2013-01 Sydney (2)

INDIAN

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra ASSISTANT EDITOR

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Priyadarshini Chidambaranathan, Petra O’Neill, Noel G deSouza, Tanveer Ahmed, Sandip Hor, Minnal Khona, Farzana Shakir, Saroja Srinivasan, Rani Jhala, Sandy Gandhi

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Vivek Trivedi 02 9262 1766

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Nitika Sondhi 02 9279 2004

DESIGN

Danielle Cairis

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

www.indianlink.com.au

Time to give something back

country of birth, one needs to savour the opportunities which Australia has to offer.

PAWAN LUTHRA

On the whole, Indians who now live in Australia enjoy a very good lifestyle and need to be thankful as to what this land which is ‘girt by sea’ has given to us. We are indeed fortunate to be living in a country which values the freedom of speech, where people of different backgrounds have settled amicably over years, where there is the right to universal health care, where the social security system prevents unwanted crime due to poverty and hunger, where women have the freedom to travel independently without any physical fears, where a larrikin sense of humour can get you accepted almost in all circumstances, where good education is a birthright and the freedom to practice any religion is accepted by all.

With Australia Day just around the corner, it may be appropriate to think about the multitude of benefits which we as migrants enjoy in our adopted home. While of course, one has fond memories and loved ones still in our

Living in the major cities one is struck by the greenery around us. Whereas in India there is often a losing battle for the local government vis-a-vis property developers, in Australia the developers have to fight very hard to get their way. The environment policies are more rigidly applied: those of us living in Sydney, are fortunate to be ringed by National Parks (Kur-ring- gai in the North, Blue Mountains in the west and Royal National in the South) on three sides and the ocean with its beaches on the East. Children grow up outdoors with opportunities for sport important in their school life. This along with a basic right of free education allows migrant children a wonderfully balanced life style. For working migrants, there are plenty of opportunities. With one of the lowest unemployment rates in the developed economies, new migrants do find it easier to get employment here than in other parts of the world. With four to six weeks of paid holidays a year and a robust employment justice system, exploitation of workers can be tackled by authorities that are rigourous in bringing fairness between the employer and employee.

Australia also offers us a robust old age system with facilities established by society where old age will be respected. With age pension options and good health care, this gives one dignity in old age rather than dependence on the next generation of the family and their partners.

The latest census proved that Hinduism is one of the fastest growing religions in Australia. Rather than to take this for granted, one needs to be aware that we are in a country which gives us the freedom to practice our religion. More violence has been committed on religious grounds than on any other issue historically.

As we enjoy this Australia Day, perhaps we need to think about how we can repay this society which has so graciously accepted us in its folds.

Be it through the local parent and school associations, be it as volunteers in the local fire service, be it through volunteering in the local life savers’ club or even take part in meals-on-wheels programs, there are plenty of ways to give back. Let us vow to take up one of these options as we proudly sing the Indian as well as the Australian national anthem on 26 January.

SPIRITUAL

Chinmaya Mission Australia activities

Shishu Vihar

Chinmaya Misison Australia begins a new vhapter “Shishu Vihar” for ages 2 to 4.5 years starting 16 Feb, 10.15am to 11.15am at Chinmaya Sannidhi Ashram, 38 Carrington Road, Castle Hill. Learn how to love God, love the parent, love the child, and learn to spend quality time with each other, at the same time growing spiritually and gaining skills both need in daily life. Details Prarthna Bhuta 0409 836 166.

Balavihar

Chinmaya Mission Australia offers knowledge of the Vedas in a children’s program (Grade K to 6) called Balavihar (which covers learning of veda and stotram chanting, Bhajans singing, logic and reasoning development, love for God through stories and activities, personal and moral development and leadership development). Developed internationally, it is in use in over 30 countries. Enrolments for these classes are open for Sunday 10am to 11.30am at Castle Hill. Balavihar commences this year on 10 February at Chinmaya Sannidhi Ashram, 38 Carrington Road, Castle Hill.

Volunteer teachers

For its Hindu Scripture program at Schools and weekends children’s classes (Balavihar),

What’s on

the Mission seeks volunteer teachers who can devote their time to take one 30-min class per week during working  hours in their area, and are prepared to make a minimum commitment for one year. All training, resources, and support will be given to all eligible volunteer teachers by Resident acharya Br Gopal Chaitanya and Senior Sevaks. Chinmaya Mission Australia is accredited by the NSW government to teach Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) at Schools.

Details (and for info on Vedanta, Bhagavad Geeta and devotional classes)

Br Gopal Chaitanya on 02 8850 7400 or email syd.info@chinmaya.com.au

Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of NSW activities

Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday

celebration

Sun 10 Feb 10.30am Program: Spiritual music, Hari Om Ramakrishna chant, silent meditation, speakers panel chaired by Prof.Nihal Agar (Chairman, Hindu Council of Australia), talk by Pravrajika Gayatriprana (Senior Nun of Ramakrishna Order). Lunch provided. All welcome.

Shivaratri celebration

Sun 10 Mar 10.30am to 12 noon

Program: Spiritual music, Hari Om Ramakrishna chant, silent meditation,

group chanting of ‘Om’ 108 times, 2 speeches including one by Pravrajika Gayatriprana (Senior Nun of Ramakrishna Order). Offering and distribution of Sweets and Savouries.

Venue: Vedanta Hall, 15 Liverpool Road, Croydon. Details 9745 4320 or email: admin.saradavedanta@bigpond.com Website: www.saradavedanta.org

Bala Samskara Kendra and Sydney

Veda Pathshaala Open Day

3 Feb Bala Samskara Kendra teaches Sanskrit language and Hindu cultural heritage to children above 4 years. Sydney Veda Pathshaala teaches Sanskrit and Vedic chanting to all interested above 4 years. Learn more at their joint Open Day. Details www.vhp.org.au

Brahma Kumaris Mahashivratri

Sun 23 Feb Public program in Hindi on the significance of Mahashivratri. Wentworthville Community Centre, 2 Lane Street Wentworthville.

Details BK Asha on 0435 196 146 or BK Monika on 0430 403 857

STAGE

Roopa’s Goal at Short + Sweet

Wed Feb 6-Sun Feb 10 IndianAustralian actors Pragati Bhatia and Neel Banerjee star in an Indian-themed short play at the Short + Sweet festival. King St

Theatre, Newtown. Five performances, Wed-Sat 8pm, Sun at 5.15pm.

Sri Purandaradasa Aradhane

Sun 10 Feb 9.00 am to 2.00 pm at Ermington community hall, 8 River Road, Ermington. Details Chandrika Subramanyam 02 8677-7178

The Last Chai Feb 15-23 Trikone Australasia presents a Bollywood-inspired theatre production as part of the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival, at Sidetrack Teatre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. Bookings www.sidetrack.com.au Details www.trikone.org.au

SENIORS

Sri Om Care announces Project Prathama, retirement living options for elderly people from an Indian background, with culture specific services. This centre will provide the following services:

Regular Attendance: (minimum of 3 days per week).

Long day care e.g. 10 hours a day. Provide Medical / Nursing care if required.

Rest room for long day care clients.

Short Term / Episodic Attendance: (Attend day activities).

Attendance may be 4-6 hours a day.

In-House Respite: In addition to day activities one could stay overnight Period of stay to be negotiated (minimum 1 week stay) All meals provided.

Medical / nursing car provided on request.

Nominal fees will be charged. This facility will be open seven days a week. Details Jay Raman 0410 759 906; Girish Mathur 0439 499 343.

MISC

UNSW’s Annual Gandhi Oration Wed 30 Jan The oration will be delivered by the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG who will address the topic of “What would Gandhi do today? A meditation on the contemporary challenges of human rights.” Michael Kirby has tirelessly advocated for equal opportunities and is internationally recognised for his humanitarian efforts as well as his long standing contribution to the Australian legal system. 5:45pm for 6:15pm start, at Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW. The Gandhi Oration will be preceded by a remembrance ceremony at the Gandhi bust on the UNSW Library Lawn to commemorate the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on 30 January 1948. 5:15pm for 5:30pm start.

Melb Indian org home Pravasi B

Tbetterment, an unexpected phone call spurred a flurry of activity for Melbourne’s Dr. Gurdip Aurora, President of the Australia India Society of Victoria. He was informed that the AISV had been nominated for the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for community service.

The award is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians as part of the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention sponsored by the Overseas Indian Affairs Government of India

The phone call was to invite Dr. Aurora to Kochi in Kerala, where the 11th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas convention was to be held between 7-9 January, 2013.

According to the citation, ‘The Australia India Society of Victoria was recognised for its role in protecting the rights of Indian migrants and establishing a network of welfare activities’.

“It was a great honour to receive the award, on behalf of AISV, from the President of India,” Dr. Gurdip Aurora said as he shared his PBD experience with Indian Link upon his return.

“I did not have a lot of prior knowledge of this event and I certainly did not expect it to be as big as it turned out to be. I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and impressed by the way everything was arranged for me including travel, accommodation, meals, transport and use of a chauffeur driven vehicle in India,” claimed Dr. Aurora.

All the awardees were booked into Hotel Le Meridien in Kochi and the host spared no expense in making sure that their stay was comfortable, according to Dr. Aurora.

South Africa. The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) was the organising partner of the summit this year. The Government of Kerala was the State partner of this event and the enchanting city of Kochi with its natural beauty of backwaters and monuments of gods offered a warm welcome to the hundreds of delegates, media and dignitaries from various parts of the world.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally inaugurated the three-day event on January 8 and released a stamp commemorating the Gadar Movement. In his address to the audience the Prime Minister said that safety and security of overseas Indian communities was uppermost in mind in the backdrop of turbulence in many parts of the world. Though the primary responsibility of safety and security of overseas Indian communities rests with the host nations, “when needed, as was the case last year in Libya, our government will provide prompt and necessary assistance”, the Prime Minister said.

knowledge society. He said last year’s record remittance of $67 billion from overseas Indians was a testimony to both the emotional attachment and the fulfilment in investing in India’s strong economy.

“I also wish to see the Indian diaspora as a stronger partner, not only in India’s economic growth, but also in building India’s knowledge society, while continuing to engage culturally and emotionally, and serving as the effective ambassadors that they have been for this country,” the president said.

The Indian diaspora makes up over 20 million people. There are at least five heads of state or government, and over 70 senior political leaders such as deputy heads of state, speakers, ministers in various countries, who can trace their roots to India.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards President Pranab Mukherjee presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards at the valedictory session on January 9. Mauritius

Samman Award for public services.

The award was also given to: Prof Gurusharan Singh Chatwal, Germany (Science); Dr. Satendra K. Singh, New Zealand (Community service); Ismail E. Ebrahim, South Africa (Business); T.S. Ravindra Menon, Malaysia (Community service); Dr. Rasik V.Joshi, Mexico (Literature); Gilbert. C. Moutien, Reunion Island (Business); Mohammed R. Karuvanthodi, Saudi Arabia (Business); Bava Pandalingal, UAE (Community service); Dr. N.R.Kumar, US (Health care); Subhash Razdan, US, (Public service) and Ashok S. Vaswani, Guinea (community service).

The AISV from Victoria and the Indian Doctors Forum from Kuwait were the only two organisations to win the PBDS community service award this year. Since its inception in 2003 only two Australians have been conferred with this award: well known ICT industry leader Neville Roach AO and scientist Veena Sahajwalla (of UNSW) who also appeared on the TV show The Inventors. Dr. Aurora felt delighted that AISV were to join this elite club.

“I do not know who nominated

after our 50th anniversary” said Dr. Aurora as he proudly displayed the gold medal and certificate to Indian Link in his Scoresby clinic recently.

The Australia India

Society

of Victoria

AISV Prof. Alexander Boyce Gibson, the head of the Department of Indian Studies at the University of Melbourne, established the Australia India Society of Victoria in 1963. AISV was initially created with an objective to create interest in Indian history, arts and culture. All the past Presidents, and the present committee led by Dr. Gurdip Aurora, have helped in shaping the organisation over the years by playing an active role in issues affecting the Indian community. According to Dr. Aurora AISV has sought to improve and strengthen the quality of relations between Australia and India through their interactions with the Government, the media and the people who are directly affected by these issues.

The major achievements of AISV, as listed in their 50 years’

PREETI JABBAL

Dr Gurdip Aurora of the Australia India Society of Victoria (AISV) receives honour from the President of India

Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Govt. of India

anisation brings haratiya award

Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar

Ravi urged the delegates to air their issues openly at these sessions and exchange views and perspectives. Dr. Aurora who voluntarily attended these sessions said, “It was appalling to hear the stories of discrimination, lack of human rights and exploitation of people especially the plight of several illiterate migrants who ended up in prison due to an error in the paperwork filled in by

celebration souvenir, include:

• Establishment of the Victorian Indian Community Charitable Trust (VICCT) in 1986 for the provision of permanent housing and financial assistance for disadvantaged persons.

• Successfully lobbying the Victorian State Government in 1990 to exempt Sikhs from legislation introduced in Parliament to ban the carrying of knives. This legislation affected baptized Sikhs and prevented them from carrying a kirpan. Legislation stating compulsory wearing of helmets while riding a pushbike was also adopted to accommodate turbaned Sikhs.

• Successfully lobbying the Indian Government in 1991 (for three years) to establish consular services for Indians in Melbourne.

• Introducing in 1992 ‘Mehfil’

nights to showcase emerging and established artists in the field of music and arts. These continue to this day and provide the Indian community an opportunity to celebrate their culture and people.

• Applying pressure to both sides of Government over a three-year period for the introduction of a two-year waiting period for Spouse Visas in 1995. This resulted in a fairer Visa Process for overseas spouses from all countries and the AISV helped in establishing a fair immigration policy.

• Helping establish in 1999, in partnership with Australian Unity, a Travel Insurance fund for overseas visitors to enable them to gain access to hospitals and medical care. This served to take the burden off the State Government and in some cases the children of elderly parents who were

Psychiatrist

Dr Manjula O’Connor, Vice-President AISV

supporting their parent’s travel to Australia.

• Conducting a two-year research project in 2009 on the issue of the international students and putting forth 45 recommendations to the Federal and State Governments. Ms. Priya Saratchandran wrote the Paper and the recommendations were accepted and changes made to the status of international students accordingly.

• Creating a taskforce in 2011 against domestic violence in Indian and ethnic communities to help the victims of such violence with the help of Dr. Manjula O’Connor. This was in response to the increasing instances of domestic violence within the community and the need to offer cultural specific assistance.

Dr Aurora at PBD 2013

The theme of the 2013 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was: Engaging Diaspora: The Indian Growth Story Many seminars, workshops and events linked to the theme were held including an exclusive session that gave a platform to people from Kerala in the Gulf to air their grievances. In his inaugural address, Union Minister for

He continued, “During my stay I briefly met Salman Khurshid, Cabinet Minister of the Ministry ; columnist and author Shashi Tharoor; Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, and had a meeting with Minister of State for from Patiala. I also took the opportunity to remind the Prime Minister that his visit to Australia was long overdue” said Dr. Aurora.

Conventions like these provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government for mutually beneficial activities. They are also useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields. The PBD’s main objective is to strengthen the diaspora’s engagement with India. “In that sense the PBD met its objective,” remarked Dr Aurora. “However I wish the general public had more access to the Prime Minister and President. They were both kept away from the public under very tight security and I couldn’t help comparing this with Australia and the fact that we have relatively easier access to people in power here”.

Future directions for AISV

Psychiatrist Dr Manjula O’Connor, Vice President of AISV, and Chair of the Taskforce Against Domestic Violence in Indian and Ethnic Communities, commented on the future direction of AISV.

“In 2010-2012 we worked on domestic violence with women of the Indian community. This year we plan to work with Indian men. This is a prevention strategy.

