2013-01 Melbourne

MELBOURNE

FREE JANUARY 2013 • melb@indianlink.com.au • www.indianlink.com.au

Arushi Jain (Mac.Robertson Girls High School) ATAR 99.70

Amarjit Batra (Camberwell Grammar School ) ATAR 98.75

Priya Agarwal (Camberwell Girls Grammar School ) ATAR 99.85

Kartik Singh (Melbourne High School) ATAR 97.65

Class of

2012

Aman Rekhy (Melbourne High School)

Nikita Kulkarni (Killester College)

Sandali Seneviratne (Pascoe Vale Girls College)

Gurveen Singh (Mater Christi College) ATAR 93.20

PO Box 80, Chadstone Shopping Centre, Chadstone VIC 3148 • Ph: 03 9803 0200 • 1 8000 15 8 47 • Fax: 03 9803 0255

Sydney • Melbourne • Adelaide • Brisbane • Perth • Canberra

2 JANUARY 2013

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EDITORIAL INDIAN LINK PUBLISHER Pawan Luthra EDITOR Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR Sheryl Dixit

A society in transition, or one bordering on collapse?

MELBOURNE Preeti Jabbal CONTRIBUTORS Chitra Sudarshan, Shalinika Perera, Noel G DeSouza, Sukrit Sablok, Petra O’Neill, Geeta Khurana, Talia Kaur, Mohan Dhall, Ritam Mitra, Mital Parekh, Rani Jhala, Nancy Althea ADVERTISING MANAGER Ashish Chawla 0468 389 272 ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Nitika Sondhi 02 9279 2004 DESIGN Danielle Cairis Proud members of:

Indian Link is a monthly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Indian Link, maybe reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent of the editor. Opinions carried in Indian Link are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Indian Link. All correspondence should be addressed to Indian Link Level 24/44 Market St, Sydney 2000 or GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001 Ph: 02 9279-2004 Fax: 02 9279-2005 Email: info@indianlink.com.au

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BY PAWAN LUTHRA

T

he capital of India is a city on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

And this is not only because of the uproar caused by the brutality and senselessness of the fatal attack against a young woman on the streets of Delhi in mid-December. Or the manner in which the government reacted to protestors who took to India Gate to vent their anger at the system that has continued to fail them.

Once an international visitor is past the gleaming new arrival hall of the international airport, one can witness Delhi in full flow. While there are countless flyovers in the city, the sheer number of cars on the road causes endless traffic jams. Good car drivers are as rare as hen’s teeth!

The city has now expanded to encompass NOIDA in the North and Gurgaon in the South. The necessary resources of water, electricity and sanitation have yet to catch up. Public

transport is poor. The citizenry is frustrated at the lack of water, power, education facilities and good medical care. There is corruption at almost every level of government.

When a senseless attack such as the one on December 16 hit the headlines, frustration at the system boiled over.

People want action and they are demanding improvement in the system.

That the next victim could be your sister, your wife or your friend, has brought this crime home to most people.

There are demands to hang the alleged offenders; others want a more excruciating punishment. The challenge however, is about how to change the system. The incidence of rape in India is alarming. According to the Times of India, there are over 15,000 rape cases waiting to be dealt in 5 courts, and these are only the ones that have been reported. And that’s not counting the ones not reported or withdrawn. Shamefully, as the Delhi rape case made headlines in major newspapers with reports of protests, there were pages filled with reported rape cases from the previous day from around India, carried over to other pages in most cases. The culture of

rape in a country where the family’s mother is such a revered figure is indeed a shameful indictment of the level to which morals and values have fallen in contemporary Indian society.

Both the police and judiciary have a lot to answer for. There is one police person for over 150,00 people in Delhi, whilst world standards are 1 for 30,000.

A police force with a long-standing reputation of being susceptible to corruption hardly endears confidence in the system. Women driving their cars are told that they should not slow down at police check points after midnight if they are travelling by themselves. Hardly a show of confidence if you cannot trust the ones meant to protect you! The judiciary is under-resourced with cases taking upto 15 years to resolve. Justice should not only be done, but be seen to be done, and swiftly. In India, that is a pipedream.

What happened in Delhi makes one ashamed to be Indian. One can only hope that the current agitations will allow for a sensible long-term solution to be found. No person in India should ever have to go through what that brave girl went through on a casual night out in mid-December.

JANUARY 2013 3

What’s on Fundraising Friends of the Children fundraiser dinner 16 February, 2013, 7pm onwards, at Richmond Town Hall, Bridge Rd, Richmond Mel way 2h B-6. Friends of the Children Foundation’s dinner and dance fundraising event.

Cost $75pp, includes $30 tax deductible. Donation recept issued. Includes beer/wine and A3 course meal. Contact Jasbir Bedi on 0424245217 or visit www.friendsofthechildren.net Walk for Children 24 February, 2013 at Jells Park, Oak Picnic area, Mel Ref 72 A-10.

Fundraising walk for the Friends of the Children Foundation.

For more details visit www. friendsofthechildren.net Celebrations FIAV Australia Day People’s March and Indian Republic Day Saturday, 26 January. 10am march commences from corner of Burke and Swanson streets, followed by lunch at 12noon at the Indian Consulate at 344, St. Kilda Road. Cultural activities will be held from 3-4pm at Alexander Gardens.

A special cruise around the Yarra has been organised for Indian seniors, for details contact Siri Krishnan Auplish on 95436615/0424742200. For information on the other events, visit www.fiav.asn.au or 1800 3428 00 (1800 FIAV 00). RSVP on rsvp@fiav.asn.au for catering purposes.

Hindi Niketan Australia Day and Indian Republic Day Sunday, 27 January from 11 am to 4.30 pm at Scoresby Primary School, 11 Ingrid Street, Scoresby (Melway Ref: 72 G6).

Note that car entry from ORSON road ONLY. Ample free parking in the school is available. Hindi Niketan celebrates Australia Day and Indian Republic Day with fun events and activities.

Free event with free lunch/ snacks provided. Please confirm participation by 23 January for catering arrangements and also to organize activities. For more info visit www.hindiniketan.org. au or Email: drsharadkgupta@ hotmail.com / Tel: 0400 226 793 or 9753 3412 Misc Hindu Radio launch

A new online radio called ‘Hindu Radio’ will was launched on January 14, on the auspicious day of Uttarayana, celebrated

by Hindus as Makar Sankranthi, Pongal, MaghBihu, Lohri, Kicheri and many others.

Hindu Radio will broadcast programmes such as devotional music, bhajans, kirtans, religious discourses, drama et al to cater to Hindu communities from all over the world, to the many different sects and in many different languages. It will be broadcast through the internet between 6am and 10pm Australian Eastern time, and the Web address is www.hinduradio.com.au The aim of this initiative is to bring together all Hindu organisations, strengthen the bonds between them, and promote Hindu faith and communities in Australia by broadcasting the programmes of the myriad Hindu organisations under one roof.

Hindu Broadcast is a non-profit organisation that has offered to provide free online streaming of recorded programmes of any Hindu organisation, group or individual. Those interested may

contact info@hinduradio.com. au. The Hindu Radio Website will have a program schedule and guide, a portal for all Hindu organisations/groups; will publish articles on Hindu religion and culture; provide a forum for discussion and have chat rooms; carry announcements and information and will make available Moodle software (online education program) for Hindu organisations or groups to use.

In the not-too-distant future, Hindu Broadcast hopes to help provide website design, registration and support, free of cost, to all Hindu organisations in Australia.

There are plans in the anvil to launch a Free-to-air Hindu TV by 14 January 2014 that will telecast video materials that promote and deliver Hindu religious and cultural programmes.

VCHC website launch A new website www.hsvchc. org.au has just been launched for the first Hindu Society of Victoria’s Cultural & Heritage Centre (HSV CHC), that was built to serve the cultural, social and educational needs of the

Victorian Hindu community and the wider Australian community.

The Centre is located at 52 Boundary Rd, Carrum Downs, next to the iconic Siva Vishnu Temple, 12km from Dandenong in the heart of the South Eastern suburb in Victoria.

The Cultural Centre is supported by The Victorian Commonwealth, state and local governments, and has a range of facilities such as a wedding and function hall which seats up to 1000 people; Hindu Library and Museum India; classrooms for teaching, meeting rooms, a yoga centre, the smaller function room accommodating up to 150 guests, a full vegetarian canteen and a commercial kitchen are an extension to the CHC. There is strictly no alcohol, meat or smoking permitted on the grounds of the Centre.

More details are available on the newly launched website.

The CHC is run by a Board of Trustees adjacent to that of the HSV committee management team. For enquiries, visit the website or call 1800 478 242 (1800 HSV CHC).

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR She’s NOT India’s effing daughter Heinous. Grievous. Horrific.

I sit here, blankly looking up dictionary.com trying to find words to describe the horror that was the ‘gang rape’ that occurred on December 16. I find nothing suitable. They are all woefully inadequate, all pathetic substitutes that we use because none of the language we know can capture the mind numbing, excruciating brutality inflicted upon ‘India’s Daughter’.

My blood runs cold, my insides turn to water and the hair on my body stands up as I read page after page of coverage of this horrifying assault. She was alone in her fight.

She fought 6 fully grown men who raped her and brutally mutilated and assaulted her. She died of horrific injuries. India was never there for her, or for the thousands like her. So don’t call her India’s effing ‘daughter’. She never was!

I waver between despair, horror, rage and sobering grief. I’m not asking why. I’m not asking how. I’m asking, WHAT NOW? Thousands of years of oppression, prejudice and injustice have fuelled this monster

4 JANUARY 2013

which freely roams our streets and now stands at our doorsteps, promising to brutalise us into oblivion. And it IS a promise. And it is being fulfilled on a chilling scale: a rape is reported every 20 minutes in India, and many more go unreported. But the veil has been lifted.

This event has branded the nation’s consciousness, shoved our faces into the toxic venom that courses through our country’s veins everyday – silently mutilating, maiming, torturing. She wasn’t the first, and she won’t be the last. India, we failed her. So what now?

The silence must go. Rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment must no longer be invisible. Talk about it at home, at work, with your friends, parents, relatives and children. Don’t tolerate sexual harassment. If you see it on the street, say something. I was 15 when someone brazenly yanked on my dupatta (scarf) as I walked down a bustling Hyderabad street at 3pm. I stopped and stared at the perpetrator, engaging in a battle of wits as his hand provocatively held tight onto one end of my dupatta, and my hand held onto it on my shoulder, protecting myself from the ‘uncovering’ he was threatening. Not one person stopped.

Not one person stepped up to help me in my fight with this unabashed offender. Never, bar once, in the many cities in India that I have lived in – Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad – has anyone EVER stood up for me. This needs to change. This is our duty, our responsibility.

Stop blaming the victim. If you do, you’re part of the problem. Get an education. Google rape, rape myths, sexual harassment, women’s oppression, sex selective abortion, acid attacks. The current environment blames the victim, and look where that’s got us. We need to change.

Don’t wait for others to do something.

Be the change. Our leadership is primitive and outrageously patriarchal at best, callous and apathetic at worst.

They’re not going to make this happen.

In fact, they’ve LET this happen. You need to change it. WE need to change it. Blog, write, read, rally, protest, educate, lobby. NOW! And don’t stop till Indian women have freedom, dignity and opportunity. Then we would have earned the right to call her ‘India’s daughter’.

Dipanjali Rao Melbourne

Cannot wait to come home As an Indian Australian visiting New Delhi since the past two weeks, I am deeply saddened by the events to have gripped the nation.

What saddens me more is the lack of government and police response.

Speaking to locals I note they are not at all surprised by the lack of action. In post-British India, Indians have come to expect such inaction. Like many, I do not know the girl nor her family, and cannot imagine the grief they are experiencing.

I too have a daughter, and I am sad to say I cannot wait to board my plane back home.

Dr Raja Devanathan Melbourne

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communityscene

Donated ECG machine welcomed Dandenong Hospital is the welcome recipient of a vital piece of equipment

T

Lion John, Julie (Nurse Manager) and Lion President Cuthbert

India $1050* Colombo $1050* USA $1250*

he Lions Club of Lyndhurst & District, along with Lion John Turner’s Contribution, donated an ECG machine, a vital piece of equipment to the Dandenong Hospital ward-west recently. The ECG is a useful screening tool for a variety of cardiac abnormalities.

Hospitals and doctors have been able to save many lives as a result of the diagnosis from these machines.

The Dandenong Hospital and the Lions Club share the same motto: ‘We serve the community’.

President of Lions Club Lyndhurst & District Lion Cuthbert Don Paul said, “It is a privilege to be able to give back to the community that we live in. I strongly believe that we can all make a difference in small ways, but with a big heart.”

Cuthbert and his wife Sandra have been involved with the Lions Club for over five years.

There are Lions Clubs in nearly 1400 towns and cities in Australia, according to the organisation’s information. Lions are people who get involved

Lions John, Sarla, Sandra, Daniel and Cuthbert with hospital staff in humanitarian efforts locally, nationally and internationally.

They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things - supporting people with a disability, supporting the environment and fundraising for worthwhile causes. Every club is different and offers members not only the chance to help out, but to become involved in shaping and guiding the club in the longer term. It’s not all work though.

Lions Clubs are fun and social.

Lions build lifelong friendships through their membership and

participation.

A hopper night event was held by the Lions club of Lyndhurst & District in September 2012 to help raise the funds for the ECG machine. A hugely successful dinner dance held in March 2012 also helped towards raising funds for the donation to Dandenong Hospital.

The next major fundraising event for Lion’s club Lyndhurst will be the Autumn Breeze Dinner Dance scheduled for May 4 at the Springvale Town Hall.

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JANUARY 2013 7

COVERSTORY

Amazing achievers Its been a tough journey for the young VCE graduates, but one of hard work and finally, success!

I believe in studying the subject rather than a ‘book’.

I focused on applying the knowledge learnt at school to real life concepts, especially with IT applications and Economics.

Amarjit Batra

BY SHALINIKA PERERA

C

ongratulations to all the students who successfully attained their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in 2012. As the journey through secondary education is now complete, the transition into adulthood begins.

But before bidding adieu to 2012’s VCE class, we spoke to a number of students who went through the experience of sleepdeprived nights and exam stress, towards a rewarding finish of their school year. They shared insights into their experiences and key strategies used during the year that contributed to their success.

We hope that the 2013 VCE batch will gain inspiration and confidence from their predecessors. And good luck to all of them.

Social life kept me alive

Arushi Jain Year 12 is a special year – clichéd, but true. In this year the entire cohort worked together more than ever before, forming stronger relationships with our teachers, working like slaves (lots of work, no pay), but while having fun at the same time.

Schools constantly tell us to achieve a ‘balance’, and in some ways, I did. I had to stop my 8 JANUARY 2013

music lessons because it needed a lot of time commitment.

However, other activities kept me sane throughout the year, such as ballroom dancing lessons, participated in house activities (chorals, madrigals, drama and lip-synching), community volunteering and maintaining some kind of social life. I attended 18th birthday parties and had my own and even went to wedding receptions and celebrated occasions with my family and friends. It is important to take short breaks during study, but ensure that they aren’t longer than your study sessions.

From experience, my advice is to choose subjects that you are good at and genuinely enjoy. I almost chose Specialist Mathematics until my mum pointed out that it would be a stupid decision – maths is not my best subject, I would put in a lot of effort and not get a brilliant result. Instead, she suggested that I do psychology, which is something that I would enjoy and understand. And I’m glad, because I found the content engaging, was motivated to study it, and eventually came out with a study score of 50, far better than what I would received in Specialist.

My study routine was writing out lists of what I needed to do and prioritising them. Each tick gave me a feeling of achievement.

I studied at home, with music playing in the background, and I have to admit that the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song is great for writing essays. But practice exams

are best done in exam conditions, without any distractions.

If studying a language, practicing speaking skills with a friend helps as even general conversation makes you more fluent. And finally, sleeping well is key! It gives you enough energy to keep you going, helps in concentration and keeps you alert. I’m now eager to commence my tertiary studies in the health science field.

Arushi Jain studied at the Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, and scored an ATAR of 99.70

Eager learner

Amarjit Batra Rather than the marks that I received, it was the enjoyment and eagerness to learn a particular subject that made me realise my affinity for it. Its best to pick the subjects that you enjoy and shortlist potential careers in advance, at the start of year 11.

