2011-08 Sydney (2)

FREE Vol. 18 No. 11 (2) • August (2) 2011 • www.indianlink.com.au • FORTNIGHTLY

SYDNEY

India in our Independence Day fairs 2011 hearts

Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 • GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 • Ph: 18000 15 8 47 • email: info@indianlink.com.au

Sydney • Melbourne • Adelaide • Brisbane • Perth • Canberra

Indian Link Radio

24/7 on the net

www.indianlink.com.au

2 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

BUNDLE DEAL

6 MONTH PLAN

PER MONTH

MIN CHARGE $479.89 WHEN BUNDLED WITH TPG LINE RENTAL $ 30 PER MONTH OPTIONAL ADD-ON:

UNLIMITED LOCAL CALLS = $ 5 Per Month

ADSL2+

12 MONTH PLAN

STANDALONE

12 MONTH PLAN

UNLIMITED

S TA N D A L O N E

250GB Peak (8:30am-2:30am) + 250GB Off peak (2:30am-8:30am)

ADSL2+

~

$

MIN CHARGE = $659.83

Uploads not counted

59

99 PER MONTH

MIN CHARGE $779.83 250MB DATA

1GB DATA

i n c l u d e d

NO CONTRACT

$

i n c l u d e d

NO CONTRACT

9

99

$ T O T A L C A P VA L U E

^

Conditions apply

$125 = tpg to tpg mobile calls 24/7 calls & texts to international $125 = AND other aus destinations

14

99

When you have tpg broadband

T O T A L C A P VA L U E

^Conditions apply

$370 = tpg to tpg mobile calls 24/7 calls & texts to international $330 = AND other aus destinations + ONCE OFF $20 SIM + $20 DEPOSIT = $54.99 MIN CHARGE IN FIRST MONTH

#

WHY PAY MORE? 13 14 23 Unlimited ADSL2+ with Home Phone Line Rental: Min charge includes $20 Home Phone Deposit & $99.95 Setup. Only available in selected TPG ADSL2+ coverage areas to customers when ADSL2+ and Home Phone Line Rental are purchased as a bundle. All calls charged at TPG’s Home Phone rates displayed on website. Some call types are not supported, including fax, pay TV, back to base alarms and similar. Home Phone Deposit of $20 required for call usage.

Deposit automatically topped up if it falls below $5. Service barred if deposit topup payment fails. Broadband early termination and relocation fees apply. $5 Unlimited Local Calls: Available to TPG ADSL2+ with Home Phone customers.

Local calls include calls to 13 and 1300 numbers. ADSL2+ Standalone Plans: Min charge includes $59.95 setup. Available only in TPG ADSL2+ coverage areas. 500GB plan speed shaped to 256K/256K once Peak or Off Peak quota is exceeded. Only downloads counted . Broadband early termination and relocation fees apply. Free IPTV: Available to TPG ADSL2+ customers with download speeds greater than 3.5Mbps at eligible exchanges. MOBILE Talk & Text Caps: Discounted mobile monthly charge of $14.99 only applies when customer has any TPG Broadband plan. Mobile monthly charge reverts to standard price of $18.99 if TPG Broadband is terminated. Cap Values exclude calls to 13/1300/1800/190 numbers, mobile data, premium SMS, Optus Zoo services, Third Party content, International video calls, International roaming, and other Enhanced Services. TPG to TPG Cap Value can only be used for calls to any other TPG mobile within Australia. # Offer applies to new sign-ups to Talk & Text Caps as of 19th April 2011. Existing customers will not automatically obtain International calls as part of the cap. TPG to Any Network Cap Value can be used for standard voice calls to non-TPG mobiles within Australia, national fixed line calls and video calls, International voice calls and SMS & MMS. Cap Values are not interchangeable. Mobile Deposit of $20 required for excluded or excess usage outside your cap. GENERAL: All plan fees payable monthly in advance. These offers may be withdrawn at any time. For full terms, conditions & exclusions visit tpg.com.au.

~

*

NATIONAL EDITION

^

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 3

Country Manager, Migrant & Expatriate Banking • Key National Role • Be part of a Virtual Team engaging domestically & internationally • Ideally suited to Career Retail Banking Leaders The Role Premium Financial Services (PFS) is part of Westpac’s Retail and Business Banking business and supports customers with all of their financial goals - from banking and wealth creation to protecting their financial position.

Our customers are affluent and are already on their wealth accumulation journey.

Migrant and Expatriate Banking is a growing segment within PFS. We have new roles that are focused on promoting and cultivating migrant banking and tapping into opportunities to fulfil all their banking needs when migrants create a new life in Australia. We are seeking to appoint a Country Manager to be responsible for the Indian customer segment.

You will be based in Sydney however the role will have national coverage. There will be interstate and potentially international travel.

think that your employer should give you more than just a job? we do too

Responsibilities • Be the main point of contact domestically and internationally for Indian migrant banking • Develop and deliver a business plan for your segment • Drive and deliver overall sales and marketing objectives for your customer group • Form partnerships with referral sources on behalf of Westpac • Build a high profile in the Indian migrant community • Lead a virtual team of Bank Managers and Call Centre leaders to ensure that the needs of migrant/multicultural customers are being met • Work across Westpac to ensure banking operations are streamlined to meet your customers needs.

The Individual • Demonstrable sales leadership and business development experience • Expertise in consumer and business lending • A track record in leading and coaching others within a retail banking environment • Proven people leadership and ability to work in a matrix environment • Strong drive, passion and ability to deliver results through others

Apply online at www.westpac.com.au/ careers quoting job number SYD14828 or contact Rebecca von Mallesch on 02 8254 3979.

• Team player and open communicator • A sense of urgency and drive to get things done • The ability to handle and influence multiple stakeholders.

Full Australian working rights are required for this position, unfortunately we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this vacancy.

The successful candidate will join Australia’s first bank - and first company. We’ve helped millions of customers in the last 193 years by advising, reassuring and managing their financial needs responsibly.

4 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 241713 (08/11)

INDIAN LINK

EDITORIAL

www.indianlink.com.au

INDIAN LINK PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITORS Sheryl Dixit, Gaurav Pandey MELBOURNE Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Sandip Hor, Ritam Mitra, Shraddha Arjun, Roy Lange, Noel G DeSouza, Azal Khan, Shafeen Mustaq, Priyanka Tater, Sunil Ranadive, Thomas E King, Saroja Srinivasan, Petra O’Neill, Minal Khona, Sreedhevi Iyer ADVERTISING MANAGER Vivek Trivedi 02 9262 1766 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Nitika Sondhi 02 9279 2004 GRAPHIC DESIGN AND LAYOUT Sanjay Kumar

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

by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to Indian Link Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 or GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005 Email: info@indianlink.com.au

MFAA NO:74720

NATIONAL EDITION

Political lines divide Independence Day celebrations BY PAWAN LUTHRA

In an interesting situation for the Indian Australian community in Sydney, for the first time the celebrations of India’s Independence Day had undercurrents of local politics.

Indian Australians in Sydney were treated to two Independence Day fairs, the inaugural India Day Fair of the Council of Indian Australians(CIA) led by the indefatigable Yadu Singh, and the annual India Australia Friendship Fair by the United Indian Associations (UIA) led by its current president Amarinder Bajwa.

That both the CIA and UIA leaderships have openly shown their political colours in the past is no secret and it is to the Indian community’s advantage to have a stake in both camps, especially in these days of uncertainty in national politics.

It is not unusual for different multicultural communities to organise their own festivities around religion, culture and landmark dates pertaining to the country of their origin. The local Indonesian community, apparently, has three different groups celebrating their

COSL NO : M0010503

national day; in fact even within the local Indian community, if we consider it at a micro level, various regional, linguistic associations all mark Diwali, Holi and Independence Day or Republic Day via their own distinct celebrations. Mostly these are along apolitical lines and the leaders of these organisations have not shown any inclination towards any particular political party. In fact, most of them preen at any opportunity to be associated with political leaders, and are mindful of not showing any political allegiances to any one party. As a result, these associations have seldom had the benefits of any government handouts of substantial amounts. No favours have been demanded, perhaps because of the awareness that these may not be granted.

However, this year it was different.

The CIA and its leaders have shown an appreciation for the Coalition of the Liberal and National parties, while the UIA’s leadership in the recent past has openly been seen to promote the interests of the Labor party, both at Federal and State levels. In fact, considering that in the last Federal election Labor retained the government by winning marginal seats in Western Sydney, credit needs to be given to certain Indian community leaders who were prominent in parading Labor’s

candidates around their gurudwaras and local community events in Western Sydney. That this strategy was used in the subsequent NSW elections very effectively by Liberal party supporters, highlights the power which the local Indian community has started to wield.

In the 2011 Independence Day fairs, both UIA and CIA gave major political parties equal platforms, but chances are that as the time approaches for the next elections, either at State or Federal levels, the political DNA of these two associations will drift towards one party or another.

It will be upto the members to decide whether this should happen. These celebrations of Indian national days will be a natural platform for State and Federal politicians to meet and greet the local community.

Within the local Indian community, this flexing of the community muscle for political leveraging can be of benefit to any association, be it the UIA or the CIA. Whichever one wins the favours, can only benefit the wider community. However, only time will tell if these associations’ political allegiances will help them fly high, or crash to the ground and burn.

Our Lending Partners

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 5

What’s On SPIRITUAL Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of NSW activities Sunday 28 August Sri Ramakrishna’s Advice to Householders. Talks by Dr. D.P.Chaudhri and Rev. Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji.

For details on above events call 9745 4320 or email vedantasyd@idx.com.au Eid Festival & Fair Sunday, 4 September at the Fairfields Showground, Smithfield Road, Prairewood Sydney’s most popular annual Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair (MEFF) will be held on the Sunday after Eid.MEFF showcases Islamic unity in diversity, Australian multiculturalism in action and attracts both Muslims and non-Muslims to celebrate Eidul-Fitr at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Multi-faith Forum on Environmental Ethics Sunday 9 October, 2 – 5pm (1:45 for 2pm start) at Room: PS-EB.G.02, University of Western Sydney, Parramatta Campus. Hindu Council of Australia together with ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change), FEN (Faith-Ecology-Network) and the UWS Multi-faith Chaplaincy have organised a joint multi-faith forum to address the moral and ethical issues involved in tackling the very important problem of climate change, environmental degradation and the prevailing atmosphere of greed, fear and hatred afflicting the humanity.

A distinguished panel of speakers representing each of the main religious faiths will address the Forum.

Free admission, refreshments will be provided. Please register online @ www. arrcc.org.au/ecoforum or call 9873 4214; Mobile: 0406 033 704. RSVP latest by 30 Sept. 2011

FUNDRAISERS Trivia night Saturday 3 September, 6 pm to 10 pm, Trivia Night at Harvey Love Pavillion, Castle Hill Showground, Off Carrington Road (Entry via Doran Road) Contact Rahul Badethalav on 0402587579 or Br Gopal Chaitanya on 0416482149 The Light for Life trivia night Saturday, 27 August, 7pm for 7:30pm start at the Don Moore Community Centre, North Rocks. Come join a fun filled trivia night with lots of songs and dancing.

Tickets are $20, and includes dinner. All proceeds raised will go to Lifehouse at RPA, for the Chris O’Brian Cancer Centre.

For tickets, sponsorship or to make a donation, please contact Swati Jain 0412 439 596 or swati86@live.com.au or visit www.lifehouserpa.org.au/index.aspx MISCELLANEOUS Chand Raat Festival Sunday, 28 August, from 6pm – 1am, at the Exhibition Hall, Sydney Showground, Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. Held on the Sunday before Eid. Come along for a night of good food and good fun for the whole family!

Family Picnic Day Sunday 28 August, 10 am to 3:30 pm at Cockatoo Island, Family Picnic Day of the Australian Chapter of Indian Chartered Accountants, RSVP at icai.org.au or call the Secretary at 0432472211.

An evening of North Indian classical music Sunday 28 August Experience the sublime sounds of the Indian Bansuri (Bamboo Flute) with Vinod Prassana accompanied on the Tabla by Bobby Singh

Nihal Gupta to head NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel Respected business and community leader Nihal Gupta has been appointed to head the NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel.

The NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel is being established by the NSW Government to strengthen NSW trade and investment links internationally and build the State’s economy.

Mr Gupta was chosen because he has longstanding experience in Asian markets including China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong. He has been appointed Chair of the NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel for a term of two years.

His extensive knowledge and expertise will contribute significantly to the Panel’s ability to harness the strengths of NSW’s diverse, highly skilled and multilingual workforce to extend our State’s links to international markets.

He possesses strong business acumen as well as a deep understanding of government.

He has a strong and effective leadership background in sales, marketing and manufacturing with experience spanning over 30 years in the electronics and IT sectors.

Chair of the Community Relations Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian 6 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

welcomed the announcement and said: “Mr Gupta is a recognised entrepreneur with a deep understanding of working in Australia and Asia, coming from nearly 20 years as Managing Director of his successful family owned electronics group, Palsonic Corporation.”

In 2005, Mr Gupta established Digital Electronics Corporation Australia of which he is Managing Director.

The Multicultural Business Advisory Panel will have a strong focus on promoting NSW’s cultural diversity. It will advise on impediments to trade in international markets, how to strengthen existing business networks, and how to pursue growth opportunities in areas such as international education, in-bound multicultural tourism and other strategic areas.

The Panel will also support the National Multicultural Marketing Awards which are managed by the Community Relations Commission.

“The panel, chaired by Mr Gupta, will take the work which we have done over twenty one years in promoting export through the multicultural marketing awards to a higher level,” Mr Kerkyasharian added.

at Camelot Lounge 19 Marrickville Road cnr Railway Parade Marrickville (2 Minutes from Sydenham Station) from 7-9pm Bobby Singh and Kim Sanders concert Sunday 4 September An unplugged concert by World Music masters Kim Sanders and Bobby Singh. Venue: St. Luke’s Hall, 11 Stanmore Rd, Enmore, 7 pm, $20/15 concession.

Hindi Divas 2011 celebrations Sunday 11 September 2011, 10.30am to 3.30pm at Thornleigh West PS, Giblet Avenue, Thornleigh. Contact Tara Chand Sharma on 0409 981 355, Mala Mehta on 0412283677 or Rekha Rajvanshi on 0403 116 301. The Australian Hindi Committee, the IABBV Hindi School students, teachers and parents and ILASA (Indian literary and art society of Australia) take pride in celebrating Hindi Divas 2011. We request all Hindi speakers, supporters, teachers and students to join in the celebrations and present a united face to promote India’s national language. For more details contact Mala Mehta on 0412283677 or 94840707 or email: info@iabbv-hindischool.com; hindi_ school@hotmail.com or visit the website: iabbv-hindischool.com Research on HRM policies Parth Patel, currently studying for his Doctorate at the University of Newcastle, is looking for information from Indianowned multinational companies to assist in a research project on Human Resources Management policies. The project titled, Transfer of HRM Policies and Practices between Headquarters and Subsidiaries of Indian MNCs in Australia will examine the motives for and the mechanisms by which headquarters of MNCs monitor and control their Australian subsidiaries in the transfer of their human resource (HR) policies and practices. This research is particularly important because of the increasingly important role of MNCs in

emerging economies (like India) and the relationship between headquarters and subsidiaries of such organisations.

Parth is primarily targeting companies in the IT sector, and would request about an hour’s interview with senior/functional managers/departmental heads. The interview will broadly focus on asking various questions in different areas of MNC operations.

Findings from the study will be used to produce an academic thesis and writing papers in scientific journals, book chapters and peer-reviewed academic conferences/ seminars. All data collected will strictly be kept confidential complying with university’s ethics regulations.

Parth requests assistance from relevant parties to participate in this research project and he would be grateful if you would be willing to participate. Please contact Parth on 0405591190 or (02) 49216340; or drop him an email him at Parth.Patel@uon.edu. au Crestwood Badminton Association Crestwood Badminton Association has a 22 year long badminton playing history in Sydney’s Hills District and players of different ethnic backgrounds come to play here.

The Association is looking for new members who would like play badminton regularly. The new members will be able to play on Wednesdays from 7.00pm till 10.00 pm and Saturdays from 7.00 am till 10.00am.

For more details contact Basker Ratnam on 0459 183 644.

Essay competition Essay competition on ‘Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi Today’ is open for the year 2011. For details email info@ bhavanaustralia.org

Letter to the Editor Liberty or lies?

On August 15, sixty-four years ago, a new nation was born. An independent nation, which was no longer under the brutal rule of foreign oppressors. Oppressors who left, but not without stripping the land of its riches: gold, silver, diamonds and other precious jewels. In particular, the land was stripped of its most precious jewel, self -governance. After over three hundred years of British imperialism, the ability to successfully lead one’s own nation had become a feat to be learned from scratch, and a skill that will take several decades to reacquire.

Indian Independence day is a widely celebrated occasion which rejoices reclaiming the freedom of the land, but one walk through the streets of any Indian city or town is enough to reveal the reality of modern India’s situation. Shanty towns and public latrines fill the already over-polluted air with a foul stench, and at every traffic light, a child no older than five years of age is sent to beg commuters for money.

It is hard to believe that this is a nation that has achieved independence. Every day, millions of families live with the constant worry of whether they will be able to provide a basic living for their children, bound by the shackles of poverty. Where is their independence?

Beneath all the patriotism of Independence Day lies a sense of denial. The average Indian citizen is content with talk of an economic boom and chooses to turn a blind eye to the vast percentage of the population living well below the poverty line. Perhaps the apathy of an everyday Indian citizen can be forgiven, as they too, are preoccupied with providing a living for their family and simply don’t possess the means to provide for anyone else. The apathy of those with power and funds, however, is inexcusable and the poison of greed and corruption is stifling any true progress. All of this begs the question, is India truly independent? Is this the India for which our ancestors fought and died? It seems the only difference between 1947 and 2011 is the identity of the oppressor. Jai Hind.

Sneha Subramaniam INDIAN LINK

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 7

COVERSTORY

Twin celebrations Indian Australians were treated to two Independence Day fairs this year, which couldn’t have been closer in spirit, both patriotic and competitive, write GAURAV PANDEY and SHRADDHA ARJUN

India Day Fair The inaugural India Day Fair held at Parramatta Park in western Sydney on August 7 under the theme ‘Cultural diversity, Integration and Harmony’ proved to be a markedly Indian style celebration of loudness and gusto.

The fair began at 10 am and continued till late evening when the organisers decided to bring the proceedings to an end amid constant rain and fear of an electric storm.

The event, conceived as a spectacle to showcase the unity of Indian - Australian community, had all the ingredients of a successful show: speeches; stalls selling anything from soft drinks to software to T20 tickets to real estate; live music and dance with costumed performers in bright, extravagant, dresses; and even an auction.

Event Director Subba Rao Varigonda said, “despite the patches of rain during the day, a loyal, huge crowd flocked in to support the event and to feel proud to be an Indian Australian”.

The audience got a taste of a vibrant mix of folk, solo and classical dances, Bollywood songs and dances, qawallis and bhajans. The other highlights of the day were a fashion show, a belly dance and, among other things, traditional and hip hop versions of bhangra.

An annual affair The head of the Council of Indian-Australians (CIA), the body responsible for organising the fair, Yadu Singh, said that the event, which drew a “huge response” from the community and attracted more than 90 stalls, will be held every year.

The newly-formed CIA, Dr. Singh said, has been delivering results for the Indian community. “We got the wrong Indian map removed from the website of department of immigration within 4 days,” he pointed out. “We can get the results because we are working together and we are effective.”

The objective of CIA, Dr. Singh told Indian Link, is to lobby the Australian government for the change of policies which will help the Indian Australian community. “We need to be there in policy matters, which we are not right now. We hope to lead the community for the issues they face.”

“There are a lot of associations, but they have confined themselves to only having their photographs clicked and coming out with occasional write-ups in Indian community newspapers,” Dr. Singh added. “The community needs to decide who should lead them. We need to have result-oriented groups and not just photograph seeking groups.”

Well attended

Citizenship and Communities, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, representing the Premier of NSW Barry O’Farrell.

Indian Australians honoured Among the Indian Australians who were honoured at the event were Perminder Singh Sachdev, Professor of Neuropsychiatry, University of New South Wales, and Clinical Director, Neuropsychiatric Institute, The Prince of Wales Hospitals; Ian Tudor De Mellow, Chair, Hornsby Shire Seniors Advocacy Group; Suresh Yogi, Founder/ Promoter of Spirit of India, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes good health, spirituality, charity, and community service through the practice of yoga; and Dr. Kuldip Sidhu, Researcher at UNSW who has done pioneering work in stem cell research for Alzheimer’s, Huntington and Parkinson’s diseases. The role of VISION 2020, a voluntary non-profit and charitable organisation in NSW was also acknowledged.

CIA’s inaugural event found healthy support from both Federal A grand spectacle and State politicians, officials from the Office of the Indian An underlying patriotic sentiment was Consulate, business leaders, leaders of evident in the enthusiasm with which Indian associations and the media. the crowds sang the national anthems “In addition to becoming a good For the mostly Indian crowd of India and Australia. friend to Australia, India stands today that flocks to such functions, For the mostly Indian crowd that an important and valued member of flocks to such functions, especially the community of nations,” Prime especially newly-arrived newly-arrived young familles battling Minister Julia Gillard wrote in a young familles battling homesickness, an outing like this message of support to the organisers; homesickness, an outing is at once a social affair, a way to NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, too, connect with their roots and a culinary like this is at once a social had some encouraging words for the organisers in his message, “I am affair, a way to connect with adventure of sorts.

Conversations were in a mix of proud to be supporting this event, their roots and a culinary Punjabi, Hindi and English. Many which aside from being a celebration adventure of sorts stalls, a confluence of rivulets of of Indian Independence, is a humanity, sold Indian snacks: samosas, wonderful opportunity to experience chat, dosa, and sweets. It won’t be Indian culture first-hand.” incorrect to say that ‘Indian food’ was Some of the politicians who attended the event were Tony Burke, Minister for Environment, the primary attraction of the event. The sight of traditional Indian recipes inspired an enthusiastic shedding of inhibitions, representing Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard; Chris especially from many local Australians who ate with great Bowen, Federal Immigration Minister; John Robertson, NSW interest. Children bounced around carrying plates brimming Leader of Opposition; Scott Morrison, Federal Shadow with piping-hot Indian snacks, eating some, spilling some as Minister for Immigration, representing Federal Leader of they tried to copy the revellers on stage.

