2011-11 Melbourne

INDIAN LINK

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS

George Thakur, Ritam Mitra, Preeti Jabbal, Simmi Bakshi, Sreedhevi Iyer, Sai Narayan, Shibi Alex Chandy, Sujith Krishnan, Chitra Sudarshan, Noel G DeSouza, Petra O’Neill, Roy Lange, Geeta Khurana, Nancy Jade Althea

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Vivek Trivedi

02 9262 1766

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Nitika Sondhi

02 9279 2004

DESIGN

Danielle Cairis

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Private sector dazzles

There is an energy and vibrancy about the Indian private sector which continues to dazzle. Be it the new super-efficient banks or the explosion in telephony options or supermarket chains, the private sector continues to stun observers. Contrasting the sector with the government public sector is a sharp reminder of what is driving India’s GDP growth of over 8% and why India’s star is rising around the world.

The latest example of how the private sector can take an idea from conception to a successful conclusion was the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Greater NOIDA recently. The Formula 1 car race with the best and most technical cars in the world, is the brainchild of Bernie Ecclestone. For years, Formula 1 had been raced around circuits in Europe, but as the continent reels from its massive economic problems, the excitement for the F1 waned. Ecclestone was now looking at a different staging platform. Last year with the cooperation of the Singapore government, F1 was conducted under the night skies in Singapore. Now was the time for something different and recognising India as one of the fastest growing global economies, Ecclestone took the bold step to engage with an industrial powerhouse there - the Jaypee group.

This enterprising company pulled all stops to facilitate this sporting spectacle to be staged successfully, even pumping

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

in no less than AUD$350 million (Rs 2000 crores) in the construction of the track alone. Over 7,000 workers and 400 engineers and officers worked round-theclock to get the track - over 350 hectares - ready in time.

The Buddh International Circuit, home to the Indian Grand Prix, seems to be the country’s sporting El Dorado. That India pulled off staging the F1, the world’s most expensive spectacle in the history of motor racing, has been a major coup for the country in this elite sporting world. It signifies an entrée into the elitist big league of international spectator sports, an accolade unheard of in the country’s history.

On the other hand, the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games - often touted as a chance for a country to show off their organizational skills - were an unmitigated public relations disaster for India. With constant interference from the public sector, the memories (other than the spectacular, and yes, private sector organized opening ceremony) are those of constant bickering and fighting, rampant corruption and an impotent government unwilling or unable to solve the various problems that arose before, during, and

V

after the event. The Commonwealth Games were a shameful disclosure to the rest of the Commonwealth, of the poor public sector governance in India.

While Australia debates its two-speed economy - the mining and the non-mining sector, India has to have its private sector push its public sector into the future. The public sector seems to work at its own pace (or critics may say at no pace), while the private sector is in a hurry to discover tomorrow yesterday. At places where both intersect, such as the telecommunications industry, the private sector has pushed aside the public offerings and now has instituted a highly efficient private phone system which the ever-demanding public has readily lapped up. On the other hand, national assets which are solely in the public sector such as Air India are a big drain on the public purse, with their reputation in tatters.

In the world of sports, those which are wholly dependent on the government such as hockey or football, are never able to break out of the poverty cycle; while those that have managed to break away from dependency on public sector handouts such as cricket, now have overflowing coffers.

India shone at the latest Grand Prix in India; there were 95,000 cheering Indians around the racetracks lapping up the beauty and excitement of it all. The private sector was at its very best. They certainly did India proud.

The

all-conquering Indian team are chasing their first ever Test series win in Australia. Don’t miss your chance to see if Aussie stars Clarke, Ponting and Watson can hold off Indian heroes Tendulkar, Dhoni and Sehwag, on their quest to conquer their final frontier.

ISAW and

BY GEORGE THAKUR

Hear-ye, hear-ye, hear-ye! The vast, fertile and thus far untapped region of western, northwestern and southwestern Melbourne now boasts a new Seniors’ association that will cater to the needs of Indians, Pakistani, Sri Lankans, Fijian Indians and/or any person of any nationality who wishes to experience Indian humility. Indian Seniors Association – West (ISAW) is the brainchild of Arjan Tulli, an Indian Senior Citizens Association (ISCA) member, who realised that many members travelled sixty km from Werribee and Hoppers’ Crossing and thereabouts, to Mt. Waverly to quench their thirst for companionship and togetherness. He began to work towards an end and thus, ISAW was born.

Melbourne weather is notoriously unpredictable, and the heavens opened up as we headed to attend the first ISAW meet, despite the weather bureau forecast of a rain-free day. Because of various hiccups in finalising the venue and in completing formalities and other necessities, Dan Wallace and Atarjit, Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) representatives, informed us that this was the earliest the MRC could help in arranging the inaugural ISAW meeting. The venue was an ideally located first floor

I liked!

address in Alfreda Street right in the heart of the local market, a short walking distance from St. Albans Metro station.

As we entered, we saw many enthusiastic Indians already there and it dawned upon us that whereas ISCA, Kingston SCA, Northern Region Indian SA, Indian Seniors Forum, and Fijian ISCA, etc., commenced their associations with a handful of dedicated Indians, ISAW attracted twentyfour. Krishna Arora, a sure-appearance at any India-related meet, travelled all the way from Glen Waverly. Madhuri Haikerwal travelled from Williamstown, and Rose and myself had come the longest way - from Highett, to encourage Tuli for giving a societal need a practical shape. After partaking in tea and nibbles, Tuli welcomed future members and justified yet another Indian Seniors Association. As the programme for the day had not been formally chalked out, Tuli requested those present to say a few words each. Krishna Arora offered a few words of encouragement. Dr. Nand Lal Sharda, a visitor to Melbourne, said many nice things and wished he could join ISAW, but was soon returning home. Tuli introduced me as a reporter for Indian Link and asked me too to say a few words. Because expenses were involved in buying stationary and for

Atarjit wrote receipts. Speaking to local residents, I gathered that two thousand plus Indians, many of them seniors, inhabit the region. Insisting that older people want interaction, someone suggested that while Indira Gandhi came up with a slogan: “Gharibi Hatao”, ISAW must adopt a new slogan: “Burhapa Hatao”!

Tulli now spoke of electing a Working Committee, and since this was his baby, Arjan

West seniors welcome new Association

Tulli was unanimously elected as first ISAW President, with Dan and Atarjit supervising the show. Also, Asa Nand Verma is Vice President, Atarjit Brar is Secretary, Avril Murzello is Assistant Secretary, Arjan Singh is Treasurer, and Sarna Karra is Internal Auditor, among others.

ISAW meetings will continue to be held at 25 A Alfreda Street, St. Albans, until a larger venue is found necessary and is chosen. For information, please contact President Arjan Tulli on 9390 2818.

Passion for pulses

UWA academic Kadambot Siddique is honoured with the OAM for his work in the field of agriculture

BY RITAM MITRA

A lifetime of dedication, passion and commitment has finally been rewarded –earlier this month, Professor Kadambot Siddique of the University of Western Australia became a member of the Order of Australia (AM), after being named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list in June. The prestigious award is a well-deserved accolade for Prof. Siddique’s lifetime’s work in helping advance agricultural science, through his research in the area of crop improvement and agronomy, as well as his countless contributions to professional associations. As an internationally recognised figure in crop science, Prof. Siddique is widely credited as a leader in various areas such as his establishment and development of the pulse industry in Australia, as well as his expansion in recent years in assisting in building capacity in agricultural science in various economies, including Australia and southern Asia.

Speaking about the honour, Prof. Siddique is overwhelmed. “I feel very humble that people recognise me, as well as extremely thankful for the support of my family and my friends, the farming community and my students – it’s very pleasing to see that a person who was born in India and migrated here has been recognised, which shows that the wider Australian community takes notice of that – those sorts of things are good for the harmony of the country”.

Prof. Sidiqque moved to Australia with his wife in 1981 and completed his PhD at UWA, after having completed his Masters in New Delhi. His origins, however, lie in Kerala, where his parents were also involved in the agriculture industry. “Agriculture has been an interest to me right from the start. I studied Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, and of course I was peer-pressured into and interested in medicine at the start, but I narrowly missed out. I looked around, and I thought agriculture was a great way of moving forward.”

Prof. Siddique’s progression through the ranks is a testament to his dedicated nature - he joined the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) in 1985, and worked his way up the ranks to become the principal scientist and leader of DAFWA’S

Pulse Productivity Program, as well as becoming the Director of UWA’S Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA). For the next 5 years, Prof. Siddique held this post, until in 2006 he was appointed to lead and establish the UWA Institute of Agriculture. More recently, in 2009, he received a gold medal and citation from former Indian President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as recognition of his international contribution to pulse research and education.

“I’m currently working on a theme called climate-ready crops. Carbondioxide levels are increasing, rain fall is declining and temperatures are rising, so I’m looking at the reaction between these factors to decide whether our current types of wheat can cope with these changes in the climate. If they can’t cope, then what traits do we need our wheat crops to have, what do we need to do in the next ten to twenty years?” Prof. Siddique

productivity until the severe drought experienced in the 2000s. As Prof. Siddique puts it though, “Things are looking much better this year – we are predicting 26 million tonnes of wheat production in Australia this year, and WA does the majority of that. Farm numbers may have dramatically declined in Australia, but farm sizes have increased – some smaller, more inefficient farmers have moved out of the business, and so the farmers who are efficient in terms of business and technological innovations have consolidated and increased in size. Looking at it from a business perspective, some of the highly efficient farmers are doing as well as any other business, they’re getting returns of 15-20%.”

Prof. Siddique believes this is inevitable: the demand for commodities will continue to rise as a result of the growing population. “Worldwide population has now increased to 7 billion. 12,000 years ago when agriculture first found its way into the world, there were only 6 million. In 1960, there were 3 billion, and we’re predicting there will be 9 billion by 2050.”

As a result of the recent drought and the constant climate change concerns, much of Prof. Siddique’s personal research currently focuses on the effects of potential climate change on crops. “I’m currently working on a theme called

climate-ready crops. Carbon-dioxide levels are increasing, rain fall is declining and temperatures are rising, so I’m looking at the reaction between these factors to decide whether our current types of wheat can cope with these changes in the climate. If they can’t cope, then what traits do we need our wheat crops to have, what do we need to do in the next ten to twenty years?”

Even though his list of achievements is already too long to include wholly in this piece, including having helped set up the Australian chickpea and lentil production scene, as well as establishing programs across universities in Kerala, Punjab, Iraq and East Timor amongst numerous other international institutions, Prof. Siddique still believes he has a lot to provide – and also sees an underlying message and quiet inspiration from his experiences for fellow Indians living abroad. “There’s lots of exciting things ahead, and I think I can contribute both to Australia and internationally. I think it’s very humbling to be recognised by a country where you hear a lot about discrimination – but I believe there’s a message that while there are some issues around the place, we need to keep a positive image and celebrate success –especially in the Indian community we need to show that we are a part of this country and yes, we are contributing. “

He is also currently the Associate Dean of Research at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at UWA.

Much of Prof. Siddique’s research revolves around the ever-changing global climate, as well as the issue of growing populations and developing economies. Years ago, he recalls, “I did some research and predicted that countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will be short of pulses in the long term. Back in those days, I estimated the shortage might be 5-6 million tonnes of pulses in India – because the reality is, India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses. Since then, India has begun importing pulses from Australia, as well as from Canada and Turkey as well. That trend will continue – demand will rise, and nowadays Australia is a major exporter of pulses, while India is one of the biggest importers.”

The Australian agricultural industry has changed a lot since Prof. Siddique first arrived –there has been a huge technology revolution as well as more research into genetics which resulted in a steady increase in

Prof. Kadambot Siddique receives the OAM from the Governor of WA Malcolm McCusker AO QC

Community urged to join Australian politics

Federation of Indian Association of Victoria (FIAV) proudly hosted a forum to encourage and support the ardent members of the Indian community through a “Community Consultation” on October 30 at FIAV’s function Hall in Dandenong, followed by lunch. The topic for the convention and the agenda was: “Role of Indians in Australian Politics”. The forum was well attended by people of all age group people in the community,

keen to raise questions about procedures of making an entry into a political party. Representatives from the Liberal and Australian Labor parties attended the forum as panelists, and highlighted procedures of joining their party to take an active part in Australian politics. Mr. Greg Hannan represented the Liberal party, while Mr. Manoj Kumar represented the Australian Labor party. Both spoke about the policies and procedures required to join a political

wing. The representatives also answered a variety of questions from the audience.

FIAV President Mr. Vasan Srinivasan welcomed guests and community members with an introduction speech to encourage Australians of Indian origin to realize that, being a part

of mainstream politics would be better way to support and help the community. Community members enjoyed participating in Q&A, which was open to all. The forum concluded with a speech from Mr. Vasan. It was a good effort from FIAV and its team to encourage the community to be a part of mainstream politics, thus taking the community’s voice to the government and parliament.

What’s On

Saaz Aur Aawaaz

Saturday, 12 November, 8-11pm at Mount Street Neighborhood house, 6 Mount Street, Glen Waverly, Mel Ref: 71 D2, entry via Panoramic Gv Car park. Open forum evening of light Indian music by local artists. No entry fee. Contact Satish Dutta on 0400368303 for more details.

Sahitya Sandhya

Saturday, 12 November, 7.30-10.30 pm at Kew Library, corner of Cotham Road and Civic Dr. Kew 3101, Melway ref: 45 D6. Literary evening, new poets are welcome to recite their poems. Free entry. Contact: Harihar Jha on 9555 4924; Nalin Sharda on 0402 108 512 http://sahityasangam.weebly.com/

Multi-ethnic White Ribbon day

Sunday, 13 November 2011, afternoon tea 2.30 - 5.30pm at The Langham Hotel Southbank, Melbourne. Organized by AISV Taskforce Against Domestic Violence, the theme is: “How can men help break silence on family abuse and domestic violence”. Eminent panel of Indian and South-Asian speakers, moderators and distinguished guests including the Consul General of India Dr S. Behara, will attend.

Indian classical dancer Mrs Rajashree Behara and folk dancing groups from Rajasthan and Punjab will also perform. RSVP manjulao@ unimelb.edu.au by November 7 or call 0419 354482/9654 5600. Cost $25 (students, pensioners free entry)

Kids Yoga Competition

Sunday, 13 November 2011, 9.30am at Mulgrave Neighbourhood House, 36-42 Mackie Road, Mulgrave, VIC 3170. Presented

by Vasudeva Kriya Yoga, certificates will be awarded to all participants and chosen demonstrations uploaded onto YouTube. Call Sumana on 0434 867609 or email vasudevakriyayoga@gmail.com

Brush Strokes of Essence

Monday, 14 November to Friday 16th December from 10am – 5pm (Mon-Sat) at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, 141 Queen St, Melbourne. Jayshree Leigh, Visual Artist will display her second solo exhibition. Inaugural unveiling on 19t November. Enquiries: Andrea Makris 9417 6777 events@multiculturalarts.com.au

Sangeet Sandhya

Saturday, 3 December, 8pm onwards at Waverley Meadows Primary School, 11 Columbia Drive, Wheelers Hill, Vic (Melway: 71 G 11). Musical evening with new artist Esha Banerjee singing. Free entry, all welcome. For details visit http://www.sharda.org/Events.htm

“India is...” Global Video Contest

Upto December 31, launched by the Ministry of External Affairs (Public Diplomacy Division), New Delhi. Global video contest, make a short video on the theme of ‘India is….’ A reputed jury will select the best entries, winner announced in March. For more details visit www.indiais.org

Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy concert Saturday 25th February 2012, 7 pm onwards at the Plenary Theatre, Convention Centre. For the first time in Melbourne, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendosa will perform live. Tickets: $195 and $145. For prime seats contact: Anita on 9846 2595

Rain doesn’t deter Melbourne’s Fed Square Diwali

BY PREETI JABBAL

Love it or hate it – the fact remains that the modernistic Federation Square in Melbourne is a happening place with a calendar choc-abloc with events. So much so that even on a washout day, thousands of people braved the rainy weather to celebrate Diwali at this iconic venue.

“Tonight we’ve brought you a special addition to the festival of light, the festival of rain,” said Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu much to the amusement of the crowd. “This has got to be one of the great meeting places of the world, even before settlement. And now it’s even more so. Federation Square –look around, the colours, the shapes…it’s a symbol of Melbourne, a symbol of Victoria. This is the multicultural capital of Australia

Among others, Melbourne’s epicenter was the venue of cheerful and varied celebrations in honour of the Festival of Lights

Federation Square is a symbol of Melbourne, a symbol of Victoria. This is the multicultural capital of Australia and arguably the world. There could not be a better place to be on a night like this, a better place to say Namaste!

Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria

and arguably the world. There could not be a better place to be on a night like this, a better place to say Namaste!” he said, to thunderous applause.

Huddled together under umbrellas and rainwear, the vagaries of weather did not deter people from seeking comfort in garam garam snacks and tadakta bhadakta entertainment. Occasional easing of showers saw more people join in, determined to catch some action, and there was plenty planned for the day. Celebrate India were one of the first in Melbourne to initiate Diwali celebrations en masse in a central location. Celebrate India was the vision of 4 key members - Dr T J Rao, Arun Sharma, Virendra Berera and the late Martand Joshi. The idea was to bring in the coloors and richness of Indian culture to the hearts of the wider Australian community of Melbourne.

The first major Diwali celebration was held in 2006. The event also created history

by adorning and bringing to life major landmarks and iconic buildings in CBD such as the Victorian Parliament, Melbourne Museum, Melbourne City Hall, Federation Square, Royal Exhibition Building, Flinders Street Station, St Paul’s Cathedral and SBS Radio. Each year, more businesses and residents adopted the tradition of lighting their premises to mark the festival. This year the visibility of the festival went further, with massive banners and special dance and dhol performances at Flinders St Station supported by Metro and at City Square, Swanston Street

The most talked about initiative from Celebrate India this year was the Diwali celebrations at Melbourne International Airport from October 18 - 26.

A beautiful Diwali display was set up in the Departure area and announcements of Diwali wishes were made in English and Hindi. Passengers took the opportunity to pay homage to Goddess Laxmi and

Lord Ganesha before flying off to their destinations. It was both unusual and delightful to see the Indian Diwali display flanked by true dinkum Australian souvenir shops. Live performances were also held at the Airport supporting and encouraging multiculturalism in Victoria.

The Federation Square event saw diverse elements put together to provide an engaging experience. Food and craft bazaar, Ranger Roos’ adventure show for kids, Bollywood dance workshops, Greek and Chinese fusion dance performances and illuminated boat performances on the Yarra were some of the highlights. Guest appearances and workshops were conducted by AFL players like Brendon Gale, Jayden Post and Tyrone Vickery. A Bollywood film show that featured free screening of popular Bollywood films was sponsored by Mind Blowing Films as part of the week-long celebrations

The piece de resistance was the performance by Australian Performing Arts Company,

spectacular item on an elevated medium. Equally popular was the special performance by India’s highly acclaimed Madhumita Roy Kathak Dance Company sponsored by ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). Grace, coordination and energetic footwork combined to offer an innovative mix of classical dance form with contemporary movements. The grand finale was a pyrotechnic display that lit up the Melbourne skies. This Indian tradition of fireworks at Diwali encapsulates all the memories, nostalgia, excitement and significance of this festival amidst its sparkling manifestation.

The brief formal presentation included the lighting of the traditional lamp by Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu. Joining him on stage were Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews; Member for Clayton, MP Hong Lim; Minister for Multicultural Affairs,

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu greets Melbourne’s Indian community

Nicholas

Indian

General Dr.

Behera; Dr.

and Mrs. Raul; Chairman of commission Chin Tan, representative of Melbourne City Council, Ken Ong; and other members of Parliament. Celebrate India’s Arun and Jaya Sharma introduced and welcomed the dignitaries who graced the occasion despite the rain. “It takes months of preparations to hold an event on this scale. On the day of the event when the weather turned I was very concerned; however our whole team was encouraged and motivated by the enthusiasm displayed by visitors as they came prepared with umbrellas and stroller covers. We were heartened by their eager participation,” said Arun Sharma. “I am glad we decided to continue because the post event record suggests that on the day nearly

38,126 people attended and over the week a total of 158,978 people visited Federation Square. Our purpose of holding this event to promote Indian culture in Australia was definitely fulfilled,” he added delightedly.

Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness, of good over evil and of knowledge over ignorance. In this case it was also about overcoming the dullness of grey skies with positivity, enthusiasm and joyful participation. To all those who were at Fed Square smiling, enjoying, clapping and ignoring the rain, good on you! It’s people like you who turn every event into a celebration, and every celebration into a revelation of our wonderful culture.

Kotsiras;

Consul

Shubhkanta

Raul

“I am glad we decided to continue because the post event record suggests that on the day nearly 38,126 people attended and over the week a total of 158,978 people visited Federation Square”.

Arun Sharma of Celebrate India

Diwali A dancing thanks to

PCV

Every year there are a few events that I try not to miss, and one of them is the Punjabi Club of Victoria’s (PCV) Diwali event. For the past 14 years this event has featured on my social calendar, and that of many others in Melbourne. Obviously they have a recipe for success that gains them ongoing loyalty from their guests. This year again, the popular event was attended with anticipation. As a regular, one could compare, compliment or criticize; instead I choose to congratulate PCV for managing another delectably entertaining event.

The Grand in Cathies Lane, Wantirna South accommodated the 345 guests with ease. The décor was both contemporary and traditional, striking a balance between east and west like the rest of the evening. Food, fun, fireworks and some fabulous entertainment kept the evening alive. A robust performance by Rhianna group was followed by the rousing beats of the dhol and bhangra by Sanjh group. A dance workshop by Bollywood Beats got many in the audience off their seats to join in the fun. DJ Oorja got the rest of the crowd on their feet in no time to the beats of popular hits like Sheela, Munni, Jalebi Bai and Chamak Challo.

