. An unfair equation that 33-year-old Bharat Gujjar has learnt to live with, just as he has learnt to live with the dozen pieces of shrapnel lodged in his body since the night of Nov 26, 2008, when terrorists stormed into Mumbai’s famed Leopold Cafe showering grenades and bullets.

For the cafe supervisor, that Wednesday was just one of those busy mid-week nights at the 139-year-old watering hole in Colaba, south Mumbai -- just a kilometre away from the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel where terrorists laid siege for three days at the end of which 170 people had been killed across the city.

There was a steady stream of patrons, mainly foreigners and young Indians, trooping in to spend an evening at the cafe, going by the same name since 1871 when it was the haunt of British and Indian high society.

At 9.35 p.m., Gujjar sent his assistant for dinner and took his place at the billing counter.

Five minutes later, all hell broke loose, he recalls.

going wrong came when Sharma’s sister called up asking Ragini where he was. She had just learnt about the terror attacks from the news channels.

For the next three to four hours, Ragini tried her husband’s number but the phone remained unanswered.

“We still felt that he must be busy helping people or tied up in work. Around 1.30 a.m., a policeman picked up the phone. After confirming my identity, he asked me to rush to the J.J. Hospital, but I couldn’t go since all trains had stopped that night. Much later, we were informed by his colleagues that he fell victim to the terrorists’ bullets,” she said. Life, she said, changed forever that instant. The homemaker from Kalyan became a working woman to support her two sons. She was offered a job in the accounts department of Central Railway.

“He was always a person concerned about society, helping out to people, especially the needy; he always used to say that ‘my life is for the people’ and would go out of his way if he could serve anybody,” said Ragini.

She is now focused on continuing her husband’s legacy. Her sons are also determined to ensure that their father’s heroism will not be forgotten.

So, as a tribute to his memory and his ideals, the family has set up the Shaheed Sushilkumar Sharma Foundation in his hometown Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.

“We are going to have a commemorative prayer there Nov 26, organise a few children’s events with the theme of peace and antiterrorism, felicitate people who display bravery and courage in day-to-day life. We shall repeat a similar program in Kalyan on Nov 29,” said his elder son Siddhant.

“At least two grenades were lobbed inside the cafe, both exploded like a thunder, stunning all the people. One fell just six feet away and I was among the people who bore the brunt of the explosion.

“Scores of shrapnel, glass pieces, iron ball bearings, nails and other deadly material shot into my body... I instinctively ducked under the billing counter and so escaped the machine-gun shots that were fired in quick succession by the terrorists,” Gujjar said, reliving the 10 minutes of horror that made world headlines for days.

Seven guests and two cafe staffers died in the bloodbath.

Barely conscious and writhing in pain, Gujjar found himself in hospital the next day. After an operation in the stomach with 14 stitches and 17 days in hospital, he was discharged.

It was during his sojourn in hospital that he learnt how the terrorists had landed at the bay off Colaba and targeted the Leopold Cafe, a well-known haunt of foreigners visiting the city.

The trauma of that evening has become a part of his life. And so have the nearly dozen pieces of shrapnel in different parts of his body which, doctors say, are difficult to remove.

“Whenever in pain, I go for relief to the Sir J.J. Hospital. I could resume work after three months on account of the pain and post-operative care,” said Gujjar, who lives in Colaba with his wife and three teenaged sons.

The tragedy that befell Gujjar, and from which he survived, has made the family stronger and more closely-knitthey consider it a miracle that he survived the ordeal.

Sushil Sharma with his wife Ragini and sons Siddhant and Aditya in a photo taken just before the Mumbai attack Photo: IANS

Tendulkar, the entertainer par excellence

By the time Sachin Tendulkar made his debut in one-day internationals in 1989, the format had been in existence for 19 years, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that the little dynamo provided the impetus for the tremendous growth of the format.

Tendulkar redefined the rules of the shorter version and took it to new frontiers, setting milestones at every conceivable distance in the 20 years he has been around. He has been an inspiration for generations of players to follow.

The popularity of ODIs soared in the subcontinent when Tendulkar was at his peak. And in India, Tendulkar acquired the status of a demigod. Each time he walked down holding his bat, the nation of a billion waited in anticipation. The colour of the clothing fades and the bright stadium floodlights get hazy with Tendulkar’s electrifying presence out in the middle. And the administrators of the

game went to the banks laughing every time Tendulkar played in an ODI.

The 45 centuries that he has cracked in 436 ODIs came in a torrent once he got his first hundred five years and 79 matches after his debut, against Australia. Remarkably, 32 of his hundreds carried India to victory.

He was also the first player to score 10,000 runs in the ODIs, and after that every 1,000 he added was part of history, surpassing his own record.

He is the only player to post nine centuries in a calendar year in 1998 and also the only batsman to amass 1,000 runs in a calendar year seven times. No other batsman has contributed to as many runs as he did for a winning cause -- 10360 (ave.56.92) in 217 matches.

Tendulkar’s stats in ODIs (as on Nov 15, 2009)

Milestones

1st Match: vs.Pakistan at Gujaranwala on Dec 18, 1989

100th Match: vs.New Zealand at Pune on Nov 24, 1995

200th Match: vs.Zimbabwe at Harare on Sep 30,1998

300th Match: vs.Sri Lanka at Colombo,RPS on Sep 30,2002

400th Match: vs. Australia at Baroda on Oct 11,2007

ODI career highlights

l At 16 years 238 days, he was the youngest Indian player (vs. Pakistan at Gujaranwala on Dec 18, 1989)

l Holds an Indian record for the longest career (19 years and 325 days)

l Most consecutive matches (185between April 25, 1990 and April 24, 1998)

l Holds a world record for aggregating most runs - 17178 (ave.44.50)

l Most matches (436) by an Indian

l Most Innings (425) by an Indian

l Most Centuries (45)

l Most Fifties (91)

l Most Nineties (17)

l Holds a dubious distinction of being the only player to have been dismissed on 99 on three occasions.

l Holds the record for aggregating most runs in a calendar year - 1894 (ave.65.31) in 34 matches.

l Only player to post nine centuries in a calendar year (1998)

l Only batsman to amass 1000 runs in a calendar year seven times.

l Most runs for a winning cause - 10360 (ave.56.92) in 217 matches.

l Most Man of the Match awards (60)

l Most Man of the Series awards (14)

l Only all-rounder to complete the triple of 15000 runs, 150 wickets and 100 catches.

l Holds ODI partnership records for the second and third wickets - 331 (2nd) with Rahul Dravid vs. New Zealand at Hyderabad on 8.11.1999 and 237* (3rd) with Rahul Dravid vs. Kenya at Bristol on 23.5.1999.

l Only player to hit nine centuries against one opponent - Australia

l Only player to have aggregated 2000 runs or more against three nationsAustralia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

l His run-aggregate of 3005 (ave.46.23) is a record by any player against Australia

l His run-aggregate of 2749 (ave.44.33) is a record by

any player against Sri Lanka

l His 186 not out against New Zealand at Hyderabad on 8.11.1999 is a record for the highest individual innings for India

l He is the only player to aggregate 500 runs in a single edition of the World Cup twice. His run-aggregate of 673 (ave.61.18) in 11 matches in 2002-

03 is a World Cup record for one edition

l His run-aggregate of 1796 (ave.57.94) in 36 matches is a World Cup record

Holds the record for taking the least number of matches from 10,000 to 13,000

The nation celebrates Sachin Tendulkar’s 20th year in cricket

NIA team searches

Mumbai to trace Headley’s terror links

INTENSIFYING ITS PROBE into suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley’s role in the Mumbai terror attacks, a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths have conducted raids at several places in Mumbai. Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s son Rahul is likely to be questioned over his alleged friendship with the Pakistan-born American who is in US custody.

According to home ministry sources, the NIA team carried out searches at various places in south Mumbai and suburbs of the city, including Goregaon, Malad, Khar, Pali Hill and Lokhandwala.

Sources said that NIA sleuths searched the Goregaon house of arrested LeT operative Faheem Ansari, who is in jail with another suspect Sabahuddin Mohammed for conspiring in and preparing maps for carrying out the Mumbai terror strikes, in which over 170 people were killed.

Records were scrutinised in two south Mumbai luxurious hotels - Taj and Trident where Headley had reportedly stayed before last year’s terror strikes. The two hotels were among the iconic places attacked by the 10 terrorists who sailed into Mumbai from Karachi.

Investigators believe that Rahul Bhatt will help them gather more details on Headley’s visits to Mumbai. Mahesh Bhatt has denied that his son had any links with terrorists, but he admitted that Rahul, a fitness instructor, had indeed met Headley in a gym. Rahul had also helped him rent a flat near Breach Candy Hospital.

Sources said that NIA sleuths have recovered some “incriminating documents” from a hutment colony in Goregaon suburb. But there were no details available on what the documents were about.

Sources said the NIA team in Mumbai will also question three friends of Rahul Bhatt, who was earlier let off after brief questioning by Mumbai Police as he was said to be unaware of Headley’s terror links.

But it was made clear that nobody had yet been given a clean chit in the case. Security agencies in India went into a tizzy after it was known that Headley, who visited India nine times over a three-year period since 2006, was planning major terror strikes in the country on behalf of the LeT.

Headley is said to have operated a visa agency in Mumbai for almost two years until July 2008 and had travelled to various Indian cities including Jaipur, Delhi and Bangalore, which were rattled by bomb blasts last year.

Headley’s alleged accomplice Tahawwur Hassan Rana, a Canadian of Pakistani origin, were arrested Oct 3 by US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for planning terror strikes in India and Denmark. The NIA has registered a case against both Headley and Rana.

***

Biggest Indian-Canadian landlord eyes India’s ‘dream’ market

CANADA’S BIGGEST Indian landlord Bob Dhillon, who started his company from the back of his car and now owns more than 6,000 rental properties across the country, is set to enter the Indian real estate market.

Dhillon, who was been invited by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to join him during his visit to India that is currently on, is

Continued on page 30

Photo: AP

bullish on the Indian market.

“Despite the current slowdown, I am sure the Indian real estate sector will take off in a big way. We are ready to come here next year,” says 43-year-old Dhillon whose Mainstreet Equity is the first Indian-owned company to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Dhillon, who started selling homes at the age of 19 and became a millionaire at the young age of 21, says: “Today, India is a realtor’s dream. It is the fastest growing real estate market in the world after (western) Canada”.

Three things make India a dream destination for him, he says.

“One, 50 percent of India’s population is below 25 and they will spur demand for housing. Two, a vast majority of Indians live in rural areas which are set to see a huge housing activity. Third, as prosperity increases, people’s hunger for home ownership will also increase. These three things are any real estate man’s dream”.

Dhillon, who was born in Japan and educated in India, keeps a close watch on the Indian real estate market and has made many presentations on it at various fora.

About his inclusion in the prime minister’s delegation, he says: “The prime minister wants to focus on economic ties with India... He sees that Canada and India have a huge economic future.