Opposition Tony Abbott; and Victor Dominello, Minister for 8 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

A scene from CIA’s India Day Fair

www.indianlink.com.au

of India’s b’day professional dancers who had trained rigorously for years.

The Maharashtrian drummers stole the hearts of the crowds with their finesse, as they performed on different kinds of drums in varying sizes. The performers themselves belonged to different age groups, and their beats were to the accompaniment of a group of dancers who added their own charm with chimes and a flag. This was truly an arresting performance and one of the best of the day, which left the crowd roaring, “Ganapathi Bappa Moriya!”

Around lunchtime the audience was treated to a beautiful parade by 19 member organisations under the UIA, each traditionally attired to showcase specific states in India and represent the distinctness of their people.

High octane ride

A vibrant dance performance at UIA’s India Australia Friendship Fair

For many, it was the first time they had come across many aspects of traditional Indian culture, lured in by the eagerness and enthusiasm of their Indian friends.

“We welcome them the same way they welcomed us in their country with open arms,” exclaimed Amit, who was manning one of the food stalls, summing up the mood of the day.

Yet for others the event was a warm reassurance of many things that make India so unique. “It reminds me of home,” said Ragini Manchanda, who is visiting her sister in Sydney.

“Being here, it’s hard to imagine I am out of India, this seems like a happy, mini India.”

The following week, perhaps with a determination to outshine the previous event, the United India Associations (UIA) organised the India Australia Friendship Fair which showcased, among other things, the exotic sights and flavours of India.

By this time the food stalls were doing roaring business and it was almost impossible to place an order without being jostled around. However, the crowds didn’t seem to mind, they took it all good-humouredly in their stride, and concentrated on the treats that filled their plates. Bhutta, ganne ka ras, masala chai, vada paav and paapri-chaat were the most popular treats enjoyed by the crowds. Some were busy getting henna tattoos, while others got their faces painted. Value World Travel’s girls dressed in Indian attire and weaved their way through the throng on stilts, while distributing flyers. Their antics were immensely popular with the children attending the event. There was never a dull moment for the kids as they enjoyed various rides and endless activity on the jumping castle. The camel rides however, got the most amount of attention. Indians and non-Indians irrespective of age and sex queued up for a ride on the camel’s hump!

A huge screen set up at the venue gave all a chance to view and follow the performances on stage while enjoying food and other fun activities.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of India Australia Friendship Fair was conducted 2 pm, with an Aboriginal music performance followed by the national anthems of Australia and India. It was beautiful to see people stand still with pride and pay respect equally to both the national anthems.

The welcome speech was delivered by UIA Secretary Renga Rajan, followed by UIA presentation by Rohit Revo. UIA President Amarinder Bajwa delivered a speech addressing the various dignitaries present and also wishing all visitors a happy Independence Day. A video message by Prime Minister Julia Gillard was short India Australia Friendship Fair and simple, yet very inspiring. She expressed her interest in the Indian community and also acknowledged the contributions The India Australia Friendship Fair kicked off on the rather made by Indians in Australia. Ms. Gillard wished the Indian quiet and serene morning of August 14, with passing clouds community a happy Independence Day with a warm and adding to the lazy Sunday effect. The event started bang endearing smile, spreading the message on time, with a very cheerful and of friendship and harmony. eloquent pair of comperes on stage.

India High Commissioner Sujatha Early birds at the venue were able Ms. Gillard wished the Singh also delivered a very patriotic to find enough legroom and time Indian community a happy speech and expressed her interest in to unwind and prepare for the day’s Independence Day with a seeing people from all states of India activities. Slowly but steadily seats filled up, and by the time the sun warm and endearing smile, being represented at the event. Chris Bowen, Minister for Immigration was halfway up in the sky, there was spreading the message of and Citizenship, representing the almost no space for anyone to stand, friendship and harmony PM; Senator Concetta Fierravantilet alone sit, to watch the events Wells, representing the leader of the unfold.

Opposition Tony Abbott; Victor Dominello Member for Ryde, the Minister for Citizenship and A visual treat Communities, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, representing Eye-catching costumes, elaborate dance routines and pulsating the Premier of NSW Barry O’Farrell; John Robertson music kept the crowds mesmerised and thoroughly entertained.

Opposition Leader NSW; Arun Jagatramka Gujarat NRE; and It was a visual treat to watch nearly 250 performers showcasing Alan Marsh CEO Sydney Olympic Park Authority were among dance forms from different parts of India. From kuchipudi the special guests who addressed the audience and media performed on a copper plate to bhangra, from Rabindra Sangeet present at the venue. Finally, the vote of thanks was presented to kavadi aattam, it was a full spectrum of colours that lit up the

by John Niven, Vice President UIA. stage. The few tiny tots performing on stage for the very first Tha naach gaana and hungama continued all through the time were a treat, their spirit and confidence comparable to the AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 9

COVERSTORY

afternoon until sunset. The real crowd puller was the Shaimak Davar’s dance troupe, with their trademark performance that was a class apart. The interactive session in which people had to do the shimmy to the popular hit song Avayin Avaiyin, led to an enthusiastic and uninhibited bout of dancing by the crowd.

Punjabi Singer Satinder Satti crooned her hit numbers and shared a few jokes and stories in Punjabi. Most of the crowd responded favourably to her, while the rest were simply amused by her presence on stage. As the raffle ticket winners were announced, lucky prizewinners took home Plasma TVs and even cheques worth $5000 dollars.

There seemed to be no room for discontentment until it was announced that Sunny Deol was not going to be able to make it to the event, which led to a short bout of visible disappointment in the crowd.

Grand entry South Indian film actress Sneha made a very grand entry on stage and the entire south Indian crowd just could not contain their excitement. She sang her national award winning song from Tamil film Autograph and hummed popular songs from other south Indian languages, much to the delight of the audience. She then danced to a foot tapping Tamil song with the live band. Finally, the unsuspecting crowd was treated to an elaborate and spectacular laser show!

It was almost impossible to see any signs of Monday morning blues on anyone’s face that evening. For most visitors, the fair was nearly as close as they could get to their roots. The event was a grand one, efficiently managed by the UIA. It was heartening to see families holding the Indian and Australian flags and posing for pictures; however I would amend that statement as there was very little ‘posing’.

Most of the visitors were delighted to express their love for India and their adopted country from the bottom of their hearts.

Indian Link was also represented at both the fairs. Its stall drew in people in large numbers who enthusiastically participated in a lucky draw.

In the first fair, Tejbir Chawla and Jaishree Taneja won gift vouchers from Myer, while Sonam Tandon and Deepti Khurana emerged winners in the second fair.

Collected here are pictures from CIA’s India Day Fair

Photos: Gaurav Pandey

A few minutes for India, before starting the work day Like every year, an Independence Day ceremony was held on the morning of 15 August at the home of the Consul General of India (Sydney) Amit Dasgupta.

As he hoisted the flag, the gathered members of the community sang the national anthem with great fervour.

Later they listened intently as Mr Dasgupta read out the message of the President of India to the nation on the occasion of Independence Day. The intimate early morning ceremony has become a hallmark of Independence Day celebrations in our home away from home. The hearty breakfast that follows is a welcome interlude, allowing the desh-bhakts to mingle briefly before rushing off to work.

It is a proud moment to see the tricolour fluttering in a suburban environment in Sydney, although in recent years the presence of police patrol has been somewhat of a surprise.

During his term, CG Amit Dasgupta has endeavoured to include the student community in this event.

In her message the President of India Pratibha Patil spoke about the need to eliminate corruption that seems to have affected the nation like “a cancer”, no

10 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

Amit Dasgupta, Consul General of India (Sydney)

doubt referring to the movement that is currently gripping the country. Yet, she stressed, we will be able to find answers, like we have on previous occasions when confronted by challenges. “The real strength of a nation is judged not by the challenges it faces, but by its responses”.

Among our strengths, she listed our Constitution which has served us well in creating institutions that have been stable; the resilience of our economy in the backdrop of the financial meltdown of 2008; the new breed of young Parliamentarians who are working together to bring in change (in many instances cutting across party lines), and the effective electoral practices in the country that have made our democracy so strongly functional. Among our challenges, she noted, were the need to focus on education and skill development; to revolutionize agriculture; to focus on food security; to have a more inclusive strategy for the underdeveloped regions of the country; and to remove social prejudices against women that continue to exist even in the 21st century. The continuing threat of terrorism also found mention.

Rajni Anand Luthra INDIAN LINK

Photos: Agniva Chakraborty

Scenes from UIA’s India Australia Friendship Fair

Sunny Deol leaves fans disappointed India Australia Friendship Fair, organised each year

by United Indian Associations (UIA) to coincide with the Indian Independence Day, has become a much anticipated event for the Indian Community in Sydney.

Amongst many other attractions, a ‘star’ presence is a key charm for people from the subcontinent to participate in or attend the fair. Last year, it was popular Bollywood singer Mika; and this year, Bollywood actor Sunny Deol was scheduled to appear at the fair held at Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre. Unfortunately though, Sunny failed to show up, leaving thousands of fans disappointed. Although reasons behind his absence from the event are still unclear, the incident has highlighted the need on the part of the organisers of such events to be better prepared so as not to dishearten the crowds.

Indian Link wrote to Amarinder Bajwa, President of UIA, asking him to shed some light for our readers on the absence of the Bollywood actor. Here are the questions: 1. What were the reasons for Mr Deol’s absence, especially despite widespread media publicity? Was there any contract signed with Mr Deol or his management for his appearance at the UIA fair?

NATIONAL EDITION

2. Did UIA suffer any financial loss as a result of this?

3. When was UIA informed that he’d not be able to make it to the event? When was this communicated to the public?

4. How has the community responded to this, and what has your organisation done to mitigate their disappointment?

5. Have you shared the reasons for his absence from the event with the community?

6. Were there any other events planned with the actor? If yes, did you compensate the ticket holders?

7. Have you had any requests for refund from advertisers who may have paid a premium anticipating the presence of the actor at the event?

Mr. Bajwa’s response is stated below: “I understand there is a commotion about Sunny Deol; all I can say at this stage is that the ‘dealers/brokers/ agents’ that were working with us in getting him to join us in the celebrations let us down and there was an unreasonable demand of additional $15,000.00 at the eleventh hour of our preparations. Even paying this amount would not have brought him to meet our certain objectives so with a very heavy heart and great

disappointment we had to reject the options.

For the advances paid we are working on their recovery and since it’s a legal issue at this stage we can’t divulge into further details. It is very unfortunate that people would manipulate anything for the monies, we were clear in our convictions; the idea of bringing Bollywood or cricket stars to such an event is to connect the diaspora with back home, and to provide the sense of pride for our younger generations. We celebrate and dedicate our energies to India’s birthday but we were very disappointed by the people to measure such sentiments in terms of monies.”

While the presence of ‘star attractions’ at similar events does charm crowds and advertisers alike, and in many ways adds to the spectacle and celebration of events as special as the Indian Independence Day, the organisers need to be better prepared and plan ahead to avoid such disappointment in the future. Not only are the fans and advertisers owed a sincere explanation in this instance, but also a monetary compensation if deemed required. Maybe next year, UIA could have a ‘Plan B star’ in place, just in case!

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 11

ic s u iM

24/

7m

d

Hin

asti

News

Talkback

online www.indianlink.com.au call us 1800 015 847 12 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

at home / in car Subscribe to Indian Link Radio for $9.95 each month * Conditions apply: Minimum 12 months subscription, $ 50 refundable deposite

INDIAN LINK

NOW LEASING Shopsmart Outlet Centre, 10 Zoe Place, Mount Druitt

NSW 2770. Lettable space options available from 20 sqm. Suit wide variety of uses:- retail shops, medical consulting or professional offices.

Take advantage of excellent passing trade from existing tenancies; Spotlight, Rivers, Trade Secret, Shopsmart Pharmacy, Cash Converters, Gloria Jeans Coffee, Donut King, Video Ezy, Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, Medical Centre and lots more...

The centre is positioned within the heart of a major retail hub that includes ALDI Supermarket, Supercheap Auto, Chambers Cellars and Sam’s Warehouse, with close proximity to Westfield’s Mount Druitt.

For further information contact Robert on 0438 536 025 rlivolsi@angaet.com.au

FREE BUSINESS BRIEFING

Potential to earn +$100,000 p.a. while keeping your present job Are you like most people who have studied various material on wealth creation, then got “fired-up” each time and pledged to go into business for yourself someday, but NEVER got around to it because you • did not have the (large amount of) start-up capital that was required?

• Just couldn’t afford to give up your full-time job to do so due to existing commitments?

• Simply could not find the right opportunity (one with minimum outlay and maximum returns)?

If you are a motivated, self-starter who would seriously like to attain financial independence, earning a residual income with the potential to exceed *$100,000 p.a. in 2-4 years, starting part-time with relatively no financial risk, then call

(02) 82302521 (24 hrs) And we’ll introduce you (without obligation) to one of the most lucrative business ventures of our time. This is a genuine, legal and high-integrity opportunity that is attracting people from all walks of life, including highly skilled professionals such as doctors, lawyers and business executives. It is definitely not for those looking for a ‘get rich quick’ scheme or rewards without effort-such things don’t exist.

Understand that if you don’t have, it’s because you don’t act.

Call Now. (Serious enquires only) CONTACT : DEEPIKA SHARMA

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 13

SPECIALREPORT

A reason to run!

Although the City2Surf fun run gets bigger each year, there’s still space for more Indian-origin participants BY SHERYL DIXIT

It’s an event that Sydneysiders look forward to with pride, indeed inhabitants from all corners of NSW throng to the city to be a part of this ground-breaking show. The City2Surf 2011 was held on August 14, and saw a record number of 85,000 participants from all walks of life who ran together to raise money for a range of different charitable organisations.

City2Surf is the world’s largest fun run, spanning a 14km stretch, starting from the heart of the city’s CBD, winding its way through streets, to finally finish at the picturesque Bondi Beach. This year, the annual event attracted an enthusiastic and motivated crowd who joined fellow-participants in boosting up the spirit of the event, with some even sporting exciting, unusual or eccentric couture as a part of their ensemble. Participants had a choice of running, walking or both, and everyone joined in the fun, from the fitter athletic types, to septuagenarians, octogenarians, those in wheelchairs and even young children.

Several Indian-origin Australians participate in the City2Surf each year, but in 2011, the numbers seem to have certainly swelled. Some of the participants shared their experiences on the run with Indian Link.

More Indian participation

Avijit Sarkar decided to take the City2Surf challenge at his own pace. He mostly walked the 14kms, ending the race at a fair 21/2 hours. However, it was Avijit’s seventh year of participation in the event, and once again, he enjoyed it thoroughly. This time it was about absorbing the atmosphere, taking the event in his stride and simply making a good effort in completing the course. Avijit’s wife Palu also participated, supporting the Breast Cancer Institute and proving that her fitness regime rocks!

Avijit did see a fair amount of sub-continent participants, but feels that many more people of Indian origin could join in the event. “I sent out an email about the event, so that friends could join in. What would be great would be to see more Indians taking part and making an impact with their presence,” he said.

“Especially youngsters; they should be able to prove their mettle and their fitness. I hope the Indian participation will increase next year,” he added.

Avijit Sarkar with wife Palu

Fit for the family

Sanjiv Dubey certainly took the race seriously, as his whole family joined in. Sanjiv made it to the finishing line in a mere 71.15 minutes, but insisted that he wasn’t quite happy with his time. “In 2010, my time was 67 minutes, and this year I aimed to make it in less than that.

However, my training regime before the race was a bit erratic, and would have contributed to my loss of time,” he stated. Sanjiv’s wife Shalini ran too, albeit for the first time, like their 6 year old son, Dave Sarang. Daughter Shubhika (13) did well, coming 29th in her age group. As a fitness coach, Sanjiv firmly believes that training at least six to eight weeks in advance is the key to building and maintaining endurance for such an event. “It’s a feeling of great satisfaction to achieve a milestone you have set for yourself,” he said. “You feel the need to improve and set the bar higher for the next time.” Even young Dave was enthusiastic about his debut City2Surf experience, and made it the whole way, running with his dad over the last two kilometres.

14<>AUGUST (2) 2011

Sanjiv averred that in addition to raising funds for charity, the event would help raise awareness of the importance of physical fitness. And although he did see a fair number of Indian-origin people in the throng, Sanjiv felt that there could have been more. “The Indian community media should take on the responsibility of publicizing such an event,” he said. “If people know more about the run, they will be happy to participate. And if they try the run just once, they will want to keep coming back. Its an experience of a lifetime and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And so will they!” he added.

The whole family suffered hardly any illeffects from their participation, apart from sore calves and hamstrings, but they didn’t take long to bounce back to normal. Sanjiv is convinced that the whole family will be participating in future runs. “For us it will be one of our annual family events which we do together,” he said. “And I’m sure we’ll enjoy the future ones as much as we enjoyed this year’s event!”

Sanjiv Dubey (second left) with family

NATIONAL EDITION

www.indianlink.com.au

Ranjini Thirumalai

Walk with a view

who can encourage their employees to participate. “A lot of companies do this, and it creates better awareness. I know that some of the Indian communities also promote the event and people get together to train and eventually participate as a team, but it is not done on a major scale. One needs the commitment to join this event not just for a good cause, but also to promote a healthy lifestyle especially among those reaching middle age,” she claimed.

Although the walk would have been considered gruelling by others, Ranjini didn’t find it particularly intense. Perhaps its because she has walked through Himalayan passes in recent trips to India. Whatever the case may be, Ranjini’s stamina was well up to meeting the needs of the run. She chose to support the Asthma Foundation to help support people suffering from this common ailment here in Australia.

Ranjini has a lot of catching up to do when compared to her husband Jayanta who has been participating in the City2Surf since the past 15 years. A staggering number, but now that she’s got her trainers on, Ranjini’s ready to take on the challenge again next year.

A relaxed run

making it to the finishing line in under 100 minutes. Gokul mostly walked the distance, in an experience which was a personal triumph for him.

“Apart from the festive atmosphere, I think the run was good in spreading the message of physical fitness awareness,” says Shankar. “We tend to take our health for granted, and its good to see so many fit people on the streets, some even 80+ years! I feel young people should participate as they have the energy and the enthusiasm to do the whole route, and can be an inspiration to us.”

Shankar and Gokul had sore calves the next day, but the pain wore off soon enough, motivating them into the decision to make the City2Surf run an annual one.

Kilometres didn’t matter

us! The atmosphere was great!”

Amongst Devna’s group of friends were three Scottish exchange students from Edinburgh.

“I thought it would be good to show them Sydney in a different light. They also got to see an interesting aspect of Australia – that we love to have a good time while helping someone in need. They loved every minute of it!” she said.

The exchange girls emailing their parents excitedly, after viewing their pictures on the event’s website. “After the run, as we sat on Bondi Beach massaging our sore feet, I was quite sure that I would be back again next year,” she concluded.

For Ranjini Thirumalai, completing the City2Surf course in 129 minutes gave her a tremendous feeling of achievement. It was her first time to participate in the event, and the time she clocked was better than Ranjini had anticipated. “I have rediscovered the pleasure of walking,” she said. “My colleagues at work and myself walk whenever we can, during lunchtime and after work, and we keep a note of the amount of steps we take via a pedometer. This was my pre-event training regime,” she added.

For Ranjini, the 14km walk was a chance to savour not just the uplifting mood of the people around her, but also the wonderful views that were on offer along the way. “I did the route up Heartbreak Hill with no visible effort, and the views along Bondi were just incredible. It was an unforgettable experience,” she said enthusiastically. But in addition to these spectacular sights were others that made her feel motivated, like the 10 year old jogging steadily besides his father, asking just once if the finishing line was in sight!

Ranjini feels that the event will be much more popular if it is sponsored by companies,

Shankar Ramanathan has participated in the City2Surf run about 4-5 times in the past, but this was the first year in which he was joined by his son, Gokul (21). Running in support of Autism Spectrum (Aspect), Shankar was enthusiastic about the atmosphere at the event. “It was wonderful to be a part of such a motivated, happy crowd,” he said with evident pleasure. “There was something wonderful about running alongside the old, young, male, female, disabled…everyone who contributed to the festive atmosphere!”

Shankar has participated in the City2Surf event before, and because he enjoys running for relaxation as well, being a part of the jogging crowd was an enjoyable experience.

A good long-distance runner in his youth, Shankar ran on his own, taking his time and Shankar Ramanathan with son Gokul

Devna Luthra with friends

NATIONAL EDITION

Devna Luthra began the walk body-to-body with other paticipants at 9.30am. She was with a group of 5 other friends; they had travelled to Bondi by public transport from home. “But the crowds did not bother us at all – everyone looked happy and friendly. We pointed out the dress-ups to each other and laughed. There was a couple in chicken suits and a dog was barking away at them. The morph suit guys were so funny,” she recollected.

Devna and her friends hadn’t prepared for the walk at all, but it turned out easier than she thought. The kilometre markers came up quite quickly, perhaps because they were laughing, talking and singing all the way. There were people on the sides serving water and Gatorade every so often, and there was music on the sides constantly. “It was so much fun,” she said enthusiastically. “People who lived in the area were watching us over their champagne glasses, and probably laughing at

The City2Surf 2011 certainly proved to be an inspiring event, and as the above participants hope, let’s all make an attempt as a community to join in next year’s event to raise money, give our health a boost and have a great time!

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 15

16 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

Mann Travel gives you the best of both worlds.

Our clients trust us to be competitive in pricing. But more importantly, they know us to be unmatched in service. When you fly with Mann Travel, you’ll know the difference between a cheap air ticket seller and a responsible travel agent.

Book your next flight with us and enjoy the difference.

Once you fly with Mann Travel, you stay with us.

INDIA • PAKISTAN • UK • SRI LANKA • BANGLADESH • NEPAL • SINGAPORE • MALAYSIA • CHINA

Now in Parramatta Call 9762 8100 *conditions apply.

Our travel Partners

*September Special! $20 voucher! $20 voucher with every adult and child Singapore Airlines ticket purchased from Mann Travel

PROUD SPONSORS OF: Falguni Pathak Show Pankaj Udhas Concert UIA Independence Day Fair

Licence No. 32789 ABN 43127288224

Shop 2/55-67 George Street Parramatta 2150 Ph: 9762 8100 Timing: MON-FRI: 9.30AM-6.00PM, SAT-9.30AM-4.00PM

Book online: www.manntravel.com.au • info@manntravel.com.au EXPERIENCED TRAVEL CONSULTANT REQUIRED IN SYDNEY 9762 8100

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 17

FASHION COMMUNITYSCENE

www.indianlink.com.au

Kirtans and jhulan at Janmashtami celebrations

A vedic drama based on Lord Krishna’s interaction with his friend Sudama was one of the highlights of the day

To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temple in North Sydney, ISKCON or “Hare Krishnas” as they are affectionately called, recently celebrated Krishna Janmashtami on a grand scale at the University of Western Sydney (Parramatta Campus).

