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EDITORIAL

INDIAN LINK · PUBLISMER

Pawan Lu'thra .EDITOR

Wrapped in cotton wool

Rajrii Anand Llltl_~.ra ASSISTANT EDITOR

Sheryl Dixit MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS ·

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

Indian link Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 or GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005 Email:_info@i nd ianli nk.com.au ·

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Sydney public school recently took the decision to ban hand srnnds, cartwheels and somersaults in tl1e p layground during lunch and recess Lmless '\u1der the supervision of a c:ra.ined gymnastics teacher and with correct equipment".

Should tl1e move be accepted as cutrent day realic:y, or does it mean the snatching away of childhood from our children?

On one hand the school feels that it does not have sufficient teachers to supervise lunchtime play, and is keen to avoid injury co the children who may indulge in tl1ese robust activities. The school maintains that these children are under their care during school hours, and simply ,vane to ensure a safe play environment, just as parents in the conmmnity take extra care of their chiJdren's friends when they come visiting.

On the od1er band, parents are concerned mat an important pare of childhood fun is being taken away from d1eir children and d1e school is bending excessively to a strict regime.

Childhood does seem co have veered in a different direction these days. Most

A

readers wiU recaU their own childhood before tbe advent of the internet, iPods, iPads and even 24/7 television, when they found their entertainment in the great outdoors, coming home only when mLm1 shouted our that dinner was ready. Growing up in India, we can al.I remember congregating in the streets after school to play cricket or other traditionaJ games (gilli-da11da, anyone?) or becrer still, ma.Icing up our own games with battered tennis baUs and even more battered cricket bats. Play/ entertainment was aU abom inventing fun, rather than having it package-delivered to us. Rough and rumble was part of this fm1, as we took physical risks in cycling withom helmets or playing on hard surfaces or facing a fast bowler wid1out a helmeL Sure, d1ere were more than a few cuts and grazes and chipped teem - even a broken arm or a leg - these were bur a staple of childhood.

Even parents were more relaxed about these activities, oftentimes happily unaware of the risks their children were taking. \Xlhat doesn't kiU you can only make you stronger - when was tl1e last time )'011 used these words as a parent?

We put padded surfaces on play areas in tbe park, keep slides sho re (plastic onJy please), and teach kids to use antibacteriaJ hand soaps.

In sport, we give trophies co all participating kids.

Everyone's a winner, baby.

RAKSHA BANDHAN

At school, ' F' for fail is becoming increasingly uncommon. Some teachers don't even put a cross against a wrong answer in maths because it is ' too negative' - choosing instead to mark it with a dot that is 'less confronting'.

Is this an insane effort to overprotect our kids from physical and mental injuries iliac we all suffered growing up, and which caught us resilience? A re we making our kids think d1e world is more dangerous than ir reaUy is, thereby stifling independence and imagination and raising a generation of risk-avoiders rarner than risk-takers?

While you might argue that the Sydney school - and perhaps parenting attitudes in general - have taken matters too far, a fact of modern life is diar new dangers do exist which were less prevaJent when we were growing up. Car seats and safety belts do help protect lives in our more streamlined cars that we drive o n smoother roads and in faster traffic; coloured drinks do have more harmful food additives, and stranger-danger is a relevant menace. ln the modern era we need to learn, as responsible parents, what limits our children need and when to let them test their independence.

EquaUy, responsible schools should provide sn1dents avenues for exciting physical (and mental) activities that reach d1em that well-managed risk is good for them.

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SEPTEMBER 2012 3

GOLDEN YEARS

A person's home is their retirement!

Home ownership has long been the Australian dream. However for 4.8 million

Home ownership was the catalyst for Baby

individuals retiring during the next 20 years, the home has become more than j ust a

Boomers who have been the big winners;they

man's castle. It's also a solution to funding

successfully·elbowed young first homebuyers out of the way at auctions, using the equity in their homes

retirement years.

to purchase investment properties like an ATM machine.

A recent MLC survey found more than a third of the respondent's clients will

MBIC's advise to first home buyers is to look at what the baby boomers have achieved and to emulate

downsize their home, about one-third will sell their investment property, and about

them, we do not have to reinvent the wheel property is one of the safest investment vehicle with theleast

one-third will sell an existing business

risk in any volatile market, you only have to look at the options available to us to work that out.The

during the next five years to shore up their retirements savings. This supports studies conducted during

Australian economy has been powered by the baby boomers, whose entry into the workforce enmasse

the mid 2000s, which found a third of baby boomers would be willing or would expect to downsize or

in the 1980s saw Australia's dependency ratio fall to all t ime lows. During this period, Australia's economy

sell their family home once they stop work. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also

benefited enormously from the boomer's productive capacity, consumption spending, and taxation

highlight this heavy reliance on bricks and mortar (Property) as their primary nest egg.

receipts which peaked after the 1990s as they reached t heir peak earning/spending age (45 to 55 years

The family home, however, represents 47 per cent of net wealth. Investment properties represent another

of age). Asset values, too, were pushed-up by the baby boomers as they accumulated vast amounts of

15 per cent, while an individual's own business makes up 9 per cent. Other investments such as

housing and financial assets with the aim of funding their retirements.

shares form the remainder of total net wealth. It's clear to see that the retirement of baby boomers will be

From 2011 onwards, however, Australia's economy will face significant demographic headwinds as the

funded by consuming the capital represented by non-super assets, such as property, rather than

baby boomers gradually: enter retirement; cut back on spending; draw-down on assets; cease paying

merely drawing down their super balance and spending income from non-super assets such as

tax; and receive increasing levels of health care and social security, funded by increasing taxes on the

dividends, interest and rent.

younger generations. Confirming the importance of investing in Property!

It's surprising that investment properties are highly represented in this breakdown. They are the asset of choice for the majority of Australians, courtesy of the capital appreciation and the many tax deductions.

MBIC's advice to you;Takecontrol of your financial affairs NOW! Ifyou are serious of creating a retirement opportunity for yourself and your family, come to MBIC's final information evening for the year 17th October 2012 at 7pm, please contact me by phone or email for

However, they've been a particular favourite of baby boomers. 5tatisticsfrom the Reserve Bank of

your reservation as seats are limited.

Australia (RBA) show that 27 per cent of boomers have multiple investment properties, while this same

We promise not to disappoint you.

demographic owns one half of Australia's total number ofinvestment properties. Property has been a

Ensure that you are taking control of your Destiny NOT others.

great investment, particularly during the past 40 years.

DISCOVER HOW TO USE YOUR SUPERANNUATION AS A DEPOSITTO BUY PROPERTY.

An ANZ report found that the highest returns over the past 40 years came from owning your own home.

The report suggested that on average owning a home generated an annual return of 12 per cent, even

Should you have any question, or would like to seek any further assist ance in property investment

with costs and taxes factored in. Homes trumped both investment properties at 9.6 per cent and shares

options, please feel free to call me on: Mobile: 0417 483 355 E-mail: carlo@mbic.com.au

at 8. 9 per cent.

Carlo G Ruscitti Founde r • OIEC

What has fuelled housing prices over the last 20 plus years is a halving of interest rates - from around 14 percent to 6 per cent. So while the cost of debt was falling, the bankers' ent husiasm to lend increased.

Melbourne Business & Investment Corporation Pty Ltd (MBIC)

40-42 High Street, Glen Iris, VIC 3146

DISCLAIMER: MBIC has used their best endeavors'to ensure that the 1nformat1on contained 1n this article 1s correct. However, neither MBIC nor its, hcensors or supplrers (nor their respect1ved1rectors, affiliates or employees), accept any hab1hty (direct or 1nchre-ct) for any inJury, loss. clatm, damage or any 1nodentalor consequential damages, 1ncluding but not limited to lost profits or savings, ans1ng out of or 1n any way connected w,th the use of any lnformatton, contained in thts artrcle,or any error, omission or defect 1n the 1nformat1on Therefore, the 1nformatt0n contained in this article should not be relied upon and purchasers should make their own enqumes and seek legal and financial advice 1n respect to any property or investment before committing to purchase.

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INDIA-OZ

Panel discusses drivers of positive change A high-powered panel discusses how to face challenges and opportunities for India and Australia he Consulate General of India in association with Australia India institute (All) and Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV) recently o rganised a panel discussion on the topic India: Going Bryond Todt!)'• The discussion featured speakers from business, politics and creative industries talking about the challenges and opporrunities facing India and Indians in Australia in the coming decades. Prof Amirabh Martoo, Director, All; Mr Vasan Srinivasan, President, FlAV; Mr Ravi Bhatia, President, Australia India Business Council (AIBC); Mr Howard Ronaldson, Secretary, DBJ; and Ms Tara Rajkumar OAJVf, eminent classical dancer were the panellists, with Dr SK Behera in the role of moderator.

As Consul General, Dr Behera has shmvn a keen interest in developing an empathetic, culturally a\vare understanding of India within Australia. By initiating this dialogne he sought a more nuanced understanding of what WOLLid work to create closer cooperation and multifaceted interaction between India and Australia. The panellists were

T

selected to provide an insight into the important drivers of change including growth, globalization, governance and ctllmre.

According to Prof Amitabh Mattoo, the '4Ds' (drivers) of change are demography, demo cracy, development and diversity (dialogue and reconciliation), and he elaborated on each, stating that they cottld be a source of great strength as well as potentially a source of great weakness. "India has tbe yo1Lt1gest population in any leading economy, which can bear great dividends if it is trained, educated and skilled, and given the right values," said Prof Matroo.

"In India democracy did nor only survive, ir succeeded," added Prof i'viarroo while addressing a rapt audience. "Contrary to predictions, democracy has thl"ived in India; ho,vever there are many pockets of deprivation and instances of corruption that have also eroded the nation," he said.

As for diversity, India needs to meet the challenge o f reconciling diverse segments, be it the Maoist or the Separatists in Kashmir and I orrh East. "\Xlirh all rhe commonalities between lndia

and Australia the time has now come for them to work rogerher in strategic partnership in all fields be it economy, energy security or to define the ne\v security architecture in t he Asia Pacific," stared Prof .Martoo.

Mr Howard Ro naldson stressed the importance of a strategic partnership witl1 India, saying that it is essential for the survival of Australian economy. "lt is now mandatory for Australia to engage wicb Asia particularly with countries like China and India," said Mr Ronaldson. He sr.aced that the Victorian government needs ro do something bigger and more significant in tl1e education sector with India, ro achieve results.

All die other speakers echoed similar sentiments and discussed their perception and vision o f what is required to bring about changes. Mr Ravi Bhatia offered statistical data of exports between lnclia and Australia, stating that the Indian IT industry provides resource augmentation to all major banks and contribmes to die productivity o f the Australian economy. He highlighted lndia's requirement of resources from Australia and urged Indians ro

Pane llists at the discussion continue making economical and technological contributions and invesanenrs here, specifying that there is a huge potential of bilateral economic relationship between the two nations.

Mr Vasan Srinivasan emphasized tbar community engagement is crucial in creating strong relationships, and he urged die lndian and Australian governments ro strengthen ties between chem through the community. 1frs Tara Rajkumar meandered her way th.rough her own migrant ~,periences in the UK and Australia, tlltimarely concluding tl1at the arts must Aourish for tlie community to

feel empowered and connected.

"We must bring culture very strongly into our lives if we are ro inspire people ro contribute more effectively to society," she said. A Q& A session followed tl,e discussion.

Since irs economic liberalisation, India's economy has grown rapidly and consistently, and its future is exciting. Fresh thinking, innovation and a deeper understanding of India's unique cultlll'e and behaviour will lead to realising irs potential. This discussion was a srep in the right direction to help analyse, initiate and facilitate that change.

Preeti Jabbal

Experiencing true Australia A group of travel operators from India enjoy the best Australia has to offer

M

ore than 70 crave.I operators from India were invited by Tourism Australia for an India Mega Faniily and Workshop in Melbourne recently. Renowned cricketer Brett Lee was roped in as an ambassador for Australian Tourism in India and he began his role as a 'Friend of Australia', by taking the agems on a tour of tlie Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The travel agents were in Melbourne between September 1-6, ro experience the best of tourism attractions in Australia and ro form business relationships with Australian sellers.

A welcome event for the Indian travel Operators was organised

by Tourism Australia at the iconic Melbourne Aquarium. Federal Tourism :Minister Marrin Ferguson; Victoria's Tourism and major events minister Louise Asher; Regional General Manager, South/ Soutl1 East Asia and Gui£; Maggie White; and To urism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy were present to address the 70 buyers from India and select sellers/ operators from Australia.

India is Australia's tenth largest tourism market. lt is a market of scrong future potential for

6 SEPTEMBER 2012

Australia. Arrivals from India ba\7e seen a compound annual growth rate of 1l .9 per cent between 2001 and 2011 . According to Andrew McEvoy, Tourism Australia aims ro grow tlie Indian visitor market to Australia b y up to 300,000 potential ammal visitors by the end of this decade. .Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson reconfirmed Australia's commitment ro the Indian marker by launching the India 2020 Strategy recently, which is aimed to capitalise on India's growing afAuence tli rough new consumer researcl1, and by identifying ways to work effectively in its rourism marker. According to Minister Ferguson, ''India is already one of the world's fastest growing outbound travel mat"kers and is predicted to g row to 50 million outbound travellers by 2020." " Last year, lndia contriburedA$867 million to the Australian economy and has the potential to contribure up to A$23 billion annually by tbe end of this decade if we successfully grow our market share," he added.

The aunospbere was vibrant at the welcome event as guests

Cricke ter Brett Lee takes the Indian tour operators on a tour ofthe MC enjoyed some Australian hospitality ac the aquarium. Agents were divided into teams named Kangaroo, Koalas and Platypus and tliey competed against each otl1et for the coveted prize of the best photograph during their visit.

There were some outstanding and creative contributions; however the Koalas took away the prize amidst a lot of noisy fw1. The catering ar the aquarium was tasteful and tl1e en tertainme.nt pwvided by a band wit!, ilippers on tl1eir feet was

enjoyable in parts.

During their v isit, the travel operators from India had the opportunity to experience Australian food, wine and shopping, and were able to meet some friendly Australians. Besides visiting the world's most liveable city of Melbolll'ne, some agents made a trip to Sydney and tl1e Humer Region in t SW, the Gold Coast in Queensland, and Perth and. Fremantle in Western Australia. Several agents also visited

The Whitsundays, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and Adelaide, die Barossa Valley and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Using its marketing and research expertise, Tourism Australia intends to target the Indian marker where the greatest tourism growth opportunities exist. This familiarization programme was a small, yer significant srep cowards achieving that objective.

PRfETI JABBAL

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STUDENTS

Film flags safe and fun Sydney A new Bollywood movie takes a light-hearted perspective on student life in the city

..

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~ -~

'a,-.

.... ....

BY DANIELLE MATHIAS

ndearing love stories, unstable family relationships, crosshenuspheric locations and tongue-in-cheek humour - aU these themes are incorporated in Praceek Chakravorty's highly anticipated BollY"vood film Fro111 Syd111y with Love.

The film was mostly shot at die University of New South Wales during 2011, and feamres other popular Sydney locations such as Bondi Beach and Cenrral Station.

The film is the story of Meghaa Banerjee, a small town girl from West Bengal who moves to Sydney after winning a prestigious scholarship to UNSW Complirntions arise as her old and new culmres collide and love begins co take over.

Meghaa's story is drawn from C hakravorcy's own experiences and memories of his time as a student in Sydney.

"FiLrung here has been really nostalgic," he said. "It reminds me of my old college days back in Sydney and remrning here is almost Like reliving die whole college experience all over abi-ain".

Prateek is the grandson of popular filmmaker Pramod Chakravorty and he wrote, directed and starred in Fro111 .'i_J1d11v1 1JJith uve. The film is a comeback for the family banner Pran1od Films, which also produced film s such as Deedr1r (1992) and Barood (1998).

Fro111 Sydmy JJJith Love is typically a vibrant and musical BoUywoodstyle experience. The timely, well-produced music score and sound effects add to the emotional in tensity of me melodramatic scenes.

However, the m ore Western aspects of the Elm, enhanced by tl1e youthful college setting, are emphasised by cliches and cheesy lines like, "Dude, I seriously owe you one," verbalised by Prateek Chakravorty's character Raj Bakshi.

The film premiered at the Ritchie Thearre at U SW on August 1, and die cast of Bidita Bag, Sharad Malbolrra and Karan Sagoo, Rew in from India for the occasion.

Sadly, due co a family emergency Chakravorty was unable to make ir to the premiere. Anupam Sharma, head of production in Australia for rhe film and himself a UNSW alumnus, described Chakravorty as a "visionary and a wonderful person".

I

E

INDIAN LINK

Actors Bidita Bag, Sharad Malhotra and Karan Sagoo; and above, with Australia n producer Anupam Sharma and UNSW staff

f UNSW

1NSW

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Chakravorcy is hoping that the movie can change rhe belief that Australia is unsafe for Indian students, an impression created in 2009 when assaults against Indian students here were deemed by me media as being 'racially motivated'.

This resulted in protests and a signi1i.cant decline in the number of Indian students coming to Australia.

1n its aftermath, Bollywood began reconsidering shooting films in A ustralia, and acclain1ed star Amitabh Bachchan turned down an honorary doctorate from me Queensland U niversity of Technology, which he subsequently accepted in October 2011.

Indian acmr Aanur I-Chan had also stated, ''It is mosr disturbing to hear about racist attacks on Indians living in Ausrralia... rhe frequency and seriousness of such attacks, I think, caUs for an extraordinary reaction from tl1e Australian autliorities."

The leading lady of Frofll .l_)'dllCJ' With uve Bidita Bag (who plays

Meghaa Banerjee) described the events of 2009 as 'unfortunate incidents', and said she had no bad experiences while filming in Sydn ey.

"Aussies are nice. Witl,ouc their help and support this film would not have been possible," she said.

"The film will do good things to help bridge the two cultures as emotions are die same everywhere," she added, clainung th.at tbe film would relate to Indians and non-Indians alike.

As for filming at UNSW die cast and crew had nothing b ut praise. " It's been so welcoming, so warm," said actor Karan Sagoo.

"Noc just the weather, the people have been great, and die un iversity has been so bospitable. l would love to come bad , and shoot here as much as possible to be honest.

It's been an absolutely fantastic journey, like wonderland".

Ms Bag, who left university to scare modelling, said mar filniing ar UNSW made her want to start studying again and was impressed with the university facilities and

infrastructure. " I've never seen people just lying on the grass in Indian universities," she s,ud.

Pro-Vice. Chancellor of UNS\V, Ms Jennie Lang, has been a big supporter of rhe film mroughom irs production. "The synchronisation that occurred between a nniversity as a cenrre of lear1ung and a wonderful production team of mis calibre bas just been phenomenal," she said.

In h is shore speech at tl1e film 's premiere, cast member Sbarad Malliotra took me oppornmity co thank the Australian media and tourism, followed by an address by Ms Lang who stated that UNSW was proud of its close links with India, and mar it was a "dream come true to welcome the scars and crew here".

"Should there be a sequel, you're welcome back anytime," she added \Vith a smile.

Fro!ll Sydmy With ]...,Qve is an enjoyable film tl1ac will hopefully change India's perspective positively o n d1e way meir smdents are being rreaced in Sydney.

