LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Consulate woes Consulate replies

I just had opportunity to visit the Indian Consulate recently and I don’t know if you are aware that they have relocated to Level 3, 109 Pitt Street Sydney from their 190 George St address.

I am surprised to note our Indian Consulate office has moved from a prestigious building of Bligh Street to such an awful building.

109 Pitt St is just above Hunter Connection: the building is like a mini Chungking mansion of Hong Kong. There are a few drunkards sitting near the front door, and while the Consulate is on the third floor, neither the concierge is aware that the Indian consulate has moved into their building nor has the foyer tenant directory been updated with this information.

When you get to Level 3, you find the old tenant’s name imprint still there: our Consulate has made no efforts to fix it.

I feel aghast to state that while we say our country is progressing, our Consulate here does not stand up and present itself to those standards. Even a small country like Thailand has its consulate offices on Macquarie Street and presents itself well. I don’t know what impression we are presenting to the local Australians.

Darayus Patva Padstow, NSW

This is with reference to a letter to your publication by Mr. Darayus Patva regarding the location of Consulate General of India in Sydney. I wish to set the record straight on this matter.

The premises at Bligh Street, where the Consulate General of India in Sydney was previously located, were first leased in 1994-‘95. Over the years, as the work and staff of Consulate expanded along with the growing Indian community, the area available at the premises became increasingly insufficient to house the Consulate. There were, in fact, many complaints from the Indian community about lack of adequate space at our offices in Bligh Street.

The Consulate then relocated to 190 George Street, but as the building became scheduled for demolition, it became impossible to continue the tenancy.

The Consulate relocated to Level 3, 109 Pitt Street with effect from 22 October 2012 (Monday). Consular services were provided without interruption till 19 October 2012 (Friday) and resumed again on the next working day 22 October 2012 (Monday), after the entire Consulate staff worked selflessly through the weekend to ensure a smooth transition. Not a single working day was wasted on the transition, nor was a single applicant turned away.

Notices of Consulate’s relocation were put at the Consulate reception on 190 George Street, and on the Consulate website as well as on the Consulate Facebook page. It is, of course, not possible to personally contact each and every person who may have to visit the Consulate. However, I would like to note that the new Consulate premises are barely a 10 minute walk away from the old offices, and are a stone’s throw away from the so-called “prestigious” location at Bligh Street.

Consulate’s new premises have exceptionally good public transport access from the stations at Wynyard, Martin Place and Circular Quay.

The Building Manager and the Concierge for 109 Pitt Street have been in touch with us constantly during the relocation process, as there can be no building access

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Dynamic Global Changes: ICAI conference

Fri 23 Nov The Australian Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is organising a one day international conference at Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour, Sydney, entitled ‘Dynamic Global Changes –A World of Opportunities’. The full day conference will have presentations from an elite panel of speakers from the fields of accounting, corporate governance and management and includes Dr. John Hewson (renowned economist and former Federal Leader of the Opposition) and Padma Shree CA T N Manoharan, globally acclaimed speaker on accounting, taxation and corporate governance and former President of the ICAI. The topics for discussion would include India as the next investment destination, opportunities and challenges; IFRS (accounting standards for the future); Carbon Tax (accounting, implications and opportunities); Cloud Accounting (accounting the global way); and Indian and Australian economic overview. Details www.icai.org.au for new tenants without their knowledge, permission and handing-over of keys and access cards.

As your publication must be aware, commercial buildings in Sydney are usually managed by a Strata Manager and issues like signage and minor works are handled in accordance with buildings’ bye-laws and such work can only be carried out by approved sub-contractors. We are aware of these issues, which are in the process of being addressed. There will soon be signage on the tenant directory, as well as inside all the lifts. Inconvenience caused on these counts is sincerely regretted.

I have no substantive comment to offer on derogatory phrases like “mini Chungking mansion of Hongkong”, or on where the free citizens of Australia should choose to sit in public places outside the control of this Consulate.

Vivek Kumar Deputy Consul General Indian Consulate in Sydney

BY SHERYL DIXIT

It’s Diwali 2012! And once again, the urge to celebrate the festival of lights with its traditional fanfare is upon us. We want to go the whole shebang –new clothes, festive food, decorations, parties, fireworks – to relive the atmosphere of past Diwali celebrations.

Memories of sweet and dried fruit boxes brought home by parents as gifts by grateful employers; the mandatory plate of sweets distributed by friends and neighbours, literally going house to house, the excitement at going to the shops to choose fireworks… they’re all deliciously several dhinchak parties, inviting friends and family over to join in the revels. We revive the spirit of Diwali, and we succeed.

But let’s make Diwali 2012 even more special by creating our own traditions and adding them to how we normally celebrate the Festival of Lights.

Let’s introduce a spirituality and meaning in our own individual way, which we can repeat in future years if we choose.

Indian Link asked its readers for some ideas on how to make Diwali different, perhaps by adding a touch of modernity to a tradition, or extending generosity to include a good cause. It may be a unique way to celebrate, but hey, we’re creating our own traditions!

Light ‘em up, baby!

Remember the time when the ledges of verandas and doorways were tended with loving care, and extinguished only after the festivities had ended and the last guest had left the home.

Nowadays we use tealights instead of the oil and wick, which is still meaningful and less messy, and we adorn our porches with fairy lights. The battery-operated flameless candles are even more convenient, and you can even get ones that flicker. But this year, why not think a special candle, or a few special ones? Almost universally the concept of light means hope and new beginnings. Candles are available in abundance, and in a variety of shapes, sizes and aromas that boggle the mind. They can be found in dollar or boutique shops, depending on how snobbish you may be. Find a candle that holds a special meaning for you, like a beautiful lotus flower to indicate serenity, or a stylish high-heeled shoe for the more materialistic.

