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EDITORIAL

Challenge of the work-life balance

INDIAN LINK PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR

Sheryl Dixit MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS

Usha Ramanujam Arvind, Ritam Mitra, Raka Mitra, Danielle Mathias, Asha Chand, Dolly Singh Miranda, Anusha Menon, Tim Blight, Noel G deSouza, Mohan Dhall, Devna Luthra, Geeta Khurana, Petra O'Neill, Talia Kaur, Nancy Althea, LP Ayer ADVERTISING MANAGER

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eeing 27-year-o ld Simon Sheikh, Director of GetUp Australia collapse on nacional television was somewhat confronting. A panellist on J\BC's Q &A, Sheikh slumped over d1e rable while reaching for a glass of water.

He came to a few seconds later, and was escorted off rhe set to hospital. Ir was confirmed L-iter that he was fine, and that the incident was a result of the Au \ 7 irus bur probably also exhaustion after burning the candle from both ends.

Working too hard is possib ly something that a lor of us are guilty of. A recent smvey on work practices revealed d1ar Australian s are working long er hours than ever before, and longer hours drn.n people in many other countries.

Advancements in ted mology now allow us to be " at work" at all hours of the day. \Xfork is increasingly invading our personal lives, and we are often in work-mode even at o ff-duty hours.

But is work truly fuliilling us, and ar what cost?

In our frenetically-paced world, we are hearing many reports about increasing stress levels, heald1 mishaps at younger ages, and burn-out.

Por migrant po pulations Like our own community, the pressure is often doubled. The challenge of settling into d1e new adopted country comes wid1 its own stresses, especially in d1e early years. There are new skills chat have to be learned fair!)' quickly off rhe mark and these might be different for men, women and children. The self-imposed pressure to succeed is also high, so that d1ey can finally claim to have "arrived".

The necessary family and social support which d1ey are accustomed to back home, is lacking as well, add ing further to demands on the individual.

Particularly vulnerable are professionals with a young famiJy. While mum and dad settle into their new working Life, wodcing Jong hours to make ends meet, they also wish to expose their children to me opporcunities available in Australia.

The wide variety of activities in spore, music, creati.\,e endeavours, even d1e "hot h ousing" options, excites them.

The result, coo often, is that migran t Indian families are working hard to live not only the Australian dream, but also to give their fam.iJies the opporcuniries which are on offer over here. All dlis takes its toll.

One o ther additio nal burd en which the Indiau Australians love to rake on, is owning die family home. But financial constraints and the desire for a large home rakes chem ro suburbs which may not have the best transport Links. Typically, they disregard the ease of transport between work and home, and end up spending long h ours in the commute, wllich adds to d1eir already long days. Perhaps, some practicality and sacrifice here could well assist in long-term health issues.

Perhaps it is time we learm co negotiate a good work-life balance. Our cultural heritage conditions us to focus on tomorrow. But balancing th is with living in the moment can add more to our health and happiness. Quality time with family, restfuJ weekends, bolida)'s, hobbies, all need to become more o f a priority The graveyards, iris said, are filled wid1 people who mought things could not go on wid1our them.

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JULY 2012 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITO R

• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

On Gangs of

Wasseypur 1 & 2 As part of the Sydney Film Festival's Focus on India this year, the two-part epic Gangs of Wasseypur screened on the last day of the festival to extremely enthusiastic applause from a mostly non south Asian audience. This is the first film ever to be invited into the festival's international competition.

It has already been lauded internationally by being invited into the prestigious director's fortnight at Cannes film festival.

In a nutshell: Peckinpah and Tarantino are reincarnated in one director who remakes The Godfather trilogy in India with an amazing sense of humour and social and political awareness.

The measure of a good film is that one thinks about it long after one has seen it. I have not stopped thinking about it.

The Godfather Trilogy deals with how a person or family becomes entwined in the cycle of crime and violence. It is one of the great achievements of cinema history.

Bertolucci's 1900 deals with

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the struggle of ordinary people for some autonomy and fre.edom from oppression. It is also one of the great achievements of cinema history.

Gangs of Wasseypur does both and more. Moreover for an "art"film it is as entertaining as any Bollywood block buster and has great songs!

Most people take the government, police and legal systems for granted.

It seems to have a god given authority and whilst there are corrupt politicians, judges and police, these are seen as the exception rather than the rule. The basis of the authority of the state is rarely questioned: we distract ourselves with arguments over which gang should rule the state, not what powers the state should have.

By tracing the oppression of the people of Bihar from British colonial times to the present day, Gangs of Wasseypur brings into sharper focus the meaning of"authority''. Shortly after the British leave India it becomes clear to the mine workers that their new Indian overlords are worse than the previous foreign ones.

The state, the legal system and the police are largely sidelined in the power struggles of the gangs ofWasseypur.

Where they do feature in the discussion, they are merely tools of which gang lord has them in his pay.

The people of Bihar accept rule by gang lords as a fact. They pay extortion cheerily and willingly in exactly the same way as people pay tax, without thought.

What difference there is between a gang lord and a politician is the sophistication of their manipulative powers. The gang lord uses intimidation and reputation. The politician uses rhetoric and ideology. The politician is merely the better and sneakier liar.

In countries like India, the nexus between the gang lord of two generations ago and the politician of today is clear to thinking people. In the developed world the state has assumed an almost irresistible authority.

But the process is the same. Most people are too busy t rying to stay alive to bother much with the machinations of politics. They are resigned to paying extortion (tax) for protection from chaos. It is only when this extortion becomes unbearable or the chaos too disruptive that governments are deposed, by ballot or bullet. Then a new gang of war lords take over, full of promises. And the cycle starts again.

This film deserves a place of honour amongst the great achievements in cinema.

It was a pleasure to read Sunny Cherian's article on the Mohammed Rafi show that was held in Sydney recently (Indian Link, June-2 2012 issue).

To add to that, it would have been nice if some more songs were included in the show. There are plenty ofRafi numbers that people seem to skip in most shows.

I have never seen anyone singing Nain milakar chain churana, Jaane jigar tu hai hasi, Main kab gaata apne swar main, Unse rippy tippy ho gayi, Tumse kahoon ek baat, Oil tadpe tadpaya etc at any of these staged

events.

The shows all present the same songs again and again. Rafi had a very large collection of fine songs and hence it would be nice to hear different songs in different shows.

Renjith Menon Belmont, WA

Riju Ramrakha G/ebe, NSW

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Certification or Qualification? Why not both ...

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to grow and evolve as an engineer.

he cutting edge world of aerospace engineering has a·aditionally been a male dominated bastion but uor auymore, as ge nder stereotypes are being constantly eroded.

Among the newest crop of graduate aviation engineers with sky-high ambitions is a talented Indian Ausu·alian youngster Komal Sangha. And her career is alread y off to a Aying start with the Royal Australian Navy, thanks to a Defence University sponsorship.

Lieutenant Sangha was among the few from her batch at Monash U niversity to bag the Jucrative sponsorship. She applied for the undergraduate defence sponsorship while in her second year, and after a series of interviews and selection processes, joined the Navy in her third year of Aerospace Engineering.

The sponsorship included the payment of remaining HECS fees and alJ smd y material, as well as a salary while studying. In addition the programme also offered work experience oppormnities, mentorship and the ongoing support of che defence services infrastrucmre.

Aviation, Komal emphasised, is a very intense but enjoyable niche field with manifold opportunities

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8 JULY 2012

"I have always been passionate about all sorts of flying machines; whetl1er an aeroplane, helicopter or even a remote controlled Aying contraption," Komal cold Indian U11k. "I owe my keen interest to the various trips my family made all over the world since l was a chi.Id." The 24-year-old, whose eyes light up when talking about aviation, is particularly passionate about rotary wing systems in general and specificalJy Seahawks.

Having recently spent ten months learning alJ about the Seal1awk as pact of her train ing, Koma.I has conducted regular maintenance-related investigations, provided recommendations to the command, delivered daily engineering briefs on the aircraft, planned squadron detachments and provided advice on weekly squadron flying priorities.

"The Seahawk," Komal explains, "is a Siko rsky helicopter operated by the Royal Australian Navy co conduct missions prim aril)' in coordination with the ships. It has been designed to take off and land on pitching and rolling ship decks and to operate effectively in sale-laden environn1ents.'' " The helicopter is fitted with one of the world's most advanced anti-submarine warfare capability to search and bunt submarines," she added en thusiastically. le is also capable of transferring troops, winching operations, stores replenishment of ships and day-night search and rescue operations.

"Of course, I am biased

cowards the rotary side of aviation, mainly because I have always worked with helicopters since completing my degree," confessed Koma!.

"Helicop ters are quite complex system s, and as you start understanding tl1e basics ~1f this machine, ic just keeps getting more and more in teresting," she. added. l e is this passion for complex rotary systems that prompted Komal co choose the Navy over the other defence forces.

"The opporruniry to work with complex machinery really appealed to me. l opted for the Royal Australian Navy because of my strong imerest in helicopters and ships. The Navy provides d1e opportunity co witness the integration of ships and helicopters and I was quite keen to be a part of d1is experience".

For Komal, working with real Aying machines is very much like a dream come true.

"Al though they are quite a sight in d1e blue skies, a lot of hard work and ground labour goes into each flight. ln order co provide a safe flight, maintenance staff spends hours troubleshooting and servicing the aircraft, before it is decJared airworthy. T he sense of achievement from fixing these machines and seeing them take off into the open skies is a key motivating factor tha t has literalJy kept us going on various cold, windy and rainy days," she revealed.

"The lase rwo years have. already been a very steep and enjo)7able learning curve for me and I can only see my career going up," she added happily.

A lthough Koma! bas always been passionate bout Aying objects, ic is quite by accident chat

she strayed into tl1is field. Like most other "Jndian" teenagers, her sights we.re initially trained o n the medical pathway.

"My parents have always given ucmosr importance co OtLC education and en sured we got the best," she explained. "My mother was a pre-medical instructor in India, preparing srudents for medical entrance exams. Being brought up in a house. where 'medicine' was the only talked about profession, I had always thought abom pursuing health sciences after graduation."

Her family m oved to Australia in April 2003, when young KomaJ was in Year 11. "Considering I was already a term behind everyone else, I took up seven snbjects in Year 11, including biology, chemistry and physics. 1 also studied Hindi on Saturdays for d1e duration of VCE".

The academically mo tivated student soon transferred to a Selective high school, which she believes, gave her the additional push co perform her best.

"Ald1ough I gained the required E T E R score for medicine, I did not get a sufficiendy high score in UMAT," Komal admitted candidly. ''So I joined Physiotherapy with a view of transferring into Medicine after the first semester. This did not work om as planned, as 1 did not feel passionate about analysing body parts, learning about diseases, etc. That's when I made a decision to transfer to Aerospace Engineering and joined Monash University as a mid-year entrant."

Komal of course, had the full backing of her parents when she made the decision co swiccJ1 careers mid-course. and more importantly, join tl1e defence forces. "Quite a few members of my extended family have served or are currently serving in the

Indian defence force; there.fore we were always aware of the lifestyle commitments involved," she said.

So, have there. been gender stereotypes to contend wid1?

"Interestingly, our of a cJass of 30, we had only five female engineers smdying aerospace," Koma! said, adding, " l believe the main reason for such few female numbers is because of a reduced awareness amongst the students."

According to ber, aeronautics is not much different to Mechanical Engineering. "Tbe branch is still evolving and gradualJy we. are seeing more and more females opting for Aerospace Engineering".

And ch.is is why she has taken on the mantle of brand amb assador. '1 have been very lucky co have been offered a tailor made care.er pathway and I would like to be a role model for many more youngsters, parcicuJarly girls, to choose this profession," stated KomaJ. "From my experience, the defence undergraduate scheme h as benefitced me in a number of ways. During my university years, my financial requirements were completely covered. This eliminated the need co search for a part tin1e job and helped me focus en tirely on my scuclies," she emphasised. ''Additionally, I doubt I could have gained such an enormous amount of experience had I taken up a similar kind of job in the civilian world. I enjoy working for the Ausu·aJ.ian Defence. Force as it alJows me to contribute to society, w hile. providing me with job security and satisfaction. As I move further in m y life, I intend to follow what I am passionate about, which is helping people and contributing to society in whatever way I can."

Komal Sangha has since visited many schools, motivating students.

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nese days there are various career paths available to school graduates from w hich the)' can choose. Regardless of what field they wish ro pursue it is vital they research the study requirem ents, workload a.ad future job opportunities. Those seeking more hands-o n experience, prior to a full time commim1ent to study, should look at appren tices hips and train eeships," recommends Koma.I strongly.

"Some institutions also offer mid-year entry to high school graduates who wish to take a break prior to commencing tertiary smdies," she added.

Kamal also hopes to inspire migrant kids to diversify their career portfoLio. "I t is very easy to get d istracted in today's rat race where competition to perform well is so extreme. It is time for us to divert av.ray from di e stereotypical career choices considered suitable for migrant kids. We sho uld start looking at the bigger picmre and allow for creativity and progress to seem from everywhere.

Remember, success is not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success," she remarks \Vi th a far-sightedness that goes beyond her age. She is no d oub t inspired

by Gaucama Buddha's sagacio us 1

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words of wisdo m: IfJ'Ot1 !ove 111bat )'Oll're doing,yott 111ill be s11cces.rji1L Likewise, Komal's exposure to the Aus tralian D efence Forces has undoubtedly roughened her up physically and mentally. ''The initial training phase is structured in such a way to push you way beyond your extremes in order to get the best out of you. ot only d oes it give you a better awareness of yourself, it motivates you to perform even better," she commented.

Komal also firmly subscribes to the core defence values o f "courage, professionalism, loyalty, integ rity, innovation and teamwork". As a member of the defence force, it is vital. to believe in its organisational values and apply them .in everything they do. The initial trai.ni.ng assists in teaching d1e significance of these and how they can be inco rporated into everyday .life.

After completing initial training as an Aerospace Engineer in the Navy, Koma! gained a competency certificate (whicb she explained is equivalen t co Graduate status with Engineers Australia). "As a qualified Aerospace E ngineer you can be working in a variety o f roles ranging from technical to project positions or even in out-of-category jobs such as human resource managem en t," she explained.

Currently, a trainee Aviation E ngineering Officer at 816 Squadron, Koma! has been a part of various sq uadron detachments operating from Perth, Bundaberg and Caloundra.

"Twas given the opportunity to experience helicop ter operation s in the maritime enviro1m1ent du.ring 1\UDPAC 201 1, a joint exercise involving i nternational navies, conducted at Pearl Harbour," she revealed. "As pare o f this, I was flown to Hawaii and sailed back to Brisbane o n HJvfAS Sydney."

While career fuJfiJment is obvio usly her top priority now, me fledgling engineer is also aware of d1e Navy's family- friendly approach. "I understand that the l avy attempts to assist service families in every possible way.

Members wid1 dependants are given careful consideration wi tl1 their posting preferences and d1e lavy endeavours tO work cowards the satisfaction of its employees, without compromising work requiremen ts," she d escribed.

Her next posting is to Melbourne as the ship's Aviation Facilities E ngineer, which, she explained, "oversees the appropriateness of aviation facilities on sh ips to suit our helicopters".

Koma.I also hopes to return co owra to complete her squadron requirement of two years prior tO getting promoted to a Lieutenant Commander. "With the

acquisitio n of new LHDs and a fleet of helicopters, the navy scene is currently hectic," said Koma!. " This will open up farther exc iting opportunities for aerospace engineers wid1 a possibility of sea postings as well." i\i[eamvhile, this enterprising young womau has also charted long-term prospects, whicl1 incl ude a :Masters in Structural E ngineering in the UK. Firmly rooted in her stro ng Indian values and identity, Koma.I always finds time to visit temples. " I find that it keeps my sanity under control," she quipped.

Socialising, exercising and dancing are som e of her o ther interests. Eq naUy passionate about other culnu:es, particularly ilieir history, cuisine and language, Komal has taken up advanced Italian and is just back from a hectic, but fulfilling trip to this ancien t land. Scuba diving is also on the agenda.

But for n ow Koma! is o ff to Mumbai to attend her friend's traditio nal Tufaharashtrian wedding while her travel diary for next year includes Pakistan and British Columbia.

Lt Komal Sangha is certainly on e high Aier for whom the sky is the limit.

D etailed information on the Defence University Sponsorship pathway can be accessed -at www. dcfencejobs.gov.au/ education/ univers ityspon sorship/

BS recently launched an interactive online tool featuring demographic data gatl1ered in the 2011 Census, so that Australians can explore the results of tl1e Census data. SBS Census Explorer gives J\ustral.ians access ro some o f tile most important Census dara, b ringing ir to Lif e in maps, charts and graphs that are interactive and easy to read. Users can compare languages and places and learn more abour tl1e makeup of rneir communities. Informatio n is being progressively added as it becomes available from tl1e Austral.ian Bmeau of Statistics (ABS). fodia11 Link reviewed demographic data released to offer a concise census of information on the Indian community. Here are our find ings.

S

• 1.5% or 295,361 were born in India • 200,000 Indians arrived since 2001 • Among fastest growing ethaic groups • 275,500 H indus (fastest growing religion) • 111,351 Hindi speakers, featLtring in rop l Olanguages spoken • Highest number in 15-64 demographic • 10% new migrants arrived w ith job in hand • 35% reported difficulty in getting one. Of tlus, 64% reported Jack of experience or references • 23% Jack of local contacts • Of 90% of skilled migrants, 87% found a job • 53% in tl1eir area of expertise • 92% of skilled migrants reported wages/salary as ma.in source of i11come • 43% of recent migrants bad obtained citizenship • 55% of temporary residents were students.

Srndent intake peaked at 65,000 in 2008-9

At a glance • 390,904 Australians of Indian ancestry

10 JULY 2012

These figures released by tl1e Australian Bureau of Statistics

after unveiling the latest five-year Census only confirms what most already suspect - that skiUed migration and imemational student intake has foeUed a dramatic spun in me Indian presence down under in the new millennium. Prom .5 to 1.5% of tbe Australian population which currently stands at 22.6 million.

The estimated resident population (ERP), a core function of the ABS, is used for a wide variety of purposes including the distribution of Australian Government funds to stare, territory a.nd local governments, as welJ as in tl1e determination of the number of seats for each state and territory in tl1e House of Representatives.

Ar the 2006 Census 147,106 Australian residents indicated tl1at they were born in lndia, of which 79,025 held Australian citizenslup.

NSW rapped the list witl1 57,156 residents, closely followed by Victoria (52,853) a.nd Western Australia (15,157) . 64,968 stated they were Hindu, 49,975 declared tl1ey were Christian and 26,500 declared they were Sikh. Other minorities include Muslims a.nd Zoroastrians. 243,722 Australian

residents declared chat tl1ey had Indian ancestry, eitlier alone or in combination witl1 ano tl1er ancestry.

The ludiao-born comm1rnity more man doubled between 2004 and 2009 to 308,542, making it the second largest non-Anglo community in Australia after Chinese-born Austral ians. 1n 2009 there were an additional 90,000 Indian students studying at Australian tertiary institutions.

Overseas migration As of 30 June 2010, 27% of the population was born overseas (6.0 million people), third highest in the world behind Singapore and Hong Kong, the lowest being China, India and Vietnam.

While UK and NZ sciJJ account for the largest chunks of tl1e pie, India and Cluna have moved up tbe ladder. 76% of tl1e overseas population io this caregory was of working age 15-64.

International migration is a volatile phenomenon influenced by a wide range of demographic, social, eco nomic and political determinancs and consequences at the global, regional and national level.

In 2009-10, the prelin_iinary

estimate of net overseas migration (NOM) was 215,600 persons, representing 57% of J\ustralia's population growth for tl1e year.

Victoria a.ad Queensland had the largest inAow. Between 2000 and 2010, persons born in l epal had the highest rate of increase in Australia's population (of the top 50 countries of birth at 30 June 2010), witb an average annual growth rare of 29.1 % . However, tlus growth began from a smalJ base of 2,300 persons at 30 June, 2000. Those born in India had third fastest growth after Sudan (13.5%). India also figures in the highest proportion of people in 15-64-age category.

International students ln 2008-09, rhe net number of international sntdents being added to Australia's population reached an a.LI rime high of 122,400 sntdents, bringing in export earnings of $15.9 billion.

These international sntdents contributed to 27% of Australia's population growth in 2008-09.

Of tl1ese, 45,199 were from lndia alone, jLU11ping significantly from 9553 in 2004-5. Nepal was tlurd liighest at I 0,697. V icroria

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arrived since 2000 and highest demographic is in 25-29 age group. The male female ratio is 60:40. 60% were not Australian citizens. More than half the Punjabi households had one child, while 45.6% lived in rented properties. While heterosexual marriage was generally the norm, .1 % adrnitted to same sex relationship and 1.2% were in de facto partnerships.

15.5% earned over $74,000 annually and 47.8 % owned property on a mortgage. 69.7% were married, 30% were single and .7% in de facto. Hindu.ism is key religion, while Catholic came second at 10%. Only 2/ 3"' were not Australian, while over 98% indicated overseas parentage. The main influx of Tan1i1s has been in late 2000s.

Kannada Bengali 35,645 Bengali speakers in Australia represent .2% of population. NS\1(1 suburb of Lakemba recorded highest number (2483). Footscray i n Victoria, Forest Lake (QLD), St Marys (SA) and Canningvale in WA copped individual concentrations. Of tl1ese 71.9% are from Bangladesh, 9.6 from India. Migration trends have increased phenomenally since 90s.

A majority are Muslims and 58% have taken Australian citizenship

Gujarati

bad the highest intake at 45.7% followed by SW at 20% . 55.4% enrolled in VET, while 43.7 were in higher education. Significantly these figures show a sharp decline for September 2010, contributed by drop in arrival and increased departures For 20U8-09, there were 324,100 self- reported temporary NOM arrivals who contributed to NOM (see table 3.18). This was 62°/., of all NOM arrivals with the remainder being permanent arrivals, Australian residents returning and a few from other categories. Of the countries of birch contributing to temporary NOM arrivals, India added the most with 53,900 persons arriving, 60% of lndia-born arrivals reported education as their main reason for journey, followed by Nepal (59%), and Malaysia (54%).

For those travelling on student visas, people born in India and China were the main contributors to studenc [ OM. Together they contributed around 50%, or over for each year between 2004-05 and 2008- 09. China was the highest contributor in 2004-05 and 2005-06, at 30% and 26% respectively. People born in lndia recorded the highest proportion

INDIAN LINK

of travellers for the period 20U607 to 2008-09, increasing from 29% to 35%. In 2008-09, Indiaborn travellers on smdent visas contributed 14% of coral NOJ\1I (up from 6% in 2004-05).

Linguistic demographics We cast a look here at the language-wise breal,-up of the Indian comnmniry in Australia.

The largest linguistic group seems to be Hindi-speaking Indians, followed by Punjabi and then Tamil. Bue many Indians are multilingual. Speaking to Indian Link at the multicultural briefing, Dr Jill Charker, First Assistant Statistician of the Population, Education and Data Integration Division revealed chat there are plans for greater communiLy consultations on the questions which can be asked in the next Census in 2016 which can bring forth more information about the population. For the lndian community, for e."'Cample, questions which can be put up for consultation can include asking people about the number of languages they speak rad1er than just a bilingual question.

