world, the harsh reality of economics will determine long-term survival, community organisations need to take a long hard look at the twin questions of creating value and after that, prospering within their market.
According to experts, a successful strategy for an organisation, business or otherwise, is one that accomplishes two goals: it creates value (meets and extends demand), and then allows one to capture enough value to prosper. This is, in a nutshell, what an unbiased consultant will preach at any review of an organisation. The question is, can this be translated across our various community organisations?
Enough has been written and discussed about the plethora of community organisations across the Indian diaspora in Australia. Not only community organisations, but media outlets, showbiz entertainers and community functions have sprung up in the past few years. As the number of Indian Australians has skyrocketed to over 400,000, there are now enough communal and commercial opportunities that have emerged, allowing for more competition. While in the commercial
Over the years, most community organisations have certainly created value; they have brought together groups of people from specific linguistic or regional background and bonded them through shared factors. They have conducted get-togethers, celebrations and maintained traditions for their members. They have connected Indians in their country of migration.
However, they need to ask themselves if there is something they can do which the others cannot. Are they duplicating their services and creating divisions? Is there a unique service which they can offer to the community?
If the answer is ‘yes’, have they captured enough value to prosper? Have our community organisations flourished, as the community has grown in numbers?
From an activity point of view, if they have increased membership and financial stability, they can be seen to have captured the value within the community. If they are still where they were about
two to three years ago and have not been able to grow, it may be time for them to merge their energy with other groups while continuing to serve the community. While it will be hard to let go of egos, taking this decision to merge will only strengthen the community which, one assumes, is their reason for being involved in community organisations.
From a community relations point of view, politicians and bureaucrats need also to set up some criteria to measure the depth of community organisations. Sadly, this lack of due diligence allows important space in forums to be taken up by those whose contributions to the community are marginal, while those silent but true workers are often pushed in the background. One assumes it will not be too hard to set up the evaluation criteria (and being an evaluation of community voluntary organisations, it does not have to be too harsh), to audit the veracity of these organisations and rank them accordingly. Those who are in the top tier will benefit from government grants and other handouts, others will be lower in the pecking order.
This carrot-and-stick policy will allow the true believers to serve the community; the others will slowly fade away, unless they perform.
it was an adventurous, but pleasant blend of music that kept the audience entertained at the Beethoven To Bollywood concert held recently by the Friends of The Children Foundation. The musical event helped raise funds for the Royal Children Hospital Good Friday Appeal. This year’s RCH appeal is expected to raise $60,000 - $80,000 for purchasing two additional Gaymar Hypothermia machines (which is essential ICU equipment that lowers the body temperature) and to provide 10 wheelchairs for disabled children.
The concert headed by Sam Bedi was an inventive musical exploration, digging into associations of Indian cinema with the mood of Beethoven presented successfully by a team of young artists. Traditional Indian instruments like the sitar and tabla came together in compositional forces with the piano, to offer a very recognizable new blend. The result was an evening of pure and simple pleasure in a musical world, created with an essence of the West with the magic of the East.
The B-to-B team that travelled from Singapore to entertain the audience in Melbourne included Dexter, Govin and Krsna Tan. Sam’s children Sanjana and Sameer Bedi also performed for the first time in the city of their birth. (Sam migrated from Melbourne to Singapore when his children were very young). It was befitting to have a performance by a team of children under the banner of FOTCF, to raise funds for children. The packed concert was held at the Besan Centre at Mount Scopus College, Burwood.
Besides Sam Bedi’s virtuosity on the piano, some standout performances were from Govin and Krsna Tan on the tabla and sitar respectively. The ensemble’s group chemistry was apparent as they switched and combined styles to create a unique fusion. The passion that Sam reserves for music was evident in his eloquent introduction to each segment. Sharing his experiences and thoughts, he conveyed the underlying message of altruism in a practical context. A slideshow depicting the efforts of FOTCF over the years and moving pictures of ailing children at the Royal Children Hospital, added to the emotional appeal.
Shashi Kochhar, Founder of FOTCF addressed the audience along with Rakesh Raizada from
Raizada also announced the names of the two winners of the lucky draw. Towards the end of the show the entire hardworking team of FOTCF was invited on stage for an ovation. These included Dr Jasbir Bedi, Shashi Kochhar, Inderjit Jasal, Suvinder Sawhney, Alok Rohatgi and Rajiv Chaudhary. Kudos to the organisers for threading together an entertaining event with professionalism. It was an evening where people forgot to look at the time and did not complain when there was no break. For a couple of hours they
couple of dances by the talented team from Bollywood Beats. The surprise was saved for the last, where the mood changed from upbeat to vivacious with a gidda dance performed by local amateur artists. Post-event feedback was very favourable. The concert was a breath of fresh air from all the have-seen-before events that are churned out in the name of charity. This one definitely got people’s votes, along with their money.
Preeti Jabbal
From March 20-26, FORM, an independent, notfor-profit Western Australian cultural organisation hosted iconic Indian photographers Bharat Sikka, Ketaki Sheth and Sohrab Hura, along with Curator Devika Daulet Singh. The photographers were on a cross-cultural exchange programme which included exhibitions, artist talks and most profoundly, a trip to Western Australia’s remote Pilbara region.
FORM’s engagement with these eminent Indian creative artists began with an exhibition as part of Divergence: Photographs from Elsewhere at the Midland Railway Workshop. This monumental showcase of photography from around the world was headlined by the three Indian photographers and renowned Magnum photographer, Martin Parr.
Heralded as the ‘must see’ exhibition of the Foto Freo Festival 2012, the event had two thousand people visiting within the first two days. On March 17, Sohrab Hura and Ketaki
Sheth presented a slideshow on their respective bodies of work, and answered questions to an enthralled audience.
Bharat Sikka exhibited his series, Matter. Sikka is a mercurial creative - he photographs landscapes and portraits; moves between the studio and the street; between rural and urban India; from highend commercial photography on assignments for magazines like Wallpaper, Vanity Fair, Vogue India and The New Yorker, to directing
advertisements in a cinematic style as a Creative Director.
In Matter, we see Sikka’s distinct mode of visual storytelling, as he lures the viewer into an illusory world that collapses the boundaries between art and commerce.
Sikka is adept at creating moods and evoking emotion; he crafts longing and desire, illustrated in his poignant, romantic and intimate portrait of Carla Bruni, created for her No Promises album cover. Yet, his most compelling and intriguing images are developed as part of his personal projects, Indian Men, Space in Between and Salvador do Mundo which belong to the realm of fine contemporary art.
With his medium format camera, Sikka composes conceptually driven and visually sumptuous images that capture India as it transitions through a complex and awkward metamorphosis, grappling with globalization and the rapid changes brought about by accelerated, social and economic growth.
Ketaki Sheth’s exhibition Twinspotting, takes one inside the homes of the Patels, a community with a high percentage of twins (one in every 300 people is an identical twin, while one in 99 are fraternal). Sheth introduces the viewer to the immigrant community’s diaspora from the UK and Gujarat in India, from where they originated. The Patels are a highly migratory community and were the first Indians to move in large numbers to East Africa during the late 1960s and early 1970s, before settling in the UK and US, where they remain one of
the largest immigrant populations. Sheth has won the Sanskriti Award for Indian photography (1992) and Japan’s Higashikawa Award (2006) for best foreign photographer. In 2008, she was honoured with a special show of 50 works from her series Bombay Mix at Fête du livre in Aix-en-Provence. Sheth began taking pictures on the streets of Mumbai almost twenty years ago, under the guidance of renowned
Three renowned Indian photographers visit and capture on camera, the very essence of rural Western Australia. Sharmila Wood reportsKetaki Sheth photographing near the BHP Billiton Nelson Point Below: Sohrab hura photographing in the Pilbara Photo: Samantha Bell Photo: Sharmila Wood Photo: Samantha Bell
Indian photographer Raghubir Singh. She is influenced by the work of photographers André Kertész, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eugène Atget, Walker Evans, Lee Friedlander and Helen Levitt.
Sohrab Hura, the young emerging talent from the group exhibited work from his Benares, Holi and The Naga Sadhus at the Ardh Kumbh Mela series. Hura is a young photographer who has been lauded as one of India’s next generation talents. He is widely exhibited and has won three Indian Press Photo Awards, (Benares in 2006, Oasis and Holi in 2008), a China International Press Photography Award for Holi (2010) and he was a recipient of the Magnum Foundation’s Emergency Fund in 2010. Hura participated in an international residency for young photographers called Pour l’instant Rencontres de la jeune photographie internationale, at Niort, France.
After attending the opening, the photographers, accompanied by Devika Daulet Singh of Photoink, New Delhi, and
yours truly as FORM Curator, travelled with the photographers to Karratha. The journey began from Point Samson to Roebourne, to Wickham, Port Hedland and Marble Bar.
Throughout the trip the photographers met Pilbara personalities, visited Aboriginal communities and commented on the truly multicultural nature of the region which comprises of 52 different nationalities. They were awed by the intensity of the light and were unable to shoot between 1- 4pm, and by the vast expanse of the land.
The trip gave the group a chance to experience first-hand a lesser known Australia, one that is unique and memorable. As Sheth commented, “The landscape was so stark and staggering, the people so compelling, the light so harsh and the distance from anywhere seemed interminable. But in retrospect, I feel all of this helped get into the heart of it.”
The photographs will be part of an exhibition and publication, which will tour Australia and India.
Throughout the trip the photographers met Pilbara personalities, visited Aboriginal communities and commented on the truly multicultural nature of the region which comprises of 52 different nationalities.
Divergence: Photographs from Elsewhere, a monumental showcase of photography by over 60 photographs from 15 countries, is on at the historic Midland Railway Workshops site (Yelverton Drive, Midland WA 6056) until 15 April. Ph 08 9226 2799
Top: Ketaki Sheth’s presentation at divergence: Photographs from Elsewhere
Below: The installation at the Midland Railway Workshops
making the most of the last few days of good weather in Melbourne members from the Punjabi Club of Victoria (PCV) embarked on another family picnic recently. A busload headed to Hanging Rock, an easy drive away from Melbourne.
In true Punjabi ishtyle there was food, food and more food and all of it delicious, according to feedback. It was all thanks to the hardworking team from Tandoori Junction Restaurant. Predictably the chaat, pakodas, nibbles and drinks set the mood for more fun to come.
Talented local guitarist Tommy Smith welcomed the guests
with some wonderful music. Entertainment also came in the form of outdoor games like tug-of-war, limbo and the everpopular cricket, followed by nostalgic songs and antakshari There is no lack of talent within the club, all of it was evident that afternoon and the audience was suitably appreciative.
Said PCV President Arminder
Luthra, “PCV prides itself in organising events that involve the entire family and over the years with numerous bonding activities like these, PCV has become one big family. Any newcomers feel immediately at home with our
interesting mix of desi sentiments with the Aussie lifestyle.” The PCV fun day was organised to celebrate no festival or event; it was purely to celebrate life with near and dear ones, peppered with characteristic Punjabi vivacity and zest.
countries. The harmony theme was evident in the entertainment items that included dance performance by Kangana Friends, henna painting and rangoli patterns. A large display of cultural artefacts including scriptures from Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian religions, highlighted the diverse cultural atmosphere in which the Faculty of Economics, Business and Law operates.
For the first time, a ‘Taste of Harmony’ event was held in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (FBEL), organised by Mrs. Reeta Verma, lecturer at La Trobe’s Law School. Taste of Harmony is a popular annual event organised by the Scanlon Foundation, supported by the Australian Multicultural Foundation and Department Of Immigration and Citizenship. The
event encourages all workplaces to celebrate their diversity by sharing a multicultural meal or organising an event.
The Taste of Harmony event at La Trobe University was attended by prominent guests from the Northern Region, including Mr Colin Brooks,
Member of Parliament Bundoora, Parliamentary Secretary for the Leader of Opposition, Victoria; Mrs. Deepa Bhatia, Director Westsolar and executive member of SMS - a non-profit organisation for helping families in distress; and Mrs. Preety Dhiman, Sumitha Kannan and
Saloney Shah, from Kangana Friends - a charitable institution in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, helping women to be self-sufficient by creating networks that empower them.
Guests enjoyed a delicious selection of food from the Indian sub-continent and European
The Dean of the Faculty, Professor Leigh Drake explained the strength of La Trobe’s courses and highlighted the diversity of students and staff who make the Faculty such an exciting place in which to work and study. With the internationalization of education, Professor Drake explained that, “La Trobe courses have been wellreceived by international students and currently Faculty students are from about 90 different countries” Professor Drake also admired the cultural competency of his staff and he commended Mrs. Verma for ensuring there was both fun and flavour to the Taste of Harmony event.
According to Wikipedia, 40% of the world’s languages are endangered and likely to become extinct. That will definitely not be the case with Hindi thanks to a deeply entrenched culture, rich ancestry and futuristic groups that continue to promote it at every opportunity.
Hindi Niketan in Melbourne is an organization dedicated to the task of promoting this wonderful system of communication that enables people to cooperate and learn. Their recent Hindi Diwas event attracted enthusiastic participation from many people from diverse backgrounds and ages, who came together to celebrate this constantly evolving, living and thriving language.