So despite receiving higher marks for English in year 11, I chose Literature in Year 12 because I enjoyed its extra focus on analysis, and looking back, it was the right choice. My parents supported my decisions on subject selections and my dad took a keen interest in my courses.

I believe in studying the subject rather than a ‘book’. I focused on applying the knowledge learnt at school to real life concepts, especially with IT applications and Economics.

Another method I used was to revise key ‘buzz words’ for each

subject at the end of each week.

Most of my support came from my excellent school teachers who I constantly annoyed by asking a lot of questions! And there is no better revision than doing practise exams. Ask friends, teachers and search for them online.

On completing my exams, I visited the Gurudwara and had special lunch with my family and a night out with friends and close cousins.

I’m now looking at either pursuing a Bachelor of Environments (majoring in construction management) at the University of Melbourne or a Bachelor of Construction Management and Property at the University of New South Wales.

Current year 12 students should enjoy their last year of school and aim to make a memorable and proud one.

Amarjit Batra from Camberwell Grammar School scored an ATAR of 98.75

Pacing and planning

Aman Rekhy The VCE is like a marathon, but spread over the course of two years. And like a real marathon, its important to pace oneself.

My studying technique involved balancing out the time spent on each subject according to the amount of effort needed, whilst still trying to maintain as much equality as possible. Put in constant work throughout the year, rather than taking it easy until the exams and then increasing your stress

My most memorable experience of Year 12 was the final assembly at which the school song’s words “swift fly the hours in work and in play” rang truer than ever on final assembly Aman Rekhy

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COVERSTORY

and workload. When selecting subjects, if you don’t know your strengths, pick a subject that interests you and the desire to learn, achieve and excel will be fuelled by that interest.

Beyond school, I was a part of two soccer teams – indoor and outdoor – which was a valuable release that diverted my attention from studying for a short period of time. Also, my love for music and being a drummer for 6 years helped me to simply forget about my VCE pressures. I also added to my musical capabilities by attempting to teach myself the guitar, a further temporary release from my academic endeavours.

Celebrating the end of exams was spectacular. The sense of freedom and joy was simply unimaginable. After my last exam, I spent the evening with my girlfriend just walking around South Yarra and making up for time lost during the exam period.

An ‘end of exams’ celebration party was also organised by a close friend.

My most memorable experience of Year 12 was the final assembly at which the school song’s words “swift fly the hours in work and in play” rang truer than ever on final assembly. In those few short hours I reflected on the entire year and the reality of the situation hit me. I would now be considered an ‘Old Boy’ of Melbourne High School. I would no longer walk down the halls of our prestigious school. The camaraderie and friendships developed would no longer exist within the grounds of the school. I would walk through the front doors for the last time ever as a student, and 10 JANUARY 2013

plunge into the independence that awaits me.

Opening up a new and exciting chapter in life, I am hoping to pursue either a Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Arts/Business at Monash University.

Consistency is key to study. I highly recommend careful and strategic planning to students undertaking the VCE. Failing to plan is planning to fail!

Aman Rekhy is from Melbourne High School.

A rollercoaster year

Kartik Singh Year 12 is a rollercoaster of a year, with so many peaks and troughs, that it forces students to team up in order to face it.

The most memorable aspect of the year were friendships that were both made and strengthened with my fellow students, and I am hoping to continue these long into the future.

To make the most of Year 12, equal priority should be given to both study and leisure. This was my most fruitful year academically, but also my most social year and I ensured that most Saturday nights were for my own plans. At times, taking your mind off the VCE is the best thing, even if it is just for a few hours a week.

I was consistent with studying throughout the year, planning my weeks in advance by allocating certain amounts of time to each subject. During exam time however, I spent most hours of the day at the library.

I have always been inclined to study Commerce following high

school, so I chose similar subjects for VCE (Accounting, Legal Studies, Economics, Methods etc.).

Additionally, I chose to study Chemistry (a pre-requisite for other courses) in order to keep my options open, in case I changed university preferences during Year 12. My advice would be to pick subjects you’re interested in, rather than picking those which scale highly. This helps enjoy Year 12 infinitely more, you have a much better chance of doing well.

I will study Commerce at Melbourne University in 2013, and will join Ernst & Young as a full-time Cadet in 2014. Following that, I hope to pursue further study overseas.

You only get one shot at your VCE, so to get the most out of it, put 100% into everything you do and you’ll have no regrets when it’s done.

Kartik Singh from Melbourne High School scored an ATAR of 97.65

Setting sensible goals

Priya Agarwal At the start of 2012, I set some goals about what I wanted to achieve during my last year of high school. I wanted to try my best, take every opportunity, and balance my time effectively.

I worked as hard as I could and managed to achieve an ATAR of 99.85. However, there were quite a few hurdles to overcome like the constant struggle between

work, rest, enough sleep and play. But I prioritised my work, completed everything ahead of time and ensured that I was not ‘cramming’. Keeping my schedule in control helped me to plan ahead. Balance is especially important in Year 12, since studying excessively can take a toll on one’s health. I practised yoga for clarity of mind and completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. When I wanted to relax, I listened to some quiet music and concentrated on my breathing.

My advice to VCE students is to work with determination to achieve your goals, but put everything into perspective.

Spending time with friends is important; it’s easy to feel burdened when you spend lots of time alone. Forming a study group is a great way to find some balance. Planning ahead, spending time with friends and getting enough sleep will help you to achieve your goals. Time is really of the essence, and Year 12 flies by, so have a sound study timetable every week from February to November, especially during the holidays. I started doing trial exams four months before the VCAA exams, and reviewed topics as soon as they were finished. Additionally, make sure you utilise every resource available, including your teachers, who are truly invaluable during Year 12. Overall, work hard and with discipline, but don’t forget to laugh and smile as much as

possible. One of the goals I achieved this year was to make someone laugh every day; making other people smile has been the best part of this year for me.

I will commence a double degree at Monash University, to have more options in the future when applying for a job.

Enjoy your last year of high school. It will be the busiest, most exciting and fun year of your schooling. At the end, smile and congratulate yourself as the end of Year 12 is the start of the next stage of your life!

Priya Agarwal of Camberwell Girls’ Grammar School scored an ATAR of 99.85

Relief at last!

Nikita Kulkarni As a past VCE student, I understand how hard it can be studying all the time. It is necessary to allow yourself a little break between study periods, so that your brain can stop processing the information you read after a certain period of time.

My study technique involved writing notes and revising. The more revision you do, the better.

By revising you solidify what you know and learn what you don’t and you familiarise yourself with the information, which then makes it easier later during the exam periods.

I figured out which subjects I enjoyed simply by what I liked, and the things the teachers taught.

My parents were fine with what I chose because it was what I needed for what I want to do. I

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Forming a study group is a great way to find some balance.

Planning ahead, spending time with friends and getting enough sleep will help you to achieve your goals.

Priya Agarwal

am hoping to undertake an engineering degree at university, so I chose my subjects accordingly.

Support during this crucial year is important as it pushes you harder and encourages you, as the VCE year is full of many ups and downs. It helps to have the right support from not only your family, but from relatives and friends. I was lucky to have a lot of support.

It is important to maintain a balance between study and recreation during this hectic year.

I swam, read and danced, besides being a member of the debating team and the Social Justice team in high school.

By the end of exams, relief settled in at having lasted the year and finally completing it.

Slumping on the couch and watching a complete movie that I was unable watch during the year without feeling guilty was worth it!

Give the VCE your best shot.

After all, in the end you’ll be opening the doors for yourself, and no-one but you can help do that. As a wise man once said, “A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step.”

Nikita Kulkarni is from Killester College, Springvale

Psychology perfect

Sandali Seneviratne It is important to take care of those around you throughout the year, even if the VCE is ultimately a competition. My parents were a very solid foundation for me throughout the year and kept me grounded and sane. Year 12 is a very stressful year and if you don’t surround yourself with the right people, you’ll find it a lot more difficult than it has to be.

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Over the year, my family and friends were my best support team.

I was lucky enough to have a solid friendship group throughout the year that motivated me and pushed me to do better. My favourite subject in year 12 was Psychology, and I think I realised this from the very first lesson. My class was hardworking and my teacher inspired me like no other teacher did. It made me want to do well so I studied harder and got the marks I wanted. I started to love what I was studying, and began thinking of Psychology as a future career option. My parents were extremely happy, and encouraged me to discuss schoolwork at home, as well as ask questions in school if I was confused about anything.

At most schools there is also the option of completing a year 12 subject early in year 11. I did Biology with a few of my friends, but soon realised that I wasn’t very good or interested in it. But I found out that since Biology was my sixth subject and an extra one, it wouldn’t really affect my ATAR, but would only boost my score.

But I’m grateful now for doing that subject as it did increase my score and also prepared me for what year 12 and VCE would be like.

For me, the best type of studying was actively utilising the knowledge in the form of practise questions, essays or even exams. Good studying is not cramming at the last minute but a few days of study over which you reconsolidate knowledge, thereby keeping it fresh in your mind.

I will be doing a Bachelor of Nursing at Monash University,

as my interest in psychology has inspired me to specialise in mental health.

Sandali Seneviratne is from Pascoe Vale Girls’ College

Adapt and overcome

Gurveen Singh Having always foreseen Year 12 as my ‘perfect’ year, I did not expect any obstacles of great enormity to come my way, especially in my personal world. But having my grandmother diagnosed with cancer in April and my grandfather passing away a month before my exams in October was both a shock and cause of great sadness to me; but the lesson I learned is that of adapting. I also learned the importance of approaching Year 12 with no preconceived notions or ideas, because the reality is that things can change in unexpected ways. It was important for me to surround myself with support from friends, teachers and school counsellors, as well as keep my priorities in focus. I completed by VCE with an ATAR of 93.20 despite these trying times, and have applied for a double degree of Commerce/ Arts at Monash University at Clayton. I may also consider completing Juris Doctor at the postgraduate level.

I would study in time blocks of half an hour or two hours

according to each of my subjects, with 5-10 minute breaks at every half hour interval. As an aid, I kept inspirational quotes above my study table to motivate me, and a big clock so I did not lose track of time. I also would try to avoid technology (my phone, laptop, TV) while studying, unless absolutely necessary. By my side throughout the year was my trusty study buddy – chocolate.

The Year 12 Formal and Valedictory were great highlights of the year, as well as the annual ski trip. Another memorable moment was maintaining a leadership role as the Social Justice Captain of my high school, which was the perfect foil during the hectic year. Year 12 was the most enjoyable of all my schooling years, so don’t be afraid to embrace extracurricular opportunities that come your way.

To students doing their VCE in 2013, don’t deprive yourself from enjoying the final year of high school; it is important to have a social life as long as it does not impinge on your studies. Your marks are highly reflective of your exam performance, so ensure you are well prepared on the day, not only by studying, but by eating and sleeping well. Remember that your family are your friends! Rely on them when the going gets tough as they only want what is best for you. And finally, adapt - if things don’t go your way, make the most of what you have!

Gurveen Singh of Mater Christi College scored an ATAR of 93.20

Year 12 is a very stressful year and if you don’t surround yourself with the right people, you’ll find it a lot more difficult than it has to be Sandali Seneviratne

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Pi philosophy specialreport

A young man and a tiger embark together on an epic journey of survival, self-discovery and perseverance,

by Antoinette mullins

B

ased on the book by Yann Martel, the recently released movie Life of Pi is an unforgettable story about courage, perseverance, inspiration and hope. The book itself won the prestigious Booker Prize and sold seven million copies worldwide, spending years on bestseller lists. And now the movie – which unfolds over three continents, two oceans, many years and a wide universe of imagination – is already being internationally acclaimed for its distinctive charm, excellent imagery and as a truly believable adaptation of the book.

Life of Pi has already won awards from other film critic groups including six awards by the Las Vegas Film Critics Society and nine nods for the 18th Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. It has also been nominated for three Golden Globe awards, forbest motion picture (drama), best director and best score.

Inspiring tale

Not giving anything away, the story starts with the adult Pi Patel – played perfectly by Irrfan Khan – telling his story to an author – this is a story that “will make you believe in God”, Pi tells him. It’s the story of his life – a young boy from Pondicherry in French India, whose family owns a zoo. As he grows up and endeavours to find his place in the world, we meet many people who influence his young life and shape him into the little human he’s becoming. In the film, 17 year old Pi, played by Suraj Sharma, is told that the family is leaving India in search of a better life. This means moving as a family to Canada and leaving behind everything that Pi knows, including his first love. His mother, played by veteran actress Tabu, is a grounding force in his life and tries to shelter him from the harshness of this world. By contrast, his father takes on a more practical view, teaching him that although the world is beautiful, it can also be very dangerous – a lesson stamped into Pi through a very close encounter with a Bengal tiger called Richard Parker.

The family boards a Japanese cargo ship and meets a sadistic chef, played by Gérard Depardieu. Pi’s world is shattered when the ship sinks and he is cast adrift on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with some very interesting (and dangerous) characters. The journey of self-discovery, courage and perseverance that follows encourages us all to hang in there, to believe in ourselves and to find joy in even the smallest of victories.

Although the story has many religious elements, it is not focused on just one. It teaches religious tolerance – something we can all learn! The young Pi is exposed to many facets of religious teachings, including Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Catholicism. This makes for

some interesting moments in the film, as he prays a lot and in many different ways. As his father says, “At the rate you’re going, if you go to temple on Thursday, mosque on Friday, synagogue on Saturday and church on Sunday, you only need to convert to three more religions to be onholiday for the rest of your life.”

A directorial challenge

Director Ang Lee (of Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame) develops the story using his kaleidoscopic imagination and visionary genius. Creating a visual marvel where the cinematography takes on a life of its own – even the great wide ocean where our hero finds himself adrift, acts like a character in the story: both villain and reluctant hero, helping Pi along his voyage of self discovery.

When I heard Ang Lee was making a movie from the book, I was very excited but also anxious, as I loved the charming picture of India that Yann Martel had painted. This is in contrast with many Hollywood movies showing the gritty side of India – such as in Slumdog Millionaire. However, I was relieved after seeing Life of Pi, which paints a serene, picturesque and often idyllic French India. Ang Lee never considered shooting the first act of the movie anywhere else, as he explained: “While we were working on the script I scouted around, and there is really nothing else that compares to French India. It’s unique and somewhat unfamiliar to the rest of the world. It’s like you can just drop a camera anywhere in there, turn it on, and the picture will be beautiful.”

In telling Pi’s story, Mr Lee pushes the boundaries of cutting-edge motion picture technologies, which films such as Avatar and Titanic 3D have done. The character of Richard Parker has been expertly brought to life through the magic of CGI – a fact for which Suraj is very grateful as he did not relish acting with a live tiger on a small lifeboat!

I was an avid fan of the book – after reading it I tried to take on Pi’s way of seeing the beauty in every situation and making the most of it. Not always an easy task, but I found that when you tackle everyday frustrations with a bit of humour, you can overcome anything.

And now, I love the movie even more. Because Life of Pi is a heart-warming story, one of beauty and warmth that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you laugh, all at the same time.

If you have time, read the book first. But watch the film anyway – with the animal scenes and stunning visions of India in 3D, it’s a delight for the entire family. The film is rated PG, so take the kids and go see it this holiday season, it’s a delight for the whole family!

Strength and sensitivity SURAJ SHARMA talks to ANTOINETTE MULLINS on his life before, during and after Pi

P

i is a delightful character whose sense of humour and kind heart guides him through life and gives him the courage to face his very difficult journey. He’s the kind of on-screen character that makes you want to shout out, “C’mon little man, you can do it!”, while fellow movie-goers shout at you to be quiet. After meeting Suraj Sharma, who plays this incredible character with a unique authenticity, that feeling was reinforced several times over.

I cannot imagine anyone playing the character of Pi better than Suraj, who is amazingly, a newcomer to the world of acting. Anyone who has seen the movie willagree with me that Suraj became the character of Pi wholeheartedly. He completely won over fans of the book, earnest critics, general moviegoes and unsurprisingly, the crew of the movie, with the strength and sensitivity of his performance.

On his recent trip to Sydney to promote the film, I caught up with Suraj to find out about his Pi experience.