The festival attracted thousands of visitors from both the Indian subcontinent and the broader Australian community. Visitors were treated to a riot of colour, costumes, music, dance, meditation, yoga, children’s activities and sumptuous vegetarian food, the trademark of the Hare Krishnas.

It was an ideal day out for the families, as Mr. Navneet Anand, visitor to the event noted, “The festival provided exposure to India’s heritage, culture, tradition and its rich spiritual history. This is particularly important for our children who, being raised in a foreign country, can be somewhat disconnected from their origin and ancestry.”

The fun began at 11am and continued all through the day. The stage at the magnificent University auditorium was the platform for some wonderful performances by well-knowN Sydney dance groups, including Geetanjali Dance School, Kakuli Mukherjee Group, and the rendition of devotional songs by Vinod Rajput.

18 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

A Vedic drama based on Lord Krishna’s interaction with his close friend Sudama was performed and had many amongst the audience enthralled, some even getting teary-eyed.

“For me, the drama was definitely the highlight of the festival. The performances were excellent and the messages were subtly presented in a thoroughly entertaining way,” remarked Rajan Sharma of Chatswood.

The Deity of the Lord rested upon a beautiful jhulan and visitors were invited to swing the jhulan and offer aarti to the Lord. There was also a fascinating astrology seminar by HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj.

Relishing the pleasantly sunny weather, the children seemed to be the happiest with an array of activities specifically for them including jumping castles, a colouring competition and gopi dots/face painting (quite a few parents appeared tempted into trying them too).

A variety of stalls adorned the venue, catering to the tastes of visitors from all walks and stages of life. The ladies were happy as their love for clothes, jewellery and henna were displayed via stalls showing off their attractive wares and services.

Flaunting henna-painted hands, Sarah from New Zealand beamed from ear-to-

ear. “I had a great time. The yoga was so relaxing, the kirtan was transcendental, the music and dance performances were amazing, and the flavours of the food set my tastebuds on fire,” she stated enthusiastically.

Interestingly, the entire festival had been arranged with the help of more than 250 volunteers, many of whom had spent months planning the event.

The mela culminated with a soul-stirring

kirtan which almost blew the roof of the auditorium. It capped the end of a fine day – if you sought a spiritual experience, excellent food, music and dance performances and a great day out, you would not have been disappointed. The Krishna Janmashtami celebrations at the North Sydney temple will continue over August 21-22 as well, so don’t miss out.

Aseem Arora

INDIAN LINK

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 19

SPORT

www.indianlink.com.au

Breaking new ground Indian Tigers, a team comprising of 12 Indian and 17 Indian Australian players, is participating in a keenly-contested Australian Rules Football tournament

BY RITAM MITRA

Australian Rules Football is something we are accustomed to seeing on television during a lazy weekend, but how much do you actually know about the sport? As the AFL International Cup unfolds in Sydney and Melbourne this month, there will be some excited young Indians on tour keen to impress on a world stage as part of the Indian Tigers. There are 17 other teams vying for the title, though; and although Australia does not take part due to its obvious dominance of the sport, the AFL International Cup is a hotly contested competition.

Commonly (and incorrectly) referred to as AFL, the football code itself is actually Australian Rules, AFL being both the name of the competition and the governing body. AFL was initially referred to as VFL, dating back to 1859. Indeed, the name AFL was only adopted in 1990 to cover for the expanding popularity of the sport. This explains the dominance Victorian teams traditionally enjoy in the league.

However, Australian Rules Football is not extremely popular overseas – indeed, it is through the AFL itself that the The Indian Tigers International Cup is being touched down in conducted, in an effort Australia on August to support international 11th, ranked 17th in Aussie Rules programs.

This year, for the first time the competition in the Cup’s short history, nominal prize money of $6000 is being offered to the winner of Men’s Division 1, with runners up to be awarded $3000 and $1750 respectively.

Meanwhile, Men’s Division 2 champions will be awarded $1000 and Women’s Division 1 toppers will receive $2000 and $1000 respectively. While the figures are not massive, it is important to note that this is being funded purely through the AFL and the prize money is to be distributed not to the players, but in the form of grants to the conveners of Australian Rules Football in the successful countries.

The Indian Tigers touched down in Australia on August 11th, ranked 17th in the competition. India lost to Sweden and NZ in the initial seeding rounds, and thus find themselves in Division 2 along with Fiji, France, China, Timor-Leste, and quite possibly the story of the tournament – the “Peace Team”, comprising 13 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

AFL India currently has programs in Kerala and West Bengal, and the India team consists of 12 players from India as well as 17 members from the Australian Indian community – the names of the players are as diverse as the range of regions they come from, including Chokshi, Banerjee, Kailasanathan, Lakshmaiya and Mascarenhas.

20 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

The Indian Tigers

Sudip Chakraborty, both president of AFL India Indian Tigers’ first Cup 3 years ago, and accordingly and the team’s captain, believes there is a lot more Nugent has arranged several social gatherings and to the tour than just AFL. He stated, amongst dinners in order to meet and mingle with other other things that, “we [the team] will look forward nations competing at the tournament, as well as the to meeting the participating teams and also local local Melbourne community. “This year, the Indian football teams in Melbourne.” team would like to take this to the Asked what drew him to the next level by meeting with local Sudip Chakraborty, game, Sudip comments that it’s both president of AFL football teams and potentially an the pace of the game which AFL club.”

India and the team’s attracted him most, and he is One of the ways Nugent captain, believes there hopes they will achieve this is by working hard to develop several programs to further the game is a lot more to the tour attending a Richmond Football in India – such as Indikick, a Club training session at the famous than just AFL program similar to Auskick that is Punt Road Oval in Richmond, currently in place here, as well as both conducting a session with the AussieX which was taken to over club juniors as well as training and 70,000 Canadian students. The team is fairly young, learning valuable skills from the seniors. The Tigers with most players falling into the 21-25 age bracket. will oblige the club tradition on Thursday night of Ash Nugent, team manager, aims to continue volunteers serving and preparing dinner – the team on the “feeling of warm and friendship with the will prepare a traditional Indian dish, in an effort to teams participating in the tournament” during the build long-lasting ties with both the community and amongst the players themselves.

Richmond’s General Manager of Media and Stakeholder Relations, Simon Matthews, welcomes the Indian team, stating “This tournament is a great example of how Australian Football can bring together people from different cultures and backgrounds, to compete in Australia’s iconic sport.

We are proud to be supporting the Indian Tigers and look forward to welcoming them to Punt Road Oval”.

The tournament will culminate in a final at the MCG on August 29, as a curtain raiser to the Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs game. So if you get the chance, by all means go and support the Indian Tigers as they attempt to promote the most followed sport in Australia in a nation that many of us call home.

INDIAN LINK

SPORT

www.indianlink.com.au

All weather fans

The Swami Army, a club open to all Indian cricket fans, has blossomed into a formidable force in the eight years of its existence

group received media recognition, where with interviews on Channel 9’s “The Cricket BY Show” as well as NDTV and Nova 96.9, the RITAM MITRA group have now been officially recognised by Cricket Australia as the leading Indian cricket supporter group. Anoop Kalra, who coThe Indian cricket team’s tour of Australia founded the group with Manav Saini and Amit in the 2007/08 season was quite possibly the and Sumit Grover, states the group’s aim as to most eventful tour in living memory. Set aside “enhance the live cricket viewing experience in all the controversy surrounding the use of a fun, friendly, but Indian kind of way”. primitive insults, the beleaguered umpiring He hopes to replicate the carnival and dramatic sub-plots involving threats of atmosphere enjoyed by the group in Bay 26 tour abandonment though, at the SCG last time and there were several bright around – this time moments – not least of which What began as a play Cricket NSW has was the spirited support of on the name of the allocated them up to a steadily growing group of English “Barmy Army” 3 bays for both the Indian supporters now widely Test and the ODI to has now become known as the Swami Army. be played at the SCG, Formed during the 2003/04 a worldwide as well as the T20 at Test series, during which a concept,with niches of the ANZ stadium. spirited Indian side claimed The group is currently supporters equal honours in a 1-1 draw in negotiations with all around the world, with the world champion Cricket Australia for Aussies, the Swami Army is including the UK, USA, permission to have a the largest dedicated support dhol player amongst Singapore and group of the Indian cricket the crowd, another South Africa team. Starting small with feature that will help roughly 10 members, the create an “environment group has flourished in the last and ambience that is 8 years and now boasts an official membership Indian to the core”. While the SCG is always of 520, which is expected to rise after the “special” to the group, with many of them recent United India-Australia fair, and is being Sydney-siders, there are a number of already rapidly growing through social media supporters who follow the team around the such as Facebook (where it has over 1000 country to make their presence felt at every “likes”). match of the summer.

It was only during the last series that the What began as a play on the name of the NATIONAL EDITION

English “Barmy Army” has now become a worldwide concept, with niches of supporters all around the world, including the UK, USA, Singapore and South Africa. Although the Indian team’s current form in England has left much to be desired, the Swami Army are not a “fair-weather supporter group”. To the contrary, members will often reminisce about the 1991/92 tour, where cricket fans in Australia first fell in love with the teenager Sachin Tendulkar, even during a 4-0 thrashing. The 1999/2000 tour was much the same, where a large group travelled to every game despite a 3-0 drubbing. We can expect to see (and hear!) the Swami Army in full voice even when the chips are down – which is perhaps when it’s most important to the players.

Even though India will, for the first time in history, come to Australia as favourites, Anoop believes it will be a very close tour, and the group will be “singing, chanting and dancing at the grounds, supporting our team, no matter what the result”.

What the Swami Army epitomises then, is an unwavering passion for the game, coupled

with patriotism for a nation which lives and breathes cricket. Although each and every member would love to see an Indian victory, the group stands for much more than a desire for success. At the heart of this not-for-profit organisation, which donates all proceedings to a nominated charity, lies an underlying purpose – to form new friendships, to make their heroes on the field feel more at home, and to share in the company of one another the raw

emotion and unbridled excitement that, for these supporters, only cricket can provide.

For more information on how to join, visit the group’s website at www.swamiarmy. com, or join their Facebook group. Tickets were released to the general public on the 21st of August.

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 21

STAGE

www.indianlink.com.au

Annual concert sees melodious performances “Thank you for coming on time and not following the IST (Indian Standard Time),” was the first statement uttered by Mohit, MC for the evening at the Natraj Academy Students’ Annual Bollywood Music Concert. This observation is worth a mention, after all punctuality is an important parameter to measure the audience’s interest and eagerness.

At that point I knew that I was amidst two hundred odd people who seemed extremely enthusiastic and patient. My invite read, ‘Bollywood Ke Rang, Suron Ke Sang …A magical journey of music from old favourites to the new chartbusters’.

But this would not be a magical journey of music with some Bollywood star dancing to raunchy numbers, and thank goodness for that. As it turned out, the event held on Saturday, August 13 was an unassuming devotion of music lovers to their true love of melody.

“The student participants are all excited, and I am a student too. What they need from you is understanding and lots of applause,” said guru Avijit Sarkar, founder and director of the Natraj Academy to the enthusiastic audience. Avijit gave up a lucrative career in IT to pursue his passion in music and to spread his knowledge to those willing to learn his art.

The applause was already pouring in when Avijit introduced Sydney’s premiere band Jazba, and the first student participant Bharan Narulla, a defense solicitor, geared up to solicit the audience with his crooning. “Ameer Khan ka naam kitney logon ne suna hai?” asks Bharan, and the MC chips in with his quick sense of humour: “Ameer nahi, Aamir!,” raising a spontaneous laugh.

The Aussie accent aside, he put in all his heart to render Behti hawa sa tha woh from 3 Idiots.

From Indrani who hails from a musical family performing O sajna barkha bahaar aayi by Lata Mangeshkar, to a melodious duet from Munish and Meena, to Nikki trying a Geeta Dutt number, to Razia and Rashmie who have been learning music for as long as they can remember, these students of the Natraj Academy certainly did their guru ‘Avijit Sir’ proud. And so did the first-timers. Shailesh from Fiji enjoyed his first stage performance, taking on Hemant Kumar’s track, Yaad kiya dil ne kahaan ho tum… with confidence. Kudos to him!

Among the students, Gitanjali had been

inspired by her dad, while for Dinesh, it was his wife who influenced him to pursue his interest in music. For Babu moshai Dipankar, switching from being a volunteer at the Toongabbie Legal Centre to a singer for a day came easy, as he lent his voice to Zindagi kaisi hai paheli from Anand.

What was encouraging and inspiring was watching ordinary people with extraordinary wills, who had no inhibitions in pursuing their interests, despite their grueling daily jobs. Like Nikhil, an architect by profession, aspiring composer Alnoor, fashion designer and multitalented Aditi, Odissi dancer and sitar student Padmaja and keyboard teacher Darshik, all were keenly willing to give themselves a chance to follow their musical aspirations.

Then there was Will, who simply stood out with his superb rendition of the Mohd Rafi song, Khoya khoya chaand, Bhaskar singing Pee Loon from Once upon a time in Mumbai and Rajesh Hegde’s ‘mast’ performance of Tere mast mast do nain, all of which need a special mention because they were called on for encores

and received the loudest applause.

And this report wouldn’t be complete without a mention of 10-year-old Medha who was quick to correct the MC saying, “My brother ain’t 18, he’s 16!”, referring to an earlier comment when her brother Neel was called upon to sing Deewana Hua Baadal. Having made her point, Medha took off with Babuji Zara Dheere chalo, a wonderful performance from this young girl who has been singing since the age of two. A member of the audience was heard to comment, “The best so far”, and most of the audience possibly couldn’t agree more!

The choice of songs was rather interesting; no-one went in for the easy ones! The students of Natraj Academy were brave enough to choose some of the toughest songs, only going forward to prove their confidence in their guru and his teachings. For those three hours I felt as if I was in India attending a cultural evening, where the love for music, Bollywood and everything Indian rules.

That’s when I said to myself, “Who says it happens only in India?”

Priyanka Tater

Stunning musical performance brings legend to life Wow! What a Bollywood experience for music lovers in Canberra as the event, Gata Rahe Mera Dil - Kishore Kumar Nite turned out to be sensational evening. The night of music held recently, was a tribute to the genius that was Abhas Kumar Ganguly, better known as legendary singer Kishore Kumar. Organized by Sur Sangeet and co-organized by Radio Manpasand and IAAC, the evening turned out to be a great one with a fantastic band and singers. Considering that it was a rainy day in Canberra, we were surprised to see a sell-out crowd at the event, which is an indicated that Canberra’s music lovers truly love their music.

The show began with a prayer and was followed by sensational dance performances by Ira Patkar and Sarika Gawande, who gyrated to Khaike Paan and Pardesiya, with the crowd appreciative of their performances. Soumitra Sarkar, better known as the ‘Kishore Kumar of Canberra’ was next, starting his repertoire with short, soulful melodies of Kishore like Zindagi Ka Safar, Badi Suni Suni Hain, Chingadi, each rendered to perfection from backstage. This offered a taste of what was to come, and when Soumitra took to the stage with the evergreen Main Hoon Don, his tremendous energy and enthusiasm completely captivated the audience and took them on a thrilling

musical adventure. His renditions left the crowd wanting more and Soumitra duly obliged with hits such as Tum Bin Jaaon Kahan, Gata Rahe Mera Dil and Chookar Mere Manko.

After the interval Soumitra took centrestage again with a masterful performance of Hume Aur Jeene Ki. Right from his rendition of the slow version of Na Jane Kyon Dil Ko the audience could not help but clap to the effect he created, and the song received the best applause of the evening. Soumitra displayed his versatility in singing Kishore numbers through a highly versatile masti medley, yodelling in Jhumroo, the female voice in Aake Sidhi Lagi to the naughty touch in Mere Bhole Balaam were all fantastic.

From lilting ballads to upbeat dance numbers, Soumitra showed remarkable

finesse with a voice that was pure and uplifting.

Soumitra was ably assisted on the night by Dilip Bhave, an accomplished singer from Sydney, who mesmerized the audience with his renditions of O Mere Dil Ke Chain and O Sathi Re, among others. Chondryma Chakrabortti who recently migrated to Canberra, wooed the audience with with her sweet voice, singing hits such as Mere Naina Sawan Bhado and Ina Mina Dika. Both Dilip and Chondryma put in excellent performances on the evening. Duets such as Intehaan Ho Gayi, Lekar Hum Deewana Dil and others were performed by Soumitra and Dilip with Chondryma, bringing in heartfelt applause from the appreciative audience.

The band, Saaz is a premier group from Sydney, and is widely regarded as the best band in Australia. With Bobby on the keyboard, Vinnie on lead guitar, Manoj on tabla, Sanjeev on congo, Neil on drums and Shalen on bass guitar, they ably matched the artistes to make the evening a resounding success.

All in all, Soumitra enhanced his reputation even further and justified laying a claim to the crown of ‘Kishore Kumar of Australia’. Soumitra’s website www.sursangeet.com has clips of his performances.

The evening MCs were the very popular Radio Manpasand host duo Manish and Mani, and was sponsored by Vision Asia, Inderjeet Chaddha of Luton and Talent International.

Manish Raj

22 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

PEOPLE

www.indianlink.com.au

It’s tiffin, not takeaway The trend of home-cooked food is fast catching on, as Indian restaurants fail to deliver the goods to their discerning customers

BY SREEDHEVI IYER

There used to be a time in Brisbane when Indian international students, professionals on work visas, and newly arrived housewives, all had one similar grouse. You couldn’t find proper Indian food anywhere. Sure, there are the restaurants and curry houses, but a good meal there was expensive, it was too heavy, it had obviously been altered to suit the Australian palette, and it left you feeling dissatisfied. Because, let’s admit it, nothing beats ghar ka khana!

Just not jhootha Indians treasure home cooked food. It has always been viewed as being superior to restaurant food, both in terms of hygiene and nutrition. Vir Sanghvi, the renowned journalist and food connoisseur, confesses in his book Rude Food that urban centres in India aren’t up to par in terms of the restaurant culture despite the rapidly-changing country, due to this very idea.

He has a point, but if you ask any selfrespecting Indian housewife in Mumbai or Brisbane, she would point out the very prevalent concept of “jhootha” that is, cross-contamination, which forms a large reason behind the preference for home-cooked food. Crosscontamination is a result of ritual purity and cleanliness when it comes to the preparation, cooking, and consumption of food, according to ancient Ayurvedic principles. It is similar to the Australian food taboo of double-dipping, but far more complex, involving specific utensils for specific foods, not mixing meat and vegetables, so on and so forth.

A tiffin solution Naturally, then, to consume food outside the home – “hotel food”, as our mothers and grandmothers would say, with disguised derision – would mean not knowing how the food had been cooked in the kitchen, and whether the jhootha rules had been obeyed (most likely not).

It is this opaque lack of knowledge that has led to the tiffin culture so prevalent in Mumbai, and is making in-roads here. Workers in the city are far more comfortable having home-cooked food sent to them at the workplace, still warm and toasty in its vacuum sealed tiffin carrier, rather than having to contend with “hotel food”, and risking reprimands on the home front.

However, transplanting a culturally specific phenomenon onto a new land like Australia, has probably meant a change in the reasons behind them. Dilli Express, a Brisbane-based tiffin service, is the first official one of its kind, and its owner Natasha Anand, did not once mention jhootha as a reason behind the enterprise. “I just wish I had had the same service while I was working,” she NATIONAL EDITION

Bringing you home cooked delights: Natasha and Gaurav Anand

says. “So I thought, if I felt this way, there must be others here who feel that way too.” So Natasha obtained a license from the Brisbane City Council and set up her gleaming kitchen to cook for anyone who was interested. “I cook 5 to 25 meals a day, depending on my orders,” she admits. “And even though I cook Punjabi food, my Gujarati clients love it.” The clients would also love the fact that, without being conscious of it, Natasha separates the ingredients for her tiffin enterprise from that used for the family – a jhootha-safe concept!

The business perspective The Anand family has been the tiffinpeople in Brisbane for nearly two years now. Natasha cooks, and her husband, Gaurav, delivers. There are vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, as well as a paper bag of still-warm, homemade chappatis – a rarity in a place where Indians compromise by purchasing tortillas from Woolworths and close their eyes to pretend they’re chappatis once heated up. The Anands are also quite clear in maintaining their endeavour

Cross-contamination is a result of ritual purity and cleanliness when it comes to the preparation, cooking, and consumption of food, according to ancient Ayurvedic principles

as a tiffin service, modelled after what they’ve grown up with in India. Meals are currently delivered in takeaway boxes, although plans to incorporate tiffin carriers are underway. Gaurav works scrupulously in maintaining accuracy in his deliveries, and Natasha is insistent on receiving at least 24 hours notice for orders. “Otherwise I turn them away,” she says, shaking her head regretfully.

“I sometimes get calls from some Australians wanting something just four hours before delivery. I just have to tell

them I cannot make that deadline. This is tiffin, not takeaway.” Even so, there are some steady Australian clients among the predominantly Indian ones, who are drawn to both the authentic food and convenient service. Many of Natasha’s clients are those who miss their mother’s cooking from the homeland, those too busy to stick to a cooking schedule themselves, and those who are aware that Indian restaurant fare just doesn’t cut it.

Ironically, tiffin in Brisbane might just be the most gourmet Indian food one can get. If current food trends and shows like Masterchef are anything to go by, the world of celebrity chefs and Michelin star restaurants have proven that it is food cooked in the home’s kitchen by mother’s loving hands, that is the holy grail of cuisine. Today it is a rarefied, highly sought-after phenomenon, verily because it is disappearing so fast. In such an environment, Indian food that is cooked at home and delivered to your door seems too good to be true.

Just make sure you order 24 hours beforehand, though.

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 23

24 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

IELTS For expert coaching in

• Aged Care • Disability • Childcare • First Aid

Lowest Fee Guaranteed

(GOVERNMENT FUNDED & FOR FEE COURSES) (Eligibility criteria applies*) Certificate III in Aged Care (CHC30208)* Certificate III in Business (BSB30107)* Diploma of Business (BSB50207)* Certificate III in Home & Community Care (CHC30308)* Certificate IV in Disability (CHC40308)* Certificate III in Childrens Services (CHC30708)* Apply First Aid (HLTFA301B) Medication for PCAs/AINs | Manual Handling

• Power Packed Sessions.

