2013-05 Melbourne

Farah Khan

Kabir Khan

Prabhu Deva and Girish Taurani

Simi Garewal

INDIAN LINK

PUBLISHER

Pawan Luthra

EDITOR

Rajni Anand Luthra

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Sheryl Dixit

MELBOURNE

Preeti Jabbal

CONTRIBUTORS

Preeti Jabbal, Mohan Dhall, Nance Jade Althiya, Sujith Krishnan

Sheryl Dixit, Rani Jhala, Geeta Khurana, Petra O’Neill

Tanveer Ahmed, George Thakur

Chitra Sudarshan, Usha Ramanujam Arvind

Noel G De Souza, Paloma Ganguly

Mudhushree Chatterjee

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Ashish Chawla

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02 9279 2004

DESIGN

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Family feud

areas which may have been around the AUD$300,000-$400,000 mark 20 years ago, are now valued at over AUD$10 million. This kind of spectacular growth is largely spread across various cities in India.

Over the next decade, Indians in Australia could find themselves involved in litigation with family members in India over assets which have increased sharply in value in the past 1015 years. One such obvious asset is property.

In 2012, residential property prices in New Delhi rose by 17 % according to the National Housing Bank (NHB). In Mumbai, house prices rose by 8% while Pune registered India’s highest annual house price increase of 33%. Chennai and Jaipur also recorded strong house price increases of 24% and 21%.

These price increases are just the tip of the iceberg as real estate values are known to have two values - the stated value on transactions and the actual value, often the difference of which is financed by cash at time of purchase. Over the past 10 years as the Indian middle class has emerged, property in India has increased substantially in value. For example, properties in South Delhi’s influential

Indian migrants who arrived here in the last 10-20 years, were searching for a better lifestyle - both personal and economic. With limited resources, they settled down and over the years have worked hard to establish themselves. Meanwhile, their parents and other siblings in India have continued on with their lifestyles in India. The annual holidays for the Indian migrant to India are a mixture of family gatherings, shopping and talking about both the economic growth and political situation in India. Often the great unsaid is the value of the family and ancestral property, especially as the parents still live in them.

What can be a potential challenge is the settlement of the property as and when the elders move on. Whereas once upon a time, when the underlying value was in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars, it may have been easier to resolve these issues. But now when the inheritance can be in millions of dollars, it can give rise to family discord.

Family members left behind in India

can feel that they have full right to these assets, especially if it is a joint family asset with people still living there and in some cases, running family businesses from these properties. Those living in Australia may like to access their part of the entitlement and invest it as they deem fit for themselves and their future generations.

A potential sale of property in Mumbai in the Bandra region or in Defence Colony in Delhi can add up to $10 million to the family coffers. This lump sum, even if split two ways between siblings, will allow for a high level of family security to the sibling in Australia or overseas.

While there is no easy solution to this, it is often advisable to discuss these issues rather than to have them as an elephant in the room at later family gatherings when things are not so pleasant. The tyranny of distance between India and Australia and the horrendous Indian legal system can make these conflicts very difficult to resolve when there is limited guidance from the elders, and unsolved property matters can lead to long-term conflicts within the same family.

Family feuds are never pleasant: pathways must be found to defuse this situation before it comes to a head.

PAWAN LUTHRA

Classical treats

Melbourne’s Indian community was treated to a cascade of beautiful music on April 14 at the Kel Watson Centre at the virtuoso tabla and violin concert by Ustad Tari Khan and Melbourne’s own Sri Murali Kumar

The evening began with ghazals from two emerging young artistes who are also pupils of Ustad Tari Khan; Ms Kalyan and Shoaib Safi presented a few items. Soon the stage was ready and Tari Khan made a grand entry, bowing to the rapturous applause. He sat down and began the concert accompanied by Murali Kumar on the violin, Shoaib Safi on the harmonium, Nabeel Riaz on the tabla and Rami, a pupil of Melbourne’s well-known sitarist Khalil Ghudaz, on the keyboard. Although it was billed as a Tari Khan tabla concert with Murali Kumar on the violin, the ustad announced his eagerness to begin with some ghazals in the first segment, and sang such popular ones as ‘Rajish hi sahi’, ‘Mera geet amar kar do’, ‘Kuch na kaho’, among others, much to the delight of the audience. After the break, the classical segment began with Murali Kumar producing a cascade of beautiful raags malkauns and bhairavi on the violin and Tari Khan

wowing the audience with his tabla mastery, weaving complex patterns and showing his percussion prowess, ending the evening of superlative music on a high note!

Born in Pakistan into a traditional Rababi (google to find out who Rababis are!) family, Ustad Tari Khan is one of the most accomplished tabla performers in the Punjab gharana, and a worldrenowned accompanist. He began learning tabla at the age of 6 from his father, Ustad Mia Shaukat Hussain Khan of Lahore. Khan was already an accomplished percussionist by 16, especially for ghazal performers and over the years he accompanied ghazal singers like Hari Haran, Talat Aziz, Mehdi Hassan, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ghulam Ali, to name a few. He is a versatile percussionist, who has also accompanied Pandit Jasrag, Rais Khan, Salamat Ali Khan, Vilayat Khan, Sultan Khan, Dr L Subramanium, VG Jog and others in classical music, and Shaid Parvez in qawwali

As a soloist, Khan blends the classical with the innovative, and he has received several awards in Pakistan. He has performed at such venues as the 1989 Percussive Arts Society Convention in Nashville and at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Khan’s

work has been included in documentaries, Pakistani feature films, and in Mira Nair’s movie ‘Mississippi Masala’. He has also led workshops at several US Universities; has collaborated with artistes and producers from different musical genres including with the acclaimed producer Rick Rubin, and has composed music for documentaries. Lately, Tari Khan has also turned his hand to singing ghazals as well – having been fortunate to have the great Mehdi Hasan as his mentor.

Sri Murali Kumar is a sought after Indian violinist in Australia who has over two decades of concert experience under his belt. He had his early training under Sri Kanchi Janardanan of Chennai, and later the great maestro Sri M S Gopalakrishnan. Although the bulk of his training has been in Carnatic music, he has a deep understanding of Hindustani music as well, and has given several performances in Australia, India

and elsewhere in both genres. He has founded a music school in Melbourne and has trained, and continues training, several budding violinists.

A note on the organisers: for those of us used to the professional and crisp organisation of Carnatic music concerts, this event left much to be desired. There was confusion at the door up to half an hour after the concert was supposed to have started, and the audience waited for more than half an hour before an MC came on the stage to make announcements. As for the ustad, perhaps he is used to behaving like a prima donna, so he asked for the lights in the audience to be switched on, the volume of his mike to be ranked up, et al – it was all a bit tedious, but was forgiven in the face of such virtuoso performance from him!

The 8th Annual Concert of the Keerthana Music School was held on the evening of 13 April

What’s on

Kathak dance performance

Tues May 14 from 7:30pm

Eminent Kathak dancer Sharvani Jamenis will perform. Spirit of India has kindly provided a special price of $30 for the performance.  Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Promo code: SPIRIT.

Details: melbournerecital.com.au, in person or call 03 9699 3333.

Udit Narayan live

Sun May 26 from 6pm onwards

Bollywood legend Udit Narayan will perform live in Melbourne for the first time ever. Melbourne Town Hall, corner of Swanston and Collins Streets. Tickets: $40.

Details: Anita on 03 9846 2595.

Tribute to Lalgudi G Jayaram

Fri May 31 from 7:15pm

Tribute to Padmabhushan Lalgudi

G Jayaraman, hosted by Sruthi Laya Kendra (Australia) and Keerthanan Music School. All are

welcome to attend. Kel Watson theatre, Mahoneys Road, Burwood.

Bicentennial celebration

Sat 1–Sun 2 June 1pm-10:15pm

Mom-moorthigal Jayanthi and Swathi Thirunal Bicentennial celebration, presented by Academy of Indian Music and Sruthi Laya Kendra. Kel Watson Theatre, Mahoneys Road, Burwood.

Sangeet Sandhya

Sat June 2 8pm onwards

Open forum evening of Hindustani music by local artistes. All are welcome to attend and sing. Waverley Meadows Primary School concert hall, Columbia Drive, Wheelers Hill.

Jyoti Thakkar sitar recital

Sat June 15 8pm onwards

Enchanting sitar recital by Shrimati Jyoti Thakkar, renowned Hindustani musician. Waverley Meadows Primary School, Columbia Drive, Wheelers Hill. Tickets: $10 (all net proceeds will

at the Chandler Secondary College in Keysborough. Director Uthra Vijay’s dedication to music and her students both young and old, was evident in the four hours of classical Carnatic music that showcased their achievements.

To see children, youth and the not-so-young performing with such confidence and dedication was deeply satisfying. Many of the students have been undergoing years of training and it was clearly evident in their vocal performances. The duets, trios and other group renderings of kritis were particularly enjoyable. The solos were reserved for the more senior and able students, whose presentation of raga alapana, kritis and kalpana swaras was superb: all the students did their guru proud.

The chief guest was Gopinath Iyer, renowned veena artiste, who gave students a few tips on how to improve their musical skills.

Chitra Sudarshan

be donate). Details: Radhey Shyam 0402 074 208.

Vedic Society meet

Every Sunday 2pm

Adults learn to chant the Tamil pasurams and about the Sri Vaishnava tradition. All are welcome. Children’s classes same time and place. Mount Street Neighbourhood House, 8, Mount Street, Glen Waverley. To join by Skype, note Skype ID: Srivaishnavam. Details:  http://www.srivaishnavam.org.au

Keerthana Music School

Tari Khan

Glitz and glam launch film fest

From Balan to Bachchan - with the Pratts in between - the glam quotient is up at Melbourne’s Indian Film Fest

PREETI JABBAL

Icould write about my recent visit to celebrate the magic of Indian cinema at Raheen, the Pratt mansion, in two ways. I could play it cool and totally unaffected by the rare opportunity of visiting a multimillion dollar mansion, or I could gush over just about everything from the coordinated wall paint and dustbins in the

this is your cue to turn over to the sports page. For all the others, join me as I go over the events of those crazily hectic days at the start of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2013.

The first exciting event was a pre-festival dinner hosted by Richard Pratt and Jeanne Pratt at their Italianate mansion in Kew. Personal invitations featuring the impressive Raheen were sent to those associated with the Indian Film Festival and Mind Blowing Films. The theme of course was Bollywood glamour and adding to this heady mix was the presence of visiting Bollywood personalities

companies, Anthony Pratt is on the advisory board of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and Visy is its major supporter this year. Clad in a silk kurta pyjama (given to him by festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange), Anthony Pratt sat with leading Indian actress Vidya Balan on one side and ‘queen of suave’ Simi Garewal on the other. Yash Chopra’s wife Pamela Chopra, Louise Asher (Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Minister for Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Employment and Trade) and Anthony’s mother Jeanne Pratt were among the other

Vidya Balan. An award was presented posthumously to iconic filmmaker Yash Chopra for his contribution to world cinema. His wife Pamela Chopra accepted the award on his behalf. “The whole world his movies but it was his humility not his said Mrs. Chopra as she accepted the award from Minister Asher.

someone selected him for an award he always turned around and asked me do I really deserve this? He may have been a renowned film-maker but he was always humble about his success” she added.

cream and black polka dotted saree and an eyecatching silver neckpiece thanked the Pratts for their hospitality and continued to profess her love for Melbourne and her desire to call it her second home.

As global chairman of Visy, one of the world’s largest paper recycling and packaging

restricting the impulse to get closer to the main guests and whip out my notepad. We were there to ‘socialise’, according to the gentleman on the door who relieved us of our cameras as we walked in. Between the courses (no curries in sight) we heard from attending dignitaries, Minister Louise Asher, a visibly pregnant Mitu Bhowmick Lange and the predictably saree-clad

“I am addicted to Melbourne like I am addicted to acting. I wish that I continue to be the brand ambassador for the Indian Film Festival in Melbourne for ever and ever,” she said charming the audience with her mega wattage smile and warmth.

Vidya continued to gush over Melbourne during the press conference held the following morning. Accompanying her at the press conference were dancing sensation turned director

“I am addicted to Melbourne like I am addicted to acting. I wish that I continue to be the brand ambassador for the Indian Film Festival in Melbourne for ever and ever”

Vidya Balan

to dine at the historic mansion of one of Australia’s richest tycoons,

Girish Taurani

from Tips Industry family, outspoken choreographer and director Farah Khan and the sophisticated yesteryear actress and popular TV host Simi Garewal. Split into two parts the conference began with festival guests and judges of the Western Union Short Film Competition, award-winning director Kabir Khan and critically acclaimed filmmaker Paul Cox. Conspicuous by

dwelt on the changing role of women in Indian cinema today.

Simi Garewal who continued to sport her designer sunglasses indoors due to ‘some issue with her eyes’ endorsed Vidya’s observations about Indian women taking centre-stage both in reel and real life today. Simi, who is also on the festival advisory board, said it was time for the Festival to grow upwards.

“Time has come for us to consider giving awards on best film, best actors and director and make this Festival competitive,”

It would have been interesting to hear from Bollywood A-lister Farah Khan as well however she had to leave the conference early due to ill health.

of entertaining queries however the most amusing one was from a man who wished to know why Raja Harishchandra was a silent movie? Was there something wrong, he asked. The audience who was already having a good time burst into more spontaneous laughter and applause as Farah declared it, tonguein-cheek, to be the best ‘question of the night’.

Molloy. Mitu Bhowmick from Mind Blowing Films and Western Union Marketing Manager Monica Khanna were also present. Nilesh Desai from Mumbai who won the Western Union Short Film competition for his confronting film Sati also attended. Predictably most of the questions from the press were directed at Vidya Balan and Kabir Khan who articulated their answers and fielded some inane questions from certain local scribes quite well.

Between urging Melbournians to come and watch the array of fantastic films playing at the Festival and answering questions about her married life, Vidya also

Farah Khan recovered from her illness sufficiently to be able to accompany the festival guests to the gala opening night on Friday 3rd May. Mingling with other festival guests in the lounge prior to the main event, the stars obliged with photographs and autographs.

Vidya was resplendent in a stunningly simple maroon saree and her hair swept back in a soft vintage style; Simi was in her favoured white; Farah Khan was understandably in no mood for glamour while Prabudeva, Girish and Kabir Khan sported some spiffy eveningwear. They were unanimously keen to watch the opening night special screening of India’s first feature film, 100-yearold Raja Harishchandra. Prior to the screening the festival conducted a Q-and-A session where the audience could ask any question from the special guests. There was

The merriment subsided to some extent as the screening began with the confronting yet creative Western Union short film winning entry Sati. According to the message portrayed through this film the practice of Sati (burning of widows/brides) was abolished in India in the year 1829; however, women in India are still not free from evil practices. This thought provoking film was followed by the muchawaited screening of Raja Harishchandra (1913) accompanied by music from a talented local group called Tehai3. The jury is still out on whether the music added or took away from the otherwise silent movie. The rest of the opening night was taken up by the screening of Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory. On the next day the Festival declared the other two winners of the Western Union Short Film competition Dimi from New Zealand won for

the movie Lockie n Love and Sean McCart from Australia for Give Sheep a Chance.

The Festival is in full swing as I write this and Melbournians are waiting for the piece de resistance of the Festival - the arrival of India’s most celebrated film star Amitabh Bachchan. According to festival reports he will be awarded by the Victorian Government the ‘International Screen Icon award’ for his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema and will officially close the festival on 22 May. The La Trobe University in Australia will be naming a scholarship after the actor, calling it the ‘Shri Amitabh Bachchan Scholarship’. He will also receive the ‘Ambassador of Goodwill’ award from the Vice Chancellor of La Trobe University during his stay in Melbourne. Currently there is great anticipation for

the closing night event on 22 May where people are expecting to see the star and watch his film Deewaar. The details of his trip to Melbourne are closely guarded and raising the inevitable speculations.

With its exciting line-up of films, prominent guests, special events and interactive masterclasses the 2nd International Film Festival has warmed up the Melbourne winter entertainment scene like nothing else. While it may not yet compete with the prestige of lofty festivals like Cannes or have the box office power of festivals like Toronto and Sundance the Indian Film Festival is certainly growing from strength to strength. Will the Victorian Government continue to support the festival beyond its three-year commitment?

According to Minister Louise Asher the Victorian Government is committed to supporting this festival and the resultant cultural engagement for three years and any further announcements on whether this will turn into a longterm commitment or not will be made at an ‘appropriate time.’

“Time has come for us to consider giving awards on best film, best actors and director and make this Festival competitive” Simi Garewal

Photos by: ISSM and Ravinder Jabbal

Vibrant, vivacious and very very cool

Vidya Balan’s name in an Indian film comes with a promise and a guarantee. Her roles have garnered commercial viability and artistic credibility. She has been celebrated as one of the most successful Indian actresses of our times, and the modern Indian film industry has been greatly enriched by her. The beautiful and talented ambassador of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Vidya Balan was here recently to celebrate the 100 years of Indian cinema and attend the Festival opening ceremony on 3 May at Hoyts Melbourne Central. As I walked in to interview her at the Langham Hotel I was curious to see which saree she would choose that day.

Vidya entered clad in a simple hand-crafted rust, cream and green striped saree, (probably a Sabyasachi design). She looked elegant as always, but was clearly not enjoying the morning winter chill. Giving us a warm smile nevertheless, she wanted to find out if we were filming her or taking photos. When we said neither, she visibly relaxed and signaled her make-up artist to stop doing the touch-up on her lips. We were ready to roll.