Prevention of domestic violence is considered now as a more useful and fruitful area to target. The Taskforce will recruit men from the general Indian community. The project is an action research project, and will be conducted in partnership between AISV, the Melbourne University and the Australasian Centre for Human Rights and Health (ACHRH),” she said. “We have been fortunate in forming partnerships with a taxi company (who recruit young Indian men) and the Sikh Women’s Network from Western Victoria in this project. This project with Indian men will consist of using community-based interactive theatre to explore Indian men’s concept of DV; simultaneously raising awareness on the issue including legal and criminal implications. We have secured partial funding for this project from the Victoria Multicultural Commission and partly from ACHRH”.

When asked if achieving this award would make any difference to how AISV will conduct itself in future, Dr. Gurdip Aurora said, “We have worked hard for the last 50 years and we will continue to do so in future. There will be no change to our normal routine and we will keep working with the same dedication and keep contributing significantly to the community,” he said in conclusion.

The Australia India Society of Victoria was recognised for its role in protecting the rights of Indian migrants and establishing a network of welfare activities

Dr Gurdip Aurora with the Pravasi Bharatiya medal

Australia Asia Endeavour Award takes writer to India

Enterprising and talented writer Roanna Gonsalves will research emerging English literature in India

BY SHERYL DIXIT

Writer Roanna Gonsalves has been selected as one of 20 Australian postgraduate students to receive a 2013 Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award. The only writer among an impressive list of scientists, lawyers, finance and medical experts, the scholarship will enable Roanna to spend nine months in India, researching and studying existing and emerging trends in writing in English across its urban landscape. The award was presented in early December at Canberra, by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Roanna is undertaking a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Her research examines the institutional arrangements, social networks and power relations that constitute the field of

literary production, using English language literary culture in India as a case study.

“In recent years there has been a never-before-seen flowering of grassroots English language literary culture in India,” said Roanna. “As a writer and a researcher I am curious about this literary change in the social fabric of urban India.”

She will mainly concentrate on English literature in the fiction genre, over short stories, novels and some poetry, across mediums like forums, writing groups and even online.

“It has been a long and difficult journey, writing thousands and thousands of words, many words, many failures and a long period of learning before I could make my mark as a writer in Australia,” said Roanna emphatically. “That’s why this award is so meaningful to me, because after a long and thorough application process that was reviewed in-depth, I was selected. I was very excited on hearing the news, I could barely believe it!”

And while the award means

an upheaval of her life here in Australia to move back to India with her family, Roanna is confidently upbeat about this latest adventure.

“I feel very blessed to receive this award,” she said. “It’s exciting and challenging to find how writers are created in India. Since my past two visits I’ve realized that there’s a growing breed of talented writers telling their stories in a variety of genres, and tapping into this pool, meeting them and studying their work is going to be a revelation”.

And the award couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.

“The subject of my PhD is about globalized literary field writing using Indian writing in English as a case study,” explained Roanna.

“This trip will help me garner essential information for my thesis, that will provide a greater understanding of the emerging Indian literary scene.”

For the comfort of her young family, Roanna hopes to be based in Goa, but she will extensively travel around India to attend

literary festivals, forums, book fairs and launches. She will conduct in-depth interviews at various locations across India, and participant observation at various literary events. She will spend the last two months of her trip in an internship at Sangam House, a prestigious writers’ residency near Bangalore.

And then it will be back to Australia to describe her experiences.

But that’s not all this writer has on her plate. She is putting finishing touches to a novel of short stories based on the experiences of Indian-Australians here, and is currently writing a play for Bell Shakespeare, based on the Bard’s Merchant of Venice

“As Indians living in Australia, it is important for us to tell our stories, which add to the fabric of this multicultural land. Writers, artists, musicians - we are the storytellers of our culture, and our chronicles are a record of our experiences,” said Roanna, who won the Australian Writers Guild Award in 2011.

But the writer is most proud of her latest work, telling her story of the experience of moving and living in Australia through a chapter in the recently released book Joyful Strains Roanna describes the chapter as one of “fun, sadness, joy and challenges.”

It’s an honour for an IndianAustralian to win such a prestigious award, and as Roanna embarks on a new journey, we wish her all the best.

The Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Awards provide scholarships for the best and brightest university students from Australia and Asia. Besides the 20 postgrad students of whom five are going to India, 20 undergrad students are also travelling to various parts of Asia, and 20 students from Asian countries will come into Australia, including two from India. The awards aim to develop internationally-aware, skilled future leaders and to establish enduring education and professional linkages between Australia and Asia.

Roanna Gonsalves (extreme right) with the PM, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations Chris Evans, and other winners of the Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award.

Canberra’s first Indian kite festival

touched 65 km/hour, it was the Wind God that won the day over the Sun God.

More than 400 Canberrans participated, and came out to air their kites – to whatever level the high winds permitted! Of course they first attended a workshop to learn how to tie the strings. No doubt it was a ‘refresher course’ for many Indians present too, but soon it all came back to them, with many even ‘cutting’ each other’s kites in mock warfare, much to the enjoyment of all.

It was not quite Ahmedabad, but there was Gujarat in the air at Canberra’s Belconnen Arts Centre on the bank of Lake Ginninderra.

The Gujarati Samaj of ACT celebrated in mid January its first ever kite flying festival to mark Makar Sankranti, an important Hindu festival.

While Hindus across India mark the date in their own way, the funloving Gujjus take to their terraces

to put their single-string paperand-bamboo kites to the winds.

Every year Ahmedabad hosts the International Kite festival on Makar Sankrati, 14 January. People from all over the world visit the city to witness this event where millions of colourful kites fill the sky.

The Canberra skies may not have seen as many kites this year, but surely the trend has now started.

The idea behind the event was

to promote Gujarati culture and traditions among kids raised here, as well as to acquaint the wider mainstream with some aspects of our way of life.

Makar Sankranti marks the start of the turn of the seasons, as winter recedes and the earth begins to turn towards the sun in the northern hemisphere. The kites are a symbolic way of welcoming the summer sun after it hides away in the colder months.

As revellers look up in the sky manipulating the kite strings in their hands, they seem to be saying, may you go higher and higher, more and more towards light (which of course is the symbol for knowledge, wisdom and spiritual awakening).

Preparations for the event began five months ago by GSA volunteers and Belconnen Art Centre officials. A thousand colourful kites and 300 rolls of string were imported from India. But no prior preparation could have helped with the winds, sadly too strong on the day. As they

And when the winds grew stronger, revellers moved indoors for a cultural program including kite painting competition for kids, Bollywood dances and songs.

Refat Bita’s Hindi and Bengali songs, Vishwa Joshi and Shanya Bhojani’s dances, and a special poetry recital by Harish Joshi were highlights of the day. The food counter serving traditional Indian vegetarian cuisine and buttermilk attracted many visitors.

The event was supported by Belconnen Arts Centre and sponsored by Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Prakash Mehta

One thousa

Sculptor Anish Kapoor’s themes of fluidity and formlessness serve to compel and confound

any point. The idea of course, is that the viewer looks at it from different points and then pieces together the images from memory.

Enter the gallery on level 3 at the Museum of Contemporary Art and you feel like you have stepped into your childhood fantasises. A hall of mirrors, beaming psychedelic reflections back at you, bigger, smaller, fatter, thinner, coloured, twisted and broken into a million pieces. What you see and what you don’t - a hundred different versions of reality.

All this courtesy Anish Kapoor, an Indian-born British sculptor, regarded as one of the foremost artists of our time. His works adorn galleries around the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Guggenheim in Spain. Born in Mumbai in 1954, he moved to London during the 1970s where he has lived since. He won the prestigious Turner Prize in 1991 was elected Royal Academician in 1999. Even if not familiar with his work, pictures of his ‘ArcelorMittal Orbit’ are hard to miss. Constructed for the London Olympics in 2012, it is a towering structure of twisting steel that dwarfed even the Olympic stadium nearby.

Anish Kapoor, the exhibition of his work, is on show at the Museum of Contemporary Art. It runs as part of the Sydney International Art Series 2012-13, an initiative supported by the NSW Government, which brings some of the world’s most outstanding art exhibitions to Sydney.

Visitors to Circular Quay are greeted by Kapoor’s Sky Mirror on the lawns outside the museum, a dazzling image of the inverted sky on a huge, highly polished concave stainless steel mirror. The sculpture attempts to bring an image of the sky down to earth and reflects the constantly changing landscape.

The Padma Bushan awardee’s sculptures tend to be ambitious in size, and awe inspiring. Like Memory, a huge 24-tonne steel sculpture, rust coloured and resembling a disused rocket or a zeppelin, an early flying machine. It occupies an entire room in the gallery, making it impossible to see the object in its entirety from

Doesn’t sound like your cup of tea? To many of us from India, modern art remains at best obscure. We are able to appreciate the finer points of an intricate painting or a temple sculpture but modern art with its abstract images, its blobs and peculiar arrangement of objects leaves us baffled.

So why would you spend your hard earned money to see this exhibition? Because the abstraction forces you to think and feel. It draws you in and makes you a part of the experience. Much of Kapoor’s work tends to be inward looking, an attempt at representing that inner space within us in a material form. And keeping this in mind helps us relate to what we see and create our own experiences.

Many of the sculptures create illusions - bending our perceptions, creating distortions and forcing us to question our perception of reality. Like Oracle, which is a huge sandstone boulder, smoothened on one side, with a black rectangular void. The void appears to be limitless, signifying nothingness or negative space, and seems to “extend beyond the actual depth of the stone”. (Kapoor fans may have seen his Void Field in the permanent collections at the Art Gallery of NSW: four sandstone boulders scooped out from within).

A Thousand Names, one of his earliest works, is poetic and profound. Kapoor uses coloured pigments in powder form, to construct geometrical shapes. The title refers to the 1000 names of Vishnu, seemingly an analogy to a formless entity like powder taking on a thousand different shapes.

In the words of the artist, “While making the pigment pieces, it occurred to me that they all form themselves out of each other. So I decided to give them a generic title, A Thousand Names, implying infinity, a thousand being a symbolic number.”

In his work My Red Homeland Kapoor attempts to replace the traditional role of the artist with a machine. In this machinegenerated sculpture, a rotating motor arm moves in a circular motion, through 25 tonnes of viscous red wax, constantly changing and shaping it. The sculpture forms as we look at

CHIDAMBARANATHAN

Untitled

Sky mirror

Untitled

Memory

Much of Kapoor’s work tends to be inward looking, an attempt at representing that inner space within us in a material form.

1000 names

it. And the deep red colour, suggesting organic matter and blood, leaves an unforgettable impression on the viewer.

My red homeland, detail

The biomorphic theme is apparent again in My Body Your Body, a deceptive-looking rectangle of blue pigment on the wall. It is only as you walk towards it that you realise that it changes shape so that it seems to have something deeper within it, a recess that reveals itself at certain angles. Similarly Untitled 2012, a polished and coloured fiberglass shell, draws the viewer in and creates unsettling experiences if looked at for too long. And then there are the mirrors. The C-Curve and S-Curve are highly polished mirrors, concave and convex surfaces that reflect and distort. They change the shape of ordinary objects and make things seem not what they are. Most children who visited the exhibition enjoyed themselves here, pulling faces at their distorted reflections. Another Untitled sculpture in this collection, is a round concave mirror composed of hundreds of tiny pieces, it reflects a hundred different images, to dizzying effect.

There is much in this collection that manages to compel and confound, and raise questions in our mind. And with that the artist accomplishes his purpose.

My Body Your Body

nd images NATIONAL

Anish Kapoor is on at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, until 1 April, 2013.

Photo: Phillipe Chancel 2007

Below: Anish Kapoor

People Parties Places

a photo

page?

Sunil Kumar weds Suzanne Hanna

It’s a “Mad Scientist” theme for Arya Shah’s 9th birthday

Regional Director Australasia India Tourism Madhu Dubey (centre) at the launch of tour company Mughal Express to India, with CEO Krishna (extreme left), chairman Mukesh Verma and others

It’s Diya Randhawa’s 12th birthday

celebrates her birthday with husband THI s m O n TH

Do

Indian-American lottery winner’s body exhumed

US authorities have exhumed the body of an Indian-American million dollar lottery winner who died last July just a day after he was issued a cheque for about $425,000 after taxes.

Initially, doctors ruled that 46-year-old Urooj Khan died of natural causes. But a week later, an unnamed relative called the medical examiner’s office.

Toxicology results of a second examination showed he died of cyanide poisoning.

An autopsy was performed on the exhumed body of Hyderabad-born Khan, who ran a dry cleaning business in Chicago, Dr. Stephen Cina, Cook County medical examiner, told reporters.

It will take a few weeks for testing results and he could not predict the results, he said. Cyanide can evaporate after death, and it’s possible it may not be present, he was quoted as saying by CNN.

Cina said, “We’ve already determined it was a homicide, and nothing we’ve seen today would change that.”

Chicago police is investigating the July death of Khan as a murder. He won the lottery playing a scratch-off game a month earlier.

On the day he died, Khan’s wife said she made dinner at home and then he went to bed. A little less than an hour later, his screams of agony woke her up. His family rushed him to a hospital, but it was too late.

Sikh Americans favour tougher gun laws

The Sikh-American community has lauded President Barack Obama’s push for tougher gun laws in the wake of December massacre of 20 children and six teachers at an elementary school in Connecticut.

The Sikh community supports Obama’s initiative to take measures to stop the proliferation of deadly weapons in the American society, said Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh council on Religion and Education (SCORE).

“Too many innocent people have become victims of these senseless killings,” said the community leader who was among the invitees at a recent White House event where the President unveiled the most sweeping gun control proposals in two decades.

Urging the Congress to step in and show real leadership in this hour of need, Rajwant

Singh said “it’s a moral obligation to create safety for all particularly our young ones”.

The Sikh community will observe Feb 5, marking six months of the August shooting at a Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin that left six worshipers dead, as a day of prayers for all victims of gun violence in America and will ask congregants to contact their representatives to support gun control legislation.

Rajwant Singh was among 12 faith leaders, including a representative of the Hindu American Foundation invited to meet Vice President Joe Biden, who headed a task force set up by Obama to examine gun control steps after the Newtown shootings.

Biden’s recommendations formed the basis of the package of proposals announced by President Obama.

Rajwant Singh he had suggested to Biden a major educational initiative to teach children against indiscriminate violence with a major push at the state and the federal level.

The Sikh community was looking forward to work with the “Obama administration and Congress to find the comprehensive solution that makes our society more secure where we can raise our children free from any fear of violence,” he said.

Now Ramayana in Polish language

Ramayana, the great Indian epic, is now available in Polish language, courtesy Janusz Krzyzowski, an Indologist in Poland who has translated the monumental work.

Though few episodes of Ramayana were translated into Polish in 1816, these were mere translation of western writers. In the 20th century, some attempts were made to translate a few more chapters.

It seems Krzyzowski collected the material from dozens of books and presented in a coherent manner so that a reader could sustain his interest while going through different chapters. The original was penned by Maharishi Valmiki in Sanskrit.

“My main purpose was to translate this epic into many chapters in a story format so that laymen and particularly Polish children could enjoy the book as well as they should be aware of the great Indian mythological tradition,” Krzyzowski told IANS.

“Ramayana and Mahabharata are two great epics which cannot (be) compared with other epics. Even Greek epics come out as pale shadows when we see the canvas of the Indian epics. They are almost unique

in the history of mankind,” he added.

The book’s effect was visible when a group presented a two-hour show on the pattern of Ramlila. In May, the group will visit few cities in Poland to enact Ramlila for Polish schoolchildren with the help of the Embassy of India in Warsaw.

“He has done great justice to promote India in his nation. He deserves all our praise and we feel proud that such a gem is with us in Poland,” Indian ambassador Monika Mehta told IANS.

Krzyzowski has been a prolific writer on India since 15 years. His love for India has roots since his university days when he enrolled for a master degree in philosophy after a medical degree. This interest turned him into an automatic Indophile. His books on Ashoka and Tansen were well-received along with books of Urdu masters like Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Faiz Ahmad Faiz that he translated with Surender Zahid, an Urdu poet in Warsaw.

Krzyzowski is the president of IndiaPoland Cultural Committee since its inception in 2004.

Indian nurse’s family hasn’t got reply to questions

The family of Indian-origin nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who was found hanging after taking a hoax phone call about the Duchess of Cambridge, said they are yet to receive answers from her hospital to 40 questions over her death.

