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EDITORIAL INDIAN LINK

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· PUBLISMER

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ne of the important chaJlenges facing a number of Indian Australian couples is how to plan for the growth of their family. \'{fhile reunions w:itb parents and siblings are often dependent on the current rules of the Department of Immigration, it is the challenge of having their own children chat becomes a pare of personal and social group discussions for young couples of a certain age group. ln recent years, the m1mber of 457 visa holders and Indian students has increased substantially. Over a period of time, many decide to apply for Australian permanent residency and look forward co their future down under. They also get married, and the young couple start their new life together. After a short struggle of fincling the right job, both of chem settle into a stable career and begin to en joy an independent lifestyle. \Xl itb no family pressures and social e,rpectations, the family unit consisting of two becomes more adoptive of the local l.ifestyle. Late night get-cogethers with friends, the freedom to trn\7 el,

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professional ambitions, enjoying rwo incomes to meet the material aspirations of new migrants - all these factors seem to cement their status in their new home.

But the biological clock starts ticking. While a logical next step in the couple's life, the decision to stare a family is approached with a fair degree of trepidation as there is limited, if any, family support available. Whereas the earlier freedom from family responsibili.ty was a positive in their minds, now the very lack of it weighs heavil)' on the young couple. While tl1e pregnancy is pbnned and commenced, parents are imported from India to assist Most international parents willingly arrive a few weeks before the birtl1 ro help with the nursing of their international grandchild. It is a trying, yet happy time as the young couple n ow become a family and settle inro their new routine.

After a while, the parents reuirn to India and the husband remrns tO work.

The pressure on che family budget increases as a double income becomes a single. As the pressure on the fan1ily unit becomes apparent, so d oes the chaJlenge of ha,,ing tl1e second child.

India averages about 2.6 children per family. In Australia on the other hand, families witl1out children are projected as the fastest growing family type. _Mjgrant families, while believing in strong family

units, find themselves in a quandary.

The dilemma is whether to adapt to the Australian and perso nal lifestyle requirements and srop at one chi.Id, or look at extending the family unit from two ro three or four. While t bis is a very personal issue and should be respected with personal health as another consideration, often the chal.lenges of bringing up a large family do get managed with time.Just as new experiences of the migrant are perceived as road bumps on the journey, so are the cbaJlenges faced in the earlier years of bringin g up a young family. There are wond erful options available such as childcare, mothers groups, nexible maternity arrangements through work, where some of these chal.lenges can be resolved.

Over a longer term, the children will have each other co grow up with and as the parents ge t older in tl1eir new home, the siblings will have each ocher as family and of course, in due course as extended family. We Indian Australians are very family oriented and often draw our screngtl1s from our family nnics.

Of course for the reaJly brave, one can foLiow tl1e advice of the former Australian creasnrer Peter Costello and have three children - one for tl1e mother, one for the father and one for tl1e country! The choice is rocaJly yours.

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OCTOBER 2012 5

SPECIALREPORT

Ambitious talkfest opens up virgin terrain Inaugural writers' conference seeks dialogue to share the wealth ofIndian and Australian regional literary culture

ustra!ia's rollercoaster relationship with India is all set to ride a new high after a successful writers' forum, the first of its kind, opened fresh new pathways between the two nations, tapping into each other's intellectual and culmral identities and thereby forgiJ1g what could be long lasting relationships in hitherto unexplored terrains.

Leapfrogging over linguistic and political barriers, rbe high pro61e Australia India Literatures International Forum (AILIF) organised by University of Western Sydney's (UWS) \Xlriting Society and Research Cenu·e (WSRC) brought mgether a selection of creative talems from both countries for a meeting of minds. Two leading publishers (R Sivapriya of Penguin India and Mita Kapur of Siyahi) and ten acclaimed writers representing many re6>ional dialects flew down from the subcontinent for the largest Literary exchange of its kind experienced so far in Australia.

The Indian delegation was led by veteran theatre personality and playwright Girish Karnad, and included Dalit writers Gogu Shyamala and Sharan Kumar Limbale; Mamang Dai and Ki.npham Singh ongkynrih, both writers fr()m the north ease; social historian and women smdies researcher CS Lakshmi; Urdu storyte!Jer Mahmood Faroogui; Hindi novelise Uday Prakash; Malayali writer NS M.adhavan; and Gujarati poet Prabhodh Parikh.

While Indian writing in English has a huge market worldwide commanding an impressive global readership, tl1e literary offerings in myriad regional Indian languages remains virgin territory. Likewise, the rich vibrancy of Australian indigenous writing is a niche area with imrneme potential. As well, multicultural writers o f modem Australia have countless tales to cell, imbibing many literary and culmral rraditions chat dissolve geographic boundaries. The forum sought to Link these diverse traditions of scoryrelling through one co,nmon platforrn.

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6 OCTOBER 2012

UWS Vice Chancellor Janice Reid with Indian writers at the Australia India Literatures International Forum (AILIF)

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"The forum will contribute significantly to our multicultural fabric and we hope to build on the research of each other's cultural milieu". UWS Vice Chancellor Janice Reid

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Dr. Mridula Nath Chakraborty

Karnadwith guests at the dinner reception "The Australia India Literamres International Forum (AILIF) hopes to develop and strengthen Australian ties witl1 one of the fastest growing markets for literature," said event facilitator and post-doccoral fellow ar WSRC, Dr Mridula Nath Chakraborty. '1c will have me twin effect of promoting inter-lingual ideas and enable translations of high gualicy between these Literamres, thereby helping Australia and India understand each otl1er's societies and foster closer cultural relationships".

She added, "Indian publishing is at a high point at the moment, and major global publishing houses are rap idly moving inco the subcontinent to cash in on a highl)' Literate English-proficient dientele. Australia is in a good position to capitalise on chis, as our hidden gems of Australian Aboriginal, Indigenous and multiculcnral wriru1g, derived from traditions ocher rban tl1e European, are especially unknown in the subcontinent''. ''This forum brings togetl1er vernacular writers from India with Australian multiculn1ral

writers, to generate interest in their respective traditions and enable closer interaction and collaboration between mem, in rbe process, spearheading research and commercial ventures," Dr Cbakraborty stated.

While Australian literature has a significant presence in the English departments of Indian universities, it bas not yet penetrated the sizeable regional language markets, Dr Chakraborty lamented.

"It will therefore be directly beneficial for Australian writers to interact wirb weir Indian counterparts to explore possibilities of reciprocal publication in translation, and it will be egually fruitful for vernacular Indian writers to expand on Australian vistas," she noted.

Funded by the Australia India Council (AlC) in association wi th the Lirerarure Board of the Australia Council for the Arcs (ACA), the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) and Australia India Instin1te (All), tl1e forum was held on September 3-6 at me Scare Library of NSW Addressing the inaugural session held at the Female Orphan Building of the picn1res9ue UWS campus, Vice Chancellor Janice Reid said, "Like India, Australia is an ancient country. We look forward to screngrneniog ties between tl1ese rwo great nations.

An event of mis scale has not been undertaken before. The forum will contribute significantly to our multicultural fabric and we hope to build on the research of each other's culttu·al milieu."

Girish Kamad was given me onerous cask of speaking on

behalf of tl1e lndiru1 writing communicy, "To represent a!J of India's languages and d ial ects is to represent so many complex cultures, an almost impossible task," he stated witl1 revealing cru1doUL " Each language is a ferocious nation proud of its w1ique heritage. Bloody conflicts have resulted from the demands of linguistic recognition.

Language divides us, bm it also mutes us. And India has survived and flourished because of its respect for diversiry''.

The VC later hosred a reception for the visiting \Vriters.

Exploring me diverse traditions of contemporary writing in Inclia and Australia over tl1e course of the fom days, the bold and ambitious calkfesc at Metcalfe Auditorium examined how "linguistic diversity, vernacular cosmopolitanism and global regimes of translatio n shape and effect literature".

Open to public, me thoughtfully chosen panel sessions included speakers from botl1 nations followed by interactive discussions. Old traditions and new culmres, poetic imagination, tl1e salience of place, politics of location, enduring role of myths, great human migration, Girmitiya cultures of Pacific Ocean, linguistic allegiances and tl1e hybrid writer, purpose of translation and role of publishers were some of me issues discussed.

The State Library bookstore also made available me works of local and v isiting writers.

The forum also included special presentations on Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore as well as re\ ival of ancient Dastangoi tradition.

7

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SPECIALREPORT

The making and mastering of m

Indian and Australian writers discuss the importance ofmyth in literature and its importance in shaping mindsets "-=r influence on Indian meatre for

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any of us are familiar with Girish Karnad, the accomplished actor and film director. ln a career spanning 40 decades, Karnad has acted in innumerable films across languages such as Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalan1 and Telugu.

But it is as a playwright thac Karnad is most acclaimed. He has writcen fourteen plays in Kannada, his adopced language, including Yqyati, Tughlaq, Naga!llm1da/a, Hqyt1vad,ma, Ag11i Nfott11 Nlcili! and Tt1leda11da. They have won him some of India's cop awards and honours including the Padma Bhushan and che Padma Shri, d1e Jnanpid1 for Kannada in 1998, amongst several od1ers.

This multi-faceted wricer was in Sydney recently m participace in me Australia India Llteramres International Forum (AILIF). He was part of a panel of four writers discussing 'Jv[yth and the 117,ite,·' on Sepcember 5 at tl1e State Library of SW. Girish Karnad pioneered the use of rnyd1 and folk.Jore in Indian ilieatre, and many of his plays make extensi\'e use of myths m highlight social ii.ls. A stridem critic of the Hindurva movement and the rise of religious fundamentalism in India, Karnad's speed1 focused on d1e m.isuse of myths for political purposes by these agencies.

The audience hung onto his every word, while he briefly outlined the development of religion and myth in India from die Vedic ages to the Bhakti movement. ''}.,fyth was d1e background to an enormous tragedy mat coo k place in 1992," he said, referring to me demolition of Babri Masjicl. Describing the events leading up to this tragic episode, Karnad elaborated saying, "This is a perfecc example of how a myducal subject is caken, policicized and turned imo a policical event ... how Rama a mythical figure was transformed into a political figure."

Karnad spoke of me changes tlus event had wrought, bow it was now acceptable for respectable journalists and writers to engage

INDIAN LINK

M alcolm Knox

Nicholas Jose

Paul Sharrad a nd Subhash Jaireth in anci-Muslim writing in the mainstream media. Also, people now felt mey had a tight to break me law in order to uphold their ow□ personal beliefs and myths.

On a lighter noce che mulci-

faceted wricer scaced, "Since I have to talk about myself, I wiU do so for two minuces", whid1 brought a bout of laughcer from the audience. He talked of Bernard Shaw being an overwhelming

Indian myths and used mem to express meir anguish and passion.

"That is how l wrote my play Ytl),ali," said Karnad.

The eminent writer said he chose to focus on di.is issue rather d1an llis own writing, as over me years, die use of myilis has reduced to insignificance in Indian writing and we are inscead starting to witness its increasing use in policies.

Nexc on the podium was Subash Jaired1, an lndian writer based in Canberra. The aumor of mree books of poetry and a work of fiction, Jaireth joked about how he was a "writer of very minor significance", compared co Karnad who has himself been turned into a mythical figure.

He spoke about d1e importance of myilis and dieir reality. "The epics sucb as Ran1ayana and Mal1abbarata are sore o f older versions of \Xfikipedia. They are stories built upon scories upon stories. So there are always gaps and cleaves wluch provide d1e wricer an entry point, where d1ey can enter and cull out pearls," he noted.

The author talked abom his ow□ experiences with me world of myths, reading from his firsc book of poetry about Yashodhara, d1e wife of Buddha and lus recent book To Silence, a collection o f diree fictional autobiographies.

The tl1ird wricer of d1e day MalcoLn Knox is an award wiuning Australian writer and journalist. A former licerary edicor of the Syd111y Morning Herald, he has won se\7 eral awards including the Ned Kelly Award for Crime Writing, the Colin Roderick Award and the Walkley Award for journalism. His works of ficcion include Jamaica, A P1i11ate A1.a11 and S11m111erland. His mosc recent work called The Life is about a surfing legend cal.led DK, past lus prin1e, who is now overweight and Living wich bis mother.

The sharp contrast between d1e focus of the first two speakers aod che third was almost conlicaJ. While che Indian wricers focused on d1e abundance of legends in lndian culture, their use and misuse, Knox looked at the lack of myilis in Australian culnu:e.

"Australians have co get their

myms where they can find them they have to be magpies".

A ccording co him, d1e surfing wo.rld offers an opportunity for myth creacion. Surfers are always searching for that elusive perfeccion referred to as the 'mythical left' and they create "scory upon story" abouc smfing champions, elevating mem to d1e status of m ythical figures. Knox talked about d1e humorous side of surfer terminology, peppered widi terms lil<e 'epic', 'legend', 'legendary', 'the stuff of legend', all referring m that greac surfing experience.

Knox cook the example of a real-Ii fe surfer Micl1ael Peterson, on whom his main character DK is based, who was transformed into a figure of legend. TI1e wealth of stories about me surfer was compiled into a biography; but his biographer Sean Doherty had to admit mat although many of them were embroidered, d1ey were too good co leave om of his biography.

This is a perfect example o f how communities create their m yths tl1rough scorytelling.

The last speaker l icholas Jose is aumor of seven novels including lus most receor, Tbc Red Thread, and two colleccioos of short stor-ies. He is Professor o f English and Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide. Jose spoke abom many aspects of myth, including the differences in myms across different cultures and the experience of communicating across die differences.

"The element of myth comes from one culnu:e co anomer, a powerful borrowing that must be haudled wim care. We need to experience it from d1e inside noc as somed1ing recorded by an outsider ... bm as something made real by objects in d1e story, someduog lived and living. Stot:ies and images d1at speak across this space have a mysterious capacity to change and shift even as they retain meir core energy," be stated.

The questions raised by d1e audience ranged from the unifying namre of myths to me e:xistence of countries wid1out myd1s. The panellists each broughc in their own perspectives, reflecti,,e of the vase cultural differences between countries. Bur d1e discussion also highlighted the wlifying role of d1e writer across culnu:es and brought into focus tbe importance of myd1s in writing.

OCTOBER 2012 7

SPECIALREPORT

Excuse me, your border is perforated In the vast, enigmatic world of vernacular literature lies the opportunity to tell our stories and listen to those of others "

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12 Indian writers. 24 Australian \\•Titers.

Inmunerable stories. Th.is was the Australia India Literatures International Forum (AILIF), held at our magnificent house of books, the Scace Library of r ew South Wales from September 4 to 6, 2012. The legendary writer and actor Girish Ka.mad led a stellar contingent of writers from India who shared the space with many Australian writers including award winning Indigenous writers Alexis Wright and Ali Cobby E ckermann.

A love affair and the birth of AILIF Before we continue with the story of AILIF, we muse first tel1 the story of how AILlF was born.

Tc is in part, the story o f a Dell1i girl, Dr Mridula Nath Chakraborty from the Writing and Society Researcl1 Centre (WSRC) at the University of Western Sydney (U\X7S), the passion and brains behind AILIF. The story bears celling because it reaffirms the value of multilingualism and the value of a ground-b reaking event such as 1ULIF. It began when Dr C hakraborty or Mridula as she is familiarly called, became fascinated by the work of the celebrated Hindi writer, Munshi Premchand when smdying in an English medium school in Ddhi. Upon the insistence of her mother, she d1en learnt co read and write in her mother tongue, Bengali. The story continued when Mridufa began working with Katha, the acclaimed publishing house chat specializes i.o translations, and she feU deeply in love with Indian literature in translation, finding a " renewed sense of d1e famastically expressive intricacies and idio m s of the vernacular tongues, the regional languages o f India".

Howe ver, it is upon her arrival in Australia that the plot chickens.

Mridula's eloquent words tell us of a journey of revelation, one chat many of us have undertaken as lndia.n immigrants co Ausu-alia, finding d1at AltStralia is truly

8 OCTOBER 2012

multilingual, wid1 almost 400 languages spoken here by people of 270 ancestries. With the backing of the WSRC at UWS, and its very supportive director Prof Anthony Uhlmann, she was spurred onto action.

"I came co chis country four years ago wid1 the usual stereotype of it being a monolingual nation.

Bur by simply taking a mun, I

would encounter d1e sounds and languages from all corners of che world in all meir energy and urgency," she revealed. '1 was increasingly aware of the many indigenous languages that resound in d1is continent. Even as I enjoy the spectacular style and success of lndia.n writing i.n English, I knew drnt 1 wanted co showcase vernacular L1dian literamre in all its richness.

Most of d1e world knows and celebrates Indian writing in English, but does nor really have any sense of the breadd1 and depth of its 22 official regional languages and 300 dialects, or the literatures d1at Aourish in d1em.

This is what I wanted to bring to Australia. AILIF is a coming together o f these sou.ndscapes, these multifarious tongues of the world, from my home country to this one. The scale was large to begin wid1; but it was astonishing to discover d1e many Australian

voices 1 found in the process of bri.oging my rwo worlds cogether.

I knew mac I would have to pick and choose between d1e Indian languages, but doing d1e same with Australian literauu·e was even more cliJficult, given d1e range of established and equally talented emerging voices I kept finding".

Potent perforations NS Madhavan, the muchadmired Malayalam writer, in bis presentation at AILIF, memorably spoke of d1e Malayalam language as being perforated. The image of a perforated langu age, bringing co mind d1e borders of the o ld dot matrix printer paper or a fishing net, is so potent d1ar it immediately lays bare me primacy and inevitability of perforation in human existence, as is in the nam.ral "vorld around us. It reminds us chat like Malayalam, our lives, stories, and indeed all our languages are perforated, fuU of necessary and welcoming holes, where currems of influence from the East, West, North, and Soud1, from above, from below,

from all a.round, may blow in and blow out, endlessly regen erating and reshap ing the very holes d1emselves.

For rnose of us involved wirn creating new stories of Ausu-alia's m ulticulnual reality, d1e idea of perforations also reminds us o f d1e primacy of diversi ty, and we applaud d1e role p layed by AILlF in celebrating d1is.

"AfLIF is a salutary rem inder d1at like genetic diversity, we need linguistic diversity, o r else the human tongue will w id1er away and perish lil,e a single strand of DNA," said Mridula . ''At a cime when Asia is becoming increasingly important to Australia, and lndian migration is on di e rise here, it is important co remember that l.ndia exists in m yriad tongues, religions, culmres and modalities. Indian writing in English usually offers a metropolitan view of me contrasts and contradictions of d1e vase subcontinent. Vern acular literature offers a valuable way of understanding these nuanced multiplicities of India and opens

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die window to a textured, layered world".

She went on, "Outside of crjcket, Auscralia occupies a ljmited space in die Inruan imagination. As bilateral relations between the two nations increase in coming decades, it will be critical co Lmderstand what makes d1is island nation tick. What better way to enter this world than through its aboriginal, indigeno us and multicultural Eteratures, which tell uruque stories about the nation to itself and die world?"

The other d,j11g about perforations is that diey cru1 erase boundacies and facilitate exchange.

Mamang Dru from Arunachal Pradesh reminded us about die numinous exchange between d1e human and the non-human, of talking co the land and listening as d1e land talks back. Bern Le Hum, die Inclian-English-Australian wciter of chree acclrumed novels, reminded LIS of those pcimal perforatio ns between fact ru1d fiction itself.

"The nunure yo u write about a p lace it becomes fictional," she said.

Prabodh Parikh's enchanting presen tation on die art of Tagore poin ted to exchanges widiin die self, to the overflow of self while erasing the self. Mahmood Farooqui's enthralling lecturedemonstration of Dastangoi, an ancient form of epic srorytelling in Urdu, pointed, aniong otlier things, co perforations of formal conve ntio ns to revive ru1d rei nvent failing performative forms. Sharon Rundle ru1d Meenakshi Bharat have been creatively perforating literary borders between India and Australia widi di cir muchcommended emced anthologies o f shore srories by Inman md Australian wri cers, A lim .r;hores (2012) and Fear Facto,·: Terror lucognito (2010).

Dhoti borders and other challenges AILIF was also a space where die dirt could be gadiered from under the carpet and brought once more, into me light. CS Lakshmi (Ambai) recounted the times when she was used to being patroruzed and msmissecl by male wri ters \vho would complement her on her looks or her cloches, rather than on her writing. So she decided ro give diem a taste of dieir own medkine, saying, "The border of your dhoti is really beautiful! Where did you buy it? I would also like to buy one for my husband."

The appreciarive laughter from die aumence md not mean that women writer s scorn genuine and well-phrased compliments; instead iliac such compliments must not come at die expense of recognizing and valuing die acnial writing itself. \'<Then Gogu Sbyamala spoke very movingly and with fierce

INDIAN LINK

intelligence about the struggles, triwnphs, everyday joys and sorrows of d1e Da]jr people of Telangana, there were few dry eyes in the auruence. She spoke of language being highly politicized , and of how she writes in ru1 indigenous, ' authentic' Telegu that is vastly different from die Sanskritised Telegu spoken by d1e powers that be. Our languages are perforated differently by the different politics of die places i11 which they are spoken. So while in Lima, Sanskrit may be the language of oppression and erasure for som e; in Australia, it is a language diat maybe used to resist o ppressio n and erasure, deliberately marking diversity and clainllng Jegirimacy wid1ii1 a multicultural society, as the Limaa Austrajjan poet MjcJ1eUe Cahill told us through her precise and illuminating poetry. KynpbruTI Sing Nongkynrih from Jl.ilegbalaya, in enlighterung and en tercruning the audknce with his poem about a 'cantankerous momer', remjnded us of die power of words and d1e responsibility wid1 whkb mey must be bandied.

The politics of die publislung world md not go Lmremarked.

Kabita Dbara, founder of Brass Mon key Books, an Anstralian

publishlng house chat rum s to publish writing from India in Australia, srud she was "looking for scories iliac show how sinillar we are rather than how d ifferent we are". Yet she and Mita Kapm from Siyahl Literary Agency - a writer herself, spoke of the challenges they faced widi die dearm of lfrerary sensitivity and professionalism of some publishers and booksellers in fodia and elsewhere. Sharan K ltmar Lim bale, die Da]jt wcirer and activist wciting in Marami pointed to an economy of oppression within publislung. He spoke of me challenges faced by Dalit writers trying to gee published and prud .i n an industq d ominated by upper castes. "If anything is revolutionary (in a manuscript), mey just delete it," he said. Uday Prakash, the celebrated Hindi writer, spoke of the majority of writers who are very poorly paid by mru1y roguish Indian publishers.