On meeting him, Suraj comes across as an uncomplicated yet sensitive person, who practically shines with excitement when talking about his experiences in making Life of Pi, and his excitement is infectious. Its clear to me that he takes joyfrom simple everyday experiences. I interviewed him at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney in a room full of people, two cameras and multiple lights shining down on us, which is certainly not an everyday experience. At least, not for me!

But just as Ang Lee helped Suraj calm down during the making of the movie, Suraj had that effect on me. I took a deep breath and we got started.

17 year old Suraj was cast as Pi after an extensive search all over India, through an audition process involving 3,000 young men. “I was really nervous, especially during the final audition. I was actually shaking but Ang calmed me down – he’s got this thing about him that calms people down,” said Suraj, of his first encounter with the renowned veteran director. “Ang is an amazing human being. Some of the scenes were really intense and you felt yourself crumbling, but he was the glue that kept everyone alive and together – you can’t but help be inspired by him,” added an obviously impressed Suraj.

In what is a charming anecdote, to mark the beginning of her son’s journey into a new world of acting and moviemaking, Suraj’s mother performed a small ceremony, during which she appointed Director Ang Lee as her son’s guru. Ever humble, Mr Lee’s first thoughts were that he was unworthy of assuming such a formidable responsibility. But the ceremony, he notes, ‘got to me’, and he agreed to strive to be deserving of the

honor. Suraj stated that the ceremony was to make things ‘official’ and that Ang would have taken him under his wing anyway, because that’s what comes naturally to him.

“He is a great teacher,” said Suraj.

But by the end of production, it was Suraj who became the on-set spiritual leader. Mr Lee marvelled at Suraj’s innocence and efforts, noting, “We are all experienced and perhaps a little jaded.

Suraj reminded us why we want to make movies. Every day was a miracle.”

So how did he transform into the powerful character that is Pi? “Blocks of Pi’s personality were slowly being put inside of me,” he replied somewhat cryptically.

It’s clear that it took an intense amount of studying the character, understanding the various nuances of Pi, and Suraj even read the book three times simply to truly understand the story and portray Pi just as author Yann Martel intended. Suraj really had his work cut out as he even had to do swimming classes for the film, because he didn’t know how to swim. This coupled with meditation, yoga and acting classes kept the young man not just busy, but capable of doing justice to the character he played.

As a young boy, Suraj displayed a strong talent in music and trained in Hindustani vocal and tabla, as well as the keyboard and guitar. But he was no ‘softy’, having also trained in karate and having acquired a Junior Black Belt in the Seido Karate School at 13. It’s clear that Suraj is an allrounder, being an avid soccer player and participating in sport all through his school years.

The debut actor who was 17 during much of the production of Life of Pi, actually celebrated his 18th birthday with the film’s crew in the midst of shooting the movie’s lifeboat scenes in the massive outdoor wave tank built in Taiwan for the movie, where most of it is shot.

And yes, ladies! I did ask him the question you all want to know: he is single, but in my opinion, not for long! This unassuming 18 year old with a smile that reaches his soft brown eyes, will not be off the market for long!

And what did he think about being in Australia? Suraj said that he loves Sydney but wished he had more time to really explore our beautiful city, an unlikely option considering his hectic schedule.

“I love walking and getting to know a city on foot – you really get to see so much more walking around,” he said. But currently his life is a whirlwind of media interviews, jetsetting around the world to promote the movie – and there’s no doubt that he’s getting quite good at that! He has already learned to charm the other reporters, who return to the media room with the same opinion as me – “He’s so nice!”

So what’s next for Suraj? Does he intend making acting a career? This young talented actor has other plans. He wants to be behind the camera as he says it’s much harder and more challenging for him. Suraj has enrolled and is entering his freshman year at Delhi University’s St. Stephen’s College this year. And that’s his immediate plan.

But Suraj Sharma is certainly going places. Anywhere he wants to go, really!

JANUARY 2013 15

New Year Fun celebrations marked the beginning of 2013 across Melbourne, as people dressed to dine, dance and party! Happy New Year 2013!

New Years Eve at Hilton on the Park

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Inspiration for male dancers A pioneer of classical dance is deservedly felicitated for a lifetime of dedication to the artform

D

r Chandrabhanu recently received the Nartaka Award 2012 for lifetime achievement and contribution to Indian classical dance in Kuala

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Lumpur, Malaysia.

For the past six years the Natyanjali Trust (of Chennai), founded by the late Jayalakshmi Satagopan has been organising the

Nartaka Dance Festival dedicated exclusively to presenting male dancers. In 2012, the festival expanded to include a Malaysian chapter. The Nartaka Dance Festival, Malaysia, conferred its first Malaysian Lifetime Achievement Award to dance icon, Dr Chandrabhanu, who has inspired many male dancers to pursue dance.

Joining Dr Chandrabhanu in Malaysia for the festival were the male members of the Jambudvipa ensemble: Sam Goraya, S Sujeevan and Wee Hong Chin. They presented Odissi dance items over several nights of the festival.

Dr Chandrabhanu reflected on his career in a conversation with Ramli Ibrahim the well-known Malaysian dancer, about male dancers and the award, and said he was greatly inspired by legendary dancer Sir Ram Gopal in his adolescence. “I never saw him dance live, but saw films and photos of his stage presentations. He must have inspired both male and female dancers all around the world. His

biography told of much suffering in the beginning to establish himself and to be recognized as a dancer.

My admiration for him has to do with his perseverance, and that he created an identity and a career through his own ingenuity,” said Dr Chandrabhanu. Dr Chandrabhanu identified with Sir Ram Gopal also partly because of his Burmese antecedent, being part Burmese himself. Much later, after seeing Rudolf Nureyev and Nijinsky, he was determined to redefine the male dancer’s role in the artform.

As a child Dr Chandrabhanu was fortunate to have the support and encouragement of his father in dance, the arts and theatre, because he himself had been involved in amateur theatre as a youth in Penang, and because his grandmother (the Burmese connection) who lived in Bengal was described as a dancer by profession, what today is known as a ‘nachwali’.

Spending a year in the USA as an exchange student in 1968-69 exposed Dr Chandrabhanu to

invaluable experience in Western performing arts and theatre studies. He was fortunate that his main guru in Bharatnatyam, Adyar Lakshman; and his guru in Odissi, Bijoy Senapati; encouraged him. Yet, says Dr Chandrabhanu, “... there is still a terrible stigma attached to male dancers today.

I believe that one’s persona is really made up of both the male and female psyche. One should have the freedom to explore both psyches.”

The biggest challenge he faced was creating a career here in Australia while maintaining contact with Malaysia and India. In Australia Dr Chandrabhanu strived to get non-western arts and dance accepted and treated seriously, and his background in social theory helped.

What does he instil in his dance students today? Dr Chandrabhanu stresses the importance of the principles of hard work and discipline, to treat dance as yoga and meditation.

Chitra Sudarshan

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A huge kite hangs on top of a building ahead of the kite festival in Ahmadabad, India. More than 100 kite flyers from around 40 countries including UK, France, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland, Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines will participates in the 25th annual International Kite Festival of Gujarat, which will be hosted outside Gujarat for the first time in Mumbai and Delhi.

Indian scientists devise 16 disaster management drugs

Preparing to deal with any future chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, Indian scientists have devised 16 drugs that can be used for disaster management. These include an anti-cyanide drug, an anti-nerve gas drug and an anti-toxic gas drug.

Several radioactive decorporation agents and drugs for anti-cyanide, anti-nerve gas and toxic gas injuries have been approved by the Drug Controller General of India as trial drugs.

Developed by scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) here, the drugs have passed the efficacy test and will be cheaper than those currently available in the market.

“Sixteen new drugs have been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) as trial drugs for disaster management. These include an anti-cyanide drug, an anti-nerve gas drug, an anti-toxic gas drug and several radioactive decorporation agents,” Aseem Bhatnagar, in charge of the project at INMAS, said in New Delhi recently.

These will be used as samples for the users, including the armed forces, the paramilitary, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Ministry of Health.

“Batch production of these drugs is being undertaken in collaboration with the pharmaceuticals industry through contract manufacturing. About 50,000-200,000 doses (licensed for human use) are expected to be manufactured by March 2013,” Bhatnagar said.

The DGCI approvals cover all-India use for 15 years for any number of victims.

Since there cannot be proper phase two trials of drugs useful in disasters, their use in any future incident has been approved as trial drugs due to a legality.

“These shall also be used for continuing clinical trials and for stockpiling. This is necessary to effectively plan stockpiling cost and perpetually (it is envisaged to provide the drug at cost price to the users). The average cost price is expected to be less than 24 JANUARY 2013

15 percent of market price in all cases,” Bhatnagar said.

Several of these drugs have been patented by the defence ministry.

“The contract has been given to pharmaceutical companies to ensure that quality checks and pricing remains the prerogative of the defence ministry. Besides, adequate stocks can be retained in a costeffective way and companies can initiate mass production in case of a disaster without any time wastage,” Bhatnagar said.

INMAS previously made and supplied drugs against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) incidents during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and to meet an emergency requirement of the Indian Navy.

“We also plan to keep some with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for usage during any disaster,” Bhatnagar said.

Scientists say that research and development and coordination will enhance the shelf life of NBC drugs by 60-100 percent and this project is planned in coordination with other government agencies.

“A mission mode project is planned to establish nuclear security in the national capital region by way of drugs, equipment and training to six echelons of medical services around Delhi under a project for seven years,” Bhatnagar added.

INMAS had developed a skin radioactivity decontamination kit (shudhika) that was given for production to a company in Pune.

“Its market cost is more than Rs.12,000 and we are developing it for just Rs. 1,000 (less than $2). Five hundred such kits will be made available to users, including the services, as samples by March,” Bhatnagar said.

India hopes to reduce trade deficit with China

The new year could see the balancing of trade between India and China a bit.

Three joint working groups on trade, services and investment will meet in February to discuss issues affecting bilateral trade and investment.

Among these, market access for Indian companies in China is a major concern for commerce ministry mandarins, who are otherwise confident of reaching the target of $100-billion bilateral trade by 2015.

“The problem for the sustainability of this trade is that India’s trade deficit with China jumped to nearly $40 billion in the last fiscal year,” Asit Tripathy, joint secretary in the commerce ministry, said in New Delhi on the sidelines of an event organised by the India China Economic and Cultural Council to promote the first China-South Asia Expo to be held in June in Kunming, capital of China’s Yunnan province.

In 2011-12, trade between the two countries stood at $75.45 billion. While India’s exports were at $17.90 billion, imports stood at $57.55 billion.

The deficit has widened over the last two fiscal years due to lower Chinese import of iron ore and copper that account for almost half of India’s exports to China.

As a corrective measure, India has offered a large range of products from drugs and medicines to diamonds, seafood, and agricultural produce like rice and beef, textiles and light engineering goods to China to balance massive imports of manufactured goods from that country.

Indian officials have presented to their Chinese counterparts a list of 916 items that could be sourced from India.

India wants greater access for its valueadded products and wants China to increase government procurement in sectors such as pharmaceuticals.

“Up to this point there has only been some response on the pharmaceutical sector and a few agricultural products,” said Tripathy on the status of the long list of goods for market access.

On most products and sectors there is however nothing forthcoming from the Chinese, he said.

He was hopeful that the first joint working group meetings would help begin progress on the market access for Indian goods.

“On the trade deficit with China one must consider that we are also importing products that are required here in India,” Tripathy, a negotiator with the Chinese, said, giving a rounded perspective on trade deficit.

Former cricketer Rusi Surti dead

Former India cricketer Rusi Surti died in Mumbai on January 12. He was 76.

Surti represented India in 26 Test matches

between 1960 and 1969 scoring 1,263 runs with a highest score of 99. He was a brilliant all-rounder and claimed 42 wickets, with best bowling figures of 5/74.

He was known for his all-round ability and set new heights with his athletic fielding. He settled in Australia after faring well on India’s 1967-68 tour here.

Surti had been in critical condition for the last few days and was being treated at the Jaslok hospital in Mumbai.

The former Queensland-based all-rounder was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and put on a ventilator.

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed the former cricketer had suffered a massive stroke, which led the doctors to put him on ventilator and other life-support systems.

Niranjan Shah, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), expressed his shock over the loss of life.

“A great loss to the cricketing world and his soul may rest in peace,” said Shah.

India’s forex reserves down by $1.5 bn

India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves decreased by $1.58 million to $294.99 billion for the week ended Jan 4, data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed recently in Mumbai.

The reserves had increased by $39.6 million to $296.57 billion for the week ended Dec 28, 2012.

The foreign currency assets (FCA) - the biggest component of the forex reserves - went down by $951.7 million at $261.06 billion, according to the weekly statistical supplement released by the RBI. The FCA went up by $63.9 million at $262.01 billion in the previous week.

The central bank said FCA in US$ terms included the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies held in reserve, such as the pound sterling, euro and yen.

Gold reserves value dipped by $583.3 million and stood at $27.21 billion.

The special drawing rights (SDRs) decreased by $34.7 million to $4.40 billion during the week under review, while reserves with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) went down by $18.2 million to $2.30 billion.

The SDRs had decreased by $15.9 million to $4.43 billion during the previous week, while reserves with the IMF had went down by $8.4 million to $2.32 billion.

Technology will change the face of education: BITS vice chancellor

While faculty and infrastructure deficits are major hurdles in increasing the reach of education in India, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) vice chancellor Bijendra Nath Jain says there is a need to take note of the changing pedagogy and using technology to fill the gaps in the system.

“People haven’t quite understood there is shortage of faculty, and technology can address it,” Jain said recently in Pilani, after the premier technology institute launched a service to connect all its campuses through video-conferencing.

The future of education depends on such initiatives, Jain noted.

“Indian students prefer to take a research or teaching job abroad but not in India. It is a problem for society, which does not value the worth of a teacher. Even the

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compensation is very low,” he said.

“We have not understood the pedagogy is changing,” the vice chancellor said.

“It used to be teacher going to a classroom, giving a lecture... But today, all the information is already on servers. Classroom contact is still required for clarifications of doubts, but most of us have not understood that growth of education will now depend on how we use these technologies,” Jain added.

BITS is one of the leading technical institutes in India and a deemed university.

The new technology is launched along with the BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA), BITS campuses in Pilani, Hyderabad and Goa through an advanced wireless and internet-based technique.

Called BITS Connect 2.0, it uses immersive telepresence, high-definition video conferencing and live streaming technologies for interaction between the different campuses.

The technology is Web-based and uses a high internet bandwidth to ensure glitch-free transmission and high quality picture and sound which make it a good alternative to face-to-face appearance.

It has an edge over normal video conferencing through the internet or Skype as it assures high quality. It has been used to create a classroom and a conference room in each of the three campuses.

“The classrooms can seat 180-200 students and are equipped with a high definition screen. The rows for students are equipped with microphones and push buttons.

Pressing the button automatically focusses a high definition camera on the student, making the interaction more personal,” the vice chancellor pointed out.

The conference room is also equipped with a semi-oval table, with another half oval being visible on the huge screens mounted on the wall.

“It gives a feeling of sitting face-toface in a conference - as if it is a large oval table,” explained Prem Jain, Chief Mentor, BITSConnect 2.0 and a member of the Alumni Advisory Council that has substantially assisted in developing and implementing the technique.

“In the classroom, students can even have eye-contact with a teacher who is in a different campus,” Prem Jain added.

Elaborating on the technology, the vice chancellor said: “It will hugely help in coping with the faculty shortage. It will also facilitate conferences and campus interviews as people won’t have to drive all the way down to Pilani.”

BITS Pilani also was one of the first Indian universities to set up IP Telephony, Gigabit Ethernet and Wireless accessibility on campus with BITSConnect 1.0 in 2003.

Commenting on the technique, noted industrialist and BITS Pilani Chancellor Kumar Mangalam Birla termed it a “significant step forward that extends the boundaries of technology-enabled learning”.

A similar network across major Indian universities has also been launched by the central government under the National Knowledge Network.

Faculty shortage is a major problem faced

by India as it attempts to provide educational opportunities for its growing population.

According to a task force constituted by the human resource development ministry, there is a shortage of 300,000 faculty members at present.

Such is the extent of that shortage that the

Japanese artist Saori Kanda creates her ‘music-inspired’ painting on a larger-than-life canvas while also dancing during International Art and Cultural Folk Festival in Kolkata on January 7. Organised by the NGO Karigar Haat, the festival features folk art and culture from different countries. prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology have proposed mentoring the top 15 percent undergraduate students from IITs, National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) through a teacher training programme.