• One and Two Weeks Crash Courses Available.

• Money completely refundable, if not satisfied with the first tuition session.

ENGLISH GURU

Suite -1, 71 A Macquarie St, Parramatta, Phone 0411 520 546, 9687 9741

www.englishguru.com.au

You can study these courses in class or online.

Classes will start on 30-08-11 Delivery Centres: Blacktown, Sydney, Parramatta If you’re working in Aged Care, Disability or Business Sector you could be eligible for Recognition of Prior Experience and qualify for a certificate.

Call us Now: 9635 7074 | 0413 664 800 | 1300 144 583 | 0412 580 887 Email: contact@jti.edu.au W: www.jti.edu.au

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 25

In this photo provided by India’s Gujarat state government, South Australia Premier Mike Rann, tries to operate a traditional spinning wheel during his visit to the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in Ahmadabad, India, earlier this month. Rann was in India as the leader of a business delegation.

Government open for discussion on Lokpal: Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently said that his government was open for debate on the Lokpal Bill and all concerned individuals should convey their concerns to their representatives in parliament and to the standing committee that is examining the legislation.

Addressing a gathering at the Indian Institute of Management-Kolkata, Manmohan Singh said that Lokpal Bill had the power to check corruption but could not solve the problem.

“We are to open a reason debate on all the issues. The creation of Lokpal as an institution will no doubt help but it will not solve the problem.”

Find out source of Hazare’s funds, Congress to government The Congress party in India has asked the country’s Central government to probe the source of funds of social activist Anna Hazare’s massive anti-corruption crusade.

The party also wondered why the US suddenly chose to remark on the movement.

“It needs to be considered whether there is any power which is supporting this movement which wants to destabilise not only the government but the country. We need to take the US statements (on the protest) seriously,” Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters.

“The US never supported any movement in India since its independence.

For the first time, the US said that Anna Hazare’s movement should be allowed and there should be no obstruction to it.

What was the need for the US to give this statement,” he asked.

He said India would exercise “appropriate democratic restraint” in dealing with the peaceful protest.

26 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

India-Russia JV to fund hypersonic missile project

BrahMos Aerospace will fund a joint project of an Indian and Russian educational institution for developing a hypersonic cruise missile capable of flying at Mach 7 or seven times the speed of sound.

BrahMos, an India-Russia joint venture, will initially fund $1 million each to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) for the project.

BrahMos, MAI, the Russian ministry of science and technology and the Russian partner in BrahMos NPOM Machinista signed an agreement on this in Moscow recently. BrahMos CEO Sivathanu Pillai, MAI Director Gerashenko Anatoly and Russian Federation Minister for Science and Technology Furshenko Andrei signed the agreement.

The new missile, capable of flying at more than twice the speed of the existing BrahMos missile, will need new technologies in materials, electronics, guidance, propulsion and warhead which the joint project is expected to develop.

Giving details, BrahMos public relations officer Praveen Pathak said the funding could be increased depending on the progress achieved by the institutes working on the project.There will be an exchange of scientists and engineers between IISc and MAI and the intellectual property of the research will be with BrahMos. The joint project aims to develop the next generation cruise missile based on scramjet technology.

Separately, the Defence Research and Development Laboratry (DRDL), an Indian public sector institution, is working on a scramjet for the BrahMos missile.

The engine will be integrated into the airframe, guidance system and warhead that are to be developed by the IISc-MAI partnership.

Further, the Indo-Russian Joint

Commission on BrahMos partnership has approved a list of countries to which the missile could be exported, Pathak said. adding that the meeting held in June gave the go-ahead for international marketing of the missile to non-NATO countries.

More transparency can bring down RTI pleas: Supreme Court of India Effective dissemination of information by public bodies and institutions can help avoid unnecessary applications by citizens under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Supreme Court has said.

“The nation does not want a scenario where 75 percent of the staff of public authorities spend 75 percent of their time in collecting and furnishing information to (RTI) applicants instead of discharging their regular duties,” the court said, adding that the law should not be allowed to be misused or abused.

If the information is effectively disseminated, apart from providing transparency and accountability, citizens will be able to access it and avoid unnecessary applications seeking details, the court said.

An apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik said this in their judgment last week while clarifying some “misconceptions” about the transparency law.

“The (Right to Information) act should not be allowed to be misused or abused, to become a tool to obstruct the national development and integration, or to destroy the peace, tranquillity and harmony among its citizens,” the court said.

“Nor should it be converted into a tool of oppression or intimidation of honest officials striving to do their duty,” said the judges.

The judgment dealt with certain aspects of the RTI Act while deciding in favour of students’ right to inspect and photocopy

Photo: AP/Gujarat State government

their answer sheets after the examiners have evaluated them.

Speaking for the bench, Justice Raveendran said: “The RTI Act provides access to all the information that is available and existing” with the public authorities.

“But where the information sought is not a part of the record of a public authority, and where such information is not required to be maintained under any law or the rules or regulations of the public authority, the act does not cast an obligation upon the public authority, to collect or collate such non-available information and then furnish it to an applicant,” the court said.

A public authority was also not required to furnish information which required drawing of inferences and/or making of assumptions, it said.

The judges said the public authority was neither required to provide “advice” or “opinion” to an RTI applicant nor was it expected to obtain and furnish this.

“The reference to ‘opinion’ or ‘advice’ in the definition of ‘information’ in Section 2(f) of the act only refers to such material available in the records of the public authority,” the judgment said.

Many public authorities, as a public relations exercise, provided advice, guidance and opinion to information seekers. But that was purely voluntary and should not be confused with any obligation under the law, the judges said.

The court said that the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commissions could not direct the public authority to take steps, which were not required or contemplated to be taken to comply with the provisions of the transparency law.

“The power under the act is intended to be used by the commissions to ensure compliance with the act” and to ensure that every public authority maintains its records duly catalogued and indexed in the INDIAN LINK

International rickshaw racers pose for photographs after their arrival to Bangalore, India, during the recently-held Rickshaw Challenge-Mumbai Xpress 2011. Racers from United Kingdom, Chile, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Irelandand Canada started their journey from Mumbai on 30 July 2011 and reached Chennai on 12 August 2011 covering 2,000km with the aim to create awareness about Freedom through Education.

manner and in the form which facilitates the right to information, the judgment said.

More Indian students seek admission in US

Reversing recent trends, prospective graduate students from India seeking admission in US institutions increased eight percent in 2011 after increasing just one percent in 2010, according to a new survey.

Ahead of India, however, was China which recorded double-digit increases in applications (21 percent) and the Middle East and Turkey (16 percent), according to the survey by Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

Overall the number of prospective international students increased 11 percent between 2010 and 2011 with the rate of increase for fall 2011 outpacing that of the last four years.

Offers of admission to prospective graduate students from India too rose

NATIONAL EDITION

8 percent in 2011, the first increase to occur since 2007, the survey noted.

For prospective graduate students from India, applications increased for the second year in a row and offers of admission increased for the first time since 2007.

These figures suggest that the recent trends for India and South Korea are reversing and that the numbers of these students in US graduate schools will once again increase, CGS said.

Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi clinch Cincinnati title

India’s Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes have won their second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title of the season, defeating Frenchman Michael Llodra and Serb Nenad Zimonjic 7-6(4), 7-6(2) in a rip-roaring final at the Western & Southern Tennis Open.

The third-seeded Indian pair, winners of the Masters 1000 in Miami, executed

their plan far more efficiently than the flamboyant fourth-seeded Lodra and Zimonjic, back-to-back title winners at Washington and Montreal, on the Grandstand Court at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.

Paes and Bhupathi reunited on the Tour this year after a nine-year separation.

The Indians, the winners here in 2001, have a 25-8 win-loss record this year, having started the season winning the Chennai Open and losing the Australian Open final and then the Queen’s.

The victory must be particularly sweet for Bhupathi who last year lost the final with Belarusian Max Mirnyi to the Bryan brothers.

Bhupathi and Paes, runners-up at the year’s first Grand Slam tournament Australian Open, won the hard-fought match in one hour and 41 minutes in front of wildly-cheering expats waving their national flag.

IANS

Photo: Jagadeesh NV

DARLINGHURST Terrace house for Rent Denham Street.

Newly renovated kitchen and bathroom.

Long stay. A/C, polished floor boards.

2 large bedrooms.

One with large verandah & courtyard.

Large open plan lounge/dining room.

Lock up garage.

2 minutes from Taylor Square, Flinders/Ground & Bourke Street.

Rent $950 pw.

Please call Fernando on 0411 516 174

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 27

28 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

We are a ONE STOP SHOP for all your REAL ESTATE & FINANCIAL needs • Property: Buying, Selling & Property Management • Loans : Home, Commercial , Refinancing and Self Managed Super Funds Loans • Financial Planning: Retirement & Investment Planning • Superannuation: Personal & Self Managed Super Fund • Insurance: Life/TPD/Income Protection/Trauma • General Insurance: Home & Contents /Public Liability

WE PUT YOU FIRST

Paul Pius Financial Adviser M: 0401687842 E: ppius@anfg.com.au

Shaktika Singh Property Consultant M: 0405514712 E: shaktika@firstnationalblacktown.com.

Blacktown Office: 3/94 Main Street Blacktown, NSW 2148 Head office: Level 5, 4 Columbia Court Norwest Business Park, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 29

Sydney

These high rise buildings are not only the emblems of the city’s stature, they also offer spectacular panoramic views BY PETRA O’NEILL

In my short lived career as a Tour Guide, I well remember Jim and Dawn Walton who had just arrived at Sydney Airport from Texas. My job was to hold up a sign and escort them to their hotel. After I checked them in, I said my goodbyes. “We don’t know this city, we will get lost!” “A walking tour?” I suggested. “For as long as it takes!” Off we went to the Rocks and while headed in the direction of the Sydney Opera House, Jim called a halt to it all. But we haven’t seen Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the historic colonial architecture of Bridge and Macquarie Streets, the Queen Victoria Building, Strand Arcade or Chinatown! There must be an easier way they protested. So I led them back to the Shangri La Hotel and up we went to the Blu Bar on Level 36.

Whenever people ask me With stunning panoramic views how to get your bearings of all there is to see, they asked me describe the major sites. With in a new city, I tell them to to just one day before they joined look up and head for the their world cruise, they now felt tallest building that allows they knew Sydney. It taught me a lesson. Whenever people ask public access and now me how to get your bearings in whenever friends visit, a new city, I tell them to look up up we go and head for the tallest building that allows public access and now whenever friends visit, up we go.

So let’s take a look and view Sydney on high.

Hedged in by a green belt of parklands, Sydney was forced to go up rather than out in its quest for more office space and during the 1960’s and 70’s the first skyscrapers began to appear. Australia’s tallest building from 1938 - 58 was the AWA Building with a tower intended to replicate the Eiffel Tower now dwarfed by the skyscrapers that overshadow it. Most skyscrapers in Sydney are offices occupied by the city’s leading law firms and financial institutions or high rise apartments.

Let’s look at the tallest.

Harry Seidler, Australia’s most renowned modernist architect, designed several iconic high rise buildings including Australia Square that was Australia’s tallest building from 196775 at 170 metres. The Summit Restaurant on level 47 offers a fine dining experience, or you can head for the Orbit Lounge for evening drinks or mid morning coffee and take in the stunning views.

Located at Martin Place, the MLC Centre is 228 metres high and was Sydney’s tallest building from 1977-92. It too was designed

by Harry Seidler and remains one of his most 30 2 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

definitive works.

Other renowned high rise buildings include the British architect, Sir Norman Foster’s 240 metre high Deutsche Bank Place in Phillip Street completed in 2005 of glass and steel with a glass core lift that provides great views of outside and of the people working on each level. No one in the lift looked the slightest bit phased, except for me. Chifley Tower measuring 241 metres was designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates and was completed in 1992.

Nearby the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano’s Aurora Place (he designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris) at 219 metres and Macquarie Apartments were completed in 2001 with a curved shape intended to correspond with the Sydney Opera House. My attempt to gain a glimpse of the views was thwarted by the blinds being drawn in the office I visited.

The cantilevered Governor Phillip Tower at 227 metres completed in 1993 by Denton Corker Marshall is also in Phillip Street. When I was interviewed for a job here I made the mistake of declaring that it must be impossible to concentrate with views this good.

The 230 metre World Square located at the other end of the city covers an entire block near Town Hall. For 20 years until its completion in 2004 it was a hole in the ground. Nearby Sydney’s tallest building is the 243 metre Citigroup Centre opposite Town Hall in George Street designed by Crone and

5 INDIAN LINK

on high

1

Taylor had arrived from New York two hours earlier and this was the first thing they set out to do. After a comprehensive safety drill we followed our guide Lauren on Sydney’s coldest day of the year 8.2 degrees. Here I was, afraid of heights and crossing the scariest part, the see through grate under the bridge with the cars above causing the slightest vibration. “We’re only a third of the way up now guys,” called Lauren. Justin from Melbourne was behind me. “What do you make of it all?” I asked.

“Awesome!” If a ten year old celebrating his birthday can do it, should I be worried?

Then up three flights of almost vertical stairs to the steel arch, wide enough so that you never see down, only out. Then and for the next few hours, it wasn’t about me anymore, or how I was feeling, it was about what was out there, the absolutely breathtaking views. Awesome, absolutely!

4

3

1. Stunning views, Blu Bar Photo: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney 2. Sydney Tower Photo: 360 Bar and Dining and Sydney Tower Dining 3. Altitude Restaurant Photo: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney 4. 360 Bar and Dining Photo: 360 Bar and Dining and Sydney Tower Dining 5. The iconic Australia Square Photo: Petra O’Neill 6. Bridge Climb Photo: Petra O’Neill 7. Sydney on high from the Pylon Lookout Photo: Petra O’Neill

Associates.

Sydney Tower is the tallest structure at a whopping 309 metres. You can join the long queues to access the observation deck for $25 or you can enjoy fine dining and a one course lunch for $30 including lift access at 360 Bar and Dining with brilliant views of the city skyline. If a self serve buffet appeals, visit Sydney Tower Buffet and yes, you will be up very high.

But the ultimate experience must surely be the BridgeClimb, considered by Lonely Planet as one of the 10 best adrenaline rush experiences in the world, from the moment you put on your grey jumpsuit, fasten your safety latch to the metal static line and proceed up to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tim and

Facts Over 2.7 million people have climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb. 58% are international, 24% live in Sydney and 18% are domestic visitors including many celebrities. The oldest was 100 years.

Bridgeclimb At $208 per adult, the experience doesn’t come cheap, but you will never forget it. If you have an adventurous streak, don’t think twice.

BridgeClimb, 5 Cumberland Street, The Rocks.

Phone 8274 7777 website: www.bridgeclimb. com The Pylon Look Out provides exhibits on the history and construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s also the best place to bring your camera. Phone 9240 1100 Email: pylonlookout@bridgeclimb.com. Website: www. pylonlookout.com.au

Dining The Blu Bar and Altitude Restaurant, both on Level 36 of the Shangri La Hotel afford panoramic views and award winning cuisine.

Sydney Tower Buffet Phone: 8223 3800Email: enquiries@sydneytowerbuffet. com.au 360 Bar and Dining Phone: 8223 3883 enquiries@360dining.com.au website: www.

Harry Seidler, Australia’s most renowned modernist architect, designed several iconic high rise buildings including Australia Square that was Australia’s tallest building from 1967-75 at 170 metres sydneytowerdining.com.au Access is from Level 4, Westfield Sydney.

Summit Restaurant, Level 47, Australia Square, 264 George Street. Phone : 9247 9777 Website: www.summitrestaurant.com.au Where to Sleep The Shangri La Hotel has fantastic views with great value packages for an indulgent stay.

Shangri La Hotel, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks. Phone: 9250 6000. Website: www. shangri-la.com Budget accommodation is available at the Sydney Harbour YHA with panoramic views from the rooftop. 110 Cumberland Street, The Rocks. Phone: 8272 0900 Email: sydneyharbour@yha.com.au

7

6 NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 31

OPINION

www.indianlink.com.au

Dangers of democracy

Freedom of expression is no longer confined to mere words, but has now progressed to simply taking what you need, with a little help from friends Ironically this involved, very academic relationship with democracy has instilled a BY paralysis. A matrix of pressure valves that ROY LANGE emasculates any head of steam.

As the Arab world and the UK have experienced, Blackberry messenger and With the London riots, has the Indian Twitter does not only vent rage; it focusses Government appreciated that the new social that intense rage into a social changing media under the furiously texting thumbs of blinding light. The perfect opposite effect of the barely literate is a frightening adversary?

India’s democratic institutions.

Will this new social media be relegated as just Treasonous tweets and Facebook status another form of limp political expressionism updates are not diluted by coma inducing in India’s democracy or actually be a threat to committees and Parliaments. They are not the democracy? censored by the very well hidden ethics of With the historical cases of cabinet contemporary media editors. These short corruption, there has been much discussion explosive slogans are out in the world in a in the Indian media over the so-called Mumbai second. Unformed and mutinous. failure of India’s democratic institutions.

‘Flash Mobs’ is the phrase of the month.

The Twitter sphere was set ablaze by Where a crowd of hundreds or indeed youth thoroughly repulsed by Raja and thousands of disaffected mobile phone users Kalmadi’s ill gains, and often tweets pleaded assemble ready for what is almost exclusively for Government to be anti-social behavior. more democratic. But The Indian democracy This is of interest to law democracy has not failed enforcement agencies, complex now has the in India; instead, India has but it also should be of failed in democracy. For look and feel of a utmost interest to India’s 60 years it has embraced post-war computer that political elite. the philosophy far too what institutions did was the size of a three For enthusiastically and is now the youth of London drowning in the concept. bedroom house, and took attack? Westminster Indian democracy has an afternoon to balance and St Pauls? No. They seen the birth of hundreds attacked Footlocker your cheque book of institutions in a plurality and Debenhams. They that would have left Plato didn’t attack the radio gobsmacked. The Indian stations and broadcast a political agenda, democracy complex now has the look and they smashed high street shop windows and feel of a post-war computer that was the looted sandshoes. size of a three bedroom house, and took an This is the new paradigm. We are not afternoon to balance your cheque book. citizens, we are consumers. One in three If you have enjoyed the company of Delhi’s under-18 year olds in the UK are officially in pseudo intelligentsia, you will have a clear poverty. They are too young to vote, but not understanding of this diatribe. You will have too young to be disenfranchised consumers. ridden the acronym mail, Delhi’s hopelessly Young people that have been programmed complicated mocktail circuit. into believing they are hopelessly inadequate You will attend a seminar at the I.I.C. about without the latest accessory. the misdeeds of the I.M.F., then nip over Capitalist society has created such the road past U.N.I.C.E.F. to the I.H.C. to a an overwhelmingly powerful illusion, discussion on the C.A.G. You will then feel that consumers are ready to go to even robbed because you didn’t have time to go murderous lengths to keep up with the the H.T. at the I.T.O. to give your article on Sharmas. This is where India has to pay the C.W.C. focussed attention.

This is a marked point of difference to The mobile is the 21st centuries North Africa that was set ablaze by activists Kalashnikov. A weapon that can help exploding on social media after being form a flash mob in minutes. In the Indian violently constrained for years. context, a flash mob could mean hundreds To voice your democratic right in India is of thousands of protesters, not the few possibly far too easy, with far too many hundred that have England in a tailspin. avenues. The instinctive reaction of any Just six months ago Hindi was rarely seen political crisis is to form yet another on Twitter. Now it is increasingly more committee or dusty red bricked institution. common. It is an obvious sign that an allMany of the academics who attend these powerful media is no longer in the hands of never-ending talk shops are brilliant scholars. gymkhana groupies and is now in the hands When I watch a NDTV panel discussion of a far more representative cross-section of I am always impressed at how far more in society. depth, as compared to an Australian TV And the more India experiences economic panel, the debate proceeds. There is no progress, the deeper mobiles will penetrate scarcity of brilliantly eloquent, if not slightly down the rungs of the social economic bewildered, intellectuals. ladder. These Kalashnikovs will increasingly But this beehive of higher thought is be in the hands of people who have been in conjunction with the Brahmanic curse largely excluded from the economic miracle. where the intellectuals that flit between these This mobile owning underclass will not multiple forums largely do not connect give two samosas about the latest acronym thought with action. Carrying embryonic institution or this weeks drafting committee. ideas to full term and implementing the They will demand a Mercedes and a thousands of schemes that have been MacBook within a broadband instant with excitedly consummated by the heat of the a murderous passion that will not have the overhead projector, is not their bag. slightest whiff of democracy!

32 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

www.indianlink.com.au

OPINION

The numbers keep rising

India’s food harvest is capable of sustaining its population, unlike its counterparts in the West who are in slow decline million which is a better growth rate of 1.38%; it also has very limited land BY resources and is subject to flooding from NOEL G DE SOUZA both Himalayan-sourced rivers as well as from inundations during sea tidal surges.

Sri Lanka has the smallest growth rate India is celebrating a bumper food grains (0.73%) in the sub-continent. Interestingly, harvest (a record 241.56 million tonnes), Mauritius, which has a majority of Indian nearly 11% over the previous year. In origin inhabitants, has achieved a very millions of tonnes, rice output has acceptable 0.51% growth rate. increased from 89.09 to 95.32, wheat from India’s economy is currently growing at 80.80 to 85.93 and coarse cereals from a healthy 7 to 8% a year which should help 33.55 to 42.22 (a whopping 26% increase). to cater for the growing needs of its young There are other substantial increases such population for education, housing and as sugarcane production growing by 16% employment. Since independence there and oilseeds by 25%. has been much improvement in health, India’s food production figures disprove longevity and education. However, India the incomprehensible assertion of the being a large and well-populated country, IFRI (International Food Policy Research it is no surprise that there are forward Institute) that India (in its 2008 and and backward states. Backward areas are 2009 reports) is “alarmingly hungry” being identified and hopefully, attended (vide its “Global to. Rapid urbanisation Hunger Index”). and the expansion of its India’s economy is There were also manufacturing sector have currently growing unjustifiable resulted in great pressure on claims that India’s its resources. at a healthy 7 to 8% food condition In contrast to India and a year which should was worse than China which have substantial help to cater for the the unfortunate yearly population increases, growing needs of its countries of Subthere are countries whose Saharan Africa! populations do not show any young population for Prime Minister increase or even have a minus education, housing Manmohan Singh, population growth. and employment rightly rejoicing in Most of these countries India’s agricultural lie in Europe, particularly success, declared that “India needs a in Eastern Europe. Latvia, Bulgaria and second green revolution that is broadUkraine have had population falls of based, inclusive and sustainable.” India’s around half-a-percent whilst Moldova first Green Revolution helped the country and Georgia have had falls of 0.8%. meet a substantial amount of its food Japan’s population has fallen by 0.11% demands. However, it also earned a lot of with Germany having a much greater fall criticism from some Western critics for of 0.28%. This results in those countries doing exactly what their own countries had ageing and finding it difficult to find active been doing for almost a whole century, young workers and thus new taxpayers to such as building dams and using fertilizers support the aged. and pesticides.