"Come and fall in love with Sydney!" is actress Bidita's advice to Indian smdents contemplating studying abroad. "l clunk Indians are pretty excited abouc coming to a different counu-y and smdyi.ng in Australia. A t first mey rnigh c be a little apprehensive, bu t slowly and steadily, like me, they gee used to die environment and at the end, they can become more Australian man Indian," stated Chakravorcy.

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Excelling in English (Part 1)

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Ever since that morning when results spilled out, when printers overdosed on HSC headlines, when ABC and Channel 7 haggled for interviews with the sisters of mothers of best-in-shows, when the high achievers, topof-the-states and child prodigies were spattered across the pages of the Sydney Morning Herald, I think I may have been asked the same question a good few hundred times:

(myself included!) who pass through the HSC find that • A Body (at least 3 or 4 paragraphs constructed via studying for more black-and-white, right-and-wrong type IDEA, NOT TEXT, as mentioned under 'Think Conceptually' subjects like maths and science comes far easier - and so and chockablock w it h detailed analysis / deconstruction requires far less energy - than sitting down to struggle of your texts) • A Conclusion (with an overall st atement that rethrough an English essay. evaluates your opening statement, and a closing insight Remember that 2 unit English is the only subject that is that recognises what has been learnt/discovered/unveiled compulsory for everyone in the state, and is a discriminating from your study of the unit) factor in determining your ATAR. so commit yourself and "So, how did you do it?" your t ime to tackling what is, in actual fact, a very complex This is a pretty compressed rundown of the basic structure you need to memorise, and our programs offered at Talent and difficult component of study!

I was left grappling for a halfway decent response each 100 will flesh out this formula in specific detail, making use of specific examples and sample responses. t ime the local journalists drilled me to the core. "I have no 2. Know and use the Syllabus requirements idea1" I wanted to scream, as all of t hem hovered in silence, their pens poised and breath baited, anxious to unlock I've lost count of t he number of times I've come across a You should memorise this structure and do not let it slip. At the secret of success. How was I to possibly gabble out student who just has not read the syllabus requirements all times, ensure that your ideas move appropriately from one to the next, that your sentences and deconstruction a couple of sentences that would transcribe what I had for any particular unit of study! done, count off on my fingers a list of bullet points that f low and directly support the ideals you have presented, Take time to read the syllabus prescriptions: they will that your language of connection (how you link your ideas alphabetised the road to high achievement? tell you exactly what is required of you, and set a kind of and/or texts) is inserted in the right places and crafts You've probably gathered that landing top of the state in perimeter around, a premise for the work you produce. appropriate t ies. both the Advanced and Extension 2 English courses came as much of a shock to me as it did to the rest of New South Remember t hat your HSC examinations can ONLY test you 4 . Identify, Support & Explain (ISE) - the most important on t hat which is referenced in the syllabus - so if you are acronym you' ll ever know!

Wales. not complying w ith it's prescriptions, you will not be g iving But then, once the reporters had pried and pressed and those markers what they want to read.

Whilst setting up clear and insightful ideas within each the storm of excitement had settled, I began to think of your responses is, as already mentioned, extremely about how I might answer that question properly, with all Particularly with the Area of Study (the focus of Paper 1), important, it is essentially your deconstruction of your factors and ingredients in mind. And I t hink - having now the words used in the syllabus to describe the unit can texts - your identification of how a composer shapes had the time to think - that there might just be something actually help you to develop t he ideas around which you meaning through his or her text via his or her use of of a formula to finishing well in English. Don't get me write your extended response and creative composition. d istinctive language features - that will award you your wrong: there are always t hose things that can't really be Personally, all three of my 'insights' about 'Inner Journeys' marks. Therefore, if I had to choose only one acronym to taught (natural talent and an intrinsic flair for the written were taken directly from the syllabus blurb itself - and I memorise throughout t he dreaded HSC, it would be this language, perhaps), and I certainly cannot promise to pave guess it went down pretty well! one: ISE. a d irect path to First-in-the-State territory, but there are some steps I took which, though doing so subconsciously 3. Think structure and without a second thought at the time, I feel I might To be continued ... be able to pass on to you, albeit w ith a little experience The first factor your examiners will look for is whether you Keep an eye out for Part 2 of Excelling in English. behind me. have structured your response/s soundly: that is, whether you have organized and/or ordered your ideas in a way I suppose this is it in a nutshell, for now... that allows the reader to easily follow your train of thought. Article written by Alex Borowsky 2007 HSC graduate, 100 UAI 1. Commit yourself to English If you asked me to choose one word that defines the 100/100 for Advanced English Advanced English Course, I'd say Structure, that is, 50/50 for Extension 1 English The first thing you need to understand as you enter into whether you've organized your ideas In a way that is easy 50/50 for Extension 2 English. the preliminary and HSC stages of English is t hat YES, it to follow."

Course Developer at Talent 100 HSC Tuition is a lot of work, YES, it is very time consuming, and YES, it can become very tedious at moments!

Remember that each of your extended responses need to have: Trial our course for free! Contact us on 1300 999 100 or Look yourself in the mirror and consciously decide to make • An Introduction (with an opening statement, a summary info@talent -lOO.com.au for more information or enrol a commitment to your English study. A lot of students of your ideas and references to your text) online at www.talent-lOO.com.au/enrol

12 SEPTEMBER 2012

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INDEPENDENCEDAY

Namaste Julia, G'dayTony The India Australia Friendship Fair packs in some wonderful surprises this year

~-~BY

L_ ..1 , ~.

RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

I

twas a star-studded affair at India Fair this year, with the Prime Jvlin.is ter Julia Gillard attending, along side Leader of the Opposition Ton)TAbbott, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, state Opposition leader John Robertson, and a host of other dignitaries.

The India Australia Friendship Fair, organised by the Uni ted Indian Associations Inc (l JIA) commemorates India's Independence Day, and denotes the gathering of the 'clan' for a day-long event of food and festivity. Community businesses reach our to the masses with special promotions even as kha1111pcena and /la(lth-gana go on.

Ir was a beautifully warm winter day as the Sydney Olympic Park's Athletic Cenu·e opened its gates to the Indian community for the day.

This time round, travel agents, accountants, migration agents, educational institutions, entertainment channels, spirin1al organisatio ns, all made their presence known.

Jvfadame Tussaud's wax museum brought out gorgeous Kareena Kapoor; candidates in the upcoming local council elections shook as many hands as they could; portrait photographer Rajesh Kwiiar broke a world record by taking over 1000 portraits, and the hand-crafted wooden temples tugged at the spiritual side hidden in every heart.

The Australian Indian Medical Graduates A.ssociation (AIMGA) for the seventh successive year, conducted complimentary blood pressure, blood sugar, height and weight checks, detecting several cases of diabetes, unstable diabetes, hypertension and related tlisorders, and suggesting follow-up treamient.

But, no surprises, it was die food stalls that did the best business (and why not - the jalebis were fresh, die chaal was crunchy, the chhole bhat11re finger-licking good and the dosas divine...).

The most noise, however, was made by the travel companies, as d1ey brought along d1eir own entertainment. At one point during the formal proceedings, a UIA official was sent bmmding off the stage to a stall nearby to tell them to cone down those dhols. \Xfere mm1bers down diis year from last year? Tr certainly seemed so; in anodier observation, ir

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UIA ropes in high-powered attendees for this year's India Fair appeared chat the large mass of attendees were die relatively newer arrivals, with older settlers preferring co stay away.

Still, the star chief guests made up for it all. Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, Barry O'Farrell and John Robertson, all did the rornid of die stalls, checking om the ware as well as meeting and greeting people and happily posing for picrures. Ms Gillard's first srop was at the henna stall (mehendi artist Zeenat remained on cloud nh1e all day after doodling o n die prime ministerial palm as one of her earliest jobs of the day). The PM also checked om the Indian fashions on display.

In the formal proceedings, UIA President Amari.nder Bajwa introduced the community well to d1e dignitaries, listing the ways in which we bave grown in recent times. He mooted the idea of a ''Little India" precinct io the Harris Park area which would not only strengthen the community but also increase tourism. He also urged the government to support the community w ith more grams, stating quite pointedly that the previous government had been more forthcoming in this regard.

He looked dapper in his bm1dh-grJI", and should perhaps have shown it off more by speaking centrestage rather dian disappearing behind the lectern on one corner of the stage.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, like

other speakers after her, chose co keep no barriers between herself and the people. Looking fetching in her embroidered silk scarf, she declared to much applause diat she was die first prime minister ro join the community on the occasion.

Listing all the areas in which India and Australia have close connections, including now the sale of uraiuLmi, she also announced that she would be visiting India before year-end.

Tony Abbott, perhaps slightly more charismatic on dus occasion, fi.rsdy wished India on its anniversary of Independence (a tiny derail that seemed to have missed the PM's attention).

Abbott found himself constaiidy applauded, such as when he remembered lus own visit co l□dia as a 23-year-old: he travelled co Mw11bai, Rajasthaii, Delhi, Kashmir, he recalled, and in Bihar, he ~pent some six weeks widi the Australian Jesuit mission.

His message of support co Dilip Chopra, "a very old friend of mine", and for whom he had secured citizenship in one of his first jobs as an MP, was clearly noted by d1e community: no doubt it will provide a boost co Dilip's campaign for reelection as a Hornsby councillor in die upconung local council elections.

To the community, Abbott's words of encouragement were welcome: "Indian-born people are great citizens of Australia. No

commrnury better exemplifies Bob l\1Ienzies' great phrase "lifters, not leaoers". The Indiaiis are Iifting Australia co the heights we all want to achieve".

He concluded, "This is not just an Indian/ Australian occasion.

Days like today typify modern Australia and as I look around me I see great Australian people".

S\Y/ Premier Barry O'Farrell began his address wid1 a polite and friendly 'Namaste', and then ler it slip that he knew his absence last year was duly noted by d1e community. He went o n to thank India.ii Australians for th.e ir contributions in various secrors of endeavour, and also annorn1ced an India trip in October.

Biren Nanda, die new Indian High Comnussioner, sounded rather like the o ld school principal from back home when he remembered on diis occasion "the sacrifices of our freedom figh ters".

In a speech that was clearly directed cowards the personalities seated behind him on stage, he rattled off some stats about India's incredible growth, and the possibilities for India to learn fro m the best practices of other developed countries like Australia.

Saclly, he had no message for the Indian community here. ln a wonderful new itutiative this year, a parade of member organisations ,vas held which wear off rather well. The smart Mararhi contingent clearly stole

the thunder, even from die hhangmpmv11de Ptmjabis! Organisers later revealed d1at they have bigger plans for the parade, perhaps co take it mainstream, much like New York's lndia Da)' Parade down Manhattan's Madison Avenue.

The culnu:al program was predictable, although d1e attempts to move away from Bollywood fare were commendable. Io one such effort, yow1g Mili D akshin, a talented artist, created a painting live on stage accompanied co music. Mili completed her painting of Karnataka's famed Jog Falls in 7 minutes Aar. She had hoped to present her work to the PM, but was disappointed nor to be able to.

Next tin1e, Mili!

Earlier in the day, in what was another first at die India Fair, a citizenship ceremony was organised at the venue with Greenway ]\,Jl) l'vfichelle Rowland officiating. \Y/ith fireworks co finish off, it turned out co be quite a day.

For next year though, d,e organisers will need to work harder to attract larger numbers, especially the established community (who will probably return if new initiatives like the parade are advertised weU beforehand).

Bringing in mainstream audiences could be another challenge.

Coverpic: H enna artist Zeenat ('w,V\\:zenacart.com.au) applies a mehendi design Cor PM JLtlia Gillard (Phom: J\P)

SEPTEMBER 2012 13

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SEPTEMBER 2012 15

YOUTH

•

Model beh av1our

Perth beauty Alisha Farrer makes an impressive debut on the modelling scene even as 801/ywood beckons Lisha Farrer may be just 18, but she's already making inroads into the fashion industry as a model, both here in Australia and in India. This attractive young lady was born in Perth, after her parents migrated here in 1988.

But Alisha retains her root.~, being a huge fan of Bollywood and India since a young age. She has maintained strong ties co India, with her family making a trip co the motherland at least once a year.

Since a very young age, Alisha showed a love of tl1e stage, participating in various events at school and within Perth's Indian community. With acts such Bollywood dancing, she was recognised as a budding talent when she won her first talent award at the tender age o f 5.

Alisha has always wanted to become a model, and she began her careet on the catwalk at just

A

17.

"I have the height and the looks, and I was always complemented on my personality when I performed on stage," says this confident young woman.

It was this combination of talent tbat made her take the first steps i nto a career in modelling.

An aspiring actress, Alisha looks on Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor as role models.

"Aishwarya Rai is the epitome of beauty :rnd grace," says Alisha admiringly.

There seems little d oubt that she coo would like to follow in the footsteps of the former Miss \Xlorld's eminently successful career.

Alisha has already tasted a modinm1 of success here in Australia, as a finalist in the 2012 Miss India Australia contest, where she won the competition's 'Public Choice' category.

In March 2012, Alisha represented A ustralia in the lndian Princess International beauty pageant held in l\fombai, where sbe was placed in tl1e cop 5 and received four awards, including 'Miss Best Smile'.

In the Lead up to this event, she participated in the Miss r ortl1 India 2012 competition in June where she bagged the 'First RL1Ilner Up' prize as well as 'Jl.1iss Beauti.ful Legs'.

Besides the beauty pageants, Alisha has done many ad campaigns, Napoleon Perclis in particular. As well, tl1ere have been photo-shoots, stage anchoring (such as the Indian Independence Day function organised iJ1

16 SEPTEMBER 2012

Alisha Farrer as she a ppears in the Napoleon Perdis ad

Perth by the Indian Society o f Western Australia), and television commercials such as with tl1e Home-Buyers Centre in Perth.

And now, Alisha has taken her career to another level by participating in a string of fashion shows, a natural progression from wirming beauty pageants.

Her first tryst with the catwall, was at Rocky Ray, Model of the Future and in August 2011, when she walked the ramp for a Fashion Heir enterprise, a Perthbased promotional company with a large expecience in fashion photography and marketing.

"I bave a passion for modelling and am a natural poser - I simply love being in front o f the camera," says Alisha entbusiast.ically.

"Getting my hair and makeup clone too is an enjoyable part o f the job, but what I love best is working with other models, malcing new friends and co ntacts, and meeting more people in the industry," she acids.

However, it's not aJJ glitz and glamour for tbis enterprising you ng lady. Working in cUfficult locations, finding the right poses, going through test shoes and outfit changes can take a coll on her too.

"In my line of work it is important to be patienc and respectfu~ because sometimes shoots can go on for hours!" she claims.

The 5'9" beauty is registered witb 3 different modelling agencies in Australia (,Xtreem Model Management, Scene Model's acting agency, Accors Now and Lush Model Management), one agency

in India, Shimmer Model management and an entertainment company Sri Sai En tertainment.

A nd Alisha is n ot just another a prercy face, she is also a dedicated w1iversity smdem and education remains a priority. She is currently a student ar Curtin University in Pertl1 where sbe is srndying for a Bachelor of Ans Degree majoring in journalism and minoring in fashion.

So how does Alisha balance her smdies and a burgeoning career as a model? On the occasions when Alisha needs co travel co India for a phocoshoot, she takes time off from university. However, she en sures that she stays on top o f her stuclies by follmving lectures online.

"It is difficult and I have a lot o f catching up to do when l return from my modelling trips," she admits, but knows that in the long mn, education always pays off.

However, AUsha takes time

o m to rela~ whenever she can, enjoying every momen t of her spare time. "1 go bike-ricling and wo rk out at the gym at least three times a week. I also enjoy swimming, listening to Bollywood music and naturally, watching the latest Hindi films witl1 my family," says Alisha with a smile.

Advising young people lookin g for a foothold in the glamour industry, Alisha believes determination is important. ''You should follow your dream and there is nothing to stop you from achieving your goal," she says. "I know it sounds cliched, but m y favourite motto is: where the.re's a will, there's a way".

Alisha's fans and tbe commtmity will soon be seeing her in a movie tlrnt will begin shooting in Occober this year, and this will be Alisha's big Bollywoocl break.

Looks like tl1ere's no stopping tl1is .rising young star from Perth.

RohanaWood

YOUTH

A young Adelaide voice An Jndian-oriain sinaer is a oart ofa winnina children's choir that wins an international contest

Orton with his parents Daniel and Olivia D'Silva and sister Daniella

oung Adelaide Voices, a choir group based in AdeJaide, recently won the first prize at the International Golden Gate Youth Choir festival in San Francisco during tl1eir tour of the USA. The choir pm up a fantastic performance, as participants aged from 12 to 23 won gold in the Historic Contemporary and Folk categories. In tl1e four weeks they spent toming the Stares and performing in different cities, they also carried away the coveted silver medal in the World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, where in they faced a stiff chaJJenge against ten ocher choirs groups and 600 vocalists.

Y

INDIAN LINK

For the Indian community, it was an added joy as young Orton D'SihTa, a student of Sc. Francis Lockleys and a member of Young Adelaide Voices, ,vas a part of this jubilant winning team. Orton sings as the second alto in the 41 -member choir, and he returned ro Australia ,vith fond memories of his maiden tour to the USA wirh the choir.

Speaking ro llldian Link, Orron (12) said, " Ir was good to meet participants from other countries and see the difference in 'culrural singing'. It was a wonderful experience listening to so many different voices and languages, which brought about a unique, yet rela_,<lng atmosphere."

Describing this atmosphere the budding artist said, " It was exciting and challenging, as we were competing against 365 choirs at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati and 10 choirs at the Golden Gare Festival in San Francisco. Bur we ha.nclled it

With me ntor Christie Anderson

well with teamwork and good support."

O rton was full praise for the group leader Christe Anderson who worked bard with the group before tl1eir departure. "Ultimately it was hard work that paid off," said Orton, applauding the efforts of every team member for their dedication and involvement in each of their performances in the

us.

Six otl1er choirs &om Australia participated, but it was the Young Adelaide Voices that stole the limelight during the competitions.

Speaking about the performances of other countries at the World Choir Games, Orton asserted that the singing in differenr languages was uplifting and relax:i□g. "Something to remind us chat we alJ have a voice, but it sounds much better when we sing, and sing as o ne," said Orton, adding that all participating choirs sang the World Choir Games' inrernationaJ song I ca,1.

Young Orton has been inspired and influenced by his fad, er Daniel D'Silva, who used to teach piano when rhe farniJy lived in Dubai. However, he added that most of his influence was through seeing his father conducting and playing in the church choir and at prayer meetings. O rton began learning to play the piano at six, and began singing at seven. The first song he sang was during a Christmas mass, where he rendered the Christmas carol, 117hen a child is bom.

"My singing was inspired through our fanuly singing at night just before going to bed, and ar our picnics and family parries", he claimed.

He has since performed at numerous concerts for his school and otlier occasions, including a solo before a large gad1ering in LockJeys at Chrism1as.

NaturaJJy, proud parents Oli,Tia and Daniel are overjoyed with Orton's achievement.

"We believed in Orton's hard effort and dedication since tl1e day he was enrolled with YoLU1g Adelaide Voices," said Daniel D'Silva, Orton's dad. "Though he had mus ic classes reguJarly he would make it a point of never missing a practice session with the cho ir. He was very serious about his role and wanted to give his best," be added.