Hindi There are 111,351 Hindi speakers (.5%), of which 53% are from India and 29% from Fiji. Most of this demographic arrived since 2000. Of these, the largest concentrations are in Blacktown ( S\'.\I) which accounts for 1969, while Point Cook in Viccoria, forest Lake in QLD, Canning Vale 0-Y/A) Prospect (SA) have 926, 275, 180 and 113 respectively. The largest demog raphic is in 25-29 years. 60% have taken Australian citizenship, while 96.8 stated parents born overseas. Hindu.ism is predominant religion followed by lsJarn and Sikhism. ]Vfost households had 4 people and owned property with a mortgage. .3% acknowledged being in a same sex relationship.

Punjabi Representing .3% of population, Punjabi speakers total 71,320 across Australia, wid1 Blackcown in NSW accounting for single highest concentration (1894). Sc Albans came a close second with 1433 Punjabis. WNs Canningvale, QLD's Runcorn and SA's Prospect were otl1er favourites.

Predominantly Indian born and of Sikh faith (80.9), most

34,21 1 Gujarati speakers call Australia home, with NSW suburb Parramatta alone accounting for 1310. Darch in WA, Hawthorn in Vicrocia, South Australian suburb of Prospect and QLD's Macgregor were d1e popular suburbs. 75.8% Gujarati Australians were born in India and 5.4% in Kenya. In the last decade, the number rose from 554 to 1570. i\fost Gujaratis recorded both parents as born overseas.

Majority are not Australian citizens (58.7%), tbeir largest age demographic is 25-28. Mose males earned average of $600-800 a week, while most females earned nil. Household income for 18% stood at 78,000-104,000.

Among the dominant ethnic minorities, ParafieJd Gardens (SA) and Perth suburb of Maylans were predominant choices. The Kannada community is relatively smaller at 5923. The I SW suburb of Liverpool proved most popular, while Victorian Kannadigas chose Danclenong.

In Calamvale in QLD, 91% are Hindus and 84% were born in India. Kannada households typicall,7 bad 3 people and most families had children under age of l 5. 78.3'1/<) were registered marriages and .8% in de facto relationship. 17.8% Kannada households had income o f $78,000-103,000 annually.

Telugu Australia is currently home to 18,721 Telugu speakers, most of who were born overseas and half of whom live in rented premises. Wesrmead in NS W (729), Footscray in Victoria (280), Kenmore (Qld), Mawson Lakes in SA (44), Maylands in WA (60) have largest numbers respectively in one suburb. 58% of che linguistic minority is yet to opt for citizenship and 98.25 have bo th parents born overseas. Hinduism is the dominant religion. 15% males earned above $74,000 while 34% of females had no inco me. Single child .is the dominant trend.

Marathi Marathi Australians numbering 8572 in Australia are predominantly Hindus (90.7%).

A three-person household, comprising a couple with one child is the dominant trend, with 46% paying off a mortgage.

Nearly 18% households earned more tban $74,000. 77% Marad1i speakers identified themselves as married. Liverpool (NS\.XI), G len Waverley (Vic), Nundah (Qld, Mawson Lakes (SA) and W.Ns Canningvale have tl1e largest numbers in a suburb

Tamil Witl1 over 50,000 speakers, Tamils fonn the third highest demographic. Of these 39'¾, are from Sri Lanka, while 35% are from India, and Malaysian Tamils account for 15% . 62% have taken Australian citizenship. '\X'entwordwille in NSW recorded highest number of Tamils (1073), with Glen Waverley (946) coming a close second. Mawson Lakes (SA), WJ\'s Canningvale and Forest Lake in QLD were popular. Most Tamils had 4 member households, wid, children under age of 15.

Malayalam 25,111 is the current number of Malayali speakers across Australia. Dandenong in Victoria (425) and Westrnead in Victoria (253) have d1e highest concentration state-wise, while Annerley in Queensland, Woodville Gardens in South Australia and WNs Canningvale (193) registered the largest nw11bers. The largest age demographic for male Malayalam speakers was 30-34 years (16.9%). Since 2000, their numbers have increased from a meagre 246 ro 2809, nationwide.

65% are yet to opt for citizenship.

Catholicism is the predominant religion, cornering a sizeable 47% of tl1e demographic. Other faiths indude Syrian Ortl1odox, Pentecostal and Anglican besides Hinduism, of course. 80% are in a traditional marriage, wid1 the average Malayali household having two children. A sizeable 43% live in rented homes, with those having mortgage corning close second at 39%. The largest age demographic is 30-34 years. h>r more dcr:i.ils, y1sir www.:ibs.gn,~:1u

JULY 2012 11

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@[? @[ru@@[r~007J@ The TV show Dumb, drunk and racist reveals some surprisingly honest home truths about the many facets of'real' Australia

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BY PAWAN LUTHRA

r's been pretty quiet in the past eighteen months or so on the " Indian students' issue" char brought diplomatic relations co a head between India and Australia.

Safety measures have been pm in place; awareness has increased among the studems themselves; rogue agents have been Aeshed om who were taking advantage of the system. And while srudear

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nLLinbers may have dwindled, what's increased is the number of state premiers and federal ministers leading massive trade delegations to India to win back the lost dollar.

So if things are finally beginning to look cordial again, who's the dumb, drunk, racist who's raking all the muck up again?

Er, char would have to be Joe Hildebrand, journalist. In face, that is how he regularly introduces himself to us, ie, once a week, at the start of his TV show called, strangely, just char - Dumb, Drunk and lwcist.

1l1e ABC2 series, in which

Hildebrand takes a bunch of Indians around the cou11Lry to decide for themselves whether Australians are 'dumb, drunk and racist', has been a surprise hit. (In fact, such a hit that Hildebrand has not stopped beaming ever since that appearance on Q&A the week his show opened).

Of course if you ask him, as I do, he'll tell you the show is a success because of the "exceptionally handsome and charming host". Perhaps he could have taken his shirt off in the Bondi beach scenes.. _) Par comes the reply, "We would definitely have been moved up co ABCl

then. Who knows, we could have gone mainstream!"

Bur seriously, rlildebrand agrees char rhe s uccess of the show is not only that it helps shatter stereotypes for one audience, but equally, that it strikes a few hometruths for another. " It is a pretty polarising issue really," he observes. "On the one side we have a group of people, typically the self h ating inner city type, who are convinced char Australians are dumb, dmnk and racist; on the other hand, we have those who challenge this assertion and are outraged that this can even be suggested! Somewhere

in between, is the vase majority who are open co looking at th.is ropic and then forming their own vie\vs".

Ir all started with a news report momhs ago. ''.An American journalist who had worked i.n an [ndian call centre reported that the operators were trained to be aware that Australians are dumb, drunk and racist. That triggered the initial research by the TV production company Cordell Jigsaw, the team behind SBS TV's Go Back To Where You Came From, ro research this idea. They reseed the theory and then decided to go for it.

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Tuey invited me co hose, and off wewenc".

Joe seems a narural fie for the program. As the Opinion editor for News, Joe has never been backward in coming forward with his views on issues which may have more of a slant co the right dian co the left.

How did they pick their ''guests''?

"We suuck it good with che four guescs from India, really. We had co find people who thought Australia was a dangerous and hostile place co visit, and so it was a bit of a challenge co gee chem on the p lane, as they were worried about their own safety in Auscralia, but we were able co convince chem. Th.eir families were more nervous actually. I am glad co announce that we have got chem back safe and sound co India".

Radhika, Mal1.ima, Gurmeet and Amer head off to various parr.s of AtL~tralia in Joe's social experiment. They meet White nacional.ist protesters ac Villawood, confused burqa-bashing anises in Sydney's Newtown district, hijab-wearing African immigrants in western Sydney, CronulJa lifeguards who fought for peace in

INDIAN LINK

the midst of riots, an Aboriginal elder in Moree, B&S revelers as well as communicy- m.inded mums in Mc. Isa, cacrle auctioneers in rnral Queensland, a hen's night pany ac the Gold Coast, a Pakistani ca.xi driver, a same sex couple, hostile Aboriginal women, and a hose of odier in ceresting people diac shape diei.r views on die people of di.is country and the issues ch at affect chem.

They also meet [ndian scudenc Saurabh Sharma, the CCTV footage of whose brutal bashing in a Melbourne train was played incessantly on India's television screens, sparki ag outrage across che cou nuy.

Of the four, only one, Radhika, had been here before. An educac.ional counsellor, she was here looking to send her daughter co an Australian university, but encountered such racism chat she decided to send her co die US instead, and now gu.ides ocher smdencs away. Amer, a law scudenc, also considered Ausual.ia buc chose co scudy ac home in fodia. Mahi ma, a call-centre worker, frequendy encounters racist abuse at work from Australians. Gurmeet, a 1V news reader comes with his own sec

views on Australians.

"They met for the 6rst time .in Delhi," Joe reveals. "But once die cameras were rolJing, they all became very close. In face, ic became like a Big Bramer House.

They have all have struck a chord with die viewers. Amer is quire popular; and a loc of guys find RadJi ika very foxy". llieir own personalities unfold well in die show. RadJl.ika sll.ines di rough as someone with a lac of sensitivity; Gurmeec as someone who really wanes co change societies; Amir as probably the one who wou ld fie in best given his pany-loving nature, and Maliima as one widi wide-eyed innocence. All different, each has clever insights into die people and society here.

They ask meaningful questions and seem co wane co genu.inely understand, which is more than we can say for die bunch ofludian journalises who were brought out here by die Australian government ac che height of die scudencs' crisis.

(Their repom back home fai led co enlighten, lee alone alleviate anxiety for concerned families).

Mahi ma is terrified to learn she has co cake a train-ride along the same route and at the same time

as when Saurabh was attacked (her facial expression suggests it will probably be like die 1947 era.in mac rolled into Dell1i scat.ion from Laliore carrying nod1.in g buc Hindu corpses), bur soon she is happy to cry her first beer.

Gurmeec is polic.ically aware, but watch his inability to comprehend why a same-sex relationship sho1Jd seem normal.

Amer loves Sydney Harbour and die fast food oudecs and in Melbourne, 'd1e most dangerous city in che world for Indians', wanes co walk on the streets at 2 am.

Radh ika feels a spirimal connection at Uluru and weeps as an Aboriginal elder describes die Myall Creek Massacre of 1838.

"Ir was a life changing experience for diem all," Joe reveals. "They were gen u.i nely surprised at what diey experienced: ac times cbey were upset and rraumac.ised, ocher times chey were thrilled and screaming wi di laughter. They were terrified and endiralled, it was an amazing journey for chem."

Equally, it turned our be an eyeopener for him, coo.

"I'm sorry co say it curned out quite differendy co what we

had expected," he admits. "I had hoped we would be disproving (die stereotype). But I was genuinely surprised at die ambient racism on che streets of Sydney and Melbourne. The ugly stuff surprised me as people popped our of nowhere with statements of'White pride' or 'Go back co where you came from' in an open and aggressive manner. The surprising thing was how often and how unprovoked these sea cements were . .. they made me very uncomfortable".

He continues, "While on one hand mere will be lovely people celling che Indians about how wonderful Australia was, some asshole will shout out something nasty and abusive. Thar just hurc me and made me ashamed.

Especial.ly as I had just come back from Lidia aDd seeo the terrible poverty and extremes over d1ere, and realised how lucky we have it here".

So, does Joe H.ildebrand, well known for his thought provoking pieces in The Daily Telegraph, believe char Australians are dumb, drunk and racist?

"I don't di.ink we are dumb," he replies quire decisively. "Bue we're probably pretty dmnk, and a few of us are qu.ice racist. There are always a few racists in any country but in a counuy like Australia we need co have a stronger standard co adhere co. We don't have a war or religious conflicts or even much pol itical exuemism; we are an i.ncredibly wealthy country widi a suong moral and religious compass and a sophisticated liberal democracy, so I don't see why we shouldn't be a more coleranc and welcoming place".

Would he like to reverse the CODcepc and cake a bunch of Aussies to India and sharter their stereotypes?

"Well, I'm chinking along che lines of a show called Smart,

Sophi.sticated and Tolerant, accualJy...." he laughs in conclusion.

JULY 2012 13

MAINSTREAM

Bollywood kids at QPAC Asha Shah's Bollywood Dhamaka participates in Out of the Box again this year

ince its inception in 1992, 0111 ef tbe Box has become an integral part o f the Brisbane cultural calendar. The ico nic festival, which is supported by the Queensland Stace Library, Queensland Museum and Queensland Art GalJery, is ai med at "enhancing children's experience tbrough involvement in the arts by encouraging a sense of wonder, curiosity, discovery and serious fun", according to chief executive and inaugural festival director John Kotzas. The festival builds on the all-important theme that " children's early lives really matter" and thus hopes to engage and m uture them through better participation wi thin the commrn1i ty. [ ow in its twentieth year, the high profile event, hdd between 12-17 June at the prestigious Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), drew thousands of child1·en exposing them to a r ich cross section of hands-on cultural experiences sourced from a variety of backgrounds. Popular Brisbane dance school Bollywood Dhamaka was once again invited to be part of this vibrant kale idoscope.

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14 JULY 2012

The wdl-known dance institute and talent agency nm by Asha Shah performed four segments at the festival's outdoor stage.

"W/e have been involved with Out of the Box event for last few years and it has always been a delight to perform at the children's festival,"' Shah told lndia11 Unk. '1vfu1ticu1tural events like these evoke a sense of harmony and mutual respect. le is a11 abom ml.icing people and igniting that aura of peace through music and dance".

"I am particularly proud of my talented performers for putting forward an excellent fun filled display enjoyed by enthusiastic children", she added.

The four segments included group performances by Dhamaka students in the age groups 3-7 (Ma!Jya Yasboda), 7- 10 (Dbinka Cbinka) and 10-13), fusion-medley of J!J,1, Cb,1t11T11ak and Chikni Cba111elr) respectivdy as we.LI as a ,vo.rkshop by Asha on Bollywood dance rhythms based on Nagaara J\Jt1/',arm1.

N ine-year-old Sllkhleen Arora was thrilled to be part of such a major mainstream performance.

The Year 3 srndent was part of an eight-gid team that represented Bollywood Dhamaka.

"I was reaJJy excited about the item", said a beaming Sukhleen, who clearly showed no stage fear.

"Asha's students regularly participate at public shows," mum Rani Arora explained. "Sukhleen has performed earlier this year at

McGregor State School's Mayfest Fete. Last year diey performed at Roma Parklands at a multi-cultural event fearmi.ng Prem ki 11a!Ja from Aja/; Pt-em ki Ghqjah Kahaani. So she is confident and really looks forward to die-5e events".

"These days, kids have no stage fear whatsoever. All 8 girls were very confident and excited.

They kept their smiling faces on diroughout the performance. Th.is is a great platform for gh ing more meaning to the dancing classes that the gi rls attend weekly. It brings about a sense of pride and satisfaction for die parents to see their kids perform so confidently on stage a□d then get applauded for it. Moreover it brings about die awareness of Indian culture a□d an important pan o f it, which is dance, in the Australian mindsets," Arora noted.

"The workshop we conducted after the performance and die response was so fascinating," 7

Shah added. "We got alJ of the audience doing it die Bollywood way widi d1eir hips shaking, feet tapping, hands swirling, all in sync to an upbeat Bollywood song. Tt was the children in the audience that m ade it worth much more to dance, because d1ey were into it. le is moments Like d,ese that encourages us as a Bollywood style dance g roup to bring forth more amazing performances directly from our hearts to yours".

"My med1od of tead1ing is basically classical folk oriented an d I make it a point to impart a sense of what traditional Indian dancing upholds", she explained. '1vfombai is home to the Bollywood style and I am prou d to say that growing up there and performing Bollywood dancing right from a young age instilled a lot of charisma in my dancing which also reflects in the dances that I choreograph. Through Bollywood performances, I honestly wan t

to display the spirit of a dance culture that shouldn't be lost through dilution and therefore, I make it a point that t he audience takes home the spirit of traditional Bollywood dancing and that it remains etched in d1eir memories as a brilliant show," she stated.

A trained and qualified dance instructor, Shah who hails from Mumbai has over two decades' experience. ''1 started my dance career as a 5-year-old, taking part in stage shows, concerts and dance dra111as".

Since then she has choreographed and performed at numerous shows, in cluding the populai· Boogie 117oogic. As well, Shah has worked with BolJywood film choreographers.

Asha has created quite a niche for herself in Queensland and she recently choreographed and performed in TV vommercials for Subway Cbicke11 Tikkd.

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SECRETS OF THE HSC. In this article, Richard Chua explains what to expect in your HSC and how to succeed in it.

Richard graduated from Sydney Grammar in 2001, with a UAI of 100.00 (ATAR equiv.

99.95) and holds a degree in Commerce and Law from UNSW Every Decemeber, 60,000 students anxiously await their HSC results wandering whether their hard year's work will be enough to get them into University. Small differences in ATAR can make the d ifference between admission and rejection.

However many of the HSC's top performers prepare well in advance to ensure their success. In this article. we look at 4 secrets to p reparing for your HSC.

1.

Choose the right subjects, and understanding scaling

Perhaps the most important consideration for st udents is to understand how each of your subject scales. Most students will be familiar w it h the fact that marks in diffic ult subjects, like Maths Ext 2, get ··pushed up", whilst marks in other subjects like Legal Studies will get "pushed down".

However, you need to know much more than t his.

If you understand scaling properly, you can actually breakdown any ATAR into a particular mark or rank in each subject. Below. we list a table of the highest scaling subjects in the HSC, and what you need to score in each subject to achieve an ATAR of

95/97/99.

2. Expect at least ONE bad assessment Many students get disheartened when they see ONE bad assessment result. Some students decide to "drop" subjects premat urely or panic and believe they are no longer capable in t hat subject .

However. you should expect to have at least O NE bad assessment.

A bad assessment does not necessarily mean you are weak in t he subject. Rat her, w ith roughly 5 assessments per subject. you will be doing bet ween 30·36 assessment and exam tasks in the year.

Realistically, you are bound to have a sub-par performance in at least a few of those assessments.

T.A LE N T100 w/www.talent-100.com.au p/1300 999 100

CATEGORY

HIGHEST SCALING SUBJECT

DECISION RULES

MATHS

Maths Ext 1 & 2

3U and 4U Maths are by far. the highest scaling subjects that are readily accessible

ENGLISH

Advanced or Higher

Where possible you should take at least advanced English. The higher English as a group, scale well above Standard English. For instance, students who scored in the 25% of

SCIENCE

Physics and Chemsitry

Physics and Chemistry are rh e highest scaling sciences, and scale s ign"iticantfy better than

HUMANITIES

Economics & Modern Hist o r y

Humanities are generally quit e subjective, and tend to scale lower. Economu:;s is the highest sca ling humanity readily evailobfe, followed by Modern History. Anci ent Hi st ory,

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

Advance receive scores higher than those students who score in the top 1% of standard. biology

Business Studies. Commerce and Legal Studies scale even lower stil l.

I n o r d e r to sco re 9 9 ATARJ you need to b e ranked In t he top + 57% of Maths Ext 2 + 25% of Maths Ext 1 + 5% in Chemist ry, Physics

and English

In order t o score 97 ATAR,

In order to score 95 ATAR, you n eed t o be ranke d In

yo u n eed to b e ranked In the to p + 80% of Mat hs Ext 2 + 4 7% of Maths Ext 1 + 12% of Chemist ry

the top +

90% of Maths Ext 2

+ 60% of Maths Ext 1 + 18% of Chemistry

+ 11% Physics and Adv English

+ 16% Physics and

Adv English

For a full explanation of scaling, please see www.talent-100.com.au/hsc-study-guide.php or register for our free Scaling Seminar (Jan lS,16, 29,30) If a single assessment is weak . don't panic. Understand that the assessments increasing in weig hting all the way up u ntil the HSC exam (which counts for 50% of your final mark), so you can always make up lost ground. Understand that the f inal HSC exam will count as much as everything y ou d o in school put tog ether.

(such as Sydney Boys and Normanhur st) are encouraging their Year 11 Maths st udents to sit the 2 Unit Maths Exam whilst in Year 11.

3. Take a spare subject

The philosophy behind this is straight-forward. If you can complete 2-4 units successfully in Year 11. you will have much more t ime to devote to your subjects in Year 12. Effectively, t hese students have a massive advantage over their peers. as they are able to sit the HSC over two years.

A lthough your HSC is only scored from your 10 best units. it is best to take a spare subject or take 11-12 unit s. Some students think that taking 10 units w ill g ive them extra time to study.

Whilst there is some merit in this, this is a risky strategy. It assumes that you w ill be able to execute your exams flawlessly.

If you take 10 unit s and you perform badly in one subject. you w ill be forced to count t hat subject In contrast. taking an ext ra subjects give you "insurance·· - even if you perform badly in one subject. you'll be able to include your 'spare subject' instead .

4. Accelerate your learning A growing t rend among many of the HSC's top performers is to accelerate part of their HSC in Year 11. In particular. many schools

Other schools, like Baulkham HIiis High School, allow Year 11 students to sit Econom ics.

Conversely, there is very little risk. If you d on't per form well in the HSC in Year 11, you can simply sit the same subject again in Year 12.

Ou r concise, straight -for ward and results-focused approach has helped the Talent 100 students perform at the top of Sydney's best p rivate and selective schools. If you would like to know more information about scaling, or would like a FREE THREE WEEK TRIAL o f any of our courses•. p lease contact us on 1300 999 100, email info@ta1ent·100.com.au or v isit ou r websit e.

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ij

PEOPLE

The fire still burns at 80 One ofFiji's leading past political figures shares his views candidly not only on Fijian politics but also the community settled here in Australia would bring about political and social integration. Fiji needs fair representation of all its citizens ilirough one man: one vote and one value".

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" I am optimistic and know how ~ resilient the ordinary people of Fiji are," added i\fr Sharma. iil "O Speaking about tl1e Fiji Indian ~ communiry in Sydney, Mt Sharma lamented that it has nor venmred outside its own boundaries co assimilate into the multicultural enviromnent. "The community is keeping to its old cultural and class system o f networks within its comfort zone. This is nor a healtl1y way to live, given that we are now in a multicultural space. The concept of operating Ramayan 111adalis is keeping the community locked in. Our great granclfatl1ers imroduced the concept of Ramayan recital to keep tl1e religion and culture alive. \Yle now have the capacity to read and smdy the teachings espoused in tl1ese holy books, but why are we using such excuses not to go om and see tl1e world outside of tl1e Fiji Indian conununity?"

He said diere was a constant struggle in the community to keep abreast o f o ne another. "As an uprooted group, we are always going to live in Aux," he observed.

"Competition is good, bur only to a point. We live in a cur-tl1roar world of ' [ must be better than the others in my social group'. discourses o n the basics of living The competition goes beyond self to include children and our a weU balanced and happy life based on the teachings of the Holy aspirations to educate chem for careers they may not even be Rru:nayan, at the Lyn Parade temple in Liverpool. Here he stresses happy co take up. The extended family unit is fast fading away tliat we must read die holy books as we feel tl1e pressures of time as sources of knowledge, rather and space. E lderly parents and tl1an organise recitals where tl1e grandparents are lost in this tide of real meaning is lose in excessive socialising (yagona drinking among change as they have not been able ro adapt tl1eir thinking co tl1e new men) and fashjon parades by trends of nuclear families. l\fany women decked in finery as i f they migrate through chain migration, are at a BoUywood fashion show. only to become a part of another Harish Sharma was born in vicious cycle". l ausori, Fiji in 1932. He worked "By socialising within their as an insurance agent and a civil own Indian neN1orks, the servant before taking up studies at community is =consciously tl1e University of Tasmania in 1960, graduating witl1 a Bachelor of Law reinforcing bad habits. I do not believe in isolation - we should (LLB) in 1964. Upon returning to not be creating a country within Fiji he worked for the country's two a cmmtry. Our isolation in the senior most Indian politicians: Sidiq past (in Fiji) was created by tl1e Koya and J\D Patel, botl1 of whom colonial governmeor. l ow we are had led the fodian-dominated ational Federation Party as tough better eel ucated and exposed to opposition to tl1e Alliance. Party opportunities to learn and grow which ruled from 1966 to 1987, led from tl1e experiences of other communities. We should take on

by Fijian chief Rani Sir Kan1isese Mara, the founding father of this new challenge and liberate our thinking and behaviour," added Mr modern Fiji.

