

well be a stronger m otivation for this.
Despite the hovering g ho s t of Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister Gillard used her first major s p eech in 2013 at the National Press C lub to announce the date of the next electi o n - September 14.
W ith 227 days to go, it is designed to be the longest e lection campaign in Australian history. Why the Prime :Mi ni ster made the announcement so much in advance has the pundits guessing, and has g ive n rise to a number of conspi racy theories.
It wiU talte ve ry poor poll numbers fo r the Labo r caucus to m ove agai ns t the Prime Mi niste r and make changes at the top. Though ex -PM Rudd ha s maintained , after his failed atte mp t i n 2012, that he w ill not challenge the l eadership, it is doubtful he will refuse the top job which migh t be offered to h im by those crying to m ake amends fo r the coup against him by the faceless men withi n the party. The sceptre of los ing t he ir own seats may
Knowing that Rudd 's elevation might bring back voters, perhaps d1e nece ssary action is ro stop the furth er decline of Labor's popularity before d1e election. PM Gillard, who has never backed away from a scrap, is hoping that Labor's poll numbers rise to see m off a ny chall enge by Rudd's supporters Her strategy will be to draw out d1e Coali tio n par ty a nd particul arly Opposition Leader T ony Abbott o n bis plans for Australi a, shoul d he win l f she can draw the voters ' anention to any gap s in Abbott's policies, she bas a better chance o n the day of the final vote PM Gillard is playing for the ultima te prize, t he o ngo ing Prime Ministership of Australia, and will need much to go right for her
In ilie meanwhile, PM Gilla rd's announcement is seen as the start of a de facto election c ampaign
The In dian commllluty in Ausu alia holds a considerable vote bank w hich will be of interest to both the major political parties. As evidenced in the NSW and Victoria state electio n s, politician s are more than keen to captnre d1e goodwill of the Australian Indian co mmunity. We also seem to have suddenly found advocates of major
political parties, now willi ng to bridge the g ap berween the conununity and the politicians.
With various Holi and Diwali melas, Republic and Ind epe ndence Day functions and ocher events, do not be surprised to see high-level politic ian s pitching for you r votes Already we can see man y claim ants to the po sitive decision b y the Australian governmen t to sell u.ranimn to India.
That this happened so soon after US Preside n t B ar ack Obama spoke abour the US -Australia s tra tegic parmersbip in Asia particularly to counterbalance the influence of Ch ina, is a convenien t fact which has been forgotte n by a few, especially those o n d1e Labor si de of politics who have opposed the sale for years The federal election campaign will be a g reat opporruniry for our communi ty leaders to seek better benefits for thei r members, such as assistance in aged care or for new migrants, or a c onsolidated identity for Ind ian Australian s It ,vill be interesting to see how our leadersin d1e community and at t he federal government level - approach the Indi an Australia n vote bank.
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Associate Professor Jitend.ra Kamilal
Vobra was i n lnclia celebrating with his family on January 26, when his name was
1971: the techni9ue involved the insertion of an electrode catheter into the heart via the femoral ve in in the groin.
Today Prof. Vohra is a leader in genetic testing for inherited disorders of cardiac rhythm. He is tbe founder and cmrent direccor of the Implantab le Carclioverter Defibrillator (ICD ) Cli11ic and was instrumental in the introduction of the fust automatic ICD in Australia in 1984. Since I 961, he has authored over 120 medical publications and book chapters nationally and internationally.
Vohra said, " When I migrated things were different; there were ve ry few Indians here. However coda y the community has grown in signifi cant proportions due to mi gra tion. Australia has become richer from all the diversity. Whilst there bas never been any overt cliscrimination , the mainstream community today is far more accepting of migra nts".
cardiac disorders. We screen families as a proactive m easure to identify and hel p d etermine if they have any heart disease predi spositio n. At Ri\llH we d o a significant am ou nt of testi11g in collaboration with the Murdoch lnstitute"
officially declared amongst this year 's Australia Day awardees in the prestigious Al\1 category.
The cardiol ogist and senior electrophysiologist at Royal Melbourne Hospital was honomed for significant ser-..rice to medicine in the field of cardiology.
He was the first physician to apply tbe 'His Bundle E lectrogram ' in Austral ia in
Originally from Gujarat in Inclia, Dr V9bra migrated co Australia in 1969 soon after the end of the 'white Australia' policy. He compl eted his l'vIBBS and MD from Mumbai and had gone to the UK to complete his post graduation training. There be me t the director of the Royal Me lbourne HospitaJ who asked him to consider migrating to Australia.
According to h im moving co Melbourne was the ' best decision of his life'.
"
lf you are sick, there is no better place than Australia as die medical standards here are comparable to America and ELLrope," said Dr Vobra.
Commencing on the lnclian commu ni ty in Melbo u rne Dr
Dr Vohra recently established the Cardiac Genetic Clinic in collaboration with the Royal Children's Hospital and was involved in establishing the Cardi.ac Genetic Regi stry forming part of cl1e National Genetic Heart Di sease Registry. He also i s a mentor and educator of trainee carcli ologists, particularly in Ausr.ralia and the Asia-Pacific region. He co- autl1ored i n 1989
a book titled Coro11111y Care Workbook, widely distributed coday throughout cardiac units in Australian hosp itals.
"Genetic heart cliseases are my main area of imetest," claimed Dr Vohra as he explained his work in layman terms. "Genetic tes ting is a po ten tia.Uy life-saving screening for patients with cardiac conditions cbat may predispose them to sudden cardiac death and other genetic heart diseases. It i s not commonly known that many young peop le die due to inherited
Dr Vohra's CV outlines die numerous publications, as well as organisations, research and medical bealrh facilities that benefit from his expertise. ln the little spare time he has, he likes to read, play tennis, dabble with photograph y and travel. He has stron g ties with India, travelling back every year during Christmas ro spend time with hi s family According to him, people entering die meclical profession nowadays a1:e very bright, talented and hardworking, and rareJy ueed advice. However when asked, Dr Voh.ra's advice to young doctors would be to ensure that they bave the abili ty to get along with people and other doctors, co work well within a team and have empathy for tl1eir patients Receiving the Australia Day honour was a very rewarding experience for Dr Vohra. He is looking forward to tl1e official cer=onr later this year, when the awards will be handed to the recip ients.
co fow1d the deparm1enr of urog yn aecology at the Townsville Hospital.
Li t tle wo nder cl1en cl1ar h e is often affectiona tely referred to as the Saine of Townsville, and a woman's besr frie nd.
•
BY i6, USHA \_ RAMANUJAM ARVIND -.:
Wbile b owels and bladders are often a no-go zone fo r many, Professor A jay Rane, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at James Cook University's School of Medicine, has dedicated his career to improving the pelvic health of women.
TI1e gregarious UK -bom, Indiaraised and Bri cish- crained Dr Rane moved co remote north Queen sland
The Pe lvic Healtli U nit, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary; one-of- its- kind service in regional A u stralia whic h Dr Rane heads, is 'at t he forefront in research and treatment of debilitating bowel and b ladder conditions, offering compassionate and minimallr invasive therapies for their ailment,'.
Since 1997, Dr Rane bas brought clignity to tbe lives of n umerous women. 1t is estimated that at least a 9uarter of ·women worldwide suffer silently because of the stigma associated with the issue.
D r Rane was c o nferred the Medal of Order of Australia (OMI) on Australia D ay th is year, for serv ices in the field of medicine.
"For someone who has spent only fifteen years in this cotm try, the recognition is a ht1mbling o n e," he confessed.
"]tis more a recognition of women's suffering. l have been very blessed for the opportunity to serve in a community that has never been serviced before. \X' hether it is the haves or the have n ot, there is always so much
www. indian link.com.au
For distinguished service to medicine in the field ofpsychiatry through leadership in the research into Alzheimer's disease.
of themselves ro odi ers in our con11nunity.''
professor Ralph Martins, an Australian researcher of Indian origin was named in che Australia Day 2013 Honours List recencl)r. He was appointed an Officer .in the Order of Australia for h is research into Alzheimer'.5 disease and the development of ear ly diagnosis and treatment programs. Professor Martins is the Foundation Chair in 1\geing and Alzheimer's disease and Director of rhe Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's disease research and care at Perth. Heis an internationally recognised expert in the field of Alzheimer's research, and has published more than 200 research articles in peer- reviewed publications. He was named Citizen of the Year for Western Australia in 201 1 and Wesrern Australian of the Year .in 201 O.
Speaking from Perth, Dr Martins said, "l am deeply honoured ar receiving this prestigious award and humbled that I have been lm:J...1· enough to be selected, because I know diar rhere are many outstanding Australians who have given so much more more ro give," he said.
Over the past decade, Dr fum e has helped generations of women overcome physical and p sychos o cial iss ues assoc iated wirb inco ntinence. He has recencly copatented a mesh- based surgical kit (Perigee) to help sufferers.
" ln rJ1e developing world , the burning issues we grapple wicl1 are bird1 and se,.."l.rnl trauma, fisrulas and genital muri.l:ition; while in the develo ped world we see prnl.apse, incontinence and now the scourge of females - genitJ!l cosmetic surge r y," he adm itted.
After starting up the department of urogynaecology, he developed awareness -rai$ing initiatives such as die 'Beat the
Dr Martins believes that 2013 is going to be an exciting year for prevention triJ!ls. "My key fumre goals are ro diagnose Alzheimer's disease early, weU before the symptoms are apparent and ro develop and undertake effective prevention programs in collaboration with colleagues in Australia, L1dia, lndones.ia and the USA, with die aim LO keep Alzheimer's disease at bay".
He also expressed gratitude to members of his ream, the research foundation, the University and generous donors who enabled the researd1 efforrs to progress.
For more than 25 years, Dt Martins bas been a dedicated researd1er and world leader in Alzheimer's research, and a part of medical tean1s who have made a nun1ber of internationally recognised discoveries which have contributed nor only to d1e understanding of rhe disease, but aho to tts early detection. His other discoveries include genetic risk factors and lifestyle facrors whid1 contribute to the disease.
Through his leadership. commitment and renacity, Dr Martins has built and continues to grow; a body of substantial and worlc.1-class research. He also conticmes to develop the clinical capacity of Western Austtalia wid1 active links to his international
Bladder B lues' program in a b id to educate thousands o f wom en , particularl y indigen o us women in is o lated communitie s Loo king back at the challeng es Dr Rane faced at the remote community hos pital, he stated mat the main hurdle was the metrocentric approach previously adopted.
''Bue in my opinio n, all hurdles are a great oppormnity to improve. Persistence, genuine passion, humility were tlie core building b locks of my team that totall y changed the scenario. We soon learnt to leave behind our foreign egos and become one wid1 the community,'' he declared Despite ex tensive research and
peers who are at the forefront of the battle against Alzheimer's disease.
Dr Martins has coUaborated with specialist colleagues in India at various levels, sharing breakthrough research and projects. One of these is the startup of colJaborative A lzheimer research centres in India in some of d1e major metro cities.
" India is on d1e verge of an Alzheimer's explosion of 100 million people affected by the disease i.n the near future, and there is not enough government funding or awareness of the problem," he said.
Born in 1957 in Bahrain to parents who hailed from Goa .in India, Dr Jvfarri.ns smdied his 'Senior Cambridge' secondary qualifications at a boarding school in Querta, in the Baluchistan region of Pakistan. Interestingl y, ro facilitate his frequent visit.~ home, he was given a Pakistani passport (although he was never considered a -Pakistani citizen). ln]une 1974, aged only 16, Dr Martins came ro Perd1, and d1e rest of his family foUowed three months later. On arriving, they immediately felt completely at home. Dr Martins appreciates me choice, freedom and opportunities that Australia bas given him. He was interested in science and medicine, bur when he couldn't get imo medicine, he enrolled in biochemisrry ac the
teach ing commim1 e nrs w ithin
A us tralia, Dr Rane b as als o made it hi s m iss io n to share bis kn ow ledge and e.'l perti se with developing nations wh e re th e s ub- speciality is still in a relatively nascent phase. With this aim, he founded the U roGynaecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surg ical Society o f lnd.ia in 20 05.
Besides initiating a s ubstantial research fellowship for o verseas docrors to train in Australia, he has also established a fistula ward at the renowned Kasmrba Gandhi (Gosha) Hospital in Chennai
Named after his wife Paula, whom he aclmowledged as his pillar of strength, die ward lends support to di.sttaught
U niversity of WA, where he mer bis Burmese-born zoologist/ microbiologist w.ife Georgia, who now also works wim the foundation They married when he was 20.
Dr Martins went on to do research on. rhe action of insulin on diabetics, but it was Georgia's father's very different disease diar ultimately determined bis direction ' 'My failier-in-law had Alzheimer:~, so I changed to neuroscience and started work wiili Colin Nfasrers," be said.
He believes the most.in1portant trair for success is self-belief; when be started off with researcb inro
1\li:dieimer's, mail)Tin Melbourne - then rhe 'Mecca' of meclical research - cried to dissuade him, bm he was determined to go ahead. The success Dr Martins b11s achieved is a testimony ro his determination, self- belief and perseverance A recognised leader of research in Alzheimer's disease, he conri.nues ro work ro develop an early diagnostic b lood test and feels that if me current rate of research is sustained, an early diagnostic rest is just five co six years away.
\Vitb lifestyle a surprisingly large factor in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, Ralph suggests
women , both r oung an d old
D r R ane bas als o facilitated c lose bilateral cooperati o n betw een India a nd A ustralia, with local doctors rraveU.ing t o India to research and address di e iss ue.
Equall y passionate about female infanticide and foeticide, Dr Rane bas championed the ttagic caus e 1n 20 10, be co -pro duced Ri/l){ryat a BoUywood film exp loring the is s ues around female foeticide and infanticide
"The movie was d1e tesuJt of the combined passion of Sanjay Patole and myse lf. \Y/e read that 40 million girls bave been killed since 1984, a.nd believed we needed co do something via d1e mass media.
some basic warning signs GPs can p ick up in dieir patients to get them onto a preventative course of action Alzheimer's risk facrors include many of the usual suspects: lad, of physical activity, obesity, high choleste.rol, vascularassociated diseases (particularl y type-2 diabetes), high b lood pressure, and poor diet.
He says, "What's good for the heart is good for the brain". He recommends physica l activity of around 30 minutes a day which includes a mi.'l of cardio and weight ttaining. His research
has shown fish, turmeric and green tea to be deterrents against Alzheimer's and is collaborating wirb an lnclian herbal product manufacturer to create an "anti.Alzheimer's" pill which can incorpo rate all of these ingredients in a form d1at's easy for the body to absorb.
Dr Martins is also active ly involved in Sr. Vincent de Paul as president of the BenrJey branch, and spend~ several hours a week voltmteering and visiting d1e needy. '1t is more instantly rewarding, the jor of people being bappy, just seeing dieir response, rather than doing research, wbicb is a long road;' he claimed.
Our ai m wa s to h ighlig ht die is sue wiilio ut apportio ning b lame. We go t 14 internatio nal awards and met O m ar Shari~ Richar d Gere and Juliet Binocl1e Sadl y, we flopped in India I think o ur message w em roo clo se ro home Nobod y in the gov ernmem i s interested in adopting die movie. But we just wane to s ave o ne life. If we did that was an effort well word, i t," he concluded.
As welJ, Dr Rane has managed to shake off the inertia and reticence rowards urogynaecological disorders.
·'Fifteen years and a liberal dose of humour later, people and the press are ponring into our forum~," he quipped.
Her phone has notsropped ringing and het inbox is flooded with emails ever since people have found out that Melbourne lndian community's favolllite ~\untyji' bas received the Order of Australia Medal (0AM) Lecently. Krishna Arora has been inundated with
The Australia Day Achievemeor Medal.lions are awarded under the auspices of the Australia Day Council to promote good ciri2enship and achievement.
They acknowledge emploree comriburions on special projects that have made a significant contribution to the nation, or outstanding performance of core duties in the year prior to which the award is presented.
Di: Kamal Puri, Senior Principal Research Scientist with u1e Bureau of Meteorology, won an Australia Day Achievement Medallion for his work in weatl1er mode lling. 8
congtarulacions!
As a communii:y sralwarr, food enth usiast and former Principal of the Pusa lnscimte of Hotel Management, Mrs Arora's popularity within the community knows no geographical bar riers.
"One of my former students from Muradabad (India) rang me recently to LeU me that my photograph had appeared in their
local news. Ali my srudenrs who have seeded in different parts of the world, some of whom I don't even remember, have found o ut about the award a nd are sending me good wishes," said the 85-year-old Mrs Arora with her characteriscic enthusiasm Enthusiasm is only one of the words synonymous with Kris hna Aunty; others that come to mind are cire less, energetic, helpful, caring the list goes on With no intentions of hanging up ber boots yer, her dail y schedule at 85 i s b u sier than ever. At any given rime she is either off ro a seniors meeting, joining the Australia Day parade, helping someone in need, dancing witl1 Shiamak Davar's students, cooking up a delicious meal or lobbying for a cause with local po.licicians. " I do whatever 1 can as I enjoy helping people," said i\lls Arora, giving credit co her family who encourage and support her in all her endeavours.
Krishna Aunty migrated to Australia in 1992 to live with her daughter, son -in-law a nd two grandchildren.
"I may not have been able to do
much if I did not have freedom of movement, but thanks to my family I am able to dedicate time and effort in working with the community," she said.