The Telegraph said Saldanha’s widower and her two children were also waiting to hear from radio show bosses in Australia after the nurse was duped by two radio presenters who impersonated Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles to ask questions about Kate who was being treated for morning sickness.

The 46-year-old nurse was found dead in her quarters three days after she transferred the call from 2Day FM hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian to a colleague at London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital who then described Kate’s condition in detail.

Saldanha left two notes in her room and had marks on her wrist when her body was discovered, a court in London heard.

The 40 questions prepared by her family on Saldanha’s death will only be answered following an internal inquiry led by hospital chairman Lord Glenarthur, the daily said.

Indian-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz, who has supported the family since the death, said he was “disappointed that it will take

such a long time for the results to be made available to the family”.

“Despite the fact that the family have sent a list of 40 questions to the hospital they still seem unwilling to answer them,” Vaz said.

The Australian radio station’s parent company, Southern Cross Austereo, also received a list of questions from Saldanha’s family.

In a letter to Vaz, hospital chief executive John Lofthouse said “no disciplinary action was being contemplated” against Saldanha.

“We regarded her as the victim of a cruel hoax,” he was quoted as saying.

Punjab announces high-level panel for NRIs

With NRIs from Punjab settled in various countries coming forward with problems and issues that they face in their home state, the Punjab government has said a high-level panel would be formed to safeguard their interests.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced the formation of the highlevel committee on NRI affairs comprising five senior cabinet ministers and an equal number of Punjabi NRIs settled across the globe as representatives.

He assured that the recommendations of the committee would be implemented in a time bound manner.

Most of the issues raised by the NRIs relate to property that they own in Punjab.

Badal said: “Our government is committed to ensuring the security of hardearned property of the NRIs so that they can live and work peacefully in the countries of their adoption.”

He said the state government has come out with a landmark legislation which makes compulsory the registration of marriages to check the menace of fraudulent and fake marriages.

Another legislation, Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act, has been brought to prevent the illegal practice of emigrating innocent youth to other countries by the unscrupulous travel agents and dumping them later, he added.

Badal also announced the setting up of three more NRI police stations for quick disposal of complaints related to NRIs. With this, the total number of NRI police stations across Punjab will go up to 11. He also announced the setting up of a fast-track court for NRI affairs in the state to ensure quick dispensation of justice.

IANS

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Chautala, son get 10-year jail, supporters go on rampage

In one of the harshest punishments handed down to a politician for corruption yet, a special court in New Delhi sentenced former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and son Ajay Chautala to 10 years jail each in a teachers’ recruitment scam.

As soon as the sentence was pronounced, activists of Chautalas’ Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) went on a rampage outside the court complex in Rohini area of north Delhi, hurling stones and crude bombs at police and in the court area. Police lobbed tear gas shells and baton-charged the crowds to disperse them.

Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar, who last week convicted the 55 of the 62 people accused in the scam, sentenced the Chautalas and seven others to 10 years in jail each while one convict was given five years, and 45 others four years in jail.

“Considering the enormity of the offences and the manner in which politicianbureaucrat nexus has resulted in depriving such a large number of candidates of their constitutional rights, I do not find any reason for leniency in sentencing those convicts who were masterminding the entire conspiracy or assisting them in execution of the same,” the court said.

Of the 62 people accused in the junior basic trained (JBT) teachers’ hiring scam, six died during the trial and one was discharged during framing of charges.

Besides the Chautalas, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sanjeev Kumar, the then director of primary education, Chautala’s former officer on special duty Vidya Dhar, also a former IAS officer, and political adviser Sher Singh Badshami, who is a sitting Haryana legislator, also were awarded 10 years in jail.

Four other education department officers also were given 10-year jail terms.

Chautala and his son Ajay, both sitting legislators in Haryana, were taken into custody Jan 16 after being convicted for

the illegal recruitment of over 3,200 JBT teachers in the state.

The CBI formally charged the Chautalas and the others June 6, 2008, for their role in the scam that took place between 1999 and 2000 when Chautala was the chief minister.

The scam came to light when Sanjeev Kumar, who was pressurised by Chautala to change the list of selected candidates by fudging marks of certain favourites, approached the Supreme Court and submitted before it the list of the candidates originally selected for state employment.

The apex court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the matter. The agency, in its charge sheet, said forged documents were used to appoint the teachers.

Sanjeev Kumar, who claimed to be a whistle-blower in the case, was also made an accused by the CBI. Chautala, the son of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, is leader of opposition in the Haryana assembly. He was the chief minister from 1999 to 2005. His second son, Abhay Singh Chautala, is also a legislator.

The conviction and sentencing could impact politics in Haryana, where assembly elections are due next year, as the Chautalas could be disqualified from contesting if their conviction is not suspended by a higher court.The Representation of the People Act debars from contesting polls any person convicted of any offence and sentenced to more than two years’ imprisonment from the date of conviction and for a further period of six years after the term ends.

The sentencing led to violence from around 2,000 Chautala supporters, who had gathered outside the Rohini court complex in north Delhi from early morning and started shouting slogans.

Their presence forced police to ban the entry of media, lawyers and others into the complex and the court room. Over 1,000 policemen were guarding the court complex, apprehending trouble from Chautala supporters.

“Many Chautala supporters tried to enter the court premises. The crowd calmed down for a while, but started throwing stones and crude bombs as soon as the ruling was delivered,” a police official said. One of the protestors was injured in the police action.

After the rioting outside the court complex was controlled, the police took the convicted politicians and bureaucrats with them to Tihar Jail under tight security around 1 p.m.

Abhay Chautala said that they will appeal against the verdict in a higher court. “We will come out clean. This is a conspiracy by the Congress through the CBI,” he said.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda appealed for peace.

“All are equal for court, and we have faith in the judiciary. We will appeal to the people to maintain peace, Haryana is a peaceful state,” Hooda told reporters after the verdict.

Haryana Janhit Congress leader Kuldip Bishnoi welcomed the court verdict and sentencing.

“There is no future for INLD in Haryana now. This judgment will not only have an impact on Haryana but all over the country,” he said.

Testing times ahead for Rahul

A special Congress session in Jaipur formally launched Rahul Gandhi as the official number two after party chief Sonia Gandhi, making him the presumptive prime ministerial candidate of the party for the 2014 general elections, but the battle is half won and testing times lie ahead for the 42-year-old fifth generation leader of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

The Jaipur Declaration, that emerged from the three-day Jan 18-20 introspection-cumstrategy session Chintan Shivir appeared to have lost significance once Rahul was made the vice president, converting his de facto status into a de jure one.

But the road ahead is paved with umpteen obstacles and uneasy will lie the head that

is likely to wear the crown of thorns, that Gandhi alluded to when he talked about the “poison” that came with such heavy political responsibility and the personal risks that come with it. And his mother, who he revealed came to his room and cried the night before, understood it better than anyone else.

Nine assembly polls - five big ones in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh, where the Congress will have direct contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and four in the northeast - will test his leadership skills.

The return of the third edition of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in 2014 will also depend on how the Amethi lawmaker is able to restructure and reenergise the party for the big political fight. He heads the party’s coordination panel for the 2014 polls.

Rahul Gandhi is also expected to restructure the organisation and give key roles to younger leaders so the party is able to reach out to the voters, 70 percent of whom are below the age of 35. Reaching out to the youths of the country, who are angry over corruption in the system and other social issues, crave for better systems of governance and want accountability from the politicians and the government, will be a major task for the new Congress vice president.

The Nehru-Gandhi family scion would also be expected to spell out his position on various national issues clearly as he now holds an official post in the Congress.

While any success in the elections will bring him credit, he would also have to accept the blame in case of a failure.

The move to make him vice president, which marks a generational shift in the 127-year-old party, is significant and has mentally prepared the senior leaders to accept Rahul as their leader.

Party insiders said the decision was getting postponed for a while due to reservations among some senior leaders on giving him the official number two position in the grand old party.

But the members of the Youth Congress and National Students Union of India and the younger leaders in the party - who comprised a third of the 350-odd delegates at the session - made strong demands for his elevation, keeping in mind that 70 percent of the voters in the country are under 35 years of age.

Over 50 senior leaders who shared the dais with Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the session, not only heard Rahul with rapt attention, but stood up as soon as he finished his speech and were seen competing with one another in congratulating him. Rahul had arrived.

In an impassioned speech, Rahul made it clear that he does not hanker for power and stressed the need to transform the party’s systems and develop new leaders at all levels while saying the youths must be involved in decision making.

The question now is whether he will be able to bring the middle class, especially the “restless and impatient” young, to the Congress camp from which they stood quite alienated over perceptions of corruption, misgovernance, inflation and insensitivity to issues that concern them.

Trouble in BJP: Gadkari out, Rajnath likely as president

In dramatic developments on the eve

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar reacts as Bollwood singer Asha Bhonsle kisses his hand at a function to launch the music of her debut film “Mai” in Mumbai on January 22, 2013. The film, Bhosale’s maiden film, conveys a strong social message to take care of the elderly suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

of presidential nominations in the BJP, incumbent Nitin Gadkari announced that he will not seek a second term while former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Rajnath Singh emerged as his likely successor.

The development followed this week’s Income Tax ‘surveys’ of around nine locations connected to alleged financial wrongdoing by a company linked to Gadkari and signals by party MP Yashwant Sinha that he could contest if Gadkari was re-nominated.

Informed sources said BJP veteran L.K. Advani also had reservations of Gadkari getting a second term in view of allegations surrounding the Purti group linked to him.

They said that Rajnath Singh was likely to be once again made party chief though efforts were being made to find “a more nationally accepted face”. Singh has been BJP president twice earlier.

The BJP president has traditionally been elected unopposed.

Rajnath’s Singh’s name emerged after a series of meetings involving party leaders Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Ram Lal and Ananth Kumar.

There was unease in sections of BJP over Gadkari’s continuance though the party gave him a clean chit following a probe done by S. Gurumurthy, a financial analyst considered close to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

BJP leaders feared that his second term would come in the way of party’s all-out attack against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on the issue of corruption in the run up to series of assembly polls this year and Lok Sabha polls in 2014.

Sources said RSS had been in favour of giving a second term to Gadkari despite apparent lack of warmth to the move by Advani. They said that Gadkari not getting a second term was an affirmation of Advani’s writ running in the BJP and also vis-à-vis RSS. In his statement, Gadkari accused the UPA government of spreading disinformation about him.

“I have committed no wrong or any impropriety either directly or indirectly. Yet the UPA government has been making an effort to spread disinformation about me in order to hurt me and my party... I do not wish that this should in any way adversely affect the interest of the BJP. I, have, therefore decided not to seek a second term as the president of the BJP,” he said.

Earlier, Gadkari had issued a corrected statement terming “as calculated, mischievous and politically motivated the Income -Tax department’s attempts to drag his name” into its surveys of various companies in Mumbai.

His first statement of the day had talked of the IT survey coming on the eve of his “re-election as BJP president for a second term”.

Sinha, who has been against Gadkari’s continuation as president, caused a flutter as he collected a nomination form and a copy of the voters’ list from presidential poll incharge Thawarchand Gehlot.

Another Gadkari-baiter and former member of the BJP’s national executive, lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani had indicated that he could contest against Gadkari if no one else does.

Party sources said Sushma Swaraj’s name was also being mentioned as a probable candidate but she had not accepted the offer so far.

Declassify government files on Netaji, says family

Claiming that over 100 secret files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were with various government departments, including the PMO, Netaji’s family members and researchers threatened to launch a mass movement if the documents are not declassified and made public at the earliest.

“The government of India has been sitting over 100 secret known and unknown files on Netaji. The PMO alone has 33 such files and the ministry of external affairs has over a dozen,” said author and researcher Anuj Dhar.

Dhar, who has written the book India’s Biggest Cover-up on the death mystery of Netaji, claimed that even spy agencies Research and Analysis Wing and Intelligence Bureau had scores of such files.

“One hand the government has always been maintaining that Netaji died in the 1945 plane crash and on the other it refuses to declassify secret files regarding him. Why is this contradiction? The government at the earliest must make the documents public,” said D.N. Bose, Netaji’s nephew.

Bose and Dhar quoted several documents and RTI replies to buttress their claims, and said only a nationwide mass movement can compel the government to make the documents public.

Quoting the Mukherjee Commission report which said that Bose did not die in the plane crash as alleged and the ashes in the Japanese temple are not of Netaji, Chitra Ghosh, niece of Netaji urged people to foil the alleged attempt of the government in establishing the contrary.

“Why is the centre trying to establish that Netaji died in a 1945 plane crash? Why there are attempts to bring the alleged ashes from Renkoji temple?” asked Ghosh.

Netaji’s daughter Anita Pfaff Jan 20 had rubbished media reports that she would be

bringing her “father’s ashes” to India.

A branch of Netaji’s family as also many others outside believe that he died in a plane crash in Taiwan on Aug 18, 1945, and the ashes are preserved in the Renkoji temple in Tokyo. But there is also a strong second opinion across the nation which nixes the aircrash theory and does not consider the Renkoji ashes as those of Bose.

“I don’t have the ashes. After all, this would be a highly formal and diplomatic thing. It’s not a private issue, but involves two countries that have their own multiplelevel relations. It’s not that I’ll go to the temple ask for the ashes and they will give me. The two nations must agree on it,” Pfaff had said.

Project Hilsa: Indian scientists seek to save prized fish

With the population of the hilsa dwindling rapidly in Indian waters, a team of scientists from across the country have embarked on a project to save the fish, considered a delicacy in Bengali cuisine, and revive its numbers through various interventions.

Their efforts include efficient management of the natural reservoirs of the fish and even attempting to breed it in captivity. The fish’s diet and its hormonal changes while migrating from the sea to rivers will also be examined.

Hilsa, or ilish as it is known in Bengal, like salmon, migrates from seawater to freshwater to breed. After laying eggs, the current generation of the fish dies and the newly-hatched ones go back to the sea and repeat the cycle again.

The fish is expensive but is widely consumed in India and Bangladesh, particularly on special occasions, in a variety of delectable dishes.

“It is important to know what the hilsa feeds on that gives it its distinct seawater taste and accounts for its nutritive value,”

a scientist from Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) in Kolkata told IANS.

Besides CIFRI, experts from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) labs too are part of the multi-dimensional project, said the scientist.

But what is also baffling the experts is that while the fish’s numbers are falling in Indian waters, it is flourishing in the waters of neigbouring Bangladesh. In fact, hilsa’s numbers are so large that its trade makes a major contribution to Bangladesh’s exports and national income.

“We must find out the reason why they are not entering our coasts. They are going to Bangladesh. The situation was the opposite 15 years ago. We must look into it immediately,” Samir Bhattacharya, an emeritus professor of life sciences at VisvaBharati University, who is also part of the project, told IANS.

He said the rising level of pollutants in the Ganges might be a factor inhibiting the hilsa’s breeding.

“Another factor is indiscriminate fishing of egg-carrying hilsa. Besides, there is a possibility that the fish might be attracted by a particular chemical called chemo-attractant present in fresh water. It may be so that the levels of that chemical has declined,” Bhattacharya said.

Habits like homing instincts of salmon and trout and other behaviours are welldocumented abroad whereas no such data existed for hilsa, he said.

The project would also focus on hormonal changes the hilsa undergo while migrating.

“In order to successfully breed them, we must pay attention to their habitats and requirements. This is an important national matter and hilsa is a prized fish. Revival of its population needs scientists from every branch,” Bhattacharya said.

Indian sadhus, or Hindu holy men, worship the land allotted to them for setting up their tents for the month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the large religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year.

Lazy reads and foodie treats

Storybook Raj, Bollywood culinary secrets and drama are some of the books doing the literary circuit

The Raj On the Move: The Story of the Dak

Bungalow by Rajika Bhandari traces a fascinating tale on these iconic dwellings.