We have a new generation of Indian businessmen in Canada who will bridge these two great economies. We will bring financial and intellectual inputs into this relationship.”

Dhillon says the visit of the Canadian prime minister could not have come at a better time as the worst of the economic slowdown seems to be over.

“We have two great like-minded prime ministers. Stephen Harper and Manmohan Singh are both economists and policy driven. The visit will definitely boost our business relationship,” he says.

Interestingly, Dhillon’s company has boomed even in these troubled economic times. In fact, he has smartly leveraged the current crisis to expand his company to take its fortunes to well over $1 billion.

Explaining it, he says: “We have flourished because of the type of real estate business we do. We own mid-segment apartments mostly in western Canada which was not that badly hit. Then we had a lot of cash flow which we used to buy back 40 percent of shares. Further, we have taken advantage of low prices to buy more properties.”

The Indian king of the Canadian real estate considers his upcoming 2,300-acre island in Belize (Central America) the jewel in his crown. He is developing it into a

world-class tourist resort for Hollywood celebrities. The island amid pristine blue sea waters will have hotels, golf clubs, casinos, condominiums, high-end houses and other facilities.

The likes of Madonna and Leonardo DiCaprio will be its residents, says Dhillon whose family first emigrated to Hong Kong, then Liberia and finally Canada from Tallewal village near Barnala in Punjab.

***

Police nab burglar ring targeting Washington desis for gold

LAW HAS FINALLY caught up with a ring of picky burglars who had been targeting South Asian families in a Washington DC neighbourhood for their gold.

Indian American residents of Fairfax, a suburb of the national capital in neighbouring Virginia, expressed relief as the police arrested two men and a woman from the New York City area in Centreville.

Police suspect the burglars hit 26 homes in Fairfax and three more in Loudoun County since January. Each time, the burglars struck they ignored silver, gems and electronics, taking only gold jewellery,

saris with gold threads and gold statues.

Police said they believe gold was being stolen because it is selling at more than $1,000 an ounce. But they don’t know how or why certain houses, mostly in the Fair Oaks, Reston and Centreville areas of western Fairfax, were targeted.

Three suspects, Francisco Gray, 39, of Nassau County, New York; Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez, 27, and his wife, Melinda Soto, 33, both of Queens, New York have been charged with nine counts of felony. They are being held without bond in the Fairfax jail.

The burglaries generated intense concern in the South Asian community, and three town hall-style meetings were held, first with elected officials and then, last month, with Fairfax Police Chief David M. Rohrer. Residents were pleased by the arrests.

“The community is excited,” said Raman Kumar, an IT professional, one of the early victims whose home in Centreville was burgled way back on Feb 27.

“They are also thankful for the awareness the media put on this,” because neighbours who learned of the burglaries might have provided information that led to the arrests, Kumar, who had mobilised the IndianAmerican community over the issue, told IANS.

The arrests came after US marshals working with the police burglary task force spotted a sport utility vehicle with two men and a woman inside who fitted the description of suspects in the burglaries.

After a search of the sport utility vehicle, investigators found a lap top computer, a GPS unit, and a police scanner tuned to Fairfax County police radio channels.

A police spokesperson declined to say how investigators linked the suspects to the four Fair Oaks burglaries. She said police hoped the search of seized items such as the laptop computer would lead them to more property or more suspects.

Sikh becomes first mayor of Yuba City in US YUBA CITY, which became the first Indian settlement in the US and is now known as

the first Punjabi village in this country, got its first Sikh mayor this month.

Forty-four-year-old Kash (Kashmir) Gill was sworn as the new mayor of the city as hundreds of Indians attended his oathtaking ceremony. People were treated to Indian delicacies, including samosas, chana masala and sweets, amid Punjabi music. There are about 15,000 Punjabis, including Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims, in this city of 65,000. Gill will be the first Sikh mayor in California.

“We have made history tonight, and everyone is part of that history,” said Gill as outgoing mayor Leslie McBride passed the gavel to him.

“I am elated to be honoured with this position. We Punjabis have been here for more than a hundred years, and to be the mayor of this city is a privilege for the whole community,” Punjab-born Gill told IANS.

“I feel really great ...I have spent all my life here and to represent Yuba City is a great honour,” said Gill, who came to the city in 1967 with his family as a two-yearold.

His family is related to the city’s worldfamous peach farmer Didar Singh Bains. “We came from Lakhsina village in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab when my uncle Bains sponsored us,” said Gill, who will now command the city’s $80-million budget.

A banker by profession, he served as the vice-mayor before becoming the mayor. The position is held in rotation by the top two vote getters in city council elections. Interestingly, the five-member city council has another Sikh member Tej Maan. Punjabis first came to this city in the late 19th century.

“Gill’s elevation as the mayor means that the city has adopted its immigrant children whose forefathers landed here more than a century ago,” said the city’s famous resident and physician Jasbir Kang.

He said: “Originally 10 Punjabi families settled in this area. Today, we make up about 12 percent of the city population. Apart from Yuba City, our people also live in the outlying towns of Marysville, Live Oak, Gridley, Colusa and Wheatland.”

Canadian real estate magnate Bob Dhillon Photo: IANS

Outgoing Yuba City mayor Leslie McBride passes gavel to Kash Gill Photo: IANS

Famous for its annual Sikh Parade which attracts Punjabis from around the world, Yuba City has five gurdwaras, one Hindu temple and a mosque.

Punjabi is taught as a second language in the three major schools of the city. “I look forward to visiting India next year to share my joy with folks back in my native village,” said the new mayor.

Gordon Brown ‘launches poll campaign’ in Indianmajority constituency

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Gordon

Brown has chosen an Indian-dominated London suburb to give his nation a longawaited speech on immigration, setting off speculation this was the launch of his 2010 election campaign.

“When both the prime minister and the home secretary make their first major speeches for some time on immigration you can be sure that the election campaign has started in earnest,” the Home Affairs editor of the Labour-supporting Guardian newspaper wrote recently.

With general elections due by early June, Britain is in the midst of a heated and rancorous debate on immigration, with almost every other important issue sought to be linked to it - including health, education, jobs, terrorism and population growth.

With India’s economic rise on the global stage and Britain struggling with a recession, much of the debate recently has centred around what to do about the highlyskilled jobs that Britain badly needs but doesn’t have.

Brown chose Southall - a west London neighbourhood where Hindu and Sikh Punjabis dominate - as the venue of his first major speech on immigration since being made Prime Minister in June 2007.

In his speech, made in the presence of Punjab-born Southall MP Virendra Sharma, Brown made it clear that while migrants continued to make “enormous contributions” to all walks of life in Britain, they had the duty and responsibility to share in the values of the host nation.

And, he added, immigration was a subject that could not be left to racists and fringe parties - a reference to the recent rise of the anti-immigrant British National Party (BNP), which has won two seats in the European Parliament and many in local authority bodies across Britain.

Brown claimed Britain will keep its doors open to highly-skilled migrants from outside Europe - a group that is dominated by Indians - but conceded that people’s attitude to migrants might differ according to their economic and social circumstances.

Britons who are poor, competing for lowlypaid jobs at a time of recession or living in an area with few migrants might see migrants very differently from those who are working for a multinational company in a big city, he said.

Brown sought to set the record straight on some widely-held myths about immigration in Britain.

Net immigration, Brown said, was falling, not rising; a tax levied on nonEuropean immigrants meant they were paying extra into a 70 million pound fund that was paying for everybody’s local education and healthcare in some areas; and putting a cap on overall levels of immigration would only damage the British economy.

Coming amid a rising tide of anti-migrant violence in urban centres across England, the speech was welcomed by the local MP Sharma, who said it put the record straight. “The Prime Minister has taken on the Conservatives and the fringe parties

with this speech, which shows that the government is determined to have a fair and firm immigration policy,” Sharma said.

Keith Vaz, the senior Indian-origin MP in Britain, agreed, saying: “People have a problem with illegal immigrants, not those who are here legally. A lot of the problem is the product of bad administration at the UK Border Agency.”

***

Obama names Indian American Rajiv Shah as USAID chief PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA has named Rajiv Shah, an Indian American official at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to head USAID, an agency charged with spurring development around the world.

“The mission of USAID is to advance America’s interests by strengthening our relationships abroad,” he said of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which has more than 6,800 people working in some 80 countries worldwide.

Rajiv Shah, 36, “brings fresh ideas and the dedication and impressive background necessary to help guide USAID as it works to achieve this important goal,” he said. “I look forward to working with Rajiv in the months and years ahead.”

The Obama administration has been criticised in some quarters for not nominating someone sooner to head USAID, formally part of the State Department, which manages the bulk of US international aid with a budget of some 53.9 billion dollars for 2010, up nine percent over 2009.

Shah, a medical doctor, currently serves as chief scientist for the US Department of Agriculture and previously worked as director for agricultural development at the foundation headed by Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates and his wife. By nominating Raj to lead the USAID, Obama has reaffirmed that development must be a core pillar of American foreign policy, said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcoming the long-pending nomination.

“If confirmed, Raj will bring an impressive record of accomplishment and a deep understanding of what works in development to his role as USAID Administrator,” she said. “I look forward to working closely with him to advance the President’s agenda and to elevate and integrate development in our foreign policy.”

Having championed Obama’s global food security initiative, Shah is “a leader in the development community, an innovative and results-oriented manager, and someone who understands the importance of providing people around the world with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty and chart their own destinies,” she said.

“A trained medical doctor and health economist, Raj has the skills and experience to lead a reinvigorated USAID in the 21st century,” Clinton said. “He has led and worked with many of the initiatives that are defining best practice in the field of development.”

He has a record of “delivering results in both the private and public sectors, forging partnerships around the world, especially in Africa and Asia,” she added.

Prior to his work at the Gates foundation, Shah worked on health care policy for the 2000 presidential campaign of former vice president Al Gore.

He is a co-founder of Health Systems Analytics and Project IMPACT for South Asian Americans. In addition, he has served as a policy aide in the British

Parliament and worked at the World Health Organisation.

Dr. Shah earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and his Master of Science in health economics at the Wharton School of Business. He has attended the London School of Economics and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

‘Indian software industry will hold out against competition’

THE $60-BILLION information technology industry in India will continue to attract overseas business, despite competition from other emerging markets that also offer lower costs, says the India head of global software giant Computer Associates.

“Our costs will still be competitive. There are markets like China, Singapore, and the Philippines which offer lower costs. But they are not in the same league as India,” said the software giant India chairman Saurabh Srivastava.

“China has an issue with language, a lot of other countries don’t have the same levels of competency and, moreover, a lot of them are still in process of learning business norms,” Srivastava, an industry veteran and noted venture capitalist, told IANS.

According to him, the average spending on information technology by a fair-sized firm was usually two percent of the entire budget. “You will not risk saving on this two percent and endangering the rest of the 98 percent.”