Born in Bangalore, Mrs Arora is the co -founder of the Indian Senior Citizen's Association (ISO\) and currently on the Executive Committee of PIAV (Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria) as a representative of the Sangan1 community organization.
She was the Fou nder and Principal of the Pusa Institute of Hotel Managemeot in Delhi befote retiring and migrating to Australia. Mrs Arora has authored several cook- books and conrributes a regular food column in a local publicauon based in Melbourne. She runs a h oili11e tele -service offeri11g cooking rips to peop le. Mrs Arora has also won several awatds and citations over the years. ln 2010, she was h onoured with the Shilling Wall tribute for her outstan ding comribution ro the community. Her name was engraved on tl1e Queen Victoria's Women Cenrre \WaU,
and s he became o ne of the fuse women of Indian origi n to be awarded a Shilling Wall certificate b y tl1e Vicrorian Mulricultural Commissi o n.
"Receiving the Order of Ausa:alia medal is wonderful, b ut my real reward i s the blessings, affectio n and respect that I have earned for helping people, especia lly newly arrh, ed migraocs," claimed Mrs Arora. Th ere are cmmtless sto ries of how 1\ilrs Arora has helped chose in need, nor necessarily documented or recorded, as that was not h er intent.
"There are so many roung farnilies who need guidance and support from those who have lived here longer; there are peop le suffering from depression in their attempt to settle in a ne w country; there are e lderly citizens who are not looked after well by their families I try co help wherever l can in my personal capacity and recently tl1rougb the FIJ\V, and l will continue to do so," said the stalwart i\frs Arora.
Preeti JabbalThe Bureau Executive 011 the bas is of nominations submitted by senior managers determines medallion recipients within d1e Bureau of .Me teorology.
Dr Kamal Puri is the Research Programme leader for Earth System Modelling Programme and bas led the Bureau of Meteorology's Nmuerical Weather Prediction (N\W) modelling and re~e.'ltch si11ce l 980. He was a key figure in establishing the Australian Conmmniry Climate and Earth Sj•stem Simulator (ACCESS) that enabled the CSIR0 and Bureau of Meteorology co have the best possible scientific tools for c.limace impact and adaptation analysis, and
weather forecasting. According to tl1e citation, the I \\7P and climate projection models now rank in the top d1tee internationally, and d1e ACCESS system has generated the data char lies behind much of Australia's concriburion to tl1e fl)CC 5th Assessment Report. Dr Puri h as also been a key advisor in a number of t he Bureau 's major supercomputer acquisitions and in die organisation of R&D coUaboradoos with supercomputer vendors
Originally from Kenya, Dr Puri 1:nigrated to Australia in 1972 after comp leting his PhD from the University of Manchester in the UK Prior to that be completed his BSc (Hons) and Diploma in Advanced studies from the same university. He came to woi::k for CSIR0 Australia as a modeller with the intention of returning after d1ree years; however, he liked Australia and decided to migrate to Me lbourne.
"ln those days there were hardl y
any Indians or East Africans here; however the ones tl1at were here fo rm ed a closely knit circle. I still maintain my friendship w ith those I met in my eacly days in Ausrralia," said Dr Puri. " 1 fi n d that the community has chan ged tremendously since then with the inAux of migtancs from diverse backgrounds," he continued.
"Personally I di.ink those were better days when we were so closely knit; now t he community is to o large and widespread for that co be possib le".
Dr Puri is highly respected internationally and has travelled extensively to UK, US and India as a visiting scientist. He is a member of key international panels on earth system modelling and has written over 50 publications.
Dr Puri's lin ks with lndia continue professionall y. I-le is a member of the lotemacional AdvL~ory Conuuictee that was set up by che Indian Government's
Ministry of Earth Sciences to advise the .Ministry on issues rela ting to weather and climate in India. The Panel meets in India annually and is hosted by tl1e MoES.
" Receiving this medal.lion in a special ceremon y held on January 25 was very satisfying and gratifying fot me. It is good to be recognised and respected by m y coUeagues as they are the ones who nominated me for this honour," said Dr Puri.
"Aus tralia is at par with the best in the world as far as weather prediccion and climate change analysis; however we do suffer from lack o f sufficient funding and are behind in the acquisition of supercomputers clue torhe high cost," he claimed.
Speaking about the fumre, Dr Puri said he finds his job very sciniularing and intends to continue his focus on research and modelling.
Preeti JabbalWorking behjnd the scenes, dream mercham Anupam Sharma has over di e past two decades adop ted many different roles - cin=atographer, casting di rector, consultant, writer, facilitator and fiLn expert. ln the process he has forged strong links with individuals, companies and countries carving a niche fo r himself in the fickle world o f films. ms brainchi ld PiJms & Casting Ternple is an icon in the entertainment industry and crerured widi sing le -handedly bringing Inrua and Australia together, se lling their individual brands like never before
Nominated by r S\\7 Premier Barry O'Farrell, in 2013 Sharma has tal,en on yet another exciting ro le - that of Ausrra]ja Day Ambassador.
The Australia Day Ambassador program is a nationwide iruriative diat sees high achieving and proud Australians attend local Austra lia Day celebrations in towns and cities acro ss the nation.
"As an Inruan who made Australia home, it is humbling to receive diis honour nor only because it also h appens to be
] ndian Republi c Day bur also because it indirecdy hon ours die ream of people with me who have been tireless ly wodcing for stro ng /iL,1 links bel:\veen India and Austra]ja ", Sharma to ld Judi1111 Link
Prom relatively humble origi ns in 1990, today there are around 400 ambassadors who vol u n tee r dieir rime and energy to inspire pride and celebration in hundreds of local communities.
Anupam Shanna's place of choice was 3000 stro ng comm uni ty of Coonaba rabran in \Xla.rrumbungle S hire of northern I S\'.i7.
"Cou n try Australia has al\vays been so appealing to me. The landscape and die scene r y are qw re breadita.king. 1 have done location surveys in this region (thanks to Screen NS\XI), have filmed in Dubbo, as well as in man y regio nal areas of Australia and NS\V, so I jumped at the opporttmity co visit such a friendly and beautiful region again," he e.xplai ned.
" To be an Australia Day Ambassa dor in Coonabarabran
,vhich h as been ravaged by bush fires, and engage w itb die locals, was even more poignant", he added.
" The whole experience was so ful filling. le was like a cherry o n m y cake. I was supposed to be an Ambassado r but felt more like an apprentice learning from t he c o mmunity, their ani azing spirit of mateship, of vo luntee r work, and h umanity which i s fast eroding in d1e husde bu stle of big cities but refreshingly alive i11 small tow ns," he acknowledged
Ir was so touching that despite having faced so much hardship barely d1e week before, t he whole community rallied around fo r Austr alia Day, he pointed.
\YhiJe he was moved by camarad erie and hospita]jt)' of tl1e country region, one woman certainly made a lasting impression on the respected filmmaker. ·'The conductor of the local band was particulatl}' bu bbly and enthus iastic, making sure I w as well looked after 1 saw her at die breakfast meeting and again at several function s throughout
the day. When l finall)' got talking much later, l found out, s he had lost eve r ything in the recen t fire. Yet she was warm and welcoming Thi s struck a deep ch ord. This i s the true spiri t of Australia," he remarked.
"Australia Day may have starred primarily to celebrate tli e arrival of the first fleet, bm over the years it ha s developed into a celebration of all dungs Australian s for all of us mi grants," he ad ded Sharma who was recently named as o ne of the 50 m ost powerful and infl uential film professionals in Ausu a]ja by die pre stigious Encore Magazine took part in a range of activities diro ughout the day, including Rag hoisting and citizenship ceremoru es.
Address ing d1e communitj1 gatheri n g earlier, Sh arma stated, "I r is your resilience and Aussie spirit which makes the te rrible fires of las r week look li ke hlstory It is your Aussie spirit w hich won "
Usha Ramanujam ArvindAuscralians and Indians have a reason co gee togethet and celebrate 011 January 26. It is a doubly special day for all Indians, being Repub lic Day and Australia Day, a time to celebrate two significant events.
This year, as A u stralians of all nati o nalities were preparing for the parade, us of Indian o rig in were ready to put up our own spectacular s how. As the day neared dusk and the sw1 showing n o signs o f setting, people from all over Adelaide, of every na tio nali ty flocked on the streets of King William Road co watch the Australia Day parade and cheer for their respective communities. Some even started celebrating much earlier in the day, indulging in famil y picnic s in the beauti ful ambience of our famous Elder Park.
The parade started off with the flying past of an F I S Hornet, followed b y a march past of all groups. The crowd was mesmerized by a huge number of culn1ral and ethnic groups, flamboyantly dressed in their traditional costumes and gaily decorated floats that proudly marched down the s tre ets, accompanied by resounding and encouraging cheers of 1.he public.
But the o nes who recei ved the most attention and app lause were the Indian community as t he y
went past in co lourful sarees and traditional outfits, dancing and singing co the accompaniment of lo ud music. Making their way down the street , members o f the lndian Australian Association of South Australia (IAASA) dre sse d in traditional kurtas, proudly held aloft their banner. Following behind then1 were Gurjari SA commw1ity, driving in the.ir pompous van, waving and dancing to garba music. The Ben gali community wasn't too far behind, beautifully dressed in sarees of every hue , si n gin g enticing Bengali so ngs. Leading the Sikh co mmunity, wearing b lue chola.r and turban s were little children Aauming traditional (ye t harmless) weaponry, as adults waved their Sikh flag.
Even car enthus iasts weren't disappointed as almo st a hundred vintage vehicles drove down the streets.
The procession tl1en merged on to Elder Par k for the twilight Australia Day concert. The crowd enjoyed performances by Wies Carr, winner of Australian Idol 2008 and Pocbellez. The n ig ht can1e co an end witl1 a wonderful display o f fireworks.
Ausu·alia Da y is celebrated annually o n January 26 and commemorates me establishment in 1778 of the first European settlement at Port Jack so n, now pare of Sydney. An official public holiday is observed in every state and territory of Australia with celebrations across the nati on in the form of community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies An increasing numb er of people are taking up Australian citizenship, leading to increased multicul turalism in tlus land
And while the award means an upheaval of her life here in Australia to mm1e bac k to India with her family, R oanna is confidently upbea t about th i s l atest adventure.
" J feel very b lessed to receive this awa rd ," s he said. " It's exciti n g and chaLi e n ging to find how wr iters are created in lnd.ia. Since m y past two vis its I've realized that there's a growing breed of talented wri ters telling their stories in a variety of genres, a nd tappi n g into th is 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 sub ject of m y PbD is about globali zed literary field writin g using Indian writing in English as a case smdy," explain ed Roanna.
finishing t ouches co a no vel of sho r t stories based on the experiences of Indian-Austral ians here, and is currently writing a p lay for Bell Shakespeare, based o n the Bard 's Merchant of Ve11ice
''As Indians living in Australia, it .i s important for us to tell our stories, whic h ad d m the fabric of t h is nmlticulmra.l .land. Writer s, ar tis ts, music ia n s - we a re tl1e storytelle rs of our n u ru.re, and our chronicles are a record of our experiences," said Roan n a, who won the Australian Writers Guild Award in 2011.
its urban land scape The award was presented in ea rl y December at Canberra, by Prin1e Minister Julia G illard.
R oanna is undertaking a PhD in C reative \,'{/citing at the University o f New South Wales (UNS\'<7).
of urban India."
She will mainly concentrate on E ng lis h li teratme in t he fiction genre, ove r short stories, novels and some poetry, across mediums like forums, w r iti n g groups and even o nli n e.
Wr iter Roanna Gonsalves has been selected as one of 20 Ausa:alian postgraduate srudenrs co receive a 2013 Prime J',,[in.isrer's Austr al.ia Asia En deavour Awa rd. The onl y wrirer among an im pr ess ive list of sc ie ntists, lawyer s, finance and medical exp erts, the scholarship will enab le Roanna to s pend nine months in India, researching and studyi ng existing and emerging trends in w r iting in E nglish across
Her research examines the in stitutional arrangements, social networks and power relations that constitute the field of literary production, using E nglish language literary culmre in Lidi a as a case smd y
"In r ecent yea r s there bas been a never- before- see n flowering of grassroots English language literary culture in India," said Roa nna. ''As a writer and a researcher I am curious about this literary change in the social fabric
"Ir has been a long a nd d i fficult journey, wri ting thousands and th o u sands of words, man y words, many failures and a lo n g period of l earning before I could make my mark as a write r i n Australia," said Roanna emphatically "That's why this award is so meaningful m me, because after a long and thorough applicati on process that was reviewed i n-depth, I was se lected l was very excited on hearing the news, I could barely believe it!"
AS TROLOGY, PALM1ST RY, VASTU & VEDIC POOJA CONTACT FOR:
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"This trip will he lp m e garner essential information for my th esis, that will provide a greater understanding of tl1e eme rging literary scen e."
For t he com fo n of h e r young family, Roanna hopes co be based in Goa, b ut she will extensive ly travel arollnd India co attend li terary festivals, forums, book fair s and launches She will co nduct in- deptl1 interviews at various location s across India, and parti cipant observation at variou s li terary eveocs. She will spend the last rwo months of her trip i n an internship at San gam Hollse, a p restigious write r s' r esidency near Bangalore.
And then i t wi ll be back to Australia to desc ribe her experie nc es.
But tliat's not all tbis writer has on her pl ate. She is putting
But the writer is most proud of h er l atest wor k, telling h er story of tl1e experi ence of m ovi n g and l iving in Australia through a chapter in the recently released book ]'!Y/11I Strai11.r. Roanna describes the chapter as one of "fun, sadness, joy and ch allenges "
It's an h onour for an IndianAustralian co win such a prestigious award, and as Roanna e m barks on a n ew journey, we wish her al l tl1e best
The Prime Minister's Australia Asia Awards provide scho larships for tl1e best and brightest university students from Ausu alia and Asia Besides the 20 postgrad students of who m five a r e going to India, 20 rn1d ergrad s mcleocs are also travelling co variou s parts of Asia, and 20 students from Asian co untries w ill come into Australia, including two from ln dia. The award s aim m develop internationally- awa re, s killed fumre leaders and co estab li s h enduring education and professional linJ..:ages between Australia and Asia
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This New Year's Day, while people were still recovering from parties and making resol utions for betterment, an uae.xpected phone caJJ spurred a Aurry o f activi ty for Melbourne's Dr. Gurdip Aurora, President of the Australia India Society of V ic toria. He was informed that th e AISV had been n omi nated fo r the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award fo r community service.
The award is the highest honom conferred on overseas Indians as part of the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) co nvention sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas lndi an Affairs of t he Governme n t of India.
The pho ne call was to invi te Dr. Aurora ro Kochi in Kerala, where the I I th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas convention was to be held between 7 -9 January, 2013.
According to t he citation , ' The Australia India Society of Victoria was recognL~ed for its role in protecting the rights of Indian migrants and establishing a network of welfare activities'
"1t was a great h o nour ro receive the award, on behalf of AISV, from the President of lndia," Dr. Gurd.ip i\urora said as he shared his PBD e.xperience with foditm Link u pon his rerum.
"I did not have a lot o f prior kn Q\vledge of this event and I certainly did not expect it to be as big as it turned om ro be. I was overw helmed by the hospitali ty and im pressed by the way everything was arranged for me including travel, accomm odation, meals, transport and use o f a chauffeur driven vehicle in India," claimed Dr Aurora.
All the awardees were booked into Hotel Le l'vferidien in Koch.i a nd the host spared no ex pense in making sure that their stay was comfortab le, according co Dr. Aurora.
The Pravas.i Bha.ratiya Divas is celebrated every ye ar since the year 2003 on January 9. The day commemorates the arrival of Maham1a Gandhi in India from South Africa The ludo -Canada Ch amber o f Commerce (fCCC) was th e organising partner of t he summit this year The Gover tunent of Kerala was the State partner of chis evem and t he enchanting city of Koch.i with its natural beauty of backwate rs and m o n um e n t~ of gods offered a warm welcome to the hundreds of delegates, media and dignitaries from various parts of the world.
Prime Minister Manmoh.an Singh formally inaugurated the three -day event o n January 8 and released a scamp commemorating the Gaclar Movement. In his address to the audience the Prime l\{in.ister said t hat safety and seclU'i ty of overseas Indian communities was uppermost in mind in the backdrop of turbulence in many parts of the world Though die primary resp o nsibili ty of safery and security of overseas Indian communities rests with the host nations, "\vhen needed, as was the case las e year in Libya, our government will provide pro mpt a nd n ecessary assist'ln ce", the Prime Minister sa id.
President Pranah Mukh erjee said India sees i ts vast diaspora as a valuab le contributor to its growth and is keen to e.xpand the bonds further in building an in cl usive and knowledge society. He sa id last year's record remi ttance o f $67 billio n from overseas I ndian s was a testim ony to both the emotional attachment and the fulfilmen t in .i nvesting in Lidia's s trong eco no m y.
"I also wish co see the Indian diaspora as a stronger partner, not only in fndia's econ omic growth, buc also in building lnclia's knowledge society, while continuing co engage culturally and emotionally, and serving as the effective ambass ado r s d1at they have been for this cow1try," the president said.
The Indian diaspora makes up over 20 million people. There are at least five heads of state o r governm enr, and over 70 senior political leaders such as depu ty beads of state, speakers, ministers in various countries, who can trace d1eir roots co India.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awa rds President Pranab Mukherjee presented the Pravasi Bharati ya S:unman awa rds at the valedi c to ry session o n January 9. Mauritius
President Ra jkeswur Purryag, whose ancestors belonged to the Indian vil!Jige of Waj idpur in Bihar's Patna di stric t, was the chief guest. He also received die Pravasi Bharatiya D ivas Samman Award for pub lic services.