Established in the 1840s by the peripatetic British, ‘dak bungalows’ forever changed the way officers of the empire and their families travelled across the subcontinent and got to know the real India. With most of the British Raj perpetually on the move, whether on tour or during the summer migration to the hills, dak bungalow travel inspired a brotherhood of sorts for generations of British and Indian officers, who could recount tales of horrid dak bungalow food, a crazed ‘khansama’, and the time their only companion at the bungalow was a tiger on the loose.

Today, too, PWD-run circuit houses and dak bungalows continue to occupy an important place in the lives and imagination of India’s civil servants. Author Rajika Bhandari weaves together history, architecture, and travel to take us on a fascinating journey of India’s British-era dak bungalows and circuit houses from the original colonial outpost of Madras in the south to the deep interiors of Madhya Pradesh, the heart of British India.

Evoking the stories of Rudyard Kipling and Ruskin Bond, and filled with fascinating titbits and amusing anecdotes, the book unearths local folklore about these remote and mysterious buildings, from crotchety khansamas to their delectable chicken dishes.

The Mirror of Wonders and Other Tales written by Said Rafiq Husain and translated by Salim Kidwai covers a surprising range of stories.

The plight of a hungry tigress and her cubs, a dog’s undying love for her friend, a domesticated Nepali lost in the woods, the wide ambit of a cow’s maternity and the pangs of separation felt by a monkey’s mother and her child - the anthology of short stories explores the range of human emotions in this unusual anthology of short stories peopled by animals. Originally written in Urdu by a little known early 20th century writer, the stories in the genre of Orwell’s Animal Farm satire the plight of humans from the vantage point of animals. The writer combines animal behaviour and their empathy with humans to bring the wildlife of the Tehri region alive.

Amrita Sher-Gil: A Life by Yashodhara Dalmia is a biography of the beautiful and brilliant Amrita Sher-Gil who lived life on her

Rajika Bhandari weaves together history, architecture, and travel to take us on a fascinating journey of India’s British-era dak bungalows and circuit houses from the original colonial outpost of Madras in the south to the deep interiors of Madhya Pradesh

own terms, scandalizing the staid society of her times with her love affairs and unconventional ways. In this fascinating biography, art historian Yashodhara Dalmia paints a compelling portrait of the artist who, when she died in 1941 at the age of twenty-eight, left behind a body of work that establishes her as one of the foremost artists of the century and an eloquent symbol of the fusion between the East and West. A biography that blends elements of fiction with a gripping narrative.

Calcutta by Amit Chaudhuri chronicles the author’s experience on returning to the city.

In 1999, Amit Chaudhuri returned with his family to Calcutta. He did so tentatively. Calcutta was where his parents had moved after retirement; it was the city he had loved in his youth and in whose lanes he had spent tranquil childhood holidays; one he had made his name writing about. But that Calcutta had receded and another had taken its place.

Calcutta is Chaudhuri’s account of two years (2009-11) in the great metropolis. Using the idea of return and the historical elections of 2011 as his fulcrum, he travels between the 19th century, when the city burst with a new vitality to the twenty-first century; when, utterly changed, it seems to be on the verge of another turn. Along the way Chaudhuri evokes all that is most particular and extraordinary about the city. He paints, too, an acute, often ironic, and occasionally terribly funny picture of life in the city today - of its malls and restaurants, its fitful attempts to embrace globalisation, its middle class who leave and then return reluctantly, its bygone aristocracy, and its homeless. Calcutta opens on his canvas in all its warring colours.

Blood Red Sari by Ashok Banker is an action thriller with a feminine touch. Missing social activist Lalima has picked three women to carry out the task she was unable to finish - Sheila, the owner of an all-women’s gym in

Spanning the murky underbelly of the country’s metropolises and the international human trafficking mafia, Blood Red Sari is a pulsepounding action thriller with a feminist punch

Kolkata; Nachiketa, an attorney in Delhi who is suing her in-laws for the violent abuse that left her wheelchair-bound for life; and Malayali private investigator Anita, whose own brothers are out to get her. Lalima’s adversaries use influence and hired killers to track down all those who have been sent incriminating evidence against them, forcing Sheila, Nachiketa and Anita to battle for survival even as they race against time to understand the import of the documents they have received. Spanning the murky underbelly of the country’s metropolises and the international human trafficking mafia, Blood Red Sari is a pulsepounding action thriller with a feminist punch.

The Vegan Kitchen: Bollywood Style by Anuradha Sawhney is one of the first books for the growing vegan population of India that brings together recipes from no less than 50 leading names from the world of Bollywood, fashion and music.

Anupam Kher, Dilip Kumar, Gulshan Grover, Hema Malini, John Abraham, Mahesh Bhatt, Om Puri, R. Madhavan, Rahul

Khanna, Saira Banu and Vidya Balan - these are just a few who have contributed their recipes, showing how it is possible to incorporate a delicious healthy vegan diet with no cholesterol, in other words, one with no animal products, including dairy into one’s life, and keep the celebrity status intact.

Cold Feet by Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan is the story of five women and their encounters with love.

Amisha has found her prefect man and is going to marry him, but suddenly feels threatened to push the boundaries of their relationship. Akshara is in love with her best friend, but while he will give her benefits, he will not give her love. Ladli has her heart broken. So she runs away, only to find him waiting for her on the other side. Shayna knows what she wants in a man, but the man she wants is nothing like that. And finally, the girl who wants Shayna, actually, just meets a friend. The book is the story of the strangely entwined lives of five women who live in Mumbai and deal differently with the same thing - love.

MANLY MEMORABLE

Explore this historic beachside town a stone’s throw away from Sydney that still retains its charm and originality

BY PETRA O’NEILL

From Circular Quay, a 30 minute ferry ride will bring you to Manly. It’s a great way to sightsee Sydney Harbour, as you passby the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, pockets of remnant bushland and Sydney’s finest real estate. ‘7 miles from Sydney and a million miles from care’ was the slogan used to describe it in the 1940s. Manly still retains that characteristic Australian beachside charm of coloured beach umbrellas, sandcastles and surfing the waves.

Manly was named by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788 after he witnessed the ‘manly’behaviour of a group of local aboriginals, despite himbeing wounded with a spear in a misunderstanding. By the 1880s it had become a seaside resort rivalling Bondi. Leaving the ferry and wharf behind, walk the length of The Corso, a pedestrian mall lined with cafes and everything you’ll need for the beach, until you reach a stunning long expanse of coastline perfectly suited for swimming and surfing. The stretch of sand extends from Shelly Beach to Queenscliff with a promenade shaded by massive Norfolk Island Pines. It was here that surfing began in Australia in 1912, and became popular following a visit by world swimming champion Duke Paoa Kahanamoku in 1914. Now Manly-Freshwater is recognised as one of the world’s most significant surfing locations, with outstanding surf breaks.

While the ocean beaches are the main drawcard, you can also go on several walks. Take the 10 kilometre, 4.5 hour Manly Scenic Walkway from Spit Bridge to Manly to experience one of Australia’s best walks, with stunning harbour scenery across

rugged headlands, sweeping beaches, lagoons, bays and bushland, from rainforest to open eucalypt and view Aboriginal rock engravings made hundreds of years ago. While human encroachment has caused the disappearance of larger native animals, possums, bandicoots and reptiles may be seen as well as birds including honeyeaters, parrots, kingfishers, kookaburras and cockatoos. The final two kilometres is gently graded winding around the harbour foreshoresuburbs of Fairlight and Manly Cove with safe beaches well suited to refresh weary walkers. I have always welcomed arriving at this point, since the walk requires considerable stamina.

You can also walkfrom Manly Beach, past Cabbage Tree Bay to North Head (9.5 kms - 4 hours) within Sydney Harbour National Park for spectacular views of the city skyline. North Head was used to quarantine passengers with a suspected contagious disease on ships arriving in Australia from 1828 until 1984. The School of Artillery where army gunners lived and trained and North Fort are also to be found here.

A hidden gem, Cabbage Tree Bay, is one of Sydney’s best snorkelling spots with a diversity of marine life including gropers, cuttlefish and octopus. It is tucked away behind a headland that acts as a windshield with calm waters and clear visibility.

Or you can do something altogether different including learning how to surf, hiring a bike or kayaking past headlands and beaches to the Quarantine Station. My daughter Lauren and I joined forces and paddled hard in a twin kayak dodging ferries against moderate headwinds to Manly Cove before changing directionfor the Quarantine Station for a gourmet picnic lunch that our guide Michael whipped up in no time. With Lauren describing the experience as awesome, I knew I’d made the right choice for a great day out.

The stretch of sand extends from Shelly Beach to Queenscliff with a promenade shaded by massive Norfolk Island Pines. It was here that surfing began in Australia in 1912

MANLY A DAY AT T h E BEAch

Fu R th ER in FORMAti O n:

The iconic Manly ferry is the best way to get to Manly with frequent departures from Jetty 3, Circular Quay. 131500/131500.com.au and manlyguide.com is useful for information on the many attractions to be found here or visit the Manly VisitorInformation Centre on arrival, stocked full of free maps and brochures.

If you want to surf, Manly Surf School offers classes. (02)99776977/manlysurfschool.com

Life’s an Adventure provides kayaking tours or for the super athletes among you, a kayak, hike and bike ride. (02) 9913 8939/lifesanadventure.com.au

Sydney Coast Walks offer informative guided walking tours to North Head and the Spit with overnight options. (02) 8521 7423/sydneycoastwalks.com.au

Locals shop at funky fashion boutiques found on Wentworth Street, Darley, Sydney and Pittwater Roads.

Only swim at patrolled beaches between the flags. Wear a hat, apply sunscreen and bring a water bottle that you can refill with fresh water at dispensers along the beach. Manly has no shortage of restaurants and cafes, many along The Corso, with fish and chips featuring prominently on most menus.

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indians and public space

have stories of being force fed to extremes in such environments of generosity and giving.

BY TANVEER AhMED

Iremember as a six-year-old child, one of my first realisations that we were inhabiting a strange new land was when I walked on to the balcony of our family friend’s flat in western Sydney. It was our first week in Australia and I casually consumed a banana and nonchalantly strolled out to throw the banana skin out on to the street.

A huge kerfuffle arose. There was a complaint from an elderly neighbour downstairs, made directly through a knock at the door of our family friends.

I was pulled aside by my mother, who was also slightly perplexed by the commotion, but felt obliged to co-operate. My aunt took me outside to introduce me to the wondrous contraption known as the garbage bin. I watched her lift the flip-top lid. She directed me to my banana peel, lying motionless and exposed on the footpath, which I duly picked up and placed into the bin. It was my first lesson into the notion of public space.

The flip side of this outlook is that we are less concerned about issues, problems or activities when they don’t impinge on our immediate network or home. In essence, we tend to be less concerned about the public good, when that notion of public has little to do with our family, clan or village. If there is litter on the street, it does not affect my family. I have essentially outsourced the problem.

We are less concerned about issues, problems or activities when they don’t impinge on our immediate network or home.

A friend of mine tells a story where he was in a major Chinese city and a manhole came free after a near accident. Thereafter for almost fifteen minutes, my friend watched as several cars had near misses swerving to avoid the manhole. Frustrated and aghast, he walked over and replaced the manhole. Several local Chinese later told him that the average Chinese person would not have done what he did.

Only last month I visited India and Bangladesh and was impressed by the great strides both countries were making with regards to litter. There were actual bins present on streets, albeit very few. There was still little shame in throwing rubbish on the street, not to mention urinating, but there were signs of progress.

However, the broader issue of whether Asians, including South Asians, are inheriting a sense and concern about the common good remains a bigger, more uncertain question.

All Asian societies have a strong commitment to family. We pride ourselves on it and sometimes pity what we see as the lack of such strong connections among Westerners.

For the Chinese, Confucius taught an emphasis on family bonds and nurturing one’s immediate networks or bonds of relationships, known as guanxi. There is likely to be a similar term in Hindi or Bengali, essentially referring to extended family, clans or tribes. All human societies existed within such structures at some stage in their history.

This may be an extreme example. But the broader point is that while we take pride in our commitment to immediate family and our own environments, we may be less concerned about public space and collective goods and services. There is a wealth of evidence suggesting the rapid development in countries like India is very much driven by an innovative, energetic private sector. Furthermore, it is also public knowledge that one third of the current members of the Indian Parliament have criminal charges against them.

There is a real risk that politics is seen in Asian countries as merely an alternate form of commerce to serve the equivalent of guanxi, that is, friends and family. They are hardly unique in this respect. One only has to look at MPs like Eddie Obeid to see that no country or nationality has a monopoly on corruption.

Whether Asians, including South Asians, are inheriting a sense and concern about the common good remains a bigger, more uncertain question.

There are many advantages of such an outlook. One example is the tremendous hospitality that Asian cultures tend to have when a guest enters the family home. We all

But becoming involved in notions of collective good and public space remain cultural challenges for South Asians. Most of us have inherited such behaviours and outlook from living in Australia, much like we might have loosened our ties to extended family. But it remains the case that we are far less likely to get involved in community matters unless they are related to our local ethnic communities. You will see few Indians or Chinese involved in the local parents association at school, for example. Indeed, it can begin from something as simple as picking up a piece of rubbish.

While we have a strong sense of family and tradition, our civic sense still seems underdeveloped

Pessimism stalks the world

As 2013 commences, the world situation is at a status quo with no immediate hope for positive change

battle is being waged in individual states.

BY NOEL g DE SOUZA

The coming of a New Year (including sectarian New Years like Diwali) is perceived as saying goodbye to the old situation of which many were tired, and welcoming a new dawn of hope and a better life.

The economic situation in Europe, to a lesser degree in the United States and to a large extent in Japan, cannot be expected to engender such an optimistic outlook. The Australian economic situation is much better if we consider the high value of the Australian dollar to be a good indicator vis-à-vis the major world currencies.

But it is precisely the high value of the Australian dollar which is pounding Australia’s manufacturing and agricultural industries. Many of its companies have closed production and in the process, have blatantly shown that they have no regard for their employees’ welfare.

In several Republican-led American states (like Wisconsin, Indiana, Maine and Missouri) workers and trade unions are being targeted. To reduce their difficult budgets, government employees are amongst the first to be under threat of being made redundant. Laws are currently being debated to ensure that unionism is no longer compulsory and thus ensure that unions will get starved of funds.

2. Those who want change but it is not happening fast enough for them: These are people who see the current system as being one of entrenched benefits, whilst the bulk of the population is left out of the negotiating process. They thus see that a majority of people are being made scapegoats in the economic stakes.

the Australian economic situation is much better if we consider the high value of the Australian dollar to be a good indicator visà-vis the major world currencies.

Executives have received large bonuses for reducing the workforce and thus making their companies ‘competitive’, whilst long-serving and faithful employees have been discarded. These should not be the measures which a relatively prosperous country like Australia should take.

The situation in Europe is much gloomier. The austerity measures there are so designed that they look like an attack on workers and the middle class. Prominent Australian companies have also put in their own versions of austerity measures. In these circumstances, is there any wonder that pessimism now stalks the world?

However, our supermarkets stock a wide range of products from Europe, particularly southern European countries. There are some expected products like olive oil, but then there are sauces, chutneys, cakes and puddings. For some time now the Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith, in an endeavour to save jobs, has been promoting Australian-made items like Canola oil and various other products.

Australian products inexplicably cost more than imported goods. Despite transportation costs, Italian tinned tomatoes, for example, cost much less than the equivalent local item. This also applies to goods using flour and sugar, like cakes and the popular tiramisu.

There appear to be three types of pessimistic people:

1. Those who do not want any change: These are the currently privileged ones, whether in business or in trade unions. Great battles being fought in the USA, and Australia and India are between these two adversaries. In the USA and in Australia, this

The most visible manifestation of this group includes the militant street demonstrators such as in Greece and Spain, and those who gather at economic and other forums where world leaders meet. A vivid example was seen recently at the Noble Prize ceremony in Oslo where the VIPs appeared to be feted and dining at banquets, whilst the demonstrators were left out in the biting cold.

3. And there are those who see a middle path which is arrived at by haggling and compromise, with an end result which satisfies no one.

