award winning night

2. BeST NewS RepoRT oF THe YeAR

Literature of Anguish by Usha Ramanujam Arvind (Sept-2, 2012)

Usha Ramanujam Arvind, one of Indian Link’s most experienced team members, wrote the piece Literature of Anguish. This report concerns itself with a writers’ conference held at the University of Western Sydney that brought together leading literary figures from India and Australia, over a three-day period.

Usha’s particular report was a part of the paper’s ambitious coverage of the entire event, which was based on the literature of Australia’s Aboriginal community and India’s Dalit community. The writing eloquently explores the many shared similarities between these two seemingly different groups of people, who after generations of oppression, are now finding a voice through literature.

The intelligent and soft-spoken Usha said, “The Dalits back home and Aborigines of the Terra www.multiculturalnsw.com.au

Nullius form a bitter chapter of their countries’ respective histories. Their tragic tales share so many common threads, triggering mutual healing and fostering healthier relationships”.

She added, “Growing up in a ‘privileged’ environment and as a member of India’s ‘forward caste’, I have always felt ‘guilt’ at the unfair exclusion of some sections based on caste, colour or religion. Meeting the writers in person was an eye-opening experience.

It is heartwarming to see that this report has touched a chord with the judges and readers and hopefully one day, we can together put this bitterness behind us”.

Usha has been a valuable member of the Indian Link team for twelve years, and wrote for Indian Express before moving to Australia.

Also reporting from the event were contributors Roanna Gonsalves and Priyadarshini Chidambaranathan, making it a truly comprehensive report, reflecting Indian Link’s highest standards.

Finalist

The Mahatma is reborn - as a young Aussie kid, by Joanne Williamson (April 1, 2012)

The winning photograph for Best Image of the Year went to a photograph taken by Joanne Williamson, of a young Australian boy named Ben Stringer who dressed up as Gandhiji. The image was supplied by languages campaigner Mala Mehta and was taken by Joanne at Cronulla Public School.

The image was included in Indian Link as part of a large feature story on a primary school program run jointly by six schools in the central

3. Be ST oNLIN e p u BLICATI o N o F TH e Ye AR Indian Link

Since its launch in 1994, Indian Link now produces six print publications a month. In addition to this, its fortnightly e-paper is emailed to over 20,000 readers. Last year alone, its website www. indianlink.com.au had 433,000 page views, with 233,000 unique visitors. This large amount of online traffic viewed the wealth of information and entertainment available on the news, entertainment and leisure sections of the site, and is growing day by day. “We have been on the cutting edge of technology since our inception,” commented Publisher and CEO Pawan Luthra. Not just content with the written word, the hugely popular Indian Link Radio is also available on the website. The choice to either stream the radio online, or listen to it through a downloadable smartphone application, has brought in visitors from all over the world.

Sydney region. Entitled “India Calling,” the NSW Department of Education and Communities program is aimed at developing an understanding of India and its culture among primary school kids. As part of their year-long activities in this program, the students celebrate India’s festivals, learn the Hindi language, and learn songs, as well as dances from India.

This image was taken on one such celebratory day when teachers as well as students dressed up in Indian costumes.

Ben as the ‘young Gandhi’ with his cotton-draped attire, fake bald head and round glasses, certainly looked the part, showing the confidence of his revered alterego as he posed confidently for photos.

Mala Mehta was thrilled by the award. “If it is anything to do with my bachchas, [young students], it makes me so pleased,” she said upon hearing the news of the award.

Another Indian Link image was also short-listed in the Best Image category. Entitled Designs on Julia, this image by AAP photographer Paul Miller was taken at last year’s India-Australia Friendship Fair and featured Prime Minister Julia Gillard getting a henna tattoo on her hand by mehendi artist Zeenat Lokhandwala.

The online presence has improved dramatically, including the increased use of social media in 2013 (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), with plans of improving this further.