The award was also given co: Prof G urusharan Si ngh Chacwal, Germany (Science); Dr. Sacen dra K. Singh, New Zealand (Conum1n.ity service); Ismail E Ebrahim, South Africa (Business); T.S. R avindra Menon , Malaysia (Co m muniLy service); Dr. R asik V.Josbi, Mexico (Literature); G ilbert. C. Moutien, R eunion l sl:u1d (Business); Mohamm ed R. Karuvan thod.i, Saudi Arab ia (Business); Bava Pandalingal, UAE (Co mmunity service); Dr. N.R.Kmnar, US (Health care); Subhash R azdan, US, (Public service) and Asho k S. Vaswan.i, Guinea (community service).
The AISV from Vi ctoria and the lnd.ian D octors Forum from Kuwait were the o nly two organisations to win d1e PBD S community service award chis year. Since .i ts inception in 2003 only two A u st:rali :u1s have been conferred with thi s award: well known JCT industry lead er Neville Roach AO and scientist Veena Sahajwalla (o f UNS\Xl) who also appeared o n the TV show The lnventon Dr. Aurora felt delighted chat AISV were to join chi s elite club.
7-9 January, 2013, Kochi, erala [
"I do n ot know who nominated i\ISV for ch.is award ; however given the organisation's longstanding history of service to the community, it was befitting to receive this honour soo n after our 50th anniversary" said Dr. Aurora as he proudly displayed the gold medal and certificate to fodian Link in hi s Scoresby clinic recently
AISV
P rof. Alexander Boyce Gibso n, d1e h ead of the Department of Indian Studies at the University of Melbourne, established the Australia India Society of V ic toria in 1963. AISV was initially created with an objective co create interest in Indian hi stor y, arts :u1d culture. All the past Presidents, and the present comrninee led bf Dr. Gurdip Aur ora, have helped in shaping the o rganisation over die years by p laying an active role in issues affecting the Indian community. According to Dr. Aurora AISV has sought co improve and strengthen the quali ty of relations between A u stralia and India through their in teractions with t he Government, the m edia an d d1e peop le w ho are directly a ffected by tl1ese i ssues The majo r achievements o f J\ISV, as li sted in d1e ir 50 years'
w ww.indianlink.com.au
Dr Gurdip Aurora with the Pravasi Bharatiya medal
celebration souvenir, include:
• Establishment of the Victorian lndian Community Charitab le Trust (VICC1) in 1986 for the provis ion of permanent housing and financial assistance for disadvantaged persons.
• Successfully lobbying the Victorian State Government in 1990 co exempt Sikhs from legislation introduced in Parliament to ban the carrying of knives. This legislation affected baptized Sikhs and p revented them from carrying a ki,pcm Legislation stating compulsory wearing of helmets while riding a push bike was also adopted to accommodate turbaned Sikhs
• Successfully lobbying the Indian Government in 1991 (for three years) to e stablish consular services for Indians in Melbomne.
• 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 co celebrate their culture and people
• Applying pressure to bmh 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 d1e AISV helped in establishing a fair immigration policy.
• Helping establish in 1999, in partnership with Australian Unity, a Travel InsLtraoce fLmd for overseas vis itors to enable them co gain access to hospitals and medical care. This served to take the burden off the State Govermnent and in some cases the children of elderly parents who were
Dr Manju/a O'Connor, Vice - President AISV
supporting d1eir parent's travel to Australia.
• Conducting a rwo-year research project in 2009 on the issue of me international srudents and putting fo r th 45 recommendations to the Federal and State Governments. Ms Priya Saratchandrau wrote the Paper and the recommendations were accepted and changes made to the status of international students accordingly.
• Creating a taskforce in 201 l against domestic violence in fodian and edmic commLmities co help the victims of such violence with the help of Dr. Manjula O'Connor. This was in response co d1e increasing instances of domestic violence within me community and me need co offer cultural specific assistance
Dr Aurora at PBD 2013
The theme of the 2013 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was: Engaging Diaspora: The Ttidia11 Growth Sto,y. :Many seminars, workshops and events linked to the rneme were held including an exclusive session d1at gave a platform to people from Kerala in the Gulf to air theu: grievances. In his inaugmal address, Union Minister for
IOverseas Indian .Affairs Vayalar
Ravi mged the delegates to air their issues openly at these sessions and exchange v iews and perspeccives.
Dr. Aurora who voluntarily attended t hese sessions said, "It was appalling to bear the stories of discrimination, lack of human rights and explo itation of people especially the plight of several illiterate 111.igrancs who ended up in prison due to an error in d1e paperwork filled in by their agents."
He continued, "During my stay I brief! y met Salman Klrn.rs llid, Cabinet wlinister of the Ministry of External Affairs; columnist and author Shashi Tharoor; Deputy Chief Mi11ister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, and had a meeting with Parneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs from Patiala. T also took the opportllnity to rem.ind the Prime Minister that his visit to Australia was long overdue" said Dr. Aurora.
Conventions like these provide a platform to d1e overseas Indian community to engage with t he government for mutllall y beneficial activ ities. They are also useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enab le d1em to share th eir experiences in various fields The PBD's main objective is co strengtl1en the diaspora's engagement with India "In th.at sense the PBD met its objective," remarked Dr Aurora. "However l wish the general public had more access to the Prime iVfinister and President. They were both kept away from me publi c under very tight security and I couldn't help comparing d1is with Australia and the fact that we have relatively easier access to people in power here".
Psychiatrist Dr Manjula O ' Connor, Vice Presiden t of AISV; and Chair of d1e Taskforce Against Domestic V iolence in Indian and Ethnic Communities, commented on the future direction of AISV
''ln 2010-20 l2 we worked on domescic violence with women of the Indian community Tllis year we plan to work wid1 Ind ian men. This is a p revention strategy.
''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
''Prevention of domestic violence is considered now as a more useful and fruitful area co target. The Taskforce will recruit men from d1e general Indian con111rn11iry. The project is an action researcl1 project, and will be conducted in partnership bet\veen AISV, the J\,felbourne University and the Australasian Centre for Hwnan Rights and Health (ACHRH) ," she said "\V/e have been fortunate in forming partnerships with a taxi company (who recruit young Indian men) and d1e Sikh Women's Network from Western Victoria in this project. T llis project witb Indian men wiJJ consis t of using community-based interaccive d1eatre to explore lnclian men's concept of DV; simultaneously raising awareness on the issue including legal and criminal implications W'e have secured partial fimcling for this project from d1e V ictoria Multicu.lmral Commi ssion and partly from ACHRH"
\\'.:'hen asked if achieving mis award would make any difference to how AISV wiJJ conduct itself in fmme, Dr. Gurdip .Aurora said, "\'(/e have worked bard for the last 50 years and we will continue to do so in futllre. T here will be no change to our normal routine and we will keep working wid1 d1e same dedication and keep contributing sigllificantly to d1e community," he said in conclusion.
ilie due process of Jaw.
He is well known as a skilled raconteur - and this time again, Justice ~t:ichael Kirby, lawyer, judge and social comment.'ltor, did not disappoint. Addressing a packed audience, the accomplished orator's trademark courage and intelligence shone through brilliantly as he tried co answer the question of wbat Gandhi would do today, and whether h is ideals are still relevanc. The occasion was the seco nd Gandhj Oration to mark Martyrdom Day, the day tl1e revered ] ndian leader was assassinated, and was organised by tbe Austrilia India Institute atUNSW
Moha ndas Gandhi and Michael Kirby, both lawyers and advocates of human rights, do have a few things in common. Just as Gandhi won me hearts of his people as he led them to independence from tbe British, so 1V1ichael Kirby has won the Jove and admiration of his own countrymen as he urges mem to think compassionately on a range of salient social issues
If one was tl1e Famer of the Nacion, the other is a National Living Treasure.
Kirb y spoke on Gandhi's position on a list of issues tl1a t hold special significance in h is own life: women's rights, climate change, animal rights and human sexuality.
The Delhi rape case of Decernber 2012 that brought the citizens of India out o n tbe streets, was bound to feamre in tl1e address. Justice IGrby outlined a sitnilar case that took p lace in Sydney in 1886, reminding the audience not to get "too sel frighteous about Delhi: violence against women is endemic in tbe world" He went on to appreciate me marmer in wh ich tl1e law has taken its course in me matter: tl1e setting up of two offic ial enquiries, and the holding back of the recommendation of the death penalty, beca L1se "hanging doe s not deter or prevent such offences. It is che risk o f de tection a nd speedy and proper determination of guilt mat does so" And mat, Kirby concluded, is what Gandhi would say about tl1e case: he would condemn tl1e brutality of tl1e act and t he di srespect for women i c showcased, and th en insist upon
And yet, Kirby pointed o ut, for a m an who espo u sed abimsa (nonviolence), Gandhi did not hesitate to recommend violence in case of sexual arracks, writing, "God ba s g iven (woman) n ails and teetl1 - she must use tbem ·witl1 a ll her strengtl1"
Reg arding clin1ate change, Kirby r ecognized Gandhi's doctrines of self- sufficiency and simplicity as tenets of an early envi ronmentalism. (One famous Gandhi quote would bave gone down well here: ·'Tbe earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not eve ry man's greed"). And although
IGrby dismissed as impractical Gandhi's "extreme solutions" in terms of spinning h is own clom and grinding bis own grai n , the mess age of ecological restraint, f-.:irby claimed, came chco ugb loud and cl ear
On animal we l fare, another of Kirby's recent pass ions, there was much common ground to be found. Kirb y himself mrned vege tarian a few years ago, and as patron of ilie animal welfare o rganisation Voiceless, be has been campaigning for better animal laws in Australia including legitimate farming and slaughtering m e tl,ods He recoun ted, to some amusement, Gandhi's early attempts at eating meat (ostensib ly co grow monger and fighr the British), and chastising himself for lying to his parents about ic. And altl1ough Gandhi's embrace o f vegetariani sm was for purposes of spirimaJ upliftment, Kirby's support of it is co "protect the oche r sentient creatures that s hare the planet wiili us".
Much has been w ritten on the topic of Gandhi's sexuali ty in recent years: bis vow of celibacy, his abhorren ce of birth control, his inscn1ccion of sex co yo ung men a nd women in his ashram, and his "experiments'' on s leeping arrangements involving young women - all of whid1 Kirby found "other-worldly and cliscon.nected w ith reility".
Yet it was his somewhat detailed description of me alleged bomoeroticism in Ga ndhi's life tl1at tbe audience will remember most from tl1e event. Of course, it was notl1ing new, taken as it was from the 2011 book Great S011/.· lvfahatma Gandhi and His Stmggle With fodia b y Joseph Lil yveld In tl1is controversial book ban ned in some parts of L1dia, Lilyveld chronicles the relationship between Gandhi
and Hermann Kallenbach, a Ge rman Jewish body-builder and archirecc, revealed through letters. These letters, part of Kal!eobach's estate, are now held in the National Archives of India. LiJyveld inferred fro m tl1e letters tbat tl1e two bad lived rogemer "afte r Gandlu terminated marital relations with his wife". The references to tl1eir "mumal love", co portraits in the bedroom, co vase line and cotron wool, and to "Upper House" and " Lower House" nomenclanire led to such conclusions. A passionate gay rig hts campaigner hin1selfhaving come our in 1999 - Kirby rook tl1e oppo r mnity to call fo r me Supreme Conn 's repeal of Section 377 of tl1e Indian Penal Code drafted b y Thomas Macaulay in 1837, w h ich outlaws homosexuility and stan ds vilid to mis day. The Delhi High Co urt - "a great, indepe ndent court" -
already invalidated tl1ar part of tl1e Code in 2009.
Inrerestiog!y, Lilyveld's work continues co be the o n l) source tl1at makes the clain1s on Gandhi's homoerocicism. Ocher works of Gand h i's sexu ilicy such as psychoanal ys t Sudhir Ka.kar 's Intimate Relations: Exp/ming Indian Sex11ali!)1 and ll'firn and tbe l'v[ahatma find no evi dence of homosexuality or homoeroticism. Other anal ys es of the letters suggest that the loaded terms could nor have been homoerotic for the time in which they were wticcen Kirby himself concluded, "A century on, who can tell what Gandhi meant?"
There is also the fact that no mention of homoerocicism is to be found in Gand h i's own w r itings - whic h is replete with honest accounts of other 'indiscretions' and 'm.isdemeanours' such as indulging his pass io n s ,vich his
wife while his father lay dying i.n tl1e room next door, visiting prostitutes oo at least five different occasions (bur being saved by 'God' in the nick of time each time), and indulging in n on -contact sex ual activity such as bathi ng and nude massages and lying next to you ng women. ''My file is my message," he said famous ly If he had the courage to w rite with such complete ho nest)', surely the homoerotic episodes would have found mention somewhere as well?
In t he encl though, it is Gandhi's g reat grandson Tusshar Gandhi tl1at has t he lase word: "What does it matter if tbe Mahatma was straight, gay o r bisexual? He would still be the man tl1ac Jed India to freedo m. " He helped change tl1e world for not onl y 400 million Indians in the 1 940s, but also many m o re citizens of the world , even as the cenmry ticked over.
Neville Rnach, Parron of the Australia India lnstimte and organiser of ilie event, spoke glowingl y about Michael Kirby's speech. ·'lt was a powerful piece of work, extensively researched and quire a balanced perspective on Gandhiji's positions on a vatie~' of issues," he said on Indian Link Rndio
"Gandhiji himself embraced se lf-critical evaluation, as we all shouJd, and would have looked upon Michael's speech w itl1 tolerance," he concluded
Kashmir's first girl te enage rock band Pragaash, or First Light, from Indian - administered Ka shmir has decided t o quit a f ter t he re gion's top Muslim cle ric declared their music to be "un -lslamic': a ccording t o the ir man a ger Pragaash , a three -piece group whose members are still in high school, had been the target of an online ha te campaign e ve r sin ce winning a "Battle of the Bands" contest in Srinagar in Dece mber.
For the fuse time in its service, the Indian Air Force (L'\F) will buy transport aircraft from private vendors to replace its ageing Avro fleet.
"We will release this month an RFP (request for proposal) to acquire 56 cargo aircraft from the pri vate sector fo r replacing the indigenously-built Avros, which will be phased out," Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne said at an aerospace event.
Of the 56 aircraft, 16 will be pro cured offthe-shelf and the remaining 40 will be built in the coLmtry by a private consortium of overseas a nd domestic vendors.
Estimated to cost a total of about $3 billion (Rs.16,000 c rore), the defence ministry's acqui sition council has recently allowed tl1e air force to Aoat a global tender to purchase a twin-engine cargo aircraft in six-eight tonne class, w ith a cruise speed of 800 km per h our and a range of 2500-2800 km.
The v intage Hawker Siddeley 748M Avros, built by the state-run defence behemoth Hindu stan Aeronau tics Ltd (HAL) d uring the 1960s, were inducted into the IAF transport fleet for ferrying its personnel as well as heavy equipment.
The Avros are also being used for rescue and relief missions.
''Acquisition from non- PSUs (p L1blic seccor undertakings) w ill encourage the Indian private sector to des ign and develop a modem transport aircraft for m ilitary operations," Browne said at die internation al seminar on ''Aerospace P roductsChallenges in Design to Development" , being held ahead of the nintl1 edition of me biennial Ae ro India trade event.
The programme will also enable tl1e vendo rs co service the a ircraft besid es encouraging sm all and mediw11 enterprises to develop parts, sub -systems and accessories, as the first 16 aircraft will have 30 percent
indigenous component and 60-80 percent in the remaining 40 aircraft.
Airbus Military with its C295 and J\Jenia Aermacchi with its C -27J are likel y to be in race for the multi -million dolliu: deal.
President Barack Obama bas awarded Rangaswarny Srinivasan, an lndian-American co -inventor of LASIK e ye surgery, wi th a national medal fo r science, technology and in novation along with 22 other researchers and inventors.
Srinivasan, 82, a.n inventor at IBM Thomas J. \Xlatson Research Ce n tre, rece ived die 20 I1 National J\,fed al of Technology and innovation with Samuel BlLm1and Jan1es \Xlynn e.
They were awarded for "me pioneering discovery of excimer laser ablative photodecompos ition of human and animal tissue, laying tl1e fo1U1dation for PRK and LASIK, laser refractive surgical cechni9 ues that have revolution ized vision enhancement," according co the \,'(/hire House citation.
Lauding tl1e recip ients for tl1eir hard work and contributions at a \Xlhite House ceremony, Obama joked that tl1ey represented "the g reatest collection of brainpower we've had UJ1d er tl1is roof in a long time."
The medals represent the highest honours tl, e US governmem can give to scientists, engineers, and inventors.
Speaking in the East Room of tl,e White House, Obama Aanked by Dr Subra Suresh, Indian-American head of the National Science Fmm clation, ilianked the recipients for "die sacrifices they've made, the chances me y've taken, (and.I the gallons of coffee they 've cons u med "
The president also used the opportunity to make a pitch for increased focus on science and tec hnology education, as well as
im migration reform.
"l.n a global economy, where the best jobs follow talent, whethe r in Calcutta or C leveland, we n eed to do everything we can to encourage that same kind of passion" that h as led co scientific breaktlu·oughs and innovation, he said.
m inority Musilm community in some districts of Bil,ar iliac has no written record or name.
