2010-04 Sydney (1)

INDIANLINK

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Usha Arvind

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Shafeen Mustaq, Priyanka Rao, Saroja Srinivasan, Preeti Kannan, Farrha Khan, Farzana Shakir, Cheenu Srinivasan, Chitra Sudarshan, Noel De Souza, Geeta Khurana, Thomas E King, Rani Jhala, Guneeta Dhingra

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

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Email: info@indianlink.com.au

Girl Power

They may be little in stature, but both stand firm in their beliefs and their fight for what they hold dear.

Two women have captured the headlines in India in recent days. One of them is a glamorous sports star who jet sets around the world, the other is a rustic village woman from Karora in Haryana. For one of them, the future is uncertain as she grapples with the spotlight of the community on her; for the second, it has been a baptism of fire from which she has emerged after a lengthy legal process. The two women are Sania Mirza and Chandrapati.

While Sania Mirza and her proposed nuptials to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik have the media abuzz, Chandrapati is the mother of Manoj, who along with his bride Babli, was murdered in an honour killing on the orders of a khap (caste) panchayat in Haryana. Chandrapati fought the system and ensured that the murderers of the two youngsters were brought to justice.

Sania Mirza is India’s best known tennis star. Hailing from a religious Muslim family, Sama is no stranger to controversy. In 2005, there was an uproar when an unnamed Muslim scholar issued a ruling stating that her tennis attire is not suitable to Islam. In July 2009, she announced her engagement to Sohrab Mirza, a businessman from Hyderabad, however 7 months later, in January 2010, the engagement was called off. On 29th March 2010, Sania confirmed media reports that she will be marrying Shoaib Malik, the ex-captain of the Pakistan cricket team in April this year.

While the public was still undecided on this issue of cross border marriage of such

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

high profile sporting icons, more fuel was added to the fire when another woman, Ayesha Siddique, claimed to be Shoaib’s wife. At the time of going to press, the Indian police was still investigating the issue.

Sania Mirza would have been aware of the public outcry when she decided to marry Shoaib. This attractive, vivacious tennis star is a role model for young girls and youth in India and in a country where even inter caste marriages are frowned upon, marrying a cricketer from Pakistan has the potential of bringing out the worst in fundamentalists in both countries. To date, she has stayed in the background and allowed her future partner and the media to have their say, her comments of “I have full confidence in Shoaib and the truth will come out” only reinforces the belief she has in her own actions.

In 2005 Wimbledon, she wore a T-shirt which said, “Well behaved women rarely make history”. She seems to be living up to this saying at the moment.

The other case of a woman shaking the system is Chandrapati who is the first woman in Haryana to take the caste panchayat to court. By doing so, she has challenged the parallel judicial system which often enforces a brutal form of justice. Widowed 18 years ago, she is a mother of two girls, one son who worked as a mechanic (Manoj) and another

school-going boy. But when Manoj was murdered by the family of his bride, Babli, Chandrapati found strength within herself to fight for justice, which saw a court conviction for the first time ever in an honour-killing case.

The couple who had married for love belonged to the same gotra (lineage); they earned the ire of the local community and were abducted and murdered.

Chandrapati launched a legal case against the people who killed her son and daughter-in-law. Ostracised by her own caste for three years, she fought the system single-handedly and her justice came when the additional district and session judge in Karnal Vani Gopal Sharma awarded the death penalty to five members of Babli’s family and life sentences to the head of the khap panchayat for hatching a conspiracy to kill the couple.

Chandrapati belongs to a system which claims intercaste marriages are wrong yet she believed in letting her children choose who they wanted to marry. She is illiterate but she knows the difference between right and wrong, and she needs to be commended for her actions. She may have had little formal education but has a deep belief in the happiness and harmony of others in society. She fought for what she believed in and won.

Sania and Chandrapati – both woman are worlds apart, yet both have challenged a society which finds it difficult to accept change.

L

ETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Let’s make everything right

Your editorial ‘Everything has gone wrong’ (Indian Link March 1) was thought provoking and interesting. The reputation of India and Indians unfortunately has taken a beating in Australia. Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood, A.R.Rahman and now IPL have made every Indian proud amongst the Australians. But suddenly, ‘Everything has gone wrong’. The indecent attacks on Australian women in Sydney by a man of Indian/Pakistani origin reported recently, are really reprehensible and there is likely to be further erosion in the hard-earned reputation of Indians amongst the Australians. Let us collectively urge the few irresponsible Indians (if found guilty), to desist from such dastardly acts and strive hard to convince the Australians that “Everything will be right” in future.

Som Balachandran Sydney

Playing in harmony

I had the privilege of attending the Australian Football Harmony Cup Grand Final at Whitten Oval with Leader of The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Ted

Whats On

School Holidays Workshop

6, 7 and 8 April Indian Australian Arts and Film Association presents a workshop for children aged 5 to 14. 8am to 5pm, Jones Park Hall, Burnett St, Mays Hill. Activities include Yoga, meditation, music, Indian and Australian crafts. Details www.iaafa.org.au

Chinmaya Mission events

7-9 April Day-long Children’s school holiday camp entitled Rama Rules

5 May Sanskrit classes with Br Gopalji (5 week course with interactive Learn Sanskrit Yourself CD)

Details call Chinmaya Mission Australia (Sydney) 02 8850 7400

Hindu Youth Conference

10 and 11 April The first Australian Hindu Youth Conference will be held at the University of Western Sydney. Details Pooja : 0431 548 605 , Krishna 0411 988 206

Holiday Creative Writing Courses

11-18 April, Education Centre Tower (formerly Field Studies Tower), Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. The Writing Workshop will present seven highquality school holiday creative writing

courses. Three day and one day workshops and specialist Selective Schools / ACER entrance tests workshop for year 5 and 6 students. Download booking forms from www.writingworkshop.com.au or phone 0468 543 933 for bookings and more information.

Sanskruti at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan

Mandir

11 April and18 April, 4.30pm to 7.00pm atBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 40 Eleanor St, Rosehill. Sanskruti is a celebration of heritage culture and values. The festivities will be followed by Mahaprasad. For more details please contact the Mandir on 02-9897-2776. Inspirer: HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Vaisakhi celebrations

17 April from 1pm to 8:30pm at Parklea Gurudwara Sahib. Organised by the Australian Sikh Association. Gatka, Kirtan Diwans, Gurmat Vichar, Poems on Sikhism, Guru ka Langar, sweets, snacks and fireworks. Contact Balvinderjit Singh on 0413665372; Jasbir Singh Randhawa on 0411267825 or Randeep Singh Grewal on 0430439751.

Radio anchors wanted

Baillieu recently. The day brought together footballers from many different cultural backgrounds and promoted respect, goodwill and understanding to put all Australians on a level playing field.

As a former Essendon player, I was impressed with the commitment and skill of the players.

The games were tough and physical but, most importantly, those participating demonstrated a remarkable spirit of friendly competition and respect for their opponents.

Footballers with Albanian, Greek, Indian, Indonesian, Israeli, Italian and Lebanese backgrounds travelled from around the state to celebrate Victoria’s multicultural heritage and to show their passion for the game.

I congratulate Aussie Rules International general manager Brian Clarke and his team for arranging the event and thank the many sponsors who supported the various teams.

As Nelson Mandela famously said, ‘sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way little else can’

Hugh Delahunty MP Shadow Minister for Sport

18 April, 7am to 12 noon, Amit Sanchar, Bhog Shri Akhand Path Sahib , New chola for Nishan Sahib, Kirtan Diwan and Guru Ka langar

MCAS AGM

18 April, 3pm onwards at Sacred Heart Church Hall, 14 Ralph St, Westmead, NSW, 2145. The Mangalorean Catholic Association of Sydney (MCAS) will hold its 2010 Annual General Body Meeting. Visitwww.mcas.org. au or call Stanley on0412922179 or Peter D’Mello on 0406101740

Triple P: Positive Parenting Program for South Asian Families

20 April Ashfield Council will run this popular parenting program for South Asian families in partnership with the Croydon Child & Family Health Team. The program will look at topics such as managing common child behaviour problems, effective parenting strategies and how to take care of yourself as a parent. Venue Infants Home (17 Henry St. Ashfield), at 10am. Free childminding provided. For more information and bookings phone council on 02 9716 1844 or email jaey@ashfield.nsw. gov.au

Vipassana Meditation Course

April 21-May 2 A 10-day silent residential meditation retreat will be held at the Dhamma Bhumi Vipassana Centre at Blackheath Blue Mountains. Instructions will be available in diverse Indian languages. Details contact Shalini 02 9635 4541 or visit www.bhumi.dhamma.org

South Asian Senior Information Days

21 April and 28 April, 9:30 for 10am start to 2pm at Epping Community Centre (21 April) and Wentworthville Community Centre (28 April). The events focus on information on maintaining and improving health and wellbeing for seniors, and includes a light lunch. Register with Helen on 02 8877 5317. RSVP essential. For more information call Grace on 8877 5316 or email grachan@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au; or Monika Latanik on 8838 2175 or email: Monika_Latanik@wsahs.nsw.gov.au

Media controls mindsets

I recently spent one month travelling in India, cruising along the Brahmaputra river in Assam, and from Kolkata to near Varanasi on the Ganges. While in Munger, I was approached by a group of young men. They asked where I was from and became quite hostile when I said I was from Australia. Why had I come to India, Australians are racist, they attack Indians. When I tried to say that Australians are generally welcoming and tolerant, and that we hoped Indians would not be deterred from visiting, they would hear none of it. Should they believe me or the Indian media, they said and walked off.

Petra O’Neill Paddington

4th International Sharana Sanskruthi Convention

25 April, 8am to 10pm, Parramatta Town Hall, Parramatta. The Basava Samithi Australasia announces its 4th international convention, which aims to promote social and cultural welfare of ethnic community from Karnataka, India. Details contact Satish Bhadranna at Satish.Bhadranna@ nmhg.com

Gujarati play

1 May Shri Shiva Mandir, in association with Mahavir Productions, has organised a Gujarati play Baa Bagde to Baar Vagade to raise funds for the building works at the Mandir. Venue Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, 5:30pm. Details contact Urmila Daya 0421 301 779 or Ravi Parekh 0408 950 820.

Events at Global Organisation for Divinity

15 May An evening of music and dance at the Sydney Baha’i Centre, 107 Derby Street, Silverwater. Devotional music by Uma Ayyar and Mythili Narayanaswamy, and bharatanatyam dance presentation by Padma Balakumar’s Nrityagriha School of Dance. Details Mythili Bala 02 9482 1204. More details at www.godivinity.org.au

Classical music concert

22 May O.S Arun in aid of Sri Venkateswara Temple of Helensburgh, Bankstown Town Hall (Cnr Rickard and Chapel Street) Bankstown. Details phone 02 9706 7354 or 02 9879 4350.

Young Achievers Awards Night

23 May, at Pioneer Hall of Castle Hill Library.May 2010, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) will host the GOPIO Young Achievers Awards Night – 2010. Applications are invited from students who completed the HSC exam in December 2009 in various categories. Mail applications to harrywalia123@yahoo.com. au and for more information please contact Harmohan Singh Walia on 0402 842 375 or Balkar Singh Kang on 0401 995 559.

Pandit Ravi Shankar awarded honorary doctorate

World renowned sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar was honoured by the University of Melbourne recently at a prestigious function. The 89-year-old sitar player was awarded a honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), for his “outstanding commitment to music and humanity”. The Honourable Alex Chernov, Chancellor and Chairman of the Australia India Institute presented Pandit Shankar with the award, the highest honour awarded by the university. The musician has now joined an elite league of previous recipients including Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi; former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson; art critic and author Robert Hughes; indigenous rights activist Lowitja O’Donoghue; the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people the Dalai Lama; academic and commentator on public issues Germaine Geer, and distinguished Australian scientist Professor Sir Gustav Nossal.

The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws is awarded by the University of Melbourne in recognition of people who have distinguished themselves through eminent public service or outstanding cultural achievement. A proposal for awarding the degree must be supported by a member majority of the University’s Academic Board.

The award was presented at a special conferring ceremony, and invitees included

members of Pandit Shankar’s family and troupe, senior academics and students of the University. Anoushka Shankar accompanied her father to the ceremony, which was organised by the Australia India Institute of University of Melbourne.

Alex Chernov said that Ravi Shankar is regarded as a “singular phenomenon in the classical music world of both, East and West.” He further added that the sitarist is the only one who brings them both together through his music.

Pandit

Geoff Stevens, President of the Academic Board, called Shankar a remarkable musician and praised his outstanding work for society and mankind.

Pandit Shankar, whose father was a lawyer, responded to the honour by saying, “I am overwhelmed and humbled by this award. I can only say that I am deeply honoured and thankful for being recognised.”

Ravi Shankar was in the country to perform in different states with his daughter Anoushka.

Eleanor Holden, patron of the arts who attended the Melbourne concert said that the musician played to a packed house. The first half comprised of Anoushka’s performance with the band. After the interval, it was Pandit Shankar’s turn and he excelled, as usual.

Said Eleanor, “Ravi Shankar may be physically fragile in some part, but those sinewy fingers of a ninety year old were still able to compete with Tanmoy’s bounce on the tabla. This concert was a special pleasure.”

Ravi Shankar’s acceptance of this prestigious award is a positive step towards a better Australia-India relationship, which has faced some rough weather since the past year.

Pandit Ravi Shankar has been credited with the concept of the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh in tandem with George Harrison from The Beatles. They raised money for refugees flowing into India, paving the way for today’s high profile benefit concerts. Pandit Shankar who had given Harrison sitar lessons, considered him as a son.

Pandit Shankar has performed extensively in approximately 40 concerts in the late 1990s. Through his 79-year career he has been a musician, lecturer, music composer and has taken on various other roles, which are only recorded in books. His contribution to the music of the movie Gandhi remains evergreen.

Priya Rajan

Nafisa wins

Packing Room Prize

Indian-born artist makes the finals at the Archibald Prize 2010

BY SHIVANGI AMBANI-GANDHI

Mumbai-born Nafisa has won the Packing Room Prize in conjunction with the 2010 Archibald Prize for her portrait of Glenn Baker, rock historian and travel writer. The Packing Room Prize is selected by Gallery staff who receive the entries, and includes a $1000 cash prize.

Unusually this year, Nafisa’s work has also been nominated by the trustees as one of the 35 finalists in the main Archibald Prize.

Speaking about the winning work titled Glenn in black and white, Nafisa said that the portrait reveals the yin and yang of Baker’s personality. “Glenn is well known as a rock historian, but wants to be remembered as a travel writer.”

The portrait’s large size befits Baker’s larger-than-life personality. “His face lends itself to a large painting - it has a lot of character,” says Nafisa. “Also the viewer must stand at least 10 feet away to first engage with it - reflecting the distance created by Glenn’s celebrity status. However, once you know Glenn a little bit you get closer to him. Similarly, I wanted the viewer to be drawn to the portrait, so I put a lot of details into it.”

The oil-paint artist chose to work instead with water colour, ink, acrylic, pastel and a scalpel. “This allows the image to come in layers. Also, the large size allowed me to be liberal with my strokes,” said Nafisa.

Rather than her usual flurry of colours, Nafisa chose this time to work in black and white.

“Glenn is a historian and history is usually depicted in black and white,” explains Nafisa.

The monotone painting also creates more drama. “I wanted to capture Glenn’s warmth and generosity.”

She met Baker through her work for Jeans 4 Genes, the fundraising arm of the Children’s Medical Research Institute. “Each year he helps secure celebrity jeans, which are then painted by selected artists and auctioned at a charity function.”

Nafisa has painted on these celebrity jeans, including those of Janet Jackson, Gweneth Paltrow, Mick Jagger and Hugh Jackman.

“Glenn gives time to charity and is a generous spirit. We are also working on another project, Animal Works, with two other wildlife conservationists.”

Animal Works supports the Wildlife Trust of India’s elephant orphanage in Assam, and

Nafisa visited the orphanage to create elephant drawings that were later auctioned at a charity function.

“I stayed and played with the elephants in Kaziranga National Park. The orphanage helps baby elephants, who are victims of the human-elephant conflict, to make it back into the wild.”

Closer to home, her paintings of the wildflowers found outside her studio in Headland Park in North Sydney, are a celebration of native Australian flora. “The paintings ask us to look carefully at what we have got. We shouldn’t be besotted with European cottage plants,” says Nafisa. “We will pay a lot of dollars for European flowers but often walk past this explosion of colours of these wildflowers without a second glance.”

Nafisa works with a magnifying glass to bring out the beauty of these wildflowers. “I have painted them in the 3-4 stages of the flowering of the pods and then blown it up to about 50 times. The paintings urge people to take the time and trouble to look at these flowers.”

A mural-size work of these wildflowers titled Regeneration: Beauty After the Burn won the First Prize for painting in the Florence Biennale in December 2007.

“One of the MCs of the function said that the painting was profoundly local, and profoundly personal,” recalls Nafisa.

The European viewers of this work found the wildflowers really alien. “They asked if these grew under water! The flowers are so structural and hardy; they speak of survival and resilience.”

Nafisa finds perhaps her own strength and resilience from these flowers. An artist’s struggle for recognition is never easy and Nafisa was rejected by 23 commercial galleries in Sydney and Melbourne before she was chosen for the Florence Biennale.

On a personal level, she had to sacrifice her family to follow her passion. “My first solo exhibition in 2002 was titled A Lingering Doubt and came soon after I split up with my husband. Doubt was the lingering feeling I had at the time.”

Besides the Packing Room Prize and the Florence Biennale, Nafisa has also been a finalist in the Blake Prize for Religious Art 2007 and the Dobell Drawing Prize 2005.

“As many awards as you win, you also wonder whether the sacrifice was worth it.”

Games fever returns to Oz

Celebrate the spirit of unity and friendship as the iconic Queen’s Baton 2010 touches down in Australia.

values. This diversity in the Commonwealth Games family is both a challenge and a strength,” he added.

BY USHA ARVIND

The countdown has begun, not just for the 2010 Commonwealth Games at New Delhi, but for the much awaited Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) which will travel through four metros in Australia. As the baton touches down in Sydney on April 19, it will be a historic occasion no doubt; given that Melbourne was the previous host and Delhi, the immediate incumbent.

A long-standing tradition of the Commonwealth Games, the Baton’s journey symbolises the unity and shared ideals of Commonwealth nations, bringing communities across the world together. QBR has been curtain raiser to every Games since Cardiff in 1958.

Bearing the Queen’s message to the Games, the 2010 New Delhi baton was officially handed over to Indian President Pratibha Patil at Buckingham Palace in late October, and will travel 190,000 km, visiting 71 Commonwealth nations and all Indian states and union territories before arriving at the Indian capital on the eve of the opening ceremony. In the process, the baton will also have passed through thousands of hands, and travelled by different modes of transport across land, air and sea. QBR 2010 is expected be one of the longest relays in the history of the Games and India hopes to plant trees all along the 20,000km route the baton will take in the country. CWG 2010 is a first for India, and this is only the second time an Asian country has hosted the Games.

“The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be an exciting and unique experience for participants and visitors,” said Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) Chief Executive Officer, Perry Crosswhite. “For the future relevance of the Commonwealth Games, it is very important that nations like India host the event, and do so in such a way to reflect its society and

The ACGA has collaborated closely with the Indian High Commission, Consulates and CWG 2010 New Delhi team to make this event an unforgettable one.

Following a suggestion from the Indian government, the event will kick off from the ethnically diverse Parramatta region.

“Parramatta has a large Indian community, so I personally felt that it was an important milestone in the epic journey, ” Consul General (Sydney) Amit Dasgupta told Indian Link. “They have successfully staged the AR Rahman concert and plans are afoot for the maiden South Asian festival Parramasala. So it seemed a positive idea, if it could be done,” he added.

Community groups, particularly the Australia India Business Council, he indicated, have worked tirelessly to bring the event to Sydney and in the process forge strong new ties between the two nations. Harris Park, which faced international media glare for all the wrong reasons putting diplomatic relation between India and Australia at strain, will proudly welcome the torch, showing off its multicultural heritage and spirit of sportsmanship.

Parramatta Council has organized a breakfast event at Harris Park to mark the arrival of the Baton, which will then make its way to Parramatta Town Hall for an official civic welcome. Athletes, children and well-known members of the local community are to carry the Baton along the route. A cultural tableaux by Indian and other ethnic groups is also being planned.

“Parramatta is proud to host the Queen’s Baton Relay and its journey is a fitting tribute to the communities residing here,” Lord Mayor Paul Garrard stated. “This is a special occasion for our city and a unique opportunity for the wonderfully diverse communities of Parramatta to be all involved in a great tradition,” he said.

“Earlier this year our city played host to the spectacular AR Rahman concert, entertaining over 50,000 people in Parramatta Park. That Parramatta has been

Culminating at the pinnacle is a precious jewellery box containing the Queen’s ‘message to the athletes’, which has been inscribed on a “patra” using modern technique of micro-calligraphy.

Weighing under 2 kg, it is embedded with GPS technology and features LED lighting, with image capturing and texting facilities.

A consortium led by Bharat Electronics Ltd, Titan Industries and Foley Design was entrusted with the responsibility of creating this masterpiece.

CWG2010 is India’s major multi-sport event since Asiad in 1982. This is only the second time the event has been hosted by an Asian country.

The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 was inaugurated at Buckingham Palace in October last year and will clock over 180,000 kms. This tradition of a curtain raiser event has been followed since 1958 and for the first time in Melbourne 2006, the baton visited all nations in the Commonwealth.

chosen yet again to host this significant world-wide event reflects our growing status as a global city. It is also part of the reward for Council’s continued efforts to promote our city as a centre for major events.

I would like to thank the Consul General and the Indian Government for granting us this tremendous opportunity to promote our city and to correct some of the misperceptions circulated by the international media last year,” Cr Garrard added, inviting all Sydney residents to attend the historic event.

Fellow Councillor Dilip Chopra, of Hornsbyshire Council echoed his sentiments.

Complimenting the Parramatta Council for its strong pro-Indian initiatives, Chopra noted that Indian Australians are an eminent group, backed by strong education, professional work ethics and cultural values and therefore a worthy component of the mainstream socio-economic fabric.

“The council has the full support of the affluent and progressive Indian community, its business leaders and local diplomatic staff, and I am sure the event will be a thumping success. The relay will be significant not only to all in Sydney and its surrounding areas, but to the entire nation as well. Here is an opportunity for multicultural Australia to unite and show the world that we are a homogeneous and vibrant nation, ” he further added.

From Parramatta, the Baton will depart for Sydney via Parramatta River Ferry Wharf, arriving by military vessel to Man O War steps. The Baton will then travel to the iconic Opera House, where it will be welcomed at the forecourt by the a senior minister from the NSW government and High Commissioner of India Sujatha Singh. Cultural performances will celebrate the event, culminating with a business reception specially organised by AIBC at Hotel Sofitel.

The Baton’s next stop would be Melbourne, where an official reception has been planned at Federation Square with Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

Steve Moneghetti, the Chef‐de‐Mission of the 2010 Australian Commonwealth Games Teamwill run the final leg from the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) and will be joined by VIS athletes and members from the local Indian community. Premier John Brumby is to host a fundraising dinner at the Regent Theatre, following which the baton will continue to Brisbane and Gold Coast, where it will be welcomed by Premier Anna Bligh and school kids.

Incidentally the Queensland government and ACGA jointly hope to bid for the 2018 games.