Preeti Jabbal: What did you think of the special screening of India’s first feature film Raja Harishchandra shown at the festival opening?

Vidya Balan: I saw this film for the first time and I loved it. It was very special to be able to see this film with my colleagues and fans in Melbourne while celebrating the centenary of Indian cinema. The accompanying music that was played by the local Melbourne group Tihai3 was fantastic. It was fascinating to see all the female characters played by male actors especially the actor who played the role of the queen. I have read about him: his name was Salunke and his acting abilities were praiseworthy. I think all the shots were taken at the same time so they did not have any time for corrections. There were some obvious glitches; however, overall the movie was very charming. I am thankful to the Film Festival for giving me the opportunity to witness this historical film and be part of the centenary celebrations.

PJ: You are such an integral part of the Indian film industry. How do you intend to celebrate the 100 years of Indian Cinema personally?

VB: Personally I feel very blessed and I am grateful that I am living my dreams and witnessing this significant time in Indian cinema. The kind of films that are being made, the type of roles that are being offered and the subject matters that are being explored nowadays are all very exciting. We may not yet be in the golden era of cinema but we are certainly on the right path. Changes do not happen overnight and this is the time when the changes are really manifesting and I couldn’t be working in cinema at a better time than this when the whole world is looking to learn from the success of Indian cinema.

PJ: You have been invited to attend the Cannes Film Festival this year. You will be part of the judging panel and be in the exalted company of Steven Spielberg, Nicole Kidman and Ang Lee. I know there is a lot of speculation on what you will wear, but more importantly,

what

are you looking

forward to in Cannes?

VB: In my college days I used to attend every film festival that was held but ironically I have not been able to do that since I joined the film industry. Cannes will give me the opportunity to watch films from all over the world and as you said I will be in exalted company. It will be interesting to see how they look at and appreciate films. I am not technically qualified like them and my approach will be more as a viewer and an actor. It will be about how I feel when I watch the films, more heart than anything else. It will be interesting to interact with others and observe how they react to different films. This is

my first visit to Cannes and I am looking forward to attending one of the most celebrated festivals in the world.

PJ: In Indian cinema today there are a few ‘bankable stars’ like the Khans who guarantee box office success but they are all men. Given the tremendous success of your last few films do you feel that you enjoy a similar status?

VB: There was a time when films were sold on Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit’s names. Then we entered a phrase when we had such a lack of good roles that women became almost inconsequential in the decade after these stars took a break from films. I think that is changing again and women are now taking centre-stage in real life and in cinema. I believe cinema is a reflection of real life and I think we are leading our lives on our own terms and we are not apologetic about the choices we make. It is no longer unidimensional, there is a lot of choice and we are a lot more fun. We have steered away from films where women were portrayed as the central protagonists but they were either glorified or vilified and there was no middle path. Today a woman has various facets to her that makes interesting viewing and therefore people are more willing to watch those films. This gives hope to actresses like me that we can also become bankable stars.

PJ: Vidya, you have the oomph of a diva and the grace of a bhartiya naari. Which one of these is the real you?

VB: (Laughs) Thank you. I think I am a little bit of bit of both. I think Indian women are more naturally sexy than other women. It’s the way our bodies and faces are made. We are well-endowed and curvaceous with sharp features but there is an unmistakable softness and grace as well. In that sense I am as Indian as you can get and happy to be a sexy Bhartiya naari

PJ: If it’s not your wardrobe, it’s your weight. There is so much scrutiny of your personal life. We even know for instance that

you cooked Rajma Chawal for your brother-in-law Aditya Roy Kapur as a treat to celebrate his good performance in his new film Aashiqui 2. How does all this affect you?

VB: What? Was the rajma chawal on the news? (shakes her head in amusement). I do not read the papers or watch TV, as I don’t think I need others to tell me things about me. I feel grateful that people are interested in knowing about me but I don’t think I am interested in knowing about me!

PJ: Your new film Ghanchakkar is releasing soon and then you have Badla by Sujoy Ghosh in the pipeline. Are there any roles that you are really looking forward to?

VB: With Badla the script is not finalized so I cannot comment on it, however Ghanchakkar is my first comedy and my second film with Raj Kumar Gupta. It is dramatically different from my role in his film No One Killed Jessica The character I play in Ghanchakkar is outlandish, loud brash and over the top, and yet she is real. I do see people like this in the world who have such an exalted sense of their own self. I had to work on the Punjabi accent as I play a middle-class Punjabi woman. I had gained weight for The Dirty Picture and Raj Kumar Gupta wanted me to retain that weight - in fact, put on some more - for Ghanchakkar. I protested initially but I retained the weight and now that I have seen a couple of scenes I have realized that it makes my character so much more believable. I hope people enjoy it.

As we wrapped up the interview Vidya posed graciously for some photographs. She then paid a compliment to the photographer (who also happens to be my other half) on how his face appears to be that of a ‘nice and warm person’. My miyaji was so chuffed with what he considers to be the ‘compliment of his life’ that he has since been spotted around Melbourne with a permanent smile on his face, which was hitherto a rarity. This sexy Bhartya Naari with award-winning talent is no doubt a real charmer. The future of Indian cinema seems to be in good hands.

Preeti Jabbal

She has the oomph of a diva and the grace of a typical Bhartiya Naari. Which of these is the real Vidya Balan?

Photos: Ravinder Jabbal

IFFM Bollywood dance off

Shiamak group adjudged best by Bollywood biggies

BY LEANNE WOODWARD

Don’t be mistaken into thinking that the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is just about film. On the evening of Saturday May 4, Federation Square came alive with the sounds of Bollywood, Kollywood, Tollywood and more. To help commemorate and celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema, there was dance, music, and laughter, and special guest judges: Farah Khan, Kabir Khan, Prabhudeva and Girish Taurani.

The stage was overtaken by Australian performers young and old, participating in a Bollywood dance contest inspired by a century of Indian cinema. Melbournians and the Indian Film Festival’s guests of honour witnessed the incredible passion that many Australians have for Indian cinema with each dance performance.

The night was so surprising in diversity and talent, that I think Ms Farah Khan’s socks, were quite literally, knocked off. Farah Khan, a brilliant choreographer, director, and actress, was a guest judge and guest of honour. She commented many times on the contestant’s enthusiasm, talent, humour, and grace.

She had probably never expected the diversity of contestants, ranging from the indojazz style of the young Shamiak group, to the enthusiastic, endearing, and rather erratic performance of a Punjabi inspired interpretive dance, performed by the Australian born Owen Langford. There was also another performer with immense grace, a lady-man dancer who performed to a female Bollywood vintage classic, whose technique was pure grace and an absolute pleasure to watch. Farah at one point was so inspired by this lady’s passion that

included Spin City Salsa, whose routine won them one of the top awards on the night. Salsa proved to be a fantastic match to the song Chamak Challo There were also a number of dance groups that performed to medleys which fused classical and traditional, with modern music and dance. One dancer performed to the Lagaan hit, Radha Kaise Na Jale, and then followed this with a performance to the new hit, Radha (likes to party) from Student of the Year

Females weren’t the only participants involved. A fantastic all male martial artists group blew the audience away with their acrobatics, speed and power. A number of male artists performed solo, with some imitating the styles of the famous Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and more.

We saw RNB grooves, break dancing, and popping, AND we got to watch Prabhudeva moon walk across the stage, and teach us some of his signature moves.

The entire evening was complete entertainment and it’s quite possible that this evening did prove, as in Prabhudeva’s recent film, that Any Body Can Dance Prabhudeva, actor, dancer, chorographer, director and honorary guest judge, was joined by Kabir Khan, documentary and movie director and by Girish Taurani, up and coming actor, who you will see in his musical film soon to release, Ramaia

Vastavaiya. All judges I believe enjoyed their night and I’m sure there will be some performances they will not forget.

Overall, this year’s IFF Bollywood dance contest held at Federation Square in the cold, under the stars, proved to be a perfect warming distraction and a night full of hours of diverse and engaging entertainment.

Melbournians and the Indian Film Festival’s guests of honour witnessed the incredible passion that many Australians have for Indian cinema with each dance performance

Seniors scene

Discussion, dance and song enliven various events for Melbourne’s senior community

bride. Bhim Sud was the preacher who conducted the wedding, and the groom was allowed to lift the veil from his bride’s face, only to find a commotion arise.

TCitizens Association (ISCA) held a picnic in April at Kangaroo Point in the vast and picturesque Cardinia Reservoir, south-east Melbourne. The weather was typically Melbournian, and the region was acceptably cool as the bus reached the meeting point. Ominous noon clouds benevolently showered sunshine on us instead of rain. Some members arrived in their own cars, bringing the total of attendees to 135.

As we drove in, bubbly member Katy Cooper was noticeably seated with a visibly fractured leg, as her foot had hit a protruding root formation, causing her to fall down. Entirely lost, Minoo Cooper stood by Katy, his demeanour bewildered. Suddenly, the picnic dulled into insignificance, and appeared to have ended before it had begun. The ambulance was summoned and after it finally arrived, we heaved a sigh of relief as Katy was driven away to Dandenong Hospital.

Members gathered around the spot where a veg and non-veg BBQ had been arranged for a nominal price. The ambiance was chilly, so we gathered around a dying BBQ to stay warm and shared our food. Friendly Madhu and Naresh Mithaiwala had brought in, as you can guess, lots of delicious mithai to share. There was jalebis and dhokla too. Some members brought in beers, and then entertained us by collectively singing Bollywood oldies, while Raj Babbar performed his unique clapping, as only he can, which sufficed as loud-enough accompanying music.

Now came the fun part as Shano Rajkumar and Rose Thakur settled everyone around to celebrate a mock wedding. Madhuri Haikerwal, a great sport by any yardstick, was chosen to play-act the timid bride, and none other than yours truly was the groom. Many members were picked to play musical instruments allocated to them by Shano. Dadadadi, Nana-nani, uncles-aunties in dozens escorted the groom to his

Raj Babbar, the bride’s boyfriend barged in protesting against the wedding and brandishing a firearm, audaciously abducted the willing bride while the groom stood by howling with grief.

The excitement of the abduction once completed, Shano and Rose picked up six husbands and blindfolded them. They then placed different wives hands in those of the chosen men, who had to identify their respective wives by feeling her hand alone.

While some picked their wives correctly, some failed miserably, and only Prem Phakey admittedly cheated because his blindfold was porous.

After that, members played antakshri until 5pm, bringing to an end a wonderful day out.

For information about ISCA meets, please call President Prem Phakey on 9560 9607

The Kingston Indian Senior Citizens Association had a meet which, in comparison, was a rather subdued affair attended by only 35 members. The first item for the day, as always, was to thank Him for His many blessings upon all. The next item that a despondent President Mona Raju conjured up was to ask members if KISCA is better wound up, because membership just was not rising. The consensus was an immediate and resounding ‘No!’ Members did not even want KISCA moved to the FIAV office premises in Dandenong, as forum meetings are already hosted there. Members offered to assist Mona in dayto-day functions, although the downfall was still the number of members.

Nonetheless, Mona and Barbara Nagaya led us in karaoke singing nonstop Bollywood oldies for an hour, some of which were truly oldies, “yehi who jagaah hai, yehi who fizaa hai, yaheen per kabhi aap hum se mile the, and mushkil hai bahut mushkil, chaahat ka bhula dena.” Young Ashwini Niha Sen also sang a song in her sweet voice. And, take my word as truth, the power of the rich and poignant Indian music soothed the pain of there only being 35 of us.

For information about KISCA affairs, please contact President Mona Raju on 0425 226 846.

Northern Region Indian

Seniors Association (NRISA) carried a busload of its members to beautiful Torquay, 60km from West Melbourne. They gathered in one of its many waterfront parks, to a welcome from President Santosh Kumar. The weather was cool, but the sun uncharacteristically shone, although not everyone chose to wade in the ocean. After playing games at the beach, where children ran around and tested their vocal chords, everyone gathered together to share homemade vegetarian

food. Since the drive back home was about 90 minutes long and the weather was turning truly Melbournian, they left for home at around 4pm.

For information about NRISA, please contact President Santosh Kumar on 9816 3401.

Indian Seniors Forum (ISF) members took a two hour journey to Bendigo in the Bombadier trains that leave after 8am and return travellers home by 7pm, leaving a good 3 hours plus to explore Bendigo. Seniors used

their free tickets and the journey was comfortable, with the group chatting with one another. For this particular trip, a short walk from the station brought members to the Indian Tavern Restaurant, where a sumptuous lunch was served to the group. Everyone was now keen on the next event, a tram ride around Bendigo, which took members around local landmarks. It had been preagreed that the trip would be a gaana (singing) and khaana (eating) trip.

All forum meetings are free with light refreshments served. The forum meets at Dandenong on the first Saturday of the month, at Point Cook every second Saturday, at Clayton every third Saturday, and finally at Camberwell, every fourth Saturday.

Call Anand Shome (0422 726 483), coordinator for Dandenong, Rakesh Auplish (0408 381 487) for Camberwell, Nardev Sharma (0449 877 920) for Point Cook, or Siri Krishan Auplish for further details on 03 9543 6615.

GEORGE THAKUR

Poll reveals what Indians think of Australia

Despite uncertain relations between India and Australia since 2008, a recently release poll reveals a positive slant in perceptions of Australia among Indians. The poll, conducted in seven languages across India’s geographic regions and all levels of society, was managed by the Lowy Institute for International Policy under a grant from the Australia India Institute (AII). The nationally representative opinion survey of 1233 Indian adults was conducted face-to-face in late 2012.

The findings are surprising, considering that Indian public opinion not long ago bordered on the hostile towards Australia, with issues like the attacks on Indian students, Australia’s refusal to sell uranium to India and even the politics of cricket adding to the general feeling of distrust.

Key issues covered in the poll included: Indian perceptions of Australian governance and society, education in Australia, the Indian media, uranium sales to India, Indian Ocean security, and cricket.

Results from the poll clearly indicate that Australia is well-liked in India. Indians hold relatively warm feelings towards Australia (56 degrees on a scale of 0 to 100), which ranks fourth after the United States (62), Singapore (58) and Japan (57) out of 22 countries in the survey.

60% of Indians surveyed think it would be better if India’s government and society worked more like Australia’s. This places Australia roughly equal to Japan and Singapore. Of the 10 countries surveyed, only the United States ranked better, at 78%.

However, lingering doubts still remain a about previous crimes against Indian students: 62% of Indians consider Australia a dangerous place for Indian students, although 53% consider it safer than it was a few years ago, and 49% of Indians consider Australia generally a safe country.

Australia ranks second after the United States as a good place to be educated, according to 75% of Indians, and rates more highly

than Canada, Singapore, Britain and Germany.

“Most of the results are surprisingly positive,” said the author of the poll study, Rory Medcalf, Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute. “Most Indians surveyed seem to admire our society, governance and universities. Only the United States scores much higher in their warmth and esteem. But it is clear we can’t be complacent about Australia’s image or the welcome Indians receive in this country,” he added.

“The Australia-India relationship is an idea whose time has come,” said Prof Amitabh Mattoo, Director, AII. “This poll confirms that Indian perceptions of Australia are improving, but more work is needed to build and secure this vital relationship”. “This report focuses on our shared values and interests which have seen Australia’s relationship with India develop into one of our key strategic and economic partnerships in the region,”

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said. “It is gratifying to see positive results of Indian feelings towards Australia, Indian judgements of the quality of Australia’s education system, and Indian views on working with Australia in our shared neighbourhood,” he added. However, Mr Carr also acknowledged that there were elements of the relationship where Australia needed to do more. After all, Australia’s Indian community of more than 450,000 is the fastest growing migrant community in Australia, and India is the second-largest source of international students.

In other findings, 63% of Indians surveyed see Australia as a country well-disposed to India, 59% agree the two countries have similar security interests, 60% see Australia as a good supplier of energy and other resources

and 57% think it supplies good agricultural produce.

70% of Indians think selling uranium is important to Australia’s relations with India, while only 5% think it is not important.

And of course, cricket is mostly good for diplomacy. Threequarters of Indians think the game projects a positive image of Australia, a positive image of India, and helps the two countries grow closer. Still, 35% think cricket can sometimes cause frictions between the countries.

The India-Australia Poll is a collaboration between the Lowy Institute for International Policy and the AII, and is part of a larger survey into Indian attitudes to the world. The poll can be downloaded from the Lowy Institute website: www.lowyinstitute.org

Migrant assistance website launched

One of the ‘biggest journeys of hope’ is when one migrates to another country. Whatever the motivation, migration is a complicated emotional and physical journey full of uncertainty and expectations. Being uprooted from the familiar and confronting the unknown can be daunting. However if there is help available, adapting to a new environment and lifestyle can be relatively easier. A new website/service was launched recently in Melbourne offering assistance to new migrants settling down in Victoria, as well as across Australia, through personal guidance and consultation. According to Aroop Shukla the brain behind this unique concept, the aim of settleinaustralia.net is to enable migrants to integrate and assimilate in Australian society ‘like a duck takes to water’.

The website and service was officially launched at Tandoori Junction Indian Restaurant in Glen Waverley recently, and was attended by a number of dignitaries predominantly from

the Indian community along with representatives from south Asian communities like Fiji, Singapore, Malaysia and China. Consul (SCWO) Rakesh Kawra was the chief guest along with Vasan Srinivasan, President of the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV). Both offered their ongoing support to Aroop and his wife Sharmadha and wished them well for the success of this ‘much-needed service’.