Mo hammad Warsi, who teaches linguistics and lndian languages at the Washington University in St. Louis, said tl1e main language for communication in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Begnsarai and Muzaffarpur, is Maithili. But when Muslin1s speak among themselves, they speak a dialect that is different from Maitllili, Hi n di, and Urdu. This dialect does not have its own scri p t or literature , he said
T hi s might be tl,e reason tliat d,is dialect went unnoticed to lingni5ts so far, said Warsi, who is a recipienr of J ames E McLeod FacnJcy Recognition Award for 2012.
While doing a comparative study, Warsi said he found tlmt this new dialect is completely different from Hindi, Urdu, and Maithli and their verb conjugation and sentence structure, is quite different from each otl1er.
For example "\Y/e are going" ,vmtld be rendered "hum jaa ral1ai.n hain" in Hindi, " hll.111 jaay ral1al chhii" in Maithli and "hum jaa rahai n hai.n" in Urdu sentence. Bnt i n the new d ialect it would be: " ham jaa rahaliya hae" Also, there is no agentive marker " -n e" in Mithilanchal U rdu
Only one second person p ronoun " tu" is used in die new d ialect instead of ''ru, tum and aap".
From tl1ese exan1ples, it is clear tl1at the verb conjugation i n the new dialect is completely different from tl1ac of Hindi, Urdu, and Maitl,li , \Xlarsi said.
Wa rsi, a native of Darbhanga district in Bihar has given t he nomenclature of 'Mithifanchal U rdu' to tl,is dialect.
Bengali, Gujarati among top 10 languages in Britain
Punjabi, U rdu, Bengali and Gujarati ate among the cop 10 languages s poken in Britain according to latest census figures.
BBC reported that tl,e nw11ber of people in England and \Xlales who could not speak any English was 138,000.
Accorcli.ng co the 2011 census, after English, the second most reported language \Vas Polish, witl1 546,000 speakers, followed by Punjabi and Urdu.
Some four million peop le - or eight pe rcent of che population - reported speaking a different la nguage other than English or Welsh.
The top 10 repor ted lang uages were English, followed by Polish, Punjabi , Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, Arabic, Fren ch , C hinese (excluding Mandarin and Can tonese) and Portuguese.
Not all languages were spoke n, with 22,000 peop le using sign language, BBC reported. English or Welsh was tl1e main language fo r 92 percent • or 50 million • of res idents aged three and over.
Of t hose wi tl1 a main language otl1er tl1an English, 1.7 m illion could s peak English very well, while 138,000 conJd not speak English at all.
In London, 1.7 million residents used a main language other than English.
A US based Indian linguist claims to lmve discovered a new dialect spoken by the
"Language does n ot have any boundaries, nor is ic dependent on any boundary;" be said.
" Dialects are the contact languages of particular regions, and tl1ey have a deep in1pacc on tl1eir cultural heritage," he said. "Slowly witb time tl1ese d ialects begin to take shape o f l anguages."
T h e convergence of a dialect into a language is a symbol and prid e of t he peop le who speak it, Warsi said soggesting the incl u sion of tl1e new di alect in a recentl y initiated nationwid e lingui stic survey Kashmir
The teacher of tl1e all-girl rock band against whom a 'faLwa' was issued said mac me girls have stopped perfornli ng even as Chief Minister Oma r Abdullal, promised police investigations into the threat.5.
Adnan Muhammad Mattoo, who trai ned the three Class 10 girls before they fo r med the valley's fuse girls' rock band said " Since the grand mufti, whom we treat as part of tbe government, says tl1ey mus t not play music, tl1e tluee girls have decided co 9uit"
" l formed the val.ley's first rock band, B lood Rock, seven years ago. I now feel seven years of m y life have been wasted. l have also decided to 9 uic and give up m y pursuit o f rock music," Marcoo said.
He added that tl,ere are nearly 40 rock bands in tl,e state. "Their future is also i n doldrwns now," he said.
After receiving threats on the social media , tl, e family sources of the three girls who formed the Pragaash band said tl1ey had told their wards not to continue their pursuit.
Ba~hir-ud -din Ah med, head of d1e Muslim
clergy in Kashmir, issued a 'fatwa' (religious decree) asking the parents of the three girls ro impart religious education to their daughters and labelled [he girls' performance as "a shameful act".
Separatist leade rs also disapproved of the girl's band and said: ' 'This (band) was against moral values and [bey (the girls) should refrain from s inging. There is no place for such act~ in Is lam."
Chief rvlinister Omar Abdullah had hoped on his micro-blogging Twitter site that the three talented girls would not give up under threats from "a handful of morons".
AbduUab also said he would have the threats against the gids investigated.
Mehbooba Mufti, president of opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), said here Monday that Kashmiri women singers like Raj Begum, Kailash Mehra and Shamima Azad had been w idely appreciated and encouraged. ''I don't know what religious reasons the grand mufti had to i ssue his decree, bur 1 feel it is bei ng b lmvn out of proportion," she said
PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar cold media persons: "Music is part of our spiritual culture s ince decades. Kashmir bas produced many women singers and Kashmiris are still fond of their son!,>s."
RLiling National Conference leader
Mustafa Kamal said: "The chief minister has said he would provide security to these girls if they want to pursue their passion. He bas also said he would not intervene if the girls decided to give up their pursuit of music."
Taking strong exception to the 'fatwa', state BJ1l ch ief spokesperson J itendra Singh said: ' 'These (fundamentalists) who are uncomfortable w ith the return of normalc y in Jammu and Kashmir want to keep the Kashmir pot boiling for their vested in reres ts."
He added: "These are elements which do nor want the youtb of Kashmir to be a part of the national mainstream in democratic lndia."
The band Pragaash (morning light) comprising three Class 10 girls, ir,ive their first live performance at Srinagar's music festival, Battle o f the Bands, Dec last year. States w ill invite b ids for power to meet demand States will invite bids for procuring electricity to br idge tli e ir,ip in demand and supply in tbe next six montl1s, die government said. It is part of a package of measures power ministers of states and un ion territories reso lved to ad opt to improve tl1e country's power simation after a meeting with union
Power M inister Jyotiradicya Scindia.
A power ministr y statement said die states will now invite bids for procurement of power to rneet the L1.11covered gap in demand and supply within tlie next six months through Case 1 bidding.
Case I is an open b id where the developer has to decide for fuel and location and compete against any other developer.
"State gover nments would prepare plans covering generation and trans mission infrastrucmre for all time horizons and would procure about 90 percent power of their requirement wider long-term or medium- term agreements," the staten1ent said.
Briefing media persons on the progress of the financial restrucnu:ing programme (FRP) for dirn.ibution companies (discoms), Scindia
said 5 out of seven "focus" states had agreed co take part in the scheme.
"Five states are already on board (the FRP). Their total short- term liability is close to Rs.120,000 crore. We are speaking to the finance ministry for tbe approvals so that in die near furure, next week, we'll be able to take it forward," Scindia said.
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are the states which have commited to the FRP.
In September last year, the Cabinet approved the restrucnuing package for discoms ' debt burden, which stood at a s taggering Rs. 246,000 crore at encl of :March 2012.
Under the scheme, 50 percent of the short- term outstanding liabili ties would be taken over by state govermnents. The balance 50 percent loans would be restructured by providing moratorium on principal and best possible terms for repayments.
The 6th conference of power ministers o f states and UTs deliberated several issues regarding providing affordable and adequate power to consumers and making electricity accessible to all , particularly in those areas diat are not com1ected wid1 the grid.
lt was also decided that tl1e state governments would ensure the accounts of die utilities, up to 20 1 1- 12, are audited and finalised by Marc h 2013, and in future the accounts of a financial year are audited b y September of the following financial year as pe r tl1e Companies Act States would ensure that discoms fi le multi-year tariff petition and that State Electricity Regu.larory Commissions (SERCs) announce multi-yea r ta.tiff as per the National Tariff Policy.
IT major Wipro Ltd's global hydraulics business Lmveiled its aerospace facility in tl1e s pecial economic zone (SEZ) at Devan.ahalli near the airport on the city's outskirts.
Set up with an upfront investment of Rs.650 million in a 7.2 acre campus, the country's first of its kind p lant has an installed capacity ro manufacnire about 2 ,000 actuamrs annually for various aerospace applications.
An acmator is a device used to contro l
hydraulic flu.id or pneumatic pressure in a mechanical or e lectronic system and convert this energy inro motion.
" Om acmators will have various applications in aircraft, including landing gear, fl ight control systems, engines and utilities," Wipro lnfrastrucrure Engineering president Pratik Kumar said on the occasion.
The g lobal actuator systems market is estimated robe around $3 billion.
"Our vision is to build a significant presence in the aerospace and defense market, leveraging on our experience and competence in precision engineering and mac.hi.rung space," Kumar said.
The compan y's engineering div ision tied up in May 2011 witli Spanish firm Compania Espanola de S istemas Aeronauticos SA, a subsidiary of the European Aerospace and Defence Corporation , EADS, to manufacn1re precis ion engineering components.
"The pact involves techno lo g y transfer as well as mannfacturing aerospace acmators and related precision engineering components b y Wipro for CESA.," Kumar said
The compan y plans to double the investment over the next six years to expand capacity to about 8,000 actuacors per annw11 and add new product lines in precision manufactured components.
"\Y/e have big plans for this bus iness and are in talks with several p layers to develop multiple product li nes as tlie facility, with end - co-end capabilities from product development, manufacturing to testing, is well positioned to partner global QE,\1s/ tierIs, which are looking to extend their s upply chains to cost-competitive cow1tries like India and to meet their offset obligations," said engineering business head SL1.11il Rajagopalan.
The facility will commence its serial production in April.
Wipro c hairman Azim Premji, EADS / Airbus vice-president Klaus Ric hter and Karnaraka's principal secretary (industry) M.N. Vidyashankar were present on the occasion.
Now Ramaya na in Po lish 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 ,vestern writers. In the 20th century, some attempts were made to translate a few more chapters.
lt seems Krzyzowski collected the material from dozens of books and presented in a coherent maimer so that a reader could sustain his interest \Vh.ile going through d ifferent cl1apters. The original was penned by Maharishi Valm.iki in Sanskrit.
"My main purpose was to translate this epic i.nco 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 lndian mythological tradition
"Ramayana and Mahabharata are two great epics which cannot (be) compared w ith other epics. Even Greek epics come our as pale shadows when we see the canvas of the lndian ep ics They are almost unique in the history of mankind," Krzyzows ki cold reporters.
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 Ranilila for Polish schoolchildren with the help of the Embass y of India in Warsaw:
"He has done great justice to promote lndia in h is nation He deserves all our praise and we feel proud that such a gem is ,vitl1 us in Po land," said the Indian ambassador Monika Mohra.
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 Tan sen were well-received along with books of Urdu maste rs like Mir Taqi Mir, i\fuza Ghalib, Fi.rag Gorakbpuri, Paiz Ahmad Paiz that he translated with Surender Zah.id, an Urdu poet in Warsaw.
Krzyzowski is the president of IndiaPoland Cultural Conmlirtee since its inception in 2004. IANS
India launched its first Biennale for Contemporary Art in Kochi on 12/12/12 and according to art critics worldwide, it has been a huge success.
The Kochi Biennale story is one of integrity, hard work, sacrifice, leadership, determination and gurs by the Biennale Foundarion and a handful of political leaders who maintained a belief that India can again foster big picmre inspiration and that ir deser ves nourisbmenr of the newe st ideas.
1n 2010, the then Cultural Minister for Kerala Mr M A Baby and well- known KeraJa artists Bose Krishnamachari and Ryas Komu initiated the Indian Biennale idea and succeeded enormous ly in pulling it off. Ir was affirmed in the office of the Prime Minister, and the Kochi Muzi.ris BiennaJe Foundarion was formed with d1e date set at December 12, 20 12 (12/12/12).
Bur for the visionary leadership of these few, Inrlia's first real contemporar y art event almost would not have happened. Ir was plagued by baseless allegations of corruption and beset by gover nment enquiries. When public funding was wid1drawn after a change of stare government, the Biennale Foundation forged on and attracted private s p on so rship.
T o t heir credit they produced a magnificent show, which die world of arr is talking about. Australia coo can be proud of backing a winner as out of 6 international project supporters, 3 are Australian: the Australia Council, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Trade and Asia Llnk.
Of the 80 artists, 6 were Australian and an adrlitional 10 Australians were involved in satellite shows, as well as Melbourne U niversity and the U nivers ity of Soudi Aus11·alia.
Kochi is not just interesting, but also the right choice for lnrlia 's first Biennale a nd Keralires should be proud. Thi s coastal city was a thriving cosmopolitan centre for hundreds of years before Europe even knew that the East existed! Kochi has the first mosque in India, die first church and
d1e first synagogue. It has held communities of Arabs, Chinese and Europeans al o ngside the dynamic Dravidians, and is rhe only p lace in India where duee different European nations ruled consecurively and continuously for over 400 yea rs. Kochi had die second elected communise government in the world and is still die most literate stare in lndia.
It seems d1at Kochi i s d1e natural home for new ideas The island of Fort Koch.i where the Biennale is centred, offers a contained yet spacious environment to exhibit and create work, acconm1odace visitors and artists, all with.in walking distance of venues. le has a multitude of abandoned spice warehouses, lanes, walls and forgotten gardens, pungent widi memory and character. The Biennale foundation has mrned many into world-class arr spaces.
The huge Aspin Wa ll House, an abandoned space and coconut f:ib re trade house on the sea waJl, is the main venue. \Vorks are dis played in small and vast rooms, previous ly kitchens and offices. ln pours an abundance of tropical light, and outside are immense cargo ships and wooden fishing boars so close you can touch diem. It is potentially tbe most picnrresque biennale venue in the world.
The venues, location, histor y combined w ith the sheer determination to make rhe event wo rk with the raw ene1·gy of international and local artists working side by side in hear and humidity widi tradesmen and lahourers, all came together to create a fierce audienticiry d1at makes the KMB a very ln dian and a very new and in1porranc art e.,petience for d1e world.
Some of the accusations hurled ar the organisers were of elirism and exclusivism, ye t I wimessed both Artistic Directors Bose and R yas, as well as high profile members of the organising committee, attend communi ty event after communi ty evenr when no one else was looking. On one day they were ,velcoming the world's mosc impor tant artists ro lndia:
AiWei Wei, die director of
and the next day d1ey were
Ernesto Neto, Life is a River
at the Cochin Carnival community event with 25 local women in a small temple. t o entourage, no pretence; the office is open, bustling and focussed everyday
An avid audtence
Most importantly however, I wimessed the rare delight of ordinary people engaging with contemporary art for the first time, and loving it. The difficult videos of Pakistani artist Rashid Rana who uses tiny moving cut squares from pornographic videos, which are inoffensive, yet somehow seductive; tl1en there is a collage that depicts victims of a suicide bombing. In a terrib le moment of recognition we are fo rced to link
seductio n and violence, forced to acknowledge a horrific familiarity.
There was a policeman who spoke little English, b u t knew every sensitive video piece by Australian artist Angelica l\1[esti by heart, who showed me aro1md
Moidu's house. I saw crowds of families reading tl1e heart-breaking books of Amar [(anwar's rec ords of farmer suicides, page by page and watching open - mouthed die h idden protests against forced land accusation by villagers in Chhattisgarh. 1 saw auto driv ers parking their 3 -wheelers and coming in to see sculpmres by Subodh Gupta, videos by Chinese artists and installati ons by South African artists. I spoke to lawyers,
businessmen, srudenrs, children, housewives and u nemployed labourers in exhibition halls who had favourite pieces. I saw a mum a nd ber two teenage daughters in full Islamic dress laughing like children as they discovered a sculpnire in Cabral Yard. I saw the slow drip feed of idea s seeping inro the local psyche: a worker temrned from Dubai who was motivated co enter one of his photos i.n a nati on al competition and won; an engineer p icking up his pen to write creatively after spending days in the free library of art and design in David Hall; a chai shop owner talking to the media about the value oi art after his portrait drawn on a wall became
Aspinwall House
the centre of a controversy.
There's taU, of a sid e exhibition of t hose inspired by the Biennale at its next event.
Art Ii berated!
Room after room of sensitive, intelligent, gutsy, humb le artworks, and I could not progress without stopp ing to call a fri end to share t he delig ht After years of seeing exhibitions of paintings in Delhi and Mumbai by artists desperate to sell tbeir wor k to survive, here comes this confident explosion of audacious tenacity Arr liberated! I was deeply moved by t he focussed humanity that had gone imo d1 is exhibition. This event represented ever y potential
goodness l knew existed in the new lndian psyche
J\rt is about ideas, not products. Art is a container for ideas, if you like. Ideas are the raw material for creativity Creativity expands personal freedom and accelerates human progress, not necessarily in industry but also in relatio n ships, w 1derstanding, inventions, design, sensitivity, health and the underl ying reasons for why we do what we do. An is an essential ingredient of a d ynamic and heald1y soci ety. Art gives us not only the tools, but also the permiss ion to think. So if you like ideas a nd you love India, get to Koch.i before March 13, and see India shining.
new international works on screens and rarely have a chance to view them for real. curiosity on how Indian artists reflected the rapid changes India was experiencing.
ver the last decade much has been spoken of the ' boom' in Indian art, sparked by an increase in purchasing power of the middle classes coupled with an international
This boom however, was short lived. Many galleries were exploiting a new market and it could also be argued that an unsupported art infrastructure in India - museums, critics, pub l ication s, tertiary courses and events - meant that there was not sufficient depth to sustain it
Supporters of the arts know that aeative societies are prosperous ones and that a sustainable arts sector cannot happen without public and private funding for experimental art and an art-educated public. For this to happen, large public events for the visual arts are required. Over 150 cities worldwide now host Biennales. A Biennale for contemporary art is an event for which India has been crying out.