“It is only fitting that the newest economic leader of the Commonwealth of Nations is hosting the Commonwealth Games 2010,” former UIA president Raj

Natarajan said. India’s emergence as an economic super power in the last decade has further increased its stake to host big sporting events. “ The Australian leg of Queens Baton relay obviously is a double celebration for us, Australians of Indian origin, because we feel obviously proud to see the Games being held in the country of our birth but at the same time as Australians we would like to see the mighty Australian Team once again succeed and come out on top at the Delhi Games. The Commonwealth Games also remind us of the special relationship with Britain and it’s colonial links, which has left indelible mark on Indian society. Let us not forget that it is those links like the English language, democratic values and of course, love for the game of cricket, which has helped migrant Indians to assimilate with Australian society more readily than other migrant groups. This is the very reason why Indian migration to Australia is a success story and the Commonwealth Games signifies this important contribution to the lives of Indian Australians,” Natarajan further stated.

So, can New Delhi and its much touted USP Athithi Devo Bhava, match Melbourne’s example and pull off a triumphant winner? That’s the big question on everybody’s lips. Since the rising economic power won the bid to host the games, CWG 2010 has been dogged

by controversies surrounding delayed infrastructure projects, cost blowout and security.

“Of course, India can,” said an emphatic Amit Dasgupta. Quoting the Indian Prime Minister’s words that India is a young nation with an ancient history, Dasgupta predicts that “we will do even better, showcasing India’s strong spirit of friendship and brotherhood as well as our rich cultural heritage.”

“The Indian organisers are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of participants and spectators,” indicated Crosswhite, “and we are working closely with relevant Indian and Australian authorities. I have received substantial briefing on security measures both planned and in place for the Games, I believe that those responsible for Games security in Delhi are doing everything they can to ensure a successful Games.”

Dr Harry Harinath of Cricket NSW confirms this belief. “Having recently returned from India, I could see construction going on in full swing. India’s working methods are very different to our own, but it has a strong history of executing mammoth cricket events like the ongoing IPL without a glitch, so I don’t perceive any negative issues there. After all, India has a lot at stake here being a rising superpower and I am sure they will do a fantastic job,” he concluded.

Highlights of the relay

Join the Queen’s Baton as it journeys through four cities from April 19-21

Sydney

Mon April 19

7.30 am: Relay commences with community activities, cultural tableaux at Wigram St Harris Park. Eminent citizens & children from St Olivers and Performing Art High

9.15 am: Lord Mayor of Parramatta Paul Garrard, Minister for Western Sydney David Borger, HC of India Sujatha Singh and Governor of Delhi participate in a parade through Parramatta CBD before heading to Town Hall for official reception (10-11 am)

11.15 AM: Prominent local identity to convey baton to Parramatta ferry wharf, where it will be transferred by Sydney Ferries to Homebush. Marine Rescue Vehicles will transport it to Man o War steps South.

1.15pm: Community identity to hand it over to a senior Government official to Box Office podium level for official welcome. Baton carriers will then convey the Baton across Opera House forecourt and East Circular Quay. Cultural displays will accompany the baton.

It will feature at India Australia Trade and Investment Forum at Sofitel Hotel in the early part of the evening.

Melbourne

Tuesday 20 April

10am-midday: Free public event with demonstrations by Victorian Institute for Sport, showcasing athletics, cycling, gymnastics and rowing. Get up close with your favourite sports personality. Ricki-Lee Coulter to perform at 11 am.

12 noon: Steve Moneghetti Chef de Mission Australia 2010 will lead VIS athletes and members from Indian community in the relay and hand over baton to Mayor.

12.30 pm: Reception by Lord Mayor of Melbourne Robert Doyle at Federation Square. As previous host, he will officially hand over baton to Indian High Commissioner, the next host.

Premier Brumby to host fundraising dinner organized by Victorian Commonwealth Games Association at Plaza Ballroom, Regent Theatre.

Brisbane/Gold Coast

Wednesday, 21 April

8.15 am: Official welcome by Premier Anna Bligh. The baton will make a school visit before proceeding to a reception by Lord Mayor of Brisbane.

1.45pm: Baton travels to Gold Coast with a celebration planned at Southport Broadwater parklands

Please note programme is subject to change. For updates, visit www.commonwealthgames.com.au

(Above) The promise soon to be reality

Queen Elizabeth passing the baton to Indian President Pratibha Patil

Kathakali at its best

A performance par excellence which enthrals and delights the audience through the medium of dance

Think Kerala and the first picture that emerges is Kathakali; think Kathakali and the only name that flashes into the mind is Kalamandalam. Like Kathakali is synonymous to Kerala, so is Kalamandalam to Kathakali.

And on March 11, Sydneysiders had the privilege of watching the talented Kalamandalam group perform a page from the epic, Mahabharatha. Though the Kalamandalam artists have visited Australia a number of times in the past, their last performance in Sydney was in 1967. The crowded Seymour Theatre was in for a true visual spectacle, thanks to organisers, the Nataraj Cultural Centre.

The word ‘katha’ means story and ‘kali’ means dance, so Kathakali is about telling a story through the medium of dance. This art form is believed to have originated nearly 400 years ago and is said to be the oldest form of theatre in the world. Traditionally it was mainly performed in temples and started at dusk, continuing till the break of dawn. But today short acts are performed for the benefit of a larger, multicultural audience. Like in old Shakespearean plays, even female roles were performed by men; however this trend is also slowly changing. Kathakali is believed to be a complete ‘theatre’ art as it is a perfect blend of sahityam (literature), sangeetham (music), chitram (painting), natyam (acting) and nrittham (dance).

Kathakali is one of the very few art forms that has retained its originality of stage performance. It has not lost its rustic charm. The lighting of the lamp at the beginning of the show is very symbolic; its aim is to lead the audience from darkness to light. The lit lamp symbolises God and the light of humanity, camaraderie and goodwill that burns in our inner conscious. Though the stories depicted are taken from the ‘puranas’ and the two great epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha, the characters are eternal caricatures of human foibles and are as true today as they were hundreds of years ago. They are elevated from human to supernatural status through elaborate costumes, headgear and very bold make-up, which say a lot about the characters. While ‘paccha’ or green depicts nobility, ‘red’ depicts ‘rajas’ /evil. In the Killing of Dushasana, Bhima’s make-up has a mixture of green and red for though he is a noble character, he behaves like a demon. The colour of the ‘thadi’ or beard also varies depending on the character. ‘Chuvanna Thadi’ or the red beard depicts extremely evil characters like Dushasana. No artificial colours are used to paint the faces; in fact the whole process of face painting takes over 3 to 4 hours and is done by specialists trained at Kalamandalam.

Speaking to Indian Link, the vicechancellor of Kalamandalam, Dr. K.G.Paulose said, “Most Kathakali stories depict the victory of good over

In a Kathakali performance, every event depicted has a higher tale to tell. The chariot driven by Krishna and his message leads us from the darkness of ignorance to the light of understanding.

The killing of Dushasana is of great significance as it is linked to Yudhishtra’s loss in the dice game, Draupadi’s insult and her pledge that is fulfilled by Bhima by killing Dushasana. The blowing of the couch and the beats of the ‘chenda’ or the drum heralded the beginning of the show. The ‘ Tirasila’ or the rectangular silk curtain hid the dancer from the audience. The first character to be introduced was Yudhishtra, who slowly revealed himself to the audience from behind the ‘tirasila’ with strong, yet deft facial expressions. The dance drama begins with the game of dice, where Yudhishtra is invited to the game by Duryodhana and sits down to play with mama Shakuni. Through mere facial expressions and mimes, and supported by singers, the characters

invite the audience into their world, every member holding his breath as the dice is thrown. Yudhishtra’s grief as he loses repeatedly is very touching. Dushasana’s dragging of Draupadi to insult her in front of the court is the unkindest cut of all. Her desperation and helpless is heartrendingly portrayed.

Draupadi’s call for help, Krishna’s failed attempt for mediation and finally the call for the battle of Kurukshetra are very well depicted. On the battlefield, the charioteer Krishna tells Arjuna, “Whenever there is a decline of righteousness, O Arjuna, and the rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest myself’. This statement was true hundreds of years ago, and is true even today. Krishna reveals himself in full glory.

The introduction of Bhima, using the ‘tirasila’, the ensuing battle between Dushasana and Bhima, Bhima’s rage, the killing of Dushasana and finally the tying of Draupadi’s tresses with Dushasana’s blood were my favourite scenes. This introduction is different from that of Yudhishtra. For the curtain is held as high as possible, the drumbeats are faster, the steps quicker and heavier, the curtain is vigorously shaken and the air is filled with the character’s shrieks. Emotions are heightened and the audience can feel it in their bones. Bhima and Dushasana fight hard and long, Dushasana manages to bring Bhima to his knees, but like a raging bull, Bhima throws Dushasana on the ground, tears open his heart and feasts on his blood, thus venting all the pent-up anger. But, on the arrival of

Krishna, Bhima is ashamed as he knows that he has crossed all boundaries of humaneness. But Krishna blesses him, thus wiping away any traces of guilt or regret.

Bhima was portrayed by the principal of Kalamandalam, Prof. Balasubramaniam. Speaking to Indian Link he said that he started his training at the age of 13 and today at 54, he has donned face paint to depict several characters. It was hard to believe that this soft-spoken, demure man, not more than 165 cm tall, was the imposing, raging, snarling, screaming Bhima who had the entire audience captivated. Every muscle on his face had a message to convey. The movements were controlled, very distinct and enthralling. At the end of the performance, the audience left with their hearts full, awestricken and asking for more; this is the effect Kathakali has on the people. With a clever mosaic of song, rhythm, expressions and body language, the tempo of the performance varies keeping the interest alive. The common question was: how do they manage to carry it off with that costume, that headgear and such heavy make-up? That is the hallmark and mystery of Kathakali and the fruit of years and years of dedication and hard work. It was a performance and experience to cherish, and we hope the Kalamandalam troupe will be back soon with another breathtaking, heart-warming performance.

Nima Menon

Through mere facial expressions and mimes, and supported by singers, the characters invite the audience into their world, every member holding his breath as the dice is thrown

A spectacular murder, a gentle love story… and plenty of devotion

It was a pretty spectacular murder, as murders go. The victim put up a good fight, but proved to be no match for the murderer (murderess, actually). As she tackled him to the floor, he continued to resist, but only till she had him firmly clamped, her foot on his chest. He writhed in agony, but knew it was futile - she brought the trident expertly down on his neck. He gave one last shudder and then became still. As she looked away from him, her eyes still blazing, she was greeted with sounds of rejoicing. The drums grew louder and louder, and she allowed herself a gentle smile of satisfaction.

The slayer was none other than Durga, the incarnation of Devi or the Mother Goddess, and the slayed one, the demon Mahishasur. Durga - the protective force present in every woman - had risen to the fore, and had rid the world of all evil.

This episode from Hindu mythology was enacted as part of Natyadarshan School of Dance’s annual production Dancing to Spirituality at the Casula Powehouse Theatre recently. Dancer Sashi Bala’s fiery eyes, clearly visible to even those in the very last rows of the packed auditorium, stand out in memory from the performance of the night.

As founder and principal dancer of Natyadarshan, Sashi Bala choreographed all of the items presented on the occasion. Her lifelong devotion to bharatanatyam - as well as her passion for teaching the art to youngsters - shone through brilliantly.

The event was intended not only to showcase the dance works, but also to raise funds for an Indian charity, the J Watmull Global Charity Hospital in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

The show began with the mandatory obeisance to God, and immediately set the tone of the evening as one filled with devotion and purity.

This very same dedication came across with greater passion in the number Mallari. Here, the dancers depicted the tradition of temple deity taken out in a street procession. Lead by a male drummer, the revered icon was carried with great humility inside a palanquin by four devotees, and townspeople felt blessed to have the Lord have a peek inside their homes. All these emotions were brought out beautifully by the dancers, as they traversed the length and breadth of the stage with rhythmic footwork and perfectly coordinated movements. The magnificent props of the vahana (palanquin), fan, canopy and drums, added to the splendour of it all.

In a significant change from their previous productions, Natyadarshan this time included the use of backdrop screens to enhance their presentation this time. This was put to very successful use particularly in the Shiva-Vishnu number. The images of waterfalls, clouds, oceans and animal life projected onto the giant screen behind the dancers, in perfect synchrony with their own movements.

In the Thillana, Sashi Bala’s innovative choreography continued to impress. A vibrant and ecstatic dance that is an essential element of any bharatanatyam repertoire, Sashi picked a Kathak-inspired format. The joyous movements required here lent themselves easily to the twirls and swirls of the Kathak dance. The end result – a splendid fusion that paid homage to both genres.

For the folk item, another favourite inclusion in a

Natyadarshan production, Sashi picked the Krishna Leela. An elaborate number, this formed a fitting finale to the evening. It showcased endearing episodes from Krishna’s childhood (such as makhan chor), as well as his youth, where he cavorted playfully with the village gopis who were all enamoured of him. The dancers who played the young Krishna as well as the youthful Krishna, both deserve a special mention here. Sashi Bala herself played Radha, Krishna’s special pick from among the Mathura damsels, as his consort.

The resplendent costumes, the beautiful props, and dancers who looked like they enjoyed every minute of it – all served as hallmarks of the show. MC Varun Bala described in detail each item eloquently. Spiritual teacher Jaie Watts provided the explanations, pointing out the symbolism of deities and the relevance of mythological characters as traits in our own minds. Her descriptions put the dance performances into perspective, allowing the audience to understand and enjoy them better. Even the brief meditation interlude, presented by Charles Hogg of the Brahma Kumaris organisation, melded well with the overall mood of the night.

Perhaps the event was best described by Phillipa Andrew of Inner Space: its “colour, the movement, the messages from the heart, the pure feelings, the abundance of love and the passion for God, made it a truly magical experience”.

Rajni

Anand Luthra

A sum total of $8000 was raised by Natyadarshan on the night. All proceeds go to the J Watmull Global Hospital in India.

The funny side to being different

It’s time for the homemaker to take a careful look at her diet and lifestyle, to help maintain a healthy balance of both

an excellent way of getting my opinion across.”

BY SHAFEEN MUSTAQ

Nazeem Hussain and Aamer Rahman are two talented and worldly individuals who have found their niche in the world of comedy as a way of expressing their opinions. Whether you agree with them or not, you are guaranteed a laugh. The guys are in the middle of their second national tour, Fear of a Brown Planet Returns (FOABP) and I spoke with Aamer about the experience and how audiences are responding to the new shows.

The show features Mohammed El-Leissy (Vic State Finalist, Raw Comedy 2007), Nazeem Hussain (Vic State Finalist, Raw Comedy 2007) and Aamer Rahman (Vic State Winner, National Runner-Up Raw Comedy 2007). With a hoard of awards to their name, the Nazeem/Aamer duo is supremely confident about their performances. Aamer tells me that the responses to the shows have been very good and the audience even better. He acknowledges that they have some strong views, but asserts that they have had no complaints. “Even if people don’t agree with us, they see the humour and laugh... No matter how racist or closed-minded a person may be, if you can joke about something, Australians really respect it,” he says.

Aamir reveals that the show’s premise is tackling the topics of immigration, race relations, and the war on terror head-on.

“Fear of a Brown Planet Returns promises to shock and awe audiences with their anarchic take on politics and race at home and abroad. As always, it’s uncompromising, ruthless and cheeky - guaranteed to be more fun than a night in Guantanamo,” says Aamer.

He maintains that there is no specific motivation for their content. “We just talk about what we know - comedy is our way of expressing our views and getting them across to a range of people,” he adds.

Aamer speaks passionately about comedy, and insists that this is his chosen career. “I did Law and I was miserable,” he reveals. “I don’t want to be miserable. I enjoy comedy and it’s

Fear of a Brown Planet Returns promises to shock and awe audiences with their anarchic take on politics and race at home and abroad

When asked about the political nature in the content of the shows, Aamer refers to comedians with whom he grew up. “They never distinguished between ‘comedy’ and ‘politics’ and neither do Nazeem and myself,” he replies.

And although he is modest about his achievements, citing himself as a cross between a comedian and a science fiction buff, Aamer’s achievements and accolades are a clear indication of his efforts to catalyse change in modern society

And although he is modest about his achievements, citing himself as a cross between a comedian and a science fiction buff, Aamer’s achievements and accolades are a clear indication of his efforts to catalyse change in modern society. Aamer does hip hop inspired screen and t-shirt printing while also maintaining an active role in the community and touring for FOABP. The two have been funded by VicHealth to work on a three-year project, exploring racism in Melbourne.

With such exciting and enthusiastic projects under their belt, Aamer and Nazeem spend much of their time in each other’s company. On their friendship and dynamics, Aamer says that while they fight most of the time, he and

Nazeem are close friends whose comic styles complement each other, and he anticipates that they will perform together for a long time to come. Aamer’s next big step is to perform at the comedy club in Dhaka at the end of this year, and we wish him and Nazeem all the best in his endeavours.

Nazeem and Aamer’s FOABP is currently part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and they will perform at the Sydney Comedy Festival at the Factory Theatre from April 27 to May 1. Whether or not you agree with their views, this show will be a must-see for the laughs and the insights into the evolving identity of Muslims in Australia, what they think and most importantly, how they find the funny side of being different For more information and bookings, please log onto www.brownplanet.com.au .

A glimpse not into Bollywood, but into India

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA on the musical Merchants of Bollywood

Forty dancers. A thousand (some said three thousand) costume changes. A million dollars worth of jewellery. The jhatkas – well, there’s no putting a number to those.

That’s Merchants of Bollywood for you, in its new (and improved) version.

Based loosely on the life of award-winning Bollywood choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant, this dance extravaganza is back after five years not only to entertain, but also to provide a glimpse into the psyche of India at a time when it seems to be sorely needed.

Dancer and model Carol Furtado plays Ayesha Merchant who wants to strike it big in Bollywood. She defies her grandfather to fulfil her dream. A man who himself devoted his life to Bollywood, Ayesha’s grandfather is now retired, disillusioned with the ‘modern’ ways of the industry which is blindly aping the west. Like a typical Bollywood blockbuster though, all’s well that ends well – the family is all reconciled, lovers are united, and the world’s a happy place where everybody dances at the drop of a hat.

Carol, and Arif Zakaria who plays the narrator (sutradhar) and film-maker Shantilal, have both proved to be great ambassadors of Bollywood, speaking extensively to the media here about the film industry and its workings.

Ayesha - chanelling Vaibhavi - comes across as a symbol of the new India, someone who wants to polish up the old wares and present them to the world in a shiny new form

Vaibhavi Merchant is part of a select group of professionals who turned the tide in Bollywood and saw it evolve to the position it is in today –a dream factory that tells tales of an India that holds steadfast to its ancient values while still adapting successfully to new systems. She is credited with bringing us the traditional style of her grandfather B Hiralal (one of the founding fathers of the industry), as well as more modern movements: her rustic ghaghra in Dhol Baaje and O Ri Chori, and sexy black leather in the fast-paced Crazy Kiya Re proved to be equally

big hits.

Bollywood Produced and directed by Toby Gough and Mark Brady, the show, which premiered in Sydney in 2005, has met with success all over the world. In its new format, the sets are more exquisite, the live music format is done away with, and the dancing itself is much better executed.

The first half brings alive the Bollywood hits of yesteryear popular to this day (Kesariya Balam, O Rang Rasiya), as Indian members of the audience relive the styles of the Shammi Kapoors, the Rajesh Khannas and the Rishi Kapoors, all surprisingly faithful in reproduction.

The Kathak-inspired opening number, in obeisance to Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, stands out in memory. The classical routines, all executed to perfection, are a welcome change from the original, and one would have liked to see more of them.

Second half is slower, with attempts made to develop the plot. Again, in characteristic fashion, melodrama (and of course all that spirited dancing) compensate for a thin story line, and contemporary references are included to keep the interest alive.

Shava Shava, Rock and Roll

complete with that clever cameo by the divine Aishwarya Rai on a giant screen at the back.

Melbourne boy Deepak Rawat as the lead male dancer, the only performer to have been retained since 2005, stands out among the performers – the sheer energy and confidence in his smooth movements make it easy to forgive him his cheesy bit at the very end.

The costumes are predictably kitsch, with probably only one worth writing home about –Madhubala’s white ensemble in her gentle and classy Mughal-e-Azam number – alas, too short an interlude before the hip-swinging and the gyrating take over again!

The temple drummers are another welcome change from the original. Authentic in costumes and moves, they enhance the show significantly, although without exactly contributing to the (already thin) story.

Through it all however, Ayesha - chanelling Vaibhavi - comes across as a symbol of the new India, someone who wants to polish up the old wares and present them to the world in a shiny new form. I’m worth looking at, she seems to be saying; I’ve a got a unique style entirely my own, plus some five thousand years of history to share - and oodles of confidence to do it with.

And nowhere is this more obvious than in that final number, It’s the Time to Disco, performed with great gusto. It begins in suitably traditional style, and then magically, transforms seamlessly into something entirely contemporary. This finale, to which the performers give their absolute all, brings them back to the stage for encore after encore, and has the audience up on their feet.

At the end of the day, Merchants sends out messages to its predominantly non-Indian audience on what Bollywood has done for India. It became India’s “new religion” as the shackles of the old system began to be broken postpartition, with its stars its “new gods” and its theatres its “new temples”. And as India struggled to stand for itself after years of foreign rule, the entire movement became intended to tell the world “who we are”.

In this sense, the show is as much an introduction to India as it is an introduction to Bollywood.

Merchants of Bollywood is on at the State Theatre till April 11.

Cleaning and chanting combine in community service

The Global Organisation for Divinity (GOD) takes pleasure in serving the community in a variety of ways. To help ensure a clean environment is not only our duty as citizens, but also a positive step towards cleaning our own inner selves. If this is done while chanting the Mahamantra, the effect on the inner purification will be manifold and it will also offer a unique way of doing the task.

In cooperation with the Clean Up Australia campaign, GOD volunteers gathered in front of the Fire Station at Wigram St, Harris Park, the site allotted for the street clean up. This crisp autumn day was most conducive for a stint of cleaning and after a quick briefing from the supervisor the troop pounced on the task, well-attired for the job and armed with brooms, bags, rakes and the like. Street cleaning can be a back-breaking ordeal and the perfect weather was an immediate testimony that if one sets about a task with earnestness and keeping the Mahamantra in the background, all goes well. Striding down the street with flourishing strokes of their brooms and and humming the Mahamantra, the group quickly attracted welcome attention from people walking past. Pausing in their task, the volunteers exchanged pleasantries and continued chanting which created interest. The businesses and shops on the street applauded the efforts taken by GOD in adopting the street for its clean up activities. Said one of the residents in the area, “You are the first organisation whom we are seeing cleaning the street, well done!” After about an hour and a half of hard physical work made much lighter by the chanting, the members were ready to wind up leaving Wigram Street clean and their own minds cleaner. It is aptly said that constant chanting of the Mahamantra removes all negative thoughts from the mind which is very essential to develop universal love and brotherhood. The “cleaning” project signified this literally and members dispersed homeward with this firm thought in mind, resolving to instil the habit of chanting alongside any task that they may do in future.

Jayanthi Ramanan

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Shri Vibhuji Maharaj preaches message of peace

Manav Dharam Society of Australia (MDSA) recently hosted a series of talks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane by Shri Vibhuji Maharaj, a young man of energy and vision who, since the age of 18, has dedicated his life to travelling throughout India and abroad teaching the universal ideals of “Manav Dharam”.

Vibhuji Maharaj previously visited Sydney in 2005 and 2007 and was given a warm welcome by Sydneysiders. His first program this time was held at the Australian Hindu Education and Cultural Society (AHECS) temple in Kemps Creek on March 5 which, despite inclement weather, was well-attended. He spoke at length on how to overcome our spiritual drawbacks and advance on the path of inner peace and self-realisation. He also discussed our social responsibilities and that we should never think that we are just one person and can’t change anything. In fact, by changing ourselves we can do a lot of good in society.