Storytellers of our culture As a growing presence in Australia, we in che Indian Australian community want to see ourselves in the mirror of me Australjan story. What d oes

it mean to be an Australian?

Does being Indian Australian lit into that story? Wri ters are die storytellers o f our culmre, be it Indian, Austra]jru,, or fodianAustralian. The AILIF panel chaired by Chciscopher Cyrill, comprising emerging Indian Australian writers such as ivfarusha Amin , Aashish Kaul, Chris Raja, Kuna! Sharma, and dus writer, try co cell die stories of lndian Australians. Ia doing so we are trying to write ourselves into the larger mulriculmral, multilingual Austra]jan story, writing back but also writing forward , w riting ourselves into diis Australian landscape wlille being mindful of course, chat it always was ru1cl always wiU be, Aboriginal land.

Finally, Mridula's words amplify the whispers arQLmd d1e State Library during All.IF, where appreciative multilingual conversations repeatedly asked for more sucl, encounters, more such opportLLru□es for l.adims and Austra]jans to meet, ro perforate borders both linguistic and culnual.

"I would like to see, coming out of AILIF, tran slations of Inman literature into Engjjsh; die Indian community in Australia can make a significant contribution by sponsoring and funmng tbe translation and publications of such books," she srud. "On che other side, I would like to see the stereotypes about Auscra]ja being b roken in India dirough translations o f aboriginal, indjgenous ru1d multicultural Australian literamre into me various Inman lmguages. There bas been a clamour to have tlus forum become an annual event in Austra]ja: chis is very much possible given d1e diversity of me languages and literamres in both countries. However, the big a id co make tlus vision happen will be financial support. There is enough goodwill and momentum at di is moment to make AILIF go places: we should ride di e wave and make th is happen!"

There is a world om there, in here, wruting for our scocies. All tlrnt is left is for us co create diem.

OCTOBER 2012 9

SPECIALREPORT

Literature of anguish There are many painful parallels to draw between the Dalits and the Aboriginals, both socially displaced peoples who tell their stories through their literature

So ifyo11 see someone like me 117ho'.r dnmk a11d loud and mrsi11g Do11t;i1dge loo hard,y o11 11ever know 117ha! so1To1vs we are 1111rsing. (little bit, long time, Ali Cobby Eckerman's collected poems) For many Hindus, words like 'Shudra', 'Pariah', 'Domba', 'Asprushya' or 'l'anchama' (the list goes on) instantly bring up unforgiving memories of a bitter E chapter in hiscory that is best .c .,"'C forgotten or better still, wished 0 .,C away. "'in Quire literall)Tmeaning ~ 'outcasre', the words refer to the .c Cl. lowest caste in the ancient Varna system. D ictating social position, it speaks of many centuries of injustice, oppression and brutal discrimination. Since the days of breakaway movements like Buddhism, Jainism and more recently the Brahmo, Arya Samaj and Ramakrishna movemems, an honest and sincere attempt has been made ro right the wrongs and ro compensate this much-maligned community. And thankfully, more enlightened me mbers of the 'forward' caste have championed these emancipation efforts. \Xn1ile tl1e Indian Constitution officially calls them 'scheduled castes', the names coined by -Phule and Gandhi - Dal.it (crushed) or Harijan (God's people) are the prefe.r red terms these days. Many an initiative has also been taken towards 'positive discrimination'.

Accounting for almost a quarter of India's population, India Literatures Incernational a number of Dalits have held forum (AILIF). Boch the regional influential positions. Since the writers are eloquent in their native tongues (Telugu and Marathi si,xties, Dalit literamre is a thriving respectively), and speak very phenomenon that has recently forayed into new markers in little English. Yer language was India aud elsewhere. From die uo barrier for d1ese two human 'obligarory Dalit' (as Gicish dignity advocates.

Karnad so powerfully put it) of The session ,vas aptly entitled mainstream movies and literature, 'Old Traditions, New Culmres'. they are now real personae with Sharing me podium wi tl1 die duo strong voices and uplifting stories. were Aboriginal writers A lexis Wcight and J\li Cobby Eckermann.

Two of their inAuential writers Sharankumar Llmbale and Gogu The iguominy suffered by 'original owners of Terra Nullius' in their Shyamala spoke passionately about the impact of literature in own homeland is again, a wellchanging accimdes, not only of docwnented fact.

Dalits but other caste members Be it Aboriginal or Dalit, tribal as weU. or indigenous, the two socially rejected communities spanning Limbale and Shyamala were among tl1e panellists at the cwo entirely different continencs, have so many parallels. Their opening session of the Australia

10 OCTOBER 2012

corU1ection co their motherland is a fertile breeding ground for countless tales. With deep political engagement, it is a tale of bitterness, isolation and suppression; but their profound saru1ess makes for gripping readership.

"True, we live in a democracy.

But can we live easily and speak freely?" asked Alexis Wright. "Our stories are often kept in our head and heart. le is through literature that we have the freedom of bow co chink".

"Can a Dalir write? Can they be written about?" were Lirnbale's opening remarks to the audience.

"Dalit literature," the Maradii writer unashameclly stated, "is the literature of clrainage water. Tt is not rhe literature of imagination

bm of brutality against Dalits.

How can it be nice? Yet I had to write it. How could l neglect the call of my people? I did not kno,v the structure of literature but l wauted to share the pain of my people. Words just flowed out".

Sadly, his introduction into literary circles bas been a painful one, creating social tension as well as deep personal rifts. His own community, including his family, rejected Limbale for laying bare the uaked truth of Dalit life in all its ugly reality.

The soft-spoken autlior's autobiography A kkarmashi (U11to11chable) erupted like a volcano two decades ago.

"How could I nor write? It is my bird1.-right co express my protest tl1rough my wri tings. l e is my attempt to cleanse die stain on our country," Limbale cold Tndiat1 Link. "Our people's struggle is my paper, our movement is my ink, the people are my books and my protest is my parliamenr".

His ,,vritings verbalise tl1e deep pain, tl1e suppressed anger and wounded pride of the entire community of marginalized people.

It is tl1is very anguish tliat is conveyed in the works of Gogu Shyaniala, an advocate, women's activist and champion of the Telengana movement in remote rural Ancll1ra Pradesh. Shyamala who is deeply indebted ro ber first publisher Navayana, spoke of me matrilineal matriarchic family system of her community.

Her storytelling also belongs to the protest tradition. She spoke proudly of her mother goddess Pod1amma Katha and E!Jama

Katha, the embodiment of fertility and biodiversity, and the freedom struggle for independent Telengana. "\X1e are avachas and admshas, made by Hindus but not Hindus," she said.

Het powerful writing has been translated into many regional clialects, besides English. M_yfi,ther may be an elephcmt, my mother on!J a small bcuket, Merit interrupter/, Infected JV01mds ore but the tip of the iceberg.

An outspoken activist of Dalit cigh ts and women's upliftment, Shyamala has also written prolifically on the issues she is passionate abou t. Her simple Telugu quotations moved the audience to tears.

Akin to India's untouchables, d1e scory of tl1e 'srolen generations' is yet another shameful chapter in human history. le is the heart-rending tale of half-castes and non-entities, of isolation and social rejection. The deep angst and anguish of tl1ese 'half-breeds', form tl1e basis of J\li Cobby Eckermau's poetry.

Australian politicians have since made botched attempts at rewriting hiscor y, but have tl1ey been able co heal the deep wounds? More importantly, have the half-hearted policies effected real social change in these sidelined corunmnities?

Tri do1Jce ivitb 1110b 011 this red Land. m1111di:1 J1Jim place I'll da1Jce awqy the111 halfcaste lies 'co.r I got my Na1Ja'sface!

The well read and widely travelled Eckerman hopes to be die change agent her community needs to rally back to dignity and social acceptance.

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OCTOBER 2012 11

OZASIAFESTIVAL

Nothing like a father's love for his daughter Drawing parallels from history and eternal love, a daring new movie explores the father-daughter relationship

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feamre film Ttfi premiered in Adelaide as part of the OzJ\sia Fescival 2012. Winston is a deepthinking writer who, in this film, has tried to put across some of bis thoughts through the relationships and circumstances of his characters. The Sri .Lankai1 born director's visit to the Taj Mahal in India inspired him to depict the notion of the abiding love of Shah Jehan and Mumtaz Mahal, with the modern setting of Melbourne as a backdrop to the story. Tty is about estranged father Vjay, starring new find t\lfahesh Jadu, who realises almost roo !ate his love for his 12-year-old daughter Priyanthi.

For me the sta.r of the film is Priyanthi, played by the delightfully named Coco-Jacinta Cherian who .is Lmdoubtedly destined for greater things, having already secured a role in J'\Teighbozm. After neglecting his daughter for a couple of rears, Vjay, who has been attempting to write a book while taking drugs and gambling, exercises his visiting righ ts which leads to the father and daughter drawing closer and evenmally sharing the task of building a model of the Taj Mahal with Lego bricks, which is quite an original couch.

The director aL~o introduces a couple of Vjay's friends - the first, a restaurateur and the other,

Writ er-director Winston Furlong, and a scene from his film Taj

a visitor from Fiji. Both point out and contrast how o ne should live one's life against how Vjay is living his. This juxtaposicion succeeds in highlighting Vjay's pointless pam and li.festyle. The writer tries to show how one needs co be amhenric and true to oneself, doing the best one can and no t to try to be someone else. Br tl1e end of me film we see Vjay waicing at tables and thinking about going back to teaching English as he used to do, as a path towards redemption. I r's a story about seeing the light and coming back onro me righr path.

While Coco-Jacinta was faultless in her portrayal in every scene as the daughter of an estranged couple who loves botl1 her parents and also her mother's new love, Mahesh Jadu's somewhat brooding performance lacks a little subtlety, but is easily compensared for by

his shockingly good looks. The supporting cast provide varied performances witl1 tl1e character Arlene as Priyamhi's mother, played by Natalie O 'Donnell, and Vjay's estranged wife putting in a convincing performai1ee in her attempt to gee on with her life while protecting her daughter.

The film includes some events and scenes which could possibly have been handled differentlj', and as Furlong himself said, tl1e suggestion that Vjay may have a form of cancer being included in the storyline perhaps did not quite come off. It's easy to see how difficult it must be to cry to strengtl1en a storyline by me inclusion of material tl1at does not have a direct bearing on tl1e plot.

The film bas already been on the inrernacional festival circuit having been shown in Busan in South Korea, and Boston and Tiburon,

born in me USA. Ir is due for a limited release in Australia later this year and 1 can see it making audiences sit up and think.

The screening of me film was followed by a Q&A session with Furlong, and mere is nothing like meeting with the writer/director to give added life to a film.

Furlong immediately apologised for the inexplicable loss of synchronisation of the sound to the film, and tl1en proceeded to give a bit of background and take questions.

It \Vas interesting to note mat be has given up a career in engineering, but one can see his passion and the sheer pleasure he gets from his present career of writing and film-making. Furlong had toyed with me idea o f writing the great epic novel, but thoug ht better o f it. His eloquence and ease of communicacing were quite

disarming and drew the audience closer to hi.n1. Furlong readily admitted that in the making of T"j he learned something about fil m-making but also learned a lot about hin1self. Furlong admitted that perhaps he should have spent a little more time on the script which was a little wanting occasionally. And )'Ct, it's a moving, sensitive film tl1at leaves you wishing for a happy futme for Vjar- I n mis self-funded fulllength movie, we have a man in Winston Furlong who took a risk, achieved a goal and is now setting about otl1er projects. Incidentally, a new screenplay of his entitled Serena and Her Sisten was a finalist i.n the New York Screenplay competicion 2012, in tl1e Comedy section. Tty. is not a Bollywood dhol"k film but o ne mat has some trutl1 co life and is well worth viewing.

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OCTOBER (1) 2012 12

OZASIA FESTIVAL

Diamond Queen dazzles again With the help ofa live orchestra and modern technology, the woman with whips, quips and swinging hips comes to life

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BY LP AYER

ithindia designated as the central theme, the Adelaide OzAsia 2012 festival began with an event that brought forth two major elements of art - music and cinema - from both India and Australia, in a creative presentation. lr was the screening of a 1930s black and white Indian movie titled DiamondQ11ec11, with a modern and unconventional Australian orchestra providing a continuous nmsic score as the movie rolJed along. Billed as the world premiere, this event was a novel and enjoyable form of entertainment lasting two hours. The organisers couldn't have chosen a better programme than this screening co herald the fortnight-long festival.

The Ozi\sia Festival is in its sixth year ru.noi.ng, and tl,e organisers make each event distinctive by highlighting the cultural aspects of one of the neighbouring Asian countries, at the same time presenting some top performers from other South and Somh-East Asian countries.

After watching the SBS show Bol(ywood Star a few months ago won by Teigan Lloyd-Evans, most current generation Oz-Indians may think tl1at this is the first time an Aussie girl has made it to BoUywood. They will be pleasantly smprised, perhaps even shocked, to know that the most prominent foreign lass to star in Hindi movies was a Perth girl named Mary Ann Evans, aka Fearless Nadia. She arrived there 80 years before Teigan, who has only gor a look-in tl1anks to J\nuparn Sharma. Nadia however, had a long, long run acring in ti fry films in the 1930s and '40s, with bee latest in 1967 when the actress was in her late 50s.

The acrobatics of Aishwarya in Dboot112 and Katrina KaiJ in Ek Tba Tiger are a Sunday picnic compared to Nadia's bag of tricks way back then. She became popular as tl1e 'Sul cana of stunts' and 'Hunterwali', after her most popular and d aring film. However the blonde, blue eyed beauty did not just stop w ith bearing up baddies, but delivered valuable messages on female equality,

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INDIAN LINK

education and empowerment.

At one point in the film Di11111011d Queen she says, "If you want freedom, you need to educate women." This was at the height o f British suppression of the Indian freedom movement. And it is a credit to the patriotic spii:it of the Wadia Brothers, producers of the film, who allowed such lines co be included. Some bistorians of the Indian filmdom believe that the 'angry young man' persona of Amitabh Bacbchan might have had its roots in Nadia's role, combining snmts with social tl1emes.

The show "Fearless Nadia: The woman with tl,e whip' comprised of screening important sections of her fi lm Di,1111011dQ11eev on a large screen with the Orkestta of the Underground seated in front in tl1e form of an arc.

The orchestra's multicultural mix included traditional lndian instruments like tl,e tabla, sbmai, srtra11gi and harmonium along with L1sual western instruments like the trurnpet, drums, violin, sa.xophone, clarinet, among others. I had some trepidation about how an old lndian movie could gel with an unconventional Australian orchestra, to perform as the opening show of a major festival. But soon the trepidation turned into admiration that kept growing with each succeeding scene. And it was thanks to the origina.lir:y and creativity of Ben Walsh, the well-known composer and director.

The show began with the screening of an interview (given years before her death in 1996, at

tl1e age of 88) by au elderly and yet beautiful Nadia, rem iniscing her movie days. Then, bang!

Scenes from the Dia111011dQueen witl1 English sub-titles appeared on the screen with tl1e orchestra pla)ring in perfect harmony with those images, helping tl1e audience folJow the srory to d1e sounds of the live o rchestra. As me movie was not shown in its fuU length, tl1e missing parts of d1e story were displayed in a couple of lines, so no one missed the plot. This kept the tempo and conrinuity going. A clever ploy indeed!

Unlike today's heroines, r adia delivered her dialogues and sang in good Hindi. Single-handedly she biffed a dozen dad11s at any time, a must act for today's heroes in everr South lndian movie. Bue unlike d10se heroes, Nadia's snmts

were not brief srints but lasted the entire length of the film punctuated with some slapstick of tl1at era, bringing peals of laughter from the audience very many times.

T he stunts too, were not limited to Nadia on the screen.

One of the orchestra's members, violinist Shenzo Gregorio, was hoisted up in a triangular trapeze frame and held in midair as he continued ro p lay his violin rolJing in vertical rotation and also hanging ups ide down.

Awesome! Earlier in the show, Ben \Valsb and his dnunmer indulged in some kind of jugafbm1di tapping their shoulders and thighs in perfect unison with the two lrtbla players, one of whom is welJ-known Aneesh Pradhan. Applause galore, welJ-deserved!

As the film ended on a happy note, true to Indian tradition, each member of the orchestra was beam ed onto the big screen playing solo on tl1eir particular instrument. An ingenious u se of the iPad. It was lirting, since the entire show was a blend of today's technology with an entertainment medium of the last century.

Adelaide had the privilege of the world premiere and Mumbai.kars will have the opportunity to savom d1is show when it travels tl1ere in November. The older generation can reminisce, the younger ones will realise that a1J t he tricks and techniques of today's movies are aU old hat, and the Parsees wiU love to see what their sons, the Wadias, along with l adia have achieved for the Indian arc world.

OCTOBER 2012 13

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OCTOBER 2012 15

INDIAOZ

ONGC-UNSW partnership to tap unconventional oil resources Joint collaboration seeks solution to depleting oil reserves tapping other unconventional resources

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BY USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

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he UNSW School of Petroleum Engineering (SCOPE) has forged a crucial researd1 agreement w ith the Indian government run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) to evaluate the production potential of an "unconventional o il resource".

The partnership will explore the " feasibilic:y of recovering hydrocarbon fuel from bardco-access offshore geological structures known as basement reservoirs".

ONGC has been particularly interested in its Heera Fracmred Basin at M.umbai Offshore located on the western continental shelf of India.

Working closely with its coU.L1terparts in US, UK, Germany, France and Japan, SCOPE is a recognised leader in the area of geothermal e nergy technology.

The latest memorandtm1 of understanding, valued at $2.05 million over the next two-anda-half years, is the fourth major project between UNSW and ONGC. It builds further into the existing five-year partnership, entered first in 2002 and which has since been extended twice.

"This is an important partnership for UNS\Xl that has g rown with time," stated Professor Val Pinczewski, Head of SCOPE. "ONGC certainly have a need for the sort of high level technological developments we have been making, and we think they are an excellent partner to work ,vith," he noted. "At UNSW we have ongoing programs in geothermal energy Jed by Professor Sheik Rahman, which basically look at d1aracrerising

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Consul General oflndia A run Kumar Goel, Vice-Chancellor Prof Fred Hilmer, Mr Rakesh Sharma from ONGC, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Prof Les Field. fracture systems in rock structures and forming strategies to develop these fractured reservoirs. We also have progran1s in fracturing hard rocks co enhance production.

Together, these research efforts will provide the framewot:k for d1is project".

"T he actual technology you need co develop these reservoirs is not m uch different from di e technology used co develop shale gas," he ford1er explained. "This is already very big in the US, and has die potential co become very big in Australia. So for us there are some really good synergies between what we can do here in d1e local context and what we're doing internationally witb partners like O t GC." According to Professor Pinczewski, UNSW's experienced engineers and geo-scientists

will be developing a range of mathematical models m predict fracture characteristics of d1is particular basement rock type, simul.ace fluid flow through its interconnected fracntre syscem and estimate the hydrocarbon potential.

Lacer on, they will be conducting experiments with rock samples provided b y ONGC and applying their models in the field to test how much oil is recoverable.

"For the last IO years we bave been cooperating on different areas of hydrocarbon reservoir d evelopmem. During this period two projects have been completed, one is in progress and the fourth - die fractured basemenc study is about to start", Professor Rahman told J11dit111 Link.

"SCOPE has developed specific

tools and methodology for characterisation and development of fractured basement and th.is partnership gives us an opportunic:y to appl)' die knowhow char we have developed for exploitation of geothermal resources in Australia," he added.

Professor Rahman has made a pioneering contribution i11 the development o f Australian geothermal resources, particularly drilling mediods and equipment for higWy stressed and abras ive environments. He has advanced the teclmology of hydraulic fractming to stimulate and develop naturally fracmred reservoirs. This technology has already been successfully applied in New Somh Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

Additionally, the work will feed into the Australian Energy

Research Institute, a sustainable energy d1ink-cank based at UNSW which conneccing engineers, scientists, economists and policy experts, both Pinczewski and Rahman believe.

Natutally fow1d in Earth's sub-surface, hydrocarbons are currendy the primary source of energy supply. The extraction of liquid hydrocarbon fuel (otherwise known as petroleum) from sedimentary basin s is integral to modern energy development.

It has been estimated diat a large proportion of the world 's proven oil reserves are found in naturally fracmred reservoir rocks.

A subset of naturall)' fracmred reservoirs, basement reservoirs has been exploited for a while now. Since tbe lace nineties however, there has been marked increase in interest largely due to inAated o il prices that have forced researchers to delve deeper into alternative methods that were previou sly deemed uneconomical.

As well technology for accessing remote oil sources has improved, particularly drilling methods, sophisticated down-hole tools and seismic techniques.

The MoO will benefit ONGC significantly as well.. With its ever-increasing population, India is fadug acme energy shortages.

Tapping into existing but hitherto Lmidenti6ed and under-utilised resources like basement reservoirs could be a welcome addition.

Since oil discovery in 1974, ONGC has made substantial investments for additional development works at d1e western shelf. The basin is d1e largest in India and includes Mumbai High, Bassein and Heera and Neelam producing fields. \Xlith ONGC recendy striking new reserves off Mwnbai coast, perhaps d1e biggest ever so far, SCOPE is already looking to closely collaborate on tbe new development as well.

www.indianlink.com.au

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INDIAOZ

Empowering rural women in remote Rajasthan 1

/-India Australia's support for the Gudri Project' taps into a much-loved art form to eradicate poverty

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BY USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

hen Abha and Prabhakar Goswami were commissioned by UNICEF co do a study on stteet children in remote Rajasthan, chey were moved by what they saw - abject poverty, destitution, vulnerability, unsafe work practices and severe malnutrition. Coming from severely disadvantaged backgrounds themselves, the duo set up the I-India Project co give rescued street kids a fresh start.

Since its humble beginnings, the project has found additional benefaccors arom1d the world who have facilitated many new programmes to make d1ese children not just well-nurtured, but self-sufficient as well The Jhag children's home, Annapurna canteen, structured curriculum based learning ac Prem Padrnshala, Ladli girl's home, rudimencary healthcare facilities and Franklyn Scholar vocational training centre have been some of cbe positive outcomes along mis arduous, but fulfilling journey.

Mose of chese facilities were made available through the unstinting efforcs of I-India's Australian offshoot, which since 2007 has time and time again rallied their resources to sustain d1e expanding project.