Speaking about the role of private universities in the growing education market, the vice chancellor said the contribution being made by private institutes was still to be recognised.

“The role of private universities has to be understood, encouraged and recognised.

Not all government universities are good and not all private universities are bad,” Jain added.

India sees 57 percent dip in new HIV cases in a decade

The number of new annual HIV/AIDS cases in India have dropped by 57 percent in the last decade as against 20 percent globally, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said recently.

“In the last decade, the global average declining rate for new HIV infections was 20 percent, in India it is 57 percent,” said Azad at the closing function of the third phase of the Red Ribbon Express in New Delhi.

A recent report by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) said India has seen new HIV cases go down from 2.74 lakh in 2000 to 1.16 lakh in 2011 - an overall reduction of 57 percent.

Devoted to fighting HIV/AIDS, the third phase of the express train came to a final halt at the Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi after covering over 160 stations in 23 states.

It was flagged off Jan 12, 2012 on the national youth day.

In its journey of one year, 90,000 people availed the HIV/AIDS counselling in the train, on the platform and around the train halt-stations. Apart from spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS, the train also conducted general health check-ups.

The first edition of the express was launched in 2007 while the second phase was flagged off in 2009.

‘Swami Vivekananda is more relevant today’

Swami Vivekananda and his beliefs have become more relevant for today’s society which is under turmoil and suffering from social evils, say his followers and eminent citizens.

“His teachings are very much relevant today. In fact, they are the need of the hour considering the turmoil our society has been going through currently,” Magsaysay Awardwinning author Mahasweta Devi said on the eve of Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary in Kolkata recently.

“There are so many social evils and the way to eliminate them is to head the path shown by Swamiji - the path of compassion, brotherhood, humanity and, of course, love for the country,” the author and social activist said.

The views of Mahasweta Devi resonated in those of another social activist Swami Agnivesh who called Vivekananda a “secular, spiritual leader”.

“He is relevant today as much he was during his lifetime. He was far ahead of his times in his beliefs and thoughts. In fact, in today’s world the right way ahead is to follow his footsteps,” Agnivesh said.

“It would be grossly unjust to brand him just a Hindu spiritual leader. He was as much a social and a political leader. His preaching are as much about patriotism, social and political equality as about spiritualism.

“He could instil inspiration in all, be it freedom fighters, religious and spiritual people or the ordinary man.

“It is great tragedy that there still persists casteism, gender discrimination and communalism in our country,” added Agnivesh.

Swami Smaranananda, vice president of Ramakrishna Mission - a philanthropic and spiritual organisation founded by Vivekananda, quoted a saying by the monk to show his relevancy in modern times.

“Swamiji used to say: ‘You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul’.

“If only people could follow this simple saying the world would be far better a place to live,” Smaranananda said.

Pakistan committed to giving MFN status to India

The Pakistan government recently said it was committed to implementing its decision to grant most favoured nation (MFN) status to India.

The assertion over the MFN status came from Pakistan’s foreign office in the evening as a clarification following Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani’s reported comment that Islamabad had some reservations over granting India MFN status.

The commerce ministers of the two neighbours would hold talks on the reservations soon, Pakistani TV channels had quoted Jilani as saying.

Rubbishing all such reports, the foreign office in a statement clarified that the Pakistani government was committed to implementing its decision of granting most favoured nation (MFN) status to India.

Stating that the foreign secretary’s remarks had been reported out of context, the foreign office said: “The foreign secretary had actually said that certain stakeholders have some reservations on the MFN status.”

Pakistan would continue its efforts to establish normal trade relations with India, the statement added.

IANS

JANUARY 2013 25

INDIAN CA 1

New Year’s Day*

25 Milad-Un-Nabi

13 Makar Sankranti

26 Republic Day / Australia Day*

14 Pongal

28 Australia Day holiday*

25 Guru Ravidas Jayanti

18 Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

6

Labour Day QLD* / May Day NT*

24 Hazarat Ali birthday

9

Rabindranath Tagore birthday

25 Buddha Purnima

12 Mother’s Day*

15 Vasant Panchami

26 National Sorry Day*

10 Queen’s Birthday (most regions)*

2

Gandhi Jayanti

16 Bakrid

Labour Day SA NSW ACT*

22 Karvachauth

1

Father’s Day*

16 Onam

7

9

Ganesh Chaturthi

30 Queen’s Birthday WA*

13 Vijayadashmi/Dussehra

* Australian holidays and observances 26 JANUARY 2013

Disclaimer: Please check accuracy of religious holidays closer to the dates specified

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27 Holi

1

29 Good Friday*

11 Ugadi/Gudipadwa

24 Mahavir Jayanti

10 Mahashivratri

30 Easter Saturday*

13 Vaisakhi/Vishu

25 Hanuman Jayanti / ANZAC Day*

11 Labour Day VIC* / Eight-Hour Day TAS*

31 Easter*

15 Bihu

4

Labour Day WA*

Easter Monday*

19 Ramnavami

2

Jamat-Ul-Vida

18 Parsi New Year

10 Rath Yatra

9

Id-Ul-Fitr

20 Rakshabandhan

22 Guru Purnima

15 Independence Day

28 Janmashtami

3

Diwali

14 Muharram

13 Gita Jayanti

26 Boxing Day*

5

Melbourne Cup*

17 Guru Nanak Jayanti

24 Christmas Eve

31 New Year’s Eve*

11 Remembrance Day*

24 Guru Teg Bahadur’s Martyrdom day

25 Christmas*

18000 15 8 47

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JANUARY 2013 27

BOOKS

Cricket and the Taliban An uplifting novel about sport and life under a strict religious regime

I

By CHITRA SUDARSHAN

n The Taliban Cricket Club (Allen and Unwin) is a novel

by Timeri Murari. It is a love story set in Kabul in the year 2000 during the period of Taliban rule, when the country was known as the United Emirates of Afghanistan. It centres on the life of a young woman, Rukhsana, a journalist using a male pseudonym to describe life under a religious dictatorship. For women in Afghanistan during this time, there was an edict issued by the Taliban that they should only be seen in the home and in the grave. But life for young men also changed radically; there was little opportunity for work and the only schools open were the religious madrassas. Entertainment – from music and movies to wedding celebrations – were banned under

Taliban rule and the only sport permitted was football. But to improve their image, the Taliban made real historical efforts to have Afghanistan accepted as an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council – a true story – a move that was supported by the Taliban at the time. In 2000, the Taliban revised its restrictions on sport in Afghanistan and decided to allow men to participate in cricket. It was an attempt to show the world that they could play fair too. A year later, the Afghan team began competing internationally. Murari spins this historical detail into a bold and uplifting novel about sport and life under the Taliban.

In this novel, the Taliban plan to create a cricket team, holding a tournament and flying the winning team to Pakistan to train.

Rukhsana seizes the opportunity to help her brother and male cousins escape their dangerous and oppressive country. She played cricket for her university’s female team in Delhi and sets

In 2000, the Taliban revised its restrictions on sport in Afghanistan and decided to allow men to participate in cricket

Although the plot is a bit far-fetched, the description of life under the Taliban – and cricket in Afghanistan – are brought to live with warmth and humour

about coaching the men. If they form a cricket team and win, they can leave Afghanistan and never return. Although the plot is a bit far-fetched, the description of life under the Taliban – and cricket in Afghanistan – are brought to live with warmth and humour.

Timeri N Murari is an award-

winning writer, filmmaker and playwright who began his career as a journalist at The Kingston Whig Standard in Ontario, Canada. TIME magazine chose his film The Square Circle as one of the top ten of the year. He has published fiction and nonfiction, and his bestselling novel

Taj, a story of Mughal India, was translated into twenty-one languages. In 2006, he published a memoir, My Temporary Son, exploring his relationship with a desperately ill orphan. Murari now lives with his wife in his ancestral home in Madras, India.

Offer valid till limited period

28 JANUARY 2013

www.indianlink.com.au

School

Taking on a private tutor Some fundamental guidelines will help parents decide whether their child will benefit from private tutoring ‘Transfer-test’ tuition BY MOHAN DHALL

T

hroughout the world, the use of private tuition as a supplement to mainstream schooling is growing.

The phenomenon is occurring from places as diverse as India, Taiwan and Hong Kong to Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Portugal. Australian parents are also increasingly turning to tutors to support their children through their years of schooling. So, what motivates parents to seek a tutor, and when is it appropriate or not appropriate for families to seek the support of tutors?

Motivation for a private tutor

There are several reasons why parents seek the assistance of private tutors for their child(ren).

This could be because the child needs remedial academic or learning support; or stimulus beyond that which is given by the school; a smooth transition for the child to move from one system to another, or to gain access to a particular school – so called ‘transfer test’ tutoring; to provide structured support for homework; to build self-confidence in the child; or when the school academic content is beyond the comfort level of the parent; and finally, to take some level of personal control of the outcomes of education

Remedial academic or learning support

A notable aspect of private tuition is the assistance parents know that it can give a child who is struggling to keep up, who has a particular learning style that is not well accommodated in the mainstream classroom or who finds particular academic concepts difficult. In this context, teaching and learning via a tutor can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the child.

Stimulus beyond school

A small proportion of parents find that schoolwork is not enriching enough for their child, who needs additional stimulus to ensure a continued interest in learning. Typically such parents may have children identified as ‘gifted’; however it might also be the case that the parent has a child whose learning needs are not be appropriately catered for at school.

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“Transfer-test” tutoring may be defined as arising when the desire is for the child to move from one system (eg public) to another (eg private) or to gain access to a particular educational institution (eg academically selective school or university). The goal can be a significant motivator for a particular type of private tuition called ‘coaching’, ‘cramming’ or ‘hothousing’. Here the purpose of the private tuition is to achieve a particular goal or outcome.

The parent may want their child to attempt particular tests (eg scholarship or selective schools tests, UMAT tests or other forms of entry test) with a view to gaining entry into a system or institution. Alternatively, the parent may also see that the investment in private tuition may save a lot of money later – such as private school fees.

Structured support for homework

Structured support can provide a source of steadiness, predictability and significant academic assistance to the child. The predictable nature of the engagement of a private tutor can help the child and also the family, manage and negotiate schooling over time.

Reinforcement of concepts and content done at school are also desired by parents when taking on a private tutor, who should be well aware of the work that is done in the school. Reinforcement is likely to deepen understanding and also foster inquiry, which in turn can lead to deep knowledge.

Building selfconfidence

A most understated use of private tutors is that of confidence building. Often the tutor will tell the parent that the child’s understanding is fine but the child just ‘isn’t achieving’. Typically, the issue is self-confidence – the child has little self-belief. Thus, the role of the tutor is to help the child find confidence and self-esteem through affirmation, encouragement and reinforcement of the skills and knowledge required.

The parent’s comfort level

Sometimes parents who have been able to help their own child have reached a point where they feel like they no longer have the ability to help. This can arise by virtue of little time, or a lack of confidence in the parent with the specific content matter and outcomes being

Thus, the role of the tutor is to help the child find confidence and self-esteem through affirmation, encouragement and reinforcement of the skills and knowledge required

covered by the child in school.

This may be the case as a child progresses through high school, and may also arise with respect to problem solving for selective tests, scholarship exams and UMAT/ GAMSAT preparation.

Personal control of education outcomes

As the awareness of the importance of education and educational attainment increases, so too does the desire by parents to take personal control of the outcomes of education. That is, rather than simply rely on the school and teachers, the parents invest in making choices that they believe will help their child do their best as school and beyond.

It is notable also that as incomes rise, the amount of discretionary income spent on private tuition can be as high as 30% in some families.

Inappropriate times to engage private tutors

Despite parents turning to tutors for a multitude of reasons, there are times when taking on tutors is not appropriate. For example, parents should first ask themselves whether the use of a tutor or extra classes is necessary. After all, sometimes a simple restructure of time can provide a child with the support they need from their own parent(s).

Moreover, just because other children may attend private tuition classes is not a reason, of itself, to justify taking on private tutors.

A further aspect to this is the

lazy or dependent child. A tutor should not be engaged simply because the parent cannot motivate the child. However, if the lack of motivation arises from poor understanding, disengagement, lack of self-confidence, a particular learning need or some such, then a well-chosen tutor may be very helpful.

What to look for in a private tutor

Parents need to be very careful when deciding to take on a private tutor for their child. Firstly they need to be able to articulate what it is they are seeking and why.

Accountability for any chosen tutor begins with this. From this point parents should then determine whether the tuition should be one-to-one or in a class or group, and whether it should be outside or inside the home. Many people prefer the child to be taught outside of home as there may be more seriousness associated with an actual physical site where private tuition and/or classes are conducted.

There are several very important things that parents must consider when choosing a tutor, as follows: • The tutor is appropriately qualified, skilled and experienced to tutor the child or if not qualified, openly discloses that they are not. University students will be unqualified but may be excellent tutors as they are closer in age to students and may well understand curricular requirements very well • The tutor is clear about what

they can and cannot do, and their work is open to scrutiny • The tutor seeks to make the child as independent as possible, rather than encouraging dependencies • The tutor volunteers open and honest feedback about the tutoring and tuition sessions, including disclosing when the tuition is no longer beneficial • The tutor communicates with confidence and helps the child to feel at ease • The tutor has been properly screened by child protection agencies (such as having a ‘Working with Children’ check or a federal police check) • The tutor comes to sessions prepared and considers the specific needs of the child, is reliable and consistent

Tutors and businesses to avoid

All parents should avoid tutors who do not have these characteristics. They should ask tutors and tuition businesses about their refund policy and whether they are members of the Australian Tutoring Association (ATA), the peak body for tutors in Australia.

In summary

Parents need to carefully consider the choices they make when it comes to taking on private tutors.

They need to be prepared to ask questions and ensure that the tuition will be of benefit to their child. In this way the investment should be worth it.

JANUARY 2013 29

opinion

A traumatised world welcomes the New Year

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As 2013 approaches, citizens of the world can only hope for change for the better and an end to unfinished business of 2012 with his or her German counterpart.

The latest unemployment figures (November 2012) are depressing. Overall, the European Union’s unemployment figure BY is 12%, but in individual basket cases like noel g de sOUZA Spain the figure is over 25% with even worse figures for the young age groups.

During the world’s multiple turmoils, uch of the world anticipates the Australia has done quite well thanks to its New Year with both relief and hope. mineral wealth. But the loss of industrial The year 2012 has seen unprecedented jobs and the difficult task of making environmental and financial disasters. Both its tourism attractive calls for a lot of India and Australia have had their fair innovation and adaptation. share of problems which followed such Australia’s natural world disasters; there has been has a fabulous record of considerable anxiety in both adaptation. Its vegetation, these democratic countries, for example, has adapted an anxiety which has been itself to extensive droughts tempered by a give-andOn the industrial by developing foliage which take with regard to new and front, both Australia stores moisture and oils. urgently required legislation and India have seen But, in the process, its oil and action.

Amongst the biggest the loss of what were content makes it vulnerable to extensive bush fires. disasters in the world has once considered as New Year is a time for been the megastorm which secure jobs. giving gifts. In India, Diwali, battered New York and the the festival of lights has neighbouring states in the similar connotations to the USA. An unprecedented western New Year. At both dissemination of these festivals, giving gold information round-the-clock presents has been a custom followed, with major safety within Indian families. Such precautions. These helped familial jewellery hoards could well help in lessening the storm’s disastrous impact. in times of need. However, this year the Such systems need to be put into place astronomical price of gold in India (over where there is history of storms and floods, Rs32,000 per ounce) might well mean the such as along the east coast of India and in end or a dilution of that custom for many the Ganges delta.

There have been floods in 2012 in various families.

The New Year is also a time for making parts of India and Australia, all with very resolutions. Many of these are notorious damaging local effects. The effect on for being individualistic such as, “I will individuals has been often catastrophic. quit smoking” or “I will stop drinking Nevertheless, during such trauma, people and therefore I’ll avoid drinking friends”. have shown the best sides of their character However the real requirements might well by flocking to help those in need. be at a higher level. One can resolve to The financial side has been no better. adapt oneself to changing conditions. But On the industrial front, both Australia and then changing conditions force people to India have seen the loss of what were once adapt anyway. The better resolution would considered as secure jobs. Again, affected be to foresee possible changes which may families have needed help and were given be coming, and make oneself ready for some (maybe not sufficient) support by such eventualities when they occur. governments and friends.