A group of talented youngsters from MDSA presented a variety of Bhajans, which added a charming touch. MDSA would like to thank AHECS for its support of this program.

The next program on March 6was held

at the Villawood Senior Citizens Centre Hall. Chief guest Shri Vibhuji spoke from a beautifully decorated stage for about 90 minutes in both Hindi and English, for the benefit of all members of the audience. Another highlight of the program was an insightful speech on the importance of satsang by Mr. Harish Sharma, a retired lawyer and former prominent politician in Fiji who is active in the Sydney community in promoting religious and cultural values. The discourses on both evenings were followed by bhajans, arti and a delicious full Indian dinner (mahaprashad). After his discourse, Shri Vibhuji met with members of the audience and freely answered their questions.

The following week he held successful programs in Melbourne and Brisbane and also gave interviews on Radio Navtarang and Radio Brisvaani. All the programs were webcast via the www.manavdharam.org.uk website. The Brisbane programs (in English and Hindi) can now be viewed at this site.

Shri Vibhuji is the eldest son of Satgurudev Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj, the head of Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti, who himself is working with at all levels of Indian society to bring about social transformation based on the high ideals of justice, compassion, cooperation and fairness. From a very early age Shri Vibhuji showed keen interest in the welfare of the poor and disadvantaged, and also imbibed the spirit of social service and self-sacrifice from his parents. At the same time as pursuing his studies at Bombay University, where he majored in philosophy and comparative religions, he began to address huge audiences across India and he has been working relentlessly ever since for national integration and communal harmony.

Shri Vibhuji makes a point of giving talks at schools and colleges and his message is always well received, especially by young people who see in him an inspiring role model. He often says that a country’s greatest wealth is its youth, but young people are increasingly losing touch with their spiritual heritage and they lack direction.

He also addresses international audiences regularly and in 2005 undertook a ten-nation World Peace Tour. In July 2009 he toured USA, Canada, Mexico and United Kingdom.

In modern society it is rare to find a saintly figure who not only combines in himself the best values of East and West, but is youthful and vibrant as well. His deep wisdom, clarity of vision, fresh approach and friendly nature make it very easy to listen to him.

Says Shri Vibhuji, “We must realize that we are the world, and if we improve ourselves the world will improve. Crises lie within the mind of man and not outside. The violence within is expressed in the violence widespread in the world, which can be seen in different forms such as hatred, fundamentalism and terrorism”.

MDSA has received much positive feedback from Shri Vibhuji’s tour and will continue to arrange such programs in future. For more information, visit www. manavdharam.org

Santosh Vanka

The event was a huge success with large numbers turning up to participate in various activities set up for kids and adults alike.

The day started off with the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa. This prayer is widely recited and recognised with high regard by many Hindus around the world. Consisting of 40 verses, the prayer was recited by groups of devotees for a total of 21 times on the day.

Children and parents then took part in the day’s activities, which were organised by HYA volunteers. Face painting was a major success with many kids getting a Hanuman visual on the face. The colouring competition was also a success and small gifts were distributed to all those who participated.

HYA also arranged for a photo session with Hanuman and children were engaged and entertained by a live Hanuman at the mandir. To their delight, Hanuman also cut his birthday cake and distributed it to all the children. Lunch was then served to all who attended, with all the food donated by volunteers who have shown their support for the event through this wonderful gesture.

The event was a huge success, thanks to HYA, the staff from Shiv Mandir, all the volunteers and most importantly the participants, who were responsible for such a fun and engaging event where children and adults alike enjoyed themselves.

* * *

HYA is looking at organising similar events throughout the year and thanks everyone for their wonderful support. At the event, HYA proudly announced the First Australian Hindu Youth Conference on the April 10 and 11, at UWS Parramatta. The event promises to be a great platform to discuss community events, participate in panel discussions (involving notable federal, state and local government officials, as well as council workers), watch cultural performances, engage in trivia and quizzes and take part in an all-youth networking “Chaat” night. HYA is now selling tickets to the event at $20 per person to cover catering costs for the 2 days. Visit www. hinduyouthaustralia.com for more information.

Akila Ramarathinam

Hanuman has successful birthday bash

Hindu Youth Australia (HYA) organised and celebrated this year’s Hanuman Jayanthi at the Shiv Mandir, Minto on March 28.

Volunteers of GOD on Clean Up Australia Day

Shri Vibhuji Maharaj

Hanuman’s birthday

Panel discusses crucial multicultural issues

A discussion on multiculturalism was organised by the University of Sydney’s Student Union Multicultural Committee on March 30, with a face to face interaction between bureaucrats and university students. The panel involved prominent members of the community and discussed important issues such as an insight into the Cronulla riots and attacks on Indian. important to a vast majority of people. About 100 students and some staff attended the discussion. Panel members included Superintendent Robert Redfern, Police Commander at the Cronulla Riots, Parramatta LAC Commander, and Police Spokesperson for International Students, Mr Amit Dasgupta, Indian Consul-General, A/Prof Greg Noble, Editor of “Lines in the Sand: Multiculturalism, Belonging and the Cronulla Riots” and Prof John Hearn, Deputy Vice Chancellor for International Matters.

The 6-8 minute talk by each panel member was followed by a Q&A session, enabling students to interact directly with the panel. These four spokespersons who are experts in race relations, offered a rare opportunity for students to review leaders in both, theory and practice of Australian multiculturalism. The direct interaction also provided insights into the significance of multiculturalism in Australia, from its recent history to its future.

Prof Hearn mentioned that if there is a problem it should be identified, and society should be made conscious of it. He stated

that he has had his own experiences of being an international student and none of the nations he studied in were truly nonracist. However he concluded that Australia appears to him to be one of the most multicultural nations, with a positive society.

Prof Greg Noble continued the discussion with a proclamation that lessons should be learnt from what has been happening, and problems should be keenly identified. The Cronulla riots and its aftermath, according to him, took place due to many possible reasons, primarily tribal conflicts, an expression of masculinity, forthcoming public perception and excessive alcoholism.

Superintendent Redfern said that there has been no significant sign of race attacks in any of the NSW incidents on people

of Indian origin. He revealed how tough it was to deal with the situation at Harris Park in the three-day demonstration by the Indian community. However he also stated that there was a problem and it was to be resolved, but it wasn’t a result of racism. He mentioned the importance of proper and truthful communication between the consulates, university students and the media.

In conclusion, Mr Amit Das Gupta made a critical point by stating that perceptions are a very important factor in any issue that is raised in a society. How we perceive certain information or issues on a factual basis or on the projection of what others feel is absolutely imperative to resolve certain social issues. This perception should be genuine and not unreal.

Mr Amit Das Gupta added that attacks did ensue, but resolving the whole issue took a long time. People in India do not discriminate between states and consider Victoria and NSW as Australia. One assurance of security on the third night of demonstrations in Harris Park shifted perceptions and the whole issue resolved very easily.

Finally, in the Q&A session, students were keen on obtaining information about safety and studying in a multicultural and safe country and their queries were successfully answered by the panel. The event proved to be a great platform for students, staff of the university and the panellists who all spoke freely about these issues and their concerns.

Astha Singh

Indian cyclists train on Australian terrain

For the first time ever, a team of 18 Indian cyclists trained in Australia for a month in readiness for the Commonwealth Games 2010, to be hosted in Delhi. The team of 12 male and six female cyclists roughed it out in NSW’s North Coast alongside regional clubs, under the watchful eyes of Aussie coaches.

The cyclists underwent rigorous training in idyllic conditions throughout the Burringbar Ranges and the Tweed Valley until the end of last month, and also trained in Sydney’s Olympic Park for a few days, in the run-up the Commonwealth Games slated for October 3-14 this year.

“This is the first time that an Indian team has been given assistance from and trained, in Australia. It is hopefully, the start of many good things to come. Similar occurrences have happened with Malaysian and Japanese teams that have had a long association with Australia and have cyclists training in Australia,” Phill Bates, President of St George Cycling Club in Sydney, told Indian Link

“The World body, the Union Cyclist International (UCI), has been also assisting nations with less cycling experience to gain assistance from successful international coaches like Graham Seers, a Moscow Olympian. The UCI even has training camps for cyclists from emerging countries to train with specialised coaches in Switzerland,” added Bates, a Board Member of NSW Sports Federation and former Track

Commissioner of the UCI.

“The Minister for Sport & Recreation, the Hon. Kevin Greene, is also pleased that our coaches are assisting the development of the cyclists in India,” he observed.

Minister Kevin Greene, in a press statement, said “NSW has a lot to offer International sporting teams and this is a great example of a very large cycling contingent making use of our countryside and roadways. On top of that, the team is

also competing against many regional clubs, like Murwillumbah and Byron Bay.” Minister Greene added it was great to see former NSW Olympians, Graham Seers and Cliff Burvill, in charge of the training.

Seers, a Moscow Olympian and renowned international cycling coach, spent seven months in India preparing the cycling team before bring them to NSW; while Burvill, a 1956 Olympic track cyclist, helped with the ground logistics and organising events

throughout NSW and southern Queensland. Seers said the Indian team of cyclists and staff were building a great cornerstone for the future. “Despite cycling being a major way of transport in India, the sport of cycling is not popular. The opportunity of utilising parts of NSW to enhance their training and racing has been a great help in their advancement,” he said.

The cyclists were accompanied by six management and coaching staff from India. After their month-long stay, the contingent will be competing in the Asian Games in April in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, followed by a test event in Delhi on the newly constructed velodrome, before linking with an Australian racing squad in Boulder USA for high altitude training and racing in June.

The final few months training in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games will take place in Delhi and Patiala in India. The cyclists will spend their last few days in Australia training at the Dunc Gray Olympic Velodrome at Bass Hill – their first taste of competing indoor on a board track.

The Commonwealth Games track is well underway and will be ready for use at the end of April.

Preeti Kannan

Mixed Doubles

The hot n spicy cross border Sania-Shoaib affair is proving to be quite a media circus. Are they already married, should they tie the knot or wait till the controversy blows over? Indian Link asked its readers for their take on the unfolding Bollywood blockbuster

What a tamasha! The way it’s going, it seems that Sania/Shoib controversy has all the mirch masala of a Bollywood movie. But I think the villian of the piece in this case, is the lady making claims that she is married to Shoib. I have been following the story and it keeps getting more dramatic and unbelievable as she makes all kinds of claims which don’t seem to have any basis. I think she’s just getting her 15 minutes of fame. Somehow Shoib’s version of events seems to be more genuine.

Sania and Shoib should postpone their wedding until this issue clears up, not just for themselves, but because it will cast a shadow over what is to be a happy occasion. After all, they will still be engaged and can marry later, once the allegations have been put to rest. But the people who are happiest about this controversy is the media, who are having a field day. Well, at least someone’s having fun.

Prashant Dixit Petersham

The Indo-Pak love match has turned out to be yet another example of what has been absolutely key to Indian cinema – a dramatic spectacle of a just-to-be-

married couple whose matrimonial plans are rudely interrupted by a third woman who bursts on to the scene with a “Yeh shaadi nahi ho sakti!” I think the great Indian wedding spectacle just got itself a version 2. What a perfect potboiler

Rahul Sethi Eastwood

At a time when India and Pakistan are not on the best of terms, there couldn’t have been better news than a cross border relationship of such high profile. Of course, the Sania-Shoaib engagement has attracted attention because they are both extremely popular sportstars. Sport has traditionally broken down barriers, this is particularly true of cricket. Shoaib himself is well aware of this and has expressed his wish that Sania win an Olympic medal for India.

Shyam Narendra Oatley

We are a species obsessed with each other’s personal lives and have a worthless opinion about everything under the sun. Talking about things as redundant as ‘community/caste’, ‘marriage’ or even nationalism in the 21st century, when the world is nothing but a cheap

Chinese imitation of the US of A, simply goes out to show that we live in a duality of sorts, where our ‘morals’ and ‘actions’ are two different realms. Face it, we rant more than we deliver or practice.

Urvashi Garg Campsie

Tennis star Sania Mirza’s life has been mired with controversy ever since she started playing tennis a few years ago. From being slammed by Muslim clerics for wearing un-Islamic clothes to being in the news for disrespecting the national flag, Sania has seen it all. I think she has a penchant for courting controversy.

Nitin Shah Strathfield

Now, whether the love-birds actually marry and have a happy-after in Dubai, earning accolades for their respective countries in the realm of sports (true patriots is what they’d like themselves to be remembered as), or they simply move on to greener pastures of love, one thing is certain, their relationship has truly sparked the flames of ‘Aman ki Aasha’ for many and given another reason to bicker for many more.

Sindhu Sharma Westmead

Open 7 days

Interest Rates going up, where will they stop?

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

Hello Friends,

Hope you all had a nice Easter Break. On 6th April, Reserve Bank gave us a mild shock after this nice little break! The fifth rate rise in seven months. Looks like the honeymoon is over and we should all brace ourselves for more rate rises. From 3% in just Oct last year the rates have jumped to 4.25%. What does this mean? All the first home buyers who were so excited with these record low rates and the government generosity last year are coming to terms with reality. There are many economists who think that the government’s extra first home grant and low rates have put those people in the home loans who did not deserve to be there at first place. These people were not even thinking of buying the property before all this happened; they were getting along with their lives happily paying their rent and living merrily. Are these people going to get the shock of their lives when the rates rise further? They did not have any savings (or saving habits) but relied on easy bank policies, getting their 100% loans and using the grant money for the costs, which were huge. But don’t get me wrong, there are lot of first home buyers who are disciplined and are paying off their home loans without any issues, some of them are even thinking of buying their investment properties. Most of the economists are predicting that there is going to be at least 2 to 3 rate rises by the end of this year and more rises in the next year. But there is a sense of caution as well; the way rates tumbled last year can still be a possibility on the future. There are still global issues with the economy, especially Europe, who knows where are we heading? When the rates were at

their peak in 2008, many people ended fixing them and those people are now concerned. My recommendation to stay on variable and move with the flow. If you still think you should consider fixed rates, do give me a call and I’ll be more than happy to discuss your situation. Call me on 029676 3417 and I’ll be more than happy to advise.

What is happening to property prices?

There is no doubt that the extended grant pushed the house prices up however the other two major reasons why property prices went up were the low interest rates and the high rentals. High rentals have prompted people to buy house to get rid of their landlord and also investors have joined the bandwagon to get high yield on their investments.. Well, after the first home grant boost ended in Dec last year, most of the people thought, the property prices are going to be down, some even predicted that there is going to be a crash in property prices, exactly opposite has happened ! We are experiencing that the property prices have not declined in the first quarter of 2010. Do your research before you commit yourself. We provide free RP Data property reports which can help

you make the right decision; you can log on to our website and order the free property report. Our web-site address is www.gainhomeloans.com.au. I think it’s a very good time to invest in property; historically nobody has gone wrong if they have invested for a longer period. Of course, if you are looking for short-term return, property is not the best option.

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

Pentagon for pressure on India to win Pakistani cooperation: WSJ

The Pentagon, the US defence department, is actively lobbying for “more pressure” on New Delhi to ease tensions between India and Pakistan to win Islamabad’s cooperation in Afghanistan, the Wall Street Journal has reported. It has also revealed that US President Barack Obama had issued a “secret directive” to intensify diplomacy towards that aim.

Asserting that without detente between the two rivals, US efforts to win Pakistani cooperation in Afghanistan would suffer, the directive in December “concluded that India must make resolving its tensions with Pakistan a priority for progress to be made on US goals in the region”, the daily said citing “people familiar with its contents”. A debate continues within the administration over how hard to push India, which has long resisted outside intervention in the conflict with its neighbour, it said. “The Pentagon, in particular, has sought more pressure on New Delhi,” the influential daily said citing US and Indian officials.

The journal cited current and former US officials as saying the discussion in Washington over how to approach India has intensified as “Pakistan ratchets up requests that the US intercede in a series of continuing disputes”.

The Obama administration has, so far, made few concrete demands of New Delhi, it said citing US and Indian officials.

According to US officials cited by the Journal, the only specific request has been to “discourage India from getting more involved in training the Afghan military, to ease Pakistani concerns about getting squeezed by India on two borders.”

The directive to top foreign-policy and national-security officials was summarised in a memo written by National Security Adviser James Jones at the end of the White House’s three-month review of Afghan war policy in December, the daily said.

According to US and Indian officials cited by the Journal, “the Pentagon has emerged in internal Obama administration debates as an active lobbyist for more pressure on India, with some officials already informally

pressing Indian officials to take Pakistan’s concerns more seriously.”

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been among the more vocal advocates of a greater Indian role, “encouraging New Delhi to be more ‘transparent’ about its activities along the countries’ shared border and to cooperate more with Pakistan”, the Journal said citing a US military official.

US military officials were circumspect about what specific moves they would like to see from New Delhi, it said. “But according to people who have discussed India policy with Pentagon officials, the ideas discussed in internal debates include reducing the number of Indian troops in Kashmir or pulling back forces along the border.”

The State Department has “resisted such moves to pressure India, according to current and former US officials, insisting they could backfire,” the Journal said.

No consensus on women’s bill, discussions to continue

The central government said it would continue discussions on the women’s reservation bill, after its meeting with leaders of parties in the Lok Sabha failed to reach a consensus as most opponents stuck to their stated positions.

“Further discussion will continue,” the government said in a statement after the nearly two-and-half hour meeting on the contentious bill that provides for 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The statement said leaders of various political parties expressed their views on the Constitution (108th Amendment Bill) 2008 at the meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also leader of the house.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Defence Minister A.K. Antony also attended the meeting.

The bill, passed amid uproar in the Rajya Sabha in March, is opposed by the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and a section of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

RJD leader Lalu Prasad, a strong opponent of the bill in its present form, said the legislation should provide reservation for Dalits, minorities and the backward castes.

Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said her party supported the bill but the interest of the minorities should be taken care of.

Ahead of the meeting, Lalu Prasad had said that he and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav would oppose the bill in its present form.

The government, which faces a bigger opposition to the bill in the Lok Sabha, wants to introduce it in the lower house in the second phase of the budget session that starts April 15.

Easter celebrated with prayers in northeast India

Easter, signifying the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifiction, was celebrated Sunday in churches across northeast India with special prayer and worship programmes.

Over 5.3 million Christians live in Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur while there are some Christians in the other northeastern states.

“The Salvation Army band party played “He’s risen” in Aizawl, Kohima and several other places in the northeast,” a Church head Zosangliana Colney told reporters.

Members of the Catholic Church broke their week-long traditional fast to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Christians celebrate the resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday two days after Good Friday, the day of Christ’s crucifiction.

Churches in Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya play a very active role in the life and culture of the northeast states.

“Christianity is the harbinger of modernity as well as women’s liberation in Mizoram. The Christian missionaries, therefore, are regarded as a symbol of modernisation, leading to gradual changes in the conservative attitude of men towards women,” Colney added.

Will not leave India till my name is cleared: Shoaib

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik said he would not leave India till his name is cleared

Viva La Woman Power

in the controversy surrounding his alleged first marriage to a city girl.

Accompanied by his bride-to-be, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, he spoke to media persons outside her residence and declared that they would marry on April 15 as scheduled.

“I am here for my marriage and to clear my name. I will, Inshaallah, clear my name and am cooperating with the police and Indian government. I will do everything,” Shoaib told reporters at a chaotic press conference.

Facing a volley of questions, the Pakistani batsman maintained that he had done nothing wrong and hence there was no question of apologising.

He also challenged Ayesha Siddiqui to come before the media, adding the world would know the truth once she comes out.

“I have never met the girl whose photographs were sent to me. I don’t know who is Ayesha. I used to call her (the girl who is claiming to be his first wife) Maha Apa and Apa means elder sister,” Shoaib said.

“I am here, why doesn’t she come before the camera, and I will answer all the questions.”

The cricketer admitted that police had taken away his passport after questioning him on the morning of April 5, but was confident that he would get it back by the evening.

“Nobody can touch me till charges against me are proved,” he said when asked if he fears arrest.

He said the Pakistani high commissioner in India spoke to him and assured him full assistance in clearing his name.

A tense-looking Sania said she was upset over the allegations, but claimed she knew the truth. “Our marriage will, Inshallah, take place on April 15. There is no question of postponing it,” she said.

“We are representing our countries in different ways, and it is very painful to speak on such matters,” Sania said.

Shoaib also termed Ayesha’s allegations “a cheap publicity gimmick”. To questions by reporters that Ayesha alleged she had got pregnant after her “marriage” with Shoaib and had had a “miscarriage”, Shoaib said: “Let her first prove it, and then let’s probe it.”

A lone woman fights a fierce and tireless battle for justice, undeterred by social ostracism.

It had to take the grit and determination of a woman (nay two women) to bring to books the culprits in an honour killing of a young married couple (Manoj and Babli), on the orders of a khap(caste) panchayat in Haryana.

Their crime was to marry for love despite belonging to the same gotra (lineage), which so enraged their family members and local community that they were abducted and murdered.

Chandrapati, the widowed mother of Manoj, has earned the distinction of being the first woman in Haryana to have taken on the dreaded khap panchayat and fought a legal battle against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Chandrapati has done what even our so called leaders and administrators could not dare to do. She dared to challenge the credibility of these rural panchayats, which operate as a parallel judicial system, enforcing a brutal form of justice.

And coming to the aid of Chandrapati was another woman of substance - Vani Gopal Sharma - the additional district and sessions judge of Karnal. In a landmark judgement, she awarded the death penalty to 5 members of Babli’s family and a life sentence to the head of the khap panchayat for hatching a conspiracy to kill the couple.

In her 96 page long judgement the judge said, ‘the present case reflects a long-standing tradition of

oppression against women. It has to be curbed by legislation treating honour killings as a separate offence. I wonder how such a progressive society could allow such action in the name of community honour.’

The verdict sends a strong signal to these panchayats which have become a law unto themselves, with the silent consent of politicians and policemen, in some parts of India. According to one estimate, every year, more than 100 men and women are either killed or forced to commit suicide by khaps for not adhering to traditional norms.

Even as I write this piece, there is yet more news (Hindu paper dated 1.4.2010) of an apparent honour killing of a young couple in Punjab. The victims, hailing from Firozpur, were provided police protection on orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court after marrying against their parents’ wishes. Yet, they were shot dead by 5 people in full public view near Amritsar.

The verdict in Chandrapati’s case came after a tireless three-year long legal battle by her, when her life came to a standstill. Shunned by her own people and community, she fought single handedly against social orthodoxy. Her battle for justice, despite all odds and social ostracism by the community, is a source of inspiration to all of us.

She was happy at the verdict, but wanted punishment for those also who abetted and aided the crime. She wondered ‘How can people who kill our children be trusted to mete

By SHOBHA SHUKLA

out justice?’

Despite her rustic and traditional upbringing, Chandrapati has the wisdom and courage to proclaim that children should have the freedom to choose their life partners.

Many of us elite city folks would do well to learn a lesson or two from her. It is not uncommon for highly educated urbanites to make life hell for their grown up sons and daughters if they dare to go against their parents’ dictates - be it choosing their life partner or even a profession of their choice. I am shocked to see the belligerent attitude of affluent families when it comes to marrying outside ones’ caste, or marrying without dowry, or even refusing to abort a female foetus. It seems that, as our horizons expand, our vision is becoming narrower.

It is hoped that the newly enforced ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education’ Act will be another important step in developing progressive minds, free from social and religious bigotry and from prejudices of caste , creed and cultures. It is also hoped that the government amends the Indian Penal Code to make honour killings a separate offence with appropriate punishment.