The Hindi Diwas was held at the Indian Consulate in St. Kilda with the support of the Indian Consul Mr Shubhakanta Behera. In his welcome speech Mr Behera commended Hindi Niketan on their ongoing efforts to champion the spread of Hindi in Australia.
Dr Sharad Gupta, current President of Hindi Niketan outlined the reason for holding
the agenda for the day. Through poems, songs, bhajans, dances and skits, people in Melbourne expressed their love for their mother tongue.
An awards ceremony was also held to felicitate young achievers who scored well in Hindi at the VCE exams last year. A special mention was made of Rangebank Primary School, Cranbourne for recently introducing Hindi language in their LOTE
curriculum. The school’s Principal Colin Avery and teacher Pooja Verma were also present. Other dignitaries that addressed the audience included Vasan Srinivasan President of Federation Of Indian Associations Of Victoria (FIAV), Peter Friedland from La Trobe University, Pashalia (Lisa) Eglezos VSL West Area Manager and Connie Bramble, VSL Area Manager East 2. Youngsters Ashwin Gaur and Deepti Babbar were MCs for the evening. With numerous items to entertain the audience there was something for everyone and the delicious free dinner that followed
Week-long festivities marked the opening of the long-awaited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir in Mill Park in March, with evenings of aarti and cultural programmes, followed by mahaprashad. There was also a colourful yatra or procession for the murtis (idols), with handmade floats accompanied by music and devotees travelling along a 2km journey through nearby streets to the temple. And finally, the highlight of the week’s ceremonies was the installation of the murtis of Krishna, Rama, Shiva and Swaminarayan. Installing these murtis was the final step in the temple’s inauguration, and with prayers and recitals, these murtis have now become sacred for devotees to worship.
Devotees from all over Australia and around the world attended the ceremonies. Among the special guests was Pujya Tuyagvallabh Swami who attended the satsangs or assemblies, and presented
discourses. The messages he shared encouraged the continuing development of humanitarian virtues in each and every one of us. And for the youth, he encouraged learning and development of skills, including nurturing of their passions or talents.
The Shree Swaminarayan Mandir inauguration was made possible thanks to years of planning, generous funding through donations from devotees and community members, and also with the invaluable help of many volunteers. The Mill Park site was purchased approximately 2 years ago, where a chemical warehouse once stood. Some of the warehouse structure is being utilized, but lots new additions have been added and built. The intricate design features, carved pillars, domes, and other components for the temple were imported from India. The construction however, was done by a local contractor
and with the help of volunteers. These types of buildings aren’t often constructed here in Australia; so much was learnt by the builders during its construction. The mandir was completed in time for the opening celebrations, in what may seem in itself as an amazing feat. Even a day or two prior to the opening, scaffolding could still be seen erected around the site, with volunteer painters and gardeners still working outside, and a lot of work being done in the temple’s interior. However, all went well and the inauguration was a success.
The Northern Melbourne community now has a new place of worship, a traditional-looking mandir, in a modern setting. The Shree Swaminarayan Mandir community will host regular
Accountants.
Anil Sharma from India - At Melbourne Hindi newspaper ended the formal part of the evening with a vote of thanks. Ch Shamsher Singh sponsored the cash prizes for the VCE students, and has been doing so for many years. “It is a small contribution from me towards the big cause of preserving and promoting our culture,” said Ch Shamsher Singh.
assemblies, Gujarati language and music classes, celebrations of Hindu festivals throughout the year and many more activities. All community members are welcome to attend.
There are approximately 850 of these types of mandirs worldwide, and now Melbourne is lucky to have its own. With an evergrowing diversity of residents who
are multinational, multicultural and multi-spiritual, the new Mandir should find a welcome home here.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located at 60 Heaths Court, Mill Park, and is open on weekdays between 7am-noon and 4pm-8pm; and on weekends from 7am-8pm.
Leanne Woodward
They are a generation apart, enjoying their twilight years here in Australia in the company of family and friends. Our respected 65-plus citizens still play an important, and sometimes indispensable role in our lives, and for the most part, they are content with their lot. So what gives them happiness? It could be little things like helping out around the family home, indulging in hobbies or catching up with friends. Or our savvy seniors spend time surfing the net, keeping up with current affairs or volunteering. Indeed, the theme of Seniors Week - Live Life! - might as well have been written for the desi seniors we speak with here.
Without doubt, the first thought that comes to mind when you ask seniors what makes them happy, is family. Children, grandchildren and extended family, wherever in the world they may be. Grandparents are an indispensable part of the family unit here, providing care and support for their grandchildren, as their children pursue work and careers.
Charan Sekhon is a classic case. With three adult children all happily married and living within drivable distance, retired life has come alive with family all over again.
“I have six grandchildren - the youngest is only a month old - and I am happy to be involved in their lives since they were born,” she says. Charan helped out with the
babies when they were born, while always careful never to impose. When the young mums were ready to go back to work, she looked after the babies for a day a week, making it easier on the new families.
“This involved feeding, putting to sleep, changing, bathing, walking – the whole job, and I loved every minute of it,” she admits enthusiastically, even while supervising bath-time for one of the kids.
“Now my older grandkids want a different kind of attention, such as food they might not get at home, like parathas. I love cooking for them,” claims Charan. Her husband, who still works, has also begun to chip in. He spends one evening with the older kids at their home helping with homework, especially maths.
“When I go to pick him up, the little ones come running out to greet me – and it makes my day!” says Charan with a smile.
Charan is just one among the many, many grandparents who play an essential role in the lives of their grandchildren which goes beyond just daily chores. Apart from the bonding, they strive to inculcate a better understanding of their past heritage, culture, traditions and even religious beliefs. It’s a wonderful relationship that we hope will blossom and grow.
After family, friends are an integral part of our seniors’ lives. Subhashini Channa migrated here with her young family many years ago, and met a group of happily like-minded families also living in the same suburb. They offered mutual support which blossomed and grew into long-lasting, secure and comfortable friendships. They have experienced births, childhood years, teens, adulthood,
marriages, grandchildren, career successes, some misfortunes, health issues – together in a bond of friendship which has endured for over 20 years. What could be more rewarding than that?
“We are very close,” says Subashini. “We continue to be totally involved in each others’ lives. If there is ever a problem, we know they are just a phone call away”.
“A healthy set of friends is a very, very important asset especially in the senior years,” Subhashini, 70, says. “Ultimately, we are all in a similar - not sameboat. Our kids are busy with their own families, and we ourselves are looking at slowing down. We have similar needs now, and find that we keep each other going.” Sagely, Subhashini concludes, “Our friends are our family.”
When Dr Rakesh Sachdev decided to ‘semi-retire’ in 2002, the group Young Active Retirees (YAR) was born. His great idea was to travel around the world in the company of close friends. “We felt we had reached a stage in our lives where we had fulfilled most of our family commitments and now had a well earned opportunity to broaden our life experiences,” he says.
“Some advantages of travelling in senior years are, visiting famous landmarks; meeting a range of people and getting to know their cultures and traditions; gaining a perspective in one’s own life and reassess one’s values; going back to one’s roots, and gaining a new frame of reference for understanding the world,” adds Rakesh.
Rakesh and Sarita Sachdev and their friends have now travelled to every continent of the world, even Antarctica.
“We boarded a cruise ship from Brazil, passed through Falkland Islands, went around the Antarctic Peninsula, touched Ushuaia
(southernmost city in the world), and finished in Chile,” he recounts enthusiastically.
They have gone on cruises in Alaska, and from Sydney to Capetown via Mauritius on the Queen Mary 2. East Africa, South America and China were fascinating in different ways.
On their trip to Lake Mansarvor and Mt Kailash they ran medical clinics in Tibet.
Travelling in Europe, they were caught up in the bomb blast in Madrid, and missed connecting flights, an adventure not easily forgotten.
Another treasured memory is Potsdam where in 1945 the Heads of State of the war coalition (Josef Stalin, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill) met to decide on a deal about defeated Germany.
But very special to Rakesh is a trip to Pakistan. “I wanted to trace my roots, and visited my birthplace. I had the privilege of visiting Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib gurudwaras, and the Khyber Pass with an Army escort,” he says.
Rakesh and his band of merry travellers will visit the Arctic in August. “We are taking a cruise around Spitzberg and going sightseeing in Norway and Finland. We are expecting 23 hours daylight at that time of the year – it’s going to be lots of fun!”
Now that’s what real retirement is all about!
Work has always defined Saroja Srinivasan. She has been a clinical psychologist for some 45 years now, and continues to work one day a week to this day. “I always knew work would be an important aspect of my life, even before I was married,” she says. But it is the kind of work Saroja does that made her decide to continue working through her senior years.
“Being a clinical psychologist has contributed to me being me – or the kind of person I am. It helps me to understand myself better. It has certainly influenced my quality as a mother; it has worked to create some great relationships
within my own family,” she admits candidly.
Saroja is now keenly looking at opportunities to work more – as part of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal, helping with policy and service provision issues. Hardika Hirani gave up full time work way back in 2001. But since then she has continued to work two days a week, teaching book-keeping and MYOB at TAFE.
“I do it because I love it,” she says. “I’m still interested in it and so I enjoy it. It keeps me mentally and physically active. I’m very happy with the arrangement, and have every intention to continue as long as I can.”
Veda Srinivasan took up yoga at 50, practicing it daily. Now at 70, she is so passionate about it that she has become a qualified instructor, conducting regular yoga lessons for RAIN seniors, and spurred by their interest, publishing a booklet that was enthusiastically received. Indian associations all around Sydney now invite her to conduct yoga sessions.
Veda claims yoga can have special benefits for seniors, bringing mind and body into harmony and reducing the particular stresses brought on by age. Her lessons include breathing exercises (pranayam) and some simple movements, rather then strenuous asanas
Living here has induced seniors to also try out Tai Chi, a Chinese form of exercise to balance the body’s harmony. Both practices however, help seniors in keeping fit in mind and body, and lead to a state of contentment necessary at their time of life.
Dr Gunu Naker has been an avid practitioner of meditation for some 40 years now, incorporating it into his work as an acupuncture GP – he is another ‘active’ senior who continues to work three days a week.
Dr Naker first observed
the benefits of meditation in psychological medicine – muscle relaxation techniques were eliminating stress. He built this up into a model which he uses to teach his clients “the value of loving and compassionate thoughts and soft speech in eliminating anger or hate”. The use of “Om” as a meditation aid, he tells non-Indian clients, is not religious – it is merely a primordial sound that will connect you to your spirit and ultimately, to the universe.
For Asha Trivedi, also a meditation practitioner and teacher with the Brahma Kumaris, it is not only important to practice a longish period of such ‘withdrawal’ – she meditates daily from 4 am to 4.45 am – but also to be able to take time off between daily chores for say, five minutes at a time, apne aap to shanti dene ke liye (to give yourself some peace), and to help recharge batteries.
While some meditate, others seem to receive the same type
of ‘recharging of batteries’ from prayer.
Mridul Rajeshwar at 71, spends more time than ever before reading the scriptures. “I am currently doing the Ramayan path – reading a designated set of chapters every day at the same time,” she says. She was never overly religious, she claims, but lately she feels drawn to the ancient texts. “I’m seeing the beauty of it all which I seemed to have missed before,” adds Mridul. Her son and daughter-in-law have also noticed a change. “She seems to be getting some solace out of it, and we are happy for her,” they say.
For 84-year-old Minna Batra, scripture reading has further fanned the fire of social activism that has marked her entire life. This firebrand human rights activist may be deeply spiritual, but when she read the scriptures (and she has read most religions, not only her own Sikh texts), she realised that, “Religion has divided more than brought harmony,” and that, “All religions put women down”. Minna is an active member of the Women’s
Interfaith Network, and a longtime member of the United Nations Associations of Australia, travelling within Australia and overseas lecturing on human rights issues. She recently concluded active campaigning for constitutional reform, lobbied by the Aboriginal community. Says Minna, “I also conduct monthly meetings at home on theosophy. I am deeply interested in religions – whether vedic, puranic, ancient Chinese or even Quakers… and the moral and ethical values inherent in them that help foster peace and harmony.”
the 1960s. George was the assistant editor of his college newspaper in Lucknow in the late 1950s.
On coming to Australia, both moved away from journalism, as Laks worked as Library Manager of the City of Munno Para in Adelaide for 23 years, and then as a Medical Practice Manager for 10 years. George made inroads into the hospitality industry.
University of the 3rd Age, and Indian Link.”
LP agrees, “This has given me a wonderful outlet for my creative urge - and a good excuse to escape some household chores, to the chagrin of my partner!”
8.
Young-at-hearts sixty plus Lakshmipathi (Laks) Ayer and seventy plus George Thakur have both rediscovered an old passion – writing.
Laks was Chief Copy Editor of the Financial Express of the Indian Express group of newspapers in Bombay and then Deputy Editor of Gujarat Herald in Ahmedabad in
Retiring after rewarding careers, both found a resurgence in their interest of their younger years – a passion for words. The pages of Indian Link have offered them an outlet, and they are now an integral part of the contributors’ team. They write largely for the Adelaide and Melbourne editions, reporting on community events in their cities, but their feature articles and works of fiction are appreciated by readers nationwide.