As the New Year approaches, a variety of The world wants to see a better New predictors become busy as they launch into Year but it goes into the New Year with foreseeing what might lie ahead in financial important items of business remaining and political spheres. Financial gurus and unfinished. The threat of a dreaded political pundits can do roaring trade American ‘fiscal cliff ’ in the USA might not with exclusive newsletters. Astrological ultimately eventuate as both the Democrats prophecies about possible events in the and the Republicans appear at times to be New Year are mostly confined to specialist close to a compromise which could yield magazines. fruit before this article goes to press. But Some might dismiss astrologers as at other times, their positions appear to be charlatans who make a living through entrenched and far apart as ever. scams. But one famous predictor, who There is, on the other hand, little named himself Cheiro, stands out for optimism with regard to the monetary some very astounding predictions. He crisis in Europe with failure written large predicted the partition of India between at every meeting held till now. The demand Muslims and the followers of the Buddha for ever- increasing austerity measures in 1925. India did choose the Buddhist could result in the proverbial straws which chakra and the Ashoka pillar as its symbols! ultimately break the camel’s back. This With the people of India and southeast is particularly the case with Greece where Asia, let’s join hands in a heartfelt wage levels have fallen so low that at last ‘Namaste’ as we greet 2013. the Greek worker might be able to compete

M

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opinion

Violence against women – does India say ‘no’?

While calls are on for stricter legislation for rape in India, law enforcers should begin focussing on serious crimes the situation could be improved. Their proscription is usually similar: have the government pass more laws to improve the legal system’s responsiveness to rape BY allegations and force police to prosecute SUKRIT SABHLOK complaints seriously.

While this proposed remedy stems from a sincere concern for their fellow human he past few weeks have been beings, the whole idea of passing more tumultuous for the Indian laws perhaps misses the point.

Government. Large public After all, there’s no shortage of laws demonstrations have rocked the capital against rape in India. The New Delhi, with protestors Indian Penal Code sets demanding the authorities out the sexual offences do something about the quite clearly. The problem recurring violence against would seem to be more of women. a structural and cultural The public’s rage was First, there’s the one, and this requires more inspired by the tragic story depressing reality of lateral thinking if we are of a 23 year old student poverty, segregation to come up with effective who was brutally gang among castes and solutions. Arguably, the raped by a group of men accompanying lack proper remedy may lie in mid-December, beaten of education about in repealing laws, and rewith an iron bar and civic rights in a directing law and order subsequently died from her democracy. resources. For example, injuries. rather than spending In the past, Indian millions enforcing laws politicians have been that don’t make sense – like known to downplay rape the laws against unlicensed and put some of the blame street hawkers that allow on women for not dressing police to harass nonmodestly enough, or for violent individuals trying going out late at night. to make an honest living – why not have In addition, more than a fifth police focus on violent crimes like murder, of federal parliamentarians face assault and rape? Would that criminal charges. Of these, around 40 not be better than adding another face charges for serious crimes like layer of bureaucracy and confusion murder or rape. through the passage of more That there is a problem festering laws? deep within India’s political class is not A study by the Centre for Civil in doubt. It cannot be said that women Society sets out many other instances and young girls are ‘safe’ or ‘respected’ to of fruitless wastage of police the same extent that they are in Western resources. nations such as Australia This could almost be a (not that we are perfect, of blueprint course). for reform of the justice There are a few reasons system for this. First, there’s in India. the depressing reality of Second, the rule of When I was in India poverty, segregation among law is in a dismal several years castes and accompanying state in much of ago, I came across a lack of education about India, with police woman at a train station civic rights in a democracy. who had collapsed and lay Many simply aren’t sometimes not sprawled on the ground. confident enough to speak investigating Onlookers passed her by out against perpetrators, sexual offences or silently, looking but not especially when the the courts taking offering assistance. offender may be someone inordinate amounts In the same way, the of a higher social status. of time to resolve 23 year old rape victim Second, the rule of complaints. and her male companion law is in a dismal state in were left on the side of much of India, with police the road to die, and passing sometimes not investigating cars slowed down to look sexual offences or the but did not help. Maybe it’s courts taking inordinate not more laws that India needs, but more amounts of time to resolve complaints. compassion and better enforcement of Bribes and intimidation are also features existing laws. The intense of the legal landscape in the subcontinent. scrutiny being placed on police by At the mass rallies held recently, many protestors is a good start.

Indians offered their thoughts on how

T

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JANUARY 2013 31

TRAVEL

Charms of

Chennai

The traditional and historic blends beautifully in this vibrant, culturally superior city

BY PETRA O’NEILL

D

eterminedly I strode out beyond the gates of the historic Connemara Hotel in Chennai, leaving cocooned comfort behind me while stepping onto a noisy, busy street. I had not been to Chennai before; however, aiming north, I caught a bus that ended not as I had hoped near my destination, but at a bus terminus some distance away. The day was very hot.

Previously known as ‘Madras’, Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu was an area of fishing villages until 1639, when the British East India Company established Fort St. George, providing the British with their first foothold in India on a piece of land given by the Raja of Chandragiri, the last of the Vijayanagar rulers of Hampi.

A treasure trove of colonial architecture, Regency and IndoSaracenic styles are particularly evident in the city, and Chennai now extends as far south to

32 JANUARY 2013

incorporate the ancient port city of Mylapore.

My day of sightseeing commenced at Fort St. George, a vast complex comprising the Secretariat and Legislative Council Chambers, with impressive entry gates, barracks and a Fort Museum, one of the most compelling places in Chennai to visit, with coins, medals, grand portraits and quirky items including massive iron padlocks. St. Mary’s Church is the oldest Anglican Church east of the Suez. This charming whitewashed church built in 1678 is located close to the former home of Robert Clive, who fought the French in a series of battles. Beyond is a magnificent Regency-style building that houses the state police headquarters.

I then walked to the grandest of buildings, the red brick High Court at Parry’s Corner built in 1892, and the world’s second largest judicial building after the Courts of London. Fully robed barristers strode hurriedly to court from chambers. Across the street is Georgetown, a hub of activity with entire streets selling nothing but one type of wholesale goods such as spare parts or stationery.

I glanced south to Mylapore along Marina Beach, the long

stretch of sand that is Chennai’s favourite outdoor recreational space. The sun was intense and the distance was too far to walk. Marugan, an affable auto rickshaw driver, was strategically placed to pick me up.

We sped off to St Thomas Basilica built over the tomb of St Thomas, one of the 12 Christian apostles who came to India in 52AD, lived in Mylapore and died as a martyr in 78AD. From here I visited the massive Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Parthasarathy temple dedicated to Krishna, originally built in the 9th century by the Pallava dynasty with later Chola additions, and the Kapaleeswarar temple dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Shiva. While originally built in the 8th century, it was largely destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Vijayanagar kings during the 16th century.

I ended my day at Higginbothams, an atmospheric bookshop with whirring overhead fans and piles of dishevelled books stacked high.

My purchase, a street map, was carefully processed, wrapped neatly and placed in a bag with a detailed invoice.

At my hotel, Giggles – The Biggest Bookshop, has been operating for over 30 years

by Nalini Chettur.

She shared with me many delightful stories of Chennai and introduced me to many of her friends and loyal clients who were passing by.

The next day I walked to Egmore Railway Station, immensely impressive with its towers capped with domed pavilions. Kennet Lane, the busy commercial area opposite has restaurants, shops, money exchanges and internet cafes.

Nearby is the imposing St. Andrew’s Kirk, consecrated in 1821 with a circular nave, rich woodwork and fine stained glass.

It was Sunday and the church was filled to capacity.

The Museum and Art Gallery is deserving of several hours.

Miniatures include fine portraits and elaborately carved ivory including caskets, carved with intricate patterns. The Bronze Gallery has one masterpiece after another with sculptures from the Chola dynasty dating from 850AD, the jewellery and headdresses are extraordinary, and the figures so gracefully posed that they convey a sense of movement.

Before the Chola dynasty and the great age of bronze, the third and fourth centuries witnessed the triumph of the Pallava dynasty when sculptures were made of stone. The collection provides a perfect introduction for visiting the great temples of southern India.

Next morning, I was picked up by my driver Guna. We drove south-bound for Mamallapuram past the Madras Club and the Adayar River, along broad, majestic tree-lined avenues including TTK Road with large mansions and well-tended gardens.

Chennai, India’s fourth largest city is a pleasant, liveable city, a mix of modern and historic, far less congested or polluted than other cities of comparable size. The night before my departure, on returning to my room I found a large black box. Inside was my laundry: three shirts neatly pressed and folded between layers of tissue paper. In Chennai, people are welcoming, unhurried and take that extra bit of care.

That, for me, made my stay more memorable.

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A treasure trove of colonial architecture, Regency and Indo-Saracenic styles are particularly evident in the city

Chennai, India’s fourth largest city is a pleasant, liveable city, a mix of modern and historic, far less congested or polluted than other cities of comparable size

Travel notebook Chennai GETTING there

Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and Jet Airways fly to Chennai.

GETTING AROUND

While public buses are frequent and inexpensive and auto rickshaws are numerous, I’d opt for hiring a car and driver such as Welcome Tours and Travel, Tel: 91-44-284-606-77 Email:agnesh@vsnl.com Website: www.allindiatours.com. If you are unable to do the temple circuit to view Chola temple architecture, do visit Mamallapuram with a lunch stop at the Vivanta by Taj - Fisherman’s Cove, Covelong and then onto Kanchipuram.

when to go

Avoid the very hottest months – best is December to February.

accomodation

The Vivanta by Taj - Connemara is centrally located and offers comfortable accommodation with contemporary decor or heritage rooms steeped in history. Email: vivanta.connemara@tajhotels. com /website: www.vivantabytaj.com. A good moderate hotel is the Hotel Victoria, email: victoria@ empeehotels.com /website: www.empeehotels.com

dining out

Tamil Nadu has one of the most flavoursome regional cuisines in India. The traditional style of cooking called Chettinad mixes curry leaves, tamarind and anise. Hot pepper is used liberally.

Chennai boasts hundreds of fast lunch cafeterias where you can enjoy a thali or Tamil staples such as idli, dosa and vada. The excellent Saravana Bhavan has a chain of them. Recommended is the Raintree at the Vivanta by Taj - Connemara, atmospheric with classical musicians and dancers.

shopping

Nalli, synonymous with silk, was established in 1928 with several outlets in Chennai. Nalli Silk Sarees, 100 Usman Road, T Nagar. Email: nalli100@nalli.com /website: www.nallisilk.com. For bookshops, Giggles - the Biggest Bookshop at the Vivanta by Taj - Connemara and Higginbothams are recommended.

more information

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Tamil Nadu Tourism, email: info@tamilnadu-tourism.com India Tourism, Glasshouse Shopping Complex, Level 5, 135 King Street, Sydney Tel: 02 9221 9555 email: info@indiatourism.com.au

JANUARY 2013 33

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wellness

15 Tips for a healthy New Year After the holiday season, its time to get back into the routine of healthy living

BY GEETA KHURANA

M

ost of us have ‘healthy eating’ or ‘losing weight’ as a New Year resolution, but it is easier said than done. Making such resolutions is easy, but it is more difficult to actually stick to these. But sometimes, even small changes go a long way in helping us maintain a healthy lifestyle. So let’s review healthy tips for the New Year and try to stick to as many as possible.

1

Try to follow ‘The Australian Guide To Healthy Eating’, the food selection guide that provides us with information about the types of food that need to be eaten each day to get enough nutrients essential for good health and well-being.

2

Include a variety of foods across and within the five food groups namely: Bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles Vegetables, legumes Fruit Milk, yoghurt, cheese Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes

3 Try to include all the food groups in

your daily diet, as all these food groups are important. Skipping one or the other food group may lead to deficiencies and an unbalanced diet.

4

Do not skip any meal. Try to have small and frequent meals. Have 3 regular meals, and try to have 3 small in-between snacks.

5

Snacking is not always bad, if you choose the right foods to snack on.

In fact, snacks can help to fill the gap between your meals and prevents you from having larger portions at meal times.

Some examples of healthy snacks would be fruit, low fat yoghurts, nuts, dried fruits, salads, sprouts, etc.

6

Go for ‘2 & 5’, which means that you should try to have at least 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables every day. It is good to include a variety of fruit rather than just sticking to one particular fruit, and also include a rainbow of vegetables i.e. those of all colours in your diet. Fruit and vegetables are among the healthiest of all foods with an abundance of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, fibre, and antioxidants. Eating a good combination of red, orange, yellow and green fruit and vegetables is a great way to ensure adequate levels of nutrition.

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7

Include more of low GI carbohydrates in your diet.

The Glycemic Index ranks carbohydrate rich foods according to their glycemic response. Foods that raise your blood glucose level quickly have a higher GI rating than foods that raise your blood glucose level more slowly.

The lower the rating of GI, the better the quality of carbohydrate. For example, choose wholegrain cereals and pulses such as multigrain bread instead of white bread.

8

Meat and poultry are an important part of our diet, but these are also sources of saturated fat. It is very important to look for lean cuts of meat to get the maximum benefit of iron and protein, and reduce the intake of saturated fat. Chicken breast is the leanest part of the chicken and is an excellent choice. Try to add some fish in your menu, as it is a good source of polyunsaturated or ‘good’ fat.

9 Oils and fats are an essential part of

our diet and should not be ignored, but should be had in moderation. Include monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats rather than saturated fats such as butter, ghee, and cream. Monounsaturated fat is found in foods such as avocados, almonds, cashews, peanuts, and cooking oils made from plants or seeds such as sunflower, canola, soybean, olive, sesame and peanut.

Polyunsaturated fat (omega-6) is found in foods such as fish, margarine, linseed, sunflower and safflower oil, pine nuts and Brazil nuts. Polyunsaturated fat (omega-3s) is found in oily fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines and blue mackerel, as well as walnuts and linseed.

10 When eating out, try looking for

lighter options and where possible, choose steamed, poached, boiled or baked foods rather than those that have been fried.

Many restaurants have lighter options on their menus these days, some have lowfat options and some even offer low-carb foods. Also, try to share an entree or dessert with a family member and order smaller sizes of portions high in fats such as fries, chips or fried chicken. Try to choose healthier side orders such salads and corncobs.

11 Do not keep goodies that you cannot resist in your pantry. Instead,

substitute these with healthy snacks such as nuts, unsalted popcorns, yoghurt and fruit.

Keeping chocolates, lollies, soft drinks and other tempting goodies at home makes eating them inevitable.

12 Keep goodies as ‘treat’ foods for birthdays, parties and festivals.

13 Drink alcohol in moderation, not

more than four standard drinks in a day for men, and not more than two standard drinks in a day for women. And try to keep at least two alcohol-free days in a week. Drink water between alcoholic drinks to avoid dehydration.

14

Water should always be the drink of your choice, especially during hot weather and while exercising. Have at least 2 litres of water every day. Avoid high kilojoules drinks such as soft drinks and cordials.

15 Prepare a sensible exercise

routine to stay healthy. If you live within walking distance of the shops, walk there instead of driving, or walk your kids to school. Walk for at least half an hour daily, instead of watching TV. Going for a half-hour walk can help you de-stress, clear your mind and set you up for a relaxing evening and a great night’s sleep.

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FASHION

Marchesa and the spirit of India Rich embroidery and vivid colours bring a revival of the 1960s in India back to the fashionable present

T

BY TALIA KAUR

he recently concluded New York Fashion week left a lasting impression on fashion aficionados, but the one label on everyone’s lips was definitely Marchesa. A trip to the Indian subcontinent was all that was needed to inspire British design duo Georgia Chapman and Keren Craig for their spring/summer 2013 collection. Marchesa encapsulated all the beautiful colours, fabrics, detailing, embroidery and glamour of traditional Indian designs – and on a grand scale! The Marchesa runway show took place at a perfect setting to match their lavish designs: Grand Central Station… right in the middle of peak hour!

You may remember Vera Wang also drawing inspiration from India in her collection earlier in 2012. Whilst Wang used the influence to create intricate details and special features on each garment, Craig and Chapman took it to a much more literal level. The collection’s theme was ‘the spirit of India in the 1960s’, so that meant bringing back straight lines and sari-style drapery. It also offered a chance to showcase the wonderful beading and embroidery skills of India, and the vivid colour scheme, which presented the audience with a feel of the groovy cultural swing of the 60s.