Orton agreed, as preparations for d1e US competitions began &om September 2010, witl1 the troupe iniriaJJy practicing twice a week, and g radualJy increasing the frequency of the practice to four times as week. " During die last months prior to leaving for tl1e tour we had lot o f sh ows and public performances to build our confidence and make sure that everything was up ro the mark," revealed Orton. And that hard work and dedication certainly paid off.

So how di.d this t.'llented young boy balance schoolwork wid1 singing, which is an extracurricular activity? "My school does encourage students to take part in such activities, and I did 11uss out on classes while doing public performances and the US tour, but the principal and my teachers were very accommodating and knew that I was inclined to music," said Orton.

The taJented singer recently completed the Grade Five exam, passing with :Merits. He also plays jazz and classical piano, in addition to playing second trumpet for a Maltese band in Soud1 Australia.

And as a special treat ro celebrate his success, the en tire family are cmrendy in l\1Iumbai, India to enjoy a bigger celebration \>.rich Orton's grandparents and family.

Well d one, Orton, may yom singing continue to bring you joy and success.

SEPTEMBER 2012 17

PEOPLE

Shooting 2.1 people per minute A talented photographer aiming to establish a new world record finds the challenge interesting as well as daunting

ajesh Kumar likes making people happy.

He likes watching their faces light up when they see themselves caught on film and he,'lriog them say, "\Wow! That's fantastic!"

"It's intoxicating," he says enthusiastically.

Rajesh made over 1000 people happy at the lndia Australia Friendship Fair (AIFF) in Sydney Olympic Park on August 19.

This 39-year-o ld Sydner resident set out to establish a new world record for the highest number of individual portraits taken in a single day. He managed to rake 1010 photographs within a space of 8 hours, shooting an average of 2.1 people per minuce. The world record is still in the process of being verified,

R

but the numbers are still mindboggling.

So how did the idea to create a record originate?

"I have been taking a lot of photographs, and wanted to do something different. I wanted to exhibit my unique ski.I.ls co the world and establish myself in the growing Indian community here in Australia," admits Rajesh.

The aim was to garner publicity for his wedding photography business, and it has worked. He has received a few eoq u.iri es after the event.

To hit the ground running for the event, Rajesh started planning three months in advance, listing everything he would need, from volunteers to light fixtures. "It would have been a far greater challenge without the support of my six volunteers and sponsors United Indian Association (UIA), and Dragon Image Australia who sponsored some of my equipment," he states.

One of Rajesh's first challenges was converting his minuscule 2.4sqm stall into a makeshift smdio. \Xlith the help of his volunteers, he got groups of people to come in and get their pictures taken. Most of them wanted co be photographed together, and had to be persuaded to have individual portraits shot instead. Persuasion in Hindi, a language he does not speak, was also a challenge.

For Rajesh, chis was very different from his usual rela.xed smdio setting, as he had to have an eye on the clock and concentrate on shooting as fast as possible. But be still got complimented on the quality of his photographs, and on his ability to remain cool under so much pressure.

The worst period of the 8-hour day was the half hour when Prime l'vlinister Julia Gillard arrived at the event; Rajesh was only able to rake 12 photographs in that half hour. (Of course it would have been quite a coup if the PM herself could have sat for him, but sadly that did not seem possible!)

However, once the Prime M'i.nister left, he and his team were back to working with the crowds, persuading them co come ,rnd have their photographs taken.

Rajesh gallantly multi-tasked throughouc the 8-hour period, continuously snapping with his camera, monitoring the video, sending SMS updates to the organisers with every 100th milestone, updating his

Facebook stats and even being interviewed by a TV crew: There were a variety of participants ranging from smaU children to senior citizens. "Relax", "Smile", "Pose" and "Thanks" were words Rajesh repeated constantly tlu:oughout the clay.

He got participants to relax by cracking jokes, and tbe ones about actor Rajnikanth really got his audience smiling.

Rajesh'.s favourite photograph is of an Aboriginal man. " He had a didgeridoo with him bm I asked him do something differen t," be says. He ended up with a shot that stands out in the collection. Rajesh also remembers a girl who came in as part of a dance troupe, raising her hands and asking him, "How should I pose?" but he had shot her before sbe had even stopped speaking.

Tbe collection of photographs will be composed into a montage and presented to LJIA to display in their office and at various art exhibitions. A time-lapse video of the event will also be available online. AU the individual pictures have been uploaded on Facebook, and about 200 people have seen tl1eir photographs so far. Those who would like a bigh resolution picture can send Rajesh a request on Facebook, or email him.

1n spire of a sore neck and the immensely stressful

experience, he says, "I enjoyed tl1e event 110%, and all the people who came to get photographed also enjoyed it."

This is a man who seems to thrive under pressure. He works as an Emerging Technology Specialist by day, and spends the rest of his time as a photographer. As the official photographer in Sydney for tl1e Australian Banking & Fi11anre magazine, Rajesh spends many of his evenings at corporate evenrs.

Weekends see him at weddings and birthday parries across the city. He is also involved in video production, covering weddings and corporate events. He has also shot a few community-based TV commercials that aired on SBS, TVS and some online channels.

Inspired by one of his colleagues at his office, Rajesh decided to turn photography into a business four years ago, and basn't looked bad, since. He bought his first SLR five years ago and currently uses a N ikon D90.

He enjoys portrait photography because he gets co meet so many different people.

With no formal training in photography, Rajesh believes .it is his hard work tl1at has brought him where be is today. "I don't believe in luck too much, hard work yields profit, that's what l believe in," he says.

Rajesh's advice to budding photographers is to keep practicing. "It's not just about the camera or the lens, its practice that makes a person perfect," he avers.

To view the photos online, visit www.rajesh.corn.au.

www.ind ianlink.com.au

PEOPLE

Truth through fiction /"'"~\ I V

The reality of the conflict between the LTTE and Tamil Tigers is chronicled through a compelling new work of fiction

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isakesa "Vissa"

Chandrasekara.m beamed with pride at the o fficial .launch of his th rilling new novel, Tige1,· D011~ Confes.r. Held ar Gleebooks in Sydney on July 27, the launch dare marked the 29th anniversary of Black July, one of the most tragic events in Sri Lankan history.

Friends and colleagues o f the well-rounded human rights lawyer, p laywright and aud10r, joined together to applaud Vissa for his literary achievement.

But, the launch o f Tigen D011'1 Confess was not the only cause for celebration on the night.

Two weeks earlier, Vissa received his Doctor of Philosophy restamur from the Australian National University for success fully completing his thesis titled, Do Tigrr:r confess? A11 interdiscipli11a,y sturfy of confessio11a,y e/Jidence i11 co1mte1·-terro1is1t1 111east1res of Sii Lo11kt1.

Vissa's project was a fundamental driving force behind the production of his novel. or everyone wants to read a thesis, but many would read a work o f fiction," he said. "Also fiction shr oud s the truth, so my book will evade censorship".

Tigers D011~ Co11fes.r is set in the early 1990s, when the Sri Lankan govern men t was at war with the L iberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Using factual, wellresearched data from bis PhD thesis, V issa was able ro construct a gripping fictional narrative revolving around the so-called 'con fessions' of T amil Tigers.

Spine-tingling scandals and illicit love affairs between captivating characters are also woven into the plot to create an exciting thriller.

Joining Vissa to launch his novel were guest speakers Dr Yasmin Tambiah, \'{triter and Senior Research Development Officer at the U niversity of Wescern Sydney; and Dr Vicki Semas, a lecn1rer in Law at the Unive rsity of New Soutli Wales. ''Vissa is a p laywrig ht who pushes conventional boundaries," said D r Tambiah.

While she admitted that the novel would have benefitted from ad dition.al eclitin g, her evaluation of che book was encouraging and

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overall positive.

Dr Tambiah commended the book for its ability to provoke compelling questions in the mind of the reader, such as why and how is die enemy constructed and explained; and, what is justice and how does one serve i c?

She also praised Vissa for his ability to seam lessly integrate the very subsrnnce of Sri Lankan culmre into the narrative itself.

Tigers D011 't Co1,fess carl"ies a cast of complicated characters within its pages. One such character is Tissa, the Si11ghalese Deputy Chief of the Terrorist luvestigation Team. Tissa's struggle to make difficult choices and grapple wich his own moral conscience incites the reader co squeamishly question what they would have done if tliey were placed in the same position.

Bue it is character Kumaran that truly strikes an emotional chord within die reader. This Tamil university student is thrown into p rison after being accused of associating with the Tigers. The novel poignantly tracks the tornrre that Kum arau endures behind bars and the deepening agony of bis family, particularly his Amma.

According to Dr. Tambiah, Vissa's experience as a lawyer is greatly reflected in tl1e careful deconstruction of Kumaran's confession and d1e coltrtroom scenes d1at surrmmd his case.

Ttwas certainly no coincidence tl1at the date of Vissa's book launch coincided with the 29tli Anniversary of Black J u ly. \Xnien asked why it was so important to laLmch Tigers Don't Confess o n the same date, Vissa responded saying, ''Both Singhalese and Tamils are in denial about their share .in it and rend co blame only che other party - the enemy. Black July is a good srnrting point for any discussion about justice and reconciliation because it was not something completely denied by tl1e Singhalese majority in Sri Laaka."

Guest speaker Dr Vicki Semas gave a brief overview o f the history of Black J ul y.

Black July refers co a series of anti-Tamil riots tliat too k place in Sri Lanka from July 24 co 29 in 1983. The violence was triggered by die murder of chirteen Singhalese soldiers ac tl1e hands of die L'ITE, and around 3,000 Tamil civilians were massacred in subsequent pogroms that were sponsored by the government.

According to Dr Sentas, Black Jul)' was considered "a critical

Visakesa Chandrasekaram rmning point for spiralling violence and conflict between the LTIE and tl1e army", and many Tamils Aed Sri Lanka because of it.

Dr Sentas acknowledged that the LTIE also committed severe war crimes, namely using civilians as h uman shields and killing people who tried to escape che country.

But the Sri Lankan government is yec co cake responsibility for the part it p layed in the massacre.

Dr Sencas also accomited

for Vissa's decision to create a fiction novel based on his thesis, which she called "the book behind the book". She explained the dangers that Tamil and Singhalese people face in Sri Lanka for opening up about thei r experiences o f tl1e war. ''By presen ting his research behind die guise of a fiction novel, Vissa's story can be shared in a rnan_ner that significantly evades risk," said D r Sen cas.

Congramlations ro V issa on completing his PhD and n ovel.

Well don e, Vissa!

SEPTEMBER 2012 19

ARTS

Ofh me and food Subhankar Banerjee uses his artistic and photographic talent to raise awareness ofenvironmental issues

he 18th Bienuale of Sydney takes place between June 27 to September 16 chis year, the length and quality of the exhibition making it Australia's largest and most exciting contemporary arcs event.

Artist talks, performances, fol'wns, film screenings, farnily events and guided tours make up the programme of this free exhibition. t aruraUy, artists featured in the festival will have come from a variety of backgrounds and led colomful lives - but few will have come through a journey quite as unique as artist, activist and

educator, Subbankar Banerjee.

Subhankar's work focuses on eco-cultural issues such as resource wars, cliniare change and Indigenous rights. Re has delivered over I 00 lectures, taken iconic photographs, and a book of his featu.ring Arctic phorography, initially part of a display in the Smithsonian Institute, has been the topic of contentious debate in the US Senate. However, Subhankar's philosophy is a simple one.

"Things d1at I do may come across as variety, but for me it is simply talking about two issues - home and food mat the land provides to humans, and other species with whom we share mis earth," he says. "Everything before us - look around at the rare and speed of environmental destruction - that is chaUenging to me and everyone else who is working on diese issues".

Ir was a big smvrise then, when Subhankar, already recipient of countless awards and honours including being named an Arctic Hero by Alaska Wilderness League, reveals that he was born in d1e smaU \Xlest Bengal cown of Berharnpore, and studied elecu·ical engineering in India before receiving two ]\tasters degrees in Physics and Computer Science i.n the United States.

Subhankar grew up revelling in die work of Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen, and was introduced to the work of Mahasweta Devi, a renowned activist and writer, by his parents at a young age. He was taught how to paint by his grear uncle Bi.ma! Mookerjee, and ald1ough he had a passion for arts, as a member of a middle-income family, he chose die more practical padi of science.

Subhankar's transition from

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being offered exciting research positions in advanced mad1ematics to developing a fuU- fledged career in socio-cultural activism was a long one. Indeed, his initial love for physics was a result of a passion for chinking, and a sense mat, in mis field, he was closer to poetry and philosophy. Subhankar feU in love widi the wide, open spaces of the descrt dncing trips across the American soudiwesr. Armed widi an SLR Minolta camera, and .in die company of fellow members of die environmental organisation Sierra Club, Subhankar made the decision to leave his position at Boeing to become a fulJ-time artist, educator and activist.

His journey since 2000 has been inspirational, to say die least. After leaving Boeing, Subhankar spent 14 months in che Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and published his first book - Arctic National Wildlife Refi1ge: S easo11s of Life and umd Wid1 the help of a grant from the Lannan Foundation, Subhankar's book was distributed to indigenous comn1tu:uties, libraries, smdents and policy makers in the US, yet met with controversy when d1e George W Bush administration censored d1e book's accompanying exhibition i.n the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. "\Xlhen die Smithsonian political controversy about m y Arctic photography happened in 2003 in Washington DC, I didn't consider myself a political activist or my art as political. art, e\7 en though I had given ruy phorographs to conservation groups to raise awareness," he reveals. "Bur that experience, more d1an anyd1ing else, prompted me to become an activist. 1 don't do art for art's sake; my work is about engaging with die world we inhabit, and politics is an integral pare of diat process."

Subhankar's photography is globally recognised, and having spent die last two years editing die anthology Arctic Voices- Resi1ta11ce at the Tipping Point, which was published earlier this mond1, Subhankar's writing is fundamental in his quest for change. ''You

Left: Caribou Migration I (2002) by Subhankar Banerjee, from the Oil and Caribou series, digital chromogenic print face-mounted to plexiglas, 218.44x 172.72 cm

can say d1at my photographs are quiet, in d1e sense that they might encourage an emotional response, whereas my writing is rather loud, that might encourage action," he says.

"The environmental destruction char is raking place is massive, and die inaction on part of d1e US govemment prompted me to found ClimateStoryTellers.org, not only co share my own writing, but also by many oiliers from around the world including, Alaska, Austn1lia and India".

In today's global community where d1e world has become a smaller place, climate change has beco me an issue of increasing importance. Hwi1an rights, however, has been a fundamental keystone of activism diroughout history. Ir is Subhankar's unique willingness to link these two craditionaUy separate issues that makes his work relevant to everyone, everywhere in die world.

Often, we find ourselves pigeonholed inro a comer of society, and this is nor necessarily a bad ming.

But we form just a tiny part of die larger machine that is mis planet, and we need co lend ourselves to it to ensure diat: the rest of d1e machine is actually working properly.

Subhankar's journey is a testament to rhe facr that whether you are an engineer, doctor, musician, or builder, the planet belongs to everyone, and there is reaUy no excuse for not caring.

Bc111c11ce \ 11 or/, at the Bic1111u/c

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SEPTEMBER 2012 21

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INDIAN NEWS

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India's Grisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda takes the silver in the Men's High Jump F42 event at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 3, 2012.

Indian space agency scores a ton, ready for more An Indian rocket recently successfully put into orbit 1,vo foreign satellites, marking Indian space agency ISRO's 100th mission in the presence of Prime :Minister Manmohan Singh. ''As ISRO's 100th space mission, today's launch is a milestone in our nation's space capabilities," d1e prime minister said in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh after d1e launch.

Exactly at 9.53 a.m., Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C21 (PSLV-C21), 44 merres tall and weighing around 230 conne, wirh a one-way ticket, hurtled itself towards the skies ferrying me rwo sacellires - SPOT 6, a 712-kg Frencl1 eard1 observation satellite, and Proiceres, a 15-kgJapanese nlicro satellite.

The PSLV, costing around Rs.90 crore, blasted off from d1e Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Srjharikota, around 80 km from Chennai.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (lSRO) has now completed its I 00th mission since the launch of irs first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975 by a Russian rocket.

With a ricb orange Aarne at its tail and plume of white smoke, PSLV-C21 ascended towards the sky amid cheers of ISRO scientists and media team assembled at the launcl1 centre.

People perched atop nearby buildings too clapped as the rocket went up.

Scientists at ISRO's new mission control room were glued to their computer screens watching d1e rocker escape the earcl1's gravitational pull.

At around 18 minutes into the Right, PSLV-C21 delivered SPOT 6 and a few seconds later Proiteres into their intended po.lar orbits.

On the successful ejection of d1e satellites, scientists at mission control were visibly relieved and started clapping.

Manmohan Singh, w.ho along wim :Minister in Prime Mi.tlister's Office, V Narayanasamy, witnessed rhe launch, congratulated ISRO scientists and engineers and EADS Astriwn of France and Osalrn Institute of Technology of Japan for the successful launch of meir satellites.

"Questions are sometimes asked about whemer a poor country like India can afford a space programme and whether the funds spent on space exploration, albeit

22 SEPTEMBER 2012

modest, could be better utilised elsewhere.

"This misses the point that a nation's state of development is finally a product of its technological prowess," the prime mi nister said.

Tbe remore sensing satellites send back picn1res and ocher data.

SPOT 6 is the heaviest foreign satellite to be carried by a PSLV since 1999 when ISRO scarred law1cbing satellites of foreign agencies.

Proiteres will smdy powered Aighr of another satellite and observe Japan's Kansai district "~d1 a high-resolution camera.

Speaking to reporters later, ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnao said discussions were on with me French space agenc)' to carry SPOT 7, a similar remote sensing satellite slated for launch soon.

He said there were 13 more satellites of similar class and some othe.r satellites could go as co-passengers to the main cargo drnr ISRO/Antrix Corporation (ISRO's commercial arm) would target.

Declining to reveal d1e carriage fee received from French and Japanese agencies for .launching mei.r satellites, Radbakcislman said me mission revenue had recovered the rocket's cost.

Agreeing chat there was a two-minute delay in the rocket's lift off (the scheduled time was 9.51 a.m.), Radhakrishnan said it was to avoid possible space debris impacts.

He said lSRO had decided to set up a Multi Object Tracking Radar (M.OTR) to crack space debris and time its rocker launches precisely.

ISRO was also planning to have a second vehicle (rocket) assembly building to increase launcb frequency, he said.

ISRO \Votild also build two more communication satellites - GSAT 15 and GSAT "16 - to augment its transponder (transmitters that receive and send signals) capacity, he added.

Till dare, ISRO has successfully launched 27 foreign satellites and the Sunday mission took d1e tally to 29.

Pakistan visit fruitful : Krishna Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna described as "fruitful" his three-day visit to Pal,istan that he wrapped-up recently.

Talking to the media after arriving at Allama Iqbal International Airport for a day-long visit co Lahore, Krishna said he and his Pakistaili counterpart Hina Rabbani

Khar had signed pacts on visa liberalization and culnu·al promotion, which would help promote bilateral ties.

He arrived .in this capital of the Punjab province on the final leg of his visit that began on September 7. lndian High Commissioner Sharar Sabharwal was present.