Some exuberant dancing on Punjabi pop and Bollywood’s best whipped up an

appetite for Tandoori Junction’s delicious meal. The children, clad in traditional Indian clothes had a field day dancing with their parents, enjoying the fireworks and celebrating the festival of lights. A few of them were only too happy to draw the raffle and door prizes with MC Sushil Bedi. PCV President Arminder Luthra made an accurate observation when he announced at the beginning of the event, that PCV’s Diwali was all about fun with family and friends.

All good things come with time restrictions and around midnight people reluctantly left the dance floor to go home. The evening went off without a hitch thanks to the hard work and planning of the PCV committee comprising of Arminder Luthra, Inderjit Jasal, Davinder Kochar, Surinder Mudher, Jasbir Bedi, Surinder Dhar, Anil Dheer, Paramjit Jaswal, Virendra Berera and Tej Panesar. Among the glitterati Heidi Victoria MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier & assisting the Premier with the Arts also attended the function. The party this year, offered diverse, happening and exciting mix of flavors. I am already inclined to sample the delights of Diwali with them again next year.

Simmi Bakshi

Multicultural mix Brisbane Diwali at

The Federation of Indian Communities Queensland (FICQ) held an official celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at King George Square, Brisbane CBD. The event was the largest of its kind in Queensland, with support from the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government. The event also enjoyed significant sponsorship by the Adani Group, a new Indian company which has trade ties with the Australian government. A similar event had been held last year, and Mr Surendra Prasad, President of FICQ, hopes to model the event after the annual Diwali celebrations held in Singapore, which is a major tourist attraction. “We have great support from our Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk,” he said. “It was one of the first things he chose to do on taking office, in an attempt to make Brisbane a World Class City. In time, we hope to achieve similar standards as the one held in Singapore.”

The day-long event continued from 11am

to 11pm, with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk officiating at 7.30pm. Among the attendees were Campbell Newman, the former Mayor and current leader of the Liberal National Party. The highlights included a multi-faith prayer, incorporating religious leaders from the Buddhist, Bahai, Muslim, Sikh and Christian faiths. Mr Prasad also surprised the dignitaries by anointing Mr Quirk as an Honorary Indian of the Year.

Several stalls and booths were put up for the event, such as VisionAsia and KonnectTV, for Indian satellite channels streaming Indian entertainment directly into Australian homes. There were also henna parlours and colourful Indian clothes on sale. Food stalls sold Mumbai street snacks and authentic curries. Bombay Dhaba operated a stall selling bhel puri and jalebis, which made it an instant hit. The most colourful stall sold books and comics by the Ramakrishna Mission, and boasted customers that were Australian and Indian in equal measure.

The day’s entertainment was wide and varied, from Sanskrit chants to live tabla recitals. Shriram, a Melbourne-based singer who has worked with Indian film musician Shankar Mahadevan and has a debut album released, graced the stage at regular intervals to entertain the crowd with his singing. In the evening, a Kathak dance group headed by Madhumita Roy performed live for an enthralled audience. This Indian troupe specially flown in for the event, impressed the audience with their high quality performances, especially when fusing classical Hindustani music with a Western flavour. At around 9pm, a live Bollywood band took to the stage, and accelerated the still-lively atmosphere. Given that it was a Friday night in the middle of the city, a large crowd had already gathered, comprising of Indians, Australians, Asians, Africans and Middle Easterners, all happy to participate in the event. The thumping live Bollywood music got people up on their feet, dancing by the

stage as well as in separate pockets around King George Square. The last band to perform was the Brisbane Baba’s Band, a well-known Bhangra live group based in the Gold Coast. They belted out continuous Punjabi music for the very active crowd.

Throughout the celebration, a unique factor was the inclusive spirit prevalent as African grandmothers, Hazara teenagers and Korean girls all bopping along to the same Bollywood beats. There were even some Australian security personnel, complete with fluorescent safety vests, who were quietly nodding away to the music. Dr Prasad indicated that 20,000 people turned up for the event last year, but this time around, he believed that the figure had increased, topping at 25,000. It is a proud moment for Queensland Indians, to be recognised officially on the Brisbane map, and we hope that this event will be an annual one, bigger and better in the sunshine state.

Sreedhevi Iyer

(From left) Campbell Newman (leader of the Liberal National Party of QLD), Annastacia Palaszczuk (QLD Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs) and Graham Quirk (Brisbane Lord Mayor)

Proud moments for Perth

The Indian community has had much, this month, to rejoice over

BY SAI NARAYAN

Shrugging off its tag of being a dull, plain Jane compared to its more glamorous eastern cousins, Perth was exciting, vibrant and happening this month as Indians celebrated Deepavali – the festival of lights. October was a virtual smorgasbord of cultural, culinary and sporting delights as the city hosted the annual Swan Festival of Lights, CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) and also the Lanco International Super Series in hockey. India and Indians featured prominently in all three events which made for some wonderful funfilled and amazingly memorable moments for Indians living in Perth.

Diwali dhamakas

The weekend of October 22 - 23 leading up to Deepavali was full of action as crowds thronged the Swan Festival of Lights held at the Supreme Court Gardens near the iconic Bell Tower on the Swan River. The centrestage was lit up by the performances of various multi-cultural groups from across Western Australia. The performances were not only Indian, but truly reflected the multi-cultural nature of Western Australia. As always, the Temple of Fine Arts was at the forefront of a fair few of the programs which were conducted at evening. Some of these were Vande Mataram by Temple of Fine Arts, Aboriginal, Chinese and Cossack dance performances, sitar recital by Ustad Usman Khan and a dance drama rendition of the Ramayana.

The aroma of various Indian culinary delights wafted across the gardens and there were snaking long queues in front of each stall, as people waited patiently for their dish of choice. I did wish that I could spend more time watching the performances up close, but it was a hard choice between the cultural and culinary temptations on show that evening. The Ramayana never seems to lose its magical appeal, although it is a simple story told and retold countless times. The Temple of Fine Arts did a splendid job bringing it alive in dance and drama form, as it showed the age-old tale of the triumph of good over evil. As victorious Rama was ushered back in to Ayodhya in triumph and the chanting of Jai Ram echoed through the Supreme Court gardens, the skies above us burst into vivid colours as the fireworks display lit up the evening.

For six-year-old Kavya, the best thing she liked about Deepavali and the Festival of Lights were the fireworks and…lassi! If there was one thing she didn’t like, it was missing out on getting mehndi on her hands. On the home and community front, Deepavali is a time when a lot of families enjoy celebrating at home with their favourite savouries and sweets, while lighting up a few sparklers. There are smaller community get-togethers and family events sprinkled across Perth, and it is a time of joy and celebration.

Amit Madheshiya (29), from Mumbai, India, is the gold award winner of the 18-30 age section of the 2011 Royal Commonwealth Society Photographic Awards. Madheshiya’s prize-winning image is of Christian nun Sister Mabel of Chittoor who runs a school for underprivileged tribal kids.

Musical treat at CHOGM concert

Following closely behind the Festival of Lights was the opening concert for CHOGM, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here in Perth. It is the most significant event to be held in Perth since the 1962 Empire and Commonwealth Games, and the largest gathering of international leaders ever held in Australia. Best of all, it has sparked off an eight-day arts and cultural festival which has been wonderful for families in Perth. At the opening concert, the ustad of the tabla, Zakir Hussain presented his Masters of Percussion show. On board were also acrobatic dancing drummers of Manipur as well as musicians from a number of other Indian traditions. It was an opportunity of a lifetime for Indians in Perth to view and listen to this legendary international musician, and he didn’t disappoint. As Zakir Hussain wove his magic performing duets with other musicians on the sarangi and dholak as well as the flute, Indians in the audience felt proud, excited and awed all at the same time! Hussain wooed the audience with some humorous touches, describing the traffic on Indian roads and translating that into a complex percussion beat! His brother Taufiq Qureshi matched him, and his description in the language of drum beats of a husband and wife arguing evoked peals of laughter among the audience. As the concert wound up, Zakir Hussain remarked casually, “Arre wah Taj boliye!” in a reference to the advertisement well known to Indian TV viewers.

Culture and Arts Minister John Day said, “Zakir Hussain is a talent of the highest order and a national treasure in his homeland of India. He has achieved worldwide acclaim as one of the greatest musicians and percussionists of our time and exemplifies the spirit of the festival, which will showcase the people and cultures of the Commonwealth.”

I overheard an older member of the audience remark after the show saying, “The best things in life are free - what an awesome show!” and I couldn’t agree more. The performance by the tabla maestro was free for the audience that gathered on the Supreme Court Gardens that evening, and it was a truly memorable moment for all. The opening concert finale was capped off with awesome fireworks that lit up the Perth skyline.

Award winning photographer

On another note related to CHOGM and a

matter of pride for Indians, the Gold Medal prize winner of the 2011 Commonwealth Photographic Awards is from India. Amit Madheshiya (29), from Mumbai, India, is the gold award winner of the 18-30 age section of the 2011 Royal Commonwealth Society Photographic Awards. His work was showcased among 40 others in an outdoor exhibition during the Commonwealth Festival, at the Perth Cultural Centre. Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the top two entrants were flown to Perth to have their work exhibited as part of a special prize commissioned by the Commonwealth Festival Perth 2011.

The theme of the photography contest was ‘Women as Agents of Change’. Madheshiya’s prize-winning image is of Christian nun Sister Mabel of Chittoor who runs a school for underprivileged tribal kids.

The festival came to a close on October 30, with a spectacular free concert and fireworks at Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth, featuring Australian-Indian group Bombay Royale; Dan Sultan and his powerhouse rock ‘n’ roll band; Capercaillie from Scotland; and double platinum Afro-pop star Ringo Madlingozi from South Africa.

Hooray for hockey

For sporting and especially hockey fans, the Lanco International Hockey Super Series was held in Perth from October 20 - 23. The tournament saw Australia’s men’s and women’s teams, the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos, take on some of the world’s best, including the likes of India, Pakistan, Malaysia and New Zealand. The tournament showcased a brandnew format of hockey with only 9 players per side, bigger goals and more relaxed rules on stick and foot violations. The Indian women’s hockey team did very well to advance to the finals, at which they fought gallantly and were a worthy contender for the gold medal; however the Hockeyroos proved too good in the end and won by 4-1. The Indian men’s hockey team unfortunately did not fare as well, and the Kookaburras won against New Zealand in the final.

In summary, this festival season has been dazzling in Perth replete with arts, culture, sport and music. SFOL organizers and the West Australian government have done a great job in organising such an interesting and fun-filled festival for families across Perth.

Ustad Zakir Hussain performs at the CHOGM Festival.

Perth community felicitates Ansari

SHIBI ALEX CHANDY attends a reception for India’s Vice President

Clockwise: Vice President Hamid Ansari catches up with Tony Abbot, Leader of the Opposition. Ansari’s bilateral with PM Julia Gillard was called off due to the Qantas crisis

A fresh four-year term as Secretary General for India’s Kamlesh Sharma

The Queen and Australia’s Julia Gillard with Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kamla Persad-Bissessar

India satisfied with CHOGM outcome: Ansari

India returns with a feeling of satisfaction from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, having managed to keep the 54-nation grouping focused on the development agenda, Vice President Hamid Ansari told reporters on Oct 31.

Commonwealth nations were opposed to the move.

From the Indian perspective, Ansari said, the delegation had achieved its immediate goals, especially in getting CHOGM to back New Delhi’s position on terrorism and piracy, and in getting Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma a fresh four-year term.

The cream of the Indian community in Western Australia, prominent local politicians, cricketer Adam Gilchrist and, well, the richest Australian - all of turned up in Perth Sunday 30th Oct evening to felicitate visiting Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Over 500 members of an estimated 45,000-strong community in the state, Mayor of Perth Lisa Scaffidi, several ministers of the state government, Gina Rinehart (the heiress of Hancock Prospecting), and Gilchrist, who is very popular in India, applauded heartily as Ansari spoke of his long association with Perth and growing India-Australia ties.

Ansari was Indian High Commissioner to Australia 1985-89.

The vice president traced the early links between India and Australia to the 1800s, when camel riders from Bombay came here to help Australians explore their outback. The legend of the cameleers, mistakenly called Afghans here, survives in the name of the great Ghan Train that travels from Adelaide in the south to Alice Springs in the north.

Ansari, who led the Indian delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), recalled how Indians and Australians had fought shoulder-toshoulder in two World Wars, and how the relations have evolved into strong political ties, scientific links and, now, investments by Indian companies in Australia and Australian firms in India.

Rinehart, worth $10.3 billion according to Forbes, is doing her bit to deepen financial ties, having recently inked a $1.26 billion deal with GVK of Hyderabad that will see the Indian firm take up majority stake in thermal coal assets in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.

“That’s my India connection,” a smiling Rinehart said when asked by IANS how she had turned up for an encounter with the Indian vice president, who was accompanied by his wife Salma.

The celebrities apart, for most Indians gathered at the event, it was just an opportunity to celebrate their Indiannessand have their photos taken with the vice president.

Anil Jain, a certified financial planner and

president of the Indian Society of Western Australia who managed to have himself photographed with Ansari, said people of Indian origin like to get together whenever an Indian’ opportunity presents itself.

“We have been celebrating Holi, Diwali, Independence Day and Republic Day with events. In fact, this Diwali, there was a gathering of 20,000 people and a big fireworks show,” said Jain, who arrived here 15 years back.

Jain and his organisation are now working towards setting up a community centre - a kind of ‘India House’ - in Perth that will serve as a meeting point for the community.

The society, an umbrella organisation for over 40 smaller Indian groups in Western Australia, also has plans to set up an old age home for Indians. It already steps in with financial aid when community members are in need and actively works with new migrants to help them find their feet in the country.

“There is a strong sense of community here,” said Ajay Doshi, president of the Gujarati Samaj of Western Australia, one of the organisations affiliated to the Indian Society. Doshi runs a business in plumbing and irrigation products that he sources from India.

Retired naval officer, Capt. Rajesh Mittal and his wife Praveena, who have been in Australia for almost a decade, briefly narrated the community’s history here.

The first wave of migrants came soon after independence, when Anglo Indians came in waves to Australia. This was the time immigration was religion-based, allowing the community easy access. The next big wave, the Mittals said, came in the 1970s and 1980s, when many professionals came to Australia. These hard working immigrants are now respected members of the larger Australian community.

The upswing in migration of students over the past five years or so and the subsequent racial tensions that have emerged has worried the community. But as Jain’s organisation shows, the existing community can do its bit to smoothen the passage.

Dismissing the general perception that the three-day meeting was a failure because it did not accept the reform agenda set by some countries, Ansari, who headed the Indian delegation at CHOGM, said the Commonwealth has been an organisation that has evolved slowly and could not be pushed into “instant” action.

“We reiterated our perspective on institutions - that we needed to strengthen existing institutions rather than create new ones,” Ansari told reporters on board his special aircraft on his way home, in a clear reference to the effort by some developed nations to push through the creation of a Commissioner for Human Rights.

The contentious recommendation was contained in a report by an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) comprising civil society members, and some membernations had sought to link its acceptance to the success of CHOGM 2011.

While some of the EPG recommendations have been accepted, others have been kept aside for further discussions, with officials indicating that the opposition to them was so widespread that they were unlikely to be adopted.

In fact, dispelling the perception that only some countries - including India, Sri Lanka and South Africa - were against the creation of the Commissioner’s office, an Indian official said that over 30 of the 54

“We wanted a return of focus on the development agenda, and if you see the communique, that is very much there,” the vice president said.

Ansari said that India would continue to support and strengthen Commonwealth Connect, a New Delhi initiative to increase information sharing among membernations, and would also announce more scholarships under the Commonwealth Scholarship Program.

New Delhi pushed for a contemporary development agenda that helped keep the focus on issues such as food security and health, Ansari said, adding that the delegation also wanted a stress on engagement with the least developed countries.

Ansari said he had a cordial meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during CHOGM’s informal Retreat session. “In fact, when we made the case for a second term for the secretary general, it was Gilani who seconded the proposal,” Ansari said.

India opens consulate in Perth

India’s External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna opened the country’s third consulate in Australia in Perth and made a strong pitch for greater Indian trade and investment with this resource-rich western Australia region. He was in the city to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of the 54-nation Commonwealth group.

Sadgur’s sagacity

He is a guru who professes to have no teaching, no philosophy, no religion and no belief system. “All I have is methods to enhance people’s perception, because only what you perceive, you know,” said Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev speaking in Melbourne recently on the topic of New Generation, New Leadership. Considered to be among the most powerful Indians of this decade, Sadhguru was invited by the Asialink Asia Society and the Australia India Institute to share his insight into the mechanisms of inner engineering that can make a good leader. The public lecture was held at the Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, at the University of Melbourne

The ABC’s Beverley O’Connor introduced the renowned international speaker to a packed audience. After a brief address by Sadhguru, she engaged him in a conversation on the topic of leadership. This was followed by a short Q&A session giving the audience an opportunity to interact with the unusual mystic. Sadhguru has been invited as a speaker to share his wisdom in many prominent international leadership forums. He is a delegate to the UN Millennium Peace Summit, and is renowned for his spiritual and cultural insights on health and human potential. This unusual guru who is a mix of the profound and pragmatic, also rides a motorcycle and plays golf.

Sadhguru is founder of the Isha Foundation, a non-profit organization advancing physical, mental and spiritual health through yoga and self-transformation He has been one of the pioneers of environment spiritualism; leading a massive

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plantation campaignProject Green Hands, that resulted in a gigantic increase in the green cover in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In 2006, Sadhguru and his team of volunteers at Isha Foundation, entered the Guinness Book of World Records by planting 8, 52,587 saplings in 6,284 locations across Tamil Nadu in one day. Sadhguru encourages his followers to plant as many trees as possible. According to him, trees and humans are in an intimate relationship. What they exhale, we inhale, what we exhale they inhale. This is a constant relationship that nobody can break or live without.

In relation to leadership, he said with characteristic bluntness that, “One can probably reach the top on bull***t; however they cannot remain there for long”. People often believe that power is leadership. These are individuals who are under the impression that they are shaping the situation; however in reality they are individuals who are being shaped by situations. According to him leadership is not about power or superiority; a good leader needs to have a little love for humanity in his heart, and then words like principle, morality, and responsibility - are not necessary. “To be a leader you need to be at a level of sensitivity not insensitivity,” he said.

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“If you can lead even one person and make a difference to their life, you are a leader.” The main premise of Sadhguru’s talk was that leadership comes naturally to those who find inner balance by restoring and maintaining optimum health and spirituality.

The Q&A that followed touched on issues ranging from diplomacy and economic development, to education and the environment. He also answered queries on topics like religion versus spirituality, population control and human aspirations. During the lecture Sadhguru came across as a man with sharp intelligence and an irreverent sense of humor. His command over the English language was impeccable, and his take on life was thought-provoking. Claiming to be someone who helps people blossom, Sadhguru ended his talk on the note that “spiritual blossoming needs to happen in this world for it to move forward”.

Patriotic Diwali at Balagokulam

October’s Balagokulam had a spirit of its own; it was a joyous occasion, an electric atmosphere where children and adults alike celebrated the auspicious festival of Diwali.

The main theme of this Balagokulam was Patriotism or Rashtriya Bhakti. The age groups of 2-5 and 6-9 were inspired by stories of personalities from our scriptures, such as of Bhisma Pitama, who is iconic in self-sacrifice for the nation. It reminded us of our privilege to live in such a great country as Australia; Hinduism teaches us that it is everyone’s prime duty to protect and serve society and this country. This was conveyed to the children in the usual fun and light manner, illustrated with examples. The age group of 10 and above had an intellectual session regarding the importance of patriotism. All

the children were also prompted to remember the land of our ancestors that has given us our root values and culture – India. This was followed by a fun and competitive sports and games session.

This Balagokulam was not complete without a celebration of Diwali. This was taken as an opportunity by the shikshaks, or teachers, to remind us that this is not merely a festival of lights, but one in which Hindus all over the world celebrate the victory of good over evil. It was emphasised that the relevance of such a principle is still relevant today. It was a day of fun, frolic, devotion and faith. Sweets were distributed, children shared their Diwali experiences and sparklers were lit. After all, Diwali has to be celebrated with a bang!

A keen sense of humour and practical advice without the trimmings of religion and philosophy are the hallmark of this modern-age teacher, says PREETI JABBAL

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Karate Kid

BY SUJITH KRISHNAN

Karate is one of the most dynamic forms of martial art. More than physical strength, it is the synchronization of the mind and body that authenticates a good Karateka, which is why the case of Vance Pal is a revelation of sorts.

At the tender age of nine, Vance has won a host of laurels at a recent Karate competition held at the McKinnon Secondary College in Melbourne, having taken up the art less than three months ago! He clinched first place, won two Championships and also received two trophies in the Mixed Under-11 Kumite (fighting) and Mixed Under-11 Karta categories. If that wasn’t enough, Vance added two more medals to his belt - one for reaching the semi-finals in Sword Fight and another in the Summo competition. In Sword Fight, he beat a brown belt with stripes (whose next graduation is the black belt) to reach the semi finals. Vance was three points up and just a solitary point away from reaching the final, when he was dealt a blow in the eye during one of the rounds.

Being an ardent Bollywood buff, it was the action sequences in these movies that lit up the spark within Vance to engage in something adventurous, thus prompting his father to enrol him in the Kendo Karate Club. For someone to succeed in Karate at such a young age, Vance cites essential attributes such as concentration, dedication and patience as imperative, and something that comes naturally to this youngster. “But the most most challenging,” says Vance, “are the set movements in Karta (for each movement there is defence and attack along with other components), which I find confronting. Moreover, the going gets tough in competitions, it is important to pull something extra out to excel.”