Starting with the colours, they were varied but all appealing. It started off with a bright lime then moved into a vivid peach and orange, then vibrant fuchsia, red, burgundy, plum, and finally transitioning into midnight and teal blue. More simple white and gold looks were also integrated throughout the collection, to break up more empowering colours and focus more on simplistic garments with quality embroidery and detailing.

Hemlines were also diverse in length, with a compilation of mini and floor-length dresses – some with trains and some even with asymmetrical hemlines. In terms of shapes, the designers kept the lines quite straight INDIAN LINK

and close to the body. There were gowns hugging the body before spreading out into a fish tail covered in embellishments.

Midriffs paired with maxi skirts were also popular – could exposed midriffs be making a comeback into our summer wardrobes this year? I definitely think so!

The designers also allowed for a lot of draping. The chiffon dresses were draped exactly like a sarong and the gorgeous sariinspired dresses had draping over one shoulder and were paired with golden leggings covered in jewels.

Metallic shimmer added light and culture to looks involving tops and detailed leggings and really portrayed the daring Indian fashion of the 60s.

All in all, the sparkling fabrics, embroidered garments and beautifully beaded details – all strongly resembling Indian culture – were used to create the wonderfully colourful and vibrant collection that are the signature Marchesa look.

JANUARY 2013 37

SPORT

Cricketing conundrums The need to resuscitate the Indian cricketing team’s performance grows urgent as the season progresses, but who’s listening?

BY RITAM MITRA

T

hey say revenge is a dish best served cold. For the Indian cricket team in November 2012, revenge turned out to be a particularly lukewarm collision between eggs and their faces. For two consecutive away Test series, the spectators, fans and even the opposition were assured that India’s poor performances away from home were attributable entirely to pitches, unruly crowds, bad luck with umpiring, and bad luck in general due to the misalignment of the planets. We promise, once said a left-handed Indian opener - who shall remain nameless to spare him the embarrassment that we shall welcome you to India with rank turners and expose your flawed techniques in the same way you have exposed ours.

Unfortunately for team India, that player’s prophecy was left thoroughly unfulfilled.

The Pataudi Trophy

Rewind just 18 months. That’s all it’s been since India, the world number one Test team, reigning ODI World Champions, toast of the town and apple of their fan’s eyes, were in England for the start of a very long trip down from the top of the tree. The nature of India’s 4- defeat in the Pataudi Trophy was staggering to say the least, and it’s easy to forget the numbers. Here’s a reminder - England’s smallest margin of victory was by 196 runs in the series opener. From there on, the results read: England by 319 runs, England by an innings and 242 runs, England by an innings and 38 JANUARY 2013

8 runs. For Mr Virat Kohli, the reason for this was simple: “We were given flattest of tracks during practice matches in England and Australia, and then suddenly presented with a green-top during the Tests.” Of course, it must have been a huge surprise for an international cricketer to have to go to England and score runs on a seaming wicket. It must have been an even bigger surprise for Kohli then, to watch on helplessly as England amassed 710/7 in the third Test of the series.

The Tour Down Under

The Australia tour panned out in a similar fashion. Although the Boxing Day Test was somewhat well-contested (a defeat by only 122 runs), the rest of the tour was miserable – the differences being an innings and 68 runs, an innings and 37 runs, and 298 runs. For Virender Sehwag, it was all home advantage. “We also won 2-0 in India,” he said as India looked at the real possibility of two away series whitewashes in a row.

England in India: 2012

So then came the feted ‘revenge series’. Media outlets, team coaches, BCCI administrators alike, all assured us that the Indian team was fired up, ready to pounce and return the favour to England.

And from the first match, it seemed as though everything was going to plan – India piled on the runs, Sehwag returned to his best on the flat, slow deck, and India won by 9 wickets after their spinners claimed 13 of the 20 England wickets.

However, for Dhoni the Ahmedabad wicket was not good enough. For an international captain to complain so incessantly about the decks he is given to play on is nothing short of embarrassing. Steve Waugh, the

former Australian skipper of some 168 Test matches, said Dhoni was out of order to ask for doctored pitches at all. Yet still Dhoni insisted that his spinners were being made to work too hard, that Indian pitches should be dry, turning tracks that spin from day one, in order to give India some home advantage and to ensure that the toss isn’t such a crucial factor.

Dhoni got everything he asked for in Mumbai. The pitch was turning and spitting from day one. India played three spinners.

He even won the toss. Yet India capitulated by 10 wickets. The third Test Kolkata was hardly better – India lost by 7 wickets, after Dhoni had a much-publicised stand-off with – you guessed it – the curator of the pitch, 83-year old Prabir Mukherjee.

That the final match in Nagpur was a draw was, ironically, probably due to the deplorable pitch. For the Nagpur pitch to be deemed good enough for international cricket was a blight on the ICC and the BCCI together. After day one, England, with an exciting batting line up including strokemakers such as Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, were only able to make 199 runs in 97 overs. With Test cricket in a small crisis as it is, the last thing administrators of the game needed was an advertisement like this.

India may well have gone on to lose the Nagpur test anyway, given England’s position when the captains agreed to call off the match. India scratched around for 27 runs in 67 minutes before declaring on the fourth morning, when either an overnight declaration (to save the 10 minute sacrifice required for a change of innings) or a hunt for quick runs would have been the only logical approach for another side. India went on to surrender in a thoroughly pointless draw, surrendering a series to England for the first time on home soil in 28 years.

It’s an attitude thing

The main problem for many is not India’s performance, but their attitude towards it. There is a worrying culture of selfimportance and indifference amongst a number of Indian cricketers, and it’s beginning to manifest itself on the field. For once, it would be refreshing to hear MS Dhoni say, “We were not good enough. Our techniques were exposed. We’ll work on this, this and that and we won’t stop working until we get the results.”

Instead, there’s always another factor. “I think the major difference between the two sides was James Anderson who bowled very well,” said the Indian skipper after the 2-1 series loss. “There were a few positives and a few

places where we lost out. That’s the reason we lost the series,” he said. He could not have given a more directionless answer if he had really tried.

Perhaps there were other reasons, MS. For instance, the Indian side’s batting averages in the last two years. It makes for poor reading.

Sehwag: 30. Gambhir: 31.

Kohli: 38. Tendulkar: 34. Yuvraj Singh: 26. Dhoni: 31. Yuvraj was dropped before the Nagpur test, but averages 33 in a career of 40 Test matches. He has been given 30 Tests too many.

Meanwhile, some unlucky losers are forced to wait in the wings, even while tearing up the Ranji Trophy season. These include Manoj Tiwary, averaging close to 60, Parthiv Patel, averaging almost 80 while captaining and keeping wickets, as well as Wriddhiman Saha, who impressed in Australia and is averaging over 50 with the bat.

India’s highest wicket takers in 2012, meanwhile, were Ravichandran Ashwin (37 wickets at 37.75), Pragyan Ojha (33 wickets at 26) and Umesh Yadav and Zaheer Khan, averaging 42 and 50 respectively, per wicket.

That the latter is the Indian attack’s “spearhead” is somewhat revealing.

The fact of the matter is, India is a bad side. Their bowling is weak, and marks a sharp decline in

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the resurgence the Indian quicks demonstrated in the 2007/08 Australia tour. The fielding is deplorable, but for the first time in recent memory, the batting also looks brittle.

India’s bowling will only ever improve significantly when it shies away from the “turning dustbowls” mentality in the preparation of pitches

Bowling and fielding

India’s bowling will only ever improve significantly when it shies away from the “turning dustbowls” mentality in the preparation of pitches. And it is not impossible to grow grassy pitches in India. At least a few domestic tracks should be made fast enough to be representative of South African, Australian and English pitches. It is not by bad luck that India does not have a bowler who can bowl fast, or a bowler who can pitch the ball in the further-away half of the pitch. It is purely by design.

India may well prefer to bring touring teams to turning tracks – and that is perfectly fine – but some domestic tracks need to be fast and provide assistance to the bowlers. The bowlers will be better for it, and the batsmen too.

The fielding will improve as the youngsters come in – Pujara and Kohli are livewires in the field, and Tiwary and Saha, surely due their chances soon, are also fantastic.

Tendulkar aside, the rest of the Indian side’s fielding was quite ordinary.

Batting

India’s test match batting at the moment is characterised by a lack of focus, patience and accountability. There is a desire to score quickly – at any cost. Aside from Pietersen’s phenomenal 186 in Mumbai, all of the centuries in the series were the result of hard work. Batsmen in Test cricket are rewarded for spending time at the crease – Alastair Cook and

Cheteshwar Pujara learned this from the first match, and Virat Kohli and even MS Dhoni caught on – far too late – in Nagpur. Batsmen need to put more of a price on their wickets, and keep the opposition out in the field for as long as possible.

Rahul Dravid would be a fantastic mentor to the players – especially the younger ones coming through.

Meanwhile, common sense has to come into play with selection.

If batsmen are not performing, they cannot be given an extended run – whatever their potential.

Tendulkar, nearing 40, made the decision to retire from oneday internationals just before Christmas. His announcement led to tributes pouring in for a man who was the master of building a one-day innings. Although he will be sorely missed, and there is definitely still no match for him in the one-day arena – he should have made the call to retire altogether. Tendulkar already left this first instalment too late - after

the World Cup win would have been a perfect time to draw the curtain. Indeed, even after the 100th international century he might have decided to call it quits.

The bottom line is, what more does Tendulkar have left to play for, even in tests alone? Team India is bigger than one person, whoever that person may be.

The future

The 2013 Indian Test XI should begin with: Rahane, Gambhir, Kohli, Pujara, Tiwary, Saha, Ashwin, Ojha, and Yadav.

India needs to source two more genuine fast bowlers – Dinda is not a solution – to finish the XI, while working on Yadav’s fitness and length. Ravi Ashwin is more of a batsman than a spinner, and he is definitely not the frontline option. Meanwhile, Dhoni should definitely retain his place in the ODI side, but his keeping and batsmanship are not up to the

scratch in the longer format.

Indian cricket is at a crossroads.

The people who run it can choose either to put a bit of plaster on its weaknesses or – strip it down, tear it apart and poke at every single thing that’s wrong with it, then build it up from scratch with a long-term plan for success.

To those administrators: we know it’s not always easy to make the tough decisions, and running cricket in India isn’t the easiest gig. You’ve seen the team through to its first World Cup win in 28 years, yet you have to deal with a Test team in transition, having lost some greats of the game.

Your players aren’t performing on or off the field. You’re probably starting to lose confidence in the skipper. But you’re being paid obscene amounts of money to make this national team the pride and lifeblood of a billion people.

Are you listening to them?

The fact of the matter is, India is a bad side.

Their bowling is weak, and marks a sharp decline in the resurgence the Indian quicks demonstrated in the 2007/08 Australia tour

Meanwhile, common sense has to come into play with selection. If batsmen are not performing, they cannot be given an extended run – whatever their potential

Pakistan whips India by five wickets in the first T20 thriller in a jam-packed Chinnaswamy stadium.

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JANUARY 2013 39

40 JANUARY 2013

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FOOD

Singapore seasoning Spruce up your daily diet with interesting culinary recipes from the globally acknowledged mecca of cuisine

H

BY MITAL PARIKH

ave you ever been bored of eating the same old sabzi and chapatti or rice and dal? No doubt after a long day, none of us have the energy to trouble our minds with new recipes. But we still want to eat something different and tasty without the hassle of spending long hours in the kitchen. So here are some easyto-cook recipes from Singapore, the place known globally as the ‘food heaven’. Eating good food is a national pastime in this country and a common topic of conversation among Singaporeans, who are simply obsessed with eating. With a rich, multicultural heritage you are spoilt for choice when eating out, with a wide assortment of Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian, Peranakan and western cuisines. Sometimes they are fused together to make up a unique dish! Eating out is a daily routine for Singaporeans with long queues outside famous hawker stalls during lunch or dinnertime.

In fact, the majority even eat five to six meals a day and yet, the country is not on the list of obese nations! So try out these recipes and enjoy a taste of Singapore.

Char Kway Teow

This dish is made from flat rice noodles (kway teow) and is typically a hawker stall dish in Singapore and Malaysia.

This spicy version of noodles can be prepared as soon as the ingredients are assembled.

However, it is important not to overcook the vegetables and noodles, as this can affect the final flavour.

1 packet pre-cooked flat rice noodles 1 bunch spinach, washed and cut in 3cm length 1 cup bean sprouts 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1 small hard cube of tofu 1 sliced red chilli 2-3 tablespoons dark soy sauce 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 1 lemon for serving Oil for cooking and frying 2 tablespoons chilli paste For the rough ground chilli paste: 2-3 fresh red chillies INDIAN LINK

4-5 cloves garlic 1 small piece ginger 1 tbsp lemongrass chopped 1-2 tsp sugar 2-3 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice Salt to taste Take the pre-cooked noodles from the packet and separate them.

Dry the tofu by pressing it lightly between a muslin cloth or paper towel. Cut into medium-sized cubes and shallow fry in hot oil until golden brown. Drain excess oil on a paper towel. Next, fry the rough ground chilli paste in hot oil for a few seconds, then add the chilli and mushrooms, cook for a minute. Add the kway teow noodles, soy sauce, tofu, spinach and bean sprouts. Cook till all the ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side.

Fried brown rice

As we are all so health conscious nowadays and are constantly trying to lose weight, why not try this variation of fried brown rice? As a vegetarian, I substitute meat with mock meat (made from soy), which is commonly used in vegetarian Chinese cuisine.

2 cups Macro brand cooked brown rice ½ cup mock meat, char siu pork (available in the frozen section of any Asian grocery store) 2 cups chopped mixed vegetables of your choice ½ cup cooked bean sprouts 1 cup sliced mushroom 1 hard block of tofu, cubed and shallow fried 1 tbsp dark soy sauce 1 tbsp light soy sauce Oil for cooking Heat the oil on high flame in a non-stick pan and cook the mock meat till tender. Add the vegetables, stir fry for a few minutes till just tender, but still crispy. Once cooked, add the brown rice, bean sprouts, soy sauces and tofu. Cover and cook for a few minutes till the rice absorbs all the flavours. Serve hot with chopped fresh red chilli in soy sauce on the side.

Tahu Goreng

This is a generic name for any type of fried tofu, commonly prepared in Indonesia, Malysia and Singapore. This dish is usually prepared at hawker stalls, with the fried tofu covered in a spicy-

sweet-sour peanut sauce which leaves a lasting impression on your tongue. Only the tofu needs cooking and the sauce can be made in advance and stored in the fridge, making it an easy meal to prepare.

You can cook the tofu by steaming or shallow frying with minimal oil, for a healthier version.

1 block of fresh hard tofu (per person) 1 packet bean sprouts 1 continental cucumber, cut into thin triangles 2 cups peanuts, roasted and skinned 5-6 garlic cloves 2 fresh red chillies 1-2 tsp sugar or gula melaka (palm sugar) 2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juice or tamarind water 2-3 tsp dark soy sauce For the peanut sauce: Crush the peanuts coarsely in a grinder, ensure that the result is not too fine.

Pound the garlic and chilli in a mortar and pestle.

Mix together the crushed peanuts, garlic chilli paste, soy sauce, lemon juice and sugar. Add just enough water to create a pouring consistency for the sauce.

Keep aside for an hour or two before serving.

Cook the tofu by steaming or frying.

The traditional way of cooking tofu is by deep-frying the block and then cutting it into cubes, but you can use the healthier option.

Dip the bean sprouts in hot water for a few seconds and drain. Serve the cooked tofu with the delicious sweet and sour peanut sauce topped with cucumber and bean sprouts.

You could let the tofu sit on a thick paper towel or a muslin cloth, which will help absorb excess water to minimize splattering in oil. All ingredients for these recipes can be found in any Asian grocery store.

JANUARY 2013 41

Santa reborn

fiction

During the season of giving, the man in red makes a special sacrifice for the ones he loves

R

BY RANI JHALA

ita limped her way into her lounge room and dropped the shopping bags onto the nearest couch.

Her legs were aching, her back was sore and her throat was parched dry, but she was happy! Happy that she had finally completed her Christmas shopping and that the last of the gifts were now secure in her home.