I-India Project Australia (I-IAP) has teamed up with Singaporebased Street Children's Project m raise fonds and brainstorm for fresh new directions.

1-India Australia founders Celia and Renate Barnerr are now lending their support to another exciting venrure - the Gudri project Sec up in 2010, the project is the brainchild of Abba and Prabhakar's daughter-in-law Darshana Goswami, and aims co empower .local women by providing chem a steady and sustainable means of selfemployment. The project provides illiterate women from the poorest slums both traiuing and resources co hand-stitch guiles, Aoor covers and homewares. 'Gudri' is an ancient Rajaschani tradition, where block-printed cotton fabrics are layered and sewn in straight lines co form an appligue work. The Street Child P roject is working closely with the Indian team to design products chat appeal to the western marketplace. The products made from this venture have been sold all round the world.

Besides rools and supplies, women participating in the programme are provided rations,

W

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solar lights and blankets, as well as a share of the profits. By reaching out to women, tl1e Gudri project aims to improve these women's quality of life which extends to tl1eir families as wel.l, thus eradicating tl1e root causes of poverty in d1eir respective communities. The Gudri ,vomen have since formed cooperatives, taking ownership of the project and have worked tirelessly on their beautiful craft. " Darshna Goswami is working tirelessly to extend the project as far as possible co benefit as many women as possible on a limited budget. We were able co see the work for ourselves for the first time in November lase year," Renate told Tnditm l.i11k.

"After driving soud1 from Jaipur, we .left the highway and trundled across the desert, d1rougb a few villages and then ouc into the

middle of nowhere. AU you can see as far as the horizon .is sand, and small shrubs. EvenmaJJy we pulled off d1e road into a small area of land, where a number of shacks had been set up out of corrugated iron," she explained.

"As we pulled up we could see women gathered in the rough shade of the lean-to shelters. They were a1J hard at work, quickly sewing long lines into gatl1ered layers of fabric. They smiled at us as we arrived, and then went back to their work, quickly tugging tl1e du:ead tlu:ough tl1e fabric," she added.

"What we were seeing was cbe first oppormnity these women had had co gain employment, and to help to support their families. For the first time in their lives, tl1ey had been given a vocation and a means of helping tl1emselves

om of poverty. Tbe project not only empowers women, and assists families financially, but also changes attitudes of entire villages in relation co d1e rights and roles of women," she stated.

The Gudri Project was one of nine finalises in UNIFEM's 'Projectlnspire 2012'. The winuing project wiJJ receive a gram of US$25,000.

A digital and social media-driven initiative targeted at empowering marginalised women and disadvantaged d1ildren in the Asia Pacific, Middle Ease and Africa region through entrepreneurship, Project Inspire is in its second year. Founded on the ti.mdamental belief that empowering women fuels tl1riving economies spurring prodL1ctivicy and growtl1, the project hopes co give the right support tlu:ough access co funding

and skills development.

The scheme was launched for centenary celebrations of International \'>Yomen's Day in conjunction with :Master Card.

Targeting youngsters in d1e 1835 age brackets, the project also hopes to inspire young changemakers co create a better world of oppornmities. Gudri Project ream members included Darshana Goswami, Pippa Reid and Edwina Ong. Call for pitd1es, which included 5-minme videos, written proposals and live presentation opened on March 8. Gudri Project was shorilisced from over 350 other proposals worldwide.

Two other lndia-based projects - E -learn.ing for change and Women's private personal marketplace, also made the final CUL

OCTOBER 2012 17

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PEOPLE

Ayoung Indian-Australian makes her singing debut with one ofBollywood's best music directors

BY KOMALUTSAV JAGAO

I

odian-Australian singer Priyanka Bhanushali has been Aying high in Bollywood recently, bur she still wants to Ay! Confused? This young lad y with a melodious voice will be releasing her debut album in November 2012, but she still aspires co caking flying lessons and becoming a pilot.

However for now, the 19-yearo ld is already making a mark in Bollywood with her singing abilicies, having worked on her debut album with Aad esh Shrivascav, tl1e renowned and critically acclaimed m usic director and composer. " I am doing the album with Aadeshji; it has eight tracks and will be completed hy the end of mis year,'' says an excited Priyanka. ''I have already recorded four solo songs for it and will be doing a duet song each with Aadeshji and Shaan as well. T he album .is mix genre and includes ragabased classical Punjabi folk tracks, and a couple of dub and dance numbers, among others," she adds.

So how did Priyan ka get her fu-st break \\~th Aadeshji? "It happened quite suddenly during my visit co India. One of my uncles in Mumbai helped get his contact details and I sent him snippets o f my pre- recorded songs. When he heard me songs, Aadeshji irrunecliately wanted ro rneet me and analyse my voice," recalls Ptiyanka. ''In amchi Mumbai style he said, 'Ye ladkiJahd dalegi.'' ('She .is going co crack it!') Surprisingly, on very first clay we recorded a Hindi club track verse, which was very unusual for me, as I had never sung a Hindi song previously," she added.

How did Ptiyanka cope with a language uufamiliar to her? " I believe music is me language of the world. lt's about music, not me language. It was nm very difficult as 1 was lucky ro have people around me who support me to make tlJings easier. I nailed the verse in one hour whid1 left Aad eshji so impressed tlrnt he wanted to sign me for his own 1-ibel," she says.

"The team was very welcoming and now the sn1dio feels more like a second home to me.

They e.'<plain every song and its meaning, which helps me add

20 OCTOBER 2012

emotion into me song to make it soul ful," acids Priyanka.

Of aU the trad <s, Priyanka admits that she loves Ratlf{/ Mil'!)'" the most. "It was a challenging number and had a Punjabi classical touch ro ir," she says. Priyanka spent two weeks in Mrn11bai recording for the album, and she is due co remrn there soon, to put finishing couches to the songs.

Priyan ka is no stranger to music, as she is currently srud)~ng for her Bachelor degree in Music and Sound Engineering from tl1e Australian Institme of Music. Her parents recognised their daughter's talent at a young age and clad A nand Bhanushali proudly claims that her ht:sc guirnr was specially customised to suit her six-yearold hands, as she is left handed.

Priyanka began by learning the guitar and keyboards, and she has come a long way since then. The young lady began singing only at 14, and it is tescimony to her talent that in just five years she is already recording an albrnn "~th Shaan and Srivastava.

Priyanka spends a whopping mree co five hours praccicing singing every clay, and records songs in her srudio at home. She studied music since high school and cleared auclitions for several Universities, finally choosing the Au.vi. This young lady takes keen interest in ,vriring lyrics as well as composing songs. Priyanka is like a complete package - me tight attitude, confidence, great looks and of course, great singing.

Priyanka's family moved to Australia in 2004, and her paren ts have been ever suppor ci,,e of her talent and career choice. "My parents have always encouraged me co follow my dream and live my passion," she says. "Priyanka makes o m clay brighter," says proud dad A nand. "Her pure soul is reflected in her heart-warming voice, she is our hope and blessing from the Almighty."

Naturally, a few established artistes have inAuencecl ber singing, like Suniclhi Chauhan, Beyonce, Riharu1a, Delta Goodrem and Adele. She also likes western commercial music like R&B, hiphop and ballads, and has sung with various gigs here in Australia.

So what's next in rhe pipeline for mis talented yoLmg singer? "\'Q°ell, plans are on to record an album of western music in my studio, which wil.l have eight songs and basic melodies. The project starred recently, and will be a link between Australia and India, raking tl1e connection one step closer," says

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With Bollywood music producer Aadesh Shrivastav, and the photo he tweeted of her Ptiyaoka who candiclly admits tint if her singing career hadn't taken off, she would have made a foray into me modelling world. " I love the entertainment industry and have always followed fashion shows and compericions like Miss Universe and Nliss World. lf ir wasn't for my singing success, I

would have rnosen to be a model".

Priyan ka's singing career seems to be al.ready in mid-flight, and we wish her luck. But with all mese exciting plans in the pipeline, will she have cime to indulge in her hobby of taking Aying lessons and pilo ting an aircraft? You bet! And guess what? She'll do it!

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

31st December 2012 is approaching fast If you held a student visa on 8th February 2010. you can use old Skilled Occupation List (SOL as at 08/02/2010) to choose a suitable occupation from that generous SOL and apply for skilled Graduate visa (S/C 485).

OR If you had applied for subclass 485 visa prior to 8th February 2010 or you held a subclass 485 visa on 8th February 2010. you can use old Skilled occupation List (SOL as at 08/02/2010) to choose a suitable occupation from that generous SOL and apply for subclass 885( Skilled Residence) . subclass 886 (Skilled Sponsored Residence) or Subclass 487 ( Skilled Regional Sponsored - Provisional). You can also use old points test.

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OCTOBER 2012 21

INDIAN NEWS -0 :T

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A craftsman works on the world's costliest miniature model of the Taj Mahal at a Star Gems diamond jewellery workshop in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, 27 September 2012. The hand-crafted miniature, with a value of Rs 100 crores (Rs1 billion or approx. 14,654,635 Euros), is made of400 kg of silver, ten kg of gold, 300 kg of brass and copper and is embedded with diamonds worth Rs six crores. ft weighs 700 kg.

Despite controversy, Commonwealth Games brought benefits to India The Commonwealth Games organised in New Delhi exactly cwo years ago may have been scarred by controversy and charges o f corruption that are yet to be proved, but India's besc ever performance at the O lympics in the London Games displays the progress the country has made in sports in the last !WO years.

The government in its bid to continue tl1e momentum gained from the Oct 3-14, 2010 Commonwealth Gan1es, opened up irn purse-strings under its Opex London 2012 programme. A willing government earmarked a record Rs.260 crore ($53 million) for training and competition ahead of the Olympics and tl1e result was for all to see.

Thoug h dogged by controversy and adverse media scrnr:iny even before it began, largely because of project overruns and delay in completion of major infrastructure, the Games on the whole were an organisational and sporting success from the lndian point of view.

If a whopping 101 medals in the Commonwealth Games were considered big, SL'( medals at tl1e Londo n Olympics was seen as a big advancement over previous editions.

Shooter Vijay Kumar and wrestler Sushil Kumar won silver medals while boxer M.C. :Mary Kom, shurtler Saina Nehwal, shooter Gagan Narang and wrestler Yogeshwar Duct bagged bronze medals in London. \~Thile tl1e Commonwealth Gan1es might have been in tl1e ne\.VS for financial irregularities, it made India a hotspot for tlie top sporting events in the country.

Though India is far from being a sporting nation, the facilities tliat came up in tl1e national capital for tlie Commonwealth Games have been a boon for athletes.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Kami Singh Shooting Range, S.P. Mukherjee Swimming Complex, Talkatora Indoor Stadium, Indira Gandhi lndoor Stadium and tl1e Yamuma Sports Complex are among the best in the subcontinent.

Post the Commonwealtli Games, while

22 OCTOBER 2012

Nehru Stadium hosred the mighty Bayern Munich football team, SAFF Championship and the Nehru Cup, the National Stadium hosted the hockey Olympic qualifiers tliat sa\v India booking its tickets for London after having missed an O lympics (Beijing-2008) tl1e first time in 80 years.

The Sports Autl1oriry of lndia (SAI), tlie New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and tlie owners o f most of the stadiun1s also decided co open the gate.~ to tl1e comi:non man under the "Come and Play" scheme of tlie sports ministry. The scheme was well appreciated and ensured tliat tlie stadiums don't turn into w hite elephants.

The financial irregularities in tl1e preparations for the Commonwealth Garnes were also a big .lesson for tl1e government in more ways tlian one. It prompted the sports ministry to come up with ;i National Sports Development Code to ger rid of corruption in Indian sports.

The l ational Sports Federations may have been up in arms against the sports ministry over me code bur mey all thank Sports l\{inister Ajay Maken in private for being so generous to all sports bodies by way of providing funds for training.

Shooters were the most favoured lot after India's first Olympic gold by Abhinav Bindra at Beijing and Rajyavardhan Rathore's silver four yea.rs earlier at Atliens.

And tl1e biggesr beneficiary was ace double trap shooter and Asian Gan1es gold medallist Ronjan Sodhi, who received the lio n's share of Rs.97.37 lakh of the Rs.6.87 crore financial assistance.

Sodhi says sporrspersons have benefited immensely by the government funding after tl1e Commonwealth Games.

•~'\t tl1e Commonwealth Games, the Indians proved their mettle and promised to do much more at other major international events. The government too was convinced and thus increased its funding for London. \'{/e are iliankful to the sports ministry for helping us to prepare for tl1e Games," said Sodhi.

Atliletics Federation o f India (AF]) technical director M.L. Dogra said goveromem funding has helped tlie

federation to send athletes for exposure trips abroad.

"Around Rs.15.94 crore was been allornted for athletics and the atliletes trained abroad for longer durations to prepare for ilie O lympics. Commonwealm Games discus gold medallist Krishna Paonia training in tl1e US was fully funded by tl1e ministry.

US-based discus thrower Vikas G owda also performed well in the recently held \l(/o cld Championships in South Korea," said Dogra.

Paonia (Rs.24.20 lakb) and national record holder Gowda (Rs.24.51 lakh) beneficed from the government's Operation Excellence 2012. Their performance at the London Garnes was impressive though tliey failed to make a podium finish. Poonia was seventh while Gowda made a creditable eighth finish in the Games.

Two years is a small ti.me to determine the benefits of the hosting the Commonwealth Games. But Indian athletes are still reaping its benefits.

India pauses in its busy tracks to remember Gandhi It was rime again on October 2 to remember thar greatest icon of peace. On Mahatma Gandhi's 143rd birth anniversary, millions enjoyed a holiday but iliousands also flod<ed to places dedicated to his memory to pay tribute to tl1e man who spearheaded India's bloodless struggle for freedom from British rule and left a legacy of amity and 'ahimsa' as eternal as time.

As the nation's leadership gathered at his memo.rial Raj Ghat for the annual remembrance, ceremonies were held across the country co mark tl1e day, observed as Gandhi Jayanri.

The symbolism of tl1e day, also marked as the foternarional Day of Non-Violence, was lost on nobody with many, from filmmakers to politicians, starring new ventures and making new promises.

Activist Arvind Kejriwal chose the day to launch his political party in the national capital. Witl1 a picture of Gand hi in the backdrop, Kejriwal, wearing a Gandhi cap witl1 tl1e slogan ·'.A1ein hoo11 t111111 adt11i, 11111/he chab!J'e ]011/okpat' (I am common man, I want

Jan Lokpal) printed on it, kicked off bis party by vowing to light against corruption.

In Mumbai, where 120 inmates of Arthur Road prison took an o ath to create an India of their dreams, the first look of tlie film Freedom was unveiled by director Vivek Agnihocri.

There were plenty of ceremonial functions.

The centrepiece of the formal observance was Raj Ghat, where Gandhi was cremated after being felled by an assassin's bullet on Jan 30, 1948. His last words " Hey Ram", forgiving eve.n in deatl1, are inscribed on a black stone slab.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansad, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress presidem Sonia Gandhi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani were among tl1ose who garnered to remember the father of tl1e nation.

Mahatma Gandhi's favourite 'bhajans' li ke. Raghupati fuigbav R,y,1 &111 and Vaishmiv Jana To were played and an all-religion prayer conducred in mernory of the father of the nation, It was also tlie 108th birch anniversary o f former ptin1e minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

And the leadershjp paid fl oral cribures to both in the Central Hall of parliamenr. The prime minister, Congress president, Lo k Sabha speaker Meira Kumar and a host of 1vfPs and ministers were in attendance.

Away from the formal rituals, observed year after year, there were also those who tried to get a grip on me man, who went from being Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to simply tl1e Maliatma, or tl1e great soul - tieified in every corner of l ndia but with his ideology o f Gand11ism to a Luge extent confined witliin pages of textbooks.

At Raj Ghat, for instance, tl1ey gathered to understand me mystique. of the man, descrjbed as a half naked fakir by former British prime minister Winston Churchill.

From young professionals ro college students, from families to foreign tourists, they walked around tl1e complex trying to soak it all in. "\~'e need a nationwide revolutio n against corruption - a re\ olution based on Gandhian principles," said Krishan K umar, a 44-yearo ld shop owner from Daryaganj in Old D elhi.

Agreed D ave Lyneta, a 38-year-old Canadian. ''I've read Gandhi's biography twice. If only more people around tlie world followed his principles, there would be no 9/1 l or 7

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INDIAN NEWS lraq or J\fghaaisran wars," he said.

For Khizar Hayat, 22, studying at me Jarnia Nliilia Islarnia in New Delhi, an introduction ro Gandhi through his Class 9 tei.,,..tbook was the beginning of his journey toward s knowledge.

"My devotion cowards him gtew over me years. I'm trying co imbibe his teachings in me way l live n1y life or treat others. I used to be violent till a couple of years ago. Bue I have learnt to control my emotions and more importantly, channelise my aggression in a positive way," said Hayat Gandhi was born on October 2 in Porbandar in Gujarat in 1869. AU of 143 years later, some lessons are still ones that need co be learnt

Indian-Americans strongest supporters of Obama: Survey Indian-Americans are by far the strongest supporters of US President Barack Obama, giving him an edge of 68 percent to five percem over his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, according ro a new survey.

Thus, while two Indian-American Republican Governors, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina, are among me strongest critics of Ohama, tl1ey seem to be in a relatively small minority of the community who support Romney, says tl1e survey.

Asian Americans give significantly higher job approval racings to Obama than the national average (59 percent vs. 50 percent, respectively), and they have a considerably less favourable impression of Romney than the national average (30 percent vs.

45 percent, respectively), according ro me National Asian American Survey (NAAS).

Approval of the president's job is particularly high among Indian Americans (82 percent), and is conspicuously low among Filipinos (45 percent) and Samoans (41 percent), says the survey of Asian and Asian Pacific Islanders (AJ\.Pls).

Obama's relarively high approval raring an1ong AAPis is also matched by higher favourability ratings man the national average, it says, noting while 51 percent of di e national population has a favourable impression of Oba.ma, 59 percent of Asian Americans do so.

The favourability raring is particularly high anwng Indian Americans (88 percent) and Korean Americans (76 percent), and is particularly low among Vietnamese Americans (20 percent) and Filipino Americans (46 percent).

O ne in six Asian Americans (17 percem) lives in a battleground stare with Indian Americans and Korean Americans constituting a larger share of tbe battleground states than tlie.ir national averages, the survey notes.

Asian Americans also have a mo re favourable impression of Democrats in Congress than the national average (43 percent vs. 34 percent, respectively), it notes.

The survey, based on a national poU conducted July 31-Sep 19 through telephone of 3,034 people, included 386 IndianAmericans.

Ir was me coUaborative effort of Karchick Ramakrishnan at University of California.Riverside and Taeku Lee at University of California-Berkeley.

India presses for UNSC expansion to meet global challenges India sought a reform of instimcions of

INDIAN LINK

Competitors at a traditional boat festival race along the Ganga river at Sahidpalli, 65 km from Kolkata, 19 September 2012. Competitors from different parts of Bengal participated in the festival with their country and snake boats. The 15-metre-long boats can carry ten to 25 people.

global governance including an expansion o f the UN's top decisio n-making Securjry COLmcil to reflect contemporary realities for converting today's challenges into oppor tunities.

The ,vorld today was "faced wim multiple global chaUenges chat transcend national boundaries," Indian External Affairs :Minister S.i\lL Krishna said in his address to the U general assembly outlining tbe problems ranging from tepid recovery from the downturn in d1e global economy to the scourge of terrorism. ''Developing countries are still co recover from the downttm1 in the global econo my.

Their quest for po,,ercy eradication and sustainable development remains an uphill task," be said.

"The West Asia and Nortl1 Africa region is seeing unprecedented socio-political upheaval. The question of Palestine remains unresolved ," Krjshna said.

"And, threats emanating from terrorism, maritime pirac)~ drug trafficking and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continue to multiply." ''These challenges demand drnt we act to work for solutions in a concerted and coordinated manner. This is the only path to success," he said, suggesting a reform of me architecture of global governance to reflect contemporary realities.

"The most important and decisive step cowards remedying dus situation pertains to the UN Security Council, which mus[ be e.'-panded in both permanent and nonpermanent categories," Krishna said.

"The reformed Council muse include countries tl1ac are capable and willing to bear additional burdens relating to tl1e maintenance of imernational peace and security and be able to sustain global campaigns against new and emerging global dueats," he said.

"Equally, L1dia will promote and lend her weight for enhancing me voice and parriciparion of developing countries in decision making in global economic and Jinancialinscitutions," he said.

The IMF's quota reform process must be accelerated wim altered quotas reflecting

comemporary econonuc weight, Krishna said.

Expressing support for me governmem and people of Afghanistan, K rishna said the "continuing existence o f safe havens and sancruaries for terrorises be)'ond Afghanistan's borders is tl1e major impediment to tl1e restoration o f peace and security in Afghanis tan."

Calling terrorism as one of the most pote.m threats to international peace and security, he also asked d1e world to show me necessary polirical will to agree on a Comprehensive Convene.ion o n Imernarional Terrorism.

New hopeforterminal heart patients There's new hope for terminal heart patients, with a new pumping device pronusing to provide rest co d1e worn-out heart and even recharge it - adding years and quality ro a patient's life.

The Ventricular Assist Device (\TAD), or Heartmate II, is surgically inserted between d1e chest and upper abdomen and is powered by a battery. The titanium device is connected co a monitor worn outside tl1e body d1at controls t he blood Aow. L1troducing the device in India and educating doctors about ic, India-born, USbased cardiac surgeon and healtl1 economist Mukesh Haiiawala says around 10,000 people across me world have had got die Hearanate II implanted and the results have been

lr can be implanted in patients of any age, but is given usually to patients who are 50-plus, e.5pecially d1ose waiting for a heart transplant.

A major advantage of Heartmate 11 is mat the heart "starts remodelling itself".

Explaining, Hariawala said tliar wim tl1e pumping load reduced, the "typically diseased and enlarged heart starts reducing in size" and the patient ''is able to move about, climb stairs and his/her endurance . ,, mcreases .

"The patient lives longer and the qu,'1.1.icy of life is better," he added.

Hariawala was a member of the surgical team that performed the first bypass surgery oo Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 1990 along witl1John Wlright at Harley Street Clinic in London.

Hearanate lI is manufacmred by US firm Thoratee, a world leader with more than 10,000 "successful" implantations and the device is "soon to be offered ro India", he said.