Some West European countries are India will need to continue increasing growing at an acceptable pace such as its food production to meet rising local Britain (0.70%), Italy (0.65%) and Ireland demands. In the year 2009, the country’s (0.56%) though some of this increase population (1.155 billion) rose by 15.38 is due to immigration. Italy has a high million. In contrast, China’s larger percentage of aged inhabitants who are population (1.331 billion) rose by 6.8 being supported by way of generous million. India adds the largest number of pensions and healthcare; this is becoming people annually compared to any other economically difficult to sustain. country in the world and China comes Australia has, during this decade, second. maintained a higher population growth China has achieved a much smaller compared to Europe and has achieved population growth rate of 0.51% than this by encouraging its birth rate through India’s 1.34%. Both these countries have baby bonuses and good health benefits. It made large strides in population control. has also had a great population increase The latest census figures show that over through immigration. Net gain from the last decade India’s population rose immigration (permanent arrivals minus by 181 million or around 18 million permanent departures) was 13,573 during annually. The fact that it now grows by 1988-89, 47,521 in 1998-99 and 250,127 15 million annually indicates that the in 2008-09. The population growth population growth rate has been slowing rate, which was just over one-and-half down, though not quickly enough for its percent between the years 2000 and 2008, planners’ comfort. has escalated to over 2% in 2009. This India has done much better in has sent alarm bells ringing because of population control than Pakistan whose housing shortages, congested transport population of 169.7 million rose by and pressures on the education and health 3.59 million which is a growth rate of systems.

2.14%. As a consequence, Pakistan India and Australia have very different is facing an enormous task to feed its demographic profiles but both face people, particularly as it has very limited pressures for providing their populations’ agricultural land along the Indus basin. basic needs (housing, education and Bangladesh’s 162.2 million rose by 2.22 health).

NATIONAL EDITION

India Visa Application Centre FAQs on Indian Tourist Visa Q: Who can apply?

A: A tourist visa can only be granted to a foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives etc . No other activity is permissible on a tourist visa.

Q: What is the duration of Tourist Visa?

A: A tourist visa may be issued normally for six months with multiple entries. Tourist visas can also be issued for a period of 5 years to nationals of France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico but stay at each visit in India should not exceed 180 days. A 10 year tourist visa is available to US nationals only. Tourist visas are non-extendable, non-convertible and the final decision on the duration of the visa is at the sole discretion of the Authority.

Q: Are there any restrictions on number of entries to India or time limit to enter on Tourist visa?

A: (a) Foreign nationals holding Tourist Visas with multiple entry facility, should maintain a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to the country (b) If any foreign national is required to visit the country again within a period of 2 months of his last departure, such foreign national should obtain special permission from the Mission/Post concerned directly. The Mission/Post may consider such requests on merits of each case (c) If applicant is aware of need to travel more than once in advance, such requests can be made along with the visa application by providing a detailed itinerary by showing the reason of such requests (d) In all such cases, the foreign national should register himself with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival. An endorsement to this effect will be made on the visa sticker (e) If a foreign national applies for Tourist visa frequently i.e. within one month of expiry of the previous Tourist visa, the Indian Missions/Posts abroad would refer such cases to MHA (Foreigners Division) for clearance before grant of fresh Tourist visa and such cases will require a minimum of 45 days for processing Q: I am a person of Indian origin and received an Australian citizenship recently. Do I need to keep something in mind additionally while applying for my first visa to India?

A: Indian Passport Law does not permit Dual Citizenship; therefore all Indian Nationals obtaining a Foreign Citizenship must renounce their Indian Citizenship. If your Indian passport: • Is officially cancelled, provide a photocopy of the bio page (page with photo and passport details) as a proof • Is not officially cancelled, submit the original Indian Passport for cancellation, a copy of your Australian OR Foreign Citizenship Certificate and FORM N • If your Indian Passport is lost and not in your possession, submit a Statutory Declaration attested by a Justice of Peace with details on the reason for the passport not being in your possession. Also submit a copy of your Australian OR Foreign Citizenship Certificate and FORM N. klist

Chec

Q: What documents do I need to apply for my children who are minor?

A: Following documents are required:• Copy of birth certificate of minor. In case of the minor’s father status being unknown, a Statutory Declaration attested by a Justice of Peace is required from the mother stating the same • Parent’s passport copies (page with photo/signature) • No objection letter (letter of consent) signed by both parents OR signature of both parent’s on the visa application form • In case of single parent / guardian, submit additional documentary proof such as custody papers / death certificate of the deceased parent / proof of single parent status Q: How to apply?

A: Please log on to http://www.vfs-in-au.net/tourist.html to download the application form and checklist for the documents to be submitted along with the applications.

Q: I am planning to go to India in 6 months time; can I apply now for a visa?

Visa duration starts from the date of the issuance of visa by the authorities and can not be issued with futuristic dates. However, there are no restrictions on applying for the visa in advance. Applicants are required to plan their application as per their scheduled travel.

Q: I have to travel to India on an emergency. In that case, how can I avail of a visa on urgent basis?

A: Visa applications on emergency basis are accepted only in cases of Medical Emergencies / Unfortunate Event in the family or on the basis of Urgent Business Travel. Such requests should be submitted along with documentary evidence to enable the missions to decide on such requests in time.

For further information,

Please visit www.vfs-in-au.net You may write to visainfo.inau@vfshelpline.com Call 1900 969 969 / 02 8223 9908 Charged at 99 cents/minute (inclusive of all taxes)

Processing Time: Processing time for OCI cases is 8 weeks with additional 1 week for OCI stamping. Actual timelines will vary from case to case. Govt. of India strictly recommends finalisation of bookings after receiving OCI booklet and stamped foreign passport from the mission. Please visit www.vfs-in-au.net to check the processing times relevant to your application. VFS Services Australia Pty. Ltd. will be responsible only for accepting and managing the administrative tasks on these applications. However, the decision on processing time and the outcome of the application is at the sole discretion of the High Commission of India and its Consulates.

About VFS Global VFS Global is the world’s largest and most experienced Outsourcing & Technology Service Specialists for Diplomatic Missions and Governments worldwide. Today, VFS Global serves the interests of Diplomatic Missions of 35 Sovereign Governments and operates over 470(+) Visa Application Centres in 54 Countries worldwide and has processed over 36 million visa applications till date. For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 33

34 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

How to save thousands on your mortgage

By AMP Financial Planner Nalini Sankar*

Borrowers have been hit hard by interest rate rise in as many months, with the average family’s mortgage increasing by as much as $100 to $150 a month.

Consecutive rate rises mean many households will have to find ways to cut costs and budget better, but by simply changing the way they pay their mortgage, people could save thousands.

On the average home loan of $320,000 at 6.5 per cent over 30 years, a household can expect to pay $2,023 a month.

The total repayments on this loan will be $727,858 and the interest charged will add up to $407,858.

However, if people change their repayments to weekly, on the exact same mortgage, they could save $94,720.

By paying weekly, people can pay more off their mortgage each year because 52 weekly mortgage repayments at $504 equals $26,208. On the other hand, if people pay monthly they would only be paying $2,023 per month for 12 months which equals $24,276.

By paying just an extra $1,932 each year, people can end up saving $94,720 over the term of the loan.

In addition, if people overpay their mortgage whenever they can afford to, they will not only be able to pay off their mortgage

faster and with less interest, they will also build up a surplus that can be used in times of need.

So, how can people find the extra money needed to pay off their mortgage? By making a few simple lifestyle changes, most people would be surprised by what they can save.

Here are some savings tips to help get people started: • Do a budget – Write down everything you spend and then you will be in a better position to start saving.

• Cut back on discretionary spending – Identify the difference between a ‘want’ and a ‘need’ and reduce spending on the items you want versus the items you need.

• Spoil yourself – Set yourself savings milestones and reward yourself with a ‘want’ when you achieve those goals.

• Set up a savings plan via direct debit – A great deal of people ‘budget by bank balance’ - that is they spend based on how rich their bank account looks. If you set up a savings plan which automatically debits your account every month you will naturally spend less.

• Don’t mix business with pleasure – Separate your savings account from your everyday account.

• Reduce fees – If you have a banking setup which attracts high fees then change it. For example, if you don’t use cheques then don’t have a cheque book facility. Additionally if

you use EFTPOS frequently it is best to have an account that facilitates this cost effectively and make sure you understand the limits.

• Consolidate credit cards – Careful use of credit cards can actually save people money. By using credit cards for everyday spending and paying off the balance each month, people can reduce the number of bank account transactions they make and reduce their fees.

• Transport – If travelling on public transport, buy a weekly instead of a daily ticket and avoid filling up your car when petrol prices are highest.

• Food – Bring your lunch from home instead of buying it at work and save around $50 a week.

• Movies – Not only do cinemas offer deals on Cheap Tuesday, but movie rental shops often have ‘dollar deals’ on new releases.

Most importantly, people should think about starting a savings plan. Saving gives people power – the power to be able to cope with unplanned expenses and most importantly the power to enjoy life.

Savings should be treated as a bill. People should pay themselves first, even if it’s just a very small amount each week.

Nalini Sankar

AMP Financial Planner Associate of Financial Planning Association of Australia Limited Principal WealthSmart Financial Services Accredited Mortgage Consultant

Phone 0404 022 057 email nalini.sankar@ampfp.com.au Web: www.wealthsmart.amp.com.au

We beat the best with no less — TAI offers best Airfares and Packages to suite all budgets.

We Specialise in: Competitive airfares to India, Indian Sub-continent, Fiji, Middle East, Asia, Europe, South America, North America & Africa.

TAI— offers Special Round the World Fares and packages to suite both individual and group travel. TAI is focused on Tailor made and prepackaged tours.

Are you looking for air tickets from India our partnered offices within India can organize any travel or tours within India and prepaid tickets.

Travel Air International now offers language support, Languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Arabic

Office

Phone: +61 2 9631-0206 Fax: +61 2 9635-3829 Email: sales@travelairinternational.com Address: Shop 6 / 3, Aldgate St Prospect Shopping Village Cnr of Blacktown Road and Aldgate St Prospect NSW 2148

*Nalini Sankar is an Authorised Representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Ltd, ABN 89 051 208 327, AFS Licence No. 232706.

Any advice given is general only and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, before acting on any advice, you should consult a financial planner to consider how appropriate the advice is to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

TOURS TO INDIA

while you are visiting family or friends why not getaway and do a private tour. half day tours starting from $35 Per Person Full Day Tours starting from $90 Per Person Call us today take a pick from our range of city tours.

Call 9633-2045 and find out today

Think Travel Travel Air International—Branch Liverpool Office Phone: +61 2 9734-9333 Fax: +61 2 9734-9322 Email: sales.liv@travelairinternational.com Address: 50 Railway Street, Liverpool NSW 2170

www.travelairinternational.com NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 35

TRAVEL

Beijing

Modern city with rich pedigree The city is happy to flaunt its new-found magnificence without any of the reservations of the past

BY SANDIP HOR

1 “He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man”, said Chairman Mao. Obviously “I am a true man” are the words that burst out of me with gusto, after clambering up the perilously sloping carriageway to one of the crowning watch towers at the top of the architectural marvel, recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and China’s landmark for ages.

Located just outside metropolitan Beijing, the 2000-year-old Great Wall, which was built in stages starting from 2nd century BC to keep

2 the Mongols away, not rabbits as some may think!, is always at the apex of any itinerary to the earth’s most populous nation, which in the recent times has emerged as a sought after destination for both business and leisure.

Earlier when people thought of visiting China, the first image that conjured their mind was of a restricted and secretive regime where outsiders, were treated cautiously with suspicion. However things have changed now.

China’s reputation as a friendly and welcoming nation is on solid grounds and was well proven to the international community during the Olympics in 2008.

I get the first taste of that gracious “huan ying,” the moment I board China Southern Airlines flight to Beijing via their ultra modern hub in Guangzhou, a highlight of which is its brand-new, award-winning Baiyun International Airport.

As pundits say, if 21st century belongs to China, then China itself belongs to Beijing, the dynastic capital of the nation which has undergone rapid transformation in the last 36 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

couple of decades, to dazzle the world.

Beijing, formerly called Peking, has a rich pedigree: touched by Genghis Khan, kissed

by Marco Polo and ruled by Mongol, Ming and Qing emperors since the 13th century, this vibrant metropolis of 19 million lives today, like Shanghai, in an ambiance where modernity and antiquity embrace each other.

New arrivals like me are simply stunned to see how the old traditional “hutongs” (narrow alleyways) and “siheyuans” (single story dwellings on four sides of a quadrangle with a courtyard in the middle), share space

Beijing, formerly called Peking, has a rich pedigree: touched by Genghis Khan, kissed by Marco Polo and ruled by Mongol, Ming and Qing emperors since the 13th century, this vibrant metropolis of 19 million lives today in an ambiance where modernity and antiquity embrace each other with four-lane carriageways flanked by tall towers of glass and steel, as Chinese architects embraced height to augment the nations growing stature.

It’s just not the buildings, flyovers and the broad sweeping avenues filled with latest models of Mercedes, BMW, Lexus and hordes of bicycles, emblematic to the city will draw your attention; the changed social fabric, now appearing in multitude of bright colors instead of the singe red piece, will strike you as equally amazing. Fashion a taboo of the past has become an indispensable fad of lifestyle for younger generation, who crowd the growing contingent of trendy restaurants and bars

3 where businessmen discuss multimillion yuan deals over a glass of chilled Tsingtao Beer, while waiting for the medium rare steak to arrive.

I happened to be visiting this high-energy city just days before the nation celebrated 90 years of Chinese Communist Party, which has been ruling the nation since 1949 when Mao Zedong defeated Chiang Kai-Shek’s Kuomintang Party and established the People’s Republic of China. The journey of socialism was not rosy in a land that’s been imperialistic for millenniums. After lot of bloodshed and loss of life, the country now seems to have achieved a unique balance between communism and capitalism. Being central to

the change, Beijing over the years has leant how to work and play hard, and its engorging middle class, like Delhi in India, defines the present socioeconomic pattern of the city.

China wants the world to come and see first hand its astronomical progress. That’s why tour operators like Nexus Holidays, who specialise in offering “value for money” tour-packages with English-speaking guides (language barrier is still an issue in China), are sending planeloads of tourists from Australia.

There are so many tourists added to the local population everyday that you will hardly ever get a chance to capture anything in your camera, without someone in-between the lens and the object.

INDIAN LINK

www.indianlink.com.au

In Beijing, you will find most stunning sights from China’s past and present that reflect rich heritage and zest for modernisation: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Olympic Stadium, Lama Temple, Ming Dynasty Tombs, and the Great Wall are but just a few to name.

The spectacular Forbidden City acts as the bull’s-eye around which the city’s other momentous sites cluster. Home to Ming and Qing dynasty emperors for over 500 years, rest of China was governed from this 14th century built gargantuan palace till early 20th century. Entry for commoners then was “forbidden” and the price for uninvited admission was death

In Beijing, you will find most stunning sights from China’s past and present that reflect rich heritage and zest for modernisation: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Olympic Stadium, Lama Temple, Ming Dynasty Tombs, and the Great Wall are but just a few to name by strangulation; today just 60 Yuan will allow you inside. Conglomerated with 800 edifices and over 9000 rooms, some packed with precious royal memorabilia, this citylike complex occupies a primary position in Chinese psyche and hence was spared by the Red Guards during Mao’s ‘cultural revolution’ in the 60’s.

“Unfortunately crates of valuable relics were removed by the Kuomintang Party and transported to Taiwan”, revealed Kelly, our omniscient Nexus Holiday’s local guide, as we trundled from the Forbidden City to Tiananmen Square through the famous Gate of Heavenly Peace from where Mao proclaimed the People’s Republic on 1st October 1949. Stuck on its front façade is a huge portrait of Mao which was supposedly pelted with eggs during the 1989 demonstration in the front square, said to be the largest public arena in the world. Over a million people jammed the

4

paved quarter in 1976 to pay their last respects to Mao whose mausoleum lines on one side, while nation’s many august cultural and political institutions dots the others, Great Hall of People being one of them.

A short drive from the square is the Temple of Heaven. It’s generously ornamented architectural features have almost become a symbol of Beijing, filling countless pieces of China tourist brochures as easily as it does the horizon. This shrine in ancient times was used to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for a good annual harvest.

Beijing is full of attractions and it can be rather difficult to see, even the highlights, on your own, though the city’s public transport system, comprising of buses, trains, taxis and red hooded cycle rickshaws in some areas, efficiently takes you to almost every end of the flat metropolis.

However as the use of English is limited,

9 the best option is to use a tour operator, such as Nexus Holidays, who will fill your time with everything that’s considered mandatory for first time visitors.

In addition to meandering through key historical venues, we visited the 2008 Olympics site where the National Stadium, which being the centerpiece is popular as “Bird’s Nest” with the locals; explored a Jade factory; watched a thrilling acrobatic show; and, most importantly, savoured the world-famous Peking Duck at the celebrated Qianmen Quanjude restaurant.

The media hype about the new highspeed train between the Beijing and Shanghai touched me as well. This train link, covering a distance of 1318 kms in just over five hours, was scheduled for completion in four years, but to mark its inauguration with the 90th birthday celebrations, it was built in a record time of two years. This simply proclaims to the world China’s strength and ability to achieve the “impossible”, whatever it may be.

Travel notebook BEIJING

GETTING THERE - China Southern Airlines fly from Sydney and Melbourne to

Beijing and other cities in China via Guangzhou. The timings are very convenient as both ways it’s a night flight which give passengers a good night’s sleep for a good start for the day ahead. The airline has an excellent safety record and operates most technologically advanced airline fleet. From Guangzhou there are regular flights to Delhi, so a China tour can be combined with India visit as well. Check www.csair.com or call 02 92239788 / 03 8676 0088 for details

5

STAYING THERE - There are no shortages of hotels to suit every budget; Jade

6 1. Birds Nest- Olympic Stadium 2. Gate of Heavenly Peace 3. Great Wall 4. Forbidden Palace Complex 5. Temple of Heaven 6. Jade - pride of China 7. Tricycling Around 8.. Climb to the top 9. Famous duck restaurent

NATIONAL EDITION

7

Palace Hotel (www.jadepalace.com.cn), a favorite of group tour operators, offers good facilities. Located just across the road from the hotel is McDonalds which comes handy in case you feel like a break from local food.

TOUR OPERATOR – Nexus Holidays offers several packaged and tailor-made tours to China, Beijing included, with excellent 5 star accommodations, inland transport, meals and reasonable amount of sightseeing incorporated. Their 9-day China Highlights Tour ($599 all inclusive, except international airfare) is extremely popular. Check www. nexusholidays.com.au or call 1800 816 828 for details.

VISA - 90 day tourist visa can be obtained from the China Visa Application Centre (www. sydney.chineseconsulate.org) located at 290 Elizabeth Street Sydney 2000.

8 AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 37

38 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

TECHGURU

www.indianlink.com.au

Is the internet running out of space?

New technology may find it hard to communicate with its original predecessors, but the internet enthusiasts have taken up the challenge BY SUNIL RANADIVE

Recent news reports have surfaced about the internet running out of space. IT people have known about this limitation for some time, but there has been little incentive to do anything about it. This month we look at what the problem is, what impact it may have and how it may be fixed.

Back in 1981, when the internet was little more than an experiment, Internet Protocol Version 4, or IPv4, was created.

When your computer connects to the internet, it is given a unique ‘IP address’.

It’s like being given a room number when you check in to a hotel. Some computers (e.g. email servers) get to keep the same room number all the time so people know where to find them, but your computer might actually get a different room number each time you connect. Your room number will look something like ‘216.27.61.137’.

The good news is that the internet boffins know about this problem too, so they are working on transition mechanisms to allow the old and the new to talk nicely to one another The problem is that computers talk in binary (ones and zeros), so in binary your address looks like 11011000.00011011.00 111101.10001001. With a finite number of ones and zeros in this 8 character.8 character.8 character.8 character number, that’s a total of 4.3 billion unique addresses. But now that’s not enough, and some of those addresses are reserved

for internal company networks and other reasons, which make the usable number even smaller. The world now has too many computers and smart phones that want to be on the internet, and we’re running out of hotel rooms.

If we did nothing about it, we would literally not be able to connect any new computers to the internet.

But the internet boffins have been aware of this problem for some time and in Dec 1998 they launched a new standard for hotel room numbers (called IP v6). This new address would look like 2001:0db 8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 and would allow for 340,282,366,920,938,4 63,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 unique addresses! If you want to read that out loud, it’s 340 undecillion, 282 decillion, 366 nonillion, 920 octillion, 938 septillion, 463 sextillion, 463 quintillion, 374 quadrillion, 607 trillion, 431 billion, 768 million, 211 thousand, four hundred and fifty six.

The challenge is that the old address and the new addresses can’t natively talk to each other. This could mean that you may hear about a new site, yet when you

DEHSABZI LAWYERS Do you need legal assistance?

We Defend Your Rights

Criminal Law: Speeding, Drink Driving, AVO, Assaults.

Compensation: Insurance claims , workers claims, Business: Purchase and sale of Business.

Property: Conveyance, mortgages, leases.

Family Law: Child custody, Divorce and Property settlement.

Migration: MRT, RRT, and Federal Court work.

We also speak Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Tamil and Spanish.

Solicitors & Consultants: Sayar Dehsabzi, Siddique Panwala, Dr. Jyoti Bharti and Cesar Montenegro

type its address into a web browser or click a link to it on a web page, your computer simply won’t connect to it because it will use an addressing system entirely different

Some computers (e.g. email servers) get to keep the same room number all the time so people know where to find them, but your computer might actually get a different room number each time you connect to the one used before. Similarly, if your computer or smart phone can handle a new IP v6 address (Windows XP Service Pack 2 or newer software like Windows 7), it won’t be able to talk to anything on the internet that’s still using the old IP v4 address. And because the internet

Commercial Cleaning Business’s Established 22 years Multi million dollars service industry Commercial cleaning in Sydney area including Small/Big Offices, Schools, Medical centres, Stores……..