Vance draws inspiration from his father, Vinny Pal, who is also a martial artist, and aspires to be just like him. “My

family has been the driving force in my success, providing constant encouragement and support to me,” says this Grade 4 student who excitedly looks forward to returning home after school and practising his moves once he’s through with his homework. He trains about five times a week. A sports enthusiast with an interest in track and field events, cricket and footy to name a few, Vance enjoys going to the park to kick the ball around with friends and family and like most kids his age, he enjoys playing computer games.

Having progressed to the red belt, he is confident about securing the insurmountable black belt in due course. “I

strongly believe that currently I am prepared to acquire another two belts if given the opportunity in the next graduation test,” says this confident youngster. Despite his many aspirations, Vance’s ultimate goal is to achieve the best possible results in school and make his parents proud. With an elder brother and two elder sisters, I was curious to find out if they ever try to knock him down over petty squabbles, but Vance says it’s all in good spirit and a whole lot of fun being with them. But now that he is a champ, he manages to easily run away from his mother when he lands himself in trouble!

ABA tournament reveals excellent cricket

Southern Rocks Tear Down Tuskers

The Amba Bazar Cricket (ABA) tournament organized by the Melbourne Premier Cricket Club got underway on October 16 in Glen Waverley. Four teams namely, Melbourne Tuskers, Melbourne Strikers, Southern Rocks and Jai Hind CC will battle it out in a 25-over round-robin format over the next few months, with the final scheduled on February 26, 2012. The first match between Melbourne Tuskers and Southern Rocks turned out to be a thriller with the Rocks prevailing by two runs. Having won the toss, surprisingly, Southern Rocks elected to bat first in blustery conditions favouring bowlers.

As expected, the Melbourne Tuskers’ bowling attack led by Amit Bhatia, Ameya Athawale, Vignesh, Mandar Joshi and Ramanand Ruikar maintained a vice-like grip over the batsmen who were stifled by some accurate bowling. Spinner Ramanand proved to be the chief wrecker claiming four wickets, three of which came in his very first over inclusive of a hat-trick opportunity! None of the batsmen got going but somehow collectively laboured their way to post a reasonable score of 70 runs which ended prematurely in the 18th over.

At the halfway stage, the momentum clearly rested with the Tuskers and the target of 71 runs seemed a comfortable challenge.

In pursuit of the target, Tuskers seemed to be in control of proceedings thanks to a

robust partnership of 42 runs between the efficient Kedar Gokhale and elegant Amit Bhatia. Just when it seemed they would breeze to victory, the dismissal of Kedar marked a remarkable turnaround in fortune and the Rocks fought their way back into the game with an inspired bowling display by Pradeep, Subbu, Raghu, Harsha and Captain Shafi, who cleverly marshalled his resources with intelligent bowling changes.

The batsmen found it increasingly difficult to deal with the firepower of these bowlers and the dismissal of the well-settled Amit sent the Rocks into overdrive who then sensed victory. Tuskers lost wickets in a heap and eventually the match was decided in the final over - with three wickets in hand and three runs required to win, Raghu maintained his composure and bowled a magical over to tidy up the tail and seal a terrific victory by two runs. Understandably, the Rocks were ecstatic with the victory and have sent

a strong message to their opponents in the

competition.

Jai Hind CC wreck Strikers

The second match of the Amba Bazar Melbourne Premier Cricket League between Jai Hind CC and Melbourne Strikers was played on October 23 in warm conditions, entirely different from the tournament opener. Jai Hind CC proved too strong and scored a comprehensive win over the Strikers by 16 runs.

Jai Hind batted first and openers Anay Kanitkar and Captain Arun Sarve got the team off to a rousing start with shots all over the park and in the process, providing the thrust for the batsmen to follow. One of the prime features of this team is its depth in batting with many exciting strokemakers in the mix who chipped in with useful contributions to amass a challenging score of 85/9 in the stipulated 25 overs. The

Strikers’ bowlers maintained a good line but failed to capture wickets when it mattered. Tushar Pai top scored with an effortless 21 runs and was ably supported by Ulhas Kastekar. Catches win matches is an oft-quoted adage in cricket and the Strikers’ hunt for victory was thwarted by a spectacular one-handed catch by Tejas Pai fielding in the gully position to dismiss opener Rajendra at the outset. Apart from Ashish Kapoor who scored 23 runs which included some lusty hits, none of the batsmen were allowed to settle in thanks to some marvellous bowling by Jai Hind in particular Shantanu and Satish who kept the batsmen in check throughout. Ultimately, the Strikers were bowled out for 69 runs in the 20th over. Jai Hind had a great day out in the park with a near-perfect all-round display.

Cricket is an exciting game if played in the right spirit and a lot of effort has gone into making this tournament happen. Therefore, it would be favourable to everyone involved if decisions are accepted without showing discontent.

Sujith Krishnan

9 year-old Vance Pal

The Chancellor must have mentioned the heritage value of the Old Government House, for then the Indian thespian looked up at the building, letting the light catch attractively on his visage

performance

evoking his illustrious career as evidence of his worthiness of the honorary degree. “Mr Bachchan has made an outstanding contribution to the global community through his achievements in the creative industries field,” he said, “and is among the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema. He has remained at the pinnacle of his profession for some forty years, during which his roles have evolved as India has evolved. Through his portrayal of characters, one can catch a glimpse of the evolution of India over those four decades.” The Chancellor then went on to list the number of awards and achievements Mr Bachchan has collected over the years, both within India and on the international stage. They included France’s highest civilian honour, Knight of the Legion of Honour, conferred by the French government in 2007 for his “exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond”.

It was then time for the actual ceremony, which comprised the Vice Chancellor Peter Coaldrake presenting Mr Bachchan as a candidate for the honorary degree, to Chancellor Arniston, upon

which the candidate was accepted. As serious as such an occasion was, I couldn’t help but steal a glance at the audience, and was struck at the dichotomy of reactions. The Australians applauded with courtesy and with polite smiles. The Indians either had massive grins plastered on their visages, or literally had dropping jaws, still incredulous at the fact that the Big B was in their midst.

Amitabh Bachchan became the second Indian, after IT pioneer NR Narayana Murthy, to be honoured by QUT.

A fitting response

It was finally time for Mr Bachchan to make his formal speech. Radio announcers next to me jostled to tape the man’s own words, delivered in his famous baritone. He began with a generic greeting – I honestly do not remember his first words, since at hearing the Voice of God my knees actually buckled and I involuntarily said, “Oh my God”, something I’m sure every Indian in the room could sympathise with.

“When I was informed that I was going to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the Queensland

Although not everyone in the audience could appreciate Mr Shah’s classical rendering of the raga, Mr Bachchan was visibly moved, tapping his feet to the beat of the tabla and moving his head in appreciation with the music

University of Technology,” he said, “the instinctive response was, ‘do I deserve it’? Do I deserve an honour of such magnitude? Perhaps not.”

Mr Bachchan continued, saying, “Education is the amalgamation of diverse disciplines that informs every form of creative activity.” He attributed the conferral of the doctorate to the great strides made in Indian cinema in general, during his own lifetime. He pointed out how Indian film was very particular in being convincing of the Indian ethos, and saw himself as only a part of how Indian film represents its people and the dynamics of its culture. Mr Bachchan drew attention to how not very long ago, the same kind of films and culture were “the butt of ridicule and cynicism” but that today, the same culture was the subject of serious academic analysis. “My moment here today on this podium is a proud moment not only for me, but for the Indian film fraternity. The doctorate signifies that our cinema, artists, as well as technicians, matter.” These were definitely pre-thought, pre-planned words, heavy with historical context.

A musical interlude

After Mr Bachchan finished his speech, the Ceremony Chairperson introduced Mr Darshil Shah, a flautist, requesting he perform on the flute for the invited guests. Mr Shah had studied under Dr. Hariprasad Chaurasia, and explained to the audience that he would play the Hamsadhwani raga, common in both south Indian carnatic and north Indian Hindustani classical music schools. He also mentioned being nervous at having to perform in front of Mr Bachchan (he was, after all, about five feet away from the man) and also joked that when he was born, his father had said he wanted him to be “as tall as Amitabh Bachchan”. Mr Shah offered his playing of the flute that day as a humble submission to Mr Bachchan. Although not everyone in the audience could appreciate Mr Shah’s classical rendering of the raga, Mr Bachchan was visibly moved, tapping his feet to the beat of the tabla and moving his head in appreciation with the music.

A warm commendation

A surprise for the audience came in the form of Baz Luhrmann’s videotaped message, played for the guests on a screen. Shot on the sets of his current film The Great Gatsby in which Mr Bachchan plays a role, Mr Luhrmann praised Mr Bachchan as not only a great actor, but after having gotten to know him, as a great human being.

“It is a great sadness of mine that I can’t be there,” said Mr Luhrmann, “I just want to add my voice to the many that herald and celebrate his extraordinary career, of this great, great actor, and more importantly, this great and wonderful man. My experience of Amitabh of course as an artist is second to none, but as a person, in terms of his warmth, his spirit, his inner poetry, and his care for other people, particularly in the way he’s reached out between our two countries, this is something rare in a person, and Amitabh Bachchan is indeed, a rare human being, and a great performer. Best wishes, Amitabh, see you back on the sets as quickly as possible.”

Candid Q&A

Once the academic procession had made its way back from the ceremony hall, it was time for the media press conference. The dichotomy in media personnel was apparent once again, especially in the nature of the questions being asked. Although there were the requisite tabloid questions relating to Mr Bachchan’s daughter-in-law Aishwarya’s pregnancy, the main thrust of the conference centred around the honorary doctorate, and its importance in bringing India and Australia together creatively.

“I carry back great memories,” he said, “not just of this occasion, but the entire country. I have been here shooting for a film and have had the most glorious experience, not just in terms of the craft and creativity of the film, but indeed the hospitality and the warmth that I have received from the people of Australia. I am truly grateful.”

Work is pleasure with Baz

When asked to elaborate on his filming experience with Baz Luhrmann in Sydney, Mr Bachchan said, “I’ve been an admirer of Baz Luhrmann and his films Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet. I think he’s magnificent, in his own interpretation, he has a very unique style in presentation, which is really a work of great art.”

Mr Bachchan recounted that a year and a half ago, Luhrmann was on a personal visit to India, being fond of the country, and he was touring through on motorcycle. He was with a very eminent painter friend, and he dropped by Mr Bachchan’s office, presented him with a painting by his friend and they just sat and talked of irrelevant things. “And then a couple of months ago, Baz sent a message that he wished to talk to me, and he offered me this role in the film. I’m truly honoured that he did. He did say, ‘I know it’s very small, but there’s just one scene which I’d like you to do’, and I readily agreed,” recounted Mr Bachchan.

In praise of technology

Another aspect that impressed the Indian megastar was his experience with the cast and crew of The Great Gatsby. “The experience has been extraordinary. The kind

of technology that I was exposed to (as this is the first dramatic Hollywood film to be made in 3D) and just to see the level of efficiency, the management, and the kind of control, the atmosphere, and this very complex filming, it was all just amazing,” said Mr Bachchan.

“I play a 1920s American Jewish character called Wolfsheim in the film, opposite Gatsby and Nick Carroway, who actually narrates the whole story. It’s been a great experience working with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. I hope I can come back and work with Baz again,” added Mr Bachchan.

In response to the impact of Indian cinema on the global stage, Mr Bachchan quoted his own experience in the 1980s, when he went to Russia, and was greeted in the airport by Russian girls dressed in sarees and bindis and singing Hindi film songs, and who had actually attended Hindi classes in order to understand the films better. He also spoke of a Russian admirer who would say that when he came out of watching an Indian film, he “had a smile on his face, and a dry tear down his cheek. I think that says it all!” said the veteran superstar.

Gracious and poised

Mr Bachchan posed patiently for photographs by the press, and was gracious when some of the fans outside broke in to be photographed with him. It became difficult for the man to move due to the crush of the crowds, but once outside, surrounded by fans, his demeanour relaxed, and he obliged with autographs and pictures.

It was then that the enormity of this occasion actually hit me. For Mr Bachchan, globe-trotting superstar, this is probably all in a day’s work. Fourth doctorate, four millionth press conference, fifteen millionth autograph to an anonymous NRI fan. If this were the daily grind that supplements your work, it is possible to get ridiculously bored of it very quickly. It’s not easy to survive when the entire world constantly wants a piece of you. But Amitabh Bachchan’s patience and forbearance spoke of his understanding at how momentous this occasion was, not just for him, but for us. As I told him during the photo opportunity, we will remember this event, this witnessing of a faraway celebrity we consider our own, for generations to come. He had simply nodded and said thank you, very softly.

The man, at 70, still connects with people, perhaps even despite himself. Earlier I had been idling inside the building looking for him, peering through the building’s archway. Mr Bachchan passed by, framed by the dark arch. He had turned too, quite inadvertently, and for a brief second, our eyes had met. Without thinking, I employed the human response. I smiled, even before I registered who it was I was smiling at. He smiled back and I’m positive it was due to that similar human reaction –smiles are infectious. In that nanosecond, when he wasn’t the superstar and I wasn’t the reporter, we were just two people making eye contact over a distance, and we still connected. It was visceral. No wonder my friend wanted me to smuggle him in. This is what I can now tell the next generation – I saw that human spark in Amitabh Bachchan

Baz Luhrmann sends a video message

Brisbane flautist Darshil Shah plays for his childhood hero

One voice can make a difference

An award-winning play about the Mumbai terror attacks comes to Sydney

BY PRIYANKA

‘26/11’ is a date that will be embedded in the minds of Mumbaikars for generations to come. On that day I was in Mumbai, working for a leading television news channel. As we wrapped up after a hard day’s shoot, the editor-in-chief came rushing out to read us an SMS he had just received: “Terrorist attack at CST”. We dropped our bags and the entire newsroom ran helter-skelter, trying to dig out as much information as possible. Some made calls, some monitored the competition, while some were already on their way to report from location. That night didn’t seem to end and the following 72 hours seemed longer than ever.

So when I heard that one of Mumbai’s leading theatre personalities Divya Palat was bringing her play based on the Mumbai terror attacks to the Sydney Fringe Festival, I knew I had to be there. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia sponsored the October 2 staging of A Personal War: Stories of the Mumbai Attacks, and dedicated the event to its members and patrons.

A Personal War… is based on true firstperson accounts of six individuals who went through the trauma and tragedy of one of the most heinous and horrific terror attacks in Mumbai’s history.

With a backdrop of the actual footage from the attacks, one by one the characters took centrestage and narrated their stories.

An employee at the Taj who served the guests till his last breath; a businessman who was at a business dinner at the Taj and lost his father; a simple homemaker from Gujarat who lost her son and husband in the firing at CST; a young college boy who had taken his girlfriend to Leopold cafe to propose but lost her forever; a reporter struggling to choose between her conscience and duty, and the writer and director of the play Divya Palat herself - all spoke movingly of the emotional distress they went through.

“It was very personal because for those 72 hours I didn’t sleep even a wink, so the story that I narrate is actually my own,” Divya recalls. “I spoke to the Police Commissioner every half an hour by the watch. He was so strong and he kept saying, ‘It’s all going to be okay’. The only time when his voice broke was when he said that he had lost three of his colleagues and good friends. I felt so helpless. I couldn’t get out, I couldn’t help him.”

A teary-eyed Divya goes on to add with a quiver in her voice, “I told myself that I had to do something. That’s when I started writing A Personal War… I began to interview the survivors. The characters that you see in the play are based on real people and are an amalgamation of a series of interviews that I took, so as not to exploit one particular person or a family.”

The Greek Theatre in the heart of Marrickville seemed well-chosen for the Sydney staging. The simplest of settings saw about 180 seats, almost all taken, semicircled close around the circle stage as if to make the audience share the stage

and the journey of the characters. The props were simplistic: a single chair with a screen as the backdrop running footage from the actual attacks. Minimal, when it comes to the decor and lights but loaded with intensity and with something very personal about the ambience of it all. With the chair as a constant, each character took turns to introduce themselves to the audience. One by one, the audience got up close and personal with each character. Six monologues, conveying one emotion - a promise of living beyond fear, a promise to let hope win over terror. Be it the reporter soaked in the guilt of insensitive reporting or the young lover trying to woo his girl only to lose her forever, or the young business turk who lost his father, or the Gujarati housewife besotted with Bollywood, who’s looking for film stars amidst the “shooting” in CST only to realise later that this shooting was not “Hrithik Rosan” [sic] pulling off a stunt for an action scene - each actor truly lived the character. No melodrama, no over-the-top reactions, no romanticising... this was as real as it could get.

So it was not surprising when the audience literally queued up to personally applaud and congratulate Divya Palat and the actors for an immensely sensitive and sensible portrayal of the Mumbai terror attacks.

(Just a word for all those munching on chips during the course of the play: that sound of the foil can be extremely distracting for actors especially when it’s such a close space with the stage literally 10 steps away from you. It always helps to get one’s priorities right!)

In 2009, A Personal War… debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and there has been no looking back since. Not only was it nominated for the Amnesty Award Best Play, it was also ranked as the best Free Show at the Edinburgh Festival. All the proceeds from the Festival were handed

over to the Mumbai Police Commissioner to be used by the police force for better equipment. The same year, a single show was staged for the Police Commissioner Mr. Sivanandan and a few police officers who were at the Taj and Oberoi during the attack of 26/11. Accolades followed as Divya along with her team, was invited to the New York International Fringe Festival in 2010 where she was awarded the Best Director, a first for any Indian theatre director.

Ask her about the response from across the globe and she’s quick to reply, “In Edinburgh we had people talking to us about the London bombings and in New York, there were people talking about 9/11. Survivors across the world share the same emotions, they have gone through the same trauma.”

This play is not just a heart-wrenching narration of the Mumbai terror attack victims, but is also a tribute to the resilient spirit of Mumbai and those brave police officers who lost their lives.

“All the proceeds from the show go to the police commissioner’s office in Mumbai. My belief is that even if it helps one or two policemen, I know that I am heading in the right direction. I can say that I tried to make positive difference,” says a hopeful Divya. And she is making a difference. She says in the play: “Today when someone comes up to me and says, one voice doesn’t make a difference, I have to disagree. It does make a difference… You just have to shout loud enough.”

Hopefully more voices will join in and make this shout loud enough to be heard by the perpetrators of terror, clear enough to make them understand the futility of their actions and just enough for them to embrace peace for the sake of humanity.

The play received a standing ovation as the Indian national anthem played in the background.

TATER

“The characters that you see in the play are based on real people and are an amalgamation of a series of interviews that I took, so as not to exploit one particular person or a family”

Divya Palat

Aditya Hitkari, Sanket Mhatre, Divya Palat, Vatsala Kothari in A Personal War...

Living her

Miss India and Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria visits Sydney in her role as brand ambassador for Frédérique Constant

passion

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

Live your passion. So goes the slogan for leading luxury wristwatch brand, Frédérique Constant.

Well, today, one glamorous young woman from Bangalore finds herself living her passion, thanks to Frédérique Constant.

Nicole Faria, Miss India and Miss Earth 2010, has just been announced as the global ambassador for the Swiss watch company. Starting next year, Nicole will be associated with the advertising campaign for the company’s women’s watches.

“It’s a dream come true for me,” Nicole told Indian Link on a promotional tour in late October. “This is the first international campaign I’ve been associated with this at this scale. I consider myself very fortunate and yes, I’m very excited”.

Sebastien Cretegny, international sales manager of Frédérique Constant who travelled with Nicole to Australia, spoke of how she was picked for the campaign.

“We met Nicole at Mumbai immediately after the pageant, and thought she would be the right person for our India campaign,” he said. “But upon interacting with her more, we were quite certain that she would carry off our global role equally well.”

Frédérique Constant SA, an independent family-owned company based in Plan-lesOuates, Geneva, was established in 1904 by Frédérique Schreiner and Constant Stas. It has today grown to become one of the world’s leading luxury wristwatch makers, winning acclaim for its quality and precision, both in its design as well as manufacture. Its impeccable quality is beautifully showcased in its limited edition ‘Runabout Moonphase’ piece, named in honour of the legendary Runabout yachts of the 1920s. Each watch is presented in a specially crafted wooden case, and comes with a miniature reproduction of a classic Runabout boat. Included in many lists of watches of distinction, this particular number is fast becoming a collector’s item.

Nicole however, loves the watch that currently adorns her slender wrist – a jewelencrusted number known as Chocolate Double Heart Beat.

“It’s a winner with everything. I wear it very effectively with both formals as well as casuals. And it’s a worldwide bestseller,” she said.

What also draws Nicole to this design is that it is linked to charity, an issue close to her own heart. With each watch sold, Frédérique Constant will donate the cost a life-saving heart scan. The company, with its tradition of social consciousness, has been promoting medical research in muscular dystrophy and heart-related illnesses, especially with children.

“I have myself been involved in many earth-related causes,” Nicole revealed. “I’ve worked with platforms such as Save the Elephant, Save the Tiger, cleaning up the lakes of Bangalore, tree planting in Thailand with kids, and most recently, with the floods in Thailand. So the company’s passion for charitable causes particularly appealed to me.”

One of Nicole’s other favourites from the array of timepieces the company is

known for, is from the Vintage Racing collection – a specially created series to mark the new edition of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge (the Ultimate Driving Adventure), for which the company is official timekeeper.

Another beautiful piece, specially created for the Indian market, has Hindu numerals on the face of the watch.

“A late Diwali present for your partner, maybe?” Nicole asked playfully. “Or an early Christmas present…”

(The Indian watch is available in Australia through the Avstev Group, a privately owned Swiss luxury watch distributor).

And yet, how many people are buying watches these days, especially Gen Y-ers, who rely on their iPhones and iPods to tell the time?

“That may well be the case,” Nicole noted, adding, “But nothing completes the look like a watch on the wrist!”