There has been much opposition to the entry of large scale foreign (mostly American) departmental stores in India. Political parties took the advantage of arousing the underprivileged in their opposition. However, the coming of large departmental stores does not bother everyone. There are optimists amongst India’s most famous producers. One such is Godrej, which is a household name in India and the country’s second largest consumer manufacturer. Adi Godrej has developed the unique method distributing his goods through small retailers. Departmental stores are said to buy only six percent of his total output. He expects this situation to continue for another decade from now.

On the international level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has unearthed a not-so- well-known Russian billionaire Alexander Lutsenko who concentrates on soya bean production. Russia’s soya bean production will reach two million tons this year.

However, Lusenko has had the foresight of not depending on his Russian production alone. He is wise, by experience, to the vagaries of weather and other negative conditions. That is why he has soya also grown in Brazil and Argentina. Wherever he operates, he has built rail and port facilities. Simply put, Lutsenko has created an infrastructure system which takes care of risk eventualities.

No bum rap!

This comedian thought it was a simple case of ‘humourroids’, but it turned out to be a close brush with colon cancer

By SAndy

GAndhi

According to organisations like Bowel Cancer Australia and The Cancer Council Australia, bowel cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in Australia. Not necessarily restricted to an age group, bowel cancer is more prevalent in older people and we are encouraged nationwide to partake in voluntary bowel cancer screening tests once we’ve hit the fifty mark. (Ask your GP about symptoms and testing regardless of your age).

When my body’s 50,000 miles service came up, I had a few symptoms but found many very plausible reasons for my symptoms not to be bowel cancer so I didn’t bother getting tested. I ate quite well and exercised somewhat, I wasn’t overweight and my general health was good except for the onset of trauma arthritis from a prior close encounter in the derriere of my wee car by an idiot in his humungous 4WD. Perhaps the 4WD was still in situ, up my derriere. That’s another whole story about getting it up the clacker by the idiot and then getting it up the Khyber by the idiot’s insurance company.

I also felt being born in New Delhi, India has given me an advantage in that my gut’s well travelled without many incidents of Delhi belly. However, one of the major stresses on my gut and its surrounds is purely due to my preperformance nerves prior to doing a stand-up appearance,

especially a high–stress gig.

It was spooky getting Delhi belly each time I had to get in my Indian character for a show. I’d spend at least five hours prior to an evening gig playing a frenzied version of musical chairs with the dunny bowl.

I was probably a kilo or two lighter by the time I got on stage and as soon as my name was announced, I’d need to do a poo – now that’s authentic comic relief right there!

Once I was on stage and got my first laugh, the fireworks in my gut would settle down but it would take me days to recover after a show – my gut would feel funny but I wasn’t laughing. It was time to give my gut a break for a bit. I had to adjust a few things in my gastrointestinal life and unfortunately doing stand-up had to be the first to go, for a while at least.

Several gig-free months later, I realised my gut was performing like a B-grade mini-series regardless of the absence of my stand-up pressures. But even now, I could write off these episodes as a

collaboration with ‘Peri-menopause, the musical’, which was now in full swing.

My GP suggested I do some blood tests to check my hormone levels and other vitals. As I was about to have many samples of my various bodily fluids extracted, I figured I might as well do the bowel cancer screening test and get that out of the way too. Turns out my test was positive, i.e. there were traces of blood present – as a comedian on sabbatical, it was probably just a simple case of humourroids.

The next step was a colonoscopy ASAP. The good news is, most get the all clear. Unfortunately I didn’t, but vital early detection and a second endoscopy with the help of a brilliant colorectal surgeon (who vowed he wouldn’t look), means I’m free of the dreaded ‘c’ word –cancer!

A colonoscopy doesn’t have to end in a bum rap – the old adage, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, comes to mind.

I’m now in the throes of writing

my next stand-up show but can’t decide between Polyp, the musical or My Beautiful Colon.

Even though a colonoscopy conjures up all kinds of unwanted images of your back end being invaded by folk you hardly know wielding various accoutrements of their trade including a camera and a wide screen to view your innards, it’s not as bad as it sounds. I underwent two procedures in as many weeks, a colonoscopy and a flexible sigmoidoscopy (a shorter scope is used in the latter), and at no point did I feel that anything or anyone had been up my proverbial. The worst part of the process is downing 2 litres of hospital grade ‘bowel blaster’ to prepare for these procedures.

So if you’re reading this, consider it a friendly reminder if you haven’t addressed this issue and you know you should – there’s more than one ring of confidence to be had. Go ahead, get anally retentive…your life depends on it!

I’m now in the throes of writing my next stand-up show but can’t decide between Polyp, the musical or My Beautiful Colon

I now have a degree in Colonosophy making me a Colonosopher, with inside info why the exit needs as much attention as the entrance

Colon cancer sites

Europe along the

elcome to your home for the next 12 days,” says Jerry, the ship’s hotel manager as we enter the attractive River Duchess for a grand European odyssey from Romania to Austria, along the Danube. However, in no time at all we discover that while the overall ambiance is perfectly homely, the level of comfort, accommodation, food and personal treatment of every guest is princely. Perhaps this unique blend of ‘homely and princely’ differentiates river cruises from big ocean cruisers where the sheer size and guest-numbers in thousands takes away the intimate touch.

The size of river cruising vessels is much smaller because of the need for mooring through lochs and under low bridges. They typically carry less than 200 passengers, a size manageable that offers a very personalised and pampering service in a casual and sociable atmosphere. In recent times, a large class of travellers prefer this instead of swimming pools, casinos, a multitude of restaurants and outsized crowds as are found in ocean liners.

On the water

The River Duchess is one of Uniworld’s newly remodelled plush boutique ship which can accommodate 134 guests in her 63 state rooms and 4 suites, all elegantly designed with amenities that can be expected in any luxury hotel. Public areas include a restaurant, a well-stocked and reasonably priced bar, library, fitness centre, laundry and a 24-hour attended reception. Staterooms have beds handcrafted by Savoir of England draped in high-thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, while en-suite marble bathrooms are stocked with L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products.

Though Europe has many navigable rivers, faring along the 2872km long Danube is pretty popular among travellers as this second longest river of the continent has on its shores, a

plethora of European brilliances to experience and enjoy. After originating in the Black Forest region of Germany, the Danube flows through nine countries before emptying into the Black Sea in Romania. Edged by rolling hillsides, lush vineyards and medieval castles, this waterway has long been the inspiration of music, novels and poems.

WLegendary destinations line its banks, continuing on to centuriesold towns and riverside vistas, and one can rejoice in the beauty and variety of architectural styles found in different regions. It is the only river in the world that shares boundaries with four country capitals –Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade, each of which in its own right is historically significant and architecturally stunning, demanding tourist’s attention. Our cruise was called the ‘Imperial Capitals of Europe’, which has scheduled itineraries both up and downstream, takes a grand journey along paths forged by conquerors, crusaders and kings through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria, as well as touches all the four before-mentioned capital cities.

Sensational sightseeing

After a brief sightseeing tour of Bucharest, the eclectic capital city of Romania, we board our ship at Giurgiu on the Romanian side of the Danube and begin a crusade of discovery, something new greeting our eyes as we throw open the curtains of our stateroom each day.

On the first morning we find our ship anchored at Rousse, a small Bulgarian township located opposite to Giurgiu on the other side of the river. This old fashioned settlement is famous for its 19th century neo-Baroque style architecture. After a generous buffet breakfast, we savour some of the sights before taking on a scenic coach drive to Veliko Tarnovo, where the majestic ruins of the 2nd Bulgarian Empire’s fortifications, located on the top of Tsarevets Hill are impressive. From there we head off to the town of Arbanassi, well-known for its stone houses and the UNESCO listed 17th century built Nativity Church, before returning to our ship almost at dusk. In between we have lunch at a Bulgarian

A leisurely cruise on the river with ever-changing natural and historic vistas is a delight for the senses

Danube

the river itself. These natural border between Serbia and Romania, and present some of the most beautiful and dramatic sights throughout the day from the

manage water levels for dams.

On the last night at the Captain’s farewell dinner, I find almost everyone exchanging contact details to stay in touch with their new friends. This is the distinguishing feature of cruising in a small boat where you start the journey with strangers, but end up knowing almost everyone by their first names. We all leave River Duchess at Vienna with many fond memories and a promise to undertake another odyssey with Uniworld in the future.

restaurant, adding local flavour to our day’s experience. We finish the day with a lovely meal washed down with choicest local wines at the ship’s restaurant that accommodates all guests with open seating and provides a relaxed atmosphere to socialize.

Breakfast, comprehensive shore excursions, lunch, excursion again followed by a generous dinner on board is the typical routine of any day. Lunch is either at a local restaurant making you familiar with local cuisine, or alternatively it is a well-laden buffet spread at the ship’s restaurant. Food can be considered as a distinguished feature of our cruise experience, particularly the evening meal featuring five courses by the chef and including regional specialties. Not a single item from the lunch and dinner menu is a repeat and Dmitri, the restaurant manager confirms this as a tradition of

on the upper sun deck early in the morning, enjoying the shoreside

Clockwise from bottom left: Schornburnn Palace Vienna; the River Duchess; Nativity Church; Hungarian Parliament; Bucharest city; Hungarian street café; the ship’s captain and hotel manager

Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna where attractions are so many that we leave with a pledge to come back and experience the ones we have missed out. The voyage also takes us through beautiful, but off the beaten track destinations such as Osijek and Vukovar in Croatia, and Mohas and Pecs in Hungary, where a typical tourist may never

Two recognized benefits of river cruising is that it allows more time on ports and boats, being typically docked at the heart of the city with major attractions within close proximity. In Budapest, landmarks such as the Parliament House, Buda Castle, Chain Bridge and the St Stephens Basilica are all within walking distance; in Bratislava the main square is next door; while at Vienna - the City of Waltz, the metro station is close by to you take to the city’s numerous palaces and museums that give visitors a taste of the lashings of Habsburg architecture and Mozart symphonies.

On one day of the trip we cruise nonstop, passing through the Iron Gates, a 134km long stretch of scenic gorges that were cut through Carpathian and

TrAveL NoTebook

Th E DANUBE

G E ttin G th ERE

Fly Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) to Istanbul and then Air Tarom (www.tarom.ro) to Bucharest. For the return journey take the train (www.raileurope.com.au) from Vienna to Munich or Frankfurt and fly back with Singapore Airlines.

R i VER CR ui S in G

Ranked as one of the ‘World’s Best Cruise Lines’ by readers of Condé Nast Traveler in 2012, Uniworld (uniworldcruises.com.au) with over 40 itineraries and 500 departures per year sails through 12 breathtaking rivers of the world, including the Danube and offers the highest level of comfort, quality and service in river cruising with an unparalleled variety of vacation choices. “Imperial Capitals of Europe” is an extremely popular one. This tour also includes three days land excursion in Istanbul.

After originating in the Black Forest region of Germany, the Danube flows through nine countries before emptying into the Black Sea in Romania

Ace the interview with the right face

You may have the right clothes, knowledge and attitude, but do you have the right look?

BY MINNAL KhONA

oing for a job interview entails much more than brushing up on your general knowledge, presentation skills and dressing up corporate style. Your face, hands and hair also help in presenting a professional and efficient appearance.

So you think you are ready for that all important job interview tomorrow. You have read up on your core competency and current trends in the market. You probably know some graphs and figures by heart. You have also kept a sharply ironed trouser suit ready with a pin-striped shirt.

But hang on! Did you also check the condition of your nails? Or for that matter, your hair? Most young people will make all the right moves for an interview and yet not pay close attention to their appearance.

Here are some dos and don’ts for the big day.

Skin

Make sure you have not been partying hard or staying up late a few nights before the job interview. Too many late nights and alcohol can give the skin a dull, lacklustre appearance, including dark circles. So a week before your interview, ensure you drink enough water on a daily basis and sleep for at least 7 hours. That way you wake up fresh and well rested on the day of the interview.

Make-up

If you do have dark circles, use a concealer to minimise their appearance. Use a good moisturiser before you apply any foundation. Try and go easy on the base and use a light foundation, if at all. If you can go without, even better. There is a chance you will sweat and the foundation may look patchy. Go easy on the eye make-up no matter what kind of job for which you have applied. Less is always more for these things. Minimal foundation followed by light,

translucent powder with a hint of a blush is enough make-up for the face.

For the eyes, use an eye pencil to outline them. Avoid mascara if you can, especially if you wear contact lenses. It can smudge if something gets into your eyes and they start watering.

If you love your eye shadow, use a matte variant of a subtle shade like a peach or a dull pink.

Bright glossy blues and greens are a strict no-no. You don’t want to look like a piece of bling.

With the lips too, go with the subtle look. No matter what shade of outfit you are wearing, a sober shade of nude will match it. Go with a nude, a brown or a matte shade of pink. Stay away from red lipstick no matter how good it looks on you. It is a stereotypical prejudice but for some reason, red lipstick is associated with fun times and glamour. It won’t add to a serious,

businesslike demeanour in the least.

Avoid lip gloss with a shine for the same reason. Glossy and bright shades work if you are on a date, not if you are trying to impress someone to give you that job.

Hair

Whether short or long, your hair must look neat. You can gel it in place or tie it up in a neat ponytail. For those of you who have highlights, see if you can tone them down by tying up your hair. Or if you could have them coloured in a shade of brown to give you a grown-up look. Avoid fancy or complicated hairdos which could give you a headache or come undone at an inopportune moment.

Ideally, if you have short hair, wear a hair band and keep your hair away from your face.

If you have hair that can be tied

up, a neat, slicked back ponytail works best. None of that bedhead look or an unruly plait like the Bollywood ladies, will work. If you must leave your hair loose, make sure it is neatly combed out, doesn’t look unruly and that bangs don’t keep falling on your face. It can be distracting and will not let you focus during the interview.

Nails

You will be surprised how many people notice the state of your hands. So, if you have long nails, make sure they are clean and filed into shape. Chipped nail polish is a no-no, as is a bright shade of red. If you keep your nails clipped short, again, make sure there is no dirt behind the nails. It can be a big turn off to shake hands with someone who has dirty nails. You can go with painted nails for an interview but make sure it is a shade of pink or brown that doesn’t clash with the rest of your make-up and clothes. It should not jar either – I am referring to those dark shades of reds and almostblack shades that some young people prefer.

Ditto for toenails too, especially if you are wearing opentoed shoes.

Make sure your shoes are well polished and clean. No scruffy sneakers or shoes with heels that have worn off.

Jewellery

Keep your jewellery basic and simple. Tiny studs in the ears and a simple bracelet or bangle should suffice. A gold or silver chain tucked under your collar is not likely to be visible so that is optional.

Avoid wearing long beads and blingy jewellery. Too many rings and bangles, long and flashy earrings and long chains around your neck may convey the wrong impression. After all, you want to be taken seriously at the interview, not dismissed as a punk.

So go easy on jewellery. A classic pearl necklace and pearl studs should be enough, no matter what kind of job you are applying for.

Keep these tips in mind when you are going for a job interview and you will be able to create the right impression, no matter how tough the interviewer may be.

You can go with painted nails for an interview but make sure it is a shade of pink or brown that doesn’t clash with the rest of your make-up and clothes

A week before your interview, ensure you drink enough water on a daily basis and sleep for at least 7 hours

2013 JAC Primary EMG Scholarship Test

James An College will be holding the 2013 Primary EMG Scholarship test for current Year

3,4,5,6 students on Sunday 3rd February 2013.

SCHOLARSHIP TEST DETAILS:

• Test Date & Time: Sunday, 3rd February 2013, 2:30 – 4pm (1.5 hours)

• Test Location: at Participating JAC branches

• Test Subjects: English, Maths & GA

• Eligible students: Year 3,4,5 & 6

• Registration Fee: FREE

• Scholarships: Successful students will receive up to 100% scholarships (Conditions apply)

• Registration Closing date: Saturday, 2nd Feb 2013

• Registration Method: go to www.jacmega.com or fill in the Registration Form below

• The scholarship is valid ONLY at the JAC branch at which your child is enrolled.

the big red

Exfoliator

Dead skin cells sit on your skin giving it a dull sallow appearance while forming a barrier that prevents any skin cream or treatment from penetrating inside. Getting rid of dead skin cells is the best thing you can do for your skin. It reveals a healthy glowing skin plus helps any beauty cream absorb better. Watermelon juice and pulp can both be used to exfoliate skin. Mix a little coarse gram flour with it and use as a scrub. Applied as a pack for 5-10 minutes, watermelon pulp helps rehydrate and exfoliate the skin, giving it a glowing and toned appearance.

