2012-01 Melbourne

INDIAN LINK

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS

Malavika Santhebennur, Ritam Mitra, Sanjiv Dubey, Farzana Shakir, Khosrow Kyanian, Chitra Sudarshan, Dilip Jadeja, Noel G deSouza, Sanam Sharma, Tim Blight, Geeta Khurana, Shafeen Mustaq, Petra O’Neill, Thomas King, Nancy Jade, George Thakur, Sujith Krishnan.

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It’s the economy, stupid!

George W Bush (Sr) had polled over 90% approval months after the Gulf war, and yet lost the election to Bill Clinton in 1992. Clinton’s campaign strategist James Carville coined the phase: “It’s the economy, stupid!” which focussed attention on the state of the economy under Bush and why the Americans would be better off with Clinton. Bush lost the elections with only one term in office, Clinton then took the White House for eight years and the rest is history.

2012 will be a year when once again, the economy will be in focus, both in the United States and Australia.

The US will have their Presidential elections later this year and Barack Obama is under increasing pressure. The Republicans are firming up with Mitt Romney as the frontrunner to challenge Obama, and at the same time, Obama is under intense pressure. When he came to power in 2008, Obama was able to galvanise the population with his vision for the future. His plan to renew America was based on fixing the economy, making healthcare affordable for all, achieving energy independence and keeping America secure. Since then, he has been bogged down with issues on all fronts with an economy fast going nowhere, his healthcare reforms being watered down and other plans moving very slowly. In October 2011, Obama’s approval rating was at all time low of 38%. A President coming into re-election has to have an

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

approval rating of at least 50%, according to Gallup polling.

However things seem to be changing and the President is gaining some traction.

This has been reflected in the Gallup polls showing the president having a 46% approval from American adults, the highest level since October, and a big runup after starting the month of December at 41%. This has been attributed to lowering of unemployment figures in the US.

The unemployment rate fell to 8.5% in December 2011, the lowest since February 2009. From 1948 until 2010 the United States’ unemployment rate averaged 5.70%. Recent figures showed an increase of 200,000 jobs in the US, to the previous month. The pundits predict that if the trend continues, Obama will retain the White House in 2012; otherwise we may well see another one-term President.

In Australia, no leader has won government if their party rating is 30%, where the Labor party mostly languished in the latter half of 2011.

In Australia, while the unemployment rate is low, there is generally a lack of confidence in the economy. The share market is down, business confidence is

taking a battering, home sales - in spite of reducing interest rates - are going southwards. Add the high Australian dollar affecting the tourism industry and the strong decline in the overseas student market, the year ahead will be challenging.

Indian businesses in Australia, already under pressure with a lower student population, will need to tighten their belts as a tough year beckons.

One expects that the new play in Canberra will be the state of the economy in 2012. While the Labor party has managed the economy well, it has yet to sell its message to the community. 2012 will also be the year when carbon tax will come into play with its ‘carrot and stick’ approach. Changes in tax rates and handouts to pensioners and lower income earners will play well to Labor’s strength, yet the danger of inflation increase due to labour shortages fuelling higher wages may well take centrestage in Canberra. Fair Work Australia will release their report on wages etc., in May, just months before the carbon tax and while the business community will be looking to Tony Abbott to champion their cause, the unions and their government powerbrokers such as Bill Shorten will be brushing off their ads on work choices (which destroyed former Prime Minister John Howard) to use against the Coalition.

It will be all about the economy in 2012, in various parts of the globe!

Redevelopment disrupts Little India trading

India in Parliament, “We are doing what we can to resolve those on-the-ground issues and to ensure that in the first instance people know Dandenong’s Little India precinct is trading, is operating well, is a place to visit and is a terrific addition to central Dandenong.”

According to Manoj Kumar, who represents the Labor Party, traders are demanding immediate rent relief, as street closures for over two years have caused significant losses to the trading. The RCD project is a 15-20 year project so they need the assurance that traders will be able to operate without further disruption to the business in future. Traders are also demanding a fair go as allegedly only some traders were paid compensation for their businesses, while the remaining ones were left in limbo. They also want assurance that the new development will not affect the iconic site negatively and that they will be relocated properly once the shops are demolished.

Melbourne’s iconic multicultural hub

‘Little India’, in Foster Street, Dandenong is facing threats to its existence, according to community activist Manoj Kumar. The Little India precinct started in 1980 with establishment of the first Indian grocery and video shop, followed by the opening of Punjab Sweet Shop and Roshan’s Fashions. Today this business hub is an eclectic mix of about 37 shops that provide Indian food and fashion, Bollywood movies along with Arabic grocery stores, an Australian tattoo shop, African hairdressing shop and Cambodian coffee shop. The area’s proximity to Dandenong station and easy accessibility has attracted patrons from

all over Victoria in the past. Famously known as ‘Little India’, this vibrant street is of significant value to the South Asian community.

Due to redevelopment of the area by Vic Urban, Little India is now facing threats to its existence. Vic Urban has started construction work in the area and in surrounding streets; however this is causing road blockages, limited access to the shops and limited parking spaces. All of this has impacted on business and subsequently the health and well-being of traders in that area, according to Manoj Kumar.

“Some traders have closed their shops while others are forced to consider leaving

the area due to a drastic drop in business,” he said.

Since the construction work began, traders have had several meetings with Vic Urban and Planning Minister Mathew Guy; Shadow Planning Minister Brian Tee and Jude Perera MP, and have also raised this issue in Parliament. A letter was handed to Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, and he was also made aware of the problems. In addition to this, a petition signed by over 800 supporters was submitted in Parliament on December 6, followed by a protest held outside the Parliament House recently. Planning Minister Matthew Guy said, when responding to questions about Little

The community is very concerned as it does not want to lose this unique multicultural icon and would prefer it to remain as Foster Street in Dandenong, with value addition. A recent report suggests that Vic Urban has sent a letter to all traders offering six months rent relief. “While this initiative is welcome, it certainly is not enough to save and protect this unique icon,” said Manoj Kumar

In a bid to drum up customers, Little India will be promoted in Indian newspapers and have a website created for the precinct in an attempt to placate worried traders. Dominic Arcaro, the planning authority’s development officer, said that Little India was one of the area’s most popular attractions.

Exciting moments at the Amba Tourney

BY SUJITH KRISHNAN

Vignesh strikes it big at the ABCT

On match day 6 of the Amba Bazaar Cricket Tournament (ABCT), the two lower-ranked teams, Melbourne Tuskers and Melbourne Strikers faced off in a must-win encounter. The contest however turned out to be a remarkably one-sided affair with Tuskers trouncing Strikers by seven wickets thanks to a tremendous all-round performance by Vignesh.

Opting to field first, Tuskers’ bowlers exploited the gusty conditions to the hilt and never allowed the batsmen to get a headstart. Vignesh sparked the collapse snaring both openers Rajendra and Nanda early on, and that was just a precursor of things to come.

The batsmen found it increasingly difficult to rotate strike, let alone finding the boundary. Ably supported by the fielders, Nitin in particular who was brilliant in the gully region, the bowlers were literally unplayable,

especially Mandar and Ameya, who kept the batsmen guessing. It’s a surprise why captain Mihir comes lower down the order as he has been the best batsman for the Strikers, and again was the lone warrior who provided the impetus towards the end of the innings. However, despite a brilliant bowling and fielding performance, one area the bowlers failed to get a grip on was the extras, giving away a bizarre 33 wides, which ultimately proved handy for Strikers who were skittled away for 76 runs.

And, the target of 77 runs proved futile for Tuskers thanks to a hurricane innings of 36 runs off a mere nine deliveries by Vignesh; a rampaging knock that featured magnificent hits all over the park. Ably supported by Mandar (13 runs), the opening pair recorded a blazing 50-run partnership. Wasting no further time, they achieved the target in style in the eighth over for the loss of three wickets. The Tuskers seem to have finally got their act together; however, they should be cautious of an over-reliance on the in-form Vignesh and start to share responsibility as they need to win all their remaining matches to boost their prospects of qualifying for

the final. On a lighter vein, it was good to see families and friends turn out to cheer the players and revel in the excitement.

Plucky Strikers go down fighting

On match day 7, the second phase of the tournament got off to a cracker of a start with Jai Hind edging the Strikers by just three runs in a high-scoring thriller. It’s a pity that there could only be one winner as both teams put on a great display of superlative cricket. Jai Hind won the toss and chose to bat first. After savouring success with the bat in the shadows of Arun and Tushar, the dependable Ulhas (50 runs) struck a majestic first half-century of the tournament and sent a red alert to rival teams about the rise of the next match-winner in their ranks. Along with the versatile Arun (15 runs), the pair combined for a 51-run partnership for the third wicket. Despite the two run-outs of Tushar and Rohan in the 17th over, Mukund (11 runs) and Vardhan (13 runs) batted sensibly to step up the run rate in the last few overs of the innings and end with 131/7 in 25 overs.

The Strikers team came into this match with its back against the wall after being ruthlessly outplayed in the previous encounter, therefore, kudos to them for rising to the challenge. Sumit (32 runs) took the fight to the opposition and emerged top scorer playing a chancy innings along with Girish (19 runs) and Ashish (14 runs), who got out when he looked good to carry the team to victory, thanks to a brilliant catch by Arun fielding at mid-on. With 27 runs needed to win off the last five overs and four wickets in hand, the odds were heavily stacked in favour of Strikers but they failed to cross the line by a whisker. The ball was tossed to Tushar to bowl the final over with ten runs required to win and one wicket in hand. Rajinder found the ropes in streaky fashion off the first ball of the over to sensationally bring the target down to six off the last five balls. However, Tushar bowled well to keep the flow of runs down to singles off the next three deliveries and Anil holed out to Rohan who kept his cool to take the catch fielding at third-man in the penultimate ball of the match to end a day of exhilarating cricket.

Manoj Kumar

Tagore bust adorns Macquarie Uni

He was a poet, litterateur, novelist, musician, Nobel Laureate and the composer of the national anthems of two nations, India and Bangladesh. Rabindranath Tagore was a polymath.

To honour his 150th birth anniversary, Macquarie University unveiled and garlanded a bust of Tagore recently. Presented by Mr Amit Dasgupta, Consul General of India for Sydney, the bust came on behalf of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Indian Government.

The presentation of the Tagore bust was the latest move as part of the multidisciplinary project known as ‘Ektaal: The Great India Project’, which began about two years ago with the aim of enhancing understanding between the Indian and Australian cultures, and building international relationships between the two nations.

The project hopes to build new partnerships and increase research and cultural prospects by providing both academic exchanges and student scholarships, as well as access to concerts and performances.

Prof. Schwartz, Vice-Chancellor said, “It’s a real opportunity for us to have this bust of Rabindranath Tagore because here at Macquarie University, we’re engaged in a great Indian project, which we call Ektaal, in which we’re trying to imbue many parts of the university with the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Indian arts, Indian culture and Indian business.”

He added, “And this sculpture can provide a symbolic centre for the whole program”. Others who attended the ceremony included members of the Bengali Association of NSW, including its President Biswajit Gupta; Macquarie Chancellor Mr. Michael Egan; Vice-Chancellor Prof. Steven Schwartz and Executive Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof. John Simons.

Prof. Simons said the Tagore bust and the

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Time to think about our independent political identity

As the New Year gets underway, it is perhaps leading to a very good year for the Australian Indian community. At the same time there are disturbing and warning signs.

The strong and positive signals are:

• Both Labor and Liberals are vying to woo not only the Indian community in Australia but also taking active steps to involve the community in their respective political domains, promote the community participation in multicultural consultative and business groups and taking part in every Indian festivity in Australia

• Reversing political decisions such as selling Uranium to India, Stronger Australia India relations both at diplomatic and business levels, mutual trade visits and FTA in the offing

•  Increase in tourist traffic between Australia and India

However the disturbing signs are:

• Strong perceptions that some of the leading Australian Indian community

organizations, groups and are increasingly or blatantly aligning to either Labor or Liberals losing an opportunity of individual community bargain power.

•  Non aligned organizations and individuals committed to the cause of the community getting alienated or sidelined

•  Perceptions that increasing rivalry in the community is reaching to very low or gutter levels evident by personal attacks by email chains, anononymus letters and misuse of cyber space capable of our damaging our image in Multicultural Australia.

As our highly skilled community is dramatically increasing in strength, introspection about our weaknesses as above seems necessary, given that politically as a community we are at cross roads, politically. Perhaps the big question worth considering is:

“Is it time to retain and have our own independent political identity now?

Vish Vishwanathan Kings Langley NSW

garden symbolises Macquarie University’s commitment to India and international cultures in general.

“Because even though Tagore was a Bengali, I think he also would’ve described himself as a citizen of the world. And that’s also a very important thing we would like to stress at Macquarie,” he stated. “Because of our great interest in India here we see Tagore as being a figure that brings all

of our interest together: art, literature, education and humanitarian concern for the whole world. So Tagore is a very important figure for Macquarie”.

He added that he was pleased to see many members of the Bengali association in attendance at the ceremony.

Rabindranath Tagore believed teaching and education should ignite curiosity. Aptly placed in an educational institution, his bust now sits in a quiet, outdoor study area at the University, with trees surrounding it.

Adjacent to the bust is a new Indianthemed garden, funded by the Bengali Association of NSW. Mr. Gupta presented a cheque to the University.

Mr. Gupta said the first time he met Prof. Simons was two years ago at Tagore’s birth anniversary celebration, which they hold every year in May. Professor Simons was the chief guest at that event, and the association has continued.

“So when this bust was announced to be installed, we decided to partner with Macquarie University and help them out,” Mr. Gupta said.

The government of India has recognised the growing partnership between India and Australia and in collaboration with Macquarie University, has agreed to help fund the Tagore Chair in Arts and Culture.

It has already begun by donating many India-related books to the University.

The Universioty of New South Wales has a bust of Mahatma Gandhi on its campus, installed in 2010.

Malavika Santhabennur

Despite pathetic performances overseas over the last few seasons, our cricketers’ material fortunes seem not to have been the least affected.

To the detriment of sportsmen in other disciplines, our flannelled flops continue to hog the media limelight, an exposure that affords them fabulous incomes by way of endorsements of all kinds of merchandise.

If they have poise it is not at

the wicket or in the outfield but in front of the camera at ad shoots. Inswingers and reverse swing, yorkers and bouncers may bamboozle them, but when it comes to credit cards, cold drinks or toothpastes, none could be more savvy.

Truly, Indian cricket da jawab nahin!

Ramesh Chandra Alandkar Pennant Hills NSW

Manpreet wins Media Award for Excellence

The year 2011 ended on a very positive note for SBS Punjabi’s host Manpreet Kaur Singh. On December 14 she received the prestigious Media Award for Excellence from Nicholas Kotsiras, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship.

Manpreet Kaur was recognised for her work ranging from investigative reporting on violence against Indian students in Australia in recent years, to inspirational stories of friendship between Indians and Australians.

Manpreet migrated to Australia in 1991, and has worked for 18 years as the host on the SBS Punjabi programme, currently holding the position of Executive Producer at SBS. Over the years Manpreet has excelled in positive reporting while covering a variety of topics ranging from public interest, social justice and cultural cohesion.

In 2009 when Australia came under media scrutiny with incidents of violence against international students, Manpreet initiated an investigation into the number of suspicious deaths of international students, demanding Freedom of Information from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship. (The Department replied after 6 months of legal letters, emails, etc, that there were 183 deaths between 2003-2009).

What’s On

SAAZ AUR AWAAZ

Sat 14 Jan Melodious evening of light Indian music presented by local artistes, 8.00pm – 11.00pm, at Mount Street Neighbourhood House, 6 Mount St, Glen Waverly, Mel Ref: 71 D2. Entry from Panoramic Gv car park. Open forum, so all artists and audience are welcome to participate. Free entry.

Details Satish Dutta 0400 368 303.

SAHITYA SANDHYA

Sat 21 Jan Literary evening, all are welcome to participate. New poets may present their works. 7.30pm - 10.30pm at Kew Library, corner of Cotham Road and Civic Dr., Kew, Mel Ref 45

D6. Details Harihar Jha 03 95554924 or Nalin Sharda 0402 108 512 or visit website www.sharda.org

BALAGOKULAM 2012

Sun 29 Jan First session of 2012 Balagokulam with stories of Ramayana and plenty of fun, games, craft, interactive quizzes, etc. 4.00pm - 6.00pm at Clayton North Primary School, 1714

She conducted numerous interviews with victims of violence/police authorities/ listeners and also asked the question on why female students from India were not represented in the statistics of violence against Indian students.

Among many stories, Manpreet received commendation for her heart-rending interview with Harpreet Kaur, mother of Gurshan, the 3-year-old toddler who was killed by their roommate. She rose to fame with her landmark story of pioneer Sikh-Aussie Pooran Singh’s ashes being taken back to his native Punjab, more than 63 years after his death and cremation in Australia in 1947. The Pooran Singh story has now been included as an educational resource for high school students and teachers by the Education Services of Australia.

Manpreet was nominated as a finalist for the UN Media Peace Awards for three consecutive years - 2008, 2009 and 2010, the only non-English entry at the awards each time.

Manpreet is also a columnist with sikhchic.com and writes for several reputed Indian publications. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and three children, who are very proud of her achievements.

Dandenong Road, Clayton North, Mel Ref 70D11. Please arrive at 3:45pm, to ensure a 4pm sharp start.

SANGEET SANDHYA

Sat 4 Feb Musical evening featuring Melbourne’s renowned vocal artiste Ustaad Aminul Haque who will perform light and classical music. 8.00pm onwards at Waverley Meadows Primary School, 11 Columbia Drive, Wheelers Hill (Melway: 71 G 11). Entry free, with tea and coffee provided. All welcome to participate. Details at www. sharda.org

DINNER WITH RAVI BELAGERE

Wed 18 Feb Dinner with Ravi Belagere, founder/publisher/ editor of famous tabloid Hi Bengalore, and a noted journalist, writer, columnist, novelist, educationist, actor and presenter. Organized by Melbourne’s Kannada Sangha. Limited seats only. Details at www.mks.org.au

SHANKAR, EHSAAN, LOY CONCERT

Sat 25th Feb Plenary Theatre, Convention Centre, 7.00 pm onwards. Tickets: $195 and $145. For prime seats contact Anita on 03 9846-2595.

VASUDEVA KRIYA YOGA

SURYA YAJNA

Sun 26 Feb The first Surya

Yajna with 108 Surya Namaskara will be held at sunrise 5:30am at Brighton Beach, facing the sun. The session will last two hours. Email bookings essential. Details contact Rajendra at www. vasudevakriyayoga.com

MISS INDIA AUSTRALIA

TALENT SEARCH 2012

Applications close soon for Miss India Australia Talent Search 2012. The winner will officially represent Australia among 28 countries internationally in the Miss India Worldwide contest in February 2012. All expenses paid overseas trip return from Sydney for the winner, with full training and grooming for the worldwide event. Over $10,000 worth of above prizes. Visit www.missindia.com.au for more details.

DANCE AND SING WITH SONU NIGAM

Would you like to sing and/ or dance with Sonu Nigam. Visit www.cinestarevents. com.au/cinestarevents/ register/#!prettyPhoto/2/, or to register: www.cinestarevents. com.au/cinestarevents/register/ terms.html www.cinestarevents.com.au

Manpreet Singh with Nicholas Kotsiras

victory at the vce

Year 12 students from Victoria speak to PREETI JABBAL and SHERYL DIXIT about their

experiences,

Balance and motivation

ANGAD PANESAR

Glen Waverly Secondary College

Managing the pressure

Maintaining a work/life balance is a vital part of VCE. The undue pressure of rigorous and continuous testing, SACs and exams does take its strain mentally and physically, yet constant studying was not the answer for me. Maintaining relationships with those around you at school and at home is needed to allow you to relax and maintain a balance. I had close friends and family acting as pillars of support to motivate me in achieving my aspirations and I feel that despite the study techniques, timetables and tuition, maintaining a work/life balance remains the most significant factor.

Self motivation is the key

During the tough year, you need to be self-motivated with key aims and goals for what you want to achieve. Family and friends can assist you along your journey, but mental strength and a clear desire to succeed allows you to maintain focus and stay on task. My family adjusted and sacrificed a lot of their spare time to allow me to study for which I cannot thank them enough, because without them I do not feel I could have reached my goal.

Future aspirations

At the moment I don’t have a vivid image of my ideal job, yet I am focussing on completing my Commerce Degree and enjoying University life, taking it year by year and seeing where life takes me. I am definitely looking at studying overseas for at least a semester as I enjoy travelling to grasp a better understanding of the world outside of Melbourne.

A quick tip

I would advise future VCE students to not succumb to social and household pressure and to enjoy their year. Many Year 12 students fail to enjoy the amazing experience of their final year and tend to lean towards isolation. So enjoy your Year 12 and fulfill your aspirations, rather than those of others!

contributed to their success stories and their future plans

Study and socialising

Lisa Panigrahi Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School

ATAR 99.75

Consistent study

Studying consistently was imperative for me. About two hours a night on weeknights and a few more on weekends was more than enough, but I kept that up throughout the year. On top of that, I made sure I did other things too, like extracurricular activities and socialisation. What never worked for me was staying up late, or studying for long hours on end. I usually stopped at about 9pm on weeknights.

Parents weren’t pushy!

Studying smart

Siddharth Jain

Box Hill High School

ATAR: 99.30

A strategic approach

For me, consistency was the key to my VCE success. I tried to study throughout the year, and did not rely simply on cramming before SACs and exams. This meant developing individual study habits and not falling into some of the slack habits of my classmates. I also found completing two 3/4 subjects in Year 11 extremely helpful. This gave me an insight into the pressures you face during an actual exam, what examiners are actually looking for and how to structure my answers correctly. It also took a massive amount of workload away from me in my final year, and allowed me to focus on four subjects in Year 12, rather than 6.

Achieving my goal

My inspiration to do well was to secure a spot into my desired course. I knew that if I did not work hard this year, it would come back to bite me in the future, and if I got below my desired ATAR it could possibly add a few more years to my further study at Uni. My support throughout the year was my family who were happy to work around me, as well as my teachers who were always willing to help me. Maths on the mind

I plan to pursue Commerce at Melbourne University and ultimately major in actuarial studies. I have always found maths interesting, which is why I will go into a field that is mathematically orientated. I have also always wanted to teach and help other students, and have started tutoring already. I thoroughly enjoy teaching my core understanding of the subjects.