Most of d1e implantations have been done in me US, Europe and Australia, and tl1e demand is ina·easing in Asia, he said. .

IANS

"fantastic".

"Heartmate II has a very huge success rate and very few complications," said Hariawala, who is associated with the Harvard Medical School Affiliated Hospitals in Boston, speaking during a visit to New Delhi. ""Patien ts can live for 8-10 years, if the rest of the body stays well. The device rakes cai·e of the pumping function of t he heart" Hariawala, who was felicitated as "L1dia's Most Admired Surgeon" at 1vlumbai on Sep 21 b y Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayan, said tl1e Hearcmare II is implanted in d10se who are in end-stage or terminal heart patients, "chose who cannot go duough angioplasty, stem or bypass".

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OCTOBER 2012 23

SPECIAL

onours for Indian Link at Multicultural Media Awards

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i !:' l"JllA AWi -~

Pm•.,1n l uthrJ (tll[(J,rJj

Pawan Lut11r~ & lndlanllnf.

Pa fh•ws ll,-11urr,r1i!

Onhnti lnt1U.. dhOO 1n ric 1¥ . BJor• 01 News Webs•1c Design

Winning three prestigious awards at the inaugural Multicultural Media Awards, Indian Link stands tall as an acknowledged herald of the subcontinent community

nwharisdeatlya significant milestone for community jou rnalism and more importantly Indians down under, ethnic newsgroup Indian Link has bagged duee of the nine awards at the inaugural Parliament ofNew South Wales Multicultural Media Awards.

The high-calibre media group rook the top honours in the Editorials/News Reporting, Online Innovation in News, Blog or Website, and its publisher Pawan Luchra was named MulticulruraJ Journalist of the Year.

Auscralia's Foreign M inister Bob Carr presented the awards at a gala dinner on September 14. Winners in nine categories were selected from among 132 entries received from all over Australia.

The categories included, besides the three won by Indian Link, Concribution to Social Inclusion and MulticulruraJism, Coverage of Indigenous Affairs, Community Affairs in Australia,

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24 OCTOBER 20 12

Community Affairs Abroad, Mui ticul tural Photographer of the Year, and Investigative Journalism.

Pawan Luthra shared the big one, the award for Multicultural Journalist of the Year, with Majid.a Abboud of SBS Radio.

The judging panel included senior academics in media studies, mainstream journalises, media representatives, councillors and senior members of ethnic communities.

Initiated by Member of Legislative Council Shaoquett Moselmane, the awards are the first of their kind in Australia.

Addressing the special invitees, Moselmanenoced, "Since the first multicul tural newspaper Die Deutsche Post was published from Adelaide in 1848 and first Chinese paper Guangi Huabao in 1894, ethnic media has contributed extensively to the Australian way of life:' He added, "Today m ulticultural media has diversified across print, radio, web, TV, satellite and alJ forms of social media. There has however been no standalone award to recognise this substantial body ofwork. These papers and their pioneering journalists have passed into history with litde or no

recognition, no reward and no hall of fame."

"Tonight we break that drought and celebrate the beginnings of spring for multicultural and indigenous media in Auscralia," he declared.

"Your ingenuity and spirit has left no stone unturned. With the capacity to bring news and events to eveiy multicultural household like never before, your dedication is admirable! ' Speaking co this reporter, chief guest Foreign Minister Bob Carr later said, "I was proud to be a part of the first Multicultural Media Awards.

It is great co see multicultural media getting the attention it deserves. I believe it is essential to Australian democracy."

"I congratulate Indian Link for winning three Awards on the night," he added. "Journalists representing those of Indian ancestry are ambassadors for Australia to the Indian community. By sharing cultural ideas through journalism, you are helping to create the overlap ofcultures that makes up Australia's national identity."

ABC correspondent and one of the members of the judging panel, Llz Foschia said that she was impressed by the submissions and range of

Shaoquett Mosselmane with Indian Link team (from left) Danielle Cairis, Nitika Sondhi, Rajni Anand Luthra, Vivek Trivedi and Pawan Luthra

MULTICULTURM. MEDIA AW~~os

,ulht'U\tur,11

1Jlh\ 01 \IIC 'lr.11

2012 MULTICULTURAL MEDIA AWARD WINNERS MULTICULTURAL JOU RN ALI ST OF THE YEAR Pawan Luthra Indian Unkand Majida Abboud SBSRadio COVERAGE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN AUSTRALIA Romeo Cayabyab The Filipino Aumalian COVERAGE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ABROAD Wing Yam Lee Sing Tao Daily CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION AND MULTICULTURALISM Lina Lee Top News COVERAGE OF INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS Gerry Georgatos National Indigenous Times EDITORIAL / NEWS REPORTING Pawan Luthra Indian Unk INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING / FEATURE WRITING Gerry Georgatos National Indigenous Times MULTICULTURAL PHOTOGRAPHER OFTHEYEAR Oi Ling Lee Sing Tao Daily ONLINE INNOVATION IN NEWS BLOG OR NEWS WEBSITE DESIGN Indian Link

topics covered by ethnic media organisations.

"IL is very important to have a strong mulricuJrural media Lo inform their local communities about issues of particular concern to them, bur also to cover wider events with a different perspective," she noted.

"There were good examples of quality joumallsm that would not have been our of place in mainstream publicacions. hidian Link, in particular had made a special effort with its entries and chat is reflected in the number of awards it received."

As the only speaker on the night from amongst the awardwinners, Pawan addressed the audience and spoke about the specific pressures faced by the multicultural media such as the constant struggles for funding.

Yee it was his story about Indian Li11k Radio that couched a chord.

Pawan recounted the iucident from a few days ago, when a radio listener rang him to say chanks. "You're keeping my mother alive," the listener told Pawan. Apparendy, his mother, a nursing home resident, is an avid listener, turning on the radio as soon as she wakes in the morning as her only regular means ofcontact wich a Hindispeaking world.

"Three awards in one night can only be a team efforc," Pawan also nored in his speech, and thanked his ream, who work very hard to see that a quality product goes out every fortnight in press and every day on the airwaves. Seven full-time staff at Indian Link oversee the work of no less chan sixty newspaper concribucors across the country, and a dozen radio broadcasters in Sydney. Each of these individuals, Pawan feels strongly, has ownership of rhe awards me company has received chismonch.

A journalist with over two decades of experience in boch Australia and India, Ltthra has certainly raised me bar in community journalism, since he and his wife Rajni founded Indian Link in 1994.

Like most migrant success stories, cheirs has been founded on humble beginnings. It is a truly inspirational tale born of a passion to excd and commitment to its cause.

From a small 24-page black and whice newspaper co glosswrapped monchly editions in all major metros besides fo rtnightly editions in Sydney, with a priut run of 44,000 copies and a readership of 200,000 per edition, a 24-hour radio station, e-paper and live website, Indian Link has grown co become noc merely a trusted media house, but a forum for me community.

"Our desire was to start

a community newspaper of substance, seeking ouc Indian links iu Australian life," explained Indian Link editor Rajni Ltthra, looking back nosraJgically on those scare-up years. Rajni gave up a career iu psychology to build the Indian link brand. " It was definitely not an overnight success," she confessed. "We did everything, from content generation to ddivery, by ourselves. Bue as che Indian community iu Sydney grew, so too did che interesL With a strong focus on quallty and authenticity, readers became addicted to the features, the stories ofother migrants settling in10 life here, even the Bollywood articles. Growing in scope and influence through various forms of digital and print media, Indian link is now a vehicle for celling the Indian story in Australia."

Both through che Ilagshlp newspaper and diversified media portfolio, Pawan Luchra has established himself as the voice of the community noc only within, buc also in the mainstream. 11 is to his credit that he is repeatedly asked to speak on behalf of Indian Australians ar mainstream gatherings and media panels, commenting on current affairs such as the uranium issue, che international scudenc fracas and che Delhi Commonwealth Games crisis, and also on Indian traditions and beliefs.

During the 2010 Commonwealth Ga.mes, Luthra was invited by Foxtel co commentate on the opening ceremony, the first ethnic journalist to do so on mainscream TV. His insighcful comments on che opulent pageant helped facilitate crosscuJrural understanding.

Ltthra's contributions have been recognised not only through the Multicultural Journalist of the Year award but also for his thought stimulating editorials that have effectively bridged the gap between his councry of birth and adopred land. Always in rune wich the pulse of the community, his discerning and candid scyle of writing has a loyal readership base and Is repeatedJy endorsed by community dders.

Encompassing a range of current and topical issues, including local politics, health and education, state of economy, thorny IndiaAusrralia relationship and burning communicy Issues, his powerful editorials represent the voice of reason while fearlessly confronting the hard truth.

Pawan's notes on community affairshavebeenofparticuJar interest to those observing

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the community &om ourside, g including demographers, 1i X political analysts and social ahistorians. !

The award for Online "' C :, 2!.

Innovation is equally a welldeserved one, for Indian Lillk has always embraced technology wholeheartedly.

"We have been on the cutting edge of technology since our inception," commented Luthra. 'With our most recent innovation, che Indian Link Radio App for smar1 phones, the 24/7 Radio station has gone global. le can be downloaded free from iTunes and allows people me &eedom co listen co live radio."

"The application has already clocked over 5,500 downloads and is growing everyday. With the Indian diaspora worldwide currendy esd.matecl at over 30 million, che Australia-developed radio app has far-reaching potential," Luthra observed.

"Listeners not onJy in Australia buc also in New Zealand, India, US, Canada, Dubai, even Afghanistan and Korea, are enjoying our pick ofBollywood music, and participating in talk back and discussions live on air," be added.

A 'family' feel bas inexplicably been created out of the Indian Link Radio aura: regular lis1encrs 'know' ca.ch ocher, wichout ever having physically met, as callers ring in; milestone birthdays are celebrated; old friends have found each ocher; gee-well-soon wishes are shared aL hours of ill-health; even marriages have resulted amongst listeners. Babies have been born as expecting mums have taken the radio with them to the maternity ward (welcome, baby Om Ganwani of Melbourne), and listeners have even mourned togecher the loss ofone of their own (RIP, Col Kle.r of Sydney).

"Our listeners will happily vouch for chis comrnunicy feeling," Pawan said, adding, "I fed fortunate indeed to have created this forum that has connected people ac such a level" Only last year, Ltchra won me NSW Government's Community Harmony Award for facilitating and promoting social cohesion and understanding between the communities of the Indian subcontinen t and che broader NSW community.

Nor those to rest on meir laurels, the Luthras are already exploring new pastures to build and extend on me existing portfolio. For Indian Australians, this can onJy mean fresh pachways for beccer integration ancl a stronger public voice.

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OCTOBER 2012 25

BOOKS

Life, death and hope in Mumbai's underbelly . .....................................................................................................................

Katherine Boa's poignant and we/I-written book explores the varied lives ofdwellers in the Annawadi slum

Katherine Boo WIN NE R OF THE PULITZE R PRIZE

hat is it about Mumbai that invites such ground-breaking and brilliant works of non- fiction?

From Sukecu Mehta's amb itious work Maxiv111m Ci!)'; to Sonia Faleiro's study of Mumbai's red light district in her book Bea11t!Jiil Thing; now we have a Pulitzer prize-winning author Katherine Boo's just published book on a M wnbai slum, Behind the Bea11tif11/ Fore11m·. It is a landmark work of ' narrative non-fiction' that tells the dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking stories of families striving cowards a better life in Mumbai. ln th.is brilliantly written, fast-paced book based o n aLnost four years of research and uncompro mising reporting, author Katherine Boo brings to life some of tl1e residents of Annawadi, a makeshift settlemen t in the shadow of luxury hotels near the Sahar airport. This book is written in such a way that w hile it is acn1ally reportage, it reads li.ke a riveting novel as Boo makes the characters come alive with her delightful prose and superb sense of drama.

One o f the book's endearing characters is Abdul Husain, a refuse-soning worker whose family are migrants from Uttar Pradesh.

He is a reflective and enterprising teenager w ho sees 'a for tLme beyond counting' in the recyclable garbage that r icher people throw away; his mother Zahmwussa is an indomitable character w ho finds strength from God-knowswhere to hold her family together under the most crnshing o f circumstances. Then there is Asha, tl1e teacher from Vidarbha who is determined to lift herself and her family out of poverty by any means she can - she is not above using her charms and her body to forge contacts with the local Shiv Sena pollies o r the Sahar police - co become the 'slum lord' of Anm1wadi, and failing even that, co use the money given for the education of the most marginalised children to feather her own nest. \Xlich a little luck, her sensitive, beautiful daughter l'vlanju, An11awadi's ' most-everything girl' will soon become ics first female college graduate. And even the poorest Annawadians like Kalu, a 15-year-old scrap-metal chief, believe they are inching closer to tl1e good lives and good times they caU 'the full enjoy'.

Abdul's precocious refusesorting skills rake in a not-too-

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26 OCTOBER 2012

behind the beautiful forever s Katherine Boo

of our lives to poor drudges underground, blackened to tl1eir eres, with t.l1e.ir throats full of coal dust..."

Katherine Boo, a staff writer for The New 1'or.ke1; has spem the last twenty years reporting from within poor commmuties, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. She learned reporting at d1e Washit1gto11 Ci!)• paper, was an editor of The lf/ruhit1gton Month!;• and, for nearly a decade, a reporter and editor at The Washingto11 Post.

Th.is .is her first book.

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LIFE , DEATH , ANO HOP E IN A MUMBAI UNO ER CITY

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This is a brilliant book, beautifully written - and puts the residents of the slum at the centre of the narrative and gives us a glimpse into what it is to be human.

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A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE Katherine Boo was a guest at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne recently, and was

interviewed by Jo Case, resident writer and editor. Here are a few snippets from the interview: ON WHAT STRUCK HER M OST ABOUT ANNAWADI

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This book is written in such a way that while it is actually reportage, it reads like a riveting novel as Boo makes the characters come alive with her delightful prose and superb sense of drama.

inconsiderable income for the large family, and t.l1ey even manage to save enough for a deposit on a parcel of land in a new housing estate. Both Abdul's skills and the family's rising fortLmes are the envy of An nawadi when everything comes crashing down after the family is accused of being responsible for the death of a neighboL1t.

Through the lives of some of tl1e Annawadi residents, Boo shows us how globalisation and the risin g prosperity of the Indian economy reverberates even in the backwaters of a slum; how governmenc money sec aside for poverty alleviation or education of the poor is pilfered by unscrupulous politicians and middle men and women; alternative housing schemes meant to help the slum dwellers \vhen their land is repossessed , are rorced by corrupt men and women ...... the list goes on!

Boo makes it clear in the 'Autl1o r's Note' at tl1e end of tl1e book, that ultimately poverty corrupts everyone in Mumbai. The police stations are a bazaar - a marketplace where guilt or innocence is bough t and sold; charges traded for money; documencs and affidavits manufactured for a price - and

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everyone is on tl1e take.

It is not easy for an outsider to fully Lmderst,'llld the complexities and nuances o f caste, language, religion and etlmicity in India. It is to Boo's credit that she gets them just Ligh t - perhaps ber busband Sunil Khilnani, t.l1e well-known academic forme.rly of John Hopkins University, and ber imerpreters and research assist,'ll1ts helped her; however, t.l1e consistently high level of understanding is remarkable and praiseworthy. Th.is is a brill.iam book, beautifully written - and puts the residents of the slum at tl1e centre of the narrative and gives LIS a glimpse into wbat it is to be h L1U1an.

I was reminded of Orwell's poignant lines from his powerful work on the bleak lives of coal miners, The Road to IVtt111 Pil'r.

O ne can easily substitute die garbage sorters of Annawadi for tbe coal miners of Wigan Pier in thi s quote from the book: "It brought home tO you .... that it is only because they sweat their guts out that supei-ior persons can remain super ior: you and I and the Editor of the Times Litem~y S11pplernent; poets and the Archbishop of Can terbmy and Comrade X ...all of ns really owe the comparative decency

What impressed Boo most was the fact that the people in Annawadi kept trying to improve their lives despite the multitude ofobstacles and setbacks they faced every day. The thought that was foremost on their minds was, 'How do I get to the middle class'.

Even in such a deprived slum as Annawad~ Boo was amazed that people still tried to be good despite the fact that everything was stacked against them, and they encountered corruption at every stage. Boo recounted her own biner experiences with the Mumbai police, and how corruption was all-pervasive.

ON THE EFFECT OF GLOBALISATION AND RISING PROSPERITY OFTHE INDIAN ECONOMY

Boo examined how globalisation affects the lives of even slum dwellers. Even in Annawadi, there was palpable optimism - most people felt the rising prosperity around them would mean that their lives would get better. Talking about Asha, the woman who wanted to be the 'slum lord; Boo pointed out she was from a poor family in Vidarbha, one of the poorest regions of Maharashtra. She was driven by a burning desire to better herself and improve the lot of her children. Others felt they were in the right place (Mumbai) at the right time, and had a chance to 'make it'; that they were on the cusp of changing their lives for the better. Most of them also felt they could escape the opprobrium of their caste in the city.

Women too, felt that gender roles had opened up and there were more opportunities for them in the city.

Boo also saw a lot of economic envy even in Annawadi; it was perhaps an indication of the rising mobility, a sign of hope that opportunities were opening up for upward mobility. What disheartened her was how pervasive low-level corruption squanders the life-chances of millions of poor people in India. So many young people's talents are wasted as a result.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT TOUCHED HER Boo did four years of research for this book and tried to portray different narrative threads to show the diversity of people and characters even in a slum. Her aim was to keep the readers engaged There were some key moments that got to her. She was struck by the choices that people made - and was arnazed that they were often non-economic, despite their being poor. Su nil, one of the boys of Annawadi, loved nature and delighted at the sighting of lotuses growing in a sludge pond behind the slum. He could have plucked and sold them - but he didn't; instead, he would retire there alone and admire the flowers in bloom quietly - for fear that if others discovered them, they would be gone. Similarly, he was overjoyed at the sighting of parrots in Annawadi. Again, he didn't kill them, even though they would have kept him fed for a few days had he done that and sold them.

Justice also mattered to the people of Annawadi - and they wanted to know how Kalu was murdered. When they realized that Boo was trying to get to the bottom of it, they extended her their cooperation. She often moved about Annawadi on her own with her expensive equipment, even late into the nightyet never felt unsafe. The people wanted her to tell the truth to the world; they wanted the truth to come out. It was quite Important to them.

ON THE EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC POLICIES AND M ICROFINANCE Boo has also explored not only the impact of economic policies and politics on a place like Annawadi, but also the work of NGOs. Talking about the effects of microfinance, Boo pointed out that people like Asha felt it was too incremental a route to becoming rich. At the same time, the full benefits of microfinance did not accrue to those at the very bottom and the most in need.

www.ind ianlink.com.au

ij

SPECIALREPORT-

Thispopular Hindu elephant god has complex symbolism in every facet ofhis divine avatar

Moos//i'k., 1•,wha11t1., mo'rlba ~1 bastha Chamam kama vilani/Htht1 mlhm Vt1T11a11a mpa 111ahesi/J[lmj)Hfhm V-ig11a vinqJagapr1dha 11amt1ste ignavinayaka, Vakrathtu1da, Lambodbara, Sarvasidhantba, Gajanana, Ganapati are just a few o f the I08 names that extol the virtues of Ganesha.

The elephant-headed, potbeUied elder son of Shiv a and Parvati is nor only tbe foremost God among the Hindu pantheon, he is perhaps the most loved coo. In bis capacity to remove all obstacles, Gaoesha is remembered everyday by one and all.

Often associated with the auspicious 'Om', he is amo ng the most enigmatic as well. Ganesha's physical attributes are themselves rich in complex symbolism. fo fact, every part of Ganesha's sumpmous body cells irs own little tale.

Primarily, the image of Ganesha is a composite anthropomorphic one. Four living entities - man, elephant, serpent and mouse have contributed ro the makeup of his figure. AJJ o f them individually and collectively have deep symbolic overtones. Ganesha thus represents man's eternal striving towards i ntegration with nature.

This has ro be interpreted raking into consideration tl1e fact that despite evolution over many millennia, man remains closer to animals roday than he was ever before.

The mosr striking fearure of Ganesha is bis elephant head, symbolic of auspiciousness, strength and intellectual prowess.

On the forehead , the Tr.ishula (weapon of Shiva) is depicted, symbolising time (past, present and future) and Ganesha's mastery over it. AU the qualities of the elephant are con tained in the form of Ganapati. The elephant is tlie largest and strongesr of animals of die forest. Yer he is gentle and, amazingly, a vegetarian, so chat he does not kill to eat. He is very affectionate and loyal to his keeper and is greatly swayed if love and kincL1ess are extend ed to hirn.

Ganesha, tl1ough a powerful deity, is no less loving and forgiving,

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INDIAN LINK

and moved by the affection of his devotees.

Yet at the same time the elephant ean destroy a whole forest and is in himself, a one-man army when provoked. Ganesha is sim ilarly most powerful and can be ruthless when containing evil.

Again, Ganesha's large bead is symbolic of the wisdom of the elephant. His large ears like the winnow, sift tlie bad from tl,e good. Although they hear everytliing, they retain only that which is good; tl1ey are attentive to all requests made by the devotees, be they humble or powerful.

WhiJe the large ears and head receive all information, the sm all mouth talks less and tlie tiny eyes represent uanost concentration.

Ganesh.a's trunk is a symbol of bis discrioiioation (viueka), a most in1portant quality necessary for spiritual progress. The elephant uses its trunk to push down a massive tree, carry huge logs to tl1e river and for ocher heavy tasks. The same huge trunk is used to pick up a few blades of grass, co break a small coconut, remove the hard nut and eat the soft kernel i nside. The biggest and most minute of rnsks are within the range of this trunk which is symbolic of Ganesha's intellect and h is powers of discrimination.

The curved trunk perhaps also represen ts the arousal of tlie powers of the k1mdali111: The trunk relares ro die power of hmnan mind. It must be strong enough to handle the e,"1:ternal world, but delicate enough to explo re the subtle realms of die inner sancmm.

Yet anod1er intriguing aspect of G anesba's iconography is his broken rusk, Ekda11ta - Ek meaning one and donta meaning teeth. Theologists believe that tlie rwo rusks represent wisd om and emotion. The broken left rusk signifies that o ne must conquer emotions wid1 wisdom co attain perfection. It carries an interesting legend behind it: \'\,'hen Parashurnma, one of Shiva's favourite disciples, came to visit him, he found Ganesha guarding Shiva's inner apartments.