“Indian Link motivated me to rediscover my dwindling passion for writing, in the absence of which my twilight years would be bland,” says gregarious George. “Today, my involvement is with various seniors’ associations,
When Vimla Luthra first arrived in Australia in her early 60s to be close to her children settled here, she realised almost immediately that she would have to adopt a different set of lifeskills than the ones she had in India. The first of these, she told herself, would be to have to learn to drive. Lessons began in earnest, and continued till she had successfully cleared her driving test. With the purchase of her first car at 65, not only was she well on her way to an independent lifestyle, but also a much-admired figure in her social circle – which grew larger and larger with every passing year. Learning a new skill such as driving is not easy at a senior age, but it did not daunt Vimla
– her dogged determination in mastering this skill improved the quality of her life. Doctors’ visits, library trips, catching up with friends and going to weekend events became independent activities, and this opened up a world of opportunities.
Interestingly, this mind-set transferred to other avenues as well, and soon Vimla was taking on many new challenges, such as speaking in public on topics of interest. When she tried her hand at writing poetry, she enjoyed the activity so much, and the results were so satisfying, that a book evolved, released last year.
Sudha Natarajan started the seniors group RAIN (Resourceful Australian Indian Association) six years ago when she came across an elderly Indian lady travelling with much difficulty to the city, to attend a senior citizens’ meeting. “I had elderly parents at home and thought we should have something closer at hand,” she says. Today Sudha brings succour to a large group of people, has garnered local council support for her activities, and has raised funds and purchased a property solely for the use of Indian seniors. At RAIN, seniors meet not only for social activities, but also to be socially productive: they cook vegetarian meals for Meals on Wheels, have a Carer’s Support Group, two choirs, a prolific vegetable garden, and engage in cultural exchange and fund-raising activities. A ‘Men’s
Shed’ for blokes only, was launched this month.
This year, the 60-something Sudha has been named as Ambassador for Seniors Week.
Just like Sudha, others who derive satisfaction from helping their peers are AHIA’s Santram Bajaj, Rakesh Sachdev and Tilak Kalra; Hornsby’s Mira Raheja, and Jay Raman of Sri Om Care group, all of them doing sterling work for our community’s seniors.
11.
Seniors at RAIN have been producing some wonderful herbs and veggies in their permaculture veggie patch, Vrindavan Garden. They designed and built their own garden with the help of experts. The beds are all raised so the seniors don’t have to bend. There’s also a Ganesha statue, safely ensconced inside a fig tree hollow, looking on at all the activity in the garden! Seniors drop by at various times to check on their beloved plants.
Many of our older citizens enjoy gardening as a soothing activity, and their gardens displaying an abundance of flowers, fruit and vegetables are testimony to this passion. From coriander to curry leaves, they explore this special gift of nurturing Nature.
12.
It is good to see seniors indulge in sporting activities. Take Tilak Kalra, who still plays badminton at 72, a sport he first took up as a child. “My club plays on Sunday
mornings. We have players of all ages, and from all nationalities and some of us seniors also mentor the young ones,” he says proudly. Tilak also “likes to sweat it out” at the gym twice a week.
Hardika Hirani took up social golf after retiring. “I played once a week with 4 friends at different courses,” she recalls. “I had to stop briefly for health reasons, and now my girlfriends have moved on –I’m looking for someone else to play with, someone at my own skill level.” Hardika and her husband also play bridge once a week.
Subhash Rugani gave up playing cricket in his early 60s. “I was becoming like India’s national team,” he says by way of explanation. Today at 66, he coaches youngsters in orphanages in India when he visits thrice a year. He also organises table tennis, tennis and volleyball games for the boys, besides teaching them English.
One of the joys of retirement is the simple pleasure of sitting down and reading a book from cover to cover. 74-year-old Ruby Dutta continues to be an avid reader. “I like crime thrillers,” she says. “Lately I have been enjoying Patricia Cornwell. I read Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri recently. Currently I’m reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.”
Ruby also reads in her native Bengali. “I get magazines from home regularly, just to keep in touch with what’s happening there. I also read Tagore
over and over again. Among Bengali novelists I like Suchitra Bhattacharya, and currently I’m reading Samaresh Majumdar, because he will be visiting here shortly!”
14. Food
Most seniors enjoy planning their meals and making sure their food intake is suitable for their age. Some have to change their diet to suit medical conditions, and even if there are no health issues, they tend to go in for more wholesome food.
Subhashini Channa (70) has a new interest in sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, linseed and the like. Deep-frying has long been banned in her kitchen; very little oil is used for cooking; daily breakfast is oats; only egg white is consumed, and the daily dinner is grilled fish or chicken with steamed veggies.
Yet Subhashini and her husband Indu are “foodies” – they love eating out, trying various cuisines at restaurants. “We’re looking for a good Greek restaurant these days –suggestions anyone?” she asks, tongue-in-cheek.
Imagine going to TAFE as a student in your 60s, only to get furtive glances from your fellow students? It did not faze Subhashini Channa at all. She even went on to win the ‘Best Student’ award!
The course that Subhashini took, clinical coding, is quite
complicated. But such is her yearning for learning, that she not only excelled at it, but also took up a job at Westmead Hospital immediately after.
“My advice to seniors in our community is, be thankful to be in a lucky country like Australia where the opportunities are endless and age is no bar to achieving your goals. Utilize yourself and give to society the wealth of your experience,” says this sprightly lady.
A timeless adage advises that you’re never to old to learn, and this is true with our seniors who take up various courses to learn diverse skills they never knew they had, from art to DIY, from computer skills to gaming. If you think learning is fun, go for it!
Our seniors love to indulge in festive occasions. Life is worth celebrating, they seem to say! And not just for Holi, Diwali, Eid, Janmashtami, Christmas and New Year, but also for birthdays and anniversaries, the start of the school term, the all-important soccer final (even if you’re in Year 4) and yes, even when Sachin scored that 100th 100. (“I made halwa early this morning,” listener Gargi Shah declared on Indian Link Radio the morning after Sachin finally reached his milestone).
“My grandma simply loves to make an occasion out of everything,” 13-year-old Anita Jayram says.
Tangamani and Kunendram of WA continue to be directly involved in their grandson’s Keshan’s life
“Nani only does it ‘cos she’s a happy person,” her mum Simi chides her.
Nani, 69-year-old Kusum Chaddha listens to the exchange and then says nonchalantly, “She never says no to my halwa…”.
17. Party on!
Whist drives, dinner and dance events, bingo and tambola – the options are enticing for young-atheart seniors.
For Cooma Hiramanek, bingo is a welcome distraction from her daily chores and a great way to socialise. “I play twice a week, and have been doing so for the last 15 years,” she says. “I enjoy it very much. We have lots of fun and have made many friends, both Indian and non-Indian. We chat about home, family and ourselves, and come away feeling light and relaxed,” she says.
Many seniors especially women, say doing creative work gives them pleasure, and they revive these sometimes forgotten skills as they get older. Vimla Luthra has knitted all her life, deriving joy in making garments of all forms for family members of all ages.
Cooma Hiramanek continues to knit to this day, but mostly for her grandkids. She has even taken orders. “I’m currently making a romper for a friend’s grandchild who will arrive in a few months’ time!” she said happily. Ruby Dutta has been passionate about her creative work with quilting, although she admits ruefully that in the past months her sewing machine has been neglected a bit, as care of the grandkids takes precedence.
And what about the boys? It will be interesting to see what
wonderful projects come out of the RAIN group’s recently launched Men’s Shed!
19. World of TV
Kusum Chaddha loves the soaps on Indian TV. Tell her they are melodramatic, and risk a lecture on how true to life some of them are, particularly the Rajasthanbased, women-oriented ones. And don’t get her started on the costumes and the jewelry that set off trends among the real housewives of Faisalabad. The quiz shows, the talent quests, and now the food shows, are simply incomparable…
81-year-old Raghubir Singh is addicted as well, but to current affairs. He watches Indian news channels religiously, then browses the sites of major Indian newspapers. A soft-spoken man, he is completely animated while
Seniors are being encouraged to pop over to the playground to give their health and wellness a bit of a boost.
Sydney’s first ‘older people’s playground’ has just opened at Leichhardt. The park aims to provide more recreational facilities for seniors in the area. With equipment that includes free runners, sit-up benches, push-up bars, a cycle trainer, body flexer, upper body trainer and a rubber soft ball ground, it’s perfect for seniors who would rather be out in the open enjoying healthy exercise.
‘Seniors parks’ or specially designed outdoor playgrounds are already popular in Europe and America, as well as in China and Japan. But for our enterprising seniors, any park should do to get a bit of that much needed flexibility and movement. So when the slippery dip is finally silent, take your turn and have some fun!
Far left: The mehras: Aaja nachle!
Left: The mehras: Best friends forever
Above: It’s nothing less than a grand party for aruna Chaubal’s 75th!
Suman Gandhok: I could have danced all night…!
discussing major events, specially of a political or sporting nature.
There’s a whole bunch of buzurgs who are part of the Indian Link Radio family. Most listeners are by now familiar with regular senior callers who use the talkback forum frequently. Not a single day goes by when you don’t hear Gargiji, Laxmiji, Vimlaji, Shabbiji – all so familiar that most listeners now recognize them by their voices.
“Indian Link Radio to mera jeevan sathi hai (the radio is my life partner), it lives with me all the time,” says 64-year-old Gargi Shah.
“I call in so frequently that the anchors say, entertainment to aap hain, hum nahin (you are the entertainment, not us)!” Laxmi observes with a laugh.
And do you think they are
requesting bhajans or waxing forth about how wonderful life was in India or how badly behaved today’s kids are, and how our sacrosanct traditions are all being forgotten? Oh no! They are analyzing the latest news from India, comparing Julia Gillard (cankles and all) with Tony Abbott (speedos and all), dissecting the latest Bollywood blockbuster, rubbishing the style of some new wannabe singer, reciting their most recent piece of poetry, bringing up a sher that relates to the ongoing discussion, winning the antakshari hands down with their singing, relating a funny incident from their family life, describing the most wonderful interactions with the mainstream…. even telling the odd dirty joke! How cool can our dadas and nanas, dadis and nanis get!
Sex. It’s a topic that’s taboo in genteel company, even in this enlightened and rather outspoken age. And particularly among our seniors, or so we think. However, recent research findings have indicated that seniors who are enjoying sex are happier than those who are not. Evidence to this effect was presented at the Gerontological Society of America late last year.
Dr. Adrienne Jackson, assistant professor at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, reported that older married individuals who engage in sexual activity are more likely to be happy with both their lives as well as their marriages. The study was based on survey responses of 238 married people aged 65 years or older.
It’s true then: there is a relationship between sex and happiness.
Suman Gandhok: A little girl at heart
Nita has worked recently as a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Gippsland Healthcare Group. She has vast experience in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. She worked as obstetrician and Gynaecologist in various Hospital in QLD and Melbourne as well as at Overseas.
Nita gained her specialist Post Graduate degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in India and worked as a consultant in New Delhi for 4 yrs. After Moving to Australia she underwent further training to gain her FRANZCOG– Specialist Degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
She is fluent in Hindi, Punjabi and English.
She has started private practice at Melbourne Eastern & South Eastern private Hospital apart from Casey Superclinic and have a operative and delivery at Warragul hospital with consulting session at both Berwick, Pakenham.
After moving to Australia she underwent further training to include FRANZCOG and gained her specialist degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2010.
Nita has worked recently as a consultant at Warragul (W.G.Health) Hospital.
Nita has set up Private Practice in Dandenong with consulting sessions at both Pakenham & Warragul
• Pre-pregnancy assessment & counselling
• Antenatal, pregnancy management,
• Confinement & Complications
• Management of recurrent pregnancy loss
• Vaginal birth after previous Caesarean delivery (VBAC), RPL & High Risk
• Caesarean delivery
• Menopause; post-menopausal bleeding
• Vaginal prolapse & Fibroid
• Genital tract infections & CPP
• Abnormal Pap smear; colposcopy
• Pelvic pain & Endometriosis
• Infertility: Diagnosis & assisted treatment
• Family planning, permanent or reversible
• Contraception
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Please Contact: Silk Medical Suites Telephone: 9792-1191 or Fax: 9792-1180
Roshini Balasubramanian was the 117th arangetram graduate of the Bharatalaya Academy of Chandrabanu, and the 4th to do her Odissi Manch Pravesh from the Academy.
Roshini’s repertoire had quite a few dances dedicated to the Goddesses: Saraswati Vandana in Raga Goonkari; a dance dedicated to Devi, based on Adi Shankaracharya’s stotra Mahishasura Mardini; and the final item, Moksha Nata and Sarva Mangala, was a homage to Devi again, taken from the Devi Mahatmyam. Roshini was a confident dancer and her debut recital felt more like a professional concert! Her tribangas – very characteristic of Odissi – were perfect, and so was her footwork and rhythm.
Jayadeva’s Ashtapadi is de rigour in any Odissi performance, and the sensual-erotic Dhira Samire was the one selected for the evening. This was followed by yet another sensual dance on the same theme of Radha and Krishna, but this time it was rendered to a composition by the Oriya poet, Mangala Prasad Pradhan. The Pallavi, the central item in an Odissi dance recital was well presented, and Roshini’s tribangas, choukas and footwork were a delight to watch.