A quick tip

Study smart, not hard, would be my advice to future VCE students. I did not study for long each day; however in the time that I did spend studying, I made sure I understood the core concepts behind the subject. Try to go beyond what is required of you, and make sure you actually understand what you are doing. Future students should also utilise their teachers and tutors. They are there to help, and if you have the slightest bit of doubt about something, don’t hesitate to approach them and ask for help. You will find that most teachers are more than willing to help after school or during lunchtime. Lastly, I would recommend doing subjects you actually enjoy, which will keep you more motivated and more likely to succeed in subjects you find interesting.

I was generally pretty much in control of things over the year, but sometimes there’d be a hectic week with assignments from all of my subjects, and I’d feel a bit overwhelmed. At those times, I felt it really helped to talk to my form teacher in particular. He would calm me down and provide assurance. My parents were wonderful as well; they never pushed me and instead, trusted that I knew how to handle myself. My friends and I all supported each other, too.

Commerce for me

I’m doing a Bachelor of Commerce next year, and at the moment, I intend to study Law afterwards. At some point in time, I’d love to travel, especially through Europe. A quick tip

Work consistently and steadily. Don’t try to do too much, because you’ll burn yourself out halfway through the year. If you had a study pattern in previous years that proved disastrous, chances are, it won’t work this year either. It’s vital that you spread time evenly between all your subjects, the easy ones and the harder ones. If you’re struggling with something, badger your teacher immediately until you understand. Get on top of your weaknesses early before they grow and become massive problems, and consolidate your strengths. And most importantly, enjoy yourself! VCE isn’t that bad if you keep a handle on it and you’ll have so many good memories to look back on in future years.

VCE

what

Relieve stress, soothe the mind

Carl Buhariwala Camberwell Boys Grammar School

Seeking a balance

One cannot only study for the whole year and expect to receive magnificent results. As there is to eating and exercise, people need to seek a balance. For me it was sports, music, keeping in touch with friends and studying. For me such a combination in my daily routine was vital, as sports relieve stress and tension, music soothes the mind and friends help to distract the mind away from study, as well as be of some assistance in times of need. The VCE success equation is only balanced when all factors are employed. Otherwise the mind becomes too engrossed in academics and students will become too emotionally attached to achieving high marks. During my VCE I even took time to learn the guitar! The VCE is not all about attaining the highest score possible, but about finding a balance that will help achieve the best score that you can obtain. Working tirelessly every day and then becoming sick from the lack of Vitamin D only delays learning in the future. Maintaining a steady work routine will have long-term benefits. In short, working continuously did not work for me and balancing study did.

Mentor support

My teachers were my inspiration and my parents supported me. When you have faith in your teachers and parents, the year is not as tough as you expect. While personal circumstances are not the same for everyone, these two types of mentors will help you in every way possible. Your teachers have seen previous students sit the same course, so they should be well accustomed to helping you with your problems and fostering your success. One thing I learnt in my VCE was to always ask questions and near feel shy. Do not feel scared to learn, so put up your hand and ask because knowledge is powerful. Also, ask your parents for guidance as they provide a perspective neither your friends nor your teachers can provide. They know you more than you can imagine. Set goals. For me, English was my weak point, but by writing plenty of essays (and that means, with a pen!) and creating my own method of understanding English, I managed to score much higher than I had intended at the start of the year. While time does fly, there is plenty of time to excel in your subject even if you start off from a low level. Lastly, ensure your parents maintain a social life, because they are the beacon for happiness and when they function properly, you as their children will do the same.

At University, I plan to pursue the double degree, Law and Commerce and Monash University at Clayton. I then wish to complete a Masters in Law (JD). After I work at a commerce or law firm, my long term ambition is to start a firm dealing with small claims and incidents through mediation.

Maintain a balance throughout the year. Become involved in everything the school has to offer. Become preoccupied with many other things other than study alone. Those who are keen on doing well will focus on studying hard and forget to spend time on other activities. Becoming involved from the beginning will help you to focus on extra-curricular activities as well as putting pen to paper. The majority of people need a balance. Without it, continuous studying fuels greater tension and social isolation. In addition to seeking a balance, enjoy the year. Past students told me before I did my VCE that Year 12 will be one of the best years in your life. I have got to admit that they were right, and you will also realise that as time flies by, you will yearn for Year 12 to come around again.

Perseverance and patience

Jasnit Kaur Korowa Anglican Girls’ School

ATAR 96.35

Staying calm and persevering

Throughout the year, I kept it a priority to stay calm and persevere whilst maintaining a balanced life. At times however, it became necessary to spend the majority of my time studying, such as when a SAC was approaching. One hurdle I had to overcome was procrastination and I had to work hard to remain focussed to achieve my goals. Another thing that helped keep the year in perspective was writing everything on a wall calendar. I would record assignment due dates, SACS and exam dates and having it in a place that I could always see it helped me keep my focus. Desire to achieve

I received a tremendous amount of support from both my parents and my school. Both my mom and dad even drove me to wherever I needed to be so that I did not have to waste time travelling. The support from school came mainly in the form of teachers’ assistance and aid from my friends and peers who were always willing to clarify what I didn’t understand, or assist with last minute revision. As for inspiration, I was driven by my desire to achieve my best, which spurred me to work as hard as I did. Science is the life for me

In the immediate future I plan to study Science at Melbourne University and then eventually move onto either Dentistry or Accounting. Choosing the Bachelor of Science degree allows me to keep my options open and I have time to think before deciding what I want to do.

A quick tip

Students should not underestimate the aid that they can gain from their friends and also their family - definitely take advantage of all the help they can give. Future VCE students should keep focus on the goals they have set. It’s a long and important year and knowing what I wanted to achieve inspired me to work harder.

between one’s school and social life. It’s difficult to stay motivated if there is never any reward for all the hard work being put in. Throughout the year, I did constant study so that I was always in touch and up to date with the subject matter, but I also made time to go to parties and enjoy what was the best year of my school life. A good way to stay motivated is to set yourself goals and targets, and if you’re super organised, make a timetable that you can stick to. For me, checklists were crucial, as it ensured that I completed all the assigned work and the satisfaction of ticking off completed tasks helped to keep me motivated and to put VCE into perspective; it doesn’t have to be a daunting and depressing year.

Parents provide safety net

Friends and family are very important when it comes to staying motivated, but they can also be a distraction. There were times when I was glad that my parents left the house, as it provided me with some much-needed peace and quiet. It’s ridiculous how distracting chatting mums can be! However, there are times when parents’ presence is appreciated; nothing beats the safety net that they provide. I know that I wouldn’t have made it through the year without my father’s wisdom and motivation, and my mother’s jovial attitude. Parents need to work out the balance between constantly nagging their children and leaving them to their own devices. Maximising study time isn’t only up to the VCE student; parents play a major role too. I think it’s time that parents gave their children more credit; chances are that if they show that they trust and believe in their children’s capabilities, their children will do everything they can to ensure that they do not disappoint.

Studying and travelling

My plans for the future include studying Commerce at the University of Melbourne, travelling the world and having a successful career in the business world. We’ve travelled a lot already, and I know many believe that exploring new countries and cultures is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but I don’t want that to be the case for me. The business world provides me with the opportunity to travel and meet new people, and since I’ve always been interested in the subjects of accounting, economics and finance, this seems to be the perfect career path for me.

A quick tip

Overall, in order to do well, it’s imperative to set goals and targets; it’s easier to achieve something when you know exactly what you want. However, goals should be realistic – don’t aim to do an entire chapter of Methods, Chemistry and write five English essays in one day – that’s silly and de-motivating as it will seem as though you’re incapable of achieving your targets. Another tip is to not leave revision for the night before a SAC. Do a little revision every night leading up to the SAC, and chances are you’ll feel more prepared and less like you’re going to explode from information overload. But most importantly, find a balance between work and fun. Year 12 was the best year of my life despite the stress of VCE only because I gave myself time off to enjoy life – don’t ruin the best year of your school-life by studying 24/7; being a human encyclopedia doesn’t sound like much fun.

CHALLENGE

BY RITAM MITRA

High school leavers around the country breathed a collective sigh of relief last month as their HSC and ATAR results became available. Thirteen years of school culminated in a set of scores and a 4-digit number, and the late nights and last minute cramming finally had a quantitative relevance attached to them. Whatever the numbers read, however, 2012 marks the start of a bright future for these young adults across the country.

This year, a record 72,391 students sat a NSW HSC exam, including 537 candidates from locations outside NSW – such as international schools in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. There were 760 exam centres, in which 117 different exam papers were sat. More than 70% of students accessed their results online, while more than 21,000 opted to have their HSC results delivered by SMS, almost double the 2010 figure.

It is impossible to put a figure, however, on the immense amount of work done by each and every student. Year 12 marks a year that epitomises chaos and sacrifice, while still holding a reputation with many as their favourite year of high school. It is a year that puts pressure on not only the students and their teachers, but parents, sisters, brothers and friends all take the journey together, and it is perhaps this group effort which makes it so much more worthwhile when the last exam finishes.

Some students studied more than others, but the relief was without a doubt, widespread and monumental. Each and every student used that final exam, that final date when the examiner would finally let them know that it was time to put their pens down, as their ultimate motivation. Indian Link recently caught up with some of this year’s most successful high school graduates, and it’s time to find out what the future holds for them.

A supporting act

Parents can often be tough on their children – and as children and parents alike will agree, in our community it’s extremely important to keep them happy! However, this year’s students are a testament to the fact that relaxed parents perhaps result in relaxed students. They do always play an important role in guiding their children through the tough HSC year, and for these bright students, parental support was just as pivotal.

For the state’s top-ranked Hindi student, Nirali Gohel of Strathfield Girls High School (ATAR 99.15), parents Yogini and Atulchandra were her pillars of strength. “I don’t think I could have coped with all the stress during those tough times without my parents, because they were always with me, they wouldn’t push me, they would take me out, they would do things to give me a break, to keep me away from study so I could relax, they never said a single word about my results, they only say try your best, we know how much you’ve worked, just do your best. A million thanks to them,” she says enthusiastically.

pressure on me or my marks. It helped that they’d already gone through my brother’s HSC, so they knew how to approach it,” he says.

Amogh Sarda, a North Sydney Boys High graduate with an ATAR of 99.70, relied on wise words from his mother. “One of the Indian proverbs Mum keeps reiterating to me seems to have finally struck a chord: Mehnat ka phal mitha hota hai! (The fruits of hard work are sweet). Use the ‘phal’ as the incentive in mind and drive towards it with ‘mehnat’, and whether you attend a selective school or not, you are bound to succeed,” he avers.

One of the Indian proverbs Mum keeps reiterating to me seems to have finally struck a chord: Mehnat ka phal mitha hota hai! (The fruits of hard work are sweet).

Amogh Sarda

Anchit Mathur, who graduated from the Sydney Church of England Grammar School with an ATAR of 98.20, had similar support, but concedes that his mother was perhaps just a little anxious! “They were supportive of my hard work, so my results weren’t the most important factor. There was not much pressure because I was on top of my studies, but there was the usual nag from Mum.”

Nakul Bhagwat of Sydney Boys High School (ATAR 97.75) believes his parents had it easier the second time around. “My parents were great throughout the entire year. They made sure I knew how important it was to my future, but didn’t put any

Nervous moments

It’s easy for examinees to become overwhelmed with the task ahead of them but as Shefali Chaukra (James Ruse Agricultural High, ATAR 99.90, 11th in Chemistry, 10th in Agriculture 2010) will testify, studying isn’t the only important aspect of the year. “During Year 12 especially, I think that it is of utmost importance to maintain your hobbies and at least some activities as they provide a valuable break from studying, keep you motivated and keeps you active (it’s no secret about the weight gain of HSC students!) I love dancing, and I kept two classes a week of ballet through Year 12. I also played Netball with some of my friends every week in the Saturday competitions. At home I have two dogs, two cats and two rabbits, and looking after them kept some routine in my life through the busy year. I love playing with all of them (also a good break from studying!)” she reveals.

Nirali found herself on a more spiritual level throughout the year, saying “I often went to the temple, from where I learned the secret of 4Ds: determination, dedication, devotion and discipline. This helped me all the way – and made the journey both spiritual and intellectual.”

It’s the milestone that marks a step into the real world, but this immensely talented bunch of HSC students have taken it in their stride and are ready to face promising futures

other activities such as going to the gym, playing soccer, hanging out with friends and watching movies and TV,” he says.

Miltu Nayak from North Sydney Boys High School (ATAR 99.50), was trying to keep his mind off things. “I was fairly confident that I would get into the course I wanted, so my anxiety was more related towards fulfilling my own expectations rather than achieving a specific ATAR. I dealt with the anxiety by thinking about it as little as possible. I had done everything I possibly could and nothing I did at that point of time would have changed anything,” he states philosophically.

Muzammil Jawaid Rajwani (ATAR 98.75), from St Marys Senior High School, also had a similar philosophy saying, “You don’t really think about the HSC results once the exams themselves are over. I personally just tried to forget about it because there’s no point fretting over things that can’t be changed.”

Medhavi Gupta of Roseville College (ATAR 99.55), was somewhat distracted by the fact that she was overseas. “I wasn’t really nervous - I was confident that I would get a high enough ATAR for the course I wanted (BCommerce/BScience). And we were travelling in India at that time, and being surrounded by family and being busy, it was easy to keep perspective that in the long run my HSC result would have little effect. However, it was exciting to see the result on the internet at 1am!”

Words of wisdom

With results such as these, but more importantly, with the happiness and sense of satisfaction the students have achieved, their advice is definitely helpful to future Year 12 students.

Arkash Jayanandan from Baulkham Hills High School (ATAR of 99.5), thinks there is a sense of anti-climax when it comes to the HSC itself. “People usually think the HSC is the ‘do or die’ of life. While doing well is an advantage, there are so many other options for us to get into our preferred tertiary course. So don’t stress out too much, it’s all good! For some people, it’s easier said than done, but it’s really important that you don’t have a breakdown,” he advises.

Medhavi, meanwhile, emphasises the importance of avoiding social networking sites! “Organisation is very important - make a study timetable and give it to your parents (not friends - that never works) to enforce. Also, let someone change your FB password so you don’t spend too much time on it. My little sister reset my password without telling me!” she says, tonguein-cheek.

Nakul, a talented sportsman, found multi-tasking to be the key. “Keep up your life outside of the HSC. I played soccer, cricket and did debating, and they were definitely the most enjoyable

parts of my year. And try not to stress out. Not only is it better for your mental health, but a relaxed student is a better student,” he claims sagely.

Anchit says, “It is not the be all and end all of your tertiary education. It is a minor, yet helpful stepping stone into the future but it does not necessarily mean that you cannot pursue your dreams. Don’t fret if you do not achieve your expectations because there are always new and better opportunities waiting for you. Try the best you can and along with studies make sure you are participating in extra-curricular activities. “

Although extra-curricular activities seem to be the key, Muzammil found that it was also crucial to maintain selfdiscipline. “The HSC was quite a big deal for me, although I do believe that there are always other pathways to get into the career you are pursuing. But just for the sake of maintaining the intensity and motivation to study throughout the year, I tried to maintain a tunnel-minded approach towards what I want to achieve by the end of HSC. The primary objective is not to lose focus throughout the year and to maintain a constant routine of studying,” he says.

Cooperation is also important, according to Miltu. “The HSC is overhyped mainly due to the fact that most courses allow you to transfer in after first year if you don’t get in straight up. But in saying that, it is the conclusion to 12 years of education and most people would like something to show for it. Work together! When you help a friend you not only improve their understanding but yours,” she advises.

Tips ‘n’ tricks

Manbir has several tips for future students, but the most important thing for him is time management. “At the start of the year, you should know when all your examinations are and based on that, you should plan your study in a way that will allow you to be fully prepared for all assessments,” he says adding, “Quality over quantity! Some people spend large amounts of time studying; however it can be more effective to target your areas of weakness rather than just studying for lengthy amounts of time.”

entertainment as the benefits of a truly relaxing break seem to elude many at this time. Take pride in trying and persevere to your fullest so that regardless of the results, at the end of the day, you can always pat yourself on the back.”

What comes next?

After a while the ATAR loses all meaning – it’s time to attach it to a course. If only it were that easy, however! After a year during which they considered the direction to take, these young stars have arrived at various interesting and challenging courses – a reminder that there is an abundance of options out there.

Miltu will be doing Commerce/Science at the University of New South Wales, and taking majors in Actuary and Pharmacology. “It was the only logical choice for me as maths and chemistry were my best subjects in high school. My parents had their own visions for me, but they really tried to help me find a combination in which I would succeed,” says Miltu.

Nakul knew from the start, saying, “I’m going to be studying Commerce and Law. I’ve had my heart set on Law for a while now so the only decision I had to make was which University to join. My parents told me to just study what I was passionate about, and were happy with my decision. “Nakul will be taking up his degree at UNSW.

Manbir will be doing Engineering/Commerce at UNSW. “It was definitely a tough choice, given all the opportunities that are available to me. My parents also influenced my decision about what I would study in University, by telling me to consider all the other opportunities that are available,” he says.

Nirali will be doing Physiotherapy at Sydney University. “My parents always said whatever I liked would be best - they liked the medical field, but they didn’t really force me to do anything, it was absolutely my choice,” says Nirali, who hopes to transfer into Medicine in the future.

Arkash will also be doing Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney, saying, “Especially with family pressures to choose courses like law and medicine, it was difficult to look past their beliefs and choose something that I truly wanted to do. However, after discussing with friends, choosing a course became much easier to do.”

Shefali was in several minds. “My first and most likely preference is Medicine/Arts at UNSW. The reason I am still unsure is because I changed my mind so many times during the year - initially I wanted to do Veterinary Science, then I wanted to do Advanced Science, I really wanted Science- Medicine at The University of Sydney but they only take 99.95 ATAR. So the most likely outcome is UNSW Medicine/Arts,” she muses. Muzammil will be doing Engineering/Advanced Science at UNSW. “It was a tough choice between Pharmacy (which my parents favoured) and Computer Engineering/Science but at the end of the day, I chose the course in which I have a greater interest,” he says.

Year 12 marks a year that epitomises chaos and sacrifice, while still holding a reputation with many as their favourite year of high school.

Shefali insists she doesn’t have a “secret to success”. However, as a rough guide, she does have a few tips. “I made sure English was a priority, because it is important to keep on top of your essays and be constantly revising them and improving your writing ability, particularly as English is the only subject that must contribute to your ATAR. But when the trials were approaching and before the start of HSC, I was completely committed to studying and since school was finished for Year 12, I had time for about 11 hours of revision and practice papers per day,” she claims.

For future students, Amogh suggests, “Utilise a daily planner to use time efficiently, along with fitting in productive means of

Anchit is going to study Commerce/Law, stating confidently, “I had always known I wanted to do commerce or any business subject, but my dad guided me into making a good decision for my future.”

Amogh will be studying Mechanical Engineering/Commerce at UNSW. “Having established my passions in Mathematics and Physics, a tough choice lay not within choosing courses, but within choosing Universities. My parents have helped me research into the universities and provided another insight into the decision-making process. But in the end, I am doing what I want to do – as should anyone else,” claims Amogh.

And finally, Medhavi will be undertaking a double degree of Commerce and Science at UNSW. “I received a scholarship (The Malcolm Chaikan scholarship that is offered to only 2 students out of 500) for this course, so it’s absolutely perfect. It wasn’t a very tough choice since I knew I didn’t want to do Law or Medicine, and I love Science,” she says excitedly.

And so a big chapter draws to a close, but more exciting ones await! It is indeed true that education is never-ending; but for these successful young adults, they are one step closer to what promises to be a great future in their respective fields and after all, that is the ultimate prize. Marks and numbers pale in comparison to truly enjoying learning – and that is what this next chapter in their lives is all about.

WHAT went wrong?

BY RITAM MITRA

A nightmare of unmeasurable proportions has unfolded over the past few weeks for Indian cricket fans. It has been labelled as the “Recession of Indian cricket” and the “Disaster Down Under”. The right mix of superlatives itself is somewhat hard to find. However, before launching into a tirade typical of the type generally attached to Indian cricket crises, it’s important to carefully analyse just what exactly went wrong for India in the first two Tests against a resurgent Australia.

MELBOURNE

In the current state of affairs, it is easy to forget just how quickly things have turned around. After three days at Melbourne, India was still entertaining thoughts of a win, having more or less matched Australia throughout the first Test. For India, though, the match seemed to live and die by the Tendulkar blade, as has been the case for far too long.

The Tendulkar upper cut, along with his robustly compact forward defence, perhaps best sums up the Little Master. It is surgical

An analysis on the heavily disappointing performance of the Indian cricket team at the past two Tests against Australia

in precision, has more than just a hint of genius about it, and is the absolute in subtle elegance. Tendulkar played a vast array of beautiful shots on the second day of the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, including one of the most technically correct cover drives captured on film. However, one shot in particular made hearts skip a beat – Tendulkar arching back to politely guide a Peter Siddle bouncer over the slips, and indeed over the boundary ropes, on the first ball after the tea break. On my way to the ground, on the third day of the same match, I happened to overhear a conversation between a young Australian fan and his father. “Dad, do you remember that shot Tendulkar played yesterday?” was met by a reply of, “How could I forget it?” The young boy followed his question up with a delightfully innocent statement, “I can’t believe we have to get all of these guys all out twice.”

For it is India’s batting line up which, on paper, carries with it an aura perhaps not before experienced by any team in the modern era. The numbers themselves are telling enough – the top 5 have 135 centuries and almost 40,000 runs between them, with numbers 3, 4 and 5 owning almost 30,000 of those. To have the top two run scorers in test history batting after one another is one thing – but to have 3 of the best-ever performers against Australia

in your top 5 is perhaps an altogether more relevant position leading into a Test series down under. In Melbourne, the Australian quicks more than proved themselves, reducing the statistics to mere numbers and perhaps showing the little boy that his heroes had something to offer the game, too.

Close…but no cigar India put up their best bowling performance in Melbourne in decades. Umesh Yadav was a surprise package, while Zaheer was a typically ruthless strike bowler. India’s bowlers, although they weren’t as clinical as they should have been at times, performed very well. Taking all the above into consideration, there is only one conclusion. India’s batsmen cost them the first Test match – and in more ways than one.

After being 214/2 in the first innings, the crucial Tendulkar wicket late on Day 2 stung India. Still, being 214/3 with a set Dravid at the crease, India should have looked to press home the advantage, especially having already lost two set batsmen in Sehwag and Tendulkar. Losing Tendulkar was bad, but Dravid’s wicket on early day 3, albeit to an absolute peach of a ball by Ben Hilfenhaus, was vital.