Krishna said the dialogue between tl1e Indian and Pakistani leadership would be fruitful as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ai,d the people of India wanted peaceful relations with Pakistan.

He said the peaceful ties between between the neighbouring countries would be helpful for the prosperity of d1e region.

Krisbna met Punjab province Cllief l\folister Shilibaz Sharif as well as Punjab Governor Mul1ammad Latif Khan Khosa.

Shahbaz Sharif said India and Pakistan should discuss all omsranding issues.

While in La.bore, me lndiai1 external affairs nlinister visited Data Durbar shrine of a sufi saint and d1e Minar-e-Pakistan, a call monumental minaret.

The minister arrived in Labore from Islamabad where he mer his Pakistani coumerparc Hina Rabba11.i Khar. An agreement on a liberalised visa regime was signed by h.im and Interior Mi.tlister Rehman Malik.

M ukherjee asks youth d iaspora to learn about India President Pranab Mukherjee recently asked the youth of me Indian diaspora to learn about Lidia, its craditions and thought process and to use d1e knowledge for ilie betterment of tl1e global community at large.

Speaking to a group of Indian youth diaspora attending the 'Know India Programme' (KIP) of cl1e ministry of overseas Indian affairs (l\1IOIA) in New Dellii, Mukherjee said cl1ey were formnare to .learn from d1eir Indian ancestors the principle of 'Vasucll1aiva Kummbakam' (fhe world is a family).

Answering questions from participants at Rastrapati Bhavan, me president empha&ized d1e importance of values for d1e youm and said: "\'(le are fortunate to have learnt from our ancestors the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam."

Naming Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Maham,a Gandhi as contemporary exponents of the ancient

philosophy, Mukherjee said the same is enshrined in the Indian constitution, which has been described as a 'l\fagna Carta' for the socio-economic transformation of a large majority of the hw11an race.

Describing the Indian constitution as a living document, which is operationalised every day through statecraft, he pointed out how India bas been empowering people through legislations such as the Right to Information, Right to Education and Right to Food, which entrusted a tremendous amount of responsibility on the government.

T he president asked die youd1 attending the 2 1st edition of KIP to "always keep in mind lndia:~ tmiry amidst extraordinary diversity, economic goal of inclusive growth and the fact diat the key to attaining inclusive growth is spread of knowledge".

"The story of India is not a few paragraphs in a te.xt book of history, but the story of a vast multitude of human beings crying ro find their i:ighrful place in the comity of nations," he said and noted that th.is story is enacted everyday in L1dia's villages, agricultural fields, offices, factories, laboratories and classrooms.

Expressing confidence that each of che participants would take home a little part of India in their hearts, he encouraged chem co continue learning about India based on their first hand experiences acquired through the KIP. Commencing on the influence of the western world on lndia, Mukherjee said India has always been an open society with a continuous Aow of cultural i.nAuences to ai1d from outside.

India, he said, assimilated the foreign inAuences and redesigned d1em to snit its own, unique identiry. ''English education and pat:liamemary system are some of the contributions of the West to India. India added its own traditions of Sabha and Sanliti ~ocal bodies of governance) to the democratic system.

The president said every modern nation is a product of assimilation and India has led in civilizational interaction with ocher parts of rhe world.

The 21st edition of mree-week KIP has participants of lodian origin from 11 countries such as New Zealand, Surinam, Malaysia, Fiji, Sci Lanka, Mauritius, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Iran, Slovak Republic and Israel. All are in the 18-26 age group.

KIP's objective is to introduce India to d1e youd1 of Indian origin living abroad and co link the youth diaspora with their country of origin.

Under the present edition, d1e participants will visit Tamil Nadu to see and experience historical, cultural, industt:ial and administrative instin1tions. They will also interact with the Indian media, visit NGOs ai1d women's movements.

The first leg of cllis edition of KIP began on Aug 29 and ended with the participants' interaction wid1 Mukherjee.

The visitors will visit their host state and will also return to the national capital co share d1eir experiences wid1 the r.1JOIA officials.

Need joint efforts to save Himalayas: Eco-activists Concerned over the threat to natural re.~ources in the Himalayas, environmentalists recently said in New Delhi that there was an urgent need to preserve its

www.indianlink.com.au

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• ecology and the country's states benefi tting by the motmtain's resources like water should step up effort co protect them.

Observing the 'Himalaya D ay' for the third year consecutively, the environment activists urged the central government to urge the states which reap benefits from its natural resources like water to join hands to conserve.it.

"Responsibiliry to conserve the richness and resourcefulness of the Himalayas needs to be shouldered by every citizen of the country," said eminent environmentalist Anil J oshi.

"The call by us (activists) is to develop strong collateral relations between mountain and non-mountain r egions ro negate the threats posed to natural resources, water and Oll.')'gen, as Himalayas is not a concern for the H imalayan communities alone; it rather is a question of the security of livelihood which involves all the parts of the country that reap mul tiple benefit.~ from it," he said.

A group o f environmentalist gathered in national capital to celebrate Sep 9 as Himalaya D ay.

The day was chosen by activists in 2010 co hring awareness to save the lofty ranges of Himalayas which are under ecological threat due to increased human interference.

"Unfortunately, Himalayas are seen as a commodity. Everybody just enjoys the resources but no o ne is ready to address the crisis o f this region," be said, adding that 65 percent of the water from the Himalayas is being used by other states while those in the Himalayan region use only 3.8 percent of it.

He also said Himalayas are dying as the snowfall patterns are drastically altered and glaciers are m elting in the region. Landslides, cloudburst are the results of mistreating the nature.

"If we don't get our acts together... we will have to bear the brunt, wh.id1 would be devastati ng. Changing climate pattern 11-1eans more frequent droughts and Roods nor only in the region but also those living in downstream," he added.

Various environment activists participating in the Himalayan Day celebration d emanded a separate board to be formed to tackle envi ronment issues in the H imalayan region.

"To safeguard Himalayas a separate board co mprising representatives from vario us states should be formed so that they could focus on the issues pertaining to it," an activist participating in tbe event added.

Faster development when India fully literate: Ansari Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari recently said India's development would be fast-tracked from the day the country

INDIAN NEWS

Devotees attend evening prayers at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines, illuminated on the occasion of 408th anniversary ofSri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy book of Sikh religion in Amritsar, September 1, 2012. attained complete literacy.

Speaking at the Sakshar Bharat prize distrib ution ceremony of the National Literacy Mission Author ity at the Ram Manohar Lohia atio nal Law University in Lucknow, An sari said that if tl1e number o f literates increases in the country, India would become a centre of knowledge.

In his address, Chief Minister A khilesh Yadav noted that his Samajwadi Parry (SP) government had taken a host of decisions aimed at increasing literacy, specially amongst tl1e women.

Citing some o f the measures, he said

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that the government would provide for a free tablet for smdents passing class 10 and taking admission in class 11 and a laptop to all smden ts who pass class 12 and take admission in degree colleges.

By doing so, the state government, o ther than benefitting the studen ts, was also aiming at getting parents and guardians t0 get connected co internet and improve their living standards by increasing their income, Akhilesh Yadav said.

He also said chat his government had approved tbe centrally-aided national optical fibre network tl1rough whicl1 all the

panchayats would get broadband access and the countryside would benefit immensely by the use of internee.

He also said that his government was working towards increasing the literacy of girls over 15 wi th the Kanya Vidya Dban Yojna.

Through chis scheme girls would be encouraged to go in for higher srndies and be given Rs. 30,000 as encouragement.

Gi rls from the minoriry community passing class 10 would also be given Rs.30,000 in fi nancial aid, he said.

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Like US.l°j Li SEPTEMBER 2012 23

'Daaad, you're embarrassing me!' is a familiar refrain now, and isn'tjust confined

to teens. Familiarity with fathers has now reached new heights with kids saying what they feel, and dads taking their comments in their stride - and even going out of their way to further embarrass their children. It's an easy, open, cheerful bonding that is a delight to experience.

that embarrass me He shouts, "Run, girls!" at the top of his voice in his Indian accent at my cricket matches.

He tries to sing One Direction songs, but is convinced that the name of the band is'lnside Edition~

He's really quite cool and I love him very much, but not when he's singing I've Got the Moves Like Jagger.

He'll ask what movie is going on, about three times in the same hour.

When we're at the shops and if I move out of his line of vision, he always calls my name out loudly, as if I'm 4 instead of 14!

He says he's going to get an earring on his 50th birthday.

He drives around with loud Bollywood music blaring out of his car - it's so embarrassing!

He wants to adopt my fashion sense, wear skinny jeans and spike up his hair with gel.

He tried on a pair of really low cut hipster jeans, and then asked the teenage shop assistant whether they had 'trendy'wide-banded designer underwear to match.

He told off my maths teacher at school once - I was so embarrassed to go back!

When a Bollywood love song is on (eg You are my Sonia), he'll start singing along and acting like Hrithik Roshan, and then grab mum and pretend she's Kareena Kapoor.Thankfully she rolls her eyes most times and pushes him off.

He sometimes belches loudly after a big meal and then looks around the table and says,'Who was that?' It's gross, but you gotta smile!

He thinks Salman Khan movies are entertaining - 'nuff said!

He organises kids' games at parties and tells them to dance around to warm up before starting the game. But he's the only one dancing....

He sings in an opera voice just to make me laugh - it's hilarious and embarrassing!

BOOKS

Sweat soaked saris: Dance disclosures

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A daring book reveals the unacknowledged influence of Indian classical dance into America's modern genre

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n her ground-breaking work, Sweati11g Sari.s: Indian Dance as Trat1.mational J__,t;/;or (December 30, 2011) Priya Srinivasan examines dancers not just as aesthetic bodies, but as transnational migrant workers and wage earners who negotiate ciri2enship and gender issues.

Sweating Saris seeks to understand dance - and more specifically, Bharatanaryam - as gendered bodily labour, and through it, highlights racism and a certain cultural bias inherent in the idea of American citizenship. The author argues that by examining the Indian-America□ dancing woman as a labourer, one can see her negotiating the terms of US citizenship. The dancers' sweat-soaked sari is the symbol of that umecogn.ized L'lbour - and hence the title of the book. Srinivasan introduces and deals with several complex ideas in tl1e book - induding the idea of Bharatanat:yam dancers as upholders of cultural nationalism

of Somh Asian communities in the US, and their location within tl,e US multicultural discourse. ln the course of her inquiry, she examin es and demonstrates the debt owed by Ruth St Denis to Indian dance which has never been recognised or admowledged. following the work of Edward Said's Oriental.ism, the author places chis squarely in the lap of US colonialism and imperialism of the early cwencietl1 century. Srinivasan poims out that Ruth Sc Denis's 'modernise' project of American dance reproduced 'nach/llalis dance' of lnclia without acknowledging it; tl1e contribution made to her career by Indian male performers was erased from public discourse; St Denis benefitted from fodian dancers and cead,ers without honouring them. The nachwalis labour was effectively effaced through the process of absorption of their dance practices without acknowledging their contribution.

Ruth St Denis never admitted the contribution of Indian bodies to her dancing, ye t she is touted as tllis great innovator of 'modern dance' - the gurn of the legendary Martha Graham. Invoking the French philosopher Foucault's ideas, Priya Srinivasan describes Indian

dancers as the sub al terns: male and female Indian labour in the context of race-charged US citizenship debates.

The author argues that they h.ighligh c the rac.is c overtones and w1derpinnings previously sidelined in North American Orientalist discourse. l'vfoclern dance attempted to establish itself as new and original, wllile denying its Oriental origins. Tilis is part of the construction of tl1e Luger myth tl,ac US citizeosllip is a purely a white endeavour.

The author, while demonstrating this, nevertheless resists the temptation of going to the otl1er extreme: o f clinging to tl,e idea that Bharatanatyam - and Indian classical dance - in .its twentietb century form as somehow 'authentically traditional'. She locates those ideas coo in India's independence movement and it.~ drive to establish a national identity.

In Chapter 6, Srinivasan argues that wllile resisting the dominant American culrure represented by \Vb.ice American nationalism in the early twentietl1 century, Indian dance coo, presented its own problems of cultural nationalism.

Nevertl,eless ic offered and offers an alternative to the dominant

mainstream US citizenship, and allows ymmg lndian dancers to access possible alternatives to assimilation - however temporary.

Srinivasan merges edrnography, llistory, critical race theory, performance and post-colonial srudies among otl,er disciplines to investigate tl1e embodied experience of Indian dance. She is the 'unruly spectator'; the dance etlmographer who frames tl,e whole field of Indian dance witllin the larger question o f race, gender, class and politics.

This book .is nor for everyone. It is written very much

in academic language and apart from academics, few readers will be able to read the book from cover to cover and be able to glean the tlu·ust of tl,e autl1or's argrnnent.

That does not take away from it tl1e fact tl1ac it is an important book that needed to be written; an argument that had to be made.

Srinivasan makes it forcefully, deai·ly, honestly, fearlessly, ai1d with a great degree of sophistication.

Priya Srinivasan is Associate Professor in Critical Dance Srudie.~ at the Department of Dance, U□ivers.i ry of California, Riverside. In 2008, she received the Gertmde Lippincott Award given by the Society of Dance History Sd10lars for tl,e best English-language article published in dance studies.

Priya Srinivasan

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The author argues that by examining the Indian-American dancing woman as a labourer, one can see her negotiating the terms of US citizenship '

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26 SEPTEMBER 2012

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AN AUSSIE BOY IN CHENNAI

• •

e r1s1n Fundamentalism by ultranationalists is seeping through the core ofIndia today, with damaging effects

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BY TIM BLIGHT

colleague once mid me that he loved travelling in Asia for all its hilarious contradictions.

Such as the metro trains in Tokyo, where talking on mobile p ho nes is banned to avoid disrurbing otber people. Arriving at each station, however, passengers are earbashed by an organ player, announcing the name of the stop along with a ditty on the keyboard at full volume.

Absurd? Absolutely! Living in India, l see similar contradictions; ho,vever the paradoxes here are often muc.h more profound and unsettling. Each evening now a huge bank of clouds builds over Chennai belying the heat of the da)7, an o minous warning ()f the app roaching monsoon. A not dissimilar sensation may also occur to anyone who has m onitored the media in recem months and years.

The question of national identity has been a bot topic in Asian cow1u-ies for many years, and India is no exception. Since as long as people can remember Indians have struggled, and for the most pare, balanced who th ey are: nationality, language, religion, job - but not necessarily in chat order. Occasionally che balance would be thrown and would explode imo violence. H owever in che late-2000s many held their breath chat maybe economic progress would outstrip d1e days of communal unrest. Today, those people find themselves in between ultranationalists, religious fundamenralisrs and hardline secularists, all of w hom have a vision of what India should be.

This debate is an old o ne, but is rising in intensity and scope thanks to social and traditional media sources. It is particularly fraught in India, where morality and policies has been confused by years of forei!,>n invasion and rule.

The 2009 overrurning of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is a case in poim. The law which famously crinlioalized seio.1al activity 'against d1e order of nature' was introduced during British m le.

Thar co nsidered, opposition to overturning the law came from an unlikely source - ultranationaliscs.

Of course religious figures also

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campaigned against the move, but for different reasons to chose given by the nationalists. Ir served to highlight the contradictions in the id eology of the far right - that some of che (allegedly) proudest Indians would seek to uphold a relic of the British era. Is India not the home of the Kamasutra?

Isn't the world's finest exan1ple of rheological erotic arr in Khajuraho?

The point here is not that we muse all engage in the acts sculpted our of those stone walls. We don't even have to condone them blush if you wiUJ The point is that India has an indigenous traclition of sex independent of Britain and its scandal-ridden 'passions of the flesh' paranoia.

The contradiction s in modern lnclia are rife. Con servative Muslims receive Ltninvited promotional text messages advertising: "The secrets of love - just Rs. 5, push yes to know more!" Young girls are rut-mered by old men for the clothes they wear enroute ro a nightclub. D on't be fooled, this is not a struggle between tradition and modernity - it's a battle between two different visions for the nation.

And although d1is isn't unique to India, what is most concerning is the often vitriolic form it is taking. In 2010, journalist Sagarika Ghose coined the term 'Internet H.indu' ro describe d1ose who had attacked her online for her " pseudo-secularism" (cue outraged gasps). Man y have objected to the term 'Internet Hindu' as Hinduism preaches peace, while so-called 'Internet Hindus' are characterized by their aggression. And therein lies d1e biggest contradiction o f the ultranarionalisc movement. lf Hinduism is a religion of peace, it is difficult to comprehend how it can be reconciled with some of the acerbic rhetoric emerging nowadays. Equally, the marriage of rabid ultranationalisrn and mod ern India is troublesome, given d1e foundations laid by the father of the nation, Maham1a Gandhi.

He spoke of his vision for a plmalistic, harmonious society, and I can't imagine the current tide of ultranationalism being condoned by the 'great soul', were he scill alive. J\foreover, the consequences of an overly aggressive India could be catastrophic for the nation. Gujarat's repmarion is still recovering from d1e riots of 2002, and tl1e .local tourism mai:ket has felt the pinch. Tourism is just one area char would be affected by a

Storms brew over Chennai... and over the government in Delhi. paradigm shift in Indian society. lndia has had from-row seats to the effects of exu-emism in Pakistan in the past decade, not to mention the implications if India was drawn into a war with its neighbour. Uber-patriots claim that the lndian military could conquer any adversary - they fail to address what would be the cost to the natio n:~ credentials and society.

The storms chat breaks over

Chennai every night brings with them cnmult and turbulence hut come morning, the clouds are gone. India, o n the ocher hand, can't sleep during d1e growing srorm over its future. The idea tl1at India is a peaceful nation is problematic, given its long hiscory of internal con Aict. ( evertheless it's an idea that must be aspired to - d1e stakes are too high for it co be otherwise.

The Gay Rights movement is only just beginning in the land of the Kama Sutra

SEPTEMBER 2012 27

OPINION

Life in Facebook world

Empty your mind and relax

Being a citizen of the world's largest cyber country can lead to quiet assassinations and even intense isolation

Ancient texts exhort the neccessity ofstaying calm and finding serenity in the face of adversity

th.rough SMS was the ' in' thing. But again, the world is moving fast. Even Sl'v[S is a personal one-co-one contact. You send , and one other person responds. But on FB, you can do the most personal of things witl10ut being personal at all. J\nd what's more, tl1e whole country knows it egendary singer Mohammed Rafi and there's no recour se either! sang A11kbon bi a11kbo11 ,11ei11 is/Jara While on a positive note, FB has bo ga_)'a, baithe baithejeene ka sahara ho helped in catching up with friends from gqya. Had Rafi saab been singing today, the the Jjstant past and lands, whom we would never have imagined seeing again. lyrics would have been like chis, Pacehook hi Facebook ,miu ishara ho g'l}a, like, share ,mr Ir cannot be blamed for how it is being com111ent ka sahara bo gq)'a. used, but it has also served as a tool to According to a recent survey, become faceless. Faceless, when you Facebook, with almost 900 million users, want to. is the chjrd largest country To people you know, in the world after India and those you have been China, and a country that friends w ith and shared size will certainly have its your time with, and people own language too. Diewho deserve better. As a No words were hard Facebook converts matter of fact, there are exchanged, no know the language, talk, websites dedicated to me share and promote their issue of handling your swords drawn, no feelings in a language only emotions when dmnped by one was killed; the ardent FB folJower will your partner or friends on but like a smooth understand.