Ambika Docherty and Chandrababu did the Bols and Manjira, and Ambika, as always, did a superb job with the costumes and stage management.
Vocalist Krushna Chandra Roy – a multi-talented artiste, played the harmonium and sang in a melodious voice, with some of the music composed by himself. He is an acclaimed AIR and television artiste and has spent several years researching Odissi music and dance. Roy has performed in the past for the Bharatam Dance Company, and now lives in Melbourne. On the Pakhawaj was Dibakar Parida, on the sitar - Jeeban Prakash Das, Soumya Ranjan Joshi was on the flute and Agnimitra Behara was on the violin.
The third Tamil Mummurthigal Festival was held at the Rowville Secondary College on March 11 and 12, the Labour Day long weekend. The first day began with an aradhana – a congregational rendering of some of the kritis (or compositions) of three great Tamil composers of the Middle Ages who have left their indelible imprint on Carnatic music. This was followed by Bharatanatyam dance presentations by various dance schools in
Melbourne, as well as a kuchipudi recital by Aruna Iyengar of Sydney.
Kashyap Mahesh’s vocal carnatic concert in the evening was a refreshing and lively one as he sang Purvikalyani, Jonpuri and varali; he is a child prodigy who cut a swathe in the music field when quite young, and he is still not fully out of his teens yet!
The day’s grand finale was the much-awaited dance recital by Padmasri Professor C V Chandrasekhar from India. This doyen of Kalakshetra performed at 77, a complete ‘margam’ (traditional repertoire) including a marathon 50 minute varnam –which was a masterpiece. The Anandabhairavi composition, “Enna intha velayil” by the Tanjore Quartet was rendered with all the sancharis, teermanams and the works. The Arunachala Kavi composition “Eppadi thunindado?” – where Sita, in her anguish, asks Rama, who is about to leave for exile in the forest, how he has the heart to leave her behind.
CVC, surely a living treasure of Kalakshetra, rendered it with all the emotion called for in this padam, with the right balance of sadness, indignation and angst: no exaggerated histrionics or wringing of hands. Hopefully Melbourne’s young dancers would have taken something away from this performance. This was followed by another padam in thodi, and a tillana. Ahilan provided excellent support on vocals, and Jaya Chandrasekar on the nattuvangam, Suresh Babu on the violin and Yogan Kandasamy on the mrudangam were at their usual best.
The surprise of the evening was a padam by Smt Shanthy Rajendran, who donned the ‘salangai’ (ankle bells) for the first time in many years, and performed a padam in Bhairavi dedicated to Thyagaraja–as a tribute to the 75th year of the founding of Kalakshetra.
Day two ended in a grand vocal concert by the eminent Carnatic vocalist Nithyashree Mahadevan.
The Omkara Dance Festival on March 25 was a fundraising event on behalf of the Vakrathunda Vinayakar temple in The Basin. Senior students of the Nrithakshetra dance school put on a professional show at the George Wood Performing Arts Centre in Ringwood.
The beautifully choreographed items of the school’s director Smt Shanthy Rajendran were rendered flawlessly by the dancers, and the whole evening was a treat for the eyes. The first half consisted of several Kautuvams, quite fast paced
and energetic items, in praise of various deities. The ‘Hanuman kautuvam’ and the ‘Sarpa kautuvams’ are worthy of special mention for not only were they wonderfully choreographed, they are relatively new items to be performed in Melbourne. The keertana on Shiva was the popular Om Shambho in Revathy, and the hall vibrated with the rhythm and movement of the dancers. This was followed by the popular devotional composition of Rajani, “Kurai Ondrum Illai” –not easily translated into dance, but under their guru’s tutelage, the dancers did a great rendering. The speciality of the show was the live youth orchestra made up of Melbourne’s own budding artistes: Nattuvangam was by some of the post arangetram students of Nrithakshetra, who acquitted themselves very well. Nanthesh Sivaraja on the mrudangam played the percussion like a veteran; Arjunan Puveendran sang competently and Bhairavi Raman on the violin deftly supported the vocalist.
The Laya Vidhya Centre has received assistance from the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, to conduct a series of concerts in Indian classical Carnatic music and dance in 2012.
The Laya Vidhya Centre fosters and promotes Carnatic music in Australia and was founded with a view to imparting the knowledge of Carnatic music – especially percussion and flute, to the younger generation here. Founder and Artistic Director Sridhar Chari is a renowned percussionist, and has become a virtuoso flautist in recent years. The Centre’s vision is twofold, to nurture and help grow this beautiful art form in Australia to help spread this art form in a wider Australian context by trying innovative ways of reaching the mainstream audience.
With this in view, LVC is presenting a 12-concert series for 2012-2013 to be held on the last Friday of every month at 8pm at the Wellington Secondary College, Police Road, Mulgrave. It will feature a mix of youthful and seasoned performers; instrumental and vocal music; musicians from around Australia; lecture-demonstrations by maestros visiting Melbourne (Sri Balamurali Krishna and Dr Umayalpuram K Sivaraman) and two classical dance performances.
The LVC website: www.inconcertmusic.com.au/ layavidhya has further details.
The 2012 Dr Martand Joshi annual lecture was delivered admirably by Hon Phil Honeywood, Executive Director, International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) and former Victorian Minister for Tertiary Education & Training and Multicultural Affairs on 28 March at the Central Queensland University in Melbourne.
Dr Joshi was metaphorically, an institution in the field of academia, winning praise from all quarters over the course of his illustrious career in various subjects such as geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography and petrology. Moreover, he had occupied several illustrious positions such as the Honorary Consul of India, Fellow of the Monash Asia Institute, Honorary Doctor of CQ University and also, International Cultural Adviser for the university’s Melbourne and Sydney campuses. He was also a popular figure amongst students and staff, playing a pivotal role in helping establish a number of cultural and professional organizations in Melbourne.
To commemorate the occasion, Mr Honeywood’s oration revolved around ‘India: Three Waves of Migration to Australia – Lessons Learnt/Pointers to the Future’.
Mr Honeywood began his speech
in a light-hearted vein by sharing his experiences with Holi, the festival of colours in India, which set the trend before he gradually drifted onto the main subject of the evening.
While the ‘first wave’ of Indian migrants encompassed a generation of wealthy Indians who flourished as doctors and educators in Australia in the early 1970s, the ‘second wave’ comprised of a generation far more skilful as technicians, mechanics and IT specialists in the 1980s. Even though this wave of migrants weren’t as affluent as the ‘first wave’ migrants, most of them struck it big and are now leading businessmen in the country.
However, the most complex of all is the ‘third wave’ that emerged in the early 90s since this was the period that witnessed a steep rise in the number of Indian students to Australia. It was during this phase that a major proportion of the student population began to follow up their main programme
of study with diploma courses in hairdressing and catering, and with the sole objective of achieving residence status in Australia. With this practice gaining far greater momentum, the Australian government immediately brought about changes to the skilled visa points system, as a result of which the entire industry was affected. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that today it’s become twice as hard for a student to acquire residency status merely by coming to Australia for educational purposes.
So, where do we go from here? Taking into consideration the extent of bribery and fraud that migration agents in India are famed for in regards to documentation for overseas education, the Australian government has now adopted an approach of regional discrimination with the enrolment of Indian students wherein, they accept students only from certain parts of the nation in order to maintain a higher order of integrity. This regulation could well define how the ‘fourth wave’ shapes out and whether this directive could have a ripple effect in the employment prospects of Indians in Australia in the years to come, only time will tell.
In recognition of being the highest achieving graduate of 2011, Tiju George Thomas from CQ University Brisbane, won the outstanding student award, while Dr David Robinson from the Gold Coast campus won the best staff award for his research contribution to international education.
H AR mo NY DAY m EET
Sunday, April 15, 1 - 3pm at FIAV Hall at 3/85 Foster Street, Dandenong. A special meet for Harmony Day, as well as Swami Vivekanand’s birthday will be celebrated, and announcement for the opening of free Yoga and Information Centre for seniors, etc. will be made. Anand Shome will conduct the meet. The Lord Mayor of Greater Dandenong will preside. Various councillors are also expected to attend.
oD i SS i DANCE REC i TAL
Sunday, April 15, 4pm onwards at Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre, Crn St Georges Road and Bell Street, Preston. Odissi classical dance recital by Anu Vats, the final performance of the Chandrabhanu Bharatalaya Academy’s Odissi Season 2012. For tickets, call Ambika on 0414 6789 23; email vatsbooking@gmail.com or call 0402 344 679
N ACH N ACH KE V ESAKH i
Saturday April 21, 5.30pm for 6pm start at Ashwood Hall, 21 A Electra Dr, Ashwood Melway 61 A11. Celebration of Vesakhi with dinner, music and dancing. Tickets: $20; children under 12: $15. For tickets contact Jaspalvsa@gmail.com Randeep 0411019901 or Sharon 041040024
B A i SAKH i CELEBRAT io NS
Saturday, 28 April, 1:30 to 3pm at Shirdi Sai Sansthan in Camberwell. The festival of Baisakhi will be celebrated with light music, bhangra and garbha, and sharing of general information, etc. For more information, please call (03) 9543 6615.
Joi N THE mAR i BYRN o N g S W i FTS FC Maribyrnong Swifts FC, a women’s soccer club that actively promotes women and girls soccer at all levels is looking for girls (under 18) to form a Junior Girls soccer team for the upcoming season. Those interested, please contact Mag at magdalen.lim@gmail.com or 0405 247 348 for further details.
VSL for months to lay down the foundation for the classes.
A confident Marjory Palmer, Area Manager of VSL said, “Language learning increases our ability to communicate, understand and preserve cultural diversity. VSL has been focussed on providing Australians with opportunities to undertake language and cultural studies, and we are pleased to announce that the first ever VSL-run Tamil classes under the competent care of Sudha and Venkatesh, which will be a resounding success.”
The Victorian School of Languages (VSL), the largest provider of language education in Australia, has for the first time introduced Tamil classes held every Saturday at the
Galvin Park Secondary College in Werribee in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The inspiration behind this project has been Tamilar Inc, a non-profit organisation that prides itself in preserving
India’s traditions and culture. A core group of volunteers, Ganesh Jaygan (President of Tamiliar Inc), Feroze, Radhika, Sudha, Arun, Meena and Venkatesh worked diligently, co-ordinating with
Tutors Sudha and Venkatesh employ the benefits of technology along with worksheets and textbooks to enhance a grasp of the language. Says Sudha, “The course includes a wide range of multimedia content including flash games, audio and video clips. During classes, we focus on improving vocabulary and
conversational skills through songs and drama along with fun and games. Moreover, we upload teaching material and assignments on the educational web portal Koodam, to which both students and parents have access.”
President of Tamiliar Inc. Ganesh says, “Our main priority is to make children speak Tamil first, followed by reading and writing. In addition to the classes, it is equally important for parents to communicate with their children in Tamil at home. We would like to thank Mr. Frank Merlino, Principal of VSL and his staff for their guidance in making this project a possibility. Accolades have poured in from all quarters of the community including the Vice Consul, Mr Rakesh Kawra and Victorian Multicultural Commisioner, Mr Chidambaram Sreenivasan.”
Sujith Krishnan
BY TALiA KAUR
This year’s L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival has been said to be the best yet. It showcased the works of talented Australian designers, two of whom were motivated by the fabrics, textures and colours which make Indian fashion so unique. But if you didn’t manage to grab a seat at the event, don’t despair! Here are the main highlights - straight from the runway.
LinDA JACkSon
Designer Linda Jackson added a distinct and incredibly unique approach to her designs. She ventured beyond the conventional seasonal trends in Australia and definitely pushed the limits of Western fashion this year. Using her artistic skills, Jackson added her own individual taste to each garment. Her designs are playful and bright, and the incredible use of colour and detailed patterns allow each piece to make a statement.
She drew inspiration from India and Africa to create an electrifying mix of cultural fabrics, textures and styles. Her work included pieces of appliqué (sewing fabric on fabric), patchwork, screenprinting, hand-painting and cutwork – all of which were also inspired by traditional Indian and African handcraft techniques and exuded a definite ‘wow’ factor.
MeGAn PAR
Megan Park’s collection this year featured a combination of traditional craft and hand embroidery with today’s most popular shapes and fabrics. Every item - whether a garment or accessory - had been stitched, beaded and embroidered by hand in India by highly skilled artisans. The prints and dyes were also produced using old Indian handcraft techniques which have been passed down through generations. Her designs were feminine and detailed, relaxed and luxurious. Megan created a perfect balance in her collection by pairing colourful handblock patterns and accessories with simple, dark staple pieces such as jackets and stockings. The entire line was beautifully unique, current and timeless. Her inspirations come from around the world, including
street markets in New Delhi and Mumbai. Each garment showed incredible attention to detail, making them outstanding works of art.
combined celebrating the festival of Holi with Harmony Day at the famous Rose Gardens in the distant West Melbourne suburb of Werribee. Sixty-one enthusiastic seniors joined in, and it is worth mentioning that two members were wheelchair-bound, while three others of Indo-Sri Lankan origin were profoundly disabled. The bus picked up members from a centrally located Dandenong railway station and along the way from Clayton which boasts a large Indian population, and also from the Shirdi Sai Temple at Camberwell.