The idea of an International Indian visual art event is not new to
The recent boom/ bust renewed interest in the visual arts and soon the India Art Fair in Delhi originated. However, like art fairs across the world, it is an art supermarket where the price tag is often more important than the ideas within the work. Money always turns heads, but ideas are more difficult to sell; hence a Biennale, where nothing is bought nor sold but instead simply invites people to engage with ideas, was harder to get off the ground.
Visual art has the reputation of being the most avant garde of all of the art genres; a little different from performing arts and l iterature. It is non-conformist, but provides a richer space for ideas and is often controversial.
The lack of public or private funding for radical experimentation or conceptual art in India has forced most practicing artists either out of India or into commercia l applications, such as paintings for home decoration. It has also meant that l ocal artists have to see
The eterna l problem for artists worldwide is the tyranny of commercial galleries, that is, making what people want to buy. One antidote to this is what has become known as a ' Biennale, invented in Venice inl 895. This i s a curated exhibition happening every two years and is usually attached to a city. Biennales are expect ed to be the apex of avant garde, where the most complex ideas in art give a censorship-free snapshot of the current social philosophical and political landscape from that city's perspective. Indian artists have been well represented in international Biennales for decades, and their highly sophisticated ideas about India have been consumed by foreign audiences.
Indian audiences and Indian artists came together in a serious space to discuss reviving an interest in contemporary art, and thus was born the conce pt of the Kochi Muzirls Biennale Foundation. /)t1111r'!<.,,mul/1 '11: J11rh.dt,11t ,.r1t:larl11111ilf,l,,1.1lilrt! mdu"r~ d lf,lfJt:rtiu ,n 1111/i,1.fnrl/lrr 5J·ran..1pr11It11111,rtt!I 11! //,r. Hio.1 t1fr Ui'dlmg n 11 1r,,r/
the country The Triennale of contemporary a rt spearheaded by writer Mulk Raj Anand began in 1968 under the La lit Ka la Akademi. This sadly folded and India was left in the dark.Mahatma
Both Hindu and Muslim fanatics are up in arms against artistic and literary freedom in lndia One of their targets is the ol d "sinner" Salman Rushdie. But there are two others.
One of them is social scientist Ashis Nandy, who stirred a hornet's nest by saying at the Jaipur Literature Festival chat most of the corrupt people in the country happened co be from the lower castes (he s,lid this in a certain context that was ignored) It is a slur which champions of these communities can hardly ignore i f only because their entire political career is based on promoting caste consciousness that fuels antipathy towards the upper castes.
kowtowing clid nor satisfy them i s, however, evident from Rushdie's decision to scay away from the Jaipur Literature Festival last year because of the government's reluctance to guarantee llim protection
And this year too, he had to call off a visit to Ko lkata for the same reason along with filmmaker Deepa Mehta in connection with the rel ease o f Midnight} Chilrlre11, a film based on llis Booker prizewinning book of the same name.
The government did nor even allow the film to be shot in India fo r fear of offending fundamentali sts. As a result, Mehta had to shoot the film in Sri Lanka
}IBY NOEL G DE SOUZAMaliaana Gandlli, die Father of the Indian nation, was a comple.x person, like many other great people. However the thing whic h stands out was that he was a peaceful man, even to the point of naivete. There has been no other such person in India's history since its independence.
President Barack Oban1a openly professes his admiration for Gandhi He told sn1dents at die Wakefield High School in Arlington in 2009 that Gandhi represent5 die power of chru1ge through erhics, and how to use morality ro foster change. Obama pointed out to the srudenrs that Gandhi m ade people realise t hat di ey had powe r within tl1emselves and char that power needed to be used to help others, an d not to oppress them.
There are those who
The government is reluctant to
Another film, which is having to run die Foremost among them is Dalit czarina Mayawati, wbose slogan at one time was: "Tilak, tm-azu aur ta!1JJat; inko f!larojootry chm:" It meant bear with shoes the Brahmins (who wear ' tilak' on the ir foreheads), Banias (w ho weigh the goods in their shops w ith 'tarazu'
''ga untler of the Mus lim nillitanrs is Kamal Haasan's Vish1JJaroopa111 even act against the trouble - makers in though i t shows an Indian Muslim intelligence officer battling lslanlic fanatics in Afghrulistan and s hould be a matter of pride therefore for "patriotic" Muslims, as Haasan said.
case it i s seen to be directed against the community as a whole.
or pair of scales) and Kshatriyas (the warrior class who sport 'talwar' or sword and hold second p lace after Brahmins in caste hierarchy).
Mayawati's demand was that Nandy be arrested forthwith under an act w llich seeks to protect Dali ts and adivasis (tri bals) from atrocities.
What she did not care to consider was whethe r the Jaw, meant to safeguard these commu nities from a continuation of the cenmries -old social denigration, could be applied to a scholarly thesis. It has to be noted that rhe person mentioned by Nandy in this context was former JharkJ1and chief nlinister Madhu Koda, a tribal, who is now in jail on charges of corruption.
The p oint, however, is not about who is right and who is wrong. It is about whether a renowned sociologist h as die right co express an opinion based on his scudy of the social and political scene - or whether he should be pm in jail for saying what he believes to be correct
Nandy is not the first academic, of course, who has to confront t he b igots. Nor Jong ago, die Oriental Research fostirute in Pune was vandalised because h istorian James W. Laine had worked there while preparing a biograph y of Shivaji, wh ich was nor Liked by the present-day admirers of the Maliarashtrian warrior.
Arguably, if vandal s a nd intemperate politicians are having a free nm in the matter of intimidating those holding contrarian views in their opinion, the reason is that the governments at both the centre and in the sta tes have tended to yield ground co the extremists.
One notable instance of such a retreat was the banning of Ru sh di e's novel The Satanic Verses, by die Raj iv Gandhi government in 1988 under pressure from Muslin1 hardliners. The fact that the
''The standard explanation given by the Muslim radica ls for lambasting Rushdie or Haasan is that they have hurt the conuimniry's religiou s sen timents.
It is the same argument which compelled Galileo to deny in the 17th century that the earth moved round tl1e sun since his claim was found hurtful to t heir beliefs by Christians at the tim e. Ir took the Catholic church three centuries to offer a formal apology for its denunciation of the astronomer.
Yet, this argument is offered time and again in 21st century India to satisfy rhe prejudices of the diehards. [n view of the difficulties which his film faces, Haasan has even said that he ma)' have to seek refuge in a secul ar countr y just as painter M F. Husain had ro Aee from India and die in exil e because of the threat posed by Hindu storm- troopers.
Regrettab ly, it is no secret that the silent majority of Hindus and 1\.'Iuslims do nor subscribe to the irrationalism of the fanatics.
Ye t, the government is reluctant to ace against the a·oub le-makers in case it is see n to be directed against the community as a whole.
Interestingly, the Marxis t s are no berrer despite their c laim to be p rogressive, for i t was when the y were in power in West Benga l that the controversial Bang ladeshi audior, Taslima Nasreen, had to leave Kolkata because of the disturbances caused by a mi.nor Muslim outfit.
There i s little doubt that the decline of tl1e Congress and t he growtli of backward - looking parties based on speci fic casres ru1d communities are responsible for the prevailing cultural terrorism
Gandhian methods helped India gain its freedom from the British and t h e French which were democratic cow1tries, but failed when i t came to tl1e Porn1guese under rhe dictatorial rule of Salazar. Peaceful demonstrators con sider J\fohandas Karamchand Gandhi ('mahatma' is a title meaning 'great soul') to be a naive and impractical person Por exru11ple, Gandhiji (a respectful address) believed that passive resistru1ce by Jews against the Nazis could help them to u ltin1ate ly ·win their right~ History has
''Duri ng his famous speech , ' We have a dream ' on Capitol Hill, Martin Luther Ki ng and his supporters around him wore white Gandhi caps
(satqyagrd) marching into Goa in 1955 we re met by g1mfire and mowed down. Several were killed.
In 1961, India ultimately seized control of tl1e Pormguese possessions widli.n Lidia through military means. 1n 1975, the army overthrew the undemocratic successor to the late Salazar regime and clearly proven otl1erwise.
Gandhiji hailed from the state of Gujarat. When h e moved from Britain to South Africa, he was smartly dressed and sac in a carriage reserved for whi tes. But d1ough he was fair- skinned, he was thrown out of the carriage because a white person objected to h is presence there. This scarred the C ivil Rights movement i n South Africa.
After rerurning to India, fo r a time Gandhij i Li ved in Gujru·at which was known then for its Hindu -Muslim amiry. 1n recent decades ironically, Gujarat has seen communal riots in die city o f Godhra. In 2002, a railway carriage carr ying activists ren,rning from Ayodhya was set on fire, reportedly by extremist Mus li ms (over 30 of them were lacer convicted); fifry- nine person s were killed including women and children.
1n retaliation, Hindu activists set tire to Muslim shops and homes, resul ting in over a thousand deaths. The current prenlie r of the State has been blam ed for the incident, but he denies ru1y involvement.
Gandhiji 's methods of peaceful and nonviolent agitation secured In dia's freedo m from British rule. His methods worked admirably witlun tlie parruneters of a democratic society. That is why Gandhian ideas of 'pass ive res istance' (called '.ra!Jagraha' or action for truth, d1at is, for justice) have been successfully used in South Africa, tl1e USA and Zimbabwe
Gandhian mediods helped to secure rights for Afro-America n s in the USA. Gandhi's methods were emulated by Martin Luther King] nr in rbe Civil Rights movement in the USA. During bis famous speech , 'We have a dream' on Capitol Hill, King and his supporters around him wore white Gandhi caps. People were reminded of char speech during the Atlanta Olympic Games w hen images of Gandhi were prominently displayed.
''soon after, democracy was re-established in Portugal. The co untry tl1en signed a a·eaty recognising fodian sovereignry over its former possessions.
Today, the relationship between Porrugal and India is a ver y friencU y one. There are thousands of fodians (both Christians and Hindus) Living in Lisbon where signi ficantl y, there are two scames of Gandhi in the ciry. There was one m.1e foUower of Gandhi who lived a selfless life. He was Acharya
Vinoba Bhave, a freedom fighter who was jailed for agitating against British colon ial rule i n l 932. He was known in a Limited circle becau se of his writings in llis native Marathi l twas Gandhij i him self who introduced hin1 to Lidia in 1940. Bhave ,vas a spiriru ally minded person who had d eeply sn1died di e major Hindu texts and commented on them , as weUas some on Islam and Christianiry. He sta ted that hi s main purpose was rhe union of hearts. Bhave dedicated himself to achieving land distribution to the poor by persuading large landowne rs to d onate land, in what became well known as die bhoodan (gift of land) movement.
GMdhiji's utopia was an India composed of self-s u ffic ient villages. Since then, urbanisatio n has skyrocketed and what were o nce smaU rowns are now growing urbru1 centres To protect rural jobs, the government has allocated certain industries to rural area s. It is essential tl1ar jobs having mass employment be protected. Thus a maclli.ne invented to mechanise tl1e production of a local cigarette- rype item (bid,) was banned, as it would create mass rural tmemployment.
In India, Gandh ism is still alive in tl1e rural sector However, growing intolerru1ce and vociferous activism is harming tli e country's political fabric
Gandhi's unique ideals were adopted across the world, but their relevance seems to be paling in India today
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tha t need to be changed or a complete re-haul! It's scary to see tl1e falling service levels and rising expense level s Let's look at tl1e services provided by the domestic staff.
s it finally happe ning - are we witness ing the rise of t he East? Is the ,vorld tilting, the powers sh ifting? Are we looking ar India rising and lndia shining?
Is lndia lnc all golden?
Or does it have some deep, dark greys?
This question hallllts me as I return to Sydney after a 2 -momh holiday back ' home' in Mumbai.
The ci ty of Mumbai, a city I've caUed home for 25 years, always did bear to its own drums. It's truly a city that never sleeps; it fiUs you with a manic ene rgy, a crazy insatiable zest for something. I felr like an 'energizer bunny' buzzing around a ll day and all night, giddy, restless and unab le to sleep.
It felt like l should be doing things, achieving sometl1ing, digging for gold!
The roads are packed. Traffic is a snarl bm tl1e cars are aU high end - from Audis to BMWs, Ferraris, Me res, Le,xus, Hondas, Toyo tas, Skodas. The city i s changing: there is huge amount of mone y being earned and spent - it's the middle and upper middle class spending on lifestyle!
Tbe roads maybe broken in pares, but along these are maUs and more maUs - b igger, brighter, more extravagant and boasting of brand s from around the world : spas, salons, beer cafes, lounges, theatres, multiplexes, parlours, lifestyle and hobb y s tores rep lacin g the humb le kim11t1 shops.
Fine dining restaurants with cuisines from around the world are peppered across tl1e city. An average meal cost per person at one of tl1e 'new age' cafes ranges from Rs 1200 to Rs1500 (average $25).
Tbe new residential complexes come buil t w itl1 all the bells and whistles - ntbber paved p lay areas for kids, swimming pool, clubhouse, g ames court, spas, mini theatres and security systems. Each home has a maid, cook, nanny a nd driver - along wi th the grandn1other supervising the daily chores and the granclchildren's activities!
Eve rything is ordered over the phone and de livered at home.
From medicines to milk, from daily needs to fanc y needs - aU it takes is one phone caU.
And it functions 24/7!
There are 300 channels on
W
TV from which ro choose , and BoUywood has become big bus iness. Films are cross ing the R s l 00 crore mark, and Mumbai is buzzing with MONEY!
There is investment in infrastructure; the Sea Link which has been built over the sea connecting Bandra to South Mumbai (\Xlor li) is world class.
Travelling on tl1e bridge, as tl1e Mumbai skyline comes into view, you know yo u are in o ne of the major cities of tl1e world.
The Jl.1fetro construction is also underway.
Most of our friends who are emp loyed by the corporate sector are now also venmring into being entrepreneurs. Besides their day jobs tl1ey are becoming restallrateurs, firm owners, etc.
High risk, high returns! Looks like the city of i\fambai is p la ying me high stakes game!
This is India lnc: sh ining brigh t and go lden.
Or is it?
On the sur face, i t seemed W,e easy answer. There was
p lenty of evidence to support tl1e hypothesis of Jndia's phenomenal progress, aU golden, proud and brave.
However, digging deeper and looking beyond tl1e gold, I found cracks which seemed very grey, very deep and unaddressed.
The first crack , wh ich is personal to me and perhaps to many families in our situation, is tl1e service leve l and support provided to parents in tl1eir o ld age.
Lacklustre support se rvices with little adherence to process, ethics or humaniLy ! Mose se rvices are de.Li vered patl1eticaUy, and often fo r the elderly, it is a curse to get anything repaired or serviced.
I t could be the TV, washing machine, laptop, camera, microwave, it's always tl1e same Story.
A fter inm1merable calls, repeated requests and humble p leas, half- hearted anempts are made b y technicians co solve the problem. Evenrnally it always leads co more repair costs, parts
'Maids in Mumbai' co m e equipped with certain prerequisites about working hours, bonuses, holidays, perks, loans, advances etc The y all carry mobile phones, iPods, and a 'don't talk to me, I will do what I want' policy while working!
The cooks, or sho uld I say 'chefs', behave like they are cookin g for a 3 -hat restaurant. oses in the air, they will only cook certain types o f food and of course, the ingredients have to be hi g h -e nd The domestic sta ff are holding to ran som hap less Indian families acc usto med to tl1eir support
One of the deepe.5t and mos t fundamental cracks in the system is the medical service, com mercialis ed and full of contradictions.
B ig shiny, beautiful hospitals, state-of- the- art equipment, doctors with advanced degrees - it's a.LI tl1erel Unformnately it's acc o mpanied by expensive but shoddy services and practices which inspire Li ttle faitl1. Again, l heard man y horror stories of wrong diagnosis and treatment, and expensive tests tha r were n ot needed.
It is di stressi ng to see tl1e h elpless ness and pain our parents feel while trying to live and cope with their daily lives, encountering big issues with simple things, which defeat them.
So what can old people expect from 'India Shining' in their twiligh t years? Are rhere adequate social support systems, legal systems, and consumer forums to protect chem and make life easier for t hem ?
Maybe we should discuss this in the new cafe down the Jane.
Anotl1er debatable topic is the education system in India roday. Th ere are n ew fancy sch ools with international boards bur questionable admission processes, donations, super h.iked fees, etc.
After various discussions and drinks witl1 farniJ y and friends, there is only one conclusion I can safely reach: it remains a very complex and c o nfusing issue.
lodia shines today, bur hiding behind me glitter are some very deep -rooted issues.
There is plent)' of wealth being generated; however depending on where you sit in the equation, the spectrum shifts to gold or grey.
Eac.h hnme has a ma id, cook, nanny and driver -along with !hi: grandmother ~upErvising th e daily ch1Jres iind the gramk hildren's activit ies!