His fatl1er being asleep, Ganesba opposed Parshuran1a's entry.

Parasburan1a nevertheless tried to urge his way, and a tussle ensued.

Ganesha had at first the advantage, seizing Paraslmrama in his trunk, and giving him a rwirl tliat left him sick and senseless; on recovering, Rama threw his axe at Ganesha, who recognizing ic as his fatl1er's

Indian artist Milon Mukherjee's Nata (naughty) Ganesha: The young Ganesha imitates his father Shiva doing the tandava, the dance of creation weapon (Shiva having given ic to Parashurama) received it with all htunility upon one of his msks, which it immediately severed, and hence Ganesha has but one rusk.

A different legend narrates chat Ganesha was asked to scribe down the epic of Nfahabharata, dictated ro him by its author, sage Vyasa. Taking into note the enormity and significance of tl,e task, Ganesha realized tl,e inadequacy of any ordinary 'pen' m undertake tlie task. He rims broke one of his own rusks and rnade a pen out of it. The lesson offered here is d1ar no sacrifice is big enough in the pursuit of knowledge.

Ganesha is often portrayed ·with six hands. O ne is normally shown in the abhd)'a (fearless) pose of protection and refuge, and the second holding a sweet (rnodaka), symbolic of the sweetness of the realized inner self. The 111odak represents the reward for sadha11a, while the prasttd at bis feet represents the world at o ne's feet waiting to be conquered. Ganesha also holds an axe co cut off bond s of attachment. ln tlie two hands behind him he often holds an t111k11sha (elephant goad) and apasba (noose). The noose is to convey that worldly attachments and desires are a noose. The goad is to prod man to the path o f righteousness and trutl1. \'Xlich this goad C,.a_nesha can both strike and repel obstacles. Yer another hand holds a loms Aower (padma), and it symbolizes the h ighest goal of human evolution, tlie sweemess

of the realised inner self.

Ganesha's pot-belly contains infinite universes. Ir signifies the bouncy of nature and equaniniity, the abili ty of Ganesha to swallow tl1e sorrows o f the Universe and protect tlie world; the position of his legs (one resting on the ground and one raised) indicate die importance of living and participating in the material world as well as in tl,e spiritual wodd, tl,e ability to Jive in the ,vorld without being of the world.

The lirrle mou se tl1at Ganesha is supposed co ride upon is another enigmatic feature in his iconography. Lord Ganesha sits on a tray of lttddtts signifying die wealrn and prosperity mat he gave to his devotees. However, a mouse sirs near the bottom of die statue to represent the ego th.at can eat away at the goodness of a person. At a cursory glance it seems strange tl1at the lord of supreme wisdom has been granted a humble obsequious mouse quite incapable of lifting the bulging belly and massive head that he possesses. Bur ir implies tliar wisdom is an attribute of an ugly conglomeration of factors, and further that the wise do nor find anytl1ing in the world disproportionate or ugly.

The mouse is, in every respect, com parable ro the intellect. It is able co slip tmobsenred or w itliout our knowledge into places which we would have nor thought it possible to penetrate. In doing tliis it is hardly concerned whether it is seeking virtue or vice.

The mouse thus represents our wandering, wa)'\vard 11.und, lured co

Lmdesirable or corrupting grounds. By showing the mouse paying subservience ro Lord Ganesba it is implied that the intellect has been tamed through Ganesha's power of discrimination.

Any attempt to penetrate the deptl1s of tl,e Ganesha phenomenon must note d1at he is born from Goddess Parvati alone, and as such he shares a very unique and special relationship with his mother. The sensitive nature of his relationship with Parvati is made amply clear in the following tale: As a child, Ganesha teased a car by pulling its rail, rolling it over on the ground and causing it great pain, as naughty young boys ate wont to do. After some time, tired of his game, he went co his mother Parvati. He fotmd her in great pain and covered witl, scratches and dust all over. 'iXThen he questioned her, she put the blame on him. She explained tbar she was tlie cat whom Ganesha had ceased.

His total devotion cowards his motlier is tl1e reason why in the South Indian tradition, Ganesha is represented as single and celibate. Ir is said d1at he felt tbat bis motlier Parvati, was the mosr beautiful and perfect woman in the uni\'erse. Bring me a woman as beautiful as she is and I shaU marry her, he said. None could find an equal ro the beautiful Uma (Parvati), and so the legend goes, tile searcl1 is still 011 .. .

In variance wirn the South Indian tradition, in North India Ganesh.a is often shown married to t he two daughters of Bral11na (tl1e Lord of Creation), namely Buddhi and Siddhi.

Metaphorically Buddhi signifies wisdom and Siddhi, achievement.

In tl1e sense of yoga, Bnddbi and Siddhi represent the female and male currenrs in the human body. ln visual arts dus aspect of Ganesha is represented witli grace and charm.

Likewise, no analysis of Lord Ganesha can be concluded witbouc a mention of the mystical syllable Om - the mosr powerful mi.iversal symbol of the divine presence in Hindu thought. The written ma1i.ifestation of di.is divine symbol when inverted gives the perfect profile o f the god with the elephant head.

OCTOBER 2012 27

OPINION

OPINION

Forthright or fourth grade profession?

The journos ofAustralia face a daunting future as they lose their credibility with the public, but they do have one staunch ally

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has such a deep-rooted mistrust of these professions, that l can frilly understand the low rating received by lawyers and pollies (most o f who, incidentally, are lawyers). For BY "W, heaven's sake, wl,y jo urnalisrs? They arc only _, LP AYER the messenger s, and not the m:Lnufacturers of news. They are like retailers who distribute f lace, journalists or the people the product given to them by politicians, behind the news, have themselves lobbyists and anrone else with vested become front page news. Noc in a interests. lo fact, they carcf,illy examjne the positive way, though. Some senior journalists glossy packages given to them gift-wrapped have already q uit before being pushed from by publicists, read between the lines and forensically scrutinise these a major newspaper. Over a thousand of their tribe before putting them on the face the grim prospect of public domain for consumers receiving the sack from the to sec rheir real worth. For all these thankless tasks they country's major newspaper The folk who provide groups in months co come. gee a kick in their teeth. f Low food for thought And the contagion may unfair to place o ur scribes spread to their country 25th o ut of 30 professions on a daily basis covered by the Roy Morgan cousins too. The folk who to hundreds of provide food for thought sw·vey; yet in the US where thousands of the on a daily basis to hundreds sensational journalism is the general public will be of thousands of the general norm, they are ranked much wondering how to put public will be wondering how higher in the Gallup Poll. food on the table for to put food on the table for We do have some wonderful their own families theit own families. Having wordsmiths with high intelligence and integrity. belonged co that profession decades ago, I have my 1 must admit journalists use colourful language as part of sympathy for them. parading their professional Already futurists are skills like peacocks preening their plumage. predicting rhe demise of newspapers within Isn't that what they arc trained and paid 20 years. At least that would give the scribes some breathing time to chart o ,1 t their futme. for? Who will be interested in readjng a But this doomsday is forecast bland narrative' Today's to arrive sooner than 2020 by journalists not only need to the biggest baron of the print inform, bur entertain as well. lnfotainment is the name of media, Mr Murdoch himself. the game in a competitive He should know. 1lc is the Where will the world one with print ink in his veins. . world be without a fearless Where will the world be Even as the pressmen's plight band of men and is being played Out in the without a fearless band of women of the fourth men and women of the papers, someone in a recent estate whose work 'Letters tr) the Editor' coltmrn fo,Lrth estate whose work helps to dislodge uncharitably quipped that helps to dislodge dictators, dictators, flush out these Cjllill drivers could be reflush our frauds and even frauds and even save trained to drive dump trucks save whales? Of course, there whales? at the mines. Those of us may be some bad apples as who form the 'O' (outdated) in every other profession generation have fond or the 'cash for comment' type who get influenced b)• good dreadful memories of how o·u r teachers and parents used t0 badger us wining and dining and overseas jallnts. Plenty on how tO position all five fingers to hold the o f char happens. Columnists arc not w1known to be into calumny, and unabashedly unload quill (pen, dudes) to write c,,rsive letters like their bias on an unsuspecting public. There calligrnphr, But today's yo uth use o nl)' one digit to SMS or scroll on their smart phones are also a few who rake in big monC)' as mcdja for all their info/input/ outp ut, making the minders, aka spin doctors. other four lingers redundant.

Notw ithstanding all that, there is a cruel irony Aside from che c,1rrent threat o f impending in the 1'11lorgan survey. I low often do we hear at backyard barbies someone saying "the redundancy, jo mnos are treated tO an annual other dny I read in the paper..... blnb, blah ..." roasting when the Roy Morgan lmage o f Professions Smvey of Ethics and Trust gets to trump up tn1st in whatever he wants to say. So the general public that professes little published. As sure as sun rises in the east, nurses, doctors and pharmacists take the top trust in members of the fourth estate, has no hesitation in summoning the scribes to their places, while journalists get one of the lowest rankings, just a tad above used car salesmen. resc ue in times of need. l rest my case.

The only consolation is that they are in close I hold the standa.rd aloft in defence o f the company with politicians. The general public profession to which I once belonged.

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28 OCTOBER 2012

Minding your language The power of expression through spoken words have tremendous impact, in building or breaking matriarch who wrote tl1e mucl1-lauded bur controversial The Fe1J1ale Eu1111ch, has bad no hesitation in lashing om at o ther fe1n inine celebrities. During an ABC television debate she said tl1acJulia Gillard should accept tl,e fact that she is 'big arsed'. Some years earlier she had attacked 1'fichelle Obama's choice of prese'.1te'. Leigh Sales' ~'.obing questiomng of Opposmon clothes saying that they were a type of apron Leader Tony Abbocr o n her program and a 'travescy'.

7.30 so enraged an important Liberal Ir was Indian-born Rudyard Kipling, strategist Grahame Morris, chat in an creator o f literary images of die times of the inremperare moment, he called her a ' cow'.

Raj, who said words are 'the most powerful The reaction was furious and Morris was drug u sed by mankind'. For contemporary writer Paulo Coell10 the word is one of the rightly forced to apologise by Abbon.

E lsewhere, calling a female a 'cow' might most destructive and co,vardly weapons ever have had a very different reaction. For invented . We see tl1eir ,1se in political combat. exan1ple, before an open palm of the hand Politicians can be admonished for what d1ey sa}; but radio shock-jocks have often became the emblem of the Congress parry in India, tl,e symbol of the made it d1eir stock-in-trade to Indira-led Congress part use shocking and denigrating was d,e cow and calf. That language. There seems to symbol had a wide appeal and be little to control their an almost sacred connotation. verbose ourput. l ew internet It was Indian-born 1n a globalised world, media which has a.ijsen in Rudyard Kipling, tl1e currenc environment is diplomatic use of language is d1e norm for decent political Facebook and Twitter. Eveu creator of literary school kids are using th.is discourse. The use of animal images of the times device one against another, terms for hum,rns is well of the Raj, who said sometimes with very serious known in common everyday words are 'the most consequences. Some schools Language. For exan1ple, tl1e powerful drug used Americans use d1e term have done well to altogether by mankind' 'Holy cow!' as a form of ban tl1eir srnclents from exclamation, along wid1 having such acconnts and d1e lesser used term 'H oly using these so-called 'social' mackerel!'. media.

In most languages, the word 'swine' is People react to how a word is spoken ai1cl pronounced. Good voices create good inappropriate when applied co any human.

Thus 'You s,vinel' might be unacceptable; speech which can propel ai1 audience in one's but 'You lucky swine!' amongst friends favour. A few individuals have voices which in Britain and Australia is more like a pat have hardly changed over the years. lndia's on d1e back. Between d,e most famous songstress Lata Mediterranean and Soud1east Mangeshkar who is now Asia, it is best to keep away 82, has over 10,000 songs (recognised by Guinness from tl1e word.

In the Middle East, the records) to her credit, and Despite the feminist \\rorcl 'dog' is as equally she still sings to crowded movement and the auditoriw11s in a voice tl1ar is unacceptable as is 'swine'. placing of women ln contrast, in E ngland we indistinguishable from d1at in important of her youd1. hear about an important positions, the place person as being a 'top dog'; The American chi.Id of the woman in however, politicians often star Shirley Temple (84) the household has love to describe themselves whose ability co absorb and still currency in the deliver dialogue and songs as 'underdogs' when they political scene need to get the electorate's to an enchanted audience, sympad1y vote. Cats seemed preserves her youd1ful speech co have had a better rating in what would otl,eru,;se tl1ai1 dogs. Tbus well-paid be called old age. That bureaucracs and corporate speech has obviously helped entities a.re often referred to as 'fat-cats'. in her political career. She has been a US Another term used derisively when applied representative to the UN, ambassador to co humans is the word 'donkey'. Donkeys Ghana a.i1d die Czech Republic and Chief of Protocol of d,e USA. have been considered smpid and useless. In India they are used as beasts of burden by President Obama, in an effort to neutralise washermen. The value of don.keys during his rival Mitt Romney's use of his wtfc Ann war is emphasised through the story of to bring a homely couch co his image, had Simpson's D onkey which helped in rescuing his wife Michelle speak at the launch of his woLmded soldiers during a battle in World campaign. Despite the feminist movement and \\7ar I. A coin commemorates the event. In the placing of women in important positions, S\l(! there is a donkey rescue centre where the place of d1e woman in the household has stray or abandoned donkeys are cared for still currency in the political scene. and nmsed back to health. Visitors including However, tl1e war of words on the world school children, go to the centre. stage and at the micro level such as a school Germaine Greer, d1e ,veil-known feminise still needs moderation.

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OPINION

OPINION

Apple losing its way? The tiger finally roars Will its rivals make an impact on the popularity of this hugely successful technology driven company? were already available in Samstmg's Galaxy S3 unit, released three months earlier.

Aesthetically pleasing as ic may be, the phone is not innovative.

BY ln another blmv to Apple's usually RITAM MITRA seamless product laun ches - and this is perhaps tl1e biggest - they delivered a rom its now- famous lrnmble product with which many consumers were unhapp}' - and ic ,vilJ affect all iPhone beginnings in the garage of cousers, not just those who purchase die fmU1der Steve Wozniak, Apple stands today as the most valuable brand in the latest model. world, leaving previous arch- rival Microsoft Apple's decision to remove Google's in the dust. Now, a year on from the death Maps software from die latest iOS 6 software, and instead include irs own Apple of inspirational co- founder Steve Jobs, a new pair of rivals stand in Apple's way Maps software, has drawn criticism from and d1ey aren't sLtrrenderi.ng as meekly as all over the world. It placed entire cities in Microsoft did. oceans, directed drivers to drive through Apple's recent iPhone 5 shopping plazas, and even launch was the first phone placed its Sydney flagship released by the tech giant store on tl, e wrong side of since Jobs' long bartle wid1 the road. The software left pancreatic cancer came a sour taste in the mouth to an end in October last for consumers who longed Apple's decision to to have che option to year. It also came in the remove Google's context of an increasingly download Google's Maps Maps software ugly battle with C\VO massive software instead. from the latest iOS smartphone players Samsung responded co 6 software, and Samsung, who outsold the iPhone 5 by, within instead include its Apple units by enormous a week, releasing an ad own Apple Maps margins in the first half of portraying chose who wait software, has drawn thjs year, and Google, who in Line for tlie iPhone as criticism from all create the Andro id platform less- than-intelligent, and which runs on almost all suggesting that die Apple over the world non-Apple srnarcphones product was more suitable and tablets. for older generations. lt did not help eid,er Samsung, with its aggressive that Apple raised eyebrows yec simpListic marketing, is worldwide when they effectively trying co beat successfuUy sued Samsung for $1 bn in Apple at its own game, one iliac it has August 2012 over accusations that the dominated for a decade.

Korean company's 'Gala,-1'' units too For years, owning the latest Apple closely resembled their own products. gadget has carried with it a sense of pride, Many viewed d1is as vexatious Litigation, and che latest gaffes will probably not hurt given some of the evide nce the com pany, given .it included the fact diac enjoys a somewhat ridiculous market Sarnstmg phones and tablets were 'rectangular capitaLisation of $630bn.

But if the battle with with rounded edges' - a If the battle feamre Apple considered Samsung and Google with Samsung purely their own. Samsung continues any longer, Lhe and Google has appealed the verdict, smartphone landscape continues any could soon change alleging juror misconduct. longer, the le was crucial d,ac me dramatically. Apple's next smartphone launch should go smoothly even t will be scrutinised landscape could to play down die some,vhat even more closely; and soon change negative attitude that has failing co live up co tl,e hype SLtrtounded che company twice in a row will definitely dramatically for the first tinie in recent pm a dent in tl,e company's memory. The launch gleaming armour. however, was anything but There is no doubt that the seamless, inspiring event Apple has shaped the that it has known to have world in a way no other been in the past. technology company Apple has u·aditionally used the launch could have hoped to iniagine. Otl1er of a new product as a way to display a companies owe Apple a great deal for forcing them to lift up their gaoie. leap-forward in innovation. It is after all, innovation and uniqueness diac gives During Jobs' battle with cancer, diough, Apple the most loyal customer base i11 the many wondered how the company would world. The iPhone 5 rnough, left much to keep up with the iconk legacy he left be desired. Amongst its newest featllres, behind. none were unexpected, and furtl,er, many Apple, it's )'Our move.

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INDIAN LINK

Despite being beleaguered by international and national bodies, the Prime Minister ofIndia sticks to the route ofreform this rear, the racings agency Standard & Poor's direatened to former cue India's rating, as the investment outlook in lndia didn't look good anymore. S&P Director for Sovereign Ratings Tal{llhira Ogawa, said in a statement, "We believe that the government's recent annotrn.cement f you haven't had chance to watch on foreign direct investments is an encouraging development, but ar diis stage BoUrvood film Rab Ne Ba11a Di Jodi, then 1 recommend you co watch it at it is still Lll1Certain whemer t hese measures least once. The first reason is chat it has an can be implemented or not." India's cmrent interesting storyLine and some good acting S&P invesmient raring is 'BBB-', which

by Shahrukh Khan (SRK) and Anushka is considered the lowest by investors for Sharma. The second reason is that d1e future inve.~tment. To maintain credit rating dual role played by SRK in tliis movie can and India's GDP (cunendy forecasted b e compared co the recent to be around 5.5%, me actions of lnclia's Prime lowest in the past 9 years) , Minister Manmohan Singh. the government had no SRK is initiaUy portrayed as odier choice apar t from a simple, bashful man. But going furdier - introducing The UPA couldn't put when he realizes his partner FDI in retail and ignoring the reforms issue Taani (Anusbka Sharma) die opposition. It was is not so comfortable just matter of time and on the backburner wid1 him as sbe is a very gathering some guts. any more, as it was cheerful and vivacious It needs to be seen hampering India's girl, he .scares playing his what real benefits die growth story more second role. Mam11ohan FDl in retail can bring to than ever before consumers, farmers, die Singh seems to be foUowing che same path. J\fter he business environment, was recently lamented infrastructme and overaU,

by TTMB magazine and to India. The policy would me Jf;/asbi11gto11 Post as an let foreign retailers own up 'Lll1derachiever' and 'a dithering ineffecmal to 51 percent of supermarkets and 100 percent of single-brand scores. Cttrrently, bttreaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government', the UPA government has only few states are willing to aUow FDI in suddenly sprung into action. People have retail and welcome stores Like Wal-Matt so far viewed Manmohan Singh as a non(USA), Tesco (UK), Carrefour (France) etc. If tbese companies aggressive 'poodle of Sonia Gandlu', not fully effective are aUowed in, d1ey won't ha,1e a free run as there as prime minister. Bm suddenly now, Singh and are some strings attached. the UPA government seem T hese stores muse source 30 co be showing nerves and percent of their goods from These stores must guts in leading lndia further smaller local industries, and source 30 percent through multiple financi al must invest a nunimum of their goods reforms, one being Foreign of $100 nulLio n or Rs. 450 from smaller local crores in the country. In D irect lnvescment (FDI) in industries, and must retail and aviation. addition, half of d1e FDI invest a minimum One might wonder amount mus[ go cowards of $100 million or why me UPA decided to backend infrastructure Rs. 450 crores in the implement FDl in retail like cold storage and most ar this point of rime. Is it imporcanrly, individual states country because the government can decide whether to allow is now concerned about mese stores in tbeir states die negative public ity ir o r not.

FDI in retail for India is a sensitive bas gained through multiple cormption scandals like the Coalgate, 2G telecom issue and can affect the livelihood of a scandal etc? Is it because many billion people if not done in a careful, international publications have joined controlled and systematic manner. The me bandwagon in tanushing whatever Singh government needs to hold its nerve image was left from this government? I without com.ing under any pressure and believe that die government had no other introduce reform where required, in option - they simply had co take these controlled manner. Invesmient in cold b old decisions. T he UPA couldn't put storage, warehousing ere., wiJI see an me reforms issue on me backburner any improvement in the supply chain and less more, as it was hampering lnclia's growth wastage of fresh produce. As far as how story m ore than ever before. The currenr many benefits it can b ring to the common government had tried to implement FDI man and bus.iness environment in terms of in retail lase year as well, but it backtracked ct)st and competition, weU, we will just have after srroog opposi tion from Mamata to wait and warcb. First India needs co at Banerjee, d, e BJP and otl1er parties. Earlier least give it a chance.

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OCTOBER 2012 29

WELLNESS

Eat well this festive season The season of indulgence has now begun, with a range of festivals making it difficult to stick to a healthy food routine d1em slowly and gradually. Try to use smaller plates and avoid second helpings.

Give away the extras goodies he festival season is here agai11 with Ganesh Chaturchi co Bhai Duj, and just like in lndia, they can never be complete without special foods and good hospitality. With so much variety available as well as some traditional foods chat are only cooked on these particular festivals, ir sometime.s becomes difficult co avoid bigb calorie festive foods. Th.is is the time when even rhe most disciplined person lets loose. And at th.is time of the year, anyone even talki ng about a diet or bealcby eating is deemed to be most unpopular.

But if you have managed to lose ,veight or keep ir off this season, or are a diabetic or have high blood pressure or cholesterol, it becomes even more imperative to eat heald1y as after the feasting is over, you might end up witb many more problems than you starred with. Counting calories at festivals is a big challenge. It bas been seen over the years rbat after the festival season, the rate of obesity goes up, sugar control o f diabetics goes down and those who are predisposed co develop diabetes also sbow signs of contracting diabetes. Experts warn that festival fun - and not the least, cbe culture of sweet-eating d1at peaks rhen can help trigger long-rerm health problems, with diabetes only the start. In fact, Tndia is die diabetes capital of tbe world, as it hosts the most diabetics among all nations.