In the Gardens, members sprinkled gulal on each other’s foreheads and painted faces. Free-dancing and sing-songs were performed for long, to emulate the festive atmosphere back home. While a government grant helped the Forum to provide festival sweets, volunteers arranged lunch and sweets, and more sweets, in fact, so many sweets and snacks that they were shared with visitors to the Gardens, some of whom wanted to know the significance of the Indian festival. At the end, each member was motivated to take sweets and nibbles home. The
separate venues. Dandenong meets are held first Monday, and Camberwell fourth Saturday. Refreshments are served. Both events are free and every and anyone is welcome to attend. See What’s On for information on events in April.
Kingston Indian Seniors Association members recently enjoyed a day out at charming Philip Island that offers so much to visitors. Most of fifty enthusiastic members were at the usual Marcus Road meeting place at 8:30 am, the
time stipulated, and greeted each other. A carload of unapologetic, compulsively true Indians at heart though, deemed it proper to delay the rest of us. Finally, the bus started off at close to 10am. President Usha Sharma welcomed members and announced the programme for the day. Members distributed sweets, nibbles and dry fruit, and sang songs.
We were too early at San Remo, located at the Melbourne end of the bridge that connects the Island, to view local fishermen feeding a colony of pelicans every midday; a spectacle that
the palaces of the rich and the filthy rich on the higher ground of the thoroughfare and Port Philip Bay on the lower. We travelled past a motorcycle racing track and various gardens to reach Nobby Beach, which thousands of Fur Seals call home. As the track close to the rocks where one can spot and photographs seals was windy and long, most chose to stay put. Next was the Koala habitat where one comes in close contact with the mammals, and can even touch or pat them. Usha negotiated a
concessional rate for members, although the clerks were not very thrilled to have fifty of us turning up unannounced.
Cowes, the main Philip Island marketplace and beaches, etc., was next on the schedule. We found a shady tree-lined place near the beach as the usually irritable Melbourne-based Sun God was in a good mood, and spread our chairs and sheets. While some tried to test the salty waters of the Bay, most settled down sharing lunch with the others. Those who did not bring along lunch for one reason or another abandoned us to buy food from the market, not realising that we had enough food to go around for all. They also did not return at time stipulated for our departure, so our bus negotiated the not-so-wide Island streets looking for them. Finally, we found them enjoying themselves, and we all moved on to the next venue. Our next stop was the chocolate factory where beach sand, boats and birds are made of chocolate. Chocolate, as we know, has the influence of making one ignore the doctor’s advice and dig in. None of us tested that power!
The return journey was all singsong, to a drum carried by one of us. Barbara Nagaya collected donations as gratitude to our Fiji-Indian driver. A thoroughly enjoyable day out.
KISCA meets from 2:30 to 5 pm every fourth Sunday. For more information, please call President Usha Sharma on 9584 8500.
Holi, the festival of colours made a big splash in Melbourne in March. With three well-attended Holi Melas, there was no shortage
of celebrations back in the motherland.
It was amusing to see special guests getting as colourful as the most enthusiastic participants, as Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Hon. Nicholas Kotsiras, representing the Premier of Victoria; Inga Peulich, Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan; Dr Daniel Andrews, Leader of the Opposition in Victoria; Bruce Atkinson, Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the Eastern Metropolitan Region; and Hon Hong Lim, Member for Clayton join in the fun. Dr S K Behera, Consul General of India for Melbourne also attended the event.
“While a lot of families attend this event, it is really the youngsters that thoroughly enjoy themselves,” Yogen Lakshman, Organiser and Public Officer for
the AIII. “Lots of international students come to the mela to get a taste of Holi back home. For them it is like a youth festival with a touch of tradition,” he added. In the future, the AIII looks forward to supporting the community through various similar initiatives that celebrate India’s great cultural and traditional diversity.
The Holi Mela organized on March 10 by the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria was an unprecedented success with over 5000 people attending the festivities. Held in the grounds of the temple from 10am to 4:30pm, visitors and devotees enjoyed playing Holi and attending the holika bonfire which was lit around mid-day. Fourteen stalls
enjoyed good custom, selling products like satellite TV, while other religious organisations were also represented. A range of enticing North Indian and Gujarati vegetarian food was also available for sale, with an impressive array of sweet and savoury options. Indian Link’s on-site team distributed about 500 free copies and answered various questions regarding the publication.
Attending the Holi Mela was Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Hon. Nicholas Kotsiras, representing the Premier of Victoria; Inga Peulich, Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan; Luke Donnellan, Member for Narre Warren North; Judith Graley, Member for Narre Warren South and Hon Hong Lim, Member for Clayton. Cr Brain Cunial, Mayor of Frankston and
Cr Amanda Stapelton representing the Mayor City of Casey and the Chairman of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (OMAC), Victoria were also among the special guests.
“This year marked the 20th annual Holi Mela, and once again, we are very happy that it has been a grand success,” said Raghu Pendyala Vice President, Hindu Society of Victoria. “It is an event that people look forward to each year, and the celebrations brings alive a touch of our traditional heritage.”
The Shri Shiva Vishnu temple is looking forward to the Grand Opening of its Cultural Centre on May 5, which will be the only one of its kind in Australia. Details can be found on the temple’s website, hsvshivavishnutemple.org.au
On March 11, Bundoora Park exploded into a riot of colour. Held for the first time in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs, about 1200 attendees enjoyed lots of events and after all these strenuous happenings had worn them out, it was time to feast on an enticing array of Indian food to suit all palates. Other stalls included a range of services from banks, insurance companies, and other corporate organisations. Once again Indian Link was among the media stalls present, distributing approximately 500 copies of the publication to attendees.
State Labor MP for Bundoora, Colin Brooks was also present and he had a good reason to be enthusiastic. His fundraising stall raised $400 through the generosity of visitors, including the Consul General of India Dr S K Behera, who also made a contribution. Organiser Gaurav Verma was happy with the turnout saying, “This year we had a bigger and more diverse crowd, and I was very pleased to note that several of the revellers were of nonIndian background.”
It was a heartening sight to watch young children excitedly running around, splashing colour with abandon. Hip-hop, rap and Bollywood performers kept the crowd entertained as well, adding a touch of musical masti to the celebrations.
It was a day of fun for the thousand plus people who attended the Holi Mela, many of whom left reluctantly, but with the promise to return for the next one.
Both India and Pakistan have gained from President Asif Ali Zardari’s talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, the Indian media said recently, with one paper cautioning that the “real test” to normalise ties begins now.
The Indian Express newspaper said the high profile political encounter between the leaders of India and Pakistan went according to the script.
It said the lunch meeting between the two leaders seemed to have set the stage for an early and productive visit by the Indian prime minister to Pakistan.
“The real test for Singh and Zardari, however, begins now. There are enough spoilers on either side to limit the possibilities.
“The army, the militant groups and Zardari’s countless political opponents in Pakistan come readily to mind. The conservative elements in the Congress, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the habitual hawks in Delhi’s bureaucratic establishment have demurred at Singh’s penchant for normalising ties with Pakistan,” the newspaper wrote in an editorial.
The Asian Age said both countries may have gained, even if incrementally, from the visit.
It said Zardari’s lunch with the prime minister “in a conducive atmosphere” in the Indian capital will push the sense along that “the mood is not one of hostility although Islamabad has done little to bring the Mumbai attackers to justice”.
The daily said “Pakistan’s small `peace constituency’ may be bolstered if the Indian leader goes to Pakistan”.
Political analyst Saeed Naqvi said in an article in The Hindu that Zardari’s pilgrimage to Ajmer has symbolic value for Pakistan and beyond.
“The appearance of such a large Pakistani delegation at Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s shrine in Ajmer will strike a chord with an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis who are more comfortable with the soft, humane message of the Sufis compared with vengefulness that Hafiz Saeed represents,” Naqvi wrote.
Newspaper headlines focused on the issues of cross-border terrorism and action against 26/11 mastermind and Jamaat ud Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed being raised by the prime minister.
Peace talks between the two countries were derailed after the Mumbai attacks in 2008.
Newspapers also reported on the meeting between Pakistan Peoples Party chairman and Zardari’s son Bilawal Zardari Bhutto and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi at the lunch hosted by the prime minister.
The newspapers noted that Mehboob Elahi, a former India spy who had once stayed with Zardari in Karachi central jail, had been keen to meet him also, to raise the issue of Indian prisoners of war languishing in jails across the border.
Zardari’s visit to India was the first by a Pakistan president in seven years.
The donation of $1 million offered by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit to the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti will be spent on education, health and other welfare activities
in Ajmer, the shrine authorities said.
“The donation will be put to use for noble causes including education, health, religious functions and financial help for widows among others,” said Wahid Chisti, secretary of the Anjuman Syed Zadgan, a custodian body of the shrine.
He said the body would receive the donation from Zardari through Indian government channels.
Accompanied by his son Bilawal, Zardari offered prayers at the revered shrine recently.
The 21-member body, which holds the purse strings of the shrine, represents the khadims (caretakers) who claim to be relatives of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.
“Anjuman spends a lot of money for the cause of education. The body runs one English medium higher secondary school and a seminary in Ajmer,” said Natiq Chisti, a khadim who helped Zardari and his son in the prayers.
“The media reported that the donation is for the dargah. The donation will be for Anjuman Syed Zadgan,” a khadim said, on the condition of anonymity.
“The Pakistan High Commission said the Pakistan government will offer the money for Anjuman Syed Zadgan,” he clarified.
Anjuman also runs a small hospital in the city.
“Apart from this, we also send money to major shrines across the country and arrange for the langar (community kitchen) at these shrines,” Natiq Chisty revealed.
He said the body also provides scholarship to meritorious students of the khadim community and financial assistance to widows.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) can now invest up to 23 percent in Indian commodity exchanges without government approval, the commerce and industry ministry said recently.
In a consolidated foreign direct investment (FDI) policy document, the government said it had decided to liberalise norms for overseas investments in commodity exchanges.
Till now, overseas investment with a composite FDI and FII cap of 49 percent was allowed in commodity exchanges. Within this overall limit, investment by registered FIIs was limited to 23 percent and investment under the FDI scheme was limited to 26 percent.
For both FDI and FII categories, prior government approval was required.
However, as per the new circular, now the FII investments would not be required to be cleared by the government.
“It has now been decided to liberalise the policy and to mandate the requirement of government approval only for FDI component of the investment. Such investment by FIIs, in commodity exchanges, will, therefore, no longer require government approval,” the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said in the new circular.
India is an example of countries which take an aggressive line vis-a-vis China thanks to encouragement from the West, a Chinese commentary said recently.
“The so-called ‘China Threat’ theory chanted by the West has blinded some neighbouring countries into taking a hardline approach against China,” the commentary in the Global Times newspaper said.
“India is an example of this,” it added.
The commentary quoted the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute as saying that India had become the largest buyer of arms in the region.
This, it said, had triggered “concerns from analysts that it (India) is engaging in an arms race with its northern neighbour (China).
“Now if China’s policymakers were to hire a policy advisor from the West, it would most likely receive the suggestion to counter India’s hostility by encouraging or even supporting Pakistan to harass India, distracting it from focusing its military on China.”
The commentary said the US was no doubt a master of this “art” -- “as it has been turning countries around the world against each other.
“This way, the US has ensured its geopolitical supremacy and benefit from arms sales in the meantime.”
In contrast, it said that China had been working hard to help better the relationship between India and Pakistan, “a move that has even been lambasted by some of its own nationals”.
“As a developing state itself, China understands how important a peaceful external environment means to India and Pakistan, where living standards still require major improvements.
“Hence, rather than aggravate regional tensions, China has been promoting dialogue and cooperation between the two.” China has hailed improving relations between New Delhi and Islamabad following the visit of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to India.
An opinion piece published by Xinhua news agency recently echoed the stand, saying China “is happy to witness continuous improvement of the PakistanIndia ties”.
The Global Times commentary said: “This is no hollow diplomatic gesture. China has been committed to peaceful development, including efforts at fostering peace between long-term rivals...
“The West labels China as a threat because it fears the prospect its dominance on world affairs will be over.
“There is no need for profound historical or political knowledge to know where the threat truly lies.”
Lahore-born Roopa
Farooki has a few novels under her belt: they include Bitter Sweet, which was shortlisted for the Orange Award for New Writers in 2007 and The Way Things Look to Me, published in 2010 and longlisted for the Orange Prize last year. This was followed by Half Life soon afterwards, and her latest offering is The Flying Man Roopa’s mother is Bangladeshi and her father was from Pakistan; she moved to the UK with her parents when she was a child.
The Flying Man is the story of Maqil Karam – a figure based on the author’s own father, we learn – who is born in Lahore and educated in America, who changes his identities like a chameleon. In Cairo he is the earnest Arab ‘Mehmet’; in Paris, he is the playboy MSK. He abandons his families and responsibilities; he is a gambler and a conman who does not care much for others - and little for himself. Farooki does not romanticise or sentimentalise Maqil Karam, and he emerges more contemptible than heroic at the end of the book. But halfway into the novel just as the protagonist begins sounding banal, other characters gradually come into their own and the book begins to re-engage the reader.