But mere enactment of laws will not do. Enforcement of laws must be accompanied by a change in mindset. We need to educate ourselves and our children to live in peace and harmony with each other. We need many more Chandrapatis and Vanis.

India market soars for business jet makers

With the number of billionaires and high net worth individuals in India growing, business jet makers are intensifying efforts to sell their aircraft in India which industry sources say will need over 250 aircraft in the next 10 years.

“We are very optimistic about India. We have good business here as India is an expanding market,” said Roger Sperry, vice president, sales, of the US-based Gulfstream.

“Earlier most of our sales were in the US, but now at least 60 percent of our sales are outside. We have built new facilities for the production of our latest offerings,” Jerry said in an interview.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. It had a record sale of 250 business jets in 2008 when recession spread worldwide. It is looking to increase its presence in the Asian market.

“Asia is the first to recover from recession. We are meeting with prospective customers,” Jerry had told IANS during the recent Hyderabad Air show.

Another player in the growing segment is Canada-based Bombardier. Its market forecast said that 1,030 deliveries will take place in the next 10 years (2009-18).

And this includes 250 business jets for India and 300 for China.

“India represents tremendous opportunity for business aviation,” said Avid Dixon, Bombardier’s regional vice president, sales (Asia Pacific).

Bombardier has a 24 percent market share in the region. It displayed Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 850 and Global 5000 business jets at the Hyderabad air show.

An Ernst & Young report had earlier said India forms 12 per cent of the worldwide business jets market, quoting the Brazilian executive jet manufacturer Embraer. The report said the demand for private or business jets in India is expected to grow at 50 per cent on an annual basis over the next few years.

Embraer, which has been showcasing its new mid-size jet, Legacy 500, in the country, is aiming to garner $1 billion by selling executive jets in the next 10 years.

Aviation industry reports say the demand for business jet is expected to go up by 14 percent a year in the next 10 years.

Experts say the main reason for the rise in demand is that a business aircraft is no more seen as a luxury but a tool for increased productivity. Private or business jets allow business leaders to use their time more productively.

And that’s why they say the Tata Group entered the space to start aircraft charter and fractional ownership programmes in the country and picked up a stake in BJETS - a Singapore- and Mumbai-based personal aviation provider in 2008.

According to Gulfstream, India’s present share of business jets fleet is less than one percent - 123 aircraft - of the 18,000 business jets worldwide.

The jet maker currently offers back-up support to its customers through Air Works, a maintenance, repair and overhauling (MRO) company in India.

The company will roll out by 2012 a new business jet, G650, which it says will be the biggest, fastest, longest range purpose-built business jet.

“We have successfully completed its first voyage aloft on Nov 25 last year and it is due to enter service in 2012. G650 can fly 51,000 ft and has a range of 7,000 nautical miles,” said Jerry.

Fire safety top priority during Six hundred fire department personnel are to be deployed for the Delhi Commonwealth Games and a safety drill is being charted out for various agencies, says director of the Delhi Fire Service R.C. Sharma.

Sharma told IANS: “Special fire safety training will be provided to all the agencies involved in various activities of the Games.”

The mega sporting event will take place Oct 3-14.

The training will entail minute details of fire safety like people management through announcement systems in the event of a fire, training on the usage of fire exits and primary fire extinguishing.

In all, 600 fire department personnel would be deployed for the Games. They would be stationed at the venues with fire tenders. “A minimum of one fire tender would be stationed at every venue and two or three at bigger venues,” said Sharma.

Regarding No Objection Certificates (NOC) to all Games venues, Sharma said: “When construction is over, we will check everything and only then give clearances to the buildings.

“We will also hold special fire safety drills with all agencies involved with the Games - the special training by the fire department would be part of it,” said Sharma.

Apple iPad will take time to hit Indian market

Indians craving to get their hands on the Apple iPad will have to wait for a while as it will be still some time before it becomes available in the Indian market. Experts also believe that the tablet will create a new user segment in India.

Unveiled in January, the iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play

games, read e-books and much more. The 9.7 inch touchscreen tablet is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds-thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook-and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.

The product, touted as a device between smartphone and a laptop, was officially launched in the US market recently. Prices in the US start at $499 and the most advanced model costs $829. But Indians customers who are eagerly waiting to try the ‘game changing product’, as it is often called, will have to wait for some more time.

“iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year,” said an official release.

Industry observers in the US believe the iPad could well outsell the Apple’s iPhone, launched in 2007, of which one million had been sold after 74 days on shop shelves.

However, considering price sensitive Indian market where consumers always look for a package product seeking maximum features in lowest possible amount, iPad may remain limited to the upper middle class segment only.

According to technology experts, besides the great features iPad has constraints too like it cannot multi-task, doesn’t have a external keyboard, disk drive or a USB drive.

The experts believe it would create a niche market for itself and emerge as a lifestyle product and not a mass product in India. “This product will create a new class. But given the Indian market scenario, iPad it is not going to have a mass market. It will be a niche product ... it will be a lifestyle product ...,” said Akhilesh Tuteja, executive director KPMG, a consulting firm.

“To start with, it will have buyers who

would like to experience it. It will create a class of its own. For a complete experience, one needs to have peripherals. But iPad doesn’t have an external keyboard, no USB drive and disk drive,” Tuteja told IANS.

Explaining further, Tuteja said the secret to iPad’s success lies in the applications.

“The product is not the game changer. It is the applications on it, that would change the game and may take away the need of carrying laptop,” Tuteja added.

Mahesh Uppal, a telecommunication expert, said: “It is a very powerful product. Once 3G (third generation) services are in place in Indian market, then it will be much better.”

After it was unveiled by Apple in January, iPad was stated to be the next big thing to hit the market after iPhone. Creating a new segment, the device tries to blend in best features of a laptop, smartphone, book reader and offers a number of other services.

Technology lovers in India are keenly waiting to experience the new age device. Sudipto Roy, 31, who works in a multinational firm in Noida, said: “Since the day iPad was launched, I have been waiting for it. I can’t wait for months for its launch in India. I will ask my friend coming from US next month.”

Meanwhile, Apple has already geared up to provide thousands of applications for iPad users.

The App Store, a service by Apple, on iPad lets people wirelessly browse, buy and download new applications from the world’s largest application store. iPad will run almost all of the more than 150,000 applications on the App Store, including applications already purchased for iPhone or iPod touch.

Developers are already creating new applications designed for iPad that take

of Rajouri and Reasi in Jammu. The clashes between the security forces and militants began after the Army and the police were tipped off about the presence of a group of heavily armed militants.

Photo: AP

advantage of its multi-touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

The new iBooks application for iPad includes Apple’s new iBookstore, where one can buy and read books on it. The iTunes store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalogue of over 12 million songs, over 55,000 TV episodes and over 8,500 films including over 2,500 in stunning high definition.

Manmohan in US soon for n-security summit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will soon join 43 global leaders in Washington for a summit on nuclear safety that aims to strengthen the mechanism to prevent nuclear devices from falling into the hands of terrorists.

The summit is being held at the initiative of US President Barack Obama.

Speaking to reporters on April 4, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said India saw the summit as an “important element in strengthening the international resolve to cooperate on nuclear security and supporting the expanded use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

“This will be to India’s benefit, given our concerns on terrorism as well as our interest in the expansion of civil nuclear energy,” she said, adding: “We have welcomed this initiative and have contributed substantively to the summit’s preparations.”

The prime minister will reach Washington on the afternoon of April 12 and attend a dinner hosted at the White House for the 40-plus visiting leaders, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese Premier Hu Jintao.

“The discussions at the dinner will focus on the threat of nuclear terrorism, the primary reason why the summit has been convened,” said Rao.

When asked if the summit will discuss Iran’s or Pakistan’s nuclear programme, Rao noted that the meeting was “not about a country-specific situation”.

To a question on Iran not being invited to the summit as it was not a “responsible” nation, Rao asserted, “Iran is a responsible country”.

On April 13, there will be two plenary sessions focusing on national measures and on international cooperation to enhance nuclear security, which will be attended leaders from 44 countries.

A working lunch would be addressed by the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano.

The summit will conclude with the release of an outcome document, which has been under negotiations for the last six months by senior officials, called Sherpas.

“I have led a team of DAE (department of atomic energy) and MEA (ministry of external affairs) officials in discussions on the summit outcome at meetings of the Sherpas in Tokyo and The Hague. The Sherpas will also meet in Washington on the eve of the summit,” Rao said.

On India’s participation in international efforts to curb nuclear terrorism, Rao pointed out that New Delhi had been “piloting” a resolution at United Nations to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

“We are also active in the works of IAEA on setting and enforcing standards on physical protection of nuclear material and facilities as well as on combating illicit trafficking in nuclear material,” she said.

India is also party to international treaties like the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 amendment and is also participating

in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

India is in the midst of a surge in civil nuclear energy production, after it got an exception from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008 to take part in nuclear trade despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty.

The catalyst for the process had been the bilateral agreement between India and US for civilian nuclear cooperation.

Since then, India has signed several agreements with other countries like Russia, France and Kazakhstan.

However, India has concerns about the safety of nuclear installations in Pakistan, which has been the location of activity of several Islamist terror groups.

India had previously also raised objections over the network of A.Q. Khan, the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb, which had been active in providing technology and materials in countries like North Korea and Libya.

‘Clean Ganga’ campaign kicked-off in Uttarakhand

Taking a pledge to cleanse the Ganga river from its source in the Himalayas and along its journey to the Bay of Bengal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank got some popular celebrities to kick off his new “Sparsh Ganga” campaign recently.

While declaring Bollywood actors Hema Malini and Vivek Oberoi as “brand ambassadors” for the campaign, Nishank also sought support of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama as well as popular yoga guru Swami Ramdev, both who were present at the ceremony on the Ganga banks at Parmarth Niketan here.

The chief minister also invited Christian priest Father Dominique as well as Swami

Agnivesh.

Former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani too joined in along with other prominent BJP leaders including Pokhriyal’s predecessor, Maj.Gen. (retd) B.C. Khanduri.

The name “Sparsh Ganga” was coined by Nishank himself, whose book with the same title was released by Advani at the function. Speaking on the occasion, Advani gave a call for shunning plastic all along the route of the Ganga river. “It is high time that the laws against dumping of plastic and chemicals or industrial effluents were enforced sternly along the Ganga that is a source of life for all of us.”

Nishank also emphasised the need for undertaking plantations all along the banks of the Ganga.

“This campaign for cleaning of the Ganga will not remain confined to the official machinery, but will also seek involvement of common people living all along the river.”

He proposes to seek participation of different states in making the campaign a success. “As a part of this endeavour, we also propose to invite all other state governments to adopt certain areas for undertaking plantation of trees in the upper reaches of the Himalayan state including Badrinath,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Dalai Lama expressed deep concern over the depleting Gangotri glacier - the course of the Ganga river.

“Unless we get down with sincere commitment and dedication to protect our environment, we are going to face difficult times ahead and water crisis is going to be one of these major problems,” he pointed out.

Swami Agnivesh described the Ganga as a “symbol of the earth’s environment”, while

Parmarth Niketan chief Swami Chidanand Muni termed it as “not just a river but a national heritage.”

Doctors walk in Delhi to promote organ

Every year Indians need 100,000 organ transplants, but a meagre 4,000 are being done due to lack of donors. And to create awareness and to promote organ donation, doctors and students recently came together in Delhi for a two-km walk.

The participants of the ‘Donorthon 2010’, walked the two-km stretch near the Akshardham temple in east Delhi.

“Pledging your organs for donation can help save a lot of lives. A single brain dead person can donate as many as 30 organs and tissues and save as many as six lives,” said A.S.Soin, director of liver transplantation at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here.

“We need to raise awareness levels so as to ensure that more and more people pledge to donate their organs after death. It is a matter of great concern that the organ donation rate in the country is among the lowest anywhere despite India having the largest number of potential donors in the world,” Soin said.

“ ‘Donorthon 2010’ is an attempt to kickstart a process that will hopefully trigger a change of attitude vis-a-vis organ donation and through this help save a lot of lives,” he added.

It is estimated that around 25,000 people need to donate their organs every year to fulfill country’s transplant needs.

Food security bill should provide maximum benefit: Congress

Just before the empowered group of ministers meeting to re-look the national food security bill, the Congress has said

An Indian one horned rhino is seen at the Kaziranga National Park about 250 km from Guwahati city, northeast India. Kaziranga is known all over the world for successful conservation of the great one horned rhinoceros, and it has the world’s largest concentration of the species. Seventeen species of mammals, twenty three species of birds and ten species of reptiles on the endangered list are found here, and it has also evolved into a tiger reserve with a population of about 100 tigers in just 1002 sq.km area.

that the proposed legislation should provide maximum benefits to the needy sections of society.

“The needy sections of society should get maximum benefits,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told IANS.

He said that present entitlement of below poverty line (BPL) families should be protected under the proposed legislation. Citing media reports, Ahmed said the draft bill cleared by the ministers’ group last month had proposed 25 kg of wheat or rice per month at Rs.3 a kg to BPL families but they got 35 kg of foodgrain every month through the public distribution system.

Some NGOs and activists had described the draft food security bill as “minimalist” and had sought an expansion in its scope. Congress sources said that party leadership also wanted the bill - a flagship programme of the United Progressive Alliance government in its second term - to be more comprehensive.

They said party president Sonia Gandhi, who was made chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC) March 28, was keen on the bill addressing concerns regarding nutritional security of women, children and other vulnerable sections.

And now, a Mayawati temple

If all goes well, Uttar Pradesh will soon get a temple dedicated to Chief Minister and Dalit icon Mayawati, whose statues already dot the sprawling state.

The temple is proposed to be erected in the poverty-stricken Mahoba district in Bundelkhand, economically the most backward region in Uttar Pradesh. It will come up in Natpura village, about 300 km from the capital.

“Of course, we are planning to install her idol in the temple that will come up on my private land,” Kanaihya Lal, a Mahobabased lawyer, said in a telephone interview. Lal is not a functionary of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) but a Dalit. He says he got provoked by the hue and cry over a garland of currency notes gifted to Mayawati on her birthday last month.

“If her critics take exception to a garland of currency notes, I wish to say that we are all set to build a temple where her followers will be free to offer such garlands every day,” he said.

He says: “Indira Gandhi was weighed in silver way back in the 70s in Mahoba. But no one found that outrageous. Just because (Mayawati) is a ‘Dalit ki beti’ (daughter of a Dalit), all hell seems to have broken loose.” Local officials have told him that since the proposed idol in the temple would be that of a living person, it would be appropriate to obtain formal permission from the person.

“Under the circumstances, I will now move a request to the chief minister through the district BSP coordinator,” Lal said.

India happy with progress on access to Headley

India is satisfied with the progress of talks with the US over access to PakistanAmerican terror suspect David Headley, who is linked to the Mumbai terror attack, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said recently.

“We are satisfied with the progress these negotiations have made,” Rao told media, referring to the activist of the Pakistanbased group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). She pointed out that there had been good cooperation between India and the US in counter terrorism, adding that Indian agencies and the home ministry were in talks with their US counterparts over access to Headley.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram has

stated repeatedly that it wanted access to Headley, who scouted for locations in Mumbai and other places in India for the LeT to attack.

Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Friday said that while the US was committed to “full information sharing”, no decision had been made on direct access to Headley for Indian investigators.

“And you know, the US Department of Justice is working with the government of India to discuss the modalities for such cooperation. But again, no decision has been made on that,” he said.

Ten Pakistani terrorists belonging to the LeT sneaked into Mumbai in November 2008 and went on a killing spree, leaving 166 foreigners as well as Indians dead.

Operation Khoj in Kashmir the biggest against terrorists

A senior army commander claimed on April 3 that the latest operation against terrorists in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir was one of the biggest in recent years.

The operation was codenamed ‘Operation Khoj’ or operation search. It started on March 27 and went on till April 2.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of counter insurgency Uniform Force Major

General M.M.S. Rai told reporters in Reasi Saturday that the offensive against terrorists left 16 terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) dead in the past one week and six soldiers also lost their lives in gun battles with the terrorists.

“This was one of the biggest operations in Rajouri in recent years,” he said. He claimed that the “army acted swiftly and in time and neutralized the terrorists before they could move up in hills and cause any major damage.”

“During these operations we have eliminated all the 16 militants in four different encounters and this was possible due to the cooperation of Jammu and Kashmir police and other paramilitary forces, particularly Central Reserve Police Force.”

The army also recovered satellite phones, AK-47 rifles from the militants. “All the terrorists belonged to the LeT group,” he said.

Gen. Rai said that the army has stepped up its vigil and all the major routes were being “intensely patrolled”.

Four terrorists and an army soldier were killed in a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The first contact with the militants was made in Dharmsal area of Kalakote in Rajouri March 27 and two terrorists were killed. The second contact took place in Thrayth on ATuesday,

triggering an 18-hour gun battle that lasted into Wednesday and left four guerrillas and three soldiers dead.

Six terrorists were killed in Rajouri district Thursday.

‘Marriages are breaking up at an alarming rate’

Be they arranged marriages or those out of love, breakups are on the rise in India. Marriage counselling, therefore, is becoming a necessity before one says “I do”, says counsellor and author Geeta Maheshwari.

“I am a marriage counsellor and from my experience I can say that the top reasons why marriages today are breaking up are mostly lifestyle-related,” Maheshwari, a psychiatrist and marriage counsellor, told IANS.

“For instance, most couples opt to have one child these days, taking care of all his or her needs. So much so that the child is not equipped to handle his or her problems. Then, the tolerance level has gone down - people have less patience to deal with issues that may be crucial to sort out one’s marriage,” she added.

“In the earlier days, divorce was taboo, but now you have people proudly flaunting their divorcee status. This change in psyche is also one of the reasons for people not taking this institution too seriously,” Maheshwari added.

“Marriages are breaking up at an alarming rate these days. Almost 40 percent of Indian marriages, especially in metros, are heading for a breakup,” she said.

While some may believe that arranged marriages have more chances of developing complications since the partners may not know each other very well, Maheshwari said love marriages are no exception in the break-up trend.

“In love marriages, you may have dated for a while, but you should remember that during those times your partner was at his or her best behaviour. You actually come to know a person when you start living with him or her day in day out.

Love marriages therefore are no exception in this worrying trend,” she said. Considering the current scenario, Maheshwari said marriage counselling is becoming a necessity.

“Marriage counselling is very important these days. Although there are more and more couples coming for counselling before marriage, most people still think that it’s not really important. Since these things affect everyone, I decided to write a book which gives basic tips on how to improve the quality of one’s married life,” she said.

Maheshwari’s book “The Happy Marriage Mantra” (Northern Book Centre/Rs 500) was recently launched by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The book, she said, has 26 chapters on how to make a marriage work. For instance, there’s one chapter on acceptance of your spouse, one on how to deal with the spouse’s ex and yet another one on how important it is to have a zeal for life. There is also a chapter on the myths of marriage.

“My daughter got married this January and instead of buying her a bulk of clothes, I gifted her the draft of this book so that the chances of her having a happy marriage increase. Every marriage is unique and has unique problems, but there are some issues which span across all,” Maheshwari said.

After this book, the counsellor-turnedauthor said she is going to write two more books - on how to repair one’s marriage and life after divorce.

“Divorce is tough and one should try and make their marriage work. But if is inevitable, there is life after that phase too and that’s what my third book will be all about,” she said.

A boy walks past a mural painting promoting child education, in Southern Indian city of Bangalore. Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, said ‘Right to Education’ came into force on April 1, providing compulsory schooling to children from the age of 6 to 14. The new statute makes it obligatory on part of the state governments and local bodies to ensure that every child gets education in a school in the neighbourhood. Its implementation will directly benefit close to one crore children who do not go to schools at present.

Photo: AP

Just Joking!

Practical jokes are the essence of April Fools Day, so use your imagination, choose your victims and set the trap by Farrha

Khan

As we glide through Autumn, the weather in Sydney tends to cool down so slowly that its Winter and cold before you know it. But to brighten up our way before the clouds become a constant feature, there is one day in the calendar year when you can truly let laughter rule your day.

April Fools Day or more boringly known as the 1st April is known as the Day of Pranks. Jokes and laughter are on the menu, and joyously, the victims are usually family and friends.

So how do young Sydneysiders prank each other? Here are a few fresh perspectives on the power of pranking

Double Trouble

Seventeen year old twins Julie and Mary have an obsession. They love to prank everyone, but mostly, each other!

April Fools Day or more boringly known as the 1st April is known as the Day of Pranks. Jokes and laughter are on the menu, and joyously, the victims are usually family and friends

“It’s a challenge because we can usually figure out what we’re going to do to each other, so it always has to be something unexpected,” says Mary.

“April Fools is usually harder because we’re expecting to get pranked. So all day we’re on the look out,” adds Julie.

So how do you prank your own twin?

“Nowadays, instead of one really big prank, we do lots of little ones. Like switching body powder with flour. Or putting ice cubes between bedsheets,” laughs Mary.

“April Fools Day gets pretty crazy for everyone in the house, because of us two,” says Julie, exchanging a grin with her sister which sets them giggling uncontrollably.

I am definitely glad I don’t live with them!

So will they reveal their plans for this year’s pranks?

“Nope!” is Julie’s instant response.

Mary however, explains the rules. “The plans are exposed when the pranks get played,” she says.

But of course, being twins they also like to play pranks together on their sister and friends. “Then we do the big ones. It gets pretty easy, especially if it’s over the phone, because we sound so similar,” reveals Mary.

“We usually just play around saying we’re one or the other, and people get really confused by the end of it,” says Julie and that sets them off into another fit of the giggles. A troublesome duo for sure! With two pranking minds working together, it’s almost scary to think what they could come up with!

Fooling around with food

Now that Ronnie is a qualified chef, he explains that pulling pranks on colleagues has become so easy, he barely bothers to think

about what he’ll be doing on 1st April. “I’ll be pranking a friend of mine at work. He struggles with foods that have chilli in them, so when I prepare his lunch, I just might add a few teaspoons of chili powder instead of salt,” he says wickedly.

A spicy prank, he cheekily adds, in which he may also add harmless vinegar instead of water to his friend’s glass, as an accompaniment to his meal…

I sure wouldn’t want to be in this kitchen on any April Fools Day!

Ronnie explains that his April Fools

Julie and Mary

success began during his school days. His most successful prank was on returning to school after the holidays and convincing his friend, Alex that the day was a Monday, when actually it was a Tuesday. “I got everyone involved! He didn’t find out until Saturday when he woke up early to go to school, and his parents convinced him it was actually Saturday!” he chortles.

And does Ronnie have any other targets planned this April Fools Day? With a big grin, he simply replies, “Yep! My girlfriend!”

Now I have no doubt he’ll be successful, but

Tricky tone

Natalie has never pranked anyone before. Why? “I’ve just never really thought about it. I wouldn’t know what to do,” she admits. She may not prank others, but she has been at the receiving end of a few good ones. “Its usually from my friends,” she says, recounting an incident where she and a good friend had gone to the movies. “We watched When a

Stranger Calls and the bad guy does this really scary voice. I was walking home alone right after the movie and I got a call…,”she claims. “Strangely, the caller ID didn’t come up. When I answered, the person had this creepy voice from the movie.” She hung up straight away, a little spooked. “But I figured it out who it was straight away,” she smiles.

Has she thought about a revenge prank on this friend of hers? “No, not yet,” says this non-prankster. Maybe next April Fools Day….