Nicole first got into the world of fashion as a fifteen-year-old, working in the industry in Delhi and Mumbai, and in Colombo in Sri Lanka. And yes, Bollywood has come calling ever since the international pageant win last year, but she claims she is waiting for the right offer to come along.

Nicole now joins a select group of Indian faces in various worldwide marketing campaigns, which includes Aishwarya Rai, Freida Pinto, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.

Perhaps much more than Aishwarya for Longines, Shahrukh Khan has gone a long way with Tag Heuer of which he is brand ambassador in India. While hosting the hit TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati, Shahrukh once famously gave away the Tag Heuer number he was wearing, to a contestant who admired the watch.

Can we expect Nicole to do the same

“I’ve worked with platforms such asSave the Elephant, Save the Tiger, cleaning up the lakes of Bangalore, tree planting in Thailand with kids, and most recently, with the floods in Thailand”

Nicole Faria

Specially created for the Indian market, a special edition of the Frederique Constant watches have Hindu numerals on them

Nicole’s Chocolate Double Heart Beat watch

Up close and personal with...

… your Indian Link Radio stars

Neelam Vasudevan

Latest movie: Dinner for Schmucks, The Three Musketeers

Currently reading: Strengths

Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

Current fav songs: Moves Like Jagger, Someone Like You, Jar of Hearts, Someone Somebody, Isq Risq Quote for the day: Life doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Personality type: Friendly, free spirited, caring, naughty and of course happy!!

RJ-ing style: Bilkul cool!

Dress style: Smart and colourful

Passions: Love music, reading, writing, cooking, traveling and meeting people

Sports: Gymming

Books: By John Grisham, David Baldacci, Henry Denker, Wilbur Smith and Bill Bryson.

Fav khana: My mom’s cooking, Indian, Thai, love to experiment with different cuisines...

Fav actor: Amitabh Bacchhan, Aamir Khan, Al Pacino

Fav songs: Luckiest person in the world as I play them everyday on Indian Link Radio!!! (and all of Beatles).

Movies: Sangam, Lagaan, 3

Idiots, Avatar, The Godfather, Mackenna’s Gold, The Shawshank Redemption, Ice Age 3

Fav movie scene: Oh, so many… where do I start !!

I love: My family

I hate: Negativity

Uzma Beg

Latest movie: Friends With Benefits

Current fav song: Rain Over Me by Marc Anthony & Pit Bull

Quote for the day: Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.

Zodiac sign: Aries

Personality type: A-type personality... what the hell does cool and calm mean?

RJ-ing style: Talk back...non stop bakwaas!

Dress style: Uber casual...wish I could roam the streets in my PJ’s!

Passions: Acting, acting, acting...

Sports: I play Table Tennis, Badminton, Volley Ball, Basket Ball and Cricket but my #1 sport is swimming

Books: Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

Fav khana: Unagi Don (Japanese for Eel on rice) and Bihari Kabab!!

Fav actor: Amitabh Bachchan

Fav songs: Dil To Bacha Hai

Jee, Senorita, Mora Piya Mo Se Bolat Nahi, Hina Ki Khushboo by Noor Jehan, Roothay Ho Tum by Nayyara Noor & Boohey Baariyan by Haddiqa. Mr. Saxobeat, Party Rock Anthem (Shuffling), Gimme Everything Tonight.

Movies: The Bird Cage

Fav movie scene: The dining room scene in The Bird Cage where the grooms’ family is trying their best to hide from the bride’s family that the groom’s dad’s gay and the groom’s mum’s a guy!

I love: Match making I hate: Gaajar ka halwa!

Shraddha

Arjun

Latest movie: That Girl in Yellow

Boots

Currently reading: Google Analytics in 10 minutes

Current fav song: Jo Bhi Main Kehna

Chahoon (Rockstar)

Quote for the day: “Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought” JFK

Zodiac sign: Libra

Personality type: Focused and ambitious.

RJ-ing style:  Informative and entertaining, very consciously staying away from the usual.

Fashion: Crazy about shoes… boots, clogs, pumps… Jimmy Choo!

Passions: Photography, graphic design and world cinema

Sports: Not into sports (does Scrabble count?).

Books: Autobiography of a Yogi, Rebecca, Shantaram, To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Satanic Verses… it’s an endless list!

Fav khana: Japanese! Can munch on Katsu and drink up Miso soup all day…

Fav actor: Kamal Hassan, Al Pacino

Fav songs: Mera joota hai Japani (Mukesh), Bang Bang (Nancy Sinatra), Lateralus (Tool), One is the Loneliest Number (The Beatles), Coming Back to Life (Pink Floyd) & all of A R Rehman!

Movies: Golmaal (1979), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Anjali, Naayagan, Almost Famous, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Pushpak and all of Quentin Tarantino and Satyajit Ray’s work Fav movie scene: The first sequence of Inglorious Basterds with Christoph Waltz; the scene in Satyajit Ray’s Charulata where Madhabi Mukherjee stares straight into the camera; the interview scene in Golmaal with Utpal Dutt and Amol Palekar; Asrani’s jailer sequence in Sholay, and the last scene in Mani Ratnam’s Anjali

I love: A good intellectual debate and watching films

I hate: Reality television (can’t stand Master Chef, Biggest Loser type of shows!); public transport service interruptions/delays and corruption the way it is in India.

Ajay Sankaran

Latest movie: Guzarish

Currently reading: Who will cry when you die? by Robin Sharma

Current fav song: Chamak Challo, of course!

Quote for the day: All those who love me, raise ur hands and those who don’t, raise ur standards...!!

Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Personality type: Adaptable

RJ-ing style: Tune in and find out

Dress style: Anything that makes me comfortable

Passions: My life and every moment of it

Sports: Cricket and F1

Books: Like to read a lot of philosophical stuff. Peace J

Fav khana: Delhi’s chaat

Fav actor: SRK all the way

Fav songs: Right from the good old M. Rafi stuff to ARR, I love to listen to everything

Movies: Remember the Titans, A Wednesday, Catch Me if You Can, Million Dollar Baby

Fav movie scene: From Kuch

Kuch hota hai when SRK and Kajol meet after many years, Wah kya scene hai!

I love: Is this a trick question?

I hate: Hypocrisy

Anup Kumar

Latest movie: That Girl in Yellow Boots

Currently reading: Browsing rediff.com

Current fav song: Rabba Main Toh Marr Gaya (Mausam) by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Quote for the day: “The future will always pay those who are patient with it”

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Personality type: Cool, calm and controlled

RJ-ing style: Soooothing –speaking like a normal human being and not like a rap artist on steroids

Dress style: Changes with moods, occasion, and weather.

Passions: RJ-ing, music, music and music

Books: Biographies, and Aussie joke books

Fav khana: Dhal and rice with fried fish

Fav actor: Nana Patekar and Harrison Ford

Fav songs: Aa chal ke tujhe, mai le ke chalu, ik aise gagan ke tale, jahaa Gam bhi na ho, aansu bhi na ho, bas pyaar hi pyaar pale, ik aise gagan ke tale (Door Gagan Ki Chaawon Mein)

Movies: Vidhaata

Fav movie scene: Enjoying the fine acting talents of Rani Mukherji, Amitabh and Ayesha Kapur in Black

I love: God’s creation of Nature

I hate: …..to hate

Ajay Bisht

Latest movie: Super 8

Current fav song: Little Bad Girl

(David Guetta); Someone Somebody (Sunidhi Chauhan)

Quote for the day: I’ll either find a way, or make one!

Zodiac sign: Taurus-Gemini

cusp

Personality type: Introvert, Black humour, outdoors.

RJ-ing style: Mumbai ishhhtyle!

Dress style: Jeans & Tee.

Passions: Music production.

Sports: Football, cricket

Books: I know you get them at the book shop :-P

Fav khana: Ghar ka khana, Tandoor and all seafood

Fav actor: Amitabh Bachchan, Matt Damon, Daniel Day Lewis

Fav songs: Can never have one! The list and genres are endless.

Movies: Sea Biscuit, Ben-Hur and rom-coms!

Fav movie scene: From Sholay, when Amitabh (Jay) asks Mausi to give her consent for Veeru....

LoLz!

I love: Simplicity

I hate: Double standards (I hear some have triple standards these days!!)

Rashmi Chaudhry

Latest movie: Mere Brother

Ki Dulhan

Currently reading: Five Point

Something

Current fav song: Cheers to Freakin’ Weekend! (Rihanna)

Quote for the day: Go with the flow

Zodiac sign: Vivacious Virgo

Personality type: Dynamic

RJ-ing style: Very original

Dress style: Everything that makes me look chic!

Passions: Shopping, reading the dictionary, learning new skills

Sports: Badminton

Books: Beauty and health books

Fav khana: Lebanese

Fav actor: Sallu Bhai

Fav songs: Ring My Bells (Enrique), O Rabba Main Toh (Mausam), Make Me Your Radio (Stereo nations), Tere Siva (Delhi Belly), Tu Jaane Na (Ajab Prem

Ki Ghazab Kahani )

Movies: 3 Idiots, Sarfarosh

Fav movie scene: When I sat in the front row to watch Munna Bhai MBBS; went with school friends for Dil Hai Ke

Manta Nahi; when my son was in my lap for Hitch, my first independent movie with friends

Rangeela

I love: Humanity

I don’t like: Sycophants

Priyanka Tater

Latest movie: Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

Currently reading: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Current fav song: Ishq Risk from Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

Quote for the day: With God as centre and love as radius make the circle of your life

Zodiac sign: True Capricorn

Personality type: Split personality!! (Don’t we all have it)

RJ-ing style: Bindaas

Dress Style: Anything that looks good on me

My passion: Radio, TV and Films

Sports: Cricket

Books: Classics: give me Dickens, Oscar Wilde...

Fav khana: Anything vegetarian Fav actor: Big B

Sagar

Mehrotra

Latest movie: Force

Currently reading:

Autobiography of Richard Branson

Current fav song: Saathiya (Singham)

Quote for the day: Smile, it costs nothing!

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Personality type: Melancholic - Choleric

RJ-ing style: Aapka Host aur

aapka dost Sagar

Dress style: Jeans, T-shirt

Passions: Helping people to achieve their goal

Sports: Anything indoor

Books: How to Win Friends and Influence People, Personality Plus

Fav khana: Kadhai chicken and lachha paratha

Fav actor: Big B

Fav songs: Kisi ki muskurahaton pe ho nisar, Main zindagi ka saath

nibhata chala gaya

Movies: Guru, The Pursuit of Happiness, Cinderalla Man, Shawshank Redemption

Fav movie scene: Gabbar

Singh’s Kitne aadmi they?

I love: My family, Hindi music and travel

I hate: to hurt

Rachita Saini

Latest movie: Bridesmaids and Crazy Stupid Love

Currently reading: Sydney

Morning Hearld daily

Current fav song: Gym class

stereo and Teri meri meri teri (Bodyguard)

Quote for the day: Never regret something that once made you smile

Zodiac sign: Aries

Personality type: Rockstar

RJ-ing style: Bindaas

Dress style: Classy

Passions: Shopping

Sports: Rugby

Books: Gone With the Wind

Fav khana: Mutter-Mushroom

Fav actor: Salman Khan

Fav songs: Gham Hai Ya Khushi Hai and Lag Ja Gale

Movies: The Notebook, Mother India and Namastey London

Fav movie scene: Namastey London (Ishq di mere mitra pehchan ki mitt jave jadon zid apnan di)

I love: Shoes and handbags

I hate: Too many things :)

Casual journalists

So you have a passion for writing…. Indian Link Newspaper is seeking reporters in your city, to cover Indian community events, as well as India-related events in the mainstream.

Having been successfully operating in Sydney for the past 17 and Melbourne for the past 10 years, Indian Link has now established a presence in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

We would like YOU to be part of our exciting growth! Appropriate remunerations paid.

Contact

Mumbai India’s most populous city, Delhi largest urban spread

Mumbai is India’s most populated city with over 1.84 crore (18.4 million) people, followed closely by Delhi with 1.63 crore (16.3 million) and Kolkata with 1.41 crore (14.1 million), making these India’s “megacities”, according to the preliminary Census 2011 results.

In terms of urban agglomeration or spread as an extended city - that comprises built-up area of central and any suburbs or linked continuous urban areas - Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) tops the list in the country. The NCR, with the inclusion of Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and

Ghaziabad, has a total population of over 2.17 crore (21.7 million).

This is higher than the Mumbai Metropolitan Region with a population of 2.07 crore (20.7 million), which incorporates areas of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Bhiwandi and Panvel, spread in Mumbai’s adjoining districts of Thane and Raigad.

The preliminary results of Census-2011 were released by the Registrar General of India, an official statement in Mumbai said recently.

Among other major cities, Bangalore with an urban agglomeration population of 8.72 million (8.49 million, excluding Hosur) is now almost as big as Chennai with a population of 8.91 million (8.69 million,

excluding Kancheepuram).

Hyderabad, which was slightly bigger than Bangalore in 2001, has now grown to become the sixth largest city with a population of over 7.74 million, ranking after Chennai and Bangalore.

The other important cities in the top list include Ahmedabad with a population of over 6.35 million, Pune with over 5.04 million, Surat with 4.5 million, and Jaipur with 3.07 million, pipping Kanpur in the top ten slot.

The other cities included in the millionplus category are: Kanpur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Ghaziabad (NCR), Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Patna, Kozhikode, Bhopal, Thrissur, Vadodara, Agra,

Vishakhapatnam, Mallapuram, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Ludhiana, Kannur, Nashik, Vijayawada, Madurai, Varanasi, Meerut, Faridabad (NCR), Rajkot, Jamshedpur, Srinagar, Jabalpur, Asansol, Vasai-Virar (MMR), Allahabad, Dhanbad, Aurangabad, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Ranchi, Raipur, Kollam, Gwalior, Durg-Bhilainagar, Chandigarh, Tiruchirapalli and Kota also figure in the list.

The cities which narrowly missed being included in the million-plus population list included: Bareilly (979,933), Mysore (983,893), Tirupur (962,982), Solapur (951,118), Hubli-Dharwad (943,857), Salem (919,150), Aligarh (909,559) and Gurgaon (901,968).

3 summits in a month: Manmohan set for intense global diplomacy

Taming the international financial crisis, evolving an East Asia architecture and infusing new energy into South Asian integration -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has an action-packed November as he heads to three multilateral summits, juggling different regions and agendas.

Buoyed by an economic growth rate of over 8 percent, a laudable performance at a time when parts of the developed world are still reeling under recession, Manmohan Singh first heads to the picturesque French Riviera town of Cannes for the G20 summit of major and emerging economies.

On top of the table will be the volatile state of the global economy which badly needs growth in emerging markets to emerge unscathed. Manmohan Singh, an economist by training and a former finance minister, is understood to have influenced the recent eurozone bailout and his skills in navigating the global crisis will be much in demand. The G20 summit document is expected to reflect the long-standing demand of India for the reform of international financial institutions and a greater voice for emerging economies in Bretton Woods institutions.

Days after returning to New Delhi, Manmohan Singh goes to the Addu Atoll in the Maldives for the 17th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on November 9. The meet, the first SAARC summit to be held south of the equator, will see India pitching for greater economic integration in South Asia and closer collaboration on security issues.

A slew of bilateral meetings are being worked out, including one with the prime minister of Pakistan. Manmohan Singh is also poised to engage in intense diplomacy to build stronger relations with neighbouring countries, the lynchpin of the country’s foreign policy.

He returns from the Maldives on November 12.

Nearly a week later, the prime minister flies off to Bali, the venue of the 18-nation East Asia Summit and India-ASEAN summit. The summit comes at a time when there is a growing unease in the region over China’s assertive postures in South China Sea and its perceived aggressiveness in relation to some of East Asian countries.

The US and Russia will formally participate in the November 18-19 East Asia Summit for the first time, raising the profile of the regional body that seeks to evolve an inclusive regional architecture.

Indian artist Shaikh Salimbhai with a replica of the Taj Mahal he made from matchsticks. The 26-year-old Ahmedabad artist used 75,000 matchsticks to create the piece, which took him a year and 19 days to complete.

Manmohan Singh’s speech at the summit will be closely watched in key world capitals amid growing expectations about India playing a larger role in promoting the security and economic dynamism of the region. Manmohan Singh is likely to meet US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the summit, said reliable sources.

When US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India early this year, she exhorted New Delhi to “think East and act East”.

With bitterness and longingremembering victims of 1984

Twenty-seven years since Indira Gandhi was assassinated, 27 years since 2,700 Sikhs were killed in the capital in the terrible aftermath. As a host of VIPs headed towards the late prime minister’s memorial, thousands of families also remembered their loved ones massacred in the riots - and renewed their pledge to continue the fight for justice.

It was exactly 27 years ago that Indira Gandhi was gunned down by two Sikh bodyguards as she walked from her home to her office, unleashing three days of sectarian violence in several parts of the country that saw 2,733 people being killed in Delhi alone.

As there is no government figure, unofficial estimates put the count of dead during the riots at around 7,000.

Almost three decades later, justice continues to elude.

“There is no chance of complete justice, but we are fighting for symbolic justice. Some leaders should be punished to send out a strong message,” said Supreme Court lawyer Harvinder Singh Phoolka.

He has been fighting legal battles to get justice for the families of the riot victims. In the aftermath of the riots, some 400 cases were filed in the courts, but most of them resulted in acquittal. Some were closed by the police.

Though there were 10 convictions on murder charges in the national capital, outside Delhi only one conviction each in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar took place. Four cases are still on in trial courts. Terming the riots “a blot on the face of the nation and on the justice delivery system”, Phoolka said: “If such crimes go unpunished, the future of the nation is in danger.”

The passage of time may have dulled the trauma, but family members remember each detail of the violence that took away their fathers, brothers, sons and husbands.

For Nirpreet Kaur, 43, who saw her father Nirmal Singh being burnt alive in the Palam Colony in the Delhi Cantonment area in 1984, “bitterness will persist till the guilty are punished”.

There is a story behind her bitterness. Nirpreet said efforts to seek justice for her father’s murder led to “harassment by the police, which branded her a militant.”

“As a result, I was jailed twice from 1986 to 1991 and again from 1993 to 1997 under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act,” Nirpreet Kaur said. Acquitted by the sessions court in 1997, she now helps families of other victims seek justice and rehabilitation through her NGO Justice for Victims.

Pappy Kaur, 42, echoes similar sentiments. She lost 10 of her family members, including her father and elder

brother, in the violence in Trilokpuri in east Delhi, one of the worst affected areas during the riots.

“We have not got justice,” she said. However, journalist Manoj Mitta, who covered the riot court cases, feels the 27th anniversary of the riots offers a ray of hope.

“For a change, there is some reason for optimism. After 27 years of struggle for justice, we are poised to secure conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar,” said Mitta.

“Whatever the outcome of the case in trial court, the very fact that criminal proceedings came this far exposes the claims of innocence put up by the Congress party in the wake of the carnage,” he said.

Phoolka and Mitta co-authored a book When a Tree Shook Delhi in 2007, following former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s infamous words “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes” in his effort to justify the antiSikh riots. Rajiv Gandhi took over as prime minister in the hours immediately following his mother’s death as riots began to spread across the capital.

“There was no will of the then ruling party (Congress) to punish the guilty and efforts were made to shield them,” Phoolka said.

Himachal project to get carbon credit in first for India on public land

Ahead of its 17th Conference of Parties in Durban late-November, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has registered for carbon credits the Rs.365-crore Himachal Pradesh Mid-Himalayan Watershed Project being co-funded by the World Bank.

This is the first project on public land in India registered for carbon credits. Under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change industrialised nations are mandated to meet targets of reducing greenhouse gas emission responsible for causing global warming which was leading to climate change.

If they are unable to bring down emissions, countries or companies operating in these regions, have the option of buying carbon credits from projects which have been awarded these credits by the UN clean development mechanism (CDM).

The Himalayan Watershed Project will thus accrue millions of carbon credits which will benefit about 5,000 families from remote and backward villages in the state, receiving revenue for the next 20 years from the World Bank for providing green cover to 4,000 hectare barren land area falling in 10 districts.

“The project is estimated to generate carbon revenue of at least Rs.20 crore to the communities and individual land holders for the first crediting period of 20 years, which is a strong incentive to protect forest cover,” said R. K. Kapoor, Chief Project Director of the program. That turns out to be Rs.2,500 per hectare per annum.

This is the first experiment of its kind in getting participation of local people in the conservation and protection of environment. The villagers will be paid 90 percent of the revenue the state government gets by selling to the World Bank the carbon credits resulting from sequestration of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide through afforestation.

“The first payment is likely to be disbursed to the stakeholders in next two years,” he added.

Kapoor heads a six-member official team which devised and registered the project.

The project will reduce 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year for a 20-year crediting period beginning from 2006. Initially for 20 years, the project can also be extended to a total of 60 years.

Under the Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement, the World Bank will buy 3.5 lakh temporary certified emission reductions (tCERs) for plantations raised over 4,003 hectares in the first phase covering the period 2006-2018 depending on the growth of biomass.

The program would be implemented through the Joint Forest Management Committees, and so far around 400 such committees had been formed at the hamlet level.

“The entire process for joint forest management committee would be completed in three months time,” said Kapoor.

“There was 75 percent rate of survival of the plantations being done by the local people under this project and the process of measurement of the biomass will start within a year.”

This lawyer’s fee - eye donation pledge Consulting this lawyer means supporting a social cause. For, he makes clients “pay” a portion of his “charges” by signing an eye donation pledge.

Rajendra Gupta, 56, a district court lawyer in Meerut, has been sensitising people on the importance of eye donation for over five years.

“In order to involve more and more people in my campaign, I have now started making my clients sign a form for donating their eyes,” Gupta said in a telephone interview from Meerut.

Gupta, who started spreading awareness about eye donation in January 2006, has till now convinced over 350 people to take the pledge.