Th P. fil'st cra (k, which isper.sonal to me und perhap s to many .families in our situation! is th e .service !€:ve! and supµol't µrovided to paren1 s therP. in their old agE
While the cru ise ship I trave lled on no longer operates, the high ly recommended Assam Benga l Navigation s Suka pha does, an ex perience I find not dissimila r to travelli ng with fr iends. Assam Benga l Navigation ope rates cru ises from Kolkatato Fa rakka on the HugIi and from Fara kka to Pat na on the Ganges. The cru ises may be taken separate ly or combined. TheSu ka pha is compact at 40 metres long and with a maximum of 24 guests; it ma intains an on board ambience convivial to relaxation Cabins are spacious with a lounge, dining and observat ion deckfor viewing the pas~ng scene ry Contact: Ind ia: Assam Bengal Navigation Co. Tel :9192070 42330 E - ma il: sales@assambengal.inWebsite:www.assambenga lnavigat ion com
Singa pore Airli nes flies from Austra lia to Singapore wit h connections to dest inat ions across India incl uding Kolkata ACCOMMODATION in Kolkata lo experience exemp lary serv ice ingracious surrounds the Oberoi Grand is a hotel that harks back to a bygone era. Contact Tel: 9133 2249 2323 emai l re servat ions@oberoi-cal.comor www.oberoihotels.com
Descend
ccording to organisations like Bowel Cancer Australia and The C ancer Co u ncil A ustralia, bowel cancer is the second largest ca use of cancer deaths in Australia. Not necessarily restricted w an age group, bowel cancer is more prevalent in older peop le and we are enco uraged nationwide to partake in voluntary bowel cancer sc re ening testS once we've hit the fifty mark. (As k your GP about symptoms and testing regardless of yom age).
When my body's 50,000 miles service came up, J had a few sym proms but found man y very p la us ible reasons fo r m y symptoms nor to be b owel cancer so I d id n't bother getting tested. 1 arc quite well and exe rcised so mewhat, l wasn't ove rweight and my general health was good except fo r the onset of trawna arthritis from a prior close encounter in the d c rriere of nl)' wee ca r b y an idiot in h is humungous 4WD. Perhaps the 4WD was still in situ, up my derrierc Thar's another who le sto ry about getting it up the clacker b y 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 char my gut's we ll travelled witho ut man y incidents of Delh i b elly JJoweve r, one of d1e major stresses on my g u r and its s urrounds is purely <l ue to my preperformance nerves p rior to doing a srnnd-u p appearance,
especially a high-stress g ig
It was spook y getting DeJhj b e ll y eac h rime I had tO get in m y Indian character fo r a show. I'd spend at least five hours prior to an evening gig playing a frenzied ver s ion of musical chairs with the d u nny b owl. I was probab ly a kilo or two lighter by the time 1 got on stage and as soon as my name was anJ10 Lu1ced, T'd need m do a po o - n ow that's a uthentic comic relief right there!
Once I was on stage and got my first laugh , the fi reworks i n my gut would settle down bu t it would take me days to recover afte r a show -m y g ut WOLud feel funny but] wasn't h1ughing lt was time to give my gut a b reak for a bit. 1 had to adjus t a few thi ngs in my gastrointestinal life a nd unfortunately doing stan d -up had tO be the first tO go, for a w hi le at least.
Several gig-free months later, 1 realised my gut was performing like a B-grade mini-series regardless o f the absence of m y stand- up pressures Bur even now, I cmud write o ff these episodes as a
collaboration with 'Peri-menopause, the musical ', whi ch was now in full swing.
My GP s uggested l do so me blood rests to check m y hormone levels and other vitals. As I was about to have man y samples of m y various bodily ALtids extracted, I fig ured 1 might as well do the bowel cancer sc re ening rest and get that our of the way too. Turn s o u t m y rest was pos itive, i.e. there wer e traces of blood present - as a comedian on sa b b a tical, it was probabl y just a simple case of humou.rroids.
The next step was a colonoscopy ASA P. The good news is, mo st get the all clear. Unfortunately I didn't, but vital early d etection and a second en d oscopy w ith the help of a brilliant colorcctal sLLtgcon (who vowe d he wo ul dn't look), means I'm free of the dreade d 'c' wordcancer!
A colonoscop y d oesn't have to end io a bum rap - the o ld adage, there's light a t the end of the tunn el, comes to min d. l'm now in the dirocs of writing
''I now have a degree.· in Colonosopliy making_n1ea Colonosophel'~with inside info why tt1e exit needs as much attention as the entrar,ce
m )' next stand - up show but can't d eci d e between Po(yp, the lllUSim/ or l\!!J' B eo11tijitl Co/011.
Even though a colonoscopy conjures up all lcin d s o f unwanted images of yo ur back end being invaded by fol k you hardly know w ieldi ng va rio us accoutrements of d1cir trade including a camera and a wide screen to view your innards, it's not as bad as it sou n d s. 1 LlJJderwcot two pro ccdmes in as many wee ks, a colonoscop)' and a Ae xi b le sigmoidoscopy (a shorter scope is used in the la tter), and at no poi nt did I fee.I chat anything or anyone had bee n up my prove rbia l The worse pare of the process is d ow ning 2 litres o f h ospital grade 'bowel b laster' to prepare for these procedures.
So if you're reading chis, co n sider it a friendly reminder if you haven't addressed th is is sue and you kn ow rou shou ld - there's more d1an one ring of confidence to be had. Go ahead, get anally retentive your li fe d epe nds o n it!
I'm now in the throes of writing m.Y next si:and-up .show but can 't decide bet11Veen Polyp, the •musical.or My Elerwtiful Calm,
Australia Day isn't just about ce l ebrating our beautiful b eac h es and wide-open spaces. It's not just about celebrating our rich diversity of cu ltures , or th e fact we take o u r sport more ser iou sly than w e take ourselves. And w e'r e not just celebrating because we have a day off to share with o u r fami l y and fri ends. Whe rever our personal stories begin, we 're celebrating on January 26, because tomo rrow w e get to live it all over again. To find out about celebrations near you, visit A U STR A LIADAY O RG .AU
if you have a sweet tooth; it is definitely a healthier type of chocolate cake!
• • ••••••••••••••
Roast Beetroot
6 -8 medium beetroot
Beetroor as garnish. l'd never seen that before. As l sat looking at my p late of tok,i chaat at Chandigarh's most popular eatery
GopaJ's, the beetroot took my breath away Long thin shreds of the vegetable brought the p late alive with colour, especially as its juices spread like tiny rivulets of maroon-and-purple over that furn! yogurt topp ing. Its beautifully earthy flavour was a perfect precursor to the e:-.-plosioo of taste tha t was to foUow.
The beetroot garnish has since been adding a much of glamour to my own salads, a bright reminder of my recent India hoLiday that already seems eons ago.
Wasn't so crash hot about beetroot juice, though - a regular horel breakfast item during m y tenday tour of Kerala. Nonetheless, there's been a fair bit of beetroot ever since I got back.
Beetroot is filled with amioxidants and minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium, and V itamin C. lts bright colour comes from antioxidants call ed beracyanios which are fantastic for cardiovascular health, protecting b lood vesse ls and preventing b lood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
Go lden beetroots, available from select grocers, are sweeter: they do nor b leed or stain, as their colour is not dominating. Roasting bdogs our a sweet caramelized fla vo ur. Beetroot leaves are edible as well.
Beetroot lends itself to a variety of easy preparations such as so ups and salads, as \veU as raitas, chutneys and hahvas. This last one will probably nullify any benefits of die beetroot towards cardiovascu lar heald1, but you could try beetroot chocol ate cake
2 tsp fresh thyme
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
Sale and pepper to taste
Heat oven to 200 degrees. Scrub beetroot and u·itn. Cur into wedges and arrange o n a lined oven tray. Mix together vinegar, olive oil, rhyme and hooe y and pour over d1e beeti·oor. Sprinkle sal t and pepper over and toss together well - use hands to ensure the beetroot is th~1rough l)' coated Roast for 25 minnres until the beetroot wedges are cooked through.
• • •••••• •• •••••••••••
Roast Beetroot Salad
6 -8 medium beetroot
200g walnuts
2 tsp honey
150g Danish feta
¾ cup pomegra nate seeds
3 tsp light o li\Te oil
3 tbsp balsamic vit1egar
I 1 / 2 tbsp brown sugar
Salt and pepper
Rocker leaves
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Scrub beetroot and trim. Wrap in foil and cook in oven for about an how- or until tender when reseed with skewer. Remove from oven and unfurl carefully. Stand for 10 minutes and then peel - wear d isposable gloves to save hands from staining. Cut into large neat portions.
Put walnuts into small frying pan and add hooey Cook, stirring, till outs are well-coated and heated through. Cool. Make dressing by combining o Live o il , balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
To put s alad together, throw in rocket leaves in deep bowl and add beetroot, pomegranate, honeyed walnuts and Danish feta (cubed or crumbled). Dciz7Je dress ing over and toss.
Beetroot Raita
1 tbsp oLive oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
I dry red chilli
1 tsp sesame seeds
1 sprig curr y leaves
Ptnch asa foetid a
1 cup (200g) thick Greek -style yoghurt
2 small beerroots, cooked, peeled chopped into 5mm cubes
Heat oil in a small frying pan. Add the mustard seeds and dry red chilli Cook till chilli is blackened: this gets rid o f its heat and increases its Aavour. Throw in sesa me seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida, and cook till sizzling. Meanwhile, combine the yogh urt and beetroot in a b ow l and season with salt and pepper. Pour tempering ove r straight from
the frying pan and mix, and watch the yogh urt turn inro a beautiful pink
• • ••••••• • •••••••••••
Beetroot Chutney
I large beetroot, grated
¼ tsp tamarind concentrate
3 numbers eschallots (scallio ns)
4 tbsp fresh g rated coconut
1 tbsp chopped garLic
1- 2 dry red chillies
1 tsp chana dal
1 esp coriander seeds
I tsp urad dal
Salt to taste
3 cloves
½ inch cinnamon stick
¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
For fe11ljming:
1 tbsp o il
1 tsp mustard seed~
Pinch asafoetida
1 sprig curry leaves
Heat oil in a pan and add garlic, fenugreek seeds, dal s, cloves, cinnamon and red chillies and cook until sizzling. J\dd grated beetroot, coconut and rarnarind. Stir to combine. Cook till the raw
smell disappears. Cool. Process in a blender w i th a little water, to make a smooth paste. Add salt to taste and mix well. To temper, heat oil in a small frying pan and add mustard seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves. When it comes ro a sizzle, pour over beetroot chutne y
• • •••••••••••••••• • ••
1 kg beetroot
1 /3 cup ora nge juice (preferab ly fresh ly squeezed)
3 tsp dry roasted and ground cumin seeds
2 esp dry roasted and ground coriander seeds
Sale and pepper to taste
1 cup yoghurt
Roast the beetroot as explained under Roast Beetroot Salad Cool and chop flesh up.
Process together witl1 orange juice, cumin powder and coriander powder.
Add yoghurt, s alt and pepper and m.ix well. Refrigerate until needed.
The Raj 011 the Move: The Story ofthe Dak
Bungalow by Rajika
Bhandari traces a fascinating tale on these iconic dwellings
E stab lished in the 1840s b y the peripatetic British, 'dak bungalows' forever changed the way officers of di e empire and their families travelled across the subcontinent and got to know the real India. \Xfidi most of die British Raj perpetuall y on the move, whether on tour or during die summer migration to the hills, dak bungalow travel inspired a brodiei:hood of sorts for generations of British and Indian officers, who could recount tales of horrid dak bungalow food, a crazed 'khansama', and die time their only companion at die bungalow was a tiger on the loose.
Today, too, P\XTD- run circuit houses and dak bungalows continue to occupy an important place in die lives and imagination o f India's civil servams. Audior
Rajika Bhandari weaves togedier history, architecture, and trave l to take us on a fascinating journey of India's British-era dak bun6>-alows and circuit houses from the original colonial outpost of Madras in die south to the deep interiors of Madhya Pradesh, the heart of British India.
Evoking the scories of Rudyard Kipling and Ruskin Bond, and filled with fascinating titbits and amusing anecdotes, the book unearths local foU<lore abom these remote and mys terious buildings, from crotchety kJJansa111as co dieir delectable chicken dishes.
The Mirror ofWonders nnd Other
Tales written by Said Rafiq Husain and translated by Salim Kidwai covers a surprising range of scories
The plig ht of a hungry tigress and her cubs, a dog's undyin g love for her foend, a do mesticated r epali lost in the woods, die wide ambit of a cow's maternity and the pangs of separation felt by a monkey's mother and her child - die anthology o f short stories explor es the range of human emotions in this unusual anthology of short stories peopled b y animals
Originally written in U rdu b y a lictle known early 20th century writer, the stories in die genre of Orwell's Animal Farm satire the plight of h Lm1ans from die v antage point of animals. The writer combines animal behaviour and their e m pathy w idi humans to bring die wildlife of die Tehri reg ion alive.
Amrita Sher-Gil: A Life by Yashodbara Daln:ua js a biography of di e beauti.ful and brilliant Amri ta She r-Gil who lived life on her
A lascinatinq journ cij recoun Unq amusinq m1ecdotcs and local folklo re about rm1steri ous Raj-ero dah bunqolows
STORY or THE DAK BUNGALOW-=~Rajf ka Bhan dari
''Raj ika Bhandari weaves together his tory, 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 interio rs of Madhya Pradesh ' '
own terms, scandalizing the staid society of her rimes with her love affairs and unconventional ways. lo th.is fasdnating biography, art historian Yashodhara Dalmia paints a compelling portrait of the artist who, when she died in 194 1 at the age of cwency-eight, left behind a bo d y of work diat estabEshes her as one of the foremost artists of die century and an eloquent symbol of the fusion between th e E ast and West. A biography that blen ds elem enrs o f fiction w ith a gripping narrative.
Calcutta b y Amit Chaudhuri chronicles the audior's experience on returning to die city ln 1999, Am.it Chaudhuri returned witli his fanu.ly to Calcu tta He did so tentativdy. Calcutta was where his parents had moved after retirement; it was die city he bad loved in his youth and in whose lanes he had spent tranquil childhood h o lidays; one he had made his name writing about. Bur diat Calcutta had receded and anoth er had taken its place.
Calc111ta is Chaudhuri's account of two years (2009- 1 1) in the great metropolis. Using die idea of return a nd die his torical dections of 2011 as h is fulcrum, he travels between the 19tli century, when the city burst \\,j th a new vitali ty to the twe n ty- first century; w hen , utterly changed , it seems to be on the verge of anotli er turn. Along die way Chaudh uri evokes all tlia t is most particular and extraordinary about die city. He painrs, coo, an acute, o fte n iro n ic, and occasionally terribly funny p icture of life in di e ci ty today - of its malls and restaurants, irs fitful attemprs to embrace globalisation, i t~ middle class who leave and tl1en return reluctantl y, its bygone aristocracy, and its homeless Calcutta opens on his canvas in all its warring colours.
Blood Red Sari by Ashok Banker is an actio n di riller wi tli a feminine couch. M issing social activ ist Lalima has p icked diree women to car ry out di e task s he was unable to finish - Sheila, the owner o f an all-women's gym in
''Spanning the murky underbelly of the country 's metropolises and the internationa l human trafficking mafia, Blood Red Sari is a pulsepoundi ng act ion t hrille r with a feminist punch
Kolkata; Nachikera, an a ttorney in Delhi who is suing her in-laws for the violent abuse tliat left her whedchair-bound for E.fe; and Malayali private invesrigator A nita, w ho se own brothers are out to get her. Lalima's adversaries use influence and hired kiUers to track down all tli ose w h o have been sent incriminating ev id e nce again st them, forcing Sheila, Nachike ta and Anita to battle for survival even as they race agai nst time to tmdersrand die import of die docum ents tl1ey have received. Spanning the m urky und e rbelly of die country's metro polises and the interna tio nal human trafficking mafia, Blood fud S01i is a pulsep o unding action diriller with a femini st ptmch
1he Vegan Kitchen: Bollywood Style by i\nurad ha Sawhney is one o f the first book s for di e g rowing vegan p o pulation of India that brings together recipes from n o less than 50 leaclin g names from tl1e world of Bollywood, fashion and mus ic.
Anupam Kher, Dilip Kuniar, Gulshan Grover, Hema Malini, John Abraliam, Mahesh Bhatt, Om Puri , R. l\1adhavan, Rahul
Khanna , Saira Banu and Vidya Balan - diese are just a few who have co ntributed tlieir recip es, show ing h ow it is po ss ible to incorporate a delicious healtliy vegan diet w ith no cholesterol , in other words, one with no animal products, including dairy i nto one's life, and keep the celebrity status intact.
Cold Feet by Meenakshi Redd y Madhavan j5 the scory o f five women and their encounters witli love.
Am.isha has found her prefect man and is going to marry him, but suddenly feels threa tened to push tl1e boundaries o f tl1eir relationship. Akshara is in love with her best friend, bm w lu.le he will g ive her benefits, he will not g jve her love. Ladli has her heart broken. So she runs away, on ly to find him waiting for her o n the otlier side Shayna knows what sh e wants in a man, but die man she wams is nothing like that. A nd finall y, the girl who wants Shayna, actuaUy, just meets a friend The book is die stor y of the strangely entwined lives of five women who li ve in Mumbai and deal d jfferentlr witli die same thing - Jove.