Sharma vehemently.

The party was finally roppled by a multi-racial coalition Jed by Dr 1fr Sharma occasionally

l

arish Sharma, the firsr fodian co hold top office in Fiji as deputy Prime l'vlin.ister in the Bavaclra government in 1987 - the year chat reshaped Fiji's destiny, celebrated his 80th birthday in Sydney recently wirb the hope chat Fiji will recover from its deep political and social fractmes, both direct results of the military coup chat ousted his government from office.

Calling Australia his adopted country, Mr Sharma feels liberated living in a country that offers him his basic human right5 as well as recognizes his fodian identity. He was also President of Fiji's largest Hindu organisation, the Shree San.atan Dharam Prarinidhi Sabha.

Advocating politics of inclusiveness, :M.r Sharma said Fiji has mmed back a full circle into tl1e doldrums while pla}~ng tl1e race card. "Indians ,vho have been feared and accused of raking over tl1e education and economy of the country have been forced co look outside tl1e box," stared Sharma. "In do ing so, they have been exposed to global markets in countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada, and tl1ey utilized their education and skills to migrate and e1;rablish a better life. The coup was a mrning point in this conununicy's livelihood. They have sold iered on while our indigenous Fijian communities have been left behind, fooled into believing tl1at claiming ownership over land and letting it lie barren would get diem something in return".

"This ideology has been an end in itsel~" he continued. "One has to make use of every resource avaihble co survive and indeed Aoucisb in chis day of competition and open markets. Any ordinary citizen can zoom into the crisis crippling Fiji to m1derstand tl1at chose who played the race card have long deserted the country".

So what would he do if he were given another chance? ''\Vhile Fiji's constimtion is being redrafted, J would ensure that die cmmcry has a representative government, voted on Common roU," said Mr Sharma emphatically. "This would be a good political philosophy which

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Timoci Bavadra, an ethic Fijian who drew majority support from tl1e Indian communities. However, rbe Bavadra governmeot in which Sharma was deputy Prime M.inister was deposed in a military coup 33 clays later, on May 14, 1987. ln that year Mara rernrned to power, tl1e Alliance Party was dissolved and tl1e role of chiefs in Fiji's politics rook a new mrning point.

Mr Sharma set up his own law firm in 1969 and continued his involvement in politics, contesting seven elections without losing any.

He recited from politic5 in 1998 and became a life member of the Fiji Law Society in 2007. In August 2001, NL- Sharma was appointed an O fficer o f the Order of Fiji.

Addressing a small gathering of family and friends at Mr Sharma's 80th birthday celebrations, former registrar of the high court of Fiji, Mori Rai said Sharma's greatest assets were his co mpassion, humility, integrity and modesty.

Mr. Sharma recalled his eady years of struggle to gee an education and carve a career, claiming he does not have any regrets for the life be had. When a

community elder once passed a snide remark to a young Harish in the lace '60s: "Paidal chak ho, vak.eel s"hib, motor 11ahi11 hal', he famously replied, "Ji 11ahit1, Pundi!Ji, h,m1a,1r paas 111otor nahi11 bal'.

1n anotl1er amusing anecdote, Mr Sharma described how his marriage with his wife Ambika was arranged. The match maker, a woman known to both families, would say to his folks, "Ladki 1110/e ta[ya{lr hai, tum log k.e !tm,f se de1i bai ... (the girl's family is ok with die match, only you are delaying die process)". To Arnbika's fanilly she would say; "Ladke 1110/e ta!Jc1t1r hai, t11J11 log ke taraf se de,i hai ... tl1e b oy's family is o k with the match, o nly you are delaying the process."

I ow, Sharma refers to his wife as his "rock of Gibraltar", claiming he owes his success to her, who srood by through all their challenges of poverty, deafu1g with grief, tl1e political crises when he was locked away for six days during the military coup, and relocating to Australia.

The couple has three clilldre.n and several grandchildren.

JULY 2012 17

COMMUNITYSCENE

An Aussie girl in Mumbai An aspiring young Aussie wins a chance ofa lifetime to star in a Bollywood film

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BY DANIELLE MATHIAS

s a young child Teigan Lloyd-Evans would sit down with her mum to watch Hollywood films. She never imagined then that she would one day get a chance co be part of the most prolific film industry in the world.

However, the 24-year-old winner of the SBS TV show Bol!yu,ood Star has landed a role in a film directed by the legendary Indian film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, and is on her way to a challenging - and hopefully prosperous - Bollywood career.

It was her passion for Boll)7WOod films tl1ac made the Gold Coast native decide to audition for Bol!y1vood Stm; a reality show tl1at sought Bollywood aspirants in Australia to prove their acting prowess and win a chance to act in a H indi movie. "\X!hen this opporrunity arose, it just felt right," Teigan cold Indian Llnk. "I could have ignored my interest in th.is industry, b ut when you know sometlung feels right, you have to go for it!"

As she got older, Teigan began to see 'being white' as being less of an issue in relation to a career in films, despite her \'{!eJsh, Danish and Australian backgrmmds. "\'qhy can't a Caucasian girl be accepted in Bollywood, I said to myself. That just seems ridiculous .in this day and age. l believed that with tl1e right help and with persistence... (I could make it).

There was notl1ing I could foresee that was going to stop me on this journey".

The most challenging aspect of me competition for tlus gutsy ymmg lady was being unable to speak Hindi, but she was determined co learn the language.

"A lot of people didn't believe in me because I don't speak Hindi," she revealed. ''But as I have tried to tell a lot of people, it is a language.

A lot of people learn a new language every clay for different opponu1uties in Life, so why c.m'L I?" From the histrionics point of view, emotions often hindered ratl1er than helped Teigan diroughout the competition. She also said that personal challenges aUowed her to relate more closely to Bollywood films. "1 think in life you go through phases, and it was such an amazing phase of my Life being involved in B0J!),1vood.1ta1: I

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18 JULY 2012

was too elated to act with my raw emotion!" revealed Teigan.

"Bollywood films have such raw, unclefeatable, intense pain and emotion, it just strikes a chord in me. I come from a very small family which has been torn apart and there is no longer a sense of 'family' left. That has always been a huge struggle for me, because I know what it is like to have that beautiful fanuly bond and scruggle with die loss of it," she added.

The last few years have been challenging for Teigan: her parents split up, her relationship broke down, and her beloved clog passed away. She tackled Bof!yJJJoor/ Stt,r with newfound determination, and came out with Aying colours.

During the competition the six finalises were sent to Mumbai to undergo intense Bollrvood training and get an insight into lnclian culrure. In d1e fourtl1 episode, Teigan and the other contestants were split up and sent to Live with Indian fanulies in the slums of Dharavi for 24 hours. lt becan1e an experience Teigan isn't Likely to forget in a hurry.

"M.nmbai was crazy! lt is a place where you can't scop watching what is going on around you in case you miss something. Living ,;;,;~th my little fanilly for a night taught me so many things about how strong people are, and how happiness is rife in all walks of life no matter how sad or heartbreaking. I don't tlunk 1 have ever been so impressed with a community in my Life!"

Although living in India is such a stark contrast to the Aus tralian Ii festyle, the true blue Aussie never felt homesick.

"Of course, I tliink the majority of Australians would struggle slightly," she admitted. ''But honestly I was just so happy to be there and absorb this amazing place that it didn't really get co me. \'(le are so fortunate in Australia, and whenever I would start to think about tlus contrast it made me so grateful to be able to experience a place Like India so I can gr()W as a person and expand my knowledge of the world".

Teigan had a good rappon with all tl1e judges d1roughout me competition. Indeed, judge Anupam Sharma's excited mutterings as soon as she walked into that audition, gave it away that we would be seeing more of her in the conung episodes! But Teigan claims it was with Emma Brown Garrett chat she bonded most. ''i\11 of tl1e judges helped me immensely. 1 had a fantastic relationship with Emma - she is sucl1 a lovely wornan, she wanted

co help us in any way she cottld," revealed d1e young wannabe acttess. Emma Brown Garrett is a Caucasian Australian actress ,vorking in Bollywood films.

During the competition, Teigan became very close to the otl1er .linalists - Gautam ''G-Luv" Koul, Sharon Johal and Saral1 Roberts. ''I really hold my relationships with me other finalists close to my heart," said Teigan with disarming candidness. "They are all so beautiful and so individual. There is honestly nor a single bad tlung that would even cross my mind about any of tl1em. They are stand up people. Anyone who has tl1e chance to know any one of them is a lucky person".

Although she is now famous for winning Bol911voodStar, there is more co Teigan than just that. She applied 3 years ago to be a student paran1edic from Queensland, and is currently in training, Living two of her dreams at the same time.

"My experiences wit!, Bolfy111ood Slcir have helped me to be a better, more caring paran1eclic," she said.

Teigan's mother, who not only introduced her to Bollywood but also to Bol/y1voodStar, has been a huge inAuence i11 het Life and her success. " \),'hen I first watched Bollywood, I tl1oughr tlus is just so beautiful, it's so free, it's so colourful," said Teigan's mother in an interview on SBS. She mother has been very supportive of botl1 Teigan's career choices.

"J\fy mum would have always rooted for my career as a Bollywood star," Teigan acknowledged. "She has always said that. I know she is biased because she is my motl1er, but your mocher knows you better than anyone, and she has always wanted me to try this avenue!"

In December this year, Teigan will Ay to l'vfumbai to star in Mahesh Bhatr's film. ''I seriously can't wait and l am extremely grateful to be able to make a movie with him," she said enthusiastically.

Teigan described winning Bof!yJJJood Star as being tl1e turning point of her life. Through her hard-work, determination and positive attimcle, she bas made a social impact and has raised the profile of BoUywoocl in Australia.

"I have been getting a lot of positive feedback since winning the title, mostly from young women who are Caucasian and feel they might be interested in giving tl1e industry a go," she said.

In terms of what the future holds for her two dreams, Teigan said witl1 a smile, "My Life in the next few weeks, months and years is going to have serious time management issues! I will do me best that l can witl1 what time l have, but obviously t!1ese are two careers that are both very rime consunung. l could never make a choice between either of them as I am extremely passionate about botl1. Just wish me luck!"

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WHERE IS THE PROPERTY MARKET HEADED? IS THIS THE BEST TIME TO PURCHASE YOUR FIRST HOME OR INVESTMENT PROPERTY?

By Navjeet Singh Matta, ASIC Licensed Mortgage Broker also Director- Gain Home Loans (Full member MFAA)

D EAR FRIENDS, Hope you are keeping yourself warm in this chilly weather: we have couple of more months of co ld weather left before we head to spring in September.

Now Jet's talk about Lhe climate in IJ1c property 1mrrket! As per the reecnl RP Data property monitor rep(lrt, Lhe values of properties J1ave fallen in major cities a ll across Australia. This is despite RBA efforts to lift the housing market with rate cuts. Home values dropped 1.4 per cent across all capital cities in May and are now down by more than 5 per cent on a year ago. Melbourne was the worst performing city. with residentiaJ property values falling 2.7 per cent last momh and more than 8 per cent over the year. Sydney, which has proven resi lient to the market downturn. also posted a decline. ln May. the city' s home values were down I .2 per cem. resulting in a 3.6 per cem drop over IJ1e year. The Brisbane market is showing signs of improving after two years of lacklustre va lues. Until recently the river city' s home prices were falling most across Australian capital cities but last monlh they dipped just 0.3 per cent.

Adelaide was an exception and omperformed all orher capitals wiu1 1.2 per ccm rise in May. Perth had a decline of 1.7 per cent, Darwin 2.4, Canberra I .5 and l::lobart 1.2. Mucb of the weakness in rcaJ estate vaJues was in detached housing rather than apartments so it is clear tbat the market is becoming increasingly price-point driven with stronger performances across more affordable markets. unit values across the combined capitals increased in May and are up by 1.3 per cent over the first five monu1s of the year. On the positive note. the rental demand and the weekJy rental return is pretty strong. We get this concern from people that we could also see a crash in the property market. si111ila.r to US however the biggest difference I find between US and Aus tralian market is the supply of houses. In Australia we still have shortage of dwellings and rhere is a huge demand from both prospective tenants and first home buyers. so if you ask my opin ion. this is one of the best times to get in the property market as the prices are soft. We all know that we go through cycles in the property market and curren tly we are going through a lean period however if you look at the low interest rate~ bei11g offered by the lenders, the return is pretry good whether you a.re a first home buyer or an investor. If you are looking for a good deal on your home loan, please contact us on 0296763417 or 0412 452 429 and we can find the best deal for you as per your situation. our services are absolute ly free.

RECENT CHANGES FOR FI RST HOME BUYERS AN D I NVESTORS As you all know the NSW government announced their annual budget and apart of various other changes they have intmduced some substantial changes for the first home buyers and second home buyers/ investors. First Home buyers have been significantly affected. especially the ones who a.re looking to purchase an established property, these changes arc coming in effect from Isl October 2012. I have ou tlined below the changes that are going to take place: FIRST HOME .BUYERS ..... lf contract of sale is exchanged before 1st October 20 12: People who arc buying an established home will get 110 stamp-duty exemption however will be eligible for tJ1e $7,000 grant from the government People who are buying a brand new or off the plan home will get full stamp-duty exemption upto the value of $SOOK and partial up to $600K and also will be eligible for the $7,000 granr from the govc.rnmenr FIRST HOME .BUYERS ..... lf contract of sale is exchanged on or after 1st October 2012 People who are buying an established home will get no stamp-duty exemption and also will not be eligible for any government granr.

People who are buying a brand new or offlhe pla11-home will get full stamp-ducy exemption upto IJ1c value of $650K and aJso will be e ligible for IJ1e $15,000 grant from the government SE'.COND HOME BUYERS/l_NVESTORS.....IJ contract of sale is exchanged before 30th June 2012 People who are buying an established home will get 110 stamp-duty exemption and also will not be eligible for any government grant.

People who arc buying a brand new home will be eligible for 25% exemption in stamp duty (for the property to the vaJue of $600K) but no grant. If IJ1ey are buying off the plan home they will be eligible for full stamp-duty exemption upto the value of $600K of completed Jiome on the other hand Lhey wil l get a full stamp duty exemption on a land purchase upto the value of ,$ 400K (with a view to build in near future) SECOND HOME BUYERS/1:NVESTORS..... Lf contract of sale i-< exchanged on or after 1st Ju ly 2012 From July I.2012, a new $5,0QO grant will be provided to buyers of11ew homes, whether off the plan or newly built. with a value up lo $650,000 a.nd to buyers of vacant land that is imcnded to be the site of a new home valued up 10 $450.000 but the downside is that they w ill get 110 stamp-duty exemptions.

I have tried to explain the changes ln a simple language however if IJ1ere is something you want clarification on, please call me or send me an email and J'U respond immediately. There has been a mixed reaction with these changes. Some are saying that most benefit will go to the devcloperl; and builders who will now hike their prices. The first home buyers wbo wish to buy an established property will lose Olli on the benefits and may have to wait longer as they now have to come up wi th more deposit. on the other hand first home buyers who are buying brand- new property now need less deposit than before.

Thank you for reading this article and your continued support, as mentioned before if you are looki11g for a good deal on your home loan, please contact us at Gain Home Loans, Lyl I. 15 Flushcombe Rd. Blacktown, Ph: 02 9676 34 17 and 0412 452-l29 or you can drop me an email at info@gainhomcloans.com.au Disclaimer: Any ad1•ice gi,•en in this article does 1101 lake inro accoum the personal 11eeds and objecti1•es or ji11a11cial sit11a1ion of rhe re.oder. Tl,e reader should consider the appropriatene,rs of rhis and ,reek profe ssitmal adviG·e l/4ore makini; a decision whether to acquire or continue the products and services me111io11ed.

For appointment or any other information, call Rajesh Sethi on 0414 488 850 or Vijay Bansal on 0421 225 504

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JULY 2012 19

YOUTH

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A young Australian ofIndian origin will play for the Rams at the upcoming U/16 National Championships.

ustralian Rules, co1nmonly referred co as AFL (altl1o ugb this is tbe name o f the competition) originated in Viccoria in J 859 as the Victorian FootbaU League. The spore, while extremely popular in Australia, has had a cough time gaining popularity overseas. It is very encouraging tl1en, mar a young Australian of lndian origin has been recently selected in tl1e U/16 I SW/ ACT Rams side to comest me upcoming NAB AFL U/16 National Cham pio nships.

Late last year d1e AFL hosted me International Cup, which included teams from several nations, including Sweden, Fiji, France and lndia. While India has AFL programmes in Kerala and West Bengal and tl1e sport is defi nitely gaining popularity, in Australia, Angad Roy is the fuse player from an Indian background co represent l SW/ ACT at any l ational Cham pionships.

Angad plays in che centre half-back/ forward position, and bas been part of the Slater & Gordon Giants Academy for the past three years. Lachlan Bus7.,ard, tbe Academy i\lianager, sees A ngad's selection in me side as an important step towards a potential career in tl1e AFL. He is one of tl1ree young players in tl1e academy from an Indian background.

Speaking about Angad's selection in the side, Buszard was excited. "It's a great opportunity for A ngad to play against the best yoLmg plarers in Australia and gain an insight into what it's like co be an AFL player in terms of recovery, game preparation and diet," he said. "It's a chance for Angad ro test himself and see where he is placed across me national talent pool".

"The selection of Angad shows the growth of me game in d1e Western Sydney region, and the multicultural diversity of the Greater \Xlestern Sydney a.rea is also rep resented rnrough his selection," he added.

A ngad also believes his experiences at the academy have been very positive. "The acad emy has been excellent in developing my game," he told lndi,111 Link,

20 JULY 2012

"and I have found I have improved a lot not only in terms of my APL skills, b m things like discipLine, diet a.ncl tl1e way l conduct myself overall. l t also helps to have some()ne like Ryan HuJihan, who played 200+ games for Carlton, as a coach and mentor to help me tmderstand what I need co improve o n and what I need co do if I want to play AFL at the highest level".

Altl1ough Angad attends tl1e Kings School in Parramatta, where tbe focus is o n rugby, he has found no trouble 6tri.og in AFL arow1d his school commitments. "l\,[y friends have taken a.n interest in what l do not as m uch me game itself, as l go to a predominantly rugby school, however mey have shown more interest tl1an what rney had previously shown. My school has been very supportive and gave me an exemption from playing rugby this year so that l could focus more on AFL".

For this young man, AFL brings with it an altogether different level of challenges to oilier sports.

"I am drawn to AFL more because of the fact mac you have to be good at so many different rnings, such as kicking, hand balling, fitness and pace," he observed.

You need to have this to be successful and none of it comes wi tl1our practice. This challenge bas provided me wim a work eth ic not only in AFL, b ut in most parts of my Ji fe".

And ind eed, Angad's crai.ning routine is hectic. Five days of training, along witl1 matches o n Sundays, mean Angad is much busier than most ocher boys his age. "It sometimes takes away from school, but tl1at all comes down to rime management," he noted wirn man1rity. "However, school and AFL go weU together as o ne provides as an escape from tl1e other".

Much of Angad's success can be owed co his supportive parents, who intro duced him to the sport after falling in love wim it upon coming co Australia. "They have probably been the biggest help in terms of where I have gotten today. They don't miss a game of mine or my bromer's ".

Angad recognises iliac a futme in AFL involves plenty of hard work and a.n extreme focus.

It's early days yet - but it has definitely been a fantastic start to his journey.

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Sarni

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Office : 9307 7272 Fax : 9307 7273 eashara@bigpond.com 1

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JULY 2012 21

SPECIAL REPORT

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Meeting Malaika

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RAKAMITRA

he Sydney Indian Film Festival kicked off its third year on June 24 widi the glitz and glamour that has become synonymous with all things Bollywood. This yea.r's festival aptly titled 'Bollywood and Beyond' showcases the best of Bollywood, regional blockbusters and arc-house films. i\,1ind Blowing Films has been bringing mis magic to us and ic just gets better every year, now being dubbed as die largest festival of irs kind in the Soutliern Hemisphere.

Having just concluded a successful Melbomne festival, di.rector Mitt1 Bhowmick Lange was tired buc glowing as she embarked upon the Sydney leg of tli e festival. While she had rounded up cop stars Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra for the Melbourne evem, she made up with a high gla.m quotient for Sydney with the srunn.ing Ma.laika Arora Khan, and an equally high cerebral element with off-beat film-maker Ritupa.rno Ghosh.

The festival marked its opening ceremony wid1 both special guests.

Malaika graced the red carper in her usual style, braving the bitter wi nter chill in a dazzling black lehe11ga, leaving a positively starstruck audience in her wake. An exclusive premiere screening of Ritt1parno Ghosh's Chitrangada at Fox Smdio's Cinema Paris was also well attended by mo,,ie buffs. (Ghosh's other lilm in me festival, Me1J1ories in JV!arch, where he scars again but dus time with Bollywood's Deepti Naval and Raima Sen, is an unusual bur critically acclaimed film on me bond between a gay p rotagonist and lus dead boyfriend's mother).

Other films in the festival included me mainstream Kahaani, The Dir(y Picture, Do11 2, Delhi Be!!J', l3oc!Jguan4 Tshaqzaade, Zindagi Na Milegi Dohara, Aamkshan, Paan Singh Tontm· and TAm K1t!aatJ1.

From regional films me line-up included So11 ef Ad11111 and Ummi (Malayalam), I'[yi11g Fish (Tamil/ Sinhalese), Bo/ (Urdu), Beatt()' and Brains (Nepalese), Mehe,ja,m (Bengali), Chah-ak (Bengali/ Tamil), Laptop (Bengali), Se11gadal (Tamil), B,t!m Band Baqja (Maratlii) and offbeat Hindi films Michael and Shab,i.

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22 JULY 2012

A hush falls within the room as a beautiful young woman is seen descending the glass elevator at WoolloomooUoo's Hotel Blu. \Vith just a few hours of sleep after a long plane journey, how· she scill manages to look the way she does .is beyond me! Malaika Arora Khan steps off me elevator and bedazzles all of us with a smile chat comes from within.

Welcomes are mumbled as this is her first visit to Sydney, but me real question is, "Will Munni be back for Dahba11g 2?"

But we begin with Malail-a's plans for her trip to Sydney: what is she looking forward to seeing and experiencing?

'The Opera House! My son said to me, 'Mom, make sure you get a picture of tl1e Opera House', so I have tO go there. I hear Bondi Beach is beautiful, but it might be a bit cold at this time of the year. Also, I hear Sydney has good food, so I hope to experience some of that," says Malaika enthusiastically.

I explain tha t food is a subject close to my own heart; so what kind of food would Ma.laika like to taste here:, "I'm happy to try anything. I love a good steak... but 1 won't cry kangaroo! I love spicy food actt1ally; South lndian food is o ne of my favourites," she says.

And how does a foodie like you maintain that figure, I have ro ask enviously. "I eat everything. I love food buc I live a routine, I exercise every day, go to the gym, dance and maimain a healtl1y lifestyle.