“I believe sensitising people towards eye donation is one of our main social responsibilities. It feels just great when you associate yourself with a noble campaign that can light up the lives of the blind,” said Gupta, a native of Brahmapuri neighbourhood.

“I derive a unique sense of satisfaction that can’t be put into words when I see eye donations bringing smiles to the faces of those who once used to lead dark lives...I always ask people to keep the fact in their mind that when we donate our eyes, the blind are reborn,” he added.

Asked what prompted him to undertake such a drive, Gupta said, “Around six years ago, I witnessed the tragic death of a blind man. He was crushed to death by a heavy vehicle while crossing the road.”

“At that time, I thought the young man would not have met the tragic end if he were not blind. Deeply moved by the accident, I decided to undertake a campaign for spreading light in the lives of the blind,” said Gupta.

Gupta, his wife, two sons and five brothers have already pledged to donate their eyes. He undertakes several activities to spread awareness about the importance of eye donation.

Despite having a busy professional life, Gupta starts his day as early as 5.30 a.m. for

the social cause.

“In the morning I visit various parks and playgrounds to convince people for eye donation. Though I approach people of various age groups, it’s from youth I get the most positive response,” said Gupta.

He also regularly organises awareness programs on eye donation with the help of NGOs.

But spearheading the campaign has not been easy. “On several occasions in the past I was literally abused by several people. They thought I had some vested interest in trying to convince them for eye donation,” he said.

“Moreover, several myths are also associated with eye donation. These are not confined to illiterate ones but are common also among those from well-off and educated families,” he said.

“Some people think if they donate their eyes, they would be born blind in the next life. People also hesitate to pledge their eyes for donation, worrying about how their relatives will react,” said Gupta.

India to join new convention to fight black money

India told the G20 Summit in Cannes this week that it has been an active member of the global battle against black money and will soon sign the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters to curb this menace.

“Tax evasion and illicit flows are serious problem and over the last two years, in order to check this trend, India has negotiated 19 new double taxation avoidance agreements and 17 new tax information exchange agreements,” Economic Affairs Secretary R. Gopalan said.

“In addition, 22 existing double taxation avoidance agreements have been renegotiated. All these 58 agreements provide for tax information exchange according to international standard,” he added, affirming India’s intent to sign the new treaty soon.

The treaty aims at automatic exchange of information among signatory countries so that tax evasion and illicit flows can be detected early. China and Saudi Arabia also said they will join the treaty soon.

Ten countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Russia, signed the pact Thursday, while six others, including Britain and the US, had joined the convention earlier.

Speaking at the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also sought the attention of leaders on the issue of illicit money outflows and tax havens and said this problem must be addressed, and fast.

“Tax evasion and illicit flows have seen the migration of tax bases in developing countries abroad and are serious problems,” the prime minister told the 6th G20 Summit.

“The G-20 should send a strong message to curb such activity,” the prime minister said, even as tax investigations were on back in India against 782 people suspected of having stashed away unaccounted wealth in accounts with the HSBC Bank in Geneva.

The government has been under pressure to act against people who have money stashed away in tax havens across the world. It had set up several bodies, including a directorate under Central Board of Direct Taxes, to unravel these secret bank accounts.

From charm

to courage

Women writers from the subcontinent brought their various stories to the Melbourne Writers’ Festival, to an appreciative audience.

BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

Mridula Koshy and Tishani Doshi were two Indian writers at this year’s Melbourne Writers’ Festival. We reviewed Delhi-based Mridula Susan Koshy’s debut work of fiction If It Is Sweet in this column not all that long ago, a book for which she won the Shakti Bhatt Book Prize in 2009. She also appeared at the Brisbane Writers’ Festival a few days later. She has contributed several short stories to reputed journals and magazines, and is a prolific writer. The other novelist, a young woman, is Chennai-born and based Tishani Doshi, who has written her debut novel Pleasure Seekers (Bloomsbury, UK and Penguin India) recently. At 18, Tishani left India for the United States to study Business Administration at Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina. During her undergraduate years she worked in several casual jobs; she later moved to London in 1999 and landed her first and last full-time job as assistant to the advertising department at Harper’s & Queen magazine. The glamour of Gucci and Prada was exciting for a while, but one day she experienced an epiphany and decided to go home. In 2001, Tishani moved back to India with the idea of training to become a scuba diving instructor (!) instead. A chance encounter with one of India’s leading choreographers – Chandralekha, led her to begin a career as a dancer at the age of 26. She travelled for the next 5 years and wrote several articles for news magazines, and in 2005, she was a finalist in the Outlook-Picador Non-Fiction competition for one of her essays. Later she won the All-India Poetry competition for her poem The Day We Went Out to Sea Tishani Doshi’s charming debut novel, The

Pleasure Seekers, was inspired by the romance between her Gujarati father and Welsh mother, who met in Britain in the 1960s before moving to India to be married. As a teenager she discovered her mother’s love letters to her father and resolved to one day write her own version of their lives. The Pleasure Seekers is the product of that resolve.

The novel begins with a focus on the romance between the young lovers, imagining the pleasures and difficulties of their early years together; however, very soon it expands to become almost a huge post-colonial family saga - somewhat reminiscent of Rohinton Mistry’s Family Matters - as Doshi lunges back and forth between cultures and generations. The Pleasure Seekers does not quite match the maturity and complexity of Mistry’s book, but is nevertheless an enjoyable novel: tender, funny and moving. It is currently being translated into German, Spanish, Italian, French, Serbian, Croatian and Polish.

An inspiring and brave Afghan woman Malalai Joya was also a guest at this year’s Melbourne Writers’ Festival. She is a writer and an activist in her war ravaged country since she was in the eighth grade, dedicating her life to making a difference to other women’s lives. She was elected to the National Assembly in Afghanistan in 2005 from Farah Province, and served until 2007 when she was dismissed for criticising the warlords and drug barons who were sitting in Parliament. She

is an outspoken critic of the current government as well as the American ‘occupation’. Joya has worked tirelessly to improve the lot of her countrymen and women, and a newspaper even called her “Afghanistan’s answer to Aung San Suu Kyi”.

In 2009, Joya wrote a memoir (with a Canadian writer Derrik O’Keefe) titled Woman Among Warlords, which was later published in Australia under the title Raising My Voice. It is a testament to the extraordinary courage, dedication and commitment of one

Tishani Doshi’s charming debut novel, The Pleasure Seekers, was inspired by the romance between her Gujarati father and Welsh mother, who met in Britain in the 1960s before moving to India to be married.

ideas The Greek impasse

Although Indo-Grecian

Dangerous

What were considered as radical and unsavoury concepts in the past have now developed into strong new thoughts and movements

BY NOEL G DE SOUZA

The eyes of the world are focussed on Greece because the world’s current economic crisis is largely, but not exclusively, dependent on resolving the Greek budgetary woes. Greece was allowed to get away for too long with an undisciplined spending spree.

A bloated public sector, generous pensions, a high social welfare budget and tax concessions for the wealthy preyed on the public purse. This extravagance was supported with increasing borrowings from its well-todo Eurozone partners. Other Western economies also have extensive, and often much higher borrowings, such as the US.

Greece has a strong sentimental value in Europe. It has been considered as the mother of European civilisation as well as the originator of democracy with good reason, although it is to Britain that we owe the parliamentary system in vogue. But Greece is more than European. It is the bridge between Europe and the lands to the East upto north-west India. The Greek Empire of Alexander the Great spread eastwards through Persia, to the east of the Indus river.

nineteenth century. During World War I, there was heavy fighting between Greeks and Turks, with heavy loss of life. A transfer of a large number of Greeks from Turkish territory eventuated. Greek-Turkish rivalry continues to this day and is seen at its worst in the ongoing division of the island of Cyprus. For some time Greece opposed Turkey’s entrance into the European Union, though it no longer insists on this opposition.

Modern Greece has had a turbulent history. Initially, its war of independence from the Ottoman Empire was followed by a short-lived republic. At that time, the important European powers installed a Bavarian prince as its monarch. However, he proved to be dictatorial and had to be replaced by a Danish prince as the king. The monarchy was ultimately ended in 1975 in Greece, following a referendum.

It has been considered as the mother of European civilisation as well as the originator of democracy with good reason, although it is to Britain that we owe the parliamentary system in vogue.

Historically, Greece has had a strong Indian connection. The Greeks established the kingdom of Bactria which encompassed parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, east of the Indus river. The most famous IndoGreek King was Menander (known in India as Milinda) who encouraged the development of Mahayana Buddhism.

Greek influence is evident in the statues of the Buddha of that period which have halos around the head.

The Questions of Milinda is a famous Buddhist text. Milinda was involved in local battles in northern India. He had tried to conquer Pataliputra, present day Patna.

For many centuries, Greece and India became remote from each other politically and economically. There were visits, though, from King Paul of Greece and other members of the Greek royal family. Queen Frederica developed an interest in Indian philosophy and became an exponent of Shankara’s Advaita philosophy. The Greek Orthodox Church maintains ties with the Christian Orthodox Churches of Kerala.

It is the southern countries (“PIGS” – Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) which are now causing economic headaches, both for the Eurozone and for the entire European Union.

For the Greeks, German intervention in their affairs is nothing new. As noted, soon after gaining its independence, a Germanic king was imposed on them. During both the World Wars, Germany invaded Greece with very unhappy consequences, including over a million deaths by starvation. This time, the German intervention is economic and hopefully will help Greece put its economic house in order.

The European Union, made up of twenty-seven nations has no uniformity. The more developed western members of the Union tend to consider southern and eastern Europe as being economically peripheral. It is the southern countries (“PIGS” – Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) which are now causing economic headaches, both for the Eurozone and for the entire European Union. The Eurozone covers only seventeen members of the European Union.

Britain has retained its own currency, but is now being called upon to help solve the Eurozone crisis. The European Union has suggested that a financial transaction tax be levied throughout the Union so as to create a contingency fund to help European nations in need. This tax would adversely affect Britain, as London is the financial hub of Europe. Unsurprisingly, there is opposition in Britain for such a tax as the Eurozone crisis was not of its making. Besides, Britain has helped Iceland to recover from its financial crisis and is also lending a hand to Ireland in its hour of need.

Current-day Greece is a small nation. Covering about 132,000 square km, it has 11.3 million people. In contrast, Italy has an area of 301,000 square km and has a population of about 57 million.

Greeks know about external interference in their affairs. Greece attained its independence from the Ottoman Empire only in the

China has offered to help Europe, but has made it clear that European nations need to first put their own houses in order. India has been attending Group-of-Twenty meetings and there are vague hints that India might also help, but currently the world is watching what steps the Europeans are taking to solve their own problems.

BY NOEL G DE SOUZA

Sydney has just had its annual talk-fest of dangerous ideas where emotive and taboo subjects could be freely discussed. This article is not going to refer to those proceedings, but rather to “dangerous ideas” in the Indian and Australian context.

Lokmanya Tilak, one of India’s greatest freedom fighters, supported revolutionaries who used violent means to protest against the British occupation of India; he based his support upon the teachings of the Bhagwad Gita. Tried and convicted for sedition, he was transferred from his home in Ratnagiri to a jail in Mandalay in Burma. It is a quirk of history that some years earlier when the British seized Burma from its King at his capital in Mandalay, they had him exiled to Ratnagiri! In jail, Tilak wrote an extensive treatise on the Bhagwad Gita.

Mahatma Gandhi, in contrast, advocated non-violent means to achieve political rights for Indians but he was nevertheless considered a man with “dangerous” ideas. At least that is what the British, quite rightly, believed with regard to their own interests. Here was a diminutive scantily clad man (a “naked fakir” according to Winston Churchill) who dared to question the very existence of the British Empire. Mahatma Gandhi stressed that India’s struggle for independence should be a non-violent one and that Indians should remain friendly with the British people.

There have been many important voices raised in recent years claiming that the Federal Government intervention in Aboriginal communities is actually an apartheid which smacks of the discredited South Africa system. That intervention is still continuing. Those who justify intervention point out that alcohol addiction is so widespread in the Northern Territory, particularly amongst the Aboriginals, that stringent rules are needed to protect Aboriginal families. Education and good leadership by the Aboriginals themselves is needed.

The world is a patchy place where human rights are concerned. The very idea that females should have any rights is taboo in certain countries. This concept is prevalent in certain quarters in the Subcontinent. It ranges from denying females basic education to even well-educated females being denied the right to choose their own spouses.

In the worst scenarios, which still exist in some countries which are neighbours to India, females should neither be seen nor heard. In such places it is dangerous for females to even ask for basic rights. A female author is considered a menace and there are many cases of female authors fleeing to other countries just to be able to survive. This contrasts with a good percentage of Indian females being well educated and holding high offices in both political and corporate life.

Mahatma Gandhi advocated nonviolent means to achieve political rights for Indians but he was nevertheless considered a man with “dangerous” ideas

Gandhi went on to become an inspiration for independence movements in all the British colonies. He was a man laden with “dangerous ideas” which covered political freedom, women’s rights, rights for those who are traditionally oppressed and despised, and for universal education and voting rights. Gandhi also inspired the civil rights movement in the United States.

There was a time in Australia when considering Aboriginals as the equals of European settlers was taboo. Thus any idea that Aboriginals should have equal political and land rights was considered dangerous; they had for long no voting rights. Australia virtually ran an apartheid system with Aboriginals confined to reserves and having “protectors” to look after their affairs. The term “protection” was practically a cover for “oppression”.

Despite its own dismal Aboriginal record, Australia, to its credit, was at the forefront in condemning South African apartheid. Malcolm Fraser can be credited with his relentless attacks on that inhuman system and its ultimate dismantling.

There was a time when scientists were considered dangerous because their views were opposite to those of religion. A celebrated example is that of Galileo, and later that of Darwin. One believes that the European Age of Enlightenment ushered in a new era for scientists. They would henceforth be allowed to dedicatedly work to unravel the mysteries of nature and to create new inventions.

Scientists studying the earth’s atmosphere and its effect on climate have worked relentlessly to unravel the effects of industrialisation and modern living on the earth’s weather. Their research has been disseminated for decades in school and university textbooks.

Little had these scientists foreseen that companies associated with the fossil fuel industries, that is coal and petroleum, would attack their personal integrity and motives. Such scientists themselves were portrayed as being part of a “political conspiracy”. The most prominent of them is Rajendra K Pachauri who heads the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That Panel shared the 2007 Nobel Prize with former US Vice-President Al Gore for their work on climate change.

Dangerous ideas of one era often become the normal ideas of another era. Traditionalists often battle to retain old ideas whilst radicals have to overcome barriers to ensure that new ideas get accepted.

ties go back many centuries, there is a possibility that the relationship could be revived in the near future

Travelling tips

How to ensure your travel plans are simple, smart and sensible

BY PETRA O’NEILL

While in Fort Cochin, Kerala, I asked a distraught young woman if she was okay. She was flying to the UK that night, her trip cut short unexpectedly. It was as she was returning to her home-stay at night that she stumbled off the road and cut her foot. Soon afterwards she became ill, was hospitalised and was advised to go home for further tests in case it could have been a bite. Had she carried a torch, first aid kit and some antibiotics, the outcome may have been different. When you travel, it pays to pack right and pack light, and here are some tips how to do this.

Very Important Personals

Always keep your valuables - passport, camera, cash, mobile and credit cards close to you. I recommend a bum bag, preferably with a wire cord running through it. Securely fastened around your waist with a padlock, you will be less likely to be targeted by pickpockets. On arriving at your destination, keep on hand the completed outgoing passenger card, boarding pass, airline ticket and documentation, eg. hotel reservations. Try not to wear expensive jewellery, instead plastic or imitation would be best. Your watch should either be cheap or one with a locking device. I carry small amounts of cash in two currencies, like Australian and US dollars and convert the one that gives the more favourable rate, though if ATMs are available, they are a good alternative. Carry a small amount of the country’s local currency to cover for basic expenses like a prepaid taxi. If you’re carrying a debit card, make sure it’s loaded with only enough cash to cover your expenses. Let your bank know your itinerary. They will then monitor your transactions.

In the bag

For daily travel, carry a small, strong tote bag or back pack and make sure it has antiseptic hand wipes, a pen, small notebook, sunhat, reading glasses and sunnies,

I carry small amounts of cash in two currencies, like Australian and US dollars and convert the one that gives the more favourable rate, though if ATMs are available, they are a good alternative.

and a map. If you’re taking a flight, include earplugs, toothbrush, paracetamol, magazine, travel sickness tablets etc and an empty water bottle. Once through Airport Security, use a purified water bubbler to refill the bottle and keep well hydrated during the flight.

Light luggage, lesser lures

Set your sights on only a carry-on suitcase with wheels, weighing either 10 kgs or 7 kgs, depending on the airline’s regulations

Your bag will stay with you with no risk of loss, tampering or damage, and will help you exit customs ahead of the queue.

Fasten the bag with padlocks and carry a wire cord for securing your bag to the luggage rack when you travel by train or bus

Try and include a brightly coloured luggage tag to make sure your bag looks distinctive, so that you can identify it easily.

Packing tips

For what to pack, consider your itinerary. What will you be doing, and where will you be each day? What will the climate be like, will you need to dress formally? Next, tip all your possible clothes onto the bed and begin the process of mixing and matching. Base your selection on what you will need and on colours that go well together. Consider how often your clothes can be laundered or pressed. Every Vivanta by Taj hotel I stayed at provided irons and worked miracles with laundering. One boutique hotel though, returned my shirt damaged, so don’t take your very best clothes. Stripes and patterns disguise wrinkles. Dark or khaki colours disguise stains. Avoid white.

Packing

Pack your clothes in order of use, so you don’t need to forage in your suitcase to find what’s needed. Fill gaps along the edges with underwear. Bring A4 size zip lock plastic bags and as you travel, roll up dirty clothing, sit on the bag and the air compression will squeeze your clothes tight. When choosing clothes consider if you can leave some behind, further reducing bulk and making space for those must-have souvenirs to take back home.

Organise toiletries and medication to fit in the front pockets of your suitcase, packed in see-through plastic zip lock sandwich bags and sorted into purpose. For example, utility bag for torch, alarm clock, calculator; first aid bag for basic medication. Carry medications in their original packaging to cover every conceivable illness you risk contracting, and ensure none contain a prohibited substance such as pseudoephedrine which could land you in trouble in some countries. For prescription medication, carry a signed and dated letter from your doctor stating it is for your own personal use.

Legislation on liquids

The Office of Transport Security respon-

Pictures, this page and next

1. Bags

2. Pack prevention medication and for if you become ill

3. For your tote bag inflight

4. Keeping your valuables secure

5. Pack your utility items

6. Pack your personal items

7, 8,9. Colourful luggage tags

10. Your carry on liquids, gels and pastes

11. Suitcases

airports suggests:

* All liquids, aerosols, gels and pastes in carry-on luggage should be 100 grams or under, and clearly visible in a plastic zip lock bag. Baby products and medicines may be exempt.

* The four sides of the bag must add up to no more than 80 centimetres (e.g. 20x20 cm or 15x25 cm) and must be shown at Airport security screening points for international flights

Carry medications in their original packaging to cover every conceivable illness you risk contracting, and ensure none contain a prohibited substance such as pseudoephedrine which could land you in trouble in some countries.

* The contents when combined must total no more than one litre, including creams, gels, lipstick, lip balm, perfume etc.

* Checked-in luggage usually has no size restriction, but take only the amount of gels, liquid, etc. that you will use overseas, preferably in travel size containers

When proceeding through Airport Security, be cooperative. I have had vegemite (paste) and fruit salad (liquid content) confiscated, and while in India, I was asked to hand over two batteries (only two spares for your camera are allowed). If you purchase duty free, do so after clearing Airport Security and inform sales staff if you are taking a connecting flight.

And finally

Submit a copy of your detailed itinerary with your visa application.

Make sure your family has a copy and if you are going to a destination with any element of risk, register your details with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who will contact you if there is an emergency and keep you informed of developments.

Pack maps, details of your hotels to show to taxi drivers and only the pages you will need from your guidebook, but never walk around with one as it signals that you are a tourist.

Keep a copy of your passport and visa, debit card and carry a few spare passport photos.

Carry emergency contact details, 112 is the internationally recognised emergency number. Organise emails so flight and hotel bookings can be easily accessed if your documentation gets misplaced

Don’t store any personal information electronically that may compromise your identity, such as credit card information, at

the risk of misuse, specially at internet cafes and airport internet kiosks

Never leave your luggage unattended, never carry anything for someone else and always pack your own suitcase.

When returning to Australia, make sure you read and complete the customs declaration form correctly and don’t be reluctant to ask a Customs and Border Protection Officer about any item in your possession that you are unsure of. What may seem harmless enough, may pose a threat to Australia’s livestock, agriculture and native flora and fauna. Items including food, seeds, nuts, wood, plant or animal material could introduce some of the world’s most serious pests and diseases into Australia. Anything exposed to foreign soil or waterways such as hiking boots also pose a threat. Ensure you clean and dry them thoroughly before packing them. Failing to declare such items could result in a hefty fine and surprisingly, when you do declare upfront, you often exit the arrivals hall quicker.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

1300 363 263

www.customs.gov.au

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service

1800 020 504

www.aqis.gov.au

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1300 139 281

www.smartraveller.gov.au

Office of Transport Security 02 6274 7111

www.travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au

WHAT TO TAKE

Here’s what I packed on my recent 30-day trip to India

• Jeans paired with a business shirt when flying

• For outdoor activities, comfortable loose fitting capris and long-sleeved shirts for sun protection, also suitable for visiting temples

• Enclosed sandals with good traction and a hat

• 3 pairs of shorts to mix and match with 6 shirts.

• One outfit for evenings.