Bue \\1th festivities following each od1er during this time, it is vet)' difficult to stay focused and ad here co a strict diet schedule. It might scan with a bite here and a bite dlere and before we know it, we have eaten a plate full of e..'<tra calo.cies b)' the end of the day.

If you keep in mind a few points, you need not m iss our all the fun and they might help in avoid health problems later.

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Smaller portions Have smaller portion sizes o f sweets and high calorie foods.

Even while visiting friend s and families, pick up smaller pieces rather than overindulging o r being rude and completely refusing.

Instead of loading your plate to cbe brim \Vith sweets, just rake a few, may be one or two, and ear

3 0 OCTOBER 2012

Do not eat sweets and 111ithai just because they are there or going bad because no one else is eating dlem. It is better to th row away a few pieces of r11ithai railier cban putting your healdl at risk.

Or take the extra sweets to your workplace, to be enjoyed by your muJticulmral colleagues who would definitely love a taste of lndian tradition.

Avoid aerated drinks Avoid having aerated drinks, sweetened beverages and fizzy drinks, which only add unnecessary calories. Instead, have natural refreshing drinks like lemon ju.ice, ja!Jeera, coconut water, g reen tea or fruit juice. Drink plenty o f water, dle healthiest drink available!

Reduced fat foods lf you are making sweets yourself, use low fat ingredients like low fat milk and other dairy products. Use natural sweeteners like honey and dates m make sweers, and avoid using refined sugar or artificial sweeteners. But even if you use low fat products, do not overconsume. Plan recipes that are low in calories and set an example for od1ers co follow. When eating out, d1oose roasted or baked, grilled or barbequed snacks instead of fried ones.

with crackers, outs, raw salads, soups, roasted meats and chicken, soups as part of your snacks and meals instead of fried, oily and high sugar foods and snacks. Do not skip out on sweets completely, bur adding fruits and nuts to d1e plate may help balance dle calories. You could also have a light snack before visi ting, to avoid consuming high calorie foods d1ere.

Gift healthy Avoid skipping meals Do not skip meals to compensate for the extra calories. You always tend to have more cravings and overeat on an empty stomach.

Rather, cry to nibble on healthy snacks like salads, sproms, fruit and nuts to avoid overeating at dinner parties or bingeing o n unheald1y snacks.

Snack healthy Include fresh fruits, yogurt dips

Set an example by gifti ng healiliy foods such as basket.~ of fruit, dried fruit, nuts or candles instead of sweets or chocolates.

where you add dle maximum calories.

Exercise No matter how busy you are o r how late you might have slept dle night before, do nor miss your exercise schedule.

Nothing can be more harmful dlan m issing exercise at th.is time. Most of us tend ro skip our daily exercise during festivals m catch up on sleep or go visiting. But exercise is very important m burn out the extra calories dlat have been consumed and som etimes if we break our .routine it takes a while to get back on track.

Limit alcohol intake Avoid consuming too much alcohol at parties. Sip on some fruit juices or water in between drinks or go slow on drinks to avoid refilling. And make sure you snad, in moderation and snack healthy wid1 alcobol, as that is

Festivals and celebrations should be to mingle and socialize widl friends and not give us an excuse co binge eating. Remember moderation is dle key to enjoy festive food am! still keep d1e weighing scales io balance.

A N AUSSIE BOY IN CHENNAI

A surprising blend ofopinions are discovered when traversing countries that flank the Indian subcontinent Sri Lanka

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BY TIM BLIGHT

ver the years, the Indian subcontinent has esmbLished itself in my heart as my favourite travel destination. What I love most abom the subcontinent is its diversity, not just within India, but in her neighbours: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal. lam fortmiate enough co have visited all of these nations, and have met with their people and heard their thoughts on the region's superpower, Bharat. In this article l recount to you my experiences of these conversations, and the sentiments which may surprise some.

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Bhutan ''The truth is, we depend o n India a lot," said my Bhutanese friend Tenzing. "But they depend on us too - look at the electricity!" he joked, referring to the August 2012 widespread power outages. India imports large amounts of energy from Bhutan, a result of the country's excess of hydroelectricity. Many power plants were b uilt through Indian-Bhutanese joint venntres, and Bhutan appreciates the money that lnd.ia pays for the power. Bhutanese students attend universities in India, and Indian passport holders are the oaJy people who can eater Bhutan without a costly visa/cour package.

The Bhutanese view seems to be that India's and Bhutan's destinies are intertwined, and everyone's a wmner.

Tbe Sri Lankan view of India is perhaps what surprised me the most during my travels. Often I was asked rather brusq uely, "Oh yea h, how's India?" The (mostly Sinhalese) Sri Lankans l met had a fairly non-commirtal opinion of India, which they seemed to consider an often patronizing, not particularly close sibling. In fact, many of the Sri Lankans I mer were much more in terested in their country's place in South East Asia - why tal k about India, when we can chat about Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand?

Blood is thicket than water, and the Buddhist connection seems to b e stronger with the more similar culntre across the Gulf of Mannar. Unless you speak with Sri Lankan Tamils, of course ...

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Although they would never admit itto an Indian, even the proudest Pakistani knows that what they share with India is much greater than what divides them.

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Nepal The veiled hostility continues in Nepal, where I met lots of ordinary Nepal.is who felt that India was overbearing and often inconsiderate. "They're always looking down on us," complained Prakash, a NepaLi associate, who was not alone in his views. ''They th.ink tl1ey're better tl1an us," alleged Ramesh, a frequent business traveUer to India. ''They're always looking for ways to cheat us," complained Don, a Kathmandu resident with an interest in poLitics. However, from what I could gather during my short visit, the Nepalis' attitude towards their neighbour reminded me of the semi-serious resentmen t which exists in , ew Zealand towards Australia, or in Australia towards the dominating force of America. Friendly jibing, legitimate grievances som etirnes, but overall benign!

Thinking about India in Kathmandu: Many Nepalis aren't sure about India's regional dominance

Sri Lankans look out over the ocean at Unawatuna

Pakistan

Bangladesh Maldives Maldivians seem to be coo cl~illed out to worry about lndia too much, although recent history bas contributed to some locals' opinions. The p.r esence of Indian businesses in the l\.1aldives is a sore point, with some worried that the local market isn't big enough for such heavyweight competition.

Jvforeover, a small handful of dodgy deaLi ngs have left some island dwellers wondering whether their smaU nation would be better off without Indian corporate interference. But the Maldivians are also a pragmatic bunch, and like the Bhutanese, recognize and largely appreciate the importance of lndia in their Lives. Not to mention the growing popularity of the IPL among young Maldivians!

INDIAN LINK

Ban gladeshis are a contradictory people. On one band, they will g ladly point o ut areas in which India has wronged them, such as the contentious Farakka Barrage, a dam in West Bengal which regulates Bangladesh's access to tbe Ganges. On the otl,er band, they enquire enthusiastically about, "What is India li ke?" The economic reality of modern Bangladesh is something which leaves many feeling slightly envious of 21st cenmry India.

None of this however, dan1pens their pride in their smaU nation.

The fact that many people ignore India's role in the liberation of Bangladesh should not be seen as a snub; when a nation's history is only 40 years old, one muse focus on what builds pride, not w hat erodes it.

Bhutanese circumambulate the National Chorten in Thimphu

Many Bangladeshis hope their country can piggy-back on India's successes

A hh, Pakistan. 1 saved tbe best (or juiciest!) for last. Given how fraught relations are with India, it is only natural thac perceptions are somewhat confused. But the mainstream Indian idea of Pakistan as an impoverished, uncivilized bastion of MuslimHindu hatred is simply inaccurate.

Like India, it is an .incredibly multi-layered nation, and the majority of people are able to distinguish between l ndia's government and her people.

"They're like our brotl1ers;' said my good friend Sajid of Indian people adding, "Vf/e can't forget that we were once part of India."

Of course, people like Sajid won't be heard on television news channels, when there are isolated cases of Aag-burning to sensationalise. Occasional spurts of nationalist fervour aside, most Pakistanis these days enjoy Indian movies, music and culmre. And although they would never admit it to an Indian, even the proudest Pakistani knows that what they share witl1 lndia is much greater than what divides tl1em.

OCTOBER 2012 31

'' Perfectionism and managing SCHOOL

the high achiever Not being able to achieve the high standards set for themselves by themselves can lead to a feeling offrustration and anxiety in children and adults

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Teacher pleasers Perfectionism needs to be distinguished from 'teacherpleasing' or parent-pleasing behaviours. \'Vhilsr obedience can be valued in classroom and household relationships, ir is not a sign of intelligence or perfectionism. Pear of criticism can make a child want to be compliant. Perfectionism however, rend s co be viewed as an inner prompt ramer d1an arising from an external source.

Langua~e and rationalisation of feelings W hen a chi.Id acquires language at a y0tmg age, they can be very engaging, chatty and cute.

This can encourage furd1er

32 OCTOBER 2012

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that ~hey would classify as perfectionistic.

Perfectionism is evident when a chi.Id (or adult) focuses on completing activities and tasks tO best that they can possibly do and to a perceived standard of excellence drnt would classify the o utcom e as 'the best'. Whilst doin g work of a high standard is to be valued, d1e associated feelings of anxiety, stress, frustration and Low self worth may need to be addressed.

Perfection.ism is o ften seen in children who display d1e following characteristics: they are often bright, usually first born (eldest) o r only children., fu1d change difficult to manage and are often anxious about the results of an endeavonr they undertake. A person manifesting perfectionist tendencies and w ho is also highly visual, may tend to arrange their workspace to a very specific standard. Perfectionists can become stressed around deadlines and performance, if there is clutter or a sense of d isorganisation o r unpredictability.

Such smdents also tend to need fixed times for srudy, a clear working space, a tidy classroom and teachers who are ordered and methodical.

Perfectionists can become stressed around deadlines and performance, if there is clutter ora sense of disorganisation or unpredictability

developmen t o f language as older children, adults and others tall, to the child. The acquisition of language at a young age can lead to difficulty with respect to the management of perfectionistic behaviours. The chi.Id with strong language skills mar be encouraged to 'ca.Im down' or to 'stay cool' when they baulk at a task or express dissatisfaction with d1eir own achievements. This use of logic and rational thinking actually undermines d1e child's capacity to h elp to manage perfectionistic behaviours.

Ad ultification A further complication char arises wid1 me early acquisitio n of language is that of adu.ltification.

If di.is occurs, me chi.Id tends to be treated .Li ke an equal of che parents, wi m d1em appealing to d1e child to manage, and even asking d1e child for their opinion on various matters, Like feelings and choices they would l.ike to make. Some measure o f independence is encouraged by mis approacli, but far greater dependence also occurs.

This depende nce is pi:imaci.ly emo tional.

Emotional dependence and the perfectionist A chi.Id manifesting perfectionism can find it very difficLtlt to cope with perceptions of 'failure', performance that is even slightly below that which d1ey are capable of achieving, and ma)' be very reluctan t ro take risks when rhe outcome is nor certain. In a classroom such children wi.11 not venture answers co questions unless they are certain t hey are correct. l'vforeover, if given an open-ended task they can find it extremely difficult to know where to start. They will often ask to be told exactly what to do.

For teachers such behaviours seem very limiting, as me smdeoc appears very dependent.

Moreover, as the child ages and passes through high school such perfectionism undermines me goal o f helping a child to 'learn co .learn'.

The language of feelings It is very important chat sn1dencs wid1 perfectionism learn how co manage this tendency and become more resilient. If they can be taught how to identify, articulate and rake control over d1e feelings associated with me stress around performance and acluevemem, they will have acquired skills for life.

The first step is d1ac feelings muse be articulated. This is a very difficult step. The o nus here lays with me adults not d1e chi.Id. I r sounds quire easy to do - simply 11ame d1e feelings associated wid1 me process o f doing something where performance rea.lJy, really matters.

Managing stress The typical response from a parent or teacher in managing m is situation usua.lJy takes d1e following form: "You have tried yom: best, just be happy wi th what you have done". " D on't be so upset. Just get ir done. No need getting so stressed abom it".

These responses whilst well.m eant, ate genera.lJy worse man ineffectual. They actually attempt to manage emotion wim logic or reason. The usual effect is to create a wide gap between the adL1lt and child, and for the situation to worsen ramer dian improve. So the question arises as ro whether there is a better and more effective way with lo ng .lasting e ffects. Formnately, rhe simple answer is 'yes'.

What feelings?

So what does a child feel when they believe they have to produce me perfect piece of work every time? \'\'hat feelings are being

expressed when a child rips up work and starts again ? An obviou s answer, in the scenario given, is that 'the child feels angry or frustrated'.

Unformnately d1e obvious answer is n ot tbe correct one. \l\lhi.ls t they may be expressing strong frustration , the actual feelings leading to the frustration need to be identified. Behind d1e frustration, a child probably feels 1.ike mey have disappoim ed them selves, mat they will be judged for letting down omers.

This, in turn may be premised on low levels of self word1.

Thus, add ressing the 'anger' and calming it acma.lJy does nor iden tify or address the tmder.lying feelings.

Levelling feelings: Three benefits W hen a child is told how they are feeling - not asked how Lhey are feeling - it has mree benefits. l f a parent or teacher was able to say, " D oing well rea.lly matters to you. When you have high srandard s then it is very stressful having to complere dungs in a short rime".

These words first tell a chi ld d1ar me adult understands d1em. This is a very significant.

Second!)', d1e acmal articulation of the feelings helps to normalise the feelings and also give them a name. This sratement should be followed by a short period of silence. At th.is time t he child norma.lJy agrees because clearly they have been tmderstood and this articulation creates a powerful and palpable sense of Lmderstandi.ng.

Lastly, the parent can d1en say, "And when we feel d1ese overwhelming feelings d1en we can breadie slowly and calm ourselves down". ln tl1is way tl1e parent also role models coping strategies.

If mis pattern is followed, over time the child should learn

Behind the frustration, a child probably feels like they have disappointed themselves, that they will be judged for letting down others

'' to iden tify meir own feelings, articulate them for themselves and learn to manage the feelings tl1rough self-talk and calm breathing.

A note of caution, however.

Whilst this is a very simple model, it is very difficult to apply for a number of reasons. Firstly, i.n today's society we are n ot u sed to having tl1e time required ro actua.lJy wor k through the process or to even identify how we feel. Secondly, leveJJing feelings runs counter to t he dominant paradi!,>m o f managing through rationalisation and .l.o gic. T hirdly, articulating feelings cakes time and practice. Fourthly, th is type of articulation can mal,e the parent feel vulnerable. T h is is because tl1ey may well be managing a situation differendy to h ow they have ever managed prior. A nd this can feel novel and weak. Lastly, tl1e mode.I takes some time to perfect and thus feel.ing secure in tl1e process can take time. lo summary, perfectionism can drive people ro achieve to a high standard consistently.

When perfectionism is associated with high levels of anxiety, a rational or .logical approacli d oes n or help in eimer easing srress or a.ssistiog a child to become better at iden tifying and coping with the behaviour.

A n approach based on an w1derstanding of d1e underl}ring feeling tends to be more effective, and helps in self-understanding and long term coping.

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MUSIC

All the murderous rage about a linguistic curiosity

From Tanglish to bhangra and R&B, this song has transcended boundaries oflinguistics, rhythm and emotion

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'm one of those second generati_on migrants who, faced with the pressures of maint.'UJlllg culniral continuity, grew up more traditionallyociented in some ways than my relatives in the mother country. I hover between diis conservatism and a radicalism ,vhich completely reject.~ convention. Hence, my music taste spans from deeply conservative, classical (or folk) traditional styles to wildly alternative innovations on the fringe. One o f the fallouts of diis is that I never actively listened to a lot of Indian popular music except at weddings, as it was nor traditional enough o r alternative enough for me.

Ar the end of 2011, my brother's family returned from a trip to India and one of the first things he asked me was, " Have you heard the Kolrweri song?" I hadn't, and educated myself with YouTube clips of the song, including a chipmw:ik version.

I wasn't mar impressed by the song. My first reaction was that it perpen1ared the racially discriminatory obsession with fair skin so prevalent in India through focusing on a 'girl with white skin' \\~th a 'black' heart as the object of love. The idea that white skin is the epitome of beauty and a black heart is a bad thing, and die kind of overt colourising of good and bad was a bit coo overt for my liking. I may be accused of reading too much into a nonsense song, but these questions need to be asked. The sheer popularity and populism of a song which did not, to my min~ have much to ir, also annoyed me. Ok, just another blip on die Indian pop tirneline, or so l diought.

Then, a couple of months later, l picked up a copy of Indian Link from the local spice store and saw a headline about a Kolr111e,i Di flash mob on the cover. In mild shock, I brought it home and soon my wife and l were on YouTube enjo)ring the Pitt St display - wel.l done, people! But after checking our flash mobs in Auckland, Chennai, USA, Canada and Holland, we discovered d1ar there were versions

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of the song spanning different languages including Punjabi, French, Sinhala, Italian, English (as opposed to the original 'Tanglish').

Some of these were superimposed over die original music and ochers were musically reshaped into bhangra or R&B rearrangements.

The linguistic and stylistic diversity of these different versions of die song motivated me co give di e song a second cliance, after I got over d1e slight embarrassment that it would take such a self-evident nonsense song (or self-proclaimed ' flop song') to place Tamil adu and die Tamil language so prominently on the world stage.

The original song uses mostly English words within a simplified Tamil syntax and case endings called 'Tanglish' (for the record, I'm nor a big fan of diis term as it could be used for any mixture of English with a language beginning witb 'T' such as Telugu, Tullu, Thai, Turkish or Tagalog).

The lines are very simple and formulaic so it doesn't rake much to understand the song if you can understand English and have some awareness of Indian pronunciation.

India has a rich liistory of poetry and song diat mL"Xes and moves between different languages - in south lndja this is called 111anipra11"1,m,. 'lvlmil is Tamil for 'ruby' and 'pravdld is Sanskrit for 'coral', depicting d1e high aesthetic regard given to such poetry. The word 111t111ipmvtil"m is also used in contemporary Tamil co refer to

code-switching ~1r d1e mixing of languages in conversation, which is very common across India and the world over. The interspersion of English words into Tamil conversation is deeply entrenched, particularly in Chennai where loan words which end in consonant.~ are often followed by die vowel u, making them fir into South Indian pronunciation. This featLtre is called vowel epenthesis and occurs even in Tamil where words such as pal (tooth), sol (speak), 11w11 (dirt) and /fr (country) become pal/11, sol/11, t11a111111 and 1im in d1e spoken Taniil of various parts of Tamil adu. This same change o ccurs to English words w hich end on consonanrs like girl (girl-11), skin (skin-11) etc. And it only happens in the South, highlighting the regional flavour of the language of the song.

The other language versions of Kolaueti are equally interesting.

Amongst my favourites is one of the Sinhala versions (of at least three!) called 1'1etre song which appears to be about some misadventure involving a taxi or auto-rickshaw metre. While 1 expect a degree of ridiculousness from die clip and the insobriety of the singers' voices, I am intrigued as to how it's all lyrically strung together. The English R&B version of Ho)J) cott!dJ•ou df/ this to by the UK-based Tamil background singer Arjllll is also interesting, because it draws on die catcliiness of the tune and restyles it with an R&B touch.

,,,e

Arjuo's version coolifies the lyrics, replacing the 'Tanglish' 'flop song' vibe with something more in keeping with an R&B song (to make the point, his YouTube clip begins with a d isclaimer: 1 don't usually do diis type of song...). Then there's die Punjabi bhangra version whjcli is lots o f fun too. The different versions show how the sentiment of being struck down by love in the Tamil word kolave1i Qiterally 'murderous rage') is variously adapted and reinterpreted.

While many of the versions and flash mobs have come from the lndian diaspora living abroad, the flash mob hdd in H olland by the G ya.s Groningen rowing team breaks d1at mould, enacted by non-Indian looking performers.

The whole performance confounds several preconceived ideas (well, at least mine) about music, identity and language, and so is worth cbecking out. It looks like the performers are taking the song way too seriously and parodying it at the same time.

Whatever it is, a Im of thought has gone into ir and clearly die 'Tanglish' is accessible enough to make the dramatisations hilarious.

When my brother's family visited LIS in Canberra over Easter, this time it was us showing them Kolaueri clips and the Durch version had us all in stitches.

Thanks to the Sydney Aash mob, l revisited rliis nonsense song and took d1e time to see it th.rough fresh lens, en joying ics different

manifestations. Ok, ir is quire catchy and l admit rliar it often gees played in Ollf house (in one or more of irs different versions) between our varied appetite of classical and foll<, traditional and hybrid, sacred and silly music. The linguistic and cultural aspects of the manifestation s of the song continue ro intrjgue me, and may do so for a while yet. I've now djscovered diar there is a Kolaveripedia which is documenting the global spread of Kolaveri across India and the world, including an lSKCON version w ith the "Hare Krishna" mantra.

While its status as a 'Tamil' song may be debatable, Kolaveri is definitely d1e product of a Tamil language setting, and it has been embraced across India and die world like dosai. This fills me wid1 a mixed sense of pride and embarrassmenr (about Kol,,veri, not dos111l), but that's popular cu.ltLtre for you. The other interesting fallout has been a debate it has inspired about the integrity of language manifest in a '.Jaffna' version of the song in prosaic Tamil asking (die authors and fans) why 'my Tamil language' has been subject to a murderous rage (en Tamizp 111ozpi Jllel 1makkift1 inda kolaveri dd). And with a foot in traditional revivalism and another in tmbridled hybridity, I find myself appreciating the creative expression on bodi sides of the debate, and hopping on die Kol111,c1i bandwagon.

OCTOBER 2012 33

BEAUTY

Whether you have large almond shaped eyes or not, the shape ofyour brows can enhance your peepers. Here is a guide on how to make sure your eyebrows frame your eyes perfectly.

ust like a haircut where you choose a cue chat suits your face, it is important co keep in mind the shape of rour face and features before tweezing or threading your eyebrows into a certain shape. Some folks are lucky - they have perfectly shaped eyes and brows. Bm for those who don't, it is possible to make the mos t of what they have. Here is a guide on do's and don'ts to make sure your eyebrows frame your eyes perfectly.