There was a lot of talk about the Australian tailenders and their sizeable contributions – but after all the calculations

are done, batsmen number 8 onwards for India made only 25 runs less than their Australian counterparts. At the end of the day, India should have made a bigger fist of a chase of 292 on a perfectly good batting track – it was a case of the Australian batsmen forming partnerships at the more important times. No batsman from either team made a century; at 214/6, Australia should not have been allowed to make 333. And at 214/2, India should have made at least 400. Instead of taking a 100 run lead, India conceded 50, and even allowing for their embarrassing show in the second innings, the eventual losing margin of 122 runs is proof that Australia simply won the more important moments.

Returning to the ageing greats – it is a testament to their prodigious batting talent that the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman still hold a place in the side. However, only Tendulkar can lay claim to being truly adept in the field, and it helps that he has been an absolute class apart with his batting. Meanwhile, Dravid’s catching has taken an infamous slide, while Laxman’s ODI career has been finished for almost a decade due to his weaknesses in running between the wickets and fielding. A good fielder can easily save a side 10-15 runs over the course of an innings. Add to this some dropped catches, and India’s middle order stalwarts may well be costing them more

On their knees: India lose the second test in Sydney by an innings and 68 runs

runs than they are making. The solution is not necessarily dropping them – but scoring more runs would obviously suffice.

Melbourne marked Australia’s first win against India since 2008. Since then, India had beaten Australia 2-0 in two consecutive home Test series, as well as knocked the Australians out of the World Cup in 2011.

SYDNEY

Sydney is India’s home away ground in Australia. According to the experts. Even according to the players themselves. Easily forgotten is the fact that India has never won a Test here. After winning the toss and batting, which in Sydney has generally been a fool-proof method, India collapsed dramatically in the process of recording their biggest loss against Australia in recent memory.

Batting was the only correct decision to make, and as such for this decision MS Dhoni cannot be criticised. Bowling would have been an unnecessarily defensive ploy that could have backfired even more. The wicket had some early juice, but with a batting line up as vastly experienced as India’s, 191 was an absurd total. There is talk about technical deficiencies, such as the widening gap between Dravid’s bat and pad –if he is bowled two more times, he will have been out in this fashion more than anyone else in test history. However, the man is the second-highest run scorer of all time. He has quite simply, faced

some good bowling.

Disappointing attitude

Unfortunately, India’s fall back from the top of the tree has been characterised by an inability to play the big moments. After reducing Australia to 3/37 after a masterful display of left-armer to left-hander bowling by Zaheer Khan, India panicked. A pair of counter-attacking knocks by Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke saw India move to the defensive far too quickly, allowing the pair free passage to stumps. Another wicket at this stage would have put the match on an even keel, and even perhaps tilted the match in India’s favour. Admittedly, Dhoni had only 191 runs to play with, and this time he was not to blame, having scored a half century in the first innings.

But the display in the field on Day 3 was nothing short of horrendous. Indian fans in the stands were wondering where their national team had gone. Indian journalists alongside me were stunned into silence. For a group of 11 players, who mostly receive obscene amounts of money precisely to deliver the killer instinct expected of a national team for 90 overs a day on the field, India were amateurish in their approach. Hands were on hips from the first half-hour, with pouts and expressions of pure resignation appearing throughout the rest of the day. Of course, this takes nothing away from the absolutely perfect knock played by Michael Clarke, with brilliant support from Ponting and Hussey.

There were a couple of missed chances –including a run-out of Ponting on 99 and Clarke on 178. They were tough, but at this level they have to be taken. It is true that any team in the world would be listless staring down the barrel of a 400-run deficit. But the problem for India is, their body language conveyed a deficit of that magnitude even when Australia was only 120/3. The rest of the match mostly meandered into the inevitable result – although Gambhir, Tendulkar and Laxman provided brief respite, the Australian attack was ruthless once it found an opening. Tendulkar’s dismissal saw a meek surrender from the lower order. Again.

Body language is an extremely underrated weapon – it is difficult to imagine an Australian side looking this uninterested if they were in India’s position. For those at the ground, it was difficult to miss that Clarke was the first one warming up for Australia after declaring on Day 3.

There is a lesson to be learned here.

Let us forget the talk about Sachin’s 100th international ton. Let us forget the talk of India’s batting line-up being the best of all time. Let us forget that there are at least three of Test cricket’s all-time greats in this cricket team. Last time India toured, Anil Kumble made a damning remark, “There was only one team playing in the spirit of the game.” Right now, it seems as if only one team showed up this summer. And it is no use being good on paper if you are not ready to play.

Last time India toured, Anil Kumble made a damning remark, “There was only one team playing in the spirit of the game”. This time, it seems as if only one team showed up to play.

For a group of 11 players, who mostly receive obscene amounts of money precisely to deliver the killer instinct expected of a national team for 90 overs a day on the field, India were amateurish in their approach.

Swami Army: Nothing much to cheer about

Below: A bridge too far: Milestone 100 remains elusive for Tendulkar

Left: Michael Clarke destroys the Indians with an unbeaten 329 in Sydney

FROM THE NETS My date with Sehwag

Personal anecdotes from three cities and a memorable wicket made this trip a special one for this cricket report

BY SANJIV DUBEY

As India arrived in Australia to play some much-hyped cricket, I took the role as roving reporter for Indian Link to be a part of Team India during their net sessions in Canberra, Melbourne and in Sydney.

Now I have played cricket for many years in Sydney, coaching for some time now, and I have had the opportunity in the past to attend net sessions as a bowler to the practicing Indian team. Once again in this series, I was able to bowl to the players, and it was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed, although whether they did too remains to

me. I met him in Canberra at the warm-up match, and after a simple wave and hello from me, the Little Master actually was able to recollect the time he spent with me in the nets during the last Indian tour. And at that time, he scored a century the day after the nets. Sachin introduced me to bowling coach Eric Simmons and once again got me on board as a net bowler in Canberra. I didn’t feel any younger than what I was at Team India’s last visit, but nevertheless, I have never been short of enthusiasm, confidence and experience, which has helped me knock wickets off many Indian players, to name few - Kumble, Harbhajan and others during net sessions.

Stumping Sehwag

setting the cricketing world on fire with his record breaking innings of 219 runs, a man who has scored over 8000 runs. After a few trundles on the nets I started to bowl closer to Sehwag’s off stump. Then came the effort, bowling to knock Sehwag’s off stump, the ball moving into him. The crowd erupted, and for that precious moment I had set the Manuka nets on fire! However, the contingent of Indian media watching the sessions couldn’t believe the unbelievable as they whispered, ‘This is gonna hurt Sehwag!’ I was modest enough to say ‘sorry’ after the dismissal, but it is a day I will remember forever and proudly share with my future kin too. It was definitely a moment of glory for me on this tour. A piece of the moment is now

Indian team’s media manager experienced some awkward moments.

The makings of a Master

After the nets in Canberra, as always, Sachin was very modest in signing autographs for the supporters and also helping youngsters within the squad. I kept my ears open to share these tidbits with the fleet of youngsters under my wing, all five of them who go to the Westfield Sports School specially for gifted and talented cricketers, where Aussie captain Michael Clarke once studied. I was also quick to clear my doubts with Sachin directly, as such opportunity to learn from the man himself was unlikely to come by in the future.

In Melbourne, during practice sessions Sachin was accompanied by Arjun, his young son. The Little Master at times corrected Arjun’s technique, even showing him how to bowl out-swingers. Arjun, it must be said, is opposite to his dad when it

(From left) Sachin at the nets; Arjun Tendulkar bowls to his dad; Rahul with bowling coach Eric Simmons

Sehwag is taken by surprise Sanjiv warms up for practice as Indian supporters stand snubbed outside

comes to bowling and batting as he is a lefthander, and seems to be learning a lot under the mantle of Zaheer Khan. I kept close vigil on the young fellow and was quite impressed with his effort in the nets.

Arjun’s first delivery to Rohit Sharma which missed the off stump by few millimeters became a headline in the Australian media. Young Arjun definitely enjoys the attention he gets, and comes across as a good kid with no attitude.

I couldn’t resist asking Sachin: what does Arjun enjoy most, bowling or batting? Sachin was diplomatic with his answer, as always. “He is an all-rounder and loves both,” was his response, but I could see Arjun more keen as a bowler at the nets in Melbourne.

The youngsters in the Indian team need to learn more from Sachin’s work ethic, which might help them in future. While the other team members finished quickly, the Little Master didn’t take his pads off for over 5 hours and carried on with his batting sessions for hours together. Impressive indeed!

Practice makes perfect?

In Melbourne, I took note of the proceedings from outside the nets, as I had a sustained an injury during the nets at Canberra – called the ‘Zaheer Khan’ injury (hamstring) – which I didn’t want to flare further. So I dressed as a reporter and went across to keep an eye on the preparations for the Boxing Day test.

Ishant Sharma didn’t bowl during the net sessions, and the Indian media aggressively played the story of his ankle injury, and rumours of him flying back to India started to flash out. But finally he bowled during the second practice game, which cleared the clouds about his fitness.

The Indian team looked sharp in the nets firing on all cylinders; the batsmen and the bowlers went through the spell with ease and the batsmen worked on their technique of playing out-swinging balls. Coach Fletcher suggested that every batsman should face more than 200 balls moving away. This time around they were assisted by the support staff and net bowlers.

Team India started well during the Boxing Day Test, but I felt they all ran out of gas, ideas and motivation. I also felt that they exhausted all their bullets during the net sessions, and were left with only a few darts. They threw the match away which always looked winnable. Next time around I would suggest a boot camp for Team India before they start the series, or simply join me at the City to Surf run, a mere 14-km stretch!

Settling into Sydney

Team India travelled to Sydney, and I followed, hoping that they would bring some form, pride and application in this Test. I was back in the nets this time, bowling again, but not to Sehwag this time. As I gave it my best, one of the coaches commented, “Your bowling action looks like Waqar Younis!”, after I bowled 3 consecutive yorkers at Rahul Dravid. I felt ecstatic once again.

While watching the Indian batsman, I didn’t feel confident about them as they were getting knocked around by a few of the young net bowlers. Team India did looked short of confidence going into the second Test.

But what was most disappointing for me was that the net sessions in Sydney were

closed for the public who had gathered to watch the Indian players, leaving the fans waiting outside. However, the Australian team’s net sessions were open to their fans, and they enjoyed the support. On being asked by a journalist on what prompted this decision, Captain Dhoni showed no knowledge as to why it happened. I got no answer either, and the reasons remain vague. Couldn’t the Sydney Cricket Ground manage a mere few hundred fans, as opposed to the thousands who watched the Test? I asked Narendra Hirwani, but he didn’t know either. And has anyone appraised Team India of this situation?

A change in attitude

It seems to me that Team India doesn’t care for their supporters here in Sydney as they have enough of a fan following back home in India. But they need to show respect to the emotions and feelings of their fans here too, not just as professional sportsmen, but also because it is these fans who fill the stands and offer support and encouragement to the team. The cricket craze exists in Indians all over the world, and signing a few autographs for your compatriots abroad won’t hurt, in fact, it builds a feeling of camaraderie. Such an attitude is saddening, and if they persist in snubbing their supporters, they won’t have many left. Or perhaps they have other things to worry about like their performance and the money in their accounts. For me, this is an uncharacteristically uncharitable thought, but I feel sorry for the fans who waited to

see and interact with their heroes, and were bitterly disappointed.

Team Australia, captain Clarke and other players have always acknowledged the support of Aussie fans during all times, but I have never heard from any corner of Team India that they need their people’s support here too. During most press conferences hardly any reference has been made in support and about the feelings of the Indian fans.

There has also been a smear campaign by some media to boycott Team India during this series, which I personally don’t support. My message to the Team is simply this: your own people have made you heroes, they still look on you with reverence and support you through thick and thin, so don’t ignore them, instead acknowledge and respect them!

At the time of going to press Team India has lost the second Test in a row, and experts are blaming Indian batsmen; however, while chatting with Dean Jones, ex-test player and now expert in the sport, he pointed out that the bowlers had all the momentum in both Tests, but they couldn’t capitalise on the grounds made.

I am not travelling to Perth, but I still wish Sachin luck in getting his 100th hundred which I may not witness in person. And I hope bowling Sehwag at the start of the series didn’t end up in bad karma for Team India!

So Team India, don’t let yourselves and us down. Wake up and have a go, mate!, as the Aussies do. Good luck for the rest of the series!

Sachin and Dhoni make time for the fans

Top Left: Melbourne’s Gurmit Singh sings the Indian national anthem at the start of the Boxing Day Test Above: The crowds make the most of the day

Tania Zaetta “I have the biggest heart in the world”

Television and film star continues her efforts for charity

BY PREETI JABBAL

As a Bollywood actress born to an Italian father and an Australian mother, life is nothing short of diverse for Victorian celebrity Tania Zaetta. Here’s someone who can perform flying somersaults, drive cars off cliffs, swim with sharks, dance to item numbers and tuck into paneer (her favourite Indian dish) with equal enthusiasm. Tania rose to fame as the co-host of popular TV show Who Dares Wins and was also seen in Baywatch and UK’s Sky 1 show Mission Impossible with Jason Plato. In 2005 she appeared in Bollywood movie Bunty aur Babli and then the hit film Salaam Namaste, opposite Arshad Warsi. She also worked in Dil Apna Punjabi and Mr. White and Mr. Black. Living and working in Australia, India and UK has only added to Tania’s versatility. It was therefore no surprise to see the actress mingle easily with a select crowd of invitees of all ages at a dinner held in Delhi Moghuls Indian Restaurant in Mount Waverley recently.

Tania was the guest of honour at the dinner organized by Dr. Manjula O’Connor chairperson of the Victorian Indian Community Charitable Trust (VICCT) and Vice President of the Australia India Society of Victoria (AISV). The informal gathering was to promote the tireless work and research being conducted by the taskforce against domestic violence. According to Tania, the topic of combating domestic violence is very close to her heart especially after her visit to various parts of India and other countries where women are still suffering in silence.

“I have the biggest heart in the world,” claimed Tania, “so whether it is going into warravished Afghanistan or Iraq and wanting to do something to help the innocent victims there, or going to various parts of India and wanting to make a difference, my heart always guides me.”

She added, “I have travelled to many beautiful parts of India but I have also seen the not so beautiful side of the country in the form of domestic violence against women. Being a woman myself I don’t think domestic violence should ever be tolerated.”

Tania commended the efforts that the AISV and similar organisations are making to educate and empower women towards equality in relationships.

The actress steered clear of the topic of her own charity that came under scrutiny last year for not being legally registered. Peace For The Children (PFTC), which lists Zaetta as a founding director, solicits donations for several charity projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Uganda, East Timor and outback Australia. In March 2011, PFTC came under a cloud with revelations that it sought to raise more than $100,000 while not being a registered charity. The organisation was fined $50,000 last month for collecting tens of thousands of dollars despite not being registered to raise funds. Zaetta’s codirector and company founder Grant Hilton, 41, was also fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to a string of charges as the director of a company and as an individual. An IPS Audit alleges that PFTC directed less than a quarter of its income

towards charitable projects. The solicitor for Zaetta said his client would plead not guilty to 15 charges. The case has been adjourned until end January, while a brief of evidence is prepared by her solicitors.

Despite the controversies and a fractured foot, Tania charmed everyone at the dinner event with her friendly conversation.

“There is such a huge Indian community in Melbourne. Every time I sit in a taxi I ask the driver where they are from, what they are studying, any troubles they may have had and their experience in Australia,” revealed Tania. “I share my own experience and tell them about troubles that I faced in India. Unlike the cricketers who sit in posh hotels and dial room service, I had to spend days trying to find a place to live in and it was not easy as I was a foreigner and single. There were many other obstacles along the way similar to obstacles that they may face here in Australia. I share theses stories so people know that it’s difficult to be a foreigner in any country”.

Tania made a special mention of Mr. Nitin Gupta, who is the Ministerial advisor to the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Mr. Nicholas Kotsiras, for his ongoing support and for keeping her “in

the loop with what’s happening in the Indian community”.

“We have two beautiful countries and I want to continue to bridge the gap between them as we have so much in common including cricket, movies and the climate,” said Tania. She also mentioned how she would love to come on board and help Dr. Manjula O’Connor and her team as much as possible.

“Violence is not acceptable in any form in this civilized world, especially that against women or young female children,” she said, ending her speech to a great round of applause.

The evening continued with brief speeches from Dr. Manjula O’Connor and Dr. Saratchandran. Dr O’Connor, chairperson of the VICCT and the Vice President of the (AISV), donated an amount of $11,111 to the Trust by handing over a cheque to Dr. Saratchandran. She also thanked Mr. Nitin Gupta for his ongoing support to the Indian community and for inviting Tania Zaetta to grace the occasion. Other guests who attended the event were VICCT’s Alex Singh and Abhishek Vivian Prasad, Mrs. Vijaya Vaidyanath, Director of Corporate & Business Services, Darebin City Council, Dr. Jonathan Harrison from Monash Medical Centre and members of the community.

According to Tania, the topic of combating domestic violence is very close to her heart especially after her visit to various parts of India and other countries where women are still suffering in silence.

“We have two beautiful countries and I want to continue to bridge the gap between them as we have so much in common including cricket, movies and the climate”.

Tania Zaetta

The senior scene

KISCA bids adieu to 2011

One striking feature that places the Fijian Indian community over Indians from the Motherland and around the world is their practice of not dividing their society as per faiths and binding it together by accepting each others’ religious festivities as their own. The Kingston Indian Senior CA (KISCA) end of the year meet boasted members from all four major faiths of India, who wished each other compliments of the season and a happy 2012.

The show that KISCA organised to entertain 150 members and invited guests was nothing less than spectacular. The delicate, overflowing and highly visual décor and lighting in the hall, undertaken by Committee Members Maan and Shiv Narayan, was of a quality that has never

before been seen at any other senior citizens association meetings.

President Usha Sharma, in her freeflowing style, welcomed all and introduced Cr. Paul Peulich of the City of Kingston, invited guests and her newly elected Working Committee, and declared the evening open. Vegetable bondas, nibbles and soft drinks rested over festively decorated candle-lit tables. Cr. Peulich praised KISCA’s efforts at binding the ever-growing Indian community together and keeping them entertained with regular meetings. He promised Usha all assistance from the City and State governments where his mother, Inga Peulich is Parliamentary Secretary. Cr. Peulich also joined the two dozen or so in singing carols.

The music, the karaoke and its presentation was by Shalen & Party, a group

of four youngsters who kept the audience involved with the latest songs and dances, which were as much participated in and enjoyed by charged up senior members as the youngsters.

Dinner was by Fiji Cafe in Dandenong, served appropriately in chaffing dishes while dessert was served on tables. KISCA meets every third Sunday of the month at the Marcus Road Community Hall in Dingley Village. Details contact Public Officer Mona Raju on 03 8558-1610.

ISCA meet motivating

Indian Senior CA (ISCA) President Dr. Prem Phakey highlighted a number of grants ISCA received from various sources and introduced his Working Committee. He asked newly elected Vice President Dr. Jasbir Bedi to sing a song to commence his service. Pavita Bedi also sang a few songs, but the discourse that Dinesh Sood, the newly elected ISCA

Newsletter editor, delivered to highlight moral satisfaction one obtains when volunteering to serve the needy of the community, was both informative and motivating. Next, members were given time to meet and greet other members, followed by lunch.

ISCA meets every second Saturday of the month in the Community Hall at Mt. Waverly. Details contact Dr. Phakey on 03 9560-9607.

ISAW membership grows

The newly formed Indian Seniors Association West (ISAW) has increased its membership from twenty-four members in their first meet to thirty-four at its second meet in St. Albans. ISAW now has a larger venue, the details of which, if permanent, will be provided once a decision has been taken. Details contact President Arjan Tuli on 03 9390-2818.

George Thakur

Member associations gather at FIAV’s end-of-year meet

Essayist Oscar Wilde as early as the end of twentieth century deduced, “To get into the best society, nowadays, one has either to feed people, amuse people, or shock people.” Evidently having studied the essayist, it is no wonder that Vasan Srinivasan, President of Federation of Indian Associations Victoria (FIAV) is so popular for his commitment to India. To bid 2011 adieu, Vasan invited representatives of member associations

spread all over the state, from community media, the pillars of Indian community, and those who are associated, in one way or another, with FIAV; in total a hundred plus, for drinks and dinner at the commodious Tandoori Junction’s first f loor hall.

The evening commenced on time for most of us were punctual. Vasan detailed his plans for the future such as an old peoples’ home, a large hall that would hold

History hero

which was a part of his major work fitted in beautifully with this year’s competition topic ‘Defining moments of 2011’, and he was encouraged to enter into the Challenge by his teachers.

associations’ meetings and festivals, and also a field where sports could be played. He invited representatives to speak on their activities so the wider community was informed of the success new and old Indians were bringing forth in Australia. Vasan invited and introduced Savita Soni of SBS Channel 31, various community newspapers representatives, including this reporter from Indian Link. Some of us were awarded certificates. A few members such

as Dr. Santosh Kumar, President NRISA, and Mr. Satyam Kothari, newly elected President of the Ballarat Assns, could not make it.

Michael Gidley MP, spoke highly of the Indian associations’ involvement in nurturing the community, pledged any and all assistance, and went from table to table to meet members. Dinner followed and the festivities continued till late.

George Thakur

Seventeen-year-old Baulkham Hills High School student Divyansh Saxena was declared the ‘NSW Young Historian of the Year 2011’ at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House late last year. He also went on to claim the title ‘National Historian of the Year’. Divyansh achieved this distinction as a result of his impressive entry into the National History Challenge. As History extension was a part of his HSC course, this enterprising young man had been engaged in extensive research on the subject throughout the year. His essay on the opening of the National Museum of Australia

The National History Challenge is an annual research-based competition for students in Years 5-12 designed to encourage young Australians to explore their past, investigate communities and develop an interest in history. The competition is supported by the Australian government through the Quality Outcomes Programme, administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The entries are judged on the quality of research and adherence to the topic, combined with the use of community resources and effective presentation. School students who fall into the acceptable category submit their entries and have a chance to progress from School to Regional to State and eventually, National finals.

Divyansh was elected the State finalist for Years 11 and 12, competing against at least 3000 entrants. He was confirmed as the national winner by Education Minister Peter Garret at a ceremony at Canberra Parliament House on November 22.

Divyansh was the only student to enter from his school, and was elated to receive the news of his success. “The ceremony at the Parliament House was for the finalists and I was surprised when they told me I was also elected as ‘Young Historian of the Year’. I was

then asked to give an impromptu speech,” he said.

Even though no one in his family is particularly interested in history, Divyansh endorsed it as one of his two favourite subjects, English being the other. “I like history because it gives us a chance to learn about the cultures of the past. It is interesting to know how people lived back then and how things have changed since,” he stated.

The 3000-word essay Divyansh submitted for the National History Challenge was well researched using the internet, publications, theses by historians and teachers, and perusing through archives at the State Library of NSW.