• Swimming costumes, underwear, pajamas

• A raincoat and a pair of dress up shoes

Diwali nights with Chintu

BY ROY LANGE

My memories of Diwali in Delhi are as colourful as the celebration. As a student of Delhi University, I celebrated this festival with gusto and on one memorable year, with 1,000 bottles of Pepsi, a roulette wheel and the Delhi Police.

The catalyst for this adventure was an amazing man called Chintu Chawla, proud resident of Rajouri Garden and entrepreneur extraordinaire. Like many Sikhs, he made the best of friends and the worst of enemies. Despite his outwardly aggressive Delhi persona that involved charismatic tirades of Punjabi abuse that would have made Laloo Prasad blush, he was big-hearted to a fault and wept every time we had a chicken slaughtered. Despite his habit of loudly threatening drivers that cut him off with dire sexual consequences to their next of kin, I sentimentally remember him threatening to kill me if I swore within a kilometre of Bangla Sahib, the great Sikh temple of Delhi.

I had been fortunate enough to be befriended by Chintu in Sri Venkateswara College when I was still struggling to spell it. I soon found out, before the days of Twitter or even mobiles, that he was a human social media hub and knew everything that that was going on in West Delhi. To a supernatural extent. “Nirula’s at D-28 were raided last night by the ITO. They had 3 crores under their mattress!”; “My cousin’s bhabhi’s grandfather owns three illegal rifles and last week shot a monkey!”

Chintu not only knew everything that happened, he desperately wanted to be there when it did. That meant long laughter-filled nights jumping off and on the Mudrika (Ring Road bus) or if we were lucky, in his family’s temperamental Maruti 800, chasing down the latest Old Monk and water get-together or in this case, the latest high stakes Diwali “Flash” game.

Twenty years later I can very clearly remember Diwali flash parties at the Chawlas. Even then the joint family was an institution under attack, but the Chawlas had gallantly swum against a strong tide of change, and a matrix of relatives lived in a huge house in D Block. Diwali would see the lounge filled with enormous Sikhs, constructed with stiff Patialas and paddling pool sized servings of butter chicken, jealously nursing their two dealt playing cards. They looked like a range of the Himalayas with two dwarfed checker-patterned billboards on the side of each mountain.

Punjabis are a jovial lot but when money is involved, there can be a sudden air of intense seriousness and uncharacteristic silence. The tradition of gambling during Diwali was no exception. It was a very serious business indeed, with little eye contact between poker faces, just a flurry of suspicious side glances and nonchalant throws of money into the pot.

This mesmerising meditation would be broken by truly violent eruptions of cheating accusations and heartstopping drama. Truly not for the faint hearted! On my first few visits to the Chawlas I thought they were suffering an almighty ongoing row and confided this to Chintu who doubled over laughing and said, “Nei yaar, that’s how Punjabis talk only!”

Chintu may have had a truly sensitive protective instinct of condemned chickens, but I soon found this didn’t extend to his fellowmen. Diwali night in the streets of Rajouri Garden is to relive the Lebanese civil war, on a bad night.

It is beyond description. India has not heard of occupational health and safety, and her fireworks are not the effeminate ones of my youth. They really should be stored in ammo dumps under armed guard. Much to my delight they don’t have crackers, they have patakas. These annually

claim thousands of fingers and under our command, made enormous holes in aluminium billboards advertising VIP underpants.

Skyrockets were designed to be fired vertically, but West Delhites find a well-intended horizontal launch very satisfactory, and in the direction of a neighbour’s face, infinitely more satisfying! Multiply that by a thousand neighbours, slash combatants, and you have some idea of the ferocity the celebration evokes. The exhausting swing of my emotions from an instinct of self-preservation, fighting a strong impulse to dive head first in to the ditch, and the wonderfully liberating experience of firing kilos of gunpowder at young families.

In hindsight, I can see why Chintu is such a good survivor. Though we nearly didn’t survive the following year’s Diwali.

Chintu, naturally entrepreneurial, had heard on his amazing radar that people were making a small fortune in the Diwali fairs selling the new multinational soft drinks. Thick as thieves, we pooled resources and in no time we were riding in a truck, the proud guardians of 1,000 bottles of Pepsi.

Setting up our stall at Green Park mela, it didn’t take long to realise we were in deep trouble. We had been duped into believing we would have the monopoly, and our prices plummeted from a level that would have seen the proceeds purchase a year’s supply of Old Monk from the Army Canteen to a level that would have seen a year’s supply of ruthless ridicule instead.

We hadn’t even dented the skyscrapers of Pepsi crates which formed a towering backdrop to our depressingly quiet stall, in a furiously busy fair. That night we barely slept as we nervously pondered how we were to sell more bottles, and I had never slept on Pepsi crates before (because we couldn’t risk any bottles being stolen). It was a tricky manoeuvre as we hadn’t sold more than six crates and we were dangerously high off the ground.

Despite his deep reservations, Chintu listened to me and we made a clown’s face with holes for eyes and a mouth, to charge punters to take a chance at throwing a ball through and claiming a Pepsi as a prize.

This was reminiscent of my later business decisions. I clearly should have seen that establishing a game, where our fiscal survival was dependant on Indians not having any cricket skills, was not sound. We got rid of quite a lot of Pepsi, but it was next to free. Cricket guns with seriously strong throwing arms consistently found their mark and in no time the hardboard clown, to their great delight, was

Skyrockets were designed to be fired vertically, but West Delhites find a well-intended horizontal launch very satisfactory, and in the direction of a neighbour’s face, infinitely more satisfying!

firewood.

Then Chintu looked dangerously preoccupied; genius was in motion. As genius is a slip away from madness, we found ourselves at a toy shop buying a miniature roulette table.

Incredibly, we moved the supplies to Lajpat Nagar where we slept again on the crates and I have a very clear memory of wrapping myself up against the swarm of mosquitoes in a cloth street sign for woman’s unmentionables in Central Market, and drifting off to the calls of the night watchman as he made his rounds.

The roulette table was the hit of the fair and we didn’t know where to put the bundles of cash that were being thrown at us. Chintu had had the courage to give the wrong odds without our customers knowing any better. We could see ourselves hosting a party to end all parties in no time at all.

Then as I greedily looked down at the glorious piles of crumpled notes ready to sweep yet another avalanche into our money box, I only just missed having all my fingers broken. (truncheon) was brought down with such force on our table that the roulette wheel flew into the air, closely followed by Rs 100 notes and the grasping hands of their owners. A Jaat constable who looked like a well-made public building screamed a string of abuses that even Chintu, though now open-mouthed and decidedly paler, couldn’t help feel some admiration for it’s colourful delivery.

The tradition of gambling during Diwali was a very serious business indeed, with little eye contact between poker faces, just a flurry of suspicious side glances and nonchalant throws of money into the pot.

Chintu trembled, “Bhaisahib, please come to the side and we can work this out!”

The cop erupted, “Do you think I am a dishonest cop?”

We all shook our heads furiously, indicating ‘no’.

“If I take money, I take it front of the people!”

Twenty years on, Chintu lives in Torronto with his beautiful young family. It’s a joy to phone my brother and remember those cherished days. It’s with sadness I won’t be able to wish him Happy Diwali with a big Punjabi hug.

You can take the boy out of West Delhi but you can’t take West Delhi out of the boy. For that I am very grateful, because while for some he was the worst of enemies, for me he always made the very best of friends.

Gambling at Diwali is acceptable within the confines of one’s home, but in a wider public forum, it doesn’t seem to appeal to the law

Backyard fireworks

Payback!

BY RITAM MITRA

England’s spectacular capitulation in the 5th and final ODI at Eden Gardens on October 25 brought to an end a humiliating tour for the Poms who will go back home having lost their last 10 ODIs on Indian soil, following their 0-5 drubbing there 3 years ago. It will, for many fans as well as the players themselves, provide some comfort after the horrible lows the Indian side suffered during their recent visit to England.

The scoreline does not do justice to the dominance that India asserted over England. The winning margins – 126 runs, 8 wickets, 5 wickets, 6 wickets and the 95 run victory in Kolkata – were convincing, and it was apt that MS Dhoni made the final contribution to the series with a catch, having been, once again, India’s talisman in the batting line up. Dhoni’s effort was immense in pure numbers – keeping for a total of 217 overs, scoring 212 runs off just 188 deliveries, all while captaining an inexperienced side and losing 4 of the 5 tosses –but Dhoni was not dismissed even once! Adding to this, his last two innings against England on their home turf reveals that England have now failed to dismiss MS Dhoni during his last 330 runs at the crease. His feats are comparable to Michael Bevan, who was dismissed in only 66% of his innings, and was of course, the ultimate finisher in one-day cricket.

The tour was initially seen as an overdose of cricket between the two sides, with many fans still suffering an English hangover. Marquee players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh were all ruled out with injury and fitness issues, while the selectors made the bold decision to drop Harbhajan Singh even after his strong Champions League performance. Without so many regulars, crowd numbers were always going to be an issue, but India’s performance belied their inexperience.

The glaring difference between this Indian side and others is the fielding department. Never before has an Indian team prowled the field with such unwavering commitment to the ball. Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina are already known to patrol the covers with a blatant disregard for their bodies – their modus operandi is to get to the ball, and get rid of it quickly. In Kolkata, India added to this duo the extremely talented Manoj Tiwary at backward point who saved at least 15 runs on his own in the field; it was about time India recognised that fielders can make contributions with their athleticism in the same way batsmen make contributions with their blade.

Happy in Hyderabad

Dhoni set the scene from the very first ODI in Hyderabad, where his typically agricultural 87* off 70 deliveries set up India’s 300/7, which England never looked like chasing. India’s spinners applied the asphyxiation we have grown accustomed to witnessing in the sub-continental middle overs, and all of a sudden India had finally beaten England, after failing to do so in the entire English summer.

Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina are already known to patrol the covers with a blatant disregard for their bodies – their modus operandi is to get to the ball, and get rid of it quickly.

(India) have not lost a bilateral series to an opponent other than Australia since 2004-05, and have only one solitary defeat in the last 16 matches at home.

Dashing in Delhi

The Delhi match provided the seamers with some assistance, and England made a thoroughly inauspicious start – 2 down without a run on the board. Although several batsmen made starts, as is the case in Indian conditions, you are never quite “in”, and Vinay Kumar’s 4 wickets set up a modest target of 238. India also lost two early wickets in their makeshift opening pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Parthiv Patel, but it was by far their most clinical batting performance – Kohli and Gambhir combined for a record unbeaten stand of 209 for the third wicket, reaching the target within 37 overs, Kohli in the process scoring the only century of the tournament.

Majestic in Mohali

England finally amassed a total worthy of the pitch, as they battled to 298 in Mohali. Jonathan Trott, the highest run scorer in 2011 ODIs, was unbeaten on 98*; but even his efforts were not enough. This was the closest match, but for some reason the result never really looked in severe doubt for India. A man-of-the-match 91 from Rahane set up the platform for solid contributions from the remaining batsmen, and although India lost wickets at regular intervals, a Dhoni fireworks display put the match, and the series to rest with 4 balls to spare.

And in Mumbai

The Indian spinners again left England with a meagre total to bowl at, England reaching 220 thanks mainly to their number 7 Tim Bresnan’s run-a-ball 45. However, India once again made light work of the target despite losing early wickets. Raina and Kohli’s 131-run stand was notable for their uncanny ability to run singles when not hitting boundaries; even though they hit 23 fours between them. Although Raina fell for a violent 80, Dhoni again came in and finished the job and kept the 5-0 scoreline in sight.

Clean up in Kolkata

It has been a long time since Eden Gardens was

this empty for an international match featuring India; however the few that turned up were treated to an astonishing display of clutchhitting by Dhoni, followed by some top-notch spin bowling by the series’ top wicket takers in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. India seemed to be heading for 240 until their captain exploded; India scored 91 runs in the last 10 overs, and Dhoni was unbeaten on 75*, blasting 4 massive sixes in the process. Cook and Kieswetter made their best start of the series, adding 129 for the first wicket inside 20 overs – however England proceeded to lose their 10 wickets for just 47 runs, highlighting their inability to play spin and unwillingness to use their feet to move to the ball.

Of course, fans and writers, as is their wont, often wax lyrical about the Indian side when they perform well, and save scathing criticism for when things don’t work out. However, this performance by India deserves plaudits for what it was - India fielded a severely depleted unit with an average age of just 24 years, and beat a markedly similar team to the one that beat them just 2 months ago.

Any praise beyond this, however, would be somewhat insulting to Indian cricket. For although 5-0 sounds perfect, especially in the aftermath of the disastrous England tour, it is easy to forget the bottom line; India are extremely tough to defeat in home ODIs. Since October 2005, India have won 51 of their 76 ODI fixtures at home, including 27 of the last 36. They have not lost a bilateral series to an opponent other than Australia since 2004-05, and have only one solitary defeat in the last 16 matches at home. Anything other than a convincing margin against England, then, would have been far more worrying than either Duncan Fletcher or MS Dhoni would have cared to let on. India next face the West Indies at home before the real test: Australia in Australia!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Australian summer of cricket.

A convincing win is what India needed to restore the faith of fans after their abysmal past performance against England – and they delivered, with interest!

The other side of

festivals

It’s hard to resist the temptation of rich food and delicious sweets during the festive season, but go back to healthy eating as soon as you can

During festivals we mentally switch off our calorie counter and enjoy the goodies and traditional sweets, as some of these are available only during this season.

and meals and add more wholegrains to your meals, rather than white foods.

Include veggies and fruit

With the mercury rising and the summer season here, an added benefit for people living in Australia, try and include more salads, fresh veggies and fruits in your diet.

Avoid skipping meals

The first thing that comes to most people’s mind when losing weight is to skip a meal here and there to cut down on extra calories. Avoid skipping meals to get back to your normal weight, or to maintain better blood sugar values as skipping meals slows down the body metabolism and you might end up putting on even more weight. Instead have small and frequent meals.

Watch out for portion sizes

BY GEETA KHURANA

For the last month we all have been enjoying the festival season in India with Navratras, Durga Puja, Diwali, Bhai Duj and Annakut. Though we can say that Indians celebrate festivals throughout the year, this month is the most important one for festivals. And no celebration is complete without the traditional sweets, mithais, parties and family outings. Naturally, the traditional Indian hospitality encompassed in three famous words, Atithi Devo Bhavo or ‘The guest is truly your God’, is quite appropriate, as you are piled with sweets and drinks wherever you go.

Though festivals are loaded with fun and enjoyment, they do sway many people away from the regular diet schedules. During festivals we mentally switch off our calorie counter and enjoy the goodies and traditional sweets, as some of these are available only during this season. However, most of these foods have shockingly high levels of fat and sugar, and thus calories. This is also the time when even the most disciplined diet-followers let down their guard and get into the festival spirit. And even talking about dieting around Diwali makes people annoyed at you.

It has been seen over the years that after the festival season, the rate of obesity goes up, sugar control of diabetics goes down and those who are predisposed to develop diabetes, start to show diabetes. Therefore, experts warn that this festival fun - and not least, the culture of sweet-eating that peaks during this time - can help trigger long-term health problems, with diabetes only the beginning. In fact, India is the diabetes capital of the world as it hosts the most diabetics among all nations. But with festivities all around it is very difficult to stay focused and adhere to a strict diet schedule. It might start with a bite here and a bite there and before we know it, we have eaten a plate-full of extra calories by the end of the day.

But now, after all the bingeing and enjoyment the festival season finally ends, and it is time to get back to shape and health. Here are a few tips:

Give away the extras goodies

Do not eat sweets and mithai just because they are there or may go bad, or because no one else is eating them. It is better to throw away a few pieces of mithai rather than put yourself at risk.

Or take these extra sweets to your workplace. Your multicultural colleagues would definitely love your Indian sweets and would not mind eating them.

Instead of snacking on fried foods or sweets try to have fruit, fat reduced yoghurt, air popped popcorns, corn cobs, sprouts and nuts as snacks.

Try to have smaller portions at regular intervals rather than heaping up your plate with food at meal times. Try to include small snacks in between meals to reduce the portion size of the meals. Sometimes large portion sizes of even healthy foods can cause problems, therefore keep a close check on the portions.

Snack wisely

Packed Diwali gift hampers look very attractive and tasty, but try to choose your snacks wisely. Instead of snacking on fried foods or sweets, try to have fruit, fat reduced yoghurt, air popped popcorns, corn cobs, sprouts and nuts as snacks. Remember, a snack is not a meal; therefore, do not have burgers and pies as snacks.

Healthy cooking

Switch to healthier cooking options such as steaming, baking or grilling rather than frying or cooking in large amount of fat and ghee. Invest in a non-stick pan and use an oil spray instead of pouring oil.

Increase physical activity

Have a regular exercise routine and try to be active. Do any kind of exercise you are comfortable with, such as walking, swimming, dancing, yoga, or Pilates. So let’s get over the guilt of over indulging in festive sweets, snacks and hospitality and get back to being fit and smart for the upcoming summer season.

Ghazal loses its soulful king

Ghazal king Jagjit Singh’s way of celebrating his 70th birthday this year, was unique - he wanted to do 70 concerts worldwide by the end of the year. The man who gave ghazals a new lease of life, managed only 46 before breathing his last.

Jagjit Singh rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with his lilting voice and refreshing style of rendering ghazals and devotional tracks. He was a Padma Bhushan awardee. His songs, which gave the dying artform of the ghazal a new revival, have become the stuff of legend: Kal chaudhavin ki raat, Honthon se chhoo lo tum, Koi ye kaise bataaye, Chitthi Na Koi Sandesh, Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho, Yeh daulat bhi le lo, yeh shohrat bhi le lo, Tumko dekha toh ye khayal aaya, Jhuki jhuki si nazar, Shaam se aankh mein namin si hai, Badi nazuk hai, Hoshwaalon ko khabar kya and Kiska chehra are all classics.

Born in to a Sikh family in Sri Ganganagar Rajasthan Feb 8, 1941, Singh had four sisters and two brothers and was known as Jeet by his family. He went on to pursue a post graduation in history from the Kurukshetra University in Haryana. He came to the country’s entertainment capital, Mumbai in 1965, in search of work as a singer.

It was a struggle. Singing at small musical gatherings, house concerts and film parties in the hope of being noticed, became almost a daily routine for him. But he didn’t lose hope.

In 1967, he met singer Chitra and following a courtship of two years, they tied the knot. Together they came up with several hit ghazal albums like Ecstasies, A Sound Affair, Passions and Beyond Time and were considered a formidable husband-wife singer duo.

They sang many successful duets until their only son, Vivek, died at the age of 21 in 1990. Chitra never sang after that. However, Singh continued his tryst with music - and for good.

He was the first Indian composer and, together with wife Chitra, the first recording artist in the history of Indian music to use digital multi-track recording -- for the album Beyond Time (1987).

He also sang for Bollywood films like Arth, Saath Saath and Premgeet. He created a strong footing in films with songs like Hontho se chhoo lo tum (Prem Geet), Tumko dekha toh yeh khayal aaya (Saath Saath), Jhuki jhuki si nazar (Arth), Hoshwalon ko (Sarfarosh) and Badi nazuk hai (Jogger’s Park).

Most of his non-film albums - Hope, In Search, Insight, Mirage, Visions, Kahkashan, Love Is Blind, Chirag, Sajda, Marasim, Face To Face, Aaeena and Cry For Cry - were successful too.

He had also collaborated with former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in two albums, Nayi Disha (1999) and Samvedna (2002).

He also sang in several languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Nepali. Singh’s career boasted a repertoire comprising 50 albums.

True performer

While many of his ghazals were marked by soulfulness, Jagjit often turned his concerts into entertainers with his humour and by balancing the pathos with pleasant Punjabi numbers like Saun da mahina. The clever mix always satisfied the audience. His heavy voice loved to turn joyful towards the end of his shows, leaving his listeners smiling ear to ear, and sometimes even dancing in the aisles, unusual for ghazal shows!

In his last concert at Sydney in April this year, he was in a playful mood right from the start, though. (Yes Sydney was lucky enough to be among the 46 venues of his 70-concert tour).

“Good evening, Sat Sri Akal, Salaam Aleikum happy birthday!” he began as the audience applauded. And then he began his very first number of the night: “

Thukarao ab ki pyaar karo, main sattar ka hoon”, a play on words on the original Main nashey main hoon

Disenchanted with Bollywood

In his later years, Singh became disinterested in Bollywood music due to the ‘moneymindedness’ of film producers. He also voiced his concern over the politicisation of arts and culture in India and the lack of support for practitioners of India’s traditional art forms, particularly folk artists and musicians. But he remained connected to causes relating to the music industry. He was one of the frontrunners battling to get an equal percentage of royalty for singers and lyricists.

The last journey

What he couldn’t battle was his illness. He was hospitalized on Sept 23 after suffering a brain haemorrhage. A surgery was conducted on him at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital the same day, following which he showed slight improvement. However he breathed his last on Oct 10 at 8.00am. He is survived by wife Chitra Singh, who was by his side when the end came.

Singh was cremated at Chandanwadi Crematorium at 4.30pm in south Mumbai on Oct 10. The cremation drew several celebrities, and his extended family from Rajasthan. Jagjit Singh’s brother Kartar Singh, and his grandsons Armaan and Umer Chowdhary conducted his last rites.

Prominent names in the music industry like renowned classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, lyricist-composer Gulzar, Javed Akthar, actor-politicians Raj Babbar and

Shah Rukh Khan, Raza Murad, singers Roopkumar Rathod, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Mika, Ila Arun, music composers Kalyanji, Shekhar Ravjiani and filmmakers Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Madhur Bhandarkar attended the funeral with moist-eyes and silent prayers.

Music world mourns the loss of Jagjit Singh

Jagjit Singh’s passing has left a huge void in the music industry, which was enriched with his soul-stirring and lilting melodies. Lata Mangeshkar, who collaborated with Jagjit on many occasions, including on one of his best sold albums Sajda, said, “It is the end of an era. He was one artist who never needed films to get popular. He was an instant hit”.