Saucy scam

Meet Rachel, 19, the Queen of Pranks! Her specialty, she explains, are prank calls. But she believes that last year’s April Fools prank was her best ever, and believe me, this young lady’s in a different league altogether. “I covered the front of my shirt and pants in tomato sauce and ran inside the house right up to my brother. I pretended to cry saying, ‘I think I killed someone!’ Shocked, her brother asked who it was and where they were. “I cried harder saying, ‘I don’t know who or how it happened, but he’s outside!’,” laughs Rachel. They ran outside, she continues, and when there was no body on her lawn, her brother freaked out even more. “I had to stop the prank then, he was getting a bit too worried,” she admitted with a grin.

So did she have any new shockers for April Fools Day? “Nothing yet. But I probably will,” says this

I’m glad I’m won’t be her next victim.

Dangerous dupe

Debbie has never pulled a prank before, but she sure has thought about it. This April Fools Day she’s travelling, but if she weren’t on holidays she would have prepared a grand scheme. Her victim? Her ex-boyfriend. The plan? “I was going to tell him I’m pregnant with his baby,” she says mischievously. Poor guy, but why? “It would be the last thing he’d expect. So why not?” says Debbie with a smirk. Some might think this is a bit harsh, but Debbie’s been the victim of some harsh pranks herself, and she thinks this would be a fairly good one.

Debbie explains that the biggest April Fools prank of which she’d been a victim, had involved her friends. “They told me that my closest friends had been in a car accident. They actually said one of them was in hospital. I was so upset!” she reveals.

Does she plan on any revenge pranks? “I wish I could, but I’m overseas. But definitely next year!” she says.

Debbie’s friends had better be careful next year. She’s already planning something stupendous.

I covered the front of my shirt and pants in tomato sauce and ran inside the house right up to my brother. I pretended to cry saying.

‘I think I killed someone’

Rachel, 19

Debbie

Natalie Ronnie

A peek into postpartition Pakistan

An enlightened view on Pakistan’s transition from a tolerant to a zealous society, and excellent commentaries on cricket, are this month’s literary offerings

BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

Azhar Abidi is a talented Pakistan-born Melbourne writer, whose second novel Twilight is set in the 1980s and is about a Mohajir family in Karachi. Although this reviewer has never been to Pakistan, I can say from the several Pakistani novels I have read, that Karachi resembles an Indian city more closely than any other. Even the Pakistani writers I admire have been from Karachi: Mohammed Hanif, Kamila Shamsie, Irfan Yusuf – and now Azhar Abidi. The city’s fairly multicultural and cosmopolitan population – including a small Hindu community, the bulk of the Mohajirs settling down in Karachi, the city’s indigenous Sufi traditions, etc seem to have contributed to a more vibrant, tolerant and liberal culture. At least that was what prevailed until General Zia veered Pakistan in a different direction and changed the country for good: we got that impression from Hanif’s Case of Exploding Mangoes (where he blamed Zia for single-handedly taking Pakistan in the direction of “multinational jihad”) and now Abidi tells us the same thing, although from a different perspective.

Abidi was born in Pakistan and came to Melbourne in the 1990s where he completed a Masters in Business from the University of Melbourne before settling down here. His first novel Passarola Rising was published in 2006 by Viking Penguin, and was shortlisted for the Melbourne Literary Prize that year. It was set in eighteenth century Portugal around the time of the Inquisition, and was a fictionalised account of a Brazilian priest and aviation pioneer! Twilight (published under the title The House of Bilqis in the US) is his second novel, published in Australia by Text Publishing, and is a much more down-to-earth tale set in Pakistan in

the 1980s at the time of General Zia. At the heart of the novel is Bilqis Ara Begum, matriarch of the Khan family, who moved to Karachi from Calcutta at the time of Partition, and about her disappointments; the decline in her family’s fortunes seems to be coeval with her country’s slide into fundamentalism. Her son Samad who is in Melbourne, decides to marry an Australian and stay there. She is convinced that her daughter-in-law had seduced him and taken him to a foreign country, turning his life into her own. Yet this disappointment pales into insignificance when compared to what she feels for her country. She resents what General Zia and his cohorts have done to the secular Pakistani State, changing the country she had chosen at Partition

to a land of religious zealots. Her brother Sikandar, an army officer commissioned at Calcutta, joined the newly formed Pakistan army after Partition; but he too resigned within the year when he realised he would have to fight an ‘enemy’ who were once his comrades. He too watches almost helplessly as he bangs away at his typewriter, writing his regular column for The Dawn, and urges his family to go to a dance performance soon “before the mullahs put a ban on it”. Through Bilqis and Sikandar, Abidi is able to articulate both his love for his country as well as deep regret at the way it is headed. The author is at his best when creating ambience – as in the chapter where he describes the post-partition elite of Pakistan, although he falters a bit in the sections where he describes the maid Mumtaz and her attraction to the watchman Omar next door who is a Kashmiri jihadi.

Cricket lovers – especially those who are serious about the game – particularly Indian cricket, can take cheer in the publication of another splendid book on the subject.

It was Ramachandra Guha who wrote the first serious, analytical and historical account of the game as it was played in the subcontinent, titled A Corner of a Foreign Field. That he was a social historian and academic worked in his favour, and the book won him the UK Cricket Society Literary Award and Cricket Society’s Book of the Year in 2002.

Another historian and academic – and a novelist to boot – has published a gem of a book on Indian cricket: it is Mukul Kesavan’s Men in White, which is a collection of essays on subjects to do with the game. It is unmistakably Indian in flavour, and partisan, yet the generosity and encyclopaedic knowledge of the cricketloving public in India shines through. There are sections on growing up with cricket in India, on world cricket and the modern game; the Indian cricket team and its star players. These two books are a must for cricket lovers.

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Vijay Kumar to consult at IAEA

Dr Vijay Kumar, currently the head of Radiopharmaceutical Research at the Children’s Hospital in Westmead, will soon take on the role as Consultant with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Vijay is a well-loved member of the Sydney Indian community, known not only for his philanthropic and social endeavours, but also for his great talents as a singer. His IAEA appointment at its headquarters in Vienna is based on a Special Services Agreement, under the United Nations banner. He will be reporting to the Head of the Nuclear Medicine Section, the Division of Human Health and will provide technical advice and support for activities relating to strengthening global nuclear medicine practices. He will also be working at the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, and will be responsible for implementing activities within the IAEA’s program on nuclear energy production, radiation technology and implement Research & Development (R&D) projects. The assignment is currently for six months, and he will work in a team of six professional and three administrative staff.

Vijay was head-hunted internationally amongst the elite group of scientists in this field, and will be expected to establish and maintain effective working relations with IAEA staff at all levels, with representatives of the Member States and with external counterparts. He will be expected to interact effectively as part of an international team to achieve collaboratively organisational goals.

Vijay is one of a few scientists in Australia who has been able to combine

medical and scientific research with administration. He was instrumental in establishing radiopharmaceutical research in Nuclear Medicine at Westmead Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. He has made a significant contribution to the development of the Basic Science course and successfully implemented for the medical curriculum of Association of Physicians in Nuclear Medicine. He has been honoured with Clinical Professorial appointments at Sydney Medical School, Sydney University. Dr. Kumar has been actively involved in the scientific affairs of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine, and has been Chairman of a special interest group in Radiopharmacy. Since 2009, Dr Kumar has undertaken the responsibility of serving as Secretary for IRC (International relationship committee) for WFNMB (World Federation of Nuclear Medicine & Biology) bid committee. He is a member of Editorial Board of World Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Biology. Dr Kumar has been invited to contribute to the leading Nuclear Medicine text book: Fundamentals of Radiochemistry and Radiopharmacy

Dr Kumar is no stranger to IAEA; in 1998 he was part of the team conducting the “Regional Training Course on the assessment of myocardial viability” for nuclear cardiologists. In the following few years he has developed 8 different modules to IAEA- DAT (Distance Assisted Training) Programme in Nuclear Medicine under the regional cooperative agreement. In 2004, he gave a Plenary lecture at International Nuclear Oncology conference in Brazil. He has been a consultant for the organisation

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for his work and has travelled extensively around the globe in the role of guest lecturer and presenter at various forums.

Dr Vijay’s role at IAEA will include working as a programme developer and implementer, technical expert, technical and project officer. He will also be require to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with Member State institutions, relevant sections in WHO (World Health Organisation) and technical/professional societies, e.g. EANM (European Association of Nuclear Medicine), SRS (Society of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences), in order to increase awareness of the IAEA’s program in nuclear medicine.

The IAEA is a unique organisation that

stands for “Atoms for Peace” and fosters cooperation in the nuclear field since 1957 within the United Nations family. The Agency works with its Member States (Countries around the world) and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies.

Created in 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations resulting from the discovery of nuclear energy, the IAEA’s fortunes are uniquely geared to this controversial technology that can be used either as a weapon or as a practical and useful tool. The organisation’s statute outlines the three pillars of the Agency´s work - nuclear verification and security, safety and technology transfer.

The IAEA Secretariat is headquartered at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. Operational liaison and regional offices are located in Geneva, New York, Toronto, and Tokyo. The IAEA Secretariat is a team of 2200 multi-disciplinary professional and support staff from more than 90 countries.

The IAEA is the world’s nuclear inspectorate, with more than four decades of verification experience. Inspectors work to verify that safeguarded nuclear material and activities are not used for military purposes. The IAEA helps countries to upgrade nuclear safety and security, and to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Work is keyed to international conventions, standards and expert guidance. The main aim is to protect people and the environment from harmful radiation exposure. The IAEA helps countries mobilize peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.

The Indian Seniors Group Hornsby (ISGH) celebrated Seniors Week with panache during March 21-28. The festivities kicked off with a photo exhibition of more than 300 prints of members’ photographs taken since the inception of the group in 2006. These included scenes of excursions, talks, lectures, workshops and other gatherings, and was displayed in different event-based sections.

Mira Raheja, founder of ISGH presided over the event, while the chief guest was Aruna Chandrala, president of United Indian Association (UIA) of which ISGH is an associate member. Throughout the week, retired Lt. Col. Virender Sahni provided his services as a skilful master of ceremony.

The week-long celebration also featured two well attended bus trips to Gupteshwar temple which is the Lord Shiva temple in Minto and the Nan Tien, the Lord Buddha temple in Wollongong.

Mira explained the theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Health and Well Being’ in keeping with which a number of presentations, talks and lectures by qualified doctors were organised, on topics relating to various aspects of health.

The lectures by professional neurologist, cardiologists and ophthalmologists were all very well attended, but the dentistry segment generated an overwhelming interest as Dr Shibani Sahni touched a chord with the seniors by her useful presentation, explanation of various dental conditions and

to invite her again at a later date. There followed a similar reaction to Ms Shaifali who captivated her audience with a quick demonstration of meditation followed by acupressure.

received was highly positive. She thanked all workers, volunteers and members and generously credited them with the success of the whole event.

Mira illustrated that the ISGH which

Celebrating seniority Forum highlights easier living for seniors

is a not-for-profit social group, has been celebrating Seniors Week every year since its establishment in 2006, when seniors of Indian origin in the area felt the need to come together as a community and meet with people of their own kind, speak their own language, wear their traditional attire and celebrate their customs. This need resulted in the formation of the ISGH under the guidance and support of the Hornsby shire. Their monthly meetings provide a platform for seniors to allay their boredom while soaking up on vital information about facilities available from departments such as Centrelink, Health and Immigration etc. The aim is to keep the aging community spiritually, mentally and physically fit by organising activities like bingo, yoga, meditation, excursions, cultural programs and competitions.

ISGH is well recognised by the general public as well as on an official level and received The State Outstanding Achievement Award in Intergenerational Understanding in 2008, in addition to many appreciation certificates from the Hornsby

The group meets every third Sunday of the month at the senior’s leisure and learning centre beneath Epping library. The focus of the next meeting is cancer. There will also be an open debate, women VS men on the topic ‘Women’s rights in parliament and defense’.

Farzana Shakir

Seniors’ needs should be recognized and acted upon, so that they can enjoy living life to the fullest

United Indian Association (UIA) celebrated NSW Seniors Week with a Seniors Forum on March 20, at the Parravilla Function Centre. In keeping with the theme “Live Life” for seniors Week 2010, the program centered on sharing valuable information on how to make living easier and joyful for seniors.

The key objective of UIA’s Seniors Forum was to bring together various Seniors Groups located in Sydney and to provide them with a common platform to raise and address strategic issues facing Indian seniors in Australia.

After a welcoming speech by Mr Raj Natarajan, Chair of UIA’s Seniors Committee, Mrs Sumati Advani, Senior Forum Director addressed the gathering highlighting the advantages older people have over the younger generation.

Mrs Aruna Chandrala, President of UIA in her address, stressed on the contributions made by seniors to their families, society and to their nation. She stated that “Age is … wisdom” and advised that seniors must not be stereotyped as slow, forgetful, and less competent than their younger counterparts.

Mr Amit Dasgupta, Consul General encouraged the NSW government to extend travel concessions to the elderly who were on temporary bridging visas.

Hon Paul Lynch, Minister for Ageing, Disability and Aboriginal Affairs highlighted the ageing of Australia’s population and the challenges ahead for the government to establish programs which meet their needs. He congratulated the UIA for holding the forum and encouraged all to follow this year’s theme and to live life well. Hon Lynch

of the Australian Indian community. Several well known professionals presented information on various topics, including oral health, mental health, aged

game of Bingo and prizes. Maharaja Haveli sponsored the bhangra dance.

Councillor Dilip Chopra noted that the forum is in fact a ‘Celebration of Seniors’.

Moninder Singh

A poll-driven society

BY NOEL G DE SOUZA

Australia, like many Western democracies, has become a society which is driven by opinion polls. Almost every week we are bombarded by one or another newspaper running a poll. Often it may be based on a survey of just 600 to 1200 people and their opinions on questions like whether they prefer the prime minister or the opposition leader, are tabulated and broadcast as if they are election results.

The integrity or honesty of the poll results are not questioned but are compared with results from other pollsters to see if they tally. Pollsters like to have a good reputation and therefore, they can be expected to be as honest as possible. The Galaxy poll, published by The Daily Telegraph and associated newspapers, has been known for its uncanny accuracy. Another reputable poll is the AC Nielson poll which is published by the Fairfax group of newspapers.

Material is gathered with respect to location, age and gender and this gives clues with regard to group attitudes. For example, a certain party might promise certain advantages to retirees (like increased pensions) whilst others may focus on women’s issues (like the current debate

on maternity leave pay) and these might get reflected in the polls. Often, the respondent’s normal party preference is also included to find how liberal or labor voters feel about an issue.

There are two problems with polls. The first is that people might not be willing to reveal what they actually think, particularly over the phone and, secondly, emotions might affect their responses. Emotions especially affect surveys on issues like migration and multiculturalism. Leaders who can emotionally relate to people can be expected to do well in both opinion polls and in elections; leaders need to be able to relate to the common man and woman. Charisma does have its place in politics!

In non-democratic societies, people are afraid to vent their grievances. In contrast, in democratic societies people show their dissatisfaction quite openly. That is the difference between China and India. Indian politics, because of the freedom associated with it, often appears chaotic; China in stark contrast is a command society. Australians show their dissatisfaction through polls. The important Newspoll, exclusive to The Australian newspaper, focuses on the satisfaction/dissatisfaction or approval/

disapproval ratings of the leaders of the main parties. It has had near-accurate prediction on the just concluded Tasmanian and South Australian elections.

Australia, like other democracies, has developed a culture of complaint. Students in tertiary education are encouraged to comment on their teachers, which is still alien to many societies. People’s opinions are asked on matters such as health and transport. Sometimes the culture of complaint goes too far when governments are blamed for everything such as drought and the lack of water in the Murray River.

Opinion polls are supposed to reflect people’s opinion on certain matters, but the trouble is that such polls often actually do the opposite. Instead, they influence public opinion and in doing so, they drive policy-making which might then get brushed off as “making policy on the run”.

When poll results are favourable to the opposition, it boosts their morale with calls from their leader not to become complacent. Likewise, if polls favour the government, “don’t get complacent” can be expected from the leader. Unfavourable results for either side are taken as wake-up calls which then result in policy changes; but if polls

Learning in retirement

Modern societies recognise education to be a lifelong process in which senior citizens can also participate well after retiring from full-time work. Given the increase in longevity, an Australian retiring when in their sixties can hope for an active retirement for 20 to 25 years to follow. That means, learning in retirement needs to be planned on the basis of the retirees’ interests and talents.

Modern education is designed to be broad in scope, covering the humanities, sciences and creative arts. It expects knowledge of not only one’s own country and culture, but also of other countries and other cultures. Such education contributes to a better understanding of the world’s peoples and hopefully leads to peaceful co-existence. European universities encourage their graduates to have a broad perspective of learning. If, for example, an individual graduates in one of the sciences, he or she is obliged to produce a smaller thesis in a very different area, preferable the humanities.

There are two levels of learning where an individual can involve himself or herself in completely different fields. Some who have specialised in one area may also excel in another completely different area. The majority of learners, however, may seek to expand their horizons by learning different subjects, though not specialising in them.

Two highly successful contemporary writers of fiction are also renowned academics. They are Umberto Eco, amongst other things a social

anthropologist and Alexander McColl-Smith who is a professor of medical law. Damodar Kosambi, who excelled in the USA and in India in mathematics, is said to have revolutionised the writing of Indian history; he was honoured in 2008 through a postage stamp. Harvard University established the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement where retired academics engage in lifelong learning,

When working full-time and bringing up a family, it would have been difficult to find the time to pursue learning, unless it was related to one’s work. However, on retirement, with abundant time on hand, one can indulge in learning or in developing skills which have lain dormant for many years. Australia provides myriad learning opportunities for senior citizens. Community colleges which are spread over metropolitan cities, offer numerous courses for gaining knowledge as well as for honing skills. These can range from courses like Australian history and politics to yoga, tai chi and bonsai planting.

Take for example the creative arts. Courses exist for both beginners and advanced students in drawing and painting. It is amazing to see seniors in such courses discover talents which they did not realise that they possessed. This writer found such courses to be particularly helpful in relaxing and discovering the variety of mediums used in creating artworks.

On the other side of the coin, when seniors retire, they often find that they have talents which they can put to use in helping others. They find, for example, that that they can share with other retirees their unique knowledge. Many of today’s Indian retirees came to Australia with high qualifications. Chris Evans, Immigration Minister recently noted that although

become unfavourable over a long period, the ground becomes fertile for leadership challenges and leader replacement.

Of course, polls can get it wrong. All polls have a margin of error. Larger samples, that is, a larger number of people surveyed might help to reduce such margins. Australia has some electorates which are known to be strong Liberal, Labour or National party constituencies. Then there are the swinging electorates which have voted different parties over the years. It is swinging electorates which need to be surveyed if the people’s choice for the next government is sought to be predicted.

Late swings are particularly noted close to the election itself. As elections draw close, things often get summarised through mantras. For example, those working for the opposition might say it is “time for change” whilst government supporters might use the “better a known devil than an unknown devil” argument.

In certain societies, like in the last general election in Italy, general apathy kept a substantial number of voters away from the polls. This affected election results and poll predictions. The last general election in India had a high turnout for a country where voting is not compulsory. In Australia voting is compulsory, and that is why poll predictions can more often get it right. As elections draw to a close, poll results are eagerly awaited to see if late swings are visible.

migrants make up only a quarter of Australia’s population, “they account for around half of our doctors, dentists, IT specialists and chefs, and more than a third of our pharmacists, geologists, mechanical engineers and painters and decorators. Just imagine where Australia would be without them.”

Those Indian retirees who have an academic bent can offer to lecture in a variety of places such as community colleges, in the “University of the 3rd Age” (U3A) and to retirees associations. Once registered with the U3A, for a fee it provides free courses in a variety of topics to senior citizens. There is even a U3A Online which claims to be “a world-first virtual University of the Third Age delivering online learning” which is powered by Griffith University.

Indian migrants will find that courses dealing with Australian topics help them to better understand the country which they have made their home. On the other hand, they might like to know things about India which they might not have had the chance to study. They will be surprised to learn about the variety of Indian topics on offer, ranging from yogic asanas to deeper academic subjects like Indian philosophy.

Courses on Indian philosophical topics, for example, are quite popular in Australia. The Theosophical Society is one body offering occasional series of lectures on Indian topics. Indian migrants might be pleasantly surprised at the number of individuals in Australia who are greatly interested in their country of origin’s civilisation, and who are able to offer new perspectives.

Besides enlarging one’s mental horizons, courses for seniors help one to socialise with a variety of people and thus integrate better in Australia.

In today’s day, the opinion of the public is eagerly sought to predict or define issues as they arise

The integrity or honesty of the poll results are not questioned but are compared with results from other pollsters to see if they tally

Retiring from work should signal the beginning of a new phase of learning and discovery, says NOEL G DE SOUZA …on retirement, with abundant time on hand, one can indulge in learning or in developing skills which have lain dormant for many years

Profit for a genuine cause

Be aware of registered associations who use charity to line their own pockets by CHEENU SRIINVASAN

Indians are in the Australian media these past few months, and unfortunately several are there for the wrong reasons! There are cases of murder, suicides, rorting of insurance, education scams, non-award wages, finance fraud, poor governance and so on. Sprinkled within these are the occasional good news stories such as the recent Holi Yatra, an academic’s research findings, a dash of Bollywood, and classical music and dance traditions of India such as Ravi Shankar and Kathakali dancers.

All of us welcome good news stories and in every little way do our best to contribute towards it. It is the bad news that causes us significant angst and collateral damage as Indians.

It would be helpful for our community if all our Registered Associations that are Not-for-Profit organisations take governance seriously.

we applaud them. If these are exceptions rather than the rule, we have the seedlings of a problem that germinates and causes concern.

All of us need to be mindful of those Not-for-Profits which are being perceived as private clubs; some are a close knit assembly of a few individuals who claim to represent Indians when they have no mandate to do so. A few others are calling themselves Not-for-Profits with little or no disclosure of their finances.

It would be helpful for our community if all our Registered Associations that are Not-for-Profits take governance seriously

Some of our community organisations do exceptional work. They have Annual General Meetings, report their finances, have them audited and so on. These organisations earn our respect and

JRD Tata once famously reminded his Finance Director: things may be legal, but are they moral?

For those running Not-for-Profit organisations, here is a checklist which you can adapt. For those who patronise these organisations, this is your opportunity to evaluate them on this basis, should they keep seeking your funds claiming to be a Not-for-Profit.

Not-for-Profit Board Checklist (based on BoardSource paper All Hands on Board)

There are three responses – Not Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Very Satisfied.

How satisfied are you that your Not-for-Profit organisation completes the following jobs effectively?

1. Handle the money and be financially accountable.

a) Responsibility for financial management is appropriately assigned.

b) Budget and financial statements are routinely reviewed at each Board meeting

c) Annual filings with relevant departments (eg NSW Dept of Fair Trading, ATO), AGMs and public disclosure of annual accounts?

2. Keep it legal and safe.

a) The organisation is adequately insured.

b) An appropriate person is assigned to monitor legal compliance

3. Make big decisions for the future.

a) A general organisational direction for the next few years has been determined.

b) Milestones for achievement of goals are set and regularly monitored.

4. Make sure the organisation stays accountable to its constituencies.

a) The Board does the job it has set out to do and makes itself accountable to its members.

b) Someone has been identified to speak to the press on the organisation’s behalf.

5. Get help when it is needed.

a) The Board gets help when it is needed.

6. Plan for the arrival and departure of individual members.

a) The Board recruits, trains and retains new Board members.

7. Get the work done.

a) The work of the organisation is being done well.

b) When it works with other organisations and raise funds, the relationship is well managed with financial accountability.