Energy booster

The normally short walk home from work becomes the bane of my existence during bristling summer afternoons. Like many people, the heat brings out the worst in me. Within seconds of stepping out of airconditioned environs, the hot assault of nature hits me. My own body turns against me and becomes one with the surroundings, generating just as much heat, giving an impression that it is competing with the sun. My head feels heavy with my hair clinging to the scalp as if seeking refuge from a punishing master. My hands and feet become clammy, crying tears of exasperation and my mood just rapidly spirals downward to foulsville. The only thing that keeps me sane through this ordeal is the thought of the big bowl of sweet, juicy, lusciously red watermelon slices chilling in the fridge waiting for me at home. My pace quickens as the mind finds escape in creating a visual image. Ahhh…..Shangri La, here I come!

As the watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar, nothing beats the satisfaction and hydration

that it offers during the summer months. Not only does watermelon taste delicious, it is also chock full of health and beauty benefits. With the amount of vitamins and nutrients lurking inside this monstrous disc, it is hard to go past the benefits it has to offer for our skin and body, whether consumed or used externally. The market is inundated with beauty products like soaps, lip conditioners, shampoos, creams and masks touting watermelon as the key ingredient, and there are many more beauty benefits to be derived by simply eating it daily or using the juice and the pulp at home.

Anti-aging

Anti-aging remedies are doing brisk business today and frantic research is being conducted to address the biggest beauty concern of our time. We all want to stay young, and hence the race to identify and lock away the culprits that cause premature aging continues.

The undisputed leader of this group of felons is the sun. More so in summers when it is in it’s element. Research shows that watermelon can cut the risk of

sun-related skin damage by 40%.

It is nature’s richest source of lycopene, replacing tomato to claim the title of ‘king of lycopene’. This antioxidant eats away the free radicals in UV rays that cause sun damage and wrinkles. Lycopene also provides a shield against other diseases, including cancer. Consuming two cups of watermelon daily can restore your skin and give it a youthful appearance by reversing sun damage and reducing blemishes. For a refreshing fresh feel, grate a little watermelon, squeeze out the juice and apply on the face for 10 minutes. Wash with warm water and finish off with splashes of cold water.

Toner

The slightly astringent properties of watermelon make it an excellent skin toner. Used on its own or mixed with honey for dry skin and witch hazel for oily skin, it is refreshing, exfoliating and aids in the tightening of the skin. After cleansing, dip a cotton ball in watermelon juice and wipe over the face and neck for a good toning effect.

Pore tightener

Watermelon contains Vitamin A which helps reduce pore size and the amount of oil secreted by the skin. Vitamin A is also beneficial in maintaining healthy vision and bones. To tighten pores, freeze watermelon juice mixed with crushed mint leaves into ice cubes and rub over the face.

Weight watcher

Watermelon is a low calorie sweet treat which is, at the same time, very filling. It is an excellent alternative to high calorie desserts and treats that result in weight gain. In fact, eating watermelon in place of these foods actually helps you lose weight. It is a natural diuretic which flushes out toxins from the body to help reduce bloating. Starting the day with a bowl of watermelon ensures a good fill of high fibre, no fat and low calories. Watermelon is also a natural multi-vitamin with the goodness of vitamins A, C, B6, iron and potassium all packed in it. With its weight loss abilities, watermelon is becoming a darling of the diet industry.

Watermelon boosts energy levels by up to 23%. It contains vitamin B6 and magnesium to provide energy for the whole day. Watermelon helps faster healing of wounds and combats many skin problems. It helps speed up the growth of healthy skin tissues. Watermelon has also been known to improve sleep. Eating a few slices after dinner can extend the deep stage of sleep, relaxing the brain so it is less sensitive to disruptions. Skin rejuvenates during sleep so this is also aiding a healthy skin.

In short watermelon is a great gift of nature which should be enjoyed and utilized to its full potential.

This huge, juicy and delicious fruit has wonderful reviving and rejuvenating properties, says FARZANA SHAKIR

As the watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar, nothing beats the satisfaction and hydration that it offers during the summer months.

Religious rights

In a fast-changing world is there still a need for religion and rituals of worship?

BY SAROJA SRINIVASAN

In the last 50 years or so, institutionalised religions have been relegated as non-essentials in daily life.

Many, in particular the urban intellectuals, have argued that they have no place in a rational world any more. Then comes Alain de Botton, atheist and author of bestselling books on a variety of topics ranging from love, travel, art and architecture, and more recently a book titled Religion for Atheists De Botton, 43, a young philosopher, validates a lot of the sentiments held by many who see themselves not as particularly religious, but not atheist either. These are the people who have considered religious teachings with a critical mind and found some valid statements. They prefer not to ‘throw the baby out with

the bath water’. De Botton has steered the religion versus atheism argument away from not being entirely true or entirely false.

Coming from a non-believer, for he confesses to be one, de Botton weaves an argument that we need to see religions and what they have to offer in a different perspective to what we have become accustomed. Marrying the need to be emotionally in touch with whatever we do, a la our EQs, he develops the idea of looking into religions and their rituals as a minefield of ideas on a variety of topics ranging from conducting efficient governance and business, to appreciating art in everyday life.

For many Indians who try to follow the principles of sanatana dharma, more commonly referred to as Hinduism, many of de Botton’s sentiments do not come as an alien concept.

The holistic view of life and the universe, and living as a responsible member of a community, has been reiterated

over and over again in the history, myths, art and architecture of what we see as Hinduism now. The interdependence of human existence with nature and its many manifestations is repeated in prayer, philosophy, art, architecture, poetry and intellectual discourse, and through the many everyday rituals. From mandalas that decorate the entrance of a home reflecting pattern and connectedness of the infinite, and elegant geometrical designs of nature that are ever present all around us, to monoliths of stone carvings.

In sanatana dharma as in many ancient wisdom traditions, a common place of worship held a vital role in preserving harmony and peace within groups. The spiritual traditions created this common place as a serendipitous sanctuary for people. A set of rules and codes of conduct were then developed for use in such places. Beliefs in a power greater than human were generally accepted, and the place and means

by which such powers could be evoked, became rituals of worship. Such acts have evolved and amended over millennia. The validation of these practices was never detailed in words, for experience could never be adequately verbalised. They were accepted unquestioned until many of these began to be referred to as ‘blind faith’. Looking at what, if any, benefits may be gained by worship, it could at best be described as a strategy to reflect and gain some equanimity when beset by turbulence in the mind. Set procedures, allotted times and places help to increase compliance and thus allow for a beneficial experiences to occur.

In the minds of the billion or so people from India that have evolved over millennia through myths, stories, histories interwoven with rituals and intellectual dissertations on philosophy, we have a vibrant intricate tapestry with each minute strand conveying a critical part of the big picture of life.

De Botton weaves an argument that we need to see religions and what they have to offer in a different perspective to what we have become accustomed

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, +91731-2594532,+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

MAT R IMONIALS

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

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

compatible match for 1975 born, handsome clean-shaven Sikh Khatri boy, 5’ 9”, two Post-Graduate degrees from India and recently finished Master in I.T from Australia . Currently on temporary resident visa and working full-time in Customer Service role. Looking for welleducated, Permanent resident / Citizen girl from Sikh family background. Early marriage.

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

SEEkING BRIDES

The Epping Club executive chef Bikram Ahluwalia was born in New Delhi and has turned his passion for food into an award winning career. Bikky has been working at The Epping Club for over 10 years and brings his vast knowledge of cultural dishes to their event menus.

Bikky is a keen observer of the trends in catering for Indian celebrations. “Indian people look for authenticity in the way food is cooked” said Bikky. “This is the single most important factor for Indian guests when organising the menu for their events”.

“Indian food has become trendy in Sydney now, and often we need to mix different cultural influences to ensure that both families heritage is acknowledged.”

The biggest trend changing the way in which Indian food is cooked now is that

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more and more guests are becoming health conscious. “Traditional Indian food is very rich and often uses dry fruit pastes and is cooked in pure ghee” said Bikky. “With so many guests these days being conscious of their health, the emphasis is on using our own blends of fresh herbs and spices to keep the authentic flavours and cooking in light olive oil which enhances the traditional flavours. We have also introduced fruit based, lighter desserts to our menus which complement this new fresh style of genuine Indian cooking”.

With many marriages fusing two families with different cultures and backgrounds; the emphasis at Indian events is creating a fusion between traditional and modern customs. Bikky says “Guests now want more variety in the starters and as such we serve these either in canapé style on

arrival or on platters in the centre of each table. This gives guests a choice for their entrée and is a great conversation starter for guests on the table. Main course is still the traditional buffet; and then dessert is often platters of lighter styles of desserts for guests to share.”

The Epping Club is well known for its traditional Indian event menus.

On Sunday, 24th February The Epping Club will host its first ever dedicated Indian wedding expo and Bikky will be on hand to answer all of your food questions and talk about how a menu can be tailored for your next event.

Samples of Bikky’s traditional Indian cooking will be available to taste on the day and you will be able to see The Epping Club set up for a traditional Indian event as well as meet dedicated Indian suppliers.

Indian food has become trendy in Sydney now, and often we need to mix different cultural influences to ensure that both families heritage is acknowledged

Mango magic

From salads to curries to desserts, the ‘King of Fruits’ delights in myriad ways

BY RAJNI ANAND LUThRA

You have no doubt been making the most of the mango season, and probably have tried a new recipe or two. While I have no doubts whatsoever in my mind that the best way to eat mangoes is fresh, they can be used in a variety of ways – in desserts, drinks, salads, and even in curries and rice when green. Read on for some mango masti

Mango Mousse

500 gms fresh or canned mango pulp

Castor sugar to taste

3 tsp gelatine

3 tbsp fresh lime or orange juice

300 ml fresh cream

Sliced fresh mango and mango puree for serving.

Process mango pulp to a smooth puree. Add sugar to sweeten. Dissolve gelatine in the lime or orange juice. Mix into mango puree.

Whip cream until thick and fold into mango puree. Pour into soufflé dishes and chill in refrigerator until set.

To serve, turn mousses out onto individual plates, decorate with fresh mango slices and drizzle mango puree over.

Mango Mousse (Dieters’ version)

2 large fresh mangoes, peeled, seeded and flesh cut into cubes

1 packet jelly crystals, mango flavour

200 gms plain yogurt

Sugar if necessary

Fresh fruit such as kiwi, strawberries to decorate.

Set jelly to albumen consistency.

Blend yogurt and mangoes to a smooth puree. Add sugar to sweeten if necessary. Mix with jelly. Set in individual dessert bowls, cover with cling wrap and chill in refrigerator until set.

Serve decorated with sliced fresh fruit.

Mango Cake

180 gms butter, softened

2 cups self-raising flour

170 gms mango pulp

1/3 cup sour cream

4 eggs

1 cup castor sugar

½ cup chopped dried mango (optional).

Beat butter and sugar together with electric

mixer until light and fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time, beating until combined between additions. Transfer mixture into a large bowl and add in mango pulp, sour cream, sifted flour and dried mango if using and stir until combined.

Pour mixture into a lightly greased loaf tin. Bake at 180 degrees about 1 ¼ hours or until lightly browned and firm. Stand cake in pan five minutes, and then turn onto wire rack to cool.

Mango and Chicken Salad

Lettuce leaves of choice (preferable cos or iceberg)

1 barbecued chicken, skin removes, flesh cut and thinly sliced

2 medium mangoes, peeled and sliced

½ cup salted roasted cashews

1 Lebanese cucumber, thinly sliced

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

1 tbsp lime juice

Salt and black pepper to taste.

Tear lettuce leaves into pieces. Mix in a large bowl with chicken, mango, cashews and cucumber. Put oil, chilli sauce and lime juice in a screw-top jar and shake well. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper and serve with Turkish bread.

For a vegetarian version, try combining mango slices with cooked snow peas, cooked flat beans and tomatoes.

Another dressing variant is to use olive oil, orange rind, orange juice, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper – shake well in a screw-top jar.

Prawns with Green Mango

(This recipe comes from the award-

250 gms tiger prawns (shelled and deveined but with tails intact)

1 ½ tsp chilli powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp mustard seeds

2 tsp crushed garlic

2 tsp grated ginger

1 red onion, roughly chopped

4 tbsp oil

1 red onion, thinly sliced

1 green mango, finely chopped

Salt to taste.

Put chilli powder, turmeric, cumin, mustard. Garlic, ginger and chopped onion in a blender and form a paste, adding a little water if necessary.

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and fry the sliced onion. When it browns, add the curry paste and fry until aromatic.

Add the prawns, salt and sufficient water, cover and simmer until prawns start to curl up. Introduce the mango and cook for another minute or two to thicken the curry.

Mango Fish

750 gms fish fillets (choose a thick meaty variety)

1 medium-sized green mango

Red chilli powder to taste

2 sprigs curry leaves

2 inch piece ginger, grated

1 cup fresh grated coconut

1 pinch turmeric

Green chilli to taste, slit vertically

Salt to taste.

For tempering:

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp oil.

Wash, peel and cut raw mango into ½-inch cubes.

Grind coconut and turmeric together into a smooth paste.

Put 1 ½ cups water in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add mango, chilli powder, 2 sprigs of curry leaves, ginger, green chilli and salt, and boil until the raw mango is fully cooked. Add the fish and allow it to roll boil for 3-4 minutes.

Once the fish is sufficiently cooked add the ground coconut paste and cook on low flame just until it boils and remove from stove.

In another pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add curry leaves with finely chopped onions and fry until brown, then pour into the curry. Serve with steamed rice.

Mango Dal

1 green mango

¾ cup urad dal, picked and washed

Green chillies to taste, chopped

4 cloves of garlic, chopped

½ tsp turmeric powder

Pinch asafoetida

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp chana dal

1 sprig curry leaf

Salt and red chilli powder to taste

Fresh coriander leaves for garnish.

Chop mango into small pieces. Add to dal along with sufficient water, salt, turmeric garlic, green chillies and asafoetida and pressure cook till done.

Mash dal to obtain a custard consistency.

To temper, heat oil in a small pan and add cumin and mustard seeds and curry leaves. When it all splutters, add to dal and mix well. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve with rice or roti.

Mango Rice

1 ½ cups basmati rice

1 ½ cups grated green mango

Salt to taste

2 tsp mustard seeds

Pinch asafoetida powder

Dry red chillies to taste

Green chilli to taste

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 cup fresh grated coconut

3 tbsp oil

1 tsp urad dal

1 tsp chana dhal

1 sprig curry leaves

4 tbsp peanuts

Finely chopped coriander leaves for garnish.

Cook the rice and set aside to cool.

Grind together 1 tsp mustard seeds, asafoetida, dry red chillies, green chilli, turmeric powder, fresh grated coconut and half the grated mango.

Heat 3 tbsp oil and add urad and chana dals, one dry red chilli and curry leaves.

When it all splutters, add the peanuts. When the dals and peanuts turn golden, add the remaining grated mango. Cook for a few minutes on medium heat till the mango is done.

Add ground masala and cook till the raw smell disappears.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Mix the cooked masala with rice.

Garnish with the finely chopped coriander leaves.

Mango Burfi

1 cup mango pulp

1 cup fresh grated coconut

1/2 cup full cream milk powder

2 cups castor sugar

3 tbsp ghee

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

Cook mango pulp in a heavy-bottomed pan over a low flame, stirring continuously. Cool. Add coconut, milk powder and sugar and mix well. Put back on heat and cook, stirring, till it comes to a boil. Then add the ghee and continue cooking till it all comes together in one mass. Take off heat and add the cardamom powder and mix well. Pour into a greased plate and pat down with the back of a spoon to spread evenly. Cut into pieces when cool.