Though the sector, which has been hit by the global financial crisis, will grow at a modest 4-7 percent this year, Srivastava contended a turnaround should happen by

next year when companies start loosening their purse strings.

“You may not see the 30 percent growth rates of the past. But for the next few years, the growth certainly would be in the range of 15-20 percent,” said the alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Kanpur and Harvard University.

Co-founder of such companies as software major IIS Infotech and venture capital fund Infinity Ventures, Srivastava is not quite perturbed by the slowdown in the business. In fact, he is optimistic about the trajectory of the Indian IT growth story.

“We will grow from the current $50 billion to about $200 billion by 2020. However, companies will need to shift their stance and become more focused on intellectual property and have an increased global presence.”

According to him, Indian educational institutions will also have to produce quality graduates to fuel this growth rather than creating thousands of engineers whose knowledge and skill levels are, at best, mediocre.

“In India, there is an employability factor. There are engineers who pass from second string institutions, whose quality is low, and that is a problem,” said Srivastava, adding that 10 years down the line, big cities alone will not house global Indian firms.

“As infrastructure develops and connectivity increases, you will see IT companies set up shop in more tier-2 towns. But it’s not just the cost factor that will drive this movement,” he said.

“Realty prices will be lower. It will be easier to retain talent. Folks in India like to live closer to home, not always possible in large cities,” said Srivastava, founding member of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom). IANS

Kevin Rudd in India

Support for students, but no uranium

ON HIS VISIT to India earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd again assured India that “full force of law” would be used to protect Indian students in this country.

This, along with the other thorny issue of uranium sales to India, remained the highlight of the Australian Prime Minister’s first ever visit to India.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a joint press appearance, “I have conveyed my concerns to Prime Minister Rudd over the safety, security and wellbeing of our students in Australia.”

He added that he had been assured by Rudd that it is the responsibility of Australians to ensure the security of foreign students.

In a major foreign policy speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs, Rudd aired his “disgust” at attacks on Indian students and assured that criminal attacks of this nature will not be tolerated.

“As Prime Minister of Australia, I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by attacks of violence against any foreign students studying in our country as our guests,” Rudd said.

“There have been criminal attacks targeting Indian students for the little money they earn to support their studies. These attacks will not be tolerated,” he stressed. “They will be dealt with by the full force of the Australian law enforcement and criminal justice systems. The Australian government is committed to doing its utmost to guarantee that the sons and daughters Indian parents entrust to the care of the Australian community, remain safe and come home with a valuable education and wonderful memories,” he said.

India recently overtook China to become the largest source of overseas students in Australia. Around 100,000 Indian students study in Australia.

No such reassurances were forthcoming on the uranium issue, however.

Underlining that its position of not selling uranium to countries which have not signed the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) is not directed against India, Kevin Rudd however, kept the door open by lauding India’s non-proliferation record.

“This policy applies globally and it has since 1978, under different Australian governments,” Rudd said. “The government understands that India looks to the day when its ambitious civil nuclear energy program can include Australian uranium,” he said.

He underlined that Australia, which has nearly 40 per cent of the world’s uranium reserves, was an active supporter in the Nuclear Suppliers Group of lifting the nuclear moratorium against India following the USIndia nuclear deal.

Yet Kevin Rudd sought to move ties beyond the students’ controversy and uranium sale to a wideranging strategic and economic partnership.

Using a cricket analogy, he said that India and Australia should go in for a long solid innings rather than a 20-20 match marked by short bursts of enthusiasm and “a waxing and waning interest between our two countries”.

The two countries decided to upgrade their ties to the level of strategic partnership and agreed on a joint declaration of security cooperation to combat terrorism and piracy.

Understanding India’s emergence as a significant global player, Rudd backed New Delhi’s push to become a member of the AsiaPacific Economic Co-operation forum and pointed to a genuine strategic partnership that will include closer political, economic, defence and energy ties.

The two prime ministers also discussed the creation of a free trade area and agreed to push a joint feasibility study for the purpose.

They also decided to set up a CEOs forum to boost economic ties.

A range of other bilateral and global issues, including the global financial crisis, terrorism, energy, climate change and the reform of international bodies, were also discussed.

Meanwhile there is a growing understanding within Australia that the relationship between the two countries needs to be improved. Calls have been made by newspaper columnists suggesting that the Howard government’s more positive stance on the uranium issue be revisited. ***

Australia pledges $70 mn for research projects in India

AUSTRALIA HAS DECIDED to scale up its collaboration with India in science and research by pledging over $70 million in areas straddling energy, agriculture and environment.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced in India that his government would invest $50 million for the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund; $1 million for an innovative joint solar cooling research project; and $20 million for research into dryland farming in India.

He announced more funds for joint research projects, a crucial element of the bilateral relationship, after talks with R.K. Pachauri, director general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a premier research body in India.

The additional $50 million for the research fund will begin from the financial year 2009-10 and be over the five years. It will complement $20 million that the Australian government has invested since 2006 to enable Australian scientists to engage in cutting-edge collaborative research with Indian scientists.

The Indian government reciprocated by agreeing to match Australia’s increased investment in bilateral research projects.

The fund is already supporting 50 projects cutting across scientific disciplines, including astronomy, climate change and evolution, malaria vaccines, the impact of global warming on agriculture, water management, computing and biotechnology.

Energy cooperation has become an important area of cooperation between the two countries. The solar cooling research project, a joint project between Australian agency Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and TERI, aims to develop a zero emission solar cooling system for use in remote rural communities in un-electrified areas. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research will be supporting research into dryland farming in India with $20 million over five years.

1. Therese Rein (top left), wife of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, visits children a kindergarten in the Mumbai slum of Dharavi. Ms Rein read to the children and sang songs

2. Kevin Rudd and Therese Rein pay homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial in New Delhi, dedicated to India’s fallen soldiers With Indian President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

4. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivers a speech at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi as TERI Director-General and Nobel Prize winner R.K.Pachauri looks on

6. Sonia Gandhi, Chair of the ruling UPA government, welcomes Kevin Rudd at her New Delhi home

Photos: AP

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IELTS GURU

Casteless and egalitarian?

NOEL G. DE SOUZA on demarcations within Australian society

Australians proudly describe their nation as being egalitarian, which according to the Macquarie Dictionary signifies “asserting the equality of all people”; this recalls the American constitutional affirmation that “all men are born equal”.

Australia is a “classless” society. When asked to elaborate, most Australians would refer to the contrast with Britain, the “Mother” country. Several scholars have shown however, by analysing income and wealth statistics, that Australia is structured into income and wealth layers and that these are effectively social classes. Class in Australia is also detectable by the manner that English is spoken. Working class English has touches of Cockney which is distinguishable from cultivated “educated English”.

Australia’s egalitarianism is founded on the existence of a large middle class – the largest income group in the country. It is common in Australia, despite the acceptance of the “classless” myth, to speak about the “middle class” and the “working class”. From whence then comes this contradiction?

The answer perhaps lies in the choice of words. Australia is not classless but rather it is casteless; Britain, like many old societies, is a caste-based society. Caste, a Portuguese word derived from the Latin castus meaning “chaste” or “pure”, refers to being “purely bred”. Castes are not a unique Indian creation as often suggested. Broadly, British castes consist of aristocrats and commoners and this has had legal connotations such as the British Parliament having an aristocratic House of Lords and, for the general population, the House of Commons.

Indian feudal society, like in Britain, had royal families, the aristocracy and the big landlords (the zamindars). Since the 19th century, as was the case in Britain, the spread of education and industrialisation have seen the beginning of a classstructured society rather than one of hereditary privileges.

Britain virtually has had two parallel societies: one is the old feudal agricultural Britain with its aristocracy which was made up of lords and the peasants who worked on their lands; the other is industrial Britain (from the 18th and 19th centuries) which had industrialists and the factory workers who worked for them. The first is a castebased society whilst the latter is a society consisting of classes dependant on income and wealth.

The House of Lords has had its aristocratic nature whittled down within the last two decades. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged that, if re-elected, he will remove the last remaining hereditary peers making the House of Lords “an accountable and democratic second chamber.” In contrast, the Australian upper house, the Senate, has always been an entirely elected body. So has India’s upper house (Rajya Sabha). In 1956, India’s princely states were merged into larger linguistic divisions. In the mid-seventies, the titles of Maharajas and other princely privileges were abolished thus moving away at least symbolically from the old feudal and caste structure towards a modern egalitarian one. Australia never had an aristocracy. Indeed, some Australians proudly trace their ancestries to convicts who had been transported from the British Isles. This might sound bizarre in Britain. Migrants coming here with aristocratic titles or caste designations may well find that these become meaningless in Australia where social class is dependant on income, wealth and other personal factors.

Several religious reformers in India sought to banish the stigma of low caste occupations but they only succeeded in establishing new sects or religions which developed their own castes though these latter were not hierarchical. Political reforms, including democracy and positive discrimination, have had much greater success in shifting people from traditional occupations to modern jobs.

Australians tend to sympathise with the most deprived persons in society such as “battlers” and the “underdogs”. In contrast to their sympathy for the “underdogs”, Australians do not have much liking for “tall poppies”. (A Tall Poppy is defined in the Australian National Dictionary as someone “whose distinction, rank, or wealth attracts envious notice or hostility”).

In the case of India, “slumdog” has become a new denigrating term following the success of the movie Slumdog Millionaire; slums exist on the peripheries of major cities of every developing country. Such slums were also common in London during the times of the author Charles Dickens who described their appalling conditions in his stories.

In the large cities in Australia, classes are reflected in the quality of the suburbs. Rich suburbs are characterised by better incomes, better health indices, less unemployment, better housing and exclusive schools. The images evoked are those of large mansions and manicured gardens. In contrast, the poorer suburbs have low income and low health indices and there is nothing exclusive about their schools. Indian cities also have lower, middle and upper class suburbs with similar disparities.

It is common in Australia, despite the acceptance of the “classless” myth, to speak about the “middle class” and the “working class

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300,000 reasons

The war in Sri Lanka may be over but another crisis is looming. PREETI KANNAN asks Australians of all nationalities to throw their weight behind a very legitimate cause

Human rights activists in Australia are urging fellow Australians to take a stand against the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, following the end of the 25-yearold civil war in May this year. Activists are pressing for the release of the hundreds of thousands of Tamils interred in refugee camps in Sri Lanka and have launched a campaign to raise awareness on the humanitarian crisis in the island nation. They are hoping to garner more support from Australians, including Indians, for the awareness campaign.

Brami Jegan, Convenor of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Project in the University of Sydney, welcomed the role of India and the recent plea of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi to accord permanent status to the 1.6 lakh Tamil refugees in India. She said, “We really value Tamil Nadu and India’s concern for fellow Tamils. Any issue in Sri Lanka is going to effect southern India and Tamil Nadu. India has been a home to a lot of them, who have built lives there.”

“Being our closest neighbour, they have witnessed the Tamil ethnic problem up-close and have embraced many Tamil refugees over the years,” she said, days before the release of a report on the conditions in refugee camps by an Indian delegation of ministers.