Her sister Asha Bhosle added, “His soothing voice, his warmhearted nature are all gone now. His ghazals are all we have”.

One of his peers Pankaj Udhas observed, “His style was incomparable. He revolutionised the entire approach of this form of singing and gave a new dimension to non-film music”.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt tweeted: “My film Arth would not have touched the hearts of millions of people without the contribution of Jagjit Singh. Thank you, friend.”

The Prime Minister of India also expressed condolences. “He was blessed with a golden voice. By making ghazals accessible to everyone, he gave joy and pleasure to millions of music lovers in India and abroad,” he said. “I count myself among his admirers and share their sorrow. His music legacy will continue to enchant

Transcending boundaries

The talent of Jagjit Singh crossed cultural and national boundaries. He had a loyal following in Pakistan.

Describing him as the pioneer of the modern ghazal, Pakisatn’s The News International said that Singh “brought the dying tradition alive in India - adding to the traditional repertoire of love songs with more philosophical verses, which touched on many aspects of human life: the brief beauty of childhood, the suffering caused by loss, and the doubts which confront us in life”.

It went on to say, “Much of what he composed and sang carried a strong and exquisite humanism that recognised no differences of caste, creed and religion”.

“His fans ranged from politicians to ordinary people everywhere - primarily in India and Pakistan”.

Recalling that Singh sang before a rapt audience in Lahore a few years back to raise funds for the ailing Mehdi Hasan, it said that his efforts to help the maestro “exceeded those made by most at home”.

“He was an extraordinary philanthropist in other ways too; offering promising young singers the support he himself did not receive in his early days of struggle. Jagjit will be missed not only for his voice - which exists now only on tape and CDs - but also as an extraordinary humanist and thinker who raised music to new heights,” it added

The voice in tracks that won him the tag of Indian Ghazal King, will remain fresh for generations to come.

From IANS reports

Jagjit Singh

Life, laughter and misunderstandings

Another set of adventures, this time through illness, pronunciations and sound, propel the author into profound observations about his fascinating new home, writes

TIM BLIGHT

it, was the nation’s Navratri gift to me, and it was one that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. During my four-day run (and I use the word ‘run’ quite literally!)

I was amazed by the luxurious highs and the bureaucratic lows of India’s premium hospitals (resorts). I also discovered the bizarre world of Indian beliefs about health. Boy, was that an education! Not ayurvedic medicine, more a legacy of the British Raj, my friends and adopted aunties and uncles dispensed advice which, although well-intentioned, has long since been disproven by medical science. “Orange juice should be avoided; it will irritate your throat!”

Really? I thought the vitamin C in oranges was beneficial! “Chilled water will make you catch a cold!” I was under the impression that the cold virus did that! “Food should be left to cool to room temperature before refrigeration!”

Sounds like a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, but that’s just my opinion!

cold, flu, food poisoning or whatever and still battle on. Drop the word ‘fever’ in a conversation, however, and one needs days off work, antibiotics are prescribed and visits from concerned friends and family begin. A local friend of mine got wet in the rain once - the temperature was still 32 degrees - and as a result was out of action for a week. I’d hate to think what happens when he takes a shower! The fever-ridden then trundle off to the dispensary where they are given a little paper bag filled with strips of tablets, devoid of actual packaging or instructions. Ah, the little quirks of a new country.

Meanwhile this is the month when the monsoon arrived in Chennai; better late than never, as they say. The northeast monsoon, so far, seems to be much lighter than the main northwest monsoon which affects Mumbai and Delhi. However, more than once I’ve been caught in the rain while ‘out of station’. For those who don’t know, ‘out

first time I heard the word peon, used to describe an office assistant.

Equally, locals find my accent and pronunciation incredibly difficult to understand. The first time I asked for ‘travel sweets’, I was brought -sweet, sir?”).

My enquiry about ‘tamarind sauce’ yielded only laughs and giggles, however ‘tamarind paste’ was met with “Certainly, sir!” And arriving at a restaurant where I have a reservation, I’ll happily answer to any of the following: Tim, Thim, Theme, Tin, Dim, Din, Sim, Sin, Chim or Chin. I’m sure many reading this will understand both the difficulties of different English dialects. An Indian friend in Australia was once horrified when, after telling his colleagues that a particular celebrity had ‘expired’, the room erupted in laughter! You don’t even have to be Indian – Australians are warned never to tell an American that they wore their thongs to a barbecue!

So as Diwali (Deepavali) nears, I have decorated the front of my apartment in multicoloured lights and regularly jump out of my skin when my neighbour decides to light a round of crackers outside my kitchen window. Sometimes in India, there seems to be no escaping from the constant noise. Even during the peaceful early morning, I am often drawn out to my balcony by some vehicle which has stopped in my street to play music. It could be anything – collecting money for the Sai Baba foundation, a wedding party, a funeral, some local guys on a birthday, an election campaign. India must be the only country in the world where local politicians go around shouting impossible promises from the back of a roofless autorickshaw, covered in flowers and multi-coloured posters. More than fascinating, it’s hysterical – some of them wouldn’t look out of place at the Sydney Mardi Gras! Wearing though it may be, I love this constant liveliness around me. Even as an Australian, I’m not a fan of the deathly silence or empty streets which permeate Christmas Eve in Australian cities – I’ve always found it difficult to associate silence with celebration. Although it’s noisy, the crackers outside my window are what bring India to life, and remind me that all around, life is being lived. Until next month, I wish everybody a happy Diwali, happy Eid and happy Nanak Jayanti.

Even as an Australian, I’m not a fan of the deathly silence or empty streets which permeate Christmas Eve in Australian cities – I’ve always found it difficult to associate silence with celebration.

Since I first visited the subcontinent years ago, I’ve expanded my vocabulary to include words such as lakh (meaning ‘one hundred thousand’), crore (‘ten million’) and rusticate (to cancel one’s enrolment in a school)

Clockwise from top left: DMK electioneering in Chennai; Dussehra celebrations at Marina Beach, Chennai; Sai Baba of Shirdi charity cart in Chennai; Ayudha Puja (the 9th day of Navratri) in Chennai. Tamils celebrate industrial progress by decorating cars and other machines.

Mango tango

Diwali belly? Try some mango.

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

I know exactly how you feel. You’ve eaten too much at Diwali, haven’t you? You got one too many boxes of mithai – probably still have some sitting in your fridge – and not only did you pig out on them, you went out to the Diwali Mela and bought some more. And this was after eating hot jalebis and chole bhature and aloo tikkis at Parramatta Stadium. I know, ‘cos I saw you there, you petus…. Oh, alright, join the club!

Anyway the mood right now is still a bit squeamish, and the desire is for something fresh – fresh produce, cooked as lightly as possible. Now that the Festival of Light is all done, we commence the Festival of Light Eating.

And guess what, mangoes are in! Read on for some easy recipes. Here, mangoes are used to add a glamorous touch to your main meal, as they tango with various salad ingredients.

Mango and Prawn Salad

1 large ripe but sturdy mango, thinly sliced Baby Asian greens

24 medium cooked prawns, peeled and deveined but with tails left intact ¼ bunch fresh coriander, chopped For dressing

2 egg yolks

Mango Rice Paper Rolls

1 under-ripe mango

1 Lebanese cucumber

2 spring onions

12 x 15cm round rice paper wrappers

2 cooked chicken breast fillets, sliced ¼ cup torn mint leaves

Peel the mango, remove the flesh and slice thinly. Cut the cucumber and spring onion into 8cm long thin straws.

Place the rice paper wrappers in a bowl of warm water for 1 minute or until soft and pliable. Remove and pat dry on a clean tea towel. Lay them out on your bench.

Divide the mango, cucumber, spring onions, chicken and mint between each wrapper, placing them on the bottom-left side nearest to you. Roll up firmly to enclose the filling, folding the right side over the filling as you go to make a base, and leaving the left side open to show the filling.

Serve with sweet chilli sauce or a dipping sauce of 1/3 cup fish sauce and 2 tablespoons lime juice, if desired.

(Image and recipe provided by Mango Communications)

Mango Salsa

1 large ripe but sturdy mango, peeled and cubed

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

2 small chillies, seeds removed, finely chopped

1 tbsp chopped coriander

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 1 lime

Toss together mango, onion, chilli, coriander, oil, lime juice and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for half an hour.

Mango and Prosciutto

Mango cubes

Baby rocket leaves

Prosciutto slices

Place one rocket leaf on a mango cube, then wrap prosciutto slice around. Use half a slice if your cubes are small. Secure with wooden toothpick. Cover with clingfilm and chill.

Another Mango Salsa

2 large ripe but sturdy mangoes, peeled and cubed

1 large Lebanese cucumber, seeds removed and then cubed

2 tbsp chopped fresh dill

2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Mango Chicken Papadums

2 single chicken breast fillets

2 tbsp tandoori curry paste

1 tsp vegetable oil

Plain mini pappadums

1 ripe but sturdy mango, peeled and cubed

1 small Lebanese cucumber, cubed

2 tbsp finely chopped red onion

1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

3 tsp fresh lime juice

1/2 cup natural yoghurt

1 tbsp chopped fresh mint

1 garlic clove, crushed

Fresh coriander sprigs, for garnish

Marinate the chicken in the curry paste in a glass or ceramic bowl. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook chicken on both sides. Set aside to cool, then shred. Cook the pappadums to packet directions.

Toss together the mango, cucumber, onion, chopped coriander and one-third of the lime juice in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Combine the yoghurt, mint, garlic and remaining lime juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Lay out pappadums on a serving platter. Top with chicken, mango mixture, yoghurt mixture and coriander sprigs to serve

I envy you, your moment

BY RANI JHALA

I was at a restaurant. The proprietor had seated me at my favourite table, a twoseater, in the far corner of the room. Our dishes had been served and I looked at our plates. Mine was already half eaten; my wife’s was still untouched. Ah, these blissful moments were priceless, intercepted by the rustle of my wife’s sari, or by the clanging of her bangles.

I followed my wife’s gaze as she looked at the couple seated at the next table. The wife was upset about the order. She had wanted their usual selection and her husband had wanted them to try some new dishes. She had given in to his wish, but from that moment, she had spent every minute regretting her decision. Others too listened in to their conversation, for it was loud enough.

Another lady who was with a group at the table next to me was blaming her husband for their delay. A man at that same table was making fun of his wife’s choice of music. Two tables away yet another couple were arguing about the man’s wandering eyes. Four tables away, a father yelled loudly at his child and accused his wife for failing to discipline her. Some couples joked about each other’s failings, and some attributed faults where none existed.

I looked across my table and smiled at our blissful silence.

Indira and I met in college. I was her senior by two years. It was customary for newcomers to be ‘ragged’ by their seniors. It was not the kind of violent, abusive bullying that now exists, rather the playful kind where we asked them to do jobs for us, such as go into town and bring us a snack or stand in the middle of the courtyard and sing a song. Though now, it would be considered bullying. It was my lot to rag her. My first task for her was to iron my shirts. They came perfectly ironed on a hanger, but to my dismay fell apart on me in the middle of a class presentation, for she had very cleverly and strategically unpicked the seams. That act was not only defiance on her part, but a challenge to me as well. The next day I asked her to wash all my clothes. She did these but returned them all dyed to varying degrees of pink, for she claimed she had accidently washed a red petticoat with my clothes. Now being made to look a fool, I decided to make her carry a placard saying ‘I was wrong to make a fool of Arvi and I apologise for it’ and walk around the campus. I felt bad about my decision and felt worse when I heard

added “But he makes it so hard, when he is so easy to make a fool of.’ From then on, the battle lines were drawn but no matter what I threw at her she counter-acted and won. We spent the next few months playing these games, and then suddenly the games stopped. And we both realised things were getting serious.

Then one day, Indira suddenly disappeared from college. All we were told was that she was unwell and had returned home for treatment. She had not bid anyone goodbye. She had not even contacted her close friends.

The two weeks that followed were my loneliest. Everywhere I looked, I saw Indira, every word uttered, reminded me of her. Finally I managed to get her phone number but when I rang, her mother informed me that Indira was still in hospital but she would pass on my message. Two weeks in hospital could only mean something serious. I left on the next train and arrived unannounced at her home. I could see her family was surprised, but were gracious in their welcome. Her brother took me the hospital. Even before I entered her room, I knew I loved her. As I entered, I knew that one day she would be my bride, but I was unprepared for the sight I was to see. Indira lying prostrate still connected to tubes and

“How did you get through, I thought it was ‘family only’,” she said, smiling. “Yes, so I was told before I was allowed in,” I replied. I had conveyed my message and I knew from her teary eyes that she had understood its meaning: I was now family and I was here to stay.

“No one was to tell you anything,” she remarked. That explained why her friends had maintained their silence. It had surprised me that none of them had been in contact with their supposedly dear friend. I would learn later, that they took turns to visit Indira, always promising to keep their silence.

My weekend stay turned to a fortnight. From her father I learnt that she had a heart condition that was now ‘ticking bomb’, a bomb that would never let her be a mother. And for that reason Indira had decided that she would never be a wife. And this was one battle I would not and did not let her win. I married her the day she came out of hospital, ensuring that she did not have the chance to escape. That ticking bomb was gracious in giving us eighteen wonderful years together. My parents’ initial disappoint at our circumstances was soon overcome by their feelings for Indira. I had a brother who would give them their grandchildren, but I had brought them the daughter they never

They came perfectly ironed on a hanger, but to my dismay fell apart on me in the middle of a class presentation, for she had very cleverly and strategically unpicked the seams.

had. We completed our college degrees, I got a job and we moved to several countries in the world. No medics in any country could fix her health condition, but each was awed by her inner strength and courage.

Most couples look for friends and social groups outside of their marriage. I had my best friend by my side. Most marriages have arguments and fights. Ours never saw one. Maybe we were done with all the fighting in college. People look for external entertainment. We were just happy to be in each other’s company. On so many occasions we would get ready for a party and then decide that we would rather stay at home and just talk.

The time bomb finally exploded and took everything from my life, but not the memories and not her presence. Even now, I see her seated across me at our table. Even now I hear the rustle of her sari and the clang of her bangles. Even now she smiles at me from across the room and I hear my Indira say, “I wish we had their time”.

I looked around. The conversations were still loud, the arguments still raging and the comments were still insulting, but it no longer bothered me. As I got up to leave, the gentleman at the table with the group remarked, “I hope we were not too loud?” I patted his shoulder as I walked past “Not at all, in fact, I envy you, your moment.” This is a work of fiction but it is a tribute to a real-life Indira and Arvi.

I had conveyed my message and I knew from her teary eyes that she had understood its meaning: I was now family and I was here to stay.

When a partner is a true friend one can want nothing more, reveals this poignant short story

ARIES March 21 - April 19

Tarot ‘n’ You Tarot ‘n’ You

Tarot predictions for February 2010

Tarot predictions for NOVEMBER 2011 Tarot

LIBRA September 23 - October 22

Planning your end-of-year vacation? Tarot suggests care. This month the cards are indicating that you may face some delays relating to travel. It is best to check all bookings carefully. Financially, you are in for a positive time and there are going to be a lot of changes where work and making money are concerned. The cards are also indicating a fantastic time for relationships and love. Make time for meditation and relaxation this month.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

The cards are indicating a time for financial stability around you. There are a lot of plans on your mind and you are looking at some lucrative ways of making money. But remember to keep a balance with your personal life - your relationship may be under a little bit of strain as you have not been seeing eye to eye with your partner lately. Take time out together to discuss things and you will be able to move forward together.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

It is time for introspection. Tarot is indicating that this is a time to find out what you really want in life. It is also time to bring together some family members who are not on talking terms. You may find that you are trying to juggle finances this month. Romantically you are in the mood to make things better, and if single you are now ready to look for that right companion. Quite a busy month, overall!

CANCER June 21 - July 22

Tarot suggests you are looking for stability this month. Your cards are indicating this will be a time of deep thought and decisions. This is also a time of letting the past go and allowing new adventures to come into your life. You may decide to take up travel or study, or both. You may also be thinking about the future of a current relationship. Financially you are looking at savings and how to bring in more stability around you.

LEO July 23 - August 22

Your cards indicate a time of rapprochement. There have been some harsh words spoken to a loved one and you are now thinking of how to make this better. Tarot sees some strain around a particular relationship. But don’t worry; you will be able to work things out well if you act with maturity. Financially, you are looking at a good month but be careful with your spending; do not go into a major (property?) deal without proper advice.

VIRGO August 23 - September 22

It’s professional success, peace and overall happiness for you this month. Tarot notes you are doing well in your career, and suggests rewards are coming your way. Financially you seem to be making good progress, and this month you could be looking at ways of expanding your horizons at work. There is a new partner on the horizon for singles; if with someone, you will be looking at making love more permanent. A great month for you.

Tarot indicates that now is the time to work towards bringing balance and peace into your life. You have been under tremendous pressure lately and you just want to unwind and take things easy. Financially you are not as happy as you would like to be, but more opportunities are coming your way. Your love life is improving, but then again you are also maturing. You can do it if you put your mind to it. Good luck.

SCORPIO October 23 - November 21

Tarot notes that you have been concentrating on your health issues lately, but foresees that this month you will start feeling a lot better. Professionally you will be looking at other avenues of making money and also re-assessing your current job situation. If looking for work, this is a great month to seal a deal. Financially, you need to make sure that you are putting money away for the future effectively. Remember to take time out to relax, though.

SAGITTARIUS November 22 - December 21

Tarot sees confusion. A lot has probably been bothering you in recent days. This will pass, but this month will be a little up and down with regard to your emotions. Financially you will help out a friend in need. But watch out for misunderstandings with people around you and keep your emotions under control. There is plenty of potential for flare-ups that you must avoid. Healthwise, you will also be thinking about your fitness and diet this month.

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 19

This is a powerful month for you, and Tarot suggests there will be many changes around your life. Financially, there are new opportunities and offers around you. Make the most of them. This is a great time to look at studying or living abroad. Your love life is not giving you a lot of joy but perhaps you need to work things out in your head to change this. Health is also a slight concern, so look after yourself.

AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18

This month you will be taking a fresh look at your professional plans and trying to keep yourself motivated. Tarot notes you are not happy with a certain business venture so you may walk away from the idea. There are also people around you who are being quite negative about your plans; you should not allow this to deter you. Finances are going to get better this month. And finally, it looks as though love is in the air.

PISCES

February 19 - March 20

The cards are indicating this month is a time of changes and new ideas. You are bursting with thoughts and feelings, dreams and plans. Tarot urges you to take them forward as you will be very successful – so what’s holding you back? There have been some difficulties around you lately, but now is the time when things are going to start looking up. Financially, things are slowly looking better. Love life needs spicing up, but overall, good times ahead for you.

BUZZThe

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

Gaga WOWS India

Now we’re used to seeing Lady Gaga at her bizarre best on her good days, and let’s not talk about her bad ones. So at her first formal appearance in India, it was quite a surprise to see Gaga actually looking like a lady! She looked simple yet elegant, dressed in a one-shoulder gown by Indian designer Naeem Khan and a sparking necklace with matching earrings. But what attracted was a clever and creative desi twist - her bouffant, which had streaks of saffron and green - colours of the Indian flag. Gaga greeted the audience confidently saying,

“Namaste everyone! I am so glad to be here. I could never even imagine that I would get to come to India and perform and meet my new, amazing fans that are here in India. So I would like to say thank you to all of you. My deepest gratitude.”

The 25-year-old global pop icon performed at the F1 after-party, causing the usual sensation. And judging by her reaction to the Indian audience and their enthusiastic welcome for the singer, you can bet she’ll be back before you can say Gaga!

Kareena for posterity

Kareena is in exalted company these days, hobnobbing with Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. However, not in Bollywood, but in Blackpool, Britain. Kareena recently unveiled her wax statue at the Madame Tussauds museum amidst fanfare. “It is an honour and a privilege for me to have my own wax figure at Madame Tussauds Blackpool and even more so to launch a global Bollywood exhibition. This is a moment of pride for Indian cinema,” Kareena said in a statement. It took four months to create the wax statue, which cost 150,000 pounds.

“The figure looks incredible and is so life-like. I had to do a double take when I saw myself - they have really done a superb job at capturing my essence,” she added.

Perhaps Kareena will soon find herself competing with fellow actor Hrithik Roshan’s status. The Bollywood heartthrob has reportedly made it to the list of top 10 most kissed statues in London’s Madam Tussauds museum. Last year it was Shahrukh Khan, now it’s Hrithik and perhaps next year, it will be Kareena!

The unveiling of Kareena’s wax figure also flagged off a global exhibition, where the statues of Bollywood stars will be taken to six major cities around the world to be exhibited, before they are brought back to Blackpool in January next year. An honour, and a well-deserved one too. Good on you, Bebo, will Saif be next? Keep guessing…

Kristen courting King Khan

This current fascination of Hollywood for all things Bollywood seems to be spiralling upwards to new heights.

The latest to join the gang is, strangely enough, Twilight actress Kristen Stewart, who is a huge fan of, strangely enough, superstar Shah Rukh Khan. She calls him an “epitome of romance” and says she would love to work with him. “I am a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan who is an epitome of romance in Bollywood,” said Kirsten via an e-mail interaction. Given a chance, he would be the one with whom she would love to do the second part of her movie,

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn “And not just Hollywood, but I would love to work with him in Bollywood movies too and for that I am also looking forward to learning Hindi,” said the 21-yearold actress who obviously has Bollywood in her sights in the near future.

“I have also seen the promos of his latest movie Ra.One which are very impressive and I just loved his look in the movie. I’ll definitely watch the movie also. He is truly an inspiration to me,” she added.

Hmmm, think she’ll change her mind after watching RA.One? But I have to admit that the thought of Kirsten in her role as Bella Swan in the vampire saga Twilight doing item numbers in a masala movie kind of boggles the mind. Well, stranger things have happened in Bollywood!