Starting price $15,600

2.5 years Contract guarantee Free equipment (Vacuum cleaners, Mob, Buckets……)

Free Training (theory and Practical)

Call us now for first free consultation:

P - 9635 5566 • M – 0419 492 478

Suite 5, Level 4 – 91 George St PARRAMATTA NSW 2151 www.dehsabzilawyers.com.au NATIONAL EDITION

is literally a collection of other people’s computers, we can’t just pick a date and change every computer over at the same time. If your computer or smartphone only has an IPv6 address, you won’t be able to access websites using IPv4, and vice versa. On the server and network side, it generally requires new hardware or new software to make the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, and that cost combined with the fact that nobody uses IPv6 right now has meant that only about 0.25% of the internet is accessible with an IPv6 address.

The whole situation then is kind of similar to the Year 2000, ‘Y2K’ bug. The good news is that the internet boffins know about this problem too, so they are working on transition mechanisms to allow the old and the new to talk nicely to one another. There has been no sense of urgency until now to do anything about it, as it’s going to cost them time and money to fix. This is the equivalent of the oil wells drying up, and us not being able to find any new ones. We know there are multiple alternatives like electricity or biofuels, but as long as we have oil, we’ll use that.

Contact

Sushil Gupta 02 9567 6388 Conditions apply

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 39

BAULKHAM HILLS

$439,950

PENDLE HILL

AUCTION

GIRRAWEEN

$499,950

ABSOLUTELY HUGE 11 Bega Street

This home was definitely built for a large family and now it is ready for your family to move straight in – don’t miss this opportunity. Features include 5 bedrooms, main with ensuite and balcony, plus office area, huge kitchen with lots of cupboard space, separate lounge(with a/c), family and living areas, large yard with built-in bbq area, veggie patch, laundry with 3rd toilet and shower, Lock up carport plus a lock up garage, this home is located in a quiet cul-de-sac.

ABSOLUTELY HUGE

This ultra modern, very spacious unit features 2 large bedrooms with built-ins, ensuite to main, very large living area, modern kitchen with gas cooktop & dishwasher, air conditioning, top floor with no common walls, 2 large balconies, security intercom, security car space for two all set in a popular location in Baulkham Hills.

OPEN FOR INSPECTION: SATURDAY 1:00-1:30PM AUCTION: SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2011 ON SITE AT 1:30PM

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw 0414 790 887 or Alan Fowler 0414 057 699

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Fred Khuarana

GREYSTANES

$435,000

WENTWORTHVILLE

AUCTION

A DESIRED LOCATION

Presenting this beautiful home located in a sought after Girraween. Featuring 3 good size bedrooms, formal lounge, separate dining, timber floor thought out, good size kitchen filled with cupboards. Great size backyard for those weekend BBQ’s, air- conditioning, single lockup garage. All within minutes walking distance to Girraween schools, station & all amenities. \So call now.......to inspect.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Fred Khurana

WENTWORTHVILLE

$280,000

IDEALLY LOCATED 52 veron street This 3 bedroom home (two with built ins) is ideally located in close proximity to trains, shops, schools and Westmead. Features include ducted air condition throughout, good size neat kitchen with gas cook top, neat bathroom, polished floor boards throughout, separate lounge, dine and sunroom, 2nd toilet and shower, good size yard and lock up garage – great investment or first home buy.

ATTENTION FIRST HOME BUYERS AND INVESTORS Perfect for the first home buyer or investor this 3 bedroom home ticks all the boxes. Located in a quiet street close to school and reserve its features include 3 bedrooms, built in wardrobe to main bedroom, bathroom, good sized kitchen with gas cooking, separate lounge with fire place, separate dining, ducted air conditioning, internal laundry, garage and carport.

OPEN FOR INSPECTION: SATURDAY 12:00-12:30PM AUCTION: SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2011 ON SITE AT 12:30PM

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw 0414 790 887 or Alan Fowler 0414 057 699

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alan Fowler

SOUTH WENTWORTHVILLE

$389,950

A MUST TO INSPECT Well located 2 bedroom townhouse with built-ins, air con, possible 3rd bedroom or study, modern kitchen with gas cooking, open plan lounge dining, quiet paved courtyard, alarm, extra shower & toilet in laundry & remote LUG with internal access

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Michael Cuskelly

ROOTY HILL

$329,950

GREYSTANES

Offers Over $449,950

TORRENS TITLE DUPLEX IN ACCESSIBLE LOCATION

Torrens title duplex in accessible location Offers fresh light filled interiors & private outdoor entertaining areas amid landscaped gardens. Located close to shops, schools & transport features: 3 bedrooms all with built-ins, ensuite, combined living/dining & modern gas kitchen, air con, 3rd toilet, intercom, & single remote LUG all set on 652sqm block.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Fred Khurana

NORTHMEAD

$359,950

GREAT STARTER

Situated in a quiet spot at the back of a well maintained complex is this lovely 2 bedroom townhouse featuring large main bedroom with ensuite, built in wardrobes to both bedrooms, modern bathroom upstairs + 3rd toilet downstairs, separate lounge & dining areas, modern kitchen with gas cook top, dishwasher and plenty of cupboard space, internal laundry, ducted air conditioning, alarm and intercom, good sized private back yard and single lock up garage.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alan Fowler

MARAYONG

$359,950

SPACIOUS & MODERN Well presented 2 bedroom unit featuring large lounge and dining area with r/c air conditioning, modern spacious kitchen with gas cooktop, modern bathroom, internal laundry, good size balcony, security intercom, undercover secure car space including storage unit.

Would make a great investment or first home buy.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alan Fowler

WENTWORTHVILLE

$599,950

BRAND NEW 4 BEDROOM DUPLEX

ABSOLUTE GREAT STARTER!

This well maintained clad home is an ideal starter or investment, located in a quiet street close to amenities features include 4 large bedrooms, polished floor boards throughout, separate large lounge and dining areas, 2 toilets, neat original kitchen and bathroom, external laundry and good size yard for the kids to play in.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw

WENTWORTHVILLE

OFFERS OVER $1.1 MILLION

Close to transport, hospitals & soon to be built the brand new Coles shopping centre.

Features: 4 bedrooms all with ceiling fans & built ins, ensuite & walk in robe to main, spacious lounge & dining, modern kitchen with gas cook top & stainless steel appliances, modern bathroom + 3rd toilet, ducted air con, Internal access to automatic single LUG, courtyard with both paved & grass area, water tank, Intercom, gas outlet & security system

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alan Fowler

SOUTH WENTWORTHVILLE

$489,950

SOUTH WENTWORTHVILLE $419,950

CHARMING STARTER

2433SQM

Fantastic location with city views. Potential 3 lot subdivision with construction of 6 dwellings S.T.C.A currently receiving a rent return of $730per week.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw

40 <>AUGUST (2) 2011

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Michael Cuskelly

Situated in a quiet residential street within easy walking distance to shops and station is this bright and airy 2 bedroom unit. Own laundry and carport in a small block of 6. This unit is ideal for the first home buyer or investor. Won’t Last!

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alan Fowler

TOONGABBIE

$359,950

HIGH POSITION CORNER BLOCK

If you are downsizing or looking for a villa style home but don’t want to be in a complex, then this property should suite you! This stand alone 3 bedroom Torrens Title home features large bedrooms, modern timber kitchen, modern 3 way bathroom, good size lounge and dining, lock up garage, good size courtyard and located in a quiet street close to all amenities.

Situated in a quiet residential street within easy walking distance to shops and station is this bright and airy 2 bedroom unit. Own laundry and carport in a small block of 6. This unit is ideal for the first home buyer or investor. Won’t Last!

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw

GREYSTANES

$799,950

A LARGE FAMILY HOME

WESTMEAD

$334,950

ATTENTION FIRST HOME BUYERS OR INVESTORS

Spacious 4 bedroom house on a large 1045m2 (approx) block close central gardens, shops, schools & transport. Features all bedrooms with built-ins, ensuite, sunken formal lounge & dining, rumpus with fan forced fireplace, timber kitchen with gas cooking, 3rd shower & toilet in laundry, security shutters, air con, ducted Vacuum cleaner, solar panel & double LUG with internal access. Bonus Feature:- Self Contain 2 room Granny Flat Semi Detach with Split Air Con.

Well maintained, modern & spacious 1 bedroom unit with built in, floorboards throughout with carpet in bedroom, modern kitchen, with gas cook top & dishwasher, air con, sunny north facing private courtyard & single LUG. Also includes down lights & track lights, window blinds, alarm, video intercom, secured swipe card entry to block & close to station, school, shops & Hospitals

WENTWORTHVILLE

GREYSTANES

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Fred Khurana

$449,950

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alex Mich

$419,950

INVESTOR DELIGHT

GREAT STARTER

Located in a quiet cul-de-sac in the heart of Wentworthville close to shops, schools and station is this neat 2 bedroom home featuring main bedroom with built in wardrobe, separate lounge, eat in kitchen, original kitchen & bathroom, separate toilet in laundry, ducted air conditioning throughout, enclosed veranda, sunroom, good sized yard & carport. Perfect for the first home buyer or astute investor.

Located in a quiet sought after street in Greystanes is this lovely 3 bedroom house sitting on 657.6sqm.

Features include built ins to all bedrooms, large separate lounge with air conditioning, ceiling fans, large sunroom, updated kitchen, neat bathroom, double lock up garage & carport. Great for the first home buyer or investor call now to inspect.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alan Fowler

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Alan Fowler

ROOTY HILL

CONSTITUTION HILL

$335,000

$365,000

STYLISH VILLA WITH THE X FACTOR

THE COMPLETE FAMILY HOME

This well presented House is situated on the high side in a small cul-de-sac. Consisting of 3 bedrooms, 2 with built ins, 2 bathrooms, internal laundry, Kitchen with Gas cooking, tiled floor, separate lounge, ducted air conditioning, covered front porch area, great for sitting back and relaxing or for entertaining. If this is not enough there is also a teenage retreat with kitchenette, shower, toilet and vanity and a 2 car Carport. Call now to arrange for an inspection.

LOCATION LOCATION

LOW STRATA FEES

Large 3 bedroom townhouse with built-ins features large lounge and dine area, modern kitchen with gas cooktop and dishwasher, ensuite to main, internal laundry with 3rd toilet, ducted air conditioning plus ducted vacuum, double lock up garage, courtyard and currently tenanted receiving $360per week.

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Leanne Ollerenshaw

Beautifully presented 2 Bedroom Villa featuring high ceilings & two big Sky windows providing an abundance of natural light, modern kitchen, spacious open plan lounge dining area, newly carpeted throughout, good size bedrooms with built-ins, modern bathroom with feature tiling & separate toilet, Remote single LUG, private courtyard ideal for entertaining & close to shops & transport.

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

Laing & Simmons Wentworthville 9688 4000 Contact Michael Cuskelly

INDIAN LINK

FOOD

www.indianlink.com.au

Winter winners

Make the most of what’s left of winter with these deliciously warm recipes

It gladdens my heart that we’re seeing the end of winter. Not that it’s been all that bad, but BY the thought of warm sunshine, clear skies and SHERYL DIXIT flowering bushes is a balm to my soul. But now, as winter comes to a close, it’s time to indulge in those gastronomic treats that will take a backseat in summer, simply because they’re too heavy to enjoy as a meal on a hot day. So here are a few recipes to try out before spring kicks in and we pack away winter cookbooks with our woolies.

Indian roast chicken

One of my favourites this winter has been roast chicken. It can be made in a variety of ways, but I’ve found that my mildly Indianised version works well specially with my older son whose now at an age where he’s willing to experiment with flavours. It’s not the traditional tandoori or tikka version, but simply a blend of flavours adapted to the traditional roast.

1 medium chicken 2 large onions 2 large potatoes 4 garlic cloves, finely grated 1 tsp grated ginger 1 tbsp haldi 1 tbsp red chilly powder (optional) 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp garam masala 2 tbsp flour 1 cup vegetable stock 8-10 whole peppercorns 6-8 whole cloves 2-3 sticks cinnamon, broken into small pieces Salt to taste Wash the chicken thoroughly and place in a deep vessel. In a separate bowl, mix together the vegetable stock and the haldi, chilly, coriander, cumin, garam masala

NATIONAL EDITION

powder and flour, until it forms a thickish paste. Make sure that there are no lumps of flour in the mix. When it is of a smooth consistency, add the grated ginger and garlic, and salt. Next, sprinkle in the peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon. Pour two-thirds of this mix over the chicken and coat thoroughly, including pouring a little within the cavity.

Keep aside. Next, cut the potatoes into cubes and the onions into large rings. Place the chicken on a grill at the bottom of a deep baking tray. Put the potatoes and onion rings into the vessel containing the chicken and coat thoroughly with the balance mix. Arrange these on the baking tray around the chicken, and pour over the balance mix. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees and bake the chicken for 45 minutes or an hour, until fully cooked.

Halfway through the cooking time, turn over the potatoes and onions. Pierce the skin with a skewer and if the flesh is firm, the chicken is done. Serve hot, pouring the gravy over the chicken and vegetables, with warm dinner rolls to accompany.

Tips: I find it easier to use a baking bag for this roast. It’s less mess and the vegetables and chicken cook well and thoroughly.

You can add an assortment of vegetables like carrots, snow peas, pumpkin and sweet potato to the potatoes and onions too.

You can use chicken stock instead of vegetable stock, but I find that it slightly alters the taste.

Roast winter vegetables

This is another winter favourite, simply because you can add as many vegetables to the mix, and it still tastes good. The only danger is that the kids end up picking out all the potatoes and veggies they like, and you’ll be stuck with the more boring ones…

8 chat potatoes (peeled if you prefer) 2 large carrots ¼ cabbage, cut into medium sized blocks ¼ cauliflower, cut into medium sized florets ¼ broccoli, cut into medium sized florets 1 large capsicum, deseeded and cut into large squares 1 large zucchini, cut into large rounds Bunch of small onions (shallots) 200 grams paneer, cut into large cubes (optional) 1 tbsp coriander powder 1 tbsp cumin powder ½ tsp tikka masala 4 tbsp oil 2 tbsp lemon Salt to taste

Warm fruit and nut pudding

Purists might find this recipe similar to a rich kheer, but the ingredients, cooking process and flavours make it quite distinct in taste and look. Children love it because of all the dried fruit and nuts.

1 cup cooked rice ½ cup dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, chopped dates) ½ cup walnuts, cashew nuts, chopped and lightly toasted 125mls orange juice 1 tsp honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 egg yolk 3 egg whites 1 tbsp butter

Pour the oil in a small storage container, and add coriander, cumin and tikka masala powders. Close tightly and shake the mixture until well combined. Add lemon and salt, close again and shake until combined, making sure that the powders are well dissolved with no lumps. Take a deep bottomed vessel and drop in all the chopped vegetables and paneer. Add the oil mixture to the vegetables and coat thoroughly. Take a roasting tray and line with baking paper. Spread the vegetables evenly across the tray, making sure that they don’t overlap. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees (fan forced) and roast for about 40 minutes, turning occasionally until the vegetables are completely done. Remove and serve hot with lightly grilled pita bread.

Tips: Pierce the potatoes with a skewer to check if done, as they take the longest to cook.

For additional flavor, sprinkle some lemon juice on the roast vegetables just before serving.

If you like coriander, garnish the vegetables with this freshly chopped herb before serving.

In a large bowl, mix the orange juice with the egg yolk, honey and vanilla extract. Add gently the cooked rice, dried fruit and nuts.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then add gently to the rice mixture. Pour into a medium baking dish already greased with the butter. Carefully place this into a larger baking dish filled with half an inch of boiling water. Bake for half an hour at 160 degrees (fan forced) or until the pudding is set. Serve hot.

Tip: You could use sago instead of rice, the consistency will be less grainy to the taste Use a metal spoon while scooping up the egg white to add to the mix, so that it doesn’t go flat again.

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 41

42 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

Even our deals are beautifully engineered

away or $58 $16,990 drive ^

Odyssey

Civic Si

New Jazz GLi

per A week

> 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine > 5-speed manual > Bluetooth phone > USB/iPod audio > Front, side & curtain airbags > Stability control > 5.8 litres per 100km*

away or $96 $29,990 drive ^

> 1.8 litre i-VTEC engine > 6 speed manual > Rear parking sensors > Automatic headlights & wipers> Dual zone climate control > Alloy wheels > USB connectivity > Foglights

per B week

away or $134 $41,990 drive ^

per C week

> 2.4 litre i-VTEC engine > 5-speed automatic > 7 seater > Climate control > Alloy wheels > Rear parking sensors > Retractable 3rd row seats > Bluetooth phone > Stability control > 8.9 litres per 100km*

Plus, hurry into Trivett Honda during August for great deals on selected Demo models including: BLACKTOWN

Driveaway

PARRAMATTA

2011 Civic VTi-L Manual, Alabaster Silver, Alloys, Rear Sensors, Bluetooth, 12kms, S/N 452250 2011 Civic Si, Milano Red, Dual Zone Air, Alloys, 6 Air Bags, 110kms, S/N 452331 2010 Accord Euro Std, Buran Silver, Rear Spoiler, Tint, Dual Zone Air, 4,014kms, S/N 452166 2010 Insight VTi-L Auto, Spectrum White, Sat Nav, Alloys, VSA, 5,900kms, S/N 452187 2011 CRV Luxury, Alabaster Silver, Leather, Sunroof, Rear Sensors, 3,855kms, S/N 452298

$24,990 $31,990 $32,990 $33,990 $40,990

2010 City VTi-L Manual, Alabaster Silver, iPod Connectivity, Cruise Control, 3,832kms, S/N 222512 2010 Insight VTi Auto, Red, USB Connection, Cruise Control, 1,050kms, S/N 223115 2011 Accord Euro Luxury Auto, Black, Leather, Front & Rear Parking Sensors, 5,060kms, S/N 223438 2010 Accord V6 Luxury Auto, Brilliant White, Leather, Navigation, 5,210kms, S/N 223348 2010 Odyssey Luxury Auto, Silver, Leather, Sunroof, Tri-Zone Climate Control, 2,856kms, S/N 223313

Driveaway $21,488 $29,888 $39,888 $42,240 $43,888

Visit www.trivett.com.au/Honda for more special offers.

Trivett Honda Blacktown MD13600

Cnr Sunnyholt Rd & Second Ave. Ph: 8822 1155. Open 7 days

Trivett Classic Honda Parramatta MD579

54 Church St, - Entry via Anderson St. Ph: 9841 4070. Open 7 days

Offer is available from Alphera Financial Services for business use vehicles on a commercial hire purchase agreement over 60 months at 8.95% p.a. (a) Based on drive away price of $16,990, deposit of $2,548.50, monthly repayments of $249 and a final payment of $4,332.45. Total payable where contract fully paid out at contract end $21,832. (b) Based on a drive away price of $29,990, deposit of $4,498.50, monthly repayments of $416 and a final payment of $8,997. Total payable where contract fully paid out at contract end $38,442. (c) Based on a drive away price of $41,990, deposit of $6,298.50, monthly repayments of $579 and a final payment of $12,597. Total payable where contract fully paid out at contract end $53,629. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Fees & charges are payable. Terms & conditions apply. Applications for finance are subject to Alphera Financial Services’ normal lending & approval criteria. For further details contact your local Trivett dealership. Vehicles available as at 11 August 2011. * Fuel consumption figures quoted are based on ADR81/02 combined test results. The Bluetooth word mark is owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and use of such mark by Honda is under licence. Please check the list of compatible phones at honda.com.au/bluetooth.

SC223110811

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 43

FASHION

www.indianlink.com.au

If the shoe fits!

Women love shoes, especially the ones they can barely walk in, but we all know that fashion usually wins over comfort

BY AZAL KHAN

Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to shop.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that women love shoes and buying a new pair of heels (or three) can bring on a feeling of exhilaration that always leaves us wanting more.

The love story between women and their shoes is one that constantly leaves men puzzled and shaking their heads with confusion. Whether it’s a pair of nauticalchic wedges or a pair of simple pumps in a bright pop of colour, shoes instantly boost our confidence, freshen up our wardrobes and flatter our outfits.

Let me explain a few of the reasons behind this love affair:

outfits need to match our daily activities and lifestyle. Therein comes the need for variety. After all, you can’t wear ballet flats if you are going to a cocktail party now can you?

Style is eternal You might cringe when you recall the neon orange leather jacket you partied in many years ago, however the shoes that you may have worn it with are still in fashion. We girls want to look good. No wait, we want

You might cringe when you recall the neon orange leather jacket you partied in many years ago, however the shoes that you may have worn it with are still in fashion

Variety is the spice of life Everyday we women are faced with one of life’s more difficult tasks: choosing the right pair of shoes. “Should I wear my 5-inch Wittner heels today, or my Ninewest biker boots?” In order to make those choices, women need (you guessed it) many different shoes.

We simply cannot wear the same shoe every day. We want change and we want to experiment with the myriad of styles available. We want to look fabulous all the time and still be comfortable. We need shoes to match our outfits and our 44 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

to look hot. And comfortable. And stylish and on-trend. See what I mean? Hence the need for the many pairs accumulating in our wardrobes! Medicine student Sophia says that a pair of statement heels such as Steve Madden platforms or pumps can instantly transform an outfit while a pair of timeless Jimmy Choo heels (her ultimate dream shoe designer) with beautiful feminine detailing can make you feel elegant and sexy.

It’s in our DNA Women are born shoppers. Some people collect books or movies, but women collect shoes – we can’t help it! As stylish ladies it should come as no surprise that we’re constantly on the hunt for pieces that are different, express our individuality and are wonderfully crafted. An eye for visually intriguing style and seeking out a shoe sale from a mile away is a true talent. We’ve all been there: unable to resist the shoe shops during sale season, we come out of the store with our arms laden with bags, hurrying to get home so we can try on our shoes again and happy with ourselves for snagging a good bargain!

Comfort Heels look hot, but let’s face it, a few hours of walking around in a sky-high pair of stilettos can be excruciating and leave our feet looking worse for wear. Journalism student Marni loves her nude Peeptoe heels, but says that it’s impossible to walk in them for more than 5 minutes because of their massive 12 cm heel. She says: ‘My mum once told me that “shoes aren’t meant to be comfortable…unless you get the ugly ones.” High heels can make me feel completely glamorous, but can also be something that threatens to ruin my night!’