Farooki’s many novels could have easily fallen into the genre of ‘chick flick’ were it not for her elegant prose and superior storytelling skills. They are both compelling and set her apart from the throng of South Asian-origin writers now populating the literary field. This is a superior novel by a truly talented writer.
Jeet Thayil’s Narcopolis is yet another novel located in Mumbai; this one however, is not your run-of-the-mill family saga. It is the Mumbai (or Bombay) of opium dens, prostitutes, drug dealers and criminals. Reading it was somewhat akin to watching Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay, only more eerie. We learn, for instance, that Mumbai was built – even before its textile mills and natural harbour – on its opium export to China; that the great Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, after whom the famous hospital and school of art
are named, was a pioneer of the opium trade, as were several other prominent merchants in the city at the time!
India’s opium links with China are old. British traders got China addicted to opium grown in India, and transported it on ships owned by Indian merchants. Who said globalisation is a 21st century phenomenon? Delhi University’s Prof Amar Farooqui showed us in his brilliant essays how Mumbai owed its prosperity to opium; Amitav Ghosh’s Ibis trilogy also traced those links; Kunal Basu showed us in his novel The Opium Clerk, how his protagonist Hiran seized the opportunity provided by opium export under the British Raj, during the time preceding the Opium Wars in China. Basu located his novel in Calcutta. Thayil locates his in Shuklaji Street, Mumbai’s last connection with opium. It is the epicentre of vice and the narrator of the novel, Dom Ullis, arrives in Mumbai to take part in the trade, 150 years after it first started. He frequents Rashid’s opium den, an oldfashioned one where pipewallahs prepare the smoke for its clients.
The story opens in Rashid’s opium house in the 1970s where we meet the owner himself, his regular clients and Dimple the eunuch, who prepares his pipes. Very gently, we move deeper and deeper into their lives as he portrays in vivid details the way pipes are prepared for the opium, the ambience of the opium den, and such like.
We also meet characters like Mr Lee, a former soldier from communist China who has fled that country’s cultural revolution and who gives us as sharp a portrait of it as one will ever read – and how it destroyed his parents and his girlfriend. We move onward with the years: hippies arrive and begin to appreciate the quality of Rashid’s opium; then the coming of the market liberalisation tsunami that strikes after 1991, and the whirlpool of communal riots, murder and mayhem. Thayil disaggregates the complexities, contradictions and hypocrisies of Indian life with his razor sharp but elegant prose: through his characters he portrays the emerging divisiveness of the city; the good Muslim Rashid selling heroin while complaining about brazen women; his son Jamal stares at the scantily clad women while bristling at the
images of Afghanistan and Iraq and gets politicised – he might even consider becoming a suicide bomber when the time is right; the queenly beggar woman who makes the street her living room, and the Hindu praying in church, et al. He squeezes the whole world and its history into these few hundred pages of the novel. Narcopolis is a brilliant debut novel that compares with some of the best. Thayil may have lost almost 20 years of his life to addiction (as he has been quoted) but if this novel is any indication, that experience did not go to waste and we are fortunate that he came out of it and lived to write this book. He is a talented poet and librettist, and also a man of courage: he was one of the four authors who read from Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses at the Jaipur Festival in January this year, and who may now face charges for reading from a banned book.
Farooki’s many novels could have easily fallen into the genre of ‘chick flick’ were it not for her elegant prose and superior storytelling skills.
Thayil may have lost almost 20 years of his life to addiction but if this novel is any indication, that experience did not go to waste and we are fortunate that he came out of it and lived to write this book.
(Don’t risk it till the very end, clear your iEltS within one month).
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So which country produces the best hikers?” I asked.
“Slovenia!” replied Ryan our guide, as he nonchalantly spun his index finger around his belly button to dislodge a tiger leech embedded there. I was in the Danum Valley Conservation Area in Borneo, dressed from top to toe in leech-proof hiking gear, in one of the world’s most remote rainforests and best places for viewing wildlife.
Borneo, the third largest island in the world is shared by three countries: Indonesia, Brunei and the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. While much of it has been tamed by logging and palm oil plantations, Borneo remains one of the most dramatic and exciting destinations, an island of dense prime growth rainforest, indigenous tribes, abundant birdlife and mammals including pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, gibbons, orang-utans and proboscis monkeys.
I had persuaded my 17-year-old daughter Nicky to join me on a journey to search for orang-utans that began in Kota Kinabalu. At the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort, three well-cared-for baby orangutans would swing down from the jungle canopy of the resort’s expansive nature reserve for their daily feed. In collaboration with the State Wildlife Department, the resort facilitates rehabilitation programmes for endangered species.
A six-hour bus ride took us past the majestic Mt Kinabalu before arriving in Sandakan, a bustling, vibrant city where we stocked up on leech socks. The next morning we visited the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, a 4,500 hectare reserve for rescued orang-utans. The orang-utan gets its name from the Malay words for ‘‘man’’ (orang) and ‘‘jungle’’ (utan). Found only on Borneo and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, orphaned orang-utans rescued from illegal hunting or found at logging sites are taught survival skills and eventually returned to a protected rainforest habitat.
We met our guide Mirawan and
travelled by speedboat from Sandakan to Sukau upstream along the mangrove-lined Kinabatangan River, Sabah’s longest at 560 kms. Along lowland rainforest we sped, pausing to view sunning crocodiles, proboscis and macaque monkeys, egrets and hornbills, hawks and eagles, the area being renowned as having the largest concentration of wildlife in Malaysia.
“Welcome to Sukau Rainforest Lodge!” was not what I was expecting, spoken with an unmistakable Aussie twang. Our amiable manager and head chef was Brett from Gosford, who had arrived on holiday 3 years ago and stayed. With no time to unpack, we enjoyed afternoon tea with hot banana fritters before joining Mirawan for a late afternoon cruise in a small wooden boat to view more wildlife. There were many proboscis monkeys, distinguished by their long droopy noses and white tails scampering along branches in the treetops, a female orang-utan with her baby, many mischievous macaques and then the most amazing sight of all – perhaps 30 or more pygmy elephants grazing along the river’s edge, only a metre or so away from us. The pygmy elephant is small, with large ears and straight tusks, and is genetically distinct from other Asian elephants. “You are so lucky, the elephants don’t always come,” said Mirawan. Hornbills and egrets flew across the sky in front of us, the light fading under the thick forest cover.
After a splendid dinner overlooking the river, we retired with Brett suggesting that a visit by the elephants during the night was possible. “They like to look through the windows, perhaps they are just curious!” he said.
“Don’t look up and talk,’’ said Mirawan the next morning, as we entered the Gomantong Caves, the largest in Sabah. The ground was covered with a thick carpet of spongy, smelly, moist droppings left by the estimated 100,000 bats and swiftlets that live here. Flying rapidly in and out of the cave’s entrance were the tiny swiftlets whose nests bring high prices for bird’s nest soup.
“Do you want to walk across
Being in the midst of an amazing variety of flora and fauna is an intrinsically unique experience
or on the boardwalk?” asked Mirawan and I pointed my flashlight at a surface which appeared to be a mass of moving cockroaches. “Look at this,” said Mirawan, and with that he spat. Thousands of creepy crawlies converged on the spot. They were everywhere, as where the centipedes. I felt goosebumps and was relieved to leave. Driving past Palm Oil Plantations, we arrived at Lahad Datu, our driver depositing us at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge office for our three-hour journey through the rainforest by 4WD.
Spanning 438 square kilometres of primary lowland dipterocarp rainforest, the Danum Valley Conservation Area is recognised as one of the world’s most complex ecosystems and sanctuary to rare and endangered flora and fauna. Far removed from human habitation it is renowned for its rich variety of plants and wildlife, with over 275 species of birds and 110 mammals including the rare Sumatran rhinoceros, pygmy elephants, clouded leopards and orang-utans.
Ryan met us on arrival and invited us to join him on a walk through the rainforest. It was damp and cool, and for the next two days he guided us on walks to waterfalls for refreshing
swims, to viewing platforms, tree top canopies and along high escarpments for amazing views of the river and rainforest below. Ryan had studied Mechanical Engineering, but after graduating he found that he missed the rainforest, where his father had often taken him as a young boy. Clearly he loved being here and was keen to share his considerable knowledge. We saw many species of orchids, pitcher plants, ferns, begonias and plants used by indigenous tribes people for medicinal uses. We saw flying lemurs, gibbons, proboscis monkeys and orang-utans including Abu, a large male who lives near the lodge high up in the tree canopy.
Ryan talked optimistically of the survival of Borneo’s endangered species. The Sabah Wildlife Department in collaboration with industry groups are looking at the further creation of wildlife corridors, better enforcement against poaching and the conservation of forests.
Seeing orang-utans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants up close in their native habitat was one of the most amazing travel experiences I’ve ever had. And as two adventurous travellers had said to me several months earlier, “You really should go there sometime.” I’m glad I took their advice.
From Singapore, Kota Kinabalu is a short flight away (Silk Air or Air Asia). From Kuala Lumpur, you can fly to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan or Tawau (Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia). There are flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau or travel by express bus. Sida or Tung Ma are preferable, Dyana has regular services to Lahad Datu.
Just north of Kota Kinabalu, the Shangri La’s Rasa Ria Resort, provides a cocooned stay in paradise with impressive service and attention to detail. The deluxe wing is worth the splurge. The hotel offers a comprehensive program of activities with an environmental focus that includes meeting orang-utans undergoing rehabilitation. Phone: +60 88 792 888. Email: rrr@shangri-la.com
Website: www.shangri-la.com
The Swiss Inn Waterfront Hotel in Sandakan is centrally located with comfortable rooms. www. swissgarden.com
The 20-room multi-award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge, managed by Borneo Eco Tours, is built from hardwood on stilts in a traditional architectural style with a spacious open lobby and restaurant overlooking the river. Their use of green technology including solar panels and electric powered boats is commendable. Borneo Eco Tours offer ecologically sustainable tours and is highly recommended. Phone: +60 88 438 300
Email: info@borneoecotours.com Website: www.borneoecotours.com
Borneo Rainforest Lodge provides a unique rainforest experience. The all inclusive tariff includes guided walks, bird watching, and night safaris in an open jeep. The nature guides, chalet accommodation and food are all outstanding. Given its remote location, the Manager, Edmundo Cafe Jr, has performed miracles.
Email: info@borneorainforestlodge.com Website: www.borneorainforestlodge.com
INFO r MATION
The helpful staff at Sabah Tourism provided detailed responses to all my email inquiries: www.sabahtourism.com
Found only on Borneo and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, orphaned orang-utans rescued from illegal hunting or found at logging sites are taught survival skills and eventually returned to a protected rainforest habitat.
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Amonth has passed since Holi, the festival of colours which exploded across northern India. Being in Chennai, I missed the best of it; apart from a couple of colour fights in the old market town of Sowcarpet, it was business as usual in the Tamil capital. I did, however, make it to Nashik, Maharashtra, in time for Rang Panchami – a sort of “Holi strikes back” festival five days later! As bhanged-out revellers filled the streets, it got me thinking about the realities of spirituality in modern India.
On one hand, India is a conservative society. In some respects, it is very conservative. In other ways it is more liberal than many western nations. Such pluralism goes to the heart of Hinduism, the subcontinent’s original native religion. Confounding as it is to many westerners, it is carried off effortlessly by India and her people who see no conflict in blending traditions, realities and modernity.
Of course, that is, except for the ones who do. “Hinduism is a religion of understanding, of tolerance,” I have been told many times. “We accept people of every race and religion.” However, many of the people who have told me that they would drink a cup of village tap water before allowing their daughter to marry a Muslim! So is Hinduism tolerant and understanding? Yes – in fact, it is even tolerant and understanding enough (although perhaps not approving of) people like the aforementioned parents. It is written in the Gita that Lord Krishna receives all forms of prayer and worship, even from those who don’t recognize his avatar. Vedas also espouse the notion that actions in everyday life are a form of worship in themselves. This point was hammered home when I visited the shrine of Sai Baba in Shirdi, devoted to a man who prayed alternately in a mandir and a mosque.
The push by some groups to transform Hinduism into a militant monolithic faith is therefore quite misguided and
concerning. Let’s not forget that the practice of the faiths present in India are highly influenced by Hindu teaching. After my visit to Nashik, I spent a day in Mumbai during which I visited Haji Ali’s shrine. Among many Muslims worldwide, prayer at a shrine would be considered blasphemous, lest the corpse be viewed as a deity. However, historical evidence documents the development of Muslim practice in the subcontinent and the building of shrines, similar to Hindu tradition. Both Sai Baba’s shrine and Haji Ali Dargah were full of devotees of all faiths.
Arguably, neither Sikhism nor Buddhism would exist without the premise of Hinduism. Even the Christians at Saint Thomas’ Basilica in Chennai take their shoes off before entering the building – I haven’t seen that in a church anywhere else!
Perhaps Hinduism’s (not Hindus’) tolerance and understanding is to India’s detriment. Would India have been so easily colonized throughout its history if its people weren’t so disparate, especially with regard to their faith? We’ll never know the answer to that question, but it’s unlikely to happen again any time soon, thanks to the current climate of nationalism. On the contrary, is India embarking on a cultural colonization of the west?