Other guests included Usha Sharma, ex-VMC Commissioner; Arun Yoshit from Cambridge International; Thomas Joseph, Vice President of FIAV; Param Randhawa, former head of international marketing and manager of International Business Development from Box Hill TAFE; Neeraj Nanda, editor of South Aisa Times; and President of Maharashtra Mandal, Manalini Kane. Ambrish Deshmukh aka Adi was the charming MC for the evening.

Resettlement often involves adapting to a new environment, language, culture, society and lifestyle. Through this service Aroop and Sharmadha Shukla

websites and information available to people, they still need someone to ‘hold their hand’ and guide them through the entire process of finding a job, accommodation, school for their children and even something as simple as opening a bank account,” said Aroop as he explained the options available. “We have a package to suit all needs. I have been in Australia for over 12 years now and like everyone else, I have lived and

capacity with the settlement process. This is an extension of the same service. I am very confident that the intellectual property that I have will help people save money, time and effort,” he added.

During the launch several prominent members of media and community spoke about how such a service will fulfill a need not yet addressed. All of us have our own migrant stories to share and we all

it is difficult to adapt to a new environment, a vast majority of immigrants eventually find their feet. A service like the one offered by the Shuklas is likely to expedite the settlement process. According to Aroop, the sooner people settle-down in Australia the easier it will be for them to focus on living day-to-day and will reduce the dependence on government resources, services and facilities

Preeti Jabbal

New arrivals will benefit from personal guidance and consultation to help them settle in

Aroop and Sharmadha Shukla

Another milestone for Indian academic

Eminent academic Prof Bhargava takes his extensive expertise to Malaysia

BY USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)

Deputy Pro ViceChancellor (International) Suresh K Bhargava, has been recently appointed as the visiting professor at University of Malaya, the top institution of higher learning in Malaysia.

The appointment is part of the Academic Icon Program, an initiative to bring world-renowned scientists and highly cited researchers to collaborate in highimpact research programs at the university.

Prof Bhargava, who has several patents and hundreds of research papers, will bring his extensive expertise in chemical industry to the National Center of Excellence Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Centre (NANOCAT). He will be directly involved in programs related to green productions using catalysts, carbon di-oxide utilisations and nanotechnology.

Over the past three decades, the distinguished academic has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the design, construction and operation of large-scale industrial plants. His groundbreaking contribution however, has been the incorporation of sustainable business practices in this sector.

Prof Bhargava’s research focus has been in the niche areas of industrial chemistry and advanced material sciences, specialising in gold nanoparticles, broader nanoscience and technology, with a view to facilitate their use in medical formulations, as well as mercury removal from industrial waste.

Furthermore, his research in the field of catalytic wet oxidation was the trigger for ‘a number of acclaimed innovations within the Australian chemical industry in fields as diverse as the removal of organics from Bayer Process by CWAO in alumina refineries, mercury detection and removal from large scale industrial plant production, odour abatement from Alumina Refinery Condensate, rejuvenation of car exhaust catalysts, and waste treatment in magnesium sulphate from Nickel Laterite processing’.

He is also the recipient of the largest number of industrial collaborative research grants in excess of $15 million over the past decade.

“My association with UoM will provide RMIT with a platform to engage students, educators, researchers, governments, business and industry from around the world,” Prof Bhargava told Indian Link.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, stated this latest honour would further reinforce RMIT’s commitment to become a global university of technology and design, with presences in key cities around the world.

“Professor Bhargava has already demonstrated his commitment to strengthening RMIT’s global reputation through the establishment of the RMIT-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) Centre in 2011,” she said.

“His appointment as Visiting Professor at the University of Malaya further extends our global physical and virtual presence, and I would like to congratulate Prof Bhargava on his efforts to support RMIT’s Internationalisation Plan,” she added.

As an academic high-flier, prestigious awards have marked Prof Bhargava’s illustrious career pathway, which began in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He won a national scholarship to undertake his Masters from Meerut University, and completed the programme while he was only 18. He was then offered a place in the PhD programme at University of Exeter through the Commonwealth Academic Staff scholarship. He was the only one to represent India at the elite programme.

Examined by Nobel Laureate Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson, Prof Bhargava not only completed the course in two and a half years, but also published fifteen academic papers in the top international journals and was declared ‘Best International PhD student’.

Prof Bhargava was invited to take up a research fellowship at Australian National University in 1983. He subsequently moved to the fuel technology division of CSIRO at Lucas Height Research Laboratories NSW, before joining the faculty at the RMIT in 1990. He became a full professor and chair of industrial chemistry at RMIT in 1999.

He instituted a ‘multidisciplinary research platform at RMIT to include research into uranium processing, water quality, catalytic wet oxidation, nanoscience and technology, bio-nanotechnology, electrochemistry, homo- and heterogeneous catalysis, sensor design and engineering and fundamental materials science’.

A Fellow of Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Royal Society of Chemistry London, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering & Chemical Research Society of India, he is also a visiting professor at Tokyo University and Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore.

He has been a recipient of numerous academic, research and industrial citations including Ralph Mcintosh medal for service to students, Worley Parsons Award, RK Murphy Medal, RMIT ViceChancellor’s Research Excellence Award, CSIRO outstanding research contribution award, Golden West medal for innovative research, AGR Matthey Gold medal for outstanding contribution in the field applied gold chemistry, as well as being repeatedly honoured by RMIT in various capacities. Prof Bhargava also won the research excellence, innovation

and teaching awards for seven consecutive years.

A scientific advisor to the Indian government, Prof Bhargava has also driven significant partnerships between India and Australia in the past decade. In this context, he was invited by Kevin Rudd to a discussion on national environmental research and collaborations with India. His initiative and efforts have resulted in the founding of IICTRMIT Joint Research Centre.

The newly established centre allows researchers to work on projects such as ‘catalysis for green chemistry, advanced materials and renewable energy, processes for water quality monitoring and waste water treatment, control of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and bio-nanotechnology’. The collaboration has resulted in numerous joint patents being filed in frontier areas.

Prof Bhargava also spearheaded the Australia-India joint symposium on smart nano materials, bringing together key Australian and Indian researchers together on a single platform to promote collaboration between the two countries in the area of nanotechnology.

The RMIT-India collaborations have also led to the Indian government establishing a doctoral scholarship for an Indian student to study in Australia. As well, a number of memorandums of understanding have been signed with several leading Indian universities.

Prof Bhargava was recently bestowed CRSI Medal, one of the most prestigious science awards in India and is the only overseas recipient so far. His global engagement activities with India were further recognised when he was awarded the 20122013 Australia-India Senior Visiting Fellowship, a program organised jointly by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).

In addition, the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV) also recognised his contributions to the Indian community.

Prof Bhargava is very upbeat on the future of chemical industry. “The outlook is good for the future and various new rounds of research grants also have been introduced by Australia-India Strategic Research Fund in various areas of science, including chemical sciences,” he stated.

However this picture is clearly not rosy at the ground level in India, where more work needs to be done, he indicated. He now looks to effect significant changes in India’s chemical dye industry, one of the most polluted sectors in the world. Professor Bhargava will work closely with the sector to suggest cost effective and sustainable solutions.

Suresh with VC of UoMalaya

If your mum loves chocolate and you would really like to give her some, present her with a gift box of dark chocolate

Fifty shades of life

Gender equality, work life balance and an insight into taking charge of your life were discussed at PS3 event

Any discussion that focuses on rethinking of leadership outside the masculine paradigm is bound to go through topics like gender equality, glass ceilings and work-life balance. These, and many other topics were shared recently at an informal forum organised by a group of enthusiastic, forward thinking individuals under the banner of PS3. The interesting and thought-provoking event was held at Sportlink in Vermont South, and was attended by a select group of women from the Indian community in Melbourne.

The participants who came from all walks of life shared insights, explored best practices and compared experiences with each other, offering fresh perspectives on traditional leadership and other issues that face women. Inevitably

the discussion at times digressed into other topics that were not directly relevant, but were equally significant, however overall, it was interesting learning about what matters in women’s lives.

At the recent PS3 coffee forum the participants heard from Adriana Juan, a motivational speaker and life coach. Adriana shared her personal experiences of being a migrant in Australia, being away from her family, upheavals in her relationships and her subsequent struggle with depression. She spoke about how she took charge of her life and how she was liberated from her own fears. Adriana’s simple message was to go back to the basics and connect with yourself and others in order to support yourself. Adriana asked the participants to consider the fifty shades of their lives by outlining a model that included business, health, spiritual,

Attention: L A dies

A nd

emotional and financial wellbeing that could be used by them to map their own success.

The forum continued to discuss some of the hurdles (self-imposed and others) that women face in striving towards achievement, based on Facebook’s CEO Sheryl Sandberg’s controversial talk on why there are too few women at the top of organisations. Following the talk, the PS3 group invited everyone to get healthy and join them for their twice a month walks. The women were also requested to join the Mother’s Day Classic Fun Run/Walk to be held on May 12 to raise funds for breast cancer research. It was a commendable effort by PS3 to offer an environment of peers sharing experiences and drawing on a network to explore challenges. The discussion that ensued emphasised the importance of honouring strengths, innate capacities and

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unique perspectives of both men and women. PS3 is an organisation created by Poonam Mehra, Smita Verma, Suman Chaudhary and Shalini Valecha to raise awareness about everyday issues that are faced by women. Besides the starting letter of their first names, PS3 also stands for their desired objective of offering positive support, strength and synergy to women. What started as a series of friendly discussions

between four friends soon attracted more participation and has now turned into a regular event. The group has grown in numbers and holds events once every six weeks in various parts of Melbourne. Recognising the efforts of the group, in 2011 and 2012 the Boroondara council granted them token funding to enhance the reach of PS3 into the community.

Preeti Jabbal

He captured the magic of Aishwarya Rai when she got back home after winning the Miss World crown in 1994.

Now AP GuRusWAmy captures beautiful moments in Melbourne’s Indian community!

In his 40-year career experience as a professional photographer in India Guruswamy covered news, corporate events, large scale events and celebrities.

For stunning images of your next big event, call Guruswamy on 0406 820 413.

People Parties Places

celebrates his milestone 50th birthday with family and friends

Kulwinder Grover, Upasna Grover, Reet Grover along with Jaswinder Bhalla at post event dinner at Welcome Indian Restaurant Hampton Park

Rajeev Arora

Photo: Raj Suri Miss India Australia

Photo: Raj Suri Miss India Australia

Historic Hampi comes alive

Australian academic throws light on the architectural greatness of this former Vijayanagar Empire capital

BY CHITRA SUDARSHAN

Dr George Michell, author and historian presented a series of talks titled Discovering the Deccan on April 23 and 24, at the Yasuko Hiroaku Room of the Sydney Myer Centre at Melbourne University. Through photographs and slides presented at the talks, the packed and appreciative audience were left with a resolve to surely visit the village of Hampi in northern Karnataka, and in the not-too-distant future. As one who had been to the historic site just a couple of years ago, this writer can only endorse it! There is not another site in India where an entire medieval city and its ruins are preserved to be seen and appreciated.

Dr Michell’s talk was organised by the Australia India Institute in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne.

Speaking of the Chalukyan architecture, as evident in the area of Aihole, Pattadakkal and Badami, Dr Michell said there was a blend of Dravidian and Nagara styles of temple building. In Pattadakkal itself, some of the temples in the same complex are built in one style, and some in the other. These were built between the 6th and the 8th centuries AD, and one was built by a queen to commemorate the conquest and the sacking of Kanchipuram, which was the capital of the Pallavas, by Chalukya king Vikramaditya. Pattadakkal has now been declared a world heritage site by the UNESCO.

Hampi is the name of the present day village, which was once the capital of the great Vijayanagar Empire, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Introducing briefly the wealth and splendour of the Vijayanagar kingdom, Dr Michell cited the works of Portuguese travellers to the Deccan in the 16th century, who were simply awestruck by the riches they saw, for they had seen nothing like it in Europe. Indeed many maps of Asia available in Europe in the 16th century have only the Vijayanagar kingdoms marked on the maps of India. Until then, the kingdom was the only place where diamonds were available, and that is where Europeans went to buy them.

The ruins of the Vijayanagara kingdom are in a splendid setting

with the rocky and boulderstrewn landscape, with the majestic Tungabadra river flowing through what seems a harsh and inhospitable site. The Vijayanagar kings deliberately chose such a site to protect themselves from the southward march of the Sultanates of the time. The river also provided the water needed for irrigation and agriculture, and by all accounts, the capital alone must have sustained a fairly large population. Several canals criss-cross the landscape and present day canals were built largely on the ancient system. Finally, this was, and is, a sacred site, believed to be the Kishkinda of the Ramayana. Indeed everywhere are reminders of the Ramayana epic: Sugreeva’s cave where the monkeys hid the jewels Sita threw from her vimana as she was abducted by Ravana, the mark on the rock where she had dragged her sari, Hanumantha hill, Raghunatha temple… the list is endless. The Vijayanagar kings also chose the site as their capital for this reason.

Dr Michell pointed out how

temples until the 14th century were built mostly from granite, from this period on, the temple towers began to be built with bricks and mortar, which was much less stable than granite. The Vijayanagar kings built hundreds of temples in Hampi, of which perhaps only the Virupaksha and the Malyavanta Raghunatha temples survived the sacking and destruction in the 16th century, and continued to be places of worship. In terms of architectural and artistic achievement, however, the Vitthala temple and the Hazara Rama temple are the most magnificent. In the latter temple, which was perhaps a private temple for the royals, exquisitely carved scenes from the Ramayana depict various episodes in 108 panels that go in a clockwise direction around the walls of the temple in 3 tiers.

The royal centre has the most wonderful monuments/ruins in a hybrid style, incorporating traditional Deccani and Dravidian styles together with Islamic architecture. The Vijayanagar kingdom was quite cosmopolitan

and there were several Arab and Turkish/Central Asian soldiers and horse traders who perhaps, both served or travelled through the capital regularly, and many of the outer wall panels of the Mahanavami platform depict these. There is even evidence of European soldiers, most likely Portuguese mercenaries, who must have served in the Vijayanagar armies. The stepped tank that was discovered in the mid-1980s by Indian archaeologists is also a marvellous example of Vijayanagar architecture and a product of great building ingenuity.

Dr Michell has made a prolific contribution to scholarship in India, and is regarded as an expert in Indian architecture. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at Melbourne University, having received a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the early 1970s, and then obtaining a PhD in 1974 from the School of Oriental African Studies, University of London. Dr Michell’s recent publications include

Dr Michell has made a prolific contribution to scholarship in India, and is regarded as an expert in Indian architecture

The Great Temple at Thanjavur: One Hundred Years, 1010-2010, with Indira Viswanathan Peterson and Bharath Ramamrutham (2010).

Musical pillars at Vithal Temple Complex

Hampi elephant stables

The chariot at the Vitthalaraya Temple

SHARMA’S indian SWEETS

Now a Shariah Index for financial inclusion of Indian Muslims

Followers of Islam, the second largest faith in the world with an estimated 1.7 billion believers, can now be surer when an Indian firm stands the pre-requisites for observant Muslims. The Shariah index launched by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) recently is a new measure in town, assuring compliance with the Islamic canonical law.

Besides giving Islamic mega funds a surer handle on Indian markets, the aim of the S&P BSE 500 Shariah Index is financial inclusion of Indian Muslims - around 177 million in number and hitherto wary of stock markets - and attract them to “correct” equities.

“For us, the index is part of a bigger exercise - of inclusion and fairness,” said Ashishkumar Chauhan, managing director of BSE and an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Management who spent his early years in Ahmedabad.

“The ‘maahoul’ (composite culture and environs) in the city influenced my appreciation of ‘inclusion’ as an imperative,” said Chauhan in an interview, who in the past headed an Indian Premier League franchise. Last month, the BSE Institute, a wholly owned subsidiary of the exchange, in association with Taqwaa Advisory and Shariah Investment Solution, announced an online certification programme in “Islamic Banking, Finance and Capital Markets”. Chauhan bets there is a big market for students who have an understanding of the latest developments in the fields of Islamic banking, finance and the capital markets.

Islamic banking and finance extends to some 75 countries, growing at over 15 percent per annum. To be able to sustain its growth, the industry needs large numbers of banking and finance professionals who require training about its basic principles and practices.

This list includes fund managers, chief financial officers, merchant bankers, corporate financial advisors, portfolio managers, product development managers, finance marketing professionals, chartered accountants, stock brokers, wealth and fund managers, students and researchers.

Globally, S&P Dow Jones is big on Islamic financing. In its existing partnership with Ratings Intelligence Partners, boasting a crew of Islamic finance jocks and theologists on its board, S&P offers a variety of Islamic indices such as S&P Global BMI Shariah, with an adjusted market capitalisation of $15.183 billion; S&P Developed BMI Shariah, with an adjusted market capitalisation of $13.340 billion; and S&P Developed LargeMidcap Shariah, adjusted market capitalisation $11.554 billion.

These are among 11 others encompassing Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. Befittingly, after S&P and the BSE entered into a tie-up this February, the index is their first new product. Ratings Intelligence Partners remains the knowledge driver.

Each of the BSE indices, including the iconic BSE Sensex, bellwether of India’s market economy comprising 30 top stocks, already stand co-branded under an “S&PBSE” banner.