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If yo u have thick eyebrows, ir is better co keep them chat way and not shape th em to become pencil tl,in. Really dun eyebrows make a person look older. You should consider thinner eyebrows (and even that should be in moderation) only if yo u have a narrow forehead and very thick brows.

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The ideal shape for eyebrows should be thick at the stare, dunning out in the middle in proporr.ion and gradually tapering out cowards die corner of the eye. Whatever the thickness of your brows, try and retain this shape. Also, avoid angular shape

in brows. The natural shape is a gentle curve, and if there is a peak in die middle or towards tl,e latter half, it can make you look harsh and stern.

If yom eyebrows meet in the centre above your nose (essentially tl,e spot where you place a b indi), you have co ensure tl,at there is a gap between your brows. The ideal gap should be a little more than tl,e widdi of your index finger. Clearing up this space can open up the area and make your face brighter.

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If you decide to have highlights m your ha1r, make sure you lighten your eyebrows too. I don't mean go blond e on yom face, but you can opt for a dark shade of brown ro lighten your brows.

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If you have natmally scanty eyebrows or hair d1at d oesn't grow close togedier, fill in tl,e gaps with an eyebrow pencil. :Most women grm7 itate towards black eye pencils but ideally a dark brown works better. Use it to fill in colour where the hair is sparse - usually at die end or the start of the eyebrows. You can also consider using waterproof pencils if it's a hot day.

Make-up artists recommend plucking eyebrows with a tweezer over direading or waxing them into shape.

A tweezer helps you decide the shape better and you can isolate the hair you wane to remove. Also, if you have a do co attend in die middle of the week, you can pluck o m the extra hair and maintain a well-groomed appearance.

A !or of women have naturally long eyebrmvs. II dieir peepers below are large and tl1ickly lashed , tl,ey look wonderful - case in point, Deepika Padukone. Bm if you have really thick and long brows, bur a small face and small d eep set eyes, it is better to thin them out a bit. You can take one line of hair off, but from die top of tl,e eyebrow, not below.

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Along with your eyes, it is important to have well-shaped eyebrows.

Keep a good tweezer handy and if you have a spacious batllfoom where you can keep a magnifying m irror like they have in hotel rooms, you can keep your brows in good shape at all times.

Casual j oumalists So you have a passion for writing ....

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

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

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

Contact info@indianlink.com. au 3 4 OCTOBER 2012

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TRAVEL

I angu.idly reclining under a lai:ge beach umbrella at the Independence Hore!, a tanned wellrounded Russian puffs on a Cuban cigar, while his glamorous companion wears a bored expression as she gazes out to sea. With a long crescent shaped beach, clear blue sky, casuarinas and swa)~og coconut palms, this could be anywhere hot and exotic, except that we three are the onl)' guests.

Could this really be Cambodia? ln a cow1try renowned for the temples of Angkor Wat, the Mekong river and the museums, temples and palaces found in the capital Phnom Penh, the lesser known coastal resort towns are an unexpected find for those travellers who take a trip off the beaten track.

Sihanoukville bas srwming white sand beaches, budget guesthouses, rustic ourdoor beach front restamwts, a national park and diving excmsions to nearby islands including the Bamboo and Monkey islands that are teeming with marine life.

Given Can1bodia's recent history, the resurgence of Sihanoukville is remarkable. In tbe early 1960s, a port was builr and a town created, named after King Norodom Sihanouk. Then came the Vietnam War followed by the Khmer Rouge who murdered l. 7 million people, almost everyo ne in the country w ho possessed wealth or an education. Their holiday homes and resort hotels were abandoned and fell into ruin.

Also in d1e '60s the Independence Hotel was Sihanoukvill.e's premier resort, and many celebrities stayed here. Exuding a retro 007 James Bond ambience with the classic sounds of FranJ~ Sinatra coming from the bar, and black and white photographs of Jackie Kennedy who scayed here in 1967, I felt myself taken back in time.

Ir was lmv season and the mysterious Russian couple and I had the opulent, fully-restored hotel to ourselves.

After breakfast, being d1e only guest faced wid1 choosing from a lavish buffet selection, I asked the Duey ]\l[anager if I could walk ro all beaches in a day. ''Yes, ok!" was his reply. Unconvinced d1ar he had fully 1mderstood my question, I set off with a tourist map. After several kilometres I neared a fishing village at the end of a peninsula. Young schoolgirls .indicated I had come too far and practising their English,

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3 6 OCTOBER 2012

walked me back ro the right pad1.

Sokha Beach has a beautiful white sand beach, a spacious resort and a handful of guests. Then past the famous Golden Lion roundabout, internet cafes, bars and massage parlours to die ma.in beaches of Serendipity and Ochheuteal. Here you will find guesiliouses wiili rooms from USS3 and beach.front restaurants w ith raised bamboo platforms where local families sit to enjoy BBQ seafood. The furthest, Orres Beach is the prertiest ai1d least touristy, d1e guesd10uses still more rustic.

I found the bucolic laidbad{ charm char I had come in search of several hours away along the coast in Kep, where Phnom Penh's elite established a retreat in the first half of the 20d1 century. The)' built modernist mansions many in the style of Le Corbusier, some now sympathetically restored ai1d turned into lrnmry residences or boutique hotels. Ald10ugh the narrow beach in Kep fronts a retaining wall and is less spectacular than the beaches of Sihanoukville, the town has an appealing relaxed feel to it. For tlle days I spent here, I cycled from Kep Lodge, a delightful place widi bungalow:, set in a lush tropical garden on a hillside, ro the waterfront crab market and along the headland for a tasty vegetable curry at Brise De Kep restaurant and guesthouse. l took a boat ride co nearby Rabbit Island and after circumnavigating it, in die company of two young New Zealanders, spent several hours relaxing in a hamnmck until the fishing boat rernrned. There are also waterfalls and pepper plwtations to explore along a series of hiking trails. 1 took a trip to the dusry town of Kam pot w id1 its yellow and wbite French colonial buildings co Bokor Mou.main, d1e sire of an abandoned hill station built by the French in 1922 wid1 the ruins of a Catholic Church, hotel and casino abandoned since 1972. It is an eerie haunting pbce surrOLmded by d1ick impenetrable fog where many Cambodians ,vere executed bi7 the Khmer Rouge.

A Chinese company is building a massive casino and turning die road leading up there into a highway. lf you can get beyond the bars, massage parlours, too man)' ruk tuk drivers in search of a fare and aging westerners wit!, long white pon)rtails riding noisy moto rbikes, Sihanoukville has a lot to offer, but for me, Kep is one of d10se special places d1at l think of often. Cambodia's southern coast is well worth the detour.

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TRAVEL NOTEBOOK CAMBODIA'S COASTAL RESORTTOWNS GETTING THERE SingaporeAirlines, MalaysiaAirlines,Air Asia, Thai AirwaysorVietnamAirlines fly to Cambodia. Jetstar Asia and BangkokAirways also fly there. From Phnom Penh buses departfrequentlyfor both Sihanoukvilleand Kep. Journey time is under4 hours. Many travellers also arrive in Sihanoukvilleby bus from Bangkok, taking around 9 hours. Kepis Yerycloseto Vietnam and traYelling onto Phu Quoc Island is highly recommended.

WHERE TO STAY The top beachfrontchoice in Sihanoukville in the 1960s, the Independence Hotel has been given a stylish redo. 855-34-943-300; www.independencehotel.net In Kep, Kep Lodge provides bicycles. and mealstaken in the openair dining room are a highlight. 855-092-435-330; www.keplodge.com Other choices include the Beach House, La Villa de Monsieur Thomas a restored colonial vi Ila, and the Veranda Natural Resort.

WHERE TO EAT Hawker markets are lively, great fun and providean excellent introduction to Malaysian cuisine. KK isone of Malaysia'smost ethnically diverse cities, reflected in the variety of cuisines available I including Malay, Indonesian, Filipino, Chinese, Indian and local dishes from Sabah, incl udingjungle ferns. : TIP , Take crisp US dollarsin small denominations since most restaurants, hotelsetc.,charge in US currency. Credit cards : are not widely accepted. Canby Publications has free guides available from hotels with maps and info.

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Match required for my sister, 5'2'; 34 years, never married, beautiful, slim, fair complexion, double degree holder, and Aust citizen, working in family business. We are a Punjabi Khatri family, settled in Melb. Caste no bar. Please send bio data and photo to matri@hotmail.co.uk 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, MasterofTeaching and MBA from Australian universities. Working as project officer in well reputed company.

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Teen treats Active youngsters can find creativity in cuisine these school holidays

he school ho]jdays have begun and we all k.now that somerimes it equates to adults scrambling for acriviries and teens getting quickly bored at home. \\7ell, there's a solurion to that - a fun, easy solurion. Cooking! And no l don't mean it in an Auncyji kind of way, "Beta, learn how to make do/ l'Oti for your marriage!"

Cooking is an excellent form of de-stressing and results in some fabulous results (when done correctly).

So here's a few recipes for the teenagers in school holidays.

The comple,'City level is zero so anyone can do these and learn the basics of getting .in and around the kitchen w ith minimal damage.

They are quick easy and fun, and very very yummy. Enjoy!

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Cuwrnber lemon and mint drink One of my favourite nonalcoholic-make-anycime-anywhere drinks for spring, this is a Ligh t and easy concocrion that cleanses the palate and sootl1es the soul.

1. Fill half a glass with lemonade 2. Chop up a handful of mint and a quarter of a cucw11ber into thin slices and drop into tbe glass 3. Top up with soda or sparkling water 4. Cuc a wedge of lemon or lime and perch on rim before serving Easy. Fresh and fantasric!

. - .....•........•.. caprese on a sti,k These nibbles can be used as snacks or an encree, and are quick, easy and fun to make and eat. Younger children can help in making tl1ese, provided the skewers are not too sharp. Use furn, ripe cherry tomatoes and good-quality fresh mozzarella for these salad skewers. They are perfect for that movie marathon you have organised for ten friends (Beware, they are so good-lo o king your mum might gee you co make these for her ne,'<t big patty).

24 grape or cherry tomatoes 24 mecliwi1-sized basil leaves 250 gms fresh mozzarella, drained, cue imo I-inch cubes (cry bocc~mcini, or better scill, baby bocconci.ni, you won't have to cue d1em)

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24 shore bamboo skewers or long coothpicks 1 tbsp olive oil Sea salt to tasre (for a variation, try smoked salt) Freshly ground pepper

with M&Nfs and fenced with Kitkats. I wanted it, and badly!

I made myself this yummy, impracrical, fattening delight for Eid. Bur it was easy to mal{e and casted absolutely out of this world.

Thread one tomato, a basil leaf and a cube of mozzarella onto each skewer. Repeat the process until all 24 skewers are ready.

Lay the skewers on a serving platter. Drizzle olive oil over tl1em and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

Chocolate cake mix (vou can make it from scratch, but why reinvent the wheel?)

I pack (350gms) M&Ms I pack of 12 medium sized Kitkat chocolate bars For the chocolate icing I cup icing sugar 1 esp cocoa 1 tbsp butter or margarine I tbsp milk

••••

.............

Can you Otonelloni l Jove pasta. l absolutely love it.

I know it's earing a bowlful of carbs and its usual partner in crime is a stringy, soft, yummy melted cheese which isn't that great for you either, but when it comes co cannelloni I can't help myself! So here is a quick and easy recipe to try at home and enjoy all those carbs and cheese!

In moderarion that is, and don't repeat the dish for at lease rwo weeks ...

500m.l tomaco paste or pasta sauce 600g ricotta cheese (low- fat, if desired) 250g cooked mince Oamb or bee0 2 tbsp Rat-leaf parsley, chopped 2 tbsp basil, chopped 1 egg ½ cup grated parmesan Salr and cracked black pepper co caste 1 cup grated low fat mozzarella San Remo readymade cannelloni Preheat oven to 190°C. Lightly grease a 20cm x 28cm x 4cmhigh ovenproof dish. Pour in a quarter portion of the comaco paste, spreading evenly over base of dish. Keep as.ide. Place ricotta, mince, parsley, basil, parmesan, egg, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix co combine.

Take each cannelloni tube and stuff witb the ricotta mixture. Lay tubes side by side in the dish.

Spoon over the rest of the mmato paste to coat tl,e tubes, using enough to suit your preference. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheeses and bake for 25 minutes or uncil golden. Serve warm with a green salad.

Bake the chocolate cake from the mix, as per the inscrucrions on the pack. Leave to cool on a wire rack. Prepare the chocolate icing by mixing together all tl1e ingredients to form a smood, consistency. Next, transfer to a serving dish and ice the top and sides evenly with the icing mix.

Before the icing sets, quickly but evenly d ress the top with M&Ms scarring from tl1e outside edge of the cake, making a

concentrk circle in a different colour unril you reach the centre.

Ensure that you leave at least a centimetre gap from the edge of die cake and the outermost concentric circle.

Gen tly fence me sides with Kitkats. Leave to sec and th en serve.

•••••••••••••••••••• Chocolatey Chocolate Cake I saw a picntre on Iostagram and T fell in love. It was of a chocolate cake with chocolate icing topped

OCTOBER 2012 39

E:NTE:RTAINME:NT ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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

Sridevi is a sensation It's been a long, long time since Sridevi graced the big screen, but she is now back with a vengeance, and we can all expect to see much more of the versatile actress. Sridevi is in the news for English Vinglish that marks her comeback onto the big screen after 15 years. And it's not just fans who are queuing upto see the actress, Bollywood's best are also waiting for her re-debut.

Amitabh Bachchan, who saw a preview version ofthe film, recently tweeted that Sri's performance left him in tears.

Film-maker Ram Gopal Verma (RGV) said: "Can't wait (for the movie to release). For first time in 20 years, ever since I became a director, I am going to stand in a line and buy a ticket to see Sridevi:' And actor Anil Kapoor insists that his sister-in-law and co-star Sridevi is one of the best actresses of recent times. "She is a complete actress. I have done a lot of films with her and in the last many, many years, I think she is the best;'the 52-yearold said recently. Anil and Sridevi worked together in the past with successes like Mr. India, Laadla and Judaai.

Sridevi is married to Anil's elder brother Boney Kapoor who, says the buzz around Bollywood, is planning a sequel to his 1987 hit production venture Mr. India. Naturally, Anil is expected to be a part of the sequel, and perhaps, so will Sridevi.

English Vingish will release soon, produced by R Balki and directed by his wife Gauri Shinde, who makes her debut with the film. It will see 49-year-old Sridevi playing housewife Shashi, who is bullied by her children for her poor

GUESS WHO?

command over the English language.

So get ready for what is likely to be a sensational performance from Sridevi!

Vyjaya nth ima Ia's comeback call!

Yesteryear actress Vyjayanthimala Bali has decided to return to the world of grease paint after 42 years, but only for Sandeep Malani's issue-based movie Janleva 555. All of76 and still going strong, Vyjayantimala last appeared in the 1970 release of Ganwaar, and urges everyone to "watch this one of its kind film''.

The actress will be seen in a two to three minutes'video to be played before the film, which talks about how to save cobra bitten children in villages.

Janleva 555 has been made to support and help acquire ventilator systems for the hospitals, said the veteran actress and added, "First of all it is a great thought and it's very useful for the people in the villages, and especially children, who die of snake bites''.

"This kind of ventilator system to save children dying of snake bites is a very noble task and I appreciate this work. I wish the makers of the film all the success and I request everybody to please watch the film because it will be one of its kind,"the actress said in a statement.

Although Kalpana Pandit, who produced the film and also plays a pivotal role in it, is reluctant to discuss details, she is clearly thrilled at Vyjayanthimala's contribution. "There can be no bigger blessing for my maiden home production Janleva 555 than receiving the good wishes of the first original superstar of Indian cinema," she said, adding, "She has given a social message in a special video, which will be shown before the beginning ofthe film. The two to three minutes' video of superstar Vyjayanthimala will have a critical medical message for cobra bitten children. I can't reveal much about the subject. You will understand it once you will watch the film:' Janleva 555 also features Anant Nag and Akash Hora and is scheduled for a mid-October release. Kudos to Vyjanthimala for taking on the mantle of mentor for a good cause!

Vivek a modern Gabbar Singh?

He played a young Mahatma Gandhi in a critically acdaimed film .

(Find the answer under Caption Contest)

ActorVivek Oberoi has played many roles but his latest one for Krrish 3 is the most challenging, described as "Gabbar Singh of our times". Vivek plays the baddie for a change, and he's excited about the role.

"I am really very, very excited about Krrish 3. It's a really cool, bad character and it's a role of a lifetime. It's like a Gabbar Singh of our times, so I am very

www.indianlink.com.au

.................................. excited;' said the 36-year- old actor.

Directed by Rakesh Roshan, Krrish 3 is a sequel to the 2006-superhero flick Krrish, featuring Hrithik Roshan in the lead. And to balance the badness, Vivek's romantic-comedy Kismet, Love, Paisa, Di/Ii will release soon. Vivek has also been working on Zilla Ghaziabad, and romantic comedy Jayanta Bhai Ki Luv Story. Seems like Vive k's spreading his wings a bit - always a good sign of a competent actor.

Delhi Safari set to be the whole trip It boasts of actors like Akshaye Khanna, Govinda, Suniel Shetty, Boman Irani and Urmila Matondkar, so it's little wonder that director Nikhil Advani is so thrilled about his film Delhi Safari. The movie is a bilingual stereoscopic 3D animation film and apparently a complete entertainer, packed with great music.

"It (Delhi Safari) has got fun, lots of tamasha (drama), lots of energy and lots of great music;' Nikhil said recently at the movie's music launch.

And with the impressive line of voiceovers, he may indeed be right.

Nikhil Advani, known for directing Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Kai Ho Naa Ho, has dedicated Delhi Safari to his 6-year-old daughter Keya.

"It's a proud moment, she (Keya) is not allowed to watch the other movies I have made;' said Advani, whose last directorial was Patia/a House. Good luck to the movie, wishing it all success!

Akshay's healthy heart tip "Eat before sunset for healthy difference," says Akshay Kumar, and he should know. The actor is counted among the fittest men in tinsel town, and he recently shared the secret of his fitness. "Only one rule which I have fol lowed in my life, which I would like to share, is to eat your food before sunset. It will make a lot of difference;' said the 45-yearold actor, who became a secondtime dad recently.

He spoke on the sidelines of Happy Heart Carnival, held to celebrate the World Heart Day at SL Raheja Hospital in Mumbai.

The actor asserts people should be careful of their food intake. "It is very important to take care of yourself and your family. I would advise al l of you to just be careful of what you eat;' he said to the audience.

Akshay is trained in martial arts and he maintains a regular fitness regime. He prefers to indulge in outdoor games and sports to keep himself fit and fine, and believes that yoga, meditation and martial arts help in staying physically fit as well as bring mental balance. Words of wisdom indeed!

Raw Indian music revival It's hard to remember the last

INDIAN LINK

,...................................................... . time a Hindi film song resonated to the clear sound of a harmonium or a flute, thanks to the introduction of technologically advanced synthesisers and other recording equipment. But many composers are now striving to bring back the lost charm of raw Indian music.

Composers like Sneha Khanwalkar and Ajay-Atul or Indian Ocean's vocalist Rahul Ram have experimented by bringing back the rawness in their music and have succeeded in striking the right chords with the youth, without adopting western tunes.

Khanwalkar is the woman behind the distinct music in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur and her songs,/ am a hunter, Womaniya and Chhi chha ledar have a blend of rustic beats, wit h local folk singers adding up to the regional flavour. The music is desi to its core. Sneha believes in spending time with the artists and using their true talent.

"If a song is based in one place, that place has its own quality. People have their own of way of thinking and talking, which is different from how we think in the city. So it is important to know how they sing and render their music;' said Khanwalkar.

"It is only after you know the place that you will be able to imbibe its quality in t he song. If the director of the film is going all out to depict something skilfully, then I just try to do the same thing with the music of the film;' she added, pointing out to Kashyap's knack of bringing the real as is on reel.

Ajay-Atul, who composed music for Karan Johar's remake of Agneepath, tried to retain the charm of raw music with compositions like Chikni chameli and Gun gun guna. They recorded the songs with live instruments.

Chikni chameli is the Hindi version of their Marathi hit Kombadi pa/a//.

Singer Sukhwinder Singh, who recently visited Australia on tour and has done playback in Prakash Jha's upcoming movie Chakravyuh as well as sang for Ekta Kapoor's Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, feels 90 per cent of the composers are making music by modern ways while the rest 10 percent try to retain the old charm.

"We used dumroos in Hum hai cappuccino in Kyaa Super... and in one of the songs in Chakravyuh, we have instruments that Naxalites generally use to make their music. So good work is still happening in the industry," Singh said. And it is important too, as he feels "you have to be extraordinary to make a place for yourself in Bollywood'.'

The music of Akshay Kumarstarrer Rowdy Rathore also boasts of regional music with songs like Aa re pritam pyaare and Chinta ta ta, which find inspiration from the south.

Also, remember the chartbusters Des mera and Mehangai dayan from Aamir Khan's Peepli Uve? The lyrics and music were composed by the Indian Ocean band, and

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

Priyanka: Now that our fi Im Barfi's done well, do you think we can let go and have half a barfi in celebration?

Ileana: Ok, I will if you will. ...

Ratna Panjabi Subiaco,WA

Ratna wins a double pass for new Hindi film English Vinglish immediately struck a chord with the viewers.

Though the Indian version of Coke Studio of Pakistan has helped in reviving the old world charm in a big way, Ram feels Coke Studio is even more raw.

"Coke Studio Pakistan has given us an impetus - we are nowhere close to that. They have managed to retain the rawness;• he said.

"In India, I feel Coke Studio is overproduced. It's become too slick," he added.

One hopes the trend does not translate to the big screen!

IANS (966 L 'DWJD4DW a4J JO 6Uf>(DW a41) JO Ode)! l!(el:!

WHM SS3n9 Ol JaMSU\{

OCTOBER 2012 41

A naked look at Bolly_wood shenannigans______

omewhere deep within the corroding flamboyance of filmdom, there is a tale of heartbreaking compromises and immorality tucked away from the naked, tearless eye. Madhur Bhandarkar nearly gets to the nerve centre of that world, and then pulls back just before he's really gotten there.

Heroine is an intriguingly unfinished film - partly in the rapidfire mood of a game show and partly like an elegiac melody played gently on an antique piano with immaculate fingers. It lacks a centre, sometimes even a focus as it tries to cram in too many incidents, episodes, scandals, controversies and plain absurdities that are an integral part of Bollywood, so much so that the first hour or so gets suffocatingly airtight.