8. Support volunteers so that they can successfully contribute to the organisation

a) The work of the Board is organised so that people with different ‘glad gifts’ and different levels of commitment can still be involved.

9. Be ambassadors to the business and wider community.

a) The right people and organisations with which to be in contact have been identified.

b) A representative to be the primary contact for each area has been assigned.

10. Pass along the covenant.

a) Board members are aware of your Charter, Guidelines and Processes.

b) A good climate for the members has been established.

c) The President and Board are leaving a strong legacy for the organization.

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Nutrition for the Homemaker

It’s time for the homemaker to take a careful look at her diet and lifestyle, to help maintain a healthy balance of both, reports GEETA

In recent years there has been a considerable increase in women who go to work for economic reasons, to fulfill professional needs or to utilize their acquired higher education. But inspite of adding to their monetary status, scores of women across the world ignore themselves while looking after and caring for their family and loved ones –and this is especially true of working women. The longer the working hours, more deadlines to meet or more boardroom meetings to attend, the more she tends to ignore her own nutritional needs. Struggling to maintain a balance between being a professional at work and competing within the workforce and trying to be a perfect wife and a loving mum, somewhere along the way her own health and nutrition are compromised. It is almost the same scenario for most women rushing to the office with just a cup of coffee and a couple of biscuits, then returning home in the evening most times too tired to cook and ordering takeaways or just having ready-to-eat frozen meals. But ignoring one’s diet and health can lead to long-term health issues and deficiencies.

The combination of inadequate diet and inadequate activity can be a lethal one for many chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, cancer and diabetes on one hand, and anemia, vitamin and mineral deficiencies on the other. And amidst all their responsibilities, women also have to undergo hormonal changes, pregnancy and even menopause, all of which take their own toll. But there are some simple health tips that can help make a drastic change in the health of women.

KHURANA

l Start the day with a healthy breakfast. Do not just survive with just a caffeine boost. Prepare upma, poha, cereal or multigrain toast to start the day with a kick. Skipping breakfast makes you feel drained right at the start of the day and decreases concentration at work. If you do not have time to sit and eat something in the morning, carry your breakfast and eat it on the train or on the way to work.

l Plan your menu for the week during the weekend or on off days, so that you can do your weekly grocery accordingly

l Prepare masalas for curries during weekends and freeze them for use during the week. This saves a lot of cutting, chopping and sautéing time during the busy week.

l Though frozen foods and ready-to-eat food options are very convenient, attractive and timesaving, most are high in sugars, salt and other preservatives and contain little or no nutrition.

l Try not to have lunch sitting on your desk going through files or reading emails. Try to get up and move your limbs and either go to the canteen or move to the office kitchen; maybe even go and sit at a friendly colleague’s desk. When you sit in front of the computer, reading and eating at the same time, you tend to eat more as you are too engrossed to realize how much you have eaten. Taking a proper break does away with the monotony of sitting and refreshes you.

l Try to carry nutritious food from home instead of just grabbing a white bread sandwich or something equally high in carbohydrates from a takeaway. Carry something like rice and beans or sandwiches with multigrain bread to have low GI foods that keep you full for a longer time. Eat a wide variety of food items which includes

vegetables, grains, fruits, fish, meat or egg. Limit the intake of fried food and sugary items.

l Carry a box of fruit or salad or both with you to work. This will help meet your daily requirement of 2 serves of fruits and 5 serves of veggies every day. Keep the box on your table, munching whenever you have time during the day.

l It is always good to have small and frequent meals. Keep some healthy snacks ready with you such as nuts, yoghurt, crackers, fruit and salads instead of grabbing a high calorie chocolate bar, when suffering from hunger pangs.

l Try and have your 3 serves of calcium each day or you might end up with weakened bones and osteoporosis, especially around menopause.

l Shift to green tea, lassi, nimbu pani or just plain water instead of tea, coffee and aerated drinks. Try to avoid having fruit juices and eat whole fruits instead, as fruit juices are high in calories and have less fiber in them.

l In your busy schedule do not forget to have 8-10 glasses of water every day. Keep a bottle of water on your table and sip throughout the day.

l Most women who work indoors have more chances of vitamin D deficiency, so make sure your regular diet contains margarine, egg yolk, salmon, tuna, sardines and light Swiss cheese, as all these are vitamin D fortified foods.

l For most of us dinner is the heaviest meal of the day. Try not to have large portion size for dinner. Instead, have a healthy snack for evening tea or a bowl of soup before dinner, as you will tend to eat smaller portions.

l Exercise is also very important for your health. Normally we tend to make excuses as we already have been working throughout the day or that we do not have time. But no matter how tired you are, a brisk 30 minute walk keeps you fit and helps decrease anxiety and stress.

Remember that in fact the more you work, the healthier your diet should be as better nutritional status helps in improving your concentration at work, gives you more energy and vitality and also helps combat infection.

Struggling to maintain a balance between being a professional at work and competing within the workforce and trying to be a perfect wife and a loving mom, somewhere along the way her own health and nutrition is compromised

Ganga’s glories through Toril’s talent

An ambitious cross cultural opera has the power to make a strong and impactful message

BY USHA ARVIND

Creative expression, in its myriad avatars is not merely Toril Pursell’s profession, it is her passion too. Over the years Toril has been actively involved in art education and advocacy, developing and facilitating programs for children and adolescents, particularly at-risk youth.

The art therapist, dancer and theatre personality believes that, in slightly improvised words of the immortal Bard, “all the world’s a stage and all men and women, players - each having their grand entrance and exit She herself made a memorable debut onto the Indian Australian scene with the ambitious cross cultural stage production Ha Murray Ganga, a tale of two mighty rivers that shaped the destiny of its inhabitants.

Toril who played the pivotal role of Ganga, volunteered for the project after learning about it through workmates at Rozelle Hospital.

(Toril’s) intention was to provoke questions about mental illness and well-being, and reframe the cafeteria with a dance that did not fall into institutionalized gestures

“Initially I had some reservations about taking on such a complex role. For Hindus, the Ganga is one of the most revered of personalities, full of complex symbolism,” she told Indian Link “But when the coordinators explained that the opera was about the River Murray as well and that the Koomurri Dance Troupe, led by choreographer Russel Dawson, would be an integral part of this, I was ready for the challenge.”

On a larger scale, Ha Murray Ganga was about Australia, indigenous traditions and more importantly, care for the environment, concepts close to her heart, explains the talented performer, who loves experimenting with roles, particularly those that have an unusual dimension.

Toril did extensive research on Hindu ideals and mythology in preparation for her role. She is particularly grateful to Ajanta Bhattacharya, Indira Mukherjee and Annapurna Lodh, who directed her, and script writer Shantha Gounder who demystified the character and explained the nuances of each scene.

As the choreographer, Ajanta had a very open and collaborative way of working, says Toril who found her own structured ballet training background both an asset and a disadvantage to her portrayal of Ganga. “On one hand I was able to pick up sequences and follow her instructions. On the other hand, I had to learn new ways of moving, holding my body and gesturing with my hands. In ballet there isn’t usually the animated or theatrical gesturing you might see in contemporary Indian or Bollywood dance,” she explains. “To start with I felt that I was ‘over-acting’ but by shadowing

Ajanta and observing other dancers, I began to understand how to do this in a way that was genuine. Ajanta was very patient and we were able to laugh together and find the balance between the contrasting styles of dance - Indian, modern and ballet.”

Toril found it easy to relate to Ajanta’s frequent use of metaphor in describing particular movements that were intended to emulate the river. “I tend to be a visual learner and this was poetic and effective on Ajanta’s part,” she says.

While Toril may be new to the Indian-Australian scene (she only moved down under in 2007 to take up a Masters in Art Therapy at UWS), her Indian links go back to her early childhood spent happily in New Delhi.

“My experiences date back to the late eighties,” she reminisces. “Trips to Khan market, attending a Hindi school and then American Embassy School; travelling to Goa, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Kerala; trekking in the mountains near Manali, visiting temples and crossing parts of the desert on camel-back. I’ve been surrounded by Indian art throughout my life and I love the diversity of Indian music and food,” she adds. Likewise, her tryst with the performing arts is also rooted in India, where she first learnt kathak. Her earliest memories are of “putting on ‘shows’ in our living room, of twirling under water and re-enacting dances without the limitations of gravity.”

She began training in kathak at the age of 6 and when the family moved to the US, enrolled in ballet classes.

Dance of some form has always been a vital element of her learning curve. Along the way, Toril also had

exposure to a range of music, theatre and alternative productions.

While her school performances went a long way in character and confidence building, her strict training in ballet taught her focus and self-discipline. “The classes were a social point but also taught me how to remain composed in front of an audience. I recall entering an audition at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC and playing a minor part in a ballet of Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream. It was a thrill to see how things run backstage, which is often a contrast to what the audience sees,” she recollects.

“I struggled with certain aspects of ballet,” she admits, “particularly the emphasis on body type and the physical impact of being on point shoes.”

Injury forced Toril to take a break from ballet. But dance continued to be her primary muse, finding new creative outlets in modern dance, particularly the Latin genre. “I found this granted me much more freedom and formally introduced me to the notion of dance improvisation,” she says. Her travels to exotic locations in South America, particularly the Honduras and Argentina, also opened new pathways in selfexpression.

While at University, Toril who has a degree in Art and Anthropology, experimented with Ghanian drumming and dance under master drummer Obo Addy and participated in numerous contemporary hip-hop productions.

“The reasons for my involvement in the performing arts has changed over time,” she explains, “but fundamentally it seemed natural and ‘made sense’ for me to dance. I love music and the way different types of melodies and rhythms invited the body to move in particular ways.” It was only natural that she decided to take up a career in Art Therapy, interning and eventually contracting for STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors). Working across a gamut of health-related fields, art therapy is an interdisciplinary form of psychotherapy and incorporates a range of visual art forms. Aimed at an increased awareness of the self, it is a dynamic and creative process where the journey is as valuable as the outcome.

Toril, who is a member of ANZATA spoke at the maiden ‘Internationalisation of Creative Arts in Therapy’ conference at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore.

Since arriving in Sydney in 2007, her career took precedent, though she did continue to dabble in yoga and the odd dance class.

But late last year, opportunity came knocking once more when One+2 Studios coordinated Art Outside, a candlelight performance at the psychiatric ward in Rozelle Hospital. Toril and her creative group ARTcircle chipped in. “On the night of the opening I read a poem and danced based on improvised movements. My intention was to provoke questions about mental illness and well-being, and reframe the cafeteria with a dance that did not fall into institutionalized gestures,” she explains.

She believes that art therapy has huge potential within the predominant medical model, but is saddened by the way recent violence towards minority groups is being handled. “Ha Murray Ganga in this respect was a gesture towards reconciliation and celebration of cultures that can co-exist. Beyond all of this, I believe there is a generosity of spirit in Indian community that came through in the performance and in all those who contributed to it. Ideally I would travel through parts of India and incorporate art therapy related research soon,” she says.

Embracing solitude

Some years ago I met a young woman who was working with an outback Australian Aboriginal group. She was of Indian background, a highly qualified professional who had worked for some time in USA and she had then decided to move to a metropolitan city in Australia. But disenchanted with city living, she planned on a sea change and moved to work with the people of this remote settlement.

Just before she decided to emigrate, she had experienced a rather traumatic incident, an incident which became a life-changing one. She had accepted an offer of marriage suggested by her family. However within a few days of being married, the husband revealed that he had feelings for another woman and had accepted to marry her only to please his parents. What a blow!

This young woman decided to make a

gracious exit, not just from the marriage but from her immediate family and friends. It seemed she wanted to be as far as one could possibly get from her homeland, her family, friends and everything she had been familiar with. Since her professional area of training was helping emotionally disturbed children, she decided she would be happy wherever she lived.

Now some 5 years after settling in this remote corner of the world, she was much more at home than she had ever been. Her home was beautifully furnished with simple unassuming pieces of furniture, she had a tremendous collection of music, books and a good supply of craft material. She laughed a lot these days, she said. Gone was the lurking sadness in her eyes. She talked fondly of the people she had been working with for the last few years. She never once mentioned the past.

She was at ease facing the trials and tribulations of living in a part of the world far removed from where she came originally, far away from her comfort zone. She seemed truly happy. On the surface, one could wonder how she could be happy in such an alien mileu, amidst such an unknown and totally different and sometimes even hostile environment.

When I asked her how she coped with

being alone in such a remote place, she laughed and said, “I am a devotee of solitude”.

Perhaps there is a lesson in this for all of us. One can either give in to loneliness and fret and become prey to depression and other negative emotions, or we can embrace the joy of solitude. If we could only spend some time every day, even when we are in the company of our family and friends, to being with ourselves and reflect on our life and how we are, perhaps times of loneliness may not be as devastating.

We can turn loneliness into a time of fulfilling solitude. Our entry into the world is almost always as one (except in multiple births) and our exit almost always as single. So why not train ourselves to deal with periods of solitude during life which may present itself from time to time. That way the devastation that some people feel when living by themselves may be lessened. Instead the joy of solitude will help us enjoy the serenity that it brings. Serendipity is discovered within one’s heart, within one’s home or wherever one happens to be. Moments of solitude can give us, as Fr. Benoit, a Benedictine monk I met in Brugge in1992 said, “…in the silence of your mind may you find the space to fill your emptiness ”

Allowing oneself to fall prey to loneliness can cause fear and unhappiness; but accepting the peace of quiet contemplation could be an incredible feeling, by SAROJA SRINIVASAN

If we could only spend some time every day, even when we are in the company of our family and friends, to being with ourselves and reflect on our life and how we are, perhaps times of loneliness may not be as devastating

On the surface, one could wonder how she could be happy in such an alien mileu, amidst such an unknown and totally different and sometimes even hostile environment

Wild about Sarawak

The city of Sarawak is unique in its history, architecture and natural beauty, making it one of the most liveable cities in Asia.

BY THOMAS E KING

Every evening before the sun drops behind the wide, brown Sarawak River, the MV Equatorial departs from Kuching’s waterfront promenade. The cruise that follows is a pleasant introduction to the capital of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, because visitors are provided with a cultural show on the covered deck of the cruiser, as well as commentary about many of the points of interest in the colourful city’s past.

After departing I was directed to look across the river to a white building that appeared like a decoration on a wedding cake. The Astana is now the residence of the Chief Minister of Sarawak. This stately mansion built in 1870 was the regal home for a succession of White Rajahs. Their story is intertwined with the history of Kuching, in fact, all of Malaysia’s largest state.

Tales of the White Rajahs began when English adventurer James Brooke sailed his yacht, the Royalist, to Borneo in 1839 and helped the Sultan of Brunei quell a rebellion. In return, the Sultan offered Brooke the governorship of Sarawak. So began the 105 year (1841-1946) rule of the Brooke family of White Rajahs.

While the greeting was warm and the ambiance was amiable, less than a century ago this Iban community headman could have been a head hunter

When James Brooke died in 1869, his nephew Charles Brooke continued the dynasty for the next 50 years. The latter built many of the city’s lovely historic buildings, including the circa 1874 Court House and the Astana.

James Brooke was succeeded by Sir Charles Vyner Brooke who designed his own flag, issued his own stamps and minted his own coins.

You might still find the latter in shops along India Street. This pedestrian walkway derives its name from the fact that it has always been occupied by Indian shops specialising in textiles, clothing, jewellery and household items. The street was closed to vehicular traffic in 1992 and converted into a pedestrian mall. I wandered down the quaint time capsule looking at the diverse facades of shop houses, photographing the 160 year old Mesjid Bandar Kuching, a sanctuary for many local Indian Muslims, and peering past doorways of a clean and green urban centre ranked as one of the most liveable

cities in Asia.

There are many factors contributing to this accolade, including the nearly kilometre-long tree lined waterfront promenade that hugs the banks of the Sarawak River on one side, and a streetscape of 19th century Chinese shop houses on the other. Throughout the humid day, locals and tourists parade along the walkway.

In the early hours, joggers bounce along its gentle bend. Gardeners and cleaners also start the day early to ensure the waterfront’s manicured gardens and shady paths are verdant and tidy.

While the waterfront area teems with activity during the day, it transforms into a fantasy of lights at dusk. Visitors lean on rails gazing

across a flotilla of manpowered water taxis called sampans, ferrying people home from work or shopping trips with only a primitive oil lamps to guide them.

Fronting the waterfront is the Main Bazaar, once the city commercial centre. Nowadays, it’s studded with native arts and craft shops, a few restaurants and boutique hotels. Travel operators also abound, so it’s the place to organise trips to tribal longhouses or book river excursions that probe the depths of the Borneo jungle.

The Sarawak River is not the only significant waterway in the state. The Rajang is longer but lesser known. From its source in the highlands of central Borneo, Sarawak’s longest river flows

for some 563 km before emptying into the South China Sea. Along its way it passes Sibu, a commercial centre and since mid-2009, the departure point for the MV Orient Pandaw. There are frequent domestic flights connecting Kuching with Sibu to the east and on arrival my wife and I were graciously met by Pandaw staff and whisked to the docked vessel. The following nine days with 53 like-minded travellers aboard a new river vessel built to replicate a 19th century colonial steamer, proved to be highly satisfying and culturally stimulating. Fitted out with all modern conveniences, the 30 cabin MV Orient Pandaw provides maximum comfort in a very remote corner of the world. We learned just how remote during informative

lectures followed by well organised excursions. During the 250 km upstream journey (we travelled by day and docked in the Rajang by night) we passed several small communities and countless longhouses where up to a hundred people lived under the same roof.

As progress ‘flows’ upstream many of these longhouses have been rebuilt in modern styles. This was not what we encountered outside Kapit, the last major administrative post on the Rajang River which dates to the days of the White Rajahs. Built in 1880, the all wood longhouse looked its age. Inside the covered veranda we were served tuak (local rice wine) while watching a welcome dance from the longhouse headman. Dressed in a costume

Visitors lean on rails gazing across a flotilla of manpowered water taxis called sampans, ferrying people home from work or shopping trips with only a primitive oil lamps to guide them

1. This statue at the edge of Kuching’s Chinatown is a hint as to how the city got its name

2. The MV Orient Pandaw explores much of the lengthy Rajang River in colonial style

3. With its shops and views to a night-lit Astana, a twilight stroll along the promenade is a must

4. Pandaw excursions include longhouse visits where dancers of all ages welcome visitors

5. Kuching’s pedestrian friendly India Street Mall is a favourite with bargain hunters

Photos: Thomas E KIng

befitting a five year old, even his grandson got into the act!

While the greeting was warm and the ambiance was amiable, less than a century ago this Iban community headman could have been a head hunter. The practice was outlawed in 1924 with a peacekeeping ceremony held at the fort built by Charles Brooke in Kapit.

While the days of head hunting have long ended there are still reminders hanging around … quite literally. I walked part way down the longhouse’s long corridor and looked to the dusty rafters where a collection of skulls could just be seen in the dim light. Back on the slow moving Pandaw, fellow travellers shared skull stories as local longboats sped by transporting locals and the occasional backpack visitor between settlements.

The Rajang is normally a docile waterway but she showed her wild side on the day the guide briefed us about the Pelagus Rapids. After a buffet breakfast we left our floating hotel and transferred to a 600 hp flat bottom tong-kang (cargo boat) for a tryst with white water.

The initial hours were easy as we journeyed past pristine rainforest, sand shoals and the occasional longhouse. As the river narrowed the current increased. The full power of the engine was only put to the test when we met turbulent waters and could only inch upstream. The boat surged but never stalled as spray washed our faces. The struggle was finally over and calm reigned once again.

The captain turned the cargo boat around and began the far faster paced journey downstream dodging protruding boulders and sand bars. After dinner many of us gathered on the observation deck and toasted an adrenalin charged adventure that none had ever experienced before, but all would happily repeat again.

Travel notebook Sarawak

ORIENTATION Dense rain forests and swamp lands make up three quarters of Sarawak, one of two East Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. (An independent sultanate, Brunei Darussalam and the Indonesian Province of Kalimantan share the world’s third largest island with Sarawak and Sabah, the other state.)

FLIGHTS Singapore Airlines has three fights a day from Sydney to Singapore with easy connections using its airline partner, Silkair, on to Kuching. See your travel agent or call Singapore Airlines/Silkair on 13 10 11. Visit www.singaporeair.com.au, www.silkair. com.

ACCOMMODATION

From the upper floors of the centrally located 315 room Hilton Kuching, there is a glorious view over the promenade, the river and the Astana to distant cloud-capped mountains. A recent addition to the Hilton’s numerous facilities is the Borneo Oasis Wellness Centre featuring spa treatments using traditional herbs and tribal techniques. Contact the Hilton Kuching at (60 82) 248 200. Log on to www.hilton.com

TRAVEL Established for 25 years, Kuching-based Borneo Adventure specialises

in personalised nature and culture oriented holidays. Arrangements from transfers and city tours to river excursions and stays with tribal people can be confidently made by email info@ borneoadventure.com or phone (60 82) 245 175. See www.borneoadventure.com .

CRUISING The MV Orient Pandaw operates three luxurious 9 day cruises on the Rajang River every month. Air conditioned cabins with private facilities are furnished in teak and brass. Priced from $2248 per person, cruises include all meals – curry favourites inclusive – in a private dining room, a spa, fitness centre and an open-until-late cocktail bar on the observation deck. For more information and bookings contact the representative office in Sydney, (02) 8080 5622, e-mail: jlbati@ozemail.com.au. See www.pandaw.com

INFORMATION Tourism Malaysia, 2/171 Clarence St, Sydney, tel (02) 9299 4441, e-mail: malaysia@malaysiatourism.com.au can assist in planning your stopover with maps and guides on Kuching and Sarawak. See www. tourismmalaysia.gov.my. Visit the Sarawak Tourism Board office in Kuching for additional information. See www.sarawaktourism.com

Anticipation for Orange

Tollywood, the crown of the film industry in the state of Andhra Pradesh supposedly has the highest number of movie theatres in India. These will soon treat audiences to views of Australia through Orange, starring actors Genelia D’Souza and Ram Charan paired in the lead roles. This film with a theme about youth is the longest and biggest Indian film shoot set in Australia.

Indian Link attended the shoot and met up with the attractive leading couple and prominent crew, as well as the charismatic Anupam Sharma, head of Temple, the films and casting organisation which is heading the project’s production in Australia. He is not just a filmmaker, but a leading Australian expert on the Indian entertainment sector and an amazing person.

Orange is one of the biggest films from the family of Chiranjeevi, a mega star in South India. Producer Nagababu, who is Chiranjeevi’s brother, began the venture on their home production, Anjana Banner. When asked about his experience in Australia Nagababu said, “This is the first time I have come to Australia and I’ve had a very very friendly and warm reception. Virginia Judge, NSW Minister for Fair Trading Minister for the Arts, came to visit us. Which politician in India will show an interest in a film’s progress? We generate income for the Government, whether in India or here, but we get more attention here which is great!” The production house is spending almost $2 million here in Australia. Commenting on the student attacks in a casual tête-à-tête, Anupam Sharma said, “Everyone has been saying there was a Bollywood boycott, Tollywood boycott and the media was going crazy in India; but the fact remains that, since the alleged student issue, we have had the maximum number of film shoots here. We recently finished working on a Karan Johar film and now we are on a 15-week shooting schedule for Orange.”

For Indian filmmakers, shooting movies in locations other than India began as a trend some years ago, but it has now developed into a strategic business move. To begin with, the overseas market for films now comprises a huge bracket of the profits. Secondly, the income earned abroad is usually tax-free, since export earnings of cinema and television programs are tax-exempt. Thirdly, film producers like overseas destinations because it allows them to skip the coils of Indian bureaucracy and ensures the star’s presence at shooting locations for an extended period of time. For Australia, a shoot here brings in monetary benefits and ensures a flow of active tourism.