Swami Vivekananda once stood at Kanyakumari, at the end of India, and pledged to spread the word of Hinduism beyond the
subcontinent’s shores. Does yoga, the saviour of so many stressed westerners, not have its roots in Hinduism? Across the world, chakras are being stimulated by the practice of ayurveda, currently ‘en vogue’. Even Oprah Winfrey endorses Deepak Chopra, so he must be on to something!
Modern India encompasses the spiritual and the material, and indescribably melds them together into a heady cocktail which is consumed by both westerners and Indians alike. Religious men still attend the temple each morning to perform their hand. IT professionals continue on their way to work, plugged into their iPods. Often, they are the same person, and the iPod is just as likely playing the latest hit as religious teachings. This straddling of the modern and the ancient is seen publicly too – in February, NDTV announced that they would air Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s teachings on a podcast!
Back in Chennai, I flicked on the TV and caught sight of Akshay Kumar (a Hindu) and Salman Khan (a Muslim) thrusting together to a song called swear by Allah). My head started to hurt. Following this was a Hindu priest performing satirical gay marriage rites in a video clip from the movie to change channels before my head exploded. Over on Colours was Swami Agnivesh, teaching contestants of the Indian version of Big Brother of being altruistic. Boom!
It is written in the Gita that Lord krishna receives all forms of prayer and worship, even from those who don’t recognize his avatar.
Hinduism’s edict of tolerance and understanding is sometimes unwittingly practiced by Indians of all faithsHaji Ali Dargah Rang Panchami on the streets of Nashik St Thomas Basilica, Chennai Message of tolerance: Sai Baba of Shirdi
BY ELIZABETH GAETE
When it comes to food at Easter time, most of us are very familiar with the big role that chocolate plays over this holiday period. Easter egg hunts in the backyard for the kids are a regular occurrence. But why let the children have all the fun?
Many of us will have a social gathering with friends and family over this holiday period and what better way to indulge the adults with a decadent chocolate Easter cake. It will not just serve as the crowning glory of your Easter feast, but will satisfy the cravings of even the most fervent chocolate fanatic!
Sift together the self raising and plain flours, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl place eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla, and whisk together until well combined.
chocolate, 125g milk chocolate)
If you want to impress your guests while entertaining over Easter, make your own edible Easter eggs. They make a great table display and add a savoury touch to your meal.
Hard boiled eggs
Food colouring
¼ cup vinegar
Water
Small bowls
Fill each bowl with water and ¼ cup of vinegar. Add different food colours to each bowl – the more
you add the more intense the colour.
Dip each egg, into the bowl, removing with a spoon when they reach the desired colour.
Leave the eggs to dry on paper towels.
Tip: You can place round or star stickers or tape around the egg before placing into the bowl of food colour, to create lovely patterns on your eggs. Allow to dry thoroughly before gently removing the stickers.
100g self raising flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate ganache
150g milk chocolate
150g thickened cream
150g milk chocolate
For the mud cake
Preheat the oven to 150 degrees for a fan forced or 160 degrees Celsius for a normal oven.
Grease an 8in/23cm round cake tin. Line the tin with baking paper, extending the paper a few centimetres above the tin.
Put chocolate, butter, coffee, water and caster sugar in a medium sized saucepan, over low heat. Stir occasionally, until the chocolate and butter have melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Then add the chocolate mixture to the flour and egg mixture. Do this in two batches, stir after each addition until well combined. Use a whisk to stir the mixture instead of a wooden spoon.
Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin, through a sieve. This will give you a lump free cake mixture and the results will come through with a lovely textured cake.
Bake the cake for 1 hour and 30-45 minutes. Insert a cake skewer or a knife through the cake and if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked.
Remove the cake from the oven and place a sheet of baking paper on top of the cake. Then wrap the cake, still left in its tin, in an old towel. Leave overnight or for a couple of hours until completely cooled. Once the cake has cooled remove it from the tin. The cake will be unlikely to be level, so cut it straight across the top, and place the levelled cake on serving dish upside down. The bottom of the cake will be level and will create that straight finish.
While the cake is cooling make the Easter nest.
Melt the chocolate in a small
saucepan over low heat. Once the chocolate has melted remove saucepan off the heat and stir through the fried noodles. Do this gently so that the noodles don’t break and hold their shape. Spoon the mixture onto a baking tray, lined with baking paper. Shape the noodles into a nest. Use your fingers to form the mould of a nest shape. Make an indentation in the centre, so that it can hold the Easter eggs. Place the tray in the fridge to set.
Put the chocolate and cream in a medium saucepan on a low heat, stirring continuously. Remove from the heat once the mixture is smooth and the chocolate has melted. It is important not to heat the mixture any further as the chocolate can burn. Allow to cool slightly.
Pour the ganache over the cooled cake and spread with a palate knife evenly over the top and sides of the cake.
Take the Easter nest out of the fridge and carefully run a knife under the nest to lift it off the baking paper. Place it on the centre of the cake, while the ganache is still runny.
Put the cake back into the fridge. This will set the ganache and allow the nest to stick to the top of the cake.
Take the cake out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature before serving. Place an assortment of solid and ‘birds eggs’ Easter eggs into the nest. Jelly beans can also be used to add a splash of colour.
This month you will be displaying your leadership qualities: you are going to have enthusiasm and drive, and will to do just about anything that needs to be done. New projects and plans are on the cards. You will find a lot of new things that interest you. Make sure you look good, as there is also a new love interest around. Keep a check on your diet as the cards indicate it is time for a few stomach issues.
This month the cards show that your love life seems to be taking on a new intensity. But hang on, this may not necessarily be with a present partner. Your work is also going through some changes, as there are new department reshuffles and moving of staff that may effect you. If you are looking for work, you may decide to do something completely different. It is time to start a new chapter. However, keep the exercising going.
GEmINI
This is a month for great thoughts and new plans in your life, according to Tarot. You seem to have come to a crossroads, and seem to be quite unsure of which direction to travel. The cards indicate that there could be a possible change of residence or even country. Love is not giving you the rewards you require, and you are feeling quite upset with your current situation. Legs and feet will need special care this month.
This month you are really working hard and require the rewards and recognition you feel you deserve. The cards indicate a time of great humbleness that exists around you right now. Your love life seems to be on a balanced note, but there are also those of you who are bored in a certain situation. Financial pressures could begin to get on top of you, but there will be some great news before the end of this month. Keep meditating.
This month sees a great deal of difference in your attitude and outlook to life. The cards indicate a time of great power and energy around you. There will be a few different interests where your love life is concerned, so if you are married, watch out! Spend your money wisely, because you may be tempted to spend on things you do not need. The health of a younger member of the family may concern you during this time.
This month you may feel the need to reinvent yourself. The cards indicate that you may be looking at moving forwards in a new direction. Be careful with tax and money matters too. Make sure you have enough time to spend with your family and loved ones, as you tend to get carried away with yourself and work, and there is no stopping you when this happens. There is also a new health regime on the cards for you.
The cards indicate a time for bringing peace into your life. In this month the way you communicate with those around you will be very important, as you seem to have upset a few members of the family with your direct speech. There will be some news regarding a property or business, and you are advised to seek assistance and information before going into any new deals. There is a strong indication of a health check up that is needed.
This month you will be looking at a new love in your life, and the need to seal up your relationship. You may have some personal or family issues to deal with, and you must not avoid anything that needs your attention at this time. There is a good chance of making more money at work or indeed, even a promotion. Take time out to relax and unwind, as lately you have been working long hours.
This month you need to really watch what you say as you can be a little harsh and outspoken at times. You also need to be careful that you do not rub people up the wrong way at work, as there have been some unfortunate clashes. There will be news of a change of residence or office. Love is under pressure, as you are not happy, but you are keeping things within control, which is not a good sign.
This month you could be concerned about your parents. The cards indicate that you may spend time communicating with them. There seems to be some concern around their health. This is a great year for marriage, love and commitment. Responsibility is not something you are good at, but you will learn to find a happy balance. Your work is not giving you the rewards you desire, and you are being urged to find another career.
This month the cards indicate that you are entering a time of love, peace and harmony. This is what you have been striving for since some time now. Your work is causing pressure around you, and your partner is not happy that you seem to be putting all your time only into work. News of a new baby is around you. Take time out to pamper your partner and show them how much you love them.
This month you will be looking closely at your financial situation and making changes around your life. Work is going well and you will feel stable in what you are doing, although the cards indicate that it is best to keep an eye open for other opportunities that may come your way. Love is going well with the possibility of deeper commitment in your relationship. Watching closely your stress levels this month will be beneficial.
ABHILASHA S e NGUPTA brings us up-to-date on what’s hot and happening in Bollywood
He’s proved to be more than just a hunk, winning accolades for a range of roles in different avatars, and John Abraham’s making sure he maintains the reputation of being a dedicated and professional actor. John will soon be seen in director Aditya Bhattacharya’s new film Kala Ghoda, also featuring Kunaal roy Kapoor of Delhi Belly fame.
Kala Ghoda, set in Mumbai’s underbelly, will be shot in real time on actual locations and promises some real action. A story of two cops, one hardnosed no-nonsense and volatile played by John and the other a goofy ineffectual bumbling cop, played by Kunaal roy Kapoor, the duo come together under trying circumstances for a night of relentless action in Mumbai. Director Aditya, who is Bimal roy’s grandson and director Basu Bhattacharya’s son, admits that he was reluctant to get into the project which involves situations that come straight out of the record books of real-life police stations. However, it was John’s exuberance and energy level that convinced him to go ahead, and Aditya was impressed at the level of homework and dedication the hot actor put into his role. John will also produce the film, which he sees as a low-budget, gritty, independent film, meant for a specific target audience. It’s a far call from his promotional video titled Rum Whisky for his first production venture Vicky Donor Tongue-in-cheek, John describes himself as an “item producer”.
“I did the song for fun. In this song I am not only the item boy, but I am the producer also. I am the item producer,” said the 39-year-old.
Vicky Donor stars veejay-turned-actor Ayushman Khuran and TV actress Yami Gautam in the lead roles. John says he chose to stay out of the cast of the film
There’s good news for fans of the delectable Katrina Kaif. Beverage brand Slice is bringing out a limited range of collectable bottles inspired by the actress who also endorses the brand. Fans can get a chance to win the bottles which are available in four designs. Interestingly,
the TVc actually shows Kat inside a bottle, but fans entering the competition mustn’t expect to find her inside one. reassuringly, she’ll be depicted on the label instead.
So gear up, copy- Kats, for your chance to win a special Kat!
He’s working hard at his career, but this actor seems to be better known for his connections with Soha Ali Khan
about sperm donors because he wanted to test himself as a producer.
“I am taking this role very seriously because actors usually star in their own films and then they produce it. It is my first film and I am not starring in it. I have cast newcomers because I wanted to see how effective I am as a producer,” said John. Well, good luck John, I’m sure you’ll be as dedicated in your ‘producer’ role!
Lamaze classes are soon going to be the hottest thing in pregnancy circles as actress Shilpa Shetty tries this technique to help her have an easy birth. The actress seems to be thoroughly enjoying every phase of being pregnant and loves being pampered by all, including superrich hubby raj Kundra. calling this the “most beautiful phase” of her life, Shilpa is enjoying being spoiled.
“The best part of pregnancy is that everyone is so nice to you. So much love and pampering all around. Bad part, everyone feeds you so much, phew,” she tweeted.
The worst part will be getting rid of all those surplus kilos once the baby’s born, Shilpa. Take it from one who knows….
Two decades after the legendary Satyajit ray’s death, his son says the skill of being a “ruthless director” that he has inherited from his father is a prime reason for his success as a filmmaker.
“I have learnt several things from my father and the crew members of his team, which have helped me. But one thing which has helped me is that he used to say that a director has to be ruthless and he should never have any fancy for any scene or shot which was done meticulously,” said Sandip ray in an interview.
“He used to say that a director has to be flexible and should make fatless movies. I still remember his words that a director cannot bore the audience,” he added.
According to Sandip, Satyajit ray’s ability to buck the trend, coupled with a strong subject matter and simple storytelling helped him to churn out classics which are considered benchmarks for world class movies.
Satyajit ray, India’s first and only Oscarwinning director, with his timeless classic like the Apu Triology, Jalsaghar, Sonar Kella, Charulata, and Shatranj Ke Khiladi captured the attention of movie buffs both nationally and internationally. Born in May 1921, he passed away in April 1992.
Baptised in the art of film making as assistant director to his father, Sandip
made his debut film Fatikchand in 1983. As ray became ill after a heart attack, Sandip became the director of photography in the master’s last three films - Ganashatru, Shakha Proshakha and Agantuk
Sandip agrees that his father’s status of a legendary director made things difficult for him initially. “Yes, it is true that initially it used to disturb me a bit, I used to be extra cautious. There is an extra pressure when you are son of such a great filmmaker. But later on I stopped thinking about it and, yes, I do feel happy that I have been able to create a place for myself”.