Jegan added that while India’s support has been crucial, it is time for the Sri Lankan government to start treating Tamils equally so they stop fleeing the country. “The Tamils belong in Sri Lanka. These people have their homes, their schools and their businesses there.

They were leading normal lives and there is no need for them to flee their own country. It is important for everyone to pressurise their own governments to ensure Sri Lanka treats Tamils with dignity. We require every Australian –Tamil, Indian or otherwise, to advocate this cause,” the human rights activist noted in the wake of the launch of a campaign entitled ‘300, 000 Reasons’ in Sydney by the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) earlier this week.

It is an online petition aimed at raising awareness among Australians on the appalling conditions of 300, 000 Tamils – men, women and children, living in refugee conditions since the end of the war. The campaign follows a four-week stand-off between 78 Tamil asylum seekers and the Australian government, on board the Australian Customs Ship Oceanic Viking, and the death of the 12 asylum seekers in the Indian ocean after their boat capsized.

Sara Nathan, ATC spokesperson, hopes the campaign will shift the attention away from the hysteria and rhetoric of border protection in Australia and highlight the root cause of why asylum seekers are fleeing Sri Lanka in the first place.

“300,000 men, women and children were rounded up like livestock in the final weeks of the twenty-six year civil conflict and have been detained for almost eight months in camps which are shut off to NGOs, independent monitors and the international media. They are detained purely due to their ethnicity. Tamils have endured decades of ethnically motivated oppression at the hands of the Sinhalese

dominated Government of Sri Lanka,” Nathan observed.

In addition to highlighting the conditions of Tamils, who lack adequate access to water, food, proper sanitation and healthcare in the camps, ‘300, 000 Reasons’ is calling on the Australian government to raise these humanitarian issues and allegations of human rights abuse at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting slated to take place from November 27 to 29 in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Australian Government needs to play a compassionate leadership role in our region by helping to address the causes of why people are fleeing Sri Lanka and risking their lives in boats that are barely sea worthy to come to Australia. Sri Lanka needs assistance from the international community to help rebuild its democracy, social and physical infrastructure to deliver long term stability, justice and equality for all its citizens” she said.

Australians can go to www.300000.com.au and send an e-postcard message to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd MP and their local Federal MP, while Facebook users can also sign up to the 300,000 Reasons Cause page. Postcards will be physically distributed via a number of networks in Australia for people to sign, stamp and send to the Prime Minister.

“It will only take 30 seconds to fill in your details but it could help free 300,000 people” Sara Nathan said.

ATC spokesperson Sara Nathan hopes the campaign will shift the attention away from the hysteria and rhetoric of border protection in Australia and highlight the root cause of why asylum seekers are fleeing Sri Lanka in the first place

Salaam Bombay

In a tribute to the spirit of Mumbai on the first anniversary of 26/11, SHAILAJA CHATURVEDI calls for more to be done to rid the world of terrorism

(On the pyre of the patriots every year, there will be a celebration of their life; this will be the lasting memory of those who died fighting for their country)

“Now the smoke has cleared, a different fire is burning within us, to rebuild the glory. Taj will stand tall like India for years”.

So went the page long message from Taj Mahal Palace and Tower as published in the The Times in India nearly a year ago.

A year after the devastation, Mumbaites have lived up to the pledge they made.

Only days before, we had watched helplessly the audacity of terrorists as they tried to polarise a pluralist democratic society, in a 60-hour long murderous rampage.

India’s iconic city had become a spectacle as its dignity lay violated, in a macabre reality show.

International terrorism threatens the very existence of democratic and secular states. Terrorists change the rules of civilisation. We must develop massive resources and network both locally and globally to bring in radical changes to combat those who have such little regard for human life.

After Iraq, Indians had the highest number of terrorist casualties. Since 1993 when 13 serial blasts brought the country to a standstill killing 250 people, India has endured continuing threats and violence. It combats nationally with Muslim terrorists from Kashmir, Sikhs of Punjab, Christians of Nagaland, Hindu extremists from Assam, and Naxalites across the country. Major terrorist attacks have occurred in recent years in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Banglore and Assam. The frequency, intensity and spread of attacks have steadily increased, culminating in the bloodiest battle on 26/11. The human cost here was immeasurable and the property damages ran in billions.

India has now conceded that we have crossed the line of peaceful reconciliation. India, US and Pakistan’s all-weather friend China must devise a marshall plan for Pakistan to pull out of the chaos for the sake of its own people.

The Pakistani economy lies in dire straits. A chaotic and fractured country, it seems dominated by rogue elements from its military and intelligence services, behind a weak civilian leadership façade. Much of the global terrorism today emerges or is planned in this country, which also shelters many of the most wanted terrorists, allegedly under its security forces. The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), a wing of the Pakistani army, it has been alleged, helps the corrupt military establishment keep its stranglehold on power by citing external threats and warning bluffs. It has remained reluctant to intensify its operation against fundamentalist and radical Islamist Jihadi fighting in Kashmir and Afganistan, Al Qaida, Taliban and other tribal militants as demanded by India and the US. It seems the ISI and the Pakistan military remain beyond the control of civilian government. (Following intense international pressure President Asif Zardari admitted that extremist and radical Muslim groups - not India - are the biggest threats to Pakistan).

Nevertheless in any attempt to subdue the rising militancy of the ISI, the democratic

government and the civil society of Pakistan must be considered first, which has remained the reasons behind India’s reluctance to retaliate. Although Indians have learnt to endure the devastation of terrorism over the centuries, perhaps the time has come to wisely and tactfully use strength, albeit with caution.

In the carnage of 26th November 2008, the ISI supported Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was identified as the major perpetrator, though this was vehemently denied by the Pakistan government till recently. Its intense indoctrination process of recruits from poor families with troubled childhood, petty criminal history and promise of 2-3 lakh rupees as reward, converted disenchanted individuals into militant rebels. Insulated from the outside world their training began in 2007 in Lahore. They lived in and around Mumbai, as part of their rehearsal for 6 months, as Malaysian students helped by the underworld Indian Mujahideen and Students of Islamic Movements of India (SIMI) according to secret information. Early in 2008 they returned to Lahore and remained in intense training for 3 months followed by a month long luxury holiday. The specific group of well-groomed 10 terrorists then moved to Karachi in September for further training by the LeT. They were trained with precision as commandos, watching the videos of the targets in Mumbai and learning the economy of fire power and discipline of communication. They were dispatched in groups to Mumbai a month before the attack, prepared to kill 5000 people with insensitivity, and destroy Mumbai. In the 60 hours of siege, more than 200 were killed, 400 were seriously injured and the cost of property damage was estimated beyond US $20 billion. This was the most daring open confrontation where the attackers did not cover their face.

India’s external intelligence agency RAW (Research & Analytical Wing) intercepted a satellite phone conversation a week before the attack referring to an imminent terror strike on Mumbai via sea route. US warning a month before, included the Taj for a potential maritime attack. Security was tightened for the potential attack on 27th September (27th day of Ramzan) and relaxed on 18th November 2008 due to “no actionable intelligence”.

In the aftermath of “war torn” Mumbai, fingers were pointed towards the mismanagement of Indian Government which indeed must reflect on its role in protecting India, where police (amongst the lowest per population in the world) are largely employed as the crowd managers of politicians of little real risk. Shiv Sena, a rising extremist group has complicated the politics even further by attempting to separate Mumbai from the rest of the country, yet in the time of need the commandos were called from north and south, the states barricaded by Shiv Sena. The Indian community was rightfully enraged by the 18 hours of delay in getting the commandos on the scene. The comments made by the Chief Minister of Kerala and some politicians from Maharashtra were enough to salt the wound resulting in their widespread condemnation from the grief-stricken nation.

In the midst of the devastating tragedy it was heartening to see the instant solidarity of the people of India. The Muslims of India declined to bury the terrorists on their soil. Jameeyat Ulema e Hind declared the attack as “war against

Islam” to tarnish the image of Muslims around the world.

Sahara India pledged to give five times the monthly salary to the families of those who sacrificed their life fighting for the country. There was overwhelming response to secure the future of families and the country in rebuilding itself.

Although the last 12 months have seen many desirable strategies emerge to combat terrorism, Pakistan remains unwilling to prosecute Hafeez Saeed, the mastermind of 26/11. Pakistan’s obsession for parity with India has not only destroyed its relationship with its neighbouring countries, but has stunted its political and civilian growth.

India has maintained its dignity, abiding by the ethical, moral and legal principles in its investigations and in bringing the culprits to justice, albeit in an assertive manner. India has never deviated from harmony and peaceful coexistance, the core of our civilisation. (Despite China’s continued hostility, for example, India has declared that there is enough space for India and China to grow together). India has pledged to help its neighbours with political devolution packages that satisfy the aspirations of Tamils in united Sri Lanka and help Nepal for its democratic forces to work together through peaceful means.

India is equally eager to help Pakistan eradicate its poverty and terrorism and emerge as a modern, prosperous and powerful nation. Unfortunately Pakistan remains a terrorist sanctuary where training camps are dispersed along the India Pakistan border. Mumbai terrorists came from the heartland of the country.

It is disappointing that between the Indian parliamentary attack of 2001 and the Mumbai attack of 2008 at least $ 20 billion were given to Pakistan as US aid without any rigid condition, 90% of which has gone into military rather than any development project. Pakistan is the largest recipient of US aid in the world. One must question the international aid which seems like a ransom paid to the militants for self interest.

Bridging the gap and not capitalising on it must underpin any endeavour of progress and friendship.

As the investigations continue and strategies are planned to fight terrorism, we must also make individual contributions for a safer world where goodwill, integrity, honesty and mutual trust are valued and prevail. No innocent life should be sacrificed in the hands of ruthless vultures.

I salute the indefatigable spirit of India which continues to give strength, courage and pride to rejuvenate, to all those who call India home.

We must develop massive resources and network both locally and globally to bring in radical changes to combat those who have such little regard for human life

Shaheed ki chitaon par lagenge har baras mele Vatan par marne waalon ka yehi antim nisha hoga.

Pleasant Ambeince, Freindly staff 421 Cleveland Street, Surry hills, Nsw 2010.

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Guide to buying a Smartphone

By HASNAIN ZAHEER

In this update series on personal gadgets buying guides, I am re-visiting the articles that I wrote more than 2 years ago. At that time, I had written about PDA phones: what to look for in terms of features and did a review of products.

I will update you now with the latest changes, trends and products that can help you communicate work and get entertained on the move via smartphones

While the name itself has evolved from PDA phone to smartphone, the two most interesting updates in this field are:

1. The massive popularity of Apple iPhone helped by its AppStore applications and games store; and

2. The launch of Android OS, an open source platform backed by Google and several other players in the mobile phone market.