FB, and the most efficient crimina l, my identity For example, one of ways co dump people too, was chopped off my FB as well as real-life in case you decide co use from the th ird friends (as most people the same method. largest country in have a FB and a real life, On the whole, social the world it's only namra.l to have C\VO medfa like Facebook bas set of friends), unhappy made us more densely over some of my actions networked than ever. recently, kicked me om o f Yee for all this hjs FB. No words were connectivity, ne\v exchanged, no swords research suggests tlrnt we drawn, no o n e was killed; have never been lonelier, but like a smooth criminal, and it's getting worse. my identity was chopped off from W/e live in moments of super-connected the third largest country in the world . loneliness. While we connect to people on And I noticed and understood the FB, we are shying a\vay from them in real language, and the accent too. It was life. We find chatting on FB acceptable simple, effortless and accomplished with and easy, but find ic d ifficult to discuss only a little click! issues witl1 che same friends face- co-face.

In this fast- moving world, a phrase used W/e click the toughest pictures, researcb since the l 980s as tl1e world hasn't slowed the rarest of quotes co pm on FB, yet since then, any appreciation, any growl, we wane che easy way our when ic comes any feeling can be expressed through co dealing w ith the same people in FB w ithout saying a word. Relationsh ip real time. statuses first change on FB and then in While a large part of Facebook's appeal stems from its fusion of dist.ance real life. A co-worker recently realised that his fiancee had dumped with intimacy, or tl1e him after he got a calJ from illusion it, it drives a murual friend saying her us away from the reality status was changed from we live in. I r's taught us engaged to single. Thar the Jjfference between While a large part was it. The ultimate blow, connection and bonding, me extreme hit with no especially in the Light of of Facebook's recourse! Poor guy b ecame the "connected world" appeal stems like Bahadur Shah Zafar coday.

It has created local from its fusion during h is last days in online communities which of d istance with Rangoon: Kit11a bad11aseeh have become the drivers intimacy, or the hai zafar daf,111 ke l(Je...do of our self-image. And to illusion it, it drives top ic a.LI, our self-image gaz za111eetJ hhi flt/ 111illi kl!)'etl us away from the )'Oar mei11. Could not even has become restless, eager reality we live in. co show d1ese online find do gaz zameen close to his fiancee co discuss their communities our social relationship, or what was achievements. And just left of it. like FB, our self-image refuses co take a break Till a few years ago, expression of emotions from FB.

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from correct cogrution (Jmi()•ak..rba) 1.6'.

In contrasc, 'false knowledge (vipmy~ya) is ejther wrong information, illusory ideas BY (111itqya;/na11am) or notions which do not possess (pmtishtha111) a firm foundation NOELGDESOUZA (t1tadmpa). l.7'.

After gairung all me information for e are Living in difficul t times. buying a property, the mind is botmd co More trnnquiJJ.isers and antibe in turmoil. One needs to mentalJy quieten down, to be able to make a sound depressants are being sold than ever before. And some of these decision. The mind needs to be emptied medjcations have been known to create and relaxed. more havoc, rather tl1an sootlling me If a troubled person sees a counsellor recipient. o r a psychologist, it is very likely that the Cenmries ago, tl1e unrivalled classic of very first thing thac that person will be mental contemplation Tbe Yogt1 S11tras ef told is co rela.-.:: and to stop worrying about Patanjali emmciated d1ac for any form of tl1e problem. Very often, modern medical mental Jjscipline, it is essential co cairn practice uses drngs co induce tranqwllity. or restrain (11irodhah) the Centuries ago, Patanjali had flucniations of the mind spoken about drugs as a (chittt1-vritt1). means co artairung yoga but The world is a troubled he had frowned on such a place with the financial practice.

The world is a markets creating daily Such emptying of tl1e troubled place with havoc, and armed conflicts mind (pratyaham) is a prerequisite for mental not getting resolved. This the financial markets coupled with me unresolved yoga. \'{/e can envisage two creating daily havoc, wars in a belt stretch ing levels: a simple relaxation and armed conflicts from Turkey to Afgharuscan by stopping worrying, and not getting resolved. a higher level where one are reflected in personal mental mrmoil. Retirees see withdraws one's senses from their superannuation funds the external world. dwindle, whilst those who The modern face invested in scams which of despondency and were 'too good to be true' are affected by hopelessness stand in marked conu·asc co the financial crisis. die emptiness or nothingness (s11t~)'ata) of mental yoga. These negative terms, for Still. worse is me case of those who participate in the wars tl1emselves. They which lndfan philosophers are famous, and their families pay the price in mental means the opposite. Nothingness for them tmmoil and often in anguish. This has meanc an describable plenimcle, that is, a happened whilst tl1e scars of the fullness beyond human in1agination.

Vietnam war in Australfa are still The Hindu concept of S111!)'ttfa or nothingness was elaborated by the Zen being felc.

In Australia, the younger generation Buddhists and by French poets and writers (popularly called the Y-generation) are as the 'vide'; incidencalJy tl1e Sanskrit under intense pressure, for example, term for this state is videh! Ac che higher needing to buy tl1e right housing, in the level (t1srJl!ljJrqjnata sal!lt1db1) tl1ere is an right subm:b and ar the right price. High absence of alJ modes of tl1e mind (time, prices in the most desirable suburbs creates space and number) and only subconscious impressions (sa1J1Sams) are retained. Tlus che burden of repayment over me next cwenty tears o r so. Childcare and school come.5 from the constant practice of the highest type of nonamichment, (1.18) fees add co me load of responsibilities.

Then there are travel expenses. Many wruch is not the level for me average migrant groups, including lnruans, are person. expected to make a trip occasionally to However, me average person should lnclia co meet close relatives. slow down their materialistic purswts At this stage, it is imporcaoc nor to have and remove fear, worry and anger from tl1emselves, co remove the burdens thar can fanciful ideas ahom the place one wishes co acquire. One has to live witrun one's means overload the nuod. This can free and one should remove impractical ideas them from their shackles. For example, anger is one of the main burdens which witl1 regard to transport, schools and so on. One should remember that, as PatanjaLi afflict the young and the media must share noted, 'fanciful ideas (vikalpt1h) can have a lot of tl1e blame for that. Anger (mg,1 in their basis in verbal or rhetoric expressions Sanskrit, similar ro the English 'rage') (shahdqj11tma) which are devoid (sh,111.Jt1) of goes hand-in-hand with attachment (also substance (vt1st11). 1.8' Such expressions termed raga).

Achieving simple tranquillity can include 'posh suburbs' and 'country athmosphere'. help the young as it can the old. Many of The necessicy of right knowledge at those in turmoil are today's old people. every stage of me process cannot be Some of them lose substantially during overemphasised. As Patanjali had srud, the global financial crisis. Others see themselves as nus/its in the modern world, ' Right knowledge (prama11am) can be gained and still otl1ers find it difficult to relate co from making logical inferences (c1111m1a11a), the ir children. from trarutional knowledge (t1gamab) and

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LIFESTYLE

A penny saved.....

As the cost ofliving increases, it's time to begin saving on the necessities of life, writes FARZANA SHAKIR eigbtened inAation is a legacy that the global financial crisis bas left in its wake, and people all over the world are reeling from its effects. The cost of living is constantly rising, forcing everyone to tighten their belts. I-Jere in Australia we have grown so accustomed to an easy, comfortable life tbar this global phenomenon and more recently om own carbon ta,, resulting in inflated petrol prices, skyrocketing water and eleccricicy rates, unaffordable housing and unpalatable fruit and vegetable prices, is hitting us pretty hard.

Tbe good news however, is tl1at a few simple steps and changes can ensure we get back on cop of things, make our dollars go a longer way and develop some good saving habits that will serve us well throughout our lives.

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HP.pladng olcJ

incandesc~nt light hqlb; v,.ilth

energ)l'saving fluor~Sq!llt . bulbs tan save up to 759-'o on your ,ii nnu,;I

ligh,i'ng bill.

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il"g on eJ --nci-'·v The recent electricicy bills have been the bane of everyone's existence and it is time to make some changes: • Use electric blankets co warm up your bed in ·winter, cacher than heating the whole room which takes up much more energy.

Electric blankets cost a little more than duvets and use only a fraction of electricity compared to heaters. \Xlhen using heaters or air conditioners, readjust tl1e iliermostat. For every degree you turn down on ilie heat during winter or nun it up for summer, you will save one co three percent on your cotal electricity bil l.

Turn off tl1e lights when you leave tl1e room.

Replacing old .incandescent light bulbs with energy saving Auorescenc bulbs can save up co 75% on your annual lighting b ill.

Tmn off appliances at ilie switch. Don't forget co switch your computer and te levision off.

A plasma TV on standby uses as much energy as yoLJI fridge.

Drying your cloches in the sun instead of using a clothes dryer can save hundreds of dollars on yom electricity bill.

Use the washing machine in offpeak times to take advantage of lower rates.

,irC""onwa ... r In the light of recent droughts, water is to be conserved anyway and a rapidly ascending water bill is just one more reason to be ilirifty witl1 water.

Use rainwater can.ks to collect water and save 011 yotu water bill.

Wash dishes in a dishwasher,

INDlAN LINK

as d1is appliance uses much less water ilia.n washing by hand.

Scraping food off dishes rather tl1an rinsing before putting d1em in d ishwasher also conserves water.

Take shorter five minute showers and use a low flowing shower head. This way you wiJJ use only about 45 li tres of water compared co 140 litres for a fifteen minutes shower wiili a high Aov.ring shower head.

• Wash your car less often as each wash uses up between I 50-350 litres of water, and even using tl1e carwash can sometimes help you save on water bills.

Plant drought-resistant plants in tl1e garden and mulch to save on watering cost.

Turn off ilie tap between brushing and shaving.

Invest in a water-efficient dishwasher and washing machfoe and you'JJ be amazed at the d ifference in your water biU.

Low fuel prices now truly seem a thing of the past and we have

all accepted ilie fact iliat high fuel prices are here co stay. However, tl1ese tips could help you save tl1ose extra dollars instead of spending them on fuel.

Shop around for the best place co buy fuel and use your fuel vouchers from ilie shopping trips.

Slowing down can save on petrol, as acceleration uses more fuel.

• Turn off me AC and roll down yom car \'lri.ndows in pleasant weather.

Sec up a ca.r pool. Sharing your car ride wiili just one friend can save the boili of you hundreds of doJJars.

Check your air filter and tyre pressure regularly co keep yo ur car fuel-efficien L Cut down 011 unnecessary loads in the car like roof racks and buJJ bars if you don't need iliem; it will save on fuel.

Avoid hard braking and Aat footing to reduce fuel consumption by 30%, and don't rest your left foot oo the brake o f an aucomatic car as the extra drag increases fuel consumption by 5% .

avin; on ·r;yt The best way to save on your food bill is to reduce che number of tim es you eat our or better sti.U, scop it alrogether. Take a homemade lunch to work and make your own tea or coffee. Th.is is not only healthier, but ends up saving you heaps. \,1(/hen grocery shoppin g, always check yoLtr receipts; you'U be surprised how many times even computers stuff Ltp. Buy in bulk and check tl1e unit pl'ices co get [he best deals.

Use your scores reward, loyalty or membership cards to save on special deals.

Make a budget and stick to it.

Ser yourself a limit on money spent on food per day. O nce you've reached chat limit don't spend more, no matter what.

Revert co paying by cash. It is proven iliac people spend less when iliey pay in cash, rather ilian when us ing credit or debit cards.

• Buy score brands for basics like sugar, !lom and salt etc. They are all just ilie same, but big brands cost more.

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ltiis proven tl)at peaple-sp~ntJ

IE:SS when1J1ey

pay irv:asf),

mther-tha,, wl1en us'ing nedi1 or dellit

~Uri~.

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SEPTEMBER 2012 29

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Baba Aparajith, left, celebrates with teammates the dismissal of Australia's Kurtis Patterson, the 2012 ICC under- 19Cricket World Cup final Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, In Townsville, Australia.

t was still winter down under, bur in late August Inclia won tbe U nder- 19 Cricket World Cup, beating Australia in a tense final in Townsville, Queensland.

The match was underlined by a stunning century by the L1dian skipper, Unrnukt Chand, aod certainly exposed some exciting talents to the international cricket community.

I

U-19 tourney gaining glory The lCC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has taken place every two yea.rs since 1998, having initially been sraged as a one-off evenr Lhat year. While it does not carry with it the prestige of the senior version, the pedigree of tlie players that take part in it makes up much of the attraction players such as Saqlain Mushtaq, Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya

30 SEPTEMBER 2012

featured in d1e earliest edition; die 2008 murna.mem included James Pattinson, Darren Bravo and India's Virat Kohli, who led the side to the trophy, and currently sits as d1e second-best OD1 batsman in the game. The hype tliat has surrounded the tournament in recent years, then, is oot without reason - ir really has become a breeding ground for future champions.

Mental preparation is key \'v'hile die senior lndian ream was at the same time busy tlirashing a hapless ew Zealand om/it by an innings and 115 runs at home in Hyderabad, tl1e U-19 side proved just how much more mental preparation goes into young lndiao players today. The side lost their very first march against a talemed West Indian outfit, but comprehens.ively thrashed minnows Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea. They then scraped through a ridiculously tense quarter-final against Pakistan, winning by just one wicket - and dien backed the performance up with anodi er narrow win in the

semi-final by just 9 runs against New Zealand.

After SLich an emotional rollercoaster, die side, which featured players as young as 17, might have been forgiven for an average display in the final. lnstead, lndia got off ro a great start, picking up four early wickets against an Australian batting line up that had not yet failed to deLiver. Led by a steady unbeaten 87* by captain William Bosisto (who was dismissed only once in 6 innings - and that coo, ruo-(mt), die Aussies recovered and posted an impressive 225/8 off tl1eir 50 overs.

Ian Chappell, the former Australian captain, had remarked about this tournament that it was notable how much more ad vanced the fast bowlers were in their development than the batsmen - and this explains die low-scoring affairs throughout die competition. The top team score in the semi-finals was 209; in the quarter-finals, 244. For India, chasing 225 in a final, with cloud cover and a strong home bowling attack, was not an easy cask.

A determined win While Australia were 4/38 early in their innings, lndia had moved steadily to 1/75, largely due to the sparkling strokep lay of Baba Aparajich - who is definitely one to watch om for in the shorter format of the game. Australia's Gur.inder SancUrn, however, who spoke to I11dia11 Link ahead of the tournament, broke die ChandAparajith partnership, and a flurry of wickets followed.

Ac 4/97, widi vice-captain Akshdeep Nad1 woefully oul o f form, India moved their enterprising and confident wicketkeeper, Smit Patel, up the order. By now, Australia were rampant - runs were extremely difficLtlt to come by, and die pressure on Chand was immense.

Joel Paris, the Australian leftarmer, was regularly clocking up speeds above 140km/h. The parttimers were stifling and d1e fields inmitive. The Aussies had dieir tails up, and they lee me Indians know .it, coo. Tt was no place for the faint-hearted.

Some w1believably beautiful batting then mrned the match on its bead.

Chand began hitting pure cricket strokes - drives over extra cover, lofted straight drives down the ground - ro not only reach the boundary, but to clear it comfortabl)'- Chand, who was especially brutal on Sandhu, hit 7 fours and 6 sixes in all, including a perfectly-timed drive over the cover region which both brOL1g ht up his cenmrr and all but sealed die trophy. It was Chand's 5th centllr)' at the U -19 level, but more tellingly, his third in tomnarnent finals - Bosisto, the Australian captain, later remarked that that it was "nor tl1e first time h e has terrorised us".

Patel's contribution, roo, was crucial; his 62* in a partnership of 130 - the highest in any U-19 World Cup final - was enterprising, and simi.larly risky.

Blll it paid off.

Pick the talent There were also notable performances by seamer Sandeep Sharma - who finished with 12 wickets ar 15.75, including 4-54 in the Ii nal, as well as tweaker Harmeet Singh, who lan Chappell has stated categorically as tbe best

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The Indian U- 19 team returns home with the Cricket World Cup trophy to many accolades... and one brickbat!

, r •••

left-a.rm spinner in the world, and the second-best overall behind Graeme Swann. But you can only compare apples with apples - and it's plaudits like d1ese which can often send young athletes down the wrong road.

Greats such as Tendu!kar and Ponting never played in an Under- 19 World Cup. India's Robie Sharma and Australia's Moises Henriques both shone in the 2006 edition, yet both have found international cricket thoroughly miserable. Lara, Jayasuriya, Kohli - none of these names were the mp run-scorers in their respective tOL1rnamenrs.

There was some brilliam cricket played in Townsville, and no doubt there ·was an abundance of talent on display - but pare of the fascination of d1e U -19 World Cup is seeing how they develop from here. There's still one more step to go - who will put their l1and up?

stake home

India's Under-19 b oy

the trophy

Euphoria back home Back home, a hero's welcome awaited the U-l9s as they triumphantly carried home the World Cup. Winning against Australia has become almost as prestigious as a win against hereditary arch-rivals Pakistan, and cricket-loving Indians were quick to shower appreciation on these young stars.

The triumphanr U- l 9 Indian cricket team arrived home to a euphoric reception in Mumbai.

As Delhi boy and skipper Unmukt Chand came out of d1e Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport terminal holding the trophy, celebrations broke out.

Mumbaiite Harmeet Singb's relatives and friends also turned up in large numbers and carried a huge cutout of the spinner. ·•1 am very happy. We played well in Australia and won iL It's a proud feeling," said Chand, who is the d1ird captain after Mohammed

INDIAN LINK

Kaif and Virat Kohli to lead the country to the ru1der-19 World Cup tide.

In Kolkata, a hose of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials and a large nw11ber of East Bengal fan club members waited at ilie NSC Bose lncemational Airport here to greet Ravikant Singh and Sandipan Das, the two cricketers from Bengal who were in d1e winning squad. \Xlith 12 wickets, Ravikant finished as the most successful Indian bowler in rne. cournan1enc played in Australia.

In die melee of fans eager to greet the young cricketers, their families were pushed to the sidelines and se.curir:y personnel had to intervene, getting the cricketers into their cars in a hurry, drns cutting the celebrations short.

However, the glory of d1e win was overwhelming, as Ravikant stated. "\Y;/e were over the moon. I ever in my life was I so happy," he said adding, "l owe a lot to captain Unmukt (Chand). 1 came. into the team as a replacement but he showed faith in me and gave me confidence. Unrnukt is a batsman, but he is a bowlers' captain."

Unmukt is now richer not just in experience, but also financially as the state of Utcarakhand announced a cash reward of Rs. l 1 lakh for the young cricketing star who h it a match-winning w1beaten cenh1.ry in the final.

Although Unmukt plays for Delhi in do mestic cricket, he hails from Khudku Bhalya village in Uttarakband's Pirnoragarh district.

Officials said the state was also considering felicitating the entire

U -19 cricket team.

And while accolades have been pouring in, the International Cricket Council (ICC) president Alan l saac also con gratulated the Indian team for winning the U -19 World Cup for the third time. "It has been an incredible performance by India. The way the team bounced back after losing the tournament opener reflects rne talent and self-confid ence of d1e side. And with captain U nmukt Chand leading the side from the from with a century in d1e final, it just sums up three great weeks for them in Townsville," said Issac.