On the sets, Genelia D’Souza, the petite beauty who wooed the audience with Bollywood hits like Jaane tu… ya jaane na and the Telugu hit Bommarillu, was seen wearing a short white dress with a splash of colour adding to the college girl charm to her personality. She has been to Tasmania and has holidayed in Perth, and Genelia finds it great to shoot in Australia. “I have been on sets all over the world. But there is something about Australia that I like so much. I think it’s the diverse environment and besides, the weather is absolutely fantastic!” she said enthusiastically.

Australia is high on the list of chosen global locations for

filming these days, even ahead of locations like Switzerland (which was prime-area not long ago) and the US or Europe. Anupam Sharma, also confirmed this saying “This is the second film we have actually won from New York. Stepmom was supposed to be shot in NY; we won it, Orange as well, was supposed to be shot in the same city; we won this as well! That is because of the film-friendly atmosphere, more virgin locations, better pricing and ease of operations.”

Australian location manager Tobin Hughes said, “Sydney has become a great filming location since film protocols came into action and the authorities are ready to extend a helping hand. For example, Sydney Harbour Foreshore is so helpful, Fiona Walker from Sydney City Council is incredibly helpful, Ian Rowley from the RTA, unbelievably helpful. And when the director feels that the location should be changed, it’s easier when Governments cut a little bit of paperwork and have a little bit of latitude and understanding.”

Bhaskar, director of the film, is a very talented professional and has proved himself with his directorial debut Bommarillu His lead actors are equally charmed by the man and were all praises for him. When asked about working with the same director again Genelia said “I adore Bhasker. I worked in Bommarillu which was a big success for both of us. For me personally, I do trust him a lot.”

Leading man Ram Charan made a mark with his very first film Chirutha, and seems to have inherited his famous dad Chiranjeevi’s talent. Sporting a funky purple shirt on the sets, he was every inch the handsome young man. Ram Charan is trying to experiment with a different role in every film; one can see that Orange is not a mass appeal movie

unlike Magadheera, and he hopes to make his fans happy in a romantic role this time around. Being Chiranjeevi’s son obviously comes with a lot of pressure, but Ram Charan comes across as a very unassuming man with a sensible head on his shoulders. His success is underscored by his appearance on the cover of People magazine after his film’s success, but he doesn’t seem to be overwhelmed by it at all. Ram Charan revealed that he has done more homework on this role for Orange than any other role played by him, to master the subtleties of emotions demanded by the role.

The shooting in Australia will continue for a few weeks, with the film due for release later this year. It will be a stepping stone for both actors and by most counts, it will be a fine film in the director’s library of work. Also, the music should be a plus because the man behind the job is composer Harris Jayaraj, who has shaken the Tamil music industry with lilting tunes since the start of the decade. So while Tollywood eagerly anticipates this film as a treasure to add to its annals, the audience and fans back home and globally are equally keen on seeing these young guns on the big screen. As for us, we can only hope to see more Indian film shoots in Australia in the future.

Pullquote: For Indian filmmakers, shooting movies in locations other than India began as a trend some years ago, but it has now developed into a strategic business move.

Pullquote: Ram Charan revealed that he has done more homework on this role for Orange than any other role played by him, to master the subtleties of emotions demanded by the role.

General Pic caption: Glimpses of the stars on the sets of Orange

A film shoot in Australia can be a daunting challenge, but surprisingly, it’s a pleasant and well-coordinated experience, reports PRIYANKA RAO

Priyanka Rao chats with Genelia D’Souza

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Savita’s $10,000 Prize

Indian-Born Fijian Savita Hirning won $10,000 cash from The Western Union Company’s (South Asian Middle East) promotion for sending a Western Union® Money TransferSM through an Australia Post outlet in North Ipswich, Queensland.

Coming from a tight-knit family of 10, Hirning still maintains a very close relationship with her family despite migrating to Australia twenty years ago. Hirning and her brothers and sisters often send money through the Western Union® service to their family members back in Fiji. On special days like Christmas, Father’s Day and birthdays, the money transfers serve as gifts and also a reminder that family members can always care for each other even when they are apart.

Winning $10,000 was a nice surprise for Hirning, who is spending a large proportion of it to cover her father’s medical bill. “I was so happy. In fact I was crying. I (immediately) thought I could give this money to my

father.”

Western Union’s SAME Promotion was held across the country from July to October 2009 where customers who sent money transfers through the Western Union service in Australia to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan or Pakistan during the promotion period were eligible to enter the promotion.

The Western Union Company is a leader in global payment services, with over 5,000 Agent locations across Australia. Monika Khanna, Marketing Manager, Australia, was pleased that the prize went to such a deserving winner. “Western Union is delighted that Savita, who feels strongly about supporting her loved ones overseas, has been recognized and rewarded. It makes me very pleased that we run campaigns which rewards customers who rely on Western Union money transfer services,” she said.

MoneyGram expands services

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd (TCIL), India’s largest integrated travel and travel related financial services company in India joined hands with Saraswat Co-operative Bank Ltd on March 25, signing an agreement to enter into a tie up to offer MoneyGram – the international money transfer service across all Saraswat Bank branches in India. The Saraswat Co-operative Bank Ltd, is the largest Urban Co-operative Bank in India.

This tie up will allow customers to avail of the MoneyGram International money transfer services, through its large network across India.

Established in 1918, the Bank today has total business exceeding Rs 22,000 crore with an interconnected network of 200 branches spread over the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. The Bank is also an authorised dealer in foreign exchange for more than 30 years.

MoneyGram now has 22,000 agent locations in India. Its money transfer service is approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and has been available in India for more than eight years. MoneyGram has recently invested more resources in the Indian market and introduced special pricing on transactions received into the country.

On this occasion Mr. Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd said, “Reaching out to our customers is our key business policy and easing their dealings is very important to us. Our tie up with Saraswat Bank has aided our mission to reach our growing network spread across the country, where customers can complete their financial transactions from any of the Saraswat Bank branches close to their home due to its growing network. We as a brand constantly strive at providing a high level of convenience to the lives of our customers across all businesses.”

To receive money via MoneyGram in India, the receiver can simply walk into any MoneyGram agent location, complete a simple Receive Form and show photo identification to receive funds, subject to agent availability and hours of operation.

“MoneyGram’s growth in India is a vital part of our global expansion plans. India represents one of the largest remittance markets in the world and a significant growth opportunity for MoneyGram. We are proud to associate with Saraswat Bank to offer our convenient, affordable and reliable international money transfer services to more people in more communities throughout India,” said Mr. Harsh Lambah, MoneyGram’s Regional Director, South Asia

Current trends have seen a large number of NRIs settled in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and the UAE, and remittances of funds from these countries to their families in India is high. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has guidelines on the transaction value and number of remittances, where individuals cannot receive more than 12 remittances in a year; nor can a single transaction be in excess of USD 2,500. Thomas Cook India Limited has been the principal agent with MoneyGram for over 8 years now and has been helping to streamline the flow of foreign exchange within the country.

Holiday Hors d’oevures

Tasty titbits could keep little hands busy

BY SHERYL DIXIT

While it’s great having the kids around during school holidays, life could suddenly be busier than normal. Whether its having friends over for a play or a sleepover, or having to hunt through your snack shelf in an attempt to find them something sensible to munch on, or even keeping them amused in case the weather

turns wet, it’s likely that you’ll be in for a couple of hectic weeks.

So why not introduce them to the culinary arts and involve them in making finger foods that are fun, healthy and will keep them busy. Who knows, you could find that your young one is a Master Chef in the making.

Kebabs with peanut sauce

650 gms chicken tenders

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp oyster sauce

1 tsp soy sauce

For marinade

110 gms coconut milk

50 gms Madras curry powder

½ tsp lemongrass paste

Salt and sugar to taste

2 tsp oil

For peanut sauce:

200 gms crushed peanuts

2 tbsp red curry paste

½ cup coconut milk

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp oil

Salt to taste

Mix the marinade well with the chicken supremes and leave overnight in fridge. Insert into satay sticks. Grill till golden brown and serve with peanut sauce

For peanut sauce: Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan or wok, add the peanuts and red curry paste. Stirfry for 2-3 minutes. Add sugar, salt and coconut milk, bring to a low boil. Simmer for two minute and set aside. Serve as dipping sauce with chicken satay sticks

Blueberry and apple muffins

115 gms butter

¼ cup brown sugar

1 cup self raising flour

1 cup rolled oats

2 eggs

1 apple, cored and grated with skin

½ tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp marmalade

Zest of 1 orange

1 cup blueberries

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Mix the butter and sugar until creamy. Slowly stir in the eggs, cinnamon, marmalade and orange zest.

Add flour and oats, beat together the mixture until smooth.

Gently stir in the grated apple and blueberries

Place a spoonful of mixture into muffin cases, filling just over halfway. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mini Nachos

Nacho chips

2-3 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

For bean topping:

200 gm can butter beans, drained

200 gm can kidney beans, drained

1 large ripe tomato, chopped

1-2 red chillies, seeded and chopped

(optional)

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

3 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

For avocado topping

2 ripe avocados

2-3 tbsp olive oil

Juice of ½ a lemon

Salt to taste

For the bean topping: Mix beans, tomatoes and chillies. Mix remaining ingredients together and toss into the bean mixture

Avocado topping: Mix oil, lemon juice and seasoning, add diced avocados and toss to

coat and prevent discolouring. Arrange nachos individually on a plate and fill individually with bean and avocado mixtures. Garnish with fresh coriander.

Paneer kebabs

500gms paneer (Indian cottage cheese)

1 tsp finely chopped fresh ginger

2 green chillies, finely chopped

1/3 cup chopped fresh coriander

4 tbsp cornflour

1 tsp white pepper

Oil for brushing kebabs

Salt

For the garnishing

1 tomato, finely sliced

1 cucumber, finely sliced

1 large onion, finely sliced

Lemon or lime wedges

Mash the paneer in a bowl. Add ginger, chillies, coriander leaves, salt, pepper and cornflour. Mix well until blended. Press the mixture around skewers and place in the

fridge for half an hour. Remove, brush with oil and cook in an oven, grill or barbecue until the kebabs turn golden brown. Serve hot with onion rings, lemon slices, tomato and cucumber slices.

Smoked fishcakes

900 gms mashed potato

900 gms smoked flaked haddock or tuna

3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, dill and chives

½ tsp ground pepper

Salt to taste

Flour, for coating

Vegetable oil, for frying

Mix together the potato, fish, herbs and flour. Shape into round or oval fishcakes and coat wth flour. Chill for an hour or even overnight. Heat pan with oil and fry cakes for a couple of minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer to oven and cook at 180 degrees for 20 minutes to cook through. Serve with fries and mashed peas.

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If anyone is visiting Haridwar, Uttarakhand, between April 11 & 16 and would like to be a part of our story, please email Stephen Taylor at

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Matrimonials

SEEKING BRIDES

Seeking homely Bengali girl from families in Australia or India for my son (Nurse), 28 yrs 5’-6”, fair, handsome, caring, settled in Australia with ties to India, non-smoker, non-drinker. Contact with photo and details to PO Box 2045 WODEN ACT 2606

European gentleman Australian citizen, supportive, generous, easy going and pleasant personality seeks attractive normal weight female friend for no pressure easy going casual friendship. Sydney area only. Please call 9736 2296 or email tomcasino1@yahoo.com.au

Seeking match for my brother, Senior Manager in Reliance Bangalore, India. 37 years/5’11”, issueless divorcee, clean shaven Sikh, extra ordinary personality, responsible, caring. Parents settled in Baroda, sister married to Army doctor, happy to migrate, caste no bar. Contact Manisha 0401 542 550

Brahmin family from north India seek suitable bride for their son, handsome, fair colour, slim, never married, nonsmoker, non-drinker, broadminded, 29 years, 5’ 5”. He lives in Sydney while his parents are in India, and earns well. The

girl should be good looking, well educated, family oriented, and from Brahmin background. Initial contact, with profile, can be made at raj2010syd@gmail.com

Saraswat Brahmin (Punjabi) boy, 29 years, 5’9” M.Sc Maths, B.Ed, good property in India, pure vegetarian. Looking for Australian PR / citizen girl. Caste no bar. Contact 0433 778 222 or email naresh2981@gmail.com

Australian citizen, 36 years, settled and working in Sydney as a professional employer. Seeking girl between 27 and 36, no caste bar. Please contact 0416 398 869 or for other details and photo mail me at satishsingh_2009@ yahoo.com.au

Seeking suitable match for Punjabi boy 27 yrs New Zealand citizen

Height 5’11”. Working as an occupational therapist. Seeking bride under 26 yrs slim, sincere & pleasant personality. Contact aunty skapoor65@hotmail.com or ring 0401692546.

SEEKING GROOMS

Seeking professionally qualified and well settled match for 35/165 cm fair beautiful engineer, Australian Citizen girl working as project manager in IT in

Melbourne. Please respond with complete details to seekalliance@hotmail.com or 0425405247

Brahmin Iyer, 33/5’4”, I.T Manager with MNC seeks suitable veg, nonsmoking Brahmin groom, 34 to36, willing to settle in Australia. Please e-mail biodata and recent photo to padrad888@hotmail. com or contact 0414789004

Wellsettled alliance invited for 26 yrs old Punjabi Hindu Brahmin girl, fair complexion, height 5’4. Family oriented, working in Sydeny, parents settled in India, brother’s family in Sydney. Send profile on vandikaushal@gmail.com or call 0451371798.

Family seeking suitable professional match for a very attractive and intelligent Punjabi girl with strong Indian cultural and family values. She is 35, 5’10”, Doctor, permanent resident of Australia settled in Melbourne. Please contact with biodata and a recent photo at mail4rsk@ yahoo.com or 0407901806 only if the boy is under the age of 42 and has never been married. Caste/cultural background no bar.

Seeking a suitable match for Panjabi girl 28 years (Aust citizen), 5’8”, fair,

never married, working in Sydney. Seeking match with progressive and broadminded personality, preferably settled in Sydney, caste no bar. Parents currently live in Brunei. Send details and recent photo at mukeshrandev@hotmail.com or Tel: 00 673-233 4324 (Res).

Seeking alliance for our 23-year old, 5’3” beautiful Sarswat Brahmin daughter. She is an engineering professional with strong family values. We have been settled in Sydney for 18 years. Please send your details and latest photo and horoscope at as76176@gmail.com

Sister and brother-in-law seek suitable groom for Gujarati Brahmin girl, professionally qualified. Family well settled in India. Seeking 26-29 year old, qualified match with strong cultural and family background. Please email biodata and recent pictures to Meghna.joshi@ato.gov. au or contact 0433 613 676.

Seeking clean shaven, professional alliance for our 27-year old, 157 cms Sikh daughter. She is a finance professional with strong family values. We are settled in Australia for many years. Please send your details and photo to matrimonial275@ gmail.com

The price of freedom

As a senior, is it possible to retain one’s own identity or lose it in the morass of imposed family values?

BY RANI JHALA

Seated at a party, I heard an interesting conversation between two ladies.

“Did you hear about Reemaji?” said the lady in yellow. “It’s so sad, at this age, she lives all alone. No-one to care for her! No support”.

“Oh, that is sad. Doesn’t she have any children?” asked the lady in white.

“Oh no, Prema, she has three children all living in this city, but like this selfish new generation, they don’t want the responsibility of looking after their mother,” came the reply.

Ah, so the lady in white was Prema. I wondered what the other lady’s name was. I did not have to wonder for long.

“Hey Ram Meena, this generation is really bad. We bring up our children to be the apple of our eyes and when they become older, we become nothing but the core - to be thrown out of their lives as soon as they get married,” said Prema.

“Yes, yes, you are so right! Yesterday my daughter-inlaw was complaining that I spoil the grandchildren. That she cannot discipline her children because I keep giving in to their demands,” lamented Meena.

“Hey Ram, mine goes the other way; she was upset that I told her daughter not to put her shoes on the lounge. She accused me of curbing the child’s initiative and freedom. Lord, I don’t say anything anymore! I let their kids do anything they want. The parents are happy, the kids are happy and I have peace,” replied Prema.

“That is the best thing nowadays. After all we have to live with our kids. At our age where can we go, replied her friend resignedly.

“Why should you go anywhere, that house was built through your husband’s hard work. It is your right to stay there,” asked Prema indignantly

“Yes I know, but I have no say anymore. The kitchen is run their way. The friends that visit are their friends. The programs we watch are their programs. We even eat only what my daughter-in-law likes. Everything I cook is unhealthy for the grandchildren and if I tell her it’s not my cooking but all those lollies she feeds them, there will be World War III,” sighed Meena.

I smiled.

“I am lucky, that way. My daughter-in-law hates cooking and cleaning. The kitchen is my domain. As soon as they eat, they go and watch TV. And I have the kitchen to myself.

By the time I finish cleaning up and preparing lunch for the next day, they are ready to go to sleep. I then have the TV to myself too,” revealed Prema.

“So, no conversation?” asked Meena hesitantly.

“We talk, but it is better not to say too much.

Everything I say is wrong. And when my daughter-inlaw makes fun of me, it hurts; but when my son joins in, it becomes unbearable. So I just say I am going to say my prayers and lock myself in my room. At least I have peace in there,” said Prema.

“You have to be less sensitive. Listen through one ear and let it out from the other. They are not like us. We thought the world of our parents. We never left them alone,” cried Meena vehemently.

“So true, and you really could not leave their side. Otherwise some other relative would come and take over the family home. Our kids don’t have to worry;

we are leaving everything to them anyway,” said Prema. “You know, we should not talk here. Why don’t you come for lunch tomorrow? The kids will be at work and the grandchildren at school and we can talk freely,” whispered Meena.

“I can only confirm tomorrow. You see, if the grandchildren fall sick then I have to stay with them. My son and daughter-in-law have very important jobs and they can’t take the time off. And Miji has been coughing since this morning, so you never know,” Prema whispered back.

“Okay, let me know tomorrow morning. If anyone stays back at my home, I will have to cancel too. You will understand, won’t you? Unfortunately they don’t like my friends. You are the only exception. It is fortunate that our daughter-in-laws are good friends,” smiled Meena.

“Yes we are lucky. By the way, we were talking of Reemaji. I heard that she has to do the shopping herself. Nobody even comes to clean the house. She stays all alone every day. Lord, even staying with bad relations, is better than staying alone,” said Prema.

“Which one is Reemaji?”

“I don’t really know. Aniki said she was coming today. She said she felt sorry for Reemaji and forced her to come. I will ask Aniki,” said Prema, looking around. I smiled again. Then rising slowly, I turned towards them and said, “Why don’t you let me have the honour of introducing you to Reemaji?”

“Which one is she,” they chorused.

I pointed to the mirrored wall in front of me and said, “That smiling, independent, free woman is Reema. She chooses to live alone so no-one will ever dictate how she lives her life. She prefers to be independent, so no child will be able to boast of how much they did for her. She manages her world alone, so no other person will take that right away. She smiles, because you both have made her so glad, so very glad, that she has chosen this solitary journey. If her children come, she is glad; if they do not, she remains happy. If her grand children recognise her, she is thrilled, if they walk past, she sends them her blessing. Yes, her freedom comes at a price, but it is a price she pays most willingly.”

Reema continued, “And unlike your in-laws, mine will not sit in open gathering and argue about who has had to look after their mother-in-law the most, because I will not give them that chance. My love for my children is unquestionable and theirs for me undeniable, but the path we shared has long diverged, into the one that leads to their home, and the other one that leads to mine.”

Reema watched as the faces before her revealed a mixture of shock, surprise, resentment, understanding and finally, admiration. It was a reaction she had encountered before.

“Now, let’s get some tea and talk of happy things. At our age time is a precious commodity for us, so let make the most of it” she said brightly. And together, the three ladies made their way towards the dining room.

My love for my children is unquestionable and theirs for me undeniable, but the path we shared has long diverged, into the one that leads to their home and the other one that leads to mine

Tarot predictions for April 2010

ARIES March 21–April 20

You are likely to be ambitious and will tend to plan towards your goals methodically. You are organised and will be able to put in serious efforts towards your project. You may feel that you aren’t getting due credit for your efforts. Things will turn out right in due course of time. You would benefit by being innovative, yet logical at the same time. Tarot signifies consolidating plans and taking firm steps towards attaining goals.

TAURUS April 21–May 21

You will not only live well within your means but also be able to save towards a goal. This month the focus is on material wealth which you are likely to receive from some source. However, be cautioned: do not let materialism overpower the emotional values of your relationship. It appears your relationship is not able to grow because one of the partners may not be open to new ideas and changes, a prerequisite for any relationship to develop.

GEMINI May 22–June 23

You are likely to come across a person who is virtuous and honest. Tarot emphasises a stable relationship. It is linked with domestic happiness and strong relations. Study the depth of things to develop an inner understanding. Tarot advises you to adopt a mature approach in life and proceed after thinking and rationalising. You can achieve success in creative disciplines. In a relationship reading, Tarot indicates an offer for friendship or a deeper level of commitment in a relationship.

CANCER June 23–July 22

Tarot foresees both success and fulfilment for you this month. You are likely to be happy on achieving lasting success. You are blessed to have the support of people around you. The goals currently on your mind, towards which you seem to be working whole-heartedly, will bring you success. A positive card is drawn in a travel reading also. Overseas projects are indicated by this card. You should continue to put in hard work in whatever you do.

LEO July 23–August 23

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

VIRGO August 24–September 22

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

LIBRA September 23 – October 23

Tarot indicates success through discipline of self and practicality. In order to succeed, you will have to adopt a pragmatic approach to life in spite of the limitations that confront you. Tarot represents stability, strength and conviction. New opportunities will come your way. You need to make the best of them, by laying solid foundations that shall finally lead to success. You should be prepared to act instantly and leave place for any changes that may be required.

SCORPIO October 24–November 22

This is a time when material stability and security are seen by Tarot. It foresees completion of a project. If thinking about your career, Tarot indicates advancement and promotion. There is a focus on congenial family relations also. As well, financial security is seen in a family situation. You may be in a position to help out a person who is going through a difficult financial time. Travel and movement are on the cards too. Make the most of it.

SAGITTARIUS November 23–December 21

This month, your focus will be on your ambitions. Tarot indicates that you will have a favourable encounter with an assertive person who will support you during a difficult time. Good looking, well built, honest and kind, this person is mature and good with people. He/ she will be a helpful sort of a person, though he/she may not be emotionally involved in the situation. It will be beneficial for you to you adopt the above-mentioned qualities yourself. \

CAPRICORN December 22–January 19

You realise that you can no longer stay away from issues of concern, and are required to face your problems and responsibilities. There is conflict in the air that may have brought out the worst in everyone involved. Be careful of someone who can create trouble. You have to avoid arguments for your reputation may be at stake. The end result is not likely to give anyone much happiness. You should be careful taking up only as much responsibility as you can cope with.

AQUARIUS January 20–February 18

Tarot foresees positive news that will cheer you up. It is time to start a new project or travel which will take you in a new direction. It could also indicate assistance from a young person or a faithful friend during a difficult time. You may receive news from people you seldom see. You may also have flashes of inspiration and creativity, which if followed, would bring success. The card drawn represents a postman or a messenger, indicating faithfulness and stability.

PISCES February 19–March 20

The card drawn for you this month suggests you have given up old beliefs and attitudes and have adopted a newer understanding of life; and are now able to work towards your ultimate fulfilment. All you need to do is be true to yourself and the attainment of your goal. You are likely to cultivate new relationships as great spiritual growth and learning is involved in them. The changes observed are from within, rather than on the physical level.