Giving an overview of his submission Divyansh explained, “My essay was written on the opening of the National Museum of Australia as a ‘defining moment’ in our nation’s history. I believed this was a defining moment because it was the first time a nationally constituted vessel was being approved to document and present our historical past in what seemed to be an ‘official’ record of our past.” However, what cemented this Museum’s opening as a ‘defining moment’ were the culture wars that broke out in the immediate aftermath of the Museum’s inauguration. The way the Museum had constructed and written Australia’s history was perceived as casting a negative light on Australia’s past, and the Howard government believed that the Museum had failed to provide a positive celebration and a narrative of our history. “The Museum’s academics

believed that they provided a balanced interpretation of our past, and were fair and justified in their documentation. Ultimately, this conflict was a ‘defining moment’ because it allowed us to re-examine our nation’s identity through the past, specifically in relation to our multicultural and Indigenous histories, and demonstrated that History is as much a political tool as an academic pursuit,” he added.

Divyansh’s work was highly acclaimed as is evident from the accolade he received. Here’s what the judges had to say about the Year 11/12 National Historian of the Year: “This paper addressed the contemporary historical issue of our national identity. It clearly identified, understood and analysed the complex distinction between political and cultural views of the place of historical debate in this country. In a well-synthesised and original approach, Divyansh explored the historiography of the opening of the NMA, and how it constitutes a defining moment in a nation’s history. Divyansh showed a clear understanding that history is mutable and subject to revision.”

The year 2011 brought even more success for Divyansh who sat for his HSC and aced it with 99.6%. He plans on pursuing a degree in International Law at Uni and in studying history as well.

Even though there’s nothing on the calendar right now, encouraged by his success, this young historian is determined to keep on the lookout for more competitions at uni.

A Sydney student wins national accolade for his in-depth understanding of Australia’s documented past

Divyansh Saxena receives his National History Challenge award from Education Minister Peter Garret

Annual meeting highlights Indian community issues

BY VIKAS VASHISHT

On December 17, 2011 Ms. Sujatha Singh, High Commissioner of India, organised the annual meeting to bring together the High Commission, Consulate Generals and members of the Indian community to discuss important issues that effect the community. This year the High Commissioner addressed a large gathering from the Indian community, attended by representatives from various Australian states. Feedback and suggestions on various issues including consular, passport, visa, OCI/PIO services were the hot topics of the forum which is fast becoming a significant year-end event in the community.

New Visa process arrangement (IVFRT)

The Government of India has scheduled implementation of a new tracking system for all immigrants visiting India which is

titled the Immigration, Visas, Foreigners’ Registration and Tracking Project (IVFRT).

Within four years, there will be a massive centralized database where details about all immigrants visiting India will be continually updated to ensure that monitoring is easier for the Indian government. The first phase of this project will affect the embassies in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and London, as they account for the highest volume of visas. They are also planning a new visa sticker that will be much harder to duplicate. Also planned is the use of biometric profiling, starting with fingerprinting all visa applicants. Every foreign national will get a number (UCFID) and a virtual folder, which will be permanent. Every visit, with details, will be recorded, so that security agents can retrieve the information instantly.

This will all be monitored by the Home Ministry, which will also use the system for processing visas. The central system will be networked on a real-time basis with all the embassies and consulates, immigration checkpoints in India, and the seven FRROs (Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office.)

All visa applications will be online, and the watch list/blacklist created in coordination

with various security agencies will be available on this centralized facility to quicken the visa clearance process for those who aren’t on those lists. For anyone on either of those lists, or whose application is suspect for any reason, processing will take at least a month while it goes through the system. In routine circumstances, the goal is to complete the entire process of accepting the application, scrutiny at Delhi and then relay back to the mission for issuance of visa within three working days. There is a clause for a new Photo Visa in future.

The Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) will also be linked to the database, which will enable airlines to provide the details of passengers travelling on a particular flight to authorities at the destination point. So for instance, the passenger record of a plane leaving London for Mumbai can be instantly provided to Mumbai Immigration even before the plane has left London. This system is currently in use at some major airports, but it will now be compulsory for all flights to and from India.

This system will, in theory, allow those monitoring the central facility to detect

suspicious patterns that could help uncover terrorist activity. The problem now is that, although there are various systems already in place, there is no integration between them.

As of now, all hotels have to file c-forms on paper, but eventually they will have to provide the information online on the same day that a foreign national checks in. However, it is unclear as to how the smaller hotels and guest houses will comply with this requirement.

The complete plan is scheduled to be implemented by September 2014 at a cost of Rs 1103 crores (AUD 208 million). This will include implementation of an integrated online visa application system with appointment scheduling at Indian missions in Islamabad, Dhaka and London. By then, the centralized data centre and visa processing office should be established, and uniform systems would be in place at all missions, integrated check posts and FRROs, with secure private network connectivity between the various missions. This process is expected to ensure an integrated and secure delivery framework that will facilitate legitimate travellers while strengthening security.

Information is shared and grievances aired at the Indian High Commissioner’s annual community forum in Canberra

VFS service update

Ajit Alexander and Harpreet Singh of VFS offered the following update regarding the VFS service:

* Additional counters have been installed during 2011 to assist the general public

* Next day service courier service arraignment charges have been re-negotiated and reduced from $16.50 to $13.50.

* SMS alert can now be selected to provide tracking status of the application.

Emergency Calls

The High Commissioner Mrs. Sujatha Singh had a request to the public regarding the use of the emergency calls facility. She noted that the mobile phone listed on the website of the Indian High Commission had been misused by the general public, and requested that after-hours calls relating to nonemergency issues should be restricted, to ensure correct use and timely management of real issues. The High Commission website does provide a list of emergency situations, she said.

Indian Community Welfare Fund

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has established the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in 43 Indian Missions across the world in countries that have a significant overseas Indian population.

The ICWF is aimed at providing ‘on site’ welfare services on a means-tested basis in the most deserving cases including:

• Boarding and lodging for distressed overseas Indian workers in household / domestic sectors and unskilled labourers;

• Extending emergency medical care to the overseas Indians in need;

• Providing air passage to stranded overseas Indians in need;

cremation/burial of deceased overseas Indians in such cases where a sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost.

Overseas Indian workers duped by unscrupulous intermediaries in the host countries, runaway house maids, those who become victim of accidents, deserted spouses of overseas Indians or undocumented overseas Indian workers in need of emergency assistance, or any other overseas Indian citizens who are in distress are the main beneficiaries of the Fund. The Fund is also to be utilized to meet the expenditure for airlifting the mortal remains of overseas Indian citizens to India on a means tested basis, on the recommendation of respective Heads of Missions.

The ICWF would be funded through budgetary support from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, funds raised by the Indian Missions by levying a nominal service charge on consular services and through voluntary contributions from the Indian community.

Approved associations that are linked with the High Commission of India can access these funds in line with policies and procedures stipulated by government of India.

General comments

Members of Indian Associations and the general public offered their feedback as follows:

• There is a need to work towards obtaining travel concessions for international students and seniors of the community holding bridging visas.

• Indian communities living in regional towns around Darwin are experiencing delays in getting Indian visas.

Ms. Singh responded by advising that the issue will be investigated and the Consulate General at Perth will address the issue. As the turnaround time is 3 days, delays could possibly be due to postal delivery issues for

various Indian communities around regional areas.

• There is a need to work towards a Primary School Hindi language programme. Communities need to work together and with local governments to gain support as it will be a vital accomplishment for the benefits of future generation of NRI families.

Dinner with the Indian cricketers

Following tradition, the attendees were then invited to the High Commission for dinner. However with the Indian cricket team in town, warming up for their test series in Australia, the surprise for all those at dinner was the arrival of Dhoni and company at 6.30 pm to meet and mingle with the guests. Here is an excerpt of the speech given by Ms Singh in honour of the Indian cricket team.

“Since the last time the Indian cricket team was here, so much has happened. In cricket, and in the India-Australia relationship. India won the World Cup, edging out Australia. One of our great Captains, the Nawab of Pataudi returned to the Pavilion; Australia lost to England and we lost to England too, that common enemy, before winning the ODI series.

Both Bhajji and Andrew Symonds are in India; Symonds is in the Bigg Boss house and Bhajji outside. But even if you put them together in Bigg Boss, they’d be mates; they’ve played together in the same team in the IPL.

Over the last four years, there have been ups and there have been downs. But we have moved past that, in cricket as well as in diplomatic relations between India and Australia, and here I would like to quote from an oration I heard a few days ago: “………relations between the two teams are

put to career diplomats:

“…is often said that cricketers are ambassadors for their country; when there’s a match to be won, sometimes we think that is an unreasonable demand. After all, what would career diplomats do if the result of a Test series depended on them, say, walking?”

Well, I’m not sure what other career diplomats would do, Rahul, but I tell you what this particular one would not do: she would not walk.

And I also quote: “But, as ties between India and Australia have strengthened and our contests have become more frequent, we realise that as Indian players, we stand for a vast, varied, often unfathomable and endlessly fascinating country…

In India, cricket is a buzzing, humming, living entity going through a most remarkable time, like no other in our cricketing history. In this last decade, the Indian team represents more than ever before, the country we come from - of people from vastly different cultures, who speak different languages, follow different religions, belong to all classes of society.

I went around our dressing room to work out how many languages could be spoken in there and the number I have arrived at is 15, including Shona and Akrikaans. Most foreign captains, I think, would baulk at the idea. But, when I led India, I enjoyed it, I marvelled at the range of difference and the ability of people from so many different backgrounds to share a dressing room, to accept, accommodate and respect that difference. In a world growing more insular, that is a precious quality to acquire, because it stays for life and helps you understand people better, understand the significance of the other.”

I ask you, could a professional diplomat have said it any better? Perhaps not even Duleepsinhji, who was a cricketer and the Indian High Commissioner in Canberra once upon a time; one of my very distinguished predecessors, but one who played for England, a little before Independence.

In conclusion, we stand at an exciting time today, both in cricket and in India Australia relations. They are both in transition, on the way up.

Both our teams are in transition too, and this series will play a critical role in that transition.

India honours 14 of diaspora for enhancing its global image

President Pratibha Patil conferred the “Pravasi Bharatiya Samman” awards to 14 eminent overseas Indians, including Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, and a Canadabased institution, for their outstanding contributions in enhancing India’s image globally.

“Indian overseas community is not only large, but is becoming increasingly influential in the economic, professional and political fields in the country in which

they are now living. We are proud of their accomplishments,” Patil said while addressing the valedictory function of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman is the highest award conferred by the Indian government on Non-resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and institutions run by them for their contribution in serving the Indian diaspora and enhancing India’s image in different parts of the world.

Bissessar, a person of Indian origin who became the first female prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, is the most prominent among this year’s

awardees. Congratulating Bissessar for her outstanding achievement, the president said the Indian community world-wide would applaud her achievements.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners... It is an extremely distinguished list and we are honoured by the presences of the awardees at this function,” Patil said after conferring the award.

The other Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardees include: P.V Radhakrishna Pillai from Bahrain, Sachchidanand Sahai from Cambodia, Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani from Cote D’Ivoire, Victor Shahed Smetacek from Germany, Prakash Lohia, chairman of Indorama Corporation, Jose Parayanken from Mozambique, Kiran Navinchandra Asher from Oman, Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule from Qatar, S.R. Nathan from Singapore, Khorshed Noshir Ginwala Rustomjee from South Africa, Rajesh Kumar Saraiya from Ukraine, Surendra Kumar Kaushik from US and Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli from

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also honoured for its contribution in bettering business and economic relations between the two countries.

So far, 133 NRI and PIOs and three institutions run by NRIs or persons of Indian origin have been conferred the

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the 10th edition of the annual diaspora meet saw the highest

Over 2,000 delegates from 59 countries participated at the three-day event. The closing day of the event marked the 97th anniversary of homecoming of Mahatma

The father of the nation had come back to India from South Africa Jan 9, 1915.

“Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a celebration of Indians living abroad. It is an occasion to welcome them to the land of their ancestors, to the country of their origin to interact with them and to reacquaint ourselves with each other,” the president

Overseas Indians welcome right to vote

Non-resident Indians have hailed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement that the government would allow them to vote and participate in the election process, a long-standing demand

Inaugurating the annual diaspora conclave, the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, the prime minister said the government has issued notifications for registration of overseas electors under the Representation of People Act, 1950, to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections.

“It was long overdue. I am very happy with the government’s decision,” said P.V. Pillai, a delegate from Dubai.

“I laud the government’s decision to grant voting rights to non-resident Indians. Though we are a small part and we cannot change anything by voting, but still I strongly feel that the right to vote is a basic right and it is a step in the right direction,” said Vasu Chanchlani from Canada.

Hiro N. Shivdasani from Ivory Coast said: “I am very happy with the decision. The Indian government has finally fulfilled its promise to Indian expatriates. It will

give us an opportunity to participate in government formation.”

“I also request the government to allow dual citizenship. They should also do it soon,” he said.

However, there were a few who had apprehensions about the process.

Rajeev K. Jain, a US-based entrepreneur, said that how the NRIs will exercise the power to vote is still undecided.

“The Indian government should provide us clear guidelines on voting rights. I think that the process is still not clear. I strongly feel that the government should make it transparent and corruption free, the voting should be allowed electronically or through internet,” he said.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi had said that the objective was to further increase engagements with diaspora.

“Our objective is to raise the level of engagement to go beyond mere investment related issues and address a broader agenda,” he said in his address at the conclave recently.

Increase investment in India: Pranab urges diaspora

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged non-resident Indian (NRI) entrepreneurs to increase investment in India, saying the economic engagement of the diaspora was not been upto the potential so far. “We have not yet reaped the full benefits of India’s great diaspora. The most obvious area remains that of investment and entrepreneurship,” Mukherjee said while addressing the 10th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas annual diaspora meet in Jaipur between January 7-9.

The finance minister pointed out that flow of foreign direct investment in the countries like China had been mostly by the Chinese living overseas, while in case of India, it was not upto that level.

“I am aware that there have been large ticket investments by non-resident Indian entrepreneurs. But I think it is far less than the potential and perhaps too concentrated on the formal sector,” he said.

“Rather, we must pursue an alternative model. One that is more balanced and holistic in a socio-economic sense,” he added.

Mukherjee said the entrepreneurial skills of the Indian business community settled abroad were a matter of envy for other nations.

“Foreign firms are increasingly aware of the sharp business acumen of the Indian entrepreneur and managers. They have come to respect our business houses and practices,” he said.

The finance minister said India was emerging as a major player in global economic affairs and talents and entrepreneurship of its citizens were widely recognised.

“We are widely recognized as a major driver of global growth. India is a member of the G20 and, within the G20, it is considered a part of the systemically most important 7,” he said.

Mukherjee said migration of people should not be regarded as a “brain drain”.

“The movement of the diaspora is no longer unidirectional as it was in the past. What started as a brain drain, has now become a brain gain, not just for India but the world as a whole,” he said.

Almost 30 million Indian diaspora live in

The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar greets Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil after being awarded with the Pravasi Bharatiya (Overseas Indian) award during the closing ceremony of the 10th Overseas Indian Conference in Jaipur on January 9, 2012.

over 130 countries across the world. The finance minister said movement of people from India has helped in growth and development of the country.

“When in the 1970s a large number of highly qualified Indians were moving abroad, we were warned of the severe consequences of the brain drain. Contrary to conventional, and in hindsight myopic opinions, luckily we made no attempt to stop the flow. Today we are better off due to that,” he said.

Overseas Indian workers to get pension, life insurance

The Indian government launched a special pension and life insurance scheme that would benefit over 5 million unskilled and semi-skilled workers employed overseas mostly in Gulf countries on temporary contract visas.

The government has created a special fund called Pension and Life Insurance Fund which will be used to partly contribute to a pension and insurance cover to the low-paid workers, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said while launching the scheme recently in Jaipur.

The new scheme is launched on the occasion of the 10th annual diaspora meet, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Almost 1,500 non-resident Indians and person of Indian origin from 54 countries have gathered on the occasion to discuss the issues concerning the overseas Indians and explore business opportunities here.

“The new scheme is entirely voluntary. It is only for those who want to take it,” Ravi said.

Under the scheme, the ministry of overseas Indian affairs will provide an annual co-contribution of up to Rs.3,000 for female workers and Rs.2,000 for male Indians working overseas.

Workers will be required to partly contribute for their pension and insurance cover.

Ravi said only those workers who take proper immigration clearance before going abroad would be covered under the scheme.

The scheme provides opportunity to low-paid workers to accumulate savings for resettlement when they return to India.

It also provides life insurance cover for a specified period in case of natural death.

Unskilled and semi-skilled Indians employed mostly in Gulf countries on temporary contracts will benefit under the scheme.

Majority of workers in Gulf countries don’t get life insurance cover as under Islam, insurance against life is not allowed.

The union cabinet had given its approval to the new fund recently.

Space crunch keeps diaspora delegates out at PBD inaugural

A space crunch at the venue forced many delegates from abroad to miss Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s inaugural address at the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas in Jaipur, causing them deep disappointment.

The delegates were seen requesting police officials on duty at Birla Auditorium, the main venue of PBD, to let them enter and find a place to sit.

Over 1,700 delegates have registered for the Jan 7-9 event so far against a seating capacity of 1,200 at the Birla Auditorium.

“There were many delegates, around 200-250, who came to me and requested to let them inside the auditorium to attend the inaugural function. But we were not able to do so as the auditorium was full to capacity. We were helpless,” a junior police officer revealed, on condition of anonymity.

“I came here at 8.30 a.m. and was not able to find a seat. We had to stand outside. We were not able to watch the PM deliver the inaugural address. We came here to be part of this event, not to stand outside,” said H.R. Jangid, a delegate from Dubai.

Echoing similar views, Chandram Mookim from the US said the government should have organised the function at a bigger venue. “It does not make sense to come here and not attend the sessions or the inaugural address,” Mookim said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, admitting space constraint and expressing his regret, said: “I am aware that there is limited space in the hall, which troubled some of the delegates. I assure you next time we will have these kind of events at much bigger venue.”

Investing in India tough, say NRIs

Many overseas Indians participating in the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas diaspora meet in Jaipur have complained that investing in the country was difficult due to lack of facilities and red tape.

Many delegates said that while the government promises all amenities to NRIs for investing in India, the implementation is lacking.

They added that permissions required to visit their home country are too complicated and need to be streamlined.

“The government has given us Overseas Indian Cards (OIC) but the process is very time consuming and too costly. If India wants to invite young entrepreneurs like me to invest here, then it should make things smoother and easier,” said Chandram Mookim, a US-based entrepreneur with business interests in India.

“It took me four months and $400 to get this OIC. Waiting for four months and sitting idle do not make any sense,” he added.

A.R. Jangid, who runs a furniture business in Dubai, said: “The Indian government should take up this card related issue seriously and resolve these as soon as possible if it wants us to be associated with the India growth story.”

“The government should make it less complicated,” he added.

Kamal Singh, a delegate from Canada, said: “Whenever I come to India, I face a problem at the time of departure. After staying in India for a few days, the authorities at Indian airports always ask me why did I stay in the country for so many days. There are lots of questions...it is my motherland and I should be allowed to stay here till the time I want.”

“You feel a complete stranger in your own country. We should be treated properly,” said Singh.

Lord Diljeet Singh from Britain said that getting a visa was a big problem.

“Some people who still do not have OIC or PIO (People of India Origin) cards apply for visas, but it is time consuming and cumbersome. Plus, people have complained to me the attitude at some of the embassies and high commissions is not appropriate, not polite. It should be

improved,” he said.

Another delegate said that the process for clearing various projects should be made less complicated.

“Red-tapism is one of biggest problems for investment. Most of the time, bureaucrats run the show and they cause lot of hindrance in the clearance of projects in which NRIs want to invest,” he said, not wishing to be named.

Some NRIs also raised the issue of corruption.

“Corruption is everywhere. To get a project cleared, the investors have to bribe officials and politicians as a rule,” a delegate said.

Over 1,700 delegates from 65 countries took part in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

NRIs shop, soak in Rajasthani delights in Jaipur Dal-bati-choorma, lak jewellery, bandhej textiles...Most overseas Indians participating in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) took time off from their busy schedule to shop, sightsee and soak in the rich culture of Rajasthan.

The state government spruced up Jaipur’s old city areas, known as the Walled City, for them. The pink-coloured buildings and shops sparkled with glittering lights and decorative items.

Many enthusiastic delegates, braving the winter cold, went for a ride of the Walled City after dinner at Sisodia Rani Garden.

“I really liked the rich heritage of the city. The Walled City is really beautiful. The outer part of the city has a sign of modern development, but the old city still has the old charm,” said A. Bhattacharya, a delegate from the US.

He said he was attracted the most to the small shops on both sides of the road in the Walled City selling traditional items.

The markets in Jaipur were crowded with delegates who were seen shopping. Traditional clothes and accessories, including lugadis, chunnis, bangles and handbags turned out to be a major draw.

“I’ve come with my family. So while I am attending the sessions here, my family is busy shopping. They bought lak bangles, bandhej and some jewellery,” said Mahaveer Singh from France.

Another delegate said apart from meeting businessmen from all over the world, getting an opportunity to observe Rajasthani culture had been a major advantage of his visit to Jaipur.

“I really enjoyed Rajasthani food like dal-bati-choorma, which I had at a place near the main bus station,” said Deepak Kumar from Canada.

However, he said, the traffic and encroachments seemed to be a major problem. “The authorities should do something about the traffic,” he said.

Rajasthan invites diaspora youth to come visiting

Youth from the Indian diaspora will be invited to visit Rajasthan and know the state better, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced recently.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 10th annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas diaspora meet here, Gehlot emphasized on the need for ensuring that the younger generation of the diaspora remained “connected” with India.

The chief minister stressed the need for regular interaction between the youth of

the country and the youth of Indian origin living abroad.

He said that regular exchanges were necessary to connect the NRI youth with their motherland and to educate them about their heritage.

“It is with this objective that on this auspicious occasion, I declare Know Your Rajasthan Scheme,” Gehlot said.

Under this scheme every year 50 men in the age group of 18-28 years from the diaspora would be invited by the state government to visit and experience Rajasthan.

“Ninety percent of the cost of air fare will be borne by the Rajasthan government. Besides this, the expenses on their internal transport, boarding and lodging will also be borne by the Rajasthan government,” the chief minister said.

He said that the diaspora from Rajasthan was recognised for its entrepreneurship and hard work and had done the country proud. “The achievements of business houses like Birla, Bangur, Bajaj, Goenka, Singhania, Poddar and Mittal and others are well known,” said the chief minister.