The preferred Islamic investment format is equity, as interest is forbidden. Yet, giving due currency to the exigencies of modern businesses, particularly the pervasiveness of interest-based transactions, Shariah scholars have a minimum compliance criteria.

These criteria, while excluding companies in gross violation, also provide investors a reasonable choice of Shariah-compliant equities. These minimum guidelines, however, are not uniformly applied by all Shariah advisors.

Companies dealing with pork, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, telecom, advertising and media, with some exceptions, are left out of Islamic indices. So are banks as Islamic investors are not allowed to profit from interest. Similarly, firms with certain financial ratios - like a debt of more than 33 percent to the market value of equity - do not make it to Islamic indices.

But companies, whose involvement in non-permissible businesses is less than five percent of total revenue, do qualify. These calculations are monitored and status updated from time to time.

Besides curbs on interest and debt, Islamic funds cannot pay fixed or guaranteed return on capital. Instead of borrowing or lending, Islamic finance relies on shared ownership of assets and therefore risk in the form of

profit or loss. As Islam forbids gambling, derivatives, forwards, options and futures trading are also prohibited - so are shortselling, margins and scalping trading. Day trading is also considered akin to gambling.

Data from djindexes.com shows the Dow Jones Islamic World Index has an adjusted market cap of $13.254 billion. The FTSE Shariah All-World Index stood at $15.586 billion. All this suggests the potential in India, where the BSE had a market capitalisation of $1.2 trillion from over 5,100 listed stocks in 2012-13, is fairly large.

Thus far, despite having the second-largest population of Muslims on the planet, Indian markets had a dearth of scientific ways to tell if the investee company eschews what’s repugnant in Islam. The financial exclusion of Indian Muslims also remained a faultline and the walk to mend it hardly matching the talk. Now there is hope, and promise.

Gene causing motor development disorder found

In a discovery that is paving the way for the diagnosis and treatment of a rare genetic disorder related to the brain’s functioning, a team of researchers has identified the causative gene behind the disease, which delays development of motor activities in children.

The study was done on a four-yearold child from Punjab, and nine other children who were suffering from motor developmental delay. They could not walk and sit without support.

The team, led by Ryan Taft of the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), comprised 16 researchers including I.C. Verma, director, Centre for Medical Genetics, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Monica Juneja, Department of Paediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College.

The doctors used genome sequencing to determine that these children were suffering from a defect in a gene previously not associated with human disease.

“It has been found that mutations in a gene called DARS gene is responsible for causing inherited brain disorder called HBSL (Hypomyelination with Brain Stem and Spinal Cord Involvement and Leg Spasticity), which affects the motor development activities,” a statement from the doctors said.

“We analysed the genome sequences of this child and his parents, using a method called whole genome sequencing and found that a mutation in the DARS gene was likely causing the disorder,” Taft said.

“In collaboration with clinicians from India, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, and the US, we then examined the genomes of nine other children who appeared to be suffering from the same disease and the genomes of their parents, and confirmed that they all had mutations in the DARS gene,” he said.

“This gene has never previously been associated with human disease and may not have been identified as the culprit using any other method,” said Verma, who heads the department of genetics at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Experts from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, India and IMB in Brisbane, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center in Amsterdam, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, and Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington D.C came together for this research.

Verma elaborated: “They have named the disease HBSL because it causes Hypomyelination in the brain stem and spinal cord, leading to leg spasticity. Hypomyelination occurs when people do not have enough myelin, the substance that coats nerve fibres and enables the transmission of electrical impulses in the nervous system”.

“Our goal is to dramatically reduce the number of unresolved paediatric cases of the rare genetic disease,” said Taft.

The technology of exome sequencing and whole sequencing now allows doctors to find the cause of disease in many children with unknown brain disorders. The doctors say they have used exome-based targetted next generation sequencing to identify the culprit gene in other patients also.

At present 30 to 40 percent of patients with intellectual disability go undiagnosed in India. Doctors say the new techniques will remarkably reduce this number.

“Discovering the causative gene will help in providing genetic counselling to the family. It will also ensure that they have normal children,” Verma said.

“This is the future of medicine - doctors, including clinical specialists like MRI experts - and genomics researchers working together to diagnose and develop treatments for people with unknown diseases,” he added.

Iran proposes joint investment, new oil contract to India

Iran proposed to India joint investments and a production sharing contract for oil exploration as the two countries agreed to expand cooperation in the transportespecially cargo transit from Chabahar port to Afghanistan and energy sectors and building the North-South corridor linking Russia.

Meeting under the aegis of the Iran-India Joint Economic Commission in Tehran recently, the two sides agreed to work on a trilateral transit pact involving India, Iran and Afghanistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the abundant commonalities and cultural affinity between the two countries served a solid base for joint investment.

He said Iran was ready to expand cooperation with India in the fields of

A wax figure of Sachin Tendulkar at the Sydney Cricket Ground, before going into Madame Tussaud

agriculture, industry, telecommunications and education on bilateral, multilateral and regional levels.

The oil offer is significant as Iran is hit by US and European sanctions. It has so far been offering service contracts to foreign companies, allowing a fixed fee for exploring and producing oil. The contours of the production sharing proposal was not immediately clear, but is believed to envisage possible ownership of the oil explored and produced by firms and the freedom to ship it wherever they like.

India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid reiterated India’s decision to participate in the upgrade of Chahbahar port. The secretary in the shipping ministry would travel to Tehran soon for negotiations on costs and other issues.

The Chahbahar port, surrounded by a free trade zone, is critical for India as Pakistan does not allow transit facilities to Afghanistan.

The Iranians said the Chahbahar project was important not only for their country and Afghanistan, but also for Central Asia.

Khurshid called for more contacts between the private sectors in the two countries as well as academic and educational cooperation.

The two countries discussed ways to enhance two-way trade and people-to-people contact, liberalising the visa regime. It was felt that the volume of trade did not reflect the close relations between the two countries and identified agriculture and pharma products and aeronautics the areas where cooperation could be stepped up.

“We are determined to explore and use all capacities for economic cooperation and that Tehran-New Delhi joint economic commission is of high importance for preparation of the ground, removal of impediments and follow up the agreements already reached,” the official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Khurshid as saying.

Iran and India also reviewed the NorthSouth corridor which will link Russia with Iran, with Khurshid saying that all hurdles should be resolved.

Both sides also discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and agreed to remain in regular contact.

Iran’s controversial nuclear programme also came up during the meeting and Salehi said talks with P5+1 would resume this year.

On Syria, both countries asked all sides involved in the conflict to abjure violence and supported the Geneva Communique which includes the 6-Point Plan of Kofi Annan and welcomed the efforts of Joint Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

Khurshid also called on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and met Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Majlish speaker Ali Larijani.

Khurshid also inaugurated the Indian Cultural Centre in the Iranian capital.

hornbill conservator aparajita Datta gets Whitley award

Conservator Aparajita Datta has won the Whitley Award, also called “Green Oscar,” for her work to save threatened hornbills in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh.

Datta is one of eight grassroots conservation leaders awarded a share of prize funding worth $295,000 by the Whitley Fund for Nature.

Datta leads a programme to conserve hornbills in the Eastern Himalaya at the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), an NGO set up in 1996 to promote science-

based wildlife conservation in India.

“Focusing on hornbills as a conservation flagship species, she is seeking to improve the status of the bird’s populations outside protected areas by establishing models of community-based conservation,” the Whitley Fund said.

“Datta is spreading knowledge of the needs of hornbills and their importance, as seed dispersers, in the maintenance of healthy forest ecosystems. Key to her approach is raising awareness of the threats to the bird’s survival, and creating a wider rural and urban constituency for conservation through a participatory community outreach programme that gets people involved,” said the fund.

Datta has been monitoring 60 hornbill nests in Arunachal Pradesh.

Datta will use the prize money to conduct surveys in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland to figure out the status of hornbills. This will help to create an ideal model to conserve hornbills outside protected areas.

Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, presented the award at a ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in London recently.

mumbai surgeon wins Us award for anti-tobacco campaign

Panjak Chaturvedi, a cancer surgeon at Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital, has won a prestigious US award for his innovative leadership in the fight to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related disease in India.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids presented Chaturvedi with the Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control at its annual awards gala in Washington recently.

The Wilkenfeld Award was established in honour of Judy Wilkenfeld, the founder of Tobacco-Free Kids’ international programme, who passed away in May 2007.

The award recognises international tobacco control advocates who contribute significantly to reducing tobacco use and inspire others to do the same in the spirit exemplified by Wilkenfeld.

“We have seen great progress in India and hope to serve as an example for the global community,” said Chaturvedi accepting the award.

“The world must hear the voice of tobacco’s many victims and know that progress in the global fight against tobacco

is possible”.

“Cancer specialists like me who work with tobacco victims are the constant witnesses of the crimes perpetrated by the tobacco industry,” Chaturvedi said.

“I could no longer sit back and watch how helpless my patients and their families felt. I hoped these victims’ personal stories would rock the consciences of policy makers who must be convinced to take action.”

“Dr Chaturvedi has not only created a lasting legacy in India, but also provided a global example in combating tobacco use,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

As a head and neck cancer surgeon at one of India’s leading cancer hospitals, Chaturvedi was motivated to act by the suffering of patients with tobacco-caused cancers.

Described by his colleagues as visionary, tireless and undaunted, Chaturvedi recognised that fundamental change wouldn’t happen until public figures had to confront the horrifying reality that he sees every day in his operating room, according to a media release.

So Chaturvedi “launched the Voice of Tobacco Victims campaign. This revolutionary campaign has mobilised tobacco victims and their doctors to confront India’s leaders and demand that they enact and implement strong tobacco control laws,” the release said.

Today, this group is one of the leading forces behind India’s growing tobacco control movement that has resulted in bans of smokeless tobacco products in 23 of India’s 28 states and five of seven union territories.

It has also contributed to tobacco tax increases in 20 states.

marry outside caste in himachal, get rs.75,000!

While ‘khap panchayats’ (caste councils) in Haryana continue to frown on inter-caste and sub-caste marriages and punish those who do so, marrying outside one’s caste is ever so profitable in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh - it’ll get couples all of Rs.75,000.

To prompt young men and women to break the caste barrier, the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has enhanced the inter-caste marriage incentive from Rs.25,000 to Rs.75,000. It’s given to couples where one of the spouses

belongs to a Scheduled Caste.

“We have seen in the past few years that the cash incentive of Rs.25,000 was not encouraging too many couples. So we have decided to make it lucrative by doubling its amount,” Special Secretary (Social Justice and Empowerment) M.P. Sood said recently in Shimla.

Departmental records show that only 1,113 inter-caste marriages materialised in the past four years.

In 2012-13, 277 couples got the incentive, 304 in 2011-12, 300 in 2010-11 and 232 in 2009-10.

The Himachal Pradesh government introduced the scheme in 1994.

“Now, we are expecting more and more young couples, especially women, will come forward to break the caste barrier,” Sood added.

Newlywed Shimla-based Aneesh and his wife Shweta believe that the choice is for the man and the woman to make. Aneesh, a handsome banker, belongs to a lower caste, while Shweta is a high-caste Brahmin.

“It’s you who spends your whole life with the partner, not your parents. Your decision is final,” Aneesh said.

“In our case too, we convinced our parents and finally they agreed. But we were lucky as many still get threatened or even murdered for this,” Shweta added.

Rameshwar Sharma, additional director of the social justice and empowerment department, said the state is expanding opportunities for the Scheduled Castes, who constitute 24.72 percent of state’s 6,856,509 population.

“Promoting inter-caste marriage is just one step in destroying the caste system,” he added.

The Supreme Court in 2011 held that inter-caste marriages are in the national interest. Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra said: “The caste system is a curse on the nation and the sooner it is destroyed the better. In fact, it is dividing the nation at a time when we have to be united to face the challenges. “Inter-caste marriages are, in fact, in national interest as they will result in destroying the caste system,” the court added.

The court held that diktats by the “khap panchayats” aimed at coercing or committing atrocities on young men and women who wish to marry inter-caste/religion were illegal and should be stamped out.

Manchaster-based artist Gavin Parry poses in front of his art work during the ‘Ahmedabad-Manchester Cotton Exchange Material Response Exhibition’ to mark World Heritage Day last month, at old Rajnagar Mill in Ahmedabad. Thirteen artists from Gujarat in India and Lancashire, and Manchester in the United Kingdom have been exchanging ideas and travelling to each others’ cities over the last two years as part of a project called Cotton Exchange. Telling stories of travel, the works explore the linked cotton heritage between India and the UK.

Indian Link’s Mother of the Year 2013

Sweety Makwana will use prize money towards funding Mission Twisha

BY USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

I am only one of the many faces of Oesophageal Atresia. I am only one, with a small voice but great hope. While there is no cure for TOF/OA, there is hope, and where there is hope, there are miracles… (www. twishamakwana.com)

Sweety Makwana and her bubbly toddler make it a point to attend every Indian event possible.

Dressed up in their weekend best, they always turn up at Bhangra, Dandiya and Bollywood Nites, gala dinners, fundraisers, charity bashes and such like. But unlike most partygoers, the duo is hardly there for the good time. They would love to sing and dance no doubt, but not in the foreseeable future.

Instead, for Sweety, these events are a much-awaited opportunity to hand out pamphlets and raise awareness about Twisha’s medical condition.

Sporting a brave smile, the single mum is on an ambitious odyssey - to find a permanent solution for her very only child through a life-changing surgery. With this aim, she has launched Mission Twisha, a multi-pronged fundraising campaign that desperately seeks to raise $800,000 for the project.

Effervescent, naughty and attention seeking, the adorable Twisha might seem like any other two-year-old to the average onlooker. Her pretty frocks and cherubic demeanour hide a heartwrenching tale, the twenty-sevenmonth old cannot eat normal food and is not likely to, unless she can access urgent correctional surgery. For most human beings, eating is not just a much-savoured experience, but also a basic instinct.

Twisha suffers from a very rare medical condition called Long Gap Oesophageal Atresia (LGOA). She has already undergone over 20 major surgeries in the past 24 months and certainly received the best possible medical attention that Westmead

Children’s Hospital can provide, but with limited success.

There is still a gaping hole in her food pipe. For the moment though, expert surgeons have fitted her abdomen with a little flap (gastronomy button) through which a nutritionally balanced baby formula is injected five to eight times a day. As a result of this, her weight gain is normal and she is generally healthy and happy, despite the surrounding trauma. She also receives “fake” oral feeds, a messy and laborious procedure, to keep her sensory reflexes alive.

Affecting 1 in 5000 children, LGOA is a congenital medical condition affecting the alimentary canal. Quite simply, the food tract fails to develop as a continual passage while in the womb and instead ends in a blind sac. It is identified at birth primarily through excess salivation and resultant choking or coughing.

Caused by abnormal embryological development, the reason for this birth defect is unknown.

Correctional surgery at birth, known as anastomosis is the preferred solution (sewing together the two ends of the undeveloped oesophagus using fine sutures). For infants with long gap EA (the condition which Twisha has), however, management and treatment is a major surgical challenge.

Currently, Boston Children’s Hospital is the only known centre in the world with proven success. Pioneered and perfected by Dr Foker, the delicate surgery involves traction sutures in the tiny oesophageal ends. Tension is placed on these sutures daily, pulling on them slightly until the ends grow close enough to be sewn together.

While Twisha has undergone multiple procedures here, “replicating” the Foker technique, the desired outcomes have not been achieved unfortunately.

Sweety Makwana is now determined to give her daughter a normal and secure future by taking her to Dr Foker. The procedure however comes at an eye popping price tag - $800,000 besides incidental costs for travel and stay.

Raising the whopping figure in a short span can be quite an ask for well-provided families, the figure is quite simply unattainable for Sweety Makwana.

A victim of relationship abuse and domestic violence, Sweety was turned out of her home by her former husband, when Twisha was only five months old. Blamed for “producing a defective child” as Sweetie bluntly puts it, she became a destitute, with no family in Australia and very few friends. As Twisha’s sole primary carer, Sweety is unable to seek employment as well. Currently she subsists on Centrelink’s carer payment and lives in shared accommodation at Westmead.

Given Twisha’s complex medical requirements, Sweety cannot access childcare as well, putting enormous physical and mental strain on the single mother. Sweety’s repeated appeals for a federal grant to aid the US surgery were shot down recently as the government believes Twisha could undergo alternative therapies in Australia.

With no other means to raise the amount, Sweety has turned to the Indian community, using the social media and public events to highlight her toddler’s cause.

“My daughter has the right to lead a normal life just like anyone else and I am determined to fight for her dignity,” appeals the emotional mother.

Between fundraising and caring for Twisha, Sweety has virtually no time or energy for anything else. “When it is a battle for survival, there is no time for emotions like grief and self pity. My child’s needs are much greater than mine and for her sake I have learnt to be brave,” she confesses.

For Sweety though, Twisha is not just her mission but her life force too. She feels nothing but profound, unconditional love for her only child. “It’s terrific! To stay awake till early morning with tired eyes… feeling like vomiting, headache, back pain... having restless days and nights leading Mission Twisha ... Tomorrow Twisha will fill me with energy with her bright morning smile.”

Her poignant Facebook post sums up her rollercoaster journey since Twisha arrived.

Sweety had an inkling of a possible congenital defect during her second trimester ultrasound. She courageously chose to continue with the pregnancy in the hope that issues could be ironed out. Little did this delicately built young woman realise that she

would

soon be embarking on a perilous solo journey into the unknown. Adversity no doubt is a great character building exercise.