Garam Dharam has a gripe!

He’s been in the film industry for over five decades, and Dharmendra is still going strong. But although the veteran actor has acted in numerous movies, he still admits to being media shy and a very private person. The thespian just had a new release, but he is clearly uncomfortable in the movie world of today where good films suffer because they are not promoted and where everything is commodified.

Other Bollywood celebrities may look for extra media mileage, but the veteran actor is not game for too much exposure, Dharam revealed, as his latest movie Tell Me O Kkhuda released recently.

GUESS WHO

She rose to fame as an item girl but hasn’t been seen around lately…

“They call me media shy. I am media shy because I don’t want so much exposure. We make films, they work and people like them, that’s enough for me. I try to maintain my privacy; that’s why we don’t make so many public appearances,” said Dharmendra, whose sons Sunny and Bobby Deol too, avoid the limelight.

Bollywood’s original He Man entered showbiz in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere and went on to work in all kind of films - from the lyrical Bandini and the serious Satyakam, to comic classics like Chupke Chupke and, of course, the cult entertainer Sholay And through it all, the decades of fame and stardom, Dharam continued to remain a private person. And one who seems peeved at the excesses of filmdom we see in current times.

“Everything has become more of a drama,” he said, somewhat grumpily. “We have started taking advantage of everything. Love has also been commodified; people have started exploiting love. I miss the time when everyone used to stay together with all the love, exchanging things with neighbours.”

The thespian adds, “I still live in that environment. That is still in my roots. It has given me life and I have the same environment at my home. Even my kids have stuck to their roots.”

Dharmendra admits that he wasn’t in favour of his daughter Esha becoming an actress, but now he’s proud of her. “I was concerned whether she would be able to keep up with the pressures of the industry, but I am glad she could handle all that,” he said. Tell Me O Kkhuda Hema Malini’s directorial venture, which also marks their daughter Esha’s re-launch in films. The father and daughter team should make interesting viewing, in this obvious family venture.

Dharam still has a grouse about the promotion of films, which have now become an inevitable part of the film industry, but because of which other good films suffer, he rues. “Filmmakers have made the audience so used to promotions that if a film is not promoted at a certain level, people feel that the film is not worth watching,” he said.

Giving the example of two of his films, he added, “Good films fail to work because they are not promoted the way they should have been. Apne was a bigger film than Yamla Pagla Deewana the producer did not have enough money to promote the film. But we extensively promoted Pagla Dewana; moreover the script was good and people enjoyed it. However, it’s true if the films today are not promoted in the right way, they tend to stay behind.”

“I have still not been able to understand today’s audience. Everything is so hyped. Now we see actresses using abusive words on screen, which doesn’t suit them. I feel really sad,” he said.

Well, this is the Gen Y of Bollywood, Dharmendra, so watch out! More change is in the air!

Ranbir ready to rock!

Ranbir Kapoor isn’t content to be a part of the Kapoor khandaan, with legendary actor Raj Kapoor as his illustrious grandfather. The son of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, Ranbir has already made his mark in Bollywood in just four busy years, but he wants to go on and on until he’s “the biggest star”.

Comedy, political thriller and dramaRanbir’s body of work boasts of variety, and he says he wants to grow with every character. It’s a claim to fame that few actors of his age and calibre are able to match, and it’s all well-deserved for this young man.

In the last four years, the chocolate boy has morphed into an actor, and a good one at that. He entered the industry with Saawariya, did light-hearted dramas like Bachna Ae Haseeno and Wake Up Sid, but it was his mature performance in Rajneeti that changed everyone’s perception of Now with Rockstar and Barfee, Ranbir feels he is on the right path.

“I hope I can grow with every character I do. I want to be the biggest star. I want to be the best actor and I feel I am on the right path. I have been fortunate that I have worked with such talented directors,” said Ranbir, 29, in an interview. Undeterred by negative talk, he says, “I am happy with my growth and the way my career is shaping up. People have tried to pull me down with negative reviews and never-ending rumours. But that doesn’t affect me at all now because I have become numb to such stories. I have learnt how to detach myself. It doesn’t bother me or my peace of mind.” Wise words indeed from a young, but certainly switched-on actor.

Ranbir proved his mettle in his debut Saawariya (2007) which a damp squib at the box office, but the young actor rose above the film’s fate and won the Filmfare award for the best

However, essaying a Jat boy was not easy as the actor couldn’t find a common connect with his character.

“My character comes from a different stratum of society. He is somebody whom I haven’t met in my life, so it was very hard for me to get into his skin. I went and spent a lot of time with a Jat family in Delhi. It was very important for me to observe them, to pick up certain nuances,” he said, showing unusual professionalism when studying his character portrayals.

Though he plays an aspiring musician in the film, Ranbir lacks the art in real

What’s Kareena thinking as she unveils her own wax statue?

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

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What’s the chitchat here between sisters Shilpa and Shamita?

Shilpa: Look, this is how you do a red carpet… show some more skin.

Darshana Kaul (Jolimont, WA)

Darshana wins a CD of new Hindi film Azaan

So what’s next for this busy actor with so many aspirations?

“I would want to do an out-andout negative film. I want to play with characters, I want to explore myself. People ask me if I want to do an action film, because action films are in vogue. I would definitely do one in some time, but not when it is being followed as a trend. I will do it when I feel it is the best time for me to get into such a role,” says Ranbir. Looks like this young man is set to have a busy and adventure-filled life! Good luck to him….

RANBIR

DHARAM

KAREENA

Cine Talk

Ra.One raises the bar for Hindi films

Here’s a movie the Hindi film industry can be proud of. Ra.One can be touted as the first Hindi film that blends the elegance of Hollywood with Indian sensibilities.

From the very onset, this classy sci-fi film sets the viewers’ adrenalin soaring. It also educates, entertains and eulogises our culture. And, very predictably, from the very beginning you know that the crux of the film is about how good triumphs over evil.

Ra.One dwells into the virtual world of today’s youngsters who are hooked on to technology and video games.

Prateik (Armaan Verma) is one of them. For him the villain is the hero simply

because he does not play by the rules. It’s winning, by hook or by crook, that matters to him.

Shekhar Subramanium (Shah Rukh Khan), the clumsy, nerdy game developer father of Prateik, lovingly tries convincing his son with, “Allow me to quote....” and quotes Mahatma Gandhi and such like. The youngster is unimpressed, thereby revealing the generation and cultural gap between the two of them.

Disheartened by the strain in the fatherson relationship, Shekhar develops the invincible Random Access One (Ra. One), who can take any form, to please his son. Still not fully convinced with his own creation, as a standby he also develops Good One (G- One), who could exterminate Ra.One if need be.

Excited with his father’s creation, Prateik plays Ra.One with a screen name, Lucifer. He manages to cross level two of the video game, thereby antagonising Ra.One. Unknown to Shekhar and his team, Ra.One steps out of the game into their real world

to eliminate Lucifer, thereby threatening Prateik’s life.

This concept of the characters sliding from the virtual world into the real world seems to have been inspired from the Hollywood film, The Purple Rose of Cairo.

Ra.One is an outright Shah Rukh Khan film.

The way Shah Rukh gracefully slips into the roles of Shekhar, Ra.One and G-One, leaving no room for confusion, is remarkable.

He is the superhero of the film. That’s because the script was skillfully and convincingly put together by Anubhav Sinha, Kanika Dhillon, Mushtaq Sheikh and David Benullo. The dialogues by Kanika and Niranjan Iyengar are good in parts.

The little gimmicks by Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra and Rajnikant add to the lighter moments of the film but take the story nowhere.

Shahana Goswami as the employee at the electronic company and Arjun Rampal as Ra.One look fine for the roles they play but

have very little to deliver. Armaan as Pratiek is impressive.

The outfits of Ra.One and G-One designed by Robert Kurtzman and the bright production design are worth a mention.

Vishal-Shekhar’s music and the background score along with the awesome stunts and thrilling chases are electrifying. The film would not have been what it is if it was not for Resul Pookutty’s sound design, Sanjay Sharma’s editing and for the visual and special effects team.

With all the minor blemishes, this movie is still worth seeing at least once.

This high energetic film is loaded with antics, animation and action. With many thrilling sequences mounted with grandeur, it gives you the feel of a live video game. It is probably one of the classiest movies seen in the Hindi film industry and a feather in Anubhav’s hat.

Troy Ribeiro

Film: Ra.One

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Armaan Verma, Shahana Goswami Director: Anubhav Sinha

A search for identity

Film: Tell Me O Kkhuda

Cast: Esha Deol, Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Arjan Bajwa, Chanda Roy Sanyal Director: Mayur Puri/Hema Malini

Take away all the awkwardness of the comic relief by Johnny Lever and a plot that moves through three segments without transitional smoothness... and you have a film that’s tender, sweet and gentle.

Tell Me O Kkhuda (TMOK) is a bit of a smile-invoking ode to parenthood.

Tanya (Esha Deol, in an author-backed, tailor-made, custom-built role), happily ensconced in her life of parents (benign Farouq Shaikh-Deepti Naval), best friend (Chandan Roy Sanyal) and sweet-heart (Arjan Bajwa) discovers she is an adopted child.

Thus begins her genealogical journey. The drama unfolds with the least fuss or ostentation. To the narrative’s credit, it dithers not from its picaresque aspirations.

Esha goes through three different emotional and geographical locations in pursuit of papa-dearest. Of these, the Turkish sojourn with Rishi Kapoor and the beautiful Turkish actress is the most crisply edited and packaged. The Rajasthani sojourn with Vinod Khanna as a havelibound zamindar, meanders all over the place, subsuming issues such as female foeticide. Here the narrative makes ample space for a camel race which adds spectacle to the emotion without really saying much about the characters or their need to reach into the recesses of their heart.

The third segment which brings the real-life family of Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Esha together, has a certain

emotional resonance because of the real-life relations. The family portrait is heart-warming.

Shot in stunning locations including Istanbul, the film could have done with a more evocative music score and tighter editing.

The performances range from the endearing to the endurable.

No doubt this film is meant to showcase Esha’s evolved status as an actress. The girl has eloquent eyes and an

Grin and bear it

expressive face which knows how to hold an emotion.

Esha is a graceful portrait of a girl in pursuit of something echoing happiness.

TMOK is a heart-warming story of a search for identity. It occasionally loses its way but finally finds a satisfying culmination. This is a high-gloss product shot on exotic locations that include a young woman’s wounded heart.

Subhash K. Jha

Film: Damadamm

Cast: Himesh Reshammiya, Purbi Joshi, Sonal Sehgal Director: Swapna Waghmare

So here he is. Himesh Reshammiya is back in front of the camera. This time he moves away from the wannaberockstar image to play a working-class nerd.

Himesh’s Sameer is a bit of an idiot. So he celebrates the departure of his over-possessive bossy girlfriend Shikha (Purbi Joshi) by dancing on the streets, making weird faces at passing chicks (who should be shown reciprocating with a stern scowl if not a slap but are instead shown giggling), messing up his tidy apartment and binging on booze with his unsavoury boss who keeps giving our Sameer wrong advice on how to handle women, particularly bossy over-possessive girlfriends.

Damadam has its nice sweet wholesome moments. It’s one of those innocuous romcoms that neither leave you impressed nor cold. The heartwarming moments come on when you are most expecting them and linger on long enough to make you forget how annoyingly misguided a character the hero really is.

There is a ring of truth to Sameer’s self-destructive rejection of a five-year-old seemingly stifling relationship for a posh fling in the tempting lap of luxury with his boss’s classy sister Sanjana (Sonal Sehgal).

Shah Rukh Khan had done the same in Aziz Mirza?s Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, giving up the comfort of true love for a fling with a rich heiress. To her credit, Sonal Sehgal doesn’t play the ‘other woman’ as a bitch. She echoes Sushmita Sen’s tranquil seductiveness from Goldie

Behl’s Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai. And that’s high praise.

Remarkably, Surbat Sinha’s screenplay has a believable trio of protagonists -- flawed, fumbling, all too human. But the peripheral characters are a letdown. They aren’t only sketchy but also clumsily etched into the plot.

Also the music, Himesh Reshammiya’s mainstay, is here uninspiring and often obtrusive. The track Ishq unplugged comes at an embarrassing juncture when the love triangle is in need of a solution, not a song.

What wins you over is the director Swapna Waghmare’s earnestness. She has her heart in the right place. So does the film. Some of the time. For the rest, you’ve to grin and bear the excessive zeal of a supporting cast and a music score that doesn’t know where to draw the line.

Himesh Reshammiya’s performance is that of a goofy Everyman, a bit of a messed-up soul who finally admits he needs a bullying girlfriend to get him through the complexities of life. Himesh works his performance around the character’s weaknesses and his own limitations as an actor.

It is the underused Purbi Joshi as Himesh’s overbearing girlfriend who steals the show. She imparts a sense of lived-in authenticity to her role, almost at times going beyond the script in search of her character’s lost soul. Why don’t we get to see more of this pretty talented girl in our films?

Subhash K. Jha

Matrimonials

SEEKING BRIDES

Seeking suitable Australian resident girl for 29 year-old, 6 ft tall, handsome, Gupta boy, well educated, MBA (Marketing)/ Hotel Management, Specialization in food production. Presently working as Senior Quality Analyst, IBM India. Only son of senior government executive. Boy settling in Sydney for business, family in Sydney, early marriage, serious proposals only. risrrrgupta@yahoo.com.au 0434 550 109.

Brahmin Iyer 34/5’9”- MBA, MS, veg, dual citizen, own house, well settled with permanent IT job in large company, pleasant looks and cheerful personality, seeks bride 2833 with similar cultural background. Photo TM ID M2116878, email kkrangan@yahoo.com or contact 0418 720 781.

Alliance invited for 30-year-old wellsettled Hindu boy, fair, handsome, 5’9”, Computer Engineer, working in Sydney, Australian PR. Looking for well-educated, working girl with family values, settled in Australia. Contact 0418 160 054, sktipu786@gmail.com

A32-year-old male, never married, Fijian Indian background, 5’8, fair, handsome Australian citizen vegetarian and non-smoker, living in Sydney, seeks suitable match, aged 25-30, honest girl with good family values. Caste and education no bar. Please reply with photo and details hi.watsup@hotmail.com or call 0449 109 620.

SEEKING GROOMS

Seeking suitable professional Australian Resident match for beautiful Punjabi Arora permanent resident girl, belonging to a doctor family. Born June 80/ 160 cm. Working as dentist in NSW earning handsome salary. Please email your details drpri19@gmail.com

Seeking compatible, well educated, employed/ business match from respectable family broad minded/mature outlook, independent, Indian background, age 49 onwards, for caring, honest, Indian Christian divorcee, Australian citizen. Well settled in Perth, 49 years, 5’3” tall, younger looking, attractive graduate nurse, employed. Caste no bar. Please send profile with photos to mail ID... emily.lotus@hotmail.com

Seeking suitable match (from Australia, never married) for Hindu girl 34 years, Chartered Accountant (non-veg), living in Australia over 25 years, with eastern and western family values.

Please email with all details on ganesh2011v@gmail.com

Seeking match for Hindu Arora girl, 24, professional and working, born and brought up in Sydney. Well educated and settled family. Boy with similar background preferred. Email: rtmkh8064@gmail.com or call 0405 488 042.

KNOW THYSELF AS SOUL

Sant Mat is a practical spiritual path based on meditation, ethical living, service to others & love for all creation. Its goal is to enable the soul to return & merge into its source; the purpose of human life described by mystics of all traditions. Discipline & dedication are essential, as is the help of a competent living master. Entry is via a preparation program. There is no charge at any stage.

The Facebook farce

BY SMARTY PANTS

It is mandatory, say those who apparently know better than us, that if you have an internet connection, you just have to be on Facebook. They claim that this social networking site rules their lives and loves, and you know what, they’re absolutely right!

Now if you’re so deluded as to think you can survive without FB, as it has been admiringly abbreviated by those busy people who invented SMS-speak, I suggest you rethink your attitude and get on there. Why? Because it’s the best forum to see people – friends, friends of friends, acquaintances of friends of friends, making idiots of themselves for the edification of the net junta. Believe me, everyone who’s anyone who wants to be anyone is on FB, spilling out the details of their personal and family lives, peppering the net with their loves, hates, dislikes, irritations, bodily functions, pets….you name it!

Words of wisdom

I have a few favourites who can be relied on to brighten up my day with some new revelation that brings to the fore an essential part of their personalities, and I confess, piques my sense of the absurd.

For instance, I love the gyanis. This bunch of jokers comes from an increasing breed of pseudo-intelligentsia who brighten our day by posting their opinions on FB. Some come up with ‘elevating’ quotes from the great, to which other wannabe smartasses respond, wishing that they had thought of the good ones themselves. For example,

‘The Dalai Lama is a paragon of peace, virtue and kindness. We

25 likes

‘So true! For me he’s right up there with Nelson Mandela.’

‘Let’s not forget Au Sang Su Kii’

‘Of course, for India it is Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest hero of world peace that ever existed. I am proud to be Indian because …..’

(here the person explains why in tedious detail.) Now tell me, what don’t we know about the above? Any normal person with a modicum of sense, a reasonable grasp of history and access to the news would realize that this exchange states nothing but the oh-so-obvious.

This lot discusses current affairs, history, human rights, books, music, celebrities…in fact, anything under the sun that is worthy of an opinion and that’s, well, just about everything. Some of the exchanges are truly hilarious, as they vie with each other to prove just how intellectually superior they are, definitely more so than their pals participating in the exchange.

There are the ones who use FB as their exclusive advertising campaign, to let all of us unfortunates know

bored. A husband and wife proclaimed their adoration for each other in verse and song recently, and when I recounted this to my neighbour, an extremely funny lady, she said, “Do they live in the same city?” Yep, they do! “In the same house?” Uh, huh! “So why don’t they just tell each other?” she asked. Exactly my point!

Another supposed ‘friend’ but in reality not even quite acquaintance posted, “Sad and disappointed”. Just two responses to that one: “Why?” and “Go eat chocolate!” The rest of us couldn’t care a hoot!

Another namoona has made it his life’s work to garner as many friends as he possibly can on FB. The most obscure of relatives have been sent a ‘friend’ request, me being one of them. I have only heard of this young turk, never met the family and am related by marriage and two divorces. Why on earth should I be his friend? Yet another obscure relative has posted 1500 photographs of his newborn for the edification of friends and family, most of whom don’t know him and have no intention of making his acquaintance.

But then, there’s the other end of the spectrum in which parents have to check FB to find out what their children have been doing. There is this young lady who refuses to admit her mother onto her profile as a ‘friend’ because “that’s so, like, uncool and like, she’ll know whom I’m dating and all, how weird is that! C’mon, I’m 15, I’m not a kid!”

Phukat publicity

There are the ones who use FB as their exclusive advertising campaign, to let all of us unfortunates know exactly how rich, successful, happy and contented they are. Now here’s a story that you may find hilarious or pathetic, depending on your sense of humour. A guy living in one of the oil-rich Middle East states posted a photograph of his latest acquisition, a BMW 3 series convertible. His childhood friend living somewhere obscure in Obama-country posted a, ‘Really, you too?’ accompanied by a shot of his BMW, identical in all but colour. Another mutual friend with an unnecessarily enquiring mind soon discovered that the visuals of both cars had been downloaded

Marketing magic

And speaking of advertising, this is where the commercial aspect of life comes in. No matter what you’re peddling, be it home-grown organic chickens, personalized spa treatments, plumber services, you can get out there and let the world take note of your life. You can bet your “Hectic day, just unblocked 12 toilets in 9 hours!” is sure to get a record number of ‘likes’, and most people will think, “Well, there’s a man to call when I need something done with my loo!” Next, a few people will make inquiries, involving the 700 friends attached to the post in these intimate scatological details. But you can also rest assured that if you muck up the job, thanks to FB, you’ll have to change your profession!

Lokpal made me pause

Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement has found a family in FB. Ever since the issue hit mainstream media, FB has been throbbing with opinions for and against the movement. Everyone and his family, twelfth cousins sixth removed have something to say on the issue, some admittedly are intelligent, but the others ramble on, dissecting, probing, posting media clips, articles…in fact, everything that’s anything on the Lokpal is on FB! Is this a forum to make an informed decision on whether to support the Bill or not? If you had to vote based on these comments, you’d need a face-to-face with Anna himself, to help clear the debris.

FB is a forum where you can post a million pics of your family, tell everyone how proud you are that your 3 year old can sing the national anthem (with a link to her performance on YouTube), boast that your son’s got his doctorate, that your daughter’s marrying a millionaire, that you know Amitabh Bachchan, that your cat has given birth to the cutest, itsy-bitsiest, lovely, little kitties, that you’re now the proud owner of a retro lawn-mower or that your 13 year old was just awarded, ‘Geek of the Year’, which is supposedly, a rare and coveted honour.

Of course, it has its uses. At least you find out just in time that the guy chatting you up at the pub wears fluorescent green underpants, transparent nailpolish and really likes Justin Beiber. And that’s only by looking at his profile. Dads can now share their sons’ varied views on Pippa Middleton’s derriere and mums can be pleased to know that their daughter’s now got an uncommissioned tattoo, although they may not be quite as happy at its position on her anatomy. You’ll also know that your husband has a stalker-like crush on Katrina Kaif and is a part of the John Abraham fan club.

So enjoy your time in the spotlight as a performer or a voyeur, at least until the next cyber-wonder comes by to entice away from us the little privacy we have left.

It may be hailed as the social networking site of the century, but it also provides us with a peek into personalities and their idiosyncrasies.

exactly how rich, successful, happy and contented they are

No matter what you’re peddling, be it home-grown organic chickens, personalized spa treatments, plumber services, you can get out there and let the world take note of your life.

are fortunate to bask in his glory and intelligence.’