Regional diaspora meet in Dubai this year: Ravi

The regional annual diaspora meet, the mini-Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, will be held in Dubai later this year, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said recently.

“I am happy to announce that the regional PBD for 2012 will be held in Dubai for the Gulf region,” Ravi said while addressing the valedictory function of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur.

Last year the regional diaspora meet took place in Toronto, Canada. It was organised by the overseas Indian affairs ministry in partnership with Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been s one of the recipient of this year’s “Pravasi Bhartiya Samman” awards.

Ravi said the 10th edition of the annual diaspora meet saw the highest participation with over 2,000 delegates from 59 countries participating.

“This PBD also signals, a paradigm shift in the level, the range and the pace of our engagement. It is our conviction that the vast majority of overseas Indians have the ability and the willingness to partner in and benefit from India’s march towards progress and prosperity,” he said.

India, China reject confrontation, pitch for greater trust

Ahead of their boundary talks in midJanuary, India and China recently rejected an “adversarial relationship” amid recent irritants and called for greater all-round cooperation to scale up strategic trust that will enable them to shape the evolving international order.

In a bid to keep sensitive bilateral ties on an even keel, China’s Ambassador to India Zhang Yan acknowledged that there are “differences and challenges left over by history,” alluding to the decades-old boundary dispute, but pitched for greater trust and cooperation to resolve these issues.

Without naming anyone, the Chinese envoy said that “some are trying to create a wedge between the two countries” but asserted that “they will not succeed”.

The cooperation between India and China will benefit each other and the confrontation will hurt us, Zhang said.

Despite prophecies with evil intentions, India-China relations will take their own course and go where their national interests lie, the envoy said.

Underlining the need for “equilibrium” in relations between India and China, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon pitched for a closer collaborative relationship so that the “potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation is limited.”

“It is in our mutual interest to work together, bilaterally and with other partners, to reduce uncertainty and create an international environment that is supportive to our domestic transformation efforts,” Menon said, speaking at a function organised by the Chinese embassy to celebrate an exhibition on the India-China Year of Exchanges in 2011.

“Relations between India and China and their new equilibrium hold an important key to the emerging economic and strategic landscape of Asia and, to a certain extent, the world,” Menon said.

“There is enough space for both India and China to realise their development aspirations,” he stressed.

Alluding to some “vocal experts” who argue that despite the numerous cooperative elements in our economic relations and approach to international issues, India and China are bound to be strategic adversaries, Menon said such determinism was “misplaced.”

“It ignores the successful experience and demonstrated expertise of both governments in managing differences and building on commonalities for over three decades and particularly since the Rajiv Gandhi visit to China in 1988,” he said.

“The issue is whether we can continue to manage the elements of competition within an agreed strategic framework which permits both of us to pursue our core interests. I see no reason why that should not be so,” he asserted.

Menon stressed that India and China will have “key roles to play in forging a new compact for common and collective security for Asia.”

Days before Menon will hold talks with Dai Bingguo, China’s special representative in New Delhi, likely Jan 16-17, to resolve the boundary dispute, he described it as “difficult issue” and stressed on efforts by both sides to keep the border peaceful.

“On the settlement itself, we are in the second stage of the three stage process of agreeing principles, a framework and finally a boundary line,” he said.

Menon’s comments came days after China recently denied visa to an Indian Air Force officer, who was to go as a member of the Indian military delegation to China, on grounds that he was from Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian northeastern state which is claimed by China.

This led to India scaling down its delegation from the original 30 to 15. The truncated military delegation has left for China.

To prevent this crucial relationship with China from skidding off the track, India went ahead with the annual defence dialogue in December 2011, despite the row over the Dalai Lama that led to the postponement of the boundary talks which were scheduled earlier in November.

Pranab launches web-based Tagore bibliography

A web-based bibliography of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s works was launched by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the capital New Delhi recently, to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the poet.

Apart from works by Tagore, literary criticism and other works on Tagore published in India or abroad have been included in the bibliography, the culture ministry said in a statement.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee said: “The National Implementation Committee and the ministry of culture have undertaken several projects to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore.”

Mukherjee heads the committee set up to implement the programmes on the poet’s 150th birth anniversary.

“The projects focus on the multifaceted genius of Tagore, through cultural programmes, films, publications, workshops, research works, digitization programmes and seminars,” Mukherjee said. The compilation of the bibliography, a continuous process, has been taken up by the Raja Rammohun Roy Library in Kolkata.

“The work is a result of the compilation work supervised by Tagore experts and scholars, involving as many as 20 libraries across the country for titles. The result is that more than 9,000 books in 42 languages, both Indian and foreign, have been located so far. This is, indeed, the most comprehensive attempt undertaken for compiling the works by, and on Tagore, or, for that matter, any literary figure.

The bibliography is an endeavour to bring a ready reckoner to scholars and readers of Rabindranath Tagore,” he said.

Mukherjee said accessing a book on this web-bibliography has been made easy.

“A book can be located by its ‘Title’, ‘Author’, ‘Editor’ or ‘Genre’. A unique feature of the web-portal is its interactive character. Scholars and readers can interact with the site and provide supplementary information about respective publications. More titles will be added in the coming

months and the portal is expected to become the most comprehensive web-portal on Tagore, attracting viewers from both India and abroad,” the finance minister said.

The Minister of Culture Kumari Selja was present on the occasion.

Research culture crying need of India: Kalam

Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam recetnly exhorted academic institutions and universities to foster research culture for finding innovative solutions to social problems.

“Applied and fundamental research is the crying need of the nation to foster research culture in our academia and universities for the basic needs of our growing population, especially, clean drinking water, food, healthcare, energy, housing, infrastructure and education,” Kalam said at an awards ceremony in Bangalore, the country’s tech hub.

Noting that the country would have to depend on technologies derived from Indian science to improve its innovativeness index, Kalam said the growth so far was achieved using technologies developed elsewhere and discoveries and patents generated over a decade ago.

“As latest technologies will not be available for us from developed countries at least for a decade, innovative research is very vital, particularly, in basic science to develop products and services required to meet global competitiveness by organisations, institutions and industry,” Kalam said, after presenting Infosys Prizes to six scientists.

He referring to the global innovation report for 2011, which ranked India 62 in the Global Innovation Index, while smaller countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore and Hong Kong among the top four countries.

“If India has to graduate from the present ranking in competitiveness index and become equal to economically developed nations (within the top 10), we have to depend on technologies derived from Indian science and improve its innovativeness index to better than five,” Kalam asserted.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama shakes hands with Hollywood actor Richard Gere during the Kalachakra Buddhist festival in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, on Jan. 4, 2012. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the place where Buddha attained enlightenment.

Photo: AP

The former president said when the entire planet was faced with the problem of climate change, there was a need for farmers, agricultural planners, educationists and researchers to intensify the quantum of organic farming.

Lauding the Infosys Science Foundation for instituting the six prizes in various research areas, Kalam said the government, industries, research laboratories and universities had to facilitate the award winners to participate in research.

The winners are Kanpur Genetic Algorithms Laboratory director Kalyanmoy Deb in category engineering and computer science, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology scientist Imran Siddiqi in life sciences, Stanford University professor Kannan Soundararajan in mathematical sciences and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) physics professor Sriram Ramaswamy. University of Chicago professor Raghuram G. Rajan and Centre for Policy Research chief executive Pratap Bhanu Mehta were awarded in social sciences (economics and political science and international relations).

Kalam honoured each of the winners with a prize money of Rs.50 lakh ($100,000), a 22-karat gold medallion and a citation.

Pedal your way to discovering the real India

Experience the real India on bicycle, with every spin of the wheel revealing a whole new world of adventure and mysticism. Pushing this philosophy and the accompanying thrill is a group of young men who have launched a novel bicycle-tour movement in India.

Pradeep Sharma and his two friends are engineers working for multi-national companies (MNCs) in Bangalore. But their quest for adventure and green concerns has driven them to launch cycle tours and encourage people to take to pedalling for fun.

Pradeep hails from Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, while his friends Pankaj Mangal and Gaurav Mehendiratta respectively are from Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Delhi. The three are aged 28 and studied together in an engineering college in Ahmedabad.

They use films, music, songs, poetry, painting, photography, creative writing, books and rides to popularise bicycle tours and have also started a store in BangaloreArt of Bicycle Trips.

The novel idea came to them during a cycle trip in July 2010. The trio went on a 120-km bicycle trip from Bangalore to a Cauvery fishing camp.

“After riding for around 60 km we sat under a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and started discussing our trip. We thought that for some bicycle is a utility and for others a revelation of human potential, but for us it was more of a new experience,” Sharma recalled.

“Through that experience, the idea of a bicycle movement and Art of Bicycle Trips emerged,” Sharma said recently from Bangalore.

“India’s beauty actually lies in its rural areas. And bicycle is the best medium to get connected with its nature and people, directly. So we offer a simple and unique way to experience the real India. Bicycling opens up a whole new world of adventure, freedom and mysticism on every spin,” Sharma said.

The firm designs unique bicycle trips

from day-long tours of within a city to safaris to other states including Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh.

One day-long safari has been named after the 1970s Bollywood hit Sholay and is called Sholay Adventure. Under it, riders can tour the region where the blockbuster was shot.

“We have 15 bicycles specially designed for different tours. So far 70 to 80 groups (comprising 5-6 people) have taken our service, mostly foreigners. Among them only 10-15 groups were Indian but we hope the number will increase in future,” Mehendiratta said.

The ambitious trio plans to open branches in Bhopal and Indore in Madhya Pradesh. While Mangal looks after the strategy and planning, Sharma manages the finance and operations and Mehendiratta looks after overseas marketing. Sharma and Mehendiratta hold B.Tech degrees, while Mangal has also done his MBA.

“In foreign countries there are many organisations promoting bicycle tours. And some foreign tour operators offer such tours in India too, but no Indian organisation is involved in such activities,” said Sharma.

“We would like to spread out across the country and make it a true movement,” he said.

The packages range from three-hour tours to day-long tours and three-day corporate safaris. The rate is 20 dollars for a three-hour tour, and can go up to $2,000depending on the tour. Food and lodging are in the package.

Art of Bicycle Trips run a website www. artofbicycletrip.com. They also have a page on a social networking site.

Switch to olive oil for better health: Cookery expert Nita Mehta

Indian households should completely switch to olive oil as a cooking medium as its nutritional value is very high, it is rich in monounsaturated ‘good’ fats and, when used daily, can bring instant and easy wellness to a family’s diet, celebrity chef and noted cookery expert Nita Mehta says.

“Even though we have such a wide range of olive oils in our market, people don’t seem to use them because of their mental block that the flavour of olive oil doesn’t gel with Indian flavors,” Mehta said recently in New Delhi at the launch of her latest book, Indian Cooking With Olive Oil

“This is, in fact, a misconception because there is a grade known as olive pomace oil which is neutral in taste and so does not affect the spices and flavouring that Indian cooking is all about,” she added.

“Moreover, olive pomace oil is resistant to heat for long periods of time, so this is the grade to use when we need to cook masalas for long as the other olive grades do not have a very high smoking point and so ‘break’ and ruin the taste of food. Olive pomace oil gels well with tandoori dishes as well as curries.

Paranthas and biryanis cooked in olive oil are mouth watering. Even frying in olive pomace oil gives crisp, non-oily food,” Mehta noted.

The book was jointly released by V.N. Dalmia, chairman of Dalmia Continental, which owns Leonardo Olive Oil, the No.1 brand of olive oil in India in the edible segment and Ugo Astuto, the Italian embassy’s deputy chief of mission.

Published by SNAB Publishers, the cookbook features many exciting recipes, from innovative Broccoli Peanut Kebabs to

traditional Bhagaare Baingan, from healthy Zucchini Oat Crunches to the decadent Gulab Jamun, all made healthier with olive oil.

“Most recipes in this book use pomace but since contemporary Indian cooking has so many varied flavours and aromas, we can also use the intermediate grade of olive oil, called “pure olive oil”, for light sauteing. This gives a different dimension to the food,” Mehta said.

Olive oil is universally acknowledged as the healthiest cooking medium and, increasingly, Indian kitchens too are switching over completely to this medium.

“It’s high time this happened, since lifestyle disease in India is fast becoming a national emergency. India ranks No.1 in the world for number of cardiac patients. Thirtyone percent of urban Indians are either overweight or obese. One hundred million people in India have high blood pressure. Over 40 percent of urban Indians have high lipid levels. India is the diabetic capital of the world,” Dalmia noted.

“The greatest benefit of olive oil is that it fights coronary heart disease. Olive oil has the highest content of monounsaturated “good”

fats (no less than 80 percent) amongst all edible oils, which reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides.

“At only 10 percent, it has amongst the lowest percentage of saturated ‘bad’ fats, which increase bad cholesterol. High MUFA content in olive oil has been found to prevent high cholesterol, fight heart disease, and help in the prevention of diabetes as well as cancer,” he added.

Mehta has published over 400 cookbooks and sold over 6 million copies, making her one of the largest selling cookbook authors in Asia. Her books have been bestsellers in countries all over the world and she has won several international awards, including the Best Asian Cookbook Award at the World Cookbook Fair in Paris in 1999 for her book Flavours of Indian Cooking.

Her chain of cooking institutes has now been running successfully for over 25 years and she will soon be unveiling a chain of restaurants under her banner.

Launched in 2003, Leonardo Olive Oil pioneered the use of olive oil for Indian cooking.

Indian artist Jasuben Shilpi, known as the ‘Bronze Woman of India’, polishes a bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King at her workshop near Ahmedabad, on December 23, 2011. The statue will be installed at the University of North Florida in the USA.

What’s

BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

My niece, an avid reader, introduced me to the best-selling author Amish Tripathi on my recent visit to India. Amish has written a rather Dan Brown-ish fictionalised story of Lord Shiva, titled Immortals of Meluha - the first in a trilogy. It was first published in 2010, and had already sold 175,000 copies by August 2011; when the second book in the trilogy, The Secret of the Nagas was released recently, 80,000 of the 100,000 copies that were printed were pre-ordered, and the second edition of the book was in print even before its first edition had been released in August! That should give the readers an idea of the magnitude of popularity of Amish’s books in India. These are figures for which any Australian author would give their writing hand!

The novel Meluha is quite a page-turner and moves at a brisk pace, spinning the tale about the morphing of Shiva from ‘just a man’ 4000 years ago to the Mahadev of today. It is almost believable, with Shiva making the big trek with his tribe from the Mansarovar – in the shadow of Mount

On a routine visit to some local bookshops in Bangalore and Chennai, I stumbled upon a rather brilliant - and strangely unsettling - book. It is by an American freelance journalist Scott Carney, who had been a reporter in Chennai between 2006–2009. His first book, The Red Market: On the trail of the world’s organ brokers, bone thieves, blood farmers and child traffickers was published in June 2011 by William Morrow/Harper Collins, and is being critically acclaimed. He has coined the phrase “The Red Market” to describe a broad category of economic transactions around the human body. The book traces the multibillion-dollar underground trade in body parts and tissues through history, from early medical study and modern universities to poverty-ravaged Eurasian villages and high-tech Western labs; from body snatchers and surrogate mothers to skeleton dealers - and the poor who sell body parts to survive. What is particularly interesting, and alarming, for our readers is that Carney draws widely on his experience reporting from India, and it is deeply unsettling to read about a poor suburb in outer Chennai which is dubbed ‘Kidneypuram’ on account of the large number of the people there who have sold their kidneys; a ‘baby factory’ in Gujarat where women ‘rent out’ wombs for making babies to rich women in the first world,

Douglas M Knight’s recently released biography Balasaraswati: Her Art and Life , of the doyen of the Bharatanatyam dance scene in the twentieth century, is a brilliant and inspired account of this trailblazing artiste. Knight is married to Balasaraswati’s daughter, which gave him almost unlimited access to a whole range of private documents and letters - and must have opened several doors which allowed him to interview a wide cross-section of her contemporaries. What is most telling about the book is the tension - if not a cold warthat existed for most of Balasaraswati’s life between her and Rukmini Arundale. The former, from a hereditary Devadasi family, refused to sanitise Bharatanatyam of its traditional sensuality, while the latter worked hard to purge it of its sensual elements in an effort to make it ‘respectable’ and acceptable to middle class audiences. While MS Subbulakshmi, who hailed from a similar background to Balasaraswati, opted for respectability by

hot in India

Kailash – to the Indus Valley, where there is a already a flourishing and advanced civilization which looks up to him as the messiah Neelkanth.

Amish, from Mumbai, completed his management degree and worked in the financial services industry for nearly 14 years before turning to writing. He once wanted to be a historian, but studied management to earn a living. Ironically, he has realized his ambition, albeit through fiction!

The novel Meluha is quite a page-turner and moves at a brisk pace, spinning the tale about the morphing of Shiva from ‘just a man’, 4000 years ago to the Mahadev of today

and such like. While local and international law enforcement have cracked down on the market, advances in science have only increased the demand for human tissue ligaments, kidneys and rented space in women’s wombs - so rapid has been the growth in this ‘flesh’ trade that neither the law nor ethicists have had time to weigh up the ethical dilemmas inherent in it.

Carney argues that commerce in body parts cannot be treated as in other materials because bodies are not merely commodities: it creates a lifelong debt and bond between the provider and receiver of the flesh. He calls for “radical transparency” in the red market supply chain in order to protect its humanity.

Carney contributes stories on a variety of medical, technological and ethical issues to Wired Magazine and others, as well as to the National Public Radio.

Carney argues that commerce in body parts cannot be treated as in other materials because bodies are not merely commodities: it creates a lifelong debt and bond between the provider and receiver of the flesh

marrying Sadasivam, Balasaraswati chose not to whitewash her past. This book pays homage to her courage.

Balasaraswati refused to sanitise Bharatanatyam of its traditional sensuality, while Rukmini Arundale worked hard to purge it of its sensual elements in an effort to make it ‘respectable’

A motley collection of books, each artistically rendered, make interestingand sometimes unsettling - reads on fascinating topics

Amish Tripathi

Scott Carney

Douglas M Knight

The truth about giving

Censorship caution

Once

again,

India

has

been misrepresented by a western organisation in relation to its concept of charity

BY NOEL G DE SOUZA

The West has done it again. The UK-based Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) World Giving Index has named India the worst charity giver in South Asia. Sri Lanka has done quite well at number 8 in the world. Pakistan has risen from a low 142 in 2010 to quite a jump to 34; that would have been an incredible feat for a troubled country in just one year. Bangladesh ranks at 78 and Nepal at 84.

The usual method used for such surveys was followed. A small number of persons (1000 to 2000) were surveyed in each country and the results, entirely based on what those respondents said, were then applied to the entire country as if that was a matter of fact. Such methodology would not be acceptable at a university undergraduate level. The Indian press as usual reported the findings with no comments, thus seemingly accepting the “findings”.

This year the USA ranked in the first place and Australia dropped from the first to the second place. Rankings aside, no one can deny that these two countries do donate generously to world-wide causes, particularly during disasters.

a community kitchen (langar) to all visitors regardless of faith or origin. Several temples in India do likewise.

Someone who does not have money to spare might render equally, or even more valuable service, by becoming a volunteer. This may not be formal. Someone who visits sick friends and helps in that person’s housework is being charitable. Others may help lonely aged people by even just visiting them.

Incidentally, the report found that in Australia and New Zealand volunteering was the least popular of the ways of giving. Volunteers have been an important part of Australian society and those with experience of being at the receiving end of volunteering will find this aspect of the report to be baffling, because volunteers are seen rendering service in diverse situations. Only those who have the time, such as those who have retired or those with spare time, can offer to help.

A small number of persons (1000 to 2000) were surveyed in each country and the results, entirely based on what those respondents said, were then applied to the entire country as if that was a matter of fact.

The report, as many other reports emanating from the West, are patently Eurocentric. Indeed, western observers themselves say that such reports have become comparisons of countries around the world with Scandinavian countries, which invariably rate high in indexes with dubious practical value.

The concept of charity is an old one in the East. It was well formulated in the Buddhist ideal of giving (dan). Giving is not necessarily only by dispensing money. There are many other charities such as by word (kind and considerate), deed (helpful and aiding) and thought (good feelings).

The Buddha asked his monks to go like beggars (bikkus) with a bowl and to spread his teachings. People were expected to fill that bowl with food. Remarkably, that was the identical message of Jesus. He asked his disciples to go with a bowl and teach. People in eastern countries feed wandering monks. Could Buddhism be the reason why Thailand has been mentioned as having a high percentage (85%) of donors? Could that also be the reason for the high ranking (at 8) of Sri Lanka?

There are religious institutions where visitors are fed with food from temple funds. The best known example are the Sikh gurdwaras or temples which supply lunch in

The West needs to understand eastern ways. Take the film Salaam Bombay as an example. It depicted street urchins in Bombay. The immediate Western interpretation to that film was that most of India’s children live on the streets which is simply not true. The Eastern interpretation was different; it saw street children in India’s big cities forming a community and look after each other.

It has been said by international charity organizations that the best gift is to help individuals and communities, in the long run, to help themselves. The great American philanthropists like Carnegie, Rockefeller and Ford set up educational foundations for this purpose. More recently, Gates and Buffet have emulated them.

India has had the names of Birla, Tata and Premji at the forefront of setting up high level institutions for educating people. Rich mining houses (such as Dempo, Chowgule and Salgaocar) of the tiny state of Goa, have enshrined their names in educational institutions which have changed the nature of their state. Religious bodies like those of Sai Baba and the Tirupathi temple trust have directed funds collected from devotees to the creation of educational and research institutions.

The Charities Aid Foundation has got to temper its methodology by incorporating Eastern perspectives. On the other hand, Indian newspapers and intellectuals must stop timidly accepting such demonstrably wrong classifications of their country as being fact. Let them scrutinise, analyse and learn from what is being said from a Western perspective.

BY DILIP JADEJA

most democratic countries that demonstrated

people focussed on the good deeds of the government.

information on the internet. It may be carried out by governments or by private organisations either at the behest of government or on their own initiative. Censorship never works technically, because techniques and technology always find a way around it. Filtering works to a point, only partially – mostly geographically and always retrospectively and sparingly. In short, internet censorship is not worth the effort, unless the government in question has the will and brute force as well as unlimited financial resources similar to those of China or Russia. Certainly India is the wrong candidate for censorship. Perhaps Sibal got that message all right?