But first, is a smartphone for you? A smartphone can set you back by more than $500 and if its advanced features in computing and applications are not of use, then a standard mobile phone is perhaps appropriate for you. Remember that a mobile phone today is loaded with features such as camera, Bluetooth, infrared, address book, alarm and alerts, basic Web browser and much more. And all this may be available for upwards of $100 only. Also note that a smartphone requires a mobile data usage plan. So, there would be an additional

cost over your existing mobile phone bills. With a smartphone however, you can give your laptop some rest and just go out and do all the business and work with it. E-mail, office applications such as word processing, PDF documents, spreadsheet and presentations, and a Web browser are available as a minimum standard. Hundreds of applications are available in the applications stores that you can purchase online, download and install in your smartphone

Features to look for

* Form Depending on whether you use it for mostly voice or for typing, you may opt for a full keyboard or one that slides out. A full keyboard will be more convenient to type long e-mails and work on documents of reasonable size.

* Connectivity Look for wi-fi connectivity so that you can use it at your home or office that has wireless Internet, saving you the usage of bandwidth from your mobile phone provider, which is usually more expensive.

* Operating System Android is an open source operating system that has the backing of major companies such as Google, Intel, HTC, Motorola and more than 50 other hardware, software and telecom companies that form the Open Handset Alliance. Google has made available several of its applications such as search, Gmail and Maps. You can download applications and games at its online storeAndroid Market.

Because it is open source, it gets wide support and interest from developers and is set to grow quickly to be the leader. For now, its breadth of available features and applications is limited though.

iPhone OS is developed by Apple, used in iPhone and it has enjoyed great awareness because of AppStore which allows developers to make available their applications for purchase and share 70% of the revenue with the rest going to Apple. Operating an iPhone is also very easy and user friendly Windows mobile OS has a familiar interface and so people used to working with Microsoft Windows and Office on their PC find it easy. A range of smartphones host it.

Symbian OS, the default operating system for Nokia remains the most popular operating system.

* Applications With iPhone’s AppStore as the pioneer in democratising the development of applications, now there are applications stores for Blackberry – Blackberry AppWorld and Android Market. Thousands of applications are available to perform virtually every function possible with the confluence of the connectivity of Internet, adequate processing power and convenience of mobile device.

So, the user-friendly iPhone and its wide range of applications, Google-driven Android open system, and launch of some really smart devices such as Blackberry Bold, Nokia N97, HTC Magic and Touch series, have ensured that it’s time people looked at how smart is their mobile phone. In the next article, we would explore the phone models and data usage plans available.

Besides e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets and a Web browser that are available as a minimum standard, many other applications can be downloaded

When in ROME...

Throw coins in the Trevi Fountain

This city landmark shows Neptune, the god of the sea. He rides a chariot of shells, pulled by two horses. One is calm, the other is agitated: just like the moods of the sea.

See Rome by night

Make an appointment with Pinocchio

Buy your own version, or simply say Buongiorno, to this 250-year-old Italian puppet with a nosey problem.

Explore the ruins of Pompei

Walk through the ruins of the Roman Forum

The Fountain of the Four Rivers is the centre of this bustling town square: four giant statues depict the rivers

Brave the crowds at the Vatican

See the Pope’s collection of art in the Vatican Museum, St Peter’s Basilica with the Sistine Chapel, the Swiss Guards in their funny uniform, and climb up the dome of the Church. Book ahead, though – the queues run into kilometers. And inside, beware of the crowds. If you want to see the Pope, keep an eye on that balcony (pictured below) to catch a chance appearance, or else check out the Vatican website to see which days he conducts public mass.

Pig out on the

Call in at the Colosseum

The world’s original sports stadium, this 50,000 seater structure is now the symbol of Rome. Unfortunately, it is not a regular hangout spot for Russell Crowe anymore, but plenty of imitators outside beg to be photographed with you (5 euros per photo, thanks, grazie).

Visit the Borghese Gallery

This art museum is filled with some of the world’s best sculptures and paintings. The famous statue David (of David and Goliath fable) by Bernini, one of Rome’s most famous sculptors, lives here.

souvenirs…

… such as Venetian masks and cool t-shirts.

Pics and words Luthra family; select pics are from promotional material permitted for print

Mum might buy something to wear for school pick-up.

Get creative with the camera at the Pantheon

This 1800-year-old pagan temple is now a church. A giant round building, its only window is at the very top of the dome. (The window marked the end of a chimney at the other end of which, animal sacrifices were made).

… after every meal. There are lots of flavours to get through!

A vegetarian summer treat

By SHAFEEN MUSTAQ

Ihave never been a big fan of dairy, less so in my curries. So when a friend of mine earnestly proclaimed Dahi bhindi made him “weak in the knees” my first response was “ew”. But my curiosity got the better of me and I asked him for the recipe for this okra dish, cooked in a yoghurt sauce.

It’s surprisingly quick and easy to make and when served to my dad, who has been spoilt by the best cook in the world (my mum), it was polished off in record time. Thank you Nishi for encouraging me to step out of the square! A cool and refreshing dish on a hot summer’s day.

Dahi bhindi is a versatile dish with a lot of the components being replaceable and some you can omit based on your palette. I prepared it as part of meal that included Lehsuni dal (garlic flavoured lentils), and mint chutney.

And as every good desi cook knows, what’s the point of measuring things when you can throw in a pinch or a dollop and it all comes together beautifully!

Dahi Bhindi

(Okra in yoghurt sauce)

500 gms okra, tops and tails removed and then cut into 1” pieces

3 tbsp vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp onion seeds

2 large onions cut into slices

2 large tomatoes cut into cubes

2 tsp coriander

1 tsp cumin powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

3 tbsp yogurt

Salt to taste

Chopped fresh coriander to garnish

Heat the oil in a deep pan and add the cumin and onion seeds. When they stop spluttering, add the sliced onions. Fry till the onions are golden. Add all the spices and stir well. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Now add the okra and mix. Cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, yogurt and salt to taste and mix well.

Cook till okra is soft. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with hot chapatis (Indian flatbread) and Lehsuni dal (garlic flavoured lentils)

without my favourite chutney, the one my mother makes so well...

1 bunch fresh mint leaves

2 green chillies

1 tbsp tamarind pulp

Salt to taste

A little water

Chapati

into a bowl and add a little water to the pulp. Wash the mint leaves well and grind it to a smooth paste along with green chillies, salt and tamarind juice. Add water to your chutney if the mixture is too thick and mix well

Dahi bhindi is best served with the staple chapati. Chapatis are one of the most common forms in which wheat, the staple of northern South Asia, is consumed. Chapati is a form of roti or bread. The words are quite often used interchangeably. While roti refers to any flat unleavened bread, chapati is the word used to describe a roti made of whole wheat flour and cooked on a tava or flat skillet.

To make a dozen chapatis, all you need is:

2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup water

Mix the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the water and mix to a stiff dough; knead well until the dough feels firm and elastic. Place in a greased plastic bag or in grease proof paper and leave in a warm place for 30 minutes. Turn onto a floured board, shape the dough into a long roll, and divide into 12 equal slices. Roll out paper thin. Heat the heavy frying pan and when very hot, cook the chapatis for about one minute on either side. Cool between paper towels.

For best results chapatis should always be cooked fresh

Lehsuni daal

Lentils don’t get much respect now and haven’t for centuries. One of the first crops cultivated by man, they have been a food source for over 8000 years. Through much of that time they have been considered the food of the poor people.

But we desis love our dal and with good reason. Nutritionists consider lentils a great substitute for meat because they are high in protein and loaded with minerals. One hundred grams of lentils has as much protein as 134 grams of beef. Of the dried vegetables the lentil is second only to the soybean in protein content. One cup of boiled brown lentils provides 38 mg. calcium, 356 mg phosphorus, 72 mg magnesium, 360 mcg folacin, 6.6 mg. iron, 731 mg potassium, and 10 grams dietary fibre. Lentils sold as dal have their outer skins removed and are lower in fibre than other varieties.

Made with masoor dal (orange lentils)

Lehsuni dal is simple and very tasty. It is in fact almost a staple in most homes. It makes a great accompaniment for plain boiled rice and a vegetable or meat dish. The recipe provided here makes enough for 2-3 servings.

1 cup masoor daal

3 cups water

2 tbsp vegetable/sunflower/canola cooking oil

Salt to taste

1 onion chopped fine

1 tomato chopped fine

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

3 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)

3 dry red chillies stalks removed and broken into small pieces

1/2 tsp asafetida

1 tsp cumin seeds

8-10 cloves of garlic

Wash the dal thoroughly.

Mix the dal, water, cooking oil, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt to taste, onion and tomato in the pressure cooker or a deep pan and boil till the lentils are very soft.

In another small pan, heat the ghee well and add the cumin seeds which will sizzle. When they stop sizzling add the garlic and dry red chillies and fry till the garlic is light brown. Add the asafetida and turn off the fire.

Quickly add this ghee and spice mixture to the boiled dal and stir well.

Serve piping hot with your dahi bhindi and chapatis

Crestwood shuttlers thrash Strathfield

The Crestwood Badminton Association continues to prosper.

In a recent contest against Strathfield Korean Club, Crestwood won 12 of the 16 games played.

“All the players put in a tremendous effort,” Basker Ratnam, president of the club, told Indian Link

Representing the Crestwood Association were players Ajith Vargeese, Madan Alagarajah, Hitesh Bansal, Diwakar Gaur, Satish Dhond, Adil Khan, Jinaraj Kombilath, Vickram Soni, Prashant Panda, Sandip Khanal, Nevi Ratten, Viji Iyer and Annie Kavanakudi. They were coached by Manoj Kumar while Basker Ratnam and Palani Velan served as team managers. The players proudly wore t-shirts supplied by sponsor Value Green Slips Pty Ltd, Parramatta, NSW.

While badminton may not be hugely popular in the mainstream sport scene, it is quite wellliked in the Indian community in Sydney.

A few social clubs have sprung up in recent years which provide opportunities for badminton enthusiasts to practise their sport.

One such, the Crestwood club in the Hills district, has been doing much to keep interest in the sport alive. It was founded in 1991 under the leadership of Kumar Pathmanathan, and Basker Ratnam now continues to promote the sport.

“The club has 72 active members of all age groups, primarily from the Indian sub-continent, and even a few Australian participants,” Basker told Indian Link. “Club members play at Girraween High School three times a week, through the year - on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.”

Members pay a nominal fee which goes towards the cost of hire and equipment, as well as tournaments. Twice a year tournaments are organised – trophies and certificates are presented to winners. Often other clubs are challenged to matches as well, such as the most recent tournament.

Basker explains that the Badminton club is a not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to bringing members of the community together to play badminton, which is also a street game in many parts of Indian subcontinent.

“My motivation,” explains Basker, “is to serve the community and migrants, which gives me an immense sense of satisfaction”. The club also helps with procuring badminton gear.

Players have a wonderful rapport between them, and there is a sense of genuine caring. The game itself helps reduce stress from everyday life, and is a great social meeting ground for members of the community. Basker is supported by his wife Latha; senior club members help organise social events.