A b usy lifestyle as well," admits M alaika.

How does she balance a tough lifestyle and motherhood, is it challenging? "Well, 1 am not different to any other woman, really. Yes, I have work and commitments, but most moms do. I have help and support at home as weU," says M alaika candidly.

The actress is in volved wid, a Joe of dancing ta.lent shows.

Being a mother of a young child, what does she think the impact of competition is on children of such tender years?

"This is a question that is close to my heart. I have always voiced my concerns regarding children on shows. I personally feel dilldren should be out playing and enjoying their childhood, hut then tl1e otl1er side of tl1e srory is that it's just a platform for children ro showcase theLr talent," says Malaika.

So did sbe always want to be a Bollr-vood sra.r? "Acttially I always loved dance, and figured I ,vould reach and open a dance school.

But BoUywood happened. 1 am a qualified child psychologist and was a.II set to head into chat direction. Bur then some things fell into place and here I am," she says with an elegant shrug.

And finally, l wait for the answer we're all hoping co hear.

So, will Nfonni make a comeback in Dabbang 2? "Well, we ace shooting for Dabba11g 2 at the moment. So you wi11 just have co wait and watch," says tvfalaika wi th a mysterious smile. \XleU, some answer is better than no answer at alll

Reinventing an epic Legend has it chat Chicrangada was a princess born co the King of Manipura, and dus legend formed the bas.is of Rabindranath Tagore's famed Bengali dance drama o f tlie same name. As the onlr child of the Ki ng and beir to d1e t hro ne, the Princess Chitra.ngada is trained in martial arts and dresses as a man tO presume her responsibilities co guide her kingdom. One day she meets A rjun on a h unting trip and falls in love. A rjun is impressed by her skill and agility but is confused by her feminine masculin.i ty or rather, masculine ferninin.ity.

Ch.itrangada is fo rlorn as she realises that Arjun can never love her in her current form and goes to find Kamadev, the Goel of Love. Witl1 his help she is born anew as a beautiful woman, bur returns co a kingdom in chaos. Their love s tory is complete when Arjtm realises die beautiful woman is none other than tlie skilled young warrior he met on the bunting expedition.

Ritt1pa.mo Ghosh's interpretation of dus classic can be described as nothing if not fornudable, in bis film Chitrangada. He pushes the botmdaries of societal stigmas by suggesting that Chicrangacla was a man. He resurrects Kaniaclev as a cosmetic surgeon who performs gender reassignment surgery on Chitrangada. Whilst in d1e classic tale, Chitrangada was embraced by her Arjun, this tale has a more realistic hearcbear. The movie follows the emotional passage of a man going through such a procedure. It h ighlights the strains in his relationships

with t he people in his Life, and rakes the audience on a journey of acceptatio n, realisation and liberation. \\?hen quizzed about his expectations of audience reaction specifically in India, a country scill cloistered in the closet when it comes to sexuality, Ghosh responds saying, "There are rwo types of audience in India. One is more educated and understands the importance of showing such cinema ro die masses. And the ocher is one chat will always create a fuss! Bue I am not worried abouc them." Ghosh is quietly confident that his movie will make its mark.

G hosh laughs when questioned about the i.mricacies of being the lead actor and director in the movie. "\~ell, it wasn't easy and I had to have a lot of faidi in my assistant directors. It was also in teresting to experience what it's like being on the other side," he says with a chuckle.

This tasteful and magnificent interpretation of ao epic tale is firring in its release, acknowledging the 150th birm anniversary of the immortal Tagore.

Short film contest An integral part of the film festival is die Western Union Short FiLn Competition \Vhicb encourages fiLn-makets form India, New Zea11nd as well as Australia to participate and get their work judged by experts.

This year's theme was 'Connections'. This year's winner is Nielesh Verma from the S)'dney Film School, who received accolades from the audience for his movie, utlers Ho111e. The film beautifally encapsulates how, in crying co protect our loved ones from harsh realities, we often treat tbem as strangers by filtering me messages we send to diem.

"The judging panel of this year's competition comprised of renowned film-mal<ers and producers like Raj Kumar Hirani, M ick Molloy, Kabir Khan and Kuna! Kohli," i\,iitu said in Melbourne as she annoLrncecl the winner. "I t was difficult for them to pick a winner amongst the brilliant work chat was seen chis year. The theme of 'Connections' was wonderfully explored by all the entrants".

Contestam Shaun Thomas won from Z, Soumya Guruprasad from i'vfelbourne and Ma nja.ri Makijany from India.

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INDIAN NEWS

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in Islamabad co p repare for the meeting of foreign ministers in September.

Krishna recently said he hopes to visit Islamabad in the first week of September for talks '.\~th his Pakistani counterpart.

The two countries also discussed revival of cricketing ties and focused on enhancing sports and media exchanges.

)>

,:,

After particle discovery, spotlight on Satyendra Nath Bose

Spectators watch a Mixed Martial A.rts (MMA.) bout at the FCC (Full Contact Championship) 6 fight night in Mumbai on June 30, 2012. Fight nights are gaining popularity in Mumbai as fighters from all over the country are pitted against competitors who have been 'cross-trained' to fight in different styles combining a mix of kick-boxing, judo, wrestling, grappling and other martial art forms.

India pushes for 26/ 11 CBM, Pakistan rejects state role India recently pressed Pakistan to bring co juscice those guilty of the 26/11 attack and said it could be tl1e biggest confidence building measure (CBi'vf) as Islamabad strongly rejected any role of state actors in the carnage and offered a joint probe.

The foreign secretaries o f I ndia and Pakistan, Ranjan Mathai and Jalil Abbas J ilani, wrapped up two days of t,'llks o n peace and security, including CBMs,Jarnmu and Kashmir as well as the promocion of friendly exchanges. The talks ''were held in a frank and construccive atmosphere", said a joint statement.

Issues tlnown up by the disclosures made by 26/11 plotter Abu Jindal Hamza, which India said point to the involvement of Pakistani state actors in the Nov 26, 2008 terrorist attack in 1'1urnba.i, figured prominently in the discussions.

India shared informacion on Jindal's disclosures and pressed Islamabad to bring the perpetrators of the carnage co justice.

"Terror.ism is the biggest threat to peace and security in the reg ion, and bringing the guilty to justice in tl1e Mumbai terror attacks would be the biggest confidence building measure of all," said Matl1ai.

"The arrest of Abu Jindal has added an urgency to the matter. \Xie will conrinue to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion," he said.

In response,Jilani said while terrorism was a common enemy of both India and Pakistan, " trading charges will not help".

J ilani refuted India's accusation of the involvement of Pakistani state agencies in the Mumbai terror engineered by 10 Pakistanis that left 166 people, including many foreigners, dead and 238 injured. " I strongly reject any insinuation of any involvement of state agencies in any act of terrorism in India," Jilan.i replied when asked about J indal's d isclosures. "] assured him (Mathai) chat whatever evidence India hRs, the enrire evidence should be shared. We are even willing for a joint invescigacion into the marter," said J ilan.i.

26 JULY 2012

"\'v'henever we are faced with terrorism, we should intensify cooperation. In case there are certain gaps, we should fiU those gaps in the spirit of cooperation," Jilani said while calling for greater cooperation between the home ministries and respective agencies of rhe two countries.

Despite differences in perceptions o n the issue of terrorism, the two countries decided co pursue tl1e dialogue and stressed on enhancing bilateral trade chat could produce win-win outcomes.

"While we might not agree o n all issues, we do agree that relations between our two countries have to be normalised. There is a determination o n both sides to take forward our dialogue with an open mind and a construccive spirit," said Matl1a.i.

Stressing tl1atJindal's revelarions do not constitute a setback to the re,, h,ed peace process, J ilan.i underlined that the two countries have to ''move from an adversarial relacionship to a positive narrative".

"There is absolutely no setback; the setback is not what we can afford," J ilan.i replied when asked whetl1er Jindal's revelations were a setback to the peace process.

"We have positively assessed the dialogue process. We have made significant progress in all areas."

Matlrni agreed saying, "\'{/e have made progress .in people-to-people relations and trade. The forward movement on trade is a win-win outcome. We plan co move forward on the trade track."

The two sides discussed the Jam mu and Kashmir issue and agreed to find a peaceful solucion "by narrowing di,,ergences and building convergences".

L1 chis context, both sides d iscussed strengthening CBMs to step up trade and travel across tl1e Line of Control (LoC) char divides Kashmir and decided to convene a meeting of the working group on crossLoC CBMs on July 19 in Islamabad.

The foreign secretaries also discussed the dare for the visit of External Affairs Minister S.M. Kris hna co Islamabad.

The foreign secretaries will meet again

The discovery of a new subatomic particle, possibly d1e Higgs boson considered "a key to the cosmic riddle", has put the spotlight once again on Saryendra Natl1 Bose, the Indian scientist from whose surname the word 'boson' is derived.

"India is like a historic father o f the project," said Paolo Giubellino, spokesman of the Geneva-based European Organisation for uclear Research (also known as CEfu"\J), which conducted the experiments to find the elusive 'God' particle.

Bose (1894-1974), a physicist from Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) and a contemporary of German sciencist Albert Einstein, did path-b reaking work on q uantum mechanics in the early 1920s, using maths to describe the behavioural pattern of d1e bosons -- o ne of d1e lWO families of fundamental particles chat tl1e universe is classified into.

The ocher family of fundamental particles -- fermions -- is named after Italy-born American physicist Enrico Fermi.

Bose worked with Einstein in the 1920s, providing the foundation for Bose-Einstein statistics, and the Bose-Einstein condensate.

He is also acknowledged as tl1e person who la.id the f0tmdacion of quantum staristics.

However, Bose never woo the Nobel Prize, even though in later years the award was given several times for research on bosons. " He la.id the base though his work.

He definitely deserved the l obel Prize.

Definitely,'' said Archan Majumdar, an astro-physicist at SN Bose N acional Cen tre for Basic Sciences in Kolkata. " Howe,·er, at the same time, some kin d of historical justice has also been done. H is name has been immortalised in bosons," Majumder said.

"And while it is always good to recognise past achievemenrs, it does not take d1e sheen away from the present successes. \X'hat the CEfu'"\J scientisrs have done is greac:. I r's a g reat leap forward in the ftmdamental research and knowledge of human civilizacion," he said.

Milan Sanyal, director of Saha lnsticute of Nuclear Physics, tl1o ugh delighted at the discovery, rued tl1e fact tl1ar while the Higgs (named after British physicist Peter Higgs) in H.igi,>s boson was in upper case, the boson was in lower case. "l shalJ write to CERN on tlus. It is not a complaint. But I will point it out. I have already received many emails and calls on this. l don't want to shoot any lecter now as tl1ey are celebrating. But I shall write to tl1em soon," Sanyal said.

However, he said scientists of his instimte had collaborated with Genevabased European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) for the crucial Compact l\foon Solenoid (CMS) experiments.

"On August 26, 2011 we signed tl1ree memoranda of tmderstandings with CER1

one o f which was on CMS," he said.

Five faculty members from the instin1te were part of the core CMS team. " Besides, we have 10 Ph.D. students who are part of the project," he said.

Pine needles fuel business for Himachal villagers Pine needles, a major cause of forest fires in H.irnachal Pradesh, a.re now helping villagers earn money.

The inflammable needles, which fall on the grmmd in summer and cause forest fires because they have resin, are being used as bio-fuel by a cement plant.

The locals are collecting die needles and selling them at R s.1.65 per kg to d1e company.

"Gujarat A mbuja Cements is using pine needles along with charcoal in its kilns.

The needles have good calorific value," divisional forest officer Pradeep T hakm said.

Th.is is tl1e second year in a row when tl1e company is purchasing the needles directly from tl1e local people for its p lant in Ropa.r in Punjab, adjoining the hill state. Last season the company procured 250 tonnes of pine needles.

T his cime it has procured more d1an 560 tonnes and tl1e procurement is still o n. The forest department is facilitating the trade between the company and the villagers.

Thakur said the company bad .increased the procurement rare from Rs.1.50 per kg to Rs.1.65 per kg.

"It's a good source of additional income for the viUagers. Jo the Harnirpur forest division alone, more than 200 families are involved in tl1e job," he said.

On an average, a family earns a1:ound R.s.15,000 per month through pine needles, said an official.

The forest deparm1ent has set up 20 collection centres in the forest division where the company is procuring directly.

Ar the collection centres, the needles are packed into bales of 35 kg to 40 kg using maclunes provided by che company.

"The transportation cost is quire high but in financial terms irs use is viable as the company is saving 25 to 30 percent of coal," Thakur said.

T he company is also paying Rs.5 per qu.intal as royalty to the panchayat concerned from where the needles are extracted.

Manju Devi of Bhoraj village in Hamirpm district said d1e collecrion of pine needles was a good source of alternacive income.

"Since pine needles are not used at homes as a burn directly (due co the presence of various nitrogen ox.ides), these lie unused in d1e forests. The demand picked up after the compan)r started procming them. \Y/e are now earning up to Rs.40,000 in a season (from May to June)," Manju Devi said.

The needle fall starts in April-end and continues cill tl1e beginning of July.

Forest officials said the harvescing of needles greatly help checking forest fires coo.

On an average, a pine forest yields two to three tonnes of needles per hectare during a season and the stare has pine forests spread over 1,500 sq km, fmmd up to an altin1de of 5,500 feet.

This summer, forest weald1 estimated at well over Rs.2 crore (over $400,000) spread over 20,000 beer.ares has been destro)red in forest fires.

www.ind ianlink.com.au

ij

INDIAN NEWS A majority of [he fires are reponed from the pine forests.

"Supplying pine needles to an industrial unit is a great success. We are identifying some other end users too," said Avtar Singh, chief conservator (Forest Protection and Fire Control).

According to the 2009 Forest Survey of India report, Himacbal Pradesh bas 37,033 sq km of forest area, of which 3,224 sq km is very dense forest.

PM announces Rs.500 crore for flood-hit Assam Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently announced an a.id package of Rs.500 crore for Assam, which has been severely hit by Roods, causing an estimated 65 deaths and inundating large stretches of land, including cropland.

The announcement came after tl1e prime minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi undertook an aerial survey of some Aood affected distciccs of tl1e state.

"The Rs.500 crore is sanctioned for immediate relief of the state. A central team has reached the state and wiU scare assessing tl1e total damage of the Aoods in tl1e state and all the required financial assistance will be extended to the state government based on the assessment of tl1e central tean1," said the prime minister, while reacting our a statement before the media at LGBI International r\irport near Guwahati.

According to the state Disaster Management Autlwrity (SOMA), the Aoods, affecting all 27 districts of the state, killed at lease 65 people recently. Anot!1er 16 people were killed in the past two weeks due to landslides, caused by heavy Aooding and incessant ra.infa.U. The prime minister, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Assan1, also assured the state of efforts to restore the railway line in the Lumding-Bada.r pur Hill section of tl1e Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

The railway ministry has already been instructed to take up immediate steps to restore the railway line as it is a lifeline for tl1e people in Assa.m's Barak VaUey; as weU as nejghbouring Nlizoram and Tripura.

Witb the Rood waters receding at some places, Manmohan Singh said the primary focus now would be on rescuing people who have been left marooned in flood-bit areas and providing relief to t!1em.

The prime minister had earlier announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.1 lak.h each to the relatives of those killed in Aoods and landslides. Besides, the state government will also pay Rs.2.5 lakh each to the relatives of tl1e victims.

He also noted that over 700 army personnel, and 16 teams of tl1e National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), compris.iug over 600 persoru1el and 71 boats, have been pressed into service for carrying out relief and rescue operations across the state.

"So far, a total of 4,000 people have been rescued across the stare and 20 tonnes of relief material has been airlifted by the Air Force to help the marooned people," the prime minisrer added.

"A total of 4.84 lak.b people, who have been rendered homeless by Roods, have taken shelter in the 768 relief across the state. All the required help was given to the inmates of die relief camps," be said.

Manmohan Singh said mat the state government has adequate stock of food

INDIAN LINK

A freestyle motorbike stunt rider flies in midair during a stunt show organised by an energy drink beverage company near the Indian war memorial India Gate in New Delhi, India on 30June 2012. The show is part of one of the biggest freestyle motocross tours in India. grain but the central government will provide additional supplies of grain and other materials as and when required.

Meanwhile, Assam's opposition parties, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the AU I ndia United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Bharatiya Janata Parry (BJP) and others, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the pack.age announced by the prime minister.

AIUDF leader and Leader of Opposition Sirajuddin Ajmal said that Rs.500 crore is not sufficient as immediate relief as tl1ere has been huge devastation and loss of human lives and property in the floods.

BJP state unit spokesman Santa.nu Bharal.i also echoed similar sentiments, and also criticised the response of tl1e state government. "\Xlith the waters starting to recede, now the major problem will start in the form of diseases.

However, we have not seen any alertness on t!1e part of the government co deal wid1 the situations that normally a.tises after the Aoods," he said.

Sunita Williams heading back to space again Indian-American astronaut Sunita WiUiams is all set to return to the lnternational Space Station, where she spent a record six months .in 2006.

Daughter of an lndian American father from Gujarat and a Slovenian mother, Williams is currently making final preparations for a Julr 14 launch from tl1e Ba.ikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according to a NASA announcement.

She will be a Aight engineer on the station's Expedition 32 with Flight Engineers Yuri Malenchenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency and Akihiko Hos hide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration J\gency. On reaching the space station she will take over as commander of Expedition 33.

Williams and her coUeagues will be aboard t!1e station during an exceptionally

busy period that includes two spacewalks, d1e arrival of Japanese, US commercial and Russian resupply vehicles, and an increasingly faster pace of scientific research, the US space agency said.

Williams is the second woman of lndian heritage co have been selected by NASA for a space mission after Kalpa.na Chawla and tl1e second astronaut of Slovenian heritage after Ronald M. Sega.

She holds three records for female space travellers: longest spaceAjght ( 195 days), mm1ber of spacewalks (four), and total time spent on spacewalks (29 hours and 17 minutes).

A 1987 graduate of tl1e US Naval Academy, Williams served in various roles as a Navy officer before being selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 1998. She received a master's degree from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995.

NCC to grow, change training syllabus The National Cadet Corps (NCC), India's militarr youth movement in schools and coUeges, is all set to grow with the defence ministry planning to increase its sanctioned strength from the existing 13 l.akh to 15 lakh cadets.

The outfit is also readying to change its a:aining syllabus, refining tl1e philosophy to make ir contemporary and meet the aspirations of the country's yomh.

These issues were discussed at the NCC Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting cha.ired by i\ilinister of State for Defence M.M. PaUam Raju in New Delhi recently.

"The in1portant issues discussed during die CAC meeting included ina:oduction of a new syUabus based on the relined a:aining philosophy co make it contemporary and meet tl1e aspirations of the youtli of the country.

"In addition, an increase in authorised strengtl1 of cadets to be enroUed in NCC, raising of additional NCC units and enhanced role of NCC cadets in social and

community development program.me were also discussed during the meeting," defence minist1-y officials said.

Addressing die meeting, Raju complimented the NCC on the excellent performance of its cadets in ,1arious activities pertaining co training, sports, advennire, social service and comrnmi.ity development.

Describing the l CC cadets as "leaders of tomorrow," Raju said since they are the key instrm11ems of social change, economic growth and technological innovations, there is an urgent need to channelise their energy in proper d irection with care.

On t!1e occasion, l CC Director General Lt. Gen. P.S. Bha.Ua presented a detailed update on CC activities in the past two years to the members of the CAC. CAC is the apex body that advises the government on policies regarding the constitution and administration of 1 CC. The CJ\C also consists of nominated members of parliament, the tri-services chiefs, and eminent educatirni.ists.

IANS

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Exciting opportunities exist here and throughout India .

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0412 345 100

JULY 2012 27

ARTS

erewor

The true trauma experienced by asylum seekers in detention centres comes alive through their artwork

hey say a picture paints a d10usand words. But as ] fixed my gaze upon Kama!esh's hanowing oil painting, I began to wonder whed1er die age-old idiom did this work enough justice. We'd talked abom h is time at Villawood Immigration Detention Cenu:e plenty of times before. Yet, nothing he had previously told me quite articulated the grimness of life in mandatory detention as vividly as this painting did.

This picmre didn't just paint a thousand words. It spoke infinite, Ltoutcerable words of pain and torture. Kamalesh, a Sri Lankan refugee who spent more chan cwo years detained at Villawood IDC, was evenmaJJy granted his visa in September 2011. The artwork, which he describes as "refugee feeling," was painted while he was still in detention.

I asked him how long he'd been painting, co which he replied, ''Before detention, I had not painted".

I knew he muse have been pulling my leg. The qualicy of Karnalesh's work clearly attested co a lifetime of making art. Bue from his serious cone of voice, L knew he wasn't lying.

"I learned how co paint from che TVS program Masterclass in Oils 1Pith Ken Horri.r. He is my master," he said w ith a chuckle. ''\v'hen I was in detention, I never missed iliac shmv".

Bur co create paintings with such intricacy and depch, be needed specific brushes and oil paints. Detainees held in Villawood IDC are rarely permitted beyond che centre prernises. It would have been impossible for Kamalesh to go shopping for resot1rces. \Xlhile Ken Harris caught Kama!esh che very basic skills required in landscape painting, ic was d1e volunteers at tbe Refugee Art Project tl1at provided him with most of d1e necessary materials he needed to make his art, and gave him the encouragement and professional guidance he needed co hone his skills.

"One of d1e most fulfilling parts of mis project is seeing detainees enjoy them selves in art, and then develop cheir

28 JULY 2012

Artworks by Kamalesh Tamil asylum seeker Christmas Island boat tragedy Dove Sri Lankan army bombing the Tamils Right: Kamalesh (extreme right) with mates at the Refugee Art Project's kitchen open day

own creative vision and style in spite of the many burdens and constraints chat are p laced upon them. This was the case wid1 Kamalesh," said Dr Safdar Ahmed, founder and director of the p roject.

The Refugee Art Project began in late 2010 as an iniciative co provide art classes for asylum seekers in detention, and co showcase d1eir creacive work in public exhib itions. More d1an a year later, the project remai ns .in full swing.

According to the project's website, most of d1e artworks done b y detainees share the d1emes of trauma, exile, hope and endurance. The project's key intention is m express d1e stories and experiences of refugees in a manner that fruitfuUy engages wid1 d1e general public.

''\Vhile refugee supporters do essential and valuable work, it occurred co us chat asylum seekers are too often being spoken for or abour, wid1 little room to speak for themselves" said Dr Ahmed. "Tims, our idea was to empower refugees by giving d1em a voice through art to ilie wider community".

Villa.wood IDC bolds asylum seekers from di fferenc parts of che world. l ot al.I of d1em have a good grasp of English, let alone a basic t1nderscandi ng of it. Arc gives everyone d1e equal opportunity to speak d1eir minds without having to use accuaJ words.

"I was able to express my feelings d1rough painting," said Karna!esh. '·Whatever materials I needed, I asked Safdar and he brought d1em in for me."

An aspect of Kamalesh's artwork that 1 fmmd parcicularly striking was the tears of blood seeping from the hoUowed eyes of the eerie humanoid tree in ilie central foreground of che painting. When I asked Kama!esh what d1ese blood y tears meant he said, "Great sadness."

Was the concorted figure meant co be him?

He smi led and shook h is head.

"No. le can be any refugee d1at is suffet:ing from being in detention for such a long time," was his poignant answer.

On March 30, a parliamentary inquiry into rnandatocy detention confirmed tbac 90 percent of detainees suffer clinically significant depression. The report also stated that ha! f chis nt1m ber is diagnosed w ith pose-traumatic stress disorder, and a quarter

''

An aspect of Kamalesh's artwork that I found particularly striking was the tears of blood seeping from the hollowed eyes of the eerie humanoid tree in the central foreground of the painting.

''

www.indianlink.com.au

ll

report having suicidal thoughts.

1 asked Dr Ahmed about the impact the project has had on d1e mental bealch of detainees al Villawood. "The act of art-making certainly pw,ides a polnL of immersion ducing which detainees can forget about their problems, so it is therapeutic in that way," he said.

Karnalesh agreed. "\\;'hen 1 was inside mr room, I "\vouJd always feel tension. But when l attended the: arr classes in the visitor's area, J was able to mix with different people and do painting. This made my mind feel relaxed," he re, ealed.

BuL Dr Ahmed made it clear that art d1erapy cannot significantly in1prove symptoms of mental illness. "We don't see mucl1 cl1ance of really helping people until they are taken out of the environment that is making them sick in Lhe first place, which is d1e detention centre," he said.

Nonetheless, the momemarr solace and enjoyment that Kamalesb found when he mindfu.lly engaged in painting was one of the most memorable parts of his time in detention. ln fact, he and other detainees who also participated in the art classes and have since been granted visas, continue tQ maintain links with d1c: ptojecL Some have even had Lhe rewarding opportunity to see their own artworks publicly displayed.

Recencl)', the project hoste<l the highly successful L!fe i11 LJn7/Jo exhibition at the Braemer Gallery in the Blue Mountains.

The exhibition, whid1 contains a series of works produced entirely by asylum seekers, will aL~o he displayed in Sydney's UTS building d1roughom July and will travel to Melbourne in early October.

Dr Ahmed believes the presentation of these artworks 7

INDIAN LINK

wiU have a positive impacr on the 1\ustrali,'ln public. ·'We are hoping to get lots of people into the c..xhibit.ion ancl really open their eyes Lo d1e inspiring talent, perseverance and promise of those who are so unfairly locked away in our detention centres," said Dr 1\hmed. ·'The work in this exhibition shows the tenacity, hope and faith of people who have fled the most hellish circumstances to tr)' and forge a new life for themselves and their families, and they should be admired and supported for cl1ar," he concluded.

JULY 2012 29

BOOKS

Beyond champagne chic • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

An enticing book takes a revealing peek into Indian diplomacy and its many intricate levels, writes MANI SH CHAND

I

ndian diplomacy is 50 percent protocol, 30 percent alcohol and 20 percent TN Kaul (India's legendary foreign secretary in the lace sixties), so goes the famous one-liner. Bue it's dearly much more than glamorous parties and clinking champagne glasses as a new book, wh ich stitches together analyses, insights and .reminiscences of India's stalwart diplomats, shows.

Titled The A 111bassadon' Clt,b (}forper Collins), the book, edited

by KV Rajan, a retired diplomat, weaves rare snapshots of lndian diplomacy in action at some of the fraught and exhilaracing moments in l.ndia's management of its foreign relations.

The book bristles with revelations and rare insights into how Indian diplomacy operates o n the ground amid challenging situations and takes you beyond diched ofticiaJ formulations and discourses that often hide more than tl1ey say.

AND Haksar's brief bur compelling accounc of an impromptu summit meeting between Pakistan's dictator Z iaul-Haq and India's then Prime

M:inister l'vlorarji Desai in · airobi in 1978 during the funeral ceremony of Kenyan leader Jomo Kenyarca is o ne sud1 example that will prod read ers to dig deeper into tl1e book.

In the chapter entitled A Si11g1ilar Ju111mit, Haksar writes: "Bhutto was executed in the following sw11mer of 1979 by tl1e Z ia government despite pleas for d emency from many leaders and governments around me world.

O ne which made no such plea was India, the Desai government taking die view tl1at the matter was an internal affair of Pakistan. \'(fhether or not the previous summer's smnrnit had any role in this can only be a sub ject of specul;ition."

There are also gripping accounts of some of the country's much-esteemed retired diplomats whose stints coincided with hi.srory-changing moments in the countries in which tl1ey were posted.

TP Sreenivasan found himself grappling with the a ftermath of a coup in Fiji in 1987 which was aimed at u ndermining the lndianorigin majority in F iji's affairs. A

Madhavan recalls vividly what it meant to be in the midst of o ne of the iconic events of tl1e time, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and how India ingeniously built diplomatic b ridges with a remufied Germany.

Jagat S Mehta, the doyen of Indian diplomats and now in his 90s, looks back at his diplomatic stin t in China and seems co question Nehru and his advisers in their judgments of Clunese intentio ns in the late 1950s and 1960s. Commenting on Mehta's article, KV Rajan, the editor of the book, writes: "Could tbe India-China war have been avoided if ebru had been a better judge, or better advised, and his d evoted and overawed bureaucrats were not convinced d1ar 'Panditji knows best?"

What imparts a unique flavour to the book are first-person accounts lil,e that of The Last Dt?)'S of StilPado,· A llende, the Chilean dictat01; by GJ Malik and Niranjan Desai's gripping tale of his travails in 1972 as an officer on special duty after Ugandan dictator Idi Amin whimsically expelled all Asians holding citizenship of

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Britain.

Toe A t11bassad01:r' CIH/J is probably the first in a series of anthologies of reflections and reminiscences by Indi:w diplomats as they juggle diverse domains ranging from cli mate change negotiations to labyrintl1s of WT O talks and fills in on di e drama and atmospherics that are missing from more scliolatly tomes on international relations.

The book should be specially useful co practitioners as well as students of international relations.

Above all, it should inspire more young people to joi11 the woefully understaffed Indian Foreign Se.rvice.

In a foreword co the book, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon recalls how he recently met a young man who had made it to tl1e IFS, but was being dissuaded by his lAS colleagues and his girlfriend from

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joining it. Menon says he tried to convince him about me singularity of the diplomat's job, but in retrospect thought he should just have given lu m this book to read to discover the joys and challenges of Indian diplomacy.

The book weaves rare snapshots of Indian diplomacy in action at some of the fraught and exhilarating moments in India's management of its foreign relations. '

'

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30 JULY 2012

www.indianlink.com.au

ll

AN AUSSIE BOY IN CHENNAI

Analysing India A foreigner's point of view on the country's sometimes baffling contradictions and interesting quirks

t's strange bow important: natio nal identity is to us humans. Despite being an artificial construct, nationality bolds a special place in many people's hearts.

Australian writers can c riticize Australia as much as d1ey like, but when a foreign jomnalist friend recen tly penned an article about Melbourne's public transport system, d1e response was pure vi triol The respondents, all Australian, appeared to have been personally offended by her rad1er honest and constructive thoughts. In his book Tbe Clash of Civilisatio11s, political scientist Samuel P. Huntington claimed that wid1 me wars of tribes and ideologies over, culmral identi ty is me most naniral and obvious po int behind which people will rally. I r is with moderate trepidation merefore drnt I begin this m ontb's piece, covering my o bservations of the Indian psyche.

T he longer I spend in India, the more I begin to notice me subde national quirks which m ake Indians who d1ey are. While lndians may not realise it, these seem to ba:ve profound effects on the country and the way mat it functions. My first observation is the very common juxtaposition of national pride and self-loathing. l ationalism has swelled in India in recent decades, and almough the country has always been a very p ro ud nation, the patriotism shown in the past ten years suggests dus is on me increase.

1n fac t, according to many people who I meet, lndia is me best country in the world. However, I'm often left wondering just how good it is when those same people ask me to help them migrate to i\ustralia.

Which leads me to my second observation; mat a majority of Indian people are in a sort o f unequal relationship with foreign countries, particularly Britain, J\.merica and the Arab Gulf states.

With all the issues that plague Indian society, life in tbe West can be particularly seductive, and as a result a large section o f society seems to iliink mat although l\fother I ndia is home, d1e West is somehow basically 'better'. Bollywood must share much of the blame for this, for its productions nearly always present

I

INDIAN LINK

a sanitized version o f life in the \XTest, overlooking actual issues as social isolation, alcohol-fuelled street crime and the sexuali,ing of children. Equally, many :Muslims on me subcontinent have an alm ost unfaltering adn.uration for Arabs as the gatekeepers o f ] slam.

Thar respect isn't returned in Gulf Arab states, wh ere many locals treat Indians wim contempt, and see Soud1 Asian Muslims as being 'not proper !vfuslims' - a sentiment w hich in fact violates the Qur'an's egalitarian values. ] wonder if this partial inferiority complex is d1e legacy of hisroric events. Is the special respect of Indians for Arabia and ilie West a hangover from the days of the Mughal and British administrations, when one was forced to respect Muslims o r Britain ? \Xlhat results is a reality gap which manifests itself in perceptions of India and foreign nations. At home, some Indians are inclined to believe dungs which might not be accurate, but which compensate for a perceived inferiority. " Buddha was born in.

India", "India's Kanchenjunga is the highest mountain in die world", and "India bas me strongest military in me world" are just a few exan1ples.

Meanwhile d1ese same people set d1eir sights o n the 'better' abroad - and often still believe d1e filmi stereotypes about money, girls and success in the West. A strange contradiction emerges, where otherwise patriotic Indians dismiss attractions as being 'too poor' or 'too lowly', simply because d1ey're in India - when in actual fact, mere's nothing wrong wim said attraction. At d1e extreme end of this spectrum, we see tbe contradiction in some N Ris w ho will scrub commodes in me \ ':v'est to make ends meet, bm won't d rive through perfectly fine suburbs in India because " it's dirty''. Apparen tly, Indian dirt is worse that Western dirt.

The positive side of India's reality gap is mat Indian society remains less cynical that \X'ester□ society. The belief mat a dream m ight come true still exists in many Indians, no matter how many beatings that dream may take. Lots of studen ts graduating from school actually believe that d1ey will o ne day be r ich beyond d1eir wild est dreams. If they graduated in d1e West, a large section of society would pull d1em aside and tell that mat no matter how hard mey work, some people just never make it. Lots of Indians seem to believe m at

Architecture wasn't the only legac

Nationalism has swelled in India in recent decades. love, in the end , will triumph - in the West, it is commonly held that only the lucky on es stick together.

Wh en d1e D elh i Metro opened a couple of years ago, hearts thumped wim pride. The same project in Australia W(mld have been torn apart by a society fed up with b roken political promises.

D espite the constandy broken promises of t heir government, and despite often complaining about w bat:'s wrong with their country, for better or for worse, Indians are still a hopeful bunch.

I sincerely hope my time in Jodia has rubbed off on me, and made me more Indian in mis respect.

So I hope that I haven't offended anyone, o r cur roo close to rbe bone. Moreover, I hope d1at this is not interpreted as an attack on Indians or Indian values - it is simply a recount o f my observation s. L1dia is a co mp lex being, and as such psychoanalysing her is a hazardous task. And as for a psychoanalysis o f A ustralian society? D on't eve□ get me started . ..

JULY 2012 31

OPINION

Nurturing the neighbours India reaches out to countries within its periphery, with the intention of building sustainable relationships

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of Defence says, "India is a global power, and rliey are meeting thefr responsihilities and we welcome tl1ac . .. " lndia has been building irs naval resources ~· BY in recem years. T h.is has received much media • NOEL G DE SOUZA attentio n particularly after d1e 2008 terrotist atcacks in Mumbai which were launched from the sea. D asgupta and Cohen's book A1wi11g tandard & Poor is at its o ld game again . This time it has latched 1l)fthoHI A iming (published in 2010), lauded o nto vague ideas that India faces India's successful naval modernisation, a financial slowdown, and the agency has buc ic was Clirical tl1ac this success was not threatened to downgrade [ndia's rating. T his underpinned by all)' stated aims. lnclia's is the same raring agency which took years official stance is that its navy is being used before reluctantly giving India a meclium for peaceful purposes such as fighting piracy raring. Meanwhile, it had and to bring stability to consistently given European d1e region. D asgupta and countries high ratings when Cohen's book was published two years ago. India's stand is many of t hem were nearly insolvent. now becoming clear.

Manmohan Singh Around the same time, This does not mean that has dedicated TIME magazine, quoting the lndia is a military alliance IMF (Internacional Monetary widi the USA against himself to anybody. In March rbis year Fund) told a different storr strengthening India's lndia hosted the meeting of Ir said that the BRlCS group relationship with (Brazil, Russia, India, China the BRICS leaders: Presidents its periphery, which and South Africa) had a Dilma Rousseff, Dmitry firstly encompasses G DP growth of 8% in 2010 Medvedev, Man.mohan Singh, its neighbours which had slowed to 6% in Hu Jintao and Jacob Z una. with whom it has 2012, whereas for the USA These include some of d1e wocld's most populous die figures were 3% to 2°i<> boundaries common ' ' countries. and for the Eurozone it was Marunohan Singh met 2% to-0.3%.

Myanmar's democracy \Xlhat is intriguing about leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a meeting in Standard & Poor is that this threat was published jusc when India's Finance Minister Yangon, and invited her to deliver d1e next Pranab Mukerjee was being touted as ics Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture in lndia.

Suu Kyi h as accepted the invicatiou, hoping next President. There have been attacks on tl1e Standard & Poor threat by Indian co visit India before long. Singh announced commentators. At last, o ne would say! At that India has opened a $500 million line o f credit from which Myanmar can draw; India chat time a few Indian politicians like Mamata Banerjee were proposing thac the Prime is interested in getting energy resources from Minister Manmoh.an Singh should be the Burma.

T he Australian D efence JvUnister Stephen next President.

Manmohan Singh has dedicated himself Smith, calls Inclia a " naniral maritime partner" of A ustralia, while pointing out r11at co srrengrl1ening Tnclia's relationship wid1 its periphery, w hich firstly encompasses Indonesia is emerging as nor just a regiou.,'ll, its neighbours with whom it has comm on but a global influence. India, Indonesia and Australia have madtime co•operation boundaries (Pakiscan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bh.man, Burma and China). Bm there exist agreemen ts. lndonesia shares a common ochers some distance away wid1 which it has maritime boundary with Inclia north of the had historical and cultural relationships, snch island o f Sumatra and die Andaman-N icobar as Afghanistan, the Gulf States and lran Archipelago. Significan tly, lndonesia refers to the Indian Ocean as Samuclra Hindia. on the one side, and Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indo nesia on d1e other side.

India's relationship wid1 the JvUddle Ease goes back cen turies. The Jl,,fiddle East is tl1e The US. Secrecary of Defence Leon Panetta has been having talks wid1 gateway to Europe. Maritime trade, based Manmohan Singh concerning regional o n the current reversals in the Arabian Sea, security and defence. lnclia is important existed since the rimes of King Solomon.

Today the Gulf States are hosts to thousands wid1 regards to the Indian Ocean, as it is d1e largest navy in die Arabian Sea and the Bay of Indians and odier subconrinencals who of Bengal. There is a shift of US naval forces make valuable financial contributions to from r11e Indian Ocean to the Pacific, where tl1eir mother co1.111tries. Inclia has no military presence, rnilike Pakistan, in those countries, Panetta has signalled that six aircraft carriers will be based. These events should be viewed bm its navy patrols the Arabian Sea to in the backdrop of the Soud1 China Sea prevent piracy.

I ndia's peri phery thus stretches over a a which China claims as its own, against the considerable swad1 between Southeast Asia or11er claimants whicl1 include Vietnam , the Phillipines and Taiwan. and the Middle East, and Manmohan Singh has been busy build ing up relations hips The USA is calling India a global power.

Captain John Kirby of die US D epartment witlun its confines.

S

''

www.ind ianlink.com.au

ll

VIEWPOINT

When TV leads the charge Social activists, networks and advertisers around the world should take note ofa radical new TV format creating phenomenal waves of change in India

omething strange is happening in India. Every Sunday morning, millions of Indians haul themselves out of bed to be told about all di e things which are wrong in diei.r country.

Unpalatable though die home truths may be, .ltJl)'ame11 Jqy,,te ('Trudi alone prevails') has nonedieless garnered a massive audience and has become on e of the highest rating shows on lnd.ian television. The programme and die issues that .it highlights, regularly become die highest trending topics on Twitter.

Considered so important for the nation is SatytJme1')tfJ•ate d1at .it is simulcast o □ die national broadcaster Doordashan, as well as the commercial channel Star Plus for which it was produced.

A ldiough presented in Hindi, .it is supplemented with English subtitles, and dubbed in eight regional roagues. And although .it is only up to its sixth episode, it is being hailed a revolution in television, not just for India, but for television as a concept.

Television has, to date, witnessed many incarnations as a medium of entertainment, education, promotion, information and increasingly, interaction with aucliences.

However, most television markets are yet to capitalise on the political and social activ ism w hich has taken d,e social meclia world by storm. Attempts in the past have generally assumed one of two forms: first, as a comparatively shallow attempt to take advantage of Twitter, Facebook or YouTube's flavour of the month, but never to lead the charge. A special Kony 2012 edition of the Seven Network's .f11111ise may be viewed as a recent example - tbe programme, along widi celebrity twitteratti, responded to the already growing awareness of die viral 'Stop Kot!JI' video. The second form of televisual social activism can be seen in programmes which raise awareness, but wid1out the stated aim of promoting political engagement. The Opmh 1Vi1:hY Sho111 can be categorised as a highly successful example of this - while it gained political clout for raising social awareness in recent years, it was never wholly a 'call to arms'

S

INDIAN LINK

i□ the way diat Sa(J•mmv }tl)'ate is.

More d1an a few commentators have suggested that we are witnessing die bi.rd, of a new format of television, which acts not just to raise awareness, b ut as a genuine social movement.

After almost six months of hype on television, pcin t and social meclia, .ltJ(:}1a11m1 ]lfJ'tJte premiered o□ May 6, 2012. The first 90-minute long programme, conceived and hosted by Bollywoocl star Aamir Khan was a melange of faces, figures and heartbreaking interviews on the topic of female foeticide.

Subsequent topics have included child sein.ml abuse, the practice of dowry, forced marriages and die state of India's heal di care system.

To air a nation's dirty laundry at 11am on a Sunday morning was a huge cisk, especially in a country as proud and conservative as Inclia. Yet somehow rl1e gamble paid off, and commentato rs have been left wondering why it worked, and if it could be replicated elsewhere.

Analysts have pointed to the host's public profile as being key to die success of die show, odiers h ave cited savvy marketing.

Some attribute its success co widespread support for die initiative, with political parties, celebrities and journalists alike agreeing on the progra.rnme's word, (fbe term 'Sc1rymmv jtrytJlf' is also lnclia's national motto, so it has a particular pertinence).

Howeve1:, none of diese can explain why millions of people continue co be confronted ·with these often sickening copies over their Sunday morning chai. or can they explain the massive public engagemellt widi the programme and .its social media platforms - die Facebook page received 233,000 'likes' on die day of the premiere episode alone. Furdiermore, neid1er die choice of host nor marketing can explain the huge political impact of the show, which each week successfully encourages viewers co send text messages to petition hotl.ines, and pledge money to charities, the amoun ts of which are dien matched by the show's sponsors. N ine days after tbe second episode aired, and in direct response to that episode's 'SMS petition', India's parliament passed a landmark bill to legally protect minors against sexual abuse. Perhaps people actually care?

The programme bas not been without its detractors, however, who have decried its

melodramatic namre (the host has teared up in every outing so far) and its 'infotainment' production, which sees an acoustic song reflective of die week's topic played at die end of die episode.

Journalists who have been working for years to highlight these social issues claim it's sheer populism and have warned drnt it won't solve complex problems, while others have branded it anotber manifestation of Teju Cole's White Savior Industrial Complex, repackaged for middleclass Indians. Some cynics have called it a sub-genre of alreadyexploirative reality television.

Regardless of what it represents, no-one disputes diat it is creating change where it is needed, and that the victims of certain social ills are receiving more attention than ever before. And while d1ey d eny that they were motivated by money, the host, networks and sponsors are rallying up a tidy sum from it all.

So from a□ outsider's point of view, all of this begs the question: can S,1t;1tJ111e11Jqyate's success be replicated in odier counu-ies? To be su.re, programmes li.ke this are not unprecedented awuod die world, even in Australia. Early incarnations of This Is ) our Llje tended to focus on unsung heroes, Al(Jfm/im1 .ft01y works to tell the stories which don't make the headlines, and even Seven's 2002 programme U11derco11er A ngels feanu:ing lan Thorpe and Nine's D0111estic Blitz were feel-good reality shows. However, nodung

has quite matched the lllix of star power, social meclia, social engagement, political activism, widespread endorsement and genuine appeal that this lnclian format has. Modern Australian television has become rather segregated, forcing the masses to choose between what is important and what is entertaining. Crucially, any show would require that X factor which would make people choose cliscussion o f heavy social issues over light entertainment like The Voice.

Every councry h as its social issues, even if they are nor as visible to the mainstream as India. Domestic violence remains a problem ia Australia, as does homelessness, the mental healdi system and bullying. Moreover they remain problems wluch have die potential to unite Australians, and i f given the right creatment, could stir national consciousness i.n the way Sa!)·11111e11 ]lfJ'dlP has done.

A cruly clivisive issue could make or break the show's format, and ought be better left to another programme. The divisive. issue of asylum seekers was highlighted last year by SBS's excellent mioisecies Go BtJck To IV'hm Yo11 Ct1111e Fro111, but ultimately it didn't affect government policy.

It's questionable whetber the core concept of StJt)•a111e11.{t!)1tJtc is negated when the result is debate, bur die government is able to ride out die storm of public criticism occurring on the letters page of newspapers.

Finally, there exists the view tha t most Auscralians, in die.ir 111.iddJe-dass bulk, are simply roo politically and socially apathetic to take serious action on social issues un less they are directly being affected. It's in1portant to remember mat the same concern was held about lndia's newlycomfortable nuddle class when this concept was being developed: would people reall y choose th.is over th e glut o f tabloid news channels, game shows and soap o peras which m Jed t he roost?

AU that was required was enough people to take the risk.

~-tick 01·iginally published 011 the website www.mediaspy.org

JULY 2012 33

SCHOOL

Holidays and the concentrated mind Maintaining a balance between recreation and work could prove to be a positive path for students

he mid-year holidays are upon us and it is timely for parents to ask how co approach the break from the point of v iew of their children.

Holidays are necessary for breaking rou tine, refreshing the mind and relaxing. However, d1ey can also be an opportunity for students to discover a new balance between rest and effort.

All students tend co look forward ro the idea of a holiday; The school term can vary in length between seven to twelve weeks. Students and their teachers look forward to a break from the early mo rning starts and the fullness of the term. Holidays usuaJly provide a complete break from school. The exception may be that some schools provide activities and structured support for students in senior years. These schools might offer study revision classes or time when major works for particular subjects such as Art and Design and Technology ca□ be completed. Ir is also possible that schools offer holiday care for students co help working families.

The question that should be asked is whether a complete break from study is, in fact, the best use of holiday ti.me.

T

Family time A recent study in Taiwan asked parents what they value most about school holidays. Taiwanese students are ctu·rendy on summer holida)'s. When planning for the ho lidays, parents in Taiwan firstly budget for family time. That is, they first aJlocare money and time for a holiday with their children. l.nterestingly, their second consideration is private tuition and study camps. This means that once the joint holiday part of me school break is over, the parents expect their children to engage in some structured study, despite being on holiday.

Balancing time A balanced approach to d1e holida)'S includes a mix of complete rest and rel:urntion, some ph)'sical activity, some reading, some mental exertion and some recreational and social time.

Students should be allowed to have some complete days off to d o as they like - sleep in, watch television, play electronic media, socialise with friends and relax.

However, once a few days have

3 4 JULY 2012

passed, depending o n the age of the stud ent, it is appropriate to expect that one to two hours of academic work be done on each weekday. This might include an hour of reacling, some time revising past notes, doing practice questions, expanding their reading and revising of schoolwork covered in the school.

Focus is the key J\ crucial issue wim respect to holiday work is how to focus.

Students might feel like it is very unfair or difficult, co concentrate when they are on holidays.

There are several strategies that parents can adopt including a discussion about the need to balance between rest and work, as well as to encourage children to take advantage of this time to think and integrate concepts and learning, and ro provide a chance to set goals and feel the personal re\vard of achieving d1em.

Balancing work and rest In the smdy of organisational psychology there .is an understanding that coo much work can cause distress. Bue coo little work can be stressful as well.

The optimal level of stress is caJled 'eustress' and in dus range of stress, people perform to their optimal capacity. Studen ts who rest too muci1 or work too much will tend to become stressed easily when pressured by the idea of srudy. However, a small amotmt of study, some physical activity, some socialising wid1 friends these are perfect days. Students who study and then play cricket, watch a movie, go shopping or spend times with friends are much more likely to feel like the leisure is well-d eserved and d1erefore more highly \7alued.

To help children find value i.n appreciating the benefit of some

structured study time, parents can start by teaclung d1em about goal setting.

Goa I setting If asked what they would like co aclueve, many students might shrug uncertainly, or they mig ht say something extremely likely co make their parents proud such as beconu.ng a doctor, lawyer or pharmacist. Some might cheekily say d1ey would like co be a BoUywood scar or even a famous millionaire. The reality is that achievable, bur chaJlenging goals drive the best performance. \'(/hen the goals come from within me child, d1ey are a source of inspiration, energy and focus.

Parents can help children focus on goals by helping chem understand d1eir srrengths, listening to and sharing their interests, and by showing rnem how goals can be broken down into a series of small, manageable steps.

Goals can be negotiated at the scare of the holidays in order co make the most out of the holidays. These can include some goals for how much recreation, social time, family time and also study time can be expected over the holidays.

Predictability, structure and order Even during the holidays predictability, order and structure are important. Th.is is because to study for an hour or two a day requires some planning and discipline. lf the study is done early in the day, a mild ca□ feel a sense of achievement and personal satisfaction, and enjoy the rest of the day wid1 a great sense of accomplishment.

iPhone and iWon't There are very many distractions for stud ents when they try co concentrate. Primary arnongst

these is ready access co electronic media and social nel:\vorking sites such as Facebook. J\n aspect of holiday discipline is to help students wean themselves off constant access to d1e phone, music and the internet.

Surprisingly, they mig ht fi nd d1at they actually remember more, get more study done in less time, and start co intrinsically enjoy learning.

The phone, music and iorernec will still be d1ere in an hour!

Holiday revision courses One way for older students ro spend productive ti me during d1e holidays and also to meet ocher students is to attend holiday revision courses. Spending rime at such courses can help smdents revise material already covered in sci1ool or to introduce areas of study diat will be covered.

This exposure can rake stress off term time. A disadvantage of d1ese courses is that the)' can be expensive or require travel.

An advanL'lge of the courses is that they can help to provide focused and supported smdy time.

Furthermore, they can be very affirming for studen ts, especially if d1ey already know the content and realise that they are learning strategies for applying me skills and knowledge that d1ey al1·eady have.

Hitting the ground running Srudents who cake a few d ays off from all smdy and thereafter integrate a small amount of disciplined study into eaci1 weekday of d1eir holidays will be doing themselves a great service.

They will feel rested and relaxed whilst also ensuring that their mind is active, and they wiU be exercising their iliinking. With some physical activity thrown in, you can have the perfect break.

PSYCHE

•

The quest for ha p1ness This state ofbeing doesn't have to be as rare as some make it out to be

here is an oft q uoted saying about happin ess: "Happiness is J;kf, a b11tterf!)'

The 111oreJ'Otl chase it the harde1· it is to grasp it.

HO//Jever ify o11 lei it be It 1vill co111e a11d rest gentfy uponyour shoulder."

This is very apt as a truism .

Modern lamen ts about the presence of sign ificant 1mhappiness in society is fueUed by die vested im erescs of the consumerist world we live in, and most people quite blin dly make it a self- fulfilling prophecy. ''I am lmhappy because I do not possess what is the latest and m ost expensive" is a po pular refrain. As soon as we abdicate the power to what makes us hap py to material diings, we become possessive and co ntrolling of happiness itself.

Like beauty, happiness cannot be

T

• • • • • •

possessed exclusively. W hen we do feel hap py we cry to hold o n to it, and want co retain it forever at all costs. This invariably leads to its desrruction and certain d emise, only to be followed by disappointment and despair.

TI1e m ost commo n mistake is to believe chat some diing outside of ourselves is respon sible for o ur happiness. In fact, it is sometimes quoted as a reason for the break up o f relatio nships: "H e/she did not make me ' happy'." Quite erroneo usly we believe chat the possessio n of material things, di e kudos from others for our ad1ievemencs, o r d1ar o ne's partner has the responsibility co make us h appy. These prerequisites for happiness, of co urse, share cwo vital ing redients - movable goal poses and one's lack of co ntrol over di.is movementl i\s the goal shifts endlessly, more an d more material things, m ore and more recognitio n from others beco me necessary co make us happy. What follows is a vicious cycle of need turning to wam , which then leads

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36 JULY 2012

•

co despair when it is not achieved.

Instead o f happiness, what o ne embarks on is a self-centered search for pleasm e and hedonism, or a bloated feeling of self-worth.

Both o f t hese are rather fragile for they can be destroyed by outside forces in die blink o f an eye that may well be beyond o ne's con trol.

If one stops to smell the roses, help someone in need, show respect to our fellow beings and begin to enjoy the sin1ple, in expensive and beautiful creations

Happiness begins with: * A tranquil mind * An active body * Hdpful hands * Thoughtful actions * Compassionate words • Enthusiastic ideas

of namre chat is around us, happin ess almost always lands gendy on our shoulder like a beautiful butterll y.

Like the butterlly itself, true happiness is experiencing a vibrant, free, energetic, yet very brief experience chat leaves a lasting smile on our face. "\'v'e tend to forget di at happiness doesn't com e as a result of getting something we do n't have, but radier of recognizing an d app reciating what we do have."

• A smiling face .. A trusting namre

* Respectful deeds

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JULY 2012 37

TRAVEL

''T

hisiswbere Buddhism was first introduced to our land," says Harsba, my guide, while standing in front of a white stupa at Mihintate in Sri Lanka. It is said tbat at this spot arow1d 247 BC, Mabinda, Emperor Ashoka's son met Sinhalese King De,'3.Ilampiya and inspired him to accept Buddhism as tbe national religion.

Marked as a significant event in tbe land's history, tbis devout espousal led to the integration of state royalty witb religious orders wbich in subsequent periods influenced art, culture, lifestyle and architecture. lr is evident tbrougbout Sri Lanka; but most expressively in tbe ancient cities in the nortbern plains from where 2500 years ago, tbe v:ihrant journey of a nation and a religion began.

An odyssey througb past legacies following tbe steps of tbe royals and Buddhism is a major attraction of tbe lndian Ocean Island, currently witnessing unprecedented growth in tourism at tbe end of its long-dcawn etbnic unrest.

Speculations suggest tbar me island of 64,000 sq km area was originally occupied by i{untergatherers called Veddahs, w1til 5'h century BC, when Vijay, an ousted ludian king toucbed its sbores and instituted tbe first Sinhalese kingdom tbat ruled the land from tbeir capital Anuradhapu.ra for tbe next 1200 years. It was during this golden era tbat myriad palaces, temples, stupas and monasteries were townships were developed with massive irngation systems needed for survival in tbe hot dry land,

and artistic and architectural endeavours were sponsored. After Anuradhapura was destroyed by tbe Chol a kings from Soutb India, Polonnarawadown sou.rll becan1e tbe new epicentre and remained so for over two centuries rill the Europeans moved in and the power base shifted further south to Kandy and finaJly, to Colombo.

Tbe primeval sites are located around 3 hours away by road from the capital Colombo, an international getaway met ropolis which in style and ambiance is diffi:rent from rest of tbe nation. Ir is more cosmopolitan; represents a unique blend of cultures derived from its early settlers - the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British - and displays tolerance for all religions, t estified by the number of Catholic churches, Hindu temples and Islamic mosques sharing space witb Buddhist shrines.

To experience the true Sri Lanka and its roots, and to comprehend the evolution of Buddhism in this land, all guidebooks recommend mov:ing out of Colombo and. driving north to Anu.radhapu.ra and its surrounds, often referred as t he Cultural Quarter.

Founded by King Pandukabhaya in 384 BC, Anuradhapura is undoubtedly the jewel in tbe crown. The ensemble of ta11 Buddhist s tupas or dagobas, admirable sculptural samples and me remains of royal palaces, temples, monasteries, gardens and ceremonial baths, depicts a strong connection between royalty andrellgion. All the srupas are well-preserved, prominenr among them are 1huparama dagoba, said to be me oldest of its kind in the world; Ruya.nvelisaya dagoba guarded by a wall witb a fresco ofcoundess elephants standing ~ shoulder-to-shoulder; tbe 100m tallJetavanarama dagoba tliat once housed 5000 monks; and

Abhayagi ri dagoba, the largest in the domain.

Unlike Anuradhapu.ra, at Polonnaru.w a some Brahmanic monn.ments built by the Chola kings add to the assembly of epic .ruins of palaces and.pnctuaries endowed by several Indian and Sinhalese dynasties in a perfect natural setting. Rewallng superior samples of art and architecture, they appear to be in marginally better physical condition, perhaps being younger fo age. Unfortw1ately because of time constraints ic is not possible to see a1I of them, however don't miss the g igantic rock-carved Buddha figures at Gal Vihara , the 175m diameter stupa at Rank:ot Vih.ara and the four sitting Buddha busts, placed on a.raised platform a t the Quadrangle.

The most sacred emblem in Anuradhapura is Sri Maha Sodhi, a huge tree which has grown from the cutting of the same plane in Bodhgaya in India, under which me meditating Siddharrha Gautama attained enligbtenment and became Buddha. The sapling was brought to Sri Lanka in 244 BC by Sangan1itta, Emperor Ashoka's daughte r to inspire new religion introduced earlief by her brorller. Over the years, the sprout grew into a h • tree, withstood sun and rain for more than two millennium and survives today at the same location as the oldest histo rically authenticated nee in the world.

I-rs presence .iJ ~Fjl(.i,o the heart of every arde nt 811dd;irt io ' thousands thronging the Pilgrims inlarge lllll1lber also visit mountainous Miliitale

me

which millenniums before was deeply forested, where royals voyaged m hUDl deer.

It was during one such trip on a full moon day tha.cKing Devanampi_fa saw the apostle Mahinda aiiB was instantly engaged bf his spiritual strengtb.

The wondrous settin~ came renowned as me cradfri:,f

Anur4l).apu.rft

Buddhism and kings of tben and the~ e in tbe precinct with beautiful shrines, stupas and caves, o ne o which is a cclaimed as Mahinda's meditation camp. ''A more perfect sanctuary for die son s of Buddha could not be fqund anywhere else throu.gho~ €1eog_th and breaddn,fCeylon," said 2 0 th cennuy B ritish archaeologi Harry Bell, and ~ o r s, irrespective of their religion, tmd to agree with this statement when at Mihitale.

1hough not clearly documented, many Sri Lankans

~tba~u.ddbism was instituted Into the Jlhd ~

es

C#.lier l,j;~e Lord b.imself"-vdto, a ~ng ro Ie~ ed Sri Lanka tluee 1'ftnes - in 528 BC, 5 23BC and 520 BC to

:they stand t oday as sites of lgrimage for Buddhists from J ov!th.e world. So does the 2234 mol rain peak of Sri Pada w ere ud"1a is assumed to ' have left his oo, rint duiing his second visi t.

However in terms of veneration, petbaps nothing beat;S l\,.woth TempJe in Kandy. This sllfine'treasures Bu.ddha's toom which was 'ftlCdVered from his funeral pyre and smuggled to Anuradhapura with credence t hat whoever has custody of ir owns tbe righ t to rule t he kingdom.

Witb me demise of ancient ~al.lMhe re~ w as shifted to a:ilibple in Kanlf,-whichnow stands as a.major attraction for visitors to Sri Lanka, irrespective

mtea~:~~~~ ~ carved y

stone edifice.is and decorate d. ·

caskets placed on a ~ le ~ kept in a two-story inner chamfter fronted by two large elephant tusks. There are certain times during the day when pilgrims can see the casket from a clistance.

The pious piece is removed ' &om its shrine only once a year, during the 10-day Esala Perahera, possibly recognized as1heJargm Buddhist celebration in the world. During the full moon in late July or early August, a royal male elephant carries the reliquary of the sacred tooth and leads a colourful parade of dancers, drummers, dignitaries and several ornately d~ rated elephants.

Harsha tells me ch. enda. atthc.Iestiva1 exceeds the million

TRAVEL NOTEBOOK SRI LANKA GETTING THERE SingaporeAirlines (www.singaporeair.com), has dailyflights to Colombo from Singapore with excellent connections fromAustralia offering 107 flights per week intotal to Singapore from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Adelaide and Perth. The A380operates on two offour flights from Sydney,and one from three flights from Melbourne.

ACCOMMODATION Cultural Quarter precinct offers an array of quality accommodation options; however Heritanc.e Hotel at Kandalama (www.heritancehotels.com), aptly boasts a haven of bliss. AGeoffrey Bawa creation, this luxury hideout is notfarfrom any of thedistinguished sites, and is uniquely styled like an outspread wing of a bird. Overlooking a tranquil lake, the 1.8 km long hotel is7 stories high, yet appears to bea perfect natural extension of the rocky mountain. At Kandy, it is mostconvenientto stay at the colonial Queens Hotel (www. queenshotel.lk) in front of the temple.

TOUR PACKAGE Aitken Spence Travel (www.aitkenspenc.etravels.com) for Cultural Triangle package tours or for transportation ina privatevehkle with driver cum guide.

I

WELLNESS

The tendency to overeat is higher in winter, but some foods can keep you increasing the calories

ell into winter now, one of our mam concerns 111 tbis season is putting on weight with less activity. For most of us, it is too cold to venture out fo.r our regular exercise. This is the time when we just want co sit down on di e couch cuddled up in our quilt and drink hm beverages while watching om favmtrite TV show or just reading.

Some people su ffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD ), which adds moodiness, causing one co stray from their health goals. Studies have suggested diat there is an increase in aches and pains during winter, alo ng \vith an increase in fmictional impairment associated with seasonal depression. An increase in appetite is also reported, with die stare of the winter season.

Nature has its own way of keeping the body warm. Heat can be generated &om within the body as well as from food diat raises the body's temperature co help it cope. The body needs to burn more calories co keep warm, and hence there is a need to eat more.

However, cerr.ain foods have a more warming effect than others.

In the winter we tend to increase OLtr intake of hot, spicy and fried foods like p"ris, sat110S{IS, gulahja111Uns, caffol ha/ll)a and gara111garallljalebi.

Bue with reduced activity and an increase in the intake of high calorie foods, we pile on the kilos.

We can hide this weight under bulky winter clod1es but it becomes . . a ma1or concern m smnmer.

But we can chase away OLtr chills with foods that generate heat and keep our bodies warm, while nor adding to our weight.

W

in your meal which in turn can prevent weight gain. Try to make soups with different combinations and also by using different ingredients such as beans, green leafy vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, fish, chicken and meat. You can even have thick brod1s of soup as a meal if you add enough proteins, vegetables, and potatoes or sweet p otatoes for carbohydrates. Avoid having very creamy soups or adding too much cornflom co thicken the soup.

If you want to buy commercial soups, co control the amount of fat, sodium and calories in your soup, shop for low-sodium, lowfat brands o.r prepare your own soups at home using .low-sodium vegetable broth. Not only are soups hot, tasty and nutritious, but d1ey also provide water which we often forget to consLmie during winter. Hot liquid also helps break up congestion and liquefy mucus.

Herbs, spices and condiments Winter is a great time to add condini ents and herbs like ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon and turmeric to )'Our meals. In addition to their warming effects, diey coma.in phytonutrieots a nd have anti-inflammatory properties that help fight infections and disease. Garlic also has allicin, an antioxidaot diat helps fight bacteria and strengd1ens our immune system.

Citrus fruits Citrus fruit like lemons, grapefruit, oranges and m andarin are loaded widi vitamin C and thus help us fight against common colds and flu. These foods strengdien our immune system and die vitamin C also helps combat free radicals and thus may also aid i.n preventing certain cancers.

Citrus foods ar e good sources of potassium and folate, the nutrients needed for a healthy heart.

Nuts and dried fruits Soups A bowl of hot soup in w inter is what our body needs to take the chill out of our bones. Soups can be an excellent way to ad d veggies, lentils, beans and protein-loaded chicken, fish or meat to your diet without the addition of too many carbohydrates and fats in your diet. Having a Jow calorie bowl of soup before dinner ca□ help yon consume fewer calories

40 JULY 2012

Nurs can be a friend 01" a foe in wimer. In India wiili die Ram LiJa come die rehri/lJalas with peanuts,gach11k and reV!i. N m s can be very healthy snacks for winter, if eaten i.n moderation.

They are a good source of energy, protein, iron, selenium, vitamin E and unsaturated fats. Most dried fruits sucli as dates, figs and prunes are high in fibre w hich helps with constipation that sets

in with reduced activity and less water in the

winter momhs.

Dates and apricots can be good desserts instead of hot g11/ab jo111u11. But v-rid1 the nuts, since these are energy-dense, moderation is die keynote - not more than a handful a day.

stews, and only occasionally have the iadooJ.

Whole grains The traditional lndian whole grain cereals besides wheat and cice include hqjra, jo11Jar, oats, barley and corn which have g reat warming properties. Millets can be used to make hot porridge.

Whole pulses and legumes like beans, soybean and lentils can be used in soups and stews. Whole grains and wholegrain breads are a heald1y way to add fibre to your diet and also to keep you full.

Seeds Seeds such as smillower seed s, f!axseeds, linseeds and sesame seeds are known for d1eir warming effects and health prop erties. Om wioters in northern lndia were filled with yummies such as alsi kc ladoo, ti! kJ gachak and ti! ke Jadoo.

Seeds bave phyto-estrogens mat are good anti-oxidants which help in preventing cancers. These seeds are also good sources of m1saturated fats, proteins, vitamin E and minernls. But it is heald1ier to add seeds in om cereals and

Lean meats, chicken and fish These high protein foods are associated with increased heat production and higher thermogenesis. Bur stick to d1e grilled and steamed options, rather tban the fried on es.

Tea Teas such as ginger and t1ilsi tea have been used co treat cough, colds, body aches and pains. Tea has flavonoids which help to strengthen the inimune system.

But be careful co add low fat milk and not load it with sugar. Ginger tea with half a teaspoon of honey or jaggery is great for winter.

Fluids Water is die most neglected dming win ters. Make sure you sip on enough soups, tea and juices to keep yourself well hydrated .

Enjoy yom winter meals widiout the addition of extra calories or the fear of cholesterol going high.

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JULY 2012 41

FICTION

Moments of triumph can be followed by crippling moments of truth as a young lady faces her demons

twas tbe film awards nigh[.

The winner of the category 'New discovery of the year' was abom to be announced.

Anica sat on the edge of her seat, her parents on either side of her mimicking her stance. It seemed so surreal. A girl &om a small cowrr outside Mmnbai with no financial backing and no internal connections was seared amidst the nominees, awaiting the announcement of the winner's name.

As far as Anita was concerned, she had arrived. Even if s he did not win, the movie industry has woken up co her. Her manager was looking at two new offers, the perfect ro les to set her up for d1e future.

She had two people to thank for this. A simple man who worked as a chauffeur, and an even simpler lady who worked as a teacher her beloved parents! Living in their middle class world away from the glitter and glamour of d1e celluloid world, no one could understand the insatiable need that Anica had to be an actress.

They say ber very first word was 'movie'. B y the tin1e she was .five, she was acting in school plays. By the time she was in college, she was acting on me stage. Aud it was at one of her shows chat a film director took note of Anita's talent. He put her into a play that his wife was directing. Before the season ended, he had signed her up for his next fih11. le was the usual 'scarcer film' with the usual plot - girl meets boy, girl leaves boy, boy finds girl. But even he acknowledged that it was her acting chat had made the movie exceptional.

"Auel the winner is .... .... .."

These words brought Anita back co me present.

The actress who stood on the stage holding d1e trophy was ilie famous leading lady Rica, of the past era. With her dyed hair and a face caked with make-up, she now evoked more sympad1y d1an adoration. She was noted for clinging co die microphone when she got hold of it, screeching like a teenager in her pretended enthusiasm, and dressing like a madam of a cheap brothel.

"Anica!" Her mother clutched her hand, repeating the outcome.

For the first tinle in her life,

I

42 JULY 2012

Anita's heart beat with happiness.

So much joy, chat she was even ashamed of her petty thoughts.

"Let Rica relive her glories, I an1 going to walk up to mine!"

Anica hugged her parents and then slowly made her way to the dais. This would never be hers again, so she walked slowly, savouring each moment. Her very first award!

Finally she reached her prize.

Rica enveloped her in a hug and wished her every success, but did not .release the trophy. Instead she told the world that it was an honour for her to be able ro give the award to an actress with so much talent. Anica bowed with hwnilicy, drnnked her graciously and then blew a kiss to her parents. le was to d1em that she owed her gratin1de. They had ensured that she was given every oppormnity irr life, unmindful of the cost or the personal hardship.

And in her acceptance speech, she acknowledged their sacrifice. Both of diem broke down. Anita too, was in tea rs.

Rita took the opportun.i cy co take the microphone back.

Irritated, Anita grabbed i t back and finished her acceptance speech. She thanked the direcror, me producer and her co-scars.

Finally she walked away &om the stage leaving Rica behind, who continued ro wrest for the microphone.

After that incident, she made sure she kept her distance from Rita at the celebration party, but somehow whenever a phoco was taken, R ita would manoeuvre her way into me shoe. She even managed co involve herself in the interviews.

After arr hour of playing the game, Anita finally decided chat she was going to be frank and tell me old actress co leave her alone.

When she saw her go cowards the balcony Anica followed, stopping for a few more press phot0graphs along d1e way.

On stepping out omo the balcony, she looked around but could not see Rita anywhere.

Turning co go back in, she noticed an open door to the stairwell d1rough which voices she recognised were raised in argument.

"Anita is famous now. We have fulfilled our side of the deal; it is time co fulfill yours," her father said. "l have given you everything )'Oll have always asked for but no,v that she is arr independent woman, your services are no longer needed," Rita replied.

"The services of a parent never end," her mother seated. " Parents! You bod1 were acting a role, nothing more. A role for which you were wellcompensaced!" came d1e scornful reply.

Anita's head began reeling.

What were they talking about?

Why was parenthood and compensacion being used in the same sentence? " \V./e may not have given birth co Anita, bm she is our child," her mother said.

"But you are not her mod1er," Rita screamed "l aml She is our child. Just as d1e hw1dreds of illegicimace childcen you actors prodL1ce who become children to parents like us. We give legitimacy to your kids while you all continue in your careers and pretend co live noble lives. Look around and you will see the resemblances. J\11 the proof is in that room," retaliated her father.

Rita did not refute d1e claim; instead she spat back, "You take

money to be a mother. How noble do you call that?"

"And you? You pay tO keep your child hidden," her fadier arcacked.

"Not any more, ic is tinle for me to introduce my daughter co the world," Rita replied. "\\lhy now?" asked Anita's mother in a softer tone.

"Because it is time for my revenge," Rita replied and then added, "Do you know who her father is?" ''Your affair with your co-scar was well known," her father answered.

"Ah, but that was the cover up.

It was not an actor wbo was Rita's father, it was a dicect0r," Rita replied.

Anita leaned against cbe wall.

She lmew who that director was.

A loud b,rng made Rita and Anita's carers rush onto the balcony. Seeing that it was empty they heaved a breath of relief, then turned to see Rita's award.

She had smashed ic against the wall.

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JULY 2012 43

BEAUTY

our

e re

This warm colour can make a strong glamour and personality statement if worn properly and with flair

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BY MINNAL KHONA

earing red lipstick or a red dress is n or something every girl can carry off with panache. Red is a sexy, glam orous colour and not all of us have the ability to sizzle in it. But red is a great colour co wear, especially if you want tO look and feel like a million dollars. And you can, but all you need to do is follow a few simple guidelines to up your sizzle guotienr.

Red letter Iips Let's start with make-up. Red lipstick is o nly for the brave or the confident. O r so the JU)' th goes. Agreed, not everyo ne can wear red lipstick and not be selfconscious, but you can use it to your advantage if: • You wear red lipstick when goi ng to a pub or a party • You wear a shade o f red that co mplem encs your skin.

• You ap ply it correctly so that it highlights your features and doesn't look like a red slash across your face.

• You coordinate the right shade o f red lipstick with little black dresses, glam orous black sa,·ees with bling. and evening gowns.

• You don't wear red lipstick to work o r in the daytim e.

A lo t depends o n how you wear red lipstick. For a classy look, opt for deep reds ch at have a touch of burgundy in them. Matte shades o f red that don't look dry and are moisture-rich work better th an glossy shades which can make you look car ry.

To maro and fire engine reds are a .strict n o-no. U nless of course, you are extremely fair skinned. A deeper shade o f red works best with Indian complexions.

Nowadays th e rrend of wearing a lip-liner is thankfully o n the wane. l have seen countless exam ples o f lip-liners in sh ades way different from the lipstick app lied with great p ride. \Xlhat these poor women do n't realize is tbat the lip-liner need s to b lend into th e lipstick so it bas to be a similar shade. Jc is essentially used to prevent the lipstick from bleeding.

So if you must use a lip-liner while ap plying red Lipstick, use a red one. Nor shades of maroon or brown.

Subtle face \l{/hat about the rest o f the face

when your Lipstick is red? The colour being what i t is, red lips will overshadow every other featme.

The best thin g to do is co be sub tle with the rest of your make-up.

A dun line o f eyeliner or just a coat of mascara would work to lughlight the eyes. I personally don't like co wear eye shadow i.f the lipstick is red, but tl1ere are sorne bold ones who can carry it off. If you must experiment, go with dull gold or bronze shades for your eye shadow.

For the blusher, use a shade of nude and avoid p ink blusher. The nude shade will give your cheeks a slight colour and glow, and will not clash with the red lipstick.

If yo u are one of those lucky o nes wi th big eyes, high cheekbo nes and a glowing skin, I suggest you do n' t wear an y other makeup. J ust translucent powder should do the trick.

Accessorise avidly \l{/hen it comes to jewellery, try an d pair it with your outfit an d n m your make-up. If you are wearing black, you can wear diamond jewellery or oxidized silver. Botl1 would look good an d offset the red lipstick.

If you are wearing a red dress, tl1e obvious thing to do is wear nude coloured make-up and let the dress do the talking.

Keep your hairstyle as simple as possible. An elaborate hairdo \\~tl1 b lingy accessories will make you look Like an over-dressed Ch ristmas a:ee. A simple ponytail o r your hair left loose works best. lf you are wearing a nice blad<saree, a low bun at the nape o f your neck will highlight the lipstick.

Wearing red Lipstick is no t everyone's cup of tea, b ut i.f you work within certain parameters and don't make any fasluon ja11x pas, you can carry off a sa:ong shade of red with style.

Casual journalists So you have a passion for w1iting ... .

Indian Link Newspaper is seeking reporters in your city, to cover Indian community events, as well as India-related events in the mainstream.

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

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

Contact info@indianlink.coin.au 44 JULY 2012

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FASHION

Ankle boots

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BY TALIA KAUR

one are the days c>f hund.liug up in layers of warm clothes to beat the dull of winter. Special new winrer fashion trends have made it possible to look chic and trendy, while keeping wm:m So here are 5 winter winners co beat up your look.

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Knitted jumpers Meet winter's most popular fashion piece. There's nothing more comfortable than a cozy knitted jumper and it's become an absolute musc-b11ve chis cold season. The great thing about jumpers is char they come in so many differeut styles and colours - from light pastel, preppy ones to dack-patcerned drapey ones - so it's impossible not to find a perfect opcion for you. A soft cotton or wool jumper will look great with almost evetythi.ng, so don't be afraid to let your imaginacion nm wild this season and team them up with different textures, fabrics and parters. You could pair a pastel b.lue knitted jumper with some floral trousers for a feminine look. If you fee.I like going for something with a bit more edge, team a leather skirt with a bright knit and add a chi11 belt at the waist - it's right on trend, yet so comfortable.

Faux-fur coats We've seen maoy winter trends come and go, bur a lmrurious fauxfor coat will always be a timeless winter essential. It's super st-ylish, yet so wacm! And mainstream fashion scores are not only sel.liug many differe-m cuts, coloms and textures, bur they're also making chem affordable so there's a coat to suit everyone. Bue, it can scill be a challenge finding the perfect one. Depending on your sense of style, it can be rcickr to pull off a full-length faux-for coat without looking overdone, especially with the bolder colours. If you're less of a fash.i.onista, you cao ope for a safer option sud1 as the short vest and choose neutral or earthy tones. However, it's important to remember that no matter if you want to go all out or play it safe, when ic comes co rocking this trend, always keep the rest of your ensemble. as simple as possib le in rhe end, you wane the coat co make a statement.

This trend, big last winter, is back this season and will be huge for many more winters to come. Ir's chic, comfortable and praccical during the frequenr winter rains. There are ankle boors in every style from platform heels for a night out, to flar.5 for a more daytime casual look. r eucral coloured wedge boors are also a great safe opcion and are especially hoc right now as they add height without being as actencion-grabbi□g as bright bee! b()ots. But if you're lool....-ing to add an edge to your ourfrt, ope for a weste.i:n style learher boor. lf you wane co go one step furchei:, cry coloured suede or animal prims, bm remember to keep Lhe rest of the out.fir simple so the boots are in focus. Also, pay attention co detailing like lace- ups or buckles for a bit more style.

Try b rightening chis cold season up and rerun a pair of tan leather boors with bright coloured jeans or leggings - it adds a fresh look and is a welcome break from black.

Coloured jeans The perfect piece co turn these gloomy \\'liter days atound!

Just about e\ ery store has jumped on board. If you're fee.ling a lictle unsure about whether you can pull off this trend, go for paste.I colours or rid1er, luxurious colours li.ke teal blue, burgnndy red or emerald green. To finish ir off: team it up witb neutral cones sud1 as a white shire and ran boors. This way you're still including some colour, but making su(e it's not too ovetpowering. lf you are daring and go for brighter coloms, be sure to ream up with earthy cones, and don't overdo the accessories. A bright red pair of jeans reamed with a white and cream striped knitted jumper would look great. i\m)tber way co be a bit more playful is to pair it with a bold prior - polka docs, nautical stripes or even floral, geometrical, leopard or zebra prints.

7

Berets and beanies This year's winter bas seen berets and beanie.5 in all different shapes, sizes and styles, and has become the ultimate topping to just about any winter ensemble. Whether you ope for a super slouchy, boho style beanie or a chic French bere.c, the.re are so many colours and textures to suit every sryle.

If you're wearing a simple coat,

a bright beanie can add a bit more derail and colour, bur if yo u've chosen a brig ht coloured jumper, a neutral beanie will add the /inishing touch. Try experin1encing with texcute.5 and prints as well.

Team a solid coloured cotton knit with a faux-fur printed beret, or a cashmere cardigan with an oversized knitted beanie. This will also help co balance the thickness of the fabrics. Also, look for derails such as bows and ball tops for a more feminine style. Beanies or berets are also a really cheap accessory that can cover up any bad hair day while keeping you warm!

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FOOD

C oco ate cake wit a erence Ofall the quirky ways to include chocolate in your food, here are a couple ofoptions that are delicious and somewhat healthy

Teacher: ff )'OIi had 10 rhocolate rakes, a11d so/lleoue {IJked.for 3.75 cak.es, ho1v 111a11y 1v1J11ldyo11 h111•e !t:ft?

St11dmt: 10 ra/e.es Teadwr: Ok'!]•tbm, i111agi11e if so11m1ne farcibfy remol'Cd J.75 choco/(i/f rllke.r .fr1J111_yo11, thm ho111!110!!)' 1P1J11Jd_yolf haz·e?

Jt11dent: 10 cake.rand a dead hoq_}•.

It's said that nine out of ten people like chocohte, and the tenth person lies. I've always wanted to tty one of the chocolate barfis from the big silver-tray tiered windows in the Indian shops, but Mum always says "Chocolate barfis are terrible!"

(I think she just had a bad experience w ith them at some point... ) aod it got me th.in.king abom how many different ways there are that we consume chocolate - in a drink, .in .icecream, fruit smothered in ir, the topping for bars and slices and the easiest and probably 'favourirest' block or bar. Chocolate cakes were probably the first thing I learned to make (with help from my friends Betty Crocker, Greens and White Wings) and it is said that everyone should bave a good chocolate cake recipe in their repertoire. But now, like with phones and computers, there are so many different new modern types! I've heard of chocolate mayonnaise cake (apparently th.is gives a rich and dark texture and not a taste of mayonnaise), chocolate cake with beetroot Q1ow healthy is mat?!), chocolate cake with oatmeal, chocolate chilli cakes, and even weird extremes like vegan chocolate avocado cake (not sure about d1at last one ... ).

Here are some recipes mat our family loves. Chocolate Mug Cake is a 'lazy' dessert - easy, simple and quick to make, fun to eat on a cold night as you sit arow1d in your PJs watching TV. (fhe recipe provided here serves one person only: you'll

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find, as I did, when you make chis more frequently, that everybody will want their own mug, so beware).

The Chocolate Beetroot has less Aom and butter, (Chickpea Cal,e none at all) so you can coov:ince yourself that they are a healthy alternativel

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Chocolate Mug Cake 4 tbsp Aour 2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp cocoa I small egg About 3 tbsp milk 3 tbsp butter or margarine melted, or vegetable oil. ½ tsp vanilla extract L tbsp choc chips L large mug l\llix me dry ingredients cogemer in a mug Crack an egg and add it ro tl1e mug. Be sure to mix it well to avoid pockets of Aour in tl1e comers. Pour in the milk, melted butter/ oil and vanilla extract and mi..x well.

Pop your mug into the microwave for about 2-3 minutes on maximum power, depending on your type of microwave. You'll know when it's done when the cake stops r ising and sets iJ1 tbe mug.

Run a knife around the sides of the mug, and tip the warm cake out of the mug and onto a saucer.

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Chocolate Chickpea Cake 2 tbsp cocoa powder 2/3 cup chopped dark cooking chocolate 1 x 375g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 4 large eggs I /2 tsp vanilla e.xtract I /2 cup granulated sugar I /2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Grease and Line cal<e pan Me.It the chocolate, either in the microwave (remember to stir

between intervals) or over the stove.

Puree chickpeas, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Add sugar, baking powder and salt and blend co combine.

Add melted chocolate and blend to combine, scraping down sides of bowl well as necessary. The batter will be thick. Tt-ansfer into prepared pan and bake until knife inserted in centre comes out clean, about 1 hour depending on the srrengtb of your oven.

Allow cake to cool for 15 minutes on wire cooling rack. Dust with icing sugar just before serving

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Chocolate Beetroot Cake This cake comes out really rich a.nd moist and you'd never guess ir was low far, but there is no butter and almost no flour. Definitely use the besr quality chocolate you can buy.

250g good-quality dark chocolate 250g raw beetroot, peeled and

finely grated 250g light brown sugar 40g self-raising Aour 40g plain flour 3 eggs 2 tbsp maple. syrup 2 tbsp honey ¼ tsp bicarbonate of mda ¼ tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla essence 25g cocoa powder 50g ground almonds 100ml strong black coffee 30ml vegetable oil 150g good-quality dark chocolate 3 tbsp strong black coffee 1 tsp vanilla essence 3 tbsp clear honey Preheat oven ro 180 degrees.

Melt me chocolate ove.r a pan of simmering water, then let cool.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with me sugar, vanilla, maple syrup and honey for three minutes with an electric hand till Au£fy.

Add in the flours, bicarbonate

of soda, salt, cocoa and ground almonds.

Remove moisture from tl1e grated beetroot with some kitchen paper.

Add in the beetroot, cooled chocolate, coffee and oil and m.ix together.

Pour tl1e mixture into a greased round cake tin and cook in the middle of the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes. After this time, cover the cake with foil and bake for another 30 minutes.

To make tl1e topping, melr the chocolate in a bowl ove.r a pan of simmering water, th.en remove from the heat and add the coffee and the vanilla essence.

Set aside to cool for 15 minutes before icing the cake. Cut the cake rnrough tl1e middle and ice it in the centre and on all sides.

JULY 2012 47

11MALAIKA ARORA KHANI!

Rajesh Khanna recovering Veteran actor Rajesh Khanna recently gave his fans a bit of a shock after landing in hospital in Mumbai for some tests, and staying there for a while. The actor, a mere shell of his flamboyant young self, has been battling health issues for some time now. His ex-wife Dimple Kapadia has been taking care of him. The 69-year-old was pleased to see worried fans lined up outside his house, waving to them and showing them the 'V'for victory sign.

Bollywoods celebs visiting Rajesh Khanna, aka Kaka, included actress Reena Roy, former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, his close friend Anita Advani and former girlfriend Anju Mahendru. Rajesh Khanna's daughters Twinkle and Rinke, and son-in-law Akshay Kumar also came to see him in the hospital.

But it was thespian Anupam Kher, who worked with the actor in Vijay, who spoke for all of Kaka's colleagues and fans when he said, "Rajesh Khannaji is a part of our youth and belongs to the era that taught us about romance. He also portrayed different aspects of acting. He is the first superstar and I pray to God that he has a long and healthy life:· Incidentally, Salman Khan made a bid to see the ailing actor after visiting hours, and was politely but firmly turned away by the hospital, much to his surprise. For once the Sallu charm didn't quite do the trick...

Here's wishing Kaka a quick recovery back to health!

Rahman to rock London Olympics Grammy award winner AR Rahman will team up with Hollywood director Danny Boyle again, to compose a song for the London Olympics' opening ceremony. The music maestro reveals it will be a Punjabi song celebrating

GUEss7 WHO.

This spunky Punjabi kudi was a model before she entered Bollywood, and represented India in the Miss Universe contest

Indian influence in Britain. It's another feather in the cap for this prolific, yet humble musician extraordinaire, who worked with Boyle in Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours.

"It's a part of a medley in the Olympics opening ceremony, according to Danny Boyle's creative wishes!" Rahman stated.

It has also been reported that music composer llayaraja's composition Naanthaan ungappanda, from Kamal Hassan's 1980film Ram Lakshman will be a part of the opening ceremony too.

Thank goodness Indians in England are now well beyond the curry and cricket combination!

Esha-Bharat wedding makes Bollywood news Actress Esha Deol married businessman BharatTakhtani in a traditional South Indian ceremony at the ISKCON temple in the Mumbai's Juhu suburb, following a reception attended by the best of Bollywood. The whole family of dad Dharmendra, mum Hema Malini, sister Ahana were present to wish her well and partake of the ceremony. Esha is close to her cousin Abhay Deol, who took the part of her brother, as half-brothers Sunny and Bobby were conspicuous in their absence.

The bride looked happy and resplendent in a red lehenga made of three Kanjivaram saris and gold jewellery, while Bharat looked dapper in a white sherwani with zardozi work and a maroon pagdi. The wedding outfits were designed by Neeta Lulla.

The decor at the temple was simple, yet beautiful and heavily decorated with flowers.

Hema Malini claimed she was "very happy"for her daughter, and would miss her. "It was a normal South Indian wedding, with just slight changes. I am very happy for Esha, she has found the right person. We all are very happy. I will miss her but she is going to be in Mumbai, so I am happy about that;'said Hema, looking gorgeous and elegant in a orange-red hand-woven six yard sari, which she teamed up with a green blouse and kept her hair neatly tied at the back. Esha's dad and yesteryear star Dharmendra kept it simple with black trousers, a white shirt and grey jacket.

Present at the ceremony were Bollywood's biggies including Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, legendary actress Vyjayanthimala looking evergreen in a purple and orange traditional sari, Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam Sinha and her twin sons - Luv and Kush. Hema's niece and actress Madhoo, as well as Vi nod Khanna, Manoj Kumar, Anu Malik, Rani Mukherji, Fardeen Khan Ramesh Sippy, Sandip Soparrkar and wife Jesse Randhwa were

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also there to bless the couple.

Sahara's chief Subroto Roy, industrialist Mukesh Ambani's wife Neeta Ambani and Sun ii Rane of Atharva Group of Institutes, who is a family friend, were among the other high profile guests.

Top notch Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders too attended the wedding, from Raj Purohit, Mumbai chief ofBJP, to party president Nitin Gadkari to national vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, all attended the event.

The reception saw even more of Bollywood and India's elite attending, with an invitation sent out to Sonia Gandhi who couldn't attend due to security reasons. She has however, invited the newly married duo to visit her at her residence.

Here's wishing the happy couple all the very best.

Akshay as Krishna in OhMyGod Akshay Kumar is back with a vengeance, and this time it's in a heavenly avatar. Debut posters of his latest film Oh My God in which he plays the modern day Lord Krishna, show the star riding a motorcycle through the clouds with a bright colourful sky in the background. This time Akshay has teamed up with Paresh Rawal in his production venture, who appears in the second poster. It shows Paresh, who plays Kanahaiya, standing with a smile on his face and gods and goddesses surrounding him.

Based on Umesh Shukla's Gujarati play Kanji Viruddh, the movie is about unconventional happenings in normal day to day lives, and is due for a lateSeptember release.

Now Akshay must be feeling his age as the actor's former karate student Prateek Chakravorty has turned director with From Sydney With Love, and actually calls the star 'uncle'!

"He calls me Akshay uncle.

Backstage he asked me if he should call me Akshay uncle or not? I love what comes from the heart," said the 44-year-old Akshay recently.

"Will you believe me if I say I used to teach him karate? He was a good student but then he stopped;' added the actor. "He always wanted to be a director and an actor, and I am proud that he has become an actor, he has directed his first film and he has taken forward his grandfather Pramod Films' name ahead''.

From Sydney With Love stars Prateek himself along with Bidita Bag, Sharad Malhotra, Evelyn Sharma and Karan Sagoo, and will release in end-July.

Looks like exciting times ahead for Akshay fans, so watch this space.

Hrithik impresses Hollywood Despite being a booming business, Bollywood's actors have found it hard to find a firm foothold in big sister Hollywood's hallowed halls. But now, apna Hrithik Roshan as found a fan in Scott Speer, director of Step Up Revolution, who is impressed with the Indian star's acting and dancing.

"Yes, of course, anyone who is

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. .. . .. .. . . ................................ interested in dance and music will know about Indian movies. It has a lot of music and dance and colours in them;' Speer said recently. "I liked Hrithik Roshan as an actor and dancer in the Indian movie Kites and have seen him dancing in Dhoom 2:• Step Up Revolution is the fourth instalment of dance movie Step Up, due to release in end July.

Speer is an American music video director and has done several music videos for Mexican singer Belinda.

So will Hrithik be buzzing from Bollywood to make a hit in Hollywood?

Let's wait and see. ...

CAPTION CONT(;:ST

Aamir expounds views on marriage In an increasingly preachy tone of voice, actor Aamir Khan feels that the institution of marriage in India has changed manifold and urges parents to ensure that their children are wellequipped to take decisions about their life partner independently.

"There is constant change in society and the concept of marriage has changed for the better; marriage is now looked upon as companionship;' Aamir said.

"Although this concept is good, we should empower our kids with right tools to be able to make their own decisions and think on a broader level. Marriage should not bring along fear with it. We should provide ample support to our kids and teach them to live happily;' he added.

Aamir was chatting with listeners on a radio show, talking about his ground-breaking series

What's the chitchat between Vidya Balan and Farhan Akhtar here?

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

Satyamev Jayate.

The 44-year-old, who made his television debut with Satyamev Jayate feels the show has brought him closer to the people of India, and says every citizen should work to make the country a better place to live.

"The effect Satyamev Jayate has taken all over the country proves the fact that we are addressing genuine issues that are prevalent in India. I have, on a personal level, come closer through this initiative to our country," he said. "For any country to be happy, we need to join hands to work towards the common goal... We should all work together for the betterment of the country."

Aamir also talked about the response that his show has received till now and says a change has already been brought in society.

"We have crossed the halfway mark and have received positive response throughout the country.

The healthcare episode has helped improve generic medicines, the health minister is also supporting us and so is the government;' he said.

Sharing an incident about the bias against the girl child, Aamir recounted, "At a Delhi wedding, a family member said a guest blessed the bride that she will give birth to boys at which point the other members present stated that a girl child is equally

welcome and such gender bias should not exist. I was reading in the newspaper that the people are now going to the police, child helpline - so change is evident (against the bias) and I really believe in India and our people:• The success of Satyamev Jayate has proved naysayers wrong. "People told me that a show on social issues would be a failure, but now people from (Jammu and) Kashmir to Kanyakumari are associated with the show and want to see change in our society. We should use this opportunity to plan and contribute the most. The required change should be brought about inside;' Aamir said.

Well, there's no doubt that this is just the beginning of the great heights that the show is bound to reach, in bringing awareness of social issues to the forefront. Good luck to Aamir, the man with the Midas touch!

6eued 1n9

WHM SS3n9 oi JclMSU\f JULV2012 49

A romp into raw, ru g~d heartland ~

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leeding brilliance in almost every frame, breathing fire through every available orifice that the characters possess, and whipping up a kind of frenzied, flamboyant bloodshed that was once associated with the Spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah, Gangs OfWasseypuris, briefly, one huge gang-bang. No protection provided.

From its bludgeoning opening when merciless marauders ambush a powerful enemy's fortress-like home with armylike meticulousness, Gangs Of Wasseypurtakes us into a world where compassion is a dinosaur, forgiveness a faux pas, and kindness an unforgivable sin.

Welcome to Kashyap's Wasseypur. This is no country for the weak-hearted. Countrymade guns go off without warning, bombs are hurled from two-wheelers and abuses fly out even faster than the bullets. If you are the kind of moviegoer who doesn't enjoying hearing and seeing the unimaginable things that can't be done to various parts of the human anatomy, then I suggest you try something more sugary and safe.

The world ofWasseypur is soaked in blood and revenge.

The mafia in one form or another rules the little town. To

50 JULY 2012

mainstream Hindi moviegoers, this is not an unknown territory.

At least four other recent films - Paan Singh Tomar, /shaqzaade, Rowdy Rathore and Shanghaihave hurled audiences right into the notorious anarchy of the north Indian small-town where the barrel of the gun speaks an irresistible language of mayhem.

It's a strangely dichotomous world where music and songs (Sneha Khan) mock the characters' subverted herogiri.

While the characters indulge in their unmanned violence, viewers become numbed participants in the rites of the wrong-doing.

The almost-ritualistic slaughter of all rules of civil conduct in Gangs Of Wasseypur is not redeemed by the presence of any hero.

Even the main protagonist in the blood thirsty saga is a certifiable rogue named Sardar Khan. As played by Manoj Bajpayee in what is arguably his most feisty and filled-out performance to date, Sardar Khan is a second-generation criminal and social outcast.

In the film's unforgettable prologue, Sardar's father (Jaideep Ahlawat) serves as a henchman to the powerful local politician (Tigmanshu Dhulia).

Politician has daddy killed by a hired assassin and Sonny-boy grows up swearing revenge.

This in a nutshell, could be the plot for a cheesy 1980s potboiler. In taking the grammar and language of the formulistic vendetta drama from the 1970s and 1980s and converting it into a crackling saga of compelling contemporary currency, Kashyap turns all the rules of mainstream Hindi cinema on its head. He uses the language of Manmohan Desai and Narinder Bed i's cinema. But he applies these to characters who are as far removed from the world of escapism as Sicily is from Wasseypur.

Oh, did we really say Gangs OfWasseypurwas derived from The Godfather? Nah. The two worlds are inter-connected only by their legacy of lineage and violence. Beyond that Kashyap's mode of storytelling, and the way his characters loom over the proceedings without become caricatural. are frighteningly original and as liberated of reference-points as any of the path-breaking films on gangwars that have emerged out of Hollywood in the last 25 years.

Kashyap celebrates the drama of the grotesque with the relish of a seven-'coarse' meal. We can count the number of thuds and stabbing sounds every time a victim is cornered and done to death. Violence on this level has never really been a part

of mainstream Hindi cinema before. The end of cinematic niceties is here. Take it or leave it.

Kashyap, in Wasseypur, legitimizes gore with glorious gusto. In the gang war that he portrays with such feral immediacy, victims are chopped up piece by piece, their body parts sent to the butcher's to eliminate legal evidence. A finger floating in a cesspool of stale blood is a commonplace sight in the world of unchecked mayhem that Kashyap has constructed with such casual resplendence.

His team of technicians are unconditionally mired in the mood of violence. Rajeev Ravi's camera mows through the imaginary world of Wasseypur with a devilish dispassion.

The film looks layered and even luminous in texture.

But the tone of narration is detached. The dereliction of the damned and doomed characters is neither romanticized nor demonized.

Indeed Gangs Of Wasseypur invents a new language of cinematic expression. It creates a world where the characters inhabit a universe of vapid stagnant violence. And yet the narration, never short of breath even in the most breathless state of violence, exudes a kind of vibrancy that comes from neither rejection not

acceptance of an undesirable situation. It comes from within the characters. As they battle each other in bitter futile feuds, they also seem to be battling the demons within themselves. The synthesis of what lies within and without is devastating.

And yet for all its outward show of ruthless machismo Gangs Of Wasseypur Is a film with a heart.

There is a rather enticing love story featuring Manoj, his screen wife (debutante Richa Chadha) and the other woman (Reema Sen) tucked away in the folds of the ferocious tale.

Manoj's wife is a very happy happening in this sad but savagely funny tale. She is quite the discovery of the year, and that too in a film mottled with exceptional performances by Manoj, Nawazuddin as his son (more of him in Wasseypur 2), Tigmanshu Dhulia who is clenched, controlled and combative as the villain in chief, Pankaj Tripathi riveting as Manoj's belligerent enemy, Piyush Mishra remarkably restrained and wise as Manoj's mentor and guide, and Huma Qureshi, another whammy performer who we will see more of In the sequel.

In fact, every character, b ig or small, is cast with what looks like first-and-last options. You can't imagine any other actor playing any of the myriad parts.

Brutal, brilliant, dark, sinister, terrifying in Its violence and yet savagely funny In the way human life is disregarded, Gangs Of Wasseypuris one helluva romp into the raw and rugged heartland. Not to be missed. I can't wait to see the sequel. But be warned. Avoid meals half an hour before and after viewing.

Subhash K. Jha

www.indianlink.com.au

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Uninteresting story,flatjokes T

here are many occasions in this three-tiered love story when the two protagonists simply run out of words as the dialogue slumps into an embarrassing silence.

This, you feel, is very much in character. On paper, I am sure Teri Meri Kahaani must have seemed like a terrific 3-in-1. A sumptuous feast of role and accent transference for the charming pair. Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are among the best talent we have today. They are versatile, confident, good-looking and simply cool. Director Kuna! Kohli gives them three different love stories to sink their decalcified teeth into.

The problem starts early. None of the three stories is inspired or even interesting. The highpoints in each story are so weak we don't know when they arrive.

Some of the material that has gone into telling the triple-tiered story frankly appears to be a secret joke where the punchline is known only to the writers.

For example in the segment in London 2011 Shahid and Priyanka are named Krish and

Radha and the screechy girl who comes in-between them (Neha Sharma) is, believe it or not, Meera.

This self-consciously mythologized modern day love triangle prompts a friend of the hero to quip, "Yeh Radha aur

Krishna ke beech mein Meera kahan se aa gay1?"

Well, LOL to that. Krish and Radha often resort to smileys and LOLs to express their growing fondness. The smileys remain singularly isolated in their amusement. There is not a moment when we empathise with the protagonists or feel the intended flow of their love for one another. What we see are two stars trying to breathe life into a mutual affection that never quite takes off.

It gets worse. The two other stories are even less engaging.

The one set in the film industry resorts to painstaking periodicity to recreate Mumbai in 1960. A tram crosses Mumbai's heartland.

To his credit the art designer tries hard to get the exteriors right.

Though some of it is so shallow you feel Kunal Kohli is attempting

the recreate the celluloid version of a high school play where the props are borrowed from the furniture-wa/i aunty's store.

And by the way the Lata Mangeshkar-Kishore Kumar duet Likha hai tere ankh on mein from t he Dev Anand starrer Teen Deviyaan which plays in the background in a street scene featuring Shahid and Prachi Desai, did not exist in 1960. It came five years later.

That brings us to the music and choreography, so essential to evoking periodicity specially when the lead pair dances so well.

But getting Shahid to do Shammi Kapoor? Bad idea. Very bad idea.

Shahid's measured steps would have made Sham mi LOL. The worst story of the three is the one set in pre-Partition Punjab. It almost seems to spoof Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1942: A Love Story. Like Anil Kapoor in Chopra's film, Shahid cares not a hoot about India's independence.

He cares only about "love-shove".

And please take the 'shove' seriously. The grinning rogue Iikes to put it in wherever he gets space.

And we aren't talking about his tractor.

The attempts in the pre-Partition segment to instil a sense of patriotic pride, is shamefully baggy.

The Gora Log are played by junior artistes whose only credential to represent British India is the colour of their skin. The patriotic Indians get to shout Vande Mataram in fresh ly-stitched kurtas and tops. Mercif ully we are spared a re-mix.

The clothes suggest a close affinity between boutique w isdom and periodicity. And that seems to be the prevalent mood of the romance. The emotions seem to be obtained off the shelf.

Priyanka and Shahid struggle hard to look deeply interested in the lines and in each other.

It's a losing battle. There's only so much you can do with conspicuously corny lines like, "Are we like those couples who talk on the sms and online and have nothing to say when they come face to face?"

Even if they are, do we care?

Just why Kunal Kohli, a director

who has shown some sensitivity in handling the man-woman relationship, chose to make this film is mystery solvable only by the actors who agreed to be part ofthe endeavour.

Subhash K. Jha

!=ILM: Maximum CAST: Naseeruddin Shah, Sonu Sood, Neha Dhupia, Amit Sadh, and Vinay Pathak WRITER-DIRECTOR: Kabeer Kaushik

BACKCHAT

Ask Auntyji ~

~W\ttrtex th.tlV\

Dear Auntyji

Help me, na, Aunty! I have a question on which you could enlighten me. My husband and I were born in Fiji, but we have been here for quite a few years. My husband is 35 years old with only a high school education, and he does studio production work in an advertising agency.

He has worked in this industry for 12 years.

He doesn't love his work, but every now and again, he likes it. Unfortunately, the advertising industry is not very family-friendly, but the worst past is that each time the agency loses a big client, the agency downsizes. Last week, the agency lost a big client and my husband is nervous about his job. This happens every six months, it seems. In contrast, I am a middle manager in a large organisation with a Masters in Management. I am fairly ambitious and want to do well, and all signs point towards me going places in my organisation. My problem, Aunty, is that my husband never feels he has job security. He does not love what he does and at 35, he still has no idea about what he would like to do with the rest of his life. I am concerned that one day he will wake up at 45 with lots of experience, but no education that could move him into a better, client-facing role.

He feels that education will not get him anywhere and he has a lot of experience to compensate. Consequently, he feels that there is no need for him to do anything different, but every time we have this discussion, he says that it's difficult to find jobs in his industry and he can't really change roles. Auntyji, can you please tell me what I should be thinking in this situation - as I really don't want a middle-aged husband who hates his job and his life because he feels that he was somehow cheated - when the reality is that he could have taken control of his life and made a difference. What should I be thinking, Auntyji?

W\~ h. ltl50tl V\d_

*

Auntyji says Oh dear, this is indeed a perplexing question and I can totally understand why you are bothered. I certainly hope you love your husband for who he is, rather than because you're hoping that one day he will become as ambitious and as driven as you. The solution for your husband is quite simple. Unfortunately for him as much as he tries to deny it or ignore it, the truth is that he is competing for jobs where the base level is at least a university degree. Even though his experience is important, the truth is, if he was to apply for a job and the manager in charge had an option from two candidates with the same experience but one had a qualification, the qualified candidate would be chosen, even ifthe degree might be in Religious Studies from the University of Ballarat. This is the sad truth of the situation. Further, your husband, God bless his soul, seems to be the kind of person who lets things happen to him, rather than controlling part of his destiny. And by this I simply mean that instead of being nervous about his job, your husband should be taking charge and ensuring he either up skills himself to have more options, or move to an industry where there are more job opportunities.

But unfortunately it seems to me that you can't make him understand the situation from your point of view. So, in this sad situation, my dear Anarkali, my discontented phoolon ki rani, there is only one solution. You need to change your mind. Accept the fact that you are driven and ambitious, and you will be the one in the family potentially earning the moolah. And that your chota-mota chand ka tukda husband is neither ambitious nor driven. Let your husband be, and give him advice when he asks for it; but other than that, leave him alone. Why else did you fall in love with him than because of his easy-going nature?! This is your only solution and the salvation of your marriage. Be an understanding wife as much as you can be, but don't judge him or try to control what he does with his career. A good supportive wife will do the right thing.

Of course, if you can see a future where your unhappy, middle-aged husband sits at home all day and no-one wants to hire him because of his lack of education or dull nature because he does not have the drive, and you begin to develop a revulsion to your husband as result, then you need to do something. Leave him now. It's obvious you two are mismatched. Why waste your time with a bekaroo? Go find yourself a lawyer or a doctor or an engineer. These professions will always be in demand - unless of course they do something unethical, in which case the consequences will be much worse. Let me know how you go. I am most interested to hear of your plans.

Dear Auntyji

ir'Y\.ttttt pittt kt Oh my goodness, Aunty, I am a right mess!

I have found out some information and I am dying slowly, slowly on the inside! I am really, really hoping ke aap madat karengi mujhko. Oh, Aunty! Mai bilku/ pareshaan hoon, ye sharmindagi, yeh bekhudi, what to do?

Anyway, here is my sad, sad, pagaal si kahani, my bemisal story. I am 50 years old. My 75-year-old mother lives with me. All my saari zindagi, I have felt that I did not belong to my family. I look completely a/agfrom them - my aankhein, my baatein, my samajeverything is too different! Then two weeks ago, my maaji was going through all her old suitcases and we came across old chitthis and photos. And in the photos of my nani, maasi, kaki, kaka, uncle, aunt y and pets, etc., there was a photo of Robert, or Raabart, as my mother called him, same way that yesteryear actor Ajit used to call his best buddy while he was stroking Mona's hair. In any case, saawal yeh hai, ki yeh Raabart kaun tha, and most important, mai kyu is Raabart ki thara lagthi hoon?The same neeli-neeli aankhen, the same skin colour, the same features.

In fact, I seem to be a female version of Raabart the mysterious, na? When my mother saw me gazing with confusion, then apprehension, then sudden realisation at Raabart's chhaapa, she grabbed it from my haath and quickly put it inside her blouse. Her safed choli. But her choli only was safed, her cha/an was kaala. My own mataji!The besharam! The behaiya! How could she do this to me! I have refused to speak to my mother from that day when I insisted that she tell me who Raabart was, and why I look like him. Thank God my dad is dead, otherwise he would be absolutely gobsmacked, even t hough I am sure he is spinning in his grave now (we're Anglo-Indians so he is buried). What shall I do, Aunty? How do I find out who Raabart was? And shall I tell my badchalan maa exactly what I think of her?

ktth.ttn.t

Auntyji says Oh, you shaitaan! Arre akl ke dushman! Oh you kulachchini - have you no sharam saying such gandi baatein about your own mataji? How do you know what happened in your mother's life that you stand there judging her? The possibilities for what might have happened 51 years before your birth are immense, and your fertile imagination should be running wild, but why bring your mother into all this tamasha? What do you hope to achieve by bringing up the past, which you can't change anyway. Chances are that this Raabart is too old to care, and so are you.

At your age, what difference does it make whether it was Raabart or Raman who sired you? You have your neeli-neeli aankhein, your fair complexion and your chhoti si samajh and that's all you should care about. I could provide you with three good reasons for why you look like Raabart, but what difference does it make? Nothing changes, except what you know. Let these bhooli bisri baatein be. And what will you do with this information anyway? Let your mother enjoy her twilight years without you causing her grief. Do not judge her, for you are not Bhagwan. And be grat eful for your life. Your mother could have strangled you or fed you salt at the moment of your birth, but she raised you, no doubt through much hardship because you seem like hard work anyway. So be grateful for your life, keep calm and carry on. lfRaabart was around, that's what he would be saying too.

Do you have a question for Auntyji?

Send it in to GPO Box 108 Sydney 2001 or email it to info@indianlink.com.au 5 2 JULY 2012

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n TA K

QTPREDICTIONS FOR JULY 20,2

By MANCY JADE ALTMEA www.nancysood.com

ARIES March 21 - April 19

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 This month, you will be in a romantic mood. You will be feeling confident and able to impress the one you love. There are chances of greater recognition at work. Take care of your health, as there is a nagging headache around you. You need to lake in more fresh air and exercise. Lately you have been neglecting yourself and the stress is building up. You may want to buy yourself some new clothes and change your image.

This month, you will be enjoying great health and a vibrant amount of energy. The cards indicate that you will be feelin,g a lot better with your work situation. You will be thinki11g of spending more time with a loved one, and want to make a commitment. There is also an indication here that you will be thinking of taking on a new healtli regime. A short holiday rs indicaled. Your home will also be on your mind this month. __,,:.;:L.=:,,~_,._-------==;..._-

.....,,..--,~

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

;

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

This month, your attention will be on ,omance and love. The cards indicate a time of feeling super sexy and your creative juices will be flowing. There is a good job offer around, so you will need to decide what to do. Decisions will have to be made as you will be templed to go for the offer. On the other hand, you are doing well in your current job. There will also be a new health tegime around you.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

This month should be a very happy time~Your thoughts are on the future and its possibilities. Look for surprises around the home front, they could really be great! Your career will get a major boost.

The cards indicate a time of recognition and rewards. A member of staff at your workplace or business may leave suddenly and cause problems. There is secrecy around your famiJy and you will feel left out. Build some bridges, and don't be foo sh.inborn.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

-----------------------------

There is a possibility that you will want to change things around your home and re.decorate. The cards indicate a time for making plans and re-assessing your life and future. There are a lol of changes around, you will be feeling full of energy and will e~oy the coming surprises. There is an indication that you will be looking at shedding a few pounds and starting a new, healthy eating pattern. Your car may give you some problems this month.

CANCER June 21 - July 20 This mohth, there will be a lot of communication flowing, and you will also be travelling. Be careful with work, as you may gef inlo trouble by saying the wrong things. There is someone who js trying to gel you into trouble, and will be pressing all lhe wrong buttons. Keep cool and try to rise above the situation.

Be careful about your spending, as you will be tempted to buy soma things you may find you do not need.

LEO July 23 - Aug 22 This month, you are going to be a very busy person. There will be some health issues ar.ound a family member which will cause stress. Try nol to overeat or over indulge, as you will feel very bloated and sick. You may need to gel some food testing done as you may be allergic lo some foods. The cards show that you need to be strong as a friend will be asking for a loan, and money is lighl.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 The month will be all about accumulation of assets, money and power. You are looking to make changes and are ir, the mood to make thin_gs happen immedia\:ely. Take care of losing your temper, as family mal:ters will frustrate you. You could take on a new project that you have been thinking of doing. You can capitalise on an opportunity. There are some amazing results to be had if you just go foril and take a Jeap of faith.

11 I(

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Your career will take prime focus.this month. and it is a great time for real advancement. Your mind is jumping all over the place with possibilities for the future. Relationship issues will probably be a major motivating force for you. Your partner will want advancements in the relationship. There are $Orne issues you need to deal with before you take this decision. There seems to be mistrust and you need to have an open discussion about moving forward.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19 If you are looking to travel, now is the time. Pack (hose bags and don't look back. You need a break. Youi;- caree,r will take a major boost as you lur.n the tables on any ongoing confusion.

Walch those purse strings as there will be a tendency lo spend more Hien you need to. You love life needs a boosl, but you will be spending more time socialising. Your popularity will grow and you will feel better about yourself.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - f=eb 18 Have you been watching the family budget? If you haven't, you will. It will be your key focus this month, but not in a burclensome way, You may surprise yourseff at your own creativity 'when jt comes to juggling financial responsibilities this month. The cards are indicating at time of great planning and also looking at whab you would like to do in foture. There ts a possibility lhalyou may consider studying and furthering your interests in spirituality.

PISCES J=eb 19 - March 20 This month sees the focus on committed relationships, and you will have ample energy in-that area.iSome problems Ol'i old grievances could surface, and you will have to deal with .them. Take time out for yourselfin case of slressful situations at work. There are some matters tfiat you are not dealing with, regarding paperwork and matters around the house. Take care of your knees this month as you seem to be suffering with some aches and palns.

BACKCHAT

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ar1n

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canine

After three sleepless nights, it is a revelation to discover a retriever worth his weight in gold

even hundred select guests out of the seven billion people on this planet were enjoying crisp cucumber sandwiches washed down with a variety of liquids at Beth's backyard. The HRH (Her Royal Horde) of corgis were lolling around the high heels of the wellheeled, munching diamond-shaped jubilee cake baked for this special occasion.

The four-day feverish (the wisecracking old Duke felt a bit that way) fervour of the Queen's gala event did not catch on D own Under. However a week later we, the loyal citizens of Oz, enjoyed a long weekend of beer and barbics to mark another tick on the chronological calendar of the gracious grand dame of Bucks.

Even as the cushy corgis were rerecovering from their hangover, I was having a dog's day thanks to my spouse, a staunch dog lover who once used to instantly panic at the sight of even a pun}' pooch.

During the long weekend we were delivered a golden retriever, Enzo, along with two bags - one containing his special food, and the other his gear including a mattress, blanket, purple jacket, ID card and wait for it - a 90page manual of instructions with specific commands! \'Vhy all this fuss? Because Enzo is no ordinary dog. One day he will be the eyes and even ears of helpless humans whose dark world he ,vill light up, helping them live a near-normal life. Dogs like Enzo, according to the Royal Society for the Blind, cost around S20k to be trained from a playful pup to a purposeful guide dog. So it is no wonder the Society takes extraordinary steps in drafting a manual and setting up protocols in choosing trainers and carers for these canines. A number of good-hearted mums and dads volunteer their services. My wife enrolled her and myself, overriding my hesitation, as volunteers.

The seachange in my wife's cynophobia to dogs came about after we acquired a lovely Labrador who lived a contended 15 years, receiving cuddles and cookies in catton-loads from all the four in our family. After a sudden stroke and an agonising two weeks he

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54 JULY 2012

had to be put down, much to our sadness. His departure left a big void, and to fill that my wife wanted another pet pooch. As any dog owner would vouch, losing a pet dog is a heart-wrenching experience. \Xie did not want to go down that path, but we still wanted to enjoy canine company.

And the RSB seemed the best option as it offered three choices - full time trainee/ carers for 12 months, c,r weekend carers, or occasional care givers when a regular one wants a break. \Xie put our names for the third option and expected immediate enrolment.

Not so easy.

We were asked every possible personal detail, fronted up for two interviews followed by police clearance, all of which took several weeks. Strangely, we brought forth into the world two lovely children without any of this rigmarole.

Perhaps it's not a bad idea to subject every couple to some tests to see if they are fit and proper persons to be parents.

Once on the volunteer list, we

had a few training sessions with dogs. Having trained our black lab by Pred ~tis closer to truth that he trained us to his way), we thought it was a breeze to care for Enzo just for three nights. I was told he was well toilet-trained, and once he had relieved himself before bedtime, he would not bother us till the next morning.

Being groomed as a guide dog, Enzo is to stay close to the human he is intended to serve, according to the manual. So 1 slept in a spare room with Enzo lying on the floor close by. Around midnight 1 felt his breath close to my face. Signal for a time out? On that biting cold night I took him to the backyard and kept repeating 'busy busy', the special command for him to do the job. But all that he did was busily sniff around as l stood shivering in my pyjamas. Back to bed, where it took me some time to get back. to sleep. Two hours later, another nudge and another outing. It was action replay with no action. Tossing in bed to recapture my broken sleep, 1 wondered if

we were wise in hosting him while my "',jfe, who had volunteered my services, was blissfully sleeping. .Around 4am was another Enzo wake-up call. Third time lucky, 1 thought. But this outing was without any outcome, like the previous ones. The next two nights were no different. Tired after three sleepless nights and with bleary eyes, I packed his bags for his departure. As his full-time carer came to collect him I felt how close we had become in just three days, and was sad to see him go.

He had followed me like a shadow which, at times, was disconcerting.

But Enzo, being programmed as a guide dog, is expected to follow every movement of his sightless human charge, to keep any harm out of their way. We humans place such a big burden on these creatures to care for the visually challenged, and they deserve every ounce of care and love lavished on them. Once this dawned on me, three sleepless nights \Vere too small a price to pay for the experience!

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2012 ETHNIC BUSINESS

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You have worked hard to make your business dream a reality. Now is the chance to be recognised for your achievement. If you were born overseas and you are an owner or part owner of a business, you are entitled to apply for the longest running business awards in Australia, The Ethnic Business Awards . We are also looking for stories of achievement

by Indigenous Australians. The In digenous in Business Award Category recognises the contribution of Indigenous Australians to the Australi an Business landscape.

The Ethnic Business Awards recognise success against all odds.

Nominate, Celebrate NOMINATIONS CLOSE 27 JULY 2012 For information and to register Visit www.eth n icbu s i nessawards .com

Call 02 9568 5022 Emai I awards@eth n icbu s i nessaward s .com

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