The main issue that worried Sibal is not sufficiently discussed in public; however the internet is rife with the talk that it had to do with one or more websites that mocked Sonia Gandhi or had something objectionable at a glance. This however, is to be expected for leaders everywhere. Who hasn’t read derogatory jokes about George Bush that would hurt even his worst opponents? From queens to kings, from dictators to opposition leaders, political leaders are routinely the subject of cartoons, jokes and derogatory content. In fact, more derogatory content exists on the net on Ganesha, Shiva and other Gods than for politicians. So his objection to a website commenting on Sonia was nothing but an expression of frustration at new technology and the people’s power to express whatever they want, whenever they want and however they want! That power is here to stay. What Sibal and Sonia need is what every politician needs – a thick skin and an ability to keep

Around the world, governments are unhappy about some aspects of new technology like social media. However, the overall public good that these technologies deliver is massive in comparison to the puny problems they create for a few powerful people. If one took too much of a sacrosanct view, one would never allow the screening of a film or TV series with the ‘F’ word – which features in almost every TV series and action film these days! Social media is a reflection of what people do around clubs or barbeques; they say anything they want to, about anyone they want to. People do not so much as go on social media to publicise things as much as make their views public. After all, it is their view, which can be good, bad, likeable or unpalatable. But in a democracy, views are bound to be many, different and still allowed to be reasonably “aired”. When a movie uses the ‘F’ word repeatedly, the director looks like a dud and the film becomes a bad attempt to create an elusive reality. Similarly, when views on social media are too derogatory, many people are in fact, unaffected, and this is the main reason why the best cartoons or political caricatures of leaders have just a slight accentuation of their negatives, without being downright derogatory.

Sibal needs to calm down. Sonia will forever remain the subject of discussion for many Indians. If the current government wants people to view them in more positive light, they need to do more positive things like popularising social media. As more people use social media and take a keener interest in the working of the government, they are going to be interested in real issues rather than personality issues. And as they understand political priorities and constraints, the opportunities, efforts, resources and responsibilities of the government, they will provide Sibal and his party with good solutions through social media. Censorship is the wrong way to deal with any government’s problems, not just in India. Even filtering is a bad idea except when applied to child abuse, child pornography or outright terrorist activities. The government should not even be afraid of subterfuge activities, like some communist government that sees many activities on the internet to be suspect. If a government is not able to survive an internet subterfuge, let us say that it is not a strong or popular government, and it will not last too long anyway!

Instead of considering the prospect of internet censorship in India, the government should use this medium to promote and market itself

From queens to kings, from dictators to opposition leaders, political leaders are routinely the subject of cartoons, jokes and derogatory content.

As more people use social media and take a keener interest in the working of the government, they are going to be interested in real issues rather than personality issues

319 Stephenson Road

Let’s

lose some weight!

Fact: Many foods high in starch are low in fat and calories, such as bread, rice and pasta. They become high in fat and calories when eaten in large portion sizes or when covered with high-fat toppings like butter, sour cream, or mayonnaise. Foods high in starch (also called complex carbohydrates) are an important source of energy for your body.

Myth #4: Certain foods like grapefruit, celery or cabbage soup can burn fat and make you lose weight.

Fact: No foods can burn fat. Some foods with caffeine may speed up your metabolism (the way your body uses energy, or calories) for a short time, but they do not cause weight loss.

Myth #5: Natural or herbal weight loss products are safe and effective.

Fact: A weight loss product that claims to be “natural” or “herbal” is not necessarily safe. These products are not usually scientifically tested to prove that they are safe or that they work.

Myth #6: “I can lose weight while eating whatever I want.”

Fact: To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you eat. It is possible to eat any kind of food you want and lose weight. You need to limit the number of calories you eat every day and/or increase your daily physical activity. Portion control is the key. Try eating smaller amounts of food and choosing foods that are low in calories.

Myth #7: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.

Some foods with caffeine may speed up your metabolism (the way your body uses energy, or calories) for a short time, but they do not cause weight loss.

BY SHAFEEN MUSTAQ

Now that the festive season has come and gone, what are the chances that one of your New Year resolutions was to lose weight? It’s a common one as we tend to over-indulge of rich sweet and savoury foods, with the excuse that it’s the holiday season. But come the New Year and the guilt sets in. We resort to diets and quick fixes to get rid of those additional pounds, but these could do more harm than good. So here are a few myths, facts and answers to set us on the right track of healthy weight loss. Good luck with losing it!

Common weight loss myths

Myth #1: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.

Fact: Fad diets are not the best way to lose

quick weight loss or tell you to cut certain foods out of your diet, which may help you lose weight at first. But diets that strictly limit calories or food choices are hard to follow. Most people quickly get tired of them and regain any lost weight.

Myth #2: High-protein/lowcarbohydrate diets are a healthy way to lose weight.

Fact: The long-term health effects of a highprotein/low-carbohydrate diet are unknown. But getting most of your daily calories from highprotein foods like meat, eggs, and cheese is not a balanced eating plan. You may be eating too much fat and cholesterol, which may raise the risk of heart disease. You may be eating too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which may lead to constipation due to lack of dietary fibre.

Myth #3: Starches are fattening, and should be limited when trying to lose weight.

Fact: Studies show that people who skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day tend to be heavier than people who eat a healthy breakfast and eat four or five times a day. This may be because people who skip meals tend to feel hungrier later on, and eat more than they normally would. It may also be that eating many small meals throughout the day helps people control their appetite.

Exercise, exercise, exercise!

Make sure exercise remains a priority in your life. Exercise can be a great stress reliever. Schedule a brisk walk or hike after a holiday party or meal. Five minutes of exercise is better than 20 minutes of nothing.

Exercise twice the amount of calories eaten. Just keep going! By Christmas, most of the plans to eat less and exercise more have dwindled, and it’s easy to gain a significant amount of weight. One way to monitor your intake over time is to keep track of your daily habits and set weekly goals around food intake and exercise.

Buddy up with company. To avoid gaining weight, you need commitment and awareness. It’s best to do this with a someone you can call upon to talk about eating concerns and be accountable to for your eating habits and exercise.

Studies show that people who skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day tend to be heavier than people who eat a healthy breakfast and eat four or five times a day

When trying to drop some pounds, it’s best to separate facts from fiction to put in place a healthy, effective weight-loss regime

To the outback

and back

BY THOMAS E KING

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello and Gary Cooper and Bette Davis ... these never-to-beforgotten actors of yesteryear’s silver screen continue to play to audiences on select nights at the celebrated Royal Theatre in downtown Winton, Queensland. With a population of 900, Winton, in the far west of the state, is neither a film capital of note nor a cultural Mecca of consequence. Visitors, therefore, need the promise of other pursuits to persuade them to defy the tyranny of distance and venture nearly 1400 km northwest of Brisbane to this oasis in the outback, at the very heart of the Australian continent.

Flecked with red sands, rocky outcrops and Spinifex waving in the breeze, and specked with sheltered Aboriginal art sites and awe inspiring landscapes, the vast arid interior of central Australia is typified by starkness, solitude, splendour and a billion stars twinkling over the occasional isolated settlement; Winton is one of these.

Stars on screen

Studded with sparkling ‘jewels’, the inky black night sky of the limitless outback is the nomaintenance-required ‘roof’ hovering above the old Royal Theatre. Surrounded by just four walls, this is an open air cinema hallone of only two such venues still operating in Australia today - where patrons can sit in canvas chair comfort while reliving the golden days of celluloid on cool Wednesday evenings.

Since 1918, the few residents of Winton - there have never been many - and visitors chancing upon this outpost in the outback have been able to relax at the Royal. Until 1927 when electricity came to town, the projector was cranked by hand. That was also the year when the first sound film, The Jazz Singer, also became the talk of the tiny town.

While Winton is considered to be the home of Australian bush poetry and is the host for the annual Bronze Swagman Award, it’s

still the old Royal that pulls in the crowd to see vintage cinema from another time and place. As large as the screen is at Winton’s sole picture palace, it pales into insignificance when compared to a spectacular ‘stage’ nearby where a real life drama occurred long before any swagman waltzed across the outback.

Dinosaur discovery

The place is the Lark Quarry Conservation Park, 110 km southwest of Winton, and the time, well just set the clock back 95 million or so years. During the Cretaceous Period this now-parched and rocky area of central Australia was a muddy lake surrounded by temperate rainforest and a menagerie of wild creatures.

Dinosaurs roamed the land, I learned, while traipsing across sand and stones at one of the most unusual sites in the country, the only place where there’s recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede! The action could not, of course, have been captured on film but it has been well-documented as fossils tell the story in stone. Scientists surmise it was a giant flesh-eating Carnosaur that stalked a hapless victim. As it pursued its prey, up to 200 chicken-sized Coelurosaurs and herbivorous Ornithopods feeding at the edge of the prehistoric lake also fled in panic.

The mud over which they ran was dry enough to retain their hundreds of footprints. Sand and silt later filled in the depressions and ever so slowly the tracks were compressed into rock. As millennia

passed the climate changed and so did the typography of the land. The lake was uplifted to form a low mountain range rising above a now waterless plain. Over the eons the ridge eroded leaving only a few isolated hills. In the 1960s fossilised tracks were discovered in an exposed hillside by the manager of one of the area’s extensive grazing properties.

Excavations began in the mid 1970s with the site now under the protection of the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service. Take note! While visitors are encouraged, there is little out here beyond an ecologically sustainable conservation building that protects the tracks from the ravages of weather … and visitors. It’s wise to bring drinking water as well as a sense of adventure.

Life at Longreach

In contrast, I discovered that there’s no shortage of visitor comforts back in Longreach at its most recognised tourist

A trip into Australia’s heartland brings a sense of wonder at the sheer majesty of Nature’s legacy

Photos: Queensland Tourism

back

1921. Assembled in Sydney, the rustic flying machine could carry two passengers in an open cockpit behind the pilot. The wood framed aircraft was used for joy rides above our wide brown land and also provided air taxi services. As well, it was an eye-catching contraption highly effective in visually spruiking the benefits of the burgeoning air transport industry to thousands of potential customers.

For trivia buffs, Qantas is the only airline in the world to have ever manufactured its own aircraft for use on its own scheduled services. Seven DH50s made under license from the de Havilland Aircraft Company were hand assembled in the Longreach hanger between 1926 and 1929.

Middleton’s magic

structure – is where locals converge to quench their thirst and swap stories. I’ll never forget one I heard!

Seeing the light!

The resident population of Middleton is an astounding.....wait for it ... 5, although on Saturday nights - when you may first hear accounts of the ‘light’ - the crowd in the sole hotel and bar to be found for 100 km or so could easily swell to a dozen... or less!

Dinosaurs roamed the land, I learned, while traipsing across sand and stones at one of the most unusual sites in the country, the only place where there’s recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede!

focal point, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. This must-see attraction is situated just off the bitumen of the Landsborough Highway - an outback lifeline also known as the Matilda Highway - on the approach to the area’s commercial hub, and so cannot possibly be overlooked. A larger than life size metal stockman with stirrups in hand and swag on his back certainly attracts attention.

Any preconceptions about dull and dusty museum collections are well and truly dispelled when entering this world-class attraction, a blend of museum and memorial studded with intricate displays, artefacts, thousands of photographs, text panels and a host of interactive exhibits. Opened in 1988 during Australia’s bicentennial year by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the architecturally innovative centre spans a broad timeline from the arrival of Aboriginal people and their contributions to our island continent to the use of satellite

communications, a reality of life today even in the remotest areas of the vast country. The treasure house is a delightful introduction to the outback for children, and is certain to provide plenty of discussion points for adults as they sit and sip cold refreshments back in central Longreach later in the day.

The biggest population centre in central west Queensland and the region’s administrative, pastoral and tourism hub, Longreach has additional points of distinction with a double connection to world aviation. For starters, the world’s first Flying Surgeon Service was established in Longreach in 1959. Frequently confused with the better known Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service, this mobile medical task force was set up to meet the growing need for specialised surgical facilities among the widely scattered populations of western Queensland. The service, I was told, provides elective and emergency surgical care for about 40 per cent of the state where there’s a dire shortage of resident specialists.

Aviation history

Longreach also has a war-time link to aviation history. During World War II, the airport was used by the Americans as an Air Force Flying Fortress base. A far better known connection with the aviation industry, however, is the Qantas Founders’ Outback Museum which tributes the award-winning airline in style and substance. Located across the wide highway almost opposite the Stockman’s Hall of Fame is the original Qantas hangar, a facility used as the airline’s first operational base from 19221934. It’s been polished up a bit, although it still has its original Outback charm.

Inside is enough aviation memorabilia to keep any die-hard enthusiast enthralled for hours. One of my favourite exhibits is a replica of the first Qantas aircraft. Qantas took delivery of its initial airplane, an Avro 504K - registration G-AUBG - in January

Well west of Longreach on the Min Min Byway en route to Boulia, red river gums grow close to the banks of billabongs and the squawk of the red parrot is the only sound to break the silence of this timeless land. Emus and kangaroos stare at the passing parade before scattering at high speed in all directions and the luxury of a dual lane roadway ceases. The sealed surface narrows to a width barely sufficient for one vehicle. It’s not a significant problem though because there’s not much traffic anyway.

Just half a billion years ago there was none! This vast area was under water as it was a major inland sea. That’s not a tall tale either. Should you want to hear a few, though, dally at the nearly 150-year-old restored Middleton Hotel for a chat with the locals on any Saturday night. The whistlestop was named after the first white man to explore the area, while the namesake Middleton Hotel was a staging post for Cobb & Co coaches on the Winton to Boulia mail run. The now somewhat restored building – the original

Captions: Golden Outback

No one in or around Middleton or still farther west at Boulia - the nearest town to the country graveyard where the first recorded sighting of the Min Min Lights was recorded in the 1890s - has any explanation for the most perplexing phenomena of the outback. There are plenty of theories though. Infrequently seen, the other worldly light appears as a fuzzy luminous oval - a fluorescent football, in essence - sometimes moving, sometimes stationary but never coming close enough to be positively identified.

There are many theories about the origin of these mystifying light formations ranging from optical illusions to geophysical phenomenon. With tongue in cheek I proposed my own theory that they might be a reflection from a distant cinema projector. But then the Min Min Lights have been seen outside the timings of April to September cinema screenings at the Royal back in Winton and they have been observed across much of northern Australia. Besides that, Aboriginal people have known about these baffling lights long before white settlers landed on the shores of Australia. The Min Min Lights remain a mystery unsolved and another compelling puzzle from the back of beyond.

1. Enthralled visitors study the massive tracks left by long gone dinosaurs at the Lark Quarry Conservation Park.

2. Relive the days when Cobb & Co coaches used to ply the Outback linking remote locations.

3. An iconic larger than life size Stockman lures tourists into the memorabilia rich Hall of Fame.

4. Towering ant hills ‘sprouting’ from red Outback surrounds add to the region’s visual splendour.

Travel

notebook

QUEENSLAND’S GOLDEN OUTBACK

FLIGHTS

Flights Qantas has numerous jet services from capital cities and major metro centres to Brisbane. See your travel agent for more information or visit www.qantas.com.au

ACCESS

Another option is to travel to the outback centre by rail. Queensland Railways operates the Spirit of the Outback on a twice weekly schedule that takes 24 hours to link Brisbane and Longreach. The 15-carriage train accommodating up to 204 passengers in sleeping berths or comfortable seats has a themed restaurant car with an Outback motif.

See www.queenslandrailways.com.au

Motorists with a passion for long distance travel can also drive to Longreach and undertake an independent exploration of Central Australia. Or visitors can do as I did and join an organised AAT Kings Mercedes air conditioned 4WD safari that allows for leisurely exploration of rural tracks and bush trails. See www.aatkings. com.au

EVENTS

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has recently partnered with the Stockman’s Hall of Fame to create an exciting new visitors centre. The new exhibition will feature a walk through experience based on typical RFDS aircraft and a number of interactive displays along with radio and medical equipment used in founder John Flynn’s day through to the cutting edge communication and medical technical used today. (Flynn’s achievements are recognised on the Australian $20 note.) The new display will be open in time for the start of the 2012 tourist season in central Queensland.

INFORMATION

See your travel agent or visit www.drivequeensland.com.au and www.queenslandholidays.com.au.

While Winton is considered to be the home of Australian bush poetry and is the host for the annual Bronze Swagman Award, it’s still the old Royal that pulls in the crowd to see vintage cinema from another time and place.

Cheers from

Chennai

In the New Year, the spirituality seeking foreigner and the hypersensitive Indian should focus on confronting their individual issues

BY TIM BLIGHT

Ok, so after five months in India, I’ve had enough. Not of the country itself – I’m loving that! But I’ve had enough of foreigners who come to India with preconceived notions of what they will experience, and I’ve had enough of Indians who are hypersensitive about anything that a foreigner thinks or says about this fine country. I’m still loving my time here but I’m quickly learning to tune out when the “Slumdog Millionaire - incredible tale or poverty porn” debate comes up. Or the “Tourist fantasy versus grinding reality” debate. Many westerners come to India searching for a spiritual experience - some even intentionally seek humble spiritual enlightenment. On the other hand, many of the Indians whom I’ve spoken with feel uncomfortable with this; they have expressed frustration at the perception that India’s biggest attraction lies in its ‘developing world’ status. This idea has only been fuelled by western popular culture such as Elizabeth Gilbert’s book (and movie) Eat Pray Love. Does one need to travel to India and live in an ashram to discover how to be spiritual? One thing about India which has always fascinated me is how religion seems to affect every aspect of public and private life. Perhaps this is why visitors feel more spiritually conscious in India; they are constantly reminded of religion. The rich, colourful festivals and practices of the subcontinent combined with the languid pace of a vacation can be particularly seductive when compared with the grind of daily life back home. Equally, ideas of the ‘exotic’ often include things which Indians aren’t proud of, such as grime, pollution and poverty. As Kalki Koechlin’s character in the 2011 film Shaitan was told, “You foreigners always find the dirt and filth exciting”. Is it appropriate for Westerners to come to India simply to fulfill their notions of subcontinental spirituality and exoticism? Especially when visitors often romanticise the India of their nightmares (poverty, bureaucracy, corruption) so it won’t spoil the India of their dreams (yoga at the Taj Mahal)? I would argue that it is not appropriate; however, this is a problem which faces tourist destinations around the world. Is it any different in essence to the hoards of tourists who visit Australia each year, buying up ‘traditional art’ while being completely ignorant of the actual plight of indigenous Australians? The thing about tourism is that it contributes to a nation’s economy, foreigners will form their opinions as they wish, and there’s very little that the host country can do about it. The Eiffel Tower was considered an eyesore by many Parisians when it was first constructed, so you can imagine the horror felt by many when it became the city’s defining structure for millions of tourists. Ultimately, and ideally, people would go to India with open minds and leave with informed opinions. Sadly, too many western travellers don’t.

On the other side of the equation stand too many Indians who are, in my opinion, hypersensitive about many of the issues facing their nation. Dirt is one of them; for a people who live with it every day, Indians seem to have a hard time getting over it. The borderline terror demonstrated by my friends when my shoes got

dirty was disproportionate to the actual consequences of unclean shoes. Yes - the shoes were dirty and yes, they could be cleaned. End of story! Instead, what followed was an extended conversation about the perils of dirt being brought into the house. Similarly, poverty seems to elicit a nuclear response. I’ve often been lectured about how poverty and corruption make India one of the worst countries on earth. I object to this statement; while poverty and corruption exist, Indians also have much to be proud of, and other countries deal with their own chronic problems. Too often a sensitive, but informed conversation about poverty in India has been met with hostility. Several people have angrily told me that it’s my fault to begin with, because all the problems began with the British (?!). I’ve been told that the people who appear poor are actually, secretly, richer than you or I. One person even told me that as a foreigner, I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion on Indian domestic issues.

Poverty exists, and it won’t go away by arguing or sweeping it under the rug. It seems that reactions to these “trigger issues” prevent many Indians from having a constructive, meaningful dialogue, not just with foreigners, but with each other. India has its problems, but they are not the reasons why I, as a foreigner, love it here. Nor do they prevent me from seeing all that India has to offer. I refuse to feel guilty about enjoying my life here. I propose we start this New Year by pledging to actually confront the issues which face us. No more ignorant tourists taking happy snaps with ‘cute’ impoverished locals. No more exploding at anyone who dares to (seriously) discuss India’s dark underbelly. Of course, it will take more than just one voice to make this happen, but we can always hope. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous but above all hopeful New Year.

Splendour amid the squalor: religion on public display in Chennai

The rich, colourful festivals and practices of the subcontinent combined with the languid pace of a vacation can be particularly seductive when compared with the grind of daily life back home.

The thing about tourism is that it contributes to a nation’s economy, foreigners will form their opinions as they wish, and there’s very little that the host country can do about it.

Foreigners often only see one side of India

Slums are a sad but undeniable fact of life in India

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.

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To fear

BY ASHITA VADHER

Last month we explored beliefs and the part they play in our lives. Beliefs are the fuel for our fears, and being fearful is a natural feeling that occurs within us.

When fear is your friend

Fear is an emotional response to an actual threat that lives in the present, a fundamental survival mechanism that has served us well throughout human history.

Imagine you are walking along a dimly lit path and you spot a gang of drunken youths coming towards you. If you believe that you may be in immediate danger, fear tells you to get to a safer place so you cross the road, change direction or seek refuge in a nearby restaurant. Your fear will prompt the action to keep safe.

Once our ancestors saw a few friends and relatives devoured by tigers, fearing tigers became a default response. Nowadays we react in much the same way when faced with a car veering toward us or if someone is wielding a knife at us.

F.E.A.R mimics fear

We all feel fear when approaching something completely new in our lives. Think about all of the milestones in your life and how you felt at the time: your first day at school, the first time on an aeroplane, starting a new job or when you first met your life partner. These may well

or not to fear

have created the feeling of fear within you. Yet you still went ahead and pushed through your comfort zone.

So fear isn’t the problem - F.E.A.R is what keeps us from moving forward and prevents us from reaching our potential.

F.E.A.R. is an acronym for ‘False Evidence Appearing Real’. There’s no true threat of immediate physical danger, no threat of a loss of someone or something dear to us. F.E.A.R perpetuates anxiety which is like having your worry button jammed on the ON position. It is our limiting beliefs that cause F.E.A.R. For example, saying, “I’m too old to learn something new”. The limiting belief here is, “I’m too old”. Their F.E.A.R could be based on an event where they have struggled to grasp a new concept and have lost confidence in themselves. Would this make it difficult for them to move forward?

Absolutely!

F.E.A.R. is an illusion; something we fabricate in our own minds and pretend is real. It’s a story we tell ourselves that keeps us from being, doing and having what we really want.

People often think that fear prevents them from moving forward in life. It’s a simple mistake to make. It’s actually F.E.A.R that’s responsible for this. It can create the same emotions within the body such as a sharp rise in heart rate, an adrenalin rush and shallow breathing.

The brain thinks that F.E.A.R keeps us safe from danger, but it actually keeps us from achieving our potential by leading to procrastination.