Mango Shrikhand

This recipe comes from regular reader Aparna Dave of Wahroonga NSW.

1 kg yogurt

½ cup mango pulp

400 gms sugar

½ tsp cardamom powder

A few strands saffron, dissolved in 1 tbsp milk

Almonds and pistachios, crushed, for garnish.

Tie yogurt in a clean muslin cloth and let drain overnight. Next morning, discard whey and remove yogurt into a bowl. Add sugar and mix. Set aside for half an hour to allow sugar to dissolve. Then blend it all with an electric hand-held mixer. Mix in cardamom powder, saffron, mango pulp and half the crushed nuts. Pour into a serving bowl and decorate with left over nuts.

Mango Salsa

1 small red chilli, finely chopped

¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

2 tbsp palm or brown sugar

Salt and ground black pepper to taste

1 large mango, peeled and diced

2 large Lebanese cucumbers, chopped

1 large tomato, diced

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

2/3-cup coriander leaves.

Combine chilli, lime juice and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk until sugar has dissolved. Add mango, cucumber, tomato, onion and coriander leaves to chilli mixture and gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Mango, Tomato and Basil on Toast

2 large mangoes

3 medium tomatoes

2 tbsp basil leaves, roughly torn Black pepper

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp grated ginger

Thickly sliced bread such as ciabatta.

Dice mangoes and tomatoes. Combine with basil and pepper.

Combine olive oil and ginger in a small bowl. Lightly brush both sides of sliced bread with ginger and oil. Heat under grill for 1-2 minutes both sides or until lightly golden.

Spoon mango-tomato mixture onto the grilled bread and serve immediately.

Unit 36, 62 Hume HWY (Cnr Knight Street), Lansvale NSW 2166

The end can only get us, if the fear has not got us first

Enjoying life and improving it by word and deed should keep the fear of doomsday at bay

BY RANI JHALA

The date yesterday was 12/12/12. And yeah, myself and a billion other people survived it. And boy, am I glad of that! I am 90 years old. I can barely see, hardly hear and can rarely remember things, but I do know what fear is, for it was what I have lived with for the past few months. A fear born of the knowledge that psychics, seers and ancient scrolls had predicted the end of this beautiful world.

To fight this fear, the week before a bunch of us geriatrics from the nursing home decided that if the world was going to end, we would go with a bang! So we organised an entire concert, followed by a dinner and dance. You should have seen us! We sang on a makeshift stage, some with intravenous drip still attached to arms or danced with crutches and walking sticks for partners. The very frail lay in their beds and sang with their eyes that danced with their laughter. It was the best night! It was also the only good thing that came out of the prophecy.

The staff thought us crazy, but allowed us our night. They are young and neither fearful of death, nor do they anticipate it around the corner of their life. For us and those on our way out, death is already too close. For nature to be allowed to cheat us of the last years of our natural life, seemed unfair and frankly, ‘terribly rude’.

When 12/12/12 passed and we woke up this morning with our hearts still beating and our minds still ticking away, it was like being reborn, poorer for the money we had already spent thinking we would no longer need it, but richer for the joy we had got out of it.

After all these years I finally understood the fear my grandparents had felt when fifty years ago, they too had been told that the world was ending. I remember my parents packing my sisters and me and driving across the state to be close to their parents when the moment came. My grandmother had insisted that

if we were to die we should do so as a family, under the same roof and enjoying her home-cooked meals.

Another time, we were warned that a comet was going to hit the earth. But since it was only going to hit one side of the earth, we ignored the danger and were secretly glad that it was happening to those ‘other’ people, and not us. The meteor was predicted to hit close to our state but we were naïve enough to believe that man was powerful enough to deflect a racing meteor out of the path of collision.

Now the next two prophecies are looming ahead of us: solar flares that will consume the earth with their heat, and the end of the world prophesised by the end of a calendar.

The terms apocalypse, judgement day, Armageddon, final showdown and pralay have long existed. Seers have all seen the looming final battle. And the papers are full of warnings and dates. So good are they at getting their message across that people my age who already have one foot in the grave, also fear that last moment. We forget that our

heart may stop beating of its own accord well before nature’s wrath is unleashed. We forget that a bushfire or flood might take our tomorrow from us quicker than a flare that will travel from the sun. And we mistake the end of the world to be the end of God’s entire creation.

I love my parties, but I don’t have the funds to sponsor a concert every time my world is rocked by another prophecy. And for those who spend hours trying to pinpoint the last day, I ask that they use that time to clean the world of the junk we are pumping into it; find alternate energy sources so that we don’t pull up the resources the earth needs to keep its shape and form; save the next generation from the tragedy of war; fill the bowls of hungry children; make mankind feel loved and wanted. When people suffer, that moment is our Armageddon. When man is killed by another, that is our apocalypse and when we keep destroying bits of this earth, that is our pralay

No man has survived the last ‘destruction of this earth’ to tell us if it ever happened. No one will survive a future catastrophe,

to tell us it is occurred. And yet we are made to fear, what no-one knows for certain.

Let the children of today look forward to a bright future, let their parents know that they need not fear their infant’s tomorrow and let us, the aged population, eat our meals in moderation and not gorge ourselves for fear of not being able to eat tomorrow.

The fact that we have survived the many predicted ends for this earth proves that even if there is a calamity, some of us will survive to record the event as history. Surely it is not egoistical to believe that we will be among those lucky ones. Surely we can hope that those whose karmic diaries are loaded with negative entries, will be asked to march in front.

We survived 2000 and we gratefully passed 12/12/12. Now we just need to get past this next date and hopefully we will be home free, or at least until the next prediction. It is financially too profitable to lay these prophesies to rest, but I remind myself every moment that ‘the end’ can only get me, if the fear of it has not got me first.

By the way, what is the date today?

So good are they at getting their message across that people my age who already have one foot in the grave, also fear that last moment.

The fact that we have survived the many predicted ends for this earth proves that even if there is a calamity, some of us will survive to record the event as history

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the Buzz

It’s all about Wadala

Yes, Shootout at Wadala is in the news for a whole bunch of reasons. To begin with, filmmaker Ekta Kapoor who made the movie wants to set a new trend of Rs.200

“Today, every film does Rs.100 crore business... even a film which earns Rs.95 crore, joins the Rs.100 crore club business,” Ekta said on a visit to Noida in

“So now it’s time to create a new trend. Shootout at Wadala is unique and I hope it makes Rs.200 crore club. Is there any club of that, should we start one?” she

The crime thriller, a dramatised version of Mumbai police’s first registered shootout in which gangster Manya Surve was gunned down in 1982 at Wadala, has the filmmaker confident at its success.

“The film is based on a book (Dongri To Dubai by Hussain Zaidi), so if the book is doing great, then why should I be scared?” she said, adding that directors have to be brave enough to make such films and that she was now in a ‘brave

Directed by Sanjay Gupta, the crime thriller will release in early May and features Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Kangna Ranaut, Tusshar Kapoor and

It is the story of gangsters like Sabir Ibrahim, Manya Surve and Dawood Ibrahim and Ekta has given the same name to the characters of the movies.

Actor Anil Kapoor is also excited about his role as a cop. Apart from performing hard-hitting action sequences, he has

GUESS WHO

Barfi, Kahaani win at Filmfare Awards

Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani and Anurag Basu’s Barfi struck big at the Filmfare Awards this year. Barfi was adjudged best film and got Ranbir Kapoor the Best Actor (Male) award while Vidya Balan bagged the Best Actor (Female) title for Kahaani that also won Sujoy Ghosh the best director prize.

The lifetime achievement award went to late director Yash Chopra who passed away in October last year. Anushka Sharma won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) award for her role in Jab Tak Hai Jaan, while lyricist Gulzar bagged the award for ‘best lyrics’ for the song Challa from the film.

The Best Debut Director award was bagged by Gauri Shinde for her film English Vinglish, while Ayushmann Khurrana won the Best Debut (Male) for his film Vicky Donor and Ileana D’cruz won the Best Debut (Female) for her film Barfi

The Best Actor Female (Critics) Award was won by Richa Chaddha for Gangs Of Wasseypur and the Best Actor Male (Critics) Award was given to Irrfan Khan for Paan Singh Tomar. Gangs of Wasseypur also bagged the award for Best Film (Critics) Award.

Film-director duo who have made action-genre films

(Find the answer under Caption Contest)

also sung a song for the thriller.

“I have done many things in this film and one of them is rapping... I have rapped for the first time,” said the 53-year-old. He also credits his fit body to the young generation of Bollywood.

“I am blessed to be working with some of the fittest actors in Bollywood like John Abraham. Such actors inspire me to remain fit,” revealed the actor. “If I continue to work with such fit actors, then I am hopeful that I will remain like this even at the age of 90”.

And we have to conclude with a snippet about the lead actor, the hunky John Abraham, who will play Manya Surve, the first shirtless mafia don in Bollywood. So will John’s abs take the movie into the double-crore club? Let’s wait and see!

Anupam and Rekha together again

They worked together in films like Sansar and Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai and now, after a long, long break yesteryears screen diva Rekha will act with the talented Anupam Kher in Super Nani, a film on women’s empowerment. And Anupam is tremendously excited to work with the actress again, more so because all his scenes are with the actress.

Praising the 58-year-old Rekha who acted in films like Utsav, Ghar and Umrao Jaan to the skies, Anupam said, “She is fantastic. She is another person who keeps reinventing herself. I am really looking forward to work with her. I am 100 percent sure she is looking as great as ever.”

The much-in-demand actor has gained popularity for quality films like Saaransh, Karma, Hum and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge among others, and he was also recently a part of Hollywood film, Silver Linings Playbook. The actor says he likes to challenge himself and feels an inner need to be different from the rest of the world. Well, sharing screen space with diva Rekha will certainly be a challenge, let’s hope he’s up to it.

RGV a gutsy filmmaker, says Gul Panag

From gang wars to the underworld to real life crime sagas, Ram Gopal Varma is known for making films on bold themes and actress Gul Panag, who will be seen in his production venture Ab Tak Chhappan 2, praises him for being so daring.

If his Rakta Charitra was inspired by slain political leader Paritala Ravindra, Ab Tak Chhappan and its next instalment Ab Tak Chhappan 2 are both based on real life encounter specialists. He has also made a film on the 26/11 terror attacks, which Gul says is a very promising film,

i L aSH a S en GUPta brings us up-to-date on what’s hot and happening in Bollywood

having seen parts of it. The film will simply be titled The Attacks of 26/11

“As a filmmaker he (Varma) is gutsy and makes kinds of films he believes in,” said the 34-yearold actress, known for off-beat roles in Dhoop, Dor and Turning 30!!

Ab Tak Chhappan 2 is a sequel to Shimit Amin directed 2004 release Ab Tak Chhappan, that featured Nana Patekar and Mohan Agashe in prominent roles. Aejaz Gulab has wielded the megaphone with Nana in the central character, again in the sequel. Gul herself plays a crime journalist and claims that the movie’s trailers got a fantastic response. Bet this movie will be a true RGV treat!

Matru… becomes Bhardwaj’s biggest

Matru ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (MKBKM), political satire with a dollop of humour, may not have got an overwhelming response but it has recovered its costs by collecting Rs. 41.15 crore worldwide in the first week of its release, making it Vishal Bhardwaj’s biggest film yet. And the director is certainly happy with the film’s success. “This is my biggest opening and appreciation is coming from a lot of people. But I am really happy and relieved about the fact that I am able to make the kind of movie that I want to make, and still have a profitable film,” he said.

Critics have lauded Pankaj Kapur’s performance in the film, which also sees superb acting by Shabana Azmi. The two veterans are ably supported by Imran Khan, Anushka Sharma and Arya Babbar.

Pritish Nandy calls it a “wicked wit” and adds that Pankaj Kapur has proved again “his peerless acting prowess”.

A satirical commentary on the country’s social system, the MKBKM story takes place in a small town in Haryana.

Even Amitabh Bachchan praised Bhardwaj’s endeavour to target corruption in the society using satire as a medium to talk to the masses, and tweeted: “A land issue much like Singur, rich and poor divide, communism of takes, anti-alcohol, love triangle (DDLJ style), politics - all portrayed in a manner not unknown to us, yet unknown ….a composite satire, if ever satires could be composite.”

For Anurag Kashyap, Matru... is “the most kickass funny, intelligent and relevant film of our times”. Need a laugh or two? Watch the movie!

Soha likes the foreign style of working

Actress Soha Ali Khan is well-versed with the working culture of Bollywood, but working in an international project like Midnight’s Children was an enriching experience for her.

She admits she learnt some vital lessons while working on the Deepa Mehta film.

Recollecting her time on the sets of the film, Soha said, “I suppose we (Bollywood) have method in our madness in India. Busy film sets, no clear job delineations, last minute hustle bustle and adjustment. It somehow all comes together for the most part. In this international production, when someone yelled ‘silence’, you could literally hear a pin drop. We had workshops, rehearsals; one make-up and hair team for everyone, actors came on time, stood in for eye-lines and cues. It was incredibly professional,” she reveals.

Midnight’s Children is based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by Salman

A true filmmaking eye-opener

Swara sights the jungle!

There is plenty of fresh blood in Bollywood, but up-and-coming actress Swara Bhaskar, who plays the lead in upcoming film Listen Amaya, compares the entertainment industry to a jungle where she believes the “survival of the fittest” dictum truly

“I think Bollywood today has a lot of great talent - very beautiful, good-looking people, who are also great actors. This is a good time for all of us. But Bollywood is a jungle; so everyone is in competition and I guess only the fittest will survive,” said the 26-year-old actress.

Swara began her acting career with 2010 film Madholal Keep Walking, and she was last seen in Kangana Ranaut-starrer Tanu Weds , where she played the second female lead. Her forthcoming film Listen Amaya, directed by debutant Avinash Kumar Singh, tells the story of Amaya and her widowed mother, who begins to develop a relationship with Amaya’s friend. The movie also features veterans like Farooque Shaikh and Deepti Naval, who have shared screen space 28 years after their 1983

Swara finds herself extremely lucky to be in the same frame as them so early in her career. “Deepti ma’am and Farooque sir were a great pleasure to work with. Just watching them both at work was a big lesson for me. They are both so effortless and easy in front of the camera and their performance is so fluid and convincing. That is a great lesson for an actor and the toughest thing to achieve in one’s performance,” she said.

The young actress is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, a pupil of the noted Bharatanatyam exponent Leela Samson. Her forthcoming movies include Aanand L. Rai’s Raanjhanaa, Atul Sabharwal’s Aurangzeb and Debolay Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai. So it certainly looks like Swara’s here to stay!

50 dance forms in ABCD!

Songs-and-dances are a routine feature in Bollywood, but would you expect a melange of around 50 dance forms in one film? Remo D’Souza’s forthcoming film ABCD: Any Body Can Dance offers just that.

“We are a country that loves dancing, be it on the streets, in the club, during festivities and even when India wins cricket matches. We connect while dancing and each one of us has a unique style of dancing,” Remo said in a statement. “If you are a dance lover, you are going to enjoy this film. One would be able to sample close to 50 dance forms in this film.”

He reveals that the soon-to-bereleased movie has “everything from western contemporary, ballroom, pumping and hip-hop to Indian classical forms - mainly kathak, Indian folk, semiclassical and local street dancing that people do during festivities.”

The film features veteran choreographers like Ganesh Acharya and Prabhudheva, as well as young dancers. A must-see for Bollywood fans of dance!

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Cine Talk

Brutal and brisk: Another cop saga

If Chulbul Pandey in Dabangg was to be merged with Anant Velankar in Govind Nihalani’s Ardh Satya, we would probably get Abhijeet Patil in Mumbai Mirror.

Abhijeet, played by entrepreneur-actor Sachiin Joshi, is the product of Mumbai’s underbelly. He is a cop. But he could well be on the other side of the law without skipping a beat.

Like Om Puri in Ardh Satya, Joshi’s character in its childhood watched his sadistic father beat up his mother. Joshi grows up churlish and somewhat amoral, hating the world for what it allowed his father to do to his mother. He can’t bear to see a woman being hit. Neither can we. But we still have to.