The Crestwood Badminton’s 6th internal Tournament will be held on Tuesday 24 November 2009 at Giraween High School. The final match and presentation ceremony will be held on 10 December 2009. The Tournament is sponsored by Mr Neni Tiwary, Director of Value Green Slips Pty Ltd, Parramatta, NSW. Outsiders interested in watching the games are welcome. (Please note children are not allowed due to safety reasons). For more details, give Basker a call on 0409 99 6509.

My motivation is to serve the community and migrants, which gives me an immense sense of satisfaction

Basker Ratnam

30/30 series set for great finale

SANJIV

reports on the ongoing community cricket series

The players in the community cricket tournament GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup will get an opportunity to test their skills on a first class international cricket wicket when the two best teams in the tournament (Mantra Ryde Chandigarh and Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat) play the finals on the famous Old Kings Oval on 29 November.

It has been said that regardless of whether you play at the international, national, or just at the community level, the passion remains the same –this is certainly true in the current series too.

Three tournaments were designed by the New Australians’ Sport Association for players from the subcontinent community here. The first was an 8-a-side Indian Link Cup which was won by Nando’s Srilankan Lions; the second and currently ongoing contest is the 30/30 GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup; and the third, to commence on 29 Nov, is the 20/20 MIT Sydney Cup.

Most of the players are international students. The teams enjoy the backing of local businesses whose names they proudly bear, and the matches are played in the Parramatta region.

It is a well known fact that great players like Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Steve Waugh were all products of community-based cricket. The ongoing cricket series has already engaged and facilitated more than 400 players in its first year. Not only have they been given an opportunity to showcase their talent to cricket authorities, they have also helped promote multiculturalism in the wider community by raising awareness of cultural diversity and harmony through the medium of sports.

At the semi final stage of the 30/30 GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup, the two teams that have emerged victorious are Mantra Ryde Chandigarh and Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat. They played Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls and Group Colleges Australia respectively

Haryana Bulls not only won their must-win encounter against Hyderabad Travels in their last group match by 32 runs to advance to semifinal round, but also set a mouth watering clash with Chandigarh. Vinod Rehan’s (Ladi) 7/24 against Hyderabad Travels has been the best performance so far with the ball by any player in the tournament.

Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat convincingly won their last match against Chandigarh by 8 wickets to book their place in the semis. Chandigarh was unbeaten until their last round. Fritz of Gujarat scored a match winning 77 runs to steer his team to the knock out stage.

After failing to win the 8-a-side Indian Link Cup, both teams have set their sights on 30/30 GCA Macquarie Bicentennial Cup. The Manager of Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls Vipen told Indian Link, “Obviously, we were extremely disappointed after losing in the semi finals to GCA in the Indian Link Cup. But we have regrouped and have made it a priority to finish strongly in the 30/30 and 20/20 Tournaments.”

Suleman Syed of the Hyderabad Travels team (who has played for the Indian state of Hyderabad at the under-19 level), scored the first century in the ongoing cricket tournament. Meanwhile, Jay Poria who has played for NSW under-19 has yet to fire up for Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls.

In the new series to begin on 29 Nov, Mayank from MIT who has represented Baroda in the Ranji Trophy in India, must assist MIT team’s progress in the 20/20 MIT Cup.

Nepal’s Shashi Shrestha who played for Nepal under-19s in the World Cup will play a major role in the success of the Nepalese team in the 20/20 series – they couldn’t make the semis of 30/30.

30/30 GCA Macquarie

Bicentennial Cup

Semi Final Teams

Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls

Vinod Rehan, Jay Poria, Zeeshan Karim, Ritesh, Varun Khanna, Sukhjinder Dhaiya, Mohamad Ofee, Usman, Deepak Poria, Tarunjeet Singh, Yashpal, Tony Wilson.

Mantra Ryde Chandigarh

Rohit, Raman, Gagandeep, Gaurav, Ashmit, Pardeep, Navdeep, Sandeep, Dhaval, Sukhi, Ranjit, Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat

Samir, Fritz, Ubaid Khan, Dhruv, Sankalp, Jignesh, Arpan, Mahendra, Markand, Dwarkesh, Bhavin, Brad William.

Group College Australia

Shegoon, Binit, Hiren, Hardik, Harshit, Pranav, Hunain, Rakesh, Dev, Suhag, Husam

Round 4 Results

MIT Red (144 for 9) defeated Gujarat (143 all out)

Man of the Match: Perry (MIT Red)

Hyderabad (235 all out) defeated Nepal (156/6)

Man of the Match: Suleman Syed (Hyderabad) 103

Chandigarh (8 for 174) beat MIT Yellow (54 all out)

Man of the Match: Gagandeep (Chandigarh) 50

Round 5 Results

Ford Gujarat (171 for 2) defeated Chandigarh (6/170)

Man of the Match: Fritz (Gujarat) 77, 40, 3 for 24

Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls (154 all out) defeated Hyderabad Travels Sydney Deccan Chargers (122 all out)

Man of the Match: Vinod Rehan (Haryana) 7 for 24.

Limra (9 for 207) defeated MIT Red (9 for 205)

Man of the Match: Jahangir (Limra) 52

Semi Finals

Semi final 1

Mantra Ryde Chandigarh defeated Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls

Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls 133 all out (Ritesh 41, Zeeshan 36, Jay 19. Bowlers: Dhaval 4 wickets for 9 runs)

Mantra Ryde’s Chandigarh’s Innings Raman 22, Gagan 21, Dhaval 28

Man of the Match Dhaval

Semi final 2

Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat defeated Group College Australia

Vibrant Gujarat Shailendra 24 Ubaid Khan 63. Bowlers Dev 2/26, Rakesh 2/10

GCA Innings: Benith 20, Suhag 20 Bowlers

Sankalp 3/13 Arun 2/ 17

Man of the Match Ubaid Khan

Finals

Mantra Ryde Chandigarh Vs Ford Pro Vibrant

Gujarat

Venue: Old Kings Oval

Date 29/11/09

The 20/20 MIT Sydney Cup starts on 29th November where more than 16 teams are expected to play. For details ring Sanjiv Dubey on 0433 669 334.

(Above) Team Members of Limra

(Right) Ford Pro Vibrant Gujarat and Mantra Ryde Chandigarh, who will play the 30/30 GCA Cup finals, seen here in an early round match

(Below) Vinod Rehan of the Ryde Automotives Haryana Bulls team has had a stellar season

DUBEY

Nature’s Rage

Molten lava slides down the earthen sides of a cracked hilltop Caressing the dirt of ancestors

Passing heat and passion through the urban mould of dilapidation

Lascivious lava licking the skin off melting skull and bone

Orange balls of fiery fire curving like a forked tongue into shattered windows

Morbidity takes on new meaning as the living scream

Scrambling over the melting dead.

The molten orange serpent slides slowly but surely, swallowing survivors whole Plastic bubbles and melts.

Metal glows hot, scorching iridescent designs of destructive horror

The serpent does not desist.

Its orange glow casts fiery shadows into which people run But they cannot hide.

Lava flows strongly and there is no running from the heat of past sins

It spews forth from the gut of the earth like the rage of predecessors

The aftermath is warm and gray.

Smoke rushes up to meet survivors, the last whispers of the screaming dead Destruction is solid

Morphed and melted, bone, plastic and metal converge to tell a story

A story of nature’s rage.

Shafeen Mustaq

Rusty Stoic Hearts

Walking down the sunny street

Feet tapping on the concrete floor

The only sound still life makes

Not the scents of delight passing me

Not the breeze carrying fragrances

The unknown pleasure, overshadowing

The known monotony, overpowering

My very being as I gaze into an oblivion

An illusion of my mind, I cant infer

Or is it the denial of the dry dull faces

Seeing right through your silent still eyes

Hearing every beat as it soars to heights

Words come out to a dead end all the same Thoughts spinning out of control, think insane

Inner turmoil building the superficial posse

Like a drop left hanging in air with time bent

Like arrows shot to a mirror laughing in vain

Like dropping 100 feet to sit up on your bed

We are walking down this sunny street

With clouds around us dropping down fury

The wet fire tapping on the concrete floor

The only sound this unreal life makes

The sleepless tussle of our rusty stoic hearts.

Shafeen Mustaq

LET YOUR MONEY TRAVEL FIRST CLASS AT ECONOMY RATES.

Dear Auntyji

I have a terrible problem – we’ve been in Sydney for 10 years now and really building a good life here. The kids are in school and growing up like Indian Australians, just like my wife and I planned for them. But, she still insists that we go back to India for every single holiday. I really want to see other places and show my kids other cultures too. How do I approach this - she doesn’t want to listen to any arguments!

Travel Sick, Westmead

Dear Travel Sick

Besides pretending to go to India, drugging your wife before boarding the plan and when she wakes up in Disneyland you yell “surprise”, I might recommend a few other options. Firstly, no wife will ever, ever, respond well to “arguments” as you put it. Wives, like husbands, sometime need to think that it was their idea – that way half the battle is already won.

Personally, I prefer the Slow Brainwashing Method – this is a very indirect way to bring her over to the ‘dark side’. Pick the country you’d like to visit instead of India – let’s say it’s Thailand. Get the kids involved (although, don’t tell them the reason because kids are notorious for telling tales on dads!) and have a sudden interest in all things Thai. This might include taking your wife to a nice romantic Thai meal at the local Thai diner. Or treating her to a Thai massage at any one of the hundreds of Thai owned beauty and massage parlours in Sydney.

If you know anyone who have visited Thailand, invite them over and ask them to tell you about their trip – the women should be asked to emphasise the amazing

SEEKING BRIDES

Australian citizen, Maratian Naidu Catholic, 6ft tall 31 years, born 22-05-78, never married, kind and loving nature. Seeking girl with good moral values, family oriented, kind, caring, honest and educated. Please contact # 0415 440 293.

Alliance invited for Australian citizen, 36 years, 5’10”, divorcee, Hindu male, from well established Sydney-based family. Working as Analyst in Sydney. Seeking good looking and qualified match from Australia or India, preferably Hindu with family values. Caste no bar. E-mail: madhurmilan@y7mail.com

Indian born Australian citizen, 31 years old, 5’5” working as a full time Government employer for the Railcorp in N.S.W non-smoker, non-drinker, never married, seeks bride 23 to 30 years old, with good cultural and family values. Only Muslims please, from any country. Please respond with details and photo to shafi_baig1977@yahoo.com.au

Well-settled Sikh family from Australia seeks beautiful, tall, slim, fair, educated match for their handsome, clean shaven, IT professional son; 29/6’2’’. Caste no bar. Send bio-data and photo to wahroongah@gmail.com

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

shopping and pamper opportunities!