F.E.A.R derails success more often

Deal with your F.E.A.R.

F.E.A.R can appear very real and can hold us back from what we want to accomplish. The moment we realise that it’s ‘all in our head’ and that we’ve imagined what is not real, we are able to move forward.

Are past failures real evidence that justify fear of future failure? Not in the least because, unless you keep doing the exact same thing over and over and expecting different results (one definition of insanity), you have no real evidence that your next approach will fail.

Learning from past failures should instead, provide evidence that the odds for success are now better than ever.

There are some who have never failed because they’ve never tried. They have zero real evidence of anything, so their chance of living the life they dream of is close to zero too.

Embrace your journey into the unknown

When you take risks without dwelling on specific outcomes, you will begin to start winning the game of life. Relish the journey. Who knows? You may end up somewhere even better than you’d initially hoped for. No matter what, each journey will teach you what you need to know in preparation for the next one.

“Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain!”, says Dr Norman Vincent Peale in his book The Power of Positive Thinking.

F.E.A.R holds us hostage in our comfort zones. By having the courage to understand and challenge it, we have the power to transcend it and push beyond the boundaries of all possibility.

The next time you find yourself frozen with F.E.A.R and unable to move forward, be aware that this is something you have created in your mind. It isn’t real. What is real is that you have reached the edge of your comfort zone. Reaching out beyond it may make your heart pound, make you short of breath and may compel you to run in the opposite direction!

Instead, acknowledge that it’s okay to feel this way. You’re about to learn something new and different. Know that this feeling is a signal for growth and step forward with courage towards the life you could only dream about before.

That is indeed the question as we distinguish between true fear and the false feeling which could dominate and restrict our potential

So fear isn’t the problem - F.E.A.R is what keeps us from moving forward and prevents us from reaching our potential

By having the courage to understand and challenge (F.E.A.R), we have the power to transcend it and push beyond the boundaries of all possibility

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Dear Auntyji

Office woes

My sour-faced kaali bhootani manager walks in each morning and does not even say hello to me. Not even a measly nod, I get from her. How do I deal with this issue in my otherwise wonderful workplace?

Auntyji says

Well my dear, when your manager walks in, are you head-down-tail-up so busy that she feels compelled not to disturb you? Or as she walks in, you look up at her with a particularly malevolent raavan death stare as though you are blaming her for the global financial crisis, the plague and non-existence of peace in the middle east? If so, I would practice in front of the mirror each morning to ensure I had a pleasant mouh – instead of a shaitaan jaisa chahera. Now, naturally, your only solution when your manager walks in is to look up at her, smile brightly and say good morning or namaste in as dulcet tones as you can muster before your caffeine dose kicks in. Of course, if she ignores you then, it could be that she thinks you might be on medication (are you?) or she is just plain rude. Let me know if this happens and I will give you other strategies to mitigate your loss of face.

Do

MATRIMONIALS

SEEKING GROOMS

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Seeking qualified professional unmarried boy, aged 31 to 36, settled in Australia, with good family background for charming Hindu girl, 31 years 5’3”, born New Delhi, brought up in Gujarat with Indian values. Professional Accounting Masters from Sydney, Financial Consultant with CBA, Australian Citizenship. Please contact veerniranjan@yahoo.co.in or 0011 91 97259 57256 or 0425 336 516. Caste no bar.

Professionally qualified, vegetarian Indian match for well qualified, 38 years, pleasant looking, issueless divorcee, north Indian Brahmin. Well placed in garment industry. Residing 11 years in Sydney. Contact sk277310@yahoo.com

Match required for a simple, committed, god fearing Indian Christian Tamil girl, 27 years, 5 ft, fair completed, PhD at Sydney and working here presently. Boy should be committed, god-fearing and well educated. Email geethadevakaram@ hotmail.com

Christian Protestant girl from North India, 34 years, never-married, PR of Australia, teacher, highly qualified, seeks alliance from well settled, qualified Christian boy, contact with bio-data on: rattandeep.gulab@gmail.com

Suitable well-settled/professional match for Punjabi Arora girl, beautiful, never married, 38/165, qualified IT professional. GSOH with

good family values. Brought up in India. Working in MNC Sydney. Australian citizen. Early marriage. Serious enquiries only. Email details with photo: ausgirl101@gmail.com

Professional Hindu female, never married, age 41 years, University graduate Australian citizen. Would like to meet professional gentleman, age 41 to 46 years, single or divorced (no children). If interested please email chumchum280@yahoo. com.au

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

A tertiary qualified, pretty Fijian Indian girl, age 25, with a career in Marketing, belonging to a well respected family, Australian citizen, seeks a Fijian Indian, Australian resident boy, aged 25-28 years old, over 5’6” tall, with tertiary education and a career, willing to settle in Sydney after marriage. Serious proposals only. sresponse@optusnet.com. au or call 0405 551 810.

SEEKING BRIDES

Seeking Hindu girl, preferably Gujarati, good family values, for my son, 36, dob: 7/8/75, divorced, no children, fair, 5’8”, vegetarian, down to earth, fun-loving, genuine, well-built, non-smoker, light drinker, Australian citizen, tax consultant, lives with parents. Contact 0423 328 800 or sydau714@hotmail.com

Seeking alliance for a Hindu Punjabi Indian boy, highly educated, average build, 31/5’5”, citizen, working as a real estate agent in Sydney. Parents well settled in India. Please respond with full details and photo to man_syd25@rediffmail.com

Dear Auntyji

What do you recommend that I buy my wife – who has everything – for Christmas. We have been married for 4 years, and I always buy her jewellery and flowers and I take her out to dinner all the time. I always take her shopping and we make sure she looks glamorous all the time. I send her back to India twice a year to be with her family and I told her that she does not need to work – even though she has a masters in IT. Last Christmas I bought her a BMW – fortunately my business was not affected by the GFC. The previous year, I bought her a diamond bracelet. This year, I am thinking of taking her to Europe, but I am unsure about what will make her happy. Sometimes the look on her face tells me she is not that happy. Do you have any thoughts?

Auntyji says

Yes my dear man, I have the best solution for you. Jaanam samjha karo na, instead of buying your wife things, why don’t you give her the gift of listening to her. Do you know what makes her khush? Do you know what makes her unhappy? Have you even taken the time to ask her what she thinks? Not about Abhishek’s acting in Dhoom, but about you and her. She probably will appreciate your undivided attention more than anything else. So forget heera moti, Europe shorupe this Christmas. Instead, stay at home and talk to your wife about her goals and dreams and whether she is happy staying at home and not having to work. Ask her to prioritise what type of gifts she wants – sona chandi or quality waqt with you. Of course, if she goes for the 24-carat nakhani set, then that churail does not deserve a chota nawab like you. If she jumps at the opportunity to spend quality time with you, then you have a heera on your hands. And not that I am trying to cause you pareshani, but also be prepared for her to tell you what’s really on her mind – and for your sake, I hope it’s not DesiBoy or DesiMuscles or DelhiDilbarJaani on the internet with whom she has been chatting each time you were working late or ignoring her. Don’t be frightened to hear this truth – besides, I’m sure you know people in Delhi who can take care of DesiDilbar any time you say the word. If not, let me know and I have contacts with a few goondas myself who will do the kaam tamam for you. It’s wonderful the type of people you meet on the internet, nah? Do let me know how you go – I am most interested in hearing what makes wives tick these days.

Main hoon naukar biwi ka… or am I wrong?

Rocking

BY GEORGE THAKUR

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Teddy Roosevelt, twenty-sixth US President, when herself a senior, deduced: “Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.” George William Curtis’ discovery simplified age thus: “Age is a matter of feelings, not of years.”

As a senior myself, I whole-heartedly agree. And I’m sure so do most of our community’s seniors, who have become a vibrant and happy support group for each other in the past few years! Here, they share their activities in retirement, and explain what makes them tick even stronger as they get older.

through retirement!

Plain happy!

One would probably expect me to boast that I’m spending most of my retirement time doing charity work, but would that be true! I’m now simply trying to be happy, if not fulfilled; just plain happy! The most important element that retirement has brought forth is to liberate me from proving my worth and sucking up to those I never initially thought much of. Hence, my present day priority is to utilise as much time as is possible with my family and selected friends. Regular sessions of Pilates, yoga, occasional golf hit-outs, and brisk cycling keeps me fit.

Domestically, Usha, my devoted wife of fifty plus years, does all the heavy lifting, while I help even if minimally, with maintaining the yard. I surf the net for the thrill of having more knowledge at my fingertips, watch current affairs, sports, old-style comedy, icons from my pet peeves – Kyle Sandilands, Dave Hughes, Sachin Tendulkar included, that this thousand-channel world offers me. I enjoy the affability around movie and concert theatres, but most when curled up with a book or magazine in my den. I constantly remind myself that I’m retired, not dead!

Om Khushu

Retired Doordarshan and Malaysian TV Executive

Keeping busy as a JP

humility. Network Planning Manager with Telstra, compulsively charitable and one who refuses to succumb to actual retirement, he was also decorated with an Exemplary Volunteer award.

August 2003 was when I retired from paid employment and took to voluntary community service. As a Justice of the Peace in 2004, I began with serving Dandenong police station and am currently on the Frankston-Cranbourne police roster where I approximate some five hundred Document Witnessing functions in a month, so that the police can function uninterrupted. My wife Margaret and I volunteer at Do Care, a Wesley Mission venture that matches volunteers with those in need, and then provides them with conversational and other service. I serve the community at home and in hospitals, enjoy writing Hindi poetry and skits, and recite these wherever requested and on a radio station. Treasurer with Kingston Indian Senior Citizens Assn., I also earned various prizes in hobby patchwork quilting I gift to newborn babies, to those in need, or to hospitals.

Vishnu Prasad

Affectionately ‘Vishnu Bhai’ from Fiji is a personification of the famed Indian

Sport is my scene

After breakfast, I work out on the treadmill for 30 minutes. My wife Devayani and I then compulsively walk 30 minutes to the shopping centre. I watch TV only if cricket, tennis or lawn bowls are on, otherwise we watch various Indian drama series. As an avid sportsman, I played fast games such as badminton and cricket, captained my college volleyball team, played Ranji Trophy cricket in 1964, and was billiards champion in 1985. In Victorian Lawn Bowls, I have earned fifteen championships playing Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Triples and Quarters. In May 2011, I underwent a four bypass operation, have now completely recovered and feel healthy. Our only grandchild lives with his parents in Singapore, who we frequently visit.

Praduman Desai

Ex-petroleum employee, is an active member of Gujarati and other Indian communities.

Being a senior can open up vistas of opportunities for those willing to take the plunge, no matter what age one may be

Challenges of charity work

After 41 years of secondary teaching in wider mediums, I called it a day 17 years ago. Retirement offers exciting challenges which I accept both mentally and physically, that also helps me maintain a balanced lifestyle. Believe me, I learned to swim at 74!

Regularity with Pilates, hydro aerobics, gym, yoga and the Swim Fit Club nurture my stamina. Palli, my husband for half a century and I love long walks and absorbing the advantages multiculturalism offers, rather

than restricting ourselves to our ethnicity alone.

A founding member, ex-Treasurer, exPresident and Committee Member, I’m now an active member of Indian Seniors CA. I also helped found ‘Jolly Group’ that gifts me with social interaction with sincere friends.

To return what the community gave me in abundance, I began my community service at a centre for visually impaired adults. Now Blind School is skilled of 7+ years standing; I served on their Committee for two years. The experience was as deeply satisfying as is caring for the sick, elderly, disabled and lonely is now. A member of the Girl Guides Trefoil Guild (older women), I collected funds through raffles, by working in the Lions Club Op Shop and factory outlets, etc., to help train budding leaders at Sangham orphanage in India.

Palli and I often travel interstate and overseas, watch sport on TV, and attend photographic exhibitions, Palli being a decorated photographer, which earned me the rarity of appreciating the aesthetics of photography. Socialising with our two gorgeous grandchildren takes priority to other necessities of life.

A life free of stress, gossip and politics keeps this 78-year-old alive.

Shashi Gajree

From Kenya, this sprightly lady baffles all with her stamina and enthusiasm in helping those in need or lonely.

After astronomy, it’s dance!

A founding member and Secretary for a decade plus, I helped draft the Indian Senior CA Constitution, obtained several recurrent grants, discovered Mt. Waverley Youth Centre outside the railway station as a venue, and set up data base of members, among other things.

To mark my retirement, I entertained the ISCA membership with music, dance and luncheon, and along with senior ladies performed a Bollywood dance at various centres, which was rated among the best items of the day. I was awarded a plaque for exemplary community service, plus other awards. An Astronomical Society of Victoria member, I attend Special Interest Group Meetings on Astro-Physics, Cosmology, Deep space explorations, Search for extraterrestrial intelligence, Parallel Universes etc.

A regular at the gym and a “Friend of Planet Earth”, for mental and physical fitness, I participate in fast Latin, Salsa and Zumba dances. Nearing eighty, I’m looking forward to OBE (Over Bloody Eighty)!

Sandy Sen

A retired Computer Engineer from the Physics Department at Monash University, this enterprising gentleman researched Computers as Instruments for Physics.

Love that Lychee!

This delicious little fruit truly conceals the taste of summer sunshine and can adapt itself to a surprising range of culinary delights

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

Every time lychees are in season, I tell a story that my family are probably tired of hearing. It goes back to my school days. A close friend watched as I peeled and ate with relish my after-lunch treat - 3 beautifully red lychees. I had offered to share, but she had declined. After I finished she told me she didn’t like lychees.

“They’re too much work,” she said. “Too much work to get to a teeny bit of fruit inside - couldn’t be bothered”.

I couldn’t believe my ears. The “work” of peeling the fruit - and having its sweet juices cause icky-sticky fingers - had never troubled me, a lychee-lover from way back!

I dedicate this column to my Year 6 friend, wherever she is. I hope she has discovered the joy of the fruit, even if only of the canned or frozen variety, which cut the “work” out of it all.

I would advise her though, just as someone advised me recently, that it’s better to use the frozen variety rather than the canned: they retain the flavour and the fragrance of the fresh fruit much better (you’ll find them at Asian grocery stores).

Lychees are low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, high in Vitamin C and minerals like potassium and copper, and rich in dietary fibre. They are a very good source of B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, niacin and folates. All in all, they are an ideal ingredient in weight-loss diets.

Lychees are in our grocers’ shelves at the moment and I hope you have been enjoying them as much as I have. Of course the best way to eat them is straight after peeling, but I have discovered, there is so much more you could do with them.

Apparently you can make them into a cold soup; cook them with light white meat like pork or chicken or even fish; put them in a salad; put them in muffins or cakes; use them in cocktails, or, my current favourite, stuff a bunch of them!

You can also easily buy a variety of lychee products these days, such as lychee honey, lychee syrup, dried lychee, lychee vinegar, and lychee jams and jellies (which you can also use to glaze your barbecue meats).

Tropical Fruit Salad

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2-3 slices tinned pineapple, diced

1 mango, pitted and diced

½ punnet strawberries, hulled and halved

1 cup lychees, peeled and pitted

2 tbsp white sugar

1 tbsp brown sugar

3 tbsp lychee jam

Put fruit in a large bowl and toss. Add white sugar, brown sugar and lychee jam. Mix thoroughly. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

Lychee Salsa

2 cups lychees, peeled, pitted and diced

¼ red capsicum, diced

¼ Spanish onion, finely diced

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice

3 tsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

Fresh coriander leaves

Combine all the ingredients together. Cover with cling film and refrigerate before serving.

Stuffed Lychees

3 cups lychees

250 gms softened cream cheese

6 tbsp finely chopped crystalized ginger

6 tbsp finely chopped macadamia nuts

2 tbsp port or brandy

Peel and remove seeds from lychees. Mix all other ingredients and fill lychees with cheese mixture.

Arrange lychees on platter and decorate with torn basil or mint leaves. Great as a summer time appetizer.

Lychee Lassi

1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup chopped lychees or ½ cup lychee juice

Ice cubes

Blend until smooth and serve in tall glasses.

Lychee Martini

15 ml lychee syrup

45 ml good quality vodka

15 ml lychee juice

5 ml lemon juice

A few numbers lychees (peeled and pitted) and mint leaves, for garnish

Put ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into martini glass. Decorate with skewer of lychees and mint leaves.

(Dress the rim of the glass with crystallized ginger).

Lychee Mint Champagne

450 gms (roughly 3 cups) lychees, peeled and pitted

1 bottle chilled champagne or sparkling white wine

Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Puree the lychees and mint leaves in a food processor. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Half fill a glass with the mixture and top with champagne. Decorate with mint leaves.

Lychee Crab Salad

200 gms crab meat, shredded

¾ cup lychees, peeled and pitted

1 stick celery, finely chopped Lettuce leaves of choice

For salad dressing:

½ cup mayonnaise

2 tbsp cream

2 tbsp dry sherry (or apple juice)

2 tbsp chopped fresh basil

1 tsp crushed black pepper

Salt to taste

Toss crab meat, lychees and celery together in a bowl.

Blend all dressing ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.

Lay out lettuce leaves on platter and arrange Lychee Crab Salad on it. Drizzle dressing over.

Kickstart

have notched up 12 months of relevant local work experience.

BY SANAM SHARMA

An increasing number of migrants from India have called Australia home in recent years. A majority of these migrants are tertiary qualified, skilled professionals seeking to advance their careers within the Australian job market. Landing the dream job in a new country can often be a daunting task, and a lack of relevant local work experience in the Australian market is a major hurdle for migrant job seekers.

I ended up with 273 rejections when I started applying for jobs after finishing my tertiary qualifications in Australia. The most prominent feedback I got from most of the employers was my lack of Australian work experience, and ironically (without any Australian work experience) at times the way I had drafted my resume made me over-qualified for certain jobs.

So how do you overcome these hurdles and secure an interview and subsequently, a job? If you have been unsuccessful in obtaining a role at your desired level, be prepared to start from a lower level and work your way up. This way you will start getting exposed to the local workplace culture and practices and on the way you may end up with some credible local professional referees. Be flexible around the nature of employment as often, short stints in casual/project based roles are easy to secure and before you know you would

As a job seeker, there are three main parts to the entire process: applying for a role, preparing for an interview, and attending an interview.

Applying for a role

The idea behind applying for a role is to sell yourself as a professional so that the potential employer picks you over the rest of the applicants. It is crucial to structure your resume in a way that best describes your skills and achievements. The most common resume pitfalls are:

* A long-winded, lengthy resume spanning several pages (most employers will struggle to read through pages and pages of information)

* A resume that reads like a position description (it should highlight your professional and academic achievements, not every single task in your previous roles)

* Unclear, too big or too small fonts making it hard to read the resume

* Spelling mistakes and formatting errors within the resume

While shortlisting for roles, employers usually like to browse through resumes in a swift manner so the key is to have a resume that highlights your key achievements (starting from the most recent ones) and is easy to read. Use adjectives such as ‘managed’, ‘delivered’, ‘implemented’ to demonstrate your professional achievements. Try and list any cost-savings, profits or other efficiencies that you may

your career

have delivered through your achievements.

Always remember, the best predictor of your future performance to a potential employer will be a measure of your past performance in previous roles. An achievements-based resume can objectively demonstrate your key successes and ability to link them to business efficiencies.

The other key tool to make an effective job application is the cover letter. Use this to address the key selection criteria listed by the employer in the job advertisement. Applicants often forward the same cover letter for multiple roles to which they apply. Always try and adapt your cover letter to address the requirements listed for respective roles as the selection criteria may vary for employers.

Often I come across cover letters in which applicants did not even bother to change the ‘Position Title’ from the last job they applied for using the same cover letter. A crafty cover letter demonstrates your attention to detail and keenness to apply for a role.

Preparing for an interview

Once you have made the shortlist of candidates through a well-written resume and cover letter, the interview is often the next crucial step towards obtaining a role. Facing an interview panel can be daunting for most of us, so the key is to be prepared. As part your preparation, review the key selection criteria and the position description provided by the employer with their job advertisement.

Chances are that most of the interview

questions will be based around the key selection criteria. List and practice your responses to address those selection criteria – think of real examples from your past experience (if you can) where you may have had success in similar situations.

Try and do a mock interview with a friend or a family member and seek their feedback. Practice your responses. Meditate/relax your mind prior to the interview. Reinforce self-confidence. Research the Company’s website for information about the business (annual reports, management structures, mission and values, corporate strategy).

Attending an interview

As you enter the interview room, feel assured. Be positive and confident in your body language. Nice, firm handshakes. Listen carefully and try not to interrupt the panel members as they speak. Ensure that you switch off your mobile phone prior to entering the interview room. Do not hesitate to request panel members to repeat or clarify their question/s if they are not clear. Take your time to think and construct a response. Most interviewers provide candidates an opportunity to ask questions towards the conclusion of the interview, so use this time to provide any additional information that may not have been covered by the interviewer or to ask any queries you may have about the role, the recruitment process, or about the entitlements.

Remember, in an interview scenario, employers are looking for non-technical cues more than the technical skills (your resume and cover letter and educational qualifications have already informed them about your technical skills). The interviewer gauges the applicants’ verbal and non-verbal reactions while responding to the interview questions.

The most commonly used interview technique is “behavioural interviewing”. The questions in this format of interviews are aimed at providing applicants a scenario and then seeking their response to it based on their previous experience in a similar kind of a scenario (again, past performance is the best indicator of future performance). The best way to tackle these questions is to break your response in three parts – provide the interviewer the scenario that your example is based upon, then provide the actions you took, and finally provide them the result or the outcome of your actions. This approach will enable you to objectively answer such questions while demonstrating your ability to deal with those situations.

273 rejections later, I did get a job when I started my career. And it has been a continuous learning curve since then. The biggest learning for me has been the fact that it may be hard, but it is not impossible. Determination and perseverance will overcome hurdles and frustrations. Do not doubt yourself, and do not underestimate others.

The first step of landing a job can be a difficult and frustrating experience, particularly for newly arrived professional migrants

Be flexible around the nature of employment as often, short stints in casual/ project based roles are easy to secure and before you know you would have notched up 12 months of relevant local work experience.

ARIES March 21 - April 19

Tarot

Tarot predictions for February 2010 Tarot ‘n’ You Tarot ‘n’ You

Tarot predictions for January 2012

LIBRA September 23 - October 22

The start of 2012 will be very lucky for you and creative skills and abilities will overflow. Be very careful of ego problems with certain members of the family. The cards indicate that you will do better in your career, with a very good chance of promotion. Personal relationships will go through a bit of a difficult time but you will sort out differences, as you are working hard to change both yourself and your love life.