Actress Kajol , who with husband Ajay Devgn has been actively involved in social work, says getting associated with causes is part of social responsibility and it is their way of g i ving back to soci ety.
The 38-year- old, along with her actor husband, is supporting Coca Cola - NDTV's Support My School campaign and has donated Rs 10 lakh.
" I believe it is part of our social responsi bility. Especially after having kids, Ajay and I feel the need to give back and in a different way, not in regular cinematic way;' Kajol says We feel passionate about causes l ike save the girl child, education and literacy. We bel ieve, these are the things that will make a difference and
make our country grow"
An endeavour to get better facilities in schools in rural and sem i -urban towns, the Support My School campaign has impacted as many as 100 schools by providing them with improved amenities like access to clean water, proper san itation, and sports facilities among others
Last seen in the 2010 film We Are Family, Kajol feels that celebs can make a huge difference to charitable causes
"Their association brings more focus on the whole issue. It brings a different kind of pub licity and also spreads awareness;' she said.
Currently busy with her home and children - daughter Nysa and son Yug - Kajol hopes to get back to work next year
It was anticipated to be a winner, and l ooks like Race 2 i s rapi d ly making it to t h e finishing line of the Rs 100 crore club At the time of going to press, the Abbas-Mustan action thriller had raked in Rs 79.6 crore, in its first week in the domestic market. In the international market too, the movie is doing surprisingly well , grossing over $4 25 million in its opening week Made at Rs 60 crore, the film features an ensemble cast of Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil
Kapoo r and Ameesha Patel. So will Race 2 be a winner? Let's wait and see!
Recently released and much anticipated Midnight's Children is a big -screen adaptation of Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize winning novel of the same name. Directed by Deepa Mehta, the movie is yet to create an impact on cinema-goers. But for the actors, the experience of working on Midnight's Children has been unique And Darsheel Safary, who has portrayed the lead role ofjunior Saleem Sinai says he feels lucky for being a part of such a big movie
Talking about his experience while working with Mehta, Darsheel said, "I was al most like an assistant on the sets helping her set up things."
I have come a long way from Taare Zameen Par and it was like a stepping stone in my life. I feel so lucky that finally there is some big movie that I have done;' said the 16-year-ol d at the premiere of Midnight's Children Darsheel admits he is
still not very famil iar w i th the film's script, and that is why he was very"curious"to watch the movie. "Whatever she wanted , I used to help her and she also used to hel p me. Even in my studies she was ver y supportive It was fun working with her and I am looking forward to working with her again;'he added.
Actress Shahana Goswami who p l ays Amina Sinai, mother to lead cha racter Saleem Sinai, says the filmmaker is quite a taskmaster on the sets, but a great one to work with.
"Deepa is a task master but in the best possible way. I find her to be really good and hardworking with her actors and in every other aspect which she looks into before com ing on the sets;' said Shahana. For the actress, it was a learning experience to work with Mehta. I won't say she is a taskmaster in making you cry or giving you a bad time She is very involved in her actors. So for an actor, she is a br il liant director to have;' Shahana explained "She really pushes you to bring out a deeper emotional connect with the character and that 's real ly a great thing for an actor 's growth''.
Midnight's Children also features Rajat Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher, Ronit Roy, Satya Bhabha, Seema Biswas, Siddharth, Anita Majumdar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Soha Ali Khan and Shriya Saran.
Film producer Pah l aj Nihalani plans to give actor Govinda's daughter Narmada Ahuja a "perfect launch" in Bollywood. "One thing is for sure I am definitely going to launch Narmada. She is l ike family and I would like to give her a proper launch. I am scripting something special for her and I assure it will be the perfect launch for her;' Nihalan i said recently.
Narmada has been waiting on the side l ines for the r ight break to make her
debut into filmdom, but the wait has been long. So fans of dad Govinda can hope to see shades of the actor in Narmada. A mildly scary thought!
Asked what the film will be about, Nihalani said, "It is too early to talk about it, (but) I shall disclose it soon:' But Nihalani has earlier produced films like Sho/a Aur Shabnam, Andaz and Aankhen, so Narmada shouldn't be too worried.
In fact, Aankhen was one of Govinda's biggest hits and after two decades. Nihalani will bring out a sequel to the super hit comedy. The buzz is that the actor may do a cameo in it. The producer is already working with Govinda in his next film Avatar, and the duo seem to work well together. Now Nihalani wants to cast some youngsters in the sequel of Aankhen which goes on the floors in August, so can we assume that Narmada stands a chance to kickstart her acting career? Dad in cameo and daughter in debut! An interesting thought!
Vivek's two - in- one Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story is going to be an interesting movie for actor Vivek Oberoi who says he got to relive two of his past characters - Chan du of Company and Aditya of Saathiya, in one single character.
"Filmmaker Kumar Tauraniji called me and said, 'There is a perfect script for you'. Vinnil Markan narrated the story. What I liked the most in Jayantabhai Ki was that there is a goon similar to Company and a loverboy similar to (the one I played in) Saathiya;"the 36-year-old actor explained. "I found it very exciting that I will get to play both shades and (so) I said yes''.
Vivek also spotted one similarity
between his real life and his character
Jayantabhai. "I am a simple boy in real life. But one thing is similar between the character and me - when (my wife) Priyanka tells me to do something, I can never say no to her. She also knows that I will never say no to her. It is the same is in the film - when Simran asks for something, Jayanta cannot say no," Vivek said. Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story also features Neha Sharma opposite Vivek. Good luck with the film, Vivek!
Warming to Vishwaroop
The controversy surrounding veteran actor Kamal Haasan's film Vishwaroopam (Vishwaroop in Hindi), seems to be drawing to a less than dramatic end. The actor/director/producer has agreed to edit the movie and cut some scenes, following talks with Muslim groups recently.
"I've arrived at a consensus with my Muslim brothers. We've agreed to cut some scenes from the film which they found to be objectionable;' Kamal Haasan, who produced the film and acted in it, told reporters. The film, a Rs 95 crore espionage thriller, ran into hot water following protests from Muslim groups over certain scenes in the movie, which seem derogatory to their community.
The controversy reached the extent at which the actor warned that he would "seriously leave" India if similar protests again envelop his films. So fortunately for Indian cinema, Kamal Haasan will be around to entertain us some more - with or without controversy!
Prateik gets pumped up Smita Patil and Raj Babbar's son Prateik is taking a long introspective sabbatical from the public eye until his next release lsaaq, a North Indian take on Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet, which would be the actor's do-or-die bid to consolidate his precarious position as an eclipsed star son.
Th e decision, one hears, has been taken by the producers Viacom 18 who saw /saaq and immediately decided to buy its worldwide distribution rights, apparently on condition that Prateik undertake an immediate crash course in career and image reinvention.
Another step in Prateik's career recuperation is his voice. A Hindi voicecoach Sushi! Bouthiyal with a solid background as a theatre artiste at the National School Of Drama has been employed to modulate his voice-quality.
On a more personal level, his overhyped relationship with his EkkDeewana Tha co-star Amy Jackson has been thrown out of the window. Apparently, Prateik has been "strictly advised"to stay away from romantic involvements and focus on his career.
Commenting upon the developments, /saaq director Manish Tiwary said, "I'd really not like to comment on whatever happened in Prateik's life and career. It's all in the past. And he is looking at a new career for himself. Hopefully, lsaaq will mark the rebirth of Prateik as an actor. He is working hard on himself, his voice, image, attitude - everything:'
Apparently Prakash Jha, in whose Aarakslwn Prateik's performance was patently panned, saw rushes of lsaaq and was jolted by the difference Tiwary, who made Oil Dosti Etc in 2007, said: "Mayb e Prakashji wasn't able to focus as much on Prateik's performance as I have.Aarakshan had a huge cast. In my film, Prateik is the solo hero. I had to work on him from scratch:'
Set in the backdrop of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, lsaaq is an action drama. Let's hope it helps revive Prateik and his flagging career!
STARRING : Kamal Haasan, Pooja Kumar, Rahul Bose, Andrea Jeremiah, Shekhar
Kapur and Jaideep Ahlawat
DIRECTED BY: Kamal Haasan
irst things first. Kamal Haasan's enormously controversial film doesn't hurt Muslim sentiments In fact, it doesn't hurt the sentiments of any section of the people except those partypoopers who think having a ball at the movies went out of style with Sholay and Chachi420.
Leave aside its sobering take on global warfare, Vishwaroop, the Hindi version of the Tamil, Telugu Vishwaroopam, is one helluva entertainer. If you' ve forgotten what edge-of-the-seat entertainment
meant, then it is time to rediscover that pleasure. Stylish and substantial, the narrative weaves and winds its way into coherent and compulsive threads that bring together the theme of international espionage with the more sensitive issue of the Islamic and the personal identity of a man, whose heroic stature grows out of a sense of commitment to the country and to world peace.
Personal interests, we are told, are easy to put aside if you can define heroism from a context far greater than your own good The deeper thrusts of Kamal Haasan and Atul Tiwari's devious screenplay leap out of this compact epic drama, which takes off into the Taliban terror outfit in Afghanistan and hence to the New York suburbia where domestic normalcy is replaced by a violence -a k ind of ceaselessly renewable violence that has gripped working- class
lives ever since the 26/11 attack on the US made it dear that international terrorism is here to stay. Deal with it.
Just about the only desirable thing that emerges from the horrific folds of global militancy are some great adventure sagas. And Vishwaroop is as gripping as it gets. The narrative moves steadily and sharply to an inevitable nemesis.
Maverick director Kamal Haasan (and this is his best directorial attempt since the grossly underrated Hey Ram in 2000) is in no hurry to tell h is tale. Not that he wastes time The mood for adventure is bui lt quickly, and the payoff is enormously satisfying.
With some remarkably austere and sharp editing by Mahesh Narayan and camera work by Sanu John Verghese that captures scenes of violence with as much rugged candour as the sharply-drawn
scenes from the hero's personal life, Kamal Haasan's tale of ter ror during the times of love, witticism, philosophizing and, yes, dancing, comes alive in a huge adrenaline rush ofadventure, action, drama and other related artistic tools which never come in the way of the actor-director 's primary concern
Kamal Haasan means business. He is her e to narrate an edge-of-the-seat story of international terrorism The rigorous research that has gone into the p lot never weighs down the narration. Whether infiltrating the Al Qaeda (scarily real in the detailing and eeri ly cinematic in its visual sweep) or focusing on the hijinks of our hero, the creative crossovers i n the narrative are achieved with the fluency of chapters in a deftly-written novel.
And yet Kamal Haasan avoids getting overly breathl ess in his narration. Shall we just say Vishwaroop moves at the pace that it is meant to? Neither measured nor hurried, the director negotiates the socio-political and cultural spaces in the p l ot with an elegant erud ition. Gone i s the heavily cerebral over-studied atmosphere of his earlier directoria l epic Dasavatharam. A l so gone is the overindul gent footage-occupancy of th is actor s recent screen outi ngs.
Yes, Kamal Haasan dominates the show wit h three different avatars whose destinies intertwine in ways that one can't reveal without giving away the plot. But that's the way the plot unfo lds. That is the way it is meant to be. The narrative in this case just can't get enough of Kama l Haasan. Who but this acto r can pull off heart-in -the-mouth never-seen stunts (acti on director Lee Whittaker and his associates have done a remarkable job) in the same range of vision as an elegantly performed Kathak number?
Pooja Kumar as Kamal Haasan's be loved is charming She has a pleasant screen presence and yes, she isn't in awe of her awesome co-star. However, if anyone leaves a lasting impression after Mr Haasan, it is Rahul Bose, who as an Al Qaeda chap swathes his persona in menace and terror without getting into the gritting-teeth mould.
Bose had last played a villain in Govind Nihalani's Thakshak in 1999 It is no coincidence that he returns to the colour black in a film that in many ways owes allegiance to the dark sinister angry anti-establishment tales of Nihalani. But Kamal Haasan adds a dash of warmth and humour to the intrinsically ominous saga. He is in terror-l and with his tongue firm ly in cheek.
The sharply- drawn characters, the terrify ing insight into the psyche of terrorism and the sumptuous mounting and packaging add up to a movie that is quite easily one ofthe finest adventure sagas in recent times. The act ion sequences are, at last, on a par w ith Hollywood Insult to any community? Hah! It wou l d be an i nsult to the filmmaking community to m i ss Vishwaroop. Miss this big screen adventure your own r isk.
SUBHASH K JHA
STA
RRI N G: Saif Ali Khan , Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor, Ameesha Patel DIR ECTE D BY: Abbas-M u stanveryone is busy deceivi ng everyone else in this paper caper, wh i ch probably looked tempting in the writing but comes across on screen as a masquerade of hedonistic hi -jinx filmed at exotic locales where men and women play for high stakes, live dangerously and die foolishly
Abbas-Mustan 's love for depicting the high life is by now well -known Everyone in an Abbas -Mustan caper takes his or her life at the race course seriously when in fact the characters are all an extended joke. They are comicbook cut-outs pasted on to the big w i de screen with all their exaggerations blown out of proportion
It's hard to pinpoint where the leakage
in this latest Abbas-Mustan adventurecaper begins to seep septically into the plot. But you know there is something serious amiss in the plot when one protagonist, Saif Ali Khan deadpans: Revenge is best served cold:'
Really? If that w e re indeed the case t hen the volumes of vendetta served up by disgruntled men and women in Race 2 should have made our adrenaline er race really hard.
Alas, the proceedings are as exciting as graffiti on a newly-pai nted toilet wall. The uni-expression macho man John Abraham loves th e leggy Deepika Padukone who loves the scowling Saif A li Khan who loves Jacqueline Fernandes. In the end, these self- serving hedonists seem to love n one but themselves.
Boring in their self -abso r ption and utterl y oblivious to the wor ld around t hem where pain and suffering are to be obtained once t he fun and games end, these characters are busy striking
artificial poses in carefully-toned bodies draped in the best dresses and suits created for the rich and the restless.
These are the nowhere people searching for th ri ll s in a plot that revels in restlessness and seeks succour in maki ng suckers out of all the characters The on l y mlldly i nteresting characters are the brassy detective played by Anil Kapoor and his air-head secretary Ameesha Patel: she flutters her eyelashes at his incessant phallic jokes feigning complete ignorance.
Sadly, the holiday mood that prevails t hrough the fi l m grips the film's arch itects. They seem to be on leave as the action director takes over the proceedings To be fai r a couple of chase sequences specially one through the crowded streets of Istanbu l where Saif hunts down hi s beloved 's killer, are ki ll ers But the climax on board a fake luxury aircraft i s a howl. Amateur adventurers getting a kick out of their big-boy ant ics, John and Saif are to be taken as seriously as Superman and
STARRING: Rajat Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher, Ronit Roy, Satya Bhabha, Seema Bi swas, Shahana Goswami Siddharth, Anita Majumdar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Darsheel Safary, Soha Ali Khan and Shriya Saran
DIRECTED BY: Deepa Mehta
eepa Meh ta's Midnight} Chi/d,-m is n ot a well-c rafted film of Salman Rushdi e's Booker P rize- winning novel of the same name. Ye r it captures the esse n ce of the novel to the core
Told th rough the lives of the ch ildren born at the stro ke of mid night of Aug 1 5, 1947, especially SaJin1, Shiva and P arvati, it is a multi -layered tale of d esti n ies Ir i s a sto ry of rhe ric h , th e poor and the m isguid ed. Ir is lier.io n a n d fantasy delightfully wrapped w ith in the folds of the p oliti caJ scenario of the three cou n tries, l n d ia, Pakistan and Bangladesh
What precedes the bi rth of Salim is a comple.x i:,-,J e chat is narra ted in the fus e 45 minutes of the film. Lispired by h er rebel husband's comm unise s logan, ,cLec the rich be poor an d rhe poor, ri ch", the m i sguid ed pe adiatric nurse, Mary, de li berately switc hes the ide n tity tags of the two ba bies as a
gesture of solidarity an d thereby swaps t he ir destinies.
Moving ahead , in childhood, Salim discovers th at thanks to a s neeze an d t he sniffles, he can hear and see all of the oche r 581 surviving children around t he country born at the sam e historic day and time as he Dubbin g them as Mid ni ght's C hildren , he has the power to call "co nferen ces" in h is bedroom I.ate at night, bringing th eir presen ce together fro m aJJ pa r ts to p lan the fate of the nation, including the hot -h e aded Shiva and pretty a n d mysticaJ P arvat.i, the spellweaving wi tch.
T he three are intertwi n ed again as ad ults in the fi lm's last a c r when Shiva, now a ruthless military comma nder, an d Salim, following six years of a m nes ia, b eco m e in volved w ith th e beautiful adult witch, Parva ti agains t the b ackground of I n dira Gandh i's brutal emergen cy m easures.
Rushcli e's rich c harac ters are b rough t to life b y a strong ensemble of esteemed actors whose perfor m an ces were well ex t racted by directo r Deep a Meh ta D ebutan t Satya B hab ha delivers a confident pe r for m ance as tbe g rown up Salim a nd Siddb.ar th is th e pe rfect foil fo r him as d1e embitt ered Sh iva. D arsheel Safary as the young SaJim is undoubtedly brilliant.
T he co m petent Seema B iswas is ch arming as the mi sgui ded, guilt- ridden
n urse an d the cataJyst fo r the u nfo lding sequence of even ts S hahana Goswami smoothly conveys d1e po ignanr m rmo il of d1e mothe r .inadve r te ntly caugh t in the c ross- fire, while Remit Ro y is exac tin g as the fmstrared businessm an Anita Majumdar also makes ru1 impression as tl1e h ard-hearted, ambitious Emerald , alon gsid e R ahul Bose as h er military powerbroker husban d, ZuJfikar.