The Slow Brainwashing Method is only really effective if you have lots of time on your hands (and if you are the type who can be subtle). Excuse me for generalizing but husbands are not known for their subtlety. The other option you have, thanks to the marvel that is International Flight Routes, is to do both. Fly to India on Thai Airways (6 destinations in India, 3 flights a day from Sydney to Bangkok), spend two weeks in India with your family and friends, then on the way back to Sydney, stop in Thailand for a week’s holiday. Make sure that you plan that week’s holiday to within an inch of its life: I’m talking massages, personal shopping tours, cooking lessons, more pamper sessions. Your wife would never want that holiday to end. Make sure you say something like “this is only the beginning – I hear the shopping in Europe is even better!” Next India trip might only be 1 week and the “stopover” holiday two weeks.

Choose your first Stopover holiday with care – make sure your wife has an interest

in that culture, food and shopping and then your imagination and budget the only limit. Of course, you could do the adult thing and just ask your wife to be reasonable and compromise, but I like my way better.

Dear Auntyji

My fiancé and I grew up in Australia – we are now both 24 years old and not very traditional at all. We just got engaged and want a quickie no-fuss wedding, but our folks want the whole shebang with a week long feast and everything that entails! What do we do?

Wedding Woes, Campsie

Looking at it that way, you should take it as a compliment that they want to arrange such a big ceremony for you – if they suggested a nice quiet intimate ceremony with just the immediate family, you should be worried!

I’ve been to a few community weddings recently – the ‘whole shebang’ variety (met both sets of your parents at most of them, by the way). And it has just occurred to me that your parents just want to do what’s ‘normal’ and ‘accepted’ in their peer group, by doing the big Bollywood wedding. Because that is what it is, isn’t it: today’s ‘traditional’ weddings are not so traditional – they are so Karan Johar!

Dear WW

I’m feeling your pain. When Uncleji and I got married my family arranged a lavish ceremony with 450 of our nearest and dearest attending. Of course, we didn’t even know 200 people but my parents had to invite everyone they knew! Somehow it’s a brag ceremony for them –look how well my daughter did!

Matrimonials

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 years old, employed full time, 170cm, non smoker, 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, Indiaborn, 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 0416 099 177. Only genuine enquiries please.

SEEKING GROOMS

Seeking professionally qualified and well settled Sikh boy with strong cultural values and good family background, for slim and good-looking Arora Sikh girl, NZ citizen, 24 / 5’4” B. Business, (pursuing CPA), working in Auckland as financial analyst. Family well settled in Auckland, Sydney. Please send details including recent photos to pkathuria@optusnet.com.au

Seeking alliance for 44-year-old, simple, caring, never married,

hardworking Christian orphan lady. She works for a convent school in India and enjoys the simplicities of life. She possesses good family values. Please contact (02) 9832-2056 or email dollysigler@gmail.com

Professional qualified match for 38/165, never married, fair, slim, Punjabi Arora engineer, Aus citizen, doing 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 seek a suitable groom for a lovely 24-year-old, Fijiborn Hindu girl, independent, fair, lovely girl, Australian citizen, professionally qualified currently working in a Australian company. Family well settled in Australia. Seeking a qualified match from suitable 25-29-year-old boys with strong family and cultural values, and good family background. Please email bio data and recent photographs to arieso@rediffmail. com

Averywarm, simple hearted, caring, extremely hardworking, attractive, never married, 40-year-old Christian, seeks groom. Working for a MNC in India. She is very family-oriented with good moral values. She’s a blessing. Please contact 0425 253 501 or email angelina2003@gmail.com

Try talking to your parents and telling them what you value and hold dear. If the traditions they value are not yours, then they should respect that. Perhaps ask your mum what her wedding was like and if she would have changed anything from that special day – chances are her parents also arranged a wedding that was not her style. Although we’d never admit it in public, we’re a lot like our parents! Sometimes just talking to them and trying to see it from their point of view can help everyone. If they don’t listen there’s always the compromise: have two weddings! One lavish Indian style ceremony for them and their friends, and a second one which is more simple and Australian, where you plan everything your way! After all, we have to live in our adopted country and should adopt their customs as well.

I’m beginning to think, some idyllic beach on a romantic island. Just the two of you with a bottle of champagne – sounds nice?

Then perhaps point this out to your family: I’d rather elope than have a big traditional wedding! They’ll come around!

Sydney-based Hindu girl (never married, 36, 160 cm), occasionally non-veg, speaks Hindi, Fiji-born, plans to settle in Australia , completing PhD (mid 2010). Seeking a qualified professional for marriage (35-41, 165+). Caste no bar. Please send details/recent photos to youdee02@yahoo.com

Seeking professionally qualified and well settled match for 34/165cm, slim, fair, beautiful, Australian citizen girl, engineer by profession, working as Project Manager in IT in Melbourne. Girl innocently divorced after brief marriage, no issues. Please respond with complete details to sanjuus@rediffmail.com or 0414 901 508.

Alliance invited for a Sikh girl, (dob June 74/ 5’2”), working in Delhi. Seeking educated Sikh/Punjabi boy. Call brother on 0432 020 068 or email matriprofile08@gmail.com

Punjabi Arora parents invite wellsettled/ 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

Seeking alliance for our 24-year old, 5”4’ beautiful Sikh daughter. She is a Finance professional with strong family values. We are settled in Sydney for many years. Please send your details and photo at kuldeeponly@gmail.com

Fairly predictable musical love triangle

Film London Dreams

Cast Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan, Asin Thottumkal, Ranvijay Singh, Aditya Kapoor

Director Vipul Amrutlal Shah

Two friends Arjun and Manu from childhood share a common dream - they both wish to see Manu become a big singing star. Arjun migrates to London with his sullen uncle, runs out of the airport and becomes a rocker almost overnight! Small and very accommodating world.

The sequence where Arjun, now grown into a punk-styled Ajay Devgn sings at Trafalgar Square and within few minutes acquires three band members, could be a self-defining advertisement for opportunities for Asians in Britain.

British soil never seemed more welcoming.

Although Salman Khan playing the wild and warm Manu is allowed to make innumerable digs at the Indian revenge on their old colonisers, London seems to say namastey (hello) most warmly to all the characters in the film.

CINETALK

How is the city to be blamed if the characters hide a deep, dark and negative side to their personality that bubbles to the surface in toxic fumes burning and destroying the music and harmony of the spheres?

Vipul Shah’s London Dreams aims for a more penetrating and profound look at the life of Asians in Britain than Namastey London

The characters here are far more complex and dark. But their presence is constantly challenged by the predictable and often banal narrative.

From the first few frames, when we see the two friends in rural Punjab share Arjun’s international musical dreams, we know exactly the way this story is heading. And that includes the love triangle that grows in London among the intense self-flagellating Arjun, the carefree Manu and the happy-go’lanky’ girl-next-door Priya.

One of the film’s seven or eight truly warm sequences shows Asin practising Bharatnatyam in front of her conservative Tamilian father. The dance steps transform into a jig the minute dad isn’t looking. Such moments are far too few in Shah’s sombre-and-straight narrative. Spontaneity is at a low premium among these wannabe rock stars.

No matter what the length of the rock band members’ hair, no one is in a hurry here to let their hair down. They’d rather let each other down. The dramatic confrontations work when

they’re done unselfconsciously. Some of them, like the confrontation between the two Pakistani brothers in a back-alley of London after the one tells the other about Arjun’s treachery and betrayal, is plainly mawkish.

Because the film forever has its pale heart in the right place, the length (nearly three hours) is largely excusable. The meandering atonal music score by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is not.

Why would a stadium filled with phirangs be screaming at our rockers, singing these listless songs? And what does the dream of the band ‘London Dreams’ really mean?

Move on to the wider questions of jealousy, insecurity and over-ambition, and the film delivers wispy wallops in a steady and honest tone. Though the music is plainly awful, the background score by Salim-Suleiman fights a pitched battle against the mediocrity of the songs.

Sejal Shah’s cinematography is outstanding, often capturing the characters in various phase of emotional breakdown against the quaint neat London backdrop.

Among the cast, Ajay gets to the heart of his troubled and overreaching character and pulls out a well-balanced performance, though he hardly looks like a rock star - the multiple earrings and other exterior preparations make us cringe. The curly-haired newcomer Aditya Roy Kapoor is an interesting presence.

Subhash K. Jha

A gritty reality show

Film : Jail

Cast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Manoj Bajpai, Mugdha Godse, Arya Babbar, Rahul Singh, Chetan Pandit

Director: Madhur Bhandarkar

Madhur Bhandarkar has done it again. From Jail, one expected a gritty, hard-hitting and thoughtprovoking drama. Bhandarkar delivers all this and lots more. Before one starts drawing any comparisons, let’s make one thing clear – Jail isn’t The Shawshank Redemption. The only similarity is that they both tell the story of prison inmates. Other than that neither the storyline nor the treatment bear any resemblance.

Bhandarkar recreates the world of prison inmates as he tells the story of Parag Dixit (Neil), who has been falsely implicated in a drug case. The film comes to the point right away with Parag’s corporate career coming to a roadblock as he finds himself surrounded by inmates.

In trademark Bhandarkar treatment, numerous characters are fleshed outthe butcher (Manoj Bajpayee) with a mysterious past, a lower middle class man (Rahul Singh) who has committed a murder in a fit of anger, a gangster (Aarya Babbar) and a youngster whose car has mowed down half a dozen people. But the film’s core is still Parag.

It is Parag’s tale that succeeds in keeping the audience watching. The claustrophobic atmosphere in the jail barrack suffocates audiences as Bhandarkar never allows the film to go off tangent. Yes, the frequent journey from jail to court and then back without any results do turn depressing after a while. But this is where the realism sets in.

Instead of taking the routine Bollywood route about third degree torture, police brutality, homosexuality and inmate bullying, Bhandarkar maintains an unbiased point of view. Yes, the film shocks but more due to the emotional turmoil that Parag goes through rather than on-screen visuals. Especially notable are the scenes where Neil goes nude for a strip check. Through sheer body language and mannerisms, Neil gives an excellent account of himself. He depicts varied emotions from being subdued to sudden bouts of aggression to helplessness and then the final redemption. With Jail he surpasses his efforts in Johnny Gaddaar and New York.

Manoj Bajpai has a shorter screen time but shines nevertheless. Mugdha is natural as Neil’s girlfriend.

Aarya Babbar, who till now was

struggling in Bollywood, comes up with his best performance so far. He is perfect. So is Rahul Singh, who plays the role of Ghani. Jail raises important questions about India’s prison system. Rather than taking sides, Bhandarkar states bare facts and questions whether an individual really deserves to live in misery until proven guilty?

Joginder Tuteja

One big goofy, comic joyride

Film: Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi

If you’ve ever wondered what on earth is onscreen chemistry, here’s your one-stop allpurpose encyclopaedia on celluloid magic. Fasten your seat belts as veteran filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi pulls out all stops to do

a wacky, goofy weightless comedy of characters who walk in and out of frames, leaving behind fumes of oldfashioned comic acts.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is a trapeze down the familiar romantic lane. The starting point seems to be Saawariya. A loud interpretation of Ranbir Kapoor’s character in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s on-screen opera, Prem in Ajab Prem… adores the girl next door Jenny. But she loves someone else. No it’s not Salman Khan, though in a tonguein-cheek homage to tabloid realism, Katrina meets her idol Salman, who drawls to the roadside Romeo Ranbir: “You’re behaving as if you’re making my girlfriend your own.”