Supreet Mohindru of Kangaroo Point QLD gets her kids involved: this year, it’s a book candle for her daughter requesting divine blessings as she sits for Year 12 exams, and a motorbike candle for her daredevil son. “My husband would probably like a beer candle, but has to refrain given the skull candles and thong candles, and for a few years repetitively, soccer-ball candles, but she allowed the kids their whim, having instituted the ritual. The number candles that were put on birthday cakes in the year, were also brought out at Diwali and lit as “special candles”, if only to use them up and prevent them from you’re inclined, perhaps make or decorate your own candle to celebrate this special festival.

Dance party, Gangadhar style!

Where would we be without our Diwali parties! The dhamaka that goes with guests arriving all bedecked in their traditional finest, everyone brings a plate to make things easier on the host who’s put his home at risk by offering to throw the party. But this time, like the Singhs of Orange NSW, make it a mite different.

“We’re asking our guests to carry a small donation with them, and anonymously place the money in a covered jar at the entrance of our home,” said out.” It’s a great way to get people thinking of sharing and caring on Diwali, without the pressure of attending a formal fundraiser.

Fun food

Imagine this: you wake up at 5am to cook a whole batch of traditional sweets to offer guests at the party you’re hosting that night. And at the end of the party, the sweet tray that ghee and sugar are a deadly combination, and they’re not sure if you’ve used low-fat milk! mangosteen, durian, kumquats, starfruit, jackfruit, rambutans. Fancy!

This year, in deference to popular trends, make your Diwali spread a healthier one.

How about crudités as a first course, served up differently –individual serves of neatly cut veggies, with their own dip, all in a tiny glass? Not only will they look fab on the table waiting to be picked up, they will also be easy to walk around with. You could do the same with the main meal. In addition to that delicious jeera or vegetable pulao, have an offering of couscous or brown basmati rice. Baked paneer, instead of curried paneer. Indian spiced quinoa salad, maybe. Stuffed zucchini flowers. Time to bring out that Nigella Lawson / Gary Mehigan / Neil Perry cookbook…. Now how about dessert, a tough one as kheer or malai kulfi may get the thumbs down.

Anita Shetty of Wentworthville NSW has just been diagnosed with diabetes and she has vowed to have a fruity Diwali. “I hope it sticks as a family tradition!” she says.

But don’t cut out all the goodies if you don’t want to: make your usual spread, only less rather than more. You’ll be amazed at how much

Rousing rituals

Now there are some things that are synonymous with Diwali, like the traditional pooja which is will get an insight into the festival and who knows, it could mean the start of a better cross-cultural understanding as they reciprocate the invitation to join in celebrating Christmas or Eid. Besides, if you can convince your Aussie friend to get into a sari, think of the amount of hits your YouTube upload of her tripping over would get. It would be an instant hit, Gangnam style!

Diwali decor

“I haven’t been able to do my traditional Diwali decorations very well in the last couple of years because of our latest family member – the puppy!” bemoans

Nisha Chaman of Perth. The earthern lamps with oil are a clear danger; the floral rangoli is an appealing play area for the canine, and the traditional swastika markings with kumkum-and-rice mixtures have to be completely avoided, as the pup can lick them clean.

“This year I’ve stuck upon a new idea,” Nisha reveals. “Guests are going to see ‘tablescape’ decorations instead of rangoli and lamps.”

In a sample tablescape that Nisha made up for us in her elegant Nedlands home, she picked candles of different sizes and laid them out on some satin fabric, adding matching rocks in silver, as well as rock dust on our doorstep is also a good idea, but it’s likely to be smeared off in the first ten minutes, so chalk would be a better option” says Meera Joshi from Kellyville NSW. “By slightly wetting the chalk before making your design, it tends to stay put for a while longer, instead of getting smudged designs are a great way to get your kids involved in creating unusual artworks, with possibly a few Aboriginal designs in different colours too.

Sharmas down the street do the same thing, and their home always has a cheerful, festive look on Diwali”.

“Inside the house we’ll put up the usual streamers,” Meera adds, “but my older son has now taught me that origami is a breeze when you watch how it’s done YouTube. We will end up making festive lanterns in different colours, hanging them at strategic points in the house”.

A round of taash

The tradition of playing cards on Diwali is an age-old one, and the only day in the year on which you can legitimately gamble. Legend has it that the Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva on Diwali, and she decreed that whoever reason to play flush, rummy or teen-patti! Kulwinder Singh has planned a big do this Diwali.

“I’m planning to get the players to pledge to donate a small percentage of their winnings to charity,” he says.

“They’re already having a go at me for making this year a ‘donate to Diwali’ affair,” he adds, tongue in cheek. And if you’re not into gambling, bring out the UNO or memory card game, and maybe Lady Lakshmi will smile on you for the rest of the year.

Fireworks or lack thereof

Many of us would think it isn’t fair to have to spend a quiet Diwali without the customary noise pollution brought about by lighting crackers at any time of the day or night. But most others would be grateful for undamaged eardrums, clean air to breathe and the absence of toxic fumes. Visiting India during Diwali a few years ago, the sight of a thick pall of smoke hanging heavily on the city for several days was an appalling sight. Firecrackers, proudly called atom bombs, would go off literally in our backyard at 4am, while the staccato sound of fireworks going off reverberated in the distance through the night. People living in India are used to the noise, but imagine creating that kind of din on your quiet street. You’d have half the police force armed with tasers and the like in your backyard, eager to join the revelries.

“We usually confine ourselves to sparklers excitement as fireworks and everyone is happy to participate”.

So this year, do something different to make Diwali more meaningful and memorable. Make sure you take lots of photographs to feature in next year’s Indian Diwali special!