R aja t K apoor as D r.Aziz, Salim's putative grand.father i s runus iug Shaban a Azmi as Ra jar Kapoor's wi fe, Sr.i ya Sh aran as Pa rvati, Soha Ali K h an as Salim's sister an d Kulbhushan Kl1arbanda as Picture Sing h are wasted.
V isuaUy, d1e fil m enco m passes sce n es of wa r, liberation, celeb ratio n , corr uptio n , ro m a n ce an d mourning - all beautifully captured. by ci ne m a tographer G iles urrge n s. T h e visuals are brilliantly layered wid1 Nit.in Sawhney's ethereal score, making it a perfect backdr op wid1 the m ystical quality of the magic realism scenes; i t is like watchin g a stunning canvas g radually come to li fe.
Batman cut-outs in a multipl ex displaying forthcom i ng attractions
The gir ls Deepika and Jacquel ine try hard to pump up the steam by raising the mean quotient in th eir characters They hardly look provocative enough to be convinci ng as femme fata l es Saif plays a somewhat smirkier avat ar of Agent Vinod John alternates the scowl with the smirk sometimes interchanging the two expressions with out warning Can 't blame him, poor chap He must be as confused about the plot as we are
Does anyone associated with th i s poshlooking but vacuous caper have any clue as to what they are doing? Drowned i n a cacoph ony of one off- key song after another, wallowing in t h eir one-note wickedness and getting high on their endless bouts of drinking partying and masquerad i ng, the characters in Race 2 are a laugh Bu t shhhh Don 't tell them.
SUBHASH KJHAEve n with Salman R ush d ie's narration and screenplay, w hat pro b ably did nor work for Midnight} Children are the abrupt scenes. Each scene i s b rilliant, b ut in silos, cliscoru1ecced with the next, making i t difficult to capture and bring co life the essence of t he b ook that combines a type of u n explained practicality
Yer di.is is a striki ng, well-prod uced and though t fully des igned epic
Even wit h a U its flaws, Mid11ight's Childrm i s wor th a watch If n othing else, go and watch Midnight's Childm, to satia te your curiosity about tl1is much - talked about novel.
TROY RIBEIROn or co 'throw the baby om wim the bath wate r '. De Botton has steered the religio n ver s u s atheism a rgument away from not b eing entirely true or e ntirely false.
In the last 50 years o r so, institutionalised religions have been relegated as non-essentials in daily life.
Many, i n particular the urban intellectuals, have argued that they have no pJace in a rational world any more. Tben comes Alain de Botton, atheist and author of bestselling books on a variery of top ics ranging from love, travel, arr and architecture, and more recently a book citied Ri!li,gion )or Atheistr.
De Borton, 43, a young philosopher, validates a lot of the sentiments be ld by man y who see themse lves not as parriculacly religious, but not atl1ei st either.
Tbese are the people who have considered religious teachings w ith a critical mind and found some valid statements. They prefer
Coming from a non- believer, for he confesses co be one, de Botton weaves a n argument tbat we need to see religions and what tl1ey have co offer in a di perspective to what we have become accustomed Marryin g the need to be emorionally in touch w itl1 whatever we do, a la our EQs, he develops die idea of looking in to religio n s and meir rimals as a minefield of ideas o n a variety of top ic s ranging from conducting efficient governru1ce and bus iness, co appreciaring arr in everyday life.
For many Indians wbo Lry co follow t he principles of sa11ata11a dham10, more commonly referred to as Hinduism, many of de Botton's sentiments do not come as an alien concept. The h olistic view of life and the universe, and living as
a res ponsible member of a communiry, ha s been r e iterated over and over again in the hi story, m yths, arc and arch itecture of what we see as Hinduism now.
The interdependence of human existence with narure and its many manifestations is repeated in prayer, philosopby, arc, architecture, poetry and in te!Jectual discourse, and thro ug h the many everyd ay rituals
From mandalas that decorate the entrance of a home reflecting pattern and connectedness of the infinite, and elegant geometric al d esigns o f na n1re that are ever presem all arow1d u s, co monolitl1s of stone carvings.
In sa1111tana dhar111a as in m ru1y ancient wisdom traditions, a common place of worship held a v.ital role in preserving h armony and peace within gro u ps The spirinial traditions created mis common place as a seren dipitous sanctuary for people. A set of r u les and codes o f conduct were then d eveloped for use in suc h
p lace s. Beliefs in a power g reater th an buman we re gen erally accepted , and the place an d means b y which such powers could be evoked, became rituals of worship. Suc.h acts have evolved and illllended over miJJennia. Th e validatio n of tbese practices was never d etailed in words, fo r experience could never be adequately verbalised. The y were accepted unquestioned until m any of these b egan to b e referred to as ' blind faith'. Looking at what, if any, ben efits m ay be gained b y worsh ip, it could at best be described as a s trategy to reflect and gain some equa nimi ty when beset by turbulence in the mi nd Set procedures, allotted times and p la ces help to increase compliance and thus allow for a beneficial experie nc es to occur In the minds of the billion or so people from Lidia that have evolved over millennia through m y ths, storie s, histo ries interwoven w ith rituals and intellectual disse rtari ons o n
philosoph y, we have a vibrant intricate tap estry with each minme stra n d conveying a critical part of the big p icture of lite.
Seeking suitable match, a non smoker, ideally aged between 50 and 60 For fair, young looking Hindu lady, 5'2'; 54, divorced, veg, Au stral ian citizen. Caste no bar Please contact 0449 623 316 or email alpine_rhapsody@h otmail.com
Suitable well-settled / professional match for Punjabi Arora, beautiful, never married, 39 / 166, qualified IT pro fessional. GSOH with good family values. Brought up in India. Working in MNC Sydney. Aust rali an citizen Early marriage Serious enquiries only. Email details with photo: ausgirll 01 @gmail.com
Seeking suitable match (from Australia, never married) for Hindu g irl, 35 years, Chartered Accountant, non-veg, li ving in Au stralia over 25 years, with eastern and western family values. Please email with all deta ils on ganesh2011 v@gm ail.com
Well settled/ professional alliance
invited from Australia / India fo r 4 1/ 165 , unmarried, charming Punjab i Khat ri girl, family o ri ented and responsible, IT pro fessional, working in Sydney Australian citizen Early marriage Can relocate. Serious proposals only Email profile with recent photo: sydgirl09@ gmail.com
Seeking match for tall, good looking, slim, fair, educated, working Hindu Khatri girl, 25, brought up in Sydney.
Seeking genuine, compatible, well educated, employed / business match from respectable fam ily, broad minded /mature outlook, independent, Indian background, age SO+ for caring, honest, Ind ian Christian divorcee, Austral ian citizen, well settled in Pert h, 50 years, 5'3"tall, younger loo king, attractive graduate nurse, employed. Caste no bar. Please send profile with photo to email emily.lotus@h otmail.com
Respectable Sikh Family of New Delhi seeks alliance for their smart good lookin g sweet natured family oriented daughter 24/165cms, B.Co m Graduate,
Primary Teacher, looking for a we ll educated boy from a cult ured family well settled in Business/ Industry/Profession. Gir l and Pa ren ts in Sydney from e nd December until mid Janua ry Ca ll 0431 337 881
37 yrs old Brahmin never married graduate girl currently visiting Australia Looking for Austral ian citizen preferably unmarried Whole family settled here Belongs to status business family Appl ied for permanent residency earlier. Contact with photo and details urgently at npkhanna@y mail.com
Seeking suitable match for 37 years, g oo d looking Gujarati Brahmin boy, 5'7" Austral ian citizen caste no bar. Born and brought up in Mumba i, India and moved to Sydney 5 years ago Please email with deta ils on ravi_pl 00@h otmail.com
Match required for a 48-yo, slim, clean shaven, Jat Sikh Aust PR livin g in Melb, wo rk ing fo r a Bank, own house. I have no ch ild ren but I don't mind if s he has ch ildren. Genuine enquiries on ly email: jat_sik h@ hotmail com
Single tall man, often travels with work, desires to meet attractive good character single or widow lady over 40 with a view to marriage. App ly PP GPO Box 2336 Adela id e, South Aust ralia 5000
call 0430 179 273.
Seeking suitable match for a boy, 6' tall, 31 yrs , never married , Austra lian Citizen , Athletic, Punjabi Khatri, repu ted corporate professional. Please email your particulars with recent photo( Compulsory) on win.ro cky@gma il. com or Well educated and settled family Boy with similar background preferred. Email : 1169ab@gmail.com
Compatible match for 197 5 born, handsome clean -shaven Sik h Khatri boy, 5' 9'; two Post- Graduate degrees from In dia an d recently finished Master in I.T from Austra lia Current ly on temporary resident visa and work in g fu ll-time in Customer Service role Lo oking for well-educated, Permanent resident/ Citizen girt from Si kh family background. Early marriage Phone: 0422 102 242 or Email: ghai07@yahoo.com
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
This mon th the cards show that your ca reer and work life will b e at an all t i me peak. The mon t h will start off wi t h a lot of enthusiasm, interest and good fortune. There is an increase m fi nances too, so make sure that you keep yourse lf in check with yo u r spending. Your love life will take a new turn, as you will be look ing at maki ng a commitment to the one you have loved for a while now.
The cards show that this month you will be on a rea l high and feeling very positive. There is travel indicated for you. You will be looking to improve your career and lifestyle both, and at bringing in more stability. There will be an idea to make some in vestments, but take care that you look into everything, be cautious and do not be too hasty. There will be some good news relating to a property.
This month you will be feeling that you need someone close to you to love and hold. The cards are ind i cating that there may be a surprlse on Valentine's Day. Take care of your health and money. The month of love i s making you feel very sensual and ready to m i ngle, if sing l e. If married you will be thinking of tc1king your partner on d spec.ia l date for V Day. However, there wi ll be some stress around the home.
CANCER June 11 - July 20
The cards art:' indicating a time when you have to be careful of not being too hasty. Your life may take on a completely different d ire(t ion. Health will be fine, apart from some stress. Love 1s also in the air, even a comm i tment is possible. There 1s a new exciting month ahead for you, you wil I feel very energetic and have many ideas. Make sure you take things slow and th i nk everything through in deta i l.
You will be making some tough decisions if in business. The latter part o f the month wil l be quit e a social ti me for you. Be careful not to get involved in any legal issues. There is stress relating to a relative, you may not be seeing eye-to-eye lately. Take some time out, and take things through There is an indication a new car, and red is the co l our you may be thinking of buying.
VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 2 2
This is a time when you may be feeling low, but your close fril:>nds and family will lift your spirits. You will do well financidlly. but there will be concerns around work or business. You will need to put in some extra t ime and hou rs to make things come together. You have some contracts that need to be sealed. If in work, go for that promotion. Health will be good. Make sure to de-stress.
LIBRA Sep ? 3 Oct 2 2
r I,e cards Indicate a time that you will spend recovering from small muscle pulls. There will be new work and an 1nterest in stocks and shares. Take good care of the way you l ommunicate with people, as there is an indication that you may be a bit blunt and hurt some people's fee lings. You will .....,..__ just b e your o l d self, but there are sensitive people around you right now. The initial 'M' is very significant.
SCORPIO Oct 23 - Nov 2 1
It is a t i me to reassess your affairs. Th ere is a little difficu lty with finances this month, but you will sort things out. You will not be feeling that great about your love life. Be careful about beirg too temperamental. You may not k n ow what to do about a certain situation which concerns m atters ohhe heart. ~ou will not be feeling l ike doing much on Valentine's Day, then again to you, it is all commercial!
SAGITTARIUS Nov 2 ? - De c 21
The cards indicate a time of restlessness and you will be upset about certain fami l y members. You will be looking at new opportuniti es, as work seems to be a little mundane. Look fo r a new way to relax as you are not getting enough rest, and have problems sleeping, with real nightrndrE>s that wi ll cause you to feel very shaky. Make peace with a friend who you have not seen for a while due to a m i sunderstdnding.
Unexpected fin,incial gains are on the cards. Work is your top priority, and :you may join someone i n a new business. There 1s a strong chance you may be roman ti ca lly linked, but make sure they are single! Look at plans to travel more extensively, mdking your base in another country. There will be additional :,tress caused by people who d on't support you r projects-and ideas at work. If self-emp l oyed, decide on where to go next.
Be careful of your health and m i nor problems. There is a chance you will be l ooking at buying a property or i nvesting J in a new purchase. Workwise, make sure you complete everything on time. You are slowly losi ng interest in work, so decide what you want to do, as there are some major decisions to make. Your l ove life is going smoothly. If sing le, try and decide what you really want out of ltfe.
The cards ind i cate a time'to be careful with finances and not be too hasty with purchases. Take some time out away from your city and chill out with fam i ly. Look after a younger member of t he family who needs TLC. You rnc1y have a problem with one of your legs. A deep tissue JTiassage is needed and steam treatment. Eollow thdt gym re9im (' Good news relating to a birth of a child is coming
Rich' , ,vill expectant parents surf baby name portals for words with such ini rials? Yes sir, I bet!
Phew! Our world became doubly safe and sec LLre in Januar y after averting two disasters in a matter of ten days. T h e much - feared Mayan meltd ow n myth did not materialise on December 21. Perhap s the Mayan gods did not want ro ruin my b irthday: a kindred gesnue towards a fellow Indian o n this side of the globe?
With d1e physical planet now safe, die fiscal world was JJ LLlled back from ilie edge, inches befo re it went over. The eleventh -hour drama played out at the White House was redolent of a climax sce ne in a Ho llywood blockbuster.
'Fiscal Cli ff'. The powerful phrase has been repeated a million times over in every form of media! Who coined ilie jargo n - a clever cop rwri ter in an ad agency? If onlr he had followed Shah Rukh Khan's lead and trademarked bis creation, he c ould have made millions Mumbai's multi -millionaire mov ie m ogul has written to die Government's Reg istry to trademark his initi al s 'SRJ(', to stop others using the m to promote their products and make mone y. If he succeeds, will he run into strife with anod1er o f filmdom's SRJ< - Si ddarth Roy Kaput, husba nd of vivacious V idya Balan? P oo r Vidya may e nd up ,,,idi two SRK partners - the screen version and ilie home brand.
If the trademark trend catches on, another 'SR' celebrity (Sachin Ramesh) T end ulkar may p ile a few more tons of mool ab beside his marquee of fast cars in his foursrorey Bandra mansion. Sensing SR seems to stand for 'S uper
Even as th e Fiscal Cliff cast jitters on the world markets, it was all g litter down under as the jargo n ja ngling the airwaves was 'gold p lated'. Our Prime :Minister used this pet mantra to tarnish the grid ope ra rors' greed to pu s h up power prices. Wonder if d1e power coming down die 'goldplated' lines shines brighter ilian iliose se nt down d1rough black cables If you want to see what gold placing really means , a visit to Thailand will do the crick. Every single Buddh a statue - sitting, standing, smiling, sleeping - is coated in gold paint. The great religio u s teacher who ren ounced nis worldl y possessions has been transformed from th e simple Siddharilia to the golden Gautama! I t seems appropriate, iliough, since visitors enter the country at Bangkok's Swarna Bhoomi (golden land) Airport.
During die '90s, d1e high- fl)~ng buzz word in Oz was 'Clayto n this' or 'C layto n that'. It was a phrase used to satirise someth ing rhar seemed ro exist, but in reality did not. Like a phantom pregnancy.
In the current climate, Wayne Swan's budget surplus ,vill qualify to wear drnt badge His mining tiDc mat hasn't generated a single red cent, can best be described as a 'Clayto n rax'. I am inrrigued as ro why the Opposition has n't dug up this fossilised phrase t o taunt rhe Treasurer.
\ XThile 'Clayto n' was ruling the airwaves here, Clinton and Gore were glorifying ilie 'information supe r highway' as the sign post to E l Dorado in their election can1paign After exiting the Wnite House, Gore mrned green, became an environmental evangelise and produced a huge ly successful documentary. He t hen managed to flog his poorly rating
TV channel (was green the only colour on it?) promoting climate issues, for a c ool 150 million gree nbacks. Nor an ' inconvenient' treastue trove!
One specifi c jargon that continue s co baffle me is 'brand ambassador'. It amuses and amazes me at rhe same time. I t is now used to peddle goods from headgear to footwe ar, and everything in between. Th e role of an ambassador as we kn ow it is to smoothen ruffled feathers and snu ff o u t spot fires between n ations. But brand ambassadors like Jennifer H a,vki n s, Laura Bingle and [(jm Kardashian are content to strut their gear on catwalks and smff d1eir wallets with big che9 u es. Bingo, Laura could eve n flush down the drain a diamo nd ring worth a couple of
big grands! Our own MS Dh o ni was o nce a brand ambassador for 48 different companies, including Karnara ka Soap and Detergen ts Ltd. Tbe role of a brand ambassador is to 'embody the corp orate image in appearance, demeanour, val ues and ethics'.
To present that many images is a big rask that will stump a nybody. With successive series losses, spo nsors have now nm out of tbe do or. Alas, ambassadorial assignments aren't for ever.
By t he way, how many fans buy mose soaps and d ete rgents spruiked by sports star s and Bollywood babes?
D oes anyone care for these ambassadors - except iliose who craft jargon like Fiscal Cliff tha t fall off our 'Clayton' memory before long.
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