Ironic loss over win And in what can only be termed as a bi2a.rrely typical situation, Unrnukt Chand was disallowed

by St Stephen's College in Delhi

to sit for his annual exam because his class attendance was poor.

Unmukt was forced to approach the Delhi High Court petitioning that he was unable to attend classes because of cricket matches, inclucling die Indian Premier League. He requested the High Court co ask his college to allow him to sit for the annual exam.

Fortunately, the Association of O ld Stephanians are backing up the talented cricketer, and have appealed co St Stephen's College and Dell1i University "to take necessary steps co ensure that promising sportspersons are encouraged to perform better and bring laurels to d1e country". It's the old fanuliar argument between academics and spores. So wbo will be the winner?

SEPTEMBER 2012 31

TRAVEL NOTEBOOK KUCHING, BORNEO GETTING THERE Kuching is130 hours by air from Singapore (Silk Air) or 1.40 hours from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia).

GETTING AROUND Taxisare plentiful and inexpensive. Buses are cheap, efficient and modern.The Visitors Information Centre has timetableand fa re information. Sampans cross the river for around 15 cents per person. The Sarawak River Cruises sunset cruise is remmmended. For Bako, catch Bus No 1 to Kampung Bako and from there charter a boat. Local touroperatorsalso offer trips to Bako. Purchase a mapof the 16 walking trailson arrival.

The newly refurbished Hilton Kuching isthe place to stay, a landmark in its own right, on the Waterfront Esplanade in the centre of town. Rooms are newly refurbished, we II appointed and with great views.

Phone:+ 60 82 248 200 Email:kuching@hilton.com / website:www.hilton.com The modern and quirky Batik Boutique Hotel will suit those wanting an upbeat experience, www.batikboutiquehotel.com, whileBerambih Lodge www.berambihlodge.com and the Tune Hotel w1vw.tunehotels.com aregood budgetchoic~ Four hours by road and ashort boat ride away, the Batang Ai Long house Resort, managed by Hilton isset ina pristine rainforest setting. www.hilton.com Bako National Park offersovernight accommodation.

WHERETO EAT Magna Carta, Main Bazaarforcafe food at Sydney priCfs; Food Courts and Hawker Centres for authentic no-frills dining. Recommended are spicy coconut milk-based Laksa, popiah, satayor anyofthe many noodledishes.The Hilton iswhereKuching's movers and shakers meet, with a menu that ranges from authentic Malaysian cuisine to great club sandwich~

MORE INFORMATION Borneo Adventure, 55 Main Bazaar, Kuching. Website: www.borneoadventure.com organizes highly regarded ecologically sustainable tours.

Sarawak Forestry has information on National Parks: www.sarawakforestry.mm Sarawak Tourism Website:www.sarawaktourism.com Tourism Malaysia Website:www.tourism.gov.my

fJ.- -A ,;,.

~ - - - --

~~

with turrets--:'"~:-- ~Grneo, the third largest island _ _ 1s-l1ot what vou 10 the.wG.l'ld and one of the most ~ -might expe;r to see deligh_tfol cities in South-East ~ as you cruise gently Asia. Kuching offers a glimpse ~ ~ · downstream by of what other .Asian cities were .--=--·•sampan Qn the Sarawak River, but once like. Laidback, gracious and ~ - Fort Matgherim built in 1879 by friendly with a population of ;. Charles -Smoke the second White 600,000, a walk along the streets Rajah, is just one of the many will reveal dragon-festooned r- charms you wiU .find here.

Chinese temples and shop At d,e beginning of the 19th houses, a L9m-cenmry South <.:entury, Sarawak was under tl1e Indian mosque and historiq colonial ar<;hitecture, che most cohcrol of the Sn.lean of Brunei.

After the appointment of an atmospheric streets beingJalan Cr.tmbier, India and Carpenter. unpopular governor, ilie locals Restaurants and open-air hawker revolted. ln 1839 James Bro0ke arrived in Kuching, pur down stalls sell a variety of J\sian cuisines, including the mu.ltithe rebellion and became Rajah.

His nephew Charles, though layered rainbow-coloured egg not quite the adventurer he wa~, sponge cakes known as keklapls. was an excellent administrator There ace manymusettrns including the splendid Sarawak expanding his ru.le co encompass all of Sar;wak_ After d1e Japanese Musewn with an exceptional occupation during World W.ar ethnographic collection, the Textile Museum with hand-woven 11, Sarawak came under British fabric made of gold or ~ilver coloni.al rule until 1963 when thread, an lslamic MuseL1m and independence was granted and it formed pact of Malaysia. a ,cat m,1si;um; after all 'Kuching' Kucbing is the'capitalcicy means cat in Mallly. of Sarawak on the island of The road chat runs a.Long the

-~

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~

river has long be~n l;:n:Q_'fill as che Main Bazaar. l:ws.is tlre· best place to shop for tcadicional cribal hanclicrafcs indudingdalowpipes. A shopping highlight is the chaotic Sunday 1-fai:ket at Jalan Satok with open-air st'lils, many run by tribes~ people, s_elling an exptic array of fresh produce including okr.a, ginget, ted chillies, jungle herbs, spices and bananas @f al.I sizes and colo rn:s from yellow to dark red.

The appeal of Kuchi.ng however, lies outside tl1e city .according to Dr Philip Ting, J\uscrali,:1n Honota.ry Consnlin Kuching.

Whik l1alf the population of Sarawak. is Chii::!ese or Malay, the

...-::::::;;- ...

_

~

"!;;a.

otl1et half are m b a ~ lban, Bidayiffi, i\1.elit~,.1 _ Orang Ulu wim rich_c:P1tmal traditions, handicrafts, handwoven textiles, bead,;a!rk and WGod carvings. Many still live fo longbouses, a communal habitation for an entire community who share an open plan Jiving area. I visited Anmib Rais home to Bidaynh that welcomes v isitors.

You can go in search of the world's largest flower, the R.afflesia at Gunung Gading National Park when, they're in bloom, ot visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Cemre escablis.hed to rescue otai1gutan:s from mplivity, I.hough

given tl1e centre's vast size of 65.3 hectares, sightings are not guaranteed.

I went in search of che endangered proboscis monkey at Bako · ational Park. Getting d1ere is quite an adventure. After a 37km bus 1:ide, I experienced an exhilarating boat ride. Bako National Pa.i;k is 27 sq k.ms of seven complete ecosystems· including beach and cliff veget:ition, heath, rnangrove, peat, forests and grasslands, representing the types of vegetation found in Bomeo.

Mangroves Eri□.ge the coastline a.nd rocky headlands-lead to seduded beaches. 1 trekked all day along trails trying, but failing to do all 16 wall,s, or sight a proboscis monkey, d1emale having a huge pendn.lous nose and a large pot- belly. 1 w~s sorry noc to have,stayed overnight as mqst visitors do.

In the 20 years since my fust visit, many changes are evident.

Kuching has evolved into ·a very pleasant ciry, well desen,ing of several clays stay. On one of my strolls, I st:Opped for a Jhampoo and hai rcut at the Superior Unisex Sal0n. 1ly stylrst Lyll11 was Orang Ulu. l asked if she knew anything of the pbtnts found in the rainforest that for ovec 2,000 yeats have been used by tribes-people for d1erapeutic ahd curative purposes. She shrugged her shbtudcrs. Her childrtlll bad a bright future she $aid, made possible by efficient transport, good eduaation and heallhcace. 1\nd the prirne growth rainforests chat filled me with such a.we have kmg gone.

To encoumer the Borneo chat is ~till unearned, ydu need to ventu(e deep into the forest.

FASHION

eon la , -

r

BY

TALIA KAUR

I

'm sure aU of you rugged up in jumpers and boots can't wait to welcome warmer weather. So what does spring have in store for us? Well, it seems the latest trend is aU about fluorescen t- hued clothing and accessories, and it's raking off fast!

This season seems to be all about hot pink, citron yellow and bright lime green shad es, so if you're a little colour shy like me, this trend can be quite daunting to master.

But don't worry, I have a few tips for you, whether you're a little shy o f neon, o r ready to rock a full-on neon o utfit.

Neon accessories The easiest way to incorporate neon into your wardrobe and to dip your toe imo the trend, is by simply adding accessories ro instamly brighten up your outfit. Neon scarves, belts, shoes, handbags and jeweUery are aU simple, Lnexpensive and subtle ways to pull off the neon look.

For spring, why not pair a white dress with some lace derails and add a bold pop o f colour by styling ir with a hot pink skinny belt and/or a marching pair of shoes? A sleek, neutral-coloured clutch makes sure you're not going overboa.rd v,itb the neon, and finish off wit!, simple gold jewellery to add a feminine touch.

Pair neon with neutrals Mixing neon and neutral colours cogerher create~ a balance between d1e strong co.lours, and is a matdi made in fashion heaven. lt's also tl1e perfect s tepping-stone if you feel comfortable enough to start wearing neon clothing. Choosing ro wear just o ne p iece of neon clothing with a neutral colour palette aUows the bright colour to be the statement piece and d1e focus of the o utfit, creating a bold, yet tame look. You can choose any neon hue you want; for

examp le, take a basic lime green t-shirt and nick it in cream shorts and matching cream coloured shoes. Throw some sunnies on and yoll instan tly have a casual, yet stylish look for spring. You can also teao;i a pair of neon skinny jeans with a grey top and by adding a small neon necklace to match tl1e jeans, yo u'll really be embracing tl1e trend.

definitely get you noticed. 1\ neon yellow dress with a black belt will create greaL contrast. If you feel your neon dress can do wirhom a belt, acid a pair of black an klecuff heels instead and a simple black shoulder strap bag, to create a polished and elegant look. Finish off with and some black anJ silver accessories to tie tl1e whole theme in anJ give tl1e outfit a little edge.

Downplay the neon colours

Colour block

You can also choose ro downplay the neon in your outfit. This means that rather than making a bright neon piece stand out by pairing it with neutral cones, instead style ir wit!, other bold clothing and accessories. This ensures tliat the neon piece is just one element of the outfit, and when styled correctly, it can look super trendy and boho-like. This look works particularly well with softer neon colours tliat aren't as b right o n tl1e eyes. For exam ple, eiqJecin1e11t wit!, pairing a pleated neon orange skirt with a primed t-sh.irt and a denim vest. Finish off with some strapp)' sandals, feathered earrings and a light Aoral satchel. A U the different elements in this outfit help to balance out tl1e neon and create a casual look - it's perfect for those who still want ro incorporate d1e trend, but nor make it tl, e focus.

Create contrast Black and neon are total opposLtes i.n rhe colour world, yet still work ver y well together, when paired.

Wearing bright neon wit!, clean-lined black clotl1ing and sleek accessories not only creates a fantastic contrast, b ut also makes for a daring look that will

Colour blocking has been big the past few seasons, so naturally pairing one neon piece wir.h ano ther is a g reat way to wear this trend. Jus t keep tbe neon pieces solid and b ri.g ht for maximum effect, and since neon colours are quire bright, it's best co colnurblock a piece of cld th ing with an accessory instead of two items of clothing, just so you don't look like a bad '90s Aashback and over the top. For example, tr)' pairing a neo n yellow shirt with cream shorts an d a chin neon p ink belt. You could also try a white shirt with neo n blue jeans and a neon yellow necklace.

Finish accessorising with a black and white watch and simple studs for an outfit that incorporates the neon trend witl1 a modern and classic edge.

''

Colour b locking has been b ig the past few seasons, so naturally pairing one neon piece wit h another is a great way to wear this trend.

''

FICTION

Our rin so

it

Dreams can become a reality when fortified with courage, determination and the will to succeed

~

. ·

, BY RANIJHALA

enruries ago, a group of athletes came together to meet and engage in competitions in friendly rivalry. All discord was pm aside for the duration, as O lympia saw the first of what came to be known as the Olympic Ga.mes. Time saw an expansion in the number of athletes and nationalities. Today, athletes come from the five inhabited continents. Their participation is aptly symbolised by the five rings on the Aag - intertwined rings of different colours that symbolise tl1e f:ive continents unifying in friend ship and equaliLy! The aim is co promote sportsmanshjp and goodwill. \Ve coo have om 'cbaUenge' coming up. i\1en and women coming together from chose same continents, for tl1e same duration, buc unlike the athletes that will fight for tl1eir p lace in history, we are collecting co creare ours.

There is Peter, the architect from Australia who, a decade ago, lost bis family to tl1e Roods.

A single moment was all it cook

C

36 SEPTEMBER 2012

for his entire world to coUapse around rum. When the water receded, he got his home back bur nor his precious belongings, nor hjs even more precious family. He told me once tl1at he had faced two choices: drown in despair or swim above it. He chose the latter. When he met our organiser, he knew what destiny had planned for him and became our Asia-Pacific coordinator.

Ram, an ophtl1almologist became our Asian Subcontinent co-ordinator. Rising from humble beginnings, he had won a schola.rshjp that saw rum rise to tl1e starus of a world-class eye surgeon and head of a renowned eye hospital in Mwnbai. Never forgetting the past, now retired, he wants ro give back ro society in the best way he knows.

Abrahani retired from his prominent position in tl1e Un ited Nation s, and became the president of our organisation.

He brought with him the social network chat saw our dream escalate from vision to reality. His vast circle of associations includes many gentle and gracious souls who are more than happy to assist with rud and guidance.

Pierre is tl1e renowned chef who retired ro open his o,-,.,n catering company that suppJjes who lesome dishes packed with

tl1e daily dose o f vitamins and rrunerals. He believes tl1ar tbe world bas enough food to feed every man, ,voman and child on tlus planet if it is not wasted or caught up in bureaucracy and reel tape. His motto is, 'Respect food today and it will nourish you tomorrow'.

Robert, a US citizen, is a landscaping artist fanious for hjs popular television series w here be travel.led the globe, designi11g playgrounds for tl1e underprivileged. An orphan himself, he began bjs career at tl1e age of t\vo, when he shovelled dirt with his shoe and planted rocks in anticipation of seeing beautiful plants.

Abdul is the co-o rdinator of our African region. Once the president of his tiny nation, he has seen his country destroyed by war and farn.iJ1e. Undefeated, he got togetl1er a small band of volunteers to rebuild hjs cow1cry, village by village, rown by rown. Ir took him fifteen long years, but he proved to the world tliat w1icy and faith are strong building blocks. It was he, who can1e up with tl1e idea of our 'villages'.

And so, every four years, the commfrtee ge ts togetl1er to choose locations on each of the continents and negotiates tl1e procurement of land. Then they band together their army of volllilteers.

The next follr years sees rbjs

group of volunteers pull back their shoulders and begin tbe tmmense task of creating a township where only sand or soil exists. Brick by brick, they rruse home after home. .An infrastructure is created tl1at includes tl1e supply of clean water, power and foo d. Access to education , medkal facili ties and transpo rt to tl1e rown are orgarused.

I re.member the idea being scoffed at when we first began.

It was said, "Spoon feedjng will lead to a generation of idle and irresponsible citizens" and tlrnt "it would be a financial failure". H ow wrong they were!

Tbis is o ur fourth 'cba.llenge' and in the twelve years, we have seen fifteen viUages set up, three children earn scholarshjps to high schools and t\VO villages become totally self-sufficient. In botl1 places, a cottage industry was set up chat gave employment ro the men and tl1e women.

Governments haYe now become involved, large companies have come forward with donations and raw materials, and political parties have offered their support.

Abdul had a dream one day, to rruse his nation from the ashes. We have extended iliat dream.

We wane co create a world where every crulcl can ca.11 a building 'home.', where every man has a source of incom e and where every woman can seek education and equality.

The road ahead is difficult.

Wars make it hazardous, but just as athletes do not give up ar the first hurdle nor sir back o n past accolades, so too will we venture forward. Ail we ask is for you to wish us well as we create a m in i u topia for people who have never had a place to call their own. \Ve name our 'villages' after me top five medal winners in the Olympics iliac year. Like us, these athletes have spent four long years preparing to make a dream come true.

What keeps us going? Our rings of fruth!

''

Today, athletes come from the five inhabited continents and their participation is aptly symbolised by the five rings on the flag.

''

''

Wars make it hazardous, but just as athletes do not give up at the first hurdle nor sit back on past accolades, so too will we venture forward

'' www.indianlink.com.au

ll

WELLNESS

•

''

01n It's an urban fad that is fast growing, but with roots in ancient medicine, green tea has numerous health benefits, writes FARZANA SHAKIR fter water, tea is the most w idely consumed beverage in the world. There are basically three types of teas - black, oolong and green, which all come from the leaves of the Camellia Sineusis plant. Of these, green tea whid1 is muted as the healthiest drink in the market, is the least processed and hence harbours myriad of healing properties. The Chinese and lndians have known of the many health beneht5 associated with green tea for thousands of years, and recent studies and research has prompted even die sceptical western world to sit up and rnke note of this wonderful brew. 1n a bid to stave off various health problems, millions of people are now consummg green tea on a regular basis. Ir is fast becoming a popular drink prompting an influx in the market of products like handy green tea bags, green tea ice crean1, iced green tea and green tea 1ULxed with other Aavonrs like vanilla and strawberry to make it more palatable. ln addition, cosmetic companies are cashing in on the trend and skincare products like moisturizers, band creams, deodorants and deansers containing green tea extract are appearing on the supermarket shelves. Here are some of the benefits of green tea.

A

Anti-ageing Green tea is different from the black and oolong teas as it is made from unfermented leaves. The green tea leaves are steamed which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized and it thus contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Our body needs anti.oxidants co fight free radicals which are the culprits causing wrinkles, cell death, damaged D 1 A and acceleration of the aging process. Drinking green tea regularly keeps our body's antioxidant reserve well supplied co neutralize free radicals and help reduce and even prevent the damage caused by them.

Cancer inhibitor The polyphenol.s found in green tea are mainly responsible for most of it5 health benefits. These

INDIAN LINK

It has been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine as a stimulant, to control bleeding, heal wounds, improve heart health and correct mental processes

'' I

/

Cholesterol check

Bowel soother Green tea has been used traditionally as a tummy soother for years. It relieves gastric pains, aids digesrion, reduces inflammation associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and, provides relief for d1ose suffering from Inflanimatory Bowel Disease (IBO). lt is also effective in preventing food poisoning.

Weight watch

Scientists aren't sure why, but green tea seems to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

It lowers total cholesterol and raises RDL (good) cholesterol. le is thought that polyphenols in green tea may be responsible for blocking cholesterol from being absorbed in d1e intestine.

A population-based clinical study conduded that men who drank green tea were likely to have .lower total cho.lesterol than their non-tea drinking counterparts.

Green tea lowers d1e levels of IDL and prevent~ blood clots from forming.

A lot of research bas been done to prompt the condusion that drinking green tea can play a vital part in weight management.

Green tea extracts may boost om metabofom and aid in burning calories. Again, clinical studies credit catechlns for the fat-burning properties of green tea. Some researchers think that d1e fat-bm,ung characteristics of green tea derive from its caffeine content, but this is debatable as c(1ffee contains more caffeine and yet green tea helps the body burn more far than coffee.