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

The New Year starts on a very positive note as you reap rewards in work and finances. The cards indicate that upto mid-January you will be very energetic and will work hard. Take things easy towards the end of the month, as you have the card of stress around you. You will worry about your family as there have been some problems around illness of an older member. Things need to be controlled, as there will be some panic around.

CANCER June 21 - July 22

The cards indicate a slow start, as you will not be feeling charged with energy. You have talked about starting some new physical exercise routines, and yoga is on the list. You are trying to control your anger at this time, as you had difficult situations to deal with last year and have lost faith in some people. Work will take up a lot of your energy. You are considering changing your job, there will be good opportunities around you.

LEO July 23 - August 22

One of your New Year’s resolutions is to make sure you do not upset anyone, as you were let down by a few close friends last year. It is time to try and make peace with your family, as you have not been too close lately. There are plans to start something new or a small venture of your own. Do not rush into anything and check everything out. Love is not giving you what you want, so re-think and act.

VIRGO August 23 - September 22

The New Year will bring about many changes, as the cards indicate a time of great learning and spiritual growth. You are determined to try and alter the way you deal with others, and bring peace around you. You have been feeling low with your relationship and are thinking of taking a break from your partner, which will help you view things from a different angle. Work will be slow as you are looking for something constructive to do.

This year, you have great plans to make huge changes in your life. Professionally, the cards indicate a time for growth in work. If studying, this is a good time to decide what you want to do. Your entire being is now laying down foundations for a new time of growth and plans. You may consider moving from your current property, as you are not feeling good where you live. Patience is needed around family, as they will be demanding.

SCORPIO October 23 - November 21

The year starts off with you planning to move, both physically and mentally. The cards indicate a move around your home. You have been thinking about moving for some time and this is a good month to carry out your plans. You have some hassles with work colleagues this month, and will need to be very tactful to avoid any unnecessary confrontations and dramas. Your married life/relationship is a little boring and you will need to spice things up fast!

SAGITTARIUS November 22 - December 21

A fantastic month to plan new ventures which have been delayed for some time now. The cards indicate a good time for your dreams to be put into action. You have been trying to sort things out in personal relationships as there are some ego clashes going on, and things need to be discussed. With work, there are chances of more money and also recognition. Take some time out to meditate and relax as your mind has been working overtime.

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 19

As last year ended, you made some very sincere promises to yourself. This month the cards indicate that you will realize your dreams. Work will go well and you will be buzzing with new ideas, which will go well especially as your energy levels are high. A new fitness regime is also on the agenda. Make sure you work things out with your partner, as you have not sorted out issues that have been bothering you for some time.

AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18

The cards indicate that you are putting off dealing with problems in a relationship, to keep the peace. If single, there are some flirtations going on; if with a partner, be careful to avoid temptation which could cause unhappiness with your current partner. Energy levels may be compromised as you have been stressed out lately, so take care of your health. Work will go well but y make sure you take time out to relax. Money is flowing, so enjoy…

PISCES February 19 - March 20

Your year starts off with a feeling of confusion about what you want to do. You are not enjoying work or studies right now, and you may decide to change direction. You may feel tempted to go to another country and settle, but you are confused about what to do. Family will pressurize you to follow a certain course of action, but you are too stubborn to listen. Listen to yourself and you will have a great time ahead.

Cine Talk long theliveking

Film: Don2:TheKingIsBack

Directed by: Farhan Akhtar

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Lara Dutta, Om Puri, Kunal Kapoor, Om Puri; Directed by Farhan Akhtar

The King says he is back. Long live the King. Shah Rukh is seen at the pinnacle of precociousness in this pitch-perfect tonguein-cheek homage to the espionage thriller. But this is not your average ‘Don-returnsbecause-he-had-to’ kind of predictable sequel. Farhan Akhtar with the keen participation of his ebullient writer Ameet Mehta and Amrish Shah, comes up with a cool concoction that prefers to let the action speak louder than words.

There are enough throwaway lines given to Don to make him fly high as a superhero of the underworld even when he’s locked away for life Like Tom Cruise in Misssion Impossible 4 so recently, Shah Rukh’s journey into valiant viciousness begins with a jailbreak. It then speeds into a kind of con caper which could go anywhere. It goes to Switzerland where the action is relentless. And it’s not only about flying bullets and speeding cars.

Don’s world is governed by a kind of subverted moral censorship where he, and nobody else, decides right from wrong. Into this world of win-win wickedness where Don reigns supreme, Farhan Akhtar infuses an intelligence that isn’t only connected to agencies.

Queerly, Don doesn’t encourage human ties. And since Don decides the destiny of the plot the relationships within the plot therefore do not grow substantially. Farhan portrays human attachment almost as an embarrassment, a hyphen in a film that is punctuated with exclamation marks. The only tender moment in the screenplay occurs when an affable computer hacker (Kunal Kapoor) caresses his pregnant wife’s belly. The moment passes quickly. And we move to Don’s next level of purported ingenuity. The relationship between Don and his ‘junglee billi’ Roma (Priyanka Chopra, hair, makeup and clothes and not much else in

place) is barely given a nod by the screenplay You wonder how Don calls her Junglee Billi since she’s so immaculate and impervious all through. Maybe it’s a private joke between them. We will never know. Watch out for Don 3. Hopefully Don would be married to Roma and growing vegetables in a village in Spain while Interpol follows his trail in Pakistan. Not all of it makes sense. Some of it, you suspect, is pointless to even Don himself. But the film exudes a kind of uber-chic temperament that we’ve hardly ever seen in our films.

Precocious and audacious, with his tongue wedged stubbornly in his cheek, Don is back in edgy laconic look back in rancour. The chase is restrained. The thrills are austere, almost severe. Farhan Akhtar is determined not to go over-the-top even as his evil protagonist does just that.

Subhash K. Jha

of opposites attract A case

Film: Pappu Can’t Dance Saala

Starring: Vinay Pathak, Neha Dhupia, Rajat Kapoor

Director: Saurabh Shukla

You might think, with a title like that, that ‘Pappu’ is the proverbial idiot in this film. You would be wrong! Nor is the movie about Pappu’s dancing capabilities. Instead, Pappu Can’t Dance Saala is a simple film that captures the essence of Mumbai and the struggle of outsiders who come here “to make it big in the city”.

Made on a shoe-string budget, the film is about an odd twosome who experience several odd situations that eventually get evened out and they discover they have fallen in love with each other. So sweetly predictable!

In a government residential complex in Mumbai, Vidyadhar Acharya (Vinay Pathak), a simpleton from Benaras with

humanitarian and middle class values is working as a medical rep. His neighbour Mehak (Neha Dhupia) is an overtly ambitious, brazen street-smart dancer. He is a conscientious and morally bound citizen. She is fun-loving, bohemian and an opportunist. They can’t see eye-to-eye simply because of their conflicting lifestyles.

Vidyadhar, forever cribbing, has a problem with everything in Mumbai, whereas Mehak is the proverbial Mumbaikar with a chalta hai attitude. She forcefully shifts into his pad when thrown out of her rented apartment. The film is filled with simple sweet messages to be taken in the right spirit.

Neha Dhupia’s portrayal of Mehak is convincing and the highlight of the film. Her taut body and reflexive steps to match is a frontbencher’s delight. Vinay Shukla is typecast and offers nothing extraordinary. She flaunts, he hums.

Rajat Kapoor as the choreographer-cummusic video director with mysterious charm and subtlety keeps the audiences hooked. Naseeruddin Shah in a two-scene role as Vidyadhar’s father mesmerises. He literally steals the thunder from the hero in the river bank scene where he reveals to his son in a powerful dialogue: “It is destined that the banks of the river can never meet but when man decides they should meet, he builds a bridge,” only to make his son realise that if

moves with ease. The second half, slow yet lively with a predictable goal, gets a bit boring.

Given the production values, Longinus Fernandes’ choreography is worth a mention. The dialogues are good, witty and above average. The storyline, simple and straight from the heart, is a bit of a setback coming from the brilliant writer director Saurabh Shukla. His third project as a director and his graph seems to stagnate.

Overall, the film is of mediocre production value with several cinematic liberties and is made with a sincere effort. It is worth a watch if you are looking to learn life’s lessons, simply.

A synthetically made formula thriller

Film: Players

Starring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Omi Vaidya, Vinod Khanna, Sikander Kher, Johnny Lever Director: Abbas-Mastan

machinist, Bilal Bashir (Sikander Kher), an explosives expert who likes foreign cars, Ronny (Bobby Deol), a magician, and Sunny Mehra (Omi Vaidya), a make-up artist. Naturally, the captain of this team is Charlie Mascarenhas and their goalthe Gold.

In today’s age, with the complexity of the internet, the team lacked a hacker.

Victor’s daughter Naina (Sonam Kapoor) unsuspectingly offers help by suggesting ace hacker Spider (Nitin Neil Mukesh), to the team.

and the soundtrack by Pritam creates the adrenaline required for a thriller but unfortunately the well-intended choreographed numbers break the momentum.

Ravi Yadav’s cinematography and Husain Burmawala’s editing are worth a mention. Technically, Abbas-Mastan have churned out a very fine movie.

Unfortunately, the film delivers without any emotions. It is evident that the actors have not put their soul to the characters; they have just walked through their roles. And it shows. The glycerine and the pancake take the applause.

feather flock together: Charlie Mascarenhas (Abhishek Bachchan) and Riya (Bipasha Basu) are partners in conning and daredevil robbery.

As a last gift, Charlie’s friend Raj (Aftab Shivdasani) reveals through a CD the possibility of a heist. “Ten thousand crore rupees worth of gold would be transported from Russia to Romania.”

Raj warns Charlie that this heist, an improbable feat, is not a one-man job. He would need a team to execute it and the only person who can help him put up the team is ace thief Victor Braganza (Vinod Khanna).

Victor assembles the players - Riya, an expert

In the show of one-upmanship, what follows the heist is a game of con and deceit at every moment of the film. For humour, there is MC (Johnny Lever) and his family. Sleekly made with fine action, crisp razor sharp edits, speeding cars and exciting photography giving you glimpses of scenic Siberia, Amsterdam and New Zealand, the film reminds you of a Bond film.

The leggy babes with leotard and boots, the guys with stubble and leather jackets, the palatial villas, the elongated limousines, the long car chases, the heist on the train - everything looks glossy and out of this world.

The racy background score by Sandeep Shirodkar

Sikander Kher seems to have some promise. In certain scenes, Sonam reminds us of Simi Garewal. Vinod Khanna, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Abhishek’s performances lack energy. Omi and Johnny Lever are stereotyped with their comic dialogue delivery. Bipasha has nothing new to offer and Bobby Deol is wasted in the minuscule role.

Touted as the desi version of Hollywood film The Italian Job, the script sticks to the basic plot but is unable to get into the recesses of its characters.

Players is a synthetically made formula thriller. It does not touch you emotionally, but is a good watch nonetheless.

Troy Ribeiro

Troy Ribeiro

BUZZThe

Arjun is Alive!

It’s taken a while to assault our olfactory senses but finally, after nearly two years of negotiations, discussions, trials and delays, Arjun Rampal’s perfume Alive has been launched. It will be available in two different scents to begin with. Arjun joins an elite group of two in Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who have perfumes to their credit, handpicked, manufactured and marketed by them.

six months to select the fragrance for his perfume, which he found an extremely time-consuming and tough task. But it was worth it in the end, as Arjun found out after inviting all his friends from the film industry to a smelling party after he finally shortlisted the fragrances. Needless to say, they all loved his choices of fragrances. So now Arjun’s not just looking, but smelling good too! Mmmmm…

Sallu to feature in Dabangg 2, the sequel of their 2010 blockbuster.

The awkward thing is that when producer Arbaaz Khan announced the sequel, he mentioned that the script didn’t allow him to cast Sonu in the role of villain Chhedi Singh once again. But apparently, Sallu thinks Sonu’s integral to the Dabangg franchise and wants him back. Arbaaz may have decided to write Sonu’s role out of Dabangg 2, but big brother Sallu wasn’t too pleased and we know just who’s the boss!

“Salman asked Sonu to return to Dabangg at his birthday bash in Panvel recently,” revealed a friend of Sonu. “This happened in front of Arbaaz, Sohail and a whole lot of other people. Sonu was embarrassed. He didn’t know what to say because this was not the first time Salman had asked him.

Earlier in Hyderabad, Salman had broached the subject, saying Dabangg wouldn’t be the same if the two of them - Salman and Sonu - didn’t share a climax fight. Sonu loves Salman to death.

But at this juncture of his career, Sonu isn’t sure. After all, he has a solo-hero film Maximum ready for release, and he’s not too keen on doing a marginal part. However, for Salman, Sonu might agree to Dabangg”.

Well, if brother Arbaaz couldn’t stand up to Sallu, Sonu hasn’t much of a choice. At least we can look forward to another interesting performance in the movie which is scheduled for release in December 2012.

Puja takes on male trio

Puja Gupta’s proving her mettle as an actress in an unusual manner. She’s teamed up with not just one, but three male actors, and is more than happy to take them on. But I guess practice makes perfect, as this isn’t the first time the young actress will palthan of guys. In her debut Bollywood movie F.A.L.T.U, the former beauty queen was the only female among the boys - Jackky Bhagnani, Ritesh Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi. This time Puja stars with Saif Ali Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Khemu in Go Goa

ABHILASHA SENGUPTA

Gone, and the line up isn’t making her a bit insecure. “I’m just happy with my character. And insecure? Not at all! Being again the only girl at the sets, it’s just second time lucky for me! It’s a lot of fun shooting with them,” said a pretty upbeat Puja.

The young star won the Miss India Universe crown in 2007, and has since modelled for brands like Pantaloons, Coca Cola, Monte Carlo, Bausch & Lomb, as well as the Lay’s Tango campaign with Saif.

In her upcoming film, Puja plays a young college girl who is very independent and believes in herself strongly. “She is a very easy-going yet adventurous person, and that’s what brings her to Goa with her friends in the movie,” said Puja, who has already shot the first schedule of the film. The actress admits that Bollywood has always been a “dream destination” for her, but as she says, there’s a “long long way to go”. Good luck Puja, we look forward to seeing you in some more solo heroine to many male heroes in the future!

K’s are kings (and queens)!

It’s probably one of the most popular alphabets in Bollywood, and for good reason. ‘K’ seems to be lucky for actors Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor who have all been named the most profitable actors of the Hindi film industry in India and abroad respectively by ETC Bollywood Business Awards.

Actress Kareena Kapoor, who featured in Bodyguard and RA.One in 2011 opposite the two actors was titled in the female category, while the Khans made it to the top of the male list.

Salman’s Bodyguard, the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film by the same name, was titled the top grosser of the year. The film’s director Siddique walked away with the most profitable director’s trophy.

GUESS WHO

Arjun Rampal with wife Mehr Jesia

SRK’s mega-budget dream project RA.One was recognised as the best marketed film of the year and also bagged an award under the highest single day collection category.

“Now I can safely say, har mulk ki public mujhe dhoondti hai,” said Shah Rukh. “RA. One, Bollywood’s most expensive movie, was my dream project. It feels great that my long cherished dream has been applauded and acknowledged”.

Other films like Pyaar Ka Panchnaama, The Dirty Picture, Don 2:The King Is Back and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol bagged awards for being the most successful small budget film, ETC Box Office surprise of the year, most popular first look of a film and most successful foreign film respectively. Looks like Bollywood’s looking forward to a great and commercially successful 2012. Let’s wish the industry all the best in keeping us entertained!

Raveena rants about health

“Actresses are too thin to be healthy,” says Raveena Tandon who started her career with Patthar Ke Phool, adding that the current lot of actresses are under a lot of pressure to look slim and in the process, compromise on their health, ending up being unable to withstand the rigours of the job.

“After coming to this industry, we actresses face so much pressure to look thin all the time. We are working at erratic hours...we also go through such strict diet plans, it is important to have a strong base,” she adds.

“I did Patthar Ke Phool 16 and from that day onwards I have been shooting. That time people were not conscious about their looks to such an extent. We were very healthy back then. Me, Kajol, Manisha (Koirala) were strong when we entered the industry, we looked like we belonged to healthy families,” claims the actress last seen in Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap after a sabbatical since 2004 follwing her marriage to Anil Thadani. She is currently shooting for Gin Liya Aasmaan be seen in E-dil Sambhal Zara Seven Nights. Well, now that Raveena’s back in Tinseltown, perhaps she can give the younger brood health tips ….if they listen, that is!

Vidya vetoes marriage –

for now!

Vidya Balan is still in the news and for very good reasons. She caused quite a stir with the super success of recently released Picture, which saw her in a role unlike any she had done before. And now that she’s enjoying the limelight, Bollywood is typically beginning to take an interest in her views on love and marriage. Now Vidya says that she believes in the institution of marriage and cannot avoid it for long, but she is not thinking about it right now.

“My career is going good. I am very happy. Emotionally and mentally I am in a very happy space, by God’s grace. I am not thinking about marriage as of now, but I’m sure it will also come at the right time. I believe in the institution of marriage. I will not ignore it for a longer duration, but yeah, for now, I am keeping it aside. I will definitely get married,” said Vidya. The actress is rumoured to be dating

CEO of UTV movies Siddharth Roy Kapoor.

Vidya’s plate is pretty full right now, what with promoting her forthcoming Kahaani, directed by Sujoy Ghosh. She will also be seen in Nikhil Advani’s Chand Bhai opposite Akshaye Khanna. And the gorgeously sultry actress admits it’s the greed for good roles that keeps her on her toes.

“I am a very greedy actor. I want to play different people, I want to do different kinds of films. Even if it means that the hero is the protagonist, as long as I have enough to do in the film I am more than happy doing it,” said the 33-year-old actress recently. “I am very happy with the kind of films being made today and that I am getting a chance to work in them. They are appealing to the audience as well, which is most important. Women-oriented films are being made since years, but it is only today that they are tasting success,” added Vidya. She is not restricting herself to women-oriented films, says the actress who has done films like Parineeta, Ishqiya Paa

“I have not made any boundaries or limitations for myself. I have not dictated to myself that I will only work on womenoriented scripts. If the film is good, if the

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What are Anil Kapoor and wife Sunita being so smug about?

What a wonderful party you organised for welcoming Tom Cruise to India. He loved your chana bhatooras… Sunil Kumar (West Ryde, NSW)

of fact, my sister was given an extra edge over me. I think that is how every Indian family should bring up their children,” said the 29-year-old, with surprising candidness. Meanwhile, Ranbir’s first release this year would be Anurag Basu’s Barfi!, set to hit theatres in mid-July. He will also be seen with ex-girlfriend Deepika Padukone in Karan Johar’s Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, so watch this space. Good on you, Ranbir, keep up the good work!

Answer to GUESS WHO? Sayali Bhagat

Sunil wins a pack of 2 new Hindi film CDs

SONU SOOD

RAVEENA TANDON

Biggest

Balle!

It doesn’t matter if the desire for bigger and better somewhat stereotypes the normal Punjabi, because their hearts are the same

Undeterred by ramping up a huge mortgage, the idea often is to build/ own the most contemporary home, a notch better than the one that our other Punjabi ‘friend’ owns down the street.

BY SANAM SHARMA

Punjabi migrants like me, often referred to as desi’, are a unique breed. ‘Work hard and party harder’ aptly sums up our motto in life. And most of us take pride in the ownership (and display) of top-of-the range possessions, and the bragging rights that come with them. A flash home, a luxurious car, latest gadgets, branded attire, there is nothing modest about us.

If the great Aussie dream is to own a home, the great Punjabi migrant dream is to own a grand palatial mansion. Undeterred by ramping up a huge mortgage, the idea often is to build/ own the most contemporary home, a notch better than the one that our other Punjabi ‘friend’ owns down the street.

Once the house is built, the next feat is to throw out a lavish house-warming. The idea here is to take every guest around our new pad and ensure that we rub in every piece of detail about the joint. Size of the block, the estate or the suburb (and how it is more Toorak-ish than the other person’s), the builder who built it with details of special bargains extracted from him, and the fittings and appliances within, are all poured out to every single guest at the housewarming. The more skilled of us will even occasionally drop in, “We went the extra yard because we did not want our home to be the same like all the other Indians, you see”.

A Punjabi house-warming is a fascinating affair in itself – you have the proud (rather

immodest) hosts who had waited a lifetime to unleash their supremacy on their captive audience, and you have the friends or guests who compliment the hosts and smile, while noting down every detail in the house to critique on their drive back home after the party. And in between all of this, there is Scotch with tandoori chicken, samosas with gulab jamun (all being served in the garage), bhangra music (for all kinds of dances), drunk men and sober women, designated drivers to take their drunk hubbies home.

Once the party warms up, the discussions inadvertently turn from house-warming to a raging debate about the political, economic, and social conditions back home in India. The participants range from hard core India bashers, to the loyalists (who have recently found some reason and glory out of the likes of Anna Hazare), and the outright indifferent individuals. Scotch often does not help the cause and decorum of these discussions.

Lately, we have taken our indulgences to the very next level. Any Punjabi get together or house-warming is now a global event as it is floated across Facebook in no time by its attendees, who also proudly tag their coattendees to cheese off the ones who missed out on an invite. And to really rub in the point, a set of photos are posted to validate the fun we are all having at the party. The photos are usually of people saying “Cheers!” while raising ‘pegs’ or making ‘V’ signs, and let’s not forget the stock standard bhangra pose while yelling out, “Bruaaaa!”

Our appetite for luxury and imposing that

luxury does not end with a house-warming. Often, the next event is the purchase of a car. The first thing to appear on a desi’s car is a personalized number plate – your own name (that will be me), or the name of your offspring, or for the more creative ones - Punjab, Jatt, desi or even surnames spelt out in clever ways, and occasionally, an abbreviated version of a religious symbol/word.

Once again, the size of a personal loan and the repayments will never refrain us from buying a car that will outshine the one owned by most of the people we know in our community. I was once politely reminded by a close relative at the purchase of my first ever car, which happened to be a second hand Camry, that all Indians buy a Camry. So for the next few days, we make sure we meet up with all our friends as we take them through the list of specifications in the new car, validated against a brochure. And the more skilled of us will also drop in, “This feature is not available in your car you see, as yours is a 2010 model”.

Punjabis are often branded as a fun-loving, loud lot of people and we indeed, enjoy every moment that life offers us. And the best trait as I see is that we are human at our very core – we yearn to be just that one step ahead of others, and we have no qualms in accepting that. We are proud of what we have, and we love to wear it on our sleeves. And if you reckon I have exaggerated anything, feel free to check out my Facebook profile. If you still remain unconvinced, I will be hosting a house warming early next year, so you can be a fly on the wall!

Any Punjabi get together or house-warming is now a global event as it is floated across Facebook in no time by its attendees, who also proudly tag their coattendees to cheese off the ones who missed out on an invite