Two years on, Sweety has steadfastly not given up hope. In the face of acute physical hardships, she firmly believes in a miracle and is relentlessly chasing this dream.

So far, she has door knocked on many institutions seeking support for her herculean task.

United Indian Associations is one such organisation that has taken up her cause. They hope to lobby with senior politicians including Parramatta member Julie Owens to plead her case for government intervention.

“The Irish government has so far flown two children to Boston for fully paid surgery,” Sweety tells us.

She is still hoping for a positive outcome in Twisha’s appeal. In the meantime, she has mounted a renewed campaign for fundraising.

Her sheer courage and unwavering determination are saluted by some of her newest friends, (made along her bitter sweet journey called Mission Twisha) who nominated her for the Indian Link Mother of the Year award. Sweety was nominated by four separate individuals.

“She is not just the Indian Link Mother of the Year, but deserves

“When it is a battle for survival, there is no time for emotions like grief and self pity. My child’s needs are much greater than mine and for her sake I have learnt to be brave”

Sweety Makwana

to be named Australian mother of the year too,” says Adam Shah, one of the nominators.

“I salute her indomitable spirit. Behind this brave front is a vulnerable young woman, who is prepared to weather the biggest storms. Hers is not a happy position to be in,” he told Indian Link

“I first met Sweety and Twisha at a charity fundraiser at Bowman Hall on Valentine’s Day this year and later at the Fairfield Holi Mela,” adds Avleen Chand, another supporter. “She was up on stage and the MC highlighted

Twisha’s medical condition and the cost involved.

I was very disturbed and wondered how I could help her so I mentioned it to the girls in my volleyball group

- Golden Homes Desi Girls”.

Chand has lobbied her band of sisters to sell food packs at an upcoming event to raise money. They have created awareness campaigns in the social media.

“For me, Sweety is such a powerful role model who has not given up hope. She keeps approaching organisations or charity functions in a desperate attempt to raise any bit of money she can. She doesn’t have transport but travels far with her daughter searching for help. I think no other mother has been through such an ordeal on a daily basis,” Chand notes.

Moved by this story, real estate agent and sponsor of Chand’s team Sanjay Prasad has helped Sweety find a place within walking distance from the hospital. For Sweety, this has been a godsend, as she often needs to access emergency care in the middle of the night.

Only recently, Twisha

accidentally swallowed her gastronomy button, triggering a choking fit.

A thoughtful neighbour delivers subsidises “dabba” service. Several others help her access weekly supplies from Salvation Army.

Sharina Shanaz, another person who nominated Sweety for the award, met Sweety at the same events and offered to drive her to another show.

“It was heart wrenching to see this young mother constantly talking to people, sometimes delivering the same message over and over again,” says Shanaz. “Since then I have taken Sweetie to other events where she is able to raise awareness for Twisha’s conditions through the distribution of pamphlets, setting up banners, talking to people and going up on stage for about five minutes and informing people about Twisha. Determined as she is, sometimes she is at the mercy of volunteers like me to drive her to these events and also organisers who can take at least five minutes from their time to allow Sweetie to come up on stage with Twisha. At some events I went to with her, the organisers have not been so kind and just could not find five minutes to talk about Twisha on stage. In these situations, when

Sweetie distributes the pamphlets, it gets thrown away, people don’t take it seriously and in the end we go around and collect all the discarded pamphlets. It costs Sweetie money to get it printed”.

It is Sweety’s mental strength that Shanaz admires more than anything else. “Despite facing all these difficulties, she still has big hopes for Twisha. She sincerely believes that Twisha can be cured and works around the clock.

Sweetie has inordinate amount of patience as Twisha needs care 24/7, she adds.

Rather than discussing her failed relationship or wallowing in self pity, she spends every spare moment on renewing her fundraising efforts, lauds Shahnaz.

“I know she is often depressed but she says that Twisha’s smile motivates her”.

It is Sweety’s never say never spirit that touched another nominator Sajida Bi. “‘Mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible’ is one of the proverbs from her website and this is exactly what Sweety does day in and day out for her daughter. As a working mother of a two-year-old, I can deeply empathise,” she admits.

“Fundraising for such a big amount seems next to impossible

for me but it is so inspiring to see Sweetie never losing faith and always turning up for various Indian events. A major award like this will boost her self confidence and help her profile”, she adds.

As the Indian Link team visit Sweety, she is in the middle of unpacking, tired from the physical demands of the move and relentless pressures of round the clock parenting but only too happy to talk.

Her eyes light up when she finds out her story will soon hit headlines. There is renewed hope that many more will offer a helping hand. She is grateful for the opportunity.

She is overjoyed when she finds out that she is Indian Link’s Mother of the Year. The award means a lot to her no doubt, but it is the prize money and the resultant publicity that mean even more. For Sweety Makwana time is of essence and every bit of help counts.

When her husband abandoned Sweety and returned to India, she had barely two friends. But, today thanks to Mission Twisha numerous complete strangers have befriended her. “I am so touched by their support. It proves to me that there is definitely a compassionate God and hope for

Mother of the YeAr AwArD INDIAN LINK w INN er of

my child,” she says courageously, fighting back tears.

Hopefully Baby Twisha will soon indulge in the simple everyday pleasures like nibbling on toast and sucking on lollies that most mothers take for granted. Please support Mission Twisha. Visit her Facebook page or website (www. twishamakwana.com). Donations are eagerly sought through Kids for Kids.

Winner

Sweety Twisha, nominated by Adam Shah, Saajida Bi, Sharina Shanaz, Avleen Chand and Zabia Bano, Sydney

Runners up Nandita Roy, nominated by sons Sumallya Roy and Sudeb Roy, daughters-in-law Anitha Roy and Srishti Roy, and grandaughters Sharanya Roy, Kiran Roy and Oviya Roy, Sydney

Akila Ramarathinam, nominated by son Krishna Ramarathinam, Sydney

nominations

Kamini Sahni, nominated by daughter Shibani Sahni, Sydney

Kamlesh Saini, nominated by daughter Sheetal Saini, Melbourne

Kush Maharaj, nominated by daughter Kavita Maharaj, Brisbane

Jyoti Rao, nominated by children Jannavi Rao and Aryan Rao, Sydney

Anamika Srivastava, nominated by husband Saket, Melbourne

Asha Chand, nominated by daughter Eashna Chand, Sydney

Dr Sushama Deshpande, nominated by child Ananya Deshpande, Sydney

Dayawanti Garg, nominated by daughter-inlaw Ruchika Mittal, Melbourne

Tanu Bhatia, nominated by daughter Hitika Bhatia, Perth

Sharmila Shankar, nominated by daughter Nivrita Shankar, Sydney

Nandini Thadani, nominated by daughter Preeti Thadani, Sydney

Little Twisha wonders what all the fuss is about, as Indian Link’s Rajni Anand Luthra and Vivek Trivedi hand over the $500 prize money and a gift hamper to Indian Link’s Mother of the Year Sweety Makwana

Tranquil Tasmania

From the old world charm of Launceston and a hike through the Bay of Fires, this state has something for everyone

BY PETRA O’NEILL

The Bay of Fires walk along Tasmania’s gentler east coast was, until recently, confined either to experienced hikers lugging their own weighty gear, or a high-end deluxe option of staying at an award-winning lodge. That’s all changed now due to an affordable three day walk offered by Life’s an Adventure.

The tour departs from Launceston, a city in itself well deserving of a stay. In 1798, the explorers Bass and Flinders sighted the Tamar estuary where Launceston was founded in 1805. As Australia’s third oldest city, it boasts the highest concentration of 19th century colonial buildings in the country, with fine examples of Georgian buildings, built by convict labour, as well as Regency and Victorian architecture. Displaying simple elegance and fine proportions, the imposing Customs House, Post Office and Albert Hall are impressive, while City Park is a delightful 12 hectare retreat with magnificent elms

Inn, built in 1824 was where John Batman agreed to cross Bass Strait to the mainland and establish a village that later became Melbourne.

Finding an appealing restaurant, I said aloud, “this looks good! “Well, it is if you think ‘best seafood restaurant in Tasmania since 2009’ counts!” replied Stewart the owner. Handing me a long menu that offered some of the best seafood you are likely to experience in Australia, he went on to list that day’s menu of the freshest mussels, clams, abalone, flathead, flounder, garfish, salmon, tiger prawns and seafood platters. With its compact size and relative isolation, Launceston is a relaxed provincial town, well suited for walking, with locals offering help with directions at every turn. Set amongst steep cliffs, Cataract Gorge has walking tracks, a historic suspension bridge and peacocks roaming in Victorian gardens. At a jetty, a boat filled with a chatty load of tourists disembarked. What a fantastic excursion they said, which was endorsement enough for me. I immediately booked the afternoon cruise up the Tamar River, which was to go past an island sanctuary of birds, convict built churches, grand homesteads, wineries and farms. With tea, muffins, fresh

wine, the leisurely cruise upstream provided a wonderful introduction to northern Tasmania.

The scenic drive from Launceston north east to the Bay of Fires within Mt William National Park was a distance of 156kms, and took us past wineries and lavender farms, forests, rolling hills and picturesque former tin mining villages. And all with a noticeable absence of vehicles on the road. On arrival at the pick-up point we were greeted by our guides Sarah and Barry, who had prepared our picnic lunch. Sarah loaded our bags onto the transport vehicle and set off for the campsite to it make ready for our arrival, while we commenced our walk.

The Bay of Fires was named in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux from the British Navy, after he observed the many campfires burning along the shoreline. Lit by the aboriginals who lived here, middens or remnants of long-discarded shellfish feastings accumulated over thousands of years, lie scattered in piles along the coastline.

As far as the eye can see, the beach stretched out before us. And for the next 12kms near an area on the map known as Stumpys Bay, we trudged along at a comfortable, yet steady pace on fine sand that was soft underfootm as waves lapped hiking boots. We enjoyed the remote wilderness and the contrast of the sapphire

coloured sea. The water was so clear that it resembled glass, and the white sand was blinding, set next to granite boulders splashed with burnt orange-coloured lichen and rocky headlands.

We clambered over Boulder Point and Cobbler Rocks across coastal heaths, watching out for the elusive Forester Kangaroo, spotting only wallabies grazing on grass instead. I took off my shoes to walk barefoot, the fine sand squeezing between my toes. Sea birds flew overhead and Barry signalled that it was time to wade across Deep Creek to reach our campsite, a misnomer since the clear stream is shallow. We had the place to ourselves and hadn’t seen another hiker all day.

Our group of seven were all reasonably fit, spanning all ages from Rose in her late 20s who was accompanying her mother, to Bill and Edna in their 70s.

On arrival at our bush campsite we found Sarah laying out the final touches to our communal dining table, our tents with comfy camp beds already set up. An inquisitive Bennett’s Wallaby came to the perimeter of my tent, wiggled its nose and hopped away. With an open campfire, wine and a delicious dinner using locally sourced ingredients that included pancakes, berries and clotted cream, we all soon fell soundly asleep.

At 5.30am I woke and with Sarah and Barry yet to stir, I set to task preparing the essential prerequisites for my day; strong coffee and a large kettle of hot water for a bush shower of sorts.

After a hearty breakfast, we set off to

Eddystone Point Lighthouse

built in 1889 from locally sourced pink stone on a point that juts out to sea, where we refuelled with coffee and banana muffins, before continuing south. With commanding coastal views, this section of the walk is also home to a variety of wildlife including wombats and echidnas and while we didn’t spot the timid Tasmanian devil, Barry showed us their tracks in the sand. The beach then turned to flat black rocks, more difficult to cross. With today’s walk of 14kms, it was time for a lunch of juice, fruit and wraps that we’d filled with an assortment of salads before setting off. A pair of sea eagles circled overhead.

Cutting inland along a bush track across a section of coastal heath with wildflowers in bloom, we spotted honeyeaters, blue wrens, finches, and kookaburras before returning to the beach to arrive at Ansons Bay, and the Beach Shack built on the water’s edge, with views across the bay.

Sarah greeted us with a flurry of activity as she brought trays of dips, marinated capsicum and tomatoes, assorted local cheeses, biscuits and wine to the large communal dining table. As the sun began to set, we enjoyed a dinner of Tasmanian local produce, including salads, curry, grilled vegetables and freshly caught fish.

The shack was incredibly comfortable, while we watched the embers of a cosy log fire. We progressively turned in early, though I was unable to sleep.

corner of the world, the heavens are clear. I ventured outside looking skywards, walking to the water’s edge. The moon was huge, shooting stars were visible and the unmistakable Southern Cross and Milky Way were brilliantly clear. The surface of the silver coloured sea shimmered in the moonlight.

Next morning, Sarah was up early, having already made a cooked breakfast, as well as providing yoghurt, muesli and sliced fruit. We made our lunch wraps and set off on the final 11kms of the walk. With a stop for lunch we explored rock pools and enjoyed a swim in the calm water. We met Sarah and drove to the picturesque small town of St Helens, which was

to an end.

Weeks after, I can still recall the fine white sand and waves of foam lapping at my ankles, the vast empty beaches and the brilliant night sky, as I spun around slowly in awe, dressed in my PJ’s. Such a

Travel noTebook

tasmania

GETTING T h E r E

Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia have domestic flights to Launceston. Watch for specials.

G ETTING A rou N d

With its compact size and relative isolation, launceston is a relaxed provincial town, well suited for walking, with locals offering help with directions at every turn

Clockwise from top left: Bennett’s wallaby Beach shack

Bay of Fires

Soaking in the bay’s views

Setting off Anson’s Bay Author Beach shack dining under the stars

Tasmania lays claim to the world’s best walking destination with hundreds of walking tracks. The best way to experience Tasmania is to walk it. Life’s an Adventure offers affordable fully escorted walking tours including the 3 day Bay of Fires walk, with knowledgeable and friendly guides, great food, wine and comfy beds. T: 61 2 9913 8939 E: enquiries@lifesanadventure.com.au

W: www.lifesanadventure.com.au

In Launceston, Tamar River Cruises offers several cruises with commentary. T: 61-3- 63349900 E: info@tamarivercruises.com.au

W: www.tamarrivercruises.com.au

AccommodATI o N

The Grand Chancellor Hotel is the tour pick up point with recently refurbished rooms and central location.

T: 61 3 6334 3434

E: reservations@hgclaunceston.com.au W: www.grandchancellorhotels.com.au

Next door, the Batman Fawkner Inn offers budget rooms T: 61 3 63319951 E: manager@batmanfawknerinn.com

W: www.batmanfawknerinn.com

Wh E r E To EAT

Dine at one of Tasmania’s best restaurants at Hallam’s Waterfront with a lovely outlook on the Tamar River. Stillwater River Cafe offers modern Australian cuisine in a restored flourmill built in the 1830s.

Fur T h E r INF ormATI o N

W: www.parks.tas.gov.au and www.discovertasmania.com.au

I N s I d E r TIP s

Weather in Tasmania is notoriously unpredictable, so pack a rain jacket and fleecy gear, though for the days I was there it remained gloriously sunny. Wear sunglasses and a hat. The white sand is very reflective. For hiking, worn-in sturdy footwear is essential. The best months are October to April.

opinion

Conditioned childhood

BY tanvEEr ahmEd

Iremember as a child, watching a family friend who bought their only daughter medically related toys from an early age. For example, the mother would buy a plastic stethoscope for the child’s fourth birthday or the game Operation for her seventh. All of it was strategically aimed to help their one and only daughter to ultimately become a doctor, an aspiration many South Asian parents hold for their children.

There was little question that the mother was a loving parent who only wanted the best for her child and ultimately, she was successful. Her daughter did become a doctor. But it raised the much discussed question about how hard should we push our children, or whether we are flexible enough to promote a wider variety of careers for our children.

While some of us might pity Mrs Dhaliwal, the reality is that many people from the local South Asian community would share her views, particularly about extracurricular activities being a distraction.

In reality, this is a misunderstanding. In the past few decades, a great deal of brain research has shown that we actually use more of our brain in navigating complex social tasks, than in technical ones. The vast areas of our brain that we are yet to understand are most likely to be complex apparatus to help us deal with the complexity of human social interactions.

I have a firm view that we underrate this in our culture to our detriment. A twelve-yearold child will use more of their brain at a sleepover, or school camp, than in any mathematics examination.

In today’s world, technical knowledge is of much lower priority than it once was, for the knowledge is accessible to all. What are highly prized are the soft skills of communicating, collaborating and mobilising

Amy Chua is a Princeton academic who attracted headlines worldwide several years ago for suggesting that white, Anglo parents were just too soft on their children. She openly spoke of how her children were studying many extra hours on top of their usual tuition.

A key suggestion she makes is that the message within Western circles is that children are ultimately quite fragile, whereas Asian or Indian culture teaches that children are innately resilient.

This is certainly the case in India, where there is enormous pressure and competition to enter the best schools and thereafter, the most prestigious and lucrative careers. The child’s achievements are closely tied to the prestige of the family, as anybody who has heard Aunties brag about their relatives at dinner parties, would be well aware of.

But such intensity is not without a dark side. The Times of India reported that student suicides in India had jumped 26% between 2006 and 2011 and blamed it, in part, on the immense pressure parents place on their children to achieve high grades.

In today’s world, technical knowledge is of much lower priority than it once was, for the knowledge is accessible to all. What are highly prized are the soft skills of communicating, collaborating and mobilising.