With movies like Nishijapon and Uttoran, Sandip has been able to create a genre of his own. He cemented his presence in the industry with blockbuster hits like Bombaiyer Bombete and Baksho Rahashya based on ray’s immortal detective series Feluda
Armed with his father’s teachings and having made movies like Royal Bengal Rohosso, Gorosthaney Sabdhan, Tintorettor Jishu and Hitlist, Sandip has evolved as a leading filmmaker of India.
He is now planning a movie on scientist professor Shanku, another immortal literary character of ray, and a film by compiling horror stories.
Sandip, however, still bears the pain of his father receiving the prestigious Oscar award for lifetime achievement at a very late stage of his life.
“I personally feel that he received the Oscar at a very late age. He could have got an Oscar much earlier. He wanted very badly to collect the Oscar himself, but he couldn’t due to his illness,” he said. ray received Oscar for his lifetime achievement just days before his death.
Kudos to Sandip for keeping alive and carrying on his father’s immortal legacy in cinema.
She may be the younger sister, but Parineeti chopra’s unlikely to bask in the shade of big sis Priyanka’s shadow. The young actress recently bagged 10 best debutante actress awards for her role in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, and she’s now aiming at winning an IIFA award too.
The 13th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards celebration has started with the film fraternity voting for the winners, and naturally, the 23-year-old is very excited, promising to throw a huge party to celebrate if she wins. Parineeti is also pleased when people identify her by her character’s name, Dimple, a Delhi girl in
“Today less people know me as Parineeti and more call me Dimple, which I think is a good thing. When you remember the name of the character and don’t remember the real name of the actor, it is a good thing. You don’t say Shah raj-Simran. So I am very happy,” said the enthusiastic actress.
Parineeti’s next film is Yash Ishaqzaade with Boney Kapoor’s son Arjun. Looks like another sister duo is ready to rock Bollywood!
In no surprise, Imran Khan was named the worst actor and Deepika Padukone the worst actress at the fourth annual Golden Kela Awards, a spin-off of Hollywood’s razzie awards, which recognises the worst in cinema. While Imran won the award for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Deepika was given the award for her performance in Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan
Shah rukh Khan’s sci-fi film RA.One did well, carrying away with two trophies for worst film and worst director for Anubhav Sinha.
The award for the most atrocious lyrics went to Amitabh Bhattacharyya for Pyar do pyar lo (Thank You), Jigar ka tukda (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl), and Mutton (Luv Ka The End).
Bodyguard was named most
Prateik was given the Kela for worst supporting actor award for Dum Maaro Aarakshan
Filmmaker Kanti Shah received a special Platinum Kela award for excellence in cinema, which quite delighted her. “I’m feeling good at being invited at the event. It’s special because it’s been organised by true fans of my style of movie-making. This definitely is special because it’s solely driven by fans of my movies,” said Shah, on receiving the award.
Actor Pankaj Kapoor’s maiden directorial venture Mausam got the Bawra Ho Gaya Ke award, while chirag Paswan won the worst debutante for , and Esha Deol won the award for the worst attempt at a comeback for Tell Me O
The Lajja award for worst treatment of a serious issue
Aarakshan, and Pritam was awarded the Bas Kijiye award. However, there was a special ‘Anti-Kela’ awards for the films that were the saving
The recipients were Yeh Saali Zindagi, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, Shor in the City.
“I think Sudhir should be the one accepting this. I’m quite honoured and amused to accept this award. It is good to see this movie getting some recognition. And you guys obviously have a great choice,” said an ecstatic Arunoday Singh, on receiving Yeh Saali Zindagi. Imran and Deepika were not available for
Director Sajid Khan is brimming with confidence about the soon-to-beclaiming that it will be a blockbuster hit with the
“I can say it with a lot of confidence is a blockbuster. I am not saying this because this is my film, but because I have made this film according to the audience. Every film I make, I make it as an audience,” said the 40-year-old recently, adding that it’s the family audiences that make a film a hit. The cast of the film is known as ‘dirty dozen’ and
What’s the chitchat between Saif and Kareena here?
Kareena: I will do the talking, jaan, cannot afford to have you behind bars.
Saif: Sona, aajse sirf ‘pyar ki pungi’ bajaunga, esp around businessmen in restaurants.
Jaya DiduguJaya wins a Hoyts ticket to a movie of her choice
Another good one
Kareena: Buy me a gift now that you’re Nawaab of Pataudi, or I’ll buy that $2million dollar necklace.
Saif: No, not that, I’ll go bankrupt!
Shubham Bhatiait comprises of Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, riteish Deshmukh, Shreyas Talpade, Shazahn Padamsee, Jacqueline Fernandez, Asin Thottumkal, Zarine Khan, Boman Irani, Mithun chakraborty, Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor. Now with a cast like that, it’s likely that Housefull 2 will run to housefulls!
FILm: Agent Vinod
sTARRING: Saif Ali khan, kareena kapoor
DIREcTED BY: Sriram Raghavan
It’s a small world indeed. Even though a film purporting to be as epic in proportion as Agent Vinod travels all across the world to capture some of the most never-seen spots in the world, the plot - an intelligent clever, urbane and wry melange of Bourne, Bond, Farz and Mission Impossible, finally finds its most assured resting-place in apana jahaan Delhi.
The last half hour where an international terrorist outfit attempts to blow up Delhi, gets the grammar of an espionage thriller so riveting and so right, you wonder what took director Sriram Raghavan so long to get there.
Agent Vinod is the kind of meticulously crafted spy drama where cerebral considerations mesh into more earthy demands of commercial Hindi cinema, like item songs in smoky bars, shootouts in dust toasted-brown locations that are as treacherous as they are daunting and, wonder of wonders, a clumsilychoreographed mujra which doesn’t quite fit into the smooth storytelling.
From its opening in a Taliban-
infested area, there is no dearth of intrigue in Agent Vinod. Agents, counter-agents, moles and molls, open-air flea markets and shopping malls jostle for attention in a script that appears to know its John le carrre as well as its Nick Carter.
Raghavan spins a delicious yarn of guns and growls, but blessedly no gadgets. The action is crackling. The soundtrack is a chirpy mix of cheesy retro (rD and Asha Bhosle Meri jaan tune kaha from the film The Train pops up unannounced) and contemporary techno sounds. The plot, perched precariously on the brink of self-indulgence, never spins out of control.
clearly Sriram and Saif adore the spy genre. We can see the fun they’ve had in doing this film. But beneath the boys-having-fun mood is an undertone of reverence for all the espionage films from our own Agent Vinod in 1977 to Hollywood’s Mission Impossible series.
Holding the restless plot in place is Saif’s clenched and controlled performance. He desists from playing the spy
to the galleries. He is urbane cool, yes. But he doesn’t enjoy shooting the enemies for his country and really, patriotic jingoism is left far behind in the race to save civilisation from a nuclear catastrophe. There’s a job to be done. And no room for fornication and fun.
Agent Vinod must be the only spy film from India where the Indian flag is not saluted or even mentioned in passing in hushed or shrill tones. This guy with a funny name would rather just get going with the job.
Saif’s performance is unfussy, no-nonsense and largely humourless. The end-title when he attempts to do a funny song seem so out of character, you wonder why the spy is trying so hard to be comical when we like him martini-dry .
Ambling from one exotic location to another with the irradiant Kareena Kapoor in tow, Saif is a portrait of restrained heroism. He gets much-needed support from a cast of actors who seem to have been chosen without a second option. Every player knows his job and does it without looking distracted or
self-important.
Raghavan’s direction is deepfocussed on the inner world of people who live on the edge. There is no room for romance or emotions. In the only meaty sequence that she has, Kareena moves us to tears when she tells Saif she wants a normal girl’s life.
Significantly Saif eats as she weeps.
No, he isn’t rude. Just honest. Life doesn’t just go on. It goes on uncaring about those moments of tearful stock-taking which moviegoers would like to think of as the essence of life.
For all its sharply-defined interludes of counterintelligence manoeuvres, Agent Vinod tends to get longwinded, though miraculously the narrative never gets out of breath. On the contrary it takes our breath away towards the end in a climactic bombdefusion end-game that is reminiscent of Mani Shankar’s 16 December.
The globally-shot material is edited by Pooja Ladha Surti with more room for the narrative to sprawl and recline than necessary. really, how much of
the disconnected derring-do can we take before we throw our hands up in unresisting surrender?
The action sequences by Peter Heins and Parvez are sometimes heart-in-the-mouth. Other times they seem to have been put together on the editing table.
Life’s like that. You are either swept away in circumstances beyond your control. Or you create situations that you choose to be swept away in.
Agent Vinod is not quite the overwhelming experience that you would want a global espionage thriller to be. More thoughtful than thundering, more la carre and less Bond, it nonetheless take the spy genre in Hindi to a new level of finesse. Finally, the cool quotient in Raghavan’s chic spin on the espionage thriller is so high that you forget Bond and all his bloody brothers.
Saif imparts a dry devilish dispassion to his spy’s part. He doesn’t get time to tell Kareena how much he loves her.
That’s for the best. We already know that.
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An acquaintance called me up recently. The controlled excitement in her voice made me abort my hastily-planned excuses to cut short her call. Her breathy, barely suppressed impatience at our mandatory small talk was a clear indication that she had some red-hot gossip to impart.
After a couple of minutes of polite dithering, she got down to it.
“I think M is in for a big shock!” she said dramatically.
The M in question is a mutual friend and actually, a sweet person with a wicked sense of humour.
“Really? Why?” I couldn’t resist asking.
“Her husband’s having an affair!”
“WHAT?” My yell must have blown off a good bit of her left eardrum but she didn’t seem to mind, as my reaction amply satisfied her desire to make an effect.
Now I knew the husband in question having met him a few times, and he seemed like a good husband and dedicated father of their two energetic kids. I knew he had a good job in the IT industry (where else), travelled moderately and liked lamb kebabs with his beer.
The lady on the phone was just about getting into her stride. “M spoke to me, you know, the other day, you know. She told me that she doesn’t know what’s wrong with him, he hardly ever speaks to her these days, you know. He doesn’t even seem to know what he’s eating, and he seems to be drinking even more, specially on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sunday nights, you know! He starts from noon,” she added in hushed tones which implied that this was the greatest of all his misdemeanours.
Resisting the temptation to tell her that “I knew”, I said, “But that’s no indication that he’s having an affair, men do that all the time.”
“Not my husband, you know he is devoted to me,” she said convincingly, which left me speechless for a minute. Were we talking about the same person who had, at a large social gathering, fallen into deep slumber with gentle snores as his wife recounted the fascinating details of her latest knee operation?
“M’s husband is also on his iPhone all the time,” she said. “He never puts it down these days. If she asks he gets irritable, he says why are you asking me so many questions? Suddenly sometimes he looks at his phone, even late in the night and either begins giggling to himself or swearing softly, you know. This is not normal, you know, not normal at all, for a man.”
“Oh!” I said somewhat lamely because I am not an expert at what’s abnormal for a man. Mostly they all seem fairly normal to me. Except the ones who fall asleep while
their wives are talking….
“I told her,” she continued, progressing to the next phase, from delighted expressions of shock and disbelief to alleged good advice. “I told her to be careful. I had recently read an article in some magazine in which all these symptoms were clearly mentioned, you know. (I knew, I had read that damn article!) First they are preoccupied, then they act mysterious, then they are always sneaking off to check their phone, they have secret messages which they share, they get moody, you know. I told her all the symptoms were that of a man having an affair!”
“Oh, so she didn’t tell you he was having an affair, this is what you worked out,” I said, finally seeing the sun.
“Of course, you know, what else could it be?” she said indignantly. “I told her, you know, work out your future right now. Think about your children and your finances. Find a good divorce lawyer on the internet, or I could give her my brother-inlaw’s cousin’s contact, he is a good divorce lawyer, you know! He will not charge much because we know him. Make your husband pay, I told her, he has no right to treat you like this.”
By now, I had surreptitiously filled a bucket full of water to dunk my head and quench the fire raging in my ears. “Oops, there’s someone at the door, it’s a French student selling paintings, so I’ll speak to you later,” I said, abruptly hanging up.
I thought for a minute and then picking up the phone, I called M.
“I need to tell you something,” I said on hearing her cheery greeting. “For over a month now my husband goes through phases of moodiness and few ones of
elation. He can’t seem to put down his mobile phone, he’s constantly sending out messages on it, even late at night. He manifests these symptoms only on particular days of the week. I don’t know what the problem may be, do you think he’s having an affair?”
“Hmm, do you really think so?” she asked.
“What do you think?”
“I wouldn’t worry,” she said calmly. “It will all be over before you know it, and things will come back to normal.”
“How can you tell?” I insisted.
“Because the cricket’s over, India’s gone home and the love affair is finished!” she said decisively.
“But the phone communication – those
late night messages…”
“Just the boys getting out their angst via Twitter to anyone who’s willing to tweet,” she said.
“The drinking, the moods!”
“Who wouldn’t want to drown their sorrows at the way the Indian team’s been performing?”
“So, no hot, steamy affair that will build up into high drama in our lives, leading to divorce, destitution, despair and detestation?”
“Nope, not a hope!” she said, the grin in her voice building into a laugh. “I would know, you know, and you would know too, you know! If it wasn’t cricket, you know!”
First they are preoccupied, then they act mysterious, then they are always sneaking off to check their phone, they have secret messages which they share, they get moody, you know