Kicking off her low-heeled sandals, she walked barefoot into the kitchen. There she gulped down two glasses of water in quick succession. Then she returned, armed with a pair of scissors, tape, ribbons and gift tags. Carefully and lovingly she wrapped each gift and placed them under the magnificent Christmas tree.

Like her, the tree was old. It had been a regular feature in her home, until her youngest woke one Christmas morning to declare that there was no Santa Claus.

After that, the Christmas tree served purely as an ornamental piece during the festive season. It was no longer the magical place where Santa left gifts.

It was only after the grandchildren came along that the tree was restored to its former glory. It was decorated with love and placed in the centre of the room where it shaded the many gifts under its glittering branches.

Now on another Christmas Eve, it once again stood tall and accepted each gift that Rita so lovingly placed near its trunk. When all the gifts had been wrapped and strategically positioned, Rita returned to the kitchen.

There she finished cooking the last of the dishes that were going to make up Christmas lunch - her special leg of ham, roast vegetables, Christmas cake, trifle, white Christmas, fruit mince pies and fruit punch. For the adults there were also rum balls, Christmas plum pudding and brandy sauce, mango daiquiri and Champagne punch.

By the time she had completed all the tasks on her list, it was almost five o’clock. She had just enough time for a quick shower 42 JANUARY 2013

The aching legs, the painful back and the tired body was all forgotten as Rita watched the joy on the faces of her seven grandchildren

before her son came to collect her. The grandchildren had insisted that they all go to the Carols by Starlight. Now seated under the star-studded sky, Rita watched the joyous faces of her grandchildren as they clapped and danced to the songs. And at the happiness they expressed as Santa’s sleigh whizzed onto the stage. At midnight as the last carol was sung the air reverberated with the words ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ and together, as a family, they welcomed in Christmas Day. As soon as the carols ended, the kids stood up, collected their rugs and walking up to Rita asked, “Nana, can we go and see what Santa has left for us?”

Rita smiled. She knew that Santa was going to be very popular, for she had bought the children just what they had wanted.

As the kids had predicted, Santa had already been to their place and left the gifts for each member of the family. The wrapping paper was torn apart to reveal their much-wanted gifts. Her youngest grandchild said it well, when she shouted, “I love you, Santa!”

The aching legs, the painful back and the tired body was all forgotten as Rita watched the

joy on the faces of her seven grandchildren.

Now as she watched them beam with joy, she finally understood why she had revived the celebration.

Lost in thought, she was brought back to the present, as her youngest son Jay said, “Mum, look how exhausted you are. Let this year be the last Christmas celebration. The kids are older now.”

“Not yet, son, it won’t be long before they question the significance of Santa and the tree.

Let me enjoy a few more with them,” she replied.

“But, mum,” Jay said. “We are not even Christians. For whom are you doing all this?”

Rita looked at her son. Had he already forgotten the joy he had felt seeing this same tree? Had he forgotten that he too had once begged Santa to come to their home?

“Jay, I am now doing it for them.”

“But mum, you and I know that Santa does not exist. We are misleading them.”

“Like everything that rests on faith, Santa lives till we want him to. Let them love him a bit longer. The world will take away

this pleasure soon enough,” Rita answered.

“Do you know why we gave up our belief in Santa? It was not the world. It was because we saw Dad drink the milk we had left for Santa. We even saw dad eat the cookies and then leave the gifts under the tree. For me, Santa died that night,” responded Jay. “I know, my son. I often told your father that there was no need for him to pretend to be Santa, but he said that you had once asked him if Santa was real and he had replied, ‘Santa will be real if you want him to be, otherwise he will be a part of your imagination.’

He said, you had responded by saying, ‘I don’t want Santa to be part of my imagination’.”

“I remember that, mum, but by pretending to be Santa, he took more than he gave.”

“No, my son, he gave more than he should have,” Rita replied.

As her son raised an eyebrow, Rita continued, “Every year, your father would drink the milk each of you left out and he would eat the cookies meant for Santa, for he knew that you all were expecting that. He did that for his kids and for your belief in Santa.

He even ignored the doctor’s warning. Your father was a celiac

Rita smiled.

She knew that Santa was going to be very popular, for she had bought the children just what they had wanted

and he was also lactose-intolerant.

Neither was the milk good for him, nor were the cookies.”

For many moments after that, Jay remained silent. When he went to bed that night he knew that next year, Santa would be reborn.

If his non-Christian father could become Santa for him, then surely he could don the red suit for his own kids.

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mat R imonia l s Seeking Grooms Match required for an issueless divorcee(legalised) Punjabi khatri girl, 31yrs, 5ft2in, BE(CS) MBA(HR), working in MNC(Pune,India), parents in India , brother and bhabhi working in MNC,Melbourne. tpkapur@yahoo.com, +917312594532,+91-9329026353 37 yrs old Brahmin never married graduate girl currently visiting Australia.

Looking for Australian citizen preferably unmarried. Whole family settled here.

Belongs to status business family. Applied for permanent residency earlier. Contact with photo and details urgently at npkhanna@ymail.com Well settled/professional alliance invited from Australia/ India for 41/165 unmarried charming Punjabi Khatri girl, family oriented and responsible, IT Professional, working in Sydney. Australian citizen. Early marriage. Can relocate. Serious proposals only. Email profile with recent photo: sydgirl09@gmail.com Seeking suitable match, a non smoker, ideally aged between 50 and 60. For fair, young looking Hindu lady, 5’ 2”, 54, divorced, veg, Australian citizen. Caste no bar. Please contact 0449 623 316 or email alpine_rhapsody@hotmail.com

44 JANUARY 2013

Seeking clean shaven, well settled match for Hindu Punjabi beautiful, slim, fair, 29th July 81,5’5”, graduate (P.U.), Diploma in Fashion Designing. Traditional Indian / Western values.

Working in Sydney. Two elder brothers, 1 is running own business in Chandigarh with father and 1 in Sydney running franchisee business.

Own property in Chandigarh.

Contact: funny_mints@yahoo.com, +919417072965(India), 0422669082(Sydney) Seeking suitable match for Punjabi Hindu girl 27 years, well educated, and living in India, with great eastern & western family values. Interest invited from qualified boys settled in Australia.

Please contact on 0404 451 835.

Respectable Sikh Family of New Delhi seeks alliance for their smart good looking sweet natured family oriented daughter 24/165cms, B.Com Graduate, Primary Teacher, looking for a well educated boy from a cultured family well settled in Business/Industry/Profession. Girl and Parents in Sydney from end December until mid January. Call 0431337881

Suitable well-settled/ professional match for Punjabi Arora beautiful never married 39/ 166 qualified IT professional. GSOH with good family values. Brought up in India. Working in MNC Sydney. Australian citizen. Early marriage.

Serious enquiries only. Email details with photo: ausgirl101@gmail.com

Seeking BRIDES Australian Citizen, Educated Indian man, late 40’s, seeking honest Indian lady for marriage. Email- tamavu@hotmail.com or call- 0424015249.

Match required for brother 50+, Hindu, divorced, Aust citizen, vegetarian, nondrinker, non-smoker, high family values from respectable family for marriage and lasting relationship. Seeks lady 35-45yrs, homely, polite personality, and single, divorced, without children. E-mail photo with details: jyotij393@gmail.com

Seeking suitable match for a boy, 6’ tall,31 yrs, never married, Australian Citizen, Athletic, Punjabi Khatri, reputed corporate professional.

Please email your particulars with recent photo( Compulsory) on win.rocky@gmail.com or call 0430 179 273.s Compatible match for 1975 born, handsome clean-shaven Sikh Khatri boy, 5’ 9”, two PostGraduate degrees from India and recently finished Master in I.T from Australia . Currently on temporary resident visa and working fulltime in Customer Service role. Looking for well-educated, Permanent resident / Citizen girl from Sikh family background. Early marriage.

Phone: 042210 2242 or Email: ghai07@yahoo.com

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starsforetell

TAROT

predictions for JANUARY 2013 By nancy JADE ALTHEA www.nancysood.com

Aries March 21 - April 19 2013 is going to be a very powerful and energetic year for you with the wheel of fortune card indicated here. There will be success at work and financially you will feel a lot better with your ability to save money. Relationships need to be handled with care and attention. If single, take your time before you get into anything. Your health regime will be important for you. You will be looking at changing your eating plan or fitness regime.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 This year you have the Ace of Cups, which indicates a year of success with work. You will be feeling much happier and feeling a lot more in control of your life. If single, you will find a soulmate connection. If married, you will find that you will be feeling more settled. There will also be changes with your work as you have been thinking about doing something different for a while now. Take care of your health.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 This year shows the card of burdens and a lot of responsibilities and hard work ahead. There will be times when you feel you want to give up and bury your head in the sand. Your family life is stable and supportive, and love is flowing freely. Be careful not to work too hard, and give yourself enough free time to relax. The cards indicate that you may be looking at starting a business with links in a few continents.

cancer June 21 - July 20 The cards indicate that 2013 will be a time of struggle in the first half of the year, but things will then start easing considerably.

You must now think of your health, make sure you follow a strict food and exercise regime. Financially, you need to put ideas into motion, as this is a great time to explore new opportunities and make them work for you. Look after your knees this year, some aches and pains may arise.

Leo July 21 - Aug 22 This year will be a very lucky and happy year for you. There will be success in work or business life. If you are in business, there will be plans to expand and bring in more people. Financially you will be feeling a lot happier and will be bringing in more money then you expect. Family life will be cordial, but you need to change some habits to maintain peace. Make time for yourself and keep your health at 100%.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22 This year you have the card of balance and spirituality. You will be feeling peaceful whilst meditating and reading about the spiritual aspects of life. You have been working very hard and will need to take things easy and have a relaxing break. This year is all about giving your mind and body a well-deserved rest.

Your health will be good this year, just make sure you maintain a healthy diet. Financially, you will be feeling settled as well.

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Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22 This year is a time for you to decide what you want to achieve and go for it. The cards indicate a need to be more patient and caring in your love life. You need to save money as you will spend a lot more than needed, so take it easy. Take care not to get too stressed out, as this will affect your health. You will be full of ideas and inspiration so make full use of the energy.

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 This year will be full of energy and vitality for you. The cards indicate that you will be spending a lot of time with your loved ones. You will feel a lot of peace around your home and family life. You will worry about the health of a family member, and there will be stress around this. Financially you have the Ace of Cups which indicates a rise in income. Make sure you deal with any aches and pains immediately.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 This year will be full of rewards and surprises. You will be feeling more settled and mature with your dealings with people and situations than before. The Magician card also indicates a time when you can go for anything you desire, as you are more than capable of achieving your dreams. Your new tactic to be less stubborn and more compromising with family and lovers will be a lot more effective. Finances and health will be favourable.

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 This year will be a great year with your work and finances. If self employed, you will gain power and control over your life.

You will be attracting a lot of wealth and opportunity. Health matters will concern you, and with the star card, you may suffer from back problems. You will be looking at making plans to set up home in a different city or state. Love will come knocking in February or March, bringing a new soulmate.

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 This year the cards are showing a good time for promotions and more money. You will be feeling very confident and happy.

There will be a special holiday with your partner. There will be a lot of making up to be done with your lover, as you will not always see eye to eye. There will be acquisitions of property and other material gains. You will be looking into spiritual matters which will give you a lot of peace.

Pisces Feb 19 - March 20 This year will be about working hard to achieve your dreams.

Your efforts may seem futile, but be sure to work steadily as the cards indicate that you will gain rewards in the end. Make sure you have regular eye checks. Do not take your loved ones for granted. Make an effort to stick to a health regime and make sure you do not eat too much junk food. There will be some good news connected to family.

JANUARY 2013 45

entertainment

the Buzz ABHILASHA SENGUPTA brings us up-to-date on what’s hot and happening in Bollywood

Bipasha breaks free

Actress Bipasha Basu who recently released her second fitness DVD called Break Free, says choosing a male fitness icon from hunks like Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan is hard, because each of them has their own story to tell. But she does have a favourite. “I think Salman Khan has brought fitness into our industry. He is just going to be iconic forever. He is the fitness icon,” said the 33-year-old Bengali beauty at the launch of her DVD recently.

“Hrithik is an extremely handsome guy, great body. He has lot of issues which he fights and he triumphs to he looks the way he does... so definitely there is a great story there with Hrithik’s kind of physique,” Bipasha added, keen to explain the charisma behind her second choice.

And naturally, she can’t leave out her first co-star Akshay, saying, “Akshay Kumar is my first hero. He is a guy who is not just physically fit, he is also mentally fit. So, everyone is iconic and inspirational and every one has their story.”

The sultry siren turns 34 soon, and will celebrate her birthday in sunny Goa with friends and family.

Bips’ latest DVD is based on dance workouts, but you can bet that most hunks and non-hunks will buy it to watch the sultry actress work out. Well, whatever works for you!

Zoa bags Bhaag Johnny

Actress Zoa Morani will soon be seen in a lead role opposite Kunal Kemmu, as she has recently been signed on as the leading lady of Bhaag Johnny. And she will be presented in a new avatar, says co-producer Bhushan Kumar who is coproducing the film with Vikram Bhatt.

So why did Kumar decide to pick Zoa, a relative newcomer? “Zoa is a fresh, young talent who has a lot of potential

Arjun’s not a ‘campwallah’

R

umours are rife around Bollywood that Arjun Rampal has shifted his loyalty from Shah Rukh Khan to Salman Khan, but the actor is indignant that anyone should think so. Arjun says he doesn’t believe in such concepts and adds it’s his own ability that keeps him going in the industry. “It’s all nonsense, I am telling you,” the National Award winning actor said recently. “First of all, I don’t believe in camps. I just don’t. I am friends with everyone. I know Salman Khan since my modelling days and I have a lot of respect for Shah Rukh as well. But at the end of the day, wherever I go, whatever I do, I do it with my own ability. I don’t need any camps to be a part of,” he explained vehemently.

There were reports that Arjun, who worked with Shah Rukh in Om Shanti Om, RA.One, and Don, has now switched camp to Salman Khan. And Arjun’s tweet: “Killer first look Ek Tha Tiger, wow, can’t wait to see this one. Awesome”, added fuel to the fire. But the actor isn’t interested in these rumours as he is busy promoting his next release Inkaar that focuses on sexual harassment at the workplace. Arjun has teamed up with Chitrangada Singh in the movie, due to release in end-January. So SRK or Salman, it looks like Arjun’s heading for good things. Good luck to him!

GUESS WHO ?

These cute toddlers are cousins too.

And now they’re both rising stars in Bollywood…

(Find the answer under Caption Contest)

46 JANUARY 2013

and we have just given her a platform to prove herself after her first release. Bhaag Johnny will showcase her in a new avatar and the audience will definitely love her,” he says enthusiastically.

The film is a film about a man who is forced to lead two lives and the chain of events that follow when he has to opt for one over the other.

Discovered by Shahrukh Khan, Zoa made her acting debut in Always Kabhi Kabhi in 2011. Surprisingly, she started off her career in Bollywood as assistant director for Om Shanti Om in 2007, and also for Halla Bol in 2008. Zoa has no interest in directing films, but took up the directing roles to familiarise herself with acting. She has also walked the ramp, trying out her talent at modelling.

Well, let’s hope Zoa makes it big in Bollywood, good luck to her.

Rural flavour grips Bollywood Designer dramas set in the glossy urban milieu may regale Hindi film audiences, but the endeavours of a few creative minds who are delving deep into the Indian hinterland to prise out stories reflecting the rustic and raw flavour of villages and towns, are paying rich dividends.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is all set to continue the trend started by rural-based hit dramas such as Ishqiya, Peepli Live and Paan Singh Tomar. The film, featuring an interesting combination of new generation actors like Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma with a veteran like Pankaj Kapur, is set in Haryana. Given Bhardwaj’s past offerings like Omkara and Ishqiya, one expects Matru... to be truly Haryanvi in taste.

The intent surely seems to be it whether it is Imran in the traditional khamiz, a tunic worn by the men of the region, Anushka in a desi ghaghra or the raw music, which is very much in sync with the movie’s setup.

So what inspired Bhardwaj to narrate rural stories?

“I love Indian folk music and villages.

People from there are more interesting than the urban people, and I really liked to have those characters in my films. I grew up in a small town of Meerut (in Uttar Pradesh) and so mostly my movies reflect experiences of my childhood.