Many children from South Asian backgrounds perform extremely well academically, but struggle later in the work setting exactly because their skills in these other arenas are not as well developed. They then find themselves resenting their peers who are more successful in spite of poorer academic performance, playing out an occupational story similar to many of their parents.

Another facet of parents focusing too heavily on studies is that children, sons especially, become dependent in areas like domestic chores or have a lacklustre work ethic. Unlike Western style parenting, there is no great emphasis on achieving autonomy and independence from an early age, for there is a more collective expectation that the children will retain close ties and even some dependence with the extended family. This is in many ways a good thing, but there are disadvantages.

They then find themselves resenting their peers who are more successful in spite of poorer academic performance, playing out an occupational story similar to many of their parents

A Fairfax article about so-called ‘tiger mothers’ suggested Indians were likely to be as aggressive as any other ethnic group.

A mother living in Australia identified as Mrs Dhaliwal said she does not allow her daughters to sleepover at friends’ houses and says sports can be ‘time consuming’ and might cause them to ‘fall behind in their studies’.

We are all too aware of the esteemed place the eldest son has in South Asian cultures, to the point where they are often placed on a pedestal. When those same children grow up and are required to be independent, they are often grossly unprepared. I can look back on my own experience of having to prepare canned food briefly amidst driving back home in a panic to eat my mother’s cooking after first moving out of home. Wives are also faced with hopelessly underprepared men barely capable of tying their own shoelaces without their mother’s help. This is the worst case scenario, but the broader point is that being prepared for the modern world requires a great deal more than being adept at quadratic equations or having a degree in medicine.

The aspirations of many parents result in undue pressure on their children to perform for success, not skill

Well-being as seen from the East and West

Jogging, swimming and emptying your mind towards health

BY NOEL g DE SOUZA

The Western prescription for good health, such as for those who have diseases like diabetes and heart problems, is to remain active. Practically speaking, this means walking or jogging. More energetic versions are cycling or swimming.

In contrast, the Eastern prescription (Hindu-Buddhist) for good physical and mental health is staying still and includes emptying the mind (pratyahara). Emptying the mind is no easy task; the mind is naturally designed to flit from one thought to the next. Memory consists of a jumble of mind-images which are an imprint of the world which one has experienced. Patanjali counsels against modifying such images as that would be being active and not passive as pratyahara should be.

In these troubled times; worry and fear are widespread. The almost instant transmission of troubling news exacerbates the effect of events which may be far away but nevertheless relevant. Emptying the mind of the effects of such emotions is no easy task. The horrendous bombing in Boston and the tragic explosions in Texas have traumatised people in even far away places.

The Hindu scriptures liken the mind to a raging bull which needs to be controlled by holding its horns. Chapter 6 of the Bhagwad Gita extols: “in a fair still spot… having his fixed abode … there restraining heart and senses, silent, calm, let him accomplish Yoga, and achieve pureness [of] soul, holding immovable body and neck and head… tranquil in spirit, free of fear… that Yogin, so devoted [and] so controlled comes to the peace beyond...” (E. Arnold’s poetic version of the Gita). Modern workplaces demand a lot of mental activity and alertness. This places stress on individuals who long for calm and often go on holidays to distant places. International tourism has become the order of the day.

Of course, the Eastern and Western systems often contain elements of each other, but predominantly the Western way is to activate one’s muscles and breathing, while the Eastern way to de-stress the body and slow the breathing to calm the mind (the highest version of this is dhyana).

It is slowly being accepted in the West that emotions can have an effect on health. Such psychosomatic illnesses mean that we

need to guard against allowing unhealthy emotions to permeate our way of life. Permitting such emotions as sadness and fear to dominate our thinking can be detrimental. Instead making happiness and hopefulness a part of our meditative process could mean good health.

There is an obvious age factor which can dictate the exercises an individual chooses to make. Young athletic-oriented individuals with reasonably good health may opt for jogging and cycling, while older persons may choose relaxing exercises and hope that inner calm develops. A variant of active exercise is the military goose-step movements which are seen so often in the news about the threats from North Korea. Similar parades are also common in the Balkans such as in Greece.

Aged persons who choose relaxing exercises could possibly benefit from the Chinese Tai-Chi system which can be performed by individuals of all ages. Its main aim is apparently to achieve inner calm through graceful movements. A variant is the martial style movement invented during Mao’s time. It was political in character and meant for galvanising the Chinese people.

Hospitals in Australia bar visitors during certain hours when patients are encouraged to rest and to sleep. Such supposed “inaction” is said to help in the curative processes.

This coincides with the Eastern way. It is possible for all individuals, whether sick or not, to set aside a period when they can rest with no interruption. It is then that they can stop worrying about workplace and other matters and try to “empty their minds”.

Modern medicine has produced a whole range of medicines for inducing sleep. Amongst these, barbiturates have a reputation of being habit-forming. Milder versions for helping one to sleep are periodically being announced by drug companies.

Some practitioners of yoga developed a type of yogic rest or trance called turiya which is absolute rest with the organs going into a feeble state of activity. Such a trance is obviously difficult to achieve. Modern medicine has its variant in the form of induced coma which is used in very serious medical cases.

Every individual needs to make a conscious choice depending on what suits that person’s ability. For example, someone who cannot have a daily run might still be able to swim. Even someone who mostly lies in bed can engage in mental exercises. The above exercises might be decided upon by consultation with a health practitioner, or by reading books, but the choice is entirely left to the individual. It is based on freedom of choice and on self-discipline.

The Western way to get fit is to activate one’s muscles and breathing, while the Eastern way to de-stress the body and slow the breathing is to calm the mind

Passing the IELT system

How to best improve your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills

From very humble beginnings, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test has grown exponentially. As of 2012, the test is available in 140 countries, with over 800 test centres and, according to the official IELTS statistics, 1.9 million tests were conducted in 2012 alone. Not bad for a test that started with 4,000 candidates in 1981 and was unheard of outside of the UK.

The origins of the IELTS, originally known as The English Language Testing System (ELTS), can be traced back to 1980, when the British Council decided to replace the EPTB (English Proficiency Test Battery), which was a fairly traditional multiple choice test, with a new exam that better reflected current theory and innovations in language testing. The aim of the new test was to reflect the growth in popularity of ESP or English for Specific Purposes and ‘communicative’ language learning. The design of the new test tasks were based on an investigation into the ways language was employed

in academic contexts and were intended to reflect the application of language in the ‘real world’.

Since 1980, the test has gone through a complete metamorphosis to arrive at the test we see today. Originally it was content specific and catered to candidates who were seeking a particular course of study. The original choices for the IELTS were Life Sciences, Social Studies, Physical Sciences, Technology, and Medicine. This, however, proved to be extremely limiting and made the administration and grading of the test rather difficult. It also limited the amount of candidates who could take the test. By 1985, for example, there were a mere 10,000 candidates who sat the newly designed ELTS. As a result, a decision was made to make the test more appealing and more inclusive so, in 1989, a new test was designed that attempted to do just that.

The test we see today is offered as two modules, the general and the academic, and both tests focus on the four linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. All tests are scored

on a banded system from 1 (the lowest) through to 9 (the highest possible band score). IELTS Academic aims to measure the English language proficiency required for university study and entry into particular occupations. The IELTS General Training on the other hand, attempts to measure English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context.

In Australia, however, the most common reason for sitting the exam is for migration purposes, though there are also a high

number of candidates who are seeking places in higher education. Also in Australia, as is the case in most countries, the average band score is 6, though most candidates are hoping to achieve far higher scores than this.

Finally, the best advice for any candidate of IELTS is to become acquainted with the test and its structure. Merely being a proficient user of the English language is no guarantee that you will do well on an IELTS test. And to achieve this familiarity, the best advice is to seek out a tutor or language

by highly trained and professional staff. They have had great success with assisting students achieve the band score they need. To enrol in an IELTS course or to make a general inquiry about IELTS, please call 0469 165 076.

Located in Burwood and Footscray www.educationhub.net.au

The ‘different’ child as an agent of change

Parents should understand and accept the differences between their children’s abilities and interests

lead independent lives, always regretting their childhood.

recognising that there is difference

A family that adapts to difference learns to grow with each child. A child who is a bit ‘different’ to everyone else can be precisely what a family needs to grow. Therefore, the ‘different’ child, if recognised, can act as an agent of change.

It can be hard to recognise difference even though the cues are right in front of us. A child who says things like:

‘I don’t fit in here’

‘No-one ever listens to me’

‘Why is he/she (the sibling) always getting their way?’

school, the parents who treat their child according to their strengths will be far better able to advocate in favour of this child, and reduce the level of comparison between siblings.

A further implication is how to manage and shape expectations around academic performance. One child may not need tutors. Another child may require speech therapy, or the support of academic tutors. One child may know the university course they want to get into and which field of study they want to pursue. Another child may not be suited to university studies.

In summary

BY mohan dhall

In many families each child has special abilities, talents and aptitudes. It is rare to find a first, second or third child with equal academic ability, similar interests, senses of humour or similar level of independence. This can be very confronting for parents who want a school system to treat their child as unique. Parents want each child to be affirmed for their own special abilities and strengths, and also to be nurtured to improve in areas that are of relative weaknesses.

When children have very different characters and when one child is academically inclined but another is not, there can be stresses in parenting and schooling. It can be very difficult

keen to please parents (and vice versa) and can be very focused on schoolwork. A second child may have very different strengths. Sometimes a second child is more socially aware and more adept at making friends and also sharing.

A third child can complicate the situation. For example if the first two children are of the same gender, a third child with a different gender can cause difficulty for parents in terms of adjustment and expectations.

When children are different, families need to find ways to accommodate these differences. This is essential as each child needs affirmation, and sometimes a child who feels different can also feel hidden. The importance of this extends to the classroom. After all, how can parents advocate in favour of a child they cannot see or do not know?

how does difference court a need for change?

adept at commanding attention and articulating what they want and need. It is also typical for another child to be much quieter and seemingly more ‘emotional,’ complaining about not being heard, to not being understood, or expressing dissatisfaction more easily. Clearly parents and schools both need to learn how to adapt to meet the needs of both children.

The excellent talker is easy to manage and parents may find they tend to ‘negotiate’ with such children. This can contrast with the more emotional child who the parents may be dismissive of or find very ‘hard to please’. This difference courts a need for change for a very simple reason. Families are the most important place for a child to find acceptance, to make mistakes, to grow. If a family cannot accept or accommodate a child, that child can grow up misunderstood, ‘far behind their eyes’ or feeling like the ‘black sheep’ of the family.

move away from their parents to

Recognising that a child is left out can be a humbling experience. But rather than drown in regret a parent should, like a teacher, ask themselves, “what can I change to make this child feel included?”

Once this question has been asked, a few things have occurred, an acknowledgement of exclusion, an awareness of a need to change and also an affirmation that change is to be made.

The implications for schooling

If parents can act to become inclusive of each child, decisions about school choices and decisions made through the years at school are easier. For example, parents will question whether each child should go to the same school. After all, why should a non-academic child attend the same school as their highly academically successful sibling? This almost certainly will lead to a situation of the younger child feeling compared and inadvertently devalued by teachers.

If a child does attend the same

Recognising and accommodating the difference between siblings is an essential aspect of parenting with very significant educational ramifications. A child who feels ‘different’ needs to be understood in such a way as to feel affirmed for who they are.

Parents want each child to be affirmed for their own special abilities and strengths, and also to be nurtured to improve in areas that are of relative weaknesses

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Thanks, mum!

Meaningful and healthy gifts can make your mum’s day very special

BY gEETA KHURANA

mothers are always looking after us in a million different ways, making every day special for us. But do we make the effort to ensure that she takes care of herself, while taking care of us? As mothers, scores of women around the world ignore themselves as they get caught in the routine of caring for their family and loved ones. They forget their health and nutritional needs while juggling between child-rearing, taking care of the home, being a wife and working in a professional environment.

Mother’s Day is a day especially meant to make our hardworking mums feel special, and we look for gifts to show our love and appreciation to them. But this year, let’s substitute jewellery or flowers with the most important gift of all - the gift of health. Here are a few ideas to make Mother’s Day more meaningful for your mum.

1 fruit basket

A fruit basket is the healthiest gift you can give your mum. Fill it up with your mother’s favourite fruit or a variety of different ones, even some she may have never tasted before like rambutan, or something with a touch of home like pomegranate, guava or papaya. According to dietary guidelines we should have at least two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day, but most of us do not consume even one fruit a day. Fruits such as oranges, limes, mangoes, strawberries, rockmelon, and pineapple are excellent sources of vitamin C that help heal cuts and wounds, build up our immune system and keep our gums and teeth healthy. Bananas, prunes, dried peaches, apricots, honeydew, melon and orange are good sources of potassium. Fruit is also a good source of fibre. Some fruits such as avocadoes, olives are excellent sources of unsaturated fats.

2 Dark chocolate

If your mum loves chocolate and you would really like to give her some, present her with a gift box of dark chocolate. It is loaded with antioxidants which help rid your body of free radicals that cause oxidative damage to cells. But make sure to pick the ones with less calories and sugar.

3 a healthy pantry

Most of the time when your mother does the grocery shopping, it’s the children she keeps in mind and tends to buy stuff and snacks that kids like to eat. So sneak

out to the supermarket and stock the pantry with healthy nutritious snacks for your mum such as yoghurt, nuts, crackers, low fat cheese, dried fruits green tea and low GI bars. Prepare small packets of mixed nuts and dried fruits, or buy muesli or nut bars and keep those ready for her to carry to work.

4 healthy cookbook

A healthy cookbook is a great gift not only for your mother, but for the health of the whole family. Looking for the perfect cookbook can be a daunting task but try to look for something with lots of visuals, interesting and easy, quick recipes. Avoid buying cookbooks with long tedious recipes or very expensive ingredients. Try to find a book with nutrition information on all recipes and focusing on low sugar, fat and sodium recipes, or some tips on adding different herbs, spices and veggies to meals. Try to cook something from the cookbook for her on Mother’s Day as a special treat and a headstart into using the book. Or order a subscription to a health magazine, so that she has health tips on hand for the whole year.

5 kitchen gadgets

Low fat cooking is not always easy, especially for families who are fond of curries, paranthas and pakoras. But nowadays, a new range of cooking utensils can make this task easier for us. Invest in a non-stick pan that helps your mother cook with the least amount of oil. Also look for gadgets such as a wok , or a grill that makes the cooking process faster and with minimum use of oil.

6 cooking classes

Some mothers may find that cooking

from a cookbook can be a daunting task. Instead, a voucher for healthy cooking classes can help her learn new recipes using different ingredients, as well as different cuisines. She could also learn a lot of information about nutrition. This can be a great experience for your mother, as she will meet new people, experience a wider range of cuisine, and will learn different ways of cooking.

7 Exercise bits

Exercise is a very important part of your mother’s health. It is not essential to go and buy her a gym membership, as she may not have the time nor the inclination to give up her precious leisure time to work out at a gym. But no matter how tired one may be, just 30 minutes of walking can keep one fit and helps to decrease anxiety and stress. Buy your mum comfortable footwear to wear for her walks, and accompany her, as exercise is often easier with company. You’ll be able to spend quality time together and at the same time, stay fit. If she would rather walk alone, get her a pedometer and an MP3 player. And if she would rather just stay home, a yoga DVD and stretch mat will be a broad enough hint.

But the best gift that you can give your mothers is your love, support, and time. Spend some time with her, look after her, and make her feel special not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.

If your mum loves chocolate and you would really like to give her some, present her with a gift box of dark chocolate

looking for the perfect cookbook can be a daunting task but try to look for something with lots of visuals, interesting and easy, quick recipes

Fetch TV entertaining South Indians with new Sun channel pack

The wait is finally over for Australian South Indians wanting to access great value TV from home. The Tamil and Telugu communities can now enjoy the new Sun South Indian package of 10 leading channels available from Fetch TV.

The Hindi community has historically had access to channels from India via satellite pay TV services, but options have been very limited for South Indian Australians.

New provider, Fetch TV is rapidly growing Indian subscriber numbers by offering their pack of 16 Hindi and Urdu channels at a market-leading price of just $19.95 per month, and has now turned its attention to servicing the Tamil and Telugu communities.

“Fetch TV is dedicated to bringing the Indian community quality channels from India at a very competitive prices,” Fetch TV CEO Scott Lorson says. “We’ve been very encouraged by the support we’ve received from the Hindi community to date, and are looking forward to servicing

the Tamil and Telugu communities with our compelling new offering”.

The new Fetch TV Sun South Indian package has something for everyone with five leading Tamil channels: Sun TV, Sun News, KTV Movies, Sun Music and Adithya comedy TV, plus five popular Telugu channels: Gemini TV, Gemini News, Gemini Movies, Gemini Music and Gemini Comedy.

The 10 channel pack is priced at a very competitive price of $29.95 per month when added to an existing Fetch TV service, or if you’re new to Fetch TV it’s available from just $39.90 per month including the base Fetch TV service.

The base Fetch TV service includes a personal video recorder allowing you to record over 580 hours of your favourite shows and series, and if you miss something you can even pause and rewind live TV to watch it again. There are also over 1,700 movies ready to rent whenever you want to watch them, and you can add more English language channels if you choose. Fetch TV is a complete

one-stop TV service bringing your family all their Australian and Indian TV entertainment on one cost effective connection.