Found a pair of amazing heels but don’t want to break the bank? Don’t worry, just take psychology student Shayaan’s advice: ‘shoes are an important investment for everyone…the rule is that you must always invest in a good mattress and a good pair of shoes because you will either be in one

or the other!’

Most of us alternate between high heels and comfy flats or sandals. And you know what that means…more shoes!

Friendship A pair of fabulous heels always looks good no matter what size we are and regardless of what our personal style is. A few extra slices of chocolate cake during winter may have us choosing our track pants over skinny jeans, but our shoes? Always our friend! It’s not diamonds but shoes that are a girl’s best friend. Shoes are so much more than a style statement: Shoes will always

An eye for visually intriguing style and seeking out a shoe sale from a mile away is a true talent

be there for her. They will never turn her away or treat her poorly. They will never call her fat or try to steal her boyfriend.

They will always pick her up when she if feeling down.

So there you have it. Just a few of the reasons women love their high heels. Now please don’t get me started on handbags...

INDIAN LINK

BEAUTY

www.indianlink.com.au

Weather proof your makeup Come rain or shine, there are a few tricks you can use to ensure that your makeup stays in place, no matter what the weather BY MINAL KHONA

When wearing makeup, sometimes really hot weather can make your foundation patchy due to sweat, or mascara can get smudged.

When it rains, if makeup is not waterproof, you can end up looking like a raccoon or worse. But there is always a way to ensure your makeup stays fresh and blemish-free, other than not getting wet, of course. So if it is raining or hot, just follow these tips and you will always look your best.

Keep it subtle For the foundation, always keep it really light. No matter what the weather, don’t use a heavy base. Don’t buy the emulsions and thick foundation cakes and creams.

Ditto for cream-based compacts. Luckily there are tinted moisturizers available which work just fine. Choose a shade closest to your complexion and dab it on. You won’t need a foundation, and can even use a light concealer if you have dark circles or acne marks. Only make sure you first use an ultralight moisturiser in this case.

If using a tinted moisturiser, all you need on top is a light dusting of translucent, loose face powder. Again, don’t use a compact as loose powder can be brushed on after dusting the excess off the brush, and it lets the skin breathe. A compact, in my experience, tends to cake the cream and can spread unevenly at times. Always use a blending brush to apply face powder.

If you are the type who sweats a lot, apply an ice cube on your face ten minutes before you start getting ready. This will keep the makeup in place for longer, without sweat wiping it off.

For your eyes only Eye makeup is an art, and not everyone can get it right the first time. It takes a lot of practice and care before your eyes have the no makeup look. Waterproof is the way to go with all eye makeup, regardless of whether it is kajal, mascara or eye shadow. In the case of eye shadow, choose the cream-based ones instead of the powder ones, so that there are no smudges. The nude and beige shades are in so go for colours from that family.

You can use the eyeshadow sponge brush to

Your chance to have a business in India Experienced, Successful Network Marketers who are looking for a Ground Floor Opportunity with a large, debt free, International Company soon to launch into the Sub Continent.

This Company is present in 19 countries.

Only one product, no warehousing, health beverage.

We are looking for 3 leaders.

Must be Ambitious, Hard working, Honest and Teachable.

Give me a call. I am 79 years old I am only looking for people who are genuinly seeking 'their Big Chance' in life and are prepared to work hard to get it.

Free sample of product given to all who attend the interview

Call Helen on 0414461673 NATIONAL EDITION

fill the eyelid from the inside and follow the shape of your eyes. If your eyes are deep set or small, colour the deeper end of your eye.

You can also use nude eyeshadow or a light glitter powder to highlight the area under your eyebrow. If you want to have a dressed up look that is slightly more formal, apply kajal on your lower lid and on the upper lid as well.

You can have the kajal lines meet at the corner of the eye if you like the smoky, heavy kohl look. Sometimes, a black kajal pencil can make certain faces look very hard or angular. In that case, use brown kajal pencil for a softer look.

You can then apply transparent or black mascara. Ideally in wet weather, transparent mascara is the best. No chance of a Goth or a raccoon look, then!

Sexy lips Now the golden rule of makeup is that if you are highlighting your eyes, then underplay the lips, and vice versa. A lot of glosses are now

Waterproof is the way to go with all eye makeup, regardless of whether it is kajal, mascara or eye shadow just a few available with a water resistant feature or a lip coat that can be applied over the lipstick or gloss to keep it in place for longer. So if it is raining, go for one of those long stay lipsticks and if you want to maximize the effect, use a lip brush and apply the lipstick. That way you can dab off the extra with a tissue and then apply lip coat, and it won’t come off for hours.

During the rain avoid too much gloss because the moisture in the air gives everything a sheen, and the gloss can look a bit OTT. Here too, opt for a lip balm that is tinted so your lips stay moisturized and have a touch of colour on them. You can even apply a lip pencil to shape the outline of the lips so that the colour doesn’t bleed. Don’t use a lip pencil that is very dark compared to your lipstick colour. A lip pencil in the shade closest to the lipstick works best. This will ensure that even if you get wet or are sweating too much, the colour stays locked in.

If you keep these tips in mind, the weather can never play foul with your makeup.

Chef Required

in a busy Take-away Shop CLOSE TO STATION

Full-time / Part-time Knowledge of Curry and Tandoor (both essential)

Please call on

0414 173 657 AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 45

MULTI BILLION DOLLAR HEALTH & WELNESS INDUSTRY OFFERS YOU A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA & INDIA Did you know that people today are at a higher risk for lifestyle diseases like:Obesity Cardio Vascular Diseases Diabetes Arthritis

IELTS Professional Get the IELTS score you need!

IELTS Professional is for students wishing to increase their IELTS score for entry into Australian universities or colleges or those looking to achieve 7.0 for migration purposes.

1. Are you suffering from any of these diseases?

2. What is your strategy to fight these diseases without side effects?

3. Why are these diseases on a constant rise for the past few decades?

4. What are you doing today to ensure you & your family is safe tomorrow?

With EXTENSIVE experience of more than 7 years in direct selling, working on principle centered modules, Manoj shows you how you can attain GOOD HEALTH & EXPONENTIAL WEALTH that will last you a lifetime & beyond.

For information on how you can turn your dreams into destiny, Call: 0469 092 777

• Evening course: 6pm – 8pm Monday to Thursday, perfect for those working or studying in the day.

• New class starts every Monday.

Mentio n • Centrally located at Navitas English* when b this ad ooking and receive (next to Wynyard Station). a disco p u r n ic te e of $1 • Highly reputable institution with 60 per w d (Norma eek outstanding record in IELTS success – lly $20 0 per w eek) in both general and academic IELTS tests. *IELTS Professional is only offered at the Navitas English Sydney Campus.

Please contact english@navitas.com or call (02) 82466800 to enrol today.

navitasenglish.com English

Courses in NSW will be delivered by Navitas English (Navitas English Services Pty Ltd ACN 002 069 730) CRICOS Provider 00289M

NAVE0166_IELTS_Pro_PressAd_180x130_AW.indd 1

12/08/11 10:31 AM

WHAT IS SCALING? Competition in the top places for Universities is tough. To get into courses like Medicine, Law, Commerce and other Health Sciences, you need to have very strong ATARs. Your ATAR is your ticket to University, and it is therefore very important you understand exactly what it takes to score the ATAR you are looking for.

In this article, I will show you what it takes to target and achieve any ATAR, i.e. what you need to score in each of your individual subjects in order to score your target ATAR. Why is this important? Many of you who are reading are probably aspiring to be engineers, businessmen, doctors or lawyers – which requires high ATARs (95 to 99). The problem with aiming for an ATAR of, say, 95 is you don’t understand what it means in each subject. By breaking down the scaling of each subject, we will show you how you can actually convert this ATAR goal of 95, into a rank in each subject

WHAT IS SCALING? Scaling is the process of standardising marks so that they can be compared across subjects. In scaling marks, the UAC will adjust the highest mark, median mark and standard deviation so that all subjects are directly comparable. The reason it is needed is that without scaling, it would be impossible to compare a 95 in Economics with a 95 in Mathematics Extension 2.

ATAR VS UAC The UAC basically converts the averaged HSC Assessment and HSC Examination Marks to their own UAC score through a process of scaling to a UAC score. Each unit is converted to a score of 50 and the best 10 units (including English) are used to calculate a score of 500. Most students are unaware that their ATAR is calculated from this base score of 500. The table below illustrate the relationship:

ATAR (approximated from UAI) 99.95 99.5 99 98 95 90 85

UAC Score 485 458.1 447.3 432.3 403.2 370.9 345

SCALING GRAPHS The most important thing to note is that not all subjects are created or scaled equally. Some subjects that are considered harder are obviously scaled higher, whilst some subjects in which it is easy to score high marks will be scaled downwards.

The graph below (fig 1) gives you a good indication of how subject scales. From the previous table, you should be able to see if you wanted to score an ATAR of, say 99, you would need to score ~45/50.

Following those marks, you can see that you would need to score in the top 56% of Maths Ext 2, the top 23% of Maths Ext 1, but in the top 4% of Maths Advanced. For simplicity’s sake, we’ve shown what it takes to score ATARs of 95, 97 and 99 respectively.

What you now have are the relative benchmarks for performance to score any ATAR. Hence, suppose you were aiming for an ATAR of 99.00: If you were in the top 20% for Maths Ext 2, but in the top 20% for English, this graph clearly indicates that your time will be better spent in English, because an improvement to the Top 10% in English is going to deliver much better gains than a similar improvement in Maths.

HOW DO THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS SCALE? At Talent 100, we’ve examined the scaling of categories of subjects such as Mathematics, English, Science and the Humanities. When you examine the scaling graphs, some clear trends emerge:

Scaling Graph (fig 1)

w/www.talent-100.com.au p/8003-6887

WE’LL TEACH YOU TO STUDY SMARTER, NOT HARDER In this article, we’ve shown you what standards of performance you need in each of your individual subjects in order to score a particular, overall ATAR. The next step is to achieve those standards of performance.

If you are in Year 9-12, and are studying Mathematics, Physics , Chemistry, and English, our courses can help you do just that.

1 We will teach you every syllabus dot point to a full marks standard.

Our aim here is to help you understand the work, rather than memorize it. This will equip you with the knowledge to answer every question in the exam.

2 We also methodically perfect your examination technique so that you can. It is important that you don’t make careless mistakes, and that you manage your time effectively. That’s why we have exam style homework that conditions students to the rigour of examinations. It is perfect practice that makes perfect, rather than practice alone.

Our concise, straight-forward and results-focused approach has helped the Talent 100 students perform at the top of Sydney’s best private and selective schools. If you would like to know more information about scaling or any of our courses, please register for the free information seminar or call 8003-6887. Further information about our course can be found at www.talent-100.com.au

Categories

Highest Scaling Subjects

Decision Rules

Maths

3U and 4U

3U and 4U Maths are by far, the highest scaling subjects that are readily accessible students. Because of their high scaling, you should take the highest level of mathematics that you are capable of. For instance, to be on target for an ATAR of 99+, you only need to be average in 4U Maths, whereas you would need to be in the top 4% of 2U Maths.

English

Advanced & Higher

Where possible you should take at least advanced English. The higher English as a group, scale well above Standard English. For instance, students who scored in the 25% of Advance receive scores higher than those students who score in the top 1% of standard.

Science

Physics & Chemistry

Physics and Chemistry are the highest scaling sciences, and scale significantly better than biology.

Source: Report on the Scaling of the 2008 NSW HSC

You should use this graph to target the UAC score out of 500 you need to achieve your desired ATAR. This way, you can be fairly certain what ATAR you are heading for well before you sit your exams, and adjust your study patterns accordingly. For instance, if you wanted to score an ATAR of 99, you would need 449, or roughly 45/50 for every subject.

46 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

Humanities Economics & Modern History

Humanities are generally quite subjective, and tend to scale lower.

Economics is the highest scaling humanity readily available, followed

by Modern History. Ancient History, Business Studies, Commerce and Legal Studies scale even lower still.

INDIAN LINK

NOSTALGIA

www.indianlink.com.au

Eid over theyears Eid brings back memories of a time of innocence, fun and happiness which one strives to replicate in a different country

The feeling stays strong BY SHAFEEN MUSTAQ

One of my fondest memories of life in Dhaka, Bangladesh was the night before Eid. And the highlight of that night would be scampering down the narrow laneway with my elder sister and cousin to our neighbour’s place, so that she could put mehndi on our hands. A lot has changed in the city of my birth and even though I am no longer a resident there, its streets are witness to my love for Eid and the rituals which preceded it, and that are, now many years later, celebrated here in Sydney.

Early memories of Eid I was five when I left the bustle and boisterous Eid of Dhaka to celebrate it in Sydney.

Maybe it was because I was young, or perhaps because it was the early 90s, but Eid was lacklustre and in comparison to Dhaka – depressing! Our trips back to Dhaka coincided with Ramadan and I was fortunate enough to celebrate many an Eid with my relatives back home, in the effervescent mood set by the spirit of Ramadan. During this month, Dhaka transformed itself from a noisy populated pickle of pedestrians perambulating through

During this month, Dhaka transformed itself from a noisy populated pickle of pedestrians perambulating through the mazes of narrow streets to a city which was calm and quiet during the day, and full of life and fun after sunset

the mazes of narrow streets to a city which was calm and quiet during the day, and full of life and fun after sunset. Shops would open after iftaar and stay open long into the night. Shopping for Eid clothes was a major highlight of the days leading up to the festival.

New clothes were a must, and much thought and argument went into coordination and colour schemes with my cousins.

NATIONAL EDITION

A feeling of family Growing up celebrating Eid was about family. It was about new festive clothes, eating good food together and having lovely mehndi designs done by Rani Aunty. It was about running up to our elders as soon as they walked through the door, offering them Salaam, wishing them Eid Mubarak and then demanding Eidee (token gift of money given by elders to children). It was about the endless carom-board games played with cousins while boasting about who received more Eidee and what we were going to spend it on. Eid was in my nani’s smile and the crisp smell of new clothes. It was in the deafening sounds of firecrackers being lit in the streets and the mouth-watering smell of jalebis, kebabs and puri being made fresh by street vendors.

In the early years in Sydney, we felt far away from our families with whom we had celebrated Eid for years. We were in a country where Indian outfits were hard to find, and we had to get them by parcel from Dhaka.

We were in a country where Eid was not a national holiday, and annual leave had to be taken. But we made the best of it and together we have worked as a community to make Eid as close a replica as it is back home. The unending row of Indian outfit stores along George Street in Liverpool is a sight for glad eyes in the days preceding the big celebration.

Puri, paratha, mithai and kebabs can now all be purchased with ease and mehndi is an art available at Chand Raat festivals across the city. This annual festival celebrated the night before Eid and the annual Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair (MEFF) held the Sunday after Eid are now iconic celebrations established by a community promoting harmony and a celebration of Islamic life.

Eid is not so much about the activities we indulge in, but rather the people whom we share it with. People who strengthen their ties of family, friendship and community through the rituals of prayer, gift-giving and dawaats. These communities create an identity for themselves and a legacy for their children in a country that is open and welcoming to us, and our way of life. Eid is about sharing what we have and caring for whom we are with.

And most of all, Eid is about being grateful to our Creator for all the bounties and blessings He has bestowed upon us – a celebration of the life He has endowed us with.

We follow the rote of gift giving and doing the rounds of each other’s houses to sample dish after dish of hot spicy biryani, paratha, kebabs and chicken korma, and then soothing the tastebuds with sweetly scented ‘seevaiyan’ and ‘kheer’

Sydney celebrations In recent years though, Eid has been in Sydney. The day is preceded by a flurry of cooking, cleaning and days off work. Buying of clothes, preparing food and mehndi designs remain, and yet the people we celebrate with have changed. In the absence of cousins we celebrated with family friends who, over the years, have become our substitute family. We follow the rote of gift giving and doing the rounds of each other’s houses to sample dish after dish of hot spicy biryani, paratha, kebabs and chicken korma, and then soothing the tastebuds with sweetly scented seevaiyan and kheer.

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 47

48 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

“Your Maths guideSchool to HSC success” 2012 Power Selective Trial Test Course

NSW

(Year 5)

&3U Maths) for 2012(2U Selective School Placement Test General Ability Trial Test Course Subject: General Ability

English & Maths Trial Test Course Subject: English & Maths

To: Yr 5 Subjects: English, Maths, G.A,Writing Period: 3rd of March 2011 - 3rd of March 2012 (50weeks course)

Want to revise your maths to maximize your mark ??

3 Understand Key Concepts The following benefits are given when you enroll 3 Ability to reason a range of mathematical contexts Power Selective School Trial Test Course.

3 Develop skills in applying mathematical techniques to problems 1.

Qualified Teachers from Private and Selective Schools 3 Clear and Concise worked answers 2.

Systemised Computer Marking Report 3 Improve yourGraph self study ability 3.

Analytical Test Results

NATIONAL EDITION

Ashfield

02 9799 5110

Bankstown

02 9707 2611

Blacktown

02 9676 1799

Castle Hill

02 8850 1911

Eastwood

02 9874 9055

Hornsby

02 9476 6020

Hurstville

02 9570 8728

Liverpool

02 9601 2442

Parramatta

02 9890 7177

Strathfield

02 9746 8548

Box Hill

03 9899 7871

Footscray

03 9687 4888

Glen Waverley 03 9887 8064 VIC

NZ

Oakleigh

03 9568 1008

Preston

03 9471 9966

Richmond

03 9004 3762

Springvale

03 9574 1588

St.Albans

03 9367 9999

Newmarket

+64 9 524 0073

Dannemora

+64 9 265 0900

North Shore

+64 9 410 0095

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 49

PSYCHE

www.indianlink.com.au

Lessons from the past How often do we brood on the past, remembering situations that have evoked feelings of negativity and refusing to let those memories go

BY SAROJA SRINIVASAN

One of the oft repeated laments is that too many people refuse to learn from their mistakes. It seems as if there is a great reluctance to look back, reflect and see perhaps where one may have gone wrong.

Is it that an unreasonably bloated ego will not tolerate even a semblance of criticism from itself, leave alone from others? Is it so veiled in its ignorance that to even entertain the possibility that one may have erred, is painful and has to be avoided at all cost?

Recognition and acknowledgment Let us examine what is required for a true self-examination. The first step is perhaps the acknowledgement of, however brief and faint, the presence of a sense of uneasiness that one’s own actions may have been responsible for what has led to the sense of frustration, failure or at the least, discomfort. This is very important, for without this acknowledgement there can be no action towards any attempt at change. It seems ever so easy to quickly point the finger at someone or something outside of oneself when things don’t go the way we want them to go. Having done that it seems we can abdicate all responsibility to things beyond our control, and begin a cycle of resentment and anger

50 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

which quite often, eventually fuels feelings of helplessness.

The next step is to review or reflect on the past. We must examine not only the distant past, but the recent past which may be as recent as a few seconds, minutes or hours just gone by. Many people have the art of thinking over the actions and events of the distant past perfected to an extreme. These are the people who can remember the minutest of wrongs done, or frustrations or failures at distant times

It seems ever so easy to quickly point the finger at someone or something outside of oneself when things don’t go the way we want them to go in their past in perfect detail, and continue to harbour the resentments and anger towards those responsible for such actions.

What they refuse to acknowledge is the context in which such ‘wrong-doings’ may have occurred or their own part, however trivial, in such events.

Very often the focus is on the cause of such actions with utter disregard to what may have maintained the situation. Thus, details are often based on misperceptions recalled repeatedly over a number of years.

This only reinforces the negative memories leading the mind to refuse to acknowledge

any attempt to change or resolve the situations.

Nurturing negativity With the well-ingrained habit of erroneous and selective recall and reflection of past histories, the individual enters the vortex of self-sustaining negativism and pessimism. A highly dysfunctional habit pattern of non-productive thinking leads to a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. The past, instead of being a mine of useful, tried and tested strategies now becomes a source of doom and gloom. How easy it is to step on to the wrong side of the fine dividing line between positive and negative resources the mind has to offer. It seems that if one does not stop for a while and examine the habitual thought patterns that lead to ineffectual actions, one may never change.

This habit of feeling regretful of the past or worrying about the future would be one of the most stifling straitjacket in which we could bind our free-spirited mind.

No wonder many continue to live out a frustrated unhappy life, nay it cannot even be glorified as life, just as existence.

Seek liberation

pause to reflect and learn from that which has occurred in the past is a very valuable tool to succeed in life. Not all human beings may be endowed with the capacity to use their intellect to seek spiritual liberation nor even have the desire to, but most want to escape from the drudgery of everyday frustrations and annoyances.

This habit of feeling regretful of the past or worrying about the future would be one of the most stifling straitjacket in which we could bind our free-spirited mind The capacity to reflect and detect patterns of unfruitful actions and thoughts within oneself and others is something that can be learnt even from an early age. In fact it is the essential first step to learning self-control.

At a higher level, seeking spiritual truths require reading, reflecting and making sense and then acting on them.

In day to day living, while it may not be the interest of everyone to indulge in spiritual contemplation, this momentary

INDIAN LINK







  

  





                   

                     

     



BUSINESS FOR SALE 



 





 









Located in the Heart of Liverpool 



fastest growing suburb of Indian/Sri Lankan  and Fiji Community.                   Immaculate Presentation 

Excellent turnover                 not    Golden opportunity to miss  

Huge potential for further growths

 All training will be provided  

Contacts Details : (02) 96006772 OR 0403419629



  

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 51

BUZZ

ENTERTAINMENT

The

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

KAREENA KAPOOR

Bravo for bodyguard Actress Kareena Kapoor is gearing up for the release of her new film Bodyguard with Salman Khan, but she’s going the extra mile and will felicitate the real-life minders of Bollywood stars.

Kareena is planning to meet the bodyguards of Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Imran Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar and felicitate them for their work, commitment and dedication towards the protection of the stars.

Bodyguard is romantic action film directed by Siddique and is a remake of the director’s 2010 Malayalam movie of the same name.

Salman had asked Shera, his bodyguard for 15 years, to launch the promo of the film.

Its good to note that Bollywood’s best are able to acknowledge those who keep them safe.

GUESS WHO

?

This former model made her Bollywood debut with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in 2008 (Find the answer under Caption Contest)

52 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

John gets jumpy

John’s now a part of that increasing breed of actors who believe in not just doing their own daredevil stunts, but also without the protective gear that prevents them from having serious mishaps. In his cop film Force, John performed a few gravity-defying stunts without even using protective cables.

Salman Khan in Dabangg and Ajay Devgan in Singham are other actors who’ve taken the precarious plunge.