There are seeds of a gripping cop thriller in Mumbai Mirror Brutal and brisk, the pace is fairly frenetic. The editor cuts the material sharply leaving little room for humbug except those awful item songs by a bar dancer (Gihani Khan), who seems to lead a dual life as a sex worker and a siren, depending on whether she’s cavorting in a beer bar for beer-bellied boors, or standing next to the city’s self-declared don Shetty (Prakash Raj).

In both the roles, the debutante actress is, in one word, disastrous.

Breakneck as the narration happens to be, it gives no room for the audience to understand the nature of the relationship between the sex worker and the suffering cop-hero who rescues her from being beaten up and then seems to be unsure of whether to love or hate her.

Devdas felt the same synthesis of revulsion and rapture for Chandramukhi. That ambivalent mix doesn’t quite work in a film where the hero falls to the level of picking up scattered cocaine powder from the ground.

Sniff sniff!

The other actress Vimala Raman plays a television journalist. She wears war paint on a war footing. Lest we forget: Mumbai is at war against crime, gangsterism, amorality and

corruption in every walk of life.

Mumbai Mirror of the urgent pulse of a cityon-the-edge pretty fast. There are some well-executed action scenes where Sachiin gets to do some exceedingly audacious stunts.

In an initial stunt sequence, Sachiin’s character hurts his back and spends the rest of the movie in pain. It’s a clever restorative device, reminding us that filmy heroes can be susceptible to human failings.

For those who like their heroes fatally flawed and ferociously embittered, preferably in khaki, this film has enough thrills to offer to keep one riveted for the two hours of playing-time.

Sachiin, who made his debut in the espionage thriller Azaan, is here a cop who has to battle inner and outer demons with fists of fury. He gets ample support from an interesting cast of actors including Mahesh Manjrekar as a corrupt cop who comes to a suitably sticky end.

Prakash Raj’s rowdy act is getting repetitive. Prashant Narayanan as Sachiin’s hostile cop-colleague is wasted in a sketchily written role.

Sudesh Berry as a corrupt cop with an overt ‘Bihari’ accent hams for effect. As for Aditya Pancholi, he ends up being a pale shadow of Rishi Kapoor in Agneepath remake.

Cops films have run their course. This one nonetheless manages to hold its own.

Passages of this saga of uniformed mayhem are quite engaging.

Director Ankush Bhatt has a knack for knocking off the lid of Mumbai’s underbelly. This

cheesy middlemen, avaricious politicians, unscrupulous bargirls, bribed cops and fallen heroes.

We’ve been there, done it all before. But the sting remains all the same.

StarrinG: Sachiin Joshi, Gihani khan, Vimla Raman, Prakash Raj, and Mahesh Manjrekar

DireCteD By: Ankush Bhatt

Subhash K Jha

FiLm: Mumbai Mirror

Riveting treatise on gender equations

Khamoshiyan awaaz hain labzon mein bass inkaar hai. Sameer Anjaan’s evocative lyrics and Shamir Tandon’s compelling composition follows you out of this searing, probing drama on work ethics in corporate places.

This is one occasion when you don’t mind being stalked.

There are no item songs in Inkaar. The female form is here objectified not through celebratory songs, but in the gender perceptions that often distinguish the male viewpoint from the female. The songs and music (largely by the talented Shantanu Moitra) seem to mock the sexual frisson between the two protagonists as they circle each other in a moral pugilism that can break both or one of them.

It is not easy being ambitious and true to the conscience. Towards the end of this riveting drama, Maya Luthria (Chitrangada Singh) confronts Rahul Verma (Arjun Rampal) in a washroom where the light flickers menacingly on her ravaged face.

“Can people like you and I who want more from life than love, ever be happy?” she wonders in a choked voice.

Is Rahul really guilty of sexual harassment? Or is the ambitious social climber Maya imagining things for her own convenience? Did she lead him on until it suited her ambitions and then cry ‘harassment’ when she had made her way to the top of the ladder and didn’t want anyone peering up her skirt?

That versatile and vigorous storyteller Sudhir Mishra, doing yet another thematic flip-flop after the edgy crime drama Yeh Saali Zindagi, provides no easy solutions to the question of the male gaze and the female perception. Inkaar makes you stop and think about that diaphanous divide between consensual flirting and sexual harassment.

But this is not a version of Barry Levinson’s Disclosure. Sudhir Mishra’s treatise on the gender equation in an ambitious environment is far more dense and complex than a simple buffet of tongue-in-cheek innuendos interspersed with moral homilies. It would be no exaggeration to say that the film wouldn’t have worked with any other actors.

Arjun, in fact, grows better with each film, so much so that nowadays a film featuring him is an assurance of innovative aesthetics. Here, he sinks into the part of the partmentor part-tormentor with impassioned familiarity. Arjun knows the world of cutthroat corporate competitiveness where every promotion for an individual could be a moral and ethical demotion. As played by Arjun, Rahul Varma comes across as both sensitive and arrogant, considerate and sexist. He’s a bit of a mystery, really.

Chitrangada is, in one word, a revelation. In sequences that appear in no chronological order, she nails her character of the ambitious small-towner who doesn’t mind her senior’s ‘mentoring’ until it suits her. Her character Maya could easily be perceived as a go-getting bitch. And that is how she appears when we first meet her in the boardroom where the inquiry commission, headed by an uncharacteristically listless Deepti Naval, brainstorms over Maya’s allegations against Rahul.

Chitrangada enters the character’s snarled ambivalent inner world creating with sketchy vividness, a character who is ruthlessly ambitious and yet not loathsome in her overweening ambitions.

Strangely, there is very little of Maya’s personal life, but a lot more of Rahul’s backdrop with his pushy father (Kanwaljeet). The one sequence where Maya visits her mother is cursory. You wish there was more of that iconic actress Rehana Sultan who plays Chitrangada’s mother.

A large part of the narrative is restricted to the boardroom where the inquiry unfolds over two days. To his credit, Sudhir Mishra never lets the proceedings get claustrophobic or stagey. The dexterous editing by Archit Rastogi creates a liberating space within the suffocating theme of a relationship challenged and squeezed by mutual ambitions.

Mishra’s world never crumbles under the weight of the immorality that inundates his characters’ existence. As in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, considered by many to be his most accomplished work, there is a moral redemption for protagonists at the end. Perhaps the end-game in Inkaar is a bit of a cop-out considering how self-serving the protagonists were shown to be in their ambitiousness. But the unflinching integrity that underlines the moral twist to the fable of the fallen twosome is unimpeachable.

A mention of the supporting cast is imperative. The actors who play the protagonists’ corporate colleagues, specially Ashish Kapur, Mohan Kapur and Vipin Sharma, add a lustre of wicked irony to the goings-on.

The coming-of-age of the working-class heroine who can be ambitious without the fear of being branded a bitch, reaches a culmination in Inkaar. The dynamics of office politics have never been more dynamic in Hindi cinema.

Subhash K Jha

FiLm: Inkaar StarrinG: Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh

DireCteD By: Sudhir Mishra

Barbs on the political system

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a political satire. The film begins with Mr. Mandola and his drinking companion Matru, creating havoc.

The film belongs to feudal lord Hukum Singh Mandola aka Harry (Pankaj Kapur) from the first frame, literally. Harry harbours the dream of selling his agricultural land for industrialisation and development, not sparing a thought to the villagers’ plight.

But that is only when he is sober. But after he hits the bottle, he is a changed man, completely transformed. The socialist in him surfaces and incredibly, he challenges his own feudal self, wanting to help his villagers. He is not the only one wanting to help the poor villagers. Matru (Imran Khan), Mandola’s driver-cumassistant and his partner-in-crime, too is egalitarian and wants to help the villagers save their land.

There is Mao, a faceless well-wisher, who manages to offer timely help to the villagers. And there is Mandola’s foreign-educated daughter Bijlee (Anushka Sharma) too joining in the revolution.

On the surface, at the start, it seems like a light-hearted entertainer about an alcoholic feudal lord, his drunken idiosyncrasies and his villagers. When Chief Minister Chaudhary Devi (Shabana Azmi) mouths, Maslaa hai desh ka, na power ka na bijli ka, she sums up the larger issues that the film deals with and post her entry it becomes evident that it is a political satire.

The film is not only layered with demons of the society,

but also deals with personal demons that haunt Mandola, his people and the place.

Pankaj Kapur is out and out the star of the film. After Maqbool, this is easily his best. He keeps the audience regaled with his pancho pancho after guzzling a few pegs, hallucinating about a gulabi bhains (pink buffalo) and when he is confronting the scheming Devi (Azmi).

He delivers a power-packed performance with convivial ease.

Arya Babbar as Badal, Devi’s imbecile son, delivers a compelling and consistent performance.

Imran as the idealistic, rustic Matru is a refreshing change from his usual suave and debonair avatar. He slips into his role with simplicity. Unfortunately for him, his character is not so well rounded and is on the fringe of the plot.

Anushka fails to be thunderous in her performance even though she is Bijlee. She walks through the film doing what she always does - playing a bold and spunky girl with that I-give-a damn attitude.

The music, as expected from Bhardwaj, is outstanding. Oye Boy Oye Boy Charlie is well-picturised though reminiscent of Namak ishq ka from Omkara. The title song is energy-packed though not too relevant in the context of the film.

The background score and the lyrics by Gulzar are equally a treat and add to the pace of the film.

Bhardwaj has managed to package the film well. The treatment is indeed poetic and smooth. The cinematography is good and inspiring. The dialogues and lyrics are hard hitting with messages and oodles of entertainment, mostly double entendre. The plot is layered and complex, but not without flaws. The barbs on the political system and society are contemporary and may lose their context in years to come, very reminiscent of Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) plays.

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola may not have a universal appeal, but it is thoroughly entertaining.

Troy Ribeiro

FiLm: Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola

StarrinG: Pankaj kapur, Imran khan, Anushka Sharma, Arya Babbar and Shabana Azmi

DireCteD By: Vishal Bhardwaj

Ask Auntyji

Dear Auntyji

Happy new year to you! I am a 45 year old professional man, and am happily married and have a loving family. For the last two years however, something has been bothering me and I wanted to tell someone about it. My wife is the loveliest woman I know. She is intelligent, and a good mother. Plus she is very attractive. But Auntyji, her social media habits are now beginning to get my goat. Every time I look around, there she is, uploading inane comments on her Twitter account, or on Facebook. Now me, I think the whole social media thing is over-rated and is only for superficial people with too much time on their hands. Sheyani, however, loves social media - making a complete mockery of her intelligence during the process (she has two post graduate degrees and is CFO at an ASX 500). I have noticed that Sheyani posts messages that grate on me - for example, she writes about how peeling the onions make her eyes water. Or how the trees swaying in the breeze remind her of Haryana or how palak paneer is just so tasty, nah?  These posts are so banal and utterly asinine that I am beginning to think my wife is becoming an idiot. What to do, Aunty? I have not said anything about this to her, but it seems that all her friends are of the same ilk - discussing Ash’s weight gain, Bilal Bhutto’s Hena and other items of human interest. How do I tell my wife that these items are not doing her any justice, and she sounds like all the mindless clones we see when we go shopping. Am I the one who needs to change here, Auntyji, and if so, why do I need to lower my expectations of a lofty ideal? Must I continue to be surrounded by fools and idiots? Please help me.

Auntyji says

Happy new year to you too, my dear friend. Oh, how I sympathise with you! How I totally understand your plight. I too am most bothered by social media - hence you will not see me twittering, even though of all people out there, I should be the one with a twitter account, because as Lord Ganesh only knows, I actually have something insightful to say. So what’s your solution? Well, the important thing here is that you still love your wife and you are not planning on leaving her on account of her telling sari duniya through Twitter that pyaaz makes her ankhen water. Further, she is a CFO and has therefore probably managed all the family finances, and divorce is definitely not on in your best interests. Granted your spouse’s social media habits should not be a valid reason for contemplation of divorce, but I am trying to be real. So, here is your solution. And this is working on the assumption that you don’t want to tell Sheyani that she is no Ghalib therefore she should confine her bovine rumination to a glass of scotch. So, stop reading her social media posts. Don’t read her Twitter explosives, and don’t be sadly eyeing her comments on Facebook. Just ignore all her posts. In fact, I am even surprised you have Facebook and Twitter accounts - if you are so bothered by social media. Close these accounts, and you can easily live in the delusion that your wife is a CFO with ideals loftier than yours and she never even contemplates anything as trivial as sabzi. See, this is definitely a win-win for all. And if Sheyani asks why you did this - tell her the truth. That the banality of the comments you were reading made you despair for the human race, and in order to ensure you were no longer bored to the point of committing suicide, you thought it would be best for all if you stopped reading social media. I am sure your elitist snobbery will grate on her just enough for her to think about her next post. Problem solved!

Dear Auntyji

I am a 28-year-old girl and I have two brothers interested in me. One is a doctor and the other a lawyer. Both are extremely good looking, and the nicest boys you could hope to meet, from a very very good family. We all went to university together - but it’s only in the last year that we got close to each other. But now, things are becoming quite serious and Nicky and Vicky both have asked me on dates and both have expressed their love for me, although not at the same time of course. My issue is that I do not know which brother I like enough to want to marry - they are both so good. In fact, I would marry both, like Draupadi, if I could. But seriously Auntyji, mujhe help kijiye nah.  I don’t know which brother to go with. Vicky the doctor is energetic and does sky diving and goes to Thailand once a year to help build houses for poor people and mentors young people in Australia. Nicky the lawyer dedicates his weekends to provide legal aid at a community centre, writes poetry and is intense and quietly passionate. I don’t want to cause issues in the family, but I am very much undecided about what to do. Sometimes I think Nicky is jealous of Vicky when I go out with him. And the most interesting thing is that I am not that good looking, Auntyji, compared to my friends, but both boys say they love my personality. Meanwhile, my parents are pressuring me as well to get married, saying I will be a buddhi on the shelf if I do not make up my mind. Auntyji, boliye nah, mai kya karoon? Also, I must admit that I do love this attention from both brothers - it is so intoxicating. And it is quite nice to watch the look of jealousy on Vicky’s face when he knows I am going out with Nicky.

Auntyji says

Oh you besharam! Behaya! You kali kalooti - have you no shame whatsoever in playing with the emotions of two brothers - whose hearts are as pure as their youthful skins are unblemished? You are due for a comeuppance, my girl, and let me tell you how. You’ve heard of karma, right? Well, a girl who comes between two brothers, and enjoys this, will come back as the black, one-eyed servant of the second wife of one of the brothers in their next life. This is definitely your future in your agla junum. How can you be so callous, so nasamajh so as to enjoy the attentions of two brothers at the same time? There is no winner in this situation and you are such an akl ki dushman that you don’t even see this. Sooner or later the brothers will realise that having you in the family will only cause strife - because one brother will lose you as a wife, but will gain you as a sister-in-law. The dynamics of the family will change, and if you have a saas like the ones on ZeeTV, then things will only get worse. Tell me this. What happens when you choose one brother? How will the other one feel?   I’m sorry, girlie, but you are too pagal to realise that you will end up with neither brother - because they will come to their senses soon enough, but more importantly, the reason they are of a good family is because they have strong parents, who will certainly be told of the situation and will not want to have this toxicity, this kalankani in their house. So, enjoy the situation while you can - it is destined to end soon. And because I am wise, and also because I too don’t want to come back as a spotted dog with rabies in my next life, it is my duty to give you good advice. You must immediately stop seeing both brothers from a romantic point of view. Make a choice of the brother you want, and then tell the other of your sentiments. If he is heart broken, then I’m sorry to say that it would be in everyone’s interest for you to stop seeing both brothers and let time heal all wounds before you approach the chosen brother romantically again. It would be great if you could arrange to go overseas for a while, so that the situation can resolve itself without you around, complicating matters. In that time, one of the brothers would hopefully move on. And if both move on, then, this was to be. After all, the universe always evens the balance. By the way, any woman who enjoys jealousy between two brothers is a person with no moral fibre. You, my dear, are a churail, I have to admit.