Unlike traditional satellite services, Fetch TV uses the latest technology to deliver a great quality picture straight to your TV using your broadband connection

and an advanced set-top-box. This means that you don’t need a dish, there are no expensive up front set up, or installation costs to worry about, and the service is an option for people living in apartments that may have been unable to access existing services. A concern often raised about

existing internet TV services is that they can result in huge unexpected broadband bills. But this isn’t a problem with Fetch TV, as the service is unmetered, meaning you can watch it as much as you like with no impact on your broadband download limit.

Fetch TV, a reputable Australian company with over 70,000 customers, is Australia’s 2nd largest Pay TV provider and is continuing to grow. Unlike market leader Foxtel, Fetch TV focuses on providing market-leading entertainment options across many language groups.

Fetch TV is available with your broadband connection from Optus, iiNet, Internode and Adam Internet, and you can sign up on their websites or by calling them directly.

To celebrate the launch of the new Tamil and Telugu pack Fetch TV is offering the chance to WIN a 2 year Fetch TV subscription including your choice of an Indian channel pack. For more information and to enter visit fetchtv.com.au/india

The gift of a Mother

Reliving a life is a painful journey, until it becomes a reality

lad who became a hero when he rescued Tina, and years later, he proposed to her daughter.

BY RANI JHALA

Thirty years had gone by and each year was etched in Anita’s mind. Memories refused to fade, still haunting her days and traumatising her nights. Her every breath was a prayer and every word was a wish. All she wanted was to be able to hold her baby and tell her that she loved her. But it was too late to say anything now. Those ties had been permanently cut and her daughter was now lost.

Anita picked up the first photograph. In it, a woman stood holding a newborn. The look on her face was one of awe, and the look on the child’s was one of trust. Anita could barely recognise herself. The first bloom of motherhood had made her look radiant. Happy, proud and so very grateful for the miracle she held in her arms. A teardrop fell on the photo, which she quickly wiped away, picking up the next one.

Her daughter Tina was now three and she saw the girl’s bright and bubbly personality. Chubby cheeks with deep dimples and huge doe like eyes that were always twinkling. With her infectious laugh and clever mind, she always overshadowed other children. Those were the days when Anita was the most important person in Tina’s life and no matter what she did, she always looked around for her mother.

As Anita’s eyes moved to the next photo, an older child looked back at her. A five-year-old dressed in her school uniform and heading for her first day at primary school. There was joy written on her face, confidence in her gait and excitement in her demeanour. At the end of the day, she had made five friends. By the end of the week, she had fifteen ‘bestest friends,’ and by the end of the month Tina knew her whole class! Those were the carefree days.

At 12 she was in high school. The photograph Anita now held was of her daughter’s first camp. Tina was laughing as she tried to balance on a floating log with her classmates while a lanky lad tried to stir them to safety with a thick branch. He failed and they all fell into the river. It was the same

They married and over a hundred people attended the wedding. Tina had insisted they all be included in the group photo. Now holding that photo, Anita looked at the radiant bride as another tear escaped. Everyone had said that Tina was the most beautiful bride they had seen, and Anita knew it was the truth.

She quickly flicked through the photos. Of the honeymoon, their first home and the day Tina found out that she was expecting. Happy shots that made Anita smile even now. Tina took a photo of herself every week, and twelve photos reflected her blossoming trip towards motherhood. She loved being pregnant and it showed. And in every photo she held a protective hand over her stomach protecting her little baby from everything and everyone.

Anita picked up the next photograph. It was taken by the police at the crash site. Tina’s husband did not stand a chance as an oncoming truck had swerved into his side of the car. The impact was devastating, his death instantaneous. There had been no time for goodbyes or promises. He was there one moment and gone the next. In this photo, Tina still had her hand on her stomach, but it was the look on her face that spoke of what was to come.

Shattered, Tina secluded herself, slowly growing isolated from family and friends. Even Anita could not break through the melancholy that set in. The doctors assured them that time would heal Tina, and the baby would ease that pain. Anita was not so sure, for Tina seemed truly lost.

The baby arrived four weeks early but he was healthy and did not require medical aid. The photo she now held was of Tina looking at her two-day-old son with love in her eyes.

Looking back, Anita realised that the photo had held a vital clue that no-one had picked up. Tina had refused to hold the baby and even though the love was reflected in her eyes, the tears on her cheek were not of happiness, but of pain and regret. It was almost as if she was saying farewell. Five days later, she walked out of the hospital and was never seen again.

In her room she had left her son with a note attached to his

bib: ‘Don’t look for me. I don’t want this baby or this life. I want to be left alone.’

Anita wiped away her tears as anger replaced her sorrow. Tina had said that she wanted to be left alone. She took that right because she was an adult, but what of her son’s rights? What of her mother’s? Of course, he survived. Anita made sure of that. The court gave her legal guardianship. She showered her grandson with the same love and care that she had showered on her daughter. He even went to the same school as his mother. And in place of a smiling girl, Anita now looked at the photo of a little boy holding her hand as they stood outside his classroom. And while every other child had called out to their mother, Anita’s little grandson, had called out ‘Grandma’. Her life was now busy with him and she had no time to think of her daughter. She was glad as in the five years that followed, not once had Tina tried to contact them or sought to see her son. For a while she even feared that Tina was dead until the police assured her that as her closest kin, she would

be informed if that happened. That assurance should have given her relief, instead it just added to the fear of not knowing. At times Anita thought that Tina’s death would have been better, so that the worrying could cease. In rare moments of anger she even cursed her daughter’s selfishness.

Anita put away the photographs. She never knew why she kept looking at them. Maybe because on Mother’s Day she longed to go back to the time when she had her little girl!

The phone rang and her grandson picked up the phone, politely asking, “Who’s speaking?”

Turning to Anita he said, “Grandma, it’s a woman saying she is my mum, but it can’t be because I don’t have a mum. I just have a Grandma, don’t I?”

Anita grabbed the receiver, cuddling her grandson. “Tina? Is that you?” she whispered.

“Hi Mum, yes it’s me. I had been unwell. Depression they called it. I am better now. That was my son, wasn’t it? Can I come home, Mum?”

“Darling, of course! Where are you? Your son and I will come and

And in every photo she held a protective hand over her stomach protecting her little baby from everything and everyone

Tina had refused to hold the baby and even though the love was reflected in her eyes, the tears on her cheek were not of happiness but of pain and regret

get you,” said Anita, elated. Just then the doorbell rang. Anita opened the door and her daughter was standing there. She was thinner and weaker, but still beautiful. Anita could see that the recovery was not complete, but she had her daughter back. It was all that mattered.

As she hugged her daughter she heard the words, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mum!” And then Tina turned to her son and said, “Aren’t you going to wish your mum Happy Mother’s Day too?”

The little boy looked questioningly at his grandmother and when she nodded, he flung himself into the arms of his mother.

CINE TALK

A bEfITTINg hoMAgE To INDIAN CINEMA

Bom BAY TAL k I e S

STArring: Rani Mukerji, Randeep Hooda, Saqib Saleem, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Naman Jain, Khushi Dubey, Vineet Kumar Singh, Sudhir Pandey and Amitabh Bachchan

Direc TeD: Karan Johar, Dibakar Bannerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap

HHHHH

Agirl on a railway station who croons Lata Mangeshkar songs with aching luminosity, a stoic gluttonous ostrich, a cocky gay entertainment journalist, a closet actor, a little boy who likes to dance like Katrina Kaif, and a man from Allahabad who just wants to meet Amitabh Bachchan for a few seconds... such are the engrossing characters that populate the unforgettable world of Bombay Talkies

Bombay Talkies is that rarity, which makes us thankful for the gift of the movies.

Four stories directed by four contemporary Bollywood directors merge with seamless splendour into a pastiche of pain and pleasure. Like four scoops of ice cream, one yummier than the other, Bombay Talkies serves up a flavourful quartet of delights that leaves us craving for more. It’s like that song written by the immortal Sahir Ludhianvi: Abhi na jao chhod kar ke dil abhi bhara nahin.

No, that song isn’t part of the film. But there are songs of the melody queen Lataji which haunt your senses as the restless edgy protagonists, each in search of an emotional liberation that strikes them in unexpected ways at the end of every story, seek a slice of cloudburst to nourish their parched spirits.

So on to the first and my favourite story directed by Karan Johar where a sterile marriage between an urban working-couple played by Rani Mukerji and Randeep Hooda is shaken by the arrival of a young ebullient homosexual who enters their frozen marriage in a most unexpected way.

This story more than any other, pushes Indian cinema to the edge and explores a theme so far swept under the carpet. Karan, whose most brilliant film My Name Is Khan was also about a marginalised community, strips the urban relationship of all its shock value. He looks at the three characters’ frightening spiritual emptiness with a dispassion that was denied to the characters in his earlier exploration of crumbling marital values in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

Thanks to the unsparing editing

by Deepa Bhatia, a gently arousing background score by Hitesh Sonik, deft but credible dialogues penned by Niranjan Iyenger and camerawork by Anil Mehta that sweeps gently across three wounded lives, Karan is able to nail the poignancy and the irony of his urban fable in just four-five key scenes. This is his best work to date. Rani delivers another power-packed performance. It’s Saqib Saleem who steals this segment with his unmitigated spontaneity and reined-in ebullience.

The second story by Dibakar Bannerjee features that wonderful chameleon actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a man who would have been an actor if only life’s drudgeries had not overtaken his life. Dibakar is a master-creator of vignettes from everyday life. Here his detailing of chawl life is unerring.

Nikos Andritsakis’s cinematography doesn’t miss a single nuance in Nawaz’s sad yet hopeful, bleak yet bright existence. The sequence where Siddiqui washes clothes with the chawl’s women is savagely funny and poignant, as is his life-changing moment when Nawaz gets to perform one shot with Ranbir Kapoor. No we don’t see Ranbir, we just feel his presence, and we also hear filmmaker Reema Kagti giving orders from the directorial chair.

Nawaz in Dibakar’s deft hands, takes his character through a journey of profoundly saddening self-discovery without any hint of self-pity. This segment is quirky funny and tragic. No one is allowed to feel sorry for Nawaz’s character. Not even Nawaz.

Ebullient and enchanting are the descriptions that come to mind while watching Zoya Akhtar’s film about a little boy (Naman Jain, brilliant) who would rather dance to Katrina Kaif’s song than become a cricketer or a pilot, as per the wishes of his tyrant papa (Ranveer Shorey).

The household brims over with song, dance and giggles between the Katrinaenamoured boy and his sibling and confidante (a very confident Khushi Dubey). Charming warm humorous and vivacious Zoya’s film serves up a very gentle moral lesson. Let a child grow the way they want to. Zoya’s film makes our hearts acquire wings. And yes, it immortalises Katrina Kaif.

Finally, Anurag Kashyap’s homage to the unmatchable stardom of Amitabh Bachchan. A simple fable of a man journeying from Allahabad to meet Bachchan, this segment is more baggy and loose-limbed than the other three tightly-edited stories. This is not to take away from its power. As played by Vineet Kumar Singh, the Common Man’s

devotion to the Bachchan aura is manifested in the tongue-in-cheek spoken lines and the casual energy of Mumbai’s street life.

Anurag captures the sometimesfunny often-sad bustle around the Bachchan bungalow with warmth and affection. The segment certainly doesn’t lack in warmth. But it could have done with a tighter grip over the narrative.

Bombay Talkies is segmented and layered, yet cohesive and compelling from the first frame to the last. While unravelling the magic of cinema and its impact on the minds of audiences, it also displays how much cinema has evolved over the generations.

This is a beguiling, beautiful and befitting homage to 100 years of Indian cinema. It’s also proof that different stories in an episodic film could comfortably have directors with different sensitivities staring in the same line of vision.

only one film a year make sure it’s this one.

god for the motion picture.

Su k J

ouT AND ouT TE sTosTERoNE-DRIvEN

SH ooTou T AT WADALA

STArring: Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Tusshar Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, Sonu Sood, Manoj Bajpai, Ronit Roy WriTer-Direc Tor: Sanjay Gupta

HHH

Babli badmash hai, sings Priyanka Chopra in one of the three utterly wasted item numbers in this film about blazing guns, flaring nostrils, sanguinary revenge and bleak atonement.

Babli is not the only one who’s a badmaash here. The characters are all hardened players of the underworld from the 1970s. They all mean business in the business of being mean.

They sport the right clothes, dialogues and attitude.

Wordsmith Milap Zaveri is the real hero of this film about fascist solutions to the conundrum of urban chaos. Everyone is a smartass in this film, boys who never grew up - attention-seekers whose mums should have delivered solid

spankings during their childhood. They fight, scream, throw tantrums and draw blood when all fails. This is Sanjay Gupta’s return to direction after a longish hiatus. He is in a tearing hurry to sweep us into the vortex of his violent kingdom. Mumbai as seen through Gupta’s expertly sketched images, is a kingdom of the damned. Men pull put guns and knives as the background music (by Amar Mohile) settles scores. Tempers run high. The body-count matches the exacerbated emotions.

To his credit, Gupta knows this world of internecine wars as minutely as Coppola knew his Sicily. The mood in the cat-and-mouse game is forever defiant and belligerent.

There’s no room for dull moments. The cat and-mouse game tends to get breathless but never wheezy, even when characters such as the one played by Manoj Bajpai splutter to a gruesome end.

Gupta keeps a firm grip on the proceedings on his out-of-control characters, all played by actors who understand the close link between oppression and violence.

Sameer Arya’s camera and Sabu Cyril’s art work (which blends bloody reds with nostalgic sepias) recreate an era of fathomless violence. A great deal of thought has gone into creating a mood of anarchy. Every frame is saturated with colours and atmospherics. Every dialogue is darkly underlined and emphatically italicized. The performances reflect the absence of a moral equilibrium in the lives of the characters. While Anil Kapoor makes his ‘encounter cop’ a combination of the quirky and the kinetic, John Abraham in the central role tries very hard to remain in character. Going shirtless on a BEST bus in the bustle of Mumbai in the early 1970s is perhaps his idea of being in character. Wonder what the real Manya Surve would think!

While these two succeed in building an atmosphere of clenched crisis that threatens to blow apart their lives any minute, Sonu Sood, Manoj Bajpai and

Ronit Roy shine in briefer roles.

As usual Gupta invests a lot of time and attention to the images of violence. Shootouts and flare-ups in various public spots of Mumbai are shot with the arresting impunity of a storyteller who is profoundly fascinated by the violence that underscores suburban life.

Except for Manya Surve’s anxious and physical love interest (played by Kangna who looks as though she wasn’t happy being in her character’s space), we hardly ever see the characters in their domestic space.

Do these killers and cops ever sleep?

This is a bludgeoning saga of bloodshed, vendetta and ricocheting nemesis peppered with picturesque dialogues and episodes of frenetic aggression.

Su BHASH k J HA

WhEN LovE Is TRAppED IN ThE quAgMIRE ThAT Is shoWbIz

AASHIQ u I 2

STArring: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Shradha Kapoor

Direc TeD by: Mohit Suri

HHH

It’s no coincidence that this surprisingly moving film is inspired by Frank Pierson’s 1976 drama

A Star Is Born. And I deliberately mention the funky psychedelic 1976 version and not the older (1954) version of the same story.

In spirit and in the way the two principal actors perform their parts of two soulmates and singers torn asunder by their allegiance to the same competitive spirit of showmanship, Aashiqui 2 is reminiscent of the Kris Kristofferson-Barbara Streisand film where he discovers a co-singer who steals his heart and also his career.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee made his melodious Abhimaan on the same theme. It was easy for Hrishida to portray Jaya Bhaduri as a better artiste than Amitabh Bachchan quite simply because she sang in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice.

In Aashiqui 2 the two protagonists are pretty much left to their own devices to create that unbearable frisson between two people whose love is trapped in the whirligig of showbiz. For their love

to be liberated from the rituals of competitiveness, one of the lovers must make a huge sacrifice before the end.

For love to live, the lover must die. It’s a curious trade-off and one carried off in this film with an exuberance of emotions.

The premise for the plot presumes love to be selfless, all-giving and unconditional. Just to see Shradha Kapoor’s eyes melt in mutating emotions of unflinching devotion to her alcoholic lover makes us believe true love still exists. This petite beauty with eyes that never stay silent gives to her part so much heart, you want to just embrace her and protect her from her self-destructive mentorturned-tormentor.

Aditya Roy Kapoor as a rockstar who is rapidly slipping from the charts, gives all of himself to the character. And then some more. In Aditya’s persona, Rahul becomes a metaphor for all the success in showbiz that goes awry.

Like all the heroes of Mahesh Bhatt’s cinema, Aditya has to portray a man who frequently creates a scene and embarrasses the person he loves the most. This young actor is not afraid to look compromised on screen. A fearless actor, Aditya falters in the higher notes. But then, the singing here is not quite Lata Mamgeshkar, Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar in Abhimaan. Having said that, it must be admitted that the

music by Jeet Ganguly, Mithoon and Ankit Tiwari stands by the characters and never lets them down. The finely written poetry also helps to furnish the lovers’ journey with a feverish and fecund pitch.

Aashiqui 2 is a film with its heart in the right place. Writer Shagufta Rafiqui and director Mohit Suri ferret out those feel-good places in the script where the protagonists plonk their emotions with a confidence and conviction that reaches out to the audience.