The buzz about Bollywood

Not being a fan of Hindi movies can lead to social ostracism, particularly among compatriots

BY SHERYL DIXIT

Recently I met an Indian lady in a mall, and as we placidly watched our kids attempt to destroy the play area, we got chatting. After covering exciting topics like our kids’ behaviour, where we lived and the price of Indian groceries, she asked me if I’d liked the latest Bollywood blockbuster. I had to pause. I didn’t even recognise the title!

“I don’t watch Hindi movies,” I confessed with an embarrassed grin. She stared back at me in disbelief. “But you’re Indian, no?”

“Yes,” I admitted sheepishly.

“And from Bombay?”

“Yup!”

“And you don’t like Hindi movies?”

Well, that’s when I got into my usual specious and completely pointless explanation. It’s not that I don’t like Hindi movies, I attempted to reason, I just don’t watch them. I’m not a movie buff, so I don’t usually watch movies in general. Exceptions are the ones which have a half-clad Johnny Depp in them.

She gave me a look which unmistakably said ‘Snob!’, and suddenly found several important things she had to do. In less than a minute, she had whisked away her protesting son and disappeared.

Which is why I have to explain again, I don’t watch Hindi movies, but I am not a snob!

In fact, I watched one just the other day, succumbing to partner pressure, and while I enjoyed the experience (except the bits with violence and gore) and thought the movie had been well-made and portrayed an authentic experience, he thought it was pretty much average, really!

“A promising start, but it couldn’t sustain the storyline,” he said.

I was impressed, I must admit, he sounded so much like an afficiado of the art form.

(Hindi movies) transcend me to a depth of emotion which I find uncomfortable, simply because I am such a soppy sentimentalist at heart and have been trying my best all my life to hide it.

As a child, I’ve been quite hopeless with Hindi movies. They transcend me to a depth of emotion which I find uncomfortable, simply because I am such a soppy sentimentalist at heart and have been trying my best to hide it all my life. I can’t forget the chortles of derision from friends as I cried through the reunion scene in an ‘80s comedy as innocent as Khubsoorat, starring the voluptuous Rekha in all her histrionic glory. The bit when she cries “Maaa” and falls into her mother-in-law’s arms saw me try to hide my surreptitious tears, but it was the shaking shoulders that eventually gave me away. I am still trying to live down that episode…

Sunday evenings in my childhood were absorbed by the 6pm movie, where the family gathered around to stare at our black and white TV’s grainy print unfold drama, emotion, slapstick….while our sentiments synchronised in harmony to the visions on the screen ….

I still remember my cousin, a lovely lady with a heart as soft as melting butter to this day. Her seat was closest to the wall and there she sat with a bundle of hankies, muffling her sobs as Nargis or Meena Kumari vocalised theirs. Regardless of our modern crop of movies with their share of suppressed or overwhelming emotion, I am sure she still has a good weep, much to the amusement of her less-sensitive husband and dogs. Hindi movies scare me a bit. There’s so much drama and excitement, and the background music in them has the ability to chill ones bones in a scary scene, fill one with joie de vivre at their pulsating item dances, make one feel the depths of despair at a deathbed scene…I sometimes feel that one can predict the pulse of a movie simply by listening to the background music.

Another strange phenomenon I have realised of late, while taking trips down to the kitchen while the hubby sits ogling Katrina Kaif, is their use of language. The more commercial ventures with urban story lines seem to include a hell of a lot of English in their dialogues, rather than the ungrammatical smatterings that one came across in the ‘80s and possibly, early ‘90s. I’m guessing from memory that the language was then colloquial Hindi, but now with a huge interspersion of English, it’s a refined version of Hinglish, with the ‘lish’ taking precedence. I have seen Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan deliver whole monologues in Hinglish, and it’s been impressive. I suppose using shudh Hindi or Urdu would be confined to films with historic content, or perhaps even one like Last Road to Sargam, in which several dialogues went over my head because of their superior use of Allahabadi Hindi.

Hindi movies have the ability to take your emotions on a rollercoaster ride, with euphoric ups and suicidal downs. Their depictions are hard-hitting and a bit excessive sometimes, like that of mean step-mothers who blatantly abuse their step-children through welltimed slaps across the face. On which the innocent holds their cheek and the background music gives vent to a doleful miaao, making the rage-filled viewer want to step into that screen and give the evil lady a dose of her own medicine!

And gosh, aren’t they impressive in the sheer

dance moves, beautiful people, pulsating music and often, umpteen changes of location within a single rendition. The actors and actresses who grace the screen are positively stunning, from the dishy John Abraham to the sophisticated Naseeruddin Shah. I am repeatedly told, and apologies to her fans who may think otherwise, that Aishwarya Rai can’t act. But who cares, she still has the screen presence to look absolutely stunning. Surprisingly, the older crop look pretty much the same, even down to their hairstyles from their youth. And that’s Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Mithun C, even Govinda. However, stars like Hema Malini, Dimple, Madhuri Dikshit and even Sridevi have managed to conceal those obvious signs of aging and still look only a slightly mature version of elegance and glamour on the screen.

Bollywood’s screenplays too, have come a long way from the twins separated at birth or conventional boy-girl running around tree romances. Apart from the commercial extravaganzas and bonanzas, it is heartening to hear of movies which not just touch on the pulse of social injustices, but realistically portray issues like terrorism and gang wars. Movies like Taare Zameen Par, Paa and My Name Is Khan have offered a better understanding of little-known disabilities and conditions, bringing to the fore topics that were considered impolite or even taboo.

So you see, I am no snob, nor am I bekaar about Bollywood. I harbour no anti-Indian or anti-Bollywood sentiments, and can wax eloquent about this industry in all its pulsating facets, some of which I haven’t even the space to cover. In fact, I am quite pipped at the fact that Bollywood rests within Mumbai’s ilaka, something that other cities, say Hyderabad, will never be able to match. And there are some movies that I feel I should watch, like Three Idiots, The Namesake, Ishkiyan, and a couple more. And now that Hollywood’s inching into the vibrant world of feisty li’l sis Bollywood, who knows, we may still see a half-clad Johnny Depp riding a motorbike against the backdrop of the Gateway of India…I wish!

BUZZThe

Akshay’s tricks and treats

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar did what he does best in Sajid Khan’s comedy film Housefull, where he jumped from one balcony to another for a scene, without using any harness. “Akshay had to jump from one balcony to another for a scene. It was advisable to use cables for it since it was quite risky and one small slip would have him badly injured. But Akshay refused and did the stunt himself, minus the cable wires,” said a source from the production unit. The romantic comedy also features Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan, Riteish Deshmukh and Arjun Rampal, and is due for an end-April release. That’s Akshay for you…brave and foolhardy at the same time. Wonder what wife Twinkle thought of that stunt? But that’s not all. In a moment of spontaneous generosity, the hunky hero gifted director Sajid Khan a limited edition Tag Heuer watch. “Akshay Kumar watched a couple of scenes of the film and loved it. After viewing those few scenes there is no doubt in his mind that the film will do well. He gifted Sajid Khan a watch to show his appreciation,” a source said. Wow, now that’s what I call a true treat! Lucky Sajid…

Slated to release in July, I Hate Luv Storys a romantic movie produced by Karan Johar and directed by debutant Punit Malhotra. It will have Sonam cast alongside Imran Khan and Sammir Dattani.

In the midst of promoting these films, Sonam will also be doling out time to her new films - Anees Bazmee’s romantic comedy Thank You opposite Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Kapoor’s Mausam with his son Shahid and another hush-hush one. Seems like Sonam’s going to be one busy lady this year. Well, her fans will certainly be pleased.

Sonam’s a busy babe

Sonam Kapoor has done just two movies since her debut in 2007, but this year, the actress has her hands full with the release of two projects and shooting schedules of three movies.

The 24-year-old, who was first seen opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya and later in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi-6, is awaiting the release of Aisha and I Hate Luv Storys in 2010.

“Guys, I’ve finished filming Aisha and I Hate Luv Storys and they will be my two releases this year. I’m working on three more films this year. I’m doing Thank You, Mausam and the third one I can’t talk about,” Sonam posted on her Twitter page Saturday.

In Aisha, which is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, Sonam plays the role of an uber chic high society girl and has three actors opposite her - Abhay Deol, Arunudoy Singh and popular veejay Cyrus

Vivek’s ready to steal the show

Adrenaline pumping action, cutting edge technology and with three actresses wooing him, Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi is all set to make a grand comeback as the solo lead in action film Prince releasing soon. With a whopping budget of over Rs.40 crore (Rs.400 million), the two-hour-sixminute venture boasts of action sequences exceeding an hour. It is releasing with over 1,000 prints worldwide. Directed by debutant Kooki V. Gulati, Prince stars Nandana Sen, Aruna Shields and Neeru Singh as the female lead. Sanjay Kapoor and Dalip Tahil also star in the movie.

“‘Prince is my first action film and will showcase me in a new avatar. It’s a story that could be every man’s fantasy and every man’s nightmare,” said an upbeat Vivek in an interview. Shot across South Africa, Thailand and India, Prince narrates the story of a quick-witted thief who wakes up one morning to realise that he has a gunshot

about how he got it because he has lost his memory and that his life is at stake. In his quest to find answers he discovers his name is Prince, he used to work for a man named Sarang and that his girlfriend’s name is Maya. He is being hunted by the secret service of India I Grip, the CBI and the biggest white collared criminals in the world.

He realises that he is the most wanted man in the country because only he knows the whereabouts of a heist, which contains a secret that is linked not only to his memory loss but something that also threatens the future of the human race.

Prince tries relying on his razor sharp instincts to salvage himself, as the web of deception spins and he gets more entangled, as everyday he meets a new girl who claims to be Maya, he doesn’t know which side of the law he is on and above all he has only six days to live.

Vivek lost 12 kilos for the film and had to undergo about five months of rigorous physical training that included skate-

arts, kicks and punches practice.

The 33-year-old has also jumped from a 32-storied building to a 28-storied one in the film and that too on a bike.

The film has been in the news for a while because of the intimate scenes filmed with Vivek with his actresses. Prince is also releasing simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu, apart from Hindi. So will Vivek scorch the screen and rise up like the fabled phoenix, ready for a new career? Let’s wait and see…

Move over Barbara, Aida’s here!

After Brazilian Giselle Monteiro and Mexican Barbara Mori, it’s Egyptian Aida Elkashef’s turn to make her debut in an Indian movie as an actress. Director Anand Gandhi says initially he didn’t plan to cast her in Theseus’ Ship. “I met Aida at the Berlin Film Festival where she had come to showcase one of her movies,” Gandhi said (Find

ABHILASHA SENGUPTA brings us up-to-date on what’s hot and happening

SONAM KAPOOR

in a phone interview. “She is just 21 and the daughter of a respected filmmaker from Egypt. She has made a couple of short films and is also an amazing actor.”

Gandhi, who earned acclaim for his short films, Right Here Right Now (2003) and Continuum (2006), says he had initially written Aida’s part for an Indian actress but failed to find the right face for it. “Her role wasn’t planned at all. She had come to India after we met in Berlin and started helping us out in auditioning male actors so that we could cast one of them opposite the character of a female photographer,” he said.

“During the screen test, we saw how excellently she performed the lines of the photographer. It was then that we decided to rewrite the part for an Egyptian girl rather than an Indian one,” he added.

Gandhi, who used to earlier pen for small screen’s biggest shows Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, says he auditioned close to 35 Indian actresses for the role, but couldn’t settle for any.

“I can’t name the actresses I auditioned, but there were around 30-35. It was frustrating because none of them fitted the bill. I feel there is a serious dearth of acting skills and craftsmanship here because sadly, the general perception among Indian actors is that if you hit the gym regularly, you can make a successful actor.”

For Theseus’ Ship, which is a multi-lingual film primarily in English with parts in Arabic, Hindi, Gujarati and Swedish, Gandhi has also cast Soham Shah, who made his debut with Baabarr in 2009.

“I had not seen Soham’s mainstream film when he auditioned for my film but with whatever I have shot with him, I can say he is a very different and amazing actor. He plays a stockbroker in my project,” he said. Theseus’ Ship weaves four tracks together. These include a story of an intuitive blind photographer, a monk’s ethics put to test, an obsessive compulsive clockmaker with an ailing heart, and a young stockbroker who gets caught up in the stolen kidney racket.

The narrative will travel to Cairo, Stockholm and Mumbai.

After shooting the Indian part of the film, Gandhi will be moving to Sweden and plans to finish the shooting schedules by September-end. He plans a festival release for the film rather than a commercial one. Another indication that Bollywood’s going global….

Raajneeti rocks for Prakash Jha

Filmmaker Prakash Jha, who has a penchant for realistic cinema, says his upcoming dark political drama Raajneeti on which he has been working since the past four years, is his most complete film ever.

“Rajneeti has been a long journey. It is a film about politics and tries to cover most aspects involved in politics - personal, family, social, state, national. Basically, the film tries to showcase what happens in politics. And I would say this is my most complete film,” said Jha at a press meet recently. The film features an impressive ensemble cast with actors such as Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpai, Arjun Rampal, Naseeruddin Shah and Ajay Devgn playing major roles.

The filmmaker, who also contested the Lok Sabha elections last year, says he has had a fulfilling experience working with each and every member of the cast, including the badmaash Ranbir and Katrina.

“I am grateful to God that Ranbir agreed to play this role. He has put in days and nights of effort to play his character and he has done it with utmost honesty. He is one of my dearest actors and I really thank God for giving me Ranbir for this film,” said Jha, as Ranbir bent down to touch his feet out of

respect.

Jha was all praise for Katrina Kaif, who overcame her difficulty in speaking Hindi and delivered her dialogues with clarity even in front of a gathering of 10,000 people.

“Katrina is inspiring. Her quality of work, innocence, honesty and dedication is extremely inspiring. The movie was very tough for Katrina and it took her a lot of courage and confidence to essay the role, give it her best. It’s my good luck that I cast her,” he said. Though Katrina’s simple and sari-clad look in the film has been attracting queries about the resemblance of her character with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Jha clarified saying, “The film is not based on any political party or follows any ideology. It is a film that is based on reality of the politics.”

Raajneeti is set to release in June this year, after a huge promotional campaign that will soon be launched across eight cities in India. After which, Kat will probably be launched into politics for real! Well, she’d certainly make a stunning PM!

Maradona shows off his muscles

Young Maradona Rebello had to do some very strange and unconventional things in his debut film Pankh - get smooched by a man and go completely nude in front of his screen mother, Lilette Dubey. Confessed Maradona, “It’s been a harrowing time for me. I’ve given the role everything because I believed in the film. It’s

the story of a pushy mother and a male child who’s pushed into the movies dressed as a girl. My character grows up confused about his sexuality. I had to do many things that didn’t come naturally to me because I’m a straight guy. I had to kiss a man, get pushed around by him.”

Worst of all were the cross-dressing scenes.

“When I came on the set in a dress wearing stocking and lipstick, my director Sudipto-da freaked out. He was so apologetic. He asked everyone to leave the sets.

I told him to chill. But at night, I just couldn’t sleep, I was so hassled. Luckily, my parents supported me. They saw the film and loved my performance. My mom didn’t flinch when I stripped in front of my screen mother,” he says.

The character has changed Maradona’s life.

“I know I’m straight. But playing a guy confused about his sexuality can shake you completely,” he said.

The boy breathed a sigh of relief about his second film Dunno Y ...Na Jaane Kyun

“In this one I’m completely straight,” he quipped “In fact, I’m straight in Pankh as well. But throughout the film I had to keep trying to prove to the world that I am not gay.”

In the climax of the film, Maradona had to take off all his clothes and show his screen mom Lilette that he’s a man.

“Right through the film she keeps taunting me that I am no man. Finally, in a fit of rage I had to undress and show her that I am a man. It was a very difficult scene to do. Fortunately, Lilette made me very comfortable. Before the scene she hugged me and said it’d be fine. And it was,” he said.

For Maradona, the worst part was being kissed by a man.

“My co-star Amit Purohit had to kiss me on Marine Drive. Luckily, it was at night and not too many people were around,” he said, visibly embarrassed.

Ironically, in his second film Maradona has an affair with his sister-in-law, who’s married to his gay brother.

“I can’t reveal much about the part. But I got to work with screen divas like Zeenat Aman and Helen. Not bad for my second film,” he said.

As for being accepted as a gay role-model after the release of Pankh, Maradona said, “Why not? If people of either sex find me attractive I’m fine by it as long as I remain happily heterosexual in real life.” Sounds like Maradona’s a tough young guy, doesn’t it? But I’ll bet his next movie will be a rosily romantic one.

Bips, bold and beautiful

Bipasha Basu is known to be a sex siren and she has no qualms being sexy. “I want to be a sexy grandmother. I don’t mind being sexy at all,” remarked the gorgeous actress recently. At the unveiling of the Globetrotter Glam special issue of Marie Claire magazine, Bips got her message across to women of the world. “Real women have curves. Love yourself. Take out time for your own self. Be fit and fabulous,” she said. The Bong bombshell was happy to indulge in some personal praise, saying “If all of you have been seeing me over the years, you’ll know that I have a good level of smartness. You have to be smart. It’s very important to have a personality. Then, everything about you is amazing and attractive. You just can’t be beautiful and have a great body and not be smart and intelligent.”

She added,“It’s a tough job being an actor and being an actor coming from outside without any support system, making your name in this business.” Bips also offered fashion and health tips to the audience, who seemed to hang onto her very lips. Well, Bips certainly practices what she preaches!

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What are Sylvester Stallone and Kareena Kapoor saying to each other?

Sylvester: Bebo, what say that I’m more good-looking than Saif?

Kareena: I thought you and Saif were twins…

Maushami Chand, Pendle Hill, NSW

Maushami wins a prize from Indian Link

Some other good ones

Sylvester: We make a great couple.

Kareena: I think you and Saif will make a better one

Sylvester: Smile, you’re with Rambo

Kareena: You smile, you’re with Bebo.

Sylvester: Want tp learn how to build up muscles?

Kareena: No thanks, but how do I get a big mouth?

VIVEK OBEROI

BIPASHA BASU

Cine Talk

Rekha, Hema, light up the screen

Film: Sadiyaan

Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Rekha, introducing Luv Sinha and Ferena Wazeir

Director: Raj Kanwar

It is deliciously ironical that during the same week that our tennis queen Sania Mirza announced she would marry a Pakistani cricketer, comes this film where the young desi pair threatens to get married and move to Pakistan. Life often imitates art. And art is often a close companion of kitsch and melodrama. Kitschy melodrama is attacked by purists. But there’s something to be said about a good oldfashioned melodrama like Sadiyaan where the biological and foster mothers, played by Hema Malini and Rekha respectively, vie for a son’s love and attention and outdo each other in the sacrificial arena.

They don’t make screen-moms like Rekha and Hema any more.

Raj Kanwar induces great dignity into the tussle between the modernday Devaki and Yashodhara. Yup, there’s something to be said in favour of nostalgia. Just see how Hema Malini, Rekha and Rishi Kapoor light up the screen in this surprisingly-watchablein-parts ode to fugitive parenthood.

Cleverly veteran director Raj Kanwar who in the past has made some very successful melodramas, focuses on the older generation in the second-half so that the story of young love gets a strong back-projection.

Exuding scent of goodness, worth a watch

Film: Tum Milo Toh Sahi

Cast: Nana Patekar, Dimple

Kapadia, Suniel Shetty, Vidya Malvade, Rehan Khan, Anjana Sukhani

Director: Kabir Sadanand

Just for the pleasure of watching Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia together, this quaint and sincere look at love across three generations is well worth a dekko Dimple, exuding a warmth that pervades the screen, plays a feisty Parsi woman who

Sadiyaan has its heart in the right place even when it, the heart, rests in callow place. The courtship between the two newcomers in the first-half lacks a virile force. The rituals of romance are rather routine. As a matter of fact, cynics can accuse the scriptwriters of investing too much heart into this tale about the pangs of Partition that tore India into two messy halves more than sixty years ago.

We’ve had some remarkable Hindi films on Partition ranging from the classic Garam Hawa to Gadar Ek Prem Kahani. Sadiyaan is not quite in the same league. It isn’t lacking in emotions. Nor does the narrative miss out on putting the right punctuation marks in every sequence. What prevents the film from taking wings is also the quality that lifts the film above the culture of prevalent puerility.

Sadiyaan has that fast-fading quality called tehzeeb. To get to that core of genteel emotions, one has to forego the fast-food pleasures of contemporary commercial cinema where any shot that lasts more than 5 seconds is considered distracting. Sadiyaan revels in lingering moments and interactive dialogues that speak of mythology in a semi-historical context.

The main actors lead the narrative gracefully into a heartwarming conclusion.

The dialogues by Javed Siddiqui convey a cutting edge touching longforgotten chords and opening wounds of history’s failings that never healed without getting involved in polemics.

Anshul Chobey’s camera sweeps over the idyllic innocence of Amritsar with a

isn’t deterred, let alone defeated by attempts to dismantle her dream, namely a strategic cafe where Mumbai-wallahs meet like they still do in cafes all over Kolkata for a bit of a brainy pow-wow and buttery pao It all adds up. The feisty Parsi lady and the cranky sullen unhappy-with-life lawyer (Nana Patekar) who helps her keep her property and not-sopromptly falls in love with the lady. You get the picture?

Rajen Makhijani, Sameer Siddiqui and Kabir Sadanand’s screenplay cruises the realm of the known, but still provides elements of freshness in the way the predictable characters are

panoramic grace.

The debutant Luv Sinha conveys a rawness and innocence that go well with his character. His dialogue delivery and body language need fine-tuning. Time always takes care of the rough edges. That’s what this film is about.

Trust the strong stalwart cast to steel and steal Raj Kanwar’s engaging screenplay. Rekha and Hema Malini as young Sinha’s two screen moms are a study in contrast. Rekha is exuberant and restless and quite an antithesis to her husky mysterious characters. Hema is dignity and restraint personified. Her arrival after intermission signals the film’s most watchable portion. As for

framed and photographed. Pushan Kriplani, director of photography, adds an afterglow to the already seen characters’ lives. You could feel the characters’ feelings, if you care.

There are three sets of people falling in and out of love, stumbling along that path to mutual fulfilment strewn with roses and thorns. This is a film that finally exudes the scent and strength of goodness. The Dimple-Nana relationship is endearing in its nostalgic references. Both are in splendid form. The next generation’s angst is represented by Suniel Shetty, who is restrained in a quiet but forcible way, and the surprise-packet Vidya Malvade.

Rishi Kapoor, has he ever let a film down?

The narrative follows old-world conventions like comic relief (between an Indian and Pakistani domestic help) and a Mujra (performed spiritedly by Neetu Chandra) during the wedding. But it’s the irony at the core of the plot that sweeps us over the glitches and hiccups. A Hindu mother decides to find her adoptive son’s biological Muslim parents so he can marry the girl of his choice.

Sadiyaan appeals at a very basic level. They don’t make too many movies like these any more.

Sadanand gives all his principal actors room to blossom. And that includes the third generation pair Rehaan Khan and Anjana Sukhani who are just discovering life and love. The couple is fresh, eager and raring to articulate their inner world.

The storytelling is moody and leisurely, like a stroll down a beachside on a quiet Sunday afternoon. The narrative has no sharp dips and curves. But director Kabir Sadanand is able to hold all his characters together, giving them a life and sustenance that takes them beyond stereotypes but not far enough to make them memorable creatures of the romantic zone.

Everyone from every generation wants a piece of that shimmering sky where love is more than just a Valentine’s Day slogan. Tum Milo Toh Sahi is not as sharp in its sensitivities on love as could have been.

Lekin tum dekho to sahi