As in Saawariya, Bachna Ae Haseeno and the recent Wake Up Sid, a major part of the narrative becomes a showcase for Ranbir’s skills as an all-purpose actor who can pull out any emotional response to the most sterile dramatic stimuli.

In sequence after sequence, written to spotlight the young actor’s virtuosity, Ranbir rises above the material given to him with gusto.

Even while mouthing corny, sappy dialogues about serving moong-dal ke

pakode to his beloved or plucking stars from the sky for her, Ranbir makes the trite seem just right.

His phenomenal talent gets radiant support from Katrina Kaif, who gets better with every film. As the waif with a face so vulnerable and imploring, Katrina is at once haughty, feisty and flirtatious. She’s every man’s dream-come-true, so why not Prem’s?

Would Ajab Prem... have worked as such a sleek showreel for the besotted-boy-meetsabsent minded-girl’s tale without the same lead actors? The answer is an emphatic no.

The noticeably over-done comic situations include a cartel of goofy goons who pop up towards the end to join the party. In one laboured sequence of comicality, Ranbir has to wear Katrina’s bodice and pretend he wears such clothes comfortably to avoid exposing Katrina’s concealment in his home.

The above scene is among the many that Ranbir and Katrina essay with ease that makes Ajab Prem... a watchable potpourri of parodies.

This is a rare film that jumps over all the hurdles of cliched plotting and corny dialogues on the sheer strength of its protagonists’ charm and grace. The film wears a bright, sunny look. The location is an obviously papier-mache town filled with a benign bonhomie that doesn’t go beyond surface-level romanticism.

And yet, several individual sequences come alive to convey a sparkling potency. Check out the sequences where Ranbir and Katrina stammer under emotional stress both individually and separately.

Is there a better star-pair than Ranbir and Katrina in recent times? Maybe there is... But who cares. This one just makes you want to cuddle them.

Subhash K. Jha

KAREENA KAPOOR

Kareena Kapoor says there is nothing “vulgar” about her backless shot being used for the publicity posters of forthcoming release Kurbaan, an intense thriller about terrorism. In fact, she says, it subtly reveals a lot about the story.

“This shot of me in a backless posture and Saif with a wound on his chest speaks so much about the film’s theme,” Kareena said recently. “There is love, passion and violence all combined in here and what better way than to show it through a single still?”

Kareena also said that after Geet in Met, her character of Avantika in will make people sit up and take notice. Kareena plays an academic who gets married to her colleague, played by Saif Ali Khan. They move to New York after marriage, but as a series of events unfolds she finds herself drawn into a vortex of danger and intrigue.

“Kurbaan has a deep-rooted love story to it, but it is not a frothy romantic film that we are time and again exposed to. The love story is much deeper here. There is a definite meaning, purpose and reason to it. Also, the film is quite powerful in its own way since it’s the voice of moderate Islam,” she said.

The film, which also stars Vivek Oberoi, Om Puri, Kirron Kher and Dia Mirza, releases on Nov 20.

Amitabh-Abhishek role reversal main motive behind Paa: Balki

The idea to cast Amitabh Bachchan as Abhishek’s son in the upcoming Paa struck filmmaker R. Balakrishnan when he watched the father-son duo together and observed a high level of maturity in the latter’s behaviour.

“My main aim was not to make a film on progeria. My main motive behind making ‘Paa’ was to reverse the roles of Amitabh and Abhishek,” Balakrishnan, who is known as Balki, said.

The director revealed that he got to know about progeria, the premature ageing disease, much later and used it to make his film look real instead of a fantasy fare.

Paa, an emotional story of a fatherson relationship, will see Amitabh playing Abhishek’s 13-year-old son Auro who is suffering from progeria.

The much-awaited film is slated to release Dec 4 and has been made under Amitabh’s banner AB Corps Ltd.

Balki, who had cast Amitabh in his directorial debut Cheeni Kum, says he was convinced that Amitabh was right for the role in Paa right from the inception of the idea.

For the special look of Amitabh’s

AMITABH IN PAA

international make-up artist Stephan Dupuis and the arduous make-up procedure used to take more than four hours.

Simple Kapadia is no more Former Bollywood actress and designer Simple Kapadia died in Mumbai on her 51st birthday after battling cancer for three

Kumar, other friends like Sunny Deol, Sajid Khan, Honey Irani, Vipul Shah and Rahul Dholakia were also present at the funeral,” said a source close to the family.

Simple, who debuted opposite then superstar and brother-in-law Rajesh Khanna in Anurodh, worked in about 20 films. She will be remembered for her sensual dance number in Lootmaar and as a vamp in Pyar Ke Do Pal

The actress, who stayed single, bid adieu to movies in 1986 after Pyar Ke Do Pal but returned as a costume designer. She mainly designed for her sister and bagged the National Award for best costume design for the film Rudaali in which Dimple played the lead.

What’s with Bollywood actresses marrying married

men?

When Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty walks down the aisle to marry Londonbased businessman Raj Kundra this month, she will be following in the footsteps of Hema Malini, Sridevi and Raveena Tandon - actresses who famously entered into

GUESS WHO GUESS WHO

VIRAL BHAYANI and ABHILASHA SENGUPTA

bring us up-to-date on what’s hot and happening in Bollywood

Caption Contest)

My backless shot speaks a lot about the Kurbaan

wedlock with men who had been married

Shilpa met millionaire Kundra, 34, shortly after she found fame in Britain by winning the international reality series

Celebrity Big Brother two years ago. Now she is marrying him Nov 22 at a private ceremony to be attended by close friends and family.

Kundra was already separated when he met Shilpa, but his estranged wife Kavita publicly blamed the actress for the breakup of the marriage. However, Shilpa was adamant she would date him only after he was officially separated.

“To be honest, I think I was in love with Raj from day one but I was in denial. I made it clear to him that our relationship could go no further than friendship until he actually had his divorce,” the Daily Mail

Akhtar, who was married to scriptwriter Honey Irani. Shabana and Akhtar entered into wedlock in 1984. Akhtar had two kids - Farhan and Zoya - from his previous marriage.

Raveena Tandon also decided to wed film distributor Anil Thadani, who was married to Natasha Sippy. Popular actress Karisma Kapoor also entered into matrimony with a divorcee - Delhi-based businessman Sanjay Kapur. Mahima Chaudhary also wed architect Bobby Mukherjee, who was earlier married with two kids.

These days, a prominent actress dating a divorcee is Kareena Kapoor. With Saif Ali Khan, she makes for one of Bollywood’s most talked about couples. The actor had once been married to actress Amrita Singh. Tabu is also reportedly dating southern star Nagarjuna, who is married to former actress Amala.

Of course Ranbir and I are competitors: Neil Nitin Mukesh

Their grandfathers were best friends, and their fathers enjoy great camaraderie. Neil Nitin Mukesh says he and Ranbir Kapoor are pals too. But he also admits that there is healthy rivalry between them.

“Ranbir and I are of course competitors. But there’s no negative rivalry between us. Our respective fathers (Nitin Mukesh and Rishi Kapoor) would kill us if we behaved like two brats fighting for the same roles,” Neil said

online had once quoted her as saying.

“It actually made me feel physically ill. To be called a marriage-breaker was the worst thing possible. It brought such shame on to my parents, and I felt so bad for their sake,” she added.

In the past, many actresses have found love in successful married men - who may or may not have been separated from their first wives.

Even though yesteryear star Dharmendra was married to Prakash Kaur and had four children with her - two daughters and sons Sunny and Bobby Deol - Bollywood ‘dreamgirl’ Hema Malini got romantically involved with him. Dharmendra converted to Islam to wed the actress in 1980. They have two daughters - Esha and Ahana.

Bollywood’s former cabaret queen

Helen also fell for screenwriter Salim Khan, who was already married to Salma Khan (whose original name was Sushila Charak). Though he had four children with Salma - Salman, Sohail, Arbaaz and Alvira - he married Helen in 1980 and adopted a daughter named Arpita.

Even Sridevi tied the knot with film producer Boney Kapoor, the elder brother of Anil Kapoor, with whom she did films like Lamhe and Mr. India. Boney was married with two kids before he married Sridevi in 1996.

Critically acclaimed actress Shabana Azmi fell in love with prolific writer Javed

“I’m proud that our grandfathers (Raj Kapoor and Mukesh) were very close friends. My father and Ranbir’s father adore each other. Ranbir is like my younger brother,” he added Neil’s Jail and Ranbir’s Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani released on the same day this month.

“I’d want Ranbir’s film to do as well as mine,” Neil says. “Fortunately, though our films look like north and south poles.”

Vidya Balan’s burden

Who says acting is easy? Not when you have to carry a boy weighing 45 kg on your shoulders. Just ask actress Vidya Balan, who had to go through the exercise for her film Paa -- and ended up suffering a fall.

“Vidya was shooting with a child who

plays the younger version of Amitabh Bachchan. The scene required Vidya to carry him on her shoulders,” said a source. “Vidya weighs 45 kgs and so does the boy. Vidya carried him on her shoulders nevertheless. But she lost balance as she walked and the mishap occurred”.

Vidya completed the shot nonetheless.

Name changes work for Eesha!

Eesha Koppikhar is rushing through her work commitments this month. You see, she is all set to walk down the aisle with Timmy Narang on Nov 27.

Looks like all those numerological changes in the spelling of her name paid

song number” for Subhash Ghai. Two of Ghai’s upcoming films Right Ya Wrong? and Hello Darling, both starring Eesha, are nearing completion. Right Ya Wrong, a crime thriller featuring Sunny Deol, IrrfanKhan and Konkona Sen besides Eesha, is set to release on 15 Jan 2010.

What is Hrithik Roshan telling wifey Suzanne here?

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

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What message is Jayaprada sending out as she walks the ramp at the Wills India Fashion Week?

If Sridevi can do it, I can do it too... and so much better!

Ranjan Guhathakurtha, Christchurch, NZ.

Ranjan wins a free one-year subscription to Indian Link newspaper

Some other good ones

You can walk at the ramp even at my age. Just stay clear of the two-piece swimsuit, though.

I wish someone would tell my party leader Amar Singh, who is always busy with Amitabh Bachchan, that this party candidate is equally glamorous - I am a star too, you know! Jaspreet

VIDYA BALAN

seen in

Gopal Varma’s upcoming two

trilingual film Raktacharitra. Sinha plays the role of the legendary superstar politician N.T Rama Rao

NEIL NITIN MUKESH

RAVEENA TANDON HEMA MALINI SHILPA SHETTY

Raj Saneja

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