While making movies I go back to my past and draw experiences from that,” he was recently quoted as saying.

In the recent past, the Hindi film industry has witnessed an upsurge in rural dramas. Dor, Gulaal, Rakta Charitra, Gattu, Dabangg, Udaan and the two-part Gangs Of Wasseypur were set against rural backdrops. Be it the ups and downs of politics, gang wars or even just the aspirations of people in small towns these have been tackled with aplomb,

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“I enjoy working on different genres. I don’t want to repeat myself as a director.

I want to explore myself with different films, and so I have decided to make a comedy film this time round,” he said.

Well, let’s wish him good luck, at least he’s trying!

Sonakshi to shake it

Amitabh Bachchan

Bipasha

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After grooving with Prabhdeva in ‘Go, go, Govinda’ for the film OMG: Oh My God!, Sonakshi Sinha will now shake a leg and much more for a 1980s’ disco style of dance for ‘Thank God it’s Friday”, a special song in the movie Himmatwala.

The song, to be choreographed by Chinni Prakash, will have almost 100 dancers and 400 extras, said a source. “It is a retro disco number which will have reflective dance floors, mirrors and everything shiny and glamorous,” the source added. And Manish Malhotra has designed Sonakshi’s dress for the song, so its obviously going to be hyped. Himmatwala, a remake of 1983 hit movie of the same name, is being directed by Sajid Khan and features actors Ajay Devgn and Tammanah. Wow, looks like Sonakshi’s making headway into the league of item numbers with two under her belt. And many more to come, I’ll bet!

What’s the chatter between Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar?

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

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

Saif, Aamir on Sudhir Mishra’s list

Zoa Mo rani

Vivek Agnihotri’s into social comedy

We have to admit, Vivek Agnihotri is an interesting filmmaker, experimenting with various genres.

After experimenting with adult film Hate Story and his current sociopolitical drama Freedom, next in line is a social comedy project.

“Currently I am busy shooting for my film Freedom, but soon after this I am going to try my hands with a comedy film. My next film will be a social comedy,” said Agnihotri recently, also revealing that the name of the film is Awwal and it will be a political satire,” he added.

But he was quite reluctant to drop names for the star cast. “There will be many established stars in this film.

It is going to be a huge project. It is a very expensive film, so I have to make the best out of it. I will soon make an announcement,” he said.

Agnihotri started his career with the thriller Chocolate, followed by a sportsbased movie Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal.

CAPTION CONTEST

SONAK

SHI SIN

HA

Off-beat filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, fulfilled a lifelong desire by teaming up with megastar Amitabh Bachchan in Mehrunnisa, and is taking baby steps into the wide world of commercial filmmaking. “I waited for 15 years to do ‘Mehrunnisa’ with Amitabhji. I don’t have a right to talk about the film now,” said Mishra recently, who is best known for directing films like Dharavi and Chameli.

And now after working with the Big B, Mishra is keen to work with stars Saif Ali Khan and Aamir Khan. “If there is a star and correct casting, then it obviously increase the business. In today’s cinema scenario, if you have extreme engaging script, even that works. And if you don’t have star in your film, you better make a really very good film,” said the filmmaker who has just wrapped up his next directorial venture Inkaar starring Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh.

So what’s next on the Mishra horizon?

Watch this space!

Sit up and take notice of women, says Big B

Amitabh Bachchan says Sunmeet Kaur Sawhney, who recently won Rs.5 crore in a sixth season game of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) and has become the first female contestant to take home the mega prize, has proved that women are strong and no less than men.

“Sunmeet Kaur of Mumbai, Maharashtra, a housewife that gave tuitions... was impeccable in the HotSeat. She never hesitated on any question, or did any kind of guesswork. At the Rs.1 crore mark, she had the option of two life lines, but refused them because she said she was somewhat sure of the answer,” Amitabh wrote on his blog srbachchan.tumblr.com.

Amitabh also mentioned the Delhi gang-rape incident that

What’s the chit–chat between Akshay Kumar and Asin?

Asin: Shouldn’t I be wearing that scarf?

Akshay: Hey, remember who’s the Khiladi here!

Shivani Khanna, Campbelltown Shivani wins a CD of Hindi film Talaash

has shocked the nation.

“In the days that have gone by, where the dignity of a young girl has been maligned and brought to shame through the most heinous and disgusting acts of a bunch of animals, it gave me great pleasure to see a woman in a man’s world, taking on the many painful experiences, and coming out victorious.”

“Her (Sawhney) status as a woman was never compromised, and given an opportunity, she has proved to an entire nation, which hangs its head in shame for the gang-rape victim, that women are strong and no less than men that they do occupy an equal measure of importance and presence in a civilised world.”

The 70-year-old feels its high time society should give women their rightful place in the society.

“Sit up and take notice of the women in our country. They are half our strength... We must protect them. Give them their place in society, honour them and look upon them with dignity and standing,” he posted.

Words of wisdom indeed from the Bollywood legend!

Answer to GUESS WHO? Arjun Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor

and, at times, with a tinge of satire.

If it strikes a chord with critics and fans alike, the formula is working equally well at the box office.

No doubt that Dabangg could boast of a star like Salman Khan, but its backdrop was totally rural! You rarely ever had a hero named Chulbul Pandey, but his quirkiness and magic worked - making the movie the highest grosser of 2010; and part two titled Dabangg 2 too has crossed the Rs.100 crore mark.

Sanjeev Bijli, joint managing director of PVR Ltd., gives credit to the changing taste of viewers and filmmakers.

“The Indian moviegoers, and makers have matured so much... it is very heartening to see (the change),” Bijli remarked at a recent event.

The willingness of the audience to step into the theatre to watch something beyond the A-list stars, the jazz and jamboree of fancy family dramas, and romantic sagas is certainly helping filmmakers to push the envelope.

Producers and distributors too have become experimental and don’t hesitate to take a risk to promote and support small budget entertainers portraying rural India, their set of problems a la postindependence movies like Naya Daur.

Bijli says such films are providing profitable option for distributors and exhibitors.

“From our company’s perspective, it is great because we don’t have to bank on just big budget commercial films. We will now be able to bring small films with much more confidence than we could about six years earlier,” he said.

Offshore too, such films are a huge hit and crime thriller Gangs of Wasseypur (GOW) and Peepli Live are a case in point.

If GOW wowed film aficionados at the prestigious 2012 Cannes film festival, Udaan became the first Indian film in seven years to represent the country in the Cannes official section.

One hopes the trend is only poised to grow, and we’re certainly supporting it.

JANUARY 2013 47

entertainment

Cine Talk

Salman all the way, holes in plot but fun watch F or those who thought Chulbul Pandey in Abinav Kashyap’s Dabangg was wacky and fun only because Salman Khan played him, here is more spoof-proof in the sequel of how Salman adopts, embraces and assimilates the characters he plays until one can’t tell the star apart from the character.

This is not to say Salman is a method actor. God forbid! He’s just the opposite. Chulbul Pandey, if ever such a khaki-clad lawenforcer even existed, would want to be as chirpy and obnoxious as Chulbul Pandey.

So what does Chulbul do in Dabangg 2 that he didn’t do in Dabangg? Nothing, and everything.

There’s more of everything in the sequel and hence a sense of deja vu.

The fights which begin, end and bolster the plot, are done with that irrepressible mix of guffaws and grunts that Salman patented in Prabhu Deva’s Wanted. Indeed it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Prabhu Deva was the father of Chulbul Pandey, in a manner of speaking.

Here of course in Dabangg 2, Vinod Khanna is back as Chulbul’s father. The scenes between Salman and his screendad are written with a delicious mix of irreverence and affection.

There is a hilarious encounter on the rooftop of their Kanpur home where son asks his sleepy, annoyed father about the deceased mother (Dimple Kapadia, a mere photo on the wall in the sequel).

And then Salman leaves in a huff saying, “Mom was right.

You’re no fun to sleep with. I am better off sleeping with my wife.”

Ahem! Save the blushes for a rainy day. Salman’s Chulbul gives us no time get bothered with niceties. Chulbul simply sweeps us along into a tidal wave of wackily written and executed action sequences undercut by a sharp sense of self-deprecating humour.

The storytelling is breathless.

The characters can’t really keep pace with the breakneck storytelling. They are underdeveloped and largely kept in the shadows to accentuate the

48 JANUARY 2013

hero’s larger-than-life (though blessedly never larger-than-laughs) persona.

Sonakshi Sinha, of course, enjoys playing the seductress in the shadows. In film after film, she plays the dutiful beloved soulmate to the macho-hero. And really, her sartorial styling and the designer sarees and backless blouses in a film that pays a lot of attention to mofussil modes is way-wayway over the top. It’s hard to see her expressions beyond the eyeshadow.

That reminds me...Sonakshi shares the shadows with Arbaaz Khan who, as Chulbul Pandey’s brother, is delightful daft and goofy.

The villains have a coherent voice (never mind their livid screaming) and more space to develop as characters. The plot goes into spasms of explanation as to why one of the villains Niktin Dheer needed to take off his shirt in the climax. Really, Salman’s shirtless act needs no accompaniment!

Prakash Raj does his usual snarling sneering arch-villain act, no surprises here. Deepak Dobriyal who gets to die in a rather gruesome way in the irate Chulbul’s hands, is sharp and cutting in his brief role. Some of Salman’s subordinates in the police station are also engaging.

But make no mistake.

This film belongs to Chulbul alias Salman from the first frame to the last.

Salman goes through the motions without any punctuation except a string of exclamations.

While the other characters remain dutifully tenuous, Chulbul’s comic-book valour is highlighted unapologetically.

Dabangg 2 takes off effortlessly from the first frame, creating a wackier, wilder, wittier saga than Dabangg woven around Chulbul Pandey’s agile, anarchic antics.

Though the plot is written in half-hearted measures leaving many episodes including the climax looking incomplete, the film is loads of lowbrow fun with some peppy songs by Sajid-Wajid

which are filmed with an earthy gusto. Aseem Mishra’s camera looks at life in ‘Kanpur’ through wide-eyed lenses that stare unabashedly at the character’s quirks.

And now for the ek crore ka sawaal. Does Kareena Kapoor’s item song ‘Fevicol’ match up to Malaika Arora’s ‘Munni badnaam’ in the first Dabangg?

A redundant question. It’s like asking, does Dabangg 2 measure up to Dabangg?

Subhash K Jha

Film: Dabangg 2 Starring: Salman Khan, Salman Khan, Salman Khan, Salman Khan Directed by: Arbaaz Khan

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Surprisingly taut thriller T

he last 30 minutes of this gripping thriller has a life of its own. In fact, the endgame is so stunning and so overpowering in its message, that it makes us overlook the ingrained improbability of the rest of the film.

Not that Table No. 21 (and wait till you figure out why and how the film gets its title!) doesn’t work in its totality. It does. It’s a surprisingly good, almost-kickass way to start your movie-going in 2013. A goodlooking original thriller shot in eyecatching Fiji, Table No. 21 opens with a rather ambitious starry-eyed couple landing in Fiji to spend a prize holiday in the lap of luxury.

Director Aditya Dutta gets the tonality of the ‘good life’ right. The narrative then weaves itself into a rather bewildering and bizarre labyrinth, that is partly a tonguein-cheek tribute to the preposterous aspirations of reality game-shows where ludicrous thresholds of morality are crossed for high-end rewards, and partly a comment on what lengths young people would go to for their designer dreams.

Almost all through the game, we sense there’s more to millionaire Paresh Rawal’s game plan than just millions of hits on the internet that keeps him and the narration drooling till the end. The film draws its reasonable power and energy from its mix of the playful and the sombre. The two moods co-mingle in rewarding waves of episodic overtures where one by one, and the holidaying couple are swept into a vortex of horrific self-exploration.

The screenplay, written by as many as three writers (Sheershak Anand, Abhijeet Deshpande and Shantanu Ray Chibber) exudes an uncompromising freshness of approach. The last 30 to 35 minutes of the film is where the meat of the matter materialises in a moving flourish of conscientiousness. It is only towards the end that we recognise the actual demons that haunt the gamely tone of the rest of the film.

Rajeev Khandelwal is an actor who chooses unusual projects. His repertoire from

Aamir to Soundtrack to Shaitaan and now Table No. 21 shows the mind of an actor in pursuit of excellence.

Paresh Rawal’s dependability as a performer of unpredictable skills never lets a script down. Here he is partly a slime-ball, party a screwball and finally a grieving angry father.

Watch out for the innocent young Druv Ganesh as Rawal’s son. As a victim of college ragging, his eyes will haunt your for a long time after the film is over.

Table No. 21 is a surprise. The taut thriller shot on a scenic location constantly keeps a step ahead of the audience. This is an enjoyable and eventually disturbing riches-toragging story to start off the year.

Subhash K Jha

Film: Table No. 21 STARRING: Rajeev Khandelwal, Tena Desae, Paresh Rawal DirectED BY: Aditya Dutta

Parramatta Station

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JANUARY 2013 49

backchat

Yes, you are being filmed, even if you are in India The modern global obsession with cameras could become a paying proposition, discovers NURY VITTACHI

S

mile please. You’re on candid camera. This is not a joke. The likelihood is that there are now more cameras than human beings in your community, assuming that your community is my apartment.

I used to be irritated when my children wandered into the toilet when I was using it. Now I worry about them wandering in with camera-phones. The last time it happened, I threw toilet rolls and shouted, “I hope you’re not filming this for YouTube!” They replied, “Of course not, that’s so last month. It’s going out as a hidef live streaming video feed.”

When I finished in the toilet I had a look at YouTube and discovered that Shaky Blurred Pictures of Family Members Doing Dumb Stuff is now the single biggest category of video clips.

Thank goodness cameraphones had not been invented when I “fixed” the bookshelf so well that it collapsed, destroying a glass-top table and tossing my valuable silver-like 3rd runner-up school trophies out of a 9th floor window.

Escaping to the haven of the bar that evening, I gave a long rant to anyone who would listen about the sins of this camera-obsessed generation. To my dismay, many listeners were fans of the plague of cameras sweeping the world.

One showed me a press report in which sellers of surveillance equipment said there had been double-digit growth in 2012 sales in India. Another showed me an

announcement from the city of Panaji, which on December 25, 2012, revealed that it was putting cameras up at key locations across town.

A Londoner said a woman had thrown a cat in a garbage can.

After the surveillance video went public, she received so many death threats, she needed police

protection. In England you can murder as many people as you like without unduly upsetting anyone, but if you cause the slightest discomfort to an animal, the entire population, including the Royal family, forms into vigilante groups to beat you to death with their bowler hats; or crowns, if the Queen and Prince Charles get

you first. (Being whacked with a crown must really hurt, as I bet the Queen’s husband knows only too well.)

A similar argument came from a guy fresh in from New York.

A truck bashed into a pole and knocked it down, he said. A 23-year-old woman lay on the ground, apparently crushed. A surveillance camera revealed she had thrown herself down to scam the driver for damages. “You gotta admit, the camera was the hero in that story,” the New Yorker said.

I suppose he was right. O where, o where were the surveillance cameras when I was being beaten to a pulp at school?

There were downsides to being constantly monitored, the Londoner added, explaining that the UK now had an estimated four million surveillance cameras on the streets. “I can no longer scratch myself in London because there are three high-definition cameras looking at me, one doing a wide-angle, one doing a medium close-up of my hand and the other roaming my trousers,” he said.

But before anyone thinks of adding still more cameras to streets in Asia, it may be a colossal waste of cash. A study by the UK’s Liberal Democrats concluded: “Police are no more likely to catch offenders in areas with hundreds of cameras than in those with hardly any.”

Yet my attitude really changed after my mentor/ bartender

When I finished in the toilet I had a look at YouTube and discovered that Shaky Blurred Pictures of Family Members Doing Dumb Stuff is now the single biggest category of video clips.

shared a brilliant idea: “If family members are really making videos of you, why not apply for an Equity Card?” If I had a large body of filmed work, I could get an Equity Card and register as an actor. I phoned a thespian and asked, “How much do unionized actors get paid?” He said, “The Screen Actors Guild guarantees all film or video actors with speaking parts a minimum rate of US$782 per day per project.”

Woohoo! Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and do some ‘stupid dad tricks’ at home. I may even try to put up another set of bookshelves. Look out below!

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