Green tea may help regulate glucose in the bodies of diabetes sufferers. It has been used traditionally to control blood sugar levels and is reputed to help prevent the onset of Type I diabetes. Drinking green tea is also said co slow down the progression of diabetes once it has developed. Some clinical smdies have determined d1at taking a daily dose of a green tea extract helped lower d1e haemoglobin A 1c level in borderline diabetics.

are considered to be the most powerful and effective of all antioxidants and careclun, which is a subgroup of polyphenols, is found in abundance in green tea.

EGCG, one of the four main catechin substance is d10ught co be much more powerful than vitamin C and E. This miracle element has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and de.5troy the diseased cells without affecting healthy tissues. It is found to be effective against many forms of cancer including breast, bladder, ovarian, skin and lung c.1.ncer to name a few.

Diabetes control

Dental shield Drinking green tea is said to help prevent dental cavities and guard against moth decay. lt.~ bacter.ia fighting abilities can also kill d1e bacteria d1at cause dental plaque.

The health benefits of green tea are countless but on the condition that ir should be used regularly. Ir prevents the symptoms of cold and flu, helps arthritic patients by reducing inflammation and slowing down tbe breakdown of cartilage.

It has been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine as a stimulant, to control bleeding, heal wmmds, improve heart health and correct mental processes.

Green tea is also credited \vid1 being able to help normalize blood pressme and strengthen the immune system.

''

Cosmetic companies are cashing in on the trend and skincare products like moisturizers, hand creams, deodorants and cleansers containing green tea extract are appearing on the supermarket shelves

'' SEPTEMBER 2012 37

MUSIC

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SEEKING BRIDES

49-year-old, 5'3" lady seeks

29 years, 5'9: Punjabi, Khatri boy, born and brought up in Delhi, India and settled in Australia since 2006, seeks a traditional, god loving, family oriented girl.

Email: am 121982@gmail.com Shaadi.com: SH74368540

Srilankan origin Christian never married (no encumbrances) working professional groom 40s to early 50s N/S, teetotaller with a view to marriage. Email selc99@hotmail.com Seeking suitable match (from Australia,

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

Please email with all details on ganesh2011v@gmail.com Gujarati Patel (native Sunav), '87 born, 5'6'; dentist, good looking, unmarried girl (presently in Mumbai) looking for a smart and highly educated Gujarati boy. Send biodata and kundli to kaushikpatel2602@gmail.com Parents seeking match for Australian-born

(1975) good looking Punjabi girl, medical professional working in SA. Prefer Australian citizen or long-settled residents with good profession. Serious proposal only contact mandy_sing@hotmail.com Well educated Punjabi family seeks

professionally qualified well settled match for their Australian citizen daughter, 27 years, 5' 4'; fair, slim, traditional Indian/ Western values, highly educated, Master ofTeaching and MBA from Australian universities. Working as project officer in well reputed company.

Please email particulars with recent picture to schanderchopra@hotmail.com or call 0297601832 / 0431 289442.

38 SEPTEMBER 2012

35-year-old, Hindu, Australian qualified specialist doctor, working in major sydney

hospital, never married, 6 feet, handsome, athletic, good habits and sociable in nature.

Seeking Hindu girl, age 27 to 34 years, height above 5'3'; similar family values and genuine nature, well educated. Please respond with photograph to sydney2407@gmail.com Seeking graduate Hindu girl for well established 5' 1o•; very fair 21/11/1968 born Australian citizen. Never married.

BE(Electrical) self employed. Vegetarian non-smoker teetota lier. Please email profile with photo to anandrao68@gmail.com Compatible match for 1975 born,

handsome, dean-shaven Sikh Khatri boy, 5'9'; two post grad degrees from India and recently finished Masters in IT from Australia. Applied for temporary resident visa (currently with full work rights) and working as Vehicle Service Agent for Hertz multinational car rental company, earning $4000 per month. Girl should be tall, well-educated with pleasing personality, and must be from Sikh background. Early marriage; serious proposals only please.

Phone 0422 102 242 or email jas_ghai01@gmail.com

T

ranscending linguistic and cultural barriers, calenred singer-songwriter and sitarist Sarangan Sri.ranganathan's music is well known to mainstream audiences. Following his hugely successful show with Hariharan last year, Sarangan has once again collaborated with che Padma Shree awardee to produce a catchy Tamil single, Aval Oru Melfi.ya Poongaatn1. ('ihe is a fragrant breeze). The recording spans two continents and features artists i.n India, Australia and Sri Lanka.

Released on YouTube recently, the song crossed 10,000 hies in its first fortnight.

Having casted success across many genres of music over the past two decades, chis time round Saarangan hopes co stir the social conscience of fans.

Using social media, particularly YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, Sarangan has been raising awareness about cbe plight of refugees in war-ravaged far north Sri Lanka.

"Everyone has a social responsibility.

My goal is co pubUcise che good work done by welfare organisations in war torn areas;' explained Sarangan, speaking to fndian link. "Many have supported these institutes during and immediately after the war. The sad thing is chat, day by day, cl1e support/fundi.ng and the focus are diminishing. With this particular project, I am supporting a children's orphanage in Kilinochchi (in the north of Sri Lanka).

1l1ey desperately need support".

"When someone wants to purchase an audio version of the song I ask chem to p lease call and support the organisation in kind or cash," said Sarangan. "We have got great response from fans and friends. Most of the radio and TV stations across tbe globe are also playing our song. Some web based news sires have also supported us".

to record with high profile artists is because

it brings attention from the general pubUc much faster. "The attention and popularity gained from these productions help me generate awareness and support these institutions," he particularly emphasised.

Saarangan and Hariharao go back a long way, having performed together at many concerr.s in India, Australia and UK. Hailing from musically inclined families, the duo has much in common besides their spoken language (Tamil) and love of music.

"Hariji and I have a strong classical music background, especially in Hindustani music.

I have a BA in Sitar too," he disclosed. "We vibe very well and have a great time. When I came up with the idea, I-lariji was only coo keen to coJJaborate. I composed the songs in Sydney in my private studio and then went to Mumbai to record Hariharan's voice. We recorded cl1e song in barely an hour1" He then went to Colombo to record the dholak wich percussionist Raman1 Ramathurai. Sarangan's vocals were then recorded in Sydney and all the poscprod uction work was done in Australia and mixed by Ganesh Singaram.

"I have used Australian and Indian female backing vocalists. The video was recorded in Sydney and my wife Shobana Meera did the post-productions of the videot be revealed.

Local artists who have worked on chis single include Australian Idol gu itarist Rex Goh, bass guitarist Shru1e Gamage and percussionist Christopher Soules. Wendy Angerrani did some additional progrru11ming.

Whi.le in Mumbai, Sarangan also recorded another duet with Shreya Gboshal, which is to be released shortly.

Meamvhile, Sara.ngan's calendar is busy as ever with ano ther huge concert planned for .next year, feamring some big names in cl1e industry.

To support Sarangan Sriranganathru1's nominated charity Mahadeva Achchirama Children Home, Kilinochchi, please email rasa46@yahoo.com

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FOOD

eers or couscous This little-known food is gaining growing popularity for its easy of cooking, taste and as a healthier option than pasta or rice

lite food circles consider it o ne o f the healthiest grainbased products today, and it is au easy substitute for rice or pasta. Yes, couscous is here to stay, and its various options of grain lends it a versatility that adapts co many different recipes. Couscous has been around through cennicies of MidclJe Eastern cooking, but my first acquaintance with it was on supermarket shelves where its resemblance co the m ore familiar sago or sab11da11a drew my attention. I finally summoned up the nerve to try and cook it after viewing various dishes being prepared using couscous on as many TV shows. And it was not just easy to cook, but also healthy and very tasty.

Couscous contains 3.6g of protein for every 100 calories equivalent to pasta and is well above the 2.6g for everr 100 calories of white rice. Its vitamin pro61e contains twice as much riboAavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate tl1a11 pasta, and four times as much thiamine and pan tothen ic

E

acid. Couscous contains a I% facto-calorie ratio, compared to 3% for white rice and 5% for pasta.

Of the many varieties of couscous available, I use Pead couscous which is a small round variety made from wheat Aour and semolina. Other popular types are Moroccan couscous (which looks just like semolina bur the grains are slightly bigger in size), Israeli couscous (which has more medium sized grain s which rake longer to cook) and Lebanese couscous (which is the size of baby peas). Here are different recipes that bring out the best of couscous.

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Couscous gratin We've heard of poraro gratin, so how about crying tlie healthier couscous versio n.

For the jilli,{g 4 cups couscous

4 cups water

1 medium eggplant, cut into circles 1 red capsicum cut into circles 1 g reen capsicum cut into circles 2 mecliw11 tomatoes cut into circles 1 medium zucchini cut into circles 2 tsp dried or fresh mixed Italian herbs OiJ for cooking

Salt and pepper to taste For the white sauce 4 tbsp butter 2 tbsp plain Aour 3 tbsp sugar 2-3 cups full cream rnilk Salt and pepper to taste For the toppit{g 2 cups grated cheddar and mozarella chees e 1 cup breadcrumbs Few pineapple rings

tl1e vegetable layer and decorate with the pineapple rin!,'SBake in tl1e oven at 160 degrees for 45 minutes or till the vegetables are cooked.

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Vegetable Couscous Simple and healthy, great for kids.

2 cups Moroccan couscous Boil the water with a tablespoon of oil. Stir in the couscous and turn off hear. Cover and leave for 10 minutes tiJI the couscous absorbs all the water. Stir witl1 a fork and keep aside.

To make tlie white sauce, hear the butter in a non-stick pan and add the Aour. Cook till the Aom: turns golden brown. Take off the gas and add rue milk slowly, stirring consrantl)' to make sure tl1ere are no lum ps. Add sugar, salt and pepper. Take a baking tray and spread tlie cooked couscous evenly across the base of the tray. Spread the white sauce evenly over it. Cover tbe cop of tl1e white sauce witl1 the cut vegetables, spreading evenlr over the surface. Keep aside. In a bowl, mix rogecher the cheese and breadcrumbs. Spread evenly over

2 cups water

2 cups cubed vegetables (potato, French beans, red capsicum, pumpkin) I 1/2 cup roasted ground peanuts 1 small romaro, cubed Few curry leaves (optional) 2 cloves 1 stick cinnamon ½ tsp cumin seeds ½ tsp mrmeric powder ½ tsp cumin-coriander powder ½ tsp chiUi powder (optional) Oil for cooking Salt to caste ·1 tsp butter Yogurt for serving.

Boil water in a saucepan with 1-2 tablespoon o f oil and 1 teaspoon of sale. Pour in the couscous

and stir. Allow to stand for 2-3 minutes. Add butter and cook again on low fire to separate the grains. Heat oil u.1 a non-stick pan and add cloves an d cinnamon.

1 ext, add cumin seeds and curry leaves. O nce they crackle, add all tlie vegetables and cook till tender.

Then add the couscous with the spices and tomato. Cook on slow lire till all the ingredients are well mixed. Serve witl1 delicious chick yogurt.

Another method of cooking tl,is recipe is to use 2-3 cups of vegetable or chicken broth instead of water. For an interesting accompaniment, (see pie below) blend together 3-4 medium roasted comaroes, 1 tsp lemon juice, 4 garlic cloves, ½ tsp chilli powder and salt co taste with 6- 7 tbsp of olive oil. ML'( this puree with the couscous, adding a handful of cooked green peas to tlie mix. Serve hot or cold, as you prefer.

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Berry and Saffron Couscous Pudding 1 ½ cups couscous 3 cups milk 2-3 tbsp honey ½ tsp vanilla extract 4 tbsp chopped nuts of your choice 2 cups berry mix (frozen berries will also do) 2 tbsp brown sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon Pinch saffron, dissolves in a tbsp of warm milk 1/2 cup tl1ick cream for serving 1 uts for serving.

Boil rhe milk, then add rhe couscous, nuts, hon ey, saffron and vauilla extract. Let the couscous absorb tl1e milk for 20-30 minutes. Keep aside and let rue mix cool down. Heat the berries and brown sugar together in a pan till tl1ey form a thick and saucy consistencr, Place both bowls in the fridge to cool. To serve, scoop some couscous mixture into dessert bowls and top witli a do llop of cream, berry sauce, mus and sprinkle with a pinch of cicmamon powder.

Tip: for a healthier option, use yogurt instead of cream.

SEPTEMBER 2012 39

ENTERTAINMENT . ........................................................................................................................ .

ABI-IILASI-IA SENGUPTA brings us up-to-date on what's hot and happening in Bollywood

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It's Aamir Khan's Time! here's something special about Aamir Khan. And it's not just his versatility as a hugely successful actor, director and producer, it's possibly because he comes across as being an honest, sincere and down-to-earth individual. Add this to his repertoire of movies with a message and you have the man in his element. But Aamir is now becoming much more than this. He's now becoming the face of Brand India. The actor's hugely successful TV show Satyamev Jayate focusing on burning issues facing India and ways of tackling them, has landed him on the cover of the prestigious Time magazine as India's "first superstar-activist:' 'He's breaking the Bollywood mould by tackling India's social evils. Can one actor change a nation?' asks the blurb on the cover of the Asia edition of the September 10 issue of the US magazine, which features a close-up of the actor looking intensely i nto the camera.

Tracing the rise of Aamir Khan with the 1988 blockbuster hit Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Time's Bobby Ghosh noted over the past decade the 47-year-old actor has acted in, directed and produced a string of"movies that artfully straddle the demands of popular cinema and that desire for grace:• "Now, with his groundbreaking TV show Satyamev Jayate (Truth Alone Prevails), he has dispensed with commercial considerations to indulge his conscience,"writes Ghosh. 'With it, Khan has taken on the mantle of the country's first superstar-activist:' There's no doubt that the show brings some of India's worst social problems to the fore, but Aamir had the nerve to carry it through.

"It's a ballsy move, and potentially jeopardizes his status as the beloved idol of millions," writes Ghosh, since the subjects his show tackles "are precisely the sorts of harsh realities from which many of Khan's fans seek escape in his movies:• As Khan assesses the impact of his first series, Time suggests, "Whatever Khan chooses to do next in his quest for grace, there's a good chance it will lift India a little closer to what he- and fellow Indians - would wish their country and society to be:' Aamir Khan is the third Indian actor to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.

Aishwarya Rai made it to the cover in 2003 and Parveen Babi was featured in 1976.

And when the issue hits the stands, it's likely that Aamir's fan base would have swelled across Asia, and perhaps other populists will seek answers to the endemic problems in their own countries. Kudos Aamir, you've made us proud!

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40 SEPTEMBER 2012

Remembering AK Hangal He is remembered in many avatars across the fickle screen on Indian cinema. From loving father to concerned uncle to dogooder neighbour, AK Hangal played each role with aplomb. His was a face that automatically lent itself to these roles, with kindliness and a belief in humanity etched on his features since he faced the cameras at the comparatively young age of SO. Born in Sialkot now in Pakistan, Hangal spent most of his childhood in Peshawar.

He grew up to be a tailor but quenched his thirst for acting through theatre. Postpartition, he is said to have moved to Mumbai in 1949, and got his first breaks in Bollywood around 1966-67. Hangal's initial films included Teesri Kasam and Shagird.

Being 50, he had few options in terms of the variety in his roles but he gladly and responsibly played uncle, father and grandfather to heroes and heroines starting from the 1970s.

This talented character artist is best remembered for playing Rahim Chacha in Sholay, but some of his other memorable movies include Namak Haraam, Bawarchi, Chupa Rustam, Abhimaan, Shau keen, Guddi, Lagaan and Paheli.

Most of his films were with Rajesh Khanna, India's first'superstar'who passed away on July 18. They shared screen space in Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Phir Wohi Raat and Sautela Bhai.

But life wasn't easy for the actor as he grew older. After featuring in over 200 films in a career that easily spanned over four decades, Hangal was living a life of penury- a fact which came to light in 2011.

He had no income and his only son Vijay, who is 70-plus and with whom the veteran actor lived, had to give up his job due to a severe back ailment. The result was their inability to afford mounting medical bills. But even then Hang al didn't give up or seek financial aid. Such was his spirit - and pride. Hangal and Vijay were said to have had medical expenses of Rs. 15,000 per month, and had to choose between spending on food and medication. But once the news broke, the film fraternity immediately came to his aid.

Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan funded a chunk of his medical expenditure, with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra contributing too. His seniority and respectability in the industry also moved the Maharashtra government and the Cine and TV Artistes Association to lend a helping hand. The humble Hangal was overwhelmed.

At 96, he was already recharged enough to 'walk'the ramp in a wheelchair for designer Riyaz Ganji. At 97, he lent his voice-over for an animated film and did a TV show. Age was clearly never a bar for AK Hangal. He lived with an undying passion for his craft almost till his last breath, epitomising the phrase, once an actor, always an actor.

A man with a never-say-no attitude, Hangal maintained his enthusiasm to wear greasepaint when he entered the sets ofTV serial Madhubala in May 2012.

"I believe there is no age limit to work," Hangal said, on agreeing to the cameo role. He was ill by then, but he wasn't willing to give up.

He reached the sets, looked around, and just as he must have done in his prime, he called out: "Make up man!"

RIP, AK Hangal!

Confident Kareena doesn't go over the top Kareena Kapoor may be one of Bollywood's best known and loved belles, but she's still grounded when it comes to her work. The actress recently admitted that she was "confident, but not over-confident" of her soon to be released movie, Heroine.

"I am not over-confident, but quite confident and excited about the film;• said Kareen a recently of Heroine, which revolves around the ups and downs in a journey of an actress. However, she was quick to point out that although her role was the lead one, in real life she is nothing like the actress in the film.

"People think there are similarities, but I am not like that in real life. She is bold, manipulative, dark and edgy. I am not at all like that;' she said.

Her favourite looks are in the title song of the film, which is yet to release.

Answering general questions, Kareena

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came up with general, and sometimes predictable answers. Asked of whom she is jealous in l ife, she said, "I am jealous of people who get to go on holidays, even though I go on many on my own. I love travelling. I am also jealous of people who get to eat whatever they want."

But the actress still maintains that the film closest to her heart will be Refugee - her first film, despite acting in blockbusters like Ra.One, Bodyguard and 3 Idiots. "The first film is always special.

That innocence never comes back," she said.

But back to Heroine, the film also stars Arjun Rampa! and Randeep Hooda, and has been directed by Madhur Bhandarakar.

So it's up, up, up for Kareena. Another reel life portrayal, even if it isn't quite like her real life!

he takes care of my face and it was my duty to give him something in return. The best part of working with (the Bhojpuri crew) is that they finish shooting for 30 to 35 scenes in a day, so that I don't have any problem," added the megastar.

Produced by Sawant and directed

by Abhishek Chadd ha, Ganga Devi also features Dineshlal Yadav'Nirahua; Pakhi Hegde, Girish Sharma, Awadhesh Mishra and Vi nay Bihari. The music director is Madhukar Anand.

Well, it's easy t o tell who wears the pants in that family!

Diwali will see dhamakas

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What fazes Big B? Now he maybe India's megastar and reasonably comfortable in front of the camera, but Amitabh Bachchan finds it hard to perform when his wife Jaya is on the sets with him. The actor, who will be seen with Jaya in Bhojpuri film Ganga Devi, says there is lot of restriction when his wife is on the sets and he gets conscious in her presence.