And then you realize towards the end, that the world of the superstar Mahi Arora traps the star, makes her a puppet of success, traps her in a web of deceit and finally throws her into a whirlwind of vaporous deceptions.

The closing moments have that gut-wrenching element which made Bhandarkar's Chandni Bar, Page 3 and Fashion among the more sensitive

S

dramas in recent times.

We see Mahi, shattered forlorn and bereft, trapped in a car surrounded by merciless television journalists. As the haunting background score by Salim-Sulaiman builds up to a shattering crescendo, Mahi's hands fold together in a plea of mercy. In moments our hearts bleed for Mahi.

God help those who are cursed with stardom. They first have to struggle to get there.

And then they must continue to fight to cling to their place.

And then, as Govind Namdeo playing Mahi's quietly faithful secretary tells her: "An actress' life-span is by its very nature limited''.

Not that we haven't heard such wisdom on the show world before. The dialogues could have been far more powerful.

Instead they try to shock with a casual candour that fails to ignite the scenes.

Kareena Kapoor in the best performance of her career so far, leads Mahi's character through the murky labyrinth of ambition, rivalry and selfdestructive tricks of survival in the rat race. Though her character is inconsistent (suffering, we are told, from bipolar disorder or is it just the writer's vagaries?) Kareena furnishes the heroine's character

with a rare vulnerability and an exceptional inner life.

In the film's rawest moments when the star's mask peels off completely, Kareena's face shows that stricken expression of naked panic and abject solitude that one last saw in the performance ofTabu in Mira Nair's The Namesake after her husband's sudden death.

Stardom kills you bit by bit.

Kareena bravely undertakes Mahi Arora's perilous journey from the top to the bottom of the star-ladder. This is Kareena's most fearless performance to date.

Interestingly this is the second film in three weeks where a desperate falling star resorts to the dirtiest of measures to retrieve her stardom. Raaz ki baat to yeh hai ki Heroine sidesteps all the cliches of the film industry even while plonking the plot pat into those predictable places.

So does Bhandarkar's film exaggerate the sham that underlines the shindig of showbiz? The answer is, yes.

Heroine is guilty of gross excesses. There are too many unnecessary characters, specially in the first-half bustling around in clumsily staged ramp shows, awards functions and filmy parties claiming our attention.

Once Bhandarkar and his co-

writers Manoj Tyagi, Nilanjan lyenger and Anuradha Tiwary get over their look-we-knowshowbiz-in-and-out fetish, the narrative finally settles down to tel ling us Mahi's story vis-a-vis the two men in her life, the star Aryan Khanna (Arjun Rampa!) and the cricketer Angad Pal (Randeep Hood a).

Though Rampal's character reminded me of Arbaaz Khan in Bhandarkar's Fashion, both are characters despite their uni-dimensional nature and are brought to life by two of our most interesting actors today.

At least three other standout performances that burnish Bhandarkar's flawed but fabulous film are those

by Divya Dutt playing Mahi's ruthless business manager who occasionally surprises herself by feeling real emotions for the fast-fading actress, Ranveer Shorey as the eccentric egomaniacal arthouse filmmaker from Bengal and Shahana Goswami as Mahi's Bengali co-actor in one of the film's finest episodes when Mahi, in a defiant attempt to show she is star who can act, has a disastrous trust with realistic cinema.

In fact, Shahana and Kareen a share some of the film's most special moments. Bhandarkar over-juices some of the film's sensual possibilities, underdevelops some of the more engrossing characters, for example the yesteryears' star played by Helen.

The love-making scenes are done fitfully and hastily. And the dialogues (most of them sounding profound without actually meaning anything really substantial) are spoken by the actors in the tone of a radio play.

But Heroine still works, and works wonderfully in some places. There's an inconsistency to the storytelling that works effectively in putting the protagonist's deeply flawed and fractured character into a pulsating perspective wherein we can no longer distinguish between the fatal flaws of the main character and the action and reactions that have been written to define her flawed existence.

You come away from the film haunted by Kareena Kapoor who plays the disembodied diva with devastating honesty.

Bhandarkar rips into the artifice of showbiz with vigour and tenderness. Like its heroine, the film is flawed, but also bewildering, beguiling and yes, beautiful.

Subhash K. Jha

!=ILM: Heroine CAST: Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Randeep Hooda, Shahana Goswami, Ranveer Shorey, Govind Namdeo DIRECTOR: Madhur Bhandarkar

***** www.indianlink.com.au

I]

Sweet offering, a modern master

ilences seldom spoke so elo9uently. It's been a while since we saw a film chat set style at a subsidiary state to substance, put the characters' inner life ahead of tbe flamboyant manifestarions o f self-idenrity in a world governed by benevolence and cbarm.

Barfi! is a very charming film, remarkabl)7 devoid of vanity.

The story of a deaf-and- mute man who could have grown up watching Chaplin and Raj Kapoor's c.inema, and an aurisri.c girl who has definitely not seen Shah Rnkh Khan in 1\lfr Na111e ls Kh,m, is told withom the props of loud background music and other prompters to get audiences' involved in the proceedings.

Th.is is a picaresque world of artless charm which invites you i.o without band baqja or baaraati.

Fanfare is for the circus. Ba,ji! is pure cinema.

Goodness1 l am already gushing. lc's the oarcocic effect that Barfi has on you. With.in no rime at all you are swept into the

protagonist's world, the cwo lovel)' women who breeze in and out of his existence and various other characters, all etched witb a compassion and vividness that o ne associates with the cinema of Frank Capra and Ricwik Ghatak.

Barft! exudes the warm glow of a life well Lived. This dazzling glow originates from the protagonist Barfi who Jives h is life king-size with many Chaplinesgue antics creating a chain of comic-boo k adventures for our 'happy-golooking' hero, even though he can't speak or hear. Bm then speech was always supposed to be the least essential component of cinema. Ask Ingmar Bergman or Satyajit Ray. Their cha:racre.rs spoke through lingering silences.

Ic's been a while since any protagonist on screen said so much ro us witbouc speaking. Rani Mukerji in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black said ic all through her muted mode of communication. But she had tl1e formal sign language plus a voiceover for anicuL-tte support.

Significantly Anurog Basu, a

masle.r scoryceller (and never mind the tormenting tepidity of his lase film Kites) does away with the crutches of sign language and voiceover.

Ranbir Kapoor as Barfi (or Murphy, whatever!) is left to his own devices. An incredibly enterprising actor, he brings a Chaplinesgue aura ro Barfi's character. Blending a ve.ry physical pie-in-the-face sryle of comic acting w ith an intangible poignancy, Ranbir rums his character and the film into a muted celebracion of life. The tears are hidden from view. Bur tl1ey are there.

His grand father, Raj Kapoor, has ne,,er been ,,ery far from Ran bi.r's acting skills. Raj Kapoor was highly influenced by Chaplin.

Ranbir brings both the legends inro tl1e same line of vision, and yet ere.ates a charactet which is unique in its buoyancy and optimism, never mind the sleeping dogs. Just let them bark in their sleep.

Priyanka Chopra as the autistic Jhilrnil sceals tl1e show from

Ranbir, if that's possible. Lately, she has been found LO be guilty of overacting in ./lgneepath and .rl1ifam1a ./lnjarmi (with Ranbir again). 1n Bo,ft! all her recent sins of excess are washed away.

Priyanka's inherent glamorous personality simply disappears into her cbaracter. We don't see the actress on screen at all! We see only Jhilmil who reminds us in a very pleasant war of Sridevi in S11dma. This is one of the most flawless interpretations of a physical-psychological disability seen on celluloid.

While Ranbir and Priyanka effordessly prove themselves the best actors of their generation, Ileana D'Cruz makes a confident engaging debut into H.indi cinema. ls she here to stay? Time will tell.

As for Basu, in his earlier films Gangster - A Lo,,r Story and Life... f!I A Aietro, he proved himself a maestro of tl1e inner life. Bmft! too is shot on location w ithin the hearts of the characters. Not just the memorable protagonists, even the smaller players specially Roopa Ganguly and A.kaash Khurana aod

•

Haradhan Bandhopadhyay, leave a lingering impact.

Bmft! celebrates life without dismissing the dark passages and roadblocks chat we often encounter as we travel thtough that craggy road to death.

To be able to celebrate life so warmlir and sensitively the fil.m maker has to know death dose ly. Basu, a cancer survivor, has been there.

Ba,ji! comes as close to being a modern masterpiece as cinematical.ly possible. To miss it would be a crime. To embrace it is to serenade cbe sublime.

Subhash I\. JI ,a

OCTOBER 2012 43

BACKCHAT

Ask Auntyji Dear Auntyji

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AIAY\\~jl~

You have such insightful advice for everyone. Such pearls of wisdom you give to all of us. So Auntyji, if you are so sage, so wise, why is it that you are not on Facebook? And why can't I follow you on Twitter?

And surely you would have a blog? Is Auntyji scared of technology? Please tell me that these things are in motion, and it's only a matter of time before my day can be brightened with insightful tweets from you.

And all my friends agree with me on this- you really need to get aligned with technology. What say you?

Auntyji says Oh you namarad, oh you besharam, have you no shame calling me a Luddite? Let me tell you why I am on not on social media. Let's start with Facebook. Facebook is where friendships go to die. It is the biggest time-waster ever and is only useful for narcissists who want the world to know what they are up to and how cuddly shuddly and sho shweet their little chand ka tukda is. Besotted parents post image after image of their ugly babies and recalcitrant bachche, and all their friends feel compelled to post inane ripostes, such as, oh, so cute, oh your baby is so beautiful. And somewhere along the way you feel validated about your miserable existence because 5 people commented on your latest photo. Here is the reality for people who post baby pictures on FB. No one cares about your ugly baby but people will make comments in the hope that you will reciprocate with comments about their baby. Additionally, if people don't comment, they come across as rude or discourteous, so they engage in the insincere and manipulative social behaviour of posting nice comments. People, get over it. Your babies are ugly, no one cares what the baby did and honestly, get over yourselves, it's not about you. Stop being such narcissists. Go and walk in the park and pay attention to what your kid is actually doing instead of looking for opportunities to take cutesy pictures to post on FB. Naturally, I don't loiter on FB because if I did, I would be the one posting honestly refreshing, candid and accurate comments such as, man, your baby looks like Raavan's offspring. See, now do you really want me on FB? As for Twitter, you are right. I have so many insightful things to say which are intelligent and funny that of all the people tweeting out there, I should be number one.

I have good things to tweet, yet I am not going to waste my time or my pithy comments on people who just don't have the insight to understand wit when they see it. So yes, while I have lots to say, I don't want to say it. I'm keeping mum. My khamoshi should say it all.

There, is this sufficient reason to understand why I am not on FB or Twitter?

Do you have a question for Auntyji?

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

44 OCTOBER 2012

Dear Auntyji I have a particular problem that I am hoping you will help me solve. I am in love with an Aussie man. He is a wonderful human being and I love him dearly. My only issue with him is that he smokes, and I absolutely hate it. He is trying to give up, but when he goes to the pub each Friday night, he smokes a fair bit. Not only that, he insists I come along and we sit in the beer garden and I second hand smoke with his leisurely drags. This went on for two years, Auntyji, and I complained and complained.

Then one day, I told him I am no longer going to the pub with him, if he was going to smoke. So I stopped going to the pub. Now, we have a dear friend whom I really like seeing with Andy on Friday evenings, but like Andy, he too smokes. So I said that let's go for dinner, and instead of going to the restaurant, they insist on meeting at the pub first. Now being a good Muslim girl, I don't drink nor smoke.

This means I need to sit there and wait for them to finish their cigs and beer before we can go for dinner. I am beginning to find this most irritating. Not only that, now, Andy's sol ution 1s that I don·t have to go to the pub. Instead, I can wait at home for them, and when they are done, then we can go and have dinner together. I find this most upsetting. I don't understand why they just have to go to the pub for drinks on the odd occasion that I get together with both Andy and Chris. I don't think I am being selfish, Aunty. I have not stopped Andy from seeing Chris, I have never stopped Andy from going to the pub - and I tolerate his smoking as long as he does not do it near me. So why can't Andy just go straight to t he restaurant with me instead of being a bogan sharaabiwho has to have a drink at the pub before going to a restaurant which serves alcohol anyway.

t3e,e,utLjvtlttL

le,, or Y\ot?

Auntyji says Oh dear. Oh dear. What to do. This is what happens when you fall in love with someone - you take them with all t heir bad habits and foibles. Now I totally understand that you hate smoking and yes, it is a rather disgusting habit. The important thing to note is that he is trying to give up, and with your love, understanding and patience, I am sure he will follow a healthier lifestyle. As for going to pubs with his friend and smoking, well, I get that you don't like this habit.

Especially ifthey sit in the beer garden and smoke and expect you to go along with this. Well, the solution seems to have revealed itself. If you hate the smoke-filled environment that much, I think you are right not to go along. But you have fallen in love with an Aussie man, and there is a tradition of going to the pub - so I doubt that you will be able to get him to stop doing this. Besides, you don't say that he comes home drunk - which means that your Andy does show some judgment. So in the instance that they insist on going to the pub before a restaurant, you can't stop them, and you don't have to go to the pub either. Just decide on a time to meet at the restaurant, and both of you get there independently. This way, no one gets upset, Andy gets a nice quiet drink with his buddy, and you avoid the smoke-filled atmosphere. All's well that ends well, nah?

www.indianlink.com.au

ll

n TA K

Q TPREDICTIONS FOR OCTOBER 20,2

By NANCY JADE ALTHEA www.nancysood.com

ARIES M arch 21 - April 19 This is the month where you need to let someone close to you know how you are feeling. Do not worry about things not worki ng out, be bold and true t o your heart. Do not hesitate and go forth with strength . There will be some develo pments at work that will give you the confidence and strength to move int o new d irections and push forward with you r plans. There w ill be some news about a family celebration.

TAURUS April 20 - tv1ay 20 ,

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22 This month sees you trying t o maintain your status quo. Do not make unrealistic promises to those you love, as you will find it hard t o deliver them. Make sure you are careful with machinery and when you drive, take care as your mind will be ~~~ - " wandering all over the place and you will be day-d reaming a lot more. You have been under a lot of stress, so try to relax and t ry some meditation.

SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 21

The cards indicate that this is a good time to take a break and relax your mind and soul. You may even meet your soulmate.

There is an indication t hat you need to start saving for your future, making sure your debts do not mount up. You have been a little hasty with your spending lately, and wil l now need t o take t hings easy. Make sure that you stick to your promise of being more responsible this m onth.

GEMINI tv1ay 21 - Ju ne 20

The cards i ndicate a time when you need to keep your t ongue in control. You may say things you do not mean, and your fut ure progress will be seriously hampered at work. M ake sure you send off a mail that you need to, instead of delaying the obvious. You do not seem too happy at the moment w ith work, so look at other options. You have been unhappy for a while. You owe it to yourself.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21 You will be meeting someone in the most strangest of places, you will feel instantly attracted t o them, finding out to your complete shock that you are in love. Try and work thi ngs out in your business too, as things are not progressing as planned.

There will be someone at your workplace who will cause some problems and upsets. You will be fi ne if you sort things out and speak to t hem about it

The cards indicat e that chances of an affair are likely this month.

If you are unattached, you may decide to go for it. If not, you are warned t hat th ings cou ld get out of hand. There is news of more responsibility at work. You will also be able t o earn some extra cash. Go for it, things are getting better and you will be thin king of treating yourself. Look at your exercise routine and make needed changes.

CANCER Ju ne 21 - July 20

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 19

You are feeling ag itated to get the truth about a situation out into the open. It may not be a good idea as th ings can get rather disturb ing. Work colleagues make sure you get your say in, as there is a likelihood that you may not have stated your o pinion w hen it comes t o cert ain changes that are taking place at work. ~....;;......., The atmosphere is a little t ense at the moment, but around midmonth, things will calm down considerably.

LEO Ju ly 21 - A ug 22 li5~

~

The cards indicate a change in your financial situation. You are thinking of a new exercise routine, as you have not been frequently to the gym or been exercising. Check your d iet and sleeping patterns, and also your blood pressure as you have been suffering from headaches lately, and are stressed out about a relationship. nme to make some decisions about w hat you want to do, to stay or to go - t hat is the main question.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22 The cards indicate that you will need to give a younger member of your family the benefit of your time. There could be some issues around their health or perhaps progress at school. Make sure you spend quality time, and not just load them w ith presents.There will be news about a property which you have been waiting for, you will get a chance t o sell it. Long stand ing disputes will resolve soon. Patience is needed.

This month you will be thinking about what you really want from life. A friend will offer some advice as you have been unhappy for some time now. M ake changes and step forward into a new lif e, as things are about to change. You will also look at some new proj ects and work. Expect news from a loved one concerning a desire they have, and they w ill want to involve you in their plans. Have fun.

AQUARIUS Jan 20 - !=eb 18 J

This month you need to look at your worth. Look at your accomplishments and material possessions. Take advice from a doctor, as you are not good at having check ups. Do not get involved in office politics, as you may get drawn i nto something that you will not be able t o get out of later. There will be some news about a pregnancy o r marriage. You will be p lanning a surprise for a loved one.

PISCES !=eb 19 - M arch 20 The cards indicate that a financial issue is not out of control.

You can solve your problems with some rational th inking and immediate action. Make sure you make your own decisions, and do not let others influence you. Get enough rest, as you are not feeling that energetic. You may have some stomach issues and you need to make sure you look at your diet carefully and eliminate t hose foods to which you are allergic.

BACKCHAT

Music of my childhood Music can be a soul-soother, and fortunately, some melodies are impossible to forget

I

s it old age when, no matter how catchy the tLme of a new song may be, when you are feeling down you go back to the songs of your childhood? I needed a mood lift the other night and started sifting tbrough the songs that defined my childhood.

Here are my favourites, grouped by langnage for your listening pleasure too.

English Growing up watching video hits surrepcitiously with my sis and flicking back to Sat11rday Dislll[J' when the parents walked in was an integral part of my Samrday mornings. This was before Satttr&!J' Disnl!J became almost as bad as video hits and video hits became the trash it is roday. So many songs made it to onr school lunchtime dramas, our bus and a·ain rides, our graduation and final prom or graduation dinner.

There were songs that we latched onto at first crush, songs that got us through high school dramas and 'heartbreak', songs d1at were so silly we laughed out loud in class long after we had sung them at the top of om voices in the playground. I wonder if any of you will remember If f Let Yott Go (Westlifc) Hero (Ewique Tglesias) C11p qf Life (RicA,y Ma1ti11) f '111 Blue (Eiffel 6 5) Crazy To111n (Butterf!y) Frees(yler (Bomfimk M Cr) The 13qy is M.i11e (Brall(fy e:,,,_, Monica) A Whole Ne111 World (Aladdin) Hit Me Bafo, One Mm·e Tin1e (Rnhil!J Spean) My taste has mamred somewhat and even though my playlist is now 6lled witb more of the songs below, T like to revere back ro the golden oldies on the odd occasion.

But who can forget Kashfllir (Led Zeppelin) Hotel California (E11gles) SI/lee/ Child of Mine (G1111s and Roses) Muse (Up1ising) The Black K1ys {Lolleb' Bq;~

Hindi I wi.11 always remember my first Hindi film and the .irreparable damage it has done to my l.ife, as Dill/lale D11/h(l11it1 Le ja_yenge mrned a m m bo)" into a dreamer, a hopeless romantic waici.ng for her Prince Charming who would come along

46 OCTOBER 2012

in his cheeky boisterous manner and sweep her away. \Xlell, drnt hasn't happened yet, but I did become hopelessly addicted to the music and melodrama of Indian cinema and pop. There were songs to dream ro, songs to cry to, songs to dance to, songs to laugh to.... songs we heard with cousins, p layed at weddings, songs for almost every memory. Here are just a few, and there are very many more T1!)be Dekha To Ye}t1al/a Sm1a111 (DDL}) Oh Oh Jane jt111a (F)ar K!Ja to Dama [ya) Dm11 Dlfma D11111 (Di/) Aur A hisfc1 Kij!J•e 13aatei11 (Pankaj Udhas) Cori Te,i A 11khen Kahe (Li,ck:J A li) P!J,a Basanti (Ustad S11/ta11 Khan & Chitra)

Kabhi Aana Tu M~eri Gali (Euphoria Guffy) Kajra Re (131111/y Affr Babli) Teti Meri PreJ/J Kahani (Borfyg11ard)

Bangla T was never a big fan of Bangla music: it always Sotll1ded so o ld, boring and sad. Bue at 10 I went to dance school, and a tenn of dancing to /..,al T11k Tuke Bo11 (Little red bride) with my dance class was enough to enamour me to the wide wocld of children's music and folk songs, for which Bangladesh is so renowned. I began to d iscover musicians Lil~e James and Srikanro on my trips to Bangladesh, and then Habib and Arnob became international sensations with their modern music. Tr is a testament to some of the current talent that I like some

of the songs coming from the rock and pop scene in Bangladesh.

Below are a few I grew up wid1, and a few that grew on me.

Jokhor, Ami 13oro .Hobo (finger 1111k11ou111) Lal T11k T11ke Bott (Singer 1111kno111/i) Rokto L,/ (linger 1111kt101/111) Roat Nirgh11m (Hahih) SheJe 13oscbe Ache (Amob) 13rishti Tomake Di/am (Srik,mto)

Korean I am Bengali, I Jive in an Englishspeaking country and I enjoy Indian and Pakistani musical influences. But I cannot write about music without mentioning my newfound love for Korean dramas and movies, which have some really good OSTs. They are songs that capmre tbe music and emotions of Hindi songs

wiLh lyrics reminiscem of the 13ack.street 13qys, a combination yo u can't help bm Jove. Here are a few that l reaUy enjoy and you would be doing yourself a huge favour by checking out die dramas themselves tool You're Beautiful OST 2 - 03 What Should T Do (Park Da Yae) Heartstrings OST Beca11se TMiss You Om1g Yong Hwa of C Blue) Personal Tasre OST Like /111 Idiot Like a Fool (2AM) Boys Over Flowers OST Stand Jh, M e (Shinee) And of course, a tribute to the current rage about an oppa (man) who loves a_yqj,1 (woman) who likes her kopi (coffee), Psy's Ga11g11a!II Sf:yle!

Enjoy!

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