Man, woman, music, ambitions, dreams and despair, director Mohit Suri traverses the angst-soaked territory with a sincere and deep understanding of the dynamics that destroy love and trust between couples in the glamorous

and competitive profession. Aditya Roy Kapoor is impressively implosive while Shradha Kapoor plays off against him with a steely vulnerability that echoes Jaya Bhaduri in Abhimaan

Watching this smoothly-oiled drama of disintegrating love I couldn’t help remember Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal’s wooden performance in Aashiqui

Our cinema has a come a long way, and not always in the right direction. Aashiqui 2 makes us grateful for the movement of the love story away from the standard Romeo & Juliet format into the dark destructive domain of A Star Is Born

Sometimes love is just not enough. Su BHASH k J HA

ThE buzz

national Film Awards

Talent from the Indian film industry received awards from President Pranab Mukherjee at the 60th National Film Awards on the same day as the industry’s 100th birthday.

The ceremony, hosted by actors R. Madhavan and Huma Qureshi, witnessed performances by Shankar Mahadevan, who got the best male playback singer award for the song Bolo na from Chittagong, for which Prasoon Joshi received the best lyricist award.

Veteran actor Pran was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, but the 93-year-old couldn’t make it to the event.

A healthy mix of Bollywood, southern, Marathi and Bengali cinema talent won awards and some of them, notably John Abraham and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, looked great in national attire.

Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar, about an athlete-turned-dacoit, won the best film award. Versatile Irrfan, who played the title role in the biopic, was named the best actor for the same film, and he shared the title with Vikram Gokhale for his performance in Marathi film Anumati

Actress Usha Jadhav won the best actress title for playing a rustic housewife in Marathi film Dhag, which won the best director’s gong for Shivaji Lotan Patil.

In the feature film category, a total of 38 films from 14 languages were selected for the awards.

From Bollywood, Kahaani, Vicky Donor, Paan Singh Tomar, OMG: Oh My God! and Dekh Indian Circus won multiple awards.

hAppY oNE huNDREDTh!

It was a proud day for the Indian film industry that turned 100 on May 3, amidst a series of events to celebrate its success.

India’s film industry has made leaps of progress in fields as diverse as technology, music, direction, production, animation and graphics, storylines, in addition to the actors themselves.

Bollywood celebrities like Anupam Kher and Govinda hailed the industry’s overall growth, saying they are grateful to be a part of the filmdom. Said actor Anupam Kher, “It’s a golden age for Hindi cinema. You can make the kind of films you want to and audience may like them”.

Govinda was effusive in his thanks, claiming that he got the name, fame, respect and everything within the industry. He highlighted that there has been an improvement to the extent that the industry has now gone international.

“Starting from Dadasaheb Phalke, the industry has grown progressively

and has reached up to this level. This is a very important and special year for our industry,” said actor-director Saurabh Shukla.

But there was the underlining concern of piracy that was raised by actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik.

“Our cinema will progress more. I just want the piracy to be stopped and more theatres to be opened,” he said, emphasising that more digital theatres should be set up in remote areas to increase its reach, specially in this, its 100th year.

Filmmaker Nitin Kakkar stated that cinema must be beyond a “few reels of entertainment” as it is a good medium to channelise positive changes in the country’s socio-cultural milieu. His debut feature Filmistaan was named the best film at the 60th National Film Awards this year.

“As far as social issues are concerned, I feel cinema is a strong tool to bring about a change in society. Cinema is lot more that few reels of entertainment,” said Kakkar.

President Pranab Mukherjee also released postal stamps commemorating 50 iconic film personalities who brought changes in Indian cinema.

He also commented, “Cinema can play a crucial role in influencing societycinema must be used to portray positive societal values for building a tolerant and harmonious India”.

“The film industry ought to take steps to ensure that cinema is morally energising,” he said.

A new and open attitude

Bollywood has come a long way in its trend of filmmaking, but love scenes on screen are still a long way off from bolder sister Hollywood. And with young stars, the road is always easier with a bit of help. Take 19-year-old new kid on the block Shadab Kamal, who is making his full-fledged debut with B.A. Pass. The youngster admits that co-star Shilpa Shukla made the intimate scenes more comfortable. “I was quite nervous with the intimate scenes because I was worried about my co-actor. It’s a very awkward situation, but when you have a confident co-actor, the job gets easier,” said Shadab.

There is an intimate scene between the two actors in the film and talking about

the experience of shooting it, Shadab said, “She (Shilpa) was very chilled out. The first shot I shared with her was the kissing scene and it went so well all thanks to Shilpa. Soon after the scene I went and I hugged her and thanked her for making me feel comfortable”.

In the erotic human drama directed by Ajay Bahl, Shilpa plays a rich, married woman, who turns a sex guru for the boy. She teaches him the art of lovemaking.

“The film has many lovemaking scenes and one of them is quite long,” said a source. B.A. Pass is the Chak De! India actress’ boldest role to date, while Shadab has featured in a small role in Chittagong.

But as for Arjun Kapoor, now there’s an expert in shooting lovemaking scenes. The young actor did an intimate scene in his debut film Ishqzaade, and has also shot a lovemaking scene for his forthcoming thriller Aurangzeb. And apparently, he seems to have mastered the art of doing them. The film will launch Sasha, daughter of Nikaah fame Pakistani actress Salma Agha, in Bollywood.

Director Atul Sabharwal was apprehensive about how comfortable she would be doing an intense lovemaking scene with her co-star Arjun.

But Arjun explained to Sasha the reason for the scenes and its nuances. Arjun also requested Atul that minimum crew should be present on the sets.

“After the shoot was wrapped up, everyone joked about how he has become a lovemaking expert as he seemed to have a complete command on the scene,” said a source close to the film.

So will we see Arjun and Shilpa in Bollywood’s next blockbusting erotica flick? Wouldn’t surprise me!

Just a regular couple…

Happily married to Saif Ali Khan, Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor says that just like any other regular couple, they try to enjoy small pleasures of life by doing things together.

“Saif and I are just a regular couple and it’s nice to be able to enjoy dinner at our favourite restaurant without light bulbs flashing in our faces constantly,” Kareena said recently. She is appreciative of the

kareena kapoor

media for giving them their privacy.

“As a celebrity, being under constant media glare is a job hazard. But I truly appreciate the privacy the media has given me when it comes to my personal life,” she said.

Known for her great fashion and style sense, the actress seeks approval from her husband on what looks good on her.

“I seek approval from my man on how I look and what I should wear, and Saif with his great taste gives some fabulous inputs,” said the actress who married Saif in October 2012 after dating him for five years.

Being at the top of her career, the actress is busy with endorsements, films and other events but she makes sure to take out time for hubby Saif.

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Kangana Ranaut or Bar Rafaeli in Roberto-Cavalli

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“Being from the same industry, Saif completely understands the pressure that comes with being an actor. While we never sideline our work, we ensure that we sneak in some ‘us time’ in the midst of our hectic schedules - be it catching up on a movie together, a quiet dinner or an impromptu vacation,” she said.

The actress further added, “Saif has always been extremely supportive and encouraging and I’m really grateful to him”.

The actress is philosophical about her success.

“When you enjoy what you do and when you give it all you’ve got, success will never be far behind. Always trust your instincts and have faith in your capabilities!” said Kareena who will next be seen in Satyagraha

After 13 years in the industry, there’s no doubt that Kareena’s the best in her class. Bet her colleagues are wondering when she’s going to take the plunge into motherhood, to give them chance at the top!

riteish for politics?

After enjoying a good deal of popularity in Hindi films, the buzz around Bollywood is now about whether actor Riteish Deshmukh will take on the mantle of his father, late former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and make his foray into the world of politics.

Naturally, Bollywood’s best had their opinions. Actor-politician Raj Babbar said it would be a well thought-out decision. Hema Malini also supported the idea, saying he will do a good job.

“Riteish is born in a family where politics is a way of life,” said Babbar. “His father was highly respected and one of the most powerful and influential political figures of Maharashtra. So politics is nothing new to Riteish. He has grown up with it and his father’s constituency and community are completely with him. Also, being a celebrity in his own field of cinema, Riteish already has a connectivity with the people. Most important of all, I’ve observed how Riteish has conducted himself after his father’s untimely death. The boy has a natural and sincere attachment to the people who loved his father. They are now willing to transfer that love to the son”.

“Riteish is very entertaining and funny on the screen,” Hema Malini said. “I am sure he can utilise his natural skills to be a good politician. Besides that, he has his father’s example to follow. He can’t go wrong”.

Shatrughan Sinha felt that Riteish could make a success out of his career in politics. “Politics is in Riteish’s genes. I’ve seen Riteish grow and I feel today he’s ready to step into his father’s arena.

What about Sunil Dutt whose conduct in politics was exemplary? Amitabh Bachchan came into politics for emotional reasons. Today, I feel he is our best candidate to be the President of India,” said the veteran actor, somewhat surprisingly.

Riteish wasn’t available for comment. He was probably tossing a coin. Bollywood or politics? It’s a tough decision for the actor, but I think I know what he would choose. What do you think? IANS

What’s Soha Ali khan’s special message to her mum on mother’s Day? Send in your responses to win@indianlink.com.au and win a surprise prize

What’s the chitchat between Puja Gupta and kunal khemu?

Kunal (to himself): Who’s the girl I’m standing next to?

Puja (to herself): Who’s the guy I’m standing next to?

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taRot

ARIEs March 21 - April 19

The cards indicate a time of renewal, as you will be looking at how to improve your finances and appearance. you will also look at new ventures. Take care of your stomach, eat a healthy diet. you are also making plans to purchase a new property, make sure you read all the documents carefully, as you need to keep alert and on top of things. There will be news in the family of a new arrival or a marriage.

TAuRus April 20 - May 20

you will look at buying a new property. you will be concerned about a loved one’s health. Take time out to care for yourself too, especially your back. There is an indication of a promotion or a higher salary. you have been working hard lately and it has not gone unnoticed. you may look at purchasing a new car, and have your eye on a special vehicle. your mother will feel a little unwell and will need a blood test.

gEMINI May 21 - June 20

predictions for MAY 2013

By NANCE JADE ALThIYA www.cosmick-aura.com

LIbRA sep 23 - oct 22

The cards indicate that you need to complete unfinished projects and tasks. you have been planning and looking at new ventures. you may be thinking of buying a present for someone special. There may be some delays, but your relationship seems karmic and is bound to happen. Look at changing your wardrobe. it is time for a new look and haircut. Start taking vitamins.

sCoRpIo oct 23 - nov 21

you may be feeling slightly upset and insecure about things. This will pass and you will find a new way of enjoying the fruits of your labour. Take it easy before speaking to anyone, as you will be feeling quite annoyed with certain people at work or in the family. There will be redecoration decisions around your home. you seem to be worrying about younger members of the family.

sAgITTARIus nov 22 - dec 21

you are feeling as though everything is a real struggle right now. Start looking at doing more meditation and relaxation. you are under a lot of stress and seem to be worrying about money issues. There are some matters relating to your business or work that need to be handled very carefully. your boss may be putting pressure on you, but you will manage to get through this period. you need to start a new exercise plan and diet.

CANCER June 21 - July 20

The cards indicate that you are feeling very close to your lover. it is time to try and amend strained relationships with family members. Take care of your health, as you seem to be feeling a little unwell. you are looking at taking a holiday to let your hair down. There will be a fantastic gathering arranged by friends where you will meet new friends. you could be taking up a new hobby, a dance class or a new evening class.

LEo July 21 - Aug 22

This is a time of great inclination towards spirituality and matters relating to developing a greater understanding of what and who you are. Family commitments will stress you out. you will feel confused and upset about a matter close to your heart. This is the time to let go of inhibitions and go for what you want. Work is going well, you may look at overseas assignments. be careful who your friends are, as competition will be close.

vIRgo Aug 23 - sep 22

The cards indicate that you will do well at work and career. you need to keep up the momentum. you will be feeling more settled in your love life too. Take care of niggling health issues, as you tend to neglect yourself when busy. There will be good news relating to finance, and you will be thinking about savings plans and investments. Take advice from a trusted source. you may be looking at going to another land on work.

The cards indicate a time when you will be deep in thought about your next steps. right now you are capable of overcoming obstacles. Try and control outbursts of aggression, as you are feeling frustrated at the lack of progress with plans. you need to relax and take it easy, things will fall into place. There is a new opportunity coming into view, you need to decide what you want to do!

CApRICoRN dec 22 - Jan 19

The cards indicate that you need to take the first step in romantic situations for love to blossom. Financially things are improving and new ventures will be a great success. be careful when making decisions about your home and family. you may be feeling a little stressed out, take care of your health and exercise regularly. Take care of your possessions as you may be feeling a bit forgetful.

AquARIus Jan 20 - feb 18

The cards indicate that finances will be your main focus. There will be some stressful situations relating to tax returns and paperwork issues. Sort them out so you can relax and take life easy. There will be some discussions about a new position at work; if in business, you will look at new ways to improve your current working style. A great time for love.

pIsCEs feb 19 - March 20

you will be thinking about family and trying to keep things on an amicable basis. There will be a lot of catching up with friends and getting paperwork issues in order. you have put off sending important forms and documents. make sure you check that your car is serviced. you will have to take a health test as you are feeling a little low in energy. Try to get more sleep.

Charlie makes a comeback

Slapstick comedy of

still has the power to enchant and amuse the modern generation

BY SHeRYL DIXIT

In an attempt to introduce a more refined form of humour into the lives of my young sons, I recently got them a DVD of Charlie Chaplin. Now the boys are charming and annoying in equal degrees, but some of their more unenduring virtues are to find anything relating to specific body parts absolutely hilarious. So they will laugh with abandon at fart noises, giggle with glee at burps and don’t even get me started with describing the pre-bath routine…

So I thought, if slapstick is their thing, the sight of an ill-dressed man with an ill-trimmed brush moustache, baggy pants, bowler hat and cane performing odd antics would be bound to take their minds off the scatological content that currently seems to dominate their young lives. A bit of innocent walking into doors, falling over feet and getting chased by baton-wielding cops would raise a few laughs. Charlie Chaplin and Laurel ‘n’ Hardy were a staple during my childhood and brought us hours of rib-cracking joy. And so, I brought home City Lights, one of Chaplin’s masterpieces, which at first, didn’t interest the boys at all. However, one evening after we had exhausted the superhero repertoire, I managed to convince them to watch it. With surprising and interesting results.

Now it’s been a while since I had watched the movie myself, and I was keen to rekindle some of that joy I had experienced when viewing it as a child. But like most plans that involve my two jokers, nothing went quite according to how I hoped it would. The beginning was innocent enough, but the first question I was asked was, “What are they saying, why can’t we hear them?” It took a while for me to get through a somewhat garbled explanation on the joys of silent movies, by which time, more questions followed.

“Why are those boys bullying him?”

“Is he smoking? Doesn’t he know that its bad for him?”

“Why is he looking at that girl like that?” This was a mannequin in a window, which Charlie was unashamedly ogling.

The questions continued.

“Why does that guy have a rope around his neck?”

“Why is he driving, would he have a licence?”

dangerous!”

“Are they drinking alcohol?”

“Why are they dancing so funny?”

By this time, the movie was exhausting me too, as my brain grappled to answer the barrage of questions that were being fired at me. And then came the scene where Charlie encounters the blind girl. “Oh no,” I thought, “I’m in for it now!” And I wasn’t disappointed!

Explaining the concept of the blind girl was tough work. Why she couldn’t see, how feeling would help her, how she would have to rely on her other senses…. Just as I thought I was getting somewhere, my younger one piped up, “But mum, she can’t speak either. See, I can’t hear her, can you?” I too, was speechless.

Another excruciating point of discussion was several scenes in which the actors appeared drunk as lords. “Is that how people behave when they’ve drunk beer?” asked one of them interestedly, possibly deducing that their dad’s consumption of the beverage is

as he doesn’t exhibit the same abandon that they were viewing on the small screen! I didn’t answer that one…

Now through this, I have to admit that the movie had them riveted. They picked up the subtler nuances and laughed heartily at all the right times. We all particularly enjoyed the scene in the boxing ring as Chaplin, his opponent and the referee do an amazingly coordinated dance routine several times over. They laughed hugely and naturally, at the end of the movie, attempted the same thing between themselves with hilarious results.

Chaplin movies tend to have a fair bit of physical violence, with people getting into a scrum, chasing each other, tripping over, clouting over the head and the inevitable kicks in the backside in which the recipient (usually Charlie) catapults several inches in the air. There was an abundance of these scenes which caused immoderate and happy laughter, making me realise that

enjoyment in someone else’s pain. And Chaplin himself is a virtuoso in enacting these scenes. Strangely, the next morning I found them on the lounge, feet entwined as they watched the entire movie again from start to finish, in silence and harmony!

Watching the movie made me realise that the boys do need to be exposed to some more of Chaplin’s art, and we’ll throw Laurel ‘n’ Hardy into the mix too. It will raise an enormous lot of questions again on the political and social correctness of the world we live in, but it will also give them a sense that the world can indeed, be a funny place. And I can only envisage the discussions that will ensue, about who will be Laurel and who will be Hardy, (a bit of a non-starter as they are both skinny) but they will, no doubt, find a compromise.

Besides, their attempts at emulating these great actors will keep us amused for a long, long time. So move over, Mr Bean and Spongebob Squarepants, real comedy’s making a comeback!

it will raise an enormous lot of questions again on the political and social correctness of the world we live in, but it will also give them a sense that the world can indeed, be a funny place

There was an abundance of these scenes which caused immoderate and happy laughter, making me realise that there is indeed a wicked sense of enjoyment in someone else’s pain

the past

Illustration: Jesse Peacock