“He was very flexible and I didn’t use any cables. This is the first time I did any action without using any cables.

John has done everything by himself,” claimed popular action director Allan Amin.

“John had to jump from 150 ft on an air bag without using any cables and he had to pick a bike of 150 kg, which again he did without cables,” said Amin, visibly impressed with the strength and dexterity of the actor.

“It has action like Satya but is completely stylised,” he added.

Rumours floating around that John had been seriously injured during the stunts were shot down by the action director.

“John was not injured, he was bruised while doing bare body stunts. If you fall on ground with that much of weight, obviously you are going to get a scratch,” he stated.

John’s teaming up with the sultry Genelia D’Souza in Force, a remake of the Tamil film Kaakha Kaakha.

The model-turned-actor has certainly come a long way in Bollywood since his debut with Jism in 2003. The hunk is now hot property since his breakup with long-time Bengali bombshell, Bipasha Basu. Despite rumours, the couple are not back together. Perhaps John’s stunts in the movie will make Bips realise what she’s missing….

Imran stays on edge

There are no flies on Imran Khan. His last release Delhi Belly might have been a runaway hit but this young versatile actor isn’t resting on his laurels. He admits to still being a bundle of nerves when shooting for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, and says actors have to prove their prowess with every new film as past successes had no relevance to the future.

“Even if your last film is a hit, that

doesn’t guarantee that your next film will be a hit too. You have to prove yourself with every film, because you are as good as your last film. Even for the biggest of stars in Bollywood, every film counts,” said Imran recently. “The pressure to deliver a hit is exactly the same with every film - it doesn’t matter whether you have given a hit or a flop in the past,” he added.

Wise and practical words from an actor who’s relatively new on the Bollywood circuit.

Imran featured as a journalist in the offbeat adult comedy Delhi Belly, but he’s donned quite a different avatar in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, which also stars glamourous sheila Katrina Kaif, and Ali Zafar. Imran plays a Dehradun boy who looks for a bride for his brother and ends up falling in love with the same girl. “This character is not very heroic, but a simple, normal person,” said the actor, who has had his share of struggle and flops in the industry, despite being the nephew of Bollywood perfectionist Aamir Khan.

Imran claims that the movie is a typical Bollywood production. “This is the first film where I have done so INDIAN LINK

www.indianlink.com.au

much lip syncing of songs, so much choreographed dance. YRF has a certain style of filmmaking and this is the first time that I have done that.

Even the comedy is much louder, more drastic. I never thought I will be able to carry it off,” he added. So will Imran make the grade again, or will he slide right down that ladder of fame? Let’s wait and see.

feels confident that the film will be appreciated, adding, “Ramu uses a brand new technology in this film. This film will certainly be a game changer. ‘Not a love story’ is an audacious work of a filmmaker who wants to touch the audience rather than impress them. Its world view moves you.

Ramgopal Verma’s ‘Not a love story’...is actually a great love story.”

The movie ahs been in the news as Maria Susairaj had sent a legal notice to the director, demanding to see the film before its release, as as she felt the film might show her in bad light. Similarly Mathew had also issued a legal notice to Varma for showing him in negative light.

Varma said on his blog that he chose the subject because he has always been fascinated by with the “psychological aspects of criminal behaviour.”

Acting in the movie are Mahie Gill, Deepak Dobriyal, Ajay Gehi and Urmila Matondkar.

So will this be a box office love story or not? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Anything but a love story

Bollywood waits and watches as Ram Gopal Varma’s highly anticipated movie Not A Love Story hits screens. This new crime thrilled is inspired by the true story of the heinous murder of TV executive Neeraj Grover. Grover was stabbed to death by former Navy officer Emile Jerome Mathew in his fiancee, Kannada actress Maria Susairaj’s flat, that led to their arrest.

Susairaj, who was sentenced to three years in jail by a Mumbai court for destroying evidence, was released from jail as she had completed her term in detention when the judgement was delivered.

Mathew was sentenced to a 10 year jail term after the court found him guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Acclaimed filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has been impressed with the film, describing RGV as a “man who has audacity”. “Ram Gopal Varma deserves a standing ovation for making an outstanding film, which raises the bar for Indian cinema,” Bhatt posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. He

MAHI GILL

CAPTION CONTEST

What’s the chitchat between Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone here?

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

JOHN ABRAHAM

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

The junglee’s journey His chocolate-faced look, chunky physique, randy toss of the head and Elvis-like hairstyle made Shammi Kapoor one of Bollywood’s legends in the late 50s and 70s. Everything about this actor was a statement, and particularly his trademark yodel – Yahoooo!

Among the many fond memories that have emerged of this prolific veteran actor following his demise on August 14, are scenes from his movies shot in the pristine state of Kashmir. It’s easy to picture Shammi Kapoor yodelling “Yahoo” while sliding down snow-capped mountains or sitting in a shikara on Dal Lake and singing “Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra” while wooing a coy Sharmila Tagore. The late legend enjoyed a special bond with the Kashmir Valley, where old-timers still fondly remember him.

Whether it was Tumse Achha Kaun Hai, Andaz, Kashmir Ki Kali or Junglee - almost all his blockbusters were shot in the Valley.

This probably explains why the late actor has been a household name in Kashmir for decades.

Reminiscing about the shooting of Kashmir Ki Kali, Abdul Samad Sheikh, 70, who lives in north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district said, “I remember when he was shooting for the movie in the Sindh Valley. He drove a car during a song sequence for the film. We had gathered along the sides of the road to have a glimpse of our dear film star. But the director was annoyed because he did not want anyone other than the actor in the frame.

Shammi Kapoor stopped the car, sat with us on grass for some time and then asked us whether he can go on with the shooting.

We immediately withdrew to clear the shot for the director.”

Abdul Aziz described the actor as a good-hearted person.

“Although a rebel on the silver screen, Shammi Kapoor was a lovely gentleman at heart. He would arrive early in the morning for his choice breakfast of chola puri to a famous sweetmeat shop on the Residency Road in Srinagar. He would sign autographs, laugh and even sing for the customers,” he said.

Almost all his famous movies had a song sequence shot on the Dal Lake and many boatmen still remember how Shammi Kapoor showed them respect when they rowed his boat. “He was so famous that it was a privilege to be selected as his boatman. My father told me he once fell into the waters of the lake during a song sequence, and had to be virtually dragged out of the water. My father would proudly tell me how he helped the great actor to safety,” said Abdul Salam, 52, who still works as a boatman in Dal Lake in the tradition of his father.

Tributes have been pouring in since the 79-year-old actor passed away, as Bollywood mourns the loss of a great actor who made such an impact on the industry from the mid-50s to the 70s.

Known as the Elvis Presley of India, this actor made a positive impact on his family, friends, colleagues and fans alike. RIP, Shammi Kapoor!

What’s the chitchat between Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor here?

Priyanka: I like the shade of lipstick you’re wearing….

Shahid: Wish I could say the same to you.

Eugene wins a free ticket to new release Bodyguard

Anushka Sharma

GUESS WHO ANSWER:

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 53

ENTERTAINMENT

Cine Talk

www.indianlink.com.au

You’re left open-mouthed!

Film: Not A Love Story Cast: Mahie Gill, Deepak Dobriyal, Rajesh Gehi Director: Ram Gopal Varma

Which demons could possibly provoke two normal healthy ambitious young people to kill a man, cut his limbs into several pieces and attempt to dispose of his body in the thick jungles?

Not A Love Story attempts to unravel the abiding mystery of human nature and the extreme measures it resorts to, when pushed to the brink.

This is the frightening, sobering and life-changing story of Anusha Chawla (Mahie Gill), a small-town girl with big Bollywood dreams, who ends up being an accomplice in a gruesome crime.

We certainly are left open-mouthed.

Indeed it is the normalcy of Anusha’s dreams and how drastically they get subverted within the timeframe of a few decisive days, that forms the core of the compelling, often repugnant but always riveting, crime drama.

Ramu’s camera is frequently more frenziedly crazy than the deeds of the protagonists.

The frames are used as a wildly wicked playground to signify the unsettled mindspace of the lead couple.

Gill and Dobriyal’s journey from desperate love to unthinkable crime is charted with a kind of subverted dismay that is the opposite of the dramatic sighs and gasps that Hindi cinema usually uses to punctuate crime dramas.

Sandeep Chowta’s background score tends to overpunctuate the point in the earlier portions.

Zakir Husain pitches in a perfectlymodulated performance as a tired, but canny police officer.

But towards the end, the film builds up a desperate atmosphere of a crime of passion with the excessive margins in the film’s emotional graph being magically reduced and eliminated.

All the craziness of the camera angles becomes one with the insanity of the crime committed by two people who, before butchering their victim, had probably only committed minor offences.

The sheer lunacy that divides normalcy from the unpredictability

of life is captured with a brutal forcefulness.

Not a Love Story is not an easy film to watch.

Crime has never looked more unglamorous on screen.

Varma just sucks you into the ghastly deed and doesn’t allow you a moment of respite from the savagely probing camera which seems to penetrate the mind and soul of the protagonists.

Deepak and Mahie pull out all stops to deliver bludgeoning performances in this first-rate crime treatise.

And yes, the ironical use of Varma’s Rangeela theme song drives home the message of a young wannabe star’s dream gone awry. You leave the film with the painful sound of crashing dreams reverberating in your ears.

Message without preaching Film: I Am Kalam Cast: Harsh Mayar, Hussan Saad, Pitobash, Gulshan Grover and Beatrice Ordeix Director: Nila Madab Panda

The boy is a dreamer. One look at the former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on television and Chotu decides to call himself Kalam. Kalam believes every child has the right to education.

Without the least display of pity or preachiness, debutant director Nila Madab Panda creates a world of infinite hope and minuscule joys for his precocious unlettered but smart protagonist Chotu.

The wispy but firm-handed narration weaves through Chotu’s relationships with various characters in his life… his uncle, the dhaba owner Bhatti, which is played with endearing warmth by Gulshan Grover, the jealous Bachchan-crazy recruit at the dhaba Laptan (Pitobash, natural in his unsophisticated meanness), the free-spirited French tourist Lucy 54 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

(Betarice Ordeix), and above all, Chotu’s rapport with the Rajasthani royalty Ranvijay Singh (Husaan Saad), a kind lonely aristocrat boy who eagerly befriends Chotu to share his luxurious but solitary life with.

The shared moments between Chotu and his motley crew of compelling characters are tender and genuine. The characters are never slotted or allowed to become stereotypical. They convey a kind of free-flowing casualness that makes them real and yet dramatic in a subtle way.

The film’s social message of education-for-all is underlined, but never italicised. It’s left to the boy protagonist Harsh Mayar to bring out the theme’s inherent message without making the plot heavy or didactic.

Mayar with his unassuming swagger and artless smile brings to the film a rare intelligence and humour. National award, did they say? The boy deserves much more.

The first-time director tends to over-simplify the complexities of the plot towards the end when in a quest for a flashy climax he collects

all the characters at an extremely manufactured crisis point.

But the clumsiness of some episodes doesn’t take away from the film’s intrinsic warmth and gentleness. The narration glides through Chotu-Kalam’s adventures with ease and fluency creating the fantasy-driven hopeless world of an underprivileged child without pity of sentimentality.

The last shot shows the ‘prince’ and the ‘pauper’ traveling happily together in the same school bus.

Socialism has arrived. Abdul Kalam must be smiling at this Utopian dream of finale. But then isn’t that what cinema does? Offer hope, create a dream world and exchange the harsh reality of the outside world with a magical alternative.

I Am Kalam does all of this. Must be watched for its sincere effort to carry forward the world of the child with the same mellow maturity of vision as the recent Stanley Ka Dabba and Chillar Party.

Subhash Jha INDIAN LINK

Matrimonials SEEKING BRIDES

S

rilankan Hindu born vegetarian parents are seeking alliance for their son aged 36 years, 5,6” well educated, vegetarian, working for public service in Sydney, looking for a well educated girl aged 29-33years 5.3” from a born vegetarian Hindu family with traditional values. Interested send horoscope, photo to akrishna135@gmail.com

S

uitable match wanted for my 29 YO son, fair, 176 cm, B.Com, B.Law. Employed in APS, close to Sydney, Decent Punjabi khatri family preferred Aus citizen, Non-Manglik girl from Hindu background.

Call 0412772974.

G

ujarati Jain Boy, 28, 5.8, MBA (UK), Applied for Australia PR Visa, Currently at Mumbai, with Swiss MNC as EHS Auditor SEEKING well-educated, smart girl with family values (Caste no bar). Please share biodata+recent photo on brijm9@gmail.com call: +61420253337

C

aring, youthful looking, slim, fit Hindu widower (caste no bar), 52, Australian citizen, in professional government job, children living separately, seeks presentable lady (38-47), vegetarian with strong family values. Call 0416 099 177, genuine enquiries please.

A

lliance invited for North Indian, Gaur Brahmin boy 32/6ft MBA, having software export business in Chandigarh.

Looking for a decent, beautiful, welleducated Indian girl with family values.

Please contact Amit on 0401297679 or email amitbatish@yahoo.com.

NATIONAL EDITION

S

ingle, tall employed man often in Sydney & Melbourne, wishes to meet good character attractive single or widow lady over 40 or from abroad in view of marriage.

Apply Mr. S.K. GPO Box 2336, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001 SEEKING GROOMS

S

eeking a suitable match, not necessarily a medical doctor, for a qualified medical doctor Punjabi Manglik girl, 31, 155 cms, slim, fair and good looking, MBBS and DGO, Father and younger brother have their own medical practice at Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

Contact: madangautam1985@yahoo.co.in, or mohinderz@yahoo.com.au, 001191 161 2223532, 0438 203 291

L

ooking for Hindu khatri PR/TR boy 25-30 yrs in Sydney for homely khatri girl 23 yrs/5-4” studying in Sydney and living with her siblings. Caste no bar.

Please contact 0432168148, 0469601625 or reetutyagi12@yahoo.co.in

P

unjabi Brahmin parents seeking suitable professional match for beautiful, never married, 35yrs/ 165 cm, doctor, with moderate values. Brought up in South India.

Caste no bar. Email cham1948@gmail.com

S

eeking a suitable match for young looking, very fair Hindu lady, 53, 5’2, living in Australia for 25 years, works in govt dept. Groom must be between 47-55, well qualified, non-smoker, occasional drinker and vegetarian. Contact sydaus@hotmail. com.au.

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 55

BACKCHAT

Ask Auntyji

Generous gentleman?

Dear Auntyji I have an unusual twist of a question to ask, and I would be most pleased if you could help me. I will tell you the complete truth Auntyji, so you can give me best answer. I have been told I am fairly attractive, but I don’t think I am that attractive. What I do know is that I have a good personality. I like to talk to people all the time and I can be friendly. Anyway, in the last couple of months I have been going to a shop that sells very expensive foodstuff, and there is an Indian man who manages the fresh produce section. At first, he gave me a special on the pomegranates, instead of $10 each, he sells it to me for $7 each because I buy at least two each week. The last three times I was there, I also bought this and that, some coriander here, some beetroot there and some Spanish onions for my cucumber raita. Anyway, I am beginning to notice that I don’t just get a couple of dollars off here and there, I get close to 50% off on all the items.

Further, I have checked the receipt and there are no individual items listed, it’s just one obscure price, for example, greengrocer, $18.85. Now, I am a wise shopper and I like to get special treatment if I am a loyal customer. However, this is beginning to make me feel quite weird. Furthermore, this shop posted its annual results and they suffered a loss for the year, and I can understand why. I feel like I have contributed to the financial setback of this store. Now, I never asked the man for the discounts - he chose to give them to me; he is the manager and probably knows best which fruit can be discounted. However, a 50% discount is a fair bit. My friends at work tell me that he is interested in me, but I have never given him the impression that I have any interest in him, other than as a fellow subcontinental type. What to do, Aunty? Can I continue to shop there? Should I say something? Is this unethical? Who is the guilty party here?

Please help me, as I want to live an honest life. By the way, this is not an isolated incident. Sometimes when we go to our local pub, the chef sends us some free food because I stop to say hello to him. Also, at various cafes, I occasionally get a free muffin or biscuit with my coffee. I never ask for any of these things. They are just given to me.

Auntyji says Oh, my little Anarkali, you are a regular little ibis you are, gathering food here and there, wherever you go. This is an unusual situation. I’m glad you told me about the free food at the pub and the free muffin. This puts things into perspective. Well my dear, you must have a very engaging personality, and people must warm to you instantly if they offer you free food. But here are two things that stand out for me. One, you have an engaging personality and people warm to you, and second, people consider you attractive. Now, in the case of the pub and the café, well, loyalty deserves a little reward now and again. These are small items and happen every now and again - so I can understand this. As long as you make the offer to pay, you don’t take any of this for granted, and you don’t entice them to give you food for free, it’s ok to get a freebie every now and again. However, the subcontinental man is more of a worry. 50% off is a large discount, and we need to consider whether it was at the end of the day and the food was going to be thrown out or the stock was going to be reduced anyway. But it seems to me that there is more to this. So, you have two options. One, stop going there. Or two, the next time you shop there, ask the man for the prices of everything you are buying, and then express surprise at the receipt. Then, if he says that it’s ok, he is giving you a discount, you must insist on paying him. The fact is, if the man is giving you heavily subsidised food each time you go there for no other reason than because it’s you, then you need to put a stop to it. If it was his shop and he engaged in this practice, it would be ok. But it’s not his shop and he is giving away the inventory willy-nilly.

It’s a form of stealing, and is immoral and unethical. If this was your sabziwallah in Khan Market near Lodhi Gardens, it would be acceptable. Unless he was young and single and there was glint in his eye each time he handed over your baingans and aloos. So what are you going to do, my little gobi ka phool? Are you going to be an accomplice to a questionable act, or are you going to address this issue, and right a wrong. Pretend it was your daddy’s shop and the checkout boy was giving away stock to the little churail who lived across the street who always shopped wearing her sheerest yellow sari, with a huge red bindi on her shameless forehead. Would you like it, then? Well, don’t be that saucy wench in the yellow sari. Get your moral compass to point north and pay your way through life. Just because you are pretty does not mean you should get a free ride in life at the expense of someone else’s profits.

56 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

www.indianlink.com.au

Cricket tragic Dear Auntyji My Aussie husband supports the Indian cricket team because, just like his British ancestors before him, he thinks nothing of coming to my country and appropriating all that is good and proper. In any case, he calls the Indian cricket team his ‘boys’, and when they are touring or playing, all the household dynamics change. Our lives revolve around the game. Now I could live with this because, well, I love Dan and he is a wonderful human being. But when the Indian team is playing, he becomes the human barometer for their playing performance. He stays up all night watching the game and I can hear him shouting and swearing when Sachin gets out. Then, he walks around the house like his mother just died and yells at us and gets angry. If he goes to bed during a game, he wakes up every hour to check the score. So as you can tell, he’s cricket mad. Now I understand that he is a diehard fan, and this emotional aspect gives him a very affectionate element to his personality, but Auntyji, why must he cry and carry on and make our lives miserable when the game is on and the Indian team is playing badly? The children are beginning to dislike cricket season because papa goes psycho.

What can I do to make him understand that it’s a game - he should not make our lives miserable because Sachin could not hit more than 20 runs? Do you have a solution for me, Auntyji, because the cricket season has already started?

Auntyji says Well, well, well! This is an unusual one. I think that every household has its diehard cricket fan - but your husband seems to go beyond what is considered polite and courteous behaviour towards his family. He becomes an emotional terrorist during the cricket season. Hmm… What you can do is point out the error of his ways and the only way to do this is to find a cause of your own, such as your local book club, and then rant and rave at home about the philistines who cannot think about the subtexts in Anna Karenina. Celebrate your book club’s completion of a book with utter joy and jubilation, and mope around the house and live the lives of your characters in all their emotional tapestry, as you read the texts. Be as wildly exuberant as you can get - and naturally, you are entitled to become as obnoxious and militant as you want. Of course, if your husband objects, you can throw in his face that the book is as exciting and as important to you as his cricket game - and I am sure he will come up with pathetic excuses that mean nothing. Everyone knows that a woman, when she sets her mind to something, can change the dynamics of a household. So the fact that you let your husband selfishly terrorise you and your children during game season is just not right. This must be addressed - you do not want your kids to grow up hating cricket - not only would that be un-Australian, it’s un-Indian as well. So, put an end to all this tamasha. Cricket is important, but it should not come at the cost of a happy, harmonious household. Your husband needs to grow up a bit and learn to accept the triumphs and defeats of the game like a man. Could you imagine Donald Bradman, or even Sachin going home after a game and terrorising their families? No! If these men were real men and handled their emotions like grownups, then your husband needs to do this as well.

Do you have a question for Auntyji?

Send it in to GPO Box 108 Sydney 2001 or email it to info@indianlink.com.au

INDIAN LINK

Singh Food and Spices Blacktown

Quantity Quality Service

A spice shop with a difference

143 Stephen Street (cnr Sackville Street), Blacktown Phone 02 9676 4677 Fax: 9676 4688 enquiry@singhfoodspices.com.au : www.indianspices.com.au

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 57

58 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK

START PROFESSIONAL YEAR BY AUGUST 17 TO AVOID THE NEW MIGRATION CHANGES

NEW SKILLED MIGRATION MODEL ANNOUNCED! ACCOUNTING & IT GRADUATES, GAIN 5 EXTRA POINTS TOWARDS PERMANENT RESIDENCY This program is specifically designed for Accounting and Computer Science graduates currently on a 485 Skilled Graduate Visa or Bridging A visa (awaiting approval of a 485 Visa), and seeking to gain additional migration points to apply for PR in Australia.

Enrolment dates: 2011 Saturday Class: 23rd July and 13th August (Every 4 weeks)

Course highlights: • Advanced training for IELTS incorporated • IELTS Exam preparation.

• Earn extra 5 points towards Permanent Residency • Course Duration - 44 to 52 weeks.

• Classes schedule - every Saturday or 3 evenings a week.

• Internship – minimum 220 hours over period of 12 week. (Flexi/Part Time) • 100% Internship guarantee.

• Installment payment options available, up to 5 equal installments.

• Free MYOB/Share Point/CRM training provided.

Level 9, Suite 3 A, 428 George Street (The Dymocks) Sydney NSW 2000 Email: info@visainfo.com.au A Few minutes walk from town hall and wynyard Stations

SMS your enquiry to 0439 38 38 38 or call 02-9231 2651

NATIONAL EDITION

AUGUST (2) 2011 <> 59

60 <> AUGUST (2) 2011

INDIAN LINK