"When your wife is on the sets with you, then your behaviour also changes, there are lots of restrictions, there is always a discipline on the sets or else when you go back home, the situation goes out of control;' a laughing Amitabh told reporters recently, during the music launch of the film.

"I hope the aud ience likes the film,"he added.

Amitabh played a key role in his makeup man-turnedproducer Deepak Sawant's fi lm, which is about reservation for women in elected bodies.

He acted earlier in Bhojpuri movie Gangotri, which did well at the box office.

Amitabh says Sawant is like a family member.

"I am glad to be part of this film. Deepak is like family and when he approached me for this film, I did it without any hesitation. I know him now for 30 to 35 years," stated the actor.

"He is my makeup man,

CAPTION CONT~ST

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Bollywood is gearing up for a Diwali with fireworks galore, of the moolah kind.Two major releases are slated to make the grade, Shah Rukh Khan's yet untitled film with Yash Chopra, and Ajay Devgnstarrer, Son Of Sardaar. The buzz is strong for both projects, which are most likely to mint at least Rs. 100 cro re, according to trade pundits, as no other films are releasing a week before and after them.

The Shah Rukhstarrer marks the return of veteran filmmaker Chopra to direction after a hiatus of eight years. He is currently shooting for the romantic drama in the scenic locales of the Kashmir Valley. His movie also stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma and is said to feature King Khan in his true-blue romantic avatar, making it one of the most awaited releases of the year.

Son OfSardaar, a romantic comedy directed by Ashwini Dhir, features Ajay and Sanjay Dutt in key roles, with Sonakshi Sinha and Juhi Chawla essaying the female leads. The movie's teasers have received a positive response.

A budget of at least Rs.60 crore each is said to have been utilised in the making of the two fi lms, according to the buzz around Bollywood.

However, punters opine that

Yash Ch opra's film may have the edge over the other and will benefit more.

But both the Ii lms have the potentiaI to survive, and should collect around Rs.100 crore each.

Yash Raj Films (YRF) is lately riding high on the success of blockbuster EkTha Tiger, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaifwhich has already amassed over Rs.170 crore and is on its way to creating more records.

To make sure the film got one of the best openings ever, YRF released Ek Tha Tiger in over 3,000 screens on Independence Day. Now, YRF is reportedly planning to go bigger with its mega Diwali release, pre-booked maximum screens for the new fi lm which also marks the coming together yet again of the award-winning duo of music maestro AR Rahman and poet and lyricist Guizar. Son ofSardaar will need to have strong content to match up against the YRF camp.

So the gloves are on, let's see who emerges the winner!

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SEPTEMBER 2012 41

Gripping espionage romp, with unique star chemistry here is something about the SalmanKatrina pairing that goes deeper than real-life affection. Even deeper than that crackling pitchperfect chemistry that we see among endearing starpairs, like Raj-Nargis, Rajesh -Mumtaz, Shah Rukh-Kajol... you name it!

Here in Ek Tha Tiger, we see a look of genuine protectiveness in Salman's eyes every time he looks at Katrina Kaif. That look suits the film's purposes fine.

Ek Tha Tiger is the love story oftwo spies from different sides of the border who during the course of their volatile sinister cloak-and-dagger work, fall head over heels in love.

As the lovers flee their enemies, they are pursued by do mulk ke dushman. Which is nine mulk less than where Shah Rukh's Don was wanted.

Salman's spy-hero codenamed Tiger cuts through the chase, brings the secret agent's role down to an amiably human level, drawing secret alcoves of childlike vulnerability and, yes, humour from his character's secret life, making the spy's double life look doubly redeemable.

Every time Salman looks at Katrina his eyes melt. Kabir Khan taps the actor's potential to fill up the screen to great advantage. Even while flexing his biceps through four continents in some of the best staged action sequences in some never-seen rugged exotic spots of the earth (full marks to action director Conrad Palamisano) Salman gets lots of very quiet contemplative moments with his beautiful co- star.

For once the superstar looks neither bored nor distracted.

And he isn't impatient to move on.

Ruminative reflective rich in self-mocking resonances, Salman's spy in Ek Tha Tiger is a remarkably restrained and expressive character. He

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42 SEPTEMBER (1) 2012

handles both the action and the romantic sequences with seamless empathy.

Katrina gets better with every film. As a woman who had a genuinely happy childhood that has been snatched away by the nature of her profession, her eyes convey infinite pain. She conveys pain and love with as much elan as she kicks ass when the need arises. Yup, this lady rocks.

Kabir Khan whose earlier Katrina starrer New York defined Islamic isolation during times of terrorism with gripping gusto, this time, decides to have fun with the espionage genre without trivialising it. The blend of action and romance is achieved with a fluency that we've seldom seen in the action-romance genre.

The storytelling is laced with loads of humour.

Aseem Mishra's camera-work punctuates the pungent drama of lovers on the run, capturing the bustle and the festivity of Ireland, Cuba and Istanbul w ith much warmth and affection and a detached fascination that is the opposite of touristic curiosity.

Kabir Khan has an eye for everyday details. Though his frames are arranged to convey aesthetics, the beauty of the moments shared by lovers is never defined by their surroundings.

It's a very commonplace attraction seen in umpteen Hindi films of every hue and variety. What makes director Kabir Khan's telling of this routine love story come alive, is the presentation and

packaging, both unique but never over-punctuated.

Epic in design, the film has a surprisingly low number of main characters.

Kabir works on building the love story through the intelligently-written interaction between the two protagonists rather than their exotic environment or the incidental characters. Still, Girish Karnad as Tiger's boss and Ranvir Shorey as Sal man's buddy-in-arms are first-rate, never letting the script down.

It's not easy to make an intelligent film on intelligence without tripping over the barbed wires of politics and espionage jargon. Kabir Khan strips the love stories to its bare necessities without diminishing the density of the drama.

Ek Tha Tiger Is more a

passionate love story than an actioner. Brilliantly scripted and deftly directed, it's Salman Khan's best film in ages. As for his chemistry with Katrina Kaif, it is the stuff legendary love stories are made of.

Very few films make you sit at the edge of your seat when the hero fights and then makes you recline in sighing submission when he romances his sweetheart, in equal measures.

Ek Tha Tiger gets it right.

Subhash K. Jha

..................... .• ..• : !=IU,lf: Ek Tha Tiger • CAST: Salman Khan, .• Katrina Kaif • DIRECTOR: Kabir Khan . .•• .••

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AGONYAUNT

AskAuntyji Dear Auntyji We have come a long way as a nation. But lately, Aunty, in my opinion, it seems that we are losing our way. I know everyone has an opinion about this, and what I wanted to know your feelings on the latest tamasha this new film calledJism 2. Do you think that we should be more mindful of how our children are growing up, and what they are seeing on TV and cinema? Auntyji, do you think we are aping the west blindly and one day, we will have no moan maryada left? What are your thoughts on all this, and what do you think of that girl Sunny, and also, that Sherlyn who posed for Playboy and calls it an achievement? Yehzaleel ladkiyan hamari izzat badnam kar rahi hain. They are bringing shame upon us. Our mooh is kala on the international stage.

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Auntyji says Yes, since Independence, we have come far as a nation. We have a lot to be proud of, at the same time we should be aware of how far we must go in order to reach enlightenment. But this Sherlyn and Sunny saga perplexes me somewhat. I am undecided on the subject of what constitutes morality, because there are multiple philosophical arguments to be had about this. Jism 2 is being produced in the land which gave us the Kama sutra and the erotic art at Khajuraho. We as a people were much more relaxed during various stages of our being. But I suppose we should talk about where we are now. On a personal level, I do feel that some of those music videos are a little more explicit than they need to be- and if I had young children, I would be concerned about the message that these videos are sending.

On the subject of Jism 2, well, I have not seen the movie and cannot comment on the artistic merit of it, but I do feel compelled to make general observations about the philosophy behind the tamasha that it has generated. But first, let's just talk about the cultural impacts of Bollywood films in a society where morality and decency are paramount. In such societies, a lot of things then disappear beneath the surface of respectability. So, our appearances are one of respect, maan, maryada, but darwaze ke peeche, we show our true colours.

Meanwhile, in other societies where people are more open and are comfortable with being themselves (no matter how objectionable some of their behaviours are - as long as it is not illegal) we tend to tolerate people's peccadilloes. I suppose what I am trying to say is that any society that claims that respectability is much more important than true expression, has as its core a fundamental hypocrisy. There are countless examples across the world where such duplicity exists - the Catholic church and its history of abuse is a clear example.

So back to Bharat mata. Let's look at the society we live in. We have been sexually repressed in the public arena for a while. Holding hands in public and any public displays of affection were frowned upon. And now, we are allowing ourselves the option to change this. Using Australia as an example, no one has issues with public displays of affection, but no one does it either. You rarely see people running around and engaging in indecent behaviour, unless you count those girls on a Friday night carrying on - but that's another story altogether. Give these same girls another 5 years and they will be models of decorum.The point I am making is that Indian society seems to be becoming more open-minded, but in an experimental way. We are using cinema and art to push forward an agenda - and this cannot be a bad thing. Ok, with such progressive movements, there are bound to be problems, but I would like to think that one of these days, a nice balance will be met and that videos and films with gratuitous sexual imagery will be seen as rather dull and lacking artistic merit. And as for Sherlyn and Sunny?

Wei I, the more important question is not what these girls choose to do with their lives, but what we do with ours. We can choose to watch the images or the film. We can choose to see the message they a re endorsing rather than the veneer behind which the message is cloaked - that openness in and acceptance of matters of sexuality are part of a tolerant and progressive society. That's all I have to say on the subject. Except for this one thing. Sherlyn and Sunny are very naughty girls. They must be punished severely except Sunny would probably enjoy that. I shall have quiet words with them when I see them for Diwali.

44 SEPTEMBER 2012

Dear Auntyji It was my birthday on the 8th of August and I \ turned 45. AuntyJi, I wonder where most of my life went It just flashed by in a hurry and did not give me time to catch my breath. While I have a fantastic Job and education, a very big and beautiful house, multiple investment properties CfLSLS and a very loving family, I sometimes wonder if I could have achieved more. And then, I also wonder what the second half of my life will bring. I have no intentions to buy a flashy red car and drive off with a blonde chikni chameli, but sometimes I wonder if this option is still available to me. And then I ponder and ponder the life I could live with my blondie and how much masti I would have.

Of course, my teenage bachche will be aghast to know I am thinking such lurid thoughts, but I am a mard. I need to prove my mardangi every now and again. Can you give me some hints please?

Auntyji says Oh you%$"&* ! Is budhaape mein aap masti karna chahete ho, and that too, with a b londe dayan? I am simply channelling your mother-in-law, because her words should ring in your ears as you ponder the virtues of the apsara who would be your blonde chameli. Now, 45 is still very young. This is evident by your immaturity. If you had any aka/, any wisdom, you would have realised that your life has been immeasurably blessed. You have more than most log would achieve in teen generations in some countries. So instead of focusing on your Leo self, and yes, it is always about you, maybe you should be taking the waqtto think how you can give back to a society and community that has given you so much. Perhaps you could be looking at ways how you can help other people in need, instead of working out what else you can claim in life. And while I am here, I may as well give a nadaan like you some sa/aah, because it's evident that tumko to bilku/ bhi aka/ nahi hai.

The purpose of life is to live to your potential, and give of yourself to others. This does not mean you give yourself to a blonde chammak cha/lo, but it means using what you have - whether it's resources or your time - to help those who have less than you. And when you can make a difference to someone else's life, and when you can make someone else's life much better, only then can you feel that you have achieved your goals. This is what your mardangi should be about, and definitely not about how many ways you can get chikni chameli to tell you that you are the best.

Do you have a question for Auntyji?

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

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n TA K

Q TPREDICTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 20,2

By NANCY JADE ALTHEA www.nancysood.com

ARI ES March 21 - April 19 This month you may want time out to clear your head and decide what you want to do nexl The cards are indicating a great time for space and thinking. You are determined to get projects and plans underway and will not allow anything lo gel in your way. Do not allow others to influence your decisions. There is going to be some interesting developments lhis month with family members.

Stress and tension will ease and you will feel better.

TAURUS April 20 - tv1ay 20 This month sees you being very outspoken and standing up for what you believe in. There are decisions you need to lake with regard lo career and personal life. You have been stuck in a certain relationship for some time now and cannot seem to make a move on or out. Make up your mind this month and make changes. Take time out for a health check up too. You may hear from an old friend who may need your help.

GEMINI tv1ay 21 - Ju ne 20 This month sees you trying lo make moves and changes, but something holds you back al the last point. There are family members who seem to be putting pressure on you and you are not able to discuss anything with them. Stress and tension is affecting your health. so lake it easy; make sure you relax and take time out for yourself. Your car may give you problems so make sure that you check out the oil brakes and water.

CANCER June 21 - July 20 This month the cards are indicating a time for making that commitment. You are dancing around an idea of being with that one person. Your heart is being guided by your head. There is some news from an overseas contact that will send your whole system into confusion. You may be looking at the possibility of working away from home. An older member of your family may be feeling a little under the weather. Nothing serious is indicated here.

LEO July 23 - A ug 22 This month sees you being a very popular person, with people flocking towards you from all over. Your charm and sense of humour will keep your social calendar packed out. You may be thinking of buying a new car. or treating yourself to a new wardrobe. Make sure you do not over do things this month and overspend. Control your urges as you will need to keep an eye on your finances. Look at your diet this month and start exercising.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 This month the cards indicate that you will want to travel and stay carefree and relaxed. You are looking into the possibility of a new concept getting off the ground. Efforts from the past will pay off and your work will start from mid next month. There are also friends around you who may be a bit argumentative. Steer clear and keep calm. You may be feeling a little restless and not able to sleep loo well. Try deep breathing.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 This month you may have some o utstanding dues to pay off.

Make sure you pay bills on time: do not neglect your bills and look into finances carefully. There will be some news of a wedding, which may leave you feeling upset lo be losing a good ~ ~ ~-int' friend, who may decide to leave his hometown. You will still keep in touch. Your focus will be on making chances in your career and personal life. Try getting away for a break.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21 This month you will be at your best ever, with work, love and finances ticking over as you desire. You have worked very hard this year, and you are constantly trying to make improvements in your life. As the year is coming to a close, you will be looking al new ideas for work and at doing something for yourself.

There is an indication of you looking for a new place lo live.

Look for a place near water and greenery.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 This month will be a time when you need lo keep a control over your tongue and not upset anyone with your truths. Some people will take offence, even though what you are saying is not wrong. There are also plans lo buy a pet. but choose carefully.

There will be concern over a younger member of your family.

Tests need to be done. There will be some stress over their condition but things will improve so do not worry.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19 This month you are oozing sexual power and your appetite will be just as large. There will be many encounters with people of the opposite sex, who may catch your eye. You will also be thinking about making a commitment or propose lo a significant other.

Decisions will force you to make some drastic changes in your love life. Work will be another area where you will focus much ene rgy. Take things easy and make some intelligent choices.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - !=eb 18 This month sees you being the leader of the pack. At work you seem to be getting on well with your co workers and there is an indication of more money around you. End-of-year travel plans will be made. Yet loved ones seem to be putting pressure on you lo d rop a certain habit. You know what that is and you do need lo exert control there. Life will be a little stressful but relax your mind and spirit.

PISCES !=eb 19 - March 20 This month sees a change in your appearance and outlook. You have been wanting to change your hair for a while now. Time to go for it and look al buying some new clothes. You have been neglecting yourself a bit. Time lo take some bold steps into the future and allow yourself to be that confident, bold person you see yourself as. Do not hold back. A colleague or a significant other could help you in making that change.

BACKCHAT

en rues!

Being a creative mind in the kitchen with the motivation to cook up a feast is tough, specially when it comes to choosing the right recipe

love to cook. DLfferent cuisines, traditional

I

dish_e~, mod~rn dis~es, traditional dishes wi th a modern twist. Entrees, mains, des seres . ...even cocktails!

Cooking, i n particular baking, is fo r me not only a release when I'm stressed, but also an excellent procrastinarjo n tool when what I really should be doing is proofreading a paper chat ,vas due yesterday o r clearung the bathroom. I own a shelf full of cookbooks which are su:acegically positioned close to the kitchen for converuence. From your basic $5 pasta bible bought at the discount cable in a shoppin g cen tre to spectacular hardbacks written by celebriLy chefs with photography that is al.t11osc as delicious as the recipes themselves. From l\fadhut Jaffery to Masterchef, it's all there o n that shelf, in pristine condition and ,vaiting to be used.

One thing that su·ikes me about these recipes is the names of the di5hes: Spiced Lamb Rack 1Pith

Herbed Cot1sco11.r and Po111egra11ate Dressing; S~, cmd Sake Scallops 1vith F11ji Apple and Toro Chips; Le111011 and Garlic Chick.en with Gree11 13ea11s. My question is, why do the authors feel it's necessary co include all the main ingredients in the title? I mean , we don't do this in Indian cooking! I have never, ever gone to my pa.rents' place and bee n greeted by my

mum saying, ''Hello! I have made rasam with te11de1· to111o!oes, lmtiLr and cotirmde,!' Nor have 1 made korma and greeted my husband with, "Today I have made Mixed vegetable amy in a ground cashe)J) base with spices and chapottis". I guess if us Indians tried to incorporate all the iJ1gredients that go into our inu·icate dishes in me title of our recipes, our cookbooks would take up more tl1an just the shelf by the kitchen! But I digress ...... ..

Somewhere in a parallel uruverse, iliere is a me who has the tim e to attack chis collection of recipes witl1 vigour. That highly organised, efficien t me has a 9-5 job that allows her to try a new elaborate recipe every night, master the processes that accompany the more complex recipes, and maybe even cook a fabu lous three-course m eal for her husband twice a week. Sadly, like many other entlrnsiastic but time-poor home cooks who are happy enough to pm together a ,vholesome albeit w1advencurous meal every night, that me is a p ipedream . So I satisfy myself witl1 the occasional b urst of experimen tation on an infrequent and precious free evening. 1 generall y start by Aipping through at lease 4 of my favomite cookbooks as well as back issues of food magazines. I look tl1rough each book from cover to cover, drooling over the pictures and imagining the flavours in my mind. I linger on my personal favourite, the desserts section s, knowing full well that I have no intention of cooking dessert that day. I run through each recipe in

''

I guess if us Indians tried to incorporate all the ingredients that go into our intricate dishes in the title of our recipes, our cookbooks would take up more than just the shelf by the kitchen!

my mind , rejecting many for being coo difficult, timeconsuming or requiri ng ingredien ts that are hard co find.

1 do a thorough stock-take of the pantry, and inevitably by then I am quite peckish and hence get distracted by the things I come across. Even tually I make a short List of 3-4 recipes chat are not o nly do-able but satisfy whatever food craving I happen tO have at the

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time, as well being sure to cleLight my husband. Usually by this rime, tl1e sun has set, as if even it can no longer bear to watch me procrastinate.

On these n ights, the hubby comes home, fishes me out from the piles of cookboo ks on the couch, and stifling his laughter asks, "Takeaway?"

And I, sheep ish b m always graceful, s ay, "Okay!"

Eventually I make a short list of 3-4 recipes that are not only do-able but satisfy whatever food craving I happen to have at the time, as